What is a Good Life?

Mark McCartney
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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What is a Good Life?

Over the last three years I've interviewed over 250 people around the question of "what is a good life?". I am not trying to find or prescribe universal answers to this question, instead to prompt your own inquiry into what constitutes a good life for you. While 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? #108 - The Creative Power Of Attention with Ruth McCarthy

    1 DAY AGO

    What is a Good Life? #108 - The Creative Power Of Attention with Ruth McCarthy

    On the 108th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Ruth McCarthy. Reading Nancy Kline’s book Time to Think, meeting her in 2008, and experiencing for the first time the power of uninterrupted attention set Ruth on a completely new path in life in her early 50s. Challenging our limiting assumptions takes practice, and listening with the promise of no interruption can transform our relationships and results. Inspired by this, Ruth founded her consultancy, Think It Through, and as Global Faculty at Time to Think, she works with individuals and organisations across corporate, public, and non-profit sectors. Her mission? To listen to inspire deep trust, communication, and the courage to think for yourself in an increasingly polarised and volatile world.  In this wonderful conversation, Ruth shares her journey of self-discovery and the liberation that comes from embracing one's true self and observing what we are becoming. She emphasises the importance of attention and self-awareness in navigating life's complexities. We delve into the significance of ease in conversations, the impact of suppressed feelings on our well-being, and the transformative powers of thinking for oneself, curiosity, and listening. This episode invites you to slow down, challenge your assumptions, and truly pay attention—to yourself and those around you. By doing so, you might just open the door to a life of possibility that continually surprises you. For further content and information check out the following:- Ruth's website: www.thinkitthrough.co.uk- Ruth's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmccarthy100/ - 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/- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations 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 Silent Conversation 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. 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Who am I becoming? 08:10 Increasing self-awareness and big changes 12:40 The quality of our thinking and attention  15:25 Ease and letting go of the rush 23:49 Draining our energy by suppressing emotions 29:12 The experience of major shifts in perspective 37:14 The freedom in paying attention to now 47:10 A way of being not just a practice 55:25 Becoming a good ancestor 58:45 What is a good life for Ruth?

    1h 4m
  2. What is a Good Life? #107 - Holding The Hand Of Love with Ben Bushill

    JAN 28

    What is a Good Life? #107 - Holding The Hand Of Love with Ben Bushill

    On the 107th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Ben Bushill. Ben is a writer, spoken word artist and ceremony holder. His passion is the remembrance and sanctification of our human lives as we try to understand our place and our belonging in the vast unfolding web of existence. In his work as a poet he aims to bring us to the place where we can be grateful and humble before the truth of our undeniable vulnerability and humanity. His ceremonial work with marriages, memorials, ritual and circles of wise love is a way for us to feel and honour the key moments of our lives beyond ideas of religion or alignment. He has been a student of a Sufi mystery school for the last twenty years and is currently setting the foundations for the establishment of a new school.  In this enlightening conversation, Ben shares his journey of balancing the divine and the ordinary, alongside his ongoing inquiry into how he will meet each day. We explore the paradox of being deeply connected to life yet alone, the softening of the heart, and the link between vulnerability, the unknown, and aliveness. We also discuss the expression of our essence in shaping our purpose and the challenges of being human, all the while holding onto the hand of love. This conversation feels like a love letter to the human experience, embracing its struggles while celebrating its wonder. I suspect it will leave you feeling more at home in your own life. For further content and information check out the following:- Ben's website: https://www.benbushill.com/ - 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/- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations 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 Silent Conversation 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. 00:00 Introduction 03:00 How do I meet this day? 07:30 Balancing the divine and ordinary sense of life 11:58 The paradox of being alone and connected 17:40 The tenderising of the human heart 24:40 The vulnerability of the unknown 28:20 The love of your own essence 36:00 The longing of your soul  40:30 Vulnerability and aliveness 43:00 Your purpose is your essence 51:40 Navigating the paradox 58:30 Embracing the symphony of life 1:00:40 What is a good life for Ben?

    1h 9m
  3. What is a Good Life? #106 - Exploring Meaning In The Universe with Mona Sobhani, Ph.D.

    JAN 21

    What is a Good Life? #106 - Exploring Meaning In The Universe with Mona Sobhani, Ph.D.

