Intentional Living with Ben Robins

Ben Robins

Designing a life with intention is hard. This show makes it easier. Once you've achieved success, it's all too common to realise that what you built may not be what you actually wanted. We achieve success on paper, but quietly question if the life we're building still fits. I’m Ben Robins: a life and leadership coach who left corporate not because things were failing, but because they no longer felt like mine. I help founders and leaders think more clearly about what they actually want - and how to go after it. No frameworks. No hustle culture. Just clearer thinking, and a life that fits.

  1. Jun 17

    I wore an Oura Ring every day for 3 years. Here's why I quit.

    I wore an Oura ring every day for 3 years, but something strange happened: I’d wake up feeling like a bear after hibernation, but because my score was a 70, I’d suddenly feel exhausted. I realised I had outsourced my intuition to a metric. In this episode, I explore why psychology leads physiology and why your sleep tracker might be the very thing standing between you and a good life. This episode is for you if: You use an Oura Ring, Apple Watch, or Whoop and feel "ruled" by the data. You’re a perfectionist chasing a 90+ score every morning. You’ve noticed that "optimising" your life is actually making it feel smaller. You want to stop chasing metrics and start trusting your own experience again. 🕐 TIMESTAMPS:  0:00 The 3-year experiment (and why I stopped)  0:07 Why psychology leads physiology 0:47 How a "bad" score can ruin a perfectly good morning  1:33 The Celebrity Trap 2:18 The "Rabbit Hole" of magnesium, supplements, and cold plunges  2:59 Are you optimising for the score or for your life?  4:42 The Perfectionist Trap: Why 90 is never enough  5:04 Life Contraction 5:49 A year without a tracker: How I feel now  6:32 The Basics: What actually works (that you don't need an app for)  7:47 Do you want to live forever, or just be happy? CONNECT WITH ME: I work with business owners and leaders who are ready to step off the optimisation treadmill and design a life with true intention. 🌐 Website: https://ben-robins.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/ What metric are you optimising for that might be moving you away from what you actually want? Tell me in the comments. Want more on designing a life with intention? Like and subscribe. #OuraRing #SleepTracking #Biohacking #Mindfulness #PersonalGrowth #BenRobins #IntentionalLiving #Perfectionism #SelfImprovement

    9 min
  2. Jun 10

    Your Limiting Beliefs Need Removal, Not Reframing

    Don't Reframe Your Limiting Beliefs. Remove Them. Most coaches will tell you to reframe your limiting beliefs. I won't. Because reframing is like decorating a prison cell. You might make it look nicer, but it's still a prison cell. In this episode, I'll show you why removing limiting beliefs from the root is completely different from reframing them and why it actually works. Your limiting beliefs aren't who you are. They're mud that's been layered on top of you since childhood. And when you remove them, you realise there's so much more available to you than you ever thought possible. This episode is for you if: You're tired of reframing and want actual changeYou have a limiting belief that's been holding you back for yearsYou've done other coaching but something still feels stuckYou're ready to understand where your beliefs actually come fromYou want to remove the ceiling on what's possible for youYou're considering working with a coach and want to know my approachConnect with me:Website: https://ben-robins.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/ Ready to do deep work on removing limiting beliefs?I work with business owners, leaders, and people at inflection points who are ready to go deeper. If you want to explore whether coaching is right for you, visit my website or connect with me on LinkedIn. Interested in designing a life with intention?Subscribe to stay updated with new episodes on personal development, intentional living, and building the life you actually want.

    7 min
  3. May 27

    Public Speaking Doesn't Have to Be Scary: These 7 Things Will Make You More Confident

