Share

cover art for Mind your mindfulness

LifePilot: Be the CEO of your life, not just your business!

Mind your mindfulness

•

For the last 7 years I’ve been running my business The Suitcase Entrepreneur from all over the world, while living out of the suitcase and going on adventures. This year, in 2017, I’ve decided to fire myself. Yup, that’s right. I am quitting. I am taking a business sabbatical from my own business and instead I am taking YOU on a Quest for Freedom. Your freedom. I'm so freakin excited to do this. To understand why the heck I am, here's a bit of backstory into me. This is actually taken from my TEDx talk last year called ‘The Surprising Truth About Freedom’ (feel free to just watch from 12:12-15:44).

Why tune into this podcast?

After watching, I hope you can understand why I’ve named this podcast Natalie Sisson’s Quest for Freedom, because as I mentioned, I’m on a hunt to understand what freedom really is. This podcast is part audio journal, part narrative and part ‘choose your own adventure’. It will be divided into Seasons (just like on TV) and each season will be a different quest around freedom. I’m starting with Personal freedom, and I’ll break that down more in Episode 2.

What is the definition of Freedom?

First off let’s attempt to better understand freedom (or maybe expose why this is no ordinary quest I’m going on). Over the years I’ve asked a LOT of people what their definition of personal freedom is and I am starting to see a pattern in their answers. A couple of Friday's ago I was having dinner with friends and new acquaintances, listening to music and discussing all sorts of topics. So I decided to whip out my new Zoom H6 recorder and ask them a question for my new podcast. They all agreed, so without any background I just launched into my question which I posed to them which was: "What's your definition of freedom?" Here’s what they had to say:

“Deciding when you want to wake up in the morning, where you want to be and deciding what you want to do for the day.”

“Freedom for me is abundance but it’s conditional on the freedom of others. I am not free if other people aren’t free.”

“There are a lot of different types of freedom, but the most important freedom is the freedom from our own minds, and that if freedom is dependent on external factors then it’s not truly free.”

“I believe that the only thing that we are actually in control of is how we react in the moment and having an internal sense of freedom to be able to react as we choose is the ultimate freedom.”

“Choice. You just get to choose freely whether it’d be a monetary thing or just your thoughts or your reactions.”

“Free is something that doesn’t cost anything”

Do any of those resonate with you? I go on to say in my podcast: "There’s also a price to pay for too much freedom. I feel like I experienced that a few weeks ago when I was trying to make a big decision in my life, and I realized I was so free in choosing either one, that I almost felt paralyzed for the first time. There was too much freedom. You have to have some boundaries and some limits within which to feel free." So as you can see from this discussion…..I’m really no closer to uncovering a definition for freedom. And perhaps it’s un-defineable. Perhaps this whole quest is going to impossible, but I can’t wait either way because this is a year like no other. I’m firing myself and taking a business sabbatical to become a student of life, and go on a quest to find freedom.

What is a Quest?

Now that we've established the challenge in defining freedom, I thought understanding what a quest is would be a logical next move. So back to my friends for their ideas around this:

“It’s like bigger than yourself. There will be obstacles, there will be doubt, there will be naysayers, there will be almost insurmountable odds but your values and what’s inside of you pull you forward beyond what you think is possible and achieving your quest will be one of the greatest memories for a parts of your life.”

“A quest is fundamentally a search for meaning. It’s about trying to find and discover meaning.”

“Is quest the root of question?”

And yes is the answer to that question. I looked it up on the interwebs to find it is from late Middle English: from Old French queste (noun), based on Latin quaerere ‘ask, seek’. According to the dictionary, because all intrepid people going on a quest would of course refer to a dictionary first right….. a quest is both a noun and a verb. noun

  1. a long or arduous search for something.

