What if happiness wasn't something you had to chase, but something you could learn?

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde is joined by happiness expert, speaker and author Declan Edwards to explore the science behind happiness, emotional intelligence and why so many of us fall into the "I'll be happy when..." trap.

Together they unpack why achievement alone doesn't create fulfilment, how our emotions influence those around us, and why happiness is less about circumstance and more about the skills we build every day.

In this episode we discuss:
Why we're pursuing happiness more than ever, yet feeling less fulfilled.
The "hedonic treadmill" and why the goalposts keep moving.
Why happiness is a learnable skill, not a personality trait.
The link between emotional intelligence, leadership and wellbeing.
How perfectionism, people pleasing and external validation affect happiness.
Why relationships have a greater impact on happiness than success.
A simple two-word exercise to improve emotional awareness.

 

Timestamps

00:00 From 75 Skills to 5
00:43 Meet Declan Edwards
01:48 Why We Are Less Happy
04:17 Declan's Personal Turning Point
08:46 Building a Happiness Toolkit
09:54 Sponsor – Clarity Compass
10:39 Happiness Is Contagious
14:49 Leadership's Ripple Effect
17:24 Five Core Happiness Skills
23:26 The Two-Word Emotional Check-In
27:26 Book Launch and Final Thoughts

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here
Get the Clarity Compass here

 

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

Connect with Declan:
Website: https://declanedwards.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-edwards-bu-happiness-college/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/declanedwards_bu/

What if happiness wasn't something you had to chase, but something you could learn?
In this episode of&nbsp;Leading You, Julie Hyde is joined by happiness expert, speaker and author Declan Edwards to explore the science behind happiness, emotional intelligence and why so many of us fall into the "I'll be happy when..." trap.
Together they unpack why achievement alone doesn't create fulfilment, how our emotions influence those around us, and why happiness is less about circumstance and more about the skills we build every day.
In this episode we discuss:
<ul>
<li>Why we're pursuing happiness more than ever, yet feeling less fulfilled.</li>
<li>The "hedonic treadmill" and why the goalposts keep moving.</li>
<li>Why happiness is a learnable skill, not a personality trait.</li>
<li>The link between emotional intelligence, leadership and wellbeing.</li>
<li>How perfectionism, people pleasing and external validation affect happiness.</li>
<li>Why relationships have a greater impact on happiness than success.</li>
<li>A simple two-word exercise to improve emotional awareness.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Timestamps
00:00 From 75 Skills to 5 00:43 Meet Declan Edwards 01:48 Why We Are Less Happy 04:17 Declan's Personal Turning Point 08:46 Building a Happiness Toolkit 09:54 Sponsor &ndash; Clarity Compass 10:39 Happiness Is Contagious 14:49 Leadership's Ripple Effect 17:24 Five Core Happiness Skills 23:26 The Two-Word Emotional Check-In 27:26 Book Launch and Final Thoughts
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a> Get the Clarity Compass&nbsp;<a href="https://programs.juliehyde.com.au/programs/claritycompass/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/">&nbsp;@juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Declan: Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://declanedwards.com.au/">https://declanedwards.com.au/</a> LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-edwards-bu-happiness-college/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-edwards-bu-happiness-college/</a> Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/declanedwards_bu/">https://www.instagram.com/declanedwards_bu/</a>

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?

Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.

There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.

I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.

Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.

Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

A Podcast dedicated to business owners and leaders to inspire you to make it count

Leading You

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

Leading You | Self-Leadership for High Achievers

How to Be Happier with Declan Edwards

How many times have you told yourself:

"I'm going to do that."
"I really should get onto that."
"This year will be different."

And then… nothing changes?

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde explores one of the biggest reasons capable people fail to create meaningful change: the difference between being interested in something and being truly committed to it.

Using a simple but surprisingly powerful story about homemade muesli bars, Julie unpacks the psychology behind why good intentions rarely lead to consistent action. She explores the "intention-behaviour gap"—the space between what we say we want to do and what we actually follow through on.

Drawing on the research of psychologist Peter Gollwitzer, Julie explains why people are dramatically more likely to achieve their goals when they move beyond vague intentions and make specific commitments about when, where and how they'll take action.

Whether it's your leadership, health, relationships or personal growth, this episode will challenge you to stop confusing wanting something with deciding to do it.