    When I was leading EMEA for a global consultancy, communication was the single biggest differentiator. These are the specific strategies I used to help my teams - and now my private coaching clients- step into the boardroom with confidence.Public speaking is often rated as a fear greater than death. In this video, I’m sharing the 7 strategies I used at the highest levels of corporate leadership to flip that anxiety into professional influence. Stepping into senior rooms requires more than just "tips". It requires a fundamental change in how you view your audience and your own nerves.Most people think confidence comes from eliminating nerves. But nervousness and excitement are often the same physiological response - the difference is the meaning you attach to it. Things begin to change when you stop focusing on yourself, stop seeing other people as “above” you, and begin communicating as a peer. In this video, you'll discover: Why public speaking feels so intimidating (and what’s actually causing it) The mindset shift that turns nerves into confidence How focusing on the audience instantly improves communication Why influential communicators speak peer-to-peer, not “up” to people How to stop seeing senior leaders or important people as intimidating The importance of preparation beyond just knowing your material How to build genuine influence in presentations and meetings Why your stories about yourself shape how confidently you communicate Simple ways to engage an audience from the very beginning The hidden psychology behind confident public speaking ⏰ Timestamps: ⏰ 00:00 -  Introduction 01:35 - One: The basics that instantly improve confidence 02:14 - Two: Leaning into discomfort 03:06 - Three: Focus on your audience, not yourself 03:38 - Four: Connect one-on-one with your audience 04:47 - Five: Break the frame and grab attention 05:48 - Six: Why you’re not actually scared of the room 08:08 - Seven: Own your stories 09:18 - Conclusion We’ll explore how identity shapes confidence, why people lose influence the moment they get stuck in their own head, and how changing the stories you tell yourself can completely transform the way you show up in important rooms.About Ben RobinsI help leaders and high-performers navigate the psychological hurdles of senior leadership. If you found this helpful, consider subscribing for more insights on communication, mindset, and career growth. Work with me =========================== ⁠My website⁠ - ⁠https://ben-robins.com/⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/⁠ =========================== This video was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency: https://www.zapods.com

    10 min
  4. May 20

    You're Not Self Sabotaging. This Is What's Actually Happening

    Work with me =========================== My website - https://ben-robins.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/ =========================== Most people think they struggle with self-sabotage - that invisible force that shows up right when things start going well. But what if that’s not what’s actually happening? In this video, I’ll unpack why self-sabotage isn’t really the problem - and what’s actually driving the behaviours that keep you stuck, even when you know exactly what you should be doing. From identity patterns formed long before you had a choice, to hidden benefits behind “bad” habits, this video looks at how your actions are not random, broken, or against you; but deeply logical once you understand what they’re protecting. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working against yourself, this will completely change how you see your behaviour. In this video, you’ll discover: Why self-sabotage is often a misleading label that hides the real issue How identity acts like an internal “autopilot” that shapes your behaviour Why you keep repeating patterns that don’t serve you The hidden logic behind habits that look destructive on the surface Why every behaviour is actually solving a problem for you How unconscious stories about yourself keep you stuck The link between identity and the “benefits” behind your habits How to question the story you’ve been proving without realising it Why change becomes easier when you stop seeing yourself as the problem ⏰ Timestamps: ⏰ 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Why self-sabotage might not exist 02:26 - The two sides to being stuck 02:38 - Side one: The identity you didn’t choose 05:01 - Protecting yourself from a potential loss 05:23 - Side two: Is “bad” behaviour your solution? 07:06 - There’s a benefit to everything – even smoking! 08:03 - Identity, habits and the real connection 08:51 - The story your behaviour is protecting 09:11 - How to finally change what’s stuck This video was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency: https://www.zapods.com

    10 min
  5. May 13

    How To Speak Like A Top 1% Leader

    Work with me =========================== My website - https://ben-robins.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/ =========================== Most communication advice tells you to do more. Better stories, stronger body language, more confidence. This video is about doing less. If you've ever felt like people overlook your ideas, tune out when you speak, or fail to recognise your value - the problem probably isn't what you're missing. It's what you're doing that's getting in the way. Drawing from years of working with leaders at Google, Meta and Samsung, I'll break down the five things that undermine your ability to communicate with influence and clarity - even when you're intelligent, experienced, and capable. Small changes in identity, clarity, and curiosity can completely change how people respond to you. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a difficult conversation, or trying to get traction in a meeting - this will help you become someone people genuinely listen to. In this video, you’ll discover: Why communication problems often start with identity, not skill How self-doubt changes the way people hear you Why overexplaining weakens your message The hidden reason inconsistent leaders lose trust How to communicate clearly without saying more Why great leaders ask better questions The mistake most people make in difficult conversations How to speak in a way people actually care about Why curiosity is one of the most powerful leadership skills The five communication habits that make people listen ⏰ Timestamps: ⏰ 00:00 - Introduction 01:03 - Why some people naturally command attention 01:27 - The five things good communicators have stopped doing 01:29 - The first thing: Why identity shapes how people hear you 03:13 - The second thing: The stories that sabotage how consistently you communicate 04:52 - The third thing: Why clear thinking matters most 06:53 - The fourth thing: How great leaders stay curious 08:15 - The fifth thing: Understand what they value 09:52 - The five changes that make people listen to you This video was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency: https://www.zapods.com

    11 min
  6. May 6

    You Know What To Do. So Why Aren’t You Doing It?

