The Conscious Chats Podcast

Ep 81 One Breath Could Change the Way You Lead in the Age of AI | Edward Howard

In this episode of Conscious Chats, Jay Win sits down with Edward Howard - founder of Kokoro Business Performance and author of One Breath Leadership.
After spending more than 20 years in senior leadership roles across global investment banking, Ed began exploring a deeper question:
How do leaders stay clear, calm, and conscious in high-pressure environments?
Combining decades of Zen practice with leadership and neuroscience, Ed now works with leaders and organisations to develop awareness, emotional intelligence, and conscious decision-making in increasingly complex environments.
In this conversation, we explore:
• Why awareness matters more than control in leadership• The hidden impact of stress and reactive decision-making• How a single breath can interrupt fight-or-flight responses• Emotional intelligence and human awareness in the age of AI• Ethical leadership and conscious technology adoption• Psychological safety in high-performance cultures• Why the future of leadership may depend on inner clarity
We also discuss AI, consciousness, empathy, decision fatigue, and why human awareness may become even more important as technology accelerates.
Learn more about Ed Howard and One Breath Leadership:
https://www.onebreathleadership.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-howard-a86aa823/
#ConsciousChats #Leadership #AI #Mindfulness #EmotionalIntelligence #ConsciousLeadership

Episode 80 Why Clarity, Data & Trust Matter in AI | Matt Soltau

In Episode 80 of Conscious Chats, I’m joined by Matt Soltau, founder of IntelliPaaS - an AI-driven integration platform helping enterprises connect systems and unlock real-time data.
In a world where AI is moving fast, many organisations are rushing to implement solutions without clear direction or the right foundations in place.
In this conversation, we explore why clarity, data, and trust are critical when building AI and what happens when they’re missing.
We dive into:• why many AI projects struggle to move beyond early stages• the role of data integration in making AI actually work• how lack of clarity impacts outcomes and decision-making• building AI systems that people can trust• ethical considerations around data and privacy
This episode offers a grounded, practical perspective on how to approach AI with more intention, responsibility, and long-term thinking.
🔗 Connect with Matt Soltau & IntelliPaaS
Website: https://www.intellipaas.io/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soltaumatt/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IntelliPaaS

Ep 79 Building Businesses with Faith in the Age of AI | Bradley Hawkins

In this episode of Conscious Chats, I’m joined by Bradley Hawkins, a multi-business entrepreneur working across cybersecurity, AI, and multiple industries.
We explore what it means to build businesses while staying grounded in purpose, and how faith shapes leadership, decision-making, and resilience.
Bradley shares insights on redefining abundance, navigating uncertainty, and approaching technology including AI  from a more conscious and ethical perspective.
This conversation offers a different lens on success, blending entrepreneurship, faith, and awareness in a rapidly evolving world.
Connect with Bradley Hawkins https://unshakablelife.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Unshakable-Life-Purpose-Abundance-Eternal/dp/B0F9S4688T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=S5NMJ1AGBC23&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M3RZJhtJW3iKxX8KAbr7-arOdCotnUzZaVoIEMHbbcbHam5pSFDbW5vtt5UptD44ztOmJjRveRVq6ONCg4d8uwfmLsPZQuhoR93XkGPL61eY_T0TQc_mTs_wbnrtwhzv1ehALbvGL2nfKIyIxsVohvDIaOR76idmO5QRWFZn2RnNgepFjVvLR0Y0Hugupv5P8cnfPiNnvXwUZtQXLwQYamV3Q3JIt-XMym_Ck67d8ew.Q-ToSbqeA9kdcNLoaRH8_Tq0QVp180mEghakQ87FzCc&dib_tag=se&keywords=bradley+hawkins&qid=1764201957&sprefix=bradley+hawkins%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-2 

