True leadership comes not from domination and control, but from attunement to natural rhythms, deep respect for interconnectedness, and embracing a more humble, spacious approach to guiding ourselves and others.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Mimi Kuo-Deemer. She is a sixth generation lineage holder teaching Baguazhang, and a Qigong teacher with over 20 years of practice. She’s based in Oxfordshire where she teaches and livestreams sessions.

This discussion covers the revolutionary perspective on leadership offered by Daoist principles, offers practical ways to find steadiness and calm in your busy life, and explores a different way of relating to nature and change that moves beyond control and separation.

• Mimi’s website
• Mysticism, sacred and profane : an inquiry into some varieties of praeter-natural exerience
• Might Daoism be a home for you in '22 (and beyond) – Episode 7, with George Thompson
• Who doesn’t want a little peace and calm? – Episode 8, with Martin Alyward
• LeanMind - helping leaders back to clarity and calm.

That feeling of being in the zone is a measurable neurochemical state of consciousness where we feel and perform our best. This optimal state – flow state, as it’s called – isn't limited to hobbies and sport, but can be achieved in various forms of work, and can lead to increased creativity, productivity, and personal fulfilment.

In this conversation, Ben and his guest Dave Murphy explore the value of understanding and cultivating flow state at work, transforming how we approach our professional lives and overall wellbeing.

Dave is an expert, helping people understand and achieve flow state, particularly in the context of work. Prior to this, Dave had a career in advertising, working for one of the best agencies in the world. His journey to understanding and teaching flow was influenced by an ayahuasca experience in Amsterdam, which opened a door of insight for him.

• Connect with Dave via LinkedIn
• The Flow Advantage – Dave’s programme
• Breathe New Life Into Your Work – Episode 38, with Giles Hutchins
• Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Embracing cycles of rest is essential for our own ability to grow and create. Rather than continuously striving, reaching for the next thing and going ever faster, we need to pause and recharge, acknowledging that rest is as crucial as productivity.

By honouring the natural cycles of action and rest, we give ourselves the chance to integrate experiences, reflect deeply, and ultimately emerge renewed, ready to bring our full selves to the work we care about.

Emma Chow is a regenerative designer and leader who learned this the hard way in 2020. Since then, she’s journeyed from global consulting to pioneering work in service of the circular economy, following a passion for nature and the climate she’s held since the age of 18.

In her conversation with Ben, Emma shares how embracing rest as part of life’s natural rhythm can open up space for resilience, creativity, and a deeper connection to purpose.

• Connect with Emma via LinkedIn
• Emma’s website