LEAPS - School for Fathers Podcast - Danusia Malina-Derben interviews Michael de Groot

The School for Fathers Podcast disrupts the idea that once we’re a father, life stays the same. Join entrepreneur and mother of 10, Danusia Malina-Derben as she interviews working fathers about how they’re answering the question: How can I be a father and still be me? She hears from celebrities, well-known authors, heavyweight entrepreneurs, global activists, career powerhouses, influencers, & leading experts. Expect vulnerable conversation and insights that blow fresh air into what we know about men as working fathers.

In today’s episode, she chats with Michael de Groot, Chief Storyteller at Staying Alive UK, podcast host and stepfather of two. His professional quest is to enable small business owners to become better storytellers and share engaging stories about themselves and their businesses. He does this through his own small business where he produces impactful cartoons and animation campaigns, engaging audiences and giving them a unique insight into an organisation’s story and value proposition. The story at the core of this episode called LEAPS is the one in which Michael became a stepfather and we are lucky to be taken through a tour of his stepdad story blueprint.

He bravely shows his story of growth and also challenges listeners to embrace the rollercoaster of fatherhood with mindfulness, radical honesty and a big dose of humour.

Also, if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not subscribed, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Subscribe now!

Podcast website: https://schoolforfathers.com
Danusia’s website: http://www.danusiamalinaderben.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GQpmmWXkJXIYo7mv1wojW?si=975db95d76394240
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/school-for-fathers-podcast/id1484664927

Vaughn Granger - Personal Brand Coach, Clothier and Rainmaker

Entrepreneur Vaughn Granger discuss what it takes to be successful in business, sales and leadership thru real-life experiences and results.

Second generation haberdasher, seven-figure business owner, serial entrepreneur and men’s performance coach on a mission to help individuals reach new heights in their professional and personal lives. Nothing excites me more than watching people pursue their own unique versions of success instead of settling for mediocre. I developed the GAME method as a framework for addressing- and optimising- all the key areas of our lives simultaneously so that we can ultimately show up in the world as our absolute best selves.

Website: https://www.vaughngranger.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaughngranger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaughgranger
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lvgranger
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaughngranger
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/vaughn-granger

Fiona Demark - Motivational Speaker, Life and Career Coach, Inclusion and Diversity Speaker

I am Fiona Demark, an inspirational speaker and life coach who moves participants from not achieving the results they are capable of, to inspiring positive change in both your professional and personal lives. I provide practical strategies that make a lifelong impact upon participants.

Over the past 25 years I have had the pleasure of working with people to gain focus and step into their own power. My real world examples of overcoming adversity and building resilience place me in perfect stead to share tools with others to build personal resources and inspiration to reach their goals.

What makes me unique and stand out from every other executive trainer and keynote speakers, is that I am legally blind. Having a disability since birth has taught me that life can be a challenge, but ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’. By meeting challenges head on and constantly stepping outside my comfort zone I have built resilience and learned how to keep moving forward through adversity.

I would love to share this knowledge with you and look forward to speaking with you further about how we can work together to make this happen.

Website: https://fionademark.com.au
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionademark/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiona.demark_blind_inspiration/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fiona.Demark
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDQBS9ifcfQG3VXjR7bzFw

Lane Kawaoka - Real Estate Investor and Syndicator, Financial Mentor, Podcaster

Lane Kawaoka is a Licensed Professional (PE) with a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Construction Management and a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering both from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He currently owns 21 Apartments Buildings, 2 Manufactured Home developments, and an Assisted-Living Facility totalling 4,500+ units in 12 different states.

Lane Kawaoka started investing when he was 13 years old with the $2,000 he earned from the summer job picking Pineapples in Maui, he bought a $500 Ukulele and deposited the $1500 into a RothIRA via mutual funds. That Ukulele is featured in the SimplePassiveCashflow.com podcast’s theme song.

Lane started his venture in real estate investing in 2009 after living on the road for 5 years as a construction supervisor by purchasing an A-class rental in Seattle that rented $2200 per month. Three years later he was able to acquire a duplex. While looking for a 3rd investment in 2012, the market was rebounding and he realized most investments would yield negative cashflow. After this realization, Lane converted his portfolio to secondary markets with robust job markets and Rent-to-Value Ratios that would yield $250-$400 monthly profit between rents and all expenses.

