Humans, being. with Lael Stone

Amantha calls her AI 'Sunny'. She talks to it on the drive to the gym, like she's chatting to a friend. And it has quietly changed how she works, how she writes, and how she gets the thinking out of her own head.Dr. Amantha Imber is one of the sharpest, most generous humans I know. An organisational psychologist, the founder of Inventium, host of How I Work, the first Australian to win a Thinkers50 Innovation Award, the author of four bestselling books, and her brand new one, The Energy Game, lands in July.In this episode, we discuss Amantha's burnout year and the tiny experiments that crawled her back, the ones she calls boosts, rest, and protect. Why "fake rest" (Netflix while you scroll) won't fill the bucket. And we talk about the childhood praise imprint that drives so many of us: what if the goal isn't to be more, but to be okay with being ordinary?We explore:The pressure we accept being human and thinking we must do it allThe hit-by-a-bus fantasy and what it tells us about how women carry stressAI as a thought partner, and how Amantha uses it without losing the human bitWhat we want for our daughters, and the thinking skills we don't want to outsource[Recorded January 2026]About Amantha Imber:Dr. Amantha Imber is an organisational psychologist and the founder of Inventium, a behaviour-change consultancy that works with companies including Google, Apple and Lego. She also runs Inventium AI, focused on AI capability building inside organisations. Amantha hosts the How I Work podcast (over 6 million downloads) and recently launched a new podcast, How I AI. She is the first Australian to win a Thinkers50 Innovation Award and is the author of four bestselling books, including Time Wise and The Health Habit. Her new book, The Energy Game, is out on 7 July 2026.Connect with Amantha:Instagram: @amanthaiInventium: inventium.com.auNewsletter: One Percent BetterPodcasts: How I Work, How I AIBook: The Energy Game (out 7 July 2026)—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneAustralia’s Kindest Person:Australia’s Kindest Person is a national campaign created to help shine a light on the people whose kindness has made a real difference in the lives of others. To nominate someone, please visit:australiaskindestperson.com.auHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

There's a version of strength the world rewards – capable, tireless, always fine. And then there's the cost.Gorgi Coghlan is someone I've adored from the moment we met. She's formidable, warm, wildly accomplished, and the kind of person who makes you feel seen immediately.We talk about the imprints that drive us – the little girl who worked hard to be seen by a father whose love came through providing, not presence.We explore:The hidden cost of being "the strong one"Internal vs external boundaries - why protecting your own cup is the whole point, not the selfish partReconciling with a parent before it's too late, and what it means to carry that love with youHighly sensitive people: the superpower of reading the room, the cost of being depleted by it, and why Gorgi thinks HSP will be our next big cultural conversation"I haven't even begun." Gorgi's mantra at 50, and why she went back to drama school, just because she couldGorgi talks about who's advocating for her. Here is this extraordinary woman – accomplished, giving, deeply loved – and she still needs to hear herself say it out loud. YES. You are allowed to need something. You are allowed to ask for it. Even if – especially if – you've spent a long time being the one who doesn't.[Recorded January 2026]About Gorgi Coghlan:Gorgi Coghlan is a former Year 12 science and biology teacher turned broadcaster, presenter, and performer. She spent over a decade as co-host of The Project and The Circle on Channel Ten, and as a reporter and presenter on the Today Show on Channel Nine. An extraordinary singer, Gorgi performs live with her friend in their show Songbird – and is also now a voice on ABC Radio. She runs a hospitality business with her husband Simon, and is a devoted mum to her teenage daughter Molly.Connect with Gorgi:Instagram: @gorgicoghlanBiz: The Buninyong HotelSongbirds: Theatre Royal, Hobart, Jul 5. Tickets—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneAustralia’s Kindest Person:Australia’s Kindest Person is a national campaign created to help shine a light on the people whose kindness has made a real difference in the lives of others. To nominate someone, please visit:australiaskindestperson.com.auHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

