16 | Tamás Hovanyecz: The Relational Roots of Resilient Leadership
What if resilience wasn’t something you build alone, but something we practice together? If you’ve ever noticed the way some well-intentioned leadership skills fall flat in high-stakes moments, this conversation is for you.In this conversation, I sit down with Tamás Hovanyecz — a leadership guide, facilitator, and highliner (yep, he willingly walks across ropes suspended hundreds of meters in the air) — to talk about how our nervous systems and relational patterns shape our capacity to lead, respond, and connect when it matters most.We explore:* Why most leadership development quietly collapses the moment pressure hits* What “relational intelligence” looks like in a room full of Type-A world-changers* The cost of staying in protection mode — for you, your team, and your nervous system* How systems mirror survival states (yes, your org chart might be dissociating)* What actually helps teams innovate during crisis (spoiler: it’s not grit)* How a slackline can expose your fear and your healing in 10 seconds flatTamás also shares a story about what happens when you ask ambitious humans to slow down and just relate. (Spoiler: some tried to form a rebellion. Others had a breakthrough.)💬 “Shifting how we interact and relate with each other is inherently changing the system.” — Tamás HovanyeczThe real shift doesn’t happen in your head. It happens in the space between us. As always, this show is about coming back into relationship — with your body, your people, your work. Not in theory. In practice.Mentioned in the episode:* Inner Mastery Lab: innermasterylab.co* WHO Cards: whocards.cc* Find Tamas on LinkedInFind Oren on LinkedIn for the neuroscience of impact from the inside outAccess the Working with Feeling newsletter and show notesEnjoy this episode? Leave a review, subscribe, and share the episode with one person you kinda like and want to have groundedness amidst the chaos of life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingwithfeeling.com
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15 | Marissa Morrison: Presence, Priorities, and the Power of Pause
A relentless pace is the norm for most of us at work. For many leaders, especially those leading in distributed and fast-paced environments, the default has become more: more meetings, more obligations, more to prove.In this rich conversation with Marissa Morrison, we explore what becomes possible when we disrupt that default. When we pause.Marissa shares her journey from burnout to clarity, and the small-but-mighty practices she’s brought to herself and her teams—monthly prioritization check-ins, walk-and-talks, meeting resets, and making the phone call cool again. These are more than hacks. They are culture-shaping moves that remind us: we have agency.And beneath it all, this question: Am I present in my own life?Whether you’re a seasoned leader or early in your exploration of inner work, this episode offers both permission and practical ways to return to what matters.We touch on:• The cost of inherited urgency and what it takes to interrupt it• Why simplification is a leadership superpower• How to design your weeks around your natural energy rhythms• Moving from “shoulds” to “what fills my cup”• Life audits, seasonal practices, and evolving how we care for ourselvesClarity isn’t just a strategy tool — it happens through your nervous system.🔗 Connect with Marissa Morrison on LinkedIn🌀 Practice mentioned: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron📝 Invitation: Try morning pages or a solo, tech-free walk this week. * Find Oren on LinkedIn for the neuroscience of impact from the inside out* Access the Working with Feeling newsletter and show notesEnjoy this episode? Leave a review, subscribe, and share the episode with one person you kinda like and want to have groundedness amidst the chaos of life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingwithfeeling.com
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14 | Wired to belong
If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking while your friends just blurt things out with reckless ease, or if you’ve perfected the art of appearing engaged while internally planning an escape route — welcome. You’re human. And today we’ll uncover why the advice to ‘just be vulnerable’ is just plain silly.We’ll also get into the sneaky push/pull between cultural expectations and our biology, breaking down why high performers struggle with connection, and sharing two super simple practices to make social interactions feel less high-stakes.What we cover• The cultural myths that keep us stuck in isolation, despite our innate need for connection.• How our neurobiology reacts to vulnerability, and why ignoring it makes connection harder.• The SAD Cycle (Stress, Anxiety, and Depletion) and how it perpetuates disconnection.