Lane’s passion project the Top-50 Investing podcast SimplePassiveCashflow.com, a free podcast and online learning resource in passive real estate investing. Working as a high paid professional in Corporate America and frustrated by the traditional wealth building dogma, Lane was compelled to inspire and mentor other working professionals on how to do real estate investing and build their own portfolios. Lane urges other working professionals just get started by utilizing their highest and best use (their day job) to save the for the 20% down payment for a conventional loan to acquire a single-family home rental. The Simple Passive Cashflow method is to only buy investments with a healthy cashflow buffer that can withstand a market downturn. Lane has gotten so much appreciation for his work via these kind words from his audience.

In addition to mentoring and mastermind group, Lane also partners with investors who want to build their portfolio, but are too busy to handle direct investments. He uses his engineering mind, investing knowledge, and network to optimize investment returns for others by operating the Hui Deal Pipeline Club, a free investor club where he filters investments and underwrites the numbers and partners. Unlike other investor lists and groups, Lane’s investors have personal access to him and know that Lane is personally investing alongside with his investors.

Today Lane lives in Honolulu, Hawaii where he is bringing solid investment opportunities and bridging the financial gap to the home where he grew up. There he operates ReiAloha: Hawaii’s Passive Real Estate Investment Ohana. He still works the day job as an engineer but more because he wants to with people he likes to be around and in a non-profit organization. In the grand scheme of things the day jobs is pretty “Simple Passive Cashflow” and allows him to operate his syndication and investing business property without having to pressure to take unnecessary risks for his investors in order to put food on the table.

Website: https://simplepassivecashflow.com
Podcast: https://styin.me/simple-passive-cashflow-podcast
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/LaneKawaoka
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimplepassiveCF

Michelle Roberton - Bodywork Therapist, Energy Healer, Intuitive and Sexual Trauma Counsellor

Michelle has shared her work with many, for 19 years, specialising in Sexual Trauma & Intimacy as a Tantric educator, body worker and counsellor for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Her passion stems from her own journey of discovering the medicine in the poison as she set it upon herself to reclaim her body, her breath, her sexuality and sensuality and express that in new, life enriching ways.

Michelle very much believes that our mind can only take us so far into any release of body trauma and healing of our sexuality. The discovery of who we authentically are is not hidden in our thoughts but in the sensuality and home of our body.

Her touch has been described by many as her gift to others. Her gentle, authentically honest & calming approach, a comforting breath of fresh air.

Michelle is a mamma to four superstar fully fledged children and lives in the colourful, vibrant city of Brighton.

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“I believe there is no greater wisdom or compassion than experience.

No intellect can guide us where it has not been. At the tender age of 49 and what appears many lifetimes later, I am not sure there is any life situation I cannot empathise with.

Life has taught me well with its tapestry of colours…

From a childhood of sexual abuse, anorexia, to drugs, to homelessness, to the loss of a son, from life threatening illness to near a death experience, from marriage to single parent hood, to the loss of both breasts.

But I sit here, writing to you hand on my heart, knowing I would not change a nano second of this life. It has shaped me into this woman who longs to guide you into your sensual aliveness and a life that deliciously keeps unfolding, as you step free from all that you were designed to be and responsibly own all that you authentically are.

I am passionate about my “work” & “souly” committed to guiding others to reclaim and trust the world of body, sensation, intimacy and love, so they may connect with their “sex” & “own” its limitless power in a healthy, sacred way.

Uniting sexuality, spirituality, body & mind so that sex becomes a sharing of fullness that “spills” in rich abundance into all areas of life. No more separate pieces of who you are.

I deeply care about the “future of sex” for not only us but our children. I believe we deserve to know & trust, our bodies, touch & intimacy. We deserve to know our sex as our limitless potential. We deserve sacred relationships.

I believe it is time to evolve beyond what keeps us “small”, into the undeniable, indefinable connection between who we are ~ love, body, sex & life around us.”

Website: https://michelleroberton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellekroberton
Apple audio books: https://books.apple.com/gb/artist/michelle-roberton-jones/295200684
Google audio books: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=michelle%20roberton-jones
Amazon Music: https://styin.me/michelle-roberton-amazon
Weblinks: https://linktr.ee/sacred_tantric_touch_

Michael S. Seaver - Leadership Coach, Speaker and Author

Michael S. Seaver is an award-winning executive coach, leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and author. He’s on a mission to unlock human potential to help people uncover and live their purpose, and live a more meaningful and authentic life. His unique methodology has revolutionized how leaders can live authentically and how organizations engage employees. He offers no-nonsense strategies to help people find confidence in their life’s narrative, commonalities across generations working today, and ways to communicate with emotional intelligence.

