The Charlene Gisele Show

What happens when a high-achieving lawyer walks away from billable hours… and into a painting studio?

In this episode, James Nepaulsingh shares his journey from working in high-pressure law to studying an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art, and what it really feels like to rebuild your identity when your entire sense of worth has been tied to productivity, achievement, and external validation.

We talk about success addiction, workaholism, the brutal vulnerability of making art, and why painting isn’t always “healing”, sometimes it’s straight-up torturous. James opens up about perfectionism, criticism, flow state, synesthesia, and the surprising emotional cost of becoming an artist after building a career in one of the most demanding industries in the world.

Timestamps 
0:00 – Intro

2:12 – Productivity identity + billable-hour PTSD

6:12 – Stigma in the art world: “lawyer with a hobby”

11:33 – RCA critiques, unlearning, and why painting feels torturous

14:33 – Family reactions + redefining identity

20:20 – Art as self-reflection (and what law suppresses)

23:34 – Burnout culture, overwork, and death in law

38:44 – Synesthesia, music, and how James experiences art

46:10 – Imperfection as rebellion against perfectionism

54:28 – Flow state, time distortion, and reduced anxiety

What We Cover

Leaving a successful legal career to pursue art full-time

Success addiction, overachiever patterns, and external validation

Identity loss after stepping away from Big Law productivity

Why painting can feel like therapy and emotional torture

Synesthesia, sensory creativity, and hearing/seeing color

Burnout culture in law firms and the cost of overwork

Flow state, time distortion, and how creativity impacts anxiety

Key Takeaways

Achievement can become an addiction, even when it looks like “success.”

Creativity isn’t always calming, sometimes it’s physically and emotionally brutal.

Productivity isn’t the same as purpose, and stepping away can feel destabilizing.

The artist's identity is built through struggle, not certainty.

Perfectionism can be unlearned by embracing imperfection on purpose.

Financial discipline creates freedom and options later in life.

Flow state is real, and it can be one of the most powerful anti-anxiety tools.

Connect With James
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nepopublic/

Connect With Me
🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/

✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s quietly burning out behind a “successful” career.

If you’ve ever had one week where you’re unstoppable… and another where everything feels heavier, this conversation will change how you see your calendar. In this episode, Renae Fieck breaks down cycle syncing (and cyclical living), why ovulation is the “queen” of the cycle, and how to align your work, workouts, food, and sleep with your natural rhythms, without letting your cycle limit your ambitions.

Timestamps 
0:00 – Introduction
4:05 – Cycle tracking vs syncing vs charting (and why it matters)
8:26 – Biggest misconception: your period isn’t the “main event”—ovulation is
11:32 – Menstrual phase: energy, iron, rest, and vision-setting
18:55 – Follicular phase: momentum, productivity, workouts, and “get it done” energy
19:59 – Ovulation: confidence, communication, visibility, and pitching/asking
21:46 – Luteal phase: detail work, admin, emotional depth, and turning inward
23:39 – Sleep changes across the month (and why luteal + menstrual can be harder)
25:42 – Cravings, carbs, iron, and planning date nights around nourishment
33:16 – When life doesn’t sync: races, board meetings, and performing on “low” weeks

What We Cover

Why women’s hormones operate on a monthly rhythm (vs a 24-hour rhythm)

The 4 phases of the cycle and how they can affect energy, mood, and focus

Practical ways to match work outputs to each phase (creative, social, admin, strategy)

Training and performance: when to push, when to recover, and how to stay consistent

Sleep patterns, vivid dreams, and what helps during tougher sleep phases

Food rhythms: warming vs fresh foods, carbs, iron, and listening to cravings

How to handle real life: big meetings or events that land on your hardest days

Cycle syncing on hormonal contraception + using the moon cycle as a rhythm

Key Takeaways

Ovulation drives the cycle, your period follows what ovulation is doing.

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s awareness + support, so you stop blaming yourself.

