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PODCAST

A breath of fresh air Podcast

Leadership lessons from the Farm - a little extra love, support and inspiration to start your day. This daily offering written by Executive Coach, author, farmer and former tech COO Michal Berman is intended to do just that. Please subscribe michalberman.substack.com

education self-improvement

All Episodes

2:32

Sometimes it’s just cold

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/22

We are going into a cold snap over the next few days. We’ve had a big dump of snow that’s sticking around and temperatures around -25°C/-6°F. It requires extra vigilance in keeping our wood fires going which is how we heat our buildings on the farm. As well as bundle up with extra layers, this is when warm socks and a great sweater are a make or break. Everything comes down to a much simpler perspective, warmth is what matters.In the many times I’ve worked with founders through their rapid growth

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1:59

Starting the day in a playful way

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/21

We hadn’t even gotten out of bed and Max dog was already in a playful mood. Stealing a scarf he shouldn’t be chewing, still puppy-like even though he’s an ‘adult’ now.An instant joy fest of wrestling, growling, and glee. Lots of kisses and cuddles before our walk. What a great way to start the day.For my client that is completing their strategic planning process, I offered the notion of envisioning and imagination. Asking the team what would it be to walk down the road a mile with their goals. What

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1:03

Wonder

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/20

The snow blurred the walk ahead, it felt as though we were walking into a painting. Everything muted and yet clear to discern the scene.By morning the snow and wind has subsided to reveal a playground of deep fluffy snow for Max dog and I to muck about inI went to the spots where I knew there was kale and beets to dig for viable leaves and plants for breakfast. I managed to uncover some broccoli as well a wonderful surprise to add to the meal.It’s a wonder to experience a landscape re-imagined and

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2:12

Imagine through stillness

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/19

I lay in bed in the early hours before daybreak and night fall, listening to the stillness and my breath. Feeling in to the start of the day, no birds, no wind, no human activity neither, just the anticipations of the day.A client is in the final stages of their strategic planning. This time around they have a new executive on their team who are driving for focus discipline and more data driven decision making. The others have rallied to this new level.The meetings are broken up over several two

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3:25

Basking in the golden light

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/17

I stepped out into the golden light of the sunrise. The trees absolutely still absorbing the nourishing rays. I too stood still and faced the sun soaking in the light. A scale up client is going through some classic growing pains. Having established product-market fit, they are now feeling the gangly teenage years of growth - parts of the company further ahead than others, not enough synergy across the whole.Engineering has been built up and is humming along with strong seasoned leaders and more on

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1:05

Joy of routine

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/16

Max-dog ran around the shed stopping in key spots to stuff as much of his head under the shed as he could, sniffing out rabbit. Had Rabbit been here already? Come and gone? Or might Rabbit be hiding.Alas, Rabbit was not here so we checked under the manure spreader nearby, and then in the thicket of spent Goldenrod. Nowhere to be found.Watching Max-dog run here and there, his tail wagging with the great joy of the daily check on hiding spots, whether rabbit would be found or not.Routine gives us

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0:42

Stepping into colour

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/15

We walked into the sunrise. The sky changing with each step. Purple, pink, then bright oranges. Each step brought greater intensity and a deepening gratitude for the possibilities of the day.What do you want your footsteps to bring you? Get full access to A breath of fresh air at michalberman.substack.com/subscribe

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2:07

Stay curious

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/14

marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day — Albert EinsteinIt’s a wonder to awake to the moon’s setting. To open the door and be greeted by a near full moon high in the sky across my neighbour’s fields, calling clarity through the trees.Walking around the pond we witnessed the transition of the blue light of night and the day break just beginning to crest. Our eyes adjusting to both. Being in the experience of the night sky -

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1:41

Times in between

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/13

or routine, to be overcome, enchanted by its beauty and significance. ― Henry David ThoreauIt was a grey morning, so much so it seemed to penetrate everything. We were up well before the light of the day and in the time in between. Night was not done and morning had not yet arrived. It was hard to discern much except at close proximity to the trees or shrubs or grasses. These times in between ask of us to gather around, get support, find the others, know that we are no alone in it all. They are

