Future Self is the person who you will be years from now. It is the person you intend to be. Do you know who your future self is, or better yet, have you decided who you are going to be in the future without thinking of any limitations? Is he or she a healthier, wealthier, happier, better person than you are today, or would he be the same as the person you are today, only physically older?

Why is it important to know the person you are becoming and, more significantly, is it possible for you to have a relationship with your future self? If so, what good would it do?

Tune in and let me inspire and show you how to be the person you have been eyeing to be, and realize the endless possibilities that you can have for yourself. Have a relationship with your future self and be the best person you can be, be the change the world wants you to be.

Highlights:

⚡️ We are driven by pain and our view of the future and what we do today impacts tomorrow.

⚡️ When people identify with the person they want to become, they become that person.

⚡️ We must believe that our future self already exists and have a relationship with him and be guided by him.

⚡️ Failing to be the person you want to be results in depression, anxiety, and frustration.

⚡️ Reasons why most people are living a future they do not want:

• pursuing the ideals of somebody else and not who they want to become
• choosing exactly who they are today because that is who they think they are
• failing to prospect, losing the ability to be a free thinker, and not realizing the choices they have
• do not have a relationship with and empathy for their future self
• not getting in the game
• they do not see the benefit of doing something despite the challenges

Important stories:

🎯 6:40. Meg Jay talks about the empathy gap

🎯 9:01 Hal Hershfield on future self as another person

🎯 10:47. Dr. Benjamin Hardy explains prospection

🎯 11:58 A conversation with my future self

🎯 15:22 Matthew McConaughey on who is my hero, chasing my hero (2013)

🎯 18:00 Daniel Goldstein discusses resisting temptation

🎯 22:20 Daniel Gilbert the ease of remembering vs difficulty of imagining

🎯 30:40 Jimmy Donaldson aka Mr. Beast as another example of someone who has a connection with his future self

Episode theme: Shame, resilience, reinvention and learning to see yourself with fresh eyes.

In this powerful conversation, Pete Cohen speaks with Andrea McLean about her new book and the deeply personal journey behind it. Andrea opens up about business failure, financial loss, illness, identity, shame, and the process of choosing to stop hiding.

Andrea explains that shame often convinces us we are the problem, when in reality we may simply be carrying something that was never ours to hold. She explores the difference between guilt and shame, sharing the powerful distinction:

Guilt says, "I have done a bad thing."
Shame says, "I am a bad thing."

The conversation moves through Andrea's decision to leave a successful television career, the collapse of her business, her near death experience with pneumonia, sepsis and kidney failure, and how writing the book helped her release shame she did not even realise she was carrying.

A key part of the discussion is the idea that shame can keep us hiding from friends, opportunities, ourselves and the world. Andrea shares how shining a light on her story became both a personal healing process and a way to help others feel less alone.

Shame and hiding
Andrea talks about the exhaustion of hiding from people because she did not want to explain what had happened in her life.

Failure and identity
The conversation explores what happens when status, money, career and identity fall away.

The difference between guilt and shame
One of the most important ideas in the episode is learning to separate what happened from who you are.

Health, survival and perspective
Andrea shares the frightening story of becoming seriously ill and being told afterwards that she was close to death.

Reinvention and starting again
After losing so much, Andrea and her family moved to Spain and began a new chapter.

Raising your vibration through small steps
Andrea shares how Pete's three nightly questions helped her during one of the hardest periods of her life:

What am I proud of?
What am I grateful for?
What am I looking forward to tomorrow?

Letting go of shame that was never yours
Andrea reflects on how much shame can be passed to us by other people, especially when they are uncomfortable with who we are.

Andrea saying she wrote the book because she was tired of hiding.

Her description of shame as a hook that we hang evidence on over time.

The moment she explains how low shame made her feel, like "a pulse that was barely beating."

Her story of accidentally becoming a weather presenter and how all her previous skills prepared her for that opportunity.

The insight that the person who starts writing a book is not always the same person who finishes it.