Michael’s newest book, I Know, A Practical Guide For Awakening To What’s Within And Finding Work-Life Integration, tells his story of excruciating emotional pain and contemplating suicide. Cleopatra, his cat, sensed his despair, kept him grounded, and helped him rise from his life’s ashes. I Know is a how-to guide Michael uses with clients walking you through the three phases of personal transformation and nine processes you can complete alone or with trusted friends. The book tells Michael’s raw and authentic story, offers research-based psychological truths, and is full of real-world client examples. After reading I Know, you’ll transition from believing life’s answers come from outside yourself to knowing you can discover the answers already inside yourself.

For more than 25 years, Michael has lead teams and has coached global leaders since 2011. He’s invested thousands of hours in the “arena” managing personal and organizational change, guided others to uncover their lives’ missions, and taught leaders how to create psychological safety by inviting employee life experiences into workplace.

Featured in numerous publications such as Forbes, Authority, Medium, Thrive Global, Arizona Republic, Business Journals, Accounting Today, Financial Executives International, Best Companies USA, Michael has shared his experiences widely. He is a frequent guest on international podcasts and has served on a variety of boards of directors. Michael graduated from the Thunderbird School of Global Management with a MBA and speaks a bit of Mandarin. He is certified by TTI Success Insights to administer the DISC, 12 Driving Forces, Emotional Intelligence assessments.

Website: https://michaelsseaver.com
Book - I Know: https://michaelsseaver.com/books
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsseaver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelsseaver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelScottSeaver
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsseaver
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SeaverConsulting

Nathalie Sommer - Relationship, Intimacy and Transformation Coach

Nathalie Sommer is a certified Relationship and Intimacy & Transformation Coach. 

Nathalie specialises in the area of relationships, masculine and feminine polarity and sensual embodiment. 

For the last 16 years of her entrepreneurial journey, Nathalie has been working as a life coach, intuitive guide and healer, and now uses these modalities by combining them with her sensual embodiment & individuals and couples transformation work.

Website: https://nathaliesommer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sommerlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nata.sommer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-sommer-65590a24
Private Facebook Group - Eros Temple For Modern Women:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1835416650102332
Programme: https://whole-magnetic-her.mailchimpsites.com
Quiz: https://nathaliesommer.com/quiz

James Marland - Global Vice President SAP, Sales Excellence and Storyteller

Storyteller. Educating companies of all sizes the benefits of Going Digital with Business Networks.

Having worked at both SAP and Ariba prior to the acquisition, James is uniquely positioned to drive the connection of the world's companies together with the SAP Business Network. For too long companies have focused on their internal processes, data and employees: its time to look "Beyond the Wall"​ to customers, suppliers, contractors and the "Intelligent extended value chain".

James says:
"I try to make a story-teller out of everyone through Social Media, new hire onboarding and mentoring. You'll see me passionately preaching the value of SAP to each new hire through my preferred medium of a whiteboard. In addition I contribute to the SAP story on social media via Twitter and blogs. Just don't expect to see me using PowerPoint. I run masterclasses throughout the company on "The Art of Explanation" which includes story-telling and whiteboarding."

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmarland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesMarland

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Storytelling Graphic by James Marland

Sam Dossa - Emotional Intelligence Coach and Public Speaker

Business & Personal Coach - Specialised in BURNOUT. I have been immersed in personal motivation and permanent transformation since 2007. I started as a coach within the Youth Sector and then developed this into business transformation which has been in operation since 2009. 

As a result of my extensive international training of entrepreneurs and leaders since 2002, I am recognised as one of the UK’s top trainers and coaches. In 2005, I began offering talks and workshops for young adults at schools and colleges. In that time, i trained and spoke to over 8,000 young adults. They include the gifted and talented as well as students with behavioural challenges. 

10 years of extensive working experience as a Freelance Consultant/Coach/ Mentor/Trainer & Public Speaker independently and as a co-trainer with other qualified professional trainers. Privileged to served multinational companies in different capacities and provided capacity building seminars for companies including; Centurylink, British Telecoms, CBT Systems Limited, Department of Works & Pensions (DWP), Empowering Youth, KI Work, Ismaili Council for European Union, Workoco, Fireworks Coaching, Twickenham Academy, London Borough of Richmond, Slough Grammar School and SPELT (Karachi – Pakistan). 

BURNOUT is a key factor of Heart attack, stroke and many forms of cancers! I create preventative major so it can be cure before it's too late. Burnout not devastate one's life but all those connected to that one life i.e. spouse, children and close relatives and friends. Have coached and coaching individuals on exploring relationship issues and helping them to achieve the best positive optimum results. 