    On the 106th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Mona Sobhani, Ph.D. Mona is a cognitive neuroscientist, author, and entrepreneur. A former research scientist at the University of Southern California (USC), she holds a doctorate in neuroscience from USC and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University. She is the author of the Ommie 2022 Best Spiritual Book Proof of Spiritual Phenomena: A Neuroscientist’s Discovery of the Ineffable Mysteries of the Universe, which is also a recipient of the 2023 Scientific and Medical Network Book Prize. In her newsletter, Cosmos, Coffee, & Consciousness, she writes about science & spirituality, altered states of consciousness, emergent phenomena, and self-transformation. She is co-founder of The Phoenix Era, a multidisciplinary coaching practice for those seeking deeper meaning and connection. She is also co-founder of Exploring Consciousness, a community of curious scientists seeking to understand consciousness. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, VOX, and other media outlets. In this enlightening conversation, Mona shares her experience of reconnecting with a sense of a meaningful universe and the impact it has had on her life. We discuss how to find inner peace amidst chaos, the role of synchronicity in shaping meaning, the influence of family and tradition, and the exploration of past lives and emotional release. This whole conversation invites you to explore meaning and reconnect with nature and the universe in a way that brings more flow, curiosity, and flexibility to your life experience. For further content and information check out the following:- Mona's website: https://www.monasobhaniphd.com/- Mona's newsletter: https://monasobhaniphd.substack.com/ - 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/- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations 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 Silent Conversation 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. 00:00 Introduction 03:00 How to find peace & serve others 07:00 Finding your centre amidst chaos & life 16:00 Unravelling sense of control & understanding  21:40 Realising the Universe is a meaningful place 28:00 Noting fortune telling moments in the family 31:40 Connecting with yourself and the universe 41:00 The significance of synchronicity  45:53 Past life regressions 01:02:54 What is a good life for Mona?

    1h 8m
  4. What is a Good Life? #105 - Exploring The Depths Of Listening with Colin Smith

    JAN 14

    What is a Good Life? #105 - Exploring The Depths Of Listening with Colin Smith

    On the 105th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Colin Smith. Colin is a specialist in deep listening, presence, and profound attention, dedicated to creating spaces where individuals unlock their clarity and creativity. Known as The Listener, he brings over two decades of experience in guiding, facilitating, and coaching, helping people connect more deeply with themselves and others. Through his work, Colin empowers individuals and groups to feel truly seen and heard, unlocking insights and cultivating listening skills that lead to meaningful transformation. Colin’s approach is informed by extensive personal learning from works on listening, mindfulness, and human development. This depth allows him to craft environments where genuine insights emerge, helping people access new perspectives and deeper understanding. In this engaging conversation, Colin shares his journey towards embodying the art of listening, emphasising the power of being present, agenda-free, and genuinely curious about others. We delve into how quality listening can strengthen relationships, alleviate loneliness, and nurture deeper connections. Together, we explore the subtle dynamics of human interaction and the importance of authenticity in conversations, offering practical insights for cultivating a more compassionate and attentive approach to communication. This episode invites you to embrace the profound potential of truly listening—to honour our shared humanity and recognise how it can deepen our connections and enrich our relationships. For further content and information check out the following: - Colin's website: www.dexteritysolutions.co.uk - Colin's LinkedIn: www.uk.linkedin.com/in/colindsmith1 - 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/- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations 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 Silent Conversation 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. 00:00 Introduction  03:15 Becoming then being the listener 10:55 Understanding the importance of presence 18:43 Lack of listening and loss of connection 24:58 Moments that make a big difference 29:03 Conversations with authenticity and transparency  34:49 The subtlety of listening and self-awareness 42:42 Asking each other what we need 45:33 The impact of attention in communication 53:46 The intention to listen 58:15 Sharing our humanity 1:00:13 What is a good life for Colin?

