Growing Up with Delia Burgess: Recent Episodes
Delia Burgess
Rish Gupta is a transformation & manifesting coach based in India.
In 2019, a deep void forced him to enquire about the nature of this life. He turned towards spirituality for the first time:
"As my practices to strengthen my body, mind and spirit intensified, I became more and more aware of oneness of this life, and a veil of separation.
A series of awakenings brought me in touch with my essence as "I remembered" the real me.
Following this deeper inner journey of releasing inner blocks, uncovering my innate gifts, and getting closer to realising my true powers each moment, I have now birthed REALITY UNLIMITED."
twitter: @therishgupta
insta: @rishguptaofficial
Jess Dato is a strategy & ops consultant providing fractional services to startups and small businesses, based in New York.
Find her on twitter @jessdato
Roger Moorhouse is an historian and author specialising in modern German and Central European history, with particular interest in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust and World War Two in Europe.
His books include:
Berlin at War: Life and Death in Hitler's Capital, 1939-45
The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941
Killing Hitler: The Plots, The Assassins, and the Dictator Who Cheated Death
and most recently
The Forgers: The Forgotten Story of the Holocaust's Most Audacious Rescue Operationrogermoorhouse.com
Catherine Woodiwiss is a designer + journalist.
She is currently building socialhealingproject.com
Her work is largely about what makes us human, in a world that’s increasingly being built for tech.
catherinehwoodiwiss.com
Twitter: @chwoodiwiss
Joachim found success as a singer & composer in Belgium before turning to entrepreneurship for greater agency over his life and income. He co-founded a digital product business while living nomadically. He is currently based in Sofia, where he is pursuing a new chapter...
Melissa is an Emotional Eating Coach based in Portugal. In 2023 she quit her London hedge fund job to pursue a greater calling...
insta: @melissaportercoaching
Silba is a trained behavioural scientist and trauma-informed somatic coach (MSc, Dipl, Cert, Dipl) who supports ambitious humans to reconnect to their bodies, redefine their purpose and savour the fullness of life.
In her private coaching sessions, workshops and talks, she merges modern science, therapeutic frameworks and ancestral traditions to support clients on their unique journey of integrity, vitality and confidence.
Her spaces are inclusive, playful and empowering and infused with her contagious positive energy. She is most often found geeking out over personal development and growth, asking deep questions, dancing barefoot and devouring yummy foods.
Pantelis is a CEDR accredited mediator with a unique background in business, partnerships, fintech, property, sports, and negotiations, offering a rare insight into the influences that drive conflict. Pantelis brings a wealth of experience from founding seven startups and achieving two successful exits. With a profound background in tennis and passion for the game Pantelis blends his diverse expertise to foster unique insights for personal and professional growth.
Justin partners with the 0.1% because they create the technologies, companies and systems that benefit the other 99.9%.
He is the author of Epic Business and Epic Life.
theepicfit.com
Andrew is a writer and student of philosophy at George Washington University, in Washington D.C. He also works as a Research Assistant for Brass Check, working for some of the biggest and most brilliant minds in content creation, such as Ryan Holiday, Brent Underwood, and Billy Oppenheimer.
https://andrewfleig.net/
Ben Freeth, MBE is a British-born Zimbabwean farmer who successfully sued Mugabe in an international court in 2008. Since winning the lawsuit he has been harassed and his farm burnt to the ground. His family's story was told in a BAFTA nominated documentary, Mugabe and the White African (2009) and subsequently Ben's first book of the same title. Listen to Ben's Growing Up story at Ep. 87 - Ben Freeth: suing Robert Mugabe, the Walled City, thugs and the Holy Spirit
Khe Hy worked on Wall Street for 15 years and was one of the youngest Managing Directors at BlackRock. He followed the playbook of status and income, but was hit with the striking realisation: "Is this it?"
At 35, he left and started RadReads, the blog that helps hard-charging professionals step back from their busy lives and ask themselves life's biggest questions. Is this as good as it gets? What does it mean to make an impact? What does a rich and fulfilled life look like?
Khe has been called “Oprah for Millennials” by CNN and the “Wall Street Guru” by Bloomberg. RadReads has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, TedX, Time, Quartz and LifeHacker.
Now based in LA, Khe works as a coach helping high-performing professionals lead more productive, examined and joyful lives.
Kai Karar tells his Growing Up story on Ep. 94 - Kai Karar: addiction, stealing cars, Russian drug supply & getting clean
He currently hosts a popular podcast in Finland (he monetised his YouTube channel in 49 days) & here we are mostly chatting about this!
Kai lives in Tampere Finland. He is a ghostwriter, podcaster and former MMA fighter.@edge_of_obsess
Erica Komisar, LCSW is a New York based psychoanalyst, parent coach and author. With 30 years of experience in private practice, she works to alleviate pain from individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety, eating, and other compulsive disorders.
A graduate of Georgetown and Columbia Universities and The New York Freudian Society, Erica is a psychological consultant bringing parenting and work/life workshops to clinics, schools, corporations, and childcare settings.
Erica is also the author of the book Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters and Chicken Little The Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety and has appeared on major media networks such as CBS, ABC, FOX, and NPR. She is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Daily News, and FOX 5 NY. She is a Contributing Editor to the Institute for Family Studies.