In this episode, we discuss:
The difference between being interested and being committed
The psychology behind the intention-behaviour gap
Why good intentions rarely create lasting change
How procrastination keeps capable people stuck
Why language shapes mindset and behaviour
The power of specificity, structure and accountability
Why clarity matters more than motivation
How commitment changes focus, energy and follow-through
Leadership habits that stay stuck in "interested" mode
Practical strategies to turn intention into action

This is a practical, honest and highly relatable conversation about self-leadership, accountability and closing the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

 

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Theme
00:16 The Muesli Bars Lesson
02:21 The Intention vs Action Gap
03:27 The 50/50 Problem
05:23 Interested or Committed?
08:01 How Language Shapes Behaviour
10:09 Three Practical Steps
10:22 Step One: Name It
11:40 Step Two: When, Where and How
13:05 Step Three: Meaning and Honesty
15:23 Wrap Up and Next Actions
16:51 Clarity Compass and Farewell

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here
Get the Clarity Compass here

 

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

How many times have you told yourself:
"I'm going to do that." "I really should get onto that." "This year will be different."
And then&hellip; nothing changes?
In this episode of&nbsp;Leading You, Julie Hyde explores one of the biggest reasons capable people fail to create meaningful change: the difference between being interested in something and being truly committed to it.
Using a simple but surprisingly powerful story about homemade muesli bars, Julie unpacks the psychology behind why good intentions rarely lead to consistent action. She explores the "intention-behaviour gap"&mdash;the space between what we say we want to do and what we actually follow through on.
Drawing on the research of psychologist Peter Gollwitzer, Julie explains why people are dramatically more likely to achieve their goals when they move beyond vague intentions and make specific commitments about when, where and how they'll take action.
Whether it's your leadership, health, relationships or personal growth, this episode will challenge you to stop confusing wanting something with deciding to do it.
In this episode, we discuss:
<ul>
<li>The difference between being interested and being committed</li>
<li>The psychology behind the intention-behaviour gap</li>
<li>Why good intentions rarely create lasting change</li>
<li>How procrastination keeps capable people stuck</li>
<li>Why language shapes mindset and behaviour</li>
<li>The power of specificity, structure and accountability</li>
<li>Why clarity matters more than motivation</li>
<li>How commitment changes focus, energy and follow-through</li>
<li>Leadership habits that stay stuck in "interested" mode</li>
<li>Practical strategies to turn intention into action</li>
</ul>
This is a practical, honest and highly relatable conversation about self-leadership, accountability and closing the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.
&nbsp;
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and Theme 00:16 The Muesli Bars Lesson 02:21 The Intention vs Action Gap 03:27 The 50/50 Problem 05:23 Interested or Committed? 08:01 How Language Shapes Behaviour 10:09 Three Practical Steps 10:22 Step One: Name It 11:40 Step Two: When, Where and How 13:05 Step Three: Meaning and Honesty 15:23 Wrap Up and Next Actions 16:51 Clarity Compass and Farewell
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a> Get the Clarity Compass <a href="https://programs.juliehyde.com.au/programs/claritycompass/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>

Interested or Commmitted? There's a Difference

What happens when you've achieved everything you thought would make you happy… but something still feels missing?

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde sits down with Saru Gupta to explore a reality many high-achieving leaders experience but rarely talk about openly: emotional flatness.

On paper, life looks successful. The career is progressing. Relationships are intact. Goals are being achieved. Yet underneath it all sits a quiet sense of disconnection that many leaders struggle to explain.

Drawing on her own journey through corporate leadership, burnout, grief, divorce and personal transformation, Saru shares why mindset alone is not always enough. Together, Julie and Saru explore the connection between nervous system health, emotional regulation and embodied leadership, and why reconnecting with ourselves may be the missing piece many ambitious people are searching for.

This conversation challenges the belief that the answer is always another promotion, another goal or another achievement. Instead, it offers a different perspective: that sustainable leadership starts by understanding what your body, emotions and nervous system have been trying to communicate all along.

In this episode, we discuss:
Why high achievers often mistake emotional flatness for burnout
The difference between mindset work and nervous system regulation
Why constantly chasing the next achievement doesn't create lasting fulfilment
How emotional awareness helps us become stronger leaders
The signs you may be disconnected from yourself without realising it
Why curiosity is more powerful than self-criticism
The role of embodied leadership in sustainable success
How nervous system health influences performance and wellbeing
Practical ways to reconnect with yourself
Three powerful questions to help you slow down and listen

If you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected on the inside, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it really means to thrive.

