Vidya by Pia & Bart

Pia & Bart
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Leadership consultants Pia & Bart talk about topics close to their heart, encouraging dialogue on the things that truly matter to entrepreneurs and leaders.

  1. JAN 30

    74. Grief

    We explore grief through the immediate and raw experience of losing a parent, beginning with the story of receiving news of a mother's death whilst scuba diving in a remote part of the Philippines. We discuss the intensity of those first nine days—the loneliness of travelling home alone, the profound sadness of missing someone physically, and the complex emotions of being both the griever and the anchor for an extended family's collective grief. Through personal reflection, we examine how grief and love are inseparable partners—there is no grief without love—and how the shared experience of loss can strengthen family bonds. We discuss the power of conscious grieving: using morning pages to process emotions, the cathartic experience of writing a eulogy, and the comfort found in spiritual beliefs about continued presence beyond physical death. We broaden the conversation beyond death to examine other forms of grief: lost dreams, children growing up, relationships ending, and futures that will never materialise. We explore how grief for these losses is often more complex and prolonged than grief from death, involving anxiety and uncertainty alongside sadness. We discuss the importance of allowing grief space rather than suppressing it, whilst also recognising the need to progress rather than becoming stuck in difficult emotions. We reflect on the concepts of "good death" and the "say it now" philosophy—expressing love and appreciation whilst people are still alive. We conclude that conscious, deliberate grieving, though profoundly difficult, creates opportunities for deeper learning, stronger connections, and meaningful acceptance of loss in all its forms.

    33 min

  2. 12/24/2025

    73. Deliberate Life

    We share reflections from Bali, where we've spent two weeks recording our long-awaited Deliberate Life programme—a project eight years in the making. We discuss the unique energy of Ubud, Bali's spiritual centre, where ceremonies happen daily and spiritual practices are woven into everyday life. Through personal examples from our time here—cacao ceremonies, sound meditations, temple purification rituals, and tarot card readings—we explore how immersing ourselves in this environment has enriched both our work and our experience of deliberate living. We reflect on the power of setting intentions through ritual, describing how three guiding principles emerged from our opening ceremony: magic, trust, and challenge. We examine how the Deliberate Life framework applies to our own lives during this intense period of creation. The week brought both profound joy and unexpected grief, with news of a best friend's terminal cancer arriving mid-project—a stark reminder of memento mori and the importance of seizing the day. We discuss the value of zooming out to see life's bigger picture, appreciating what we have rather than fixating on details to fix. We explore the concept of ikigai—work that combines what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for—and recognise this project as our own ikigai. We conclude by announcing that the podcast will be renamed "Deliberate Life" and that our standalone programme, designed to help others move from autopilot to intentional living, will be available soon.

    29 min

  3. 11/27/2025

    72. Neuroticism

    We explore neuroticism, the fourth of the Big Five personality traits we've discussed, following our previous episodes on openness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Neuroticism represents sensitivity to negative emotions—those higher on the scale experience more worry, frustration, and stress, whilst those lower feel fewer negative emotions overall. We acknowledge the loaded nature of the word "neurotic" in everyday language and challenge the assumption that low neuroticism is inherently better. Through personal examples, we discuss how being very low on neuroticism brings advantages—less worry, more equanimity—but also risks: missing important signals, underestimating threats, and needing to work harder at empathy for others' negative experiences. We examine how neuroticism affects relationships and leadership, sharing how partners with different levels can create friction when one feels compelled to "do the worrying for both." In leadership contexts, we explore how those high on neuroticism can use their emotional sensitivity as valuable data for reading rooms and anticipating problems, provided they learn to process and release those emotions rather than let them become contagious. We discuss whether personality can change over time, noting significant personal shifts in both neuroticism and conscientiousness across decades. We conclude by encouraging listeners to complete the Big Five assessment online, develop awareness of where they sit on the spectrum, and consider how their level of neuroticism serves or limits their effectiveness—remembering that neuroticism, like all personality traits, exists for good evolutionary reasons.

    27 min

  4. 10/30/2025

    71. Money

    We explore the often-taboo subject of money, beginning with an examination of why financial discussions feel uncomfortable—the fear of being judged or defined by wealth rather than character. We introduce the concept of "money blueprint," the belief system about money formed during childhood that shapes our financial behaviours throughout life. Through contrasting personal stories, we share how our blueprints were formed: one rooted in a working-class background and the belief that wealth is unethical, leading to financial neglect; the other grounded in careful saving and detailed record-keeping from childhood. We discuss the transformative power of recognising and challenging limiting beliefs about money, demonstrating how changing one's blueprint can fundamentally alter financial outcomes—from eliminating debt to optimising revenue and implementing structured money management systems. We delve into practical aspects of financial consciousness, exploring the concept of money as energy that should flow rather than stagnate. Drawing on "Die with Zero" by Bill Perkins, we examine the importance of timing life experiences appropriately—spending on skiing whilst physically able rather than over-saving for later years. We discuss conscious spending versus unconscious consumption, the principle of effective altruism in charitable giving, and the dangers of comparison in driving financial decisions. We address the complexities of knowing when to shift from saving to spending, the responsibility that comes with wealth, and the importance of financial alignment with partners. We conclude with practical recommendations: understand your money blueprint, discuss finances openly with your partner, consider professional guidance for investments, and reflect on whether your financial behaviours align with your values and life goals.

