Sisu Lab

Emilia Elisabet Lahti
  • 5.0 (14)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Sisu Lab Podcast explores the inner fortitude of sisu its deep human expression. Sisu is an ancient Finnish word often associated with determination and courage in the face of adversity. Beyond that, it is a life philosophy and a path for refining one’s character. In this podcast, we explore sisu as a way of becoming more focused, courageous, loving, and free. Hosted by Elisabet Lahti, PhD, author of Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu, the Sisu Lab Podcast weaves together research, personal stories, and practical insights. Elisabet has pioneered research on sisu since 2012 and has completed multiple endurance feats in her ongoing inquiry into inner fortitude. This podcast is an invitation to meet your own sisu up close. Learn more about Elisabet, her books, and related research at www.sisulab.com.

  1. FEB 4

    Descriptive Communication with Leadership Coach Joppe Quaedvlieg

    New pod episode is up! I met with leadership coach and community builder Joppe Quaedvlieg for a conversation about communication and what it actually takes to create trust, safety, and belonging in our relationships. Joppe is the creator of Descriptive Communication, a practical approach to expressing what we want and need in ways that others can actually understand. His work grew out of lived experience: years of not knowing what he wanted, learning to people-please, and eventually realizing how much of our suffering and lost opportunity results from not being able to express ourselves clearly, to ourselves or to others. It’s about using language more clearly, but even more, sometimes, it is about presence and the sisu to be real with each other. We talked about topics like: 🌀Why the question “What do you want?” is so difficult but also transformative (anyone remember the scene from Notebook? : ) 🌀 How vague language hides practical needs 🌀 Why descriptive communication builds agency, courage, and responsibility 🌀 How community is built not through good intentions, but clear asks 🌀 What leadership, relationships, and collaboration can look like when we aim for presence and honesty, not only performance 🌀 Joppe's views on sisu that I found very insightful and beautiful Joppe shared his poem, “I Consider Us a Village,” and he also walks us through the thinking behind his community practice Help Me Help You, showing how simple, specific requests can unlock collective resources we already have but rarely use. He organises these events in Helsinki and you can participate. If you’re interested in leadership development or community building, or want tips to improve your relationships and communicate with more clarity, this episode offers tools you can start testing out immediately. Check out Joppe's work on his website at artiqula.com. There you'll find his courses, coaching offerings, and also his book Reaching Escape Velocity. Thanks again, Joppe! Great to be in the same village with you : ) Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    50 min

  2. JAN 11

    The Heart of Authenticity with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman

    Scott Barry Kaufman is a big inspiration to me in research and the human sciences. He is a humanistic psychologist, the creator of self-actualization coaching, and simply a refreshing person who brings a sense of “keeping it real” to the world of self-development. Scott is a professor of psychology at Columbia University, the director of the Center for Human Potential, and among the top 1% most-cited scientists in the world for his research on intelligence and creativity (= wow, the academic sisu this has required). He also hosts The Psychology Podcast. With over 25 million downloads, it’s one of the leading psychology podcasts globally. Scott’s foundation lies in humanistic psychology, which emphasizes the importance of meaning, wholeness, and the lived experience of being human. Rather than sinking into all sorts of neurosis over what the ego likes to label as “good–bad” or “right–wrong,” this perspective invites us to feel into all the complexity (and wonder) that comes with being human. We spoke about a wide range of topics, such as creativity, human potential, feeling like an impostor at times (and why it can actually be a good thing), his hopes and hesitations about the future, and what it means to be true to your heart. Last year, Scott published his 11th (!) book, Rise above! You can explore Scott's work and many valuable resources at scottbarrykaufman.com. I warmly recommend checking it out. The site is a treasure trove of insight. The conversation we had moved something in me, which I felt afterward. What I can make of it is that witnessing authenticity stirs us, brings us closer to our center and to each other. It feels grounded and safe, and we are indeed finely tuned to sense it. Especially in the context of a recorded conversation, where we tend to seek to perform and give “the right answers” (which is, of course, very human), it felt beautiful to witness such realness. The discussion brought back a thought my Aikido teacher once shared with me: “It’s easy to be clever. It’s much harder to be loving.” Thanks for listening and for being part of the sisu journey 3 If you enjoyed the content, please leave a review if you like, or share the podcast link so it can find its way to people who might enjoy it. Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    1h 5m

