When We Pause

Charles Achampong
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

Welcome to When We Pause, hosted by Charles Achampong. Charles is a best-selling author, award-winning speaker, and leadership strategist who helps high-performing leaders respond with intention rather than react on autopilot. This show is an invitation to pause in a world that rewards speed. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leaders and change-makers who’ve learned that clarity does not come from doing more, but from pausing with intention before the next decision. It’s about choosing clarity before action. It’s a different way of leading, living, and making decisions. This is When We Pause

  1. 4d ago

    18 | Stuart Thompson - The One Step Back That Changes Everything

    What are you still doing out of comfort, long after it stopped giving back enough? Charles Achampong sits down with his friend Stuart Thompson, who spent 15 years in corporate marketing at a major Toronto newspaper before leaving to become a working artist and co-run Create Art Studio with his spouse. It is a conversation about comfort, identity, and the long gap between knowing something is off and finally doing something about it. They get into why Stuart stayed so long, the discomfort of calling himself an artist, the class he hated teaching that forced a rethink, and why he now makes students answer their own question first: how does it make you feel? The thread running through it all is the power of a good pause and a better question. If you keep telling yourself you should change but find reasons not to, this one is for you. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights[01:13] The dads event where two strangers became close friends, and what it says about making space[06:37] At a dinner party, a stranger asks what you do. The answer that took him years to say out loud[09:43] 15 years at the Globe and Mail, and the moment the effort stopped being reciprocated[12:43] The real reason he waited so long to leave, and it is not what you think[15:37] Going into business with your spouse when it was always her baby, how they split it[19:26] The adult class he hated teaching, and what going home angry finally revealed[22:44] Why asking the right question matters more than ever in the age of easy answers[26:50] What his daughters notice now that they never saw when he was at the office[35:31] Healthy arrogance: how to believe you are good without bragging about it[44:29] The longevity claim about making one piece of art a month that stopped him cold Resources MentionedCreate Art StudioStudio ThompsonThe Globe and Mail About the GuestStuart Thompson is a Toronto-based artist, art instructor, and co-owner of Create Art Studio on the Danforth, which he runs with his spouse Jen. After 15 years in advertising and marketing at The Globe and Mail, he left corporate life to paint, teach, and lead creative workshops for groups large and small, from small studio classes to corporate team events. His work sells under Studio Thompson, and he teaches a hands-off, question-first style built on stepping back, trusting your gut, and figuring it out for yourself. 🔗 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything. Get a copy of Charles' book. Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  2. Oct 21

    17 | Stuart Knight – How to Turn Small Talk Into Real Connection

    When did you last walk away from a conversation feeling truly known, not just updated? Most of our conversations never leave economy class. We trade updates about vacations and the kids’ sports, then go home without anyone saying how they actually felt. Charles sits down with Stuart Knight, speaker, bestselling author, and founder of the Human Connection Group, who has spoken with over a million people about what it takes to really connect. They get into the difference between socializing and connecting, why so many of us struggle to organize and show up for each other, and how patience has quietly become a lost art in an on-demand world. Stuart shares the reframe that freed him from resenting being the one who always plans, and the single question that turns small talk into something you remember. If your calendar is full but your conversations feel thin, this one is a gentle nudge to slow down and ask better questions. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights[00:01:09] – Economy class conversations, and the upgrade most people never ask for [00:02:00] – Why guys can’t seem to get together, and what to do when you’re always the organizer [00:06:34] – Do women really connect more easily than men, or is something else going on [00:08:16] – The 80-year-old who goes to 100 lunches a year, and the mindset shift behind it [00:11:31] – The cottage trip that never happened, and the quiet way friendships fade [00:15:38] – Socializing versus connecting: the one swap that changes every conversation [00:18:32] – Why human beings are the best television show of all time [00:25:08] – The permission to stop trying to win over 100 percent of the room [00:28:18] – The cliff, the leap, and the humbling truth about changing someone’s life [00:39:05] – The negotiation question that beats arguing over price [00:40:58] – When you catch yourself wanting to scroll a real person like a feed [00:43:43] – What four years in New York taught Stuart about how Americans see Canada [00:46:42] – Why Canadians ask “will it work” while Americans ask “how do we make it work” Resources MentionedYou Should Have Asked: The Art of Powerful Conversation by Stuart KnightThe Human Connection Group About the GuestStuart Knight is a speaker, bestselling author, and founder of the Human Connection Group. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, he has spoken to more than a million people across dozens of countries about the art of powerful conversation and the science of authentic human connection, working with organizations like Nike, Coca-Cola, and State Farm. He is the author of You Should Have Asked: The Art of Powerful Conversation. Originally from Toronto, he is now based in New York. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | YouTube Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles’ book. Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  3. Oct 7

