Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations, meant to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
No fluff, no rehearsed speeches—just real conversations to challenge the way you think, spark new ideas, and help you carve your own way forward.
Connect with me on LinkedIn @karenkchong, Mind-Blend, IG or email me
.Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations, meant to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
No fluff, no rehearsed speeches—just real conversations to challenge the way you think, spark new ideas, and help you carve your own way forward.
Connect with me on LinkedIn @karenkchong, Mind-Blend, IG or email me
.A big thank you to all of you who supported Mind Blend, and to all my guests who have shared their wisdom over the first year.
As we finish this year and welcome the brand new one, tell me what topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @Mind-Blend, Instagram Mindblendpodcast or drop me an email.
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How many of us have struggled with the desire to indulge in food then the guilt that comes afterwards?
In this episode, I mind-blend with Sammy Williams to explore intuitive eating, eating disorder recovery, and the long-term impact of diet culture on physical and mental health.
This episode provides a practical perspective on intuitive eating, binge eating recovery, and building a healthy relationship with food, without rigid rules, guilt, or punishment.
About Sammy Williams
After battling and recovering from 20 years of eating disorders, Sammy is now a health coach who aims to empower individuals to achieve optimal body weight and metabolic health, through personalized nutrition coaching, intuitive eating principles, education, bespoke menus and culinary advice to create clarity and dispel confusion.
You can connect with Sammy on https://www.naturalnut.co.uk/, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @Mind-Blend, Instagram Mindblendpodcast or drop me an email.
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Travel isn’t just about the destination — it’s about how you navigate everything that happens along the way.
In this episode, I mind-blend with Mark Wolters of Wolter’s World, whose honest travel advice has guided millions. Together, we explore the mindset shifts that turn stressful trips into memorable ones: from blending in respectfully with local culture, to staying safe and smart on the road, to handling inevitable setbacks without letting them ruin your experience.
Mark shares the practical “don’ts” that save you from awkward moments — and the deeper habits that help you stay present, adaptable, and confident as you travel.
If you want your next trip to be smoother, kinder, and genuinely more enjoyable, this episode is for you.
About Mark Wolters
You can connect with Mark on:
Music License Code: Dream Big Travel Far ONC3LT7USX5E4TLF
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @Mind-Blend, Instagram Mindblendpodcast or drop me an email.
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Design thinking isn’t just for designers, it’s something we all practice, often without realizing it. As Wayne puts it, “Everyone is a designer… because everyone has to create something for someone.”
In this conversation, Wayne Li — professor, product designer, and global design-thinker — breaks down how design thinking can transform the way we move through the world. It makes you more curious, empathetic, and observant — qualities that strengthen problem-solving in any field. He also talks about concepts in his book, Design Empathy and Contextual Awareness, which is available in the UK, US and other ebook platforms. Listeners in the UK, you can get a 30% DISCOUNT using the code MINDBLEND30 on the UK site.
If you’ve ever wondered how to think more creatively, understand people better, or design a richer life, this episode is full of generous wisdom (and surprisingly helpful omelet analogies).
About Wayne Li
Wayne is a global designer, educator, and professor, known for blending engineering, art, and human-centered design into a powerful approach to solving real-world problems. He has designed products and experiences for major brands across industries, and now teaches students and professionals how to think more creatively and empathetically. Wayne is also the author of Design Empathy and Contextual Awareness: Frames of Reference for the 21st Century Creative, a book that helps readers understand how awareness, curiosity, and intentionality shape every experience we create in work and in life. The book is available in the UK, US and other ebook platforms. Listeners in the UK, you can get a 30% DISCOUNT using the code MINDBLEND30 on the UK site.
You can also connect with Wayne on LinkedIn, and wlidesign.com.
Music YouTube license code: Music Tango de la terrasse EBXILZBYWOLEH1ET
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going, connect on LinkedIn @Mind-Blend or send me an email!
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Holistic wellness goes far beyond mindfulness and bubble baths. In this episode, Alexandra Dotcheva shares how she practices what she preaches, and how true wellbeing comes from strengthening every pillar of your life: your health, your finances, and your self-confidence.
