Catching The Octopus Podcast

S2E36 – Love & Light: Spiritual Awakening or Spiritual Ego?

S2E36 – Love & Light: Spiritual Awakening or Spiritual Ego? What does it really mean to live with love and light and when can spirituality become another form of ego? In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning of love and light, spiritual ego, high and low vibrations, shadow work, subconscious programming and why true healing often requires us to illuminate the parts of ourselves we would rather keep hidden. "Love and light" is usually shared as an expression of compassion, kindness and connection. But when spirituality becomes a way of seeing ourselves as more awakened, evolved or enlightened than others, it can create the very separation that spiritual practice is meant to dissolve. We also explore spiritual bypassing. That is, using positivity or spiritual beliefs to avoid anger, grief, fear, hurt or uncomfortable truths, and why experiencing difficult emotions does not make someone less spiritual or "low vibration." Using the analogy of lighting a candle in a dark room, we look at darkness not simply as something negative, but as something that has not yet been illuminated. This leads into Carl Jung's concept of the shadow and how childhood programming, emotional wounds and subconscious beliefs can remain hidden while continuing to influence how we think, feel and behave. In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ What "love and light" can really mean ✔️ How spiritual ego can disguise itself as enlightenment ✔️ Why being "high vibration" doesn't make someone superior ✔️ How spiritual bypassing can interfere with healing ✔️ The spiritual concept of the soul as energetic and non-physical ✔️ Why darkness and light are powerful metaphors for healing ✔️ What shadow work actually means ✔️ How childhood programming creates subconscious patterns ✔️ Why emotional triggers can reveal what still needs attention ✔️ How curiosity and self-awareness help illuminate what has been hidden Perhaps love and light isn't about avoiding the darkness. Perhaps it is about bringing love with us while shining light on the parts of ourselves we were previously unable or unwilling to see. #SpiritualEgo #SpiritualBypassing #SpiritualHealing #HealingJourney #SubconsciousMind #SubconsciousProgramming #EmotionalHealing #SelfAwareness #SpiritualGrowth #InnerWork #HighVibration #Consciousness #SelfLove #PersonalGrowth #EnergyHealing #ShadowSelf #ToxicPositivity #CatchingTheOctopus Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E35 – You Were Sold this Belief: How Advertising Programmed What You Think is Normal.

S2E34 – If Love Requires Sacrifice, Is It Really Love?

S2E34 – If Love Requires Sacrifice, Is It Really Love? We've been taught that relationships require sacrifice but if someone truly loves you, why would they need you to become smaller for them? And if you're willing to sacrifice your identity, values, growth or purpose to keep someone else, is that love or self-abandonment? In this follow-on episode of Catching the Octopus, we go deeper into the conversation about unconditional love by challenging another deeply embedded belief: that sacrifice is proof of love. Relationships require compromise. Sometimes one person will need more support than the other. Sometimes we willingly inconvenience ourselves because we care about someone. But that is very different from sacrificing something fundamental to your wellbeing, identity, values, growth or purpose just to preserve a relationship. So where does that belief come from? Why are we taught that good partners put the other person first, that marriage requires sacrifice, that good mothers sacrifice everything for their children, or that if we really love someone we should be willing to give something up for them? And what happens when those messages become subconscious rules for how we experience love? In this episode, we explore: ✔️ The difference between sacrifice, compromise and freely chosen giving ✔️ Why sacrifice can become confused with proof of love ✔️ How childhood experiences can subconsciously shape adult relationships ✔️ The achiever, carer, support seeker and rebel patterns discussed by Marisa Peer ✔️ How people pleasing can become a strategy for maintaining connection ✔️ Why fear, obligation and rejection can masquerade as love ✔️ The difference between attachment and genuine love ✔️ Why resentment can signal that giving is no longer freely chosen ✔️ How self-worth influences what we are prepared to give up ✔️ Why someone else's growth shouldn't threaten a healthy relationship ✔️ The difference between relationship compromise and self-abandonment ✔️ How subconscious programming can teach us to put ourselves last ✔️ Why two people can love each other and still become misaligned ✔️ How spiritual ideas around forgiveness and relationships can sometimes be misunderstood ✔️ Why unconditional self-love is demonstrated through behaviour, not simply positive thoughts One of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves is: If there were absolutely no possibility this person would reject me, leave me, become angry or withdraw their love — would I still make this sacrifice? Because there is a difference between: "I choose to do this for you." and "I have to do this so that you will continue to love me." Healthy love doesn't require two incomplete people to negotiate which pieces of themselves they need to surrender to remain connected. Perhaps it's two whole people walking alongside each other — supporting one another to grow, expand and become the fullest expression of who they are. And sometimes, two people can genuinely love one another and still discover that the lives they need to live are no longer aligned. That doesn't necessarily mean the love failed. Sometimes staying would be the sacrifice. 🎙️ Catching the Octopus explores psychology, subconscious programming, spirituality, energy, healing and the patterns influencing how we experience ourselves, our relationships and the world around us. #LoveAndRelationships #SelfLove #SelfWorth #HealthyRelationships #PeoplePleasing #SelfAbandonment #RelationshipAdvice #SubconsciousMind #Healing #CatchingTheOctopus Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E33 – Unconditional Love Is Not What You Think: Why Healthy Love Needs Conditions

