The Best You - A Coaching Podcast: Personal Growth Through Real Conversations

Hosted by Gary Gillan

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Episodes

165

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Feeling stuck or unsure how to unlock your full potential? Here's the truth: you are the best person in the entire world at being you - even if you don't quite believe that yet. Through real conversations with innovators, coaches, and everyday people navigating their own personal growth journeys, this podcast helps you gain self-awareness, build confidence, and create lasting change. Each week, we explore the breakthroughs, struggles, and insights that help you understand what makes you tick and how to become the best version of yourself. New episodes every week. Start your journey with our latest episode on innovative learning and personal growth.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 15, 202615 min

The Ripple Effect - Who Are You Impacting?

Send us Fan Mail We say we're meeting people where they are. But are we? Or are we meeting them where we want them to be? I just finished the book ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi about a man facing a terminal diagnosis, and it wasn't really about dying - it was about living on purpose. It left me with some questions I’d like to pose to you: When life stacks up against you, who are you? Do you face it head on? Do you shrink away? Do you even know? You've already got the evidence, so think about the last time things didn't go your way - were you the best version of yourself in that moment? And what were the impacts to your immediate network? #Coaching #Values #SelfAwareness #Ownership #GrowthMindset ------------------------- This kind of clarity doesn't happen by accident - it's a skill you can build. If you're ready to stop spinning and start moving, let's talk. Book a free 30-min call: garygillan.com Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

August 3, 202637 min

Ending Period Poverty with Linda Biggs

Send us Fan Mail Do you know someone who menstruates? I do. Lots, actually. I’ve been surrounded by incredible women my entire life and know next-to-nothing about period care. So, it stands to reason that I had no clue about period poverty that many women face today. That’s why I was so excited to have this conversation. Linda co-founded Joni after living through period poverty herself. Six years, zero pay for four of them, and now Joni products sit on Walmart (and many other major retailers) shelves nationwide. This conversation traces the journey from a Vancouver food bank to a plant-based period care brand built on radical transparency. Truly, it's a masterclass in turning personal struggle into purpose-driven business. Perfect for : Anyone who menstruates and has ever felt unseen by the period care industry, along with those who've experienced period poverty firsthand or want to better understand what it looks like. Your transformation : Listeners will come away with a new language for dignity in period care, understanding why access to quality products (not just any product) matters Key takeaways : Why ‘period poverty’ is becoming more familiar, and what it actually looks like The wild, unexpected history behind the term ‘feminine hygiene’ How a $30,000 first year turned into national Walmart distribution The investor conversations that revealed a deeper industry blind spot Why dignity, not just donation, sits at the centre of Joni's give-back model You can see more from Linda here: Website: GetJoni LinkedIn: Linda Biggs Newsletter: Linda Biggs Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

July 27, 202645 min

Why Your Habits Keep Failing (And It's Not Willpower) with Connie Kwan

Send us Fan Mail Habits don't fail because of laziness. They fail because identity hasn't caught up yet. Through 20 years in product leadership, Connie uncovered the real pattern behind behaviour change. She built a framework called Story Habits around a single idea: you can't change a habit until you name the story behind it. Perfect for : Anyone who has started a habit with good intentions and eventually let it slide. Your transformation : You'll learn what a genuinely compelling story sounds like as an anchor to habit formation and change. You'll also discover how confidence and motivation can predict whether a habit sticks, or not. Key takeaways: Why most people's stated reason for change isn't strong enough to survive longer-term Identity, not logic, drives real change The average smoker fails seven times before quitting, and what that number means for your own habit Confidence and motivation matter more than willpower Why starting too big guarantees relapse What's a habit you've tried to stick with more than once, and what finally made it work (or not)? You can see more from Connie here: Website: Story Habits LinkedIn: Connie Kwan Substack: Connie Kwan Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

July 27, 202611 min

Setbacks aren't the story. Your reaction is.

Send us Fan Mail Think about the last setback that knocked you sideways - how long was it before you actually caught up with yourself? Most of us run on autopilot - reacting first, thinking later. Underneath that autopilot is usually ego, fear, comfort, or habit - not the setback itself. There's a gap between the setback and how you respond to it - between the stimulus and response - where the choice actually lives. Widening it takes an honest look at yourself, which I know is no small task. Think about your last difficult moment where you weren't at your best: ❓ What would you do differently with the benefit of hindsight? ❓ Who do you want to be the next time it happens? #Coaching #Resilience #Mindset #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth ------------------------- This kind of clarity doesn't happen by accident - it's a skill you can build. If you're ready to stop spinning and start moving, let's talk. Book a free 30-min call: garygillan.com Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

July 21, 202611 min

Effort Doesn't Guarantee Outcome

Send us Fan Mail Effort doesn't guarantee outcome. Ever. You can do everything right in preparation and execution and it still didn't work out the way you hoped. The key is what you do with the information you have now. Some people attach themselves so tightly to an outcome that when it doesn't land, they look at it as failure. And that can lead to a lot of negative emotion; confusion, dejection, even anger. Why is that? It’s because deep down they believed the effort would guarantee the result. I need you to know that disappointment isn't the same as defeat. The outcome not matching the effort doesn't erase what you gained along the way: Growth Experience Information you didn’t have before So, think about something recent that didn't go your way - did you walk away and never look at it again, or did you actually mine for the good that came from it? The great news is that it’s not too late to learn from the effort / outcome experience. #Coaching #Mindset #Growth #Resilience #Effort #Outcome #Leadership ------------------------- This kind of clarity doesn't happen by accident - it's a skill you can build. If you're ready to stop spinning and start moving, let's talk. Book a free 30-min call: garygillan.com Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

