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In this highly energising episode, I sit down with Joel Zuckerman, author of the new book Gratitude Tiger and a passionate advocate for the power of gratitude.

I’ve been a some-time gratitude journaller for a while and I’ve known about the power of gratitude for a long time.

Joel has taken this to another level, having written over 280 gratitude letters in a process that started as a one-off and has become the defining theme of his professional life.

Joel reveals how building a gratitude writing habit doesn’t need you to have great skill, but can be as simple as a few heartfelt sentences. He introduces the philosophy behind his acronym "TIGER" (Tapping Into Gratitude Engenders Rewards) and offers actionable advice for cultivating meaningful connections both personally and professionally.

We talk:

• The transformative power of simple acts of gratitude
• The "Seven paragraphs, seven sentences, seven words" philosophy explained
• Practical tips for expressing gratitude in the workplace
• Joel's journey from golf writing to gratitude advocacy
• The emotional impact of handwritten notes and letters

Links: Joel’s Website

Enjoy!

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

This week’s episode is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable I’ve yet recorded. A conversation with Jeffrey Pfeffer, the renowned author of "Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't" and “Leadership BS: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time”, and professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, we dive deep into the principles of power, influence, and career acceleration.

Jeffrey offers his view on the raw truth about what it takes to stand out, thrive, and succeed in a world shaped by competition and perception. From strategies to gain influence to the controversial role of self-promotion, this conversation is packed with insights that challenge conventional wisdom about leadership and integrity.

Learn why keeping your head down might be holding you back, how deliberate practice can transform your career, and why following Jeffrey’s proven methods have made many of his students wildly successful.

As Jeffrey takes a torch to leadership development orthodoxy, we cover:

• How many leadership authors espoused values don’t match the reality of their behaviour
• To change the world, we must first have power
• Leadership training fails—because it ignores power and influence dynamics.
• Authenticity at work? Not so much if you want to be a leader, says Pfeffer.
• Pfeffer’s 7 rules of power—practical, provocative, uncomfortably effective.

Links:

Jeffrey’s Website Jeffrey’s Books

Whether you're a budding leader or seasoned professional, this episode will inspire and empower you to take charge of your path. Don't miss out on this transformative discussion—subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be human.

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

This week, I sit down with Douglas Mulhall, author of the bestselling book Discovering the Nature of Longevity: Restoring the Heart and Body by Targeting Hidden Stress. Douglas has spent over 30 years creating products that are not only good for people but also the environment, with significant contributions in collaboration with European governments.

We take a deep look at elastin, a major area of interest for Douglas. It’s a vital protein key to your body’s resilience.

Elastin is in more than 30 organs. It’s in your arteries. It’s essential for everything in your body to expand and contract.

We talk:

• Elastin defined
• The tragedy that spurred his quest
• The story of calcification
• How to reverse the hardening of our bodies
• Hope for a heart disease breakthrough

Links: Discovering the Nature of Longevity - The Book Douglas’ Website

If you’re curious about unlocking your body’s potential, this episode is an absolute must-watch! Don't miss out—subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be human.

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

This week, I sit down with Bill Benjamin, co-owner of The Last 8%, to explore the concept of tackling life’s most challenging moments—the “last 8%.” According to Bill, we excel in 92% of situations, but it’s the difficult, high-stakes moments—when tension, conflict, or pressure arise—that define us.

Bill shares how leaving a successful career in software to pursue his passion for emotional intelligence transformed his life. He dives into practical strategies for managing emotions, navigating tough conversations, and building thriving teams.

Whether you’re seeking personal growth or leading others, this episode offers powerful tools for managing challenges and making an impact.

We talk:

• How to prep for difficult conversations
• What empathy really means
• How to deal with triggers in the moment
• Dialling up and dialling down assertion
• How to build a care *and* courage culture

Links: The Institute for Health and Human Potential

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▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

This week, we are thrilled to feature two remarkable guests: Sensei Zen Takai and Edward Olver.