• Moving from an orientation of control to an orientation of connection.Key takeaways✅ Connection is a biological necessity, not a luxury. Our nervous system depends on it.✅ Hyper-individualism is a cultural lie. We cannot truly thrive alone.✅ Vulnerability isn’t just emotional — it’s physiological. Understanding this helps us keep opening instead of avoiding.✅ Somatic awareness is key. Noticing subtle shifts in the body allows us to catch protective patterns before they block connection.✅ Small changes make a big difference. Two simple practices—deepening eye contact and resetting between interactions—can transform how we connect.Action steps🔹 Note attention quality. Notice not just what someone is saying, but the emotional resonance behind their words. Where is your attention when you’re looking at someone?🔹 Reset before interactions. Before meetings or social situations, take a few seconds to let go of whatever emotional charge you’re carrying, so you can arrive more fully present.Join the conversation💬 What resonated most with you? What practice are you trying this week? DM Oren on LinkedIn or Substack.📩 Need support in cultivating deeper connection and somatic awareness? Reach out to Oren for coaching, referrals, and practical resources.Support this work!✔ Subscribe to Working with Feeling for more insights on human connection, nervous system fluency, and leading with presence.✔ Leave a review to help spread these conversations and shift our culture toward one of deeper connection. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingwithfeeling.com
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13 | Jaclyn Pascocello: Belonging beyond work & home (Why we need a Third Space)
How can we bring about more connection and belonging in personal and professional settings by addressing the root issue that lies beyond those walls? Join me as I sit down with Jaclyn Pascocello, founder of Fabrik, a third space designed to combat loneliness and foster deeper human connection. We explore the systemic roots of disconnection, the neuroscience behind why casual interactions matter, and practical steps for reclaiming real-life community in an increasingly digital world.What We Cover in This Episode✅ The loneliness epidemic and its impact on mental & physical health✅ The importance of second- and third-degree connections in our daily lives✅ Why third spaces (beyond home and work) are essential for well-being✅ The problem with corporate mental health initiatives that don’t address real human needs✅ How organizations can rethink engagement & belonging in a way that actually works✅ Small steps to cultivate more connection in your daily life✅ Why re-learning social presence & interaction is key in a world of digital distraction✅ Jaclyn’s personal somatic practices for grounding and presenceAbout Jaclyn PascocelloJaclyn is the founder of Fabrik, a unique third space in NYC designed to combat loneliness and foster meaningful connection. With a background in hospitality and startups, she has dedicated her career to creating spaces that bring people together in a disconnected world.Links* Connect with Jaclyn on LinkedIn* Check out Fabrik’s website* Find Oren on LinkedIn* Working with Feeling newsletter and show notes—Enjoy this episode? *Please leave a review*, subscribe, and share the episode with one person you kinda like and want to have a happy nervous system! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingwithfeeling.com
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12 | The meta-practice for working with feeling
Something often missing in the conversation about nervous system regulation and emotional intelligence is the essential role of the ongoing practice of presence. It’s more tangible than it sounds, I promise.So, what is the 'Big P' practice that transcends traditional compartmentalized approaches to personal growth? How does it look to continuously engage with our inner state to connect more fully with the people and activities we care about? Being present in every moment is a worthy aspiration in a disconnected world where our attention is actively fragmented. Whatever your goals may be, coming back to a more whole presence facilitates them. And it starts now, in the body. Key Moments05:35 Understanding Big P Practice09:59 Nervous System Regulation and Presence12:55 The Continuous Journey of PracticeLinks* Ido Portal on Youtube* Oren on LinkedIn* Working with Feeling newsletter with detailed show notes and resourcesEnjoy this episode? *Please leave a review*, subscribe, and share the episode with one person you kinda like and want to have a happy nervous system.Intro/outro music by Youssouf Karembe (licensed). Listen to the full track here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingwithfeeling.com
Ireland