July 13, 202640 min

TotalHER: The Platform Giving Women Their Time Back

Send us Fan Mail Women are being pushed out of corporate America in droves. Serial entrepreneur Robin Sims-Allen has spent 23 years spotting the gaps nobody else was solving for. Robin’s platform TotalHER started as a social network and is now becoming a full economic engine for women. This conversation is about freedom of time - and why that's the one thing nobody should be allowed to own. Perfect for : Women considering leaving the traditional workplace, building a side income, or looking for a genuine community of ambitious women rather than another social media feed. Your transformation : You'll hear how TotalHER is being redesigned from the ground up based on direct feedback from the women using it, and what ‘freedom of time’ means as a business philosophy. Key takeaways : The real reason companies are forcing a return to office - and it's not about productivity Why funding still overwhelmingly favours male entrepreneurs How TotalHER tailors the entire experience based on your intention from the moment you join The unexpected group of women finding the most success on the platform right now What's one thing you'd want a platform built entirely for women to include? You can see more from Robin here: Website: TotalHER LinkedIn: Robin Sims-Allen Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

July 8, 20269 min

Scaffolding: Is Your Support Structure Still Doing Its Job?

Send us Fan Mail We put scaffolding on buildings without a second thought. On ourselves? To some, it feels like an admission of failure. Have you ever hesitated to ask for support because it might say something about you? There are two ways this goes sideways: You never put it up (ego says needing help is weakness), or, You never take it down (comfort makes leaning easier than standing) It's worth being honest with yourself here - which one best reflects you? Look at whatever support you're leaning on right now and consider whether it is still doing its job - or are you just used to it being there? #Coaching #Scaffolding #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mentorship #SelfDevelopment #GrowthMindset ------------------------- This kind of clarity doesn't happen by accident - it's a skill you can build. If you're ready to stop spinning and start moving, let's talk. Book a free 30-min call: garygillan.com Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

June 29, 202638 min

Empowering Young Women to Lead and Run for Office with Sarah Jakle

Send us Fan Mail Many women opt out before they even try. Sarah built the nonprofit - DemocraShe - to help change that. DemocraShe creates a safe, brave, joyful space where young women receive the support and guidance they need to pursue the roles they deserve. They do this by encouraging young women to elevate their voices through self-advocacy, civic engagement and community service, empowering a new generation. Perfect for : Coaches, educators, parents and leaders who want to nurture confidence in young women - and anyone fighting their own inner critic. Your transformation : You'll learn how to identify and quiet the inner critic, push through the moments where you'd normally opt out, and move forward one small step at a time. Key takeaways : Women opt out at the exact moment they should lean in Everyone needs an ‘Inner Best Friend’ who silences self-doubt How ‘you can't do it wrong’ dismantles perfectionism Why hope is a choice, not a feeling You can see more from Sarah here: Website: DemocraShe LinkedIn: Sarah Jakle Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

June 28, 202613 min

Life is a Journey Not a Destination

Send us Fan Mail We're all so busy chasing the destination that we forget we're actually living the journey. You’ve heard the line many times. You've likely nodded along to it every time. But have you ever properly stopped to ask whether you're living like it's true? The truth is that most of us aren't. We treat the good bit as the moment we ‘arrive’ and discount, under-appreciate, or ignore the rest. That's a lot of life to write off, isn’t it? I recorded something a wee bit longer this time that includes six shifts that change how the whole ride feels. From who you've got on the bus with you, to how much of this you can actually control, to the one that catches most people out: forgetting to have any fun along the way. #Coaching #PersonalDevelopment #SelfAwareness #LifeJourney #GrowthMindset #Mindset ------------------------- This kind of clarity doesn't happen by accident - it's a skill you can build. If you're ready to stop spinning and start moving, let's talk. Book a free 30-min call: garygillan.com Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

June 23, 202643 min

Fluency, Identity, and Leading in French with Rachel Pierre

Send us Fan Mail Rachel didn't speak a word of English until she was eighteen. A year later she was studying computer engineering in the United States. She went on to hold a number of technical leadership roles, then watched senior executives lose all their authority the moment a room switched to French. She realized she had the secret sauce to fix it - and Parlez! was born. Perfect for : Leaders and executives operating in francophone environments who freeze, hesitate, or lose their command the moment the language shifts. Especially relevant for anyone in Canada who has ruled themselves out of roles because they don't speak French. Your transformation : Understanding why your brain freezes mid-sentence in another language - and the neural reset that switches it off The cultural cue most leaders misread - and how it can completely derail your objectives Why effort, not perfection, is what keeps you in command of the room The real roadblock to fluency, and it isn't the language You can see more from Rachel here: Website: Parlez Method LinkedIn: Rachel Pierre Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook