Singer‑songwriter True Istina joins host Michael Millward for a deeply personal and uplifting conversation about creativity, resilience, and growing up with a dream to perform. True shares how music became her lifeline during the isolation of COVID 19 lockdown a place where she could express emotions she “could no longer put into words” and begin healing through songwriting.

Across the conversation, True reflects on:

• Her early life in the arts, from dance and theatre to her first experiences in Hollywood’s pilot season.
• The emotional journey behind her debut album, written as a teenager navigating anxiety, loneliness, and self‑discovery.
• Her evolution as an artist, now shaping a second album with deeper, more alternative sounds and mature storytelling.
• The power of vulnerability, and why she chose to release songs that were originally “way too vulnerable” to share.
• Her creative philosophy, treating music as a journal and a universal language that helps her, and her listeners, make sense of life.
• Life beyond the studio, including her love of drawing, open‑water swimming, and hiking to disconnect from LA’s fast pace.

True also offers a glimpse into her upcoming single A Matter of Time, a reflective piece about growth, setbacks, and finding who you’re meant to be.

This episode is thoughtful, warm, and inspiring — a conversation about creativity, courage, and the quiet moments that shape us. Perfect for listeners who enjoy authentic storytelling and the artistry behind the music.

Discover more about True and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

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Aligning how you see the world and how the world sees you

In this thought‑provoking episode of Rest and Recreation, host Michael Millward explores what it really means to live a limitless life with mindset and abundance coach Natalie K. Wynn, author of Manifest Your Limitless Life and founder of Inspire Life 365.

Drawing on neuroscience, lived experience, and her signature ATM Method — Awareness, Transformation, Movement, Natalie explains how many high‑achieving professionals unknowingly operate from subconscious scarcity patterns that shape their choices, behaviours, and ultimately their wellbeing. She says, “95% of the things that we're doing is on auto-program… coming from the subconscious mind.”

Michael and Natalie unpack how burnout often stems from misalignment, living a life shaped by other people’s expectations rather than your own authentic desires. Natalie highlights the early warning signs of burnout, from over‑functioning and people‑pleasing to chronic exhaustion, and inner conflict, which she describes as being like, an internal tug‑of‑war many listeners will recognise.

Their conversation ranges from subconscious programming formed in childhood, to the importance of becoming the person you want to be before trying to “do” your version of success. Michael reflects on pivotal moments in his own career, including promotions earned by stepping into the identity of the role long before the title arrived, a real‑world example of Natalie’s philosophy.

This episode is rich with practical insight, gentle challenge, and moments of humour, all woven into a deeper exploration of how to create a life that feels aligned, intentional, and genuinely yours.

A compelling listen for anyone navigating career crossroads, burnout, or the search for a more authentic version of success.

Discover more about Natalie and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

The value of putting yourself first

In this thought‑provoking episode of Rest and Recreation, host Michael Millward speaks with elite copywriter turned inspirational-writer Anton Volny, creator of the blog and newsletter Permission to be Powerful.

Drawing on a 15‑year career writing for industry giants including Tony Robbins, Neil Patel, and Ramit Sethi, Anton shares the personal journey that led him from high‑pressure marketing rooms to developing a philosophy centred on emotional clarity, boundaries, and self‑respect.

Anton explains how years of therapy, introspection, and professional experience taught him the importance of “putting yourself first”, not as an act of selfishness, but as a foundation for healthier relationships, better work, and genuine personal agency.

Together, they explore:

• Why so many people distract themselves by solving others’ problems instead of facing their own
• How workplace naivety leaves early‑career professionals vulnerable
• The difference between “safe” and “unsafe” people, and why boundaries matter
• How emotional development can change friendships, jobs, and life trajectories
• What “power” really means when it’s not about controlling others, but about finding your voice

Anton also reflects on the highs and lows of his copywriting career, the office politics that shaped his departure from major clients, and the inner transformation that inspired his forthcoming book Hell and Paradise.

This is a conversation about clarity, courage, and reclaiming your dignity — one that will make you think about how you live, work, and relate to others.

Discover more about Anton and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.