Bountifull Podcast

Siân Simpson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Bountifull is a personal growth and wellbeing podcast exploring how to live a joyful and meaningful life. Through conversations with interesting people from diverse backgrounds, we explore psychology, science, resilience and practical wisdom for living a good life.

  1. 3d ago

    Past Lives, Reincarnation and the Search for Meaning with Shirley Johnson

    What if some of the things we struggle to understand about ourselves have roots we can’t easily explain? In this episode of the Bountifull Podcast, I sit down with Shirley Johnson, a journalist, astrologer, tarot reader and past life regression therapist who has spent more than four decades exploring how we make sense of ourselves, our relationships and the patterns that shape our lives. Shirley began studying astrology in 1980 and has been facilitating past life regressions since 1991. Along the way, she has contributed to magazines and newspapers, appeared regularly on radio and television, and continued to explore her own creativity through painting and writing. We talk about reincarnation and what happens during a past life regression, as well as dreams, déjà vu, love at first sight, astrology, spirit guides and Shirley’s own beliefs about what might happen after we die. We also explore why people are always searching for answers, the patterns we carry through life and the many different ways we try to understand who we are. At 81, Shirley is still learning, creating and following her curiosity. At the heart of this conversation is an invitation to keep doing the same: to remain open, continue discovering ourselves and take an active role in creating a bountiful life. Episode highlights What past life regression is and how it worksReincarnation, past lives and the idea of soul groupsDreams, déjà vu and memories that feel strangely familiarLove at first sight, relationships and soul connectionsAstrology as a tool for self-awareness and understanding ourselvesWhy we repeat patterns and where our fears and phobias might come fromSpirit guides, angels and beliefs about what happens after deathCuriosity, self-discovery and continuing to learn throughout life Guest Bio Shirley Johnson is a New Zealand-born astrologer, past life regression therapist, journalist, tarot reader and artist whose career has spanned more than four decades. She began studying astrology in 1980 and trained as a past life regression therapist in 1991 and hypnotherapist in 1992. Earlier in her career, Shirley worked as a radio journalist in London and as assistant editor of Woman’s Way magazine in Dublin. She later served as president of the Astrological Federation of Ireland, founded a healing centre in Dublin and co-founded the Irish Association of Regression Therapists. Over the years, Shirley has written long-running magazine columns, appeared on radio and television and worked with clients around the world. Born in New Zealand and long based in Ireland, she now divides her time between the two countries. About the Bountifull Podcast The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through conversations about personal growth, wellbeing, mental health, self-improvement, resilience, relationships, creativity and what makes life meaningful. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode brings together fascinating people from different backgrounds to share real stories, practical wisdom and ideas that help us better understand ourselves, each other and the world around us — and live with more joy, connection and purpose. www.bountifullworld.com/

  2. Aug 8

    AI’s Perspective on Living a Bountiful Life (with Claude)