    32 min

  5. 09/26/2025

    70. Boundaries

    We explore the essential skill of boundary setting through personal and professional examples, examining how clear boundaries protect our time, energy, and values whilst maintaining relationships. We discuss practical scenarios from declining alcohol at social gatherings to saying no to dessert at dinner parties, illustrating how boundaries become easier to establish with people we know well versus strangers or colleagues. Through workplace examples, we examine the challenge of setting boundaries around availability, deep work time, and the delicate balance between being a supportive leader and overstepping professional responsibilities. We explore how cultural expectations and the fear of appearing impolite can make boundary setting particularly difficult, especially when declining invitations without external excuses. We delve into the art of saying no elegantly and respectfully, sharing strategies such as buying time before responding, offering counter-proposals, and being honest about personal preferences. We examine how boundaries connect to personal values—recognising that violated boundaries often signal compromised values—and discuss the importance of flexibility to avoid becoming overly rigid in our principles. Through examples ranging from party invitations to professional coaching limits, we explore how leaders set the tone for organisational culture through their own boundary practices. We conclude with practical tools for identifying when boundaries have been crossed, including the "above the line, below the line" framework, and emphasise the role of reflection and journaling in understanding our personal boundary needs.

    34 min

  6. 08/28/2025

    69. Agreeableness

    We explore agreeableness, the third of the Big Five personality traits we've discussed, following our previous episodes on openness and extraversion/introversion. Agreeableness represents the tendency to prioritise others' needs over one's own—highly agreeable people are sympathetic, cooperative, and accommodating, whilst those lower in agreeableness are more competitive, self-interested, and direct. We share personal examples of how high agreeableness manifests: difficulty knowing what you want for dinner, crying when others cry, and the challenge of maintaining boundaries with less agreeable individuals. We discuss how highly agreeable people can be taken advantage of and the importance of developing what we call "toughness muscles" to push back when necessary. We examine agreeableness in leadership contexts, particularly the challenge of holding people accountable and managing healthy conflict when you naturally want to be liked and avoid discomfort. Through client examples, we explore how highly agreeable leaders can struggle to hold space for productive friction and may soften their messages too much. However, we also recognise that agreeableness can be a leadership strength—creating psychological safety, building trust, and delivering feedback from a place of genuine care. We conclude by encouraging listeners to reflect on when their agreeableness serves them well versus when it limits their effectiveness, and to consider what "courageous kindness" might look like in their current situation.

    25 min

  7. 07/24/2025

    68. Creativity

    We explore creativity through the lens of artistic courage and personal expression, beginning with reflections on Gustav Klimt's decision to break from commissioned religious paintings to create his own revolutionary art. We discuss how true artists often work without recognition or financial reward, driven by an inner compulsion to express something new and meaningful. Through personal examples—from discovering a passion for architecture at Barcelona's Sagrada Família to experimenting with cooking and gardening—we examine how creativity manifests in everyday activities. We explore the distinction between cognitive creativity (synthesising ideas through conscious effort) and what we call "flow creativity," where the best ideas emerge when we step out of our own way and allow something deeper to surface. We delve into the practical aspects of nurturing creativity, drawing on Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" and techniques like morning pages—stream-of-consciousness writing that builds creative muscle by bypassing the thinking mind. We discuss how creativity requires creating the right conditions rather than forcing outcomes: planning for walks in nature, museum visits, or musical performances to inspire rather than demanding specific creative output. Through stories of painting without technique and coaching conversations that take surprising turns, we explore how perfectionism and performance pressure often block creative flow. We conclude that creativity isn't just for artists—it's about playfulness, dealing with uncertainty, and making space for the unexpected ideas that emerge when we silence our inner critic and trust the creative process.

    28 min

  8. 06/26/2025

    67. Gratitude

    We reflect on how gratitude shifts energy—both individually and collectively—and how it can be a powerful tool for leadership. When we enter a challenging space, like a tense team meeting, and lead with genuine appreciation instead of pressure, we witness a tangible shift. Shoulders relax, attention sharpens, and solutions begin to emerge. Gratitude doesn’t erase the problem; it transforms the emotional environment in which the problem exists. We discuss the idea of being “above the line”—a state of openness, creativity, and high emotional frequency—as opposed to being “below the line,” where stress and fear dominate. Through practices like gratitude journaling, we train ourselves to raise our frequency, not only over time but also in the moment. We share our personal experiences with gratitude as a daily discipline—writing not just from the head, but from the heart. By feeling gratitude fully, we activate emotional coherence, measurable in heart rate variability, and supported by tools like those from the HeartMath Institute. As leaders, when we show up with this elevated frequency, we influence the emotional state of our teams. We touch on stoic reframing, Bali’s cultural embodiment of gratitude, and the neuroscience behind frequency and emotion. Ultimately, we see gratitude not as a fluffy add-on, but as a rigorous, embodied practice that improves well-being, sharpens leadership presence, and uplifts the energy of any room we walk into.

    28 min
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About

Leadership consultants Pia & Bart talk about topics close to their heart, encouraging dialogue on the things that truly matter to entrepreneurs and leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    Pia & Bart
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Vidya by Pia & Bart