Welcome to our first episode of our podcast! I'm Byron Phillips, your host from Datrysiad Media, and today we have a special guest, Daniel Farmer, the brilliant mind behind Anxious to Zen.
In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our collaborative journey in producing impactful video content for Dan's organisation.
Dan, the founder of Anxious to Zen, shares insights into his mission of teaching psychological flexibility to employees, emphasising its crucial role in navigating life's challenges. We delve into the nuances of our content creation process, from blogs to videos, shedding light on the meticulous script development and the essence of authenticity in delivery.
The conversation unfolds as we dissect the first video, titled "Prevention is Better Than Cure," exploring the profound concepts of psychological flexibility and ACT techniques.
Dan opens up about his personal experiences that led him to establish Anxious to Zen, intertwining his narrative with the groundbreaking work of Stephen Hayes.
Join us for a candid discussion on anxiety, the challenges of information overload in the 21st century, and the transformative power of ACT techniques. This episode offers a sneak peek into the dynamic collaboration between Datrysiad Media and Anxious to Zen, promising valuable insights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Stay tuned for an engaging and enlightening conversation!
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Navigating Life's Challenges
Dan and myself engage in a candid discussion about the inevitable nature of life's trials. Dan emphasizes that encountering pain is an intrinsic part of the human experience, whether stemming from loss, relationship endings, or ongoing workplace pressures. These stressors often manifest as procrastination, fear, and anxiety, with the potential to lead to absenteeism.
Throughout the conversation, Dan delves into the impact of accumulated stress on our mental well-being, highlighting how it can narrow our focus and foster inflexible thinking. He suggests that individuals often fixate on perceived problems rather than seeking practical solutions. Moreover, Dan encourages listeners to discern between meaningful concerns and transient thoughts, emphasizing the importance of recognizing that not all thoughts are inherently valuable or helpful.
From Personal Struggle to Passionate Teaching: A Journey with Anxiety and ACT
Dan reflects on their journey from personal struggle to passionate teaching, particularly focusing on their experience with severe anxiety. I acknowledge that everyone has faced challenging moments, prompting Dan to share what specifically led them to establish a business and why they are fervently dedicated to teaching others.
Dan reveals that their profound anxiety from a young age drove them to internalize negative stories and narratives created by their own mind. As they bought into these narratives, withdrawal from various aspects of life and avoidance of challenges became a pattern. This led to a shrinking social circle and the loss of friendships.
The turning point occurred when Dan discovered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Applying ACT principles to their own life allowed them to break free from the constricting patterns. Dan describes the experience as inflating a deflated balloon, expanding their life into areas they thought were closed off. Despite investing considerable time and money in therapy with limited success, ACT emerged as the transformative solution.
Dan expresses a firm belief in the importance of learning these principles, emphasizing that ACT has been the most effective tool in their personal growth journey. Their story highlights the potential for overcoming anxiety and challenges through practices like ACT, inspiring others to explore similar avenues for personal development.
Unraveling Thought Patterns: Stephen Hayes' Influence on Behavior and Cognition
In this discussion centered around Stephen Hayes, Dan elaborates on the connection between Hayes' groundbreaking work in relational frame theory and their own pursuits. Hayes' work focuses on how language and cognition contribute to thought patterns, creating neural networks that influence behavior.
Dan emphasizes the relevance of Hayes' work in the 21st century, particularly in the context of information overload from sources like social media and the 24-hour news cycle. They highlight the human tendency to negatively interpret information, leading to spirals of negative thinking that result in specific behaviors such as avoidance, procrastination, and anxiety about existential concerns beyond one's control.
Drawing on Hayes' insights, Dan advocates for a more effective approach to managing these concerns. They discuss the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques to cultivate awareness when caught up in negative thinking. Additionally, they underscore the use of specific ACT techniques to reorient oneself towards what truly matters in life.
The conversation sheds light on how Hayes' research provides valuable tools for navigating the challenges posed by contemporary information overload, offering a better way to manage thoughts and behaviors, ultimately leading to a more meaningful and purposeful life.
Taming the Inner Drumbeat: Understanding Anxiety and Acceptance
We explore the human tendency to worry about countless scenarios with no actual consequences, drawing attention to the common saying that reflects on the futility of such concerns. They delve into the evolutionary roots of this negativity bias, emphasizing its necessity in primitive times for survival. However, Dan notes that in the modern era, this bias becomes overwhelming due to the sheer volume of information inundating individuals.
The conversation touches on the intuitive response to uncomfortable information – the desire to push it away and avoid uncomfortable emotions. Dan likens this process to a subconscious monkey banging a drum to draw attention to potential threats. Here, the speaker introduces techniques within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that enable individuals to befriend the metaphorical monkey on their shoulder.
By practicing these ACT techniques, the drumming becomes softer, quieter, and eventually fades away. The ultimate result is a diminished engagement with unhelpful thought patterns. Dan suggests that making friends with discomfort and acknowledging anxious thoughts can lead to a more peaceful mental state, highlighting the transformative power of acceptance in navigating the challenges posed by the incessant drumbeat of worry.
