Why do so many people start their working lives with energy and enthusiasm, only to end up doing the bare minimum? Cabin crew once said they loved meeting people. Nurses spoke of healing. Teachers dreamed of inspiring. Yet, years later, many are drained, disengaged, and doing what appears to be half-hearted work.

In this episode of Echoes from the Margin, Michael Comyn asks what really happened. Is it laziness, or is it the natural response to poor leadership, lack of psychological safety, and systems that grind people down? Drawing on Stoic thought, Daoist wisdom, Confucian duty, and the African philosophy of Ubuntu, he explores why enthusiasm fades and how we can rekindle it.

From Ireland’s “ah sure, it’ll do” to Japan’s meticulous service culture, Michael brings a global perspective to the question of effort, expectation, and meaning. And he offers practical ways to move from half-hearted to wholehearted, reclaiming the spark that first led us into our work.

For more weekly reflections, listen to Michael’s companion podcast Mind the Gap, and discover his new book Mind the Gap, available in paperback, hardback, and Kindle.

In a world that demands you choose sides, what happens when you no longer recognise the middle ground?

In this month’s Echoes from the Margins, the monthly companion to Mind the Gap (now in its second season), Michael Comyn reflects on life when the centre no longer holds — in politics, in community, and within ourselves.

From Yeats’ haunting words to ancient Chinese philosophy, from Arabic wisdom to modern psychology, this episode explores how binary thinking has pushed us apart, and why nuance and balance have become rare. Michael invites you to step away from the noise, to discover that the true centre is not a position on a map, but a daily practice of listening, questioning, and living with integrity.

If you have felt pulled to the edges by the world’s divisions, this reflection offers both comfort and challenge.

Quiet Pride: The Cost of Belonging

In this episode of Echoes from the Margins, we explore Pride beyond the parades, looking at what it truly costs to belong without abandoning ourselves.

We reflect on the realities of Pride around the world, where living truthfully can be dangerous, and honour the often-overlooked stories of older LGBTQ+ people who paved the way yet remain on the margins of the rainbow.

With insights from Stoicism, indigenous perspectives, and personal reflections, we explore how belonging is often confused with fitting in, and how the quiet act of living as you are can be the deepest form of Pride.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between who you are and what the world expects, this episode is for you.

If you enjoy reflecting on what it means to live and lead with presence, check out our companion podcast, Mind the Gap, for ten-minute explorations of philosophy, psychology, and emotional intelligence in everyday life.