    If you've been struggling with procrastination, self-sabotage, or motivation, this video will change how you see yourself, and why you're actually stuck. In this episode, I'll break down the real reasons you're not taking action on the things you know you want to do. Whether it's starting a business, having a difficult conversation, or finally tackling the goal that's been sitting on your list for months. It might surprise you, but the answer isn't more discipline or motivation. It almost never is. The personal development industry has spent decades handing out labels - procrastinator, self-saboteur, someone with limiting beliefs - and calling it an answer. But labels keep you managing a problem rather than resolving it at the root. Once you understand what's actually going on underneath, you stop fighting yourself and start moving. I'll walk you through the three root causes that keep most people stuck, why willpower alone will never fix them, and what to ask yourself instead, so you can finally stop putting off the things that matter most. In this video, you'll discover: Why motivation and discipline aren't the real problem The truth about labels like ‘procrastination’ and ‘self-sabotage’ The three real reasons you're not taking action How your own hidden logic might be working against you Why unclear or uninspiring goals keep you paralysed The unseen benefits of staying stuck - and how to address them How to find the root cause and stop fighting the wrong thing What to ask yourself instead of ‘why can't I just do it?’ ⏰ Timestamps: ⏰ 00:00 - You know what to do. So why aren’t you doing it? 00:57 - Why motivation and discipline aren’t the real problem 01:24 - The problem with labels (procrastinator, self-saboteur, indecisive, lazy) 02:13 - The three real reasons you’re stuck 02:16 - Reason 1: The story you’ve been telling yourself 04:09 - Reason 2: The goal itself is unclear or uninspiring 05:04 - Reason 3: The hidden benefits of not doing the thing 06:16 - Why willpower will never be enough 07:06 - Why labels keep you stuck (instead of helping) 07:23 - Why a coach helps you see what you’re too close to see 08:23 - What to do once you understand the root cause Connect with me =========================== My website - https://ben-robins.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/ This video was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency: https://www.zapods.com

    9 min
  7. Apr 29

    You Only Have 20 Years of Free Time. Here's How to Use Them Intentionally

    If you've been feeling stretched, reactive, or like your week just happens to you, this will give you a simple, practical way to take it back. In this video, I'll walk you through the life control panel: a way of thinking about your time, energy, and priorities that puts you back in the driver's seat. Instead of reacting to your inbox, your schedule, or other people's urgencies, this is about intentionally deciding what gets more of you, and what gets less. From health and wealth, to relationships and happiness, this approach helps you design a life around what genuinely matters to you, rather than defaulting to someone else's version of success. The control panel will help you design your life intentionally and on your own terms.  We’ll be exploring: Why "work-life balance" is the wrong goal (and what to focus on instead) How to stop living reactively and start designing your life intentionally The life control panel concept and how it works How to approach health, wealth, relationships, and happiness deliberately Why vagueness about what matters is costing you years of your life How to make one small change this week that actually sticks Designing your weeks around what actually matters to you ⏰ Timestamps: ⏰ 00:00 - Why work-life balance isn't the real problem 00:39 - The life control panel: how it works 02:05 - The 4 dials: Health, Wealth, Relationships, Happiness 02:15 - Dial 1: Health (are you building it in, or hoping it happens?) 02:57 - Dial 2: Wealth (is your career happening TO you?) 03:42 - Dial 3: Relationships (are you present, or just there?) 04:15 - Dial 4: Happiness (what lights you up?) 05:33 - How to set your dials (where to start) 06:31 - How to use this in real life (seasons, adjustments, consistency) Connect with me =========================== My website - https://ben-robins.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-robins-coaching/ This video was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency: https://www.zapods.com

    8 min

Trailer

About

Designing a life with intention is hard. This show makes it easier. Once you've achieved success, it's all too common to realise that what you built may not be what you actually wanted. We achieve success on paper, but quietly question if the life we're building still fits. I’m Ben Robins: a life and leadership coach who left corporate not because things were failing, but because they no longer felt like mine. I help founders and leaders think more clearly about what they actually want - and how to go after it. No frameworks. No hustle culture. Just clearer thinking, and a life that fits.