    16 | Sandra Odendahl - When Losing Your Job Becomes the Best Career Gift

    What if the job you lost was the pause you never gave yourself permission to take? Charles sits down with Sandra Odendahl, his former boss from Scotiabank and a sustainable finance leader with more than twenty-five years in the field, who left a senior executive role and called it the worst sabbatical ever. They get into the strange relief of having a role eliminated, the difference between an architect and a caretaker, and how a structured pause can quietly redirect an entire career. If you have ever confused motion with progress, or feared that slowing down means falling behind, this one is your permission slip. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights[04:15] - The coaching advice that changed how Sandra told the world she had left[05:43] - The worst sabbatical ever post that pulled people back into her orbit[07:15] - Her husband's one-line verdict that named the whole season[10:12] - When the work stops being fun: the ambition that quietly shrank[11:04] - Told her role was eliminated, and feeling relief instead of panic[13:28] - Architect or caretaker? The self-knowledge that shapes a whole career[15:34] - Did I do something bad? The self-doubt that hits in the first few minutes[28:30] - The two-hour coffee that reframed a layoff as a gift[43:41] - Stretchy pants days and blouse days: structuring a pause so it never feels aimless[47:59] - The pause that created a career step change staying put never would have[51:38] - Second half of a career: why title and paycheck stopped mattering Resources MentionedBusiness Development Bank of Canada (BDC)RBCScotiabankEYMitacsQueen's UniversityEndeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-ProfitsCanadian ClubCatalyst About the GuestSandra Odendahl is a pioneer in sustainable finance with more than twenty-five years of experience across environmental science and the finance sector. Most recently she was Senior Vice President and Head of Sustainability, Diversity and Social Impact at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), after leading enterprise-wide sustainability and social finance programs at Scotiabank and RBC. She also served as President and CEO of a Calgary-based carbon capture technology company, and began her career as an environmental scientist and engineer in the natural resources sector. She holds a Master of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering, is a CFA charter holder, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards. She recently stepped away from BDC and is advising a clean-economy investment fund. 🔗 LinkedIn Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramPress Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles' book.Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  4. Sep 30

    15 | William Arruda - How to Stop Conforming and Start Standing Out

    When was the last time a single pause changed the entire direction of your life? Charles sits down with William Arruda, the pioneer who turned personal branding into a global industry, for a conversation about the small moment that redirected everything. William shares how one magazine article, read during an unplanned pause, sparked the first personal branding company. They get into why we still hesitate to bet on ourselves, why conformity quietly costs us, and how walking away from a title feels nothing like the highlight reel. If you have ever sensed a change but talked yourself out of acting, this one is for you. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights● [02:24] The provocative line he drops on strangers who ask what he does ● [03:25] Why so much of what passes for personal branding today is really anti-branding ● [04:19] The magazine sitting on an assistant's desk that rewrote his whole future ● [06:45] Sliding Doors, subway trains, and the randomness that quietly builds a career ● [08:11] The gold watch at IBM he could have retired with, and why he walked ● [10:58] A question from 1997 we still cannot answer: why won't we bet on ourselves? ● [11:59] The conformity trap, and why fitting in is holding you back ● [14:15] Personal branding without this one thing is just egotism ● [19:30] The unglamorous, quietly brutal side of walking away that no highlight reel shows ● [26:19] The biggest thing even smart, self-aware professionals get wrong about branding ● [30:19] The IBM layoff, 14 names, and the pause behind how his company really began Resources Mentioned"The Brand Called You" by Tom Peters, Fast Company (1997)Sliding Doors (film)Association for Talent Development (ATD) International ConferenceIBMFinancial TimesRichard Branson / VirginFrance Amérique About the GuestWilliam Arruda is a personal branding pioneer and the founder and president of Reach Personal Branding, the first and leading company in the field, which he launched in 2001. Credited with turning personal branding into a global industry, he is a bestselling author of Digital YOU, Ditch. Dare. Do!, and Career Distinction, a senior contributor to Forbes, co-founder of CareerBlast.TV, and the creator of the 360Reach personal brand survey used by nearly two million professionals. He has delivered hundreds of keynotes across dozens of countries. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramPress Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles' book.Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  5. Sep 23