Only way to heal your past traumas is to acknowledge them and bring them to surface and work through a process which not heal the core of the trauma but replaces it with a new life. 

I have also been highly active in community, and also helping a local charity offering coaching & youth mentoring sessions. Finally, i have facilitated several group coaching sessions on team building addressing; team issues, creating team plans, building customer rapport within the team and achieving successful team results. Preparing you for the BEST!

Would you like to transform into a peak performer, do you have a plan to enhance your physical, mental, and emotional abilities.

• Are you ready to create a successful life?

• Would you like to know how you can strengthen yourself - Physically – Mentally – Emotionally!

• Are you ready to discover a way to become fully capable of achieving greater results?

You are aware that the workplace can be very stressful when we have to deal with challenging leadership, giving and receiving feedback, dealing with change, achieving deadlines, and dealing with setbacks and failures. You can equip yourselves with skills to manage your emotions in such situations to be able to respond confidently. You do not need to be controlled by the circumstances.

Learning and application of principles of Emotional Intelligence can enhance your confidence, resilience, agility in making firm decisions, managing your emotions and more.

Specialities: EQ Assessment - DiSC Assessment - Business & Personal Coaching - Careers Coaching - Leadership Coach - 90 Days deep dive program for new Business Owners and Team Leaders.

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/coachsamuk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachsamuk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachsamuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachsamuk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachsamuk
Clubhouse: https://clubhouse.com/@coachsamuk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrLqJ6BZYe7r6vs85BBKSZw

Adam Oliver - Illustrator, Animator and Toon Boom Trainer

I'm a 2D animator working with hand-drawn and digital cut-out techniques for TV, film and all the bits in between. In early 2017 I launched Toon Boom Trainer, an online training business focused on industry skills gaps. In 2020 this business became Adam's Animation Academy as part of my goal to serve a wider animation audience and improve the learning experience.

I've lived in Manchester since 2013, working at CHF Entertainment and Brown Bag Films. My most recent production is a preschool show with Irish company, Mooshku. since launching Toon Boom Trainer, I've worked with universities such as Edge Hill and Manchester School of Art, as well as in-house for studios like King Bee and Aardman Animations. I work directly with Toon Boom on their projects such as the recent Career Camps in Dublin and London, as well as a rigger for hire on their high profile production assignments.

In 2012 I worked on a children's TV series in Dublin, Ireland for Geronimo Productions. I used Adobe Flash (now Adobe Animate) to create high-quality character animation whilst keeping to that ever important weekly output (a minimum of 1 minute completed animation per week).

With my animation career, I've also completed work for Baby Cow Productions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Kavaleer, Aon (Manchester United F.C), Chevrolet, Colonel Blimp, Jimmy Carr, BBC, HIT Entertainment and more. Please read my CV for the full details!

In 2011 I worked at RMIT Melbourne as their 'animator in residence' and on a hand-drawn feature production (Titeuf Le Film) in 2010 in Dundee, Scotland. I've also lectured at universities in the UK and Australia.

Website: https://www.adamoliver.com
CV: https://www.adamoliver.com/c-v
Academy: https://www.adamsanimationacademy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamoliveranimation
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKanimator
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamoliverillustration
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamtheanimator
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZL6yAsdQ19TAAfSJZkF1gg

Danusia Malina-Derben - Global Leadership Consultant, Author and Podcast Host

Danusia Malina-Derben is a mother of ten children, and still her own woman. From teen mother to tenured Organisational Behavior and Development academic, and onto award-winning, internationally published leadership expert. Danusia traded academia to head a global firm that fixes corporate boardrooms and develops top talent. She also hosts two critically acclaimed companion podcasts; School for Mothers and School for Fathers. Danusia has received praise and recognition from The Sunday Times to Metro, Psychologies to Good Housekeeping. She lives on the edge of Exmoor, UK with her family, and their mini-dachshund, Dickie. Visit her online at danusiamalinaderben.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/school.for.mothers.podcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danusiamalinaderben/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchforMothers
Clubhouse: https://clubber.one/@danusiamd
Websites: schoolformothers.com and danusiamalinaderben.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolForMothers

NOISE: A Manifesto Modernising Motherhood - 30 March 2021

THE BOOK THAT ANSWERS: HOW CAN I BE A MOTHER AND STILL BE ME?

Part manifesto, part memoir, part guide; this book unflinchingly flips conventional thinking surrounding motherhood on its head.

