Imagine if there was a way to improve your quality of living and wellbeing - from your sense of creativity to feelings of clarity, boost the performance of your immune system and reduce stress, enhance your sleep and gain insights into your subconscious, and it was all available right now to you, free of cost? It’s too to be true isn’t it? Well, today’s conversation with hypnobreath practitioner Dave Murphy debunks myths and provides the facts on how breathing, hypnosis, visioning and meditation can help unlock a new way of being and living. My name’s Nathan Robertson-Ball, and welcome to or welcome back to the Finding Nature podcast, my show where each week I go longer form to help me and you better understand how we can all live lives that contribute to a healthier, safer and more just world.

I started this show coming up on two years ago after realising I wanted to broaden and deepen my understanding of how I could make shifts in my life and through the work I do and have done in and around corporates and sustainable business. Before starting it I listed out all the topics I wanted to learn about, and that included high performance, cognitive clarity and creativity - areas I suspected were vital to my ability to make the type of contribution on the world and the people around me, but wasn’t sure how to access it. I’ve been fortunate to speak with experts in the fields of psychology, neuroscience and cognitive behaviour, but chatting with Dave made me realise that the portal to any and all activity, change and performance is dependent on the physiology of the breath. And today we get into this.

Dave is a certified hypnobreathwork and flow state coach, as well as certified in breathing sciences and intrinsic health, after spending the first portion of his career following a path he thought would make him happy. Like many, that gnawing inner knock that started as a light tap slowly but surely became a thunderous banging, and in his 30s changed just about everything about his life - where he lived, what he did and who he wanted to be. Now he’s one of Australia’s most sought after experts in the science and practice of breath work, and he works with businesses, small groups and individuals to help them identify and pursue what truly matters to them.

This conversation was a revelation for me - as was doing Dave’s extraordinary online hypnobreathwork course. The science backs the practices - the list of benefits of better breathing isn’t too good to be true - but the experiential aspect of Dave’s coaching is remarkable. The insights and epiphany I had from just one sitting was extraordinary, which I share in this episode. We cover lots in this session, from the science of breath and hypnosis and addressing the scepticism of the latter, his own journey, his time with Zach Bush and Farmers Footprint, and how each of us have available at any moment the opportunity to consciously engage with one of the 25,000 breaths we’ll take today, and for everyday to come until we take that final one.

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So imagine swimming with humpback whales in the tropical waters of Tonga. Now imagine spending enough time swimming with them over five years to end up with 11,000 portrait photographs of them. Not wide angle shots from afar, but up close and personally, feelings their fins, watching the movement of an eye, hearing the sound and power of their voice and song. Imagine swimming with tiger sharks, whale sharks, what about Australian fur seals or manta rays? That’s what Jem Cresswell has built a career and life around over the last 20 years. His mastery of craft as an underwater photographer is near peerless internationally, and recently he released his first book, Giants, which captures his time in Tonga with thousands of humpback whales. It’s a stunning book, reflective of his broader skills and experiences where for two decades he has captured the wonder and beauty of life underwater.

As I said at the top, we all hope for greater, grander results and outcomes in many parts of our lives at the beginning of a new year, but Jem is here to remind us all that time in nature and with wildlife is a sure path to greater satisfaction, contentment and joy. I can think of few better things to aspire to this year than to spend more time in parks or beaches, in the bush or on mountains. Jem’s work showcases the spectacular beauty of life underwater, and his work on Giants is nothing short of extraordinary. I was moved sitting and spending time with the 100 plus images the book contains - from mothers with new born calf to vertically upright males and the playful curiosity of sub adults - this book captures the brilliance of the natural world.

We chat about many of Jem’s trips around the world capturing the sights of life underwater, but we also get into the role and necessity of creativity and how he approaches making great works of art, how to take better photos ourselves and the role of evocative imagery as a tool for the change maker.

Jem Cresswell brings a wonderful underwater world to each and every one of us. I hope you’re inspired by this to go seek out nature where you can this year.

This show and Finding Nature wouldn’t be the operation it is without the help, support and the creation of the theme song by Rob Rogers. Thanks also to Leah Mazzone who built the finding nature website. For everything Finding Nature head to findingnature.com.au, plus give us a follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack and Humanitix - because too many digital platforms are barely enough.

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This best of anthology is about showcasing the year that was on this show, as well as offering snippets from some of the brilliant people I had the pleasure of speaking with this year - either to be reminded of their wisdom or to discover who you may not have heard.

Today’s best of captures insights and wisdom from ten truly great professionals and people who do this work. From a new era of fire and heat everyone and everything is already grappling with, to the necessity to champion boys in the face of mounting cultural and economic pressures, to hearing from two of the world’s greatest ever environmentalists. The topics and subjects covered in this show are deliberately broad, understanding and appreciating the reality of systemic inter-connectedness in our world and existence, and having regard that lessons in bringing about change in one domain offers lessons that are likely relevant and helpful in others.

I love doing this each week, thank you for tuning in, for listening, for subscribing and for sharing episodes. It’s a treat to spend time each week preparing for, spending time with and creating a platform for every person that comes on the show.

Episode list:

John Vaillant - Apple / Spotify

Emma Bacon - Apple / Spotify

Daniel Principe - Apple / Spotify

Victoria Whitaker - Apple / Spotify

Andy Marlow - Apple / Spotify

Anastasia Hronis - Apple / Spotify

Marco Lambertini - Apple / Spotify

Licia Heath - Apple / Spotify

Kaylene Langford - Apple / Spotify

Bob Brown - Apple / Spotify

For all things Finding Nature, go to our website.

Send me a message

Thanks for listening. Follow Finding Nature on Instagram