She lives in New York City with her husband, optometrist, and social entrepreneur Dr. Jordan Kassalow with whom she has three teenage and young adult children.
We also discuss growing up in Detroit with that surname...
John Hittler is the co-founder of Evoking Genius, a transformational business-coaching firm based in San Jose, California. Father of seven, happily married, competitive athlete, and dedicated volunteer in the field of domestic violence, John spends his free time dancing Tango with his wife, cooking for his friends and family, and traveling to places he has not yet visited. John can be reached at evokinggenius.com
Grace Nikae began touring internationally as a concert pianist at 13 years old...
(I was going to ask her the definition of "child prodigy" and then found out she'd been on TV as a 3 y.o. solving algebraic equations and reading from a Mark Twain novel, so checks out.)
Grace has done many incredible things (e.g. after leaving her international solo career she wrote 8 best selling novels under a pseudonym, taught herself to code and somehow ended up as marketing director of a 5 star hotel in Hawaii, started a TikTok on leadership and grew her audience to 80k followers etc. etc.)
HOWEVER this conversation is really about the human story underneath all of that. Loneliness, suffering, isolation. What triggered the decision to leave music. Her attitude to following her curiosity. We all need to feel loved and that we belong 💛
Very special conversation xx
Dave Sherwood is Co-Founder and CEO of BibliU.
BibliU is an education technology company, specialising in digital textbook provision for universities.
Originally from Western Australia, Dave was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University but left his studies after 18 months having founded BibliU.
Georgie is a legend / lawyer based in Melbourne who is passionate about food & diet culture.
insta: @conceivingitall
podcast: Conceiving it All - the podcast
She sent me a million books / resources to include in the show notes:
ADHD
ADHD 2.0, Edward M Hallowell, Dr. John J. Ratey
Scattered Minds, Gabor Mate
Dr Arthur Stabolidis (psych in Melbourne does online stuff)
Body Image / Race / Criminal Justice System:
The Mother Wound, Amani Haydar
Witness, Louise Milligan
The Body is Not an Apology, Sonya Renee Taylor
More Than a Body, Lindsay & Lexie Kite
Unapologetic Eating, Alissa Rumsey
Hood Feminism, Mikki Kendall
Also:
A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, Cheryl Strayed
Untamed, Glennon Doyle
Nolan Gore is the General Manager and owner of Top Choice Lawn Care, Austin (85 employees. $8M and growing)
He previously served in the US Marine Corps as Combat Engineer Officer.
Twitter: @LeadershipAcad1www.topchoiceaustin.com
Kai lives in Tampere Finland. He is a ghostwriter, podcaster and former MMA fighter.@edge_of_obsess
Silba works at the intersection between behavioural economics, design, creative storytelling, mindset coaching, presence training, embodiment practices & community building.
@silbastaffler
www.silbastaffler.com/whatscooking
Oliver Webb-Carter, having studied history & archaeology, worked at JP Morgan for nearly two decades, before deciding to return to his first love, history. He is the editor and co-founder of Aspects of History, a magazine and podcast dedicated to history and historical fiction.
aspectsofhistory.com
Jimmy teaches argumentation and critical thinking as an associate professor at Crafton Hills College, California.
"To have four passionate, interesting, curious, intellectual, stimulating, motivated and driven adult children is by far my greatest pleasure and joy in life."
Jenny is a yoga teacher, breathwork, movement and meditation instructor based in London, UK.
Originally from the North East, her passion lies in connecting people to their bodies and their minds in an accessible, creative, and warm way.
Jenny initially trained in Theatre, having been one of 4 girls out of 2000+ applicants to be accepted into the world renowned Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
She then set up and ran a successful dance party company before training in yoga and fitness.
Mike Simon is a Somatic Coach, Movement Artist & Reiki Practitioner based in London.
Twitter: @themikegsimon
Ben Freeth, MBE is a British-born Zimbabwean farmer who successfully sued Mugabe in an international court in 2008. Since winning the lawsuit he has been harassed and his farm burnt to the ground. His family's story was told in a BAFTA nominated documentary, Mugabe and the White African (2009) and subsequently Ben's first book of the same title.
Jordan lives in Hawaii with his wife and two children.
jordanurbs.com
"I used to say you could be "free" by ditching your 9-5 and surrendering to the life of a nomad. It really teaches you to get humble and trust in yourself.But then I had kids, and moved into an off-grid tiny house. Now I recognise that freedom exists only in the mind."
Listen to part 1: Ep. 75 - Jordan Urbs: jesus, sex, hitchhiking & psychedelics
Caroline Silvestre BSc, MSc, GMBPsS is based in Mayfair and works with Parts therapy (IFS informed) and Eugene Gendlin's Focussing. She also provides evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy.
caroline.silvestre@pm.me
mayfairhypnotherapy.co.uk
Caroline explains more about IFS therapy in Ep. 66 - Caroline Silvestre: a conversation with my therapist
Joachim found success as a singer & composer in Belgium before turning to entrepreneurship for greater agency over his life and income. He co-founded a digital product business while living nomadically. He is currently based in Sofia, where he is pursuing a new chapter...