S2E33 – Unconditional Love Is Not What You Think: Why Healthy Love Needs Conditions What if unconditional love isn't something we're meant to give to everyone else but something we're meant to give ourselves? In this episode, we explore how unconditional love can become self-abandonment when it asks us to tolerate behaviour that compromises our boundaries, values and self-worth. We are often taught that real love is unconditional. That relationships require sacrifice. That if we truly love someone, we should support them through anything. But what happens when loving someone else unconditionally means repeatedly abandoning yourself? In this episode of Catching the Octopus, I challenge the traditional idea of unconditional love and explore a different perspective: perhaps the person who most needs your unconditional love is you. Drawing on my own experiences, psychology, subconscious programming, healing work and spiritual perspectives, I explore how our beliefs about love can influence the relationships we choose, the behaviours we tolerate and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love. We look at why we can become attached to someone's potential rather than their behaviour, why red flags can be discounted or justified, and how low self-worth can make it difficult to recognise when a relationship is no longer aligned with who we are. In this episode, we explore: ✔️ Why unconditional love may belong within ourselves rather than our relationships ✔️ The difference between unconditional love and unconditional tolerance ✔️ How self-worth influences the behaviour we accept from others ✔️ Why we sometimes believe someone's words over their behaviour ✔️ How subconscious programming shapes our expectations of love ✔️ Why familiar relationship patterns can feel strangely comfortable ✔️ The connection between triggers, inadequacy and "not enoughness" ✔️ Why self-love requires both compassion and brutal self-honesty ✔️ The difference between compromise and sacrifice ✔️ Why healthy love still needs boundaries and conditions ✔️ How healing can change what we are willing to accept in relationships ✔️ Why walking away from misalignment can actually be an act of love Unconditional self-love doesn't mean believing you're perfect. It means being willing to look honestly at yourself, understand your patterns, heal what needs healing and still recognise your inherent worth. And perhaps healthy relationships aren't about sacrificing ourselves for another person. Perhaps they're about two people who love themselves enough to meet each other without either person having to abandon who they are. 🎙️ Catching the Octopus explores psychology, subconscious programming, spirituality, energy, healing and the patterns that shape how we experience ourselves and the world around us. #UnconditionalLove #SelfLove #HealthyRelationships #SelfWorth #RelationshipAdvice #Boundaries #Healing #SubconsciousMind #PersonalGrowth #CatchingTheOctopus Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E32 – The Hidden Sexism in Everyday Language: How Words Shape Gender Bias

