It's a Mindset

Have you ever had your life turned upside down by something you never saw coming - and been forced to find strength you didn’t even know you had?

In this deeply moving episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Sarah Susak - a commercial lawyer, full-time working mum, meditation teacher, and quite honestly, one of the most resilient humans you’ll ever hear from.

Sarah has spent more than two decades leading legal functions for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive, across the South Pacific and Europe. Today, she is the General Manager for Legal and Corporate Affairs at a leading Australian food manufacturer.

But in 2017, shortly after becoming a mother, Sarah’s life changed forever when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive head and neck cancer. What followed was an extraordinary journey through major facial reconstructive surgeries, intensive radiation treatment, and ongoing medical challenges - a journey that ultimately led her to discover the ancient practice of Vedic meditation.

Meditation became a cornerstone of Sarah’s healing, recovery, and resilience, inspiring her to train as a Vedic meditation teacher and, in 2023, launch Medi Steady Go®, a business dedicated to sharing the wisdom and techniques she credits with saving her life.

After almost seven years in remission, Sarah faced another unexpected challenge in 2024 when she was diagnosed with a metastasis to the lung. Although safely removed, complications followed, including a rare autoimmune condition that left her on life support and hospitalised for nearly three months. Once again, through holistic health practices and her unwavering daily meditation routine, Sarah made a remarkable recovery - defying medical expectations.

Today, Sarah lives a joyful, purpose-filled life in Sydney with her husband and daughter and is the author of YOURU, her first book.

As a daily meditator myself, I found this conversation incredibly grounding and inspiring. Sarah’s experience reaffirmed for me the power of meditation not just as a tool for calm, but as a way of reconnecting with what’s already within us - steadiness, resilience, and quiet joy. Listening to Sarah has encouraged me to go deeper in my own practice and to explore Vedic meditation more fully. I genuinely can’t wait to join one of her Medi Steady Go® workshops.

This episode is a reminder that while we can’t always control what happens to us, we can choose how we meet it.

Key Episode Takeaways:

What Vedic meditation is and how it differs from other meditation practices

The powerful role meditation can play in healing - physically, emotionally and spiritually

Why a health diagnosis doesn’t have to be defined only by fear or negativity

How focusing on what you can do restores a sense of agency and hope

Why happiness isn’t something you need to chase - it’s always there, waiting beneath the noise

About the Guest

Sarah Susak is a full-time working mum.

A commercial lawyer with over two decades of experience, Sarah has led the legal function of some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive, across the South Pacific and Europe. She is now a full time General Manager for Legal and Corporate Affairs at a leading Australian food manufacturer.

In 2017, shortly after becoming a mother, Sarah was diagnosed with a rare and deadly head and neck cancer. Her journey through major facial reconstructive surgeries, intensive radiation treatment and ongoing medical challenges led her to discover the ancient practice of Vedic meditation, which became a cornerstone of her recovery and inspired her to train as a Vedic meditation teacher. In 2023 she launched Medi Steady Go®, a business dedicated to sharing the wisdom and techniques that she credits with saving her life.

After being in remission of cancer for almost seven years, while completing YOURU in 2024 Sarah was diagnosed with a metastasis to the lung. Though safely removed, she developed a rare autoimmune condition which saw her on life support and hospitalised for almost three months. With the help of holistic health practices and her daily meditation routine, she made a remarkable recovery, defying medical expectations.

She is now living a joyful and purpose-filled life in Sydney with her husband and daughter.

YOURU is her first book.

Show Resources:

Follow Sarah on Instagram - HERE

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn - HERE

Check Out Sarah's Website - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Check Out Emma's 1:1 Coaching - HERE

Book a FREE 30-Minute Call with Emma - HERE

If you loved this episode, please share it on your Instagram Stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @sarah_susak - we’d love to know what resonated most for you.

Yours in Finding Inner Happiness, Emma.

Have you ever felt like your voice was silenced - like parts of you were slowly muted to keep the peace, stay safe, or fit into who you were told you should be?

So many women grow up learning to suppress their feelings, their anger, their creativity and their truth. Over time, that silencing can show up as low self-worth, unhealthy relationships, burnout, or even physical illness.

Today’s guest, Steph Bruno-Newton, knows this journey deeply. Steph is the host of the Can I Get a Refill? podcast, a former dancer and singer, a new mum, and a passionate advocate for women reclaiming their voices and creating lives that feel expansive, expressive and nourishing.

Her story is one of resilience, courage and creative rebirth. In this episode, Steph shares how years of silencing - shaped by relationships, trauma and societal expectations - led her to disconnect from herself, and how finding her voice became the key to healing, self-trust and finally filling her own cup.

