Internal Momentum

Ben Wendel
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  • Entrepreneurship

Internal Momentum is a podcast about the moment something finally moves out of the way. Not the advice you already know. Not the strategy you’ve heard a hundred times. But the internal shift that made different behaviour possible in the first place. We all know what we should do. Eat better. Train consistently. Have the hard conversation. Focus. Commit. Lead properly. And yet… we don’t. So the real question isn’t what to do. It’s what changed internally when someone finally did it. This podcast is built around a single, quiet question: What shifted inside you that made the new behaviour inevitable? Through long-form conversations with founders, operators, leaders, creatives, and high-performers, we explore: the internal blocks people were carrying without realising itthe beliefs, identities, or fears that were quietly in the waythe perspective shifts that dissolved resistance rather than overpowering itthe moments where effort was replaced by clarityhow momentum returns when you stop fighting yourselfThese aren’t motivational stories or tactical playbooks. They’re conversations about internal transformation, the reframes, realisations, and internal decisions that changed how someone showed up day after day. Because sustainable momentum doesn’t come from more discipline. It comes from removing the friction inside the person. If you’re building something, a passion, a business, a life - and you’re tired of trying to force yourself forward, this podcast is an invitation to look at what’s actually in the way… and what happens when it finally shifts.

  1. 12 hr ago

    Theo Venter: 22,000 Volts To The Heart

    One small decision can take everything. And one brave second can give it back. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Theo Venter, keynote speaker and the only known person to have survived a 22,000 volt electrical shock through the heart, to unpack the moment that ended his old life and the slow brutal rebuild of a new one. Theo shares what was running through his head on the morning of 13 February 2006, when he took his insulated gloves off 12 metres in the air to loosen one stubborn nut on a live power pole. The gut feeling that screamed at him to stop. The two and a half seconds hooked on the line. The first four days in hospital preparing to die and saying goodbye to his wife and three children, before the radiologist told him he was going to survive after all. Ben and Theo also walk through what came next. The 24 operations. The dark room he locked himself in after his friends saw what he had become. The five brave seconds he counted down before calling someone instead of taking his own life. The marriage breakdown. The two year fight to pick up a fork again. And the day he finally sat in the park with his kids and lived out the impossible dream that kept him going. The deeper conversation moves into ownership, ego, and the masks both men have worn. Theo describes the moment a mentor refused to let him keep blaming, excusing, and denying. Ben opens up about his own two marriage breakdowns and the slow realisation that his wife had been married to a performance, not to him. Together they explore why convenient choices are the ones that cost the most, and what it actually takes to come back from losing everything. If you have ever made a small choice you cannot take back, or felt yourself disappearing inside a version of you that is not really you, this episode will sit with you long after it ends. About the Guest Theo Venter is a Perth-based keynote speaker, two-time author, and the only known person to have survived a 22,000 volt electrical shock through the heart. Since 2010 he has spoken to hundreds of thousands of workers and leaders across Australia and internationally, sharing his story through the Just Another Day keynote built around the Six Bedrock Foundations and the Five Brave Seconds. He is the official RediMed Safety Ambassador and a recent over-50s World Champion in physique bodybuilding. Connect with Theo: Website: theoventer.com LinkedIn: Theo Venter Instagram and Facebook: Theo Venter Story Chapters: 00:39 The Shocking Incident 04:59 The Fight for Survival 09:07 Gratitude for Medical Care 12:20 Lessons from Near-Death 19:02 The Journey of Recovery 24:25 Embracing Uncertainty and Self-Discovery 27:13 The Journey of Self-Acceptance 31:40 Authenticity and Vulnerability in Relationships 37:11 Finding Joy in Ordinary Moments 42:13 Setting Goals and Overcoming Challenges