From Danusia Malina-Derben, mother of 10, entrepreneur, thought leader, and critically acclaimed podcast host - this is a long-awaited, no-holds-barred book on why our current thinking about modern motherhood is overdue a radical overhaul.

On the one hand, this book is about being a mother, but it's also about how, once we become mothers, we're not allowed to be ourselves. NOISE is a powerful dismantling of the barriers and central tenets that hold women back.

This manifesto was built to start a conversation; it's a call-to-arms to get ideas flowing through our communities, and an invitation to think differently about what we're repeatedly told about motherhood. An intimate, bold blend of memoir, thought-leadership and research, Danusia provocatively reframes the NOISE around motherhood and repositions mothers as the social change agents our world desperately needs.

“A debrief on motherhood for today” The Telegraph

"Danusia makes motherhood political - giving tangible steps to help shift our societal views on motherhood and make a change.” Eve Rodsky, author of NYT Bestseller Fair Play

“It is a beautiful thing when a book about motherhood is about people; about remembering that mothers are people in their own right. I think we so often forget that. This is a soothing slap in the face reminder.” Hollie McNish, author of Nobody Told Me & Slug

Triumph Press: https://www.triumphpress.co/books/p/noise
Available for purchase at (amongst others): Amazon UK — Foyles

Michael speaks at Kaushalya UK - Men are from Mars

Kaushalya UK is a registered, not for profit, community organisation working to empower and uplift women. It is growing organically in leaps and bounds under the dynamic leadership of its founder and CEO Ms. Ritu Sharma, who has dedicated her life to bringing women this world to find their own power and true worth. 

The organisation has been working to bring more force to women through personal and professional education, business/work opportunities, social events, seminars, workshops and speaking events.

The aim of the organisation is to empower women, connect communities and raise awareness of issues that affect women. The unique objective of our organisation is not just to support those who are in dire need, but also support women who are on a journey to create a life of fulfilment through their personal and professional, including financial growth.

To expose women to a variety of activities and experiences related to health education, to help them develop a sound understanding of their overall development and enable them to attain positive self-image, to provide opportunities for women to make personal decisions related to their intellectual, physical and emotional development, to encourage desirable behaviour, leadership and co-operation with others.

We aim to educate women financially. Financial literacy would teach them how to be efficient with their finances in such a way that they can accomplish more goals, and the goals that they do have, faster.

Website: https://kaushalyauk.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calltowomanpower
Twitter: https://twitter.com/womenemp0wer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaushalyauk

I reference a podcast I listened to in March 2021, where Andrea Fella was interviewed by Dan Harris of the Ten Percent Happier podcast, which I highly recommend.

Apple Podcasts episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ten-percent-happier-with-dan-harris/id1087147821?i=1000511394366
Spotify Podcasts episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2W8xmWRGqSDvrXqfxKbRBl?si=hVmpGiRjT822axA4CCkoig&dl_branch=1

You may also like to consider a recent short article I posted on this topic.
https://www.stayingaliveuk.com/blog/2021/7/are-you-responding-like-your-parents-or-like-your-teachers

Theresa Velendzas - Life and Wellness Coach

Theresa Velendzas is a Life Coach devoted to empowering people to reach their dream destiny through personal wellness. She is passionate about the psychology that guides people to fulfill their highest potential and guides them to align body, mind and heart. 

Fitness and Self Care became priorities for me much later in life and only after I felt trapped in my body. As a teen and young woman I had issues with body image, sure, but objectively, I was at normal body weight with practically zero fitness level.
It wasn't until after gaining 90 lbs as a result of several rounds of fertility treatments, miscarriages and finally a successful pregnancy, that as I finally held my beloved baby in my arms, I looked up at myself and didn't recognize me. I would pass by mirrors or take selfies with my baby, and not recognize ME. People reassured me that I had been through a lot and that women over 35 having babies have difficulty bouncing back, that it's to be expected, and that I will adapt.

But I felt trapped.

It wasn't a matter of having a picture-perfect image. My years of poor body image had brought on a sort of acceptance that my body would never do that. What I yearned for was something more meaningful. I didn't mind my mommy battle scars either. However, feeling trapped in my body did not have to be one of them. I did not want to accept something I could change. But how?
I took an inventory of my wishes, needs and resources and decided to take control of my body with care and compassion. This led to a fantastic wellness journey that started in 2008 and continues today. Along the way, there have been changes, life difficulties, personal & professional development, and ups and downs - but no more stops and starts. I am here today because of that moment I felt trapped in my body and decided to find the way out, and now I am here to share it with you. This is what inspired me to become a coach.

