Beautiful Mess

E06: Minola Jac “...a journalist by trade and a change practitioner by choice…”

Minola Jac has written the most exceptional book “Everyday Inspiration for Change” (or “my baby doorstopper”!!) …
We chat about the book initially before diving into Minola’s incredible journey through her work and life.
Minola has a way of articulating moments that will stay with you for many weeks after hearing this conversation.
A journalist by trade and a change practitioner by choice…Minola has the beautifully messy offers throughout this conversation.
I can only hope you love this as much as I did.
Power Takeaways:
Creating a book that didn’t start out as a book.
Writing being a sanity practice and mindfulness practice.
Minola’s journey with ‘Syngenta’ alongside her journey with writing.
Doing change work as a practitioner at heart.
An obsession with post its!!
How her teams allow the space and grace for her to try out different approaches at Syngenta and how she loves her work.
How journalism is still today her “most intense dream” in her life.
A comment from her teacher aged 11 …”you could really make a life with writing”...
How her grandfather reading newspapers inspired Minola to become a newspaper journalist.
Minola’s studying experiences in America and Bucharest.
“Once a journalist, always a journalist”...it builds such incredible life reflexes.
When I need to process my reflex is to write an article up in my mind.
Writing without adjectives…and how that affects our perception in every moment.
Enjoy everything to the fullest!
“Words are events…they do things…they change things …they transform both speaker and hearer…” (Ursula K LeGuin)
Resources Mentioned:
Everyday Inspiration for Change
LinkedIn

E05: Freddie Fforde: “...at Patch, we see ourselves as guests in somebody else’s community…”

Freddie Fforde is the founder of Patch...Freddie introduces us to the vision of Patch and how it incorporates everything to do with community, collaboration and local business, as well as being a shared “work near home” workspace.
We speak about how working near to the people and places that we love means that we can invest more time into those people and places. 
We speak about the importance of building community as a way to mitigate loneliness.
Freddie shares the story of the ‘long history’ version of his inspiration to build Patch, offering some real gems that link back to that story, as well as what still inspires him today.
The conversation then moves through his experience of being a founder and speaking with numerous founders and entrepreneurs…we explore some of the practices he’s observed throughout this process.
Freddie offers his brilliant approach of “build, measure, learn” as a founder and leader, and how that’s worked for him and the teams he leads.
We also of course then understand more about the meaning of “beautiful mess” for Freddie.
The beauty of the mess for him has a lot to do with the operation underneath the public image.
A rich conversation with an incredible founder and human!
Power Takeaways:
Fundamental belief that people are great everywhere.
People need a place to come together and to build community so that they can be stronger together.
How difficult it is behind the scenes to build a crisp, serene process.
The success of the output of a business is dependent on the effectiveness of its inputs, and the effectiveness of that input is indirectly or directly controlled by the people.
Everything is always changing inside and outside businesses.
Internal mantra at Patch is ‘build, measure, learn’ which encourages a  truly agile culture.
You’ve got to start somewhere and accept that failure, within reason, is going to be a part of that.
There can be a real beauty and a real pride in knowing that things are improving as you move through the process.
To bring the thing into the world and to want it to be better.
The first thing I say to people when I onboard them is “I want you to feel safe here”. That’s what matters the most.
Resources Mentioned:
Patch website: www.patch.work
Freddie Fforde linkedin page: linkedin.com/in/freddiefforde
“The Library of Things”: www.libraryofthings.co.uk
Django’s coffee: @djangosspecialtycoffeehouse
Flower tonic: flowertonic.co.uk

E04: Kathy Love "...."there's a lot of messiness in my life...and there's also a lot of beauty."