There's a strange kind of comfort in staying exactly where you are – even when that is hurting you. In this episode, I’m talking with clinical psychologist Dr Emily Musgrove, and we discuss why the familiar feels safe even when it isn't, and what it actually takes to find our way back to ourselves.An imprint I have - from watching the busy women in my family – was that if you're not doing three things at once, you're lazy. That's the thread Emily and I pulled on together. We both grew up watching women just go, go, go – and then spent years unravelling what that cost us. Emily talks about returning from holiday and instantly flipping into doing mode. I talk about the moment I realised my anxiety was actually working for me - keeping me safe from being seen.Her book Unstuck grew from that reckoning. We talk about secondary gains (the hidden payoff in staying the same), the concept of the near enemy of kindness, what perimenopause might really be releasing in us as women, and the childhood imprints that shape who we become – and who we pass that on to.We explore:How to start building compassion when “love yourself” feels like too big a leap - and why Emily starts with the inner critic, not against itThe dinner table analogy that reframes your relationship with your own harsh inner voiceWhy empathy and compassion aren’t the same thing - and which one protects people who hold space for others from burning outWhy we unconsciously stay in painful patterns – and the concept of secondary gains that explains more than we’d like to admitThe “near enemy” of kindness - how self-sacrifice quietly masquerades as a virtue[Recorded Remotely October 2025]About Dr Emily Musgrove:Dr Emily Musgrove is a clinical psychologist based in Perth with over a decade of experience helping people find their way back to themselves. She is the beloved resident psychologist on The Imperfects Podcast - where she draws on real conversations to offer evidence-based strategies people can actually use. Her book, Unstuck: A Guide to Finding Your Way Forward to the Life You Want to Live, was released in May 2025.Connect with Emily:Website: dremilymusgrove.comInstagram: @dremilymusgroveBook: Unstuck (available in print, ebook and audio)—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

There are conversations that feel like they're about one thing, but they're actually about something else entirely. This one starts with laughter… and ends up in a tender place.Ryan Shelton is such an excellent human. He's one third of The Imperfects alongside Hugh and Josh van Cuylenburg, and a face on Australian screens for the better part of two decades, from Rove to Hamish & Andy. I knew going into this chat that it'd be warm and funny and real.We talk about what it costs to keep seeking approval, the psychology behind why so many of us are still waiting for someone to say "it's your turn now," and the surprising power of small, silly, seemingly pointless things. Ryan's beautiful quote - delivered with perfect comic timing and complete sincerity - might be my favourite callout from the whole season so far: "Silliness is worth taking seriously."We explore:The fear that stops you putting creative work into the world - and what actually happens when you finally do it anyway"Juvenile condition" - the Adlerian psychology concept that explains why so many adults are still waiting for permission to start their own livesLaughter as a nervous system response - and why it shows up in the strangest, most inconvenient momentsThe "three-sided column" from The Courage to Be Happy - and how it changes who you think is responsible for your lifeWhy silliness might be the most underrated form of connection and healing we have right nowAll the fear, the procrastination, the need for approval. The creativity, the silliness, the courage it takes to put something out there, even when you're scared. Ryan reminded me to take that a lot more seriously - and to laugh a lot more while I'm doing it.[Recorded January 2026]About Ryan Shelton:Ryan Shelton is one of Australia's most beloved comedians and writers. After two decades in Australian television - from Rove Live to co-writing Chris Lilley's We Can Be Heroes and producing Hamish & Andy's The Gap Year, True Story, and Perfect Holiday - he's now one third of The Imperfects, Australia's leading mental health podcast, alongside Hugh and Josh van Cuylenburg. In late 2025, he opened his debut solo art exhibition in Fitzroy: All This Work, Just For This. He takes silliness very, very seriously.Connect with Ryan:Instagram: @ryansheltonography Podcast: The Imperfects Podcast—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

What if the story you tell about your body isn’t really yours to begin with?In this warm, honest, and beautifully grounded conversation, I sit down with Steph Claire Smith – co-founder of KIC, model, podcaster, and mum – to explore the imprints that shape how we see ourselves, and what it takes to slowly, gently, rewrite them.Steph grew up in the public eye at a time when the wellness world had a very particular idea of what health was supposed to look like. We talk about what it meant to internalise that, how it showed up in her relationship with food and her body, and the long, non-linear journey towards actually feeling at home in herself.We also talk about motherhood, the pressure of building a business in the health and fitness space while doing your own inner work, and why Steph believes the most powerful thing she can do for her daughter is to keep going on her own healing journey.We explore:Growing up in the public eye – and what that does to a young woman’s sense of selfThe shift from performing wellness to actually living itBuilding KIC from the inside out – and why the mission has always been bigger than fitnessMotherhood as a mirror: what Steph sees in herself through her childrenThe ongoing, imperfect work of breaking old patternsWhat stayed with me after this conversation was Steph’s honesty about navigating the public eye and staying true to yourself.[Recorded January 2026]About Steph Claire Smith:Steph Claire Smith is the co-founder of KIC, a leading Australian health and wellness app focused on movement, mindfulness and nourishing food. A model, podcaster and mum, Steph has been open about her own journey with body image and mental health, and uses her platform to champion a more balanced, compassionate approach to wellbeing.Connect with Steph:Instagram: @stephclairesmithKICApp: kicwellness.comUse the code humansbeing for one month free when you sign up to the KICApp via the above website on a monthly subscription. Available for new and returning users only.—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