As a fellow podcaster, I loved this conversation. There’s something incredibly powerful about women using their voices - not just to be heard, but to help other women feel less alone, more validated, and more empowered to step into the driver’s seat of their own lives. This episode is honest, tender, and deeply inspiring.

We also explore Steph’s singing journey, including auditioning for The Voice and appearing on Millionaire Hot Seat.

Key Episode Takeaways:

Finding your voice after being silenced can change everything - your health, your relationships and your sense of self

Creating space for self-expression is one of the most powerful ways to fill your cup

Sharing our stories helps other women feel seen, heard and less alone

Even the most painful experiences can become portals to growth and purpose

Choosing to look for meaning doesn’t dismiss the pain - it transforms it

About the Guest:

Steph Bruno-Newton is a former Dancer, Singer (on brief motherhood pause), Writer, Podcast Host, Manifestor and most importantly, Mum to an 18month old.

Show Resources:

Follow Steph on Instagram - HERE

Follow Can I Get a Refill Podcast on Instagram - HERE

Check out Steph's website - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Learn More About Emma's 1:1 Coaching - HERE

Book a FREE 30-Minute Discovery Call with Emma - HERE

If you loved this episode, please share it on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @stephbrunonewton so we can thank you and keep the conversation going.

Yours in voice, self-expression and full cups, Emma x 🦋

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Why do men process emotions so differently to women?” Or felt like you and your partner were speaking completely different emotional languages?

In this deeply insightful episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by John Broadbent - men’s mentor, retreat facilitator and father - for a powerful conversation about men, emotions, relationships, and what it really means to understand one another more compassionately.

John has spent nearly 30 years working in men’s personal development, supporting men through major life transitions including midlife, fatherhood and the move into what he calls Eldership. Through his work - and his lived experience as a father and partner - John has witnessed firsthand how societal expectations and stereotypes shape the way boys and men learn (or don’t learn) to relate to their emotions.

This conversation is a grounded, honest exploration of how men experience and express emotions, how this differs from women, and how understanding those differences can profoundly improve our relationships - as partners, parents and humans.

A personal note from me I took so much from this episode. As someone in a long-term relationship - and as a mother of a son - this conversation gave me deeper insight into how men’s emotional worlds work, and how often misunderstandings arise not from lack of care, but from different emotional wiring and conditioning. It’s already shifted how I relate to my partner, and how I think about expectations, boundaries and communication - and I know it will do the same for many of you.

Key Episode Takeaways:

How men experience and process emotions - and why this often looks different to women

The impact of societal conditioning and expectations on boys and men

Why emotional expression isn’t the same as emotional depth

How understanding men’s inner worlds can improve communication and connection in relationships John’s use of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and why it’s central to his work with men

Powerful parenting insights around boundaries, leadership and why being your child’s friend isn’t the same as being their parent

How unrealistic expectations placed on children (and partners) can quietly damage connection

About the Guest:

John Broadbent is a dedicated father to two young men, a husband, and a business owner with nearly 30 years of experience in men’s personal development. As a specialist coach, mentor, retreat creator, and facilitator, he has witnessed first-hand the profound impact societal stereotypes have on boys and men, including his own sons. John designs and leads weeklong rite-of-passage programs for men navigating significant life transitions, such as midlife and later years, guiding them to explore the rich terrain of Eldership. Passionate about helping men define their legacy, he supports them in rediscovering their vitality, purpose, and passion for life as they age.

Show Resources:

Follow John on Instagram - HERE

Connect with John on Facebook - HERE

Check Out John's Website - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Check Out Emma's 1:1 Coaching - HERE

Book a FREE 30-minute Discovery Call with Emma - HERE

If you LOVED this episode, please share it on your Instagram stories and tag @emmalagerlow and @manunplugged. And if it sparked reflection around your relationships, I’d love you to pass it on to someone who might need this perspective too.

Yours in understanding, connection & compassion, Emma. X.

Have you ever looked back at the way you treated your skin when you were younger - baking in the sun, chasing a tan - and thought… I know better now?

In this episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Amy Maree Campbell, Founder and CEO of Island Vibes - an Australian-made, inclusive sunless tanning brand born from lived experience, loss, resilience and a deep commitment to skin health.

Amy’s journey is extraordinary. From starting out as a mobile spray-tan artist in 2005, to becoming Nine Network Sydney’s contracted celebrity tan artist, to building and later selling a hugely successful hair and beauty salon - and finally choosing to focus fully on Island Vibes - this is a story of courage, clarity and conviction.

What makes this conversation especially powerful is why Amy does what she does. Growing up, she watched multiple members of her immediate family battle serious skin cancers, including melanoma. Those experiences shaped her lifelong mission to educate people - especially young women and teens - about sun safety, without shaming or fear.

At 50, I found myself deeply resonating with this conversation. I’ve finally made peace with stepping away from being a sun-seeker, and while I’ve used fake tan before, I know I’ll be far more intentional about protecting my skin moving forward. This episode felt like a timely reminder that mindset, education and self-care evolve as we do.