Sensei Zen Takai, is a 16th-generation samurai warrior. After a brief stint as a punk rocker, he chose to return to his roots. With no descendants of his own and to ensure it lives on, he's on a mission to share his family's samurai tradition with the world. He teaches mastery of the familiar samurai arts with creative expressions like calligraphy, poetry, and dance. Dedicated to self-mastery and spiritual alignment, Sensei encourages others to live harmoniously and connect deeply with their life's purpose.

A former military man and banker, Edward Olver experienced a profound awakening after realising that external success—the Hollywood actress girlfriend and the Knightsbridge corner office—did not fulfill him. Through personal upheaval, he rediscovered his dharma and embraced growth aligned with life's natural rhythms. Now based at Broughton Hall - a UK hub for cutting edge research into consciousness - Edward focuses on regenerative practices, living in harmony with nature, and integrating timeless wisdom to foster holistic well-being.

Their combined perspectives will offer insight into purposeful living.

We talk:

• Training Samurai as a boy
• Samurai and the five elements
• How poetry can make you a better warrior
• Three-pointed thinking
• Beyond competition

Links: Sensei Zen Takai at Broughton Sanctuary

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▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

Our guest this week is renowned author and speaker Byron Katie. Her work, referred to as 'The Work', is a simple yet profound method of self-inquiry aimed at identifying and questioning negative thoughts that cause suffering.

At its core are four questions: Is it true? Can you absolutely know it’s true? How do you react when you believe that thought? Who would you be without it?

By moving these thoughts from the mind to paper and reflecting deeply, individuals can access greater clarity, love, and wisdom - and freedom from ego.

Katie emphasizes integrity and fearlessness in this process, offering her tools freely to empower individuals to transform depression, fear, and limiting beliefs into peace.

We talk:

• A night on the floor that changed Katie's life
• The fallacy of a positive mindset
• Attending to the projector not the projected
• Seeing all as beauty
• Knowing that pain is an illusion

Links: Katie’s Website

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▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

This week we see Marcel Schwantes return to the show.

Marcel is an author, leadership coach, and advocate for humane workplace practices. His journey into leadership began during his time working in a toxic hospital environment, where relentless stress landed him in the emergency room—an experience that profoundly shaped his views on leadership and well-being.

He now challenges traditional, warlike business narratives, advocating for radical love and humanity in leadership.

His work inspires leaders to foster compassionate, thriving businesses by shifting focus from competition to collaboration and introspection.

We talk:

• Agape love
• “Eufear”: the good fear
• Retiring "target customers"‘
• Working for love
• The 5 principles of Love In Action

Links: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss - The Book Marcel’s Website Marcel’s LinkedIn Profile Marcel’s Substack

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▶️ Join a free leadership masterclass: https://www.firsthuman.com/masterclass/ ▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

My guest this week is Dr.Ibrahim Karim, renowned for pioneering BioGeometry, a science that harmonizes energy in living systems and environments.

Educated as an architect, Dr. Karim initially followed in his father's footsteps. His talents were recognized by the Egyptian government who asked him to manage the plan for the whole Red Sea area and South Sinai, contributing to a huge rise in tourism.

Dr. Karim later began to synthesize modern concepts of physics and harmonics with the insights he gained from his interest in ancient Egyptian knowledge, Radiesthesia, and Pythagorean theories. Culminating in his founding of BioGeometry, he started to integrate his knowledge with architectural principles to create designs that enhance the energetic quality of spaces.

His work in BioGeometry has profoundly impacted urban planning, environmental design, and holistic health, offering innovative solutions for energy balance and well-being.

We talk:

• The hidden life force driving everything
• Turning a Tesla into a healing cocoon
• Using shapes to boost milk production
• Why reincarnation is a flawed concept
• Who really built the pyramids

Links: Dr. Karim’s Website Books by Dr. Karim The BioGeometry YouTube Channel

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