Begin Altraform

Coaching women in this holistic approach makes sense because as a mom and entrepreneur I know that we are balancing an enormous amount of overload and responsibility. Often we are polarized and also pulled in different directions. My biggest personal fear is that we allow ourselves to be pulled by all these forces and miss the things that give our lives meaning. I want to help others flourish physically, mentally, and emotionally to live a full life, without regret. How beautiful it feels to self-care without guilt and without "no pain no gain" bully tactics that I know do not work because I tried them on myself many a time.
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In my career before mommyhood, I worked with the elderly across long-term care settings. There were several individuals I consider mentors who touched me with their emanating sense of joy, contentment, and a natural way of nurturing their selves as well as others in their interactions. What leads a person to age gracefully and without regret, I wondered as I started my search for answers over 25 years ago. Mind-body self-care is essential. That is the road I am heading down in my life and I would love to walk alongside you on yours.
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My coaching is guided by the principles of Internal Family Systems. I am also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and hold degrees in Psychology and Health Care Management. I believe that movement helps us connect to our body and that as we connect we can access our own path to wellness.

Besides my professional training, I learned through my own journey how hard it can be to zero in on goals, understand obstacles, and confidently move in the direction of success in fitness and weight loss. Going through this all showed me that my calling is to share and empower others to find their own path to intuitively understand what their body needs and know how to truly nourish it. Guiding you towards the fulfillment of your fitness and weight loss for optimal is health my mission and passion. Showing you how to self-correct and remove obstacles so you can succeed requires focused individualized attention from me to you.
​
The systems are simple and once learned are yours forever to apply in many areas of your life. Using science and age-old wisdom packaged into a user-friendly system for the modern, very busy person, you will find ways to tap into your aligned self to become the best version of yourself you dream possible. Learn to instantly relieve stress, avoid self-sabotage and self-criticism, and many other negative traits that hold us back.

Through Altraform I offer a holistic approach to personalized coaching using the mind and body connection in ways that are accessible, adaptable, and known to fuel your success.

Website: https://www.altraform.pro or https://www.theresaWV.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/altraform + https://www.facebook.com/theresawv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresa_wv

Clubhouse: TheresaWV

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresawalshvelendzas/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheresaWV

Diane Chang - Founder and Creative Director of Akushio

Diane Chang is the founder and Creative Director of Akushio, a sustainable specialty brand of travel bags and accessories for toiletries and cosmetics. As a skincare and makeup lover, Diane aims to take the stress and overwhelm out of packing your beauty products, so you can feel beautiful and confident no matter where you go. Later this year Diane’s product will be on Kickstarter.

Website: akushio.co

Instagram: instagram.com/akushio.co

Facebook: http://facebook.com/akushio.co

Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/beautipolitans

TikTok: tiktok.com/@akushio.co?lang=en

Kickstarter: TBC

Rupert Honywood interviews Michael on Look Forward Thursdays

Okay so a bit of self indulgence for you in this episode. I was invited by a previous guest and fan of the podcast, Rupert Honeywood of Business Growth Bureau to appear on his weekly live stream titled ‘Look Forward Thursdays’. This is my first speaking event since the start of the pandemic, so I said yes of course. Another opportunity to talk about my current passion, storytelling. 

We came up with a jazzy title ‘Your brain is wired for stories and how to implement this in your business’. 

We discussed the following 5 topics.

1. How storytelling affects your brain 

2. Research on the use of visuals 

3. The Ebbinghaus forgetting curve 

4. How you experience the Hero’s Journey 

5. How to implement this in your business from tomorrow

Now of course we discuss some visuals that I shared, which you can’t see on an audio podcast but if you look below you will be able to see them all there for downloading. Anyway I hope you will find it useful and of course reach out if you have any questions at all. Enjoy!

Look Forward Thursdays: https://businessgrowthbureau.tv/event1/
Storytelling Workshop: https://www.stayingaliveuk.com/share-your-story
LinkedIn Rupert Honywood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupert-honywood
LinkedIn Michael de Groot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stayingaliveuk

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Alison Grade - Author, Consultant, Mentor and Trainer

Alison Grade is the fourth generation of her family to work in media. She has been a professional freelancer all her career. 

Writing in The Guardian Mark Lawson described her as being one of the most influential people in TV when, as a schoolgirl, she persuaded her father to repeat Neighbours at 5:35pm so she and her friends wouldn’t miss it.  

