Best Cecily Mak Podcasts (2024)

1
Choosing A Mindful Relationship with Alcohol 46:07

4d ago46:07

46:07

On today’s episode of 'Undimmed' Cecily talks with Sunnyside co-founder, Nick Allen, about both of their personal and professional journeys with alcohol. Nick grew up in a household with two parents who struggled with alcoholism before ultimately finding sobriety. While Nick has had his ups and downs with drinking, up until this point has not felt …

1
How To Live Future Ready with Frederik Pferdt 1:12:32

2d ago1:12:32

1:12:32

Today we talk with my old friend and colleague Dr Frederik Pferdt, who is on a mission to empower everyone to fulfill their visions for the future. From shaping Google's fabled creative culture as Chief Innovation Evangelist to nurturing the minds of students at Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, Frederik has a track record o…

1
Helpful Habits in Finding Freedom from Alcohol and Disordered Eating 43:10

8d ago43:10

43:10

Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and writer Dana Leigh Lyons joins Cecily this week for an honest conversation about her relationship with dimmers: disordered eating, alcohol, and even screen time. Dana opens up about her early struggles with food, and later, her relationship with alcohol, which she quit in 2020. She describes how her experie…

1
Living in Fuchsia 47:20

15d ago47:20

47:20

Kamelle Mills, a renowned fitness instructor, performer and confidence coach, joins Cecily for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about resilience, faith, and overcoming life's darkest moments. In this episode, Kamelle recounts pivotal moments that sparked his transformation from battling alcoholism, eating disorders, and societal expect…

1
From Darkness to Light: Healing, Sobriety, and Empowering Women 43:09

22d ago43:09

43:09

In this episode of Undimmed, host Cecily Mak is joined by Christine Gutierrez, a licensed psychotherapist, life coach, and expert in self-worth. Christine, the author of "I Am Diosa: A Journey to Healing Deep, Loving Yourself and Coming Back Home to Soul," shares her personal journey from childhood spirituality to confronting her struggles with alc…

1
Making Room for Mindful Consumption 38:31

1M ago38:31

38:31

This week’s episode of Undimmed features a candid conversation with Dan Harris, former ABC News anchor and creator of the Ten Percent Happier meditation app, podcast, and book. Dan shares his personal journey with cocaine use, sparked by his experiences in war zones and his quest for adrenaline, leading to a panic attack on live television. His pat…

1
Navigating A Clear Friendship with Grace 1:04:11

1M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Renowned photographer, creator of the Embody Project, and Cecily’s dear friend, Erica Scott, joins the podcast this week for an intimate conversation among dear friends who have been exploring their relationships with dimmers, primarly alcohol, since they first connected decades ago. In this heartfelt conversation, they cover three primary chapters…

1
Yung Pueblo: Clarity for Connection 44:47

2M ago44:47

44:47

Meditator and author Diego Perez, known primarily under his pen name Yung Pueblo, sits down with Cecily to discuss his undimming process. Like so many of us, Diego experienced alcohol and drugs for relief and recreation in his twenties but after a particularly dangerous experience, found himself searching for a deeper, healthier way of living. Tune…

1
Discussing Right Story, Wrong Story, by Tyson Yunkaporta 1:06:31

2M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Embracing different perspectives and understanding the long-term impacts of our actions, particularly in terms of cultural shifts and societal evolution, can give us valuable insights to navigate our present and future more effectively. Author Dougald Hine rejoins Ben to discuss a new book by Tyson Yunkaporta, who suggested that the best thing to d…

1
I Chose My Beyoncé (Clear) Life 48:22

2M ago48:22

48:22

Welcome to the first episode of Undimmed, A ClearLife Podcast. We’re kicking it off with someone near and dear to Cecily’s ClearLife journey, Jennifer Pattee. Join Cecily and Jennifer as they dive into the choice to live alcohol-free, self-actualization (is anyone else living their Beyoncé life?), and how connection and community are medicine. Jenn…

1
PT Shorts: Where do ideas come from? 13:48

2M ago13:48

13:48

Where do new ideas come from? Your mind regenerates from the outside in, teased to life by artists, innovators, agitators playing on the margins. Their work inspires yours. This is the spark, the stuff of new ideas. As with your mind, so too an old city. Berlin in 1992 was a tired place, run dry by 50 years of division, devoid of life, energy and n…

1
The Heroine’s Journey – a universal path towards wholeness 1:07:15

3M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

There’s a way of seeing personal growth and transformation as a cycle of rupture, descent, emergence, and return – an inward journey that challenges us to confront our own demons, integrate different aspects of ourselves, and ultimately find a way to contribute to the collective good. Christine Raine is a speaker, facilitator, and podcaster. She de…

