Episode Introduction

What if the toughest parts of your life aren’t setbacks — but raw materials?

In this reflective Noise of Life medium episode, Steve sits down with Jade Miller to unpack the simple, human framework behind her philosophy of turning lemons into lemonade.

Jade breaks down the three steps that help anyone move from overwhelm to empowerment: knowing yourself, understanding your relationships, and clarifying your wider context.

She also shares how thinking like an artist — even if you don’t see yourself as one — builds resilience, creativity and emotional freedom.

If you’re stuck, depleted, or wrestling with change, this conversation is a reminder that you have more power, awareness and creative potential than you think.

About Our Guest

Jade Miller is a New Zealand–born artist, author and creative mentor whose work explores emotional resilience, identity and the healing potential of daily creativity. Through her platform Lemonade with Jade, she helps people reconnect with their inner artist through simple practices that promote self-awareness, expression and wellbeing.

Follow Our Guest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemonade_with_jade/

Follow Us On

Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestevehodgson

Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharewithsteve

Episode Highlights

00:00 – How do you make your own lemonade? Jade outlines the simple three-step process.

00:07 – Step 1: Understanding yourself — looking in the mirror, owning your patterns, behaviours and emotional responses.

00:28 – Why awareness matters: most people try to change their environment before changing themselves.

00:43 – Step 2: Understanding your relationships — who you give energy to, who drains you, what needs forgiveness, and why releasing bitterness is freedom.

01:29 – “Water off a duck’s back”: learning to let go without excusing others.

02:03 – Step 3: Understanding your context — the systems, constructs and conditioning shaping your world.

02:34 – How knowing the macro helps you navigate your micro.

03:17 – Focusing your energy on what you can control instead of what you can’t.

03:47 – Stress, anxiety and the power of redirecting your energy to aligned action.

04:04 – Daily choices: how small practices counteract the noise of the world.

04:48 – Thinking like an artist: the mindset that helps people in life and business.

05:10 – The five traits artists embody:

• Perceptive awareness

• Social fluency

• Visionary communication

• Creative intelligence

• Resilient self-leadership

06:59 – Why artists are among the most resilient people in the world.

08:11 – Who is an artist? Jade’s answer: everyone.

08:51 – Creativity beyond painting: cooking, gardening, writing, movement, anything with your hands.

09:32 – The “I’m not creative” myth — and why everyone has creative bones.

10:28 – Why creativity is essential for a healthy, whole life.

10:50 – For those afraid to try: why being “not good” doesn’t matter.

11:04 – Good is subjective — a lesson we were taught the opposite of at school.

11:40 – The five-minute challenge: one notebook, one pen, five minutes before bed.

12:10 – “Everyone has five minutes”: replacing screen time with creative time.

12:54 – The quiet nudge inside us — the thing you know you should put energy into.

13:15 – A reminder from the great artists: unfinished, raw work can be iconic.

14:09 – Jade’s favourite Cézanne sketch — why imperfection tells the real story.

In this week’s episode, I had a grounding conversation with Laura Montesanti about why travel can be a practice of healing rather than a form of escape.

Laura shared how the silence of Covid helped her reconnect to purpose which led to creating Synergy The Retreat Show, a trade event designed to change how our industry does business by placing wellbeing, community and experiential practice at the center.

We explored the idea of destination energy, the importance of designing retreats that truly regenerate people and places, and the small accessible practices such as breathwork, smiling and mindful time in nature that can make wellness feel normal and available to everyone.

Laura’s stories from trekking in Nepal to living in Montenegro show what becomes possible when place and human connection align. If you work in travel, hospitality or wellness or if you want a holiday that feels meaningful and restorative this conversation offers a powerful lens for rethinking travel.

Inside this podcast:

The origin story of Synergy and how the quiet of Covid revealed a new purpose. Why retreats can be tools for transformation rather than escape. How community and experiential design create deeper and longer lasting business relationships. Practical and accessible practices that support wellness such as breathwork and mindful time in nature. The role of regenerative travel and authentic local connection in healing both guests and hosts.