 

Timestamps

00:00 Nervous System First
00:22 Podcast Introduction & Meet Saru Gupta
01:56 Success on the Outside, Disconnection on the Inside
03:38 Chasing the Next High
05:28 Leaving Corporate and the Crash That Followed
06:24 The Whole Self Method Explained
09:12 Why We Avoid Difficult Feelings
12:11 What Emotional Flatness Really Feels Like
14:21 Clarity Compass Break
15:13 Mindset vs Nervous System Regulation
18:22 Why Internal Safety Matters More Than Strategy
18:40 The Whole Self Method Pillars
19:46 Rewiring the Nervous System
21:58 The Ordinary Signs You're Reconnecting
23:19 The Messy Middle and Burnout Recovery
24:20 The Self-Criticism and Burnout Cycle
25:52 Starting with Curiosity
28:14 The Two-Minute Daily Practice
30:34 Three Questions to Ask Yourself Daily
31:46 Closing Reflections and Farewell

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here
Get the Clarity Compass here

 

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

Connect with Saru:
Website: https://sarugupta.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saru-gupta/
Instagram:@iamsarugupta

What happens when you've achieved everything you thought would make you happy&hellip; but something still feels missing?
In this episode of&nbsp;Leading You, Julie Hyde sits down with&nbsp;Saru Gupta&nbsp;to explore a reality many high-achieving leaders experience but rarely talk about openly: emotional flatness.
On paper, life looks successful. The career is progressing. Relationships are intact. Goals are being achieved. Yet underneath it all sits a quiet sense of disconnection that many leaders struggle to explain.
Drawing on her own journey through corporate leadership, burnout, grief, divorce and personal transformation, Saru shares why mindset alone is not always enough. Together, Julie and Saru explore the connection between nervous system health, emotional regulation and embodied leadership, and why reconnecting with ourselves may be the missing piece many ambitious people are searching for.
This conversation challenges the belief that the answer is always another promotion, another goal or another achievement. Instead, it offers a different perspective: that sustainable leadership starts by understanding what your body, emotions and nervous system have been trying to communicate all along.
In this episode, we discuss:
<ul>
<li>Why high achievers often mistake emotional flatness for burnout</li>
<li>The difference between mindset work and nervous system regulation</li>
<li>Why constantly chasing the next achievement doesn't create lasting fulfilment</li>
<li>How emotional awareness helps us become stronger leaders</li>
<li>The signs you may be disconnected from yourself without realising it</li>
<li>Why curiosity is more powerful than self-criticism</li>
<li>The role of embodied leadership in sustainable success</li>
<li>How nervous system health influences performance and wellbeing</li>
<li>Practical ways to reconnect with yourself</li>
<li>Three powerful questions to help you slow down and listen</li>
</ul>
If you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected on the inside, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it really means to thrive.
&nbsp;
Timestamps
00:00 Nervous System First 00:22 Podcast Introduction &amp; Meet Saru Gupta 01:56 Success on the Outside, Disconnection on the Inside 03:38 Chasing the Next High 05:28 Leaving Corporate and the Crash That Followed 06:24 The Whole Self Method Explained 09:12 Why We Avoid Difficult Feelings 12:11 What Emotional Flatness Really Feels Like 14:21 Clarity Compass Break 15:13 Mindset vs Nervous System Regulation 18:22 Why Internal Safety Matters More Than Strategy 18:40 The Whole Self Method Pillars 19:46 Rewiring the Nervous System 21:58 The Ordinary Signs You're Reconnecting 23:19 The Messy Middle and Burnout Recovery 24:20 The Self-Criticism and Burnout Cycle 25:52 Starting with Curiosity 28:14 The Two-Minute Daily Practice 30:34 Three Questions to Ask Yourself Daily 31:46 Closing Reflections and Farewell
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a> Get the Clarity Compass <a href="https://programs.juliehyde.com.au/programs/claritycompass/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Saru: Website: <a href="https://sarugupta.com/">https://sarugupta.com/</a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/saru-gupta/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/saru-gupta/</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iamsarugupta/">@iamsarugupta</a>

Leadership, mindset and personal growth for today's leaders

The Flatness No One Talks About. Nervous System, Burnout and Finding Your Way Back with Saru Gupta

What happens when a woman becomes so good at responding to everyone else’s needs that she completely loses connection to her own?