1
The missing link between mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing 1:06:22

3M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Bringing movement into our daily routines is beneficial not only for our physical health, but our mental and emotional wellbeing too. Consciously integrating activity into our lifestyles helps us counteract the sedentary nature of modern life, especially for leaders and entrepreneurs sat in front of a laptop all day. Sal Jefferies is an embodiment …

1
Living a dimmer-free life, with Cecily Mak 1:00:46

3M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Embracing discomfort and experiencing emotions to the fullest can give us the guidance needed to navigate positive life changes, even in difficult circumstances. But sometimes those emotions are too difficult or too stark, and so we use things like alcohol to turn down the volume. But by doing so, we dim ourselves. Today, Ben is in conversation wit…

1
Korean Monk, wise mind and best selling author, Haemin Sunim 49:02

4M ago49:02

49:02

Our willingness to embrace and make space for all aspects of ourselves, both the good and the bad, can lead to greater peace and contentment in our lives. By practicing gratitude and mindfulness, we can shift our mindset and find joy in the present moment. And the way we perceive the universe, whether as benevolent or something to fear, shapes our …

1
Sujith Ravindran: are we accidentally raising lost boys? 53:08

5M ago53:08

53:08

Society is facing a crisis of masculinity, which is leading to harmful behaviour and violence towards women. Many cultures understand the need to initiate boys to men. We, in the west, have lost that understanding, that opportunity. As a consequence, are we inadvertently raising lost boys? Is it time to rediscover initiation? This is some of Sujith…

1
What a 1,000km trek can teach us about the workplace 47:30

5M ago47:30

47:30

Exchanging ideas too early and too often hinders innovation, but promoting absurdity in the workplace can lead to new and creative solutions. The workplace shouldn’t simply be a task-focused environment, but a place to nurture our human traits, like our capacity for absurdity. Agustin Chevez is a workplace architect and researcher who focuses on st…

1
Curiosity, empathy and and cross cultural innovation with Cliff Scott 1:05:51

6M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Cross cultural efforts can be a minefield. Cliff's areas of geographic focus are mainly post colonial countries in Asia. As a white dude American, Cliff knows the pitfalls. What's surprising the how these challenges can become an innovation superpower via the intention of care and the skills of empathy and cognitive perspective taking. Cliff is mos…

1
Life Without a Tie 1:03:02

6M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Life can take unexpected turns, inviting us to reevaluate our priorities and make difficult decisions. When that happens, it’s up to us to listen to our inner voice, and take up the challenge of living a life in alignment with our true selves. Ray Martin is an author and former management consultant. He embarked on a journey of self-discovery after…

1
We share a dream 38:23

6M ago38:23

38:23

Embracing creativity and storytelling can help us navigate through uncertain times and find hope and connection. Through writing and sharing our thoughts and experiences, we can unlock new perspectives, gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world, and contribute to a more positive future. This is the second of a two-part conversation wit…

1
Crafting a story for a world worth leaving to our children 26:55

7M ago26:55

26:55

Humans have the opportunity to imagine a better future and weave new stories into our culture. By embracing the uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in life, we can start the journey towards a world we’re proud to leave for future generations. Through poetry and storytelling, we can create a narrative arc that inspires hope and encourages action in t…

1
Meet these three wise angels – a conversation with teacher, Martin Aylward 1:04:18

7M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Leaders who embody the qualities of availability, presence, and wisdom can create a culture of trust and empowerment within their organisations. When we prioritise personal responsibility and community, we foster a sense of safety and contentment among our team, ultimately leading to greater happiness. Martin Aylward helps create a culture of trust…

1
Kings of Extraction, Queens of Accumulation, and Emperors of Generosity 58:13

8M ago58:13

58:13

If we’re going to imagine an alternative to capitalism, we need to create spaces for ideation, thinking, and researching. We must cultivate reciprocity with people we trust, and experiment with different models of regenerative and healing systems. We need to align with the poetic patterns of meaning that may be heard beneath the noise of everyday l…

1
The story of growth, part 3 – Giving 16:51

8M ago16:51

16:51

Economic growth can be responsible and in service of giving, rather than pure extraction and consumption. In this final part of Ben’s conversation with James William Harrup, they explore the idea of “decent work”, what the Buddha has to say about earning well, how growth can be in the service of giving, and the importance of having a personal metap…

1
How cappuccino, green energy, motorcycle design and innovation are inextricably linked, with Marco Ferrara 1:10:02

8M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Marco Ferrara is co-founder and SVP of Software Analytics at Form Energy, a company pioneering iron-air batteries to solve grid storage for renewable energy. (He is also the CIO - Chief Italian Officer.) He has a dazzling technical resume: a PhD in Nuclear engineering from MIT and another in Computer Science for good measure. Yet, he credits beauty…