Find out more at relatingtoself.com
John believes unresolved trauma is our greatest liability. His mission is to create awareness and understanding around the effects of unresolved trauma on our lives and in our society. He provides insight, tools, and guided meditations around connecting with our family systems and healing our internal dynamics.
zuluone.org
Jordan lives in Hawaii with his wife and two children.
jordanurbs.com
"I used to say you could be "free" by ditching your 9-5 and surrendering to the life of a nomad. It really teaches you to get humble and trust in yourself.But then I had kids, and moved into an off-grid tiny house. Now I recognise that freedom exists only in the mind."
Benjamin Yeoh is a senior portfolio manager of global equities, he is also an award-winning playwright.
Ben shares ideas on sustainability, investing, autism, arts, theatre and how to live a better life at:
www.thendobetter.com / Ben Yeoh Chats podcast
Jimmy Hutton is a cognitive hypnotherapist helping clients live happier, freer, more connected lives free from the limiting beliefs holding them back.
www.jimmyhuttontherapy.co.uk
James is interested in the wellbeing of individuals, organisations & communities.
Through his London-based Find Enlight project he explores the art of community building, from personal to community cohesion & cultural innovation.
find-enlight.com / contact James at find.enlight@gmail.com
Meta Crisis links: Intro | Origins & Third Attractor out of the Meta Crisis | Resource List
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones The New Human Rights Movement By Peter Joseph
If you need to speak to somebody urgently, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Julia Scott is an IFS therapy practitioner. Her mission is to help individuals live beyond their current narrative and embrace a fully expressed story aligned with their authentic purpose and potential. Julia has facilitated hundreds of individuals, couples and groups through her transformative work; guiding them inward to witness, release and transform their limiting beliefs, sabotaging patterns, stuck emotions and wounded 'parts' blocking them from living, feeling and manifesting what they want and deserve. Julia incorporates IFS (Internal Family Systems) as well as various psychological and somatic therapeutic models into her work.
Her varied training and formal education includes:
BSc. (Hons) Psychology with Neuroscience — University of Sussex
MA Anthropology of Food and Health — University of London
SOAS Transpersonal Psychotherapist — CCPE, London (5-year diploma/ MA: in progress)
Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy — Embody Lab
200 Hour Ashtanga & Meditation Teacher — Varkala, India
Certified Peer Mental Health Counselor — RI International
www.juliaascott.com
insta: @juliascott.storywork
What is our internal family system?
Neil Ganju is back.
Books mentioned:
The 48 Laws of Power - Robert Greene
You Are the Message: Getting What You Want by Being Who You Are - Roger Ailes
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
John Anthony Bird, Baron Bird, MBE is a British social entrepreneur and life peer in the House of Lords. He is best known as the co-founder of The Big Issue, a magazine sold by street vendors who are homeless or vulnerably-housed.
Bird was born in 1946 in a Notting Hill slum to a poor London Irish family. He became homeless at age of five, spent time in an orphanage, in young offenders institutions and prison during his youth.
In 1991, Bird launched The Big Issue with Gordon Roddick, co-founder of The Body Shop.
Bird was nominated for life peerage in October 2015 to become a non-party-political "people's peer", sitting as a crossbencher.
His work focuses on dismantling the root causes of poverty in the UK, with an emphasis on the well-being of future generations, early intervention and prevention.
John Collins has a PhD in nuclear physics. At 28 he was employed by De Beers to develop the world's first lab grown diamond. He is currently a non-faculty associate of the Cambridge Judge Business School and an Ethics & Responsible Innovation Advisor. His purpose is to help others achieve their purpose.
Listen to John's Growing Up episode at:Ep. 17 - Dr John Collins, PhD: inventing the lab grown diamond
Guys I’m stranded in an airport trying to get back into the UK after all the air traffic control kerfuffles. Don’t have my laptop but Neil and I recorded this ep back in March and it was sitting in my drafts so pls enjoy xx
We discuss CBT, IFS (parts therapy), hypnosis, Jungian psychology etc...
Caroline Silvestre BSc, MSc, GMBPsS is based in Mayfair and works with Parts therapy (IFS informed) and Eugene Gendlin's Focussing. She also provides evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy.
caroline.silvestre@pm.me
mayfairhypnotherapy.co.uk
Resources:
If you need to speak to somebody urgently, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Juvenal Vitalis lives in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and works for the African School of Storytelling.
He is the host of 'The Unapologetic Human' podcast, where he explores culture, technology, philosophy, and beyond. The Unapologetic Human is a space for raw, honest conversations about our doubts, experiences, and values.
@theunapologetichuman_podcast
Danielle is a Breathwork Teacher and Women’s Codependency Coach.
She supports women in gaining clarity in their life and discovering their deep desires through self-acceptance and approval. Her mission is to give women permission to be, do, and create whatever it is that they truly desire - to know that their uniqueness is their power and that their desire is their direction.
@daniellehattonn bio.site/daniellehatton
Alex is a behavioural scientist and digital health researcher at Action Lab, Monash University with a passion for health, wellbeing, behavioural science and implementation.
Alex is passionate about utilising behavioural science, policy, and programmes to achieve health outcomes.
Jazz Singh was born in East London. He had a successful career in the City as a wealth manager before losing everything to drug addiction, ultimately ending up behind bars, spending three years in prison.
Jazz was released last April (2022) and emerged from prison with newfound clarity and purpose. His mission is to rehabilitate society's perception of prisoner leavers and seeks to ensure his life serves as an example not a warning to others, demonstrating that transformation and redemption are possible for anyone, regardless of their past.