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2:00

The wind said hunker down

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/12

It was a westerly wind blowing straight and carrying large snowflakes signalling the cold. We took a moment to crouch down and feel into the experience. Max-dog in his element, tail wagging as he chased all the scents.I stood close to the trees for protection and pulled my hat down with the flaps across my ears tied with string under my chin. It’s a hunker-in day. Keep the fires going stay warm with tea and hot soup.I worked with people that ignore the signs and push through. I’ve been one of those

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1:36

The birds know

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/11

The Birds let me know that everything is going to be all right.The Bluejay was first as they typically are, landing at the top most branch of a nearby tree. Then the crows came by to reinforce the message I was grateful to hear - all is well.Sometimes we just need to see beyond ourselves to know that all will be well. Beyond the moment. Beyond the feeling that may be overwhelming us in the moment.Max-dog and I continue down the path. He chasing all the sounds, ahead but not too far. I slowed my

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1:37

Sunlight

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/08

A client recently hired a new executive to join their ranks. I asked the CEO his expectation of their impact, “raise all boats” he said. Raise the expectation and performance of all leaders in the company. Tall order I thought, no? And just like sunlight, entirely possible to change the scene.I felt the sunlight behind me like an old friend come to visit, all the familiarity in anticipation of the joy of their embrace. What will the sunlight tell me today? What will it illuminate that I hadn’t seen

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1:49

Marshmallow snow

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/07

The snow felt like marshmallows. I swooshed along the path, Max-dog happiest in this cold and after the fresh snow. I felt the joy of my feet moving through step-by-step the marshmallow sensation and it kept me present. Present to my body, how it felt and the beauty of my surroundings.Passing the big old maple to remind me again of resilience, having weathered another wind and snow storm. I notice a branch missing and the scar left where it was to heal over.I swooshed along grateful for this

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1:06

Bend in the wind

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/06

I reached out to feel the strength of the young cedar sapling bending with the wind. I felt into it’s strength and resilience, this young cedar tree in a lone spot along the north east bank at the pond. I put my hands around the trunk half way from the top - the wind was so strong - I imagined the tree to be soft like those silly advertising balloon figures that blow about without any resistance. No, this tree was solid rooted the branches intricate patterns of green leaf and buds. I was humbled

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1:47

Is it all white?

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/05

It was all white, the sky completely grey reflecting the light across the snow and ice making everything a bright white. It was hard to discern the landscape, except up close.The pond has turned into an ice rink covered in a thin layer of powdery snowIt reminds me how the light can be at a sandy beach, so bright it’s hard to see beyond the reflection.As leaders we must offer answers and a platform for the questions so we can share together in the wisdom of the answers. Goals give us a sense of the

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3:21

Look back

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/04

I looked back to see the sunrise alight the trees along the path by the garden. I noticed the beauty of this perspective.Several times over the past week I have been asked in various ways to reflect on this past year, and I resisted. It’s been a hard year, and my ego offered we’ve done lots of reflecting already, do we really need to do more? Resistance is a great source for curiosity naming what’s underneath the resistance or simply noticing the feeling and looking anyway seems like a good thing to

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1:40

Fast and slow

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/03

I caught myself lost in thought by the time I’d gotten to the mid point of our morning walk. So I slowed to take in my surroundings and breath in appreciation for the morning time. This is the important time to slow my start to the day. To set intention and clear my mind. We rounded the pond and I stopped to look up. The snow has been falling in that magical speed of slow fast. It’s collecting and falls with the grace of floating with an unseen force. I looked up to take it in. Each snow flake a

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0:56

Embracing the contrast - Audio

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/01

Get full access to A breath of fresh air at michalberman.substack.com/subscribe

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0:31

An introduction

A breath of fresh air Podcast ·

2022/01/01

I have heard from many readers they value hearing me read - I hope these bring you added comfort inspiration and joy. Get full access to A breath of fresh air at michalberman.substack.com/subscribe

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179 results

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