Ep 78 - 20+ Businesses later : Lessons on Setbacks & Resilience | Roy Coughlan

In this episode of Conscious Chats, I’m joined by Roy Coughlan, a serial entrepreneur who has built more than 20 businesses across five countries.
Roy shares his journey through entrepreneurship, including the lessons he learned from navigating setbacks, rebuilding after losses in property development, and continuing to launch new ventures across different industries.
We explore the mindset required to keep moving forward, why resilience is essential in entrepreneurship, and how personal growth often becomes the foundation for long-term success.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial journey is rarely linear but perseverance and adaptability can create new opportunities even after difficult challenges.
Learn more about Roy
Websitehttps://roycoughlan.com/
 

Episode 77 How Founders Find Their Inner Compass | Frank Gessner

In this episode of Conscious Chats, I’m joined by Frank Gessner, a tech pioneer and serial entrepreneur who helped shape the early world of e-commerce as the co-founder of INTERSHOP.
After decades of building and scaling companies, Frank began exploring deeper questions about leadership, purpose, and what truly guides our decisions as founders.
In this conversation, we talk about the importance of reconnecting with your inner compass, navigating uncertainty, and building a life that aligns with who you truly are.
Frank also shares insights from LifePilot, his personal growth framework designed to help individuals gain clarity, direction, and confidence across every area of life.
If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or leader seeking deeper alignment between success and purpose, this conversation will resonate.
Learn more about Frank
LifePilothttps://www.life-pilot.org/
Frank’s websitehttps://www.frank-gessner.com/
LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/frankgessner/
Conscious Chats Podcast
Conscious Chats explores the intersection of leadership, technology, and human awareness through conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and conscious leaders.
Hosted by Jay Win.
https://consciouschats.podbean.com/

Ep 76 When Success Isn't Enough

What happens when you achieve everything you were told would make you successful and it still doesn’t feel like enough?
In this episode of Conscious Chats, I’m joined by Ray Martin, former award-winning CEO turned author and coach, to explore what it really means to redefine success.
After experiencing profound personal loss and walking away from conventional achievement, Ray set out on what was meant to be a six-month sabbatical  that became a fourteen-year journey of reinvention across the world.
We talk about:– Why external success can mask internal misalignment– How mindfulness reshapes leadership and decision-making– The difference between thinking and true inner listening– What authentic success looks like beyond titles and wealth– How to rebuild your life when everything changes
This conversation is for anyone questioning the version of success they’ve been chasing and wondering what comes next.
Learn more about Ray and his book Life Without A Tie:👉 https://lifewithoutatie.com/

Ep 75 How to Rewrite Your Story

Many of us reach a point where life looks “successful” on the outside but internally, something feels off.
In this episode of Conscious Chats, I’m joined by Tanya Thompson, author, coach, and creator of The Storyboard Method™, to explore what it really means to rewrite the story you’re living.
We talk about burnout, toxic work culture, truth and alignment, and why so many people stay in lives they’ve outgrown even when they know something needs to change. Tanya shares how our lives are shaped by the stories we unconsciously live by, how to recognise when a story no longer fits, and how to begin rewriting it with clarity and compassion beyond vision boards or surface-level manifestation.
This conversation is for anyone feeling stuck, misaligned, or quietly ready for a new chapter one that reflects who they are now, not who they had to be to survive.Learn more about Tanya & The Storyboard Method:  www.levelupcoaching.info

Ep 74 : Building a Human Business in an AI World

In this episode of Conscious Chats, we explore what it really means to build a business that’s aligned, sustainable, and deeply human especially in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
This conversation dives into trust, integrity, and authenticity in business, and why these qualities matter more than ever as brands compete for attention online. We unpack what authenticity in branding actually looks like today, where many businesses are losing their humanity, and how design, user experience, and emotional connection play a critical role in building credibility and trust.
We also talk about attracting the right clients instead of chasing them, building reputation through word-of-mouth, and creating consistent, grounded income without compromising your values. If you’re running a studio, agency, or service-based business or you’re feeling called to grow in a way that still feels aligned with who you are this episode is for you.Connect with Wes TowersExplore Wes’s work and learn more about his journey here:• Website: https://uplift360.com.au/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/westowers/