Jazz serves as a Director of B-Radical, a profit-for-good organisation that helps businesses turn their diversity, Corporate Social Responsibility and 'Environmental Social and Governance' rhetoric into meaningful action by leveling the playing field for Radical people and communities.
Jazz seeks to create a society where everyone, regardless of their past or circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Julia Scott's mission is to help individuals live beyond their current narrative and embrace a fully expressed story aligned with their authentic purpose and potential. Julia has facilitated hundreds of individuals, couples and groups through her transformative work; guiding them inward to witness, release and transform their limiting beliefs, sabotaging patterns, stuck emotions and wounded 'parts' blocking them from living, feeling and manifesting what they want and deserve. Julia incorporates Internal Family Systems as well as various psychological and somatic therapeutic models into her work. Her varied training and formal education includes:
BSc. (Hons) Psychology with Neuroscience — University of Sussex MA Anthropology of Food and Health — University of London SOAS Transpersonal Psychotherapist — CCPE, London (5-year diploma/ MA: in progress) Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy — Embody Lab 200 Hour Ashtanga & Meditation Teacher — Varkala, India Certified Peer Mental Health Counselor — RI International
www.juliaascott.com insta: @juliascott.storywork
Keith Hawton is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford. He practised as a consultant psychiatrist for over 30 years.
Professor Hawton has been researching the causes, treatment, prevention and outcome of suicidal behaviour for over 40 years. He has published more than 500 papers and chapters and 15 books and is the recipient of numerous awards. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and has a particular interest in epidemiology and clinical management of self-harm, suicide and self-harm in adolescents, media influences on self-harm and evaluation of suicide prevention initiatives.
(The book Keith mentions in the episode is The Savage God: A study of Suicide by A Alvarez.)
Resources:
If you need to speak to somebody urgently, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Susan Anderson is a practicing psychotherapist, founder of the Abandonment Recovery Program and author of 'The Journey from Abandonment to Healing: Surviving Through and Recovering from the Five Stages That Accompany the Loss of Love.'
Susan has over 30 years of clinical experience and research helping victims of abandonment trauma heal heartache, grief and shame and overcome patterns of self-sabotage.
Susan had her own adult abandonment experience when her beloved marital partner of almost 20 years suddenly left her for another woman.
Toby Young is a British social commentator. He is the founder and director of the Free Speech Union, an associate editor of The Spectator, and creator of the Daily Sceptic. He is the author of 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People', a memoir about his time atVanity Fair in New York, whichbecame a bestseller and was adapted into a Hollywood film. Toby co-founded the West London Free School which opened in 2011. Following a higher education board appointment by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2018, Toby faced a flood of criticism resulting in his resignation and the loss of four other roles.
Kristy McSweeney works in media and political strategy. She is the founder of the PR Counsel and regularly appears on Sky News. Kristy ran as the Liberal Party candidate for Swan in Western Australia at the 2022 federal election.
Carolina Wikstrom is a Human Design Guide helping business owners connect with their unique gifts, talents, and purpose so they can maximise their reach, impact, and revenue.
Carolina is Colombian, lives in London, has two children and spent many years working in finance in New York and Canada before she made the pivot into Human Design.
insta: @iamcarolinawikstrom
Leo van Veenendaal is the author of 'The Iboga Experience: Stories, experiences and advice from the sacred & secret plant that saves, heals, and transforms lives'
Leo is a Peru-based environmental engineer originally from Australia. For much of his adult life he suffered from IBS and treatment resistant depression & anxiety. At a point of desperation Leo began working with indigenous plant medicines, including Ayahuasca in Peru in 2016 to heal IBS and his brain.
In 2018 Leo was initiated into Iboga and Bwiti at Ebando in Gabon. He has continued working with and learning about plant medicines since. Working with Iboga totally transformed Leo's psyche and life. The relentless cloud of negative thoughts that haunted him vanished.
Leo is now apprenticing with plant medicines in Peru and hopes to open a retreat centre one day.
Resources:
If you need to speak to somebody urgently, there are people who will listen and help.
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
John Anderson is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from New South Wales who served as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia for 6 years under John Howard.
John is the host of Conversations with John Anderson which has had 57 million YouTube views and features conversation with some of the world's foremost thought leaders to examine in detail the social, cultural and political landscape we live in today. Guests include Jordan Peterson, Matthew McConaughey, Steven Pinker, Douglas Murray, and Niall Ferguson.
johnanderson.net.au
Jack Harber grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. He lives and works in London.
instagram: @jackrussellharber
Bryan Kam interviews me... terrifying! Now I know how all my guests feel. (Also will get speech lessons asap for you guys...) Resources:If you need to speak to somebody urgently, there are people who will listen and help.Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Jack Barsky was born Albrecht Dittrich in East Germany, 1949. Whilst at uni he joined the KGB and was sent to the US as a spy from 1978 to 1988. He was eventually exposed after the Cold War.