    This week on Bountifull, I’m doing something a little different. My guest is Claude, Anthropic’s AI assistant. After more than 80 conversations exploring what it means to live a Bountifull life, I wanted to ask AI the same central question. Not because AI has lived experience, but because it has been trained on an enormous body of human knowledge, ideas, philosophy and conversation. What would it say makes a life feel rich, meaningful and full? We start there, with Claude’s own answer, before moving into some of the bigger questions that have come up through the podcast. What does “enough” really mean? Why do so many of us know what matters but still struggle to live accordingly? Can someone living in poverty experience a Bountifull life? We also explore ideas from Eastern and Western philosophy, the role of community and belonging, self-worth, money, hustle culture, constant self-improvement, and why we are so drawn to productivity and external markers of success. Perhaps most importantly, we ask whether a good life needs to look extraordinary at all. The conversation takes us through relationships, curiosity, rest, nature, slowness, generosity, small rituals and defining what enough means for yourself. A slightly unusual conversation this week, but one that ultimately asks the same question Bountifull always does: what really makes a life feel full? Key highlights from this episode What Claude thinks it means to live a Bountifull lifeWhy defining “enough” for yourself mattersThe gap between knowing what matters and actually living that wayWhether someone living in poverty can still experience a Bountifull lifeWhat different philosophical traditions can teach us about living wellThe role of community, belonging and meaningful relationshipsWhat Claude says about self-worth and why achievement may not be the answerWhether more money really does mean more happinessThe difference between meaningful hard work and hustle cultureWhy constant optimisation and self-improvement can become a trapSome of the most underrated ingredients of a good life, including slowness, rest, nature, boredom and small ritualsWhy a Bountifull life does not need to be extraordinary About Claude Claude is an AI assistant created by Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. Anthropic describes Claude as a next-generation AI assistant designed to be helpful, honest and thoughtful. Claude can work across a wide range of conversational and analytical tasks, including writing, reasoning, research, analysis, coding and answering questions. Anthropic’s research and training approach is focused on developing AI systems that are useful while behaving safely, ethically and transparently. About Bountifull Podcast Bountifull is a podcast about what it means to live a full and meaningful life. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode explores the ideas, experiences and small choices that shape how we live, from wellbeing, relationships and community to work, creativity, resilience, curiosity and joy. Through conversations with fascinating people from all kinds of backgrounds, Bountifull asks a simple but expansive question: what does it mean to live a bountiful life? ⁠bountifullworld.com/⁠

  3. Jul 29

    A Mayor’s Guide to Making a Bountiful Contribution with Jeff Williams

    Jeff Williams is the former mayor of Arlington, Texas, a civil engineer, business leader and author of The Unity Blueprint. After leading one of the most diverse cities in America, he believes a richer life begins not with what we accumulate, but with what we contribute. In this episode, Jeff shares why generosity, service and helping others are central to a flourishing life. We explore how friendships are built by reaching out first, why kindness requires intention and what can happen when we become curious about people instead of relying on our assumptions. Jeff also offers a powerful reminder that unity does not mean agreeing on everything. It means creating enough trust and respect to remain connected through disagreement. That requires us to listen to understand, make room for people to be imperfect and resist writing someone off because they disappoint us once. Drawing on his time as mayor, Jeff explains how ordinary people can shape the places they live. A community becomes stronger when people feel valued, see where they can contribute and take pride in building something together. But that kind of belonging does not happen automatically. Someone has to extend the invitation, begin the conversation or offer the first act of kindness. We also talk about humility, character, celebrating our wins and the importance of having people in our lives who keep our egos in check. For Jeff, that person is often his wife, Karen, who reminds him that no matter how important his work becomes, he still needs to take out the rubbish. This is a conversation about choosing to participate in life: reaching out, helping others and contributing to the people and places around us. Because a bountiful life is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we help create. In this episode, we explore Why generosity and helping others are central to a bountiful lifeWhat being mayor taught Jeff about peopleWhy kindness requires intentionHow assumptions prevent us from connectingWhy unity does not require agreementListening to understand rather than respondMaking room for people to be imperfectWhy forgiveness matters when people fall shortHow to disagree without becoming hostileWhat makes a place worth belonging toHow ordinary people can strengthen their communitiesWhy trust requires action, not simply wordsThe importance of celebrating our winsHow character and humility keep leaders groundedWhy a bountiful life is something we help create through contribution Guest Bio W. Jeff Williams is a civil engineer, business leader, author and former three-term mayor of Arlington, Texas, serving from 2015 to 2021. He is President and CEO of Graham Associates, where his work spans infrastructure, transportation engineering, urban planning, public engagement and economic development. During his time as mayor, Jeff helped secure a new ballpark for the Texas Rangers, supported the development of the Texas Live! entertainment complex and led Arlington’s successful bid for the National Medal of Honor Museum. He also launched a citywide kindness campaign and helped introduce an innovative rideshare-based public transport model. About Bountifull Bountifull is a podcast hosted by Sian Simpson exploring the stories, ideas and experiences that shape a rich, meaningful and interesting life.