That sounds really freaking fun doesn’t it… long and arduous? Ah no thanks. The verb came up with much better results in my opinion

  1. search for something.
  search, seek, look, hunt, pursue, investigate, explore, probe, inspect
  • "his eyes quested to left and right"

 

That all sounds much better. But if you ever hear me saying “My eyes quested to the left and right” I’ve either lost the plot or I’m exploring a medieval festival and getting in character. According to Wikipedia a quest serves as a plot device in mythology and fiction: a difficult journey towards a goal, often symbolic or allegorical. Tales of quests figure prominently in the folklore of every nation and ethnic culture.... The moral of a quest tale often centers on the changed character of the hero. So I guess for the purposes of Natalie Sisson’s Quest for Freedom podcast…. I’m the hero? Which also means I’m the one who has to go through the good, the bad and the ugly. I am a walking, talking human experiment, so that you can sit back in your armchair at home, or on your drive to the city, or while you’re enjoying a relaxing pedicure, and listen to me do all the hard stuff, the grueling, intense, exciting, thrilling, daring and at times, prob mundane things I need to do to achieve on this Quest for Freedom. And I’m ok with that. You know. I’ll take it on the chin. Partly because it’s my idea and all so I have no excuse to complain. And partly cos I kind of like the idea of being the guinea pig. First things first I feel like you guys need to give me an appropriate mythological made up Hero’s name.

Do me a favor and humour me. Leave a comment below with your idea for my 'hero' name. I’ll choose the best one, and for season one will henceforth call myself that name and you’ll get your name in the credits.

My favourite definition of a quest, because I found it so fitting, was from Vocabulary.com A quest is all about seeking something important, and it often involves a journey. You would travel the world in a quest for gold. You would not travel to the front of the lunchroom in a quest for tater tots. Ha. That’s one heck of a definition. They go on to say: Knights in the Middle Ages were forever taking on quests––most famously to find the Holy Grail. In modern times, you can quest without ever leaving home, thanks to the Internet. A scientist might embark on a quest to find the cure for cancer. A detective might quest for the truth. It’s worthwhile noting here that quest is also a verb that means bark with prolonged noises, of dogs. Perhaps something I can incorporate into the show? Unintentionally I chose this word because it sounds grandiose, but in a good ol down to earth way. And probably because as a kid I loved Greek Mythology and read books like Odysseus, or Ulysses, depending on which side you gun for more. Same hero. Same quest. Different name. Unbeknownst to me however is the Quest is one of 7 Types of Story Plots you can use when writing, or making a movie! According to Liz Bureman over at The Write Practice: “The Quest is a search for a place, item, or person that requires the hero to leave home in order to find it. Sometimes the item is just a MacGuffin to drive the plot along. I’m going to pause to explain here, as I had no idea what a MacGuffin was, but if you’re a fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark, it’s the thing the hero needs to find on their journey to get to the real important thing. So in this case the golden monkey head Harrison Ford finds in the tomb, not the actual ark. Back to Liz: “Other times the thing driving the quest is specific to the story’s circumstances. Either way, the hero is leaving home to find whatever the heck the story demands, and we get to come along for the ride.” Sounds fair to me. You game to come on this ride with me? You’re not going to leave me all alone out here are you? To show you’re serious if you’re not subscribed to my show on iTunes and you want to follow along on Season One then head to nataliesisson.com/itunes and it will take you straight there! You can do the same by heading to nataliesisson.com/stitcher too. Ok here’s where Liz got me thinking. She went on to describe the characters in a quest and I realized I’m going to need a crew. You see a quest is the plot type most likely to have a group of main characters rather than one protagonist in the main eye of the story. Shiiiiittt and here I was thinking this was ALL about me! Nope apparently not. According to Liz I should have:

  • A close friend who is loyal to our hero, but doesn’t have much else going for him or her;
  • A sidekick who is the polar opposite of the hero mentally, physically, and emotionally;
  • A generic mass of identity-less bros who don’t get names because they’re not alive long enough to matter; or
  • A balanced party of brains, heart, and strength who support the hero, or who count the hero as one of their own.