Alison describes her key skill as transforming creative concepts into a business reality. She accomplishes this with the films she produces, the creative entrepreneurs she mentors, SMEs she advises and in her book, The Freelance Bible (Penguin).  

Alison has formal academic training (INSEAD MBA) as well as being an entrepreneur who has established her own businesses. She has worked at senior level in many media companies - predominantly in international television and film production, rights management and strategy.

Currently Alison owns Mission Accomplished, a consultancy offering training, mentoring and strategic advice to start-ups and established SMEs in the Creative Industries. As a Nesta accredited Creative Enterprise trainer and mentor Alison has delivered international programmes in association with the British Council.

During her career, Alison has produced over 7,000 minutes of film and television productions on both high and low budgets. Her non-media experience includes founding Girls Angels, a motorcycle training school that specialised in training women.

Websites: https://www.mission.guru + https://alisongrade.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisongrade

Freelancer Bible: http://styin.me/the-freelancer-bible

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alisongrade

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freelancebible

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freelancebible

First Steps into Film and TV https://hopin.com/events/first-steps-into-film-and-tv

Guardian masterclass - https://membership.theguardian.com/event/how-to-be-a-great-freelancer-a-practical-workshop-with-alison-grade-153476912577

Pia Prana Muggerud - Coach, Trainer, Holistic Counsellor and Author

Pia Prana Muggerud is a Women’s Personal Mastery and Leadership Coach, a Holistic Counsellor and Biodynamic Breathwork and Trauma Release Practitioner. he draws on a rich background of therapeutic trainings and experience in spiritual studies, awareness training, and meditation. Her work is about being real. So every step, becomes about coming closer to realizing and standing in your own truth and share it in love, courage and dignity. She is also a Learning Love teacher, work which brings awareness and acceptance to the wounds carried from childhood, that affect our adult lives and relationships.

She offers individual work, as well as groups as a Coach and Counsellor. She leads women's circles, she facilitates Awakening of Love, and the transformative process Path of Love.

Pia has worked as a Coach since 2002, working with senior leaders from around Asia. She has had the privilege of coaching 1000s of people, from more than 15 different countries when she served as a senior mentor in the training programs of Life & Business Strategist Tony Robbins. Pia has worked with many large multi-national companies supporting the rise of leadership presence in the workplace.

Mission:

Her work is about being real and creating personal freedom. So every step, becomes about coming closer to realizing and standing in your own truth and share it in love, courage and dignity. Her purpose is to create a learning space where people feel seen and heard in a way that opens up to a more authentic self expression.

Pia is also an enthusiastic advocate for women’s empowerment. She would love nothing more than to see women embracing their true authentic voice and speak up about what they most want to share with the world!

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piamuggerud
Website: http://www.co-pia.com
Facebook Biz: https://www.facebook.com/RISECoachingTraining
Facebook private group for women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RISETheEvolvingWomensCollective​
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachPia​​
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/piaprana​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piaprana​​
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCmTKkrT48kGpABptmBB1IA
Book: She Rises For Tomorrow: https://tinyurl.com/r4v9s7c7​​

Marijana Dragojevic - Mind-Body-Nutrition Coach

After many years of working in a bank, earning what most would consider good money, but not enjoying a moment there, I have finally built up the courage to say no to work I hated and began my search for a career, that is fulfilling and meaningful.

It started by looking for answers to my own health and weight issues.

The following 2 decades led me down countless avenues, some by choice and some by chance. No matter how many changes I made in my personal and professional life there seemed to be one constant - my interest in food and health.

These 2 worlds collided in a bad way during my first pregnancy when I gained 70 pounds! I didn’t just gain weight, I became unhealthy. In search of answers and help, naturally I turned to my doctors and to traditional medicine. Years went by bouncing from specialist to specialist, without seeing any results.

At the same time, I began exploring the healing power of food. I made a lot of improvements to my health by changing my diet. However, studying nutrition, I found a lot of contradictory information that made me confused, not sure whom to believe. It took me a while to realise that there is no “one size fits all” solution. It was a process of trial and error. Over time I’ve learned to listen to the feedback from my body. In my experience, changing my relationship with food was so much more powerful than I could imagine and I knew there was much more to learn.

This led me to discover the Institute for the Psychology of Eating and in turn this gave me the opportunity to consolidate everything I learnt over the years.

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when, at the start of 2019, I discovered that I have insulin resistance. My research into this problem led me to finding out about keto.

