The WECAN Podcast

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 _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell to learn from our role models and stay inspired and motivated! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

This is your permission to feel good! How do we move away from feeling constantly suboptimal and fall back in love with feeling really, truly good? We are here for such a short time; why would you not want to live the life that is meant for you? Where we live in dis-ease, we create disease. When we choose alignment, authenticity, and the courage to live the life meant for us, WECAN be better in every aspect of our lives and feel pretty good most days. In today's episode with Gabby Reece, learn what it means to be a steward of your body, relationships, and opportunities. She shares her grounded blueprint for midlife health, especially for women over 40: get morning sunlight, move your body, lift weights, eat real food with protein, prioritise sleep, and step into nature to hear your own voice. It is actually very simple; we do not need to overcomplicate it! Gabby Reece is a former professional beach volleyball legend, wellness entrepreneur, advocate for strength at every age, author, and fitness icon. She became one of Nike’s first female signature athletes and has spent decades turning human performance philosophy into simple, daily practices. Alongside co-founding Hamilton House and Lairds Superfood with her husband Laird Hamilton, hosting The Gabby Reece Show, and leading female health platforms like The Proof of Practice, Gabby’s entire mission centres on championing women to build authentic strength in every season of life. She has spent her life stripping away the noise of modern trends to focus on what actually works: mindset, simple habits, and absolute congruency. Taking care of yourself is your fundamental job. Whether you’re learning to embrace the "joy in the suffering" of a hard workout, unlearning rigid societal rules, or balancing 100% accountability with grace, Gabby’s message is clear: Time is precious. Why not do it your way? Where can you be a little more selfish? 100% accountability + grace together = feeling good! Fall in love with feeling really good. Practice is everything! You need to know your WHY. Daily habits don't stick without a clear internal purpose. Build a routine that aligns with your true life stage, and listen to your body. WECAN reclaim how vibrant and good we are meant to feel every day. Tune in to learn exactly how, and be inspired by Gabby's drive and story. 00:00 Welcome to WECAN: Meeting Gabby Reece 01:40 From Pro Beach Volleyball to the Wellness Space 04:15 Life as Stewardship: Lessons from Sports, Marriage & Motherhood 07:45 The Power of Authenticity & Congruency 10:40 Simplifying Wellness: Why Everything is Energy 16:20 Midlife Fitness & Health Fundamentals After 40 21:55 Lessons from Sport: Learning How to Lose & Risk 24:20 Gearing Up for a New Season & Midlife Growth 27:25 -Why Not Do It Your Way? Accountability + Grace 29:05 Quick-Fire Round: Strengths, Weaknesses & Staying Grounded Connect with Gabby Reece: https://gabbyreece.com/ Listen to her Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/gabbyreece #WECAN #GabbyReece #WomenOver40 #MidlifeWellness #FitnessOver40 #Stewardship #SelfCare _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Subscribe to the WECAN Channel for weekly conversations with role models, motivation, and inspiring stories. 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047c

Learn everything about how not to flee a war, using humour to connect, and knowing your WHY ~ it makes the journey easier! When war upends everything you know, how do you redefine home, leadership, and purpose? What does it mean to step into leadership when your entire world is turned upside down? In today's episode of WECAN, Stephanie sits down with Maria Romanenko, a Ukrainian journalist and activist who fled Kyiv for the UK at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. From arriving as one of the very first displaced Ukrainians to establishing life in Manchester, Maria transformed her personal displacement into a mission of community service, launching free city walking tours that have helped over 3,000 Ukrainians feel at home. Through her public talk series, "How Not to Flee a War," Maria uses a uniquely Ukrainian blend of dark humour, authenticity, and heart to share her escape story, honour her lost journalist colleagues, and educate audiences across the UK. "Dark humour is all we have left as Ukrainians, or else we would cry the whole time, and humour connects. Many of my friends and colleagues are no longer here; it is my duty to tell their stories." Do not miss this uplifting, deeply human conversation about learning to be a leader in real time, holding onto freedom, and discovering that even in the darkest times, humour and purpose can carry us through. WECAN maintain an unshakeable connection to home and purpose. It's much easier to face the world's problems if you know your WHY. "I have learned to nurture that sense of home inside me. I can't be in Kyiv, but I can listen to Ukrainian music or read books. I can also look after myself. I have made a lot of healthy choices and changes. Your body is also your home. And if you don't look after your body, you can't feel at home." 00:00 Introduction 02:27 Fleeing Kyiv: Arriving in the UK as a Displaced Journalist 07:22 Creating Connection: Free Manchester Walking Tours for Ukrainians 09:50 Stepping into Unplanned Community Leadership 13:30 Adaptability and Planning in an Unstable World 15:35 "How Not to Flee a War": Using Storytelling and Humour 19:00 Honouring Fallen Colleagues & Keeping Their Stories Alive 21:10 Navigating International Career Transitions & Carving Your Path 23:57 Manchester as a Temporary Haven vs. The Longing for Kyiv 26:40 Redefining Success and Coping with Survivor's Guilt 31:18 The Importance of Storytelling in Facing Global Threats 33:18 Authenticity as a Greatest Strength 35:55 Where to Find the Show: Talks for Ukraine & Future Plans 37:45 Final Takeaways: Flexibility, Authenticity, and Knowing Your "Why" #WECAN #MariaRomanenko #HowNotToFleeAWar #Leadership #Authenticity #Resilience #Ukraine #RoleModels #HumanDignity Connect with Maria: https://www.instagram.com/rommari/?hl=en Join a "How Not To Flee A War" Talk: https://talksforukraine.com/talk-dates/ _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Subscribe to the WECAN Channel for weekly conversations with role models, motivation, and inspiring stories. 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047c

