MEET THE
Freedom Seekers
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My new book KOKORO: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived is OUT NOW!
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Alastair is an adventurer, author and blogger. He has been named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his microadventures – simple, local adventures perfect for people’s busy lives.
Ali is inspired by anything handmade and everything cosy. She started a creative retreat called The Makerie to give people the gift of uninterrupted creative time shared with a loving community. She loves living in beautiful Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two young children.
Alison never really settled at anything for long until the unforeseen death of her sister made her realize that today is a gift some never get to see. Alison grabbed an opportunity that gave her the freedom to surround herself with what makes her happy. Today she runs Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge, UK.
Alison is a proud mother of three. She worked in production at NBC News and managed a global programme at UNICEF. After her twin girls were born, she created Apple Seeds, an all-in-one play space for children, overseeing three New York City locations and a national music franchise. She is obsessed with yoga and endurance challenges, and created the non-profit Team See Possibilities.
Allan is an actor, clown, storyteller, facilitator and the tallest husband Julia has ever had. Currently based in Perth, Australia, after venturing out for several years he has decided it is time to venture out once more, on a quest to reconnect and see the world through a different lens.
AnneLiese grew up in the wilderness of Pennsylvania, USA, forming a love for nature early on. With filmmaking skills from Penn State University, she combined her passions into outdoor filmmaking. AnneLiese resides in Seattle, where she and her dog, Humphrey, travel to the Cascade and Olympic ranges to create inspiring content.
Darin is a lifelong surfer and real-estate entrepreneur, who owns the beautiful Costa Rica Yoga Spa. After suffering a life-threatening illness, and playing an active role in finding a cure, Darin is now spearheading the Global Nurture Project, whose goal and aspiration is to ‘change the face of modern medicine and healing’.
Emily is an architect turned ocean advocate and skipper. She has spent six years sailing around the globe exploring oceanic gyres – huge areas of plastic accumulation – through the organization she co-founded, Pangaea Explorations. Emily is an international public speaker and advisor on issues relating to our oceans, shifting mindsets and future society.
Emma is an illustrator and surface pattern designer from Brighton, UK. Her work combines a love of drawing, painting and printing with contemporary colour palettes to create stationery, cards, textiles and illustrations that are fresh and decorative.
Hidetoshi, a former Japanese professional footballer, played for teams in the Serie A and Premier Leagues, and for the Japan national team. After retiring in 2006, he travelled the world for three years. Since returning to Japan, he has been developing and providing opportunities to promote Japan’s culture, crafts and artisans on a global scale.
Holly is a photographer and paper artist living in Hampshire, UK. Her world is in pictures and she uses inspiration from all around her. In both her art and her photography Holly aims to create something that has lasting meaning.
Jennifer is the author of An Octopus In My Ouzo, Falling In Honey and Meeting Mr Kim. A book editor and literary agent, she grew up in the north of England and lived in Canada and France; then she moved to a Greek island and hasn’t looked back.
Jessica is the Director of Fertility Fest, the world’s first arts festival dedicated to the science of making babies. She is also the author of The Pursuit of Motherhood and 21 Miles to Happiness: A Swim in Search of the Meaning of Motherhood.
Josie and Tom run a successful mobile coffee business from a converted Canadian ski gondola. As coffee nerds, travel junkies and snow enthusiasts, they take The Coffee Gondola all over Europe. Listen to my interview with Josie on the Freedom Seeker Chronicles Podcast. We talk about how dream turned into her path for entrepreneurial success. Listen here.
Karen’s creative path is inspired by adventure and finding others who love the same. From Lincoln, UK, Karen is a wife, a mum and a grandma. She plays with mixed media art, and ceramics, and adores her motorbike. She loves mixing her favourite things to live a creative life.
Kari is a bestselling author and champion of creative workers. She uses her skills to help people start and maintain creative businesses, with a focus on goal setting, time mapping and detail planning. She lives happily in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.
Kate is an empowerment coach, motivational speaker and author of the blog, Love Yourself, Love Your Life, sharing inspirational stories about self-love, healthy body image, personal growth, beauty and fitness. She is also a certified Reiki Master, QVC On- Air Beauty Host and Wilhelmina model.
Kate is the co-owner of Spinney Hollow woodland and cofounder of TreeCreeper Theatre CIC. She has always felt that creative play, connection to nature and the ability to be still are at the very core of positive development and social change. Kate lives off-grid with her two young children, partner and a variety of animals near Winchester, UK.
Kelly Rae is an internationally celebrated artist, author, and possibilitarian. Her tender style of truth-telling and possibility driven approach to life, work and art have been featured in countless publications. Her artwork can be found worldwide on all kinds of uplifting gift products. Kelly Rae also teaches a variety of popular online courses, and co-hosts the Hello Soul Hello Business membership site for creative entrepreneurs.
