Exploring Magical Portals

• #11: Healed People Heal People: Purpose, Leadership, and the Power of Emotional Regulation with Dr Pepe Marais

  This episode is an invitation to rethink how much of your attention is truly devoted to living on purpose – in your personal growth, your business or career, and your deeper life’s purpose – and to consider how lasting transformation starts within.I sit down with my friend and purpose-driven leader Dr Pepe Marais on Exploring Magical Portals to explore the unseen forces behind real impact – and how our early emotional wounds often shape our greatest contributions. We discuss why true leadership begins with healing ourselves first.Pepe shares stories from his childhood, his evolution as a leader, and his powerful shift from chasing external success to building meaningful, sustainable impact. He’s the co-founder and Group Chief Creative Officer of Joe Public United, one of South Africa’s leading independent brand and communications groups, and the founder of One School at a Time, a non-profit transforming underperforming schools into centres of excellence. He’s also the author of Growing Greatness and 20 Habits That Break Habits, where he shares hard-won lessons on purpose, growth, and leadership.We explore the role of brain states in leadership and decision-making, the magic of top-down emotional regulation, and why conscious leaders must learn to regulate their nervous systems to truly serve the world. Along the way, we touch on the wisdom of Indra’s Net, the beauty of unseen connections, and the deeper journey of living in alignment with your purpose.This episode may include adult language. Listener discretion is advised.Dive deeper into the magic of emotions and transformation by following the podcast for new episodes. Got questions or insights to share? Email me at [email protected] Follow on Insta: @ShannonMaryMac Subscribe to my newsletter

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• #10: The Blind Spot in Most Coaching Methods

  In this episode, I’m answering one of the most common questions I get: What exactly is NeuroEmotional Coaching?I’ll walk you through what I do as a coach, how this work differs from other forms of coaching or therapy, and why understanding your brain states – Survival, Emotional, and Executive – is the missing piece for so many people who feel stuck in looping patterns, emotional reactivity, or burnout.You’ll learn how brain state awareness can help you regulate in the moment, shift out of survival mode, and step back into creative, values-aligned decision-making. I also talk about why so many of us – including world leaders – are unknowingly operating from survival brain, and why that matters more than ever.If you’ve ever wondered how to move through emotional blocks without bypassing or spiralling, or if you’re curious about how this kind of coaching could support your leadership, relationships, or personal growth – this episode is for you.Dive deeper into the magic of emotions and transformation by following the podcast for new episodes. Got questions or insights to share? Email me at [email protected] Follow on Insta: @ShannonMaryMac Subscribe to my newsletter

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• #9: Why I Won’t Let My Child Watch "Adolescence" – A Perspective on Emotional Readiness

  In this episode, I’m sharing my raw, in-the-moment thoughts after watching the Netflix mini-series Adolescence – a gripping and controversial show that’s sparked a lot of conversation among parents around the world.As a NeuroEmotional Coach – and a parent – I couldn’t help but think about the emotional impact of this kind of media on developing nervous systems. While the show is powerful and thought-provoking, I explore why it might be more appropriate for adults than young teens, and how we often unintentionally place the burden of emotional awareness on kids before they’re ready.I also share some of my own story – growing up in the 90s, being exposed to trauma-focused content way too young, and what I’ve come to understand about emotional overload through both lived experience and neuroscience.This episode is really a gentle call to those of us who support young people – parents, educators, caregivers – to do the deeper work ourselves so we’re not unconsciously handing it over to the next generation.This episode may include adult language. Listener discretion is advised.Dive deeper into the magic of emotions and transformation by following the podcast for new episodes. Got questions or insights to share? Email me at [email protected] Follow on Insta: @ShannonMaryMac Subscribe to my newsletter

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• #8: How to Stop Fighting and Start Communicating: Conflict Resolution for Couples

  Do happy couples fight? Or is there another way to handle conflict that doesn’t leave you feeling disconnected or defeated? In this episode, I’m diving into the real dynamics behind relationship arguments – and why some couples seem to spiral while others manage to stay connected, even through tough conversations.We’ll explore how brain states play a huge role in how we show up during conflict, and why so many arguments are really just survival brain responses on loop. I’ll walk you through how to spot emotional triggers before they explode, and share practical tools to help you move from reactivity into clarity – so you can actually talk to each other, not just defend or attack.This episode is especially for you if you’ve found yourself stuck in the same fights over and over, or you’re craving a way to communicate with more presence, compassion, and emotional maturity.Let’s unpack what it really means to navigate disagreements without blame or shame – and how to create a more peaceful, connected relationship, even in the hard moments.This episode may include adult language. Listener discretion is advised.Dive deeper into the magic of emotions and transformation by following the podcast for new episodes. Got questions or insights to share? Email me at [email protected] Follow on Insta: @ShannonMaryMac Subscribe to my newsletter

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• #7: Byron Katie and Brain State Awareness Walk into a Bar...

  What do Byron Katie’s four questions and brain state awareness have in common? In this episode, I’m connecting the dots between these two powerful tools – and showing you how they can work together to completely shift how you think, feel, and respond to life.Following on from last week’s episode about how brain state awareness helps you tap into true intuition, I dive deeper into the practical side – using Byron Katie’s framework to question those sticky, repetitive thoughts that pull us into emotional reactivity. When you pair this practice with curiosity and self-awareness, real transformation becomes possible.I’ll walk you through how her four questions can help turn emotional triggers into growth moments, and I share examples from both life and coaching where this has made all the difference. This is a powerful way to move from survival mode into executive clarity – where you can actually choose your next step, rather than react from old wiring.If you’ve ever felt trapped in a negative thought loop or found yourself snapping before you even realise what’s happening, this episode offers a way out – one that’s kind, conscious, and empowering.Dive deeper into the magic of emotions and transformation by following the podcast for new episodes. Got questions or insights to share? Email me at [email protected] Follow on Insta: @ShannonMaryMac Subscribe to my newsletter

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