    1h 8m
  5. What is a Good Life? #104 - Awareness Of Life's Fragility with Karen Maurice-O’Leary

    JAN 7

    What is a Good Life? #104 - Awareness Of Life's Fragility with Karen Maurice-O’Leary

    On the 104th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Karen (Kaz) Maurice-O’Leary. Kaz is a highly awarded brand storyteller and wellbeing leadership speaker, recognised for promoting human-first environments and their impact on innovation. A New Zealander living in California, she has had an international career in advertising and creative technology with major brands and Fortune 500 companies. Her roles have included Creative Product Lead at Meta LA, Creative Director at TBWA and a co-founder of a successful agency that was acquired. A pivotal moment was inspired by almost, unknowingly missing the last meal of her husband's homemade Bolognese, leading her to create The Bolognese Philosophy, a workplace wellbeing initiative. In this incredibly life-affirming conversation, Kaz shares her journey of processing the grief following her husband's death. She reflects on her realisations from almost missing their last meal together, to the significance of recognising the small moments, being present, and appreciating the privilege of intimately knowing those in our lives. Kaz underscores the importance of embracing life's fragility, not taking anything for granted, and how whole life can feel when we can hold both its beauty and grief simultaneously. This conversation felt like a profound gift, and I believe it will leave you with a deeper awareness of life's uncertainties, along with an invitation to focus on what is here, right now. For further content and information check out the following:- Kaz's company: https://bolognesephilosophy.com/ - Kaz's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmauriceoleary/ - 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/- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations 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 Silent Conversation 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. 00:00 Introduction 03:00 What do we attach our self worth to? 06:20 The sense burnout is coming 09:15 How has poor well-being become normal? 14:19 Identifying too much with our jobs 18:00 Engaging with grief 21:36 Almost missing the last meal 25:40 Recognising the small moments 31:00 The privilege of intimately knowing 33:40 The feeling of connection from beyond  40:30 Sharing stories, grief, and connection 45:30 The processing of grief 51:30 Holding beauty, grief, and the whole 56:00 Assuming things last forever 1:00:40 What is a good life for Kaz?

    1h 4m
  6. What is a Good Life? #103 - Expressing The Whole Of You with Nathan Kinch

    12/31/2024

    What is a Good Life? #103 - Expressing The Whole Of You with Nathan Kinch

    On the 103rd episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Nathan (Nate) Kinch. Nate is a sociotechnology ethicist, organisational designer, and trust researcher. His work centres around the question: how might we best design trustworthy organisations, technologies, and systems that support a healthy and dignified life for all, within planetary boundaries? To do this, he draws on many branches of philosophy, systems science, cognitive sciences, and related disciplines. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of the Arts, co-lead of the Responsible AI Network (RAIN), and Lead of Ethics in Action. He is also the Ethicist in Residence at CoLabs and guest lectures at several universities. Previously, Nate was an angel and impact investor and the founding CEO of a venture capital-backed startup. In everyday life, he’s an urban rewilder, community convener, and ‘inner developer,’ bringing regenerative thinking, practice, and culture to his corner of Melbourne. In this wonderful conversation, Nathan shares his exploration of expressing and feeling into the whole of himself. We discuss realisations he made through his psycho-physical inquiries, from suppressing emotions to crumbling worldviews, to the relief and healing of crying, and expressing and experiencing more joy and gratitude in life. For anyone on their own path of self-inquiry, this conversation contains many universal themes that I sense we all experience, which may make you feel more at home on your own path. While Nate’s beautiful anecdotes, transparency, and reflections make this as grounded and heartfelt as it is insightful. For further content and information check out the following:- Nate's company: https://www.trustworthyby.design/- Nate's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathankinch/ - 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/ 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 Silent Conversation 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. 00:00 Introduction 03:18 What is the whole of me? 09:40 Allowing us to see more of ourselves 11:48 Redeploying the soldier archetype 20:33 Realisations from a psycho-physical inquiry 29:33 Learning how to feel again 33:18 Realisations around crying and dancing 39:18 The containment of life 41:48 When our worldviews crumble 47:18 Acknowledging the whole of us 55:18 What is a good life for Nate?