  3. 03/24/2025

    Sisu and Dissent: Keys to Constructive Badassery with Dr. Todd Kashdan

    Right now, outrage seems as rampant as complacency, and both are lost opportunities from the vantage point of of life force. Being a "constructive badass" is a path to growth, change, and leadership amidst high pressure situations. The more we develop the skill of constructive dissent and engage in the art of insubordination—how to speak up with courage and clarity—we create degrees of freedom for courage in the everyday. For this Sisu Lab episode, I had the joy of interviewing Professor Todd Kashdan, one of the world’s most cited psychologists and a curious thought leader on courage, character, and all things psychological flexibility. This conversation rocked such a unique flow of exploring life, ideas, and the co-creative space possible between curious humans anywhere that it felt like a real highlight. The experience itself, to me, speaks of how can help each other rise to our best just by being genuinely excited about each other (like kids!) and viewing moments of interaction as opportunities to unearth something valuable together. Todd and I jammed about: How to dissent effectively without breaking connectionWhy good people may struggle to be brave when it matters mostThe difference between being a principled rebel vs. a reactive troublemakerWhy true change-makers often face delayed rewards—and how sisu can help us stay the courseBalancing activism with mental health, and what keeps us going through long fights for changeThe gift of witnessing each other fail—and grow and heal togetherWhat it means to be an “upstander” (with a nod to educator Jackson Katz)How everyday acts of courage and kindness shape the bigger environment we call our lifeTodd’s insights come from decades of research—and deep skin in the game. He’s the author of several brilliant books, including Curious, The Upside of Your Dark Side, and most relevantly: The Art of Insubordination. 🎧 If you’ve ever struggled to find your voice in the face of injustice—or wondered how to process with combining courage and compassion (or to navigate the difference between power vs. force)—this is for you. If this has value to you, please share with everyone you know. And let me know who you'd like me to interview! Thanks again, Todd. This was exquisite!  Shownotes: Todd's website and books: www.toddkashdan.com. Rainer Maria Rilke: Letters to a Young Poet. Jackson Katz TEDx with over 2 million views. Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    1h 19m

  4. 12/30/2024

    The Gifts of Masculine and Feminine Energy: Performance Coach Monique Borst on Leading from Within

    I’m joined for a conversation by Monique Borst, an entrepreneur, advisor and performance coach with 15 years in senior leadership positions. Monique has said, "Our businesses and personal lives are a mirror reflection of where we are on our own self-development journey, and can only be as successful as we are aware and in control of our thoughts and emotions." Together, we’ll unpack what it means to lead with strength and empathy, to balance resilience with grace, and to embrace vulnerability as a force for healing. When we do this work that can take a bit of sisu not just in the traditional way of doing something physically tough ... but the courage it takes to steal the gold from the night of subconscious to find the treasures we discover in our quiet, inner places can illuminate the everyday moments of business, leadership, and community. For this episode you can reflect if you like: 💡 What does gentle power mean to you? 💡 How can we, as leaders and as humans, step forward with balance, authenticity, and wholeness? The episode is dedicated to the memory of dear late friend Stéphane LeBlanc, a Canadian pioneer of conscious leadership. You can find our guest Monique Borst on LinkedIn, where she shares her thoughtful content and her website at MoniqueBorst.com, Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    1h 11m

  5. 07/07/2024

    The Neuroscience of Manifestation: Dr. James Doty on the Foundations of Fortitude, Compassion and Grace

    The following interview is with distinguished neurosurgeon Dr. James Doty and it's a listen that is likely to make you feel a bit stronger and make you think more deeply about leadership, your daily habits, and the gift of life. I have been following Dr. Doty's work for about a decade and was deeply honored for this chance to learn from the master himself. He is a compassion researcher, NY Times bestselling author, and philanthropist. Dr. Doty is also a clinical professor of neurosurgery and Founder & Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University School of Medicine. He recently published a new book called Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything. We had a thrilling and heartwarming conversation - a warm recommendation to add this seminal book to your near-future reading list! You can find Mind Magic here: Mind Magic on Amazon (leave a review if you read the book and find it inspiring - this is always invaluable to authors 3) and learn more about Dr. Doty's work on his website: James R. Doty MD. Finally, here is another fantastic interview with Dr. Doty by John R. Miles. Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    1 hr

  6. 06/02/2024

    Endurance from Inside Out: Dr. Phil Maffetone on Optimal Performance and Building a Healthy Planet

    This episode is about the paradox of putting healing and performance in the same sentence. Join me for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Phil Maffetone, a visionary in endurance sports for over four decades, an author, musician, and coach. Known for his MAF Method, which emphasizes aerobic training and fat-burning, Phil’s approach has helped athletes achieve world class level of performance. However this method applies to every-body out there to create more sovereignty, health and happiness. In today’s episode, we delve into Phil’s groundbreaking philosophies and practical tips for enhancing fitness, well-being, and body awareness. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a beginner, discover MAF to ultimately to become your own coach, make sustainable decisions, and cultivate resilience and self-leadership. Plus, we explore topics like nutrition, intuition, meditation, and making lifelong healthy choices. Tune in for a conversation around ideas that have deeply impacted my own journey over the past decade! Philip's homepages: The MAF Method https://philmaffetone.com/ The Music of Philip Maffetone https://maffetonemusic.com/ The Maffetone Method Running Group on FB that I mention (9.7K members and it's a very active and friendly group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1452390158396719 MAF Profile: Mission to heal: https://philmaffetone.com/maf-profile-mission-heal/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3dj0exmFNSb61qyTw8UnkPeCk1cskOg-_zGshXKLYo9mq5yJo_TPtAOuU_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw Phil Maffetone speaks about the details of MAF, nutrition, running, recovery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TPrenWWK9U "We are in this for fun and to bed happy" another great interview with Phil (Floris Gierman) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyE2J5pcWcA Phils's Red and Yellow book of endurance and fitness that were mentioned in the show can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Philip-Maffetone/author/B001K88UYE?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Enjoy the exploration!! Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    1h 6m