After his story became public Jack published 'Deep Undercover: My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy'
Doug Grant works with the national tennis teams of Nepal and Bhutan, and promotes tennis in schools and villages throughout the Himalayas.tennistrekking.comDuring the late seventies, two tennis professionals started a stringing business to help them earn extra cash for playing tennis overseas. Wayne Davies left the business and went on to become world champion of real (royal) tennis. Doug Grant remained in the business and while travelling the tennis circuit looked for other areas of tennis to expand into...Doug has made a career in tennis through multiple businesses including coaching, stringing racquets, servicing tennis courts, supplying court equipment and for almost twenty years a retail tennis outlet.www.courtcare.com.au
"I have come to the realisation that in fact I might be just ordinary"
Olivia Langdon is an Australian artist based in London, commenting on the seemingly ordinary life through text based works.
olivialangdon.com
"Dear Olivia,
here is a script you are expected to follow
Take one tablet in the morning and two at night
This will make you normal and you will be able to do what everyone else does."
The Listening Place (face-to-face support in London for those who feel life is no longer worth living):
listeningplace.org.uk/i-need-help
Call: 020 3906 2076
If you need to speak to somebody urgently, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Laura Proudfoot is the Head of Housekeeping on a 112m superyacht (and was my flatmate for 5 mins).
(1:42:30 is when we start talking the superyacht)
Nic Brown is the CEO of batyr and sits on the board of Suicide Prevention Australia.
batyr is a preventative mental health organisation, created to empower current and future generations of young people to be mentally healthy, aiming to prevent youth suicide.
batyr provides unique and engaging programs designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and empower young people to reach out for support. The programs connect young people with other young people, to share their stories and experiences with mental ill health.
batyr's vision is for 'an Australia where young people engage in positive conversations about mental health and are empowered to reach out for support when needed'.
www.batyr.com.au
Important note:
If you need to speak to somebody, there are people who will listen and help.
For urgent support in Australia:
Lifeline - 13 11 14 / www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au
Outside Australia: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
The help you need is out there xxx
Mo Seetubtim is the founder & CEO of The Happiness Planner.
moseetubtim.com
@brandmentalist
@happinessplanner
Bryan teaches me about Pyrrhonian scepticism.
(Pyrrhonism is an Ancient Greek school of philosophical scepticism which rejects dogma.)
Read my newsletter at: deliaburgess.blog
Bryan Kam writes on the origins of complexity, selfhood, and suffering, philosophy of science, punctuated equilibrium, literature, film.
Find Bryan at:
bryankam.substack.com
twitter.com/bryankam
bryankam.com
patreon.com/bryankam
Australia’s greatest humanitarian failure is preventable.
Jane Vadiveloo is the founding CEO of Children’s Ground not-for-profit and has a 20-year history leading reform and services provision with communities experiencing extreme disadvantage and trauma. Jane lived in the Northern Territory for 19 years and has over 30 years of connection to the Arrernte people in Central Australia. She has worked with children, families and communities at high risk, establishing strength and justice-based approaches to achieve long term change.
Children’s Ground was created as a 25-year approach to ensure that future generations of children are afforded equity, access and justice to determine their futures – to have quality education, health, social and economic opportunities that privilege their first culture within a global context.
In 2014 Jane was listed among the Westpac Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence.
Mr Goode is the Chairman of The Ian Potter Foundation (since 1994 and Governor since 1987), the Chairman of the Boards of Diversified United Investment Limited (since 1991), and is Chairman Emeritus of Flagstaff Partners (having been Chairman 2010 – 2019).
He was a Director of Woodside Petroleum Ltd from 1988 and Chairman from 1999 to 2007, a Director of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited from 1991 and Chairman from August 1995 to February 2010, and a Director of Singapore Airlines from 1999 to 2006.
He was engaged in the securities industry until 1989, for a period spanning 29 years. He joined Potter Partners in 1961, became a partner in 1969, Senior Partner in 1980 and on incorporation of the Firm, Chairman and Chief Executive of Potter Partners Group Ltd. in March 1986.
In August 2006 he was made a Life Member of the National Gallery of Victoria, and in April 2010 made a Life Member of Philanthropy Australia. In March 2012 he was awarded by the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne, the 2012 Alumni of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award.
He received the Australian Institute of Company Directors (Victorian Division) Distinguished Fellow Award for 2010.
Charles Goode has a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree from Melbourne University, an MBA from Columbia University, New York, and an Honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Melbourne and an Honorary Doctor of Law from Monash University. He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in June 2001. In May 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal. He received the Melbourne Business School (“MBS”) Award in 2006 and MBS holds an annual Charles Goode Oration.
Charles was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne (Dux of the School 1956), University of Melbourne (Graduated in first place in the Faculty of Commerce, 1960) and Columbia University, New York (Awarded Beta Gamma Sigma, 1963).
Tom McDonald is a professional AFL player for the Melbourne Football Club.
If things aren't going well in your life (like your AFL team wants to trade you and no other clubs want to pick you up), you can try blaming others but at some point you might need to "have a look in your own backyard". (Then you eat lots of meat, and end up winning a premiership.)
Things I learnt, beyond the importance of taking personal accountability for your own performance (in footy or life):
- "If I'm more selfless in this team, and we do better, it's better for all of us", E.g. no one cares about your stats when you're playing in a bottom 4 team. No one is going to stop you in the street to say 'well done'. But once you're a premiership player, different story.
- Related point: how changing little habits around the club can have a big impact on performance on field. E.g. turning up on time for meetings, showing gratitude to support staff, keeping changing rooms tidy etc. leads to being less selfish on the field, which leads to better performance.
- Dealing with negative comments on social media - a good sense check is, do people say these negative things to me in real life? No. Therefore you can probably ignore the comments.