  4. Jul 24

    The Missing Ingredient of a Good Life with Lorraine Besser

    We spend so much of our lives chasing happiness. But happiness naturally comes and goes, and it was never meant to be the only measure of a good life. In this episode, I sit down with philosopher Lorraine Besser to explore what happiness misses and why we also need meaning and psychological richness. Lorraine explains how novelty, complexity, curiosity and experiences that change our perspective can make life feel fuller, even when those experiences are difficult or uncomfortable. We also explore Lorraine’s experience of reaching the milestones she had worked towards, only to realise how much of herself had been lost to achievement. She shares how she began reconnecting with adventure, spontaneity and the things that genuinely engaged her. This is a conversation about boredom, risk, resonance, regret and remembering who you are. Most importantly, it shows that a rich and interesting life does not require money, constant travel or dramatic reinvention. It can begin in ordinary moments by noticing more, asking better questions and paying attention to what sparks something within you. In this episode, we explore What philosophers mean by “the good life”Why happiness is temporary and why that is not a problemThe pressure to feel happy all the timeHappiness, meaning and psychological richnessWhat novelty, complexity and challenge add to our livesWhy difficult experiences can still be valuableHow to make ordinary life more interestingBoredom as a signal that the mind wants to engageThe role of curiosity, risk and emotional discomfortHow achievement can crowd out other parts of ourselvesWhy resonance helps us recognise what is good for usThe importance of remembering who we areHow to create a richer family and everyday lifeWhy our greatest regrets often come from what we did not do Chapters 00:00 Why Happiness Isn’t Enough02:14 Lorraine Besser and the Good Life07:41 What Is Psychological Richness?10:16 Happiness, Pleasure and Human Flourishing19:39 Why Happiness Naturally Fades28:41 The Missing Dimension of a Good Life35:06 How to Make Ordinary Life More Interesting44:06 Losing Yourself to Achievement50:10 Boredom, Curiosity and Resonance58:39 Regret, Risk and Living Fully Guest Bio Lorraine Besser is a philosopher, author and professor specialising in moral psychology, happiness and the philosophy of the good life. She is the Pardon Tillinghast Professor of Philosophy at Middlebury College in Vermont and the author of The Art of the Interesting: What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It. lorrainebesser.com/ A thought to leave you with You do not need to feel happy all the time to be living well. A good life can be pleasurable and meaningful, but it can also be challenging, surprising, emotionally complicated and deeply interesting. We may not be able to control when happiness arrives, but we have far more control over whether we pay attention, follow our curiosity and allow life to change the way we see the world. About the Bountifull Podcast The Bountifull Podcast explores the stories, ideas and experiences that shape a full and meaningful life. Each week, host Sian Simpson sits down with fascinating people from around the world to explore creativity, connection, curiosity, resilience and what it really means to live well. These are honest, thoughtful conversations designed to challenge the way you think, introduce you to new ideas and help you find more joy in everyday life. Follow the Bountifull Podcast and join us for a new conversation each week. bountifullworld.com/