What if the worst thing that ever happened to you turned out to be the thing that taught you how to live truly?In this deeply moving and beautifully honest conversation, I sit down with Lisa Corduff – podcaster, storyteller, entrepreneur, and solo mum to three extraordinary kids – to explore what it means to carry grief, raise children through loss, and still choose joy.Lisa's husband Nick died in September 2019 while travelling in India and Lisa’s challenge was to keep showing up, to stay open to find joy even inside profound grief. We talk about the gifts that grief can give, the messy reality of solo parenting, what it means to let yourself fall apart so you can come back together differently, and the extraordinary five-month adventure Lisa took her kids on when she realised she needed to stop pretending she was okay.We explore:What Lisa's children taught her about joy and grief coexistingThe "good vibes only" trap – and why grief has to be felt to move throughKeeping Nick present in positive and loving ways as the kids growBecoming the "fun parent" and straddling joy and boundaries soloWhat it really means to live fully in the face of deathCrafting the story your children carry: the power of the imprints we give in our darkest momentsWhat struck me most in sitting with Lisa was her willingness to hold all of it at once. The sadness and the adventure. The grief and the laughter. The very worst thing and the extraordinary life she has built in its shadow.[Recorded October 2025]About Lisa Corduff:Lisa Corduff is a podcaster, storyteller, and entrepreneur passionate about helping women find and share their own voices. She is the host of Conversations with Lisa, where she explores big topics including AI, climate change, and what it means to raise children in this moment in time. Lisa also teaches storytelling and is a passionate advocate for women claiming the power of their own stories.Connect with Lisa:Instagram: @lisacorduffPodcast: Conversations with Lisa: This Moment in Time—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

What if authenticity isn’t something you find... but something you return to?In this warm, honest, and at times deeply moving conversation, I sit down with Kat John; coach, author, and one of those rare humans who just radiates something you want to lean into. Kat helps people come home to themselves, their hearts, and what really matters. And in this conversation, she does exactly that - for herself, and for all of us listening.We explore:The ego voice that tells us we’re not doing enough - and how to hold it with compassion instead of feeding itThe dance between significance and simplicity - and why we don’t have to chooseKat’s remarkable healing journey - from brain surgery and chronic pain to living pain-free through the power of visualisationWhat it means to be cut off from your body early in life, and the slow, brave work of coming home to itFive Rhythms, movement, and why healing so often lives in the body rather than the mindThe complex, beautiful, challenging space of being a step-parentPerimenopause, rage, and learning to feel the feelings we were never allowed to haveWhat it looks like to build a brand and a life from a place of radical authenticity[Recorded October 2025]About Kat John:Kat John is a coach, speaker, and author of Authentic - a book about coming home to who you really are. Through her words, her work, and her deeply relatable presence, Kat reminds us that authenticity isn’t something to perform - it’s something to return to. She hosts the podcast Authentic, and runs programs including The Good Life and Authentic - The Program.Connect with Kat:Instagram: @kat.johnPodcast: Authentic. The PodcastBook: AuthenticPrograms: The Good Life + Authentic - The Program—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

Sometimes the challenges in life bear the greatest rewards!In this honest and tender conversation, I sit down with Sarah Pound, nutritionist, recipe writer, author of two best-selling cookbooks, and the creator behind Wholesome by Sarah, where over 1 million followers turn to make food feel effortless and joyful.But this conversation goes way beyond recipes and Instagram. Sarah and I explore the beautiful, messy reality of navigating competition, comparison, and understanding that creativity comes in many forms. We explore:Reframing "imposter syndrome" as simply lacking experience (and why that's actually okay).Navigating motherhood and running a business and finding the middle ground.Competition, comparison, and the discomfort of jealousy, but staying in your own lane.Building a business on your own terms, not how it's "supposed" to be done.The Imprints we want to pass on to our children about food.What I loved about this conversation was Sarah's willingness to be so real about the parts of success that don't get talked about – the isolation, the comparison, and trusting the journey even when it feels like it's falling apart. Sarah shares about her own growth around emotional intelligence and reminds us that you can be wildly successful and still be working through your stuff. You can have it all together on the outside and still be figuring out who you are beyond what you do.[Recorded October 2025]About Sarah Pound: Sarah is a nutritionist, recipe writer, content creator, and author of two best-selling cookbooks, including her latest, "Family Food". As the creator of Wholesome by Sarah, she's built a community of over 1 million followers by making food feel simple, delicious, and guilt-free. Sarah is also co-founder of Simply Wholesome Pantry, recipe writer for Good Food Australia, and radio co-host for Wellness Australia. Beyond the beautiful food content, Sarah is a mother navigating the beautiful messiness of building a business whilst raising her family and doing her own inner work.Connect with Sarah:Instagram: @wholesomebysarahWeb: wholesomebysarah.com.auCookbooks: "Family Food" and “Wholesome by Sarah”—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