Andrea McLean: Letting Go of Shame

Alternative titles:

The Shame We Carry
Why Shame Is Not Who You Are
Andrea McLean on Shame, Survival and Starting Again
When Shame Stops Hiding
The Book That Helped Andrea McLean Feel Lighter

In this deeply honest conversation, Pete Cohen speaks with Andrea McLean about shame, failure, illness, reinvention and the courage to stop hiding. Andrea shares the story behind her new book and explains why shame often tells us we are broken, when the truth is we may simply be carrying something that was never ours in the first place. You can purschase it here https://dk.com/products/9780241762813-shameless

Today's episode is something deeply personal.

I'm sharing a piece of music that was originally created in the early 2000s — part of a body of work that has evolved over the last 30 years. Throughout that time, I've had the privilege of collaborating with a number of incredible musicians to create soundscapes used in meditations and affirmations, designed to help people pause, breathe, and reconnect.

This particular piece is very close to my heart.

For a few moments within the music, you'll hear the voice of my coach — someone I worked with for 16 years, who had a profound impact on my life and the way I think. To have his voice woven into this piece makes it more than just music… it's a moment of reflection, memory, and meaning.

I'm truly delighted to share this with you.

And if it resonates — if it gives you even a few moments to stop and think — please pass it on to someone else who might need that same space today.

Today I want to invite you to walk with me.

Not just metaphorically, but quite literally.

Recently I found myself walking through the beautiful streets of Vienna, Austria. A city rich with history, music, architecture and quiet moments of life unfolding all around you.

But what struck me most was something much simpler than the buildings or the culture.

It was the opportunity to stop… and breathe.

So wherever you are right now, if it's possible, I'd love you to join me on a walk.

You might be outside.
You might be in a park.
You might even be walking through your own neighbourhood.

And if you're not walking, that's okay too. You can simply sit and listen.

For the next 40 minutes, we are going to do something incredibly simple.

We are going to walk… and breathe.

Are you living in survival mode without even realizing it? In this episode, Pete Cohen dives deep into how we can shift from constantly reacting to life's demands to living with intention and design. Most people wake up and go straight into autopilot—checking emails, reacting to stress, and feeling overwhelmed. But what if you could take back control and create a life that excites you?

Join Pete for 14 minutes and 24 seconds as he shares practical tools, powerful insights, and real strategies to help you break free from survival mode and start living a life by design, not by default.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• How to recognize if you're stuck in survival mode
• The impact of stress on your brain and body – and how to reset
• Why most people struggle to live intentionally (and how to change that)
• The power of morning intentions and evening reflections
• Simple but powerful breathing techniques to calm your nervous system
• How small daily shifts (just 14m 24s) can completely transform your life

Key Questions to Ask Yourself

• Do you start your day with intention, or do you wake up and immediately react?
• Do you feel like you're making progress toward something meaningful, or are you just trying to "get through the day"?
• Are you making conscious decisions, or do you feel like life is just happening to you?
• What small action can you take today to begin shifting from survival mode to a life by design?

Powerful Insights from the Episode

• "We are wired for survival, but we were never meant to live in stress permanently."
• "A zebra runs from a lion, but once it escapes, the stress response turns off. Humans, on the other hand, stay stuck in stress mode—always on, always running."
• "If you don't stop and reflect, you won't even realize the patterns you're repeating daily."

Sponsor Mention

This episode is brought to you by our favorite Ganoderma-infused coffee and tea—a powerful superfood that helps boost energy, reduce stress, and support overall well-being. If you want to enjoy your daily 14 minutes and 24 seconds with the same coffee Pete drinks, click the link in the show notes to learn more.

Join the Conversation & Get Support

Want help breaking free from survival mode? Join our free WhatsApp group—a space for intentional thinkers to support, guide, and inspire each other. Click the link in the show notes to join.

🔗 Join the Mi365 WhatsApp Community – https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG

🔗 Discover Pete's favorite superfood-infused tea & coffee – Take a look at the healthy coffee that I drink and recommend that is infused with one of the most powerful super foods on Earth. If you scroll down to the bottom you'll see how you can order some for yourself. https://www.mi365.me/coffee

Call to Action

What's your biggest takeaway from today's episode?

• Share your insights in our WhatsApp community https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG
• Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss the next episode
• Take action—spend just 14m 24s today reflecting on how you want to show up in life

When you shift from survival to design, you take back control of your future.

Episode Summary

Are you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or running on empty? Do you wake up tired, struggle to focus, or feel like stress is running your life? If so, you're not alone—burnout is becoming a global crisis.

