Out of Plaece with Ann & Paul

Out Of Plaece
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Out of Plaece is a podcast about building something meaningful while figuring out your identity and life along the way. Join Ann and Paul, partners in life and business, as they chat with fellow entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious souls who have felt out of place, misunderstood, like an imposter or simply different in the traditional world and then turned that feeling into something with impact. Expect unfiltered stories, oodles of vulnerability, dry humour, soulful chats, and guests who are doing things differently. If you've ever felt the same, then you're in the right place.

  1. 12/15/2025

    Finding your true calling through suffering with Philipp Kiesele

    Key themes: entrepreneurship, overcoming chronic illness, finding your purpose, and shadow work. In this episode, Philipp Kiesele, writer of Serapex on Substack, shares his journey from computer science to entrepreneurship to facing his shadows and discovering his archetypes and true calling through chronic illness. Philipp is a digital nomad, brand agency owner and someone who is passionate about helping others find their sovereign creator within. Key moments:⏱️ 00:00 - Growing up as an only child⏱️ 16:11 - Why 90% of businesses fail⏱️ 20:34 - When the achiever mindset stopped working⏱️ 25:39 - "What is life asking of me?"⏱️ 33:05 - Archetype work & your psychological blueprintConnect with Philipp:Serapex on SubstackConnect with Us on Instagram:Ann | Paul | Out of Plaece If this episode resonated, drop a comment below or send us a DM on Instagram. We'd love to hear from you!

    49 min

  2. 12/01/2025

    Girl Boss Culture is Dead. Here's what high-performing founders need instead with Wendy Horan

    Key themes: burnout recovery, entrepreneurship, mindset coaching, productivity redefined From Melbourne's fine dining scene to government project management to founding The Cheerleader, Wendy Horan's journey is one of transformation born from burnout. In this episode, Wendy shares the moment during lockdown when her body literally stopped functioning, rocking on the floor, unable to understand what was happening. It was the breaking point after months of existing only in her mind, disconnected from anything physical or grounded. Today, Wendy works with high-performing female founders who are brilliant at what they do but exhausted behind the scenes. Her mission: end the girl boss hustle culture era and help women build purpose-led businesses without burning out. We explore how she combines analytical project management thinking with evidence-based coaching techniques like timeline therapy and hypnotherapy. Wendy explains what a mindset coach actually does (spoiler: it's not affirmations and vision boards), how she defines real productivity, and why beaches and daily walks are non-negotiable for her creative process. Plus: the lightning bolt moment that started her business, what happened when she removed fear through timeline therapy, and her advice for founders building something no one else is building. Drop a comment below if you had an 'aha moment' listening or watching this episode. Connect with Wendy: thecheerleader.com.au | @wendy_thecheerleader Connect with Us: @itsannluong | @paulelderkin_

    48 min

  3. 11/17/2025

    From Corporate Law Partner to Breath Coach: Arjun Lall's 20-Year Leap Into Purpose

    After 20 years as a corporate law partner, Arjun Lall made a radical leap: he walked away from the law to become a breath coach and yoga teacher. But this wasn't a reckless abandonment—it was a carefully considered journey toward alignment. Arjun compares the rush of his corporate life to sitting in a smoking room, surrounded by smokers, trying to convince himself he'd quit. Only when he physically left could he see the addiction for what it was. Now at Ujjayi Movement Studio in Bangalore, he teaches that "when you own your breath, no one can steal your peace or your happiness." His message to corporate professionals feeling the pull toward change? Take the leap—but from a place of alignment. Zoom out and see your life as a hundred-year journey. At 42, he didn't want another 42 years of law. He wanted 50+ years of purpose. The clarity came not from overthinking, but from regulating his nervous system and listening to his soul's calling. To connect with Arjun, head to Instagram and you will find him at Ujjayi Movement Studio. If you'd like to connect with us, you can follow us on: Instagram LinkedIn Paul Elderkin - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/paulelderkin_⁠ Ann Luong - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/itsannluong⁠ Or on ⁠Substack⁠ where we dive into each episode, share more honest takes and behind the scenes. Thanks for being here. You've found your place.

    1 hr

  4. 11/03/2025

    Small Actions, Big Impact - Tim Siegenbeek van Heukolom

    In this episode of Out of Plaece, we chat with Tim Siegenbeek Van Heukelom, who shares his journey from the Netherlands to Australia, his experiences in Papua New Guinea, and the profound impact of his cancer diagnosis on his perspective on life and work. He's someone who's dedicated his life to making a positive impact on the world through his work at Non-Government Organisations, in his current position as Chief Impact Officer at an ESG software company, and through his co-founding of For Wild Places, an Australian charity that strives to make trail running a meaningful expression of environmental activism. He’s inspiring and vulnerable, especially as he shares his personal journey of cancer, leaving you thinking about what you can do as an individual to make a positive impact. Connect with Tim on LinkedIn or follow For Wild Places on Instagram. Thanks for watching, listening and following. Ann & Paul

    54 min

  5. 10/13/2025

    A journey from Startups to Substack and the Secret Sauce with Claire Alvis

    In this episode of Out of Plaece, hosts Ann Luong & Paul Elderkin speak with Claire Alvis, writer of The Quiet Expert on Substack, founder of The Secret Sauce, and creator of the Free to Lead Framework. Claire shares her journey from working in high-growth startups to starting her own business, discussing the challenges and lessons learned along the way. The conversation explores the importance of authenticity in social media, the significance of personal branding, and the necessity of aligning one's business with its purpose. Claire emphasises that success is a journey, not a destination, and encourages listeners to embrace their unique voices in the entrepreneurial landscape and stay true to their why.

