A conversation with Rainier Wylde

and some important reminders of why you and your story matters.

“I’m always trying to lure you into the human experience and to drop the floor out from under you so, that you find yourself there in the basement with all of us, surrounded by the emotions that we’re most terrified of encountering”

~ Rainier Wylde

I had a conversation with Rainier Wylde yesterday, I recorded it and you can listen to it on Apple Podcasts here, on all players here and on Spotify below. Rainier has plenty to share and does so with a poetic meter informed by a life of well lived experiences. 

This is why I created ‘A Satisfied Mind’ podcast at the start of 2020. It was a lockdown project to stay connected with people, to keep having the kind of conversations I am fortunate enough to have in person - conversations with interesting people. With people who have done things and are doing things, seen and seeing things, been through things, learned things and are being and becoming better for it. I find everyone fascinating and interesting. Everyone has a story and if you’re fortunate enough, you might get to hear it.

I created this podcast to provide an opportunity for people to share their stories - your stories, our stories, human stories. To connect more deeply with people at a time when slow, intentional, consciously nurtured connections are discarded for desperate dopamine benders and superficial scrolling frenzies.

I created this podcast to learn to listen better. To practice asking better questions. To dig a little deeper into the human experience. Perhaps it’s a bid for connection at a time when we’re desperate for it.

To share the wisdom and perspective of others who are generous enough to share their lives, their lessons and their own questions with me.

Over the past few years I’ve been privileged and trusted to speak with friends, family members, therapists, leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, directors, creatives, change makers, artists, activists, athletes, great thinkers with great minds and big feelers with brave hearts. Every single one of them has had a significant impact on me and my life. I’ve asked lots of questions and sat in the tension of the unknown and the possibility it presents. It’s thrilling actually, and it’s one of my favourite states in which to be.

It seems like a simple premise – have a conversation with someone, record it, share it. It’s so much more that that. It’s communion and connection in real time. It’s a gift to be witness to all of these people, their experiences, their fears and failures, their wisdom and wonder. All of it. I’m so grateful and happy to be able to share it with you. This newsletter too, and the fact that you’re reading it. The fact you take the time to open it and read what I have to say, what a gift that is – your time and attention.

I’ve been taking this for granted for too long. I can tend to slide into periods of doubt and uncertainty where I become too concerned about what I ‘should’ be doing, what I should be writing, what I should be saying and sharing. And in doing, so, ignoring the truth of my heart and the guidance of my gut which simply says, share it. All of it, as is, let it go, trust, just write the words and let them go. Every one of my podcast guests is an example of this – trusting and sharing. The least I could do to honour their trust in me is to reciprocate with you.

And so, inspired again by this conversation I had with Rainier Wylde, I’ll keep sharing. I hope you do, too. I think we’re better when we share our experiences. We recognise ourselves in each other, we need each other to do this, especially at a time when faced with grave uncertainty and existential threats our collective nature can default to divide, isolate, protect. Let’s lean into each other, into ourselves, with open arms, brave hearts and generous intent.

If that is a desire of yours, I’m confident you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this conversation. Give it a listen, have a pen and paper handy or your notes app open. Write down what resonates and share it. Let me know, let him know and let’s share more of what it is we want to cultivate in our lives and relationships – for me its truth, integrity, appreciation, acceptance, forgiveness, grace and presence.

Until next week,

Love.

Michael