  5. Jul 15

    A Ten Out of Ten Life: Lou Sanson on Antarctica, Conservation and Daily Joy

    What can a lifetime spent protecting some of the world’s most extraordinary places teach us about how to live? In part two of my conversation with Lou Sanson, we travel from Antarctica to the highest levels of New Zealand’s conservation system — and into the lessons Lou gathered through a life of ambition, responsibility and service. Lou describes Antarctica as New Zealand’s landscape “on steroids”: a place so still you can hear your ears ringing and see for hundreds of kilometres. After first travelling there as a field assistant, he returned to lead Antarctica New Zealand, overseeing Scott Base, supporting scientific research and representing New Zealand within a treaty system involving countries with vastly different interests and ideologies. Antarctica taught him that influence does not always come from size, money or authority. It often begins with relationships: listening to people, earning their trust and finding enough common ground to move forward together. Some of Lou’s most consequential work began not in formal meetings, but around his family dinner table. We then follow him into the role he had imagined since childhood: Director-General of the Department of Conservation. He inherited an exhausted organisation facing limited funding and an almost limitless task. Rather than imposing another restructure, Lou chose incremental change, stronger partnerships, visible leadership and a more hopeful story about what conservation could achieve. He shares the courage required to make unpopular decisions, the importance of standing behind your people and why playing the long game means staying committed even when progress is slow, opposition is fierce and the result may not arrive during your tenure. Yet after all the scale, ambition and responsibility, Lou’s philosophy of a bountiful life is wonderfully immediate: find one “ten out of ten” moment every day. A sunset, a bike ride, a good meal or the call of a native bird at night. His life reminds us that fulfilment does not come from achievement alone. It comes from meaningful work, deep relationships, service to something beyond ourselves and retaining the ability to be delighted by the world directly in front of us. Chapters 00:00 Antarctica, conservation and the lessons of a lifetime01:00 More than 50 trips to Antarctica05:18 Why Antarctica matters to all of us07:20 The power of relationships and the family dinner table15:07 From track cutter to Director-General17:42 Leading DOC through incremental change20:17 Storytelling, partnerships and making conservation matter27:30 Public opposition, visibility and social licence33:12 Courage, decisiveness and protecting your people38:54 Playing the long game48:10 Finding a ten-out-of-ten moment every day Guest Bio  Lou Sanson QSO, NZAM is one of New Zealand’s most experienced conservation leaders. His career began as a track cutter in South Westland and went on to include senior leadership across Fiordland, Stewart Island and the subantarctic islands. He served as Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand from 2002 to 2013 and as Director-General of the Department of Conservation from 2013 to 2021. Today, he continues to contribute to conservation as a trustee of the New Zealand Nature Fund and WWF-New Zealand. About the Bountifull Podcast  The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a rich, meaningful and fulfilling life. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode brings together thoughtful conversations across psychology, science, relationships, health, work, creativity, culture and society — uncovering the stories, ideas and experiences that shape how we live. www.bountifullworld.com/

  6. Jul 8

    What It Means to Truly Show Up in Life with Marcy Axelrod

    What if the way you show up in every moment, at work, at home, with strangers, is shaping not just your life, but the lives of hundreds of people you'll never meet? In this episode of the Bountifull Podcast, Sian sits down with bestselling author, 2x TEDx speaker and researcher Marcy Axelrod to unpack her life's work: understanding what it truly means to show up. Marcy introduces her three-level framework for showing up, from barely there, to just showing up, to truly showing up, and explains the three roles we all inhabit at every moment: self, situation member, and society member. She challenges the idea that we are isolated selves operating from the inside out, drawing on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and interpersonal neurobiology to show that we are deeply interconnected, right down to the synchronisation of our brainwaves when we look into another person's eyes. This is a conversation about slowing down, choosing presence over performance, and recognising that how we show up to the world is exactly how the world will show up for us. Key Highlights The three roles we inhabit every moment. Self, situation member, and society member, and why understanding all three is the key to moving beyond disconnection and loneliness. The show up continuum. What separates "barely there" from "just showing up" from "truly showing up," and why most of us spend 80% of our time at level two. Choice vs. decision. Why decisions narrow your options while choices are expansive, ongoing, and available in every moment. Showing up "with" and "for" vs. "to". How the language of connection shapes the chemistry of the people around you, from cortisol to oxytocin. The ripple effect. Research showing that your behaviour influences not just the 20 people closest to you, but their networks too, reaching people you will never meet. Why busyness keeps us stuck. How a culture of doing prevents us from accessing the broader, more open mode of attention we need to truly be present. The three practices for presence. A meditative practice, a reflective practice (journaling), and a physical practice as the ecology of habits that support truly showing up. Authenticity over performance. Why performative living erodes trust and why deathbed research consistently reveals regret over unlived, inauthentic lives. Alltelligence. Marcy's coined term meaning "connectedness with intent to serve," the skill for our societal role that draws on the idea that intelligence is neither solely internal nor external. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and welcome 01:24 Marcy's origin story: stuttering, observation, and the search for a blueprint 04:42 What does "showing up" actually mean? 06:34 Choosing how you show up: presence meets perspective 07:31 The two hemispheres of attention 09:42 The three roles: self, situation member, society member 17:30 The three levels of showing up 21:32 Practical exercises: the ecology of practices 23:16 The "Chuck" story: the show up continuum in real time 30:42 The three skills: groundedness, readiness, and alltelligence 37:39 Wisdom is not optional 42:54 What keeps us stuck in "just showing up" mode 46:08 Deathbed wishes and the cost of an inauthentic life 50:46 From performative living to true presence 54:24 Quick-fire round 57:28 Purpose, significance, meaning, and mattering Guest Bio Marcy Axelrod is the architect of the Show Up System, a bestselling author, keynote and two-time TEDx speaker, and management consultant. After beginning her career on Wall Street, she spent more than 20 years in KPMG Consulting’s high-tech strategy practice, working with global companies and leadership teams. Her latest book, How We Choose to Show Up, brings together research from neuroscience, psychology and behavioural economics to explore how we work, relate and live. Bountifull is a personal growth and wellbeing podcast that explores how to live a richer, more meaningful life through conversations on joy, purpose, resilience, creativity and connection.

