The Gentle Rebel Podcast Andy Mort

Even if you aren’t aware of its particular elements, you are familiar with the hero’s journey. It underpins many of our favourite stories, used in PR and marketing, and informs the narratives around sports and celebrities.







In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I explore the personal and cultural impact of the hero's journey. We'll explore how it shapes self-worth, personal value, and the pursuits we deem meaningful. By contrasting it with elements of Kishōtenketsu narrative structure, which Kendra Patterson helped us explore in our recent Courtyard workshop, we will begin to consider different ways to perceive and respond to life's unexpected events.







The Hero's Journey Archetype







Joseph Campbell suggested that all mythic narratives throughout history and across cultures are variations of the same story—a hero's journey archetype.















This concept picked up mainstream momentum in the 70s and 80s, after it influenced George Lucas in creating Star Wars. This was a tipping point for the monomyth, as it started to PRODUCE culture rather than deriving FROM culture. In other words, it went from being a description of the patterns Campbell concluded (cultures tell stories with similar archetypes) to a prescriptive model (here are the universal elements for telling a story). The textbooks started flowing and the hero's journey became ubiquitous. We see it in fields of psychology, marketing, and personal braining as well as books, TV, and film (including documentary-making).







In this episode, I explore some of the implications of using the hero's journey to frame, perceive, and judge ourselves. We will spot some examples in culture. Including England's recent Euro 2024 disappointment, the story of Diana Nyad's swim from Cuba to Florida, and the tropes we see in some of our favourite TV shows.







My intention isn't simply to poop on the party. But rather to become more sensitive to the hero's journey. When we recognise it, we can choose whether it's useful to us or not. We can then spot it being used to manipulate us into spending money, energy, and trust on bad actors.







We will consider Kishōtenketsu as an alternative way of relating to the story we embody and tell with our lives. Rather than using conflict as a necessity for change, what happens when we relegate it to tangential and contingent parts of life that we choose our response to instead?







In the episode, we consider:









* Ways the hero's journey creates a conflict with reality as its source of meaning







* How the hero's journey structure has become embedded in marketing and PR







* Why I get frustrated at the types of pitches I am often sent by people wanting to appear as guests on the podcast







* The unrealistic expectations the hero's journey sets and its impact on self-judgment and societal pressures







* The role of conflict in Kishōtenketsu compared with a hero's journey







* How highly sensitive people might get subsumed into other peoples' hero's journeys (using the movie, Nyad as an example of this)







* Kishōtenketsu, through a "guy walks into a bar" joke by TB Mckenzie, demonstrates how this narrative structure uses conflict as a tangential element rather than a central premise

Each of us has a unique sense of adventure. What does yours feel like?







In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I speak with Sarah Lister, who runs About The Adventure, a career and life coaching business that helps people connect with what brings them to life as they navigate change.







I love Sarah's approach to this topic and how she holds each person's needs within their unique spirit of adventure.







The deer that delightfully derailed Sarah's sunset photographing quest one evening







A Sense of Adventure







Use this episode as an opportunity to reflect on the distinct elements that make up your personal sense of adventure.







We explored the potential characteristics of adventure. For Sarah, it involves nature, spontaneity, a sense of challenge, and being somewhere out of the ordinary. But it also carries the openness to pause and breathe, to have the courage to stop walking and respond to the invitation of a particular moment.







Whether it's stopping for a cup of tea with strangers or delaying a trek to photograph an unexpected deer on the hillside. There are a lot of juicy metaphors for life in this conversation and stuff worth reflecting on if you want to live a meaningful life.







Recognising Our Sense of Adventure







We might think of the "sense of adventure" as we think about a "sense of humour". While it's not a direct physical sense like touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing, it's something personal that keeps us in touch with what it means to feel alive and be ourselves.







Adventure is not simply about the thrill of the unknown but also about our relationship with perceived possibilities, obstacles, and the creative potential we see in the path ahead. It's a key ingredient in living with a compelling sense of meaning.







In our conversation, Sarah and I talk about:









* How to find adventure in the landscapes and environments around us







* Sarah's relationship with adventure and times in her life when her adventurous spirit shrunk







* The threads between imagination, daydreaming, and adventure







* When Sarah thought she was having fun but really was lost, and how she found her sense of self again







* Why adventure doesn't need an end goal, destination, or quest attached to it







* The role of safety in a successful adventure (and how we can increase confidence amid uncertainty by carrying the right resources with us)







* How to keep the adventure going even when the particular journey ends







* And more...









Over to You







What would you include in your list of adventure elements? Let me know by leaving a comment, sending a message, or contacting me via social media.







Links









* About The Adventure (Sarah's Website)







* Sarah's Instagram







* The Haven







* A Blimp from the Blue: Using The Kishōtenketsu Story Structure as an Antidote to the Hero’s Journey (Courtyard Workshop with Kendra Patterson)







* Atlum Schema - Year 0

Have you ever been derailed by a shame attack?







Shame can sweep through, telling us we are not worthy, acceptable, or enough. It can be amplified by comparisonitis, where we judge our messy insides with our perception of other peoples’ shiny exteriors.







Val Nelson, a career and business coach, specialises in working with highly sensitive and introverted individuals. She wrote this article about dealing with comparisonitis and shame attacks, which I was excited to dive into with her.















Many people have felt like black swans in a world that often fails to provide the right conditions for HSPs to thrive. While shame is not exclusive to quiet and gentle souls, it can be particularly challenging for those who have learned to view their natural needs and preferences as a problem to hide, dismiss, or overcome.







So I invited Val onto The Gentle Rebel Podcast to explore how shame can cause us to shrink back and hide from their dreams, ambitions, and needs. I wanted to explore the words "comparisonitis" and "comparonoia," which can leave us feeling isolated and alone as we look at the world around us and tell ourselves unsupportive stories.