At first, I didn’t know much, if anything about keto, but for some reason I had a negative opinion of it. I remember first hearing about keto and thinking; I wouldn’t and couldn’t even eat like that. I also remember feeling that this was going to be another trendy diet here today and gone tomorrow.

My opinion started to change when I began reading about reversing the causes of insulin resistance from some of the leading functional doctors in the field today.

The amazing work of people such as Dr. Anna Cabeca and her book ‘The Hormone Fix’ and Dr. Will Cole’s ‘Ketotarian’ started to open my eyes to the possibilities. I wasn’t quite sold that easily but now I was listening, so with nothing to lose I decided to put their ideas into practise using myself and my insulin resistance as the test subject.

As you can imagine I was blown away by the results and the ease with which my body became keto adapted. Just as impressive as the health benefits was the speed with which the weight came off, I wasn’t obese to begin with but I was starting to believe that my slight excess in weight was just part of being a woman in her 60s, I was wrong!

I was all in! I ordered a bunch of books on keto and quickly enrolled in a course with one of the leading names in the game, Dr. Berg.

Now that I am a certified keto coach I can say something truly amazing; my clients are reporting the same amazing experiences as me!

Website: www.greenmindfulketo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenmindfulketo
Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/ketoforbusypeopleover40
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marijana-dragojevic-849b7b39

Franco DeMori - Business Growth Leadership Coach

Discover the principles to get into the zone that gives you the powerful insights you need for business growth - WHENEVER YOU NEED THEM - not just walking the dog at the weekend, sat on a far flung beach or taking a morning shower. 

• In the moment you need them

• No matter how busy you are

• And with NOTHING NEW TO LEARN

HAS YOUR STRATEGY FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LOST MOMENTUM?
Your ability to get in the zone and access the insights you need whenever you need them is THE #1 competitive advantage in the growth of your business. And hardly anyone’s cottoned onto this. Yet! 

We work with entrepreneur-owners and senior directors to create an on-demand insight culture, that greatly increases business growth. In less time, with less mental effort, with NOTHING NEW TO LEARN and in a way that has you be at your best every day.

WHAT DO YOU NEED HELP WITH? 

• Business Growth Leadership

• Peak Performance Mentorship 

• Executive Leadership Coaching 

• Peak Performance Team Building 

• Business Growth Insights

• Peak Performance Coaching

WHAT DO WE OFFER? 

THE FREE VIDEO MINI-SERIES
Get access to the leaders’ guide to how to get in the zone whenever you need to. It's the engine room behind accelerated business growth – the essential framework for how it can drive remarkable results for your business in much less time.

THE TRAINING
Join me for a ‘no pitch’ private training and discover how you can use in the zone principles to start increasing the revenue and profit of your existing systems and strategy. With nothing new to learn.

THE PROGRAMME
Contact me to find out about our Peak Performance Business Growth Programme that uses your existing systems more powerfully for more revenue, in less time and with less mental effort. And also with nothing new to learn!

WANT TO KNOW MORE? 
Phone: +44 330 223 1542
Email: franco@demorivida.pro
LinkedIn: /linkedin.com/in/business-growth-leadership-coaching
Instagram: /instagram.com/franco.demori

Michael de Groot - Interviews with BBC Hereford and Worcester

I’m a Dutchman and I’m hugely passionate about storytelling.

My quest is to enable small business owners become better storytellers and share engaging stories about themselves and their businesses.

I do this through my own small business, Staying Alive UK, where we enjoy producing visually impactful cartoons and animation campaigns, engaging audiences and giving them a unique insight into an organisation’s story and value proposition. One of our future aims is to deliver these stories via Augmented Reality (AR) too. In addition we also deliver the ‘Share Your Story’ Storytelling Workshops online to help business owners develop their own story blueprint.

I am the host and producer of the ‘Share Your Story’ Podcast, where I invite small business owners to share their own stories with the aim of inspiring new and existing business owners.

In my personal time, I’m a student of Taiko Drumming, Yoga, Mindfulness Meditation and Minimalism. Just my own way of developing a more meaningful life.

Michael de Groot
Chief Storyteller at Staying Alive UK

Website: /stayingaliveuk.com
LinkedIn: /linkedin.com/in/stayingaliveuk
Twitter: /twitter.com/stayingaliveuk
Facebook: /facebook.com/stayingaliveuk
Instagram: /instagram.com/stayingaliveuk
YouTube: /youtube.com/c/MichaeldeGroot
Podcast: /pod.link/shareyourstory
Book an interview: /zoom.as.me/podcast