Ron Shell was most recently Senior Vice President at PointsBet having joined the company in its infancy.
Lessons:
-
How an early run in with authority can be a defining moment in your life (for the better)
-
How if you always want to be no. 1, but you end up in a job where you don't really care then you'll probably be much happier doing something else
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A lesson from Ron's immigrant parents: use your network. It's important to work hard, but when you're new to a country a network is something you have to build from scratch. If you're not an immigrant you might be taking your network for granted...
Lance Picioane is a former first round draft pick and AFL footballer who established mental health foundation Love Me Love You in 2013 to empower the community to take control of their mental wellbeing and to live happier, more fulfilling lives.
As a teenager and throughout his AFL career, Lance was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Instead of asking for help, Lance turned to partying and substance abuse. By being truthful with himself, his family and his friends, Lance turned a corner and sought help. Although he still has his down days, Lance now lives a life full of love and happiness. Love Me Love You programs are based on Lance’s experiences and are aimed at educating and empowering the community about the importance of mental health on their wellbeing journey.
_____
I had the privilege of sitting down with Lance Picioane in Melbourne last week to have a brutally honest conversation about depression.
In our chat, Lance shares his story of playing AFL whilst not coping mentally and how he used partying, drugs and alcohol to escape feelings of low self worth. He shares lots of helpful advice for anyone who might be dealing with similar difficulties.
My key takeaways:
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Not being a victim: the importance of taking control of my own recovery journey in seeking the help I need
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How loved ones can support each other by listening, rather than by trying to problem solve or "fix" the person
-
How asking myself "Am I being the person I want to be right now?" might help getting me out of a low place
Important note: if you are struggling with depression or feelings of worthlessness, you are not alone, and the help you need is out there. It's not easy to talk about these things, but hopefully honest conversations like this might help you realise that it's okay to ask for help (even when you are the CEO of a mental health foundation).
If you need to speak to somebody, there are people who will listen and help.
For urgent support in Australia:
Lifeline - 13 11 14 / www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au
Outside Australia: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
- how Paul ended up as the head of the China desk in the Defence Intelligence Organisation.
Paul Monk is the author of eleven books, from his path-breaking 2005 book on the rise of China, Thunder From the Silent Zone: Rethinking China, to his latest book of love poetry, The Three Graces: Companionship, Discretion, Passion (2022). He has featured on both radio and television for many years as a respected commentator on international affairs. He has been a frequent and authoritative contributor to major print media for twenty-five years. He is a speaker on topics ranging from espionage and national security to the implications of the rise in Chinese power, religion in a secular age, the nature of Western civilisation and educating young minds for the 21st century world.
Find his first Growing Up episode at Ep. 24 - Paul Monk: a good reason to keep going.
Charlie on being born to refugee parents, fleeing communism and the value of freedom, how good personal responsibility feels, why not knowing who you are means the opinions of others will matter too much, why happiness is about embracing your problems, three steps to develop self belief to achieve what you want, a better definition of success, how to get over the fear of rejection and much more...
After 20 years in law and business, Charles Kovess left his legal career to share success strategies as an author, professional speaker, educator, facilitator and coach.
Ben Ryan works in Investment and Portfolio Management at MaxCap Group.
Ben is a corporate finance and investment professional having worked across both the Asia-Pacific and EMEIA regions with experience in financial modelling, portfolio/fund management, treasury management and complex financial analysis. He is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from Monash University.
Charlotte Scales is a digital marketing specialist. She lives in London in the beautiful flat she manifested.
Isabella Sandak-Lewin: biomedical engineer, pole dancer, and ray of sunshine.
Izzy is back! Listen to Part 1 at Ep. 4 - Izzy Sandak on anorexia and losing her best friend to Covid.
IG: @ch0nkymarshmell0w
Andy Rose is back for round 2! (find part 1 on Ep. 16: Andy Rose: from pushing shopping trolleys to buying a Porsche, & losing it to pursue his true passion at 43)
Andy is the owner of Snow Camps Europe and a ski instructor at Ski School Oberschneider in Kaprun, Austria.
He is also the co-owner at Jausestation Bad Fusch Grill & Craft in Bad Fusch, Austria.
Matthew Lesh is the Head of Public Policy at the IEA.
He regularly appears across television and radio, including the BBC, Sky News and GB News, and has been published in the Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Spectator, The Wall Street Journal, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.
He has written about the role of the business and the state, barriers to innovation, digital regulation and free speech, political divides, housing, and market environmentalism.
He is also the author of Democracy in a Divided Australia (2018), a Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute and an Adjunct Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. Matthew graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours) and completed a Masters in Public Policy and Administration at the London School of Economics.
Bruce Cameron is a principal at Piper Alderman with broad experience in commercial law. His expertise encompasses mergers and acquisitions, the privatisation of government business, private and public fund-raising, venture and development capital finance, joint ventures, company applications and boardroom disputes.
"I began my career as an analyst in New York then worked in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia in senior executive and leadership roles with Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and JBWere. As Scale Investors CEO, I facilitated patient capital investment into exceptional Australian early-stage businesses. My executive career has been quite the journey, super proud to have raised two amazing, now adult, daughters." - Ariane Barker
Tony Burgess is Chairman of Flagstaff Partners, an independent corporate finance advisory firm.
