In this insightful conversation, James speaks with relationship coach and marriage expert Lee Baucom about what truly helps relationships thrive and why connection is the foundation of a healthy marriage.

Drawing on decades of experience helping couples navigate challenges, Lee explains why many relationship struggles are not actually communication problems but symptoms of deeper disconnection.

He shares how couples can unintentionally drift apart while focusing on careers, parenting, and the demands of everyday life, and why intentional connection is essential for long-term relationship success.

Lee also discusses the differences between therapy and coaching, the importance of taking responsibility without assigning blame, and how couples can move from being opponents back to becoming teammates. Throughout the conversation, he offers practical insights into conflict, communication, authenticity, and what it takes to build a relationship that continues to grow over time.

This is a thoughtful and practical episode for anyone who wants stronger relationships, deeper connection, and a better understanding of how healthy marriages are built and sustained.

Lee Baucom is a relationship coach, author, speaker, and founder of Save The Marriage. For more than 25 years, he has helped individuals and couples strengthen their relationships and create lasting change.

Originally trained as a therapist, Lee transitioned into coaching after becoming passionate about finding more effective ways to help couples move from struggling relationships to thriving partnerships. His work focuses on connection, responsibility, teamwork, and practical strategies that help people build stronger marriages and more fulfilling lives.

• Disconnection is often the root cause of relationship struggles.
• Healthy communication grows from healthy connection.
• Relationships require intentional effort and attention.
• Couples function best when they operate as a team.
• Conflict can create growth when approached constructively.
• Most relationship disagreements are differences in perspective, not right versus wrong.
• Responsibility is about choosing how to respond moving forward.
• Small daily habits can strengthen long-term connection.
• Authenticity creates deeper intimacy and trust.
• Personal growth and relationship growth go hand in hand.

• "It's not a communication problem. It's a connection problem."
• "The most important relationship in the house is the marriage."
• "You're either green and growing or ripe and rotting."
• "Responsibility is the ability to respond."
• "Conflict can serve the relationship."

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What if the biggest obstacle in your life isn't external circumstances, but the invisible beliefs you've carried for years?

In this thought-provoking conversation, James speaks with leadership coach, author, and former Royal Air Force pilot Will Steel about personal transformation, authentic leadership, and the hidden constraints that stop people from reaching their full potential.

Will shares his fascinating journey from military and commercial aviation into the world of personal development, describing the life-changing moment that helped him uncover a limiting belief he had carried since childhood.

That experience led him to dedicate his life to helping others break free from self-imposed limitations and create lives filled with greater purpose, fulfillment, and impact.

Throughout the conversation, James and Will explore the power of self-awareness, the importance of asking better questions, and why many people unknowingly live inside "glass boxes" of their own making.

Will explains how our past experiences shape our future expectations and why true leadership begins with understanding ourselves first.

Will shares powerful stories from his coaching work, including transformational breakthroughs that have impacted families, businesses, and entire organizations.

This is a powerful conversation about freedom, courage, self-discovery, and what becomes possible when we stop living by old stories and start creating a future that genuinely inspires us.

About Will Steel

Will Steel is a leadership coach, author, and former Royal Air Force pilot who has coached CEOs, entrepreneurs, senior executives, military leaders, athletes, psychologists, religious leaders, and high performers from around the world.

After serving as a military pilot and later flying commercially, Will transitioned into transformational leadership and personal development, spending over two decades helping people identify and overcome the hidden beliefs that limit their effectiveness and fulfilment.

He is the author of Free To Lead: Unleash Your Hidden Leadership Genius and works with individuals and organizations to develop authentic leadership, create meaningful change, and unlock greater levels of performance and purpose.

Key Takeaways

• Many of our limitations come from meanings we assigned to past experiences.
• Self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership.
• Freedom begins when we question the stories we've been living by.
• True leadership starts with leading ourselves.
• Personal growth often requires uncomfortable truths.
• Success without fulfilment eventually feels empty.
• Transformation happens when we become willing to see what we've been avoiding.
• Living authentically creates greater impact and influence.

In Will's Words

• "It lights me up to light people up."
• "You have to create something that lights you up."
• "Are you willing to disappoint another to be true to yourself?"

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In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, James speaks with award-winning author, radio host, and educator Grace Sammon about authenticity, storytelling, and the power of sharing our experiences.

Grace reflects on her journey as a writer and how her novels became a pathway to deeper self-discovery. She shares how writing helped her navigate changing identities, life transitions, and difficult personal experiences while uncovering a stronger sense of purpose and authenticity.

The conversation explores the healing power of stories, the responsibility that comes with telling them, and how literature can help people make sense of their own lives. Grace also discusses her latest novel, The Reliable Narrator, and the themes of truth, silence, friendship, resilience, and personal transformation that inspired it.

James and Grace delve into creativity, vulnerability, reinvention, and why it's never too late to discover new purpose or begin a new chapter. They also discuss the impact of volunteering, the importance of meaningful human connection, and how the stories we tell can leave a lasting mark on others.

This is a powerful conversation about authenticity, courage, purpose, and the enduring impact of finding and sharing your voice.

Grace Sammon is an award-winning author, educator, radio host, and literary advocate. She is the author of eight books, including the acclaimed novels The Eves and The Reliable Narrator.

A recipient of the 2025 Indies United Award for Inspirational Women in Literature, Media, and Journalism, Grace is known for exploring themes of identity, friendship, reinvention, resilience, and personal growth through her writing.

Alongside her literary work, Grace has spent many years supporting others through education, hospice volunteering, advocacy, mentoring, and broadcasting. Her work continues to inspire readers and listeners to embrace authenticity and live with greater purpose.

• Authenticity begins with understanding who you truly are.
• Our stories have the power to heal, connect, and inspire others.
• Life transitions can become opportunities for growth and reinvention.
• Finding purpose often comes from helping and serving others.
• Writing can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and reflection.
• Everyone has a story worth sharing.
• Personal growth requires honesty, courage, and vulnerability.
• Meaning and purpose can be found at any stage of life.
• Volunteering often gives back more than we expect.
• We are never truly "done" while there is still life to live.

🗣️ “I’m not done. I’m just not done.”

🗣️ “Speak even when your voice shakes.”

🗣️ “To thine own self be true.”

🗣️ “Words last, but the voice flies.”

🗣️ “Being authentic is living the life your soul was meant to live.”

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What if success wasn’t just about profit, but about purpose, fulfilment, and the impact you leave behind?

In this thought-provoking episode of What’s Important To You?, James Dean sits down with spiritual business coach Andrew Grinbaum to explore the intersection of business, mindset, spirituality, and personal growth.

Andrew shares how entrepreneurs and leaders can create meaningful success without sacrificing their values or wellbeing.

Drawing on over 30 years of studying Kabbalah, mysticism, coaching, and business strategy, Andrew explains why so many high achievers still feel empty despite external success and how reconnecting with purpose can transform both business and life.

The conversation dives into spirituality in modern leadership, the role of mindset in shaping reality, emotional resilience, identity shifts in entrepreneurship, and the importance of treating both ourselves and others with dignity and respect.

Andrew Grinbaum is a spiritual business coach, entrepreneur, and founder of the nonprofit Spirituality in Business Institute. He helps entrepreneurs and executives align purpose with profit by integrating ancient wisdom, mindset work, and modern business strategy.

Having built and scaled multiple successful businesses while coaching thousands of professionals and leaders, Andrew’s work focuses on helping high performers create businesses that not only succeed financially but also contribute positively to the world.

Through his coaching, teaching, and nonprofit work, Andrew encourages leaders to embrace authenticity, values-based leadership, and personal transformation as the foundation for sustainable success.

• Spirituality in business and leadership
• Finding purpose beyond financial success
• Values, mindset, and fulfillment
• Kabbalah and ancient wisdom in modern coaching
• Emotional regulation and mindfulness
• Identity shifts in entrepreneurship
• Human dignity and common courtesy in leadership
• Coaching and overcoming fear-based thinking
• Building businesses that create positive impact
• Fulfilment versus material success

• “Your mindset makes a huge difference.”
• “Fulfilment is not in material things.”
• “All that’s missing in the world is common courtesy and human dignity.”

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In this honest and deeply personal conversation, James speaks with Anne-Marie Zanzal about authenticity, identity, courage, and the experience of coming out later in life.

Anne-Marie shares her journey of leaving a 27-year marriage, embracing her identity at 52, and helping others navigate the emotional and relational challenges that often come with major life transitions.

Through her work as an LGBTQ+ coach, minister, and bereavement counsellor, she now supports people in finding the courage to live more truthfully and authentically.

The conversation explores the ongoing nature of “coming out,” the fear of losing relationships and identity, and the relief and freedom that can come from finally embracing who you truly are.

James and Anne-Marie also discuss spirituality, vulnerability, diversity, and the importance of creating environments where people feel safe to be themselves.

This episode is a thoughtful and compassionate conversation about personal growth, self-acceptance, and the courage it takes to stop hiding parts of ourselves.

Anne-Marie Zanzal is an LGBTQ+ coach, speaker, minister, and bereavement counsellor. After coming out later in life following a 27-year marriage, she dedicated her work to helping others navigate authenticity, identity, and personal transformation.

With a background in ministry, hospice chaplaincy, grief counselling, and adult development, Anne-Marie combines emotional support, spirituality, and coaching to help people embrace who they truly are.

• Authenticity requires courage and vulnerability
• Coming out is often an ongoing process
• Identity evolves throughout life
• Relief and freedom can coexist with grief and uncertainty
• Support systems are essential during major transitions
• It is never too late to embrace who you truly are
• Diversity of experiences strengthens relationships and society
• Living authentically creates deeper peace and fulfilment

• “If we all embraced authenticity, our world would change.”
• “Coming out is a continuous process.”
• “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?”

00:00 Embracing Authenticity in Life
02:55 The Journey of Coming Out Later in Life
05:44 Understanding the Complexity of Identity
08:45 The Emotional Landscape of Coming Out
11:41 Navigating Relationships During Transition
14:39 The Role of Support Systems
17:32 Vulnerability, Relief, and Freedom
20:32 Legacy and Evolving Identities
24:13 Diversity and Human Experience
29:12 Ministry, Coaching, and Self-Discovery
34:27 Courage and Authentic Living
41:17 The Role of Coaching in Personal Growth
48:08 Future Aspirations and Life Goals

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In this moving conversation, James speaks with Karen Olson, founder of Family Promise, about how one small act of kindness changed the course of her life and eventually impacted hundreds of thousands of families experiencing homelessness.

Karen shares how losing her mother at a young age shaped her understanding of empathy, connection, and service. Years later, while walking through New York City, buying lunch for a homeless woman named Millie became the catalyst for what would eventually grow into Family Promise, a national nonprofit organisation supporting families across the United States.

The conversation explores the importance of seeing people as human beings rather than problems to solve. Karen reflects on how volunteers and communities became the heart of Family Promise by creating dignity, hope, and meaningful human connection for families in crisis.

James and Karen also discuss purpose, resilience, and how helping others can often heal something within ourselves. Karen shares insights from her memoir Meant for More, encouraging listeners to start where they are and never underestimate the impact of simple acts of compassion.

This episode is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when ordinary people choose to care.

Karen Olson is the founder of Family Promise, a national nonprofit organisation helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence.

What began in the 1980s with Karen personally helping homeless individuals in New York City grew into a nationwide movement involving more than 200 affiliates and hundreds of thousands of volunteers.

Karen is also the author of Meant for More: Following Your Heart and Finding Your Purpose.

• Small acts of kindness can create lasting ripple effects
• Human connection is as important as practical support
• Compassion grows when we truly see one another
• Pain can become a source of purpose and service
• Communities are capable of incredible generosity
• Helping others often brings healing to ourselves
• You do not need to start big to make a difference
• Fulfilment often comes through contribution and connection

• “Compassion is alive and well in communities.”
• “Human connection is vital.”
• “Start where you are.”
• “Helping others is my life’s work.”

00:00 The Importance of Helping Others
04:59 Personal Tragedy and Its Impact
09:33 The Journey into Community Service
14:23 Building Connections Through Compassion
19:24 The Growth of Family Promise
24:12 Expanding the Mission and Impact
31:08 Writing a Book and Sharing the Journey
34:54 Inspiring Change Through Simple Acts
40:06 Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Life
46:47 The Power of Giving and Personal Influence

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In this inspiring conversation, James speaks with publisher and entrepreneur Orla Kelly about storytelling, courage, creativity, and the life-changing impact books can have on both writers and readers.

Orla shares her unexpected journey from environmental scientist to international publisher after creating a children’s story for her own children.

What began as a simple idea evolved into a publishing business that has now helped bring more than 200 books into the world across over 30 categories.

The conversation explores the fear and vulnerability many people feel around sharing their ideas, the importance of preserving stories and legacy, and why so many dreams remain untouched.

Orla also explains how publishing a book can become a transformational experience for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and everyday people who want their voice to be heard.

This episode is a powerful reminder that our stories matter and that it’s never too late to pursue what’s calling you.

• Storytelling creates emotional connection and lasting impact
• Publishing a book can become a transformational journey
• Fear and self-doubt stop many people from sharing their voice
• Authenticity matters more than perfection
• Books remain powerful tools for influence and growth
• Strategy is essential when creating a nonfiction business book

00:00 Living