Key Takeaways:

Why skin-cancer awareness - particularly for teens - matters more than ever

How Island Vibes offers a safer, natural-looking alternative to sun exposure

Amy’s journey through IVF and endometriosis, and how resilience shaped her leadership

The power of belief, manifestation and vision boards in building a business

Why Amy sees challenges as inevitable life lessons - not roadblocks

The importance of community, support and inclusive beauty at every age

About the Guest:

Amy Maree Campbell is the Founder and CEO of Island Vibes, an Australian-made sunless tanning brand created to deliver a natural, inclusive glow without the harmful effects of sun exposure. With nearly two decades of experience as a spray tan artist - including work as Nine Network Sydney’s contracted celebrity tanner - Amy is widely respected for her expertise, authenticity, and commitment to skin health.

Amy’s passion for safer tanning was born from deeply personal experience, having witnessed multiple family members battle skin cancer from prolonged sun exposure. This journey transformed her from a former sun seeker into a passionate skin advocate, educator, and entrepreneur.

After building and successfully selling Southern Sydney’s largest combined hair and beauty salon, The Bridal Bar, Amy chose to focus fully on Island Vibes - a brand grounded in inclusivity, community, and self-belief. She is also a co-author of Navigating Motherhood, an IVF and endometriosis advocate, and a powerful voice for conscious beauty and women-led business.

Amy’s story is one of resilience, vision, and choosing a better way - for your skin, your body, and your life.

Show Resources:

Follow Amy on Instagram - HERE

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn - HERE

Check Out Amy's, Island Vibes Website - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Learn More About Emma's 1:1 Coaching - HERE

Book a FREE 30-Minute Discovery Call with Emma - HERE

This is a conversation about health, identity, motherhood, belief and choosing long-term wellbeing over short-term aesthetics - without losing joy, confidence or glow.

If you loved this episode, please share it on your Instagram stories and tag @emmalagerlow and @amy_maree_c - it helps these conversations reach more people who need them.

Yours in self-care, sun safety and conscious choices, Emma. X.

Have you ever been told you’re too direct, too logical, or even that you “lack empathy” - and wondered what empathy actually means?

In this episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Daniel Murray, a leadership speaker, coach and consultant who specialises in helping people unlock performance through curiosity, empathy and emotional intelligence - without losing rigour or results.

Daniel brings a fascinating blend of strategic thinking and human understanding to leadership. With a background in mathematics, corporate strategy and executive leadership, he helps leaders develop what he calls the tough skills - the ones that truly shape culture, trust and performance.

This conversation genuinely intrigued me. Having been accused at times of not being empathetic, I was deeply curious to unpack what empathy actually is - and what it isn’t - especially in high-performance environments. Together, we explore how empathy shows up in leadership, why it’s often misunderstood, and how leading with empathy doesn’t mean being soft - it means being effective.

Key Episode Takeaways:

What empathy really is (and the different types of empathy)

How to tell if you’re actually empathetic - or just well-intentioned

Why kindness matters just as much for yourself as it does for others

How empathic leadership builds trust, safety and commitment

Why understanding others is the foundation of leadership that truly works

If you’re a leader, coach, parent, or anyone navigating relationships where influence matters, this episode will challenge the way you think about empathy - and invite you to lead with more understanding, clarity and intention.

About the Guest:

Daniel Murray (BSc, MBA Exec) helps frustrated people leaders unlock the true performance of their people by developing curious and empathic skills to harness the 'tough skills' of leadership. His degree in mathematics and background in corporate strategy provides Daniel with a unique perspective blending strategic thinking with empathy and emotional intelligence in practical and pragmatic ways.

His clients rave about his ability to bring humour and fun to the challenges of people leadership and make complex neuroscientific concepts simple and practical to implement. As a professional speaker, trainer, coach and consultant, Daniel is able to help clients harness their most powerful assets, their people, through leadership skills that work.

He has worked with clients such as BHP, Lion, ASX, Allianz, Chubb Life Insurance, Tyro Payments, CBA, QBE, Swiss RE, Nova Entertainment, Perpetual, Genpact, The Executive Connection, The CEO Institute, Bulbeck group and Applied Medical.

Building a committed team is one of the hardest and most important skill for every leader, Daniel helps his clients become empathic leaders worth following.

Show Resources:

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn - HERE

Check Out Daniel's Website - HERE

Learn More About Daniel's Book, The Empathy Gap - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Emma - HERE

Book a FREE 30-Minute Call with Emma - HERE

If you loved this episode, please share it on your Instagram stories and tag @emmalagerlow - it helps the podcast reach more people who need these conversations.

Yours in Leading with Empathy, Emma. X.