In this episode of The Mi365 Podcast, Pete Cohen shares powerful insights and practical tools to help you recognise the signs of burnout, break free from it, and restore balance in your life. If you've been pushing too hard for too long, it's time to stop, reflect, and make a change.

In just 14 minutes and 24 seconds—1% of your day—you will learn:
✔ What burnout really is and how it's affecting millions worldwide
✔ The warning signs of burnout—physical, mental, and emotional
✔ The AIR Framework—a simple strategy for overcoming burnout
✔ Why rest and recovery are just as important as growth
✔ How to take back control and rebuild your energy

Are You Burning Out? Take the Test

Take a moment to reflect. Answer these questions honestly:

• Do you wake up tired even after a full night's sleep?
• Are you struggling to focus or feeling mentally foggy?
• Do you feel unmotivated, detached, or cynical?
• Are you relying on caffeine, sugar, or stimulants to get through the day?
• Do you find yourself doom scrolling on social media just to escape?
• Does the idea of stopping and resting make you feel guilty or anxious?
• Are you experiencing headaches, body aches, or digestive issues?

If you answered 'yes' to multiple questions, burnout might be taking a toll on you. But the good news is—you can reverse it.

The AIR Framework: A Blueprint for Balance

Pete introduces the AIR Framework—a simple method to reset and restore your energy.

1. A – Aspirations: What do you really want?

   • Define your health, relationships, and work goals
   • Set an intention to move towards them

2. I – Integration: What small actions can you take?

   • Identify simple daily habits that will restore balance
   • Set boundaries and protect your energy

3. R – Rejuvenation: How do you restore and recharge?

   • Prioritise rest, mindfulness, and movement
   • Recognise that growth requires recovery

Sponsor Mention

This episode is brought to you by Ganoderma-infused coffee and tea—a powerful superfood that helps reduce stress, support energy levels, and promote relaxation. If you want to enjoy your 14 minutes and 24 seconds of reflection with the same coffee Pete drinks, click the link in the show notes to learn more.

🔗 Discover Pete's favourite superfood-infused coffee & tea – https://www.mi365.me/coffee

Join the Conversation & Get Support

Transformation doesn't happen alone. Join our free WhatsApp group—a supportive space for intentional thinkers who are committed to breaking free from burnout and creating a life by design, not by default.

🔗 Join the Mi365 WhatsApp Community – https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG

Call to Action

• What's your biggest takeaway from today's episode? Share it in our WhatsApp community.
• Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss this new era of growth and transformation.
• Take action—spend just 14m 24s today reflecting on how you want to show up in life.

A great life doesn't happen by chance. It happens by design.

Let's do this.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Pete Cohen explores the transformative concept of "Stop To Start"—how taking intentional pauses can open the door to clarity, healing, and true progress.

Pete reflects on the major stop moments in his life—from the unexpected meeting of his wife during a volcanic ash cloud in Croatia to facing profound loss with the passing of his wife, parents, and other life-altering experiences. These moments, though painful, became turning points that reshaped his life.

You'll hear about:

• Why we need to pause before we progress

• The dangers of being busy just to be busy

• Pete's decision to step away from social media—and the liberation it brought

• The power of auditing your life across health, relationships, purpose, and service

• Reconnecting with the past to realign with what truly matters today

• A special reflection on legacy, presence, and the question: What are you really here for?

• Plus, an introduction to Pete's secret wellness weapon—reishi mushroom-infused tea and coffee

Key Takeaway:

"If you want to start something new, meaningful, or different… first, you need to stop. Stop to reflect. Stop to reconnect. Stop to make space for what really matters."

Questions to Reflect On:

• What do you need to stop doing in order to start what truly matters?

• Where are you right now in your life audit—your energy, your relationships, your purpose?

• What legacy are you creating with how you're living today?

Join the Conversation:
We'd love to hear what resonated with you. Join our growing community in our WhatsApp group—a space for those committed to living more intentionally. https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG

Resources Mentioned:

• Learn more about Pete's recommended reishi-infused tea and coffee https://www.mi365.me/coffee

• Watch the short film and expert interviews on the power of Ganoderma

• Connect with Pete for coaching or support

Rate & Review:
If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it and leaving a review. Let's help more people learn to stop… so they can start living fully.