    1 hr
  7. What is a Good Life? #102 - Building Conscious Collectives with Nadjeschda Taranczewski

    12/24/2024

    What is a Good Life? #102 - Building Conscious Collectives with Nadjeschda Taranczewski

    On the 102nd episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Nadjeschda (Nadja) Taranczewski. Nadja has a Master of Psychology, is a Master Certified Coach and works as a coach, author, and keynote speaker. She supports leaders who want to reinvent their organisation as Conscious Tribe, i.e. as a thriving community where people invest in inner work, understand the big picture, invest in deep relationships and cultivate conscious rituals. Her company ConsciousU facilitates collective transformation and makes culture change scalable through their blended learning coaching programmes. She is the author of the book Conscious You: Become the Hero of Your Own Story and is currently working on her forthcoming book The Conscious Tribe Playbook. In this illuminating conversation, Nadja shares with us her explorations of building thriving and conscious collectives. We discuss profoundly important components of healthy relating including developing spaces for aloneness in togetherness, creating rituals for sharing more context and our humanity, becoming aware of the transience of our emotions, and welcoming the uncertainty we are often fearing and avoiding. This whole conversation is a wonderful invitation to become alive to what is within us, communicating and sharing our humanity, while Nadja shares so many wonderfully grounded anecdotes to bring alive the concepts we discuss. This conversation gave me further hope of what can be possible within our own communities. For further content and information check out the following:- Nadjeschda's Book: https://herobook.conscious-u.com/- Conscious U website: https://www.conscious-u.com/- Nadjeschda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadjeschdataranczewski/ - 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/ 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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch. 00:00 Introduction 03:08 How do we build healthy collectives? 06:58 Aloneness in togetherness 11:33 Separating not meaning rejection 14:38 Not making it all about ourselves 20:23 Daily rituals for connection and context 25:08 Masking and resisting uncertainty 28:31 Trusting we can handle discomfort 30:57 Noticing the transience of our emotions 35:58 Regaining our emotional dexterity 39:58 Realising the stories we attach to events 44:43 The development of conscious communities 51:08 Paying attention to our humanity 59:08 What is a good life for Nadja?

    1h 2m
  8. What is a Good Life? #101 - Embracing The Season Of Life with Patrick Boland

    12/17/2024

    What is a Good Life? #101 - Embracing The Season Of Life with Patrick Boland

    On the 101st episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Patrick Boland. Patrick is a leadership consultant, executive coach, psychotherapist, writer, and trainer across several industries and sectors around the world. Patrick's 2024 book, 'The Contemplative Leader', features interviews with world-class leaders on the topics of presence, connection, being non-attached and leading when we're not in control. In 2021, he co-authored a book of reflections, 'Every Thing Is Sacred', with the contemplative teacher Richard Rohr. Patrick founded Conexus in 2013, an organisation that coaches leaders and their teams using a combination of neuroscience; depth psychology; and embodied, experiential learning.  In this insightful conversation, Patrick shares his experiences of moving towards a life that is beautifully full rather than persistently busy. We explore the shifting priorities and seasons of life, the significance of resting into the moment, questioning societal scripts as well as the interconnections we've observed between slowing down, being, and self-compassion.  This whole conversation is a wonderful invitation to pause, reflect, step into your own life, notice the world around you, let go of control, and embrace whatever season your life is in. I found Patrick to be a rarely attuned individual so I am sure you will take a lot from this episode. For further content and information check out the following:- Patrick's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735750/the-contemplative-leader-by-patrick-boland/- The book's website: https://www.thecontemplativeleader.com/- Conexus Website: https://www.conexus.ie/about- Patrick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-boland-9546048/ - 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/ 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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch. 00:00 Introduction 02:51 What does it mean to walk beautifully? 08:51 Working hard but working less 11:51 Life is beautifully full 15:21 Resting into the moment  20:21 Questioning society and searching for meaning 25:21 The delusion that anyone has it all together 28:36 Suffering and letting go of control 33:11 Fear and control 38:21 Being and learning from life itself 41:36 Moving off the script 46:00 Contact with the feeling of the moment 49:51 Moving into more self-compassion 53:21 Slowing down and being 59:51 What is a good life for Patrick?

    1h 4m
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5
out of 5
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About

Over the last three years I've interviewed over 250 people around the question of "what is a good life?". I am not trying to find or prescribe universal answers to this question, instead to prompt your own inquiry into what constitutes a good life for you. While I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience, beyond the masks that we wear.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark McCartney
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark McCartney
  • Show Website
    What is a Good Life?

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