Our Guest on our Podcast series Olivia Darby co-founded the charity Wonder in 2009 where she is now the Chief Programme Officer.  WONDER is a woman-led charity dedicated to transforming the lives of women, girls and their communities through quality education. From small beginnings, WONDER now works to deliver change in 23  countries worldwide. Olivia shares with us her passion for Leadership education for women in the Developing world. She tells us about what inspired her to work in development education and the moment she became the first employee of WONDER.  She discusses the focus of WONDER on smaller, professional projects. And that the flourishing of individual women in their local communities is the big success story of WONDER. We discuss listening and serving as the big qualities of leadership.  We explore the challenges of migrant integration.  She discusses the importance of inner motivation for those you work with and serve.  WONDER is about partnering with women in developing countries, giving them agency and collaborating together to create change for the better for women and their local communities. And we finish on the maxim that if one person benefits - it is enough.Resources: Wonder Foundation https://wonderfoundation.org.uk/Small is Beautiful, E.F. Schumacher.------------Hearts + Minds Official website - hearts-minds.ieIG - @heartsandmindsireFB - Hearts+Minds | FacebookEmail: [email protected]+Minds events in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway and Navan

Why do we find it hard to commit. Is it because the dominant culture is one of choice and our infinite browsing skills have transmitted to life. In today's podcast we explore why we have trouble committing to relationships, why we find it hard to commit to a career path and why we distrust organised religion, politics and any major institution. Why do we have low attention spans and low commitment spans? (If you find it hard to understand this phenomenon try browsing Netflix some evening - you will experience it - we are in this world too).  We discuss the 3 reasons why we find it hard to commit Fear of regret, Fear of association and fear of missing out, FOMO. We dig into key ideas from Pete Davis in his book “Dedicated” and we explore the idea of Master committers, that we yearn for - individuals who role play commitment in their everyday lives.Resources:Dedicated, Pete DavisStolen Focus, Johann Hari------------Hearts + Minds Official website - hearts-minds.ieIG - @heartsandmindsireFB - Hearts+Minds | FacebookEmail: [email protected]+Minds events in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway and Navan

Many people think faith is naïve – childish – superstitious a pre- science space. The idea that science has replaced religion  is often left unchallenged by believers.  In today's podcast we explore how science and religion ask different questions. Science is about the exploration of our reality, the world we can measure and observe.  Science asks the what and when questions. Whereas religion explores the how and why questions. Nothing dependent within the universe can cause the universe.  We discuss Peter Kreeft's defence of God from the stance of human desire. We explore human values we take for granted, originating in Judeo-Christian values of the dignity and equality of the person. We discuss the natural tension between reason - rationality and the reason of the heart or intuition and hope are needed in a journey of faith and both are deeply human.Resources:Dominion, written by Tom HollandUnbelievable - Is it rational to be a Christian, podcast with Justin BrierleyArgument from Desire - Peter Kreeft  ------------Hearts + Minds Official website - hearts-minds.ieIG - @heartsandmindsireFB - Hearts+Minds | FacebookEmail: [email protected]+Minds events in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway and Navan

Maire with Helen Hughes discuss how sometimes we are so task focused we don’t  think of our  purpose. We all have a unique purpose, individual to us only, we inhabit a particular part of the world at a particular time in history. We all have different personalities, identities, talents, temperaments, and cultural backgrounds.Discovering your authentic self means devoting yourself to a lifetime of growth in self -awareness, realising your potential within the reality of your personal circumstances. This work session helps us to develop our own personal statement of strategy focusing on our Purpose, Values, and Action plan. Living an authentic life means being genuine, and true to our purpose. Resources:Starting with Values Resource from a Hearts+Minds event with Helen Hughes The Way, Chapter 1 - Character, Josemaría Escriva de BalaguerVirtuous Leadership, Alexandre Havard Discovering Authentic Leadership. ‘ Be Who You Are’ - Harvard Business ReviewStolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--And How to Think Deeply Again, Johann Hari Find us on: Hearts + Minds Official website - hearts-minds.ieIG - @heartsandmindsireFB - Hearts+Minds | FacebookEmail: [email protected]+Minds in person events are held in Ireland------------Hearts + Minds Official website - hearts-minds.ieIG - @heartsandmindsireFB - Hearts+Minds | FacebookEmail: [email protected]+Minds events in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway and Navan

What if instead of having to live your one life one day at a time, you could sample every life you could possibly have? Would you be happier? Would you find “the one?” The life in which everything fits?  We don’t have a problem owning our smaller decisions, because the consequences are limited.   But bigger decisions can be harder to own, to find peace with them. Hard decisions are hard not because of our ignorance but because the best choice is not always obvious. Our values, our commitments, and our beliefs in large part are what determine the best decision in a hard decision.  In this session, we explore: Misconceptions about decisionsThe importance of self-awareness and acceptanceThe virtue of decision-making prudenceThe art of decision-making; the right outlook; space to reflect; owning your reality; aligning with your core values; taking adviceThe pitfalls in decision-making; control v let go; the difference between goals and outcomes; embrace the suffering; no such thing as perfect; Facing the consequences of a decision; God doesn’t ask for success but loveResourcesThe Midnight Library, Matt HaigDecisive: How to Make Better Decisions, Chip and Dan HeathHow to Make Hard Choices, Ruth ChangThe Paradox of Choice, Barry SchwartzVery Human, Very Divine (VI): Prudence in Action, José Brage------------Hearts + Minds Official website - hearts-minds.ieIG - @heartsandmindsireFB - Hearts+Minds | FacebookEmail: [email protected]+Minds events in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway and Navan