S2E30 – Your Brain Is Lying to You: Why Repetition Changes Your Beliefs

S2E30 – Your Brain Is Lying to You: Why Repetition Changes Your Beliefs Everything you repeatedly pay attention to is quietly shaping who you become. Your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and even your personality are being influenced more than you probably realise. In this episode, we explore the fascinating psychology behind repetition, attention, algorithms and subconscious programming and why your brain often mistakes familiarity for truth. Following on from our previous discussion about representation, we dive deeper into why repeated messages have such incredible power. From neuroscience and psychology to emotional contagion and spiritual teachings, you'll discover how your attention literally rewires your brain. In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ Why your brain prefers familiarity over truth ✔️ The Illusion of Truth Effect explained ✔️ How the Reticular Activating System filters your reality ✔️ Why "neurons that fire together wire together" changes your life ✔️ How algorithms influence your beliefs and emotional state ✔️ What emotional contagion is and why communities matter ✔️ How cognitive dissonance keeps people defending harmful beliefs ✔️ Why your self-talk creates subconscious programming ✔️ The connection between neuroscience, Buddhism and energy psychology ✔️ Practical ways to consciously choose what you feed your mind This episode also explores teachings shared by Master Choa Kok Sui, including the principle that energy follows thought, alongside psychological concepts such as neuroplasticity, cognitive dissonance and the Illusion of Truth Effect. Whether you're interested in psychology, neuroscience, personal growth, mindfulness or understanding how social media influences behaviour, this episode offers practical insights that can help you become more intentional about where your attention goes. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who would benefit from understanding how their thoughts shape their reality. #Psychology #Neuroscience #Mindset #PersonalDevelopment #SubconsciousMind #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #EmotionalIntelligence #Mindfulness #Algorithms #CriticalThinking #Neuroplasticity #Attention #Energy #CatchingTheOctopusPodcast Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E31 – The Secret to Speaking with Confidence (It's NOT Confidence First) with Helen von Dadelszen

S2E31 – The Secret to Speaking with Confidence (It's NOT Confidence First) with Helen von Dadelszen Want to speak with confidence but keep waiting until you "feel ready"? The truth is confidence doesn't come first, it comes after courageous action. If public speaking, presentations, meetings or speaking up at work make you anxious, this conversation could completely change how you think about confidence. In this episode of Catching the Octopus, I sit down with communication coach, speaker and author Helen von Dadelszen to explore why even highly capable people struggle to use their voice and how anyone can become a more confident communicator. Rather than waiting for fear to disappear, Helen explains why courage comes first, how our brain interprets nervousness, and the practical techniques that help us communicate with authenticity and impact. Whether you're preparing for a presentation, leading a team, interviewing for a job or simply wanting to express yourself more confidently, this episode is packed with practical insights you can start using immediately. In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ Why confidence is built through action—not before it ✔️ How to overcome the fear of public speaking ✔️ Why your nervous system isn't working against you ✔️ Practical breathing techniques to calm presentation anxiety ✔️ How to turn nervous energy into confidence ✔️ Why authenticity is more powerful than perfection ✔️ The role of body language, voice and breathing in communication ✔️ How to read your audience and adapt in the moment ✔️ Why self-talk has such a powerful influence on confidence ✔️ Small courageous actions that build lasting confidence #PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #Confidence #Leadership #PresentationSkills Guest: Helen von Dadelszen Helen is a communication coach, vocal trainer and speaker who helps people stop waiting to feel ready and start speaking with more confidence, steadiness and authenticity. Based in Switzerland and working internationally, she supports professionals through high-stakes moments such as presentations, interviews, pitches and leadership communication. Her work brings together voice, body, breath and courageous action to help people reconnect with themselves and express what they really want to say. Links to connect with Helen: Website: https://academy.presentpotential.ch/ Book: https://courageousaction.ch/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E29 – How Representation Shapes Society (And Why We're Normalising the Wrong People)

S2E29 – How Representation Shapes Society (And Why We're Normalising the Wrong People) Representation isn't just about diversity, it's about who we choose to celebrate, reward and normalise. Every person we platform sends a message about what success, leadership and power should look like. But what happens when those people model hate, misinformation, racism or violence? In this episode of Catching the Octopus, we explore the hidden psychology behind representation, social learning and why the people we elevate influence far more than we realise. Drawing on psychology, social behaviour and real-world examples, this episode examines how children and adults learn from what they repeatedly see, why algorithms amplify outrage over kindness, and how repeated exposure can slowly shift what society accepts as "normal." In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ Why representation shapes our beliefs and expectations ✔️ How children learn through observation and modelling ✔️ The psychology behind social learning theory ✔️ Why positive representation creates possibility and inclusion ✔️ How social media algorithms reward outrage over truth ✔️ The difference between representation and amplification ✔️ Why misinformation spreads so easily online ✔️ The "spiral of silence" and why good people stop speaking up ✔️ How politics, media and celebrity culture influence social norms ✔️ Practical ways to become more intentional with your attention This conversation isn't about telling people what to think. It's about encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and asking an important question: What kind of society are we helping to represent? If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who enjoys conversations about psychology, human behaviour and creating a kinder world. #RepresentationMatters #Psychology #HumanBehaviour #SocialPsychology #CriticalThinking #SocialMedia #Algorithms #Misinformation #Leadership #DiversityAndInclusion #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #SocialLearning #Kindness #MediaLiteracy #Podcast #CatchingTheOctopus #BehaviourChange #PsychologyPodcast Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E28 – The Five Virtues Explained: Build the Character to Transform Your Life