So I guess before the next episode I need to find some of these characters to make this more enticing right? Ok I’ll be back in the next episode with some characters, I can’t guarantee they’ll fit the bill but heck, this is my quest so I get to choose them. It may even be you if you play your cards right! Whereever you’re tuning in or reading this from around the world, I’m sending you a BIG virtual hug of thanks and gratitude for tuning into to the very first Season and Episode of Natalie Sisson’s Quest for Freedom. If you want to make my day leave a comment below to:

  • tell me my Hero name
  • simply say hi, and;
  • add your own definition of what freedom means to you.

Go ahead and make sure you subscribe to the show in any podcast player you have, and find me on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Google Play and iHeartRadio.

Tune in to the next episode where I let an Oracle tell me what I can expect in 2017….

Yep I consulted an Oracle...or more over the Suburban Psychic approached me to do a session with me. And here's just a snippet of what she had to say: "There’s a part of you that doesn’t want to know stuff, and there’s that little part of you that is giving permission to you to dive in deeper, to explore further, because you got this amazing watch dog in the ego. If a wave is crashing, coming towards you you don’t try to get over the top and scoot your way around it. You got to dive into that sucker and that’s the only way you are going to come out the other side without being thrown on your head and getting sand in places that you don’t want to even talk about " Intrigued? Make sure you jump in and sign up to updates via email so I can share with you when each episode goes live.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 117. 117. The Freedom Plan Most Entrepreneurs Never Create (And Why It’s Costing You Your Life)

    19:08||Season 1, Ep. 117
    Let me ask you something that I think most people never actually stop to answer: What does your freedom plan look like?Not in a vague, "one day I'll slow down" kind of way. I mean actually,  how many hours a week do you want to work? What does your ideal month look like? When do you want to take Fridays off, go hiking, have a full pamper day, travel, or just be?Because here's what I'm seeing way too much of right now: people letting life and business happen to them, instead of being fully intentional about designing the life they actually want. And I just can't stop talking about it.That’s why in this episode, I'm getting into what it really means to create a life-first business. I talk about hustle culture, the myth that you have to sacrifice everything to build something meaningful, what it really means to build a business that works for your life, and the beautiful work I'm doing with a client in the dental industry who is, for the very first time, asking herself how she actually wants to live.This is the stuff that fires me up. Because I genuinely believe,with every single part of me, that you can build a business you love, run it in 10 to 20 hours a week, make really great money, and live a really great life. And it is not selfish. It is not unrealistic. It is intentional.What You'll Learn:Why so many entrepreneurs accidentally build businesses they resentThe difference between seasons of hustle and a full-time lifestyle of overwork (and how to know which one you're in)What happened when I found my 2025 vision notes and realised I'd actually manifested most of themWhy your financial freedom number is the starting point for designing everything elseHow to reverse engineer a freedom plan that gives you spaciousness, abundance, and a business that matches your dream lifestyle

  • 116. 116. Why most people are using AI wrong and how to make it work for you with Joshua Vial

    56:21||Season 1, Ep. 116
    Be honest. How are you actually using AI right now?If you're like most people, you're probably asking it questions, tweaking some copy, maybe getting it to write a caption or two. And that's a great start. But what if AI could actually do the work for you? Like, really do it. Read and sort your emails. Schedule your social posts. Rebuild your website. Research every single person in a room before you walk in.That's what my husband Joshua Vial has been building in our house for the last few years. And watching him do it has been equal parts inspiring and humbling. Every week I'd see him do something that made my jaw drop and I'd say, Josh, you have to come and tell people about this. So here we finally are.Josh has spent 25 years as a programmer, co-founded Dev Academy Aotearoa where he helped hundreds of people go from zero to landing their first job in tech, and co-founded FundSorter, an AI platform saving New Zealand charities up to 90% of the time they used to spend chasing grant funding. These days through Code With JV he runs courses and a newsletter helping real people cut through the noise and actually use AI in their work and lives. He is one of the most forward-thinking people I know. And I finally got him on the podcast.So if you've been meaning to get better at working with AI and want to tap into its potential, this is the episode to teach you how.What You'll Learn:Why thinking of AI as an "intelligence" is actually getting in your way, and what mental model works betterThe difference between Level 1 AI use (chat windows, copy paste) and Level 2, where AI has actual digital hands and does things for youWhy AI is really good at producing things that look good but aren't, and how to protect yourself from thatHow to start systematising your work so AI can genuinely take things off your plateHow Josh went from 2,000 unread emails across six inboxes to a fully AI managed system for almost nothingThe social media workflow that took him from barely posting to 130,000 LinkedIn impressions in a week