  7. 04/16/2024

    Sovereignty, Sisu and Calm Power with Dr. Emma Seppälä

    Welcome to a new season of the Sisu Lab podcast! In this episode, I got heart to heart with emotional intelligence and wellbeing expert, Dr. Emma Seppälä. We dove into the mortal mortar life, took a dip the river of life force and finally, circled into the gentle powers we all possess within to elevate our humans condition: We talked about  sovereignty. Big word. It will change and challenge your world. Sovereignty is also the primary topic (and name) of Emma's book that comes out next week. Pre-order Emma's new book by April 18th and join her (and me as her discussion host!) for an online fireside chat as a pre-order gift. Find the books'a beautiful landing page at www.iamsov.com Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    49 min

  8. 12/22/2023

    Systems Intelligence: Path to Sisu as Heart and Leadership in Tough Times

    In the spirit of the season, here's a true gift from Aalto University in Finland in the form of an introduction to a framework called systems intelligence (SI). While the name might feel a even a bit cerebral, this work has deeply changed my personal overlook on life and relationships some ten years ago. It's also the practice to which I root my sisu to raise it from only a quality of surviving hardship to an expression of leadership with a hope of creating something of higher good around us. SI was originally developed by professor Raimo Hämäläinen and professor emeritus Esa Saarinen at Aalto University. They highlight that SI is a key competence we all possess as humans. It begins with "thinking about our thinking," as Saarinen puts it, to understand what actually drives our habits, patterns and actions. SI is about better thinking - not only about thinking or thinking more (that's why it is an update to systems thinking). Thinking about our thinking takes us to 'the source' of our action to illuminate a path toward better actions and when we place this understanding within a system, it becomes a dynamic inquiry towards excellence with regards to everything we connect with - within and outside. Below are four points from Hämäläinen ja Saarinen (2007, p. 59-60) that I mention in the episode (I've added a question to each point to use for self-reflection) & further reading. With this... thank you for your support in 2023 and may we both have a steady, strong year of sisu of the heart and love deep in the bones ahead! *** 1.     Acknowledging that one’s action and behaviour is the result of one’s thinking. (“What constitutes my mental models, beliefs, assumptions, and interpretations?”) 2.     Acknowledging that one’s thinking is likely to be one-sided and a far cry from an accurate grasp of the bigger picture; the holistic system around self is likely to be reflected in one’s thinking only partially and possibly in a distorted form. (“How well do I know what I don’t know?”) 3.     To act more intelligently in systemic environments, one must engage in meta-level thinking regarding their thinking. (“How do I use my thinking?”) 4.     One’s framing of the environment and its interconnected systems is likely to reflect their subjective assumptions. Reflection on how I frame and look at things is an intelligent path to life in systems. (“How do my beliefs guide my thinking?”) Further material:  Systems Intelligence Research Group, Aalto University http://systemsintelligence.aalto.fi/ Systems intelligence: A key competence in human action and organizational life. Hämäläinen, R. P. & Saarinen, E. (2007). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240789681_Systems_Intelligence_A_Key_Competence_in_Human_Action_and_Organizational_Life Perceived systems intelligence and performance in organizations, J. Törmänen, R.P. Hämäläinen and E. Saarinen (2021), https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/TLO-04-2021-0045/full/html Being Better Better - Living with Systems Intelligence (2014) https://sal.aalto.fi/publications/pdf-files/being_better_better_living_with_systems_intelligence.pdf Support the show Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion. Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

    37 min
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Sisu Lab Podcast explores the inner fortitude of sisu its deep human expression. Sisu is an ancient Finnish word often associated with determination and courage in the face of adversity. Beyond that, it is a life philosophy and a path for refining one’s character. In this podcast, we explore sisu as a way of becoming more focused, courageous, loving, and free. Hosted by Elisabet Lahti, PhD, author of Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu, the Sisu Lab Podcast weaves together research, personal stories, and practical insights. Elisabet has pioneered research on sisu since 2012 and has completed multiple endurance feats in her ongoing inquiry into inner fortitude. This podcast is an invitation to meet your own sisu up close. Learn more about Elisabet, her books, and related research at www.sisulab.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Emilia Elisabet Lahti
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sisu Lab
  • Show Website
    Sisu Lab

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