    48 min

  2. 4 days ago

    Paula Gowland: A Life With No Limits

    A fall from a bed changed everything. Then the unravelling began. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Paula Gowland, author, speaker and business culture consultant, to unpack what it actually takes to lose a part of yourself and rebuild who you are from the ground up. In June 2014, Paula slipped while hanging freshly washed curtains and broke her leg in four places. What followed was 758 days in hospital, the loss of her left leg above the knee, the loss of the family home, the loss of the family business, and three close brushes with death. She shares the morning she woke up without her leg, the day her seven-year-old stopped being able to visit, and the night she found her husband John passed out beside a lake after months of drinking his way through the grief. Ben and Paula explore what actually happens to a family when one person disappears into a hospital room for years. The communication breakdown between her and John. The friends who quietly drifted away because they did not know what to say. The strangers who walked into her hospital room in Sydney with food and conversation. The moment four months after she finally came home when she fell again, broke her remaining leg, and spent seventeen weeks in a wheelchair grieving everything she had been too focused on surviving to grieve before. They also dig into the identity work. What it meant to become the lady with one leg in shopping centres and at school gates. Why her car now carries the number plate that reads "legless". And why, after years of building a trauma coaching practice on the back of her story, she decided last year to retire that identity entirely and move into something completely different. If you have ever wondered how someone rebuilds a life after losing almost everything, this episode will give you an honest, unsentimental look at what that actually takes. About the Guest Paula Gowland is a Sunshine Coast author, speaker, and business culture consultant. After surviving 758 days in hospital and an above-knee amputation at 42, she rebuilt her life alongside her husband John, was named the Sunshine Coast Business Women's Network 2022 Sustainable Business Woman of the Year, and released her memoir Legless: One Woman's Journey from Trauma to Triumph in 2024. She now runs Leadership and Culture Co, helping business owners and leadership teams build cultures that hold up commercially. Connect with Paula: Website: paulagowland.com.au Instagram: @paulagowland LinkedIn: Paula Gowland Chapters 00:42 The Accident and Its Aftermath 07:00 Navigating Life in the Hospital 12:59 The Impact on Family Dynamics 16:50 Rebuilding Relationships and Life 20:45 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward 23:40 The Power of Community Support 24:33 Grieving and Finding Strength 26:31 Overcoming Physical Challenges 27:18 Navigating Dark Thoughts 29:31 Perception and Identity 33:23 Inspiring Others Through Adversity 34:24 Transitioning from Trauma to Empowerment 35:50 Building Business Culture 39:03 Key Concepts for Personal Growth 42:14 Living Life with No Limits

    44 min

  3. 27 Jun

    Dean Mousad: The Currency Of The Next World

    Some people find purpose through clarity. Others find it by almost dying, more than once. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Dean Mousad, social entrepreneur, counsellor, and co-founder of Brothers in Need and 5 Before 5 Solutions, to unpack what happens when a man who spent eight years numbing himself through drugs, alcohol, and gambling gets a second chance, and then a third, and then a fourth. Dean shares what life looked like before the transformation. The entertainment industry, the ego, the addictions, the overdose on his 24th birthday that became the turning point. He opens up about growing up in a dysfunctional family, wanting to be seen, and the childhood patterns that drove eight years of self-destruction before faith pulled him back. Ben and Dean explore the journey from self-centred to servant leader, the role Islam plays in shaping Dean's daily life and work, and the moment that changed everything: burying his grandmother with his own hands and realising that nothing material follows you into the ground. They talk about what it means to build five companies and three charities from a place of purpose rather than ego, and how Dean navigated a cancer diagnosis at 36 with the belief that seventy percent of it is mental, emotional, and spiritual. The conversation also moves into unexpected territory. Ben shares his own discomfort with faith, his fear of praying in case it works, and his struggle with control. Dean reframes perfectionism, ego, and the idea that religion requires you to be ready before you begin. If you have ever wondered what would be left of your life if you stripped away the money, the status, and the performance, this episode will sit with you for a long time. About the Guest Dean Mousad is a Sydney-based social entrepreneur, registered counsellor, and co-founder of Brothers in Need, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. He is also the co-founder of 5 Before 5 Solutions and Project Quran, and has spent over a decade building organisations grounded in personal growth, community service, and faith. Connect with Dean: Instagram: @5before5solutions Instagram: @brothers_in_need Website: 5before5solutions.com.au Website: brothersinneed.org.au Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dean Mousad's Journey 02:04 The Pre-Transformation Dean: A Life of Struggles 03:55 Understanding the Roots of Addiction 06:20 The Role of Faith in Transformation 11:50 Catalysts for Change: Key Moments in Faith 17:07 Continuous Growth: The Journey of Self-Improvement 22:50 Navigating Faith and Communication 28:15 Islam: Misconceptions and Understanding 31:18 Understanding Prophets and Their Role 32:11 The Quran: Unchanged and Timeless 34:13 The Journey of Faith and Curiosity 36:02 The Importance of Perspective in Faith 38:18 Sincerity in Seeking Truth 40:26 Navigating Control and Surrender 44:09 The Process of Growth and Perfection 48:16 Community Projects and Social Impact 51:56 Gratitude as a Practice and a Feeling 54:05 Acceptance and Navigating Life's Challenges