Losing her job in her late 20s turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Kerry, who saw it as a sign she should follow her dream to create an off-grid glamping site. Inspired by her world travels, Kerry and her partner, Dave, created Camp Kátur, named after the Icelandic word for ‘happy, in the grounds of a beautiful country estate in Yorkshire, UK. Having made a success of that business, Kerry and Dave are now beginning a new chapter in Abruzzo, Italy, with the establishment of their own venue. Listen to my interview with Kerry on the Freedom Seeker Chronicles Podcast, on how redundancy helped her escape. Listen here.
Kevin is the author of three highly successful books. He has helped turn creative ideas into reality for many organizations such as Starbucks, Walt Disney, Nike and Mattel. Kevin has dedicated his life to advancing education, sports and play as a vehicle for social change and success.
Lisa grew up in Athens, Rome and London. She studied Interior Design before moving into Film Location Management, working on several award-winning TV series and commercials. Lisa moved to Australia in 1997 and started an events company with her husband, had a family and started a biodynamic farm. She later returned to her passion of art and is now a multidisciplinary artist.
Lisa is a doting mum to Rosie, a little girl born with an incurable life-limiting muscle disorder. Lisa writes an inspiring blog and is practising life coaching to help families of disabled children find freedom, positivity and happiness. She also climbs mountains and runs marathons to raise money for charity. Listen to my interview with Lisa on the Freedom Seeker Chronicles Podcast, on Motherhood, Mountains and the Meaning of Life. Listen here.
Lotus is a freedom advocate. Having built a multi-million dollar business, he found himself living at speed and disconnected from himself. Regaining his health and joy for life through a vegan lifestyle and truth, Lotus now shares his freedom as a yogi, surfer, farmer, entrepreneur and artist, supporting others to realize theirs. He lives in Costa Rica.
Lou is a writer, photographer and mum-of-two from Bristol, UK. Her blog, Littlegreenshed, features travel, botanical inspiration and practical advice on simple living. In 2015, Lou founded Sisterhood Camp, an annual creative retreat for recharging and empowering brilliant ladies.
Lucy works full-time in the media industry, but her true passions lie outside of her day job. From blogging about cultivating a creative life through the seasons, to having a passion for everything handmade, she’s also a certified life coach and NLP Practitioner.
A fun-loving travel blogger, TV presenter and event host, Mandy took the huge decision to set up her own company and go freelance in 2012 to explore new challenges and experience life to the full. After all, ‘life is not a dress rehearsal!’
Ex-workaholic for a global ad agency, Nicola was burning the candle at both ends until life decided to pull the plug on it all in the form of burnout. Ten years later she now runs her own coaching business to support busy people to slow down and breathe again – through coaching, workshops and retreats in nature. Listen to my interview with Nicola on the Freedom Seeker Chronicles Podcast, on living and working slowly. Listen here.
Paul is a devoted husband and father, and a sports, film and comic enthusiast. After more than a decade in civil engineering, Paul made a major career shift to join Do What
You Love, where he proudly leads a team delivering online courses that inspire others to find personal, professional and financial freedom.
Pia is an internationally acclaimed stylist, photographer and writer, and has worked around the world for the past decade. She is the author and photographer of Paris: Made by Hand (2009), Amsterdam: Made by Hand (2010), My Heart Wanders (2011) and Little Treasures: Made by Hand (2013).
Music broadcaster and tastemaker Robert Gorham, aka Rob da Bank, is one of the UK’s best-loved music curators. He first gained attention with his club night Sunday Best, founded in London in 1995, which has since grown into a record label and three multi-award winning music festivals, Bestival, Camp Bestival and Common People.
Rohan is one of the most original and creative voices in modern mindfulness and meditation. His company Mindfulness Everywhere is the creator of Kara, Sleepfulness, Cards for Mindfulness and the bestselling app buddhify. Rohan is the author of This Is Happening. He lives in Glasgow.
In the last 10 years Sam has been diagnosed with breast cancer three times. Experiencing the far-reaching effects of cancer on many different levels, she set up Samspaces, an online virtual support network for anyone recovering from and adjusting to life again after cancer treatment. Listen to my interview with Sam on the Freedom Seeker Chronicles Podcast, on the importance of radical self care. Listen here.
Entrepreneurial, creative and driven, Spencer has committed himself to building a people-focused business deeply rooted in the heart of Southampton, UK, as a catalyst for his personal mission: to see his hometown fulfil its huge potential.
Vigdis is an eternal optimist and all-round positive person. Her passions are the outdoors and sharing the ‘pura vida’ lifestyle in Costa Rica with others. She is living the dream running Bahia Rica Fishing & Kayak Lodge with her husband, taking people out on the water to get an experience of a lifetime.