Mr Burgess has over 40 years of experience in corporate finance in Melbourne, London and New York and was previously Global Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for Deutsche Bank AG, based in London.
Mr Burgess holds an MBA (Distinction) from Harvard Business School (1985) and a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne (1981). He is a Director of the listed investment company, Diversified United Investment Limited, a Director of Melbourne Business School Limited, Chairman of the Melbourne Foundation for Business and Economics, a Governor of The Ian Potter Foundation and a Director of the Board of Management of the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Paul is the author of eleven books, from his path-breaking 2005 book on the rise of China, Thunder From the Silent Zone: Rethinking China, to his latest book of love poetry, The Three Graces: Companionship, Discretion, Passion (2022). He has featured on both radio and television for many years as a respected commentator on international affairs. He has been a frequent and authoritative contributor to major print media for twenty-five years. He is a speaker on topics ranging from espionage and national security to the implications of the rise in Chinese power, religion in a secular age, the nature of Western civilisation and educating young minds for the 21st century world.
Varad Mukhedkar is a 20 year old uni student from Perth, Western Australia
Tiktok: @varadm_58
"The whole meaning of Man Up all changed for me in March of 2021 when one of my best mate’s, Michael, took his own life a couple of weeks into uni. Everything changed. My perspective, my values, my passions.
So without parting ways with my initial drive, working in males mental health and suicide prevention became the number one aim for me. An aim that was to do as much as I can to make sure we don’t lose more people like Mike."
- Varad Mukhedkar
MAN UP: www.manupwa.org.au
If you need to speak to someone, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Christopher Snowdon is the head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. His research focuses on social freedoms, prohibition and policy-based evidence. He is a regular columnist for EA magazine and an occasional contributor to Spiked, The Critic and the Telegraph. He often appears on TV and radio discussing social and economic issues.
Snowdon is the editor of the Nanny State Index and the author of six books: 'Polemics' (2020), 'Killjoys' (2017), 'Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism' (2015), 'The Art of Suppression' (2011), 'The Spirit Level Delusion' (2010) and 'Velvet Glove, Iron Fist' (2009). He has also written more than a dozen reports for the Institute of Economic Affairs including ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow’, ‘The Proof of the Pudding: Denmark’s Fat Tax Fiasco’, ‘Cheap as Chips’, ‘Sock Puppets’ and ‘Closing Time: Who’s killing the British pub?’.
He blogs at Velvet Glove, Iron Fist.
CONTENT WARNING - explicit content around suicide / drugs (if you are struggling, please see below)
Dan Constable is a men's mindset coach and the founder of Proudly Me. He helps high achieving men go from self sabotage to a life of freedom, clarity & purpose.
Find Dan on
Instagram: @iamproudlyme
Tiktok: @iamproudlyme
Linkedin: Daniel Constablewww.proudly-me.com
If you need to speak to someone, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Bryan Kam writes on the origins of complexity, selfhood, and suffering, philosophy of science, punctuated equilibrium, literature, film.
Read the full essay How to end suffering through meditation: Dependent origination without any Pali at bryankam.substack.com
twitter.com/bryankam
bryankam.com
patreon.com/bryankam
Jack Anderson is a uni student, writer, speaker, founder and chair of education non-profit ThrivEd, Ninja Warrior World Cup commentator and film producer.
Jack founded and chairs Australia's first not-for-profit textbook authoring organisation. With a volunteer base of 20 writers ThrivEd authors Year 12 Textbooks using the proceeds from every two sales to produce and donate a third textbook to the library of a school in a low socioeconomic area.
Peter Costello served as the Treasurer of Australia in the Howard Government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australia's history. He delivered twelve federal budgets including ten surpluses. During this period Australia’s Sovereign Credit Rating was updated twice to its current AAA rating.
Mr Costello set up Australia’s system of financial regulation by establishing the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He also established the Takeovers Panel.
In 2006, after Government debt was eliminated in net terms, Mr Costello established the Australian Future Fund. From its original deposit, the Future Fund has grown to hold around $160 billion in assets.
Mr Costello has served on the IMF Committee, as a World Bank Governor and as Chairman of the Global Group of 20 Finance Ministers & Central Bankers (G-20).
Mr Costello began his career as a lawyer. After leaving politics in 2009, Mr Costello joined a number of international and domestic boards including the Independent Advisory Board to the World Bank which he Chaired.
Mr Costello is currently Chairman of the Future Fund. He is also Chairman of the Nine Entertainment Corporation.
John Collins has a PhD in nuclear physics. At 28 he was employed by De Beers to develop the world's first lab grown diamond. He is currently a non-faculty associate of the Cambridge Judge Business School and an Ethics & Responsible Innovation Advisor. His purpose is to help others achieve their purpose.
Andy Rose is the owner of Snow Camps Europe and a ski instructor at Ski School Oberschneider in Kaprun, Austria.
Gideon Rozner is the Director of Policy at the Institute of Public Affairs. Gideon joined the IPA because of a lifelong interest in personal and economic freedom.
Prior to joining the IPA, Gideon spent several years practicing as a lawyer at one of Australia’s largest commercial law firms, as well as several months as interim general counsel of an ASX-200 company. He has also served as an adviser to ministers in the Abbott and Turnbull Governments, advising on areas as diverse as electoral reform and northern Australian economic development. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.