1
The story of growth, part 2 – Greed 32:29

10M ago32:29

32:29

Pre-made mashed potato and out-of-season avocados won’t last forever. In this second part of Ben’s conversation with James William Harrup, we explore how a drive for perpetual growth and boundless consumption could be linked to an underlying trauma. It looks a lot like addiction, so if we can address that need to consume – and say a fond farewell t…

1
How to reinvent yourself to reinvent the world 1:10:35

11M ago1:10:35

1:10:35

Today we get to talk to Meg Salter about how humans develop and how that can allow you to innovate at the core - who you are - and how that can enable creative and innovative action and how we can even use life's deepest pain to spur growth. Meg Salter is an internationally experienced Executive Coach and Management Consultant. and works with corpo…

1
The story of growth, part 1 – Why things need to die 27:04

11M ago27:04

27:04

There is an over-emphasis on the story of growth in our culture, particularly when it comes to work and the economy. This story of growth can lead to ecological destruction, as well as personal and social destruction. We need to recognise the interconnectedness of everything and understand that there are many things that can grow, and that there is…

1
A Second Reformation and the Psychedelic Future of Politics 57:57

1y ago57:57

57:57

The first Reformation led to social phenomena like the English civil war, where people overthrew the corrupt Papacy and government. The Second Reformation allows people to directly experience the visions and revelations of prophets through psychedelic catalysts. By going deeper and dealing with the root cause of the crises, writer Daniel Pinchbeck …

1
Creative Abrasion, DEI and Soap Bubbles with Dr. Roxy Manning 1:06:35

1y ago1:06:35

1:06:35

Any innovation process needs to accommodate and even encourage diverse points of view and even divergent truths. This almost necessarily produces conflict. Are there practical, trainable ways of navigating this reality at both the individual and group levels to give us the peace of heart and mind to enter in this dance of complexity and ambiguity a…

1
Topping you up when you feel down 40:14

1y ago40:14

40:14

More and more people feel lonely and depressed - and that's in a time of ever greater (technology fueled) 'connection'. 65% of University students in the US say that they're so anxious that they have trouble functioning. A high percentage suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. And it's not just students. Varun Soni is the Dean of R…

1
A Tale of Two Gardens – Finding Presence and Calm in Unlikely Places 16:56

1y ago16:56

16:56

Nature teaches us ways we can set up the system of our lives to promote presence and calm. We can do this by rewilding – leaving things alone, and letting them find their own course. On this episode, Ben reflects on two gardens that have left a lasting impression on him. One garden has been intentionally given back to nature, whereas the other is c…

1
At Work in the Ruins - with Dougald Hine 1:24:54

1y ago1:24:54

1:24:54

This is a beautiful conversation about endings, among other things. Dougald is / was a long term climate campaigner - working alongside scientists, often picking up the story where their work ends. He joins Ben to talk about his new book, the beautifully titled ‘At Work In The Ruins’. Picking a path through the various crises of our times, the book…

1
The caterpillar's poetry: a tale of transformation and creative expression 55:32

1y ago55:32

55:32

Richard Wain decided to become a mathematician instead of a rock 'n roll star. He made this decision on a whim with only a month or two of preparation, because it would bring him closer to his now wife. Later, he and his wife left behind stable jobs with guaranteed contracts. Richard became a primary school teacher before setting up a business with…

1
Become crew on Spaceship Earth 1:04:53

1y ago1:04:53

1:04:53

“Once you start looking under the lid of climate change, it's hard to deny what you've seen”. Dan Burgess discovered this in 2006, and it’s informed his work ever since. Dan is an activist and researcher who has been involved in the environmental and ecological movement for close to 20 years. His Spaceship Earth podcast explores our relationship wi…

1
Intuition or Bias? How to make decisions with confidence with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn 58:09

1y ago58:09

58:09

Cheryl Strauss Einhorn is an award-winning investigative reporter at New York Times and Foreign Policy Magazine, Barron’s who wanted to be sure she could navigate complexity and ambiguity in the high stakes world of finance with confidence and good conscience. To solve for this she innovated an evidence-based decision-making system that uniquely co…

1
How do we make meaning and beauty? 45:22

1+ y ago45:22

45:22

Casper ter Kuile went into divinity school as a gay atheist, and emerged with a rich spiritual life that is not anchored in a specific religious tradition. Casper is an author, podcaster and community leader who’s interested in the future of communion and religion and is passionate about understanding how people make meaning, experience beauty, and…