    14 | Britt Andreatta – How Brainspotting Ended Years of Panic Attacks

    What if the reactions you can’t explain are your past quietly running the show? In this episode, Charles Achampong sits down with international recognized thought leaderand best-selling author Dr. Britt Andreatta, who spent years believing she had a happy childhood until panic attacks in her thirties told a different story. Britt opens up about healing deep trauma, the amygdala hijack that quietly drives our reactions, and the two sessions that ended her panic for good. She and Charles explore why survivors often read a room better than anyone, how bias gets built into the systems we live in, and why she walked away from a dream title to bet on herself. If you have ever felt your reaction was bigger than the moment, or heard the gremlin whisper who do you think you are, this conversation is your permission to rewrite the story. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights[02:30] The TEDx title that stopped Charles in his tracks [03:16] The one skill Britt says could solve most of the world's problems [05:10] The childhood she spent decades convincing herself was fine [05:25] When panic attacks hit out of nowhere and shrank her whole world [07:13] The two sessions that ended her panic for good [07:31] The book that explains why your past keeps showing up [10:05] The moment a stuck executive session cracked wide open [13:16] The law that quietly builds bias into the tech we use every day [15:42] Why the people who survived the hardest rooms read them best [21:09] The dream promotion that kept her up at night in a panic [28:40] She gave notice on Friday, then Microsoft bought LinkedIn on Monday [37:21] The two gremlins we are all raised to obey [40:18] The kind of trip that rewires your brain for new ideas Resources MentionedDr. Britt Andreatta’s TEDx talkThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (book)EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)BrainspottingCognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)Conway’s LawBrené Brown’s TED Talks on courage and vulnerabilityLynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning)University of California, Santa BarbaraAntioch UniversityAssociation for Talent Development (ATD) ConferenceWired To Series: Books on the brain science of success About the GuestDr. Britt Andreatta is an international thought leader who uses her background in leadership, neuroscience, psychology, and education to create science-based solutions for today’s workplace challenges.She is the CEO of Brain Aware Training and the former Chief Learning Officer for Lynda.com, now LinkedIn Learning. She has over 10 million views worldwide of her online courses and is the author of several best-selling books on the brain science of success including Wired to Grow, Wired to Resist, Wired to Connect, and Wired to Become. In 2024, she was awarded the ATD Thought Leader Award. Her work helps people and organizations understand how human biology shapes the way we learn, work, and grow. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramPress Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles' book.Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  6. Apr 29

    13 | The Power of Pausing Explained

    What if the clarity you’re seeking isn’t found by running faster, but by learning how to really pause? Join Charles Achampong, the gentle but direct voice behind "When We Pause," as he closes the season with intimate life lessons that invite leaders to break free from high-speed autopilot. Zero guesswork, just grounded insights on three quiet game-changers, reclaiming imagination, building “failure immunity,” and the underestimated superpower of mindful pausing. This solo episode rises out of lived experience, not theory, challenging us to rewrite tired scripts about speed, risk, and recovery so you can finally feel aligned again. Listen now because real transformation starts with one brave pause. Every minute you spend stuck in the old loop is a minute stolen from the leader and life you could have. This is wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else and the season finale you can’t afford to skip. Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – What if you didn’t need a passport—or a sabbatical—to experience a life-changing pause? [02:24] – The compliment that Charles Achampong wasn’t ready for and how it shifted everything [04:51] – The everyday superpower you’ve secretly lost (and how to reclaim it, courtesy of a child’s truth bomb) [08:42] – Kids imagine possibility, adults imagine consequences—why? [12:41] – The one question that can ignite everything you thought was impossible [15:06] – Why Gmail is secretly your best teacher about the micro-pause we all need [19:28] – When pausing is painful: facing failure, confronting “that loop” and how to escape it [26:40] – Borrow this mindset from a child to unlock your next bold move Resources MentionedApple Podcasts (education category rankings)“Failure Immunity” conceptAround the World Trip (family sabbatical) Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramPress Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book.Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  7. Apr 22

