What is a Good Life?

Mark McCartney
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Over the last three years, I've interviewed nearly 300 people around the question of "What is a good life?" I am not trying to find or prescribe universal answers to this question; instead, I aim to prompt your own inquiry into what constitutes a good life for you. I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience, beyond the masks that we wear.

  1. What is a Good Life? #137 - Exploring What Matters Most with Diane Button

    3 NGÀY TRƯỚC

    What is a Good Life? #137 - Exploring What Matters Most with Diane Button

    On the 137th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Diane Button. Diane is a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance in Northern California, and the best-selling author of Dear Death: Finding Meaning in Life, Peace in Death, and Joy in an Ordinary Day and The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas & Caregivers (co-authored with Angela Shook and Gabby Jimenez). She holds a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, works as a practicing end-of-life doula, and serves as a lead instructor in the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program. Her latest book is the inspiring What Matters Most. In our conversation, Diane shares the profound insights she has gained through her work, emphasising the power of presence, the value of embracing all emotions, and the joy found in life’s simplest moments. Together, we explore how the beauty of ordinary days and the wisdom of those facing death can illuminate what it truly means to live well and meet life’s final chapter with grace. For Diane's latest book, What Matters Most:To buy your copy: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768705/what-matters-most-by-diane-button/About the book: https://www.dianebutton.com/what-matters-mostWebsite: https://www.dianebutton.com Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/ 00:00 Reflections on the book 02:10 The depth of the role of an End of Life Doula 04:45 Experiencing everything 08:44 The cultivation of presence 14:00 Pausing and slowing down 17:00 An awareness of joy 21:20 An expression of gratitude 25:30 The process of writing the book 31:55 Not waiting to celebrate life 36:30 Distilling what matter most 40:30 The simple moments 43:30 Legacy work with the dying 48:00 Regrets over the little things 52:30 Self-love, acceptance, and authenticity 1:00:00 Comfort with grief and conflicting emotions 1:08:00 The importance of our small acts

    1 giờ 16 phút
  2. What is a Good Life? #136 - Rootedness in a Changing World with Aadita Chaudhury

    19 THG 8

    What is a Good Life? #136 - Rootedness in a Changing World with Aadita Chaudhury

    On the 136th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Aadita Chaudhury. Aadita is a researcher, writer and arts practitioner inhabiting the intersection of the arts, science, ecology, and spirituality. Her work is shaped by ethnographic approaches, poetic inquiry, embodied methodologies, sonic practices, photography, and encounters with mythology, folklore and ritual, guided by ethics of slow, non-extractive decolonial research. She is interested in perspectives from the Global South in relation to technoscientific imaginaries, decolonial, feminist and working-class social movements. Aadita has conducted research in the US, Canada, the UK, Italy, India and Mexico. Her academic and public work has appeared in International Relations, Conservation Letters and Al Jazeera. In this conversation, Aadita explores the themes of rootedness, belonging, and identity amidst a rapidly changing world. She reflects on her journey through liminal spaces, the impact of cultural expectations, and the quest for enough-ness. The discussion delves into the implications of human exceptionalism, the importance of direct communication, and the value of community connections. Ultimately, Aadita considers a good life as one that embraces honesty, embodiment, and the emergent flux of reality. For more of Aadita's work: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aadita/Website: https://www.aaditachaudhury.com/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/ 00:00 Navigating Liminal Spaces 04:00 A Practice of Presence 06:00 Rootedness, identity, and preference 09:55 Cultural expectations  14:30 The expectation of proving our worth 16:30 Exploring human exceptionalism 20:00 Conditional enough-ness 26:00 Concepts from human exceptionalism  30:00 Fear of death and immortality  34:00 Moving from abstract to embodied 42:30 Attentiveness to our community 53:00 The repression of forced politeness 59:15 An appreciation for directness 1:06:00 Summary and what is a good life for Aadita?

    1 giờ 12 phút
  3. What is a Good Life? #135 - Longing, Belonging, and Matrimony with Stephen Jenkinson

    12 THG 8

    What is a Good Life? #135 - Longing, Belonging, and Matrimony with Stephen Jenkinson

    On the 135th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Stephen Jenkinson. Stephen is a cultural worker, teacher, author, and ceremonialist. He is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, founded in 2010. He has master’s degrees from Harvard University (theology) and the University of Toronto (social work). He’s the author of Come of Age, the award-winning Die Wise, Money and the Soul’s Desires, and Reckoning (with Kimberly Ann Johnson). His latest book, Matrimony: Ritual, Culture and the Heart’s Work, invites readers to contemplate the significance of matrimony, ceremony, and cultural articulation—and how to redeem them for future generations. In this rich conversation, Stephen explores profound questions about life, love, and the nature of existence. The discussion delves into the essence of ceremonies, particularly in matrimony, emphasising the need for meaningful endings and the responsibilities we hold towards future generations.  The discussion weaves fate, ancestry, humility, and the call to “proceed as if you’re needed” into a meditation on how we might live fully inhabited lives. For Stephen's latest book, Matrimony:To buy your copy: https://orphanwisdom.com/store/matrimony/About the book: https://orphanwisdom.com/books/matrimony/ For more of Stephen's work: Website: https://orphanwisdom.com/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/ 00:01 – Introduction 01:37 – The Condition of Pondering 06:28 – Roots of Pondering 10:16 – The Dream Another World Has of You 19:36 – Needed vs Important 21:46 – Matrimony and the Presence of the Absence 26:00 – Longing and Belonging  31:00 – Modern wedding and the privatisation of love 35:47 – The Art of the Ending 41:40 – Pompe and the Necessity of Closure 43:47 – Ritual as a Gift to the Village 45:45 – The White Heat of Possibility 51:25 – The Active Witness 53:43 – What Is a Good Life for Stephen?