Breaking Barriers: The Evolution of Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace
Dan sheds light on the prevailing challenges within organisations regarding mental health and the shifting perspectives that are gradually taking place. They highlight a common stance held by some organizations, emphasizing a detachment from employees' mental health challenges, focusing solely on work tasks. This rigid mentality, Dan notes, may hinder the potential for improved work quality through addressing mental health issues.
The conversation underscores the changing landscape within organizations, where there's a growing recognition of the interconnectedness between mental health and overall productivity. Dan expresses optimism that evolving attitudes will lead to the fruition of efforts aimed at promoting mental well-being in the workplace.
The discussion then shifts to the versatility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), describing it as trans-diagnostic. Dan emphasizes ACT's focus on the present and the future, as it acknowledges the past as immutable. They highlight the empowering aspect of ACT, enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to learn and apply the same techniques in a group setting. This inclusivity extends to those concurrently undergoing therapy for past traumas, positioning ACT as a supportive tool on their personal journeys.
Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of breaking down organizational barriers to mental health and emphasizes the adaptability and inclusivity of ACT in fostering a healthier and more supportive workplace environment.
Navigating the Authenticity Challenge: Behind the Scenes of Podcast Creation
In this candid conversation, We share our experiences as newcomers to podcasting, addressing the challenges we encountered in aligning their recorded personas with their authentic selves. Dan acknowledges the initial discomfort of being recorded, a sensation gradually overcome as they settled into the podcasting environment.
We reflect on the disconnect they felt during the initial recording, attributing it to scripted language and formal attire that didn't resonate with their personality. The realization prompted adjustments, emphasizing a more conversational tone and relaxed attire to foster a genuine connection with their audience.
The discussion delves into the complexity of content creation, extending beyond technical aspects to encompass personal expectations and the challenge of presenting an authentic self. The importance of avoiding a stark contrast between online and offline personas is emphasized, as it could lead to a perceived lack of genuineness.
We agree that, sharing our own concerns about the disparity between self-perception and the image presented in recordings. They highlight the common phenomenon of people being unaware of their behavior until they witness it through recordings, drawing parallels to reality TV shows where participants gain insights by watching themselves.
We acknowledge the time-consuming process of finding a balance between authenticity and the limitations of public presentation. We hope that the adjustments made will result in a more genuine representation of our personalities in future podcast episodes. We hope to provide a glimpse into the introspective journey of aligning one's recorded self with their true identity.
Crafting Authentic Conversations: Navigating the Learning Curve in Content Creation
We delve into the process of refining their podcasting approach, emphasising the significance of aligning the scripted content with their genuine personalities. I commend Dan for his initial performance, revealing that it took a keen observation to identify subtle nuances that didn't align with the Dan’s true self.
We underscore the learning curve inherent in content creation, emphasising the importance of being flexible and open to the possibility that the first attempt may not perfectly capture one's authentic style. We advocate for a willingness to iterate, recognising that the journey involves discovering a formula that allows for repeatable success.
We express satisfaction with the evolving process, acknowledging the benefit of having a structured approach that facilitates future content creation. We touch on the challenges of talking to a camera, humourously describing the feeling of being a "schizophrenic" conversing with multiple personalities, a sentiment likely shared by many content creators.
Dan expresses gratitude for the supportive setup around them, attributing the positive progress to the conducive environment. The candid exchange provides insights into the iterative nature of content creation, highlighting the importance of embracing the learning process and gradually honing a formula that aligns with one's authentic self.
Nostalgia and Parenting Humor: A Chat on Children's TV and Parenthood
In this lighthearted conversation, we share our experiences with daytime TV and children's shows, sparking a humorous exchange about the joys and challenges of parenting.
Dan expresses a fondness for Hey Dougie, particularly praising a YouTube video where the character teaches children about brushing their teeth. They humorously admit to relying on such content to encourage their two-year-old to brush his teeth willingly.
The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as I reflects on missing the stage when I would visit Tesco with my son and he would describe everyday things with childlike wonder. I fondly recall my son’s broken English, which added a touch of charm. We express a sense of loss as their child has grown older and become more independent, lamenting the days when they could easily influence their choices.
Some banter about the challenges of parenting, joking about selling their children on Facebook Marketplace (in jest), only to discover that selling livestock is prohibited. The humor continues as they playfully reference the age-old advice of never working with children or animals, poking fun at the unpredictable nature of both.
The banter concludes with a playful mention of having a cage on standby, humorously suggesting it's for my protection in case Dan goes wild.
ABOUT ME
My name is Byron Phillips and I run Datrysiad Media.
Datrysiad Media is a video production company based in Cardiff. We help businesses with their pain problems and communicate their stories.
We are a full-service video production that can handle every aspect of the video production process. Creating high-quality video content that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