  7. Jul 1

    How to Build a Life Around What Makes You Feel Alive with Lou Sanson

    What happens when a childhood spent exploring wild places becomes the work of an entire life? In part one of this two-part conversation, I’m joined by Lou Sanson, one of New Zealand’s most influential conservation leaders. Lou grew up on the West Coast of New Zealand, learning to cross rivers, climb mountains, cook over fires and navigate the backcountry. At 13, he encountered two forestry workers in a remote hut and decided he wanted a life spent working in nature. Over the next five decades, he would turn that early instinct into a life of extraordinary purpose and service. We follow Lou from his first job cutting tracks through South Westland to becoming responsible for Fiordland, Stewart Island and New Zealand’s subantarctic islands. He shares the work behind Rakiura National Park, marine protection in Fiordland and one of the world’s most ambitious predator-eradication projects, while reflecting on the experiences that shaped his understanding of leadership, safety, accountability and lasting change. At its heart, this is a conversation about what can happen when you recognise what makes you feel most alive and build your life around it. Nature became Lou’s education, his source of courage, his place of renewal and the larger purpose against which he measured his decisions. His story offers a richer way to think about a bountiful life: one grounded in belonging, contribution and responsibility, and in leaving the places entrusted to us better than we found them. Key Episode Highlights How growing up on the West Coast of New Zealand shaped Lou’s courage, independence and connection to natureThe backcountry encounter at 13 that gave him a direction for lifeWhy nature became Lou’s education, purpose and place of renewalThe leadership lesson that taught him good intentions are not enough without strong systems and accountabilityHow Rakiura National Park, Fiordland’s marine protection and Campbell Island were brought to lifeWhy meaningful change requires catching the wave of public feeling rather than pushing against itThe importance of building trust and working closely with Ngāi TahuThe Māori philosophy that people belong within nature rather than stand apart from it Chapters 00:00 Finding a ten-out-of-ten moment 02:56 A bountiful life shaped by the West Coast 08:22 The backcountry encounter that shaped his future 10:33 How New Zealand’s conservation system works 14:20 Building a career from the ground up 15:21 The leadership lesson that changed everything 22:32 Rakiura, Fiordland and Campbell Island 26:23 How lasting change really happens 30:59 Learning that we belong to nature 35:53 Why New Zealand’s native species matter Guest Bio  Lou Sanson QSO, NZAM is one of New Zealand’s most experienced conservation leaders. His career began as a track cutter in South Westland and went on to include senior leadership across Fiordland, Stewart Island and the subantarctic islands. He served as Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand from 2002 to 2013 and as Director-General of the Department of Conservation from 2013 to 2021. Today, he continues to contribute to conservation as a trustee of the New Zealand Nature Fund and WWF-New Zealand. About the Bountifull Podcast The Bountifull Podcast explores how to live a richer, healthier and more meaningful life through conversations about psychology, relationships, health, work, culture, science and society. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode shares powerful stories and practical ideas to help us live with more joy, purpose, curiosity and connection. www.bountifullworld.com/