Alexandra explains why optimizing nutrition, detoxing both body and mind, and cultivating disciplined fitness practices are essential foundations for long-term vitality. We explore the role of financial independence in helping you live on your own terms, and how confidence grows when you face problems instead of running from them.
If you’re curious about how small, intentional steps across all areas of your life can create lasting transformation, this episode is a powerful place to start.
About Alexandra Dotcheva
Alexandra is a registered nurse, real estate investor, fitness advocate, and author of It Really Is Simple: A Holistic Approach To Self-Confidence: A Practical Guide. After overcoming decades of low self-esteem and major life transitions, she now helps others build holistic confidence through health optimization, financial independence, disciplined habits, and intentional self-leadership.
You can connect with Alexandra on her website https://www.holisticselfconfidence.com/.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend. Prefer to connect more directly? Drop Mind Blend an email.
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
In this conversation, high-performance coach Navin Jaitly breaks down the mindset and techniques behind powerful speaking: easing anxiety, using body language intentionally, communicating with clarity, and tapping into the confidence you already have.
We dig into what really makes someone influential — from vocal delivery to mental framing to how you manage your energy in the moment. We also talk about the hidden cost of not being able to speak confidently and how learning this skill can transform your career, relationships, and everyday interactions.
If you want to speak with more authority, persuade effectively, and feel confident in any room, this episode gives you the mindset + tools to get there.
About Navin Jaitly
Navin is a high-performance coach, award-winning speaker, and bestselling author who transformed his career from struggling salesperson to top performer through mindset training and communication mastery. Today he helps leaders, founders, and sales teams speak with clarity, confidence, and influence — combining proven techniques with deep inner-game coaching.
You can connect with Navin on his website navinjaitlycoaching.com, You can connect with Navin on his website navinjaitlycoaching.com, Instagram Navin.jaitly, LinkedIn navinjaitlysalescoach, and email navinjaitlycoaching@outlook.com.
More details about his workshop on 1 December, Speak to Influence, available here.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend. Prefer to connect more directly? Drop Mind Blend an email.
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
AI is transforming how teams work, but they will be great only when the foundation is strong. As Daria Rudnik explains, high-performing teams don’t fear AI, and they don’t overestimate it either. They use it to enhance clarity, improve collaboration, and free up mental space, not replace thinking or connection.
In this episode, we explore how trust, communication, and shared purpose create the conditions for AI to actually help. When teams understand each other, make decisions well, and stay aligned, AI amplifies their strengths rather than their stress.
We dig into:
If you want to build a team that’s not just efficient—but resilient, connected, and ready for the future—this episode is your guide.
“You should never offload anything that needs empathy and human-to-human connection… you should never fire a person with the help of AI.” - Daria
About Daria Rudnik
Daria is a team architect, executive leadership coach, and author who has spent 15+ years helping leaders build teams that think clearly, communicate honestly, and perform sustainably. A former Chief People Officer and Deloitte consultant, she’s supported organizations across six continents through crises, rapid growth, and major transformation. As the founder of Aidra.ai, she blends human insight with hybrid-intelligence tools to help overloaded leaders create clarity without carrying the whole load themselves. At her core, Daria is a guide for teams who want to work smarter, not harder — and for leaders who want collaboration that actually feels human.
You can connect with Daria on LinkedIn LinkedIn dariarudnik and her website https://dariarudnik.com/
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
Writing isn’t just about communication—it’s mental training for your brain. In this episode, author and leadership coach Jennifer Wright shares how writing, especially pen-to-paper, can sharpen cognition, boost memory, and even help us process emotions and trauma. Beyond being a creative outlet, writing strengthens neural pathways, enhances learning, and fosters self-reflection. Jennifer also talks about overcoming writer’s block, finding your writing rhythm (whether you’re a “outliner” or a “pantser”), and how to make writing a regular part of your routine—no publishing deal required. From journaling to using voice dictation, she offers practical ways to turn writing into a daily exercise for your mind and emotional well-being.
If you’ve ever said, “I’m not a writer,” this episode might just change your mind. Writing could be one of the most powerful ways to boost your confidence and clarity in life and work.
About Jennifer Wright
Jennifer is a strategist, author, and transformation leader who helps executives and creators turn ideas into impact through the power of writing, leadership, and storytelling. As the founder of ExecuWright, Jennifer guides leaders to find their voice, build thought leadership, and translate experience into influence. Her work spans executive coaching, publishing strategy, and visibility consulting—helping clients clarify their message, elevate their presence, and lead with purpose.