    59 phút
  4. What is a Good Life? #134 - The Beauty Of The Ordinary with Mike Moss

    5 THG 8

    What is a Good Life? #134 - The Beauty Of The Ordinary with Mike Moss

    On the 134th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Mike Moss. Mike is a BACP registered Counsellor and Supervisor. He has worked in voluntary and statutory organisations for over 40 years and is currently employed as a counsellor in a school. His approach is Person-Centred with an interest in the Transpersonal. He has written widely about the power of the therapeutic relationship and presented his work at workshops and national and international conferences. He has a small private practice offering counselling, supervision and training. In this conversation, we explore profound themes of life, connection, and the beauty of the ordinary. We discuss the significance of the breath before the last breath, the power of a smile, and the importance of being present. Mike shares his journey of self-discovery, emphasising the potential within each individual and the interconnectedness of life.  The dialogue highlights the struggle we all face and the beauty found in acknowledging our experiences. For more of Mike's work, check out the following:Email: mike.moss@outlook.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-moss/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring Presence Event in Berlin, September 17th - https://buytickets.at/johnniemoore/1794566 01:05 Breath before my last breath 05:05 The power of a smile 15:00 The simple beauty and connection 18:25 Acknowledging the struggle of life 23:35 The flow is continually present 29:20 The temporary nature of our worries 33:30 The power of my presence 36:00 Allowing space for feeling anxiety 40:00 From Ass-hole to A Soul 45:45 Potential: stored up energy 51:20 The vast range of life and perspective 56:31 What is a good life for Mike?

    1 giờ
  5. What is a Good Life? #133 - Navigating Complexity in Leadership with Dr. Richard Claydon

    29 THG 7

    What is a Good Life? #133 - Navigating Complexity in Leadership with Dr. Richard Claydon

    On the 133rd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Dr. Richard Claydon. Richard is a leadership strategist and creator of the Praxis Q framework, which integrates self-awareness, systemic thinking, and role fluency. Known for his work at the intersection of complexity, culture, and adaptive performance, he helps leaders navigate ambiguity, build resilient systems, and lead with integrity in rapidly changing environments. His work draws from behavioural science, organisational theory, and real-world practice to challenge conventional leadership narratives and build capability for the long game. A former academic with a Ph.D. in Organisational Studies, Richard now partners with executive teams, coaches, and educators to equip leaders for a world on the brink. In this conversation, Richard discusses the complexities of leadership, emphasising the need for a more human, honest, and reflective approach. He explores how traditional leadership models often lead to burnout and disconnection, advocating for a focus on dialogue, trust, and interdependence within systems. Richard also addresses the evolution of trust in modern society, emphasising the need for transparency and adaptability in complex systems.  Ultimately, he defines a good life as one where individuals can navigate their systems effectively and make meaningful contributions to their environments. For more of Richard's work, check out the following:EQ Lab Website: https://www.eqlab.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrichardclaydon/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course 00:00 How did leadership end up like this? 03:40 The significance of honesty to ourselves 06:40 Drifting from ourselves 10:30 Leading to burnout 14:00 Dialogues to help to navigate complexity 18:00 Interwoven learning 21:00 Changing how he sees learning 27:28 An opportunity to improvise 31:00 Reducing ourselves to something fixed 36:00 Thoughts on authenticity 41:00 The ripple of realising interdependence  51:10 The evolution of trust 58:40 What is a good life for Richard?

    1 giờ 3 phút
  6. What is a Good Life? #132 - Navigating Life's Complexity with Kate Arms

    22 THG 7

    What is a Good Life? #132 - Navigating Life's Complexity with Kate Arms

    On the 132nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Kate Arms. Kate helps people and organisations create effective systems in which people thrive. She is known for her expertise in building and maintaining organisational systems that support innovation and creativity, and the psycho-social challenges faced by gifted, highly-sensitive, twice-exceptional, and creative individuals. Her career has taken her through law, technology, publishing, non-profits, and the arts. Recently, she has been heavily involved in developing leadership and coach training programs grounded in human dignity and agency. As part of this work, she co-founded the Neurodiversity Coaching Academy. She is the author of L.I.F.T.: A Coach Approach to Parenting, the Extreme Resilience Workbook, and several short stories featuring horror tropes and second chances. In this conversation, Kate shares her lifelong inquiry into the complexities of being human and how to thrive amidst life's challenges. She reflects on the interplay of grief and love, and the importance of mindfulness and presence. She emphasises the need for systemic change to foster a more thriving world and the significance of becoming an elder who stewards wisdom for future generations. This conversation is an invitation to actively and wisely participate in your own experience of becoming. For more of Kate's work, check out the following:Website: https://katearms.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katearmscoach/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course 00:00 How do we thrive the most? 06:15 Living the question and earning a living 11:10 Life without a plan but agency 15:30 Living from moment to moment 19:30 The cycle of growth  23:25 The grief and beauty of life 26:30 Engaging with joy 29:00 Living with awareness  34:00 The contextual and the detaills 38:20 The presence of the Dalai Lama  40:50 There is only one thing to do 45:00 The feeling of the right decision 48:30 What could lead to our collective thriving 54:48 What is a good life for Kate?

