Today's episode is a story of burnout and reclaiming your life, knowing that helpers are everywhere, with the most inspiring and award-winning filmmaker, author, journalist, musician, and transformation coach, Benjamin Wagner. How exactly do we transform stress, trauma, and burnout into healing, purpose, and deep human connection? "When we name our feelings, they have less of a hold on us. Notice what’s happening, exhale, and build the capacity to stay aligned." After navigating his own journey through severe burnout and post-traumatic stress, Benjamin turned toward storytelling as a pathway to resilience and healing. He shares life-changing advice and insights from Fred Rogers (also his neighbour at the age of 30), that 'deep and simple is far more essential than shallow and complex," and explains how practising present-moment awareness, regulating our nervous system through simple breathing, and stepping back for "balcony time" can help us regain clarity. From helping launch Facebook’s Journalism Project globally and transforming MTV News to directing acclaimed PBS documentaries like Mister Rogers & Me and Friends & Neighbours, to writing his book, Strong and Silent: What Manhood Conceals and What It Costs Us All, Benjamin’s life and work rest on an important truth: what we pay attention to shapes our reality. He teaches us to slow down and pay attention to what truly matters. “Generosity is presence,” and reducing screen time restores our connections. Looking for the everyday helpers around us helps build resilient, thriving communities. Helpers are everywhere!" Most importantly, if you do nothing else, learn to breathe a little bit differently, name your feelings, notice, and practise. What is in your toolkit? Learn to think about we-centricity differently and slow down! It's all happening, but it will all be there for you! "I thought I understood Fred’s wisdom then. At 55, I’m beginning to understand it differently." “There’s something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Thank you, Benjamin, for showing us how to live with much greater intention, how to be present and one with our bodies, and for helping us better understand the neuroscience of modern stress. You bridge the gap between where we are and where we want to be!
00:00 Welcome to WECAN: Meeting Benjamin Wagner 01:40 From Media Innovation (MTV & Facebook) to Purpose-Driven Storytelling 04:35 Meeting Fred Rogers: How "Deep & Simple" Shaped a 20-Year Career 08:40 Friends & Neighbours: Highlighting Everyday Heroes 14:45 The Mind-Body Connection & The Power of "Notice and Practice" 19:35 Screen Time, Algorithms & Reclaiming Our Nervous Systems 25:40 Coaching Insights: "Balcony Time" vs. The Dance Floor 30:00 Defining Success, Settledness & Insights From Strong and Silent 37:00 What He Can't Live Without: Family, Music & Nature 40:35 Final Takeaway:
The Power of the Exhale Connect with Benjamin Wagner: https://www.benjaminwagner.com/
Follow on Instagram and listen to his storytelling: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminbwagner/
#OvercomingBurnout #Storytelling #Mindfulness #NervousSystemHealing #PresentMoment #ReclaimYourLife #InnerPeace #WECAN #BenjaminWagner #BurnoutRecovery #MentalHealth #Resilience #MisterRogers _______________________________________________________________________
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