You can connect with Jennifer on https://execuwright.com/ and LinkedIn @jenniferwrightexecuwright
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
Stoicism isn’t about detaching from life — it’s about engaging with it more intentionally.
In this episode, leadership coach Rodrigo Barreto unpacks how the ancient philosophy of Stoicism can guide us through the chaos of modern living. We explore how its four core virtues — wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance — work together to form a complete framework for decision-making, leadership, and resilience.
When practiced together, these principles help us see clearly, act bravely, treat others fairly, and stay composed — even when life tests us most.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stay calm, fair, and focused when everything feels uncertain, this conversation is your modern guide to timeless Stoic balance.
About Rodrigo Barreto
Rodrigo Barreto is a leadership facilitator, executive coach, and stoicism advocate with over 30 years of experience across FMCG, energy, and consulting. From his engineering roots in Rio to working with global organizations, he helps leaders navigate modern challenges using ancient philosophy. As founder of All About the E and T.E.A.M Director at MyBigSky, Rodrigo brings energy and expertise to help individuals and teams find more joy, flow, and fulfillment in their work and lives.
You can connect with Rodrigo on LinkedIn and allaboutthee.com.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
After years in fashion, Shuang-Min walked away from a life many would envy — designer labels, business-class travel, and success by every external measure — to redefine what fulfillment truly means. In this episode, she shares how fame, fortune, and being true to yourself don’t have to be mutually exclusive, why it’s worth asking “What’s the cost of not doing this?”, and how self-reflection can unlock the clarity to evolve on your own terms.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the life you’re living is truly yours, this conversation is the reminder you need.
About Shuang-Min Chang
Shuang-Min is a holistic success activator, intuitive healer, and founder of Legacy of Love, a coaching philosophy rooted in aligning high-achievers with their deeper purpose. Born and raised in Taiwan, she spent over a decade leading luxury fashion divisions in Mumbai, Milan and Shanghai before walking away from the corporate ladder. During a personal crisis of achievement and identity, she recognised that fulfilment isn't just about fame or fortune—it’s about being true to yourself. Today, she guides leaders and creatives to redefine success through empathy, reflection and abundant living.
You can connect with her on Instagram shuangmin, her website shuangminchang.com and email at: smc@shuangminchang.com
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
AI isn’t magic, it’s a system that works dramatically better guided by your thinking.
In this episode, Colette Mason, founder of The Tech Leadership Method, joins us to cut through the noise around AI and talk about what really matters when it comes to using it responsibly, sustainably, and effectively.
Drawing on her experience helping businesses build real AI systems (not just shiny demos), Colette explains:
Why most AI projects fail before they even start
The difference between AI hype and AI that actually helps your business grow
How to spot “AI slop” and the right questions to ask before hiring anyone claiming to be an AI expert
What leaders should do to ensure long-term, human-centered success with AI
How critical thinking, governance, and system design make or break AI’s value
This conversation dives deep into the mindset shifts needed to embrace AI—not as a replacement for human thinking, but as a tool that enhances it.
“AI isn’t a magic wand—it’s a tool that makes your thinking visible.” — Colette Mason
If you’re a business leader, manager, or strategist navigating the AI landscape, this episode is a must-listen. It’s your guide to staying smart, skeptical, and strategic in an AI-hyped world.
About Colette Mason
Colette is the Anti-Hype AI Advocate who builds human-centred systems that work under real-world pressure.
With 40+ years in IT and 3½ years implementing AI in business, she's the truth-teller cutting through Silicon Valley fantasies to create AI colleagues that enhance human capability instead of replacing it.
Author of "Ditch Rework Build Teamwork," Colette transforms chaos into collaboration using her proven frameworks for sustainable human-AI partnerships.
You can connect with Colette on LinkedIn and cleverclogsai.com.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
From leading roles in global advertising agencies to building his own consultancy in Tokyo, Cairo Marsh has seen firsthand how brands win or lose when it comes to customer connection.
In this conversation, Cairo shares how his drive for growth brought him from New York to Japan, and how working across cultures has sharpened his perspective on marketing, brand, and customer experience.