Kathy Love talks about how we can have beautiful moments within the mess of our lives.
We share about Kathy’s role as “Chief Community Officer” for  “The Outlier Project”, founded by Scott Macgregor, and what an inspirational and crucial community it has become for both of us.
We hear about Kathy’s work and practice, particularly her own discovery of the importance of healing…both her own healing and the healing within her family.
We explore what it takes to switch off from the chaos (particularly when we have become addicted to the chaos)  and how to practise tuning into the peace…even when at the start of this  process, we have no way of knowing where to begin.
We speak about the ‘beautiful mess’ of being a parent and how that is directly connected to the creation of Kathy’s Ted Talk. Also, how important it is to share this struggle with other parents in our communities.
We finish with a deeper dive into getting curious about the beautiful mess of life.
Power Takeaways:
Find the beauty within the mess
The key importance of community
The challenge of finding your own version of peace within the chaos
Beauty happens during some of the darkest moments
How parenting can create such a ‘beautiful mess’
The power of self care 
Resource Mentioned:
My Self Care Sh*t: The Workbook https://a.co/d/cAnezhZ
Listen to Kath Love's Ted Talk HERE

E03: Botagoz Shantemirova ..."the things that I had to go through became a trigger for my self discovery”

Welcome to another episode of Beautiful Mess where we explore how to navigate life's challenges and find meaning through adversity. Today's guest Botagoz Shantemirova shares her inspiring journey of personal growth after facing difficult life events.
Botagoz shares how parenting her neurodivergent son opened her eyes in life-changing ways. Tune in to hear her journey of self-discovery sparked by navigating her child's unique needs, and how it lit a fire for advocacy. Don’t miss these powerful insights on diversity, flexibility, and finding purpose through facing challenges alongside loved ones.
Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:
Botagoz' diverse background and career path from banking to sustainability 
How parenting a neurodivergent child sparked advocacy and inclusion work
A turning point during meditation that gave strength to create joy
Episode Highlights:
[07:11] Finding Purpose Through Family History
Botagoz reflects on how listening to her father's stories as a child shaped her outlook. Her family endured much turbulence over generations due to where they lived and the historic period. Though she didn't consciously consider it before, Botagoz believes unconsciously absorbing her family's resilience through storytelling is what fostered her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for enacting change. 
Hearing of their hardships and comebacks imbued her with drive to make the world better, as she saw how even in difficult times, her ancestors overcame challenges through determination and vision of improving their circumstances. This planted a seed that would blossom into Botagoz' diverse career helping others through sustainability work and entrepreneurship.
[15:01] A Parent's Journey to Advocacy
Botagoz shares how her son being neurodivergent presented immense challenges as a parent to understand his needs. However, it also opened her world in an unexpected way. Through navigating how his brain works differently and ensuring accommodations allowed him to thrive, she gained profound lessons about diversity. 
This fueled her passion for creating a society where all children feel included, regardless of abilities or circumstances outside their control. Botagoz learned empathy and the importance of flexibility through her son's journey. 
Now she is a champion for neurodiversity and helping shape environments welcoming to diverse talents. Facing life's messy periods can spark growth in unforeseen areas, as Botagoz found her purpose advocating for others through overcoming struggles alongside her child.
[19:57] Finding the Light Within
Botagoz shares one of her darkest moments, when surrounded by darkness and despair, she was on the verge of giving up. It was during a group meditation that a profound realization came to her - no one can bring her joy but herself, and it is her responsibility to consciously create moments of happiness. This pivotal insight gave Botagoz an inner strength just when she needed it most. Even in the midst of struggle, she found the power to pursue meaning and find joy was within her grasp. 
This turning point reminded her that light can be discovered in even our lowest valleys, if we open our eyes to the beauty in both external and internal experiences. It was a lesson that continues to guide Botagoz in embracing life's messy periods and discovering renewed purpose each day.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Botagoz Shantemirova on LinkedIn

E02: Untangling the Beautiful Mess: Breathwork, Neurodiversity, and Inclusive Leadership

