#341 Nature, Consciousness & Treasure Hunting - with Eileen Hall
▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
What if the greatest treasure isn’t buried in the earth but hidden in your own mind?
In this episode, I speak with Eileen Hall — artist and activist — about her extraordinary life at the crossroads of adventure, grief, and consciousness.
Raised in Ecuador amid volcanoes, jungles, and legendary treasure hunts, Eileen turned inward after the sudden death of her father, famed explorer Stan Hall. Her search led her into jungles, caves, and the world of psychedelics, where she discovered that the most valuable journeys are the ones we take inside ourselves.
We explore:
- Growing up around treasure hunters and explorers
- Lessons from silence and solitude in the jungle
- Grief, healing, and psychedelic therapy
- Consciousness as the ultimate frontier
Links:
Eileen’s Website
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#340 Simple Steps to a Stronger, Pain-Free Back - with Anji Gopal
▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
Back pain is the silent epidemic affecting millions — and it doesn’t have to be. In this week’s episode, osteopath and yoga practitioner Anji Gopal reveals why most of what we believe about back pain is wrong, and how simple changes can transform your spinal health.
From banker to healer, Anji’s path into healthcare was unconventional. After more than a decade in corporate finance, she chose to retrain in yoga and osteopathy, eventually joining the NHS. There, she helped design innovative approaches to treating chronic pain that combined medical science with holistic practices.
Our conversation ranges from personal health to systemic change, challenging old assumptions and offering practical, hopeful guidance for anyone living with pain or leading others.
We talk:
The unspoken back epidemic
The three myths of back pain
What you can do for your spine regardless of limitations
Spinal health in the workplace
Links:
BackCare Foundation
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#339 Facing the AI Revolution: Placing the Right Bets for Your Business - with Daniel Hulme
▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with Daniel Hulme, an AI expert, innovator, and thought leader. Daniel has an extensive track record, from founding the AI optimization startup Satalia (acquired by the advertising giant WPP) to exploring groundbreaking ideas in AI consciousness, neuromorphic computing (building computers that work more like human brains), and agent verification (checking that an AI is really who it claims to be).
Together, we discuss the intersection of humanity and technology, diving into the limitations of artificial intelligence, the significance of empathy, and how creativity remains our most vital skill in the age of automation. Daniel offers thought-provoking perspectives on education reform, critical thinking, and project-based learning as the future of personal and professional growth.
We talk:
- Apple’s doubts about AI reasoning ability
- The rise of the AI scientist
- Use of AI in business - where to invest
- Can an AI be conscious?
- What to advise your kids
Links:
Consicum
Moral.me
If you’re curious about how humans can thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world, this episode provides valuable insights into fostering innovation, adapting to change, and embracing what makes us human.
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#338 The Alchemy of Creation - with Steven Young
▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
In this challenging episode (challenging in a good way), I sit down with Steven Young, author of ‘A Fool’s Wisdom’.
Steven’s path is remarkable. From a PhD in nuclear physics, to having all his assumptions about reality turned upside, it’s been emotional. Atomic theory, accepted cosmology, and the theory of gravity - he now questions it all.
Steven takes his place amongst a growing cadre of intellectuals rejecting Modernity’s scientific orthodoxies.
But this isn’t just about poking a stick at accepted dogmas. Steven is now embracing a notion of science that integrates a broader understanding of consciousness. A return to the powerful, intuitive alchemical principles on which early science was founded. One that can inspire and empower creatives and leaders alike.
We discuss:
How a nuclear physicist starts questioning the globe theory
Letting go of the atomic theory
Finding alchemy
An alchemical approach to product development
Towards an artistic and societal renaissance
Links:
Steven’s Substack
Steven’s Website
Don’t miss this fascinating conversation—it might change how you view creativity forever.
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#337 Are You Still The Future? - with Piers Fallowfield-Cooper
▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
My guest in this episode, Piers Fallowfield-Cooper, was an unlikely city slicker. With keen interest in literature and a qualification in hotel management and hospitality, he got into commodities trading by chance. Once there, he found that he had a considerable knack for it.
From trading, he pivoted to a distinguished career in business leadership.
We talk:
Foundations of high performance
Nearly dying as a child
Authentic leadership: skirmishes vs battles
Why not to set goals
Adaptability and adoptability
Links:
Piers’ Website
Whether you’re a leader in your field or someone seeking profound insights into personal and professional growth, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and practical takeaways.
Being Human is for people who want go deep on what it means to be a human making a difference.
We’ll discover how to be better humans at work and in life.
We’ll explore leadership, relationships and how to make changes in ourselves and our environments. Nothing will be off limits.
Welcome.
Ireland