    12 | Naki Osutei – How to Thrive and Energize Your Career

    Have you ever wondered what happens when you finally hit pause... and life refuses to go back to “normal”? In this luminous, no-filter conversation, Charles Achampong welcomes transformational leader Naki Osutei for a rare behind-the-scenes exploration into powerful reinvention, the hidden cost of relentless achievement, and the deep lessons you only learn by letting go. They unpack surprising truths about burnout, the messy grace of transition, and why habits and the courage to pause shape your future far more than title or performance. If you’re craving clarity, longing for a more intentional life, or wrestling with losing your identity in the pursuit of ambition, pause with us. Don’t risk wasting months on autopilot. This episode brings both soulful stories and practical tools you simply won’t hear anywhere else. Tune in now and reclaim the wisdom in your own pause. Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – When was the last time you let yourself start over on purpose?[01:02] – The art of reinvention: surviving (and thriving) through all the pivots[04:21] – The “accidental” leadership moment at sixteen that changed everything[10:13] – The voice you need when Imposter Syndrome shouts the loudest[18:01] – The lifequake year: cancer, pandemic, and burning the playbook[23:01] – Burnout’s hidden warning signs and a prescription you can’t ignore[27:23] – How “practice-based culture” unexpectedly transforms teams and lives[35:10] – Letting go of status: why identity loss just might become your freedom[44:28] – One question to ask when you feel restless or off-mission Resources MentionedDiverseCity FellowsCivicActionTD BankCIBCDon Staley – Uncommon Favor (book)Richard FloridaJulia Cameron – The Artist's Way (book)Capacity Canada About the GuestNaki Osutei is the Founder and Principal of PRESIQ, a trailblazing leadership and talent development consultancy redefining how organizations and individuals practice intentional change. Known for her cross-sector expertise, spanning non-profit, public, and private leadership and as a champion for burnout prevention and authentic work cultures, she brings 20+ years of wisdom to every client. Her journey from early community leader to banking executive, cancer survivor, and entrepreneur offers a grounded, human, and hope-filled model for anyone seeking real-life transformation. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Instagram Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramPress Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book.Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  8. Apr 15

    11 | Monique Giroux – Surprising Joys, Powerful Pauses, and the Art of Slowing Down

    Ever felt trapped by success, so busy you can’t breathe, but scared to slow down in case everything falls apart? In this rich and vulnerable episode, Charles Achampong welcomes transformation coach and meditation leader Monique Giroux for an eye-opening exploration of the sacred pause, life-changing retreats, and what slowing down really unlocks. Together, they reveal unconventional secrets for finding joy, overcoming high-functioning anxiety, and alchemizing ambition into true clarity. Monique shares exclusive lessons from her global travels, deep Buddhist practice, and radical career pivots, and why trusting yourself is both rare and revolutionary. If you’re craving less overwhelm and more meaning, you can’t afford to wait. This episode is your urgent invitation to step off autopilot now for exclusive, hard-won wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else. Hit play and reclaim time, self-trust, and joy. Timestamped Highlights[04:41] – How feeling lost and grieving led to unexpected healing and yoga [07:59] – The Bali retreat epiphany: pain, anxiety, and the first full breath [12:04] – “We spend our whole lives running—practice stopping.” The inside story [15:13] – Slow travel vs. speed tourism: revolutionary secrets for true presence [18:03] – Hungry ghosts, hidden drives, and the surprising roots of overachievement [24:04] – Navigating the ‘messy middle’—trusting change before you see the map [26:08] – The Happy List: a proven joy-hacking framework to reset your energy Resources MentionedLaurentian UniversitPlum Village Sangha (Thich Nhat Hanh)Rainbow Roots Trail SystemCIBCThe Book of Joy – Dalai Lama & Desmond TutuLoving Kindness MeditationVipassana Silent RetreatYoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, ReikiLost Intentionally by Monique GirouxThe Way Out Is In (podcast) About the GuestMonique Giroux is a transformation coach, meditation leader, and university lecturer at Laurentian University, known for guiding high-achievers from anxiety to intentional living. With nearly 20 years of executive experience in financial services and deep roots in Buddhist meditation and forest therapy, Monique fuses practical wisdom with soulful leadership. Her work helps professionals realign life with purpose, heal through pause, and sustain joy in high-performance careers. 🔗 LinkedIn | Linktree Important LinksConnect with Charles: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramPress Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book.Ready to spark change? Book Charles as keynote speaker for your event. The Purpose-Driven Pause Mentor is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to When We Pause, hosted by Charles Achampong. Charles is a best-selling author, award-winning speaker, and leadership strategist who helps high-performing leaders respond with intention rather than react on autopilot. This show is an invitation to pause in a world that rewards speed. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leaders and change-makers who’ve learned that clarity does not come from doing more, but from pausing with intention before the next decision. It’s about choosing clarity before action. It’s a different way of leading, living, and making decisions. This is When We Pause

Information

  • Creator
    Charles Achampong
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Charles Achampong Copyright 2026
  • Show Website
    When We Pause