The Dream Catcher Podcast

Most of us are raised to believe that we must work hard and ethically earn our success, but there are some who are tempted to take shortcuts instead of jumping through the expected hoops, even if it sabotages and harms others in the process.

The problem that we face in our society is that the notion of ‘fairness’ is not as black and white - there are so many shades of gray in the fairness continuum. Where you lie on this continuum depends on your personal values and how you want to show up in the world.

Playing fair should be like a North Star that reminds us to uphold this standard, but we should walk towards it with our feet firmly grounded in reality, knowing full well that the bad guys can still win. In this episode, I describe how you can play the game of life with integrity and handle those who don’t.

Often times on the road to success, we find ourselves blocked. Even though it seems like we’re doing all the right things, something or the other gets in the way. But it’s exactly during these times that we need to tune in and figure out what needs to shift, both within us and around us. May McCarthy, my guest expert today, shares her valuable insights into how we can unblock ourselves and manifest our desires.

May is a best-selling author, speaker, university lecturer and angel investor.  She serves on business, philanthropic, arts and university boards.  May has become successful in her ventures by implementing spiritual principles, and it is her passion to pass her knowledge on to others.  She is the author of the best-selling book The Path to Wealth and her newest title, The Gratitude Formula.

During our conversation, May not only describes her practical system that we can follow to achieve success but she also shares her thoughts on how we can use the power gratitude to live our life from a centered place of joy and abundance.

So, tell me about yourself”

This is arguably one of the most frequently asked questions. Whether you’re in a job interview, on a date, or part of a social gathering, you can be sure you’ll hear this inquiry in some version or another. Most people will respond to it by naming their few key roles.

In most social contexts, a short and straightforward disclosure of our identity is not only efficient, but it’s appropriate. It’s only in our intimate relationships that we must be more discerning in how we answer that question. Are we allowing the labels that society has slapped on us to define us?  

In this podcast episode, I elaborate on the reasons why you should be careful of how you label yourselves and others and how to shield yourself from the negative effects. You’ll realize that you are the master artist of your life, fully capable of crafting a self-concept that’s self-supporting and meaningful.

As an avid writer and reader, I have a natural love for words. I perceive every word to be like a unique shade of color, which can be used to paint all kinds of images on the fertile canvas of our imagination.

However most people today prefer brevity in how they communicate. A casual, airy and breezy form of interaction has become the norm, especially with the advent of social media and smart phones.

We’ve lost the grace and discernment that comes with having a ‘word consciousness’  – a sensitivity to the impact that our words have on others.

In this podcast episode, I’ll  show you how to recapture that with a few simple practices that you can incorporate into your day to improve the quality and range of your words.

As a verbal virtuoso, you’ll be able to make great strides in your career and personal life. Strong and effective communication will open the doorway to happiness, profit and creative satisfaction.

For centuries, millions of humans have walked where we now walk. We reap the rewards of those who toiled to invent the devices that make our life convenient and enjoy the rights and privileges that they fought hard to obtain.

Even though our ancestors wore different types of clothing and their circumstances were far removed from what we experience today, what connect us to them are the trials and tribulations of the human experience.

By learning their stories we develop an understanding of where the world is possibly heading. You can imagine a better destiny when you see the broader economic, cultural, and social trends of the past and apply them to your own life and current social climate.

Although there’s a lot that we can learn from bygone eras, I outline four most important things from history, from which I believe we can benefit in this episode.

Whether you’re someone who’s trying to gain clarity on your life purpose or you’re someone who would like to align your business or career path with your purpose, you’ll find this episode most insightful because my featured guest is an expert on these areas.

Alexandria Agresta is a purpose and profit alignment coach. She is the co-founder of coaching company Purpose Pioneers, where she empowers entrepreneurs to craft their business from the purpose up. In just 1 year, the business has turned into a massive movement and Alexandria is now seen as a valued expert in her field.

Join me and Alexandria, as we go in depth in the topic of purpose – such as the common signs that you’ll see when you’ve found your purpose and how we can begin to create a life, career and communities that are aligned with purpose.

Most of us aren’t conscious of the temporary nature of life and we take time for granted. We simply continue through the motions of our routines, trying to get as much done as possible.

However, we need to wake up to this reality, because knowing that life has an expiration date awakens us to the fact that we should take in everything - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Instead of zoning out and being numb to the vibrancy of our present, we can become more purposeful and alive in everything that we do. In this episode, I share a few ways that you can redirect your attention to the present through mindfulness rituals and a shift in your mindset.

At some point, we’ve all said or done things which we’ve later regretted. On the spur of the moment, you may have blurted out a few choice words or acted out without carefully thinking things through.

It’s precisely in these moments that we’ve got to overcome the temptation of instant gratification from saying exactly what’s on our mind without filtering it. Because saying and doing things which you’ll later regret could have dire consequences, especially in an age of social media where everything you put out there can be magnified.

In this episode, I share a few steps that you can take to prevent yourself for blurting things you may later regret. I also share a story that illustrates the importance of becoming more discerning about our words and actions, especially when we’re triggered.

At some point in life, we’ve all been let down by people in whom we placed our trust. . All of us were taught to give people the benefit of the doubt, and we’re inclined to take people at face value. But on the stage of life, people wear masks and we have to be careful of being blindsided.

This doesn’t mean that everyone that we meet is out to get us and is unreliable. But it does imply that in our competitive world, where everyone’s fighting to make it, trust is a rare commodity.

By listening to this episode, you’ll learn the crucial skills of deciphering whether a person is trustworthy or not. I’ll describe five telltale signs to lookout for in others, and how you can embody those traits.

Surviving in today’s world requires that we learn how to juggle tasks efficiently. There are many things vying for our attention which center on our family, work and relationships. We have to learn how to balance these priorities while also maximizing our potential. 

Niels Duinker, my guest today, has mastered the art of juggling both literally and metaphorically.  Niels is an accomplished master juggler who has achieved an international career, with shows from Amsterdam to Las Vegas. He is a 2-time Variety Performer of the Year and 3-time Guinness World Records record holder.

Through his act, workshops and his book ‘Catching Greatness’, Niel aims to motivate people to take action on their dreams. During my conversation with him in this episode, he inspires us with his success story of how he learned to overcome obstacles  such as negativity, fear and common distractions and how we can do the same in our own life.