In Our Conversation, Val and I Explore:









* The nature of shame attacks and the signs of one appearing







* How humour and playfulness are one of our most significant resources







* Why it's so hard to give ourselves what we need in the face of shame (even when we know what we ought to do)







* Personal experiences of shame attacks Val and I have been through recently







* How to listen to the message beneath the noise when we feel like things are not going to plan







* What it means to take ourselves less seriously (without undermining the integrity of our work)









Over to You







What are you taking away from this episode? Have you experienced a shame attack? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, via a message, or through social media.







Links







Val's website







Connect with Val on Linkedin







Would you like to strengthen your defences in the face of bubbling shame attacks and "comparanoia"? If so, I would love to help you develop a strategy to use through a Pick The Lock call.

I've had a consistent journaling habit for twelve years. I use a digital journal (Day One), which has worked well for me. But I realised earlier this year that my practice has become a bit stale and uninspiring. So, I wanted to breathe new life into it.







Mandy Thompson joined us in The Haven Courtyard recently. She led a workshop exploring how to build a vibrant and strong journaling habit that works for each of us as individuals.















We wanted the workshop to help breathe life into a journal habit, no matter where you're currently at with it.









* Maybe you want to start a journal but struggle to get going







* Perhaps you journal occasionally but don’t maintain the consistency you desire







* You might feel stuck in a rut with your journal and in need of a fresh approach









In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I explore why I choose to journal the way I do (and what I want to change in my practice).







Building a Journal Habit Together







Mandy shared some tools, tips, and techniques to help us start, maintain, or rejuvenate a vibrant and strong journaling habit. But as with any habit, it’s not always easy to put the theory into practice. This is why I’ve scheduled four "Creative Journal Circle" sessions in The Haven every Friday throughout July. These will provide space for encouragement, accountability, and inspiration.







The sessions are for those who want to build momentum with their journal habit. We can share how we’re getting on, encourage one another, and try a simple exercise together. So even if we haven’t added anything to our journal all week, we won’t finish it empty paged.







The Haven trial period has increased to 28 days, so it's the perfect time to come and dip your toes in. You will get access to the Creative Journal Circle (and other gatherings), and have chance to look at the other resources available to members.







Learn more here.

Lizzie Campbell is a polymer clay artist who creates under the name Clay Disarray, and wow, she's phenomenal! Her intricate modelling brings characters and cultural figures to life, and it is mesmerising to see.







I discovered Lizzie through a YouTube video in which she delved into the challenges artists face today. Her unique perspective as a highly sensitive and autistic artist sheds light on the struggles many artists are currently grappling with, such as the impact of COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, artificial intelligence, social media algorithms, and Brexit.







Inspired by her gentle tone and wisdom, I invited Lizzie to the Gentle Rebel Podcast to delve deeper into these issues and learn more about her journey with art, creativity, and neurodivergence.









https://youtu.be/-t6kzkexYcc









We Explored A Bunch of Topics Including:









* How Lizzie got into polymer clay modelling







* Why she takes inspiration from horror movies







* The relationship between creativity and neurodiversity, including high sensitivity and autism







* Why HSPs might be reluctant to think of themselves as creative







* The challenges for artists in a post-Covid, post-Brexit world







* Some of the stranger ways AI is posing a problem for professional creative people and artists







* Why the fan art community receives criticism







* Why social media algorithms can make it harder for artists to connect with the right people







* How we can support our favourite artists (and keep sustaining the arts) in the modern world









Over to You







What are your thoughts on this episode? I'd love to hear from you. Share your insights by leaving a comment, sending a message, or reaching out to me on social media.







Links









* Lizzie's website







* Lizzie's YouTube Channel







* Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram











* What Were They Thinking? My AI Music Video







* Patreon

In this special episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I'm thrilled to unveil the first issue of Coming To Our Senses. This online audio/visual zine for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) is an immersive exploration of the intersection of high sensitivity, creativity, and culture.







The zine's launch coincides with the 10th Anniversary of The Haven, which started in June 2014. While it looked pretty different back then, its underlying essence has always been the same - providing a space for gentle rebels to gather and grow together.







I hope that Coming To Our Senses will become an ongoing collaborative heartbeat of our community. It reflects the spirit of The Haven, with members providing inspiration, suggestions, and creative contributions to the content.









https://youtu.be/OBS6AMGdBfU









Why a Zine For HSPs?







The underlying vision is to integrate and normalise high sensitivity in everyday life. I want to create space to slow down and show how highly sensitive lenses offer a valuable and transformative way of seeing and holding ourselves, one another, and the culture we swim in. But also to invite a playful spirit that helps us hold on to life with lightness and humour.







I firmly believe that by creating an environment that allows sensitivity to flourish and express itself, we can catalyse profound personal and societal transformation. This approach to change is not a grand, booming endeavour, but a subtle, infectious one. As we embrace our own sensitivity, we naturally grant others permission to come to their own senses, leading to new ways of seeing, feeling, and engaging with the world that reflect their unique sensitivity and potential.







I'm currently unsure how often I will publish the Coming To Our Senses zine. My initial desire is monthly, but every two or three months might be more sustainable. All editions (and versions) are available to download in The Haven membership. Non-members can read and listen to the latest issue here.







The First Issue of Coming To Our Senses







You can hear the first issue (Tranquility) in this Gentle Rebel Podcast episode. Read the written edition here, and watch the video/audio version on YouTube.







I hope you enjoy it! I'd love to know what you connect with and would potentially like more of in this zine of HSPs. Leave a comment or drop me a message. And if you like it, please do share it with others!