S2E28 – The Five Virtues Explained: Build the Character to Transform Your Life What if becoming a better person wasn't about being perfect, but about developing the right qualities? In this episode, we explore the Five Virtues, as taught by Master Choa Kok Sui, founder of Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga, and discover how these timeless principles can help you cultivate compassion, integrity, self-mastery and emotional resilience while reducing suffering in everyday life. Building on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the Five Virtues provide a practical framework for developing the character traits needed to live with greater purpose, balance and inner peace. Rather than simply telling us what to do, they help us become the kind of person who naturally makes wiser choices. The Eightfold Path tells us what to practise. The Five Virtues tell us who we are becoming as we practise it. In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ What the Five Virtues are and why they matter ✔️ How they complement the Noble Eightfold Path ✔️ Why loving kindness begins with both yourself and others ✔️ The deeper meaning of generosity beyond money and possessions ✔️ How accurate perception helps overcome limiting beliefs and distorted thinking ✔️ Why consistency is more powerful than motivation ✔️ How moderation creates balance instead of burnout ✔️ Practical ways to embody these virtues in your relationships, work and daily life Whether you're interested in Pranic Healing, Buddhism, mindfulness, psychology, emotional healing, spirituality, subconscious beliefs or personal development, this episode offers practical insights to help you become the best version of yourself. 🎙️ Catching the Octopus explores psychology, subconscious beliefs, leadership, spirituality, emotional healing, and the hidden patterns influencing our lives. #FiveVirtues #PranicHealing #MasterChoaKokSui #PersonalGrowth #Psychology #Mindfulness #SpiritualGrowth #EmotionalHealing #SelfAwareness #InnerPeace #CharacterDevelopment #SubconsciousMind #SelfMastery #CatchingTheOctopus Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile

S2E27 – The Secret to Ending Suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path Explained

S2E27 – The Secret to Ending Suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path Explained Why do we keep suffering, even when we know what we should do? In this episode, we explore the Noble Eightfold Path, one of Buddhism's most practical teachings, and discover how this 2,500-year-old framework can help reduce suffering, develop emotional resilience, and create greater peace in everyday life. The Noble Eightfold Path isn't a checklist or eight steps to complete in order. Instead, it is an integrated way of living that develops wisdom, ethical behaviour, mindfulness and mental discipline. Surprisingly, many of these ancient teachings closely align with modern psychology, subconscious healing and personal growth. In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ What the Noble Eightfold Path actually is ✔️ Why it isn't a step-by-step process ✔️ The three foundations: Wisdom, Ethical Conduct and Mental Discipline ✔️ The meaning of Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration ✔️ How your beliefs and perceptions influence your experience of suffering ✔️ Why changing your thoughts, feelings and behaviours can transform your life ✔️ The importance of finding the "Middle Path" instead of living in extremes ✔️ How these ancient teachings can be applied in modern life, relationships and personal growth Whether you're interested in Buddhism, mindfulness, psychology, emotional healing, spirituality, subconscious beliefs or personal development, this episode offers practical insights that you can begin applying immediately. 🎙️ Catching the Octopus explores psychology, subconscious beliefs, leadership, spirituality, emotional healing, and the hidden patterns influencing our lives. #NobleEightfoldPath #Buddhism #Mindfulness #PersonalGrowth #Psychology #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #EmotionalHealing #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Meditation #Resilience #AncientWisdom #SelfDevelopment #CatchingTheOctopus Hosted by Niomi Hurley , a human behaviour researcher and clinical hypnotherapist who integrates psychology with energy-informed healing approaches. With experience in corporate environments and individual practice, and through her work at Get Up and Grow Consulting, Niomi works with organisations and individuals to build capacity by addressing the behavioural, emotional, and subconscious factors that influence wellbeing and performance. Niomi Hurley (Host) Contact Details: Niomi Hurley Email Niomi Hurley LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Website Get Up and Grow Consulting LinkedIn Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Facebook Profile Get Up and Grow Consulting Instagram Profile