  8. Jun 24

    The Space Between Who You Were and Who You Are Becoming with Andy Johns

    What happens when the life you worked so hard to build no longer fits? In this episode, I’m joined by Andy Johns for a deep and honest conversation about the valley between two mountains — the liminal space between who you were and who you are yet to become. Andy spent 17 years in Silicon Valley climbing the first mountain of life: career, achievement, status, success, and external validation. But this conversation is less about the climb, and more about what happens after you step away. Because leaving an old life is not as simple as choosing a new one. Often, there is a long and disorienting middle — a space where the old identity has dissolved, but the next version of you has not yet fully arrived. Together, we explore what it means to sit in that unknown. The grief of losing the person you thought you were. The fear of no longer being valued in the same way. The body’s withdrawal from stress, momentum and constant stimulation. The temptation to rush into the next thing just to escape the discomfort of not knowing. Andy shares with rare honesty what it took to stop performing, stop achieving, and begin listening to what his body, spirit and life were trying to tell him. We talk about perfectionism, burnout, addiction, faith, rest, service, money, and the strange freedom that can come when you stop trying to force a new mountain into view. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever found themselves between lives. For anyone who has left something behind, or knows they need to, but has no idea what comes next. The valley can feel like failure. But maybe it is also where we begin to become more fully ourselves. In this episode, we explore What Andy calls the first mountain of life Why success can stop feeling like success The valley between who you were and who you are becoming Why leaving an old identity can feel like grief The body’s withdrawal from stress, adrenaline and achievement Work, status and external validation as forms of addiction The difference between failure and misalignment What relationships reveal when your identity changes The fear and freedom of saying, “I don’t know what’s next” Rebuilding self-worth through service, meaning and truth Why rest is not laziness, but part of the healing How to sit in the unknown without rushing into the next mountain Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 The space between who you were and who you are becoming 09:00 When success stops fitting 18:25 The first mountain and the valley 26:10 Leaving an identity behind 31:20 Losing your sense of value and purpose 40:40 What happens to the body in the valley 50:30 Shame, addiction and survival patterns 57:00 Faith, spirituality and transformation 1:10:30 Rebuilding self-worth through service 1:20:00 Money, uncertainty and enough 1:27:30 The question everyone asks: what’s next? 1:36:00 Rest, change and becoming 1:39:00 Closing thoughts Guest Bio  Andy Johns is a writer, former Silicon Valley executive, advisor and investor whose work now explores identity, healing, transformation and purpose. In his earlier career, Andy worked across some of Silicon Valley’s most recognisable companies, including Facebook, Twitter, Quora and Wealthfront, where he served as President. After stepping away from a 17-year career built around achievement, status and external validation, Andy now writes and speaks about the inner work of leaving an old identity behind and navigating the uncertain space between who you were and who you are becoming. https://cluesdotlife.substack.com/ About the Bountifull Podcast  The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of creativity, connection, curiosity and resilience. With conversations spanning personal growth, mental health, mindfulness, emotional resilience and wellbeing, each episode offers honest stories and practical ideas to help us live with more joy, meaning and depth. https://bountifullworld.com/

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Bountifull is a personal growth and wellbeing podcast exploring how to live a joyful and meaningful life. Through conversations with interesting people from diverse backgrounds, we explore psychology, science, resilience and practical wisdom for living a good life.

Information

  • Creator
    Siân Simpson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Siân Simpson
  • Show Website
    Bountifull Podcast