  • 115. 115. Why Working Harder Isn't Working Anymore with Dr. Amy Albright

    52:43||Season 1, Ep. 115
    You're not broken. You're not lazy. You're not behind.Your brain might just be firing in the wrong places, and no amount of hustle can fix that.That's exactly what Dr. Amy Albright helped me understand in this truly profound conversation.Dr. Amy’s journey began as a neuroscience student and self-described atheist, until a profound spiritual awakening during an acupuncture session changed everything. Since then, she’s spent over three decades integrating cutting-edge brain science, quantum biology, energetic healing, and intuitive wisdom to help visionaries, CEOs, and changemakers unlock their fullest potential.Together, we explore what it truly means to combine the mystical with the measurable, not in a “woo” way, but in a grounded, deeply scientific approach to human transformation. We talk about real-time brain mapping, nervous system regulation, consciousness expansion, and why most personal growth models are built on the false belief that we’re broken.We also dive into how motherhood rewires the brain, why intuition is a trainable skill, and how shifting your internal state — not just your strategy — changes everything from leadership to creativity to ease in life and business.If you've been working harder but getting diminishing returns, if you feel stuck in old patterns despite knowing better, or if you're ready to stop operating from outdated software, this episode will shift something in you.What You'll Learn:Why the model of "I'm broken and need to fix myself" is outdated software that keeps you stuckThe neurological shift that happens in a mother's brain (amygdala changes) and why it can make "going all in" feel impossibleHow to stop popping your energy out of yourself and into your children, partner, or business, and why centering back into yourself makes everyone feel saferThe difference between aspirational spirituality ("bliss bunnies") and grounded transformation that creates measurable changeWhy zooming out to the meta-frame (instead of staying zoomed in on immediate problems) is a strategy, not a bypass

  • 114. 114. My HYROX Race Lessons (And the Science-Backed Reasons to Do Crazy Hard Things)

    23:50||Season 1, Ep. 114
    I need to be honest with you: I didn't enjoy my HYROX race last week.  Not one moment felt like I was “crushing it.” I was slower than I wanted to be, overheated, disappointed, and questioning myself more than once.And you know what? That makes it the most valuable thing I've done so far this year.This is the story of how a tough race taught me more about resilience, self-efficacy, and mental strength than any perfect performance ever could. It's about what happened when I debriefed with my AI coach ChatGPT, how the science of stress inoculation actually works,  and why doing hard physical things — especially when they don’t go to plan — can radically change how you show up in every other area of your life.If you’ve ever felt disappointed after something you worked hard for… or wondered whether pushing yourself physically is “worth it”, this episode will shift how you see challenge, confidence, and growth.What You'll Learn:Why the challenges that stretch you don’t always feel good in the moment and why they matter more because of itWhat HYROX actually is and why it's become a $140 million global phenomenon that makes "average people feel like athletes"Why this was the first event I've paid for that I genuinely didn't enjoy (and why that made it so valuable)How self-efficacy, stress inoculation, and generalized confidence actually work (backed by research from Albert Bandura)Why my brain learned more from struggle than it would have from a perfect race

  • 113. 113. Why growing on social media is the riskiest business strategy in 2026 with Jenny Melrose