What if we stopped measuring our worth by what we achieve, and started remembering who we actually are?In this heartwarming and playful conversation, I sit down with Ben Crowe, Australia's most in-demand mindset and performance coach, founder of Mojo Crowe, and someone who deeply understands that we are human beings first, and human doings second.Ben works with elite athletes and high performers, but this conversation goes far beyond sport or success. It's about what it means to simply be human... to play, to explore, to be worthy regardless of outcome. And to remember that our achievements don't determine our identity, but by the beautiful, messy, curious humans we actually are.We explore:Separating who you are from what you doThe two core beliefs that change everything: "I'm worthy no matter what" and "I believe in what's possible"Permission to play, experiment, and see what's possibleHow the "busy" epidemic disconnects us from our humanityNeoteny – reconnecting with our juvenile gene as we get olderThe courage to spread our wings whilst staying rooted in our worthinessWhat felt so beautiful in our sharing together was coming back to that gorgeous place of playing, of being vulnerable, of finding that joy, and letting that spark come through. Because when we do that, we're often better humans. We often interact in kinder ways. We often can turn up with more compassion.[Recorded October 2025]About Ben Crowe:Ben is Australia's most in-demand mindset and performance coach, working with elite athletes, business leaders, and individuals seeking to understand who they are beyond what they do. His philosophy centres on helping people separate their identity from their achievements, focusing on authenticity, vulnerability, connection and the permission to play. Ben is the founder of Mojo Crowe, which has codified 15 years of his work into accessible exercises and resources. His new book, "Where The Light Gets In" explores these foundational principles of worthiness and possibility.Connect with Ben:Instagram: @mojocroweWeb: mojocrowe.comBook: Where the Light Gets In—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.

What does it really mean to belong? And what happens when we're brave enough to step into uncomfortable places to create a sense of belonging for others?In this deeply moving first episode, I sit down with Rana Hussain – founder of ‘Good Human’, broadcaster, board member, and one of the most courageous humans I know. Rana was the first Muslim woman appointed to a national sporting board, and today sits on the boards of Welcoming Australia, Reconciliation Australia, and Basketball Australia.But this conversation isn't about achievements or accolades... it's about the human experience beneath them all.We explore:Setting inner boundaries when work becomes your identity (and why that's trickier than it sounds)The fundamental human need to be seen and heard – no matter who we are or where we come fromHow childhood imprints show up in our adult lives, especially around belonging and exclusionCreating safer spaces for our children whilst doing our own healing workThe power of curiosity over judgment when navigating difficult conversationsHow being authentic – really, truly ourselves – requires both bravery and comfortI found myself moved to tears during this conversation. Rana's willingness to be vulnerable, to stand in uncomfortable places, and to keep showing up with compassion and humanity is exactly what the world needs more of right now.This is what ‘Humans, being.’ is all about... witnessing the stories we carry, understanding the patterns that shape us, and recognising our shared humanity in all of it.[Recorded October 2025]About Rana Hussain:Rana is the founder of ‘Good. Human’, which helps people and organisations build cultures of belonging across self, team, and system. She honed her skills in elite sport and now works across corporate, not-for-profit, and other sectors, bringing lessons of high-performance culture to diverse environments. A sought-after speaker, facilitator, and broadcaster, Rana is driven by the recognition that belonging is a core human need for all of us to thrive.Connect with Rana:Instagram: @ranabhussainLinkedIn: /rana-hussainWeb: goodhuman.auPodcast: Play Big—Connect with Humans, being™:Web: humansbeing.auInstagram: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneFacebook: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneTikTok: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneYouTube: @humansbeingwithlaelstoneHumans, being.™ is produced on the lands of the Bunurong and Wadawurrung people. We pay respect to their unique and diverse cultures and to elders past, present and future.