Connect with Synergy & Laura:

Instagram → https://bit.ly/4oZu51b

LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/4qsz3F1

LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3KyJDLj

Connect with Steve:

Instagram → https://bit.ly/3KARQhR

LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/48sw8Vj

Episode Highlights

00:00 Meeting Laura Montesanti

03:13 Defining the noise of life and how the silence of Covid revealed purpose

04:19 Founding Synergy Retreat Show with a focus on community and healing the industry

09:31 What makes Synergy Retreat Show unique with experiential sessions and structured meetings

11:11 Why traditional trade shows drain people and how to do business more holistically

15:13 Creating retreats that speak to men and shifting the narrative around male vulnerability

17:10 Personal loss and the drive to support mental health within travel

21:31 Destination energy and choosing locations that match inner needs

26:21 Trekking to Kura Lake in Nepal and the power of community on the road

37:16 Wellness as a life necessity and why schools should teach basic practices

42:06 The power of smiling and simple rituals that support wellbeing

43:39 A shift toward regenerative business and more purposeful travel

54:06 Announcing Synergy’s next location in northern Croatia with themes of nature, adventure and freedom

ABOUT THE PODCAST SHOW

The Noise of Life is a podcast that shares real stories, raw truths and remarkable growth. Hosted by Steve Hodgson a coach, facilitator, speaker, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. This podcast dives deep into the “noise” we all face, the distractions, doubts and challenges that can pull us away from who we truly are.

Nick Bracks on Behaviour Change, Rock Bottom & Rebuilding Your Life One Step at a Time

Episode Introduction

What do you do when life falls apart — and you realise you can’t outrun yourself anymore?

In this grounded and practical Noise of Life medium episode, Steve sits down with Nick Bracks to unpack one of the most universal crossroads:

How do you change your life when you feel stuck, overwhelmed or at rock bottom?

Nick openly shares the steps that helped him climb out of severe depression, addiction and self-destruction — steps anyone can apply. From being dragged to a psychologist by his mum, to vomiting before university presentations, to learning that one small step is the true engine of change, Nick breaks behaviour change into simple, doable actions.

This episode is your invitation to stop trying to overhaul your whole life… and instead take one honest step forward.

About Our Guest

Nick Bracks is an Australian mental health advocate, speaker and founder of Move Your Mind, a global platform for behaviour change and wellbeing. After overcoming depression and addiction, he now teaches people how to build sustainable habits, lead themselves and create long-term change. He is also the author of Move Your Mind: How to Build a Healthy Mindset for Life.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Rock bottom: when everything feels impossible.00:38 – The unexpected gift of struggle: empathy.01:13 – The one thing you must not do: nothing.01:20 – Being dragged to a psychologist and discovering he was severely depressed.01:35 – The tiniest step: just putting one foot forward.01:53 – Re-enrolling in university despite feeling lost and unmotivated.02:12 – Vomiting before presentations and shaking through every talk.02:25 – Why being terrible at something builds real confidence.02:46 – Showing up badly is still showing up.03:07 – Letting go of old dreams and finding gratitude for a different path.03:19 – Awareness: the step most people skip.03:34 – How huge to-do lists sabotage change.04:20 – Behaviour change 101: simplify and pick one habit.04:43 – Why five minutes still counts.05:03 – Building identity through small wins.05:45 – Why tiny steps beat motivation and hacks.06:11 – Awareness as a superpower.06:41 – Speaking to yourself with grace.07:01 – Forgiveness as a behaviour tool.07:38 – Missing a day doesn’t matter — quitting does.08:23 – The Move Your Mind approach: sustainable and enjoyable.09:01 – Finding the deeper “why” behind your goals.09:57 – The missing ingredient: self-leadership.10:40 – Australia’s reactive approach to mental health.11:07 – Making wellbeing proactive.11:27 – Change must work for you.12:09 – Environment is everything.12:57 – Nick’s non-negotiables: exercise, meditation, curated circle.13:21 – Removing yourself from toxic environments.14:25 – Why he keeps a small, trusted circle.15:26 – Environments that reinforce the habits you’re trying to avoid.16:09 – The power of run clubs and group fitness.17:04 – You become the product of your five closest people.17:21 – Changing your relationship with alcohol.18:05 – Social pressure and discipline.19:02 – Alcohol in celebration and commiseration — and breaking the loop.20:05 – If you’re at rock bottom: write down everything weighing you down.20:43 – Then narrow it to one thing.21:09 – Tiny steps only — repeated.21:33 – Simplify.21:45 – The biggest lesson: you are enough.22:41 – Nick’s vision: prevention, policy and global impact.24:38 – How to connect with Nick and access his resources.