“Low” phases still have strengths: intuition (menstrual) and emotional/detail power (luteal).

Sleep often needs more protection in luteal and menstrual phases—plan accordingly.

Cravings can be information (iron, magnesium, hydration)—not a character flaw.

Cycle syncing should be a flexible framework, not another rigid system to “get right.”

Guest Resources 
Website: https://cyclesyncyourbusiness.com/

Free Audiobook (Cycle Sync Your Business): https://renae-fieck.mykajabi.com/offers/BFXdXMLG/checkout?preview=true

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renaefieck/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/risingmoms

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RenaeFieck

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@renaefieck

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaefieck/

Connect With Me
🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/
✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter

If this episode resonated, share it with a high-achieving woman who’s doing “everything right” but still feels like her energy is unpredictable.

What happens when a traditional profession meets generative AI, and now agentic AI? In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Dixon (Chief Innovation Officer) to unpack how law firms can adopt GenAI responsibly, train teams to critically evaluate outputs, and use AI to deliver more value, without burning out in the process.

We cover what GenAI is (and isn’t), why humans must stay in the loop, how to overcome resistance to change, the reality of “hallucinations,” and what the next phase, agentic AI, could mean for legal research, negotiation simulation, and early-talent development.

Timestamps 
0:00 – Intro
1:39 – Sam’s role as Chief Innovation Officer & how he defines innovation
5:29 – Getting partners to embrace change (and what actually works)
8:39 – Why GenAI adoption is different from past legal tech waves
10:26 – Explaining AI to senior leaders (without the jargon)
14:49 – “Human in the loop” + the risks of over-trusting AI
19:26 – GenAI vs Agentic AI: what changes, and why it matters
22:46 – New lawyers, verification skills, and “AI makes people lazy?”
33:11 – Simulation: negotiation practice, interviews & training with GenAI
47:02 – AI & well-being: tool or threat?

What we cover

The real job of innovation inside a law firm

How to get buy-in from busy, skeptical stakeholders

The difference between AI, ML, GenAI, and Agentic AI

Why hallucinations are misunderstood, and why that matters

Guardrails: verification, accountability, and client expectations

The future of training: simulations for negotiation, interviews, and client conversations

AI and burnout: productivity vs cognitive load and recovery

Key takeaways

Innovation isn’t just tech, sometimes it’s removing a step entirely.

GenAI adoption is faster because users can get value immediately, unlike tools that require heavy setup.

Agentic AI adds value through multi-step planning, not just answering prompts.

“Hallucinations” aren’t a rare bug, GenAI always generates probabilistically; the key is how you manage risk.

The winning model is human + AI, where each catches different kinds of errors.

As outputs become “more accurate,” verification discipline becomes even more critical, not less.

AI may improve efficiency, but well-being depends on how work is redesigned, not just sped up.

Guest Resources
Sam Dixon’s Legal Firm: https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/uk/people/sam-dixon

Sam Dixon’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/innovationinlaw

 

Connect with Me

🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/
✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter

In this eye-opening clean health episode, I sit down with Ashley Deeley, clean beauty expert and wellness educator, to uncover the hidden toxins quietly impacting our skin, hormones, thyroid, and overall wellbeing, often without us realizing it.

From exposing where heavy metals, forever chemicals, and endocrine disruptors hide in everyday products to explaining how “natural,” “fragrance,” and “long-lasting” labels can be misleading, Ashley breaks down how modern living is contributing to inflammation, fatigue, skin issues, and hormonal imbalance.

Whether you’re a high-performing professional dealing with unexplained exhaustion, someone struggling with thyroid or skin concerns, or simply trying to make healthier choices without extremes, this conversation will completely change how you think about your bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.

Ashley doesn’t promote perfection, she teaches practical, realistic upgrades that protect your health without adding stress.