Highlights from our conversation:
Why creating mutual value is the foundation of lasting brand-consumer relationships
His customer experience stories in Japan - the pinnacle of customer service
Why the “customer journey” can be a fallacy, and better ways to think about engagement
How consistency in what a brand stands for builds lasting trust
The importance of engaging your audience today while preparing for tomorrow’s transaction
How brand connection is a leading indicator of sales later
Cairo reminds us that customer experience isn’t about following a rigid playbook or hitting quarterly sales—it’s about creating connections that last .
“If we make life a little bit less frustrating on a daily basis, even though it doesn’t seem like you did a lot, it means a lot. Because it impacts so many people.”
👉 For companies serious about building loyalty, this episode is a call to think deeper about how you engage your customers—and how that shapes your brand’s future.
About Cairo Marsh
Cairo is the founder and executive partner of relativ*, a Tokyo-based marketing consultancy specializing in relationship-driven brand strategies. With over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, Cairo leads teams creating unique brand experiences that foster stronger connections between companies and their customers. Originally from the Bronx, New York, Cairo took a bold move over 10 years ago when he moved to Japan, where he previously held senior positions at major agencies including DDB and FCB. Relativ* has received recognition as Japan/Korea Independent Agency of the Year from Campaign Asia for two consecutive years, reflecting Cairo's commitment to innovative marketing solutions that prioritize authentic customer relationships over transactional approaches.
You can connect with Cairo on LinkedIn: cairokenanmarsh and https://relativ.com/
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
Mistakes in your past don’t have to define your future.
My guest today, Jacob Hill, founder of Offploy, knows this better than most. After serving time in prison, Jacob didn’t just turn his life around—he built one of the UK’s leading organisations helping people with convictions step back into the workforce.
In this episode, we talk about:
How Jacob’s journey through prison shaped him into more of an entrepreneur than ever before
Why employers should see candidates with convictions as valuable assets, not risks
The higher loyalty and retention rates often found in this overlooked talent pool
What businesses get wrong about “inclusive hiring” and how to get it right
How lived experience can fuel innovation, resilience, and leadership
Jacob puts it plainly in our conversation: “We need to stop writing people off for the worst thing they’ve ever done and start looking at the value they can bring today.”
This episode is for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone interested in building workplaces that look at the whole person—not just the label.
About Jacob Hill
Jacob is an entrepreneur, LinkedIn Top Voice on inclusive hiring, and an advocate for social value, particularly in the context of supporting individuals with criminal records. His unique journey, from serving time in prison to founding Offploy one of the UK’s largest providers of mentoring for people with convictions, underscores his deep commitment to social impact.
His work focuses on empowering employers to recruit individuals with convictions "safely, confidently and legally," whilst also emphasising the critical importance of measuring social impact to prove effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
You can find Jacob on LinkedIn and Offploy.org.
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Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
In this episode, I mind-blended with David Petrovay—an educator, career coach, counselor, and author, about how people can navigate life transitions with clarity and confidence. Starting out teaching blind students, David shares how his own journey led him to become passionate about helping others discover who they are, what they want, and how to embrace opportunities—even when life throws unexpected challenges their way.
Together, we explore:
How career coaching goes beyond jobs—it’s about self-discovery and confidence-building
Why clarity about your values and strengths is the foundation for moving forward
The importance of staying open to possibilities you may not have imagined
The power of networking - leveraging the people around you to tackle the “hidden job market”
If you are in the middle of a career change, facing job loss, or simply seeking more direction and fulfillment in their professional life, this episode is for you.
About David Petrovay
An experienced career counselor and coach, and the author of Out of Work...Not Out of WORTH: Navigating the emotional side of job loss, David has worked for over 20 years in settings that include schools, nonprofits, adult career centers, and private practice. He has years of experience in various positions in schools for the blind across the United States before making a change into career coaching. Motivated by seeing his students and clients become the confident individuals they are, David is passionate about helping anyone struggling to find clarity in the professional field.
You can connect with David on LinkedIn and email davidpetrovay@gmail.com to discuss how he can help you achieve your goals.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
What do you do when your audience is all different?
Even the best jokes won’t be funny everywhere - it’s all down to who you’re talking to. It’s situational! What does your audience know? What does your audience resonate with?