Ready to breathe easy through your beautiful mess? 
Today’s episode is all about untangling neurodiversity and finding empowerment through breath.  As someone who received her own ADHD diagnosis later in life, Isabel Pollen brings a personal lens while demonstrating breathing exercises you can use anytime challenging conversations arise. 
Whether you're recently diagnosed, leading a diverse team or simply looking for new perspectives, this episode offers inspiration through thoughtful stories and practical mindfulness exercises. Join her to explore the topic of neurodiversity and walk away with strategies for supporting others and navigating life's complexities with more self-understanding and community.
Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:
Being diagnosed with ADHD at 48 and how it has changed her perspective
The impact of Leanne Maskell's accessible ADHD talks for children and teachers 
A call for inclusive leaders to discuss supporting neurodivergent individuals in teams
Episode Highlights:
[01:33] Isabel’s Unexpected ADHD DiagnosisIsabel shares how receiving an ADHD diagnosis at 48 was a surprise, but has given her so much insight into herself and access to a community of support. She is still learning and processing nine months later but feels grateful to have some answers.
[05:46] Leaders in NeurodiversityIsabel invites leaders from all backgrounds to join the conversation about inclusion. From mental health experts to those leading diverse teams, she hopes to explore practical strategies and lessons learned related with supporting neurodivergent individuals.
[07:16] Breathwork for Courageous Conversations Isabel introduces a 4-4-4 breath technique and encourages listeners to use it whenever they need to step into challenging discussions. Taking even one deep breath can help access our parasympathetic nervous system and feel more relaxed and prepared.
Resources Mentioned:
Leanne Maskell's accessible ADHD talks

E01: Beautiful Mess Beginnings

Discover the beauty within life's chaos.
On this premiere episode of Beautiful Mess, Isabel Pollen launches her new podcast exploring personal growth through diverse stories of challenge and strength. In the debut episode, hear the intriguing origin of the name "Beautiful Mess," and get a glimpse into Isabel's storied theater career. 
Discover her passion for sparking meaningful discussions on navigating life's complexity through inspiring conversations. Listen for a taste of guests sharing their perspectives on finding light in life's so-called "messes" and gain a new perspective on embracing the ups and downs of being beautifully human.
Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:
Origin of the name
Isabel's vision for diverse personal growth stories
Reflections on Isabel's acting career and family
Transition from acting to coaching work
Goals for creating a supportive podcast community
Episode Highlights:
[02:31] The Origin of "Beautiful Mess"
Isabel shares how she discovered the thought-provoking name "Beautiful Mess" on a sushi menu in Berlin. This chance encounter sparked her idea to use the name for a podcast exploring life's complexity through inspiring conversations.
[03:14] The Goal of This Podcast
Beautiful Mess focuses on personal development and growth that encompass many different areas of people's lives. Personal development looks and feels completely different for everyone depending on factors like their individual circumstances, experiences, and goals. This podcast will explore personal growth broadly, through diverse guests and perspectives that resonate with listeners on many levels and in various aspects of their lives.
Future episodes will include a diverse range of guests and their perspectives. Expect to hear "a whole plethora of voices" through Isabel’s conversations with guests, allowing different stories and views on the theme of personal development and navigating life's challenges to be shared. 
[06:53] About Isabel Pollen
Based in London, Isabel has had a 30-year career in the theater performing across the world. She trained at the esteemed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. More recently, Isabel has worked as a life coach in between acting jobs, utilizing her skills in storytelling and facilitation to help clients.
[12:55] From Acting to Coaching 
Isabel details her transition from acting to life coaching work, using her skills in storytelling and facilitation. She discusses becoming accredited in The Physical Intelligence Institute's program and how she now combines coaching and acting to help clients.
Resources Mentioned:
The Physical Intelligence Institute
 

Beautiful Mess Trailer

Welcome to Beautiful Mess, where personal growth is a lifelong journey. Join our host Isabel Pollen and her guests of entrepreneurs, mental health advocates, parents, and more! Our goal is to ignite curiosity, spark conversations, and offer practical strategies for navigating life's complexities.