Hey — have you ever wondered if it’s actually possible to do nothing anymore? Lately I’ve been thinking about how my time is filled up with constant doing, and how the second boredom appears we reach for our phones to fill it. What if there’s a different answer: simply being present, without an agenda?

I want to tell you about a time when I did nothing and it mattered. I remember being sick years ago, walking to a hillside with a pad, paints and water, and sitting there for an hour and a half just taking in the view and painting. I wasn’t thinking about anything, and for the first time in ages, I felt genuinely connected to that moment. I even framed that little piece and stuck the story on the back so my son will have it one day — little reminders like that matter.

These days the challenge is our devices. We’re so used to constant input that silence feels strange — maybe even a bit scary. But I don’t think we’re meant to be constantly engaged. There’s a gentle kind of flow where nothing is taxing: just noticing, breathing, and being with what’s around you. Cats do it naturally; we could try to relearn it.

I’m going to make space this week to unplug and find a quiet spot in nature just to be, and I’d love for you to try it too. Don’t make it complicated — sit somewhere new, or even look at something familiar with fresh eyes, take a few deep breaths, and see what comes. If you do it, tell me how it felt. I’ll report back on what I learn.

Thanks for being here with me on this little experiment in slowing down. If this resonated, give it a go — step away from the screen for a moment and notice the world. I’ll catch you next time.

For more information of LB&B, check out the links below, and if you found this useful, consider buying me a coffee below.

Life Passion & Business Podcast is about finding answers to life’s big questions through weekly interviews with guest speakers. The Shortcast is my ongoing commitment to staying inquisitive and passionate about life, with whatever is alive for me each week. Follow the links below to discover what else is on offer.

The Five Questions eBook: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/the-five-questions Focus Coaching: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/focus-coaching/

Support The Podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion Midlife Survey: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/midlife-challenge/

Hey — thanks for listening to this penultimate episode of Life, Passion, and Business. I wanted to share why I began this whole project and what kept pulling me back to the mic: a very personal nudge after my dad died in 2017, and the uneasy realisation that I could end up living a small, unexamined life like his if I didn’t do something about it.

I started this podcast because I was asking the big, messy questions: What is the meaning of life? What are you passionate about and how does that passion show up? How do we define success beyond the platitudes of business culture? What does contribution look like — the legacy we leave — and, crucially, how do we actually look after ourselves on the way?

The show grew from those questions into conversations with people from my business world and beyond. I wanted to explore how people live, what drives them, and what they’re doing it all for. Along the way I learned the importance of self-care, the messy truth behind ambition, and the ways grief can shape a life.

I’ll share what I discovered in the final episode, but for now: if any of this resonates, please go back through the catalogue — the episodes will be archived and available for as long as I keep them live. It’s been a brilliant journey making this show with you, and I’ll see you again in the final episode in a couple of weeks.

This episode is like a quiet chat over coffee about how friendships change as we get older, why we lose people along the way, and what it really takes to keep making meaningful connections. I walk through my own story: moving around, losing touch with school friends, finding a local community in Scotland, and the awkward, emotional stuff that comes with staying connected — especially when life and illnesses (like my partner’s Parkinson’s) make us smaller and more isolated.

We talk about what actually holds friendships together (hint: time together and frequency), why loneliness is becoming so common, and how being willing to put ourselves out there — to be vulnerable and take risks — is the real key. I mention Brené Brown and the idea of “feel the fear and do it anyway,” and share small, practical ways to meet people: join groups around things you love (like my running club), invite people in, say yes when you're asked to join, and accept that it takes courage.

If you’re feeling alone, this is a gentle nudge: do something you enjoy, get involved, and give friendships room to grow. I also talk about how life and work shifts have forced me to reorient my focus toward in-person coaching and how the podcast may change format soon.

For more information of LB&B, check out the links below, and if you found this useful, consider buying me a coffee below.

Life Passion & Business Podcast is about finding answers to life’s big questions through weekly interviews with guest speakers. The Shortcast is my ongoing commitment to staying inquisitive and passionate about life, with whatever is alive for me each week. Follow the links below to discover what else is on offer.

The Five Questions eBook: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/the-five-questions Focus Coaching: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/focus-coaching/

Support The Podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion Midlife Survey: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/midlife-challenge/