What we cover:

Why “clean beauty” is about what you remove, not what you add

How forever chemicals hide in makeup, floss, and waterproof products

The connection between fragrance, hormones, and thyroid disruption

Why many anti-aging products actually accelerate aging

Heavy metals in cookware, glassware, and kitchen appliances

What to know about mattresses, bedding, and fire retardants

How synthetic dyes affect skin and immune function

Why detergents and cleaning products matter more than you think

Travel hacks to reduce toxic exposure on the road

How to read labels without needing a chemistry degree

Small, realistic changes that make the biggest impact over time

 

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction

06:00 - Forever chemicals explained: where they hide in beauty & daily products

14:00 - Bedding, mattresses & fire retardants: what you’re breathing at night

22:00 - Cookware, slow cookers & air fryers: hidden lead and heavy metals

31:00 - Daily exposure overload: detergents, fragrance & “natural” marketing traps

40:00 - Skincare myths: retinol, vitamin C, collagen & what actually works

50:00 - Botox, anti-aging & safer alternatives for skin health

57:00 - Thyroid health, blue light & hormone disruption

1:03:00 - Travel hacks: reducing toxin exposure on the road

1:07:30 - Final takeaways: small upgrades that make a big difference

Key Takeaways:
For High-Performers: You can’t outwork environmental stress. Hidden toxins quietly drain energy, disrupt hormones, and slow recovery, even when your habits look “healthy.”

For Thyroid & Hormone Health: Everyday products can interfere with endocrine function. Reducing exposure often matters more than what you add.

For Skin & Aging: What you put on your skin matters just as much as what you eat. Clean ingredients support regeneration; synthetic ones can accelerate inflammation and aging.

For Sustainable Wellness: Health isn’t about doing everything, it’s about removing what doesn’t belong and upgrading gradually.

Ashley doesn’t just talk about clean beauty, she provides a grounded framework for creating a healthier environment that supports long-term energy, sleep, and resilience.

Guest Resources:
🌿 Ashley Deeley’s Website:  https://www.ashleydeeley.com/
▶️ Ashley Deeley on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@ashleydeeley

📱My Home Ready Fertility E-Book: https://charlenegisele.com/your-fertility-ready-home/

 

Connect with Me:
🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/

I am joined today by William Peake, Global Managing Partner at international law firm Harneys, who has become one of legal's most influential voices on social media. We expose why traditional law firm marketing keeps partners invisible and reveal how real human communication can transform your professional presence. William reveals why boring announcement posts destroy your credibility. He explains how he posts twice daily while running a global law firm without spending hours online. He breaks down the myths around LinkedIn perfectionism and shows you exactly how busy lawyers can build authentic connections that actually drive business results. Whether you're a senior partner posting obligatory updates once a month, a legal marketing director fighting partner resistance, or a lawyer who thinks you're too serious for social media, this conversation will change everything. It proves that LinkedIn success has nothing to do with becoming an influencer. It's about showing up as an actual human being.

What we cover:

Why speaking like a real person beats polished corporate speak every time

The fatal "delighted to announce" mistake that kills your engagement

William's twice daily posting routine that takes under a minute

Strategic content timing: nostalgic Sundays, professional mornings, lighthearted afternoons

Drawing boundaries between personal life and professional content

Why ghostwritten posts fail but AI editing assistance works

Turning vulnerability into your most powerful content hook

The discipline system that prevents burnout in demanding leadership roles

Timestamps:

07:12 Attention spans are dead: you must hook readers in the first line

22:18 Why "delighted to announce" posts are completely pointless

24:57 Posting twice daily: the actual time investment is under 45 seconds

29:00 Ghostwritten content fails: people can smell inauthenticity immediately

35:14 Burnout prevention: drinking less, eating well, exercising consistently

58:15 Conference post formula: lead with "I'm nervous" to create instant connection

01:04:25 His proudest post: vulnerability about grief created unexpected human connection

 

Resources:

William Peak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-peake-368953143/

Harneys Law Firm: https://www.harneys.com/

 

📲 Connect with Me:

🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele

💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/charlènegisèlebourliout