In this episode, I am joined by Sai Ramachandran to explore the unlikely but compelling journey from coding to comedy. Sai shares how growing up in a small town in India, earning a master's in computer science, and starting his career at Goldman Sachs all paved a very different path from where he eventually found his voice: on the comedy stage.
But this episode isn’t just about changing careers. It’s about using humor to connect, challenge norms, and navigate complex emotions.
Together, they explore:
The journey from logic-driven tech work to the unpredictable world of stand-up
What comedy teaches him about reading a room, adjusting in real time, and staying present
Why humor is one of the last things AI can replicate (at least not yet) and what that reveals about our humanity
How cultural background deeply influences what we find funny and why some jokes only land in the right context
The role of tension in storytelling—and how embracing uncertainty leads to better punchlines and better perspective
Sai also shares how he reads his maddeningly diverse audience in India, what makes a joke work (or flop), and how being a comedian is, in many ways, a masterclass in communication.
Whether you're a creative, a coder, or someone navigating big changes, this episode is packed with insight, warmth, and wit—and a reminder that sometimes the best way to face serious things is to laugh.
About Sai Ramachandran
Sai is a software engineer who decided to give it all up to make it in the field of comedy. An engineer at heart, he decided to understand comedy from first principles, and eventually wrote a book Humor Science: When Your Success Depends On Being Funny And Engaging which explains humor from the ground up.
As a side hustle, he also trains executives on humor to help them be more interesting, engaging, and empathetic in their professional interactions.
You can connect with Sai on
https://linktr.ee/sai.humor.scientist
LinkedIn: sai-ramachandran
Instagram: abeysai
YouTube: abeysai-yt
Watch his sketch: My Name is Bald. James Bald.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
In this episode, we mind-blended with Jenny Theolin—Head of Learning at Abracademy, and founder of Studio Theolin—about the art of pushing boundaries in a culture that often encourages staying safely within them.
Born Swedish but having grown up moving between countries and cultures, Jenny developed a natural openness to change, an instinct for reinvention, and a bold personality that doesn’t wait for permission. She unpacks the popular Swedish concept of lagom—meaning “not too little, not too much”—and how it shapes the way we think about balance, ambition, and sustainability. While lagom can offer comfort and harmony, Jenny argues that it can also quietly stifle innovation and suppress ambition when left unexamined.
Together, we explore:
How lagom, the Swedish concept of “just enough,” can be both a source of sustainability and a silent killer of ambition
The impact of being told to “stay in your lane”—and how Jenny turned that moment into fuel for creative leadership
Why early exposure to change helped her embrace uncertainty and push past imposter syndrome
The power of learning by doing, and embedding experimentation into everyday work
How play, fun, and bold self-expression lead to real innovation
The difference between maintaining harmony and challenging the status quo—especially in creative and professional environments
Whether you’ve been told to play small, or you're looking for permission to do things differently, this episode will inspire you to make bold your new baseline.
About Jenny Theolin
Jenny is a renowned expert in learning experience design and facilitation, creating effective, engaging, and memorable learning for organisations, schools, and non-profits. Her mission is to cultivate creativity, facilitation, and continuous learning for leaders and their teams. She authored "Dare to Facilitate," a book that challenges traditional facilitation and inspires action through over 120 'dares'. Theolin's work emphasises bringing diverse perspectives together and empowering facilitators to shape the future.
You can connect with Jenny on
LinkedIn: jennytheolin
Her website: https://www.studiotheolin.com/
Instagram: studiotheolin
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
We often glorify hustle, speed, and constant output, but what if your next big breakthrough comes after a pause?
In this episode, I mind-blended to Pamela Dangelmaier—mindfulness expert, leadership coach, and author of The Power of the Pause. Pamela shares how her own experience of hyperacusis and burnout forced her to slow down and reconnect with what truly mattered.
Together, we explore:
The neuroscience behind why silence feels uncomfortable—and why we need it
How intentional pauses help you shift from reaction to reflection
The role of mindfulness in leadership, creativity, and decision-making
The surprising ways stillness improves your communication and presence
What Pamela learned on silence—and how it changed her
We also talk about how “being busy” can become a shield we hide behind. You don’t need to disappear to a cabin in the woods or silence your whole life to reap the benefits. Even micro-pauses, 30 seconds between meetings, a breath before responding, can recalibrate your nervous system and bring you back to center.
