What happens when the life that looks perfect from the outside no longer feels right on the inside? In this episode of Beyond the Keynote, recorded live in Paris, Carmen Sederino sits down with Susan Oubari, founder of Breathe in Paris, author, Reiki Master, breathwork teacher and keynote speaker, for a deeply personal conversation about identity, burnout and the courage to step into the light. But this isn't simply a story about changing careers. It's a story about unravelling the conditioning, expectations and identities that can keep us from knowing who we really are, and learning how to create a life that actually fits. What You'll Learn (00:13:27) How to recognise when a life that looks right from the outside has stopped fitting, and what Susan noticed first (00:16:29) Why her six year old's anxiety turned out to be the signal, and what a year of doctors could not tell her (00:23:32) Why unravelling conditioning takes years rather than weeks, and what she was left holding in the meantime (00:29:07) The two categories of breathwork and what each does to your body, so you know which one belongs backstage (00:35:47) How to use your breath before you walk on, and what Susan visualises while she does it (00:41:50) What it takes to learn to speak to a room, and the unlikely person she hired to teach her (00:44:34) How to survive a night that goes badly, and the list she wrote afterwards that she still keeps (00:50:45) Why authenticity on stage still needs a script, and what performing her own life taught her (00:53:21) Why an audience can have a great night when the speaker does not, and why that difference matters Quotes to Remember "The best thing that ever can happen to you is that somebody walks out and that you get up and you go back to another.""Keep breathing. Breathe life into your dreams." Susan's Journey Susan grew up outside Boston dreaming of being an actress, and was told she was too much. She saved her Vogues under her bed, used an inheritance to move to Paris for fashion school in 1990, and built a 360-degree career across Milan, Casablanca, Paris and Vancouver, from art director to photo agent to stylist. Burnout arrived halfway. Reiki came in 2007, breathwork a decade later, and Breathe in Paris was born in the parks of Paris in 2018. She has since guided thousands of people through their own breath. Advice for Speakers Record yourself, watch it back, and let people tell you honestly it was not good. Write down the bad and the good after every event, and keep the list. Before you walk on, breathe into your belly and see the applause. When someone walks out, let it land, then schedule the next one. Her worst nights are the reason she is good now. Free Resource Beyond the Keynote Masterclass Connect with Carmen Sederino Website: illuminatedstory.com LinkedIn: Carmen Sederino YouTube: Illuminated Story Instagram: @illuminatedstory Connect with Susan Oubari Website: susanoubari.com LinkedIn: Susan Oubari Instagram: @susan.oubari Book: Breathwork, Respirez pour Changer (Flammarion, 2020) About the Host Carmen Sederino is the founder of Illuminated Story, transforming high-stakes presentations into unforgettable performances. With a background in theatre and corporate leadership, she helps leaders create memorable speaking experiences. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and host, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Illuminated Story.
