It's a Mindset

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.

Have you ever reached the end of a year and felt the urge to pause - not to rush ahead with goals and plans, but to really sit with what this chapter has held?

As 2025 draws to a close, today’s solo episode is a gentle invitation to reflect, integrate and intentionally open the door to what’s next.

This episode was inspired by my recent Align & Manifest workshop, where reflection was paired with sound healing - allowing insight to land not just in the mind, but in the body. What unfolded in that space reminded me how powerful it is to slow down, feel, and consciously close a chapter before stepping into a new one.

Throughout this episode, I guide you through a series of reflective questions you can journal with, sit with, or simply let land - whether you’re listening quietly at home or on the move. There’s no pressure to do this “perfectly”; you can always return to these questions when the moment feels right.

I also share my own reflections from the year - what felt heavy, what surprised me, what supported me, and what I’m consciously releasing - alongside how embodiment and sound have become an increasingly important part of how I support integration and growth.

This is a soft, spacious episode designed to help you close 2025 with awareness, gratitude and self-trust - and step into 2026 from a grounded, intentional place rather than autopilot.

Reflection Questions:

What felt heavy or challenging for you in 2025 - and how can you honour that honestly?

What supported you, surprised you, or felt good this year - even in small, quiet ways?

What did 2025 teach you about yourself, and what are you ready to let go of as this chapter closes?

Choose a feeling for the year ahead?

Who are you becoming as you move into your next chapter?

What are you ready to welcome more of in 2026?

And finally, what is your word for 2026?

Key Takeaways:

Why pausing at the end of a year is an act of self-leadership, not avoidance

Why choosing a feeling for the year ahead can be more powerful than rigid goals

The role of sound healing in helping reflection integrate on a nervous system level

Show Resources:

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Emma - HERE

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

Learn More About Emma's Book, Worthy and Wealthy - HERE

If you loved this episode, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with someone who might need a gentle pause right now. You can also tag me on Instagram @emmalagerlow - I always love seeing where and how you’re listening.

Yours in reflection, intention and becoming, Emma x

Have you ever reached a point in your work or life where everything looks successful on the outside… but something inside is quietly craving deeper connection, authenticity, and meaning?

This episode is a powerful reminder that real growth - personal or professional - doesn’t come from strategy alone. It comes from connection.

In this episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Vinisha Rathod - strategist, author, and commercial growth partner - for a rich, honest conversation about leadership, gender, embodiment, and what it truly takes to grow without losing yourself.

Vinisha brings over a decade of experience across political campaigns, seven years consulting at Ernst & Young and Boston Consulting Group, and leadership work across tech, culture and scale-up organisations in the Middle East. Today, she partners with leaders navigating major inflection points - from 15 to 50, 250 and 500+ people - where strategy alone simply isn’t enough.

She’s also the author of The Briefcase Effect, a philosophy that reframes personal branding as clarity, resilience and integrity from the inside out — not performance or polish.

Vinisha is such a charismatic soul, and I absolutely loved this conversation - especially our discussion about the importance of connection. It echoed so much of my own work as a coach, where I see again and again that sustainable growth only happens when we’re connected to our bodies, our values, and each other.

This episode felt honest, grounded and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt the tension between ambition and wellbeing, or growth and self-abandonment, this conversation will really land.

Key Episode Takeaways:

Why connection matters more than strategy when it comes to sustainable growth

How gender constructs quietly shape leadership, power and opportunity

Why advocating for safety, equity and addressing domestic violence belongs in leadership conversations

The value of a friendship audit and choosing relationships that support your evolution

About the Guest:

Vinisha Rathod is a strategist, author and commercial growth partner who works with leaders and organisations navigating complex growth and transformation.

With over a decade of experience spanning political campaigns, seven years consulting with Ernst & Young and Boston Consulting Group, and senior leadership roles across tech and culture engagements in the Middle East, Vinisha brings real-world grit and systems thinking to scaling people, culture and structure - not just strategy.

She is known for partnering with organisations at critical inflection points - from 15 to 50, 250 to 500+ people, and during major transitions such as mergers, funding and expansion - helping leaders reset focus, build sustainable cultures, strengthen decision-making, and grow without burnout.

Vinisha is also the author of The Briefcase Effect, a philosophy and action plan that reframes personal branding as clarity, resilience and authenticity built from the inside out - not polished facades.

Her work centres on helping individuals and organisations grow with integrity, connection and long-term sustainability.

Show Resources:

Follow Vinisha on Instagram - HERE

Check Out Vinisha's Website - HERE

Learn More About The Briefcase Effect - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Emma - HERE

Book a FREE Discovery Call with Emma - HERE

If you loved the episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag us: @emmalagerlow and @avinii_shar.

Yours in Connection, Emma. X.