Some conversations are simply a revolution of the heart and change how you see the world! Sitting down with Alexander McLean, the visionary founder and CEO of Justice Defenders, was one of those transforming moments. Starting as an 18-year-old volunteer in Uganda, he set out to change a system where millions facing poverty lacked access to basic justice. He initiated a movement that transforms incarcerated individuals and prison officers into paralegals and UK-qualified lawyers, empowering those with lived experience to defend the defenceless. Those accustomed to suffering are often the ones most equipped to heal and defend their communities. From training hundreds of paralegals across Kenya, Uganda, and Gambia to expanding into New York State prisons, Alexander’s work is grounded in a single, transformative truth: a revolution of the heart. Proximity, accompaniment, and keeping your heart soft can rewrite the narrative around leadership, systemic change, and human dignity. When we choose radical empathy over indifference, sit with suffering, and stay vulnerable in the face of trauma, our hearts open up so, so wide! Alexander's level of service, humility, and unwavering belief in human dignity remind us anew that it is easier to be what you can see! WECAN all lead with an open heart. "Leadership is an invitation to dream together. It is to be proximate to each other and call out the gifts and potential in each other." This episode is a must-watch for anyone seeking hope, courage, and a deeper connection to our shared humanity. Learn how stepping out in faith and walking shoulder-to-shoulder with others can rebuild lives and reform justice systems worldwide. Belonging is essential. Thank you for inspiring us to walk in faith, always, and to think and act with our hearts wide open! Keeping our hearts soft, especially when exposed to trauma and hardship, is the most important challenge of our time. 00:00 Introduction & Leadership as an Invitation to Dream Together 01:30 Meet Alexander McLean & Justice Defenders 03:30 The 18-Year-Old Volunteer in Uganda: How It Started 07:22 Why the Opposite of Poverty Is Justice 09:28 A Revolution of the Heart & Advice for Youth 13:17 The Power of Interdependence & Human Connection 15:26 Redefining Success: Living at the Speed of Relationship 17:35 Leadership as Accompaniment: Being Seen and Known 22:04 Facing Grief, Loss, and Finding Courage 24:44 Key Learnings & Relational Fundraising 29:40 Expanding to US Prisons in New York & Beyond 33:35 Final Takeaways: Stepping Out in Faith Learn more about Justice Defenders and their work: https://www.justice-defenders.org #JusticeDefenders #AlexanderMcLean #WECAN #Leadership #SocialImpact #JusticeSystem #RoleModels #LegalReform #HumanDignity _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell to learn from our role models and stay inspired and motivated! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

