Where We Place Ourselves | Identity, Life Stories & Personal Growth

Archana Mohan
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Where We Place Ourselves is a reflective podcast about identity, personal growth, and how we understand our lives over time. Through slow, thoughtful conversations, each episode revisits a moment, a feeling, or a shift in perspective. We explore memory, relationships, and self-awareness. If you're interested in psychology, life stories, and personal reflection, this podcast creates space to think more deeply about who you are and how you’ve changed.

  1. The sound that stays: on music, memory and understanding

    3 MAY

    The sound that stays: on music, memory and understanding

    In this episode of Where We Place Ourselves, I explore how music, attention, and reflection shape the way we think and communicate. What looks like distraction may actually support deeper thinking. Drawing on a simple moment from everyday life, this episode reflects on listening, focus, and how we show up in conversations at work and beyond. Topics include: listening and communicationfocus and deep thinkingmusic and memoryleadership and presencereflection and self-awareness

    4 min
  2. Being Alone: What Solitude Teaches Us About Identity

    25 APR

    Being Alone: What Solitude Teaches Us About Identity

    A quiet reflection on what happens when we stop filling space. This podcast was previously titled Where We Place Ourselves. It is now continuing as Echoes, from Els. In this first episode of Echoes, from Els, a summer spent mostly alone becomes something unexpected. Not isolation, but recognition. Through small moments, this episode explores solitude, the idea of the “uncarved block,” and the subtle thresholds we cross when we step back from the noise. Not as something to solve. But as something to enter. TakeawaysSolitude doesn’t take you away from yourself; it brings you closerMuch of what we think is “us” is learned, not innateDistance can create clarity in ways activity cannotSmall pauses (thresholds) change how we see

    3 min

  3. 14 APR

    Growing Up Together: How Shared Experiences Shape Who We Become with Robin Wohlstetter

    What does it mean to be known over time? In this episode of Where We Place Ourselves, I speak with one of my closest friends, Robin. Someone who has known me since the mid-90s, when we were both just beginning to understand who we might become. This is a conversation about growing up, friendship, and the quiet beauty of being there for someone not just in the easy moments, but across the many versions of a life. We talk about the feeling of being unstoppable when we were younger, and how that shifts as life unfolds. About the different versions of ourselves we bring to work, to relationships, and to the spaces where we feel most at ease. Robin shares how humour became a way of holding perspective not because life is always light, but because sometimes it’s what makes it livable. And one line from this conversation stayed with me: “The world is tough… but not in here.”  A reminder that while we can’t always control what happens outside of us, we can create spaces in our homes, in our friendships, where something softer, lighter, and more human exists. This is a conversation about being witnessed, about growing alongside someone, and about the rare gift of a friendship that stays. We explore: What it felt like to be “unstoppable” in our early twentiesHow friendship changes as we grow and what allows it to endureThe difference between who we are at work and who we are at easeWhy humour can be a form of perspective, not avoidanceWhat it really means to “not let someone down”How time and distance reshape how we understand our lives It left me thinking about how the most meaningful relationships in our lives aren’t the ones that change us, but the ones that stay with us as we change. If this conversation stayed with you, following the podcast helps it reach the people who need it and lets you know when the next episode is released. And if you’re thinking of someone who has known you across time…maybe send this to them.

    25 min

  4. 9 APR

    Being With Dana Galin: How Relationships Shape Who We Become

    In this episode, I speak with Dana Galin about voice, belonging, and the quiet ways we come to feel at home in ourselves. Dana’s work sits in the space before reaction, before performance. She helps people notice how they are showing up, not just what they are doing. We explore: The difference between reacting and choosingThe idea of being “above the line” and “below the line”Why we are all meaning-making machinesHow our internal “parts” shape our behaviour under pressureThe gap between intention and impactAnd the quiet practice of offering ourselves a little more graceThis is not a conversation about fixing yourself. It’s about recognising yourself. And from that place, choosing how you want to show up. This is Where We Place Ourselves. Key MomentsWhy Dana focuses on how safe people feel to speak—not just how they speakUnderstanding “above the line” vs “below the line” leadershipHow quickly we create meaning from small signalsThe idea of leading your “internal team”Why perfectionism and people-pleasing are protective, not flawsThe difference between facts and the stories we tell ourselvesParenting, leadership, and learning to respond with intentionThe power of pausing before reactingA Moment That Stayed With Me“Don’t believe everything you think.” And: “Offer yourself a little more grace than you did yesterday.” Continue the ConversationIf this episode resonated, I explored a more personal version of this idea in this week’s Ordinary Love essay: 📖 The Look They Remember www.archanamohan.net About the PodcastWhere We Place Ourselves is a series of conversations about identity, meaning, and how we understand our lives. Not advice, not success stories. Just perspective. Moments where something that once felt confusing begins to make sense, when we step back and see it differently. This is part of Well Placed. A space that explores how we live, lead, and love from the inside out. About DanaDana works at the intersection of communication, leadership, and self-awareness. Her focus is not just on how people speak, but on how safe they feel to speak. She helps leaders recognise the patterns that shape their behaviour so they can move from reaction to intention, and lead in a way that feels more aligned with who they truly are. https://www.imprintlp.com/bio If You Enjoyed This EpisodeFollow the podcast, share it with someone who might need it, or leave a review. It helps more people find these conversations. CreditsWhere We Place Ourselves is written, produced, edited and hosted by Archana Mohan. Music: Lotus Pond by Akash Gandhi Artwork: Created using Canva