    41:57||Season 1, Ep. 113
    Let’s be real: are you creating content everywhere but connecting with no one?Posting daily, showing up on multiple platforms, but your audience isn't growing. Your email list is stagnant. And the profit you thought would follow? It's not there.Here's the hard truth: you might be building your entire business on borrowed land.That's exactly what happened to today's guest, Jenny Melrose. She had 660,000 followers on Google+. Then one day, the platform shut down and she lost every single one of them. That painful lesson completely transformed how she builds audiences—and it's why she's here to share what actually works.Jenny is a former reading specialist turned marketing strategist, author of Influencer Entrepreneurs, and host of the Influencer Entrepreneurs podcast. She's been building online businesses since 2009 and has weathered every major shift in the digital landscape.In this conversation, we dive into her PACK framework for standing out authentically, why your personal brand is your greatest defense against AI, how to create one piece of content and repurpose it into multiple formats, and why your email list is the only audience you truly own.If you've ever felt invisible online despite showing up everywhere, or wondered how to use AI without sounding generic, this episode will change how you build your business.Get ready for systems, strategy, and the wake-up call you need about where you're investing your energy online.What You'll Learn:The PACK framework: Positioning, Authenticity, Confidence, and Kindness (and why each matters more than ever)How to find your unique positioning by looking at your real life experiences and the problems people already come to you forWhy complete flexibility in your business will actually drive you insane (and what to do instead)The content creation system that starts with keyword research and ends with SEO-optimized blog posts, podcast episodes, and YouTube videosHow to use AI effectively: as a brainstorming assistant, outline creator, and editor, without losing your unique voiceHow to stop comparing yourself to that 35-year-old making millions (and be kind to yourself instead)

  • 112. 112. Behind the scenes of my Saudi Arabia trip and being back on the global stage

    29:06||Season 1, Ep. 112
    I almost deleted the email that changed my year.There it was, sitting in my inbox while Josh and I were testing out our new standing desks in our Bali villa, a speaking invitation to Saudi Arabia that looked way too good to be true. And honestly? I thought it was a scam. But this is the story of how that "sketchy" email turned into me standing on stage as the only female keynote speaker at one of Saudi Arabia's largest entrepreneurship events, flying business class, staying at the Ritz Carlton, and getting paid to share a message I deeply believe in.More than that, it's about what happens when you plant seeds without knowing where they'll grow, when you show up with intention even when no one's watching, and when you stay open to possibilities that sound impossible. Because the real twist? The reason I got invited traced back to someone I'd spoken to six years ago and a manifestation practice I started at the beginning of 2025.If you’ve ever wondered how big opportunities actually happen, or felt called to think bigger about what’s possible for you in your work and life, this one’s for you.What You'll Learn:How a random email in my inbox turned into a dream speaking opportunity (and why I thought it was a scam)What Saudi Arabia is really like in 2025, the massive transformation happening, what surprised me most, and what I got totally wrongWhy being the only female keynote speaker felt like both a privilege and a responsibilityHow someone I spoke to six years ago became the reason I got invited and what that teaches us about showing up authenticallyWhat it's really like to speak on an international stage Why this trip reminded me that the world is more open, more curious, and more interconnected than we think

  • 111. 111. Quit Setting Goals and Use the Annual Anchors Method to Transform Your Year in 2026

    20:52||Season 1, Ep. 111
    I'm about to tell you something that might sting a little: in about three weeks, you're probably gonna be doing the exact same thing you did all last year.I know. You've got your goals. You've got your intentions. You're ready for a new year, new start, new you.But unless you've got a methodology that actually works, that niggly feeling you have right now? It's probably right.Here's what I realized after years of hitting some goals but always ending up back at baseline: I wasn't changing who I was in order to get what I wanted. And without that, nothing was ever gonna fundamentally shift.That’s why, I'm sharing the Annual Anchors Methodology, the framework that completely transformed how I approach my year. Instead of chasing 47 different goals, I focus on three foundational anchors that ground me in what actually matters. And it really works!.After listening, you'll understand why being comes before doing, how to choose your three most important priorities for the year, and you'll have a concrete roadmap to make this your most intentional year yet (without burning out or giving up by February).What You'll Learn:Why most goal-setting fails (hint: you're skipping the most critical step)The be → do → have framework that actually gets resultsHow I chose my three Annual Anchors for 2026 (and why my business isn't one of them)The exact structure: one anchor + one "so that" statement + three committed actions + a 90-day habit trackerWhy breaking up with my phone is already changing everything in just two weeksThe difference between reacting and responding, especially in your closest relationshipsWhat it means to prioritize intuition over hustle this year