1
Surrendering to the mystery 52:49

1+ y ago52:49

52:49

Marcus Link, co-founder of New Foundation Farms and the Holos Project, speaks with Ben about his personal journey towards self-discovery and expression. Marcus shares his experience of learning to let go of the "doer" mentality and embracing being present and authentic in all aspects of life, even in uncomfortable situations like networking or busi…

1
Walking your promise 54:00

1+ y ago54:00

54:00

Danny didn’t fit in as a child. Nowadays he might be considered neurodivergent, but his parents never tried to change or “fix” him. He spent much of his youth with the nomadic Sawad people near Galilee. For Danny, the desert represents oneness on a cellular level – being a part of nature, not separate from it. But forty years spent in the desert ca…

1
Design is an Act of Love with Irene Au 1:01:26

1+ y ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Irene Au has been building bridges between technology and creativity her whole life. From being the child of Chinese immigrants in South Carolina who wanted to study design and dance (but chose engineering) to being the voice of user centric design at tech companies who thought design was the result of complex calculations, she has developed a fasc…

1
Why should leaders know all the answers? 54:57

1+ y ago54:57

54:57

For community architect Claire Perry-Louise, the often overused and somewhat clichéd word “community” means connecting people through shared experiences, shared values, or shared identity. Claire doesn’t just advise others how to create community, she hosts her own. She founded Like Hearted Leaders so she and the people she’d met through a Do Lectu…

1
Should I Stay or Should I Go with Cecily Mak 1:24:48

1+ y ago1:24:48

1:24:48

Cecily Mak has been wildly successful at the forefront of innovation and has had several careers: modeling, law, start-up executive and venture firm co-founder in the fields of music, publishing, mindfulness/wellbeing, and now crypto. However, her proudest and most difficult accomplishments are in developing clarity, vulnerability and presence. We …

1
Living systems and regenerative business 54:08

1+ y ago54:08

54:08

Carol is a visionary and guiding light, seeding, teaching (although she'd challenge the idea!), pointing to genuinely regenerative thinking in the world. She is an author, activist and entrepreneur who has been living and learning her work for decades. Her questions and perspective will help you think about your work and place in the world in a com…

1
Might you imagine food entirely differently? 42:48

1+ y ago42:48

42:48

We believe that small is mighty, small is power. Our money, support and energy goes to David over Goliath every time... And there are few more inspiring David's, so to speak, than Ruth, co-founder of HiSBE, a plucky, fighting, challenger super market in Brighton and Worthing, UK. Our food system is broken- which includes much of how it's produced a…

1
An unconventional recipe for success 58:30

1+ y ago58:30

58:30

This podcast is a home for the creative pioneer, the friendly problem child. Like Dashal Beevers. Dash left school at 13. Reading and writing not his friends. Constraint is the mother of all invention, said nobody ever, but maybe should have. Needing to create his own work and opportunity, Dash's work journey oozes creativity and entrepreneurial wi…

1
Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready to Play with Josh Lifrak 1:15:04

1+ y ago1:15:04

1:15:04

The world of professional sports is undergoing massive innovation in how it deals with mental health and training in the context of high stakes performance. This innovation comes from a surprising combination of player and organization desire for long term value and meaning as well as the desire to succeed and win. Josh Lifrak, former head of Menta…

1
Don't You Ever Stop Long Enough to Start? With Eric Antonow 1:13:04

2y ago1:13:04

1:13:04

The Clash were musical and social innovators, so why is it surprising that their lyrics describe a very key aspect of creativity- that you need to include stopping as part of the process of creation. In this episode we explore this surprising and counteritive idea with Eric Antonow , one of the most effective and creative people I know. These days …

1
Who Doesn’t Want a Little Peace and Calm? 55:48

2y ago55:48

55:48

Episode description Who doesn’t want a little peace and calm? In this episode of Peripheral Thinking, I speak to Martin Alyward. Martin is a long established Buddhist meditation teacher - my teacher, as it happens. As humans, we create drama - our needy, greedy, crazy, lazy minds need no invitation. We obsess about what we did or didn’t say, did or…

1
The role of Daoism in 2022 and beyond 53:06

2y ago53:06

53:06

This week on Peripheral Thinking, I speak to George Thompson, film maker, teacher and wise Daoist explorer. Daoism was born in a time of war: in China’s Warring States period. What role for this ancient philosophy today? Is it a fast track to passively doing nothing or super power lending you strength, resilience and wise perspective? I know where …

1
Beginning the regenerative journey 1:19:23

2y ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Marcus is an entrepreneur, researcher and writer, Chief Operating Officer of New Foundation Farms, a UK agri-food enterprise on a mission to disrupt the entire ‘farm to fork’ journey: yep, that’s breaking and remaking everything that’s wrong and harmful about how you get your food. In this episode, we talk regenerative business - work which creates…

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Cecily Mak Podcasts

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