If you're feeling overstimulated, stuck, or just off, this conversation is a gentle (but powerful) reminder: Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is stop.
About Pamela Dangelmaier
Pamela is an accomplished mindfulness practitioner, certified life coach, and motivational speaker known for her relatable humor and engaging storytelling. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness-Based Teaching & Learning from the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), where she received the Award for Outstanding Achievement. Her warm, accessible style makes even complex ideas easy to understand and apply.
Pamela is also a graduate of Martha Beck’s prestigious Wayfinder Life Coaching program and an ICF-certified life coach, committed to professional excellence. Her authentic, down-to-earth approach has made her a sought-after speaker for audiences seeking clarity, balance, and a deeper connection to purpose.
A founding member of the Mindful Coach Association and a professional member of the American Mindfulness Research Association, Pamela stays at the forefront of mindfulness research and teaching. She’s passionate about helping others tap into their inner wisdom and live more intentional, fulfilling lives.
In addition to her mindfulness practice, Pamela is a TEDx speaker, successful e-commerce business owner, gardening enthusiast, graphic designer, stage and film actress, and novelist. She credits her diverse accomplishments to the mindfulness techniques she practices daily—tools that spark her creativity, reduce stress, and help her embrace life’s many adventures.
You can connect with her on
LinkedIn: pameladangelmaier, Website: You Mind and You, Instagram: your_mind_and_you and YouTube: pameladangelmaier8182
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
What if your stress, comparison habits, and need for validation weren’t personal flaws—but ancient survival wiring doing exactly what it was designed to do?
In this episode, I mind-blended with Dr. Loretta Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of Habits of a Happy Brain, to unpack how our brain chemistry drives everyday behavior, emotions, and decisions—often without us even realizing it.
We dove into how neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins evolved to help mammals survive—and how those same chemicals influence how we chase rewards, build relationships, seek approval, and experience happiness (or not) in today’s modern world.
🔍 In this episode, we explore:
Why your brain constantly scans for rewards and threats—even when you're safe
How dopamine fuels motivation—and why chasing it endlessly can backfire
The subtle but powerful role of serotonin in social hierarchy and confidence
Why oxytocin (the connection chemical) is easily disrupted in digital life
How short bursts of endorphins (like during laughter or exercise) boost well-being
Why your brain clings to habits—even unhealthy ones—and how to rewire them
Daily practices you can try to create more natural, sustainable happiness
Loretta also shares practical strategies for retraining your brain—not to suppress your instincts, but to understand them and work with them. If you’ve ever felt stuck in habits that don’t serve you, or frustrated by emotions you can’t explain, this episode offers a refreshingly science-backed lens into why we are the way we are—and how to shift it.
Give it a listen and discover how to partner with your inner mammal.
About Loretta Breuning, PhD
Loretta is the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels. She founded the Inner Mammal Institute to help people build new neural pathways to turn on their happy chemicals in new ways.
As Professor of Management at California State University, and a mom, Loretta was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. While researching alternatives, she uncovered the brain chemistry we share with animals. She learned that each happy chemical evolved to motivate a specific survival behavior, not to make you feel good all the time for no reason. Then everything made sense, and she began creating resources to spread this knowledge: books, videos, blogs, podcasts, infographics, slide shows, social media and a training program. Loretta's work has helped thousands of people "make peace with the animal inside." And she still marvels every day at the overlap between a wildlife documentary and the lyrics to a love song.
You can connect with Loretta on LinkedIn and find out more about her work on Inner Mammal Institute. If you’re interested in having a coaching session with Loretta, mention you learned about her from the podcast Mind Blend and you’ll get special pricing.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
What really makes someone effective in the workplace? Strategy and intelligence matter. But without emotional awareness, the ability to adapt, and focused execution, even the best ideas fall flat.
In this episode, I mind-blended with Faris Aranki, strategic consultant and founder of Shiageto Consulting, whose work centers on helping businesses and individuals “do business better.” With over 20 years of experience across sectors and countries, Faris brings a sharp yet human lens to what it takes to truly lead and collaborate.