    59 min

  4. 20 Jun

    Dawna Campbell: The Energy Beneath Every Pattern

    Some people chase more money their whole lives. Almost none of them stop to ask what the chase is really about. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Dawna Campbell, known as the Mind Whisperer, to unpack what is really running the show beneath every financial, emotional, and physical pattern a person carries. Dawna shares the five years that broke her open. While managing half a billion dollars in assets, her marriage ended, her health collapsed, she spent 35 of 40 days in emergency rooms with no answers, and she survived a moment where she nearly lost her life. What she found underneath the wreckage was a single thread connecting all of it, and it became the foundation of the healing work she does today. Ben and Dawna explore the mirror between inner worth and outer reality, why the feeling of not being enough shows up in money, health, and relationships in exactly the same way, and how beliefs we inherited long before we could choose them quietly set the ceiling on what we allow ourselves to have. Ben opens up about his own belief that he had to earn his worth, and the three minute conversation where Dawna shifted it. They also get into the science and the scepticism. Why energy work still sits on the outskirts of mainstream medicine, the link Dawna draws between frequency and physical healing, and the four levels of belief that shape a life from daily experience all the way down to the DNA we are born with. If you have ever earned more and still felt like it was never enough, this episode will show you where that feeling actually lives and what it takes to change it. About the Guest Dawna Campbell, known as the Mind Whisperer, is an international author, speaker, and energy healer who spent over a decade researching subconscious patterns after her own health and finances collapsed. She is the creator of Thought Form Energy Healing and the author of the Abundant Soul series, and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Director of the Film Division at the Los Angeles Tribune. Her documentary Pillars of Power is due for release in 2026. Connect with Dawna: Website: bookdawna.com Instagram: @dawnacampbellofficial LinkedIn: Dawna Campbell Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dawna Campbell 01:23 Dawna's Journey Through Adversity 04:23 The Awakening: Discovering Inner Patterns 08:09 Energy Healing: Understanding Beliefs and Emotions 12:09 The Nature of Energy and Its Impact 14:38 Transformative Healing: From Physical to Emotional 17:49 Skepticism in Energy Healing 21:04 The Historical Context of Healing Practices 23:27 The Power of Beliefs and Perception 28:22 The Process of Healing and Energy Management 31:08 Navigating Energy and Personal Activation 31:29 Financial Background and Childhood Influences 34:32 The Connection Between Self-Worth and Financial Success 37:46 Health, Wealth, and Relationships: The Triad of Balance 40:42 Beliefs and Their Origins: Understanding Our Programming 49:49 From Energy Healer to Media Executive: A Journey of Transformation 54:52 Pillars of Power: The Hidden Secrets of Greatness

    1hr 4min

  5. 17 Jun

    John Stamoulos: Breathing Past The Mask

    What The Body Buries Most of us live in our heads. The body has been waiting decades to be heard. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with John Stamoulos, breathwork trainer, President of the Australian Breathwork Association, and author of Breathing Into A New Life, to unpack what really happens when the mind finally lets go and the body gets to speak. John has spent over 30 years guiding people through the simplest thing they will ever do, and Ben sat in one of his sessions and felt something shift that he still cannot fully explain. John shares how he stumbled into breathwork through a life-changing crisis in the 1980s that left him homeless, lost, and with no tools to process what had happened. He talks about being the accidental breathworker, the early sessions where his body went into paralysis as suppressed memories surfaced, and what it has taken to build a global practice rooted in something most people dismiss as too simple to matter. Ben and John explore what breathwork actually is and why it bypasses the thinking mind so completely. They talk about the masks we wear without knowing, the layers of grief, fear, and joy stored in the body, and the strange detachment that lets people feel emotion fully for the first time. Ben shares his own experience of sitting in joy for twenty minutes during a session, the first time he had felt it as an adult, and what that did to his understanding of what is possible. They also get into the ethics of an industry having its moment. The two-day breathwork certifications. The facilitators going viral on social media with no training behind them. The real risks when a powerful technique meets people with no idea what they are doing. John is direct about what to look for, what to run from, and why the standards matter more now than ever. If you have ever felt locked in your own head, cut off from joy, or curious about what your body has been carrying without your permission, this episode will give you a different way of thinking about the simplest thing you do all day. About the Guest John Stamoulos is an Adelaide-based breathwork trainer, facilitator, and author who has spent over 30 years guiding people through transformational breathwork across more than a dozen countries. He is the President of the Australian Breathwork Association, an integrity counsellor for the International Breathwork Foundation, and the creator of the Life Enhancement Intensive certification training. Connect with John: Website: johnstamoulos.com Website: breathlife.org Instagram: @johnstamoulos.breathwork Email: john@johnstamoulos.com Chapters: 00:00 The Journey to Breathwork 06:32 Understanding Breathwork: A Deep Dive 13:43 The Power of Breath: Connecting Mind and Body 20:00 Emotional Release Through Breathwork 25:25 Transformative Experiences in Breathwork 29:21 The Dynamics of Group vs. Private Breathwork Sessions 31:11 Understanding the Boundaries of Breathwork 32:57 The Rise of Breathwork: Trends and Risks 35:07 The Importance of Certification in Breathwork 37:23 Self-Care for Breathwork Facilitators 41:08 Integrating Breathwork into Daily Life 44:07 Mindfulness and Breath Awareness 48:51 Personal Transformations Through Breathwork 54:36 Introduction.mp4

    55 min

  6. 6 Jun

    Marama Carmichael: When Everything Burns Down

    When Everything Burns Down From Ashes To Intention Some people build businesses to escape their lives. Others rebuild their lives after a fire takes everything. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Marama Carmichael, founder of Oracle Tree, to unpack what happens when a house fire forces you to rethink not just where you live, but what you have been telling yourself about success, work, and the kind of business worth building in the first place. Marama shares the moment in 2009 when she stood in the cold and the rain, watching everything she owned burn, with her young daughter beside her in a taekwondo uniform. She talks about the natural therapy centre she walked away from with thirty days notice, the stories she had been telling herself about what a real business owner looked like, and the surprising sense of gratitude that came through one of the most disorienting moments of her life. Ben and Marama explore the cost of running on autopilot as a founder, why so many business owners build companies that consume them, and the difference between strategic discomfort and just grinding. They get into the marketing tree philosophy at the heart of Oracle Tree, why strategy has to come before tactics, and how AI is changing the way agencies operate without changing the fundamentals of human connection. The deeper thread is about intention. The choices that shape culture. The flexibility owners offer their team but refuse to give themselves. The clients you say yes to and the ones you walk away from. And the quiet question underneath it all: what are you actually building, and is it the business you want, or the business you think you should have? If you have ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this episode will give you a clearer way to look at what you are doing and why. About the Guest Marama Carmichael is the founder and CEO of Oracle Tree, a strategy-first marketing agency working with established small and medium businesses across Australia, New Zealand, and the US. She is the author of the Amazon bestselling book Fixing Frankenstein and has spent over fifteen years building a fully virtual agency designed around the belief that business should support the owner's life, not consume it. Connect with Marama: Website: oracletree.com.au LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maramacarmichael Instagram: @oracletree Facebook: Oracle Tree Chapters: 00:00 Rebuilding After the Fire 03:19 Finding Purpose and Clarity 10:42 The Power of Community and Gratitude 15:37 Creating a Business with Intention 18:55 Flexibility and Work-Life Balance 24:14 The Ripple Effect of Business 25:13 Founder's Vision and Business Strategy 27:07 Succession Planning and Business Evolution 28:34 Balancing Tactics and Strategy 30:21 The Marketing Tree Analogy 34:22 Finding the Right Market Pond 38:41 Navigating Client Relationships and Agency Dynamics 53:08 The Role of AI in Marketing 01:02:40 Building a Business Beyond the Founder

    1hr 5min

  7. 30 May

    Ryll Burgin-Doyle: What You Want Is Possible

    What You Want Is Possible Most people want a mentor who supports them. Very few can handle one who actually holds them to it. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Ryll Burgin-Doyle, high-performance business strategist, fractional CEO, investor, and co-founder of 90Degrees Global, the organisation behind the iconic Money and You program in Australia and New Zealand. Together they unpack what it truly takes to lead, to grow, and to build a business that delivers what you actually want. Ryll shares the philosophy behind her approach to leadership and strategy, and what three decades of working with founders and entrepreneurs from startups to nine-figure businesses has taught her about why most people stay stuck. She opens up about her own journey, including losing everything in a business, rebuilding from scratch, and how she came to hold the rights to one of the most transformational business programs in the world entirely by accident. Ben and Ryll explore integrity as a structural force rather than a moral label, the concept of procession and why staying in motion matters more than finding the perfect direction, and why sales solves more problems than most business owners are willing to admit. They also get into what it means to be provokable, and why the inability to have difficult conversations quietly kills businesses and relationships alike. Beneath all of it is a deeper thread: the idea that your business is a direct reflection of who you are, and that real growth asks something of the person, not just the strategy. This episode also marks something personal. Ben and Ryll have a real mentoring relationship, and that trust is audible throughout. If you have ever felt stuck between the business you have and the business you actually want, this episode will show you what it looks like to close that gap with intention. About the Guest Ryll Burgin-Doyle is a business growth strategist, fractional CEO, investor, and co-founder of 90Degrees Global, the organisation that delivers the Money and You program across Australia and New Zealand. She started her first business at 23 with $1,100 to her name and has spent more than three decades growing businesses from startups to billion-dollar enterprises across multiple countries and industries. She is a Telstra Business Woman of the Year finalist and the author of Businesses Getting Results. Connect with Ryll: Website (personal): https://ryllburgindoyle.com Website (agency): https://burginanddoyle.com Website (90Degrees Global): https://90degreesglobal.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ryll-burgin-doyle-business-planning-strategy Instagram: https://instagram.com/ryllbd Facebook: https://facebook.com/ryllburgindoyle Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Mentorship 03:00 The Essence of Leadership 05:37 The Journey of Leadership Development 08:17 Empowering Teams and Accountability 11:08 Integrity in Business 13:38 Understanding Integrity 16:24 The Impact of Money & You Program 19:00 The Concept of Precession 29:51 The Power of Staying in Motion 35:48 Understanding Precession and Its Impact 42:33 Sales as the Lifeblood of Business 49:28 Transformative Moments in Personal Growth

    57 min

  8. 23 May

    Ewen Ryley: Made To Last

    Made To Last DESCRIPTION Made To Last Most people spend more time planning the proposal than they do thinking about the marriage. And most people have no idea how much of the jewellery industry is built on mythology. In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Ewen Ryley, Creative Director of Ryley Jewellery Creations, to explore what 23 years of making custom pieces for couples actually teaches you about love, status, and commitment. Ewen also happens to be the man who made the ring Ben put on Jane's finger. Ewen shares what he has witnessed across decades of consultations, including the shift in how couples make decisions together, the proposals that go sideways, and the quiet moments where you just sense a relationship is not going to make it. He opens up about his own marriage approaching 15 years, what getting too comfortable costs you, and why growing together at different rates is one of the most underestimated challenges any couple faces. Ben and Ewen dig into the jewellery industry itself, including the diamond myth that De Beers built from nothing, the markups commercial jewellers quietly rely on, and why the three month salary rule was almost certainly invented by a marketing team. They also talk about what it means to have something made specifically for a person versus handing over something off a shelf, and why that difference matters more than most people realise. The conversation then moves into business and creativity. Ewen reflects on the trap of chasing a bigger operation when what actually makes the work meaningful is being the one doing it, and why letting go of an ego-driven definition of success can be the most clarifying decision a business owner ever makes. If you have ever wondered whether a ring means something beyond the price tag, or found yourself questioning what success in business and life is actually supposed to look like, this episode will give you a perspective worth sitting with. About the Guest Ewen Ryley is the Creative Director of Ryley Jewellery Creations, a multi-award-winning bespoke jewellery studio in Toowoomba, Queensland. With 23 years in the trade and a background that spans gemology, international award-winning design, and industry leadership, he specialises in handcrafted custom pieces that are built to last generations. He is also the founder of JEM Society, a membership community for jewellery enthusiasts. Connect with Ewen: Website: www.ryleyjc.com.au Instagram: @ryleycreations Facebook: www.facebook.com/ryleyjewellerycreations JEM Society: www.jemsociety.com Chapter List: 00:00 Introduction to Ewan Riley and Jewelry Creations 03:06 High-Stakes Jewelry Deals 05:31 The Evolution of Engagement Ring Trends 07:56 The Meaning Behind Engagement Rings 10:42 The Proposal Process and Relationship Dynamics 13:22 The Pressure of Proposals vs. Readiness for Marriage 15:54 The Jewelry Industry's Myths and Realities 17:59 The Craftsmanship Behind Custom Jewelry 20:44 Balancing Creativity and Business in Jewelry Making 23:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    44 min
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About

Internal Momentum is a podcast about the moment something finally moves out of the way. Not the advice you already know. Not the strategy you’ve heard a hundred times. But the internal shift that made different behaviour possible in the first place. We all know what we should do. Eat better. Train consistently. Have the hard conversation. Focus. Commit. Lead properly. And yet… we don’t. So the real question isn’t what to do. It’s what changed internally when someone finally did it. This podcast is built around a single, quiet question: What shifted inside you that made the new behaviour inevitable? Through long-form conversations with founders, operators, leaders, creatives, and high-performers, we explore: the internal blocks people were carrying without realising itthe beliefs, identities, or fears that were quietly in the waythe perspective shifts that dissolved resistance rather than overpowering itthe moments where effort was replaced by clarityhow momentum returns when you stop fighting yourselfThese aren’t motivational stories or tactical playbooks. They’re conversations about internal transformation, the reframes, realisations, and internal decisions that changed how someone showed up day after day. Because sustainable momentum doesn’t come from more discipline. It comes from removing the friction inside the person. If you’re building something, a passion, a business, a life - and you’re tired of trying to force yourself forward, this podcast is an invitation to look at what’s actually in the way… and what happens when it finally shifts.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Wendel
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ben Wendel
  • Show Website
    Internal Momentum