So many of us walk around believing failure means we’ve messed up, fallen short, or somehow missed the mark. But what emotional intelligence practitioner Mike Martin and I explore in this episode of Mind Bites is something much deeper: that what we call “failure” is often just a moment where we’ve lost belief in ourselves, or absorbed someone else’s fears or idea of who we should be.

Mike and I dive into why mistakes are not signs of failure at all—they’re signs of growth. And how choosing new language can give you the emotional freedom take risks, and move with more confidence.

If the idea of failure has been steering your decisions or dimming your self-belief, this conversation might just give you the clarity you need to redefine it for good.

After a decade and a half of regular dialogue in a local café, I, Renee Beale, ex-scientist turned producer and coach, decided to transform coffee with emotional intelligence practitioner Mike Martin into this podcast, to share his unique perspective on the mind and how we can use our curiosity and creativity to gain control and rediscover peace – that’s been so helpful in my own life. If you found this episode insightful, we’d love it if you could share it with others. After all minds can bite and these bite-sized conversations offer remedies.

When was the last time you really engaged in play? It’s often seen as something reserved for childhood, a break from the “serious stuff” of life. But what if play isn’t a distraction at all? What if it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for growth, clarity, and resilience?

In this episode of Mind Bites, I’m joined again by emotional intelligence practitioner Mike Martin to explore the deeper meaning of play—why it matters, how it can restore us, and the surprising ways it can transform the way we move through challenges.

If you want to shift from stress and pressure into possibility, and bring more joy and strength into your everyday life, this conversation might just provide the pathway you need: play isn’t optional. It’s essential.

After a decade and a half of regular dialogue in a local café, I, Renee Beale, ex-scientist turned producer and coach, decided to transform coffee with emotional intelligence practitioner Mike Martin into this podcast, to share his unique perspective on the mind and how we can use our curiosity and creativity to gain control and rediscover peace – that’s been so helpful in my own life. If you found this episode insightful, we’d love it if you could share it with others. After all minds can bite and these bite-sized conversations offer remedies.

Rejection. Just hearing the word can sting a little. It’s something most of us try to avoid, soften, or sidestep. But what if the real driver is in here and not out there in the world? In the quiet ways we reject ourselves first—our dreams, our worth, our voice.

In this episode of Mind Bites, I’m joined again by emotional intelligence practitioner Mike Martin to take a deeper look at rejection—what it really is, how we internalise it, and the surprising ways we can reclaim our power from it.

We talk about how rejection can shrink us—or, with bravery, transform us. Why it’s less about what others think of us, and more about how we see ourselves. And how the stories we tell ourselves—about failure, disagreement, even love—can either close us down, or open the door to something better.

If you’ve ever felt rejected—by someone, something, or even yourself—this conversation might just help you see it in a new light.

After a decade and a half of regular dialogue in a local café, I, Renee Beale, ex-scientist turned producer and coach, decided to transform coffee with emotional intelligence practitioner Mike Martin into this podcast, to share his unique perspective on the mind and how we can use our curiosity and creativity to gain control and rediscover peace – that’s been so helpful in my own life. If you found this episode insightful, we’d love it if you could share it with others. After all minds can bite and these bite-sized conversations offer remedies.