    40 min

  6. 09/29/2025

    Why Everyone Has To Matter - Dr. Christopher Jones aka Dr. X

    In this episode of Out of Plaece, hosts Ann and Paul interview with Dr. Christopher Jones, aka Dr. X, a Vice Principal at Durham University, UK and activist, discussing his journey from professional basketball to academia to championing why “everyone has to matter”. We explore themes of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Love (EDIL), emphasising the importance of rehumanisation in society. Dr. X shares insights on navigating personal identity, relationships, his connection to spirituality and the impact of historical erasure, especially on the black community. The conversation highlights the significance of self-discovery and the core value that “everyone has to matter”, advocating for a more compassionate and understanding world. In this episode, you’ll find out: Why is he called Dr. X What ‘rehumanisation’ means and how you can practice it Why does he include Love at the end of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion or EDIL The importance of understanding your own history and how historical erasure has impacted awareness of black contributions to society His spiritual beliefs and how changing religious beliefs can leave you feeling out of pla(e)ce Why does “everyone has to matter”, especially when you disagree with their point of view It’s a brilliant conversation and a great way to start our series of guest interviews. We’re also moving to a fortnightly cycle for our episodes, so keep an eye out every two weeks. Thanks for listening and watching, Ann & Paul

    48 min

  7. 09/16/2025

    The Impact of Suicide Loss, Grief and Healing - Paul Elderkin

    Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, which may be distressing. Listener discretion is advised. In this deeply moving episode of Out of Plaece, we explore the profound impact of suicide on personal identity through the eyes of co-host Paul, who shares his journey of loss, grief, and healing. Paul opens up about the day that changed his life forever, the complexities of navigating trauma following the loss of his partner, and the struggle to reclaim his sense of self amidst a society that often misunderstands such experiences. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of vulnerability, the burden of performance in healing, resilience, the impact of COVID-19 on his recovery and the ongoing journey to find one's place in the world. Join us for an honest conversation that sheds light on the often unseen layers of grief and identity transformation. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicide loss or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to your respective crisis support: Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 United States: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 Additional Resources National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Breathwork Organisations (both the organisations below provide accredited practitioners using science-backed and safe practices): Oxygen Advantage School of Breath Science For more on Paul's personal journey, you can read it on Substack.

    52 min

  8. 09/08/2025

    From Hoop Dreams to Laptop Screens - Paul Elderkin

    My childhood reads like a textbook case of early athletic specialisation. Father: professional basketball coach and general manager. Environment: front-row seats at professional games, discipline drilled in from a young age. The pathway was clear, anticipated, inevitable. "Everything around me was basketball. School didn't matter because I wasn't interested in it. I was going to be as good as Michael Jordan." When you build your sense of self around one pursuit, psychologists call it "identity foreclosure", a premature commitment without exploring alternatives. For me, basketball was the pursuit. It wasn’t one that my parents pressured me to pursue; it’s the one I believed in. Research shows that 20% of elite athletes experience clinically significant depression during career transitions. The transition from sporting excellence to corporate life is rarely straightforward. When I made the move to Australia, there was pressure to think about the future, which eventually led me to the business world. But when I entered, I brought with me the mindset of an elite athlete: the drive, the hunger for achievement, the expectation of excellence. I was still wired to be elite. Athletes are conditioned for immediate feedback, clear metrics, and physical expression. But corporate environments don't always reward the same intensity that creates champions on the court. "The corporate world is about numbers and ticking boxes, and I don't work that logically." As someone who is very emotionally driven and often told I’m “too deep”, communication has usually been a challenge. How can I convey my feelings to someone, rather than just what makes cognitive sense? Neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman's research shows that social rejection activates the same brain regions as physical pain. Basketball was my outlet because I just had to show up physically. I could use the anger and frustration from being misunderstood into shots on the court. But what happens when that disappears? I believe this conversation touches on something many of us can relate to: feeling out of place in environments that don't align with how we naturally see and navigate the world. But this episode isn't just about career transitions. It's about the deeper wounds we carry, like my core belief of feeling "misunderstood" and "unheard" throughout my life. It's about how trauma and challenging experiences can strip away the identities we've carefully constructed, leaving us questioning who we are when the thing that defined us is no longer the centre of our world. This is part one of my story. The next episode will centre on a moment that shattered everything I knew. Paul x If you'd like to connect with me, you can find me on Instagram @paulelderkin_

    39 min
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About

Out of Plaece is a podcast about building something meaningful while figuring out your identity and life along the way. Join Ann and Paul, partners in life and business, as they chat with fellow entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious souls who have felt out of place, misunderstood, like an imposter or simply different in the traditional world and then turned that feeling into something with impact. Expect unfiltered stories, oodles of vulnerability, dry humour, soulful chats, and guests who are doing things differently. If you've ever felt the same, then you're in the right place.

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