A New Way of Being is about banishing burnout and finding flow.
The way most of us live is focused on 'arriving' at some point in the future, when everything wi...
Bridging the Physical and Spiritual: Men's Health Fitness Director Andrew Tracey
I've got a cracking guest joining me today - Andrew Tracey, the fitness director at Men's Health magazine. But Andrew is no ordinary fitness expert. He's someone who has seamlessly integrated the physical and the spiritual, straddling the worlds of hardcore strength training and deep contemplative practice.
In this conversation, we explore Andrew's unique journey to developing a lifelong, functional approach to fitness, and how he discovered the transformative power of meditation and self-inquiry. Andrew shares insights on cultivating motivation and discipline by aligning with your deepest values, rather than through suffering. He also reveals how his meditation practice has given him critical distance from the mind's stories, allowing compassion to effortlessly bubble up.
Key topics covered:
Developing a lifelong, functional fitness routine
Balancing modern conveniences with physical health needs
The role of discipline, motivation, and aligning with values in fitness
Tracey's meditation and self-inquiry practice
Daily meditation techniques and working with thoughts
Benefits of meditation, including gaining critical distance from the mind
Interconnectedness of physical and mental health
Exploring the nature of consciousness and identity
Simon's book and Banishing Burnout - Finding Flow FREE online course
I’m excited to announce the paperback edition of my book, Champion Thinking: Get Out of Your Own Way, Find Your Peak Performance, is now available. Published by Bloomsbury, the link is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
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1:28:43
Step Into 2025: Why Walking is the Ultimate Brain Booster
It’s a new year – and there’s no better time to start a habit that could transform your mind and body. Most of us walk – but almost none of us walk enough. We’re a sedentary species, and it’s only gotten worse in recent years. But here’s the truth: our bodies weren’t built for all this sitting.
Walking isn’t just movement – it’s a powerhouse for health. It supports our organs, aids digestion, slows brain aging, and sharpens creativity. Neuroscientist and bestselling author Shane O’Mara is here to explain why getting more steps in each day can transform your mind, mood, and body.
From lowering stress to sparking fresh ideas, Shane’s message is simple: walking works. So if you’re looking for one small but powerful change to kick off the year, this episode will remind you why it’s time to step up – literally.
Book Release and Banishing Burnout - Finding Flow FREE online course
I’m excited to announce the paperback edition of my book, Champion Thinking: Get Out of Your Own Way, Find Your Peak Performance, is now available. Published by Bloomsbury, the link is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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9:38
Your Willpower Is Weak – But Your Design Power Is Strong (90-Second Reminder)
Beating yourself up because you scroll more than you want to? Stop it. Just understand that our willpower is not strong enough to continually resist the lure of the hyper addictive smartphone. So what to do? Embrace your design power. Make it harder to use your phone. Get a lock case. Consider buying a backup 'dumb phone'. I did this and turn my smartphone off in the evenings and weekends, and the people who need me can still get in touch. It has been SO liberating!
This principle of understanding the limitations of our willpower and embracing our design power can be used to improve your life across the board - from what you eat to how you focus.
Book publication and Banishing Burnout - Finding Flow FREE online course
I’m excited to announce the paperback edition of my book, Champion Thinking: Get Out of Your Own Way, Find Your Peak Performance, is now available. Published by Bloomsbury, the link is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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2:54
Beyond Burnout: Embracing Rest and Self-Compassion with Fiona Agombar
How to Reconnect with Your Inner Wisdom and Find True Wellbeing.
At this time of New Year resolutions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of pushing harder and faster. But in a world already moving at breakneck speed, chronic stress, overwhelm, and burnout have become alarmingly common.
This episode offers a vital alternative: the power of rest. My guest, Fiona Agombar, is a yoga therapist, rest activist, and author of Breathe, Rest, Recover. Having experienced severe burnout herself as a high-flying business owner, Fiona knows firsthand the life-changing impact of embracing rest without shame or guilt. She shares how rest not only helps us recover but also reconnects us with our inner wisdom and reveals what we truly want from life.
We discuss the profound benefits of slowing down, tuning into the body, and practising self-compassion. Fiona also highlights practical ways to integrate rest into daily life, from conscious breathing and micro-breaks to managing "tech apnea"—the impact of constant screen use on breathing and stress levels. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to break free from the relentless pace of modern life.
Topics covered:
The concept of rest activism and why reintroducing rest and convalescence into modern life is essential.
Why people struggle to rest and the dangers of ignoring signs from our body.
How interoception and tuning into inner wisdom can aid in overcoming stress and burnout.
Fiona’s personal journey of healing from chronic illness through yoga and self-inquiry.
Practical strategies for rest and recovery, including conscious breathing and micro-breaks.
The effects of news consumption and technology on our wellbeing and mental health.
The importance of recognising the background aware presence that is always available.
Links & Resources:
Fiona Agar’s website: https://www.fionaagombar.co.uk/
Fiona’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@fionaagombar3037/videos
Fiona’s Facebook group: Rest and Yoga for Fatigue
Fiona’s books: https://www.fionaagombar.co.uk/books
Simon's book and Banishing Burnout - Finding Flow FREE online course
I’m excited to announce the paperback edition of my book, Champion Thinking: Get Out of Your Own Way, Find Your Peak Performance, is now available. Published by Bloomsbury, the link is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:07:22
Digital Overload: Deep Work and Digital Minimalism with Cal Newport
Smartphones and social media are making us more anxious, distracted, and disconnected. In this episode, I revisit my conversation with Cal Newport, author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism. Cal explores how our increasing reliance on smartphones and social media is eroding our ability to focus, perform deep work, and even be alone with our thoughts.
He explains how the iGen generation (born 1995–2012) has been particularly affected, with alarming rates of mental health issues linked to the constant presence of digital distractions. For the first time in human history, we can avoid solitude entirely—yet this avoidance comes at a huge cost.
As I reflect on these themes, I also want to share my FREE online course on beating burnout and finding flow. The tools and strategies I teach have transformed my life and are designed to help you reduce overwhelm, improve focus, and find flow, peace and creativity:
🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
📖 Featured guest: Cal Newport, author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A New Way of Being is about banishing burnout and finding flow.
The way most of us live is focused on 'arriving' at some point in the future, when everything will finally fall into place. But this is a trap. When we treat this moment as a stepping stone to a seemingly more important future moment, we risk never truly living.
This constant seeking leads to burnout, and a nagging sense of lack - as if something is always missing. It keeps us from experiencing the flow, awe, and peace that naturally arise when we embrace THIS moment, however it happens to show up.