    59 phút
  7. What is a Good Life? #131 - The Art of Aligning with Purpose with Dave Bingham

    15 THG 7

    What is a Good Life? #131 - The Art of Aligning with Purpose with Dave Bingham

    On the 131st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Dave Bingham. Dave is the founder and managing director of True Circles Training Ltd – though he often calls himself ‘an assistant to alchemy’. He’s a Trainer, Mentor, and Facilitator in the Way of Council, recognised by the Topa Institute of California and the European Council Network. Since 2009, he has facilitated Council groups in settings ranging from men’s circles and prisons to reconciliation programmes and open public groups. Formerly in the tech sector, he led major UK and international projects and contributed to global best practice. He later studied Psychotherapy and Eco-psychotherapy, before completing a multi-year apprenticeship to become one of a small number of Recognised Council Trainers outside the USA. Dave sees Council as an embodied wisdom tradition that fosters human wholeness, connection, and community – medicine for our times. In this conversation, we delve into themes of purpose, alignment, and the transformative practice of the Way of Council. We explore the importance of listening from the heart and authenticity in communication. Dave shares his experiences of the profound impact of creating spaces for emotional expression.  This discussion invites us to reflect on depths of relating that I sense most people rarely engage with. For more of Dave's work, check out the following:Website: https://www.truecircles.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-bingham-7b0a95180/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course 00:00 How am I aligned with my purpose? 05:35 Resisting the tendency to problem solve 10:00 The capacity of the heart’s understanding  14:00 A moment that changed my course 17:50 A yearning for authenticity  20:50 An introduction to Way of Council 24:40 The foundation of Way of Council 27:25 The four intentions 32:25 A different form of relating 35:30 Taking a leap of faith 45:00 The capacity of humans to relate at depth 51:45 The significance of simply witnessing 54:00 Remembering who you are 57:40 Growing to align with purpose 1:00:57 What is a good life for Dave?

    1 giờ 10 phút
  8. What is a Good Life? #130 - Embracing The Unknown with Ella Fryer-Smith

    8 THG 7

    What is a Good Life? #130 - Embracing The Unknown with Ella Fryer-Smith

    On the 130th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Ella Fryer-Smith. Ella is the founder of Do You Research, an agency established with the intention of drawing on over 15 years of research experience, collaborating with the amazing researchers she has met along the way, and maintaining a clear focus on inclusion to deliver exceptional research, consultancy, and training. Specialising in qualitative research methods, particularly film ethnography, her work has taken her around the world—observing people’s everyday lives and exploring everything from toilet roll and white goods to how people manage their money. She has also helped policymakers navigate the future of health services and travel. Ella is the Vice Chair of the Association of Qualitative Researchers (AQR) board and sits on the Market Research Society (MRS) Social Inclusion Group. In this engaging conversation, Ella shares her journey of embracing uncertainty and the paradox of confidence in admitting what we don't know. We explore the importance of presence in parenting, the significance of her parents as role models, freedom within constraints, and the need for research to reflect the voices of the unheard. For me, this discussion really emphasises the significance of lived experience in understanding—and truly seeing—each other. For more of Ella's work, check out the following:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-fryer-smith-91281723/Website: https://www.doyou-research.com/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch. - For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course 00:00 Letting go of saying I know 05:15 Arriving into confidence 09:55 Embracing of the unknown 12:15 Constraints within freedom and creativity  16:00 Prioritising presence with children 21:30 The importance of parental role models 28:10 We may have more flexibility than we think 32:00 We are inundated with messaging 35:00 Research for social issues 39:30 The significance of meeting people 42:00 Making sense of people’s lives 44:30 Engaging with unheard voices 52:30 Foregrounding lived experience more 1:00:50 What is a good life for Ella?

    1 giờ 3 phút
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Giới Thiệu

Over the last three years, I've interviewed nearly 300 people around the question of "What is a good life?" I am not trying to find or prescribe universal answers to this question; instead, I aim to prompt your own inquiry into what constitutes a good life for you. I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience, beyond the masks that we wear.

Thông Tin

  • Nhà sáng tạo
    Mark McCartney
  • Năm hoạt động
    2023 - 2025
  • Tập
    137
  • Xếp hạng
    Thô tục
  • Bản quyền
    © Mark McCartney
  • Trang web chương trình
    What is a Good Life?

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