In this deeply reflective episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde explores a question that stops even the most capable women in their tracks:

“What do you want when nobody needs anything from you?”

It sounds simple. But for many high-performing women, the answer is far more difficult than expected.

This episode dives into why so many successful women lose touch with their own desires, needs and sense of self after years of being rewarded for competence, responsibility and reliability. Julie unpacks the hidden cost of constantly being the “safe pair of hands” — the person everyone depends on — and why that identity can quietly crowd out personal fulfilment, joy and direction.

Through stories from coaching clients and insights from years working with leaders and ambitious women, Julie explores:
Why high-performing women struggle to answer what they truly want
The difference between knowing what to do and knowing what you desire
How responsibility, identity and fear bury personal fulfilment
Why many women feel foggy, flat or disconnected despite looking successful on the outside
The emotional cost of constantly living in response mode
The role of people pleasing, obligation and performance identity
How to reconnect with yourself without needing to blow up your life
Why silence and space are essential for clarity
The danger of building a life around “should”
Small but powerful ways to reconnect with your own voice again

Julie also shares the story of a highly accomplished client who realised she had spent years knowing exactly what everyone else needed from her — but no longer knew what she needed for herself.

This episode is an invitation to pause long enough to ask yourself an honest question many women have not considered in years.

What do you actually want?

 

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Big Question
02:15 Why the Silence Happens
02:41 Client Story Feeling Stuck
04:21 Doing Next vs Wanting
06:42 Three Ways Desire Gets Buried
11:32 The Hidden Cost of Not Knowing
12:25 Penny and Reconnecting
14:39 Three Starting Points
15:11 Silence and Small Questions
18:12 Separate Wants from Shoulds
19:32 Closing Reflection and Choice
21:25 Clarity Compass Invitation
22:07 Thanks and Goodbye

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here
Get the Clarity Compass here

 

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

What happens when a woman becomes so good at responding to everyone else&rsquo;s needs that she completely loses connection to her own?
In this deeply reflective episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde explores a question that stops even the most capable women in their tracks:
&ldquo;What do you want when nobody needs anything from you?&rdquo;
It sounds simple. But for many high-performing women, the answer is far more difficult than expected.
This episode dives into why so many successful women lose touch with their own desires, needs and sense of self after years of being rewarded for competence, responsibility and reliability. Julie unpacks the hidden cost of constantly being the &ldquo;safe pair of hands&rdquo; &mdash; the person everyone depends on &mdash; and why that identity can quietly crowd out personal fulfilment, joy and direction.
Through stories from coaching clients and insights from years working with leaders and ambitious women, Julie explores:
<ul>
<li>Why high-performing women struggle to answer what they truly want</li>
<li>The difference between knowing what to do and knowing what you desire</li>
<li>How responsibility, identity and fear bury personal fulfilment</li>
<li>Why many women feel foggy, flat or disconnected despite looking successful on the outside</li>
<li>The emotional cost of constantly living in response mode</li>
<li>The role of people pleasing, obligation and performance identity</li>
<li>How to reconnect with yourself without needing to blow up your life</li>
<li>Why silence and space are essential for clarity</li>
<li>The danger of building a life around &ldquo;should&rdquo;</li>
<li>Small but powerful ways to reconnect with your own voice again</li>
</ul>
Julie also shares the story of a highly accomplished client who realised she had spent years knowing exactly what everyone else needed from her &mdash; but no longer knew what she needed for herself.
This episode is an invitation to pause long enough to ask yourself an honest question many women have not considered in years.
What do you actually want?
&nbsp;
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Big Question 02:15 Why the Silence Happens 02:41 Client Story Feeling Stuck 04:21 Doing Next vs Wanting 06:42 Three Ways Desire Gets Buried 11:32 The Hidden Cost of Not Knowing 12:25 Penny and Reconnecting 14:39 Three Starting Points 15:11 Silence and Small Questions 18:12 Separate Wants from Shoulds 19:32 Closing Reflection and Choice 21:25 Clarity Compass Invitation 22:07 Thanks and Goodbye
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a> Get the Clarity Compass <a href="https://programs.juliehyde.com.au/programs/claritycompass/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>

How to Be Happier with Declan Edwards

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