    29 min

  5. 20 MAR

    John Amaechi on Leadership, Integrity, and the Systems That Shape Us

    “If you want to understand culture, don’t look at the values on the wall. Look at what behaviour leaders tolerate.” For years, food companies believed there must be one perfect spaghetti sauce. The recipe everyone would love. So they searched for it. The research revealed something surprising: There wasn’t one perfect sauce. There were many. Some people wanted chunky sauce.  Others smooth. Some spicy. Some sweet. What looked like a problem of taste was a problem of assumptions about human behaviour. And I’ve been thinking about that idea a lot in the context of leadership. Because organisations often assume behaviour is driven primarily by motivation, values, or personality. But in reality, behaviour is often shaped by something else entirely.  The systems people operate within. In my last episode of Where We Place Ourselves, I explore this idea with organisational psychologist and leadership expert @John Amaechi. We talk about: •       why incentives often override stated values •       how decision-making structures shape outcomes •       why culture is defined by what leaders tolerate •       and why lasting change comes from designing better systems, not simply asking people to behave differently. One idea from the conversation stayed with me.  Leadership isn’t just about who we are. It’s about the environments we create. Connect with John Amaechi Website https://www.apsintel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaechi Books The Promises of Giants https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1529345871 It’s Not Magic https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1394338279

    42 min

  6. 17 MAR

    Storytelling with Robin Bayley: How We Make Sense of Our Lives

    In this episode, Archana Mohan speaks with Robin Bayley about the power of storytelling, finding one's truth, and the impact of personal narratives on our lives. They explore the art of storytelling, the pursuit of truth, and the role of leadership in guiding others to their truth. The conversation explores the power of storytelling and its impact on communication. It delves into the realization of personal narratives and the resonance they create with audiences. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of connecting with the audience through storytelling and the role of curiosity and light heartedness in effective communication. Takeaways The power of storytelling lies in its ability to convey truth and connect with others.Leadership involves guiding others to discover and live their truth, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and their impact on the world. Power of personal narrativesResonance and connection through storytelling Connect with Robin here: robinbayley.com and keynotedoctor.com.

    39 min

  7. 12 MAR

    The Diamond Edge with Sarah Lloyd-Hughes: On Growth, Pressure, and Transformation

    In this episode, I speak with leadership communications expert Sarah Lloyd Hughes about what she calls the “Diamond Edge” of communication. The clarity, authenticity, and human connection that allow leaders to truly cut through the noise.   Sarah is the founder of Ginger Leadership Communications, an award-winning coach, TEDx speaker, and the bestselling author of How to Be Brilliant at Public Speaking. She works with leaders around the world to help them find their voice, communicate with purpose, and inspire meaningful change.   We explore what the Diamond Edge means in practice, how leaders can sharpen their message, and why the most powerful communication starts with being authentically human.   Learn more about Sarah’s work: Ginger Leadership Communications: https://uk.gingerleadershipcomms.com/teammember/sarah-lloyd-hughes ()Sarah’s book How to Be Brilliant at Public Speaking: https://us.gingerleadershipcomms.com/resource/how-to-be-brilliant-at-public-speaking ()Sarah on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sarahlloydhughes ()

    26 min

  8. 7 MAR

    Commitment and Impact with James Walker: What It Means to Follow Through

    The conversation explores the themes of trust, commitment, and integrity in the context of work and life. It delves into the importance of shifting perspectives, letting go of fear and judgment, and finding space to reflect and listen without judgment. The chapters cover the introduction to the podcast, exploring trust and commitment, shifting perspectives on work and life, the difference between being busy and being true to oneself, defining commitment and its importance in relationships, and finding space to reflect and listen without judgment. Takeaways Commitment over careLetting go of fear and judgmentListening without judgmentDisconnecting from digital noiseAuthentic conversations over success hacks Chapters 00:00 Finding Space to Reflect and Listen Without Judgment

    35 min
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About

Where We Place Ourselves is a reflective podcast about identity, personal growth, and how we understand our lives over time. Through slow, thoughtful conversations, each episode revisits a moment, a feeling, or a shift in perspective. We explore memory, relationships, and self-awareness. If you're interested in psychology, life stories, and personal reflection, this podcast creates space to think more deeply about who you are and how you’ve changed.

Information

  • Creator
    Archana Mohan
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Archana Mohan

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