Learn how AI can help us become more human leaders on today's episode of WECAN with Logan Yonavjak, CEO and co-founder of the Readiness Engine. We talk about the future of leadership and how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we grow, measure, and elevate leadership. Rather than viewing AI with fear, Logan shows us how young professionals and seasoned executives can harness AI tools to invest in themselves, build deep self-awareness, and position themselves as managers of AI rather than followers. For years, traditional leadership assessments have relied on self-reporting, which carries its own built-in bias. We all have "shadow elements" and patterns we simply can't see on our own. "I built the instrument I wished I'd had as an allocator: A diagnostic that measures leadership capacity, not pedigree. Third-party, not self-reported. Built on informed consent and governed by ethical AI. No placement incentive, no conflicts of interest. It's designed to answer the most expensive question you face before you write the check or sign the offer: is this person actually ready for the bet I'm about to make on them?" Through this AI-powered platform, the Readiness Engine analyses everyday conversation transcripts to objectively reveal how leaders handle complexity, pressure, and human relationships, helping remove ego, eliminate bias, and unlock true self-awareness. Learn how young professionals can position themselves as confident managers of AI rather than falling behind in fear. Great leadership isn't about having all the answers, but having the self-awareness to see where and how WECAN grow. With these AI tools, it can eliminate some of the patterns that could help us all be better leaders. "Learning to get ahead with AI, not follow in fear, is crucial for young people. Position yourself as someone who can manage AI." This is not a Personality Test! "Readiness isn’t a verdict on a person, and it’s never the only input. Skills, context, and your own judgment still matter. We’re one instrument in the room — the one that reads what interviews can’t." 00:00 Introduction: Leadership in the Age of AI 01:45 Meet Logan Yonavjak & the Readiness Engine 03:30 How AI Analyses Leadership Capacity 04:30 Blending AI and Human Coaching 07:12 Pivoting from VCs to Enterprise Markets 08:43 Logan’s Journey in Impact Investing 11:10 Navigating the AI Workplace Transition 12:43 Advice for Young Professionals on AI 14:18 Lessons from Private Markets & Capital 17:15 Building the Business & Fundraising 19:35 Scaling Self-Aware Leaders 21:20 Removing Bias in Leadership Evaluation 22:36 Female Representation & Angel Investing 24:58 Final Takeaway: Cultivating Self-Awareness Learn more about the Readiness Engine and Logan Yonavjak: https://www.readinessengine.io/ #WECAN #LoganYonavjak #ReadinessEngine #AILeadership #SelfAwareness #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #ExecutiveCoaching #TechInLeadership #GrowthMindset _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c

Breaking Democracy's Chains is all we need to free us right now! How can we fix democracy without political parties? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with serial entrepreneur and author Metin Pekin to discuss his Gold Award-winning book, Breaking Democracy's Chains, and his bold vision for political reform. Think Systems Over Personalities: We must stop looking for "charismatic leaders" to save us and start fixing the hollowed-out systems holding back democracy. Metin’s story teaches us what resilience and integration look like. Arriving in the UK at age 13 without speaking English, he navigated language barriers, built a successful 30-year business career, and learned firsthand that success is all about systems, not just individuals. His message is simple: democracy isn't fixed by changing who is in power; it's fixed by changing the system itself. Today, Metin is applying the same entrepreneurial logic to modern democracy. Tune in and learn why true success relies on solid systems rather than purely individuals, and why our current political model needs a major upgrade. "The problem is not our democracy. It's that our democratic system is being hollowed out by big money in politics. It's not the people we need to question, it's the systems that rule the people we need to change." 00:00 Introduction: Can We Fix Democracy Without Political Parties? 04:15 Metin’s Journey: From Immigrant at 13 to Serial Entrepreneur 11:30 Overcoming Obstacles: Language Barriers, Hard Work, and Adaptability 19:45 Why the Current Political System is Hollowed Out 28:10 Systems vs. Personalities: Moving Beyond "Charismatic Leaders" 36:25 The No-Party Democracy Model: Direct Accountability & Independent MPs 44:50 Empowering the Next Generation: Tackling Systemic Hurdles and Student Debt 50:10 Final Thoughts and Call to Action Buy Metin Pekin's book | Breaking Democracy's Chains: https://www.metinpekin.com/ "Around the world, citizens vote, protest, and hope — yet nothing truly changes. The rich grow richer, wars continue, and no matter which party wins, governments serve the interests of their financiers rather than the people they claim to represent." #WECAN #MetinPekin #BreakingDemocracysChains #DemocracyReform #Entrepreneurship #SystemicChange #UKPolitics _______________________________________________________________________ For any questions or inquiries regarding this video, please reach out to us @Wecan.Shecan 🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell for more interviews with role models and life-altering motivation and insights! 👉 Connect with us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecan.shecan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecan-world/ Substack: https://shecan.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MAiuylxS5AhxCSQcm8cax?si=003fe73047cd465c