Gideon has been published in a number of outlets including The Australian, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Age and The Spectator Australia, and has appeared on Sky News, 2GB, 3AW, ABC TV and Network Ten’s The Project.
Gareth Shanthikumar is a Tedx speaker, personal trainer, and co-founder of MAN UP WA
MAN UP is a not-for-profit, peer-to-peer education service in Western Australia, with the goal of empowering young men and redefining masculinity. MAN UP runs workshops on various topics centered around men’s mental health and well-being, with an emphasis on transforming boys into confident, purpose-driven, and emotionally capable men.
MAN UP's aim is to change the phrase ‘MAN UP’ to mean something positive; to live authentically from one’s heart, embrace vulnerability, and hold one another accountable to stand up for what is right.
Gareth is focussed on helping young men grow into healthy men by equipping them with the skills to deal with real life stressors - in an effort to bring more peace, joy and love into the world.
MAN UP: www.manupwa.org.au
Insta: @garethshan_pt
Oli teaches yoga & primal movement to combat modern living with a yin yoga focus at Compass Chelsea, London
Insta: @oliverjamesyoga
Gary Halai is a qualified suicide prevention and intervention specialist. He is the Senior Safeguarding Lead at Shout, a free 24/7 mental health text support line in the UK. Gary previously volunteered at Samaritans and worked at Place2Be, overseeing counselling provision in primary schools across Manchester before joining Shout in 2018.
If you need to speak to somebody, there are people who will listen and help:
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK)
Samaritans (Free call service): 116 123 (UK)
Outside the UK: Search 24/7 crisis support services to find services in your country
Dad is back for round 2: laying out the three principles he lives by.
Tony Burgess has over 40 years of experience in corporate finance in Melbourne, London and New York, and has advised on many major M&A and ECM transactions. Tony was previously Global Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Deutsche Bank AG. In this role he was based in London and was a Member of the Executive Committee for the Global Banking Division. He joined Deutsche Bank in Australia in early 1998 and was Co-Head of Global Corporate Finance, Australia & New Zealand from 1998 to 2004 before relocating to London in 2004.
Tony holds an MBA (with Distinction) from Harvard Business School (1985) and a Bachelor of Commerce (with First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne (1981).
Tony is a former member of the Takeovers Panel, a member of CPA Australia and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. He is Chairman of the Foundation for Business and Economics, University of Melbourne, a Governor of the Ian Potter Foundation, a Director of the listed investment company, Diversified United Investment Limited, a Director of Melbourne Business School Limited and a member of the Board of Management of the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Neil Ganju (formerly known as chaotic_zingerbox) is the National Digital Engineering Director, BMS for WSP, Australia. He has a Master of Construction Engineering from the University of Cambridge; his thesis focussed on the use of digital engineering in sustainable management of construction projects.
Patrick works in finance in New York. His story begins in East Africa (and... before I get accused of general ignorance about East Africa he came up with the episode title :) ).
Pietro Ferraro is a Research Fellow at Imperial College London, a Research Scientist at IOTA Foundation and founder of Go Eve, electric vehicle charging solution (DC charge point multiplier). His research work focuses on cyber physical systems, control theory, smart grid, smart cities and mathematical modelling of distributed ledger technologies (blockchain).
Lola asked for her first pay rise 8 months into her first industry role. She hasn't been afraid to ask for them since.
Recorded on 12 Oct 22
Bryan Kam writes on the origins of complexity, selfhood, and suffering, philosophy of science, punctuated equilibrium, literature, film.
twitter.com/bryankam
bryankam.substack.com
bryankam.com
patreon.com/bryankam
Tony Burgess is Chairman of Flagstaff Partners, an independent corporate finance advisory firm.
Mr Burgess has over 40 years of experience in corporate finance in Melbourne, London and New York and was previously Global Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for Deutsche Bank AG, based in London.
Mr Burgess holds an MBA (Distinction) from Harvard Business School (1985) and a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne (1981). He is a Director of the listed investment company, Diversified United Investment Limited, a Director of Melbourne Business School Limited, Chairman of the Melbourne Foundation for Business and Economics, a Governor of The Ian Potter Foundation and a Director of the Board of Management of the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Tonia Kefala Stavridi · PhD candidate at Cambridge University | cryo-EM of human DNA repair mechanisms and early-stage drug discovery
Joachim Brackx had a successful career as a singer and composer before turning to entrepreneurship. He co-founded and runs several companies remotely while helping others create the life they want. His mission is to experience, to grow, to connect, and to inspire. He is passionate about ethics in human relationships and business, and good food.
"Did you know that there is only one relationship that you will be in for your whole life? The relationship with yourself. That makes it the single most important relationship of your life."
Guys! So excited to share my first conversation with you all.
Joachim and I discuss his journey to live life for himself (and not others expectations). The transition from composer to entrepreneur. Self compassion. Perfectionism. Asking for help, and how we relate to ourselves.
You can find his Relating to Self work at relatingtoself.com
and his meditations at insighttimer.com/joachim
Enjoy xxx
SO EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THE GROWING UP PODCAST
I had a breakthrough over the weekend. I realised WHY I’m actually doing this thing, so thought it made sense to attempt to verbalise it here.
Insta: deliaburgess_
Twitter: delia_burgess
Stuff I've written: https://witty-writer-4384.ck.page/
Growing Up newsletter: https://w itty-writer-4384.ck.page/42af909843