Avoiding conflict might be destroying your relationships and holding your career back.

The true secret to mental clarity isn't avoiding stress, but learning how to fight with care.

Today, I sit down with Ben Almond, author of Judo Thinking, to unpack how ancient martial arts principles can completely transform how you approach conflict, personal values, leadership, and personal growth.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why "conflict with care”, not conflict avoidance, is the key to building deep trust in teams.
  
• The "Value Square" framework to align your internal intentions with daily actions.
  
• Why pursuing imperfection is the ultimate gateway to discovering your full potential.
  
• How exceptional leaders inspire people to engage and motivate themselves.
  

Ben Almond is a leader, advisor, investor, coach and author of Judo Thinking (shortlisted for the Business Book Awards).

You can find Ben's book at major retailers and follow his work on leadership and organizational development online.

In this episode:

00:00 - Welcome

03:05 - The 3 Pillars: Values, Education & Community

04:04 - Ad break

05:38 - Importance of community

08:15 - What is "Judo Thinking"?

13:40 - Conflict with Care vs. Conflict Avoidance

19:20 - The Value Square Framework

24:30 - The Pursuit of Imperfection

38:10 - Building Trust & Psychological Safety

44:00 - The Leadership Wheel: Engage, Inspire, Motivate

53:00 - Empowerment vs. Responsibility

1:05:20 - Be Brave, Be Kind, Never Give Up

Take a screenshot right now, tag me and Ben on Instagram or LinkedIn, share your biggest takeaway, rate 5 stars, and hit subscribe to keep growing 1% SMARTA every day!

What if your sudden drop in focus, productivity, and happiness isn't laziness, but a silent mental health crisis born from a world that never lets you slow down?

In Episode 112, I sit down with Canadian youth mental health advocate Isaiah Neil to break the taboo around anxiety, high performance, and staying grounded during major life transitions.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How rising anxiety and declining attention spans are connected in today's digital world.
• How to navigate major career or academic transitions while staying true to your core identity.
• The 6 core pillars of well-being: consistency, sacrifice, gratitude, strategy, execution, and patience.
• Lessons from Isaiah’s transition from a high-stakes football career to mental health advocacy.
  

Isaiah Neil is a speaker, educator, and youth mental health leader. He serves on the Youth Council at the Mental Health Commission of Canada and has collaborated with major organizations including Bell Let's Talk, Jack.org, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. You can connect with Isaiah on social media and learn more via Jack.org.

In this episode:

00:00 - Welcome

02:44 - Youth Mental Health & The Taboo Around Anxiety

10:15 - From Football Athlete to Mental Health Advocate

22:30 - The 6 Pillars: Consistency, Gratitude & Execution

38:40 - Staying Grounded During Major Life Transitions

50:10 - Final Advice for Building the Life of Your Dreams

If you or a friend are struggling, please share this episode with them right now! Rate the podcast 5 stars, leave a comment below, and subscribe to keep growing 1% SMARTA every day!

Welcome to Part 2 of my talk with Henna Pryor!

I've got a free gift for you this week!Here's what you'll learn by the end of the 26 minutes:🔹 The danger of executive beige: why blending in with corporate jargon and over-polished communication is making leaders forgettable.

🔹 The leadership blind spot: why silence in a boardroom is not buy-in, and how leaders must structurally invite dissent to uncover real feedback.

🔹 Congruence as a superpower: how aligning your words, body language, and track record eliminates doubt and accelerates career growth.

Henna’s upcoming book, The Signal Gap: How to Boost Believability and Influence in the Age of Doubt is out November 10th, reveals the science behind why our communication breaks down and how to keep our signals aligned in a skeptical world.

Get chapter 1 for FREE, exclusively on The SMARTA Podcast, now ⁠www.thesignalgap.com/smarta⁠