  • 110. 110. Invest Your Time Like Money and Stop Working Around the Clock with Elizabeth Grace Saunders

    46:08||Season 1, Ep. 110
    Freedom doesn’t come from having endless flexibility.It comes from knowing what matters and protecting it with intention.In this episode of the LifePilot Podcast, I sit down with Elizabeth Grace Saunders, one of the world’s leading time management experts and the founder of Real Life E®, for a grounded, honest conversation about time, boundaries, and self-worth.Elizabeth and I have known each other for over a decade — long before either of us were married or parents — and throughout the years, I’ve watched her quietly and consistently redefine what time management actually means. Not hustle. Not optimisation. But peace, presence, and intentional living.In this conversation, Elizabeth shares how she became a time management coach by first fixing her own unhealthy relationship with work, why most entrepreneurs struggle more once they leave corporate life, and how planning ahead is the thing that actually creates flexibility, not restriction.We also dive into motherhood, shifting capacity, lowering expectations without lowering standards, and navigating the rise of AI without losing your voice, creativity, or sense of worth.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by freedom, guilty when you rest, or stuck reacting instead of leading your life, this episode will bring clarity, calm, and perspective.What You'll Learn:Why the flexibility of entrepreneurship often drives us insane (and what to do about it)The "infinity pool" model that will revolutionize how you think about your timeThe top three time management challenges almost everyone faces but thinks are unique to themHow to translate your values into concrete actions on your calendar (not just vague intentions)What having two young children has taught a time management expert about lowering expectations and radical prioritizationThe surprisingly emotional reality of running a business in the age of AI (and why your human value matters more than ever)

  • 109. 109. The 6-Step Reverse Planning Methodology I Use to Claim My Life First

    19:45||Season 1, Ep. 109
    I'm about to tell you something that might sting a little: you've been planning your years completely backwards. And it's costing you everything.Here's what I see every single January, and maybe you'll recognize yourself in this: You're setting bold revenue goals, mapping out launches, planning content calendars. It all looks perfect on paper. You're ambitious. You're strategic. You're ready to make things happen.But by March? You're exhausted. By June? You're behind. And by September, you're lying awake at night wondering why this business you built to give you freedom feels like it's running you instead of supporting the life you actually want to live.Sound familiar?Here's the thing: after years of doing this work myself and with hundreds of ambitious women just like you, I've discovered something radical. The problem isn't that you're not disciplined enough. It's not that you're not working hard enough. The problem is the planning methodology itself.We've been doing this backwards. We plan business first. And then we try to squeeze our lives into whatever's left over.In this episode, I'm sharing part of  my framework from my Plan Your Ideal Freedom Year workshop, the methodology that's changed everything for me and the women I work with. And it starts with a simple but powerful flip: what if you built your business around your life instead of fitting your life around your business?If you're in your 40s or 50s like me, juggling aging parents, kids launching into adulthood, your own health becoming more complex, and a business that seems to demand more every single year,  this isn't just a nice idea. This approach is necessary. It's how you stop optimizing and start actually living.What You'll Learn:Why everything you've been taught about business planning is backwards (and why it's leading you straight to burnout, resentment, and a business that consumes your life instead of supporting it)The 6-step reverse planning methodology I use to claim my life first, then build my business around my actual capacity, not some fantasy version where nothing goes wrongHow to choose your word for the year that becomes your North Star (mine is "golden" for 2026, and I'll tell you exactly why)The non-negotiable first step that most ambitious women skip and why skipping it is stealing your energy, creativity, and joyWhy women in their 40s and 50s must plan differently. Your energy, responsibilities, and wellbeing require a new strategic approach.The holistic life planning process I created with LifePilot to make sure your health, relationships, and personal growth don't get sacrificed on the altar of business success
Copyright LifePilot
Hosted with ❤️ by Acast