We talk about the soft skills that aren’t really soft at all, like empathy, emotional intelligence, and focus. Faris shares how living and working in different cultures taught him to read people better, ask smarter questions, and help teams align not just on what they’re doing, but why they’re doing it.
And at the core of it all? A reminder that many businesses have a blind spot. They invest in strategy, but often neglect the people dynamics, emotional context, and focused alignment that ultimately determine success.
“We over index on the words we're about to say, not how we say them or how we look when we're saying them.”
In this episode, we explore:
If you’ve ever felt like your team is doing a lot but still not moving forward or if you're curious what really drives effective strategic execution, this episode offers a fresh, human-centered perspective. Faris also shares how his experiences living and working across cultures have sharpened his ability to lead with empathy, spot what others miss, and help organizations move from busy to aligned.
About Faris Aranki
Faris is the founder and CEO of Shiageto Consulting, with over 20 years of experience delivering strategic change for both corporate and non-corporate worlds. He has over 15 years of strategic leadership experience across top consulting firms and organisations, working as a top-tier strategy consultant, non-exec director, educator and in-house strategist.
His work has spanned numerous companies (from global behemoths to small start-ups), in numerous countries, across a range of sectors (including energy, banking, consumer goods, telco and media, government, automotive and education), supporting them all to unlock strategic success.
Faris came to realise that often what hinders institutions from achieving their goals goes beyond the quality of their strategy; it is their ability to engage effectively with others at all levels and remove barriers in their way that can be the real barometers of success.
"I am passionate about strategic effectiveness for all businesses and individuals. It doesn't matter about age, experience, size, industry, objectives, we can all improve our effectiveness. It's something I personally try to do everyday and the area I have been able to most add value to my clients; these are the very reasons I founded Shiageto Consulting".
You can connect with Faris on LinkedIn and Shiageto Consulting.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
We’ve all had to learn something—swimming, biking, typing, driving. For some, it clicks. For others, frustration takes over, and suddenly we’re telling ourselves we’re just not “good enough.”
In this episode, I mind-blended with Patrick Boylan, a musician and co-founder of MuseFlow, a music education platform designed to help people learn piano in a more tailored and joyful way, by tapping into flow state instead of forcing repetition.
For anyone listening today, you can get a 50% discount for MuseFlow for LIFE! Just use the code MIND50.
We exchanged personal stories about our early piano training—and how traditional methods often create pressure, disconnection, and even shame when progress doesn’t follow the rigid path.
Patrick took that frustration and turned it into a mission: to create a better way.
We talked about:
Patrick’s winding journey from self-taught pianist to MuseFlow co-founder
How MuseFlow was born - music and serendipity made it organically happened
The concept of flow state and how it supports deeper, more joyful learning
How MuseFlow works - from personalized feedback to play-based discovery, and the future of MuseFlow
The psychological benefits of learning through intuition, not fear of mistakes
Whether you’ve struggled to learn something, gave up too soon, or just want to see what’s possible when learning is fueled by joy and flow, this one’s for you.
"Find the love, and find the joy of learning."
About Patrick Boylan
Patrick is a pianist, educator, and co-founder of MuseFlow, a next-generation music learning app inspired by his own unconventional relationship with piano. After receiving some formal instruction in his youth, it wasn’t until later that Patrick truly connected with the instrument—teaching himself in a way that felt more intuitive, expressive, and personally meaningful.
His path led him from rediscovering piano on his own terms to becoming a professional jazz musician in Los Angeles. Through MuseFlow, Patrick blends his passion for music, learning, and design to help others engage with piano in a way that feels accessible and motivating. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, his mission remains the same: to help people connect more deeply with their own creative potential.
Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn.
About MuseFlow
MuseFlow is reimagining how people learn piano—by making the process joyful, intuitive, and grounded in how our brains actually learn best.
Through interactive mini-games and real-time error recognition, MuseFlow personalizes each student’s journey, meeting them at their level and gently guiding them forward. It’s designed to hit that “Goldilocks zone”—challenging enough to grow, but never overwhelming. And with each small win, learners experience that powerful “I’m getting it!” moment again and again.
For anyone listening today, you can get a 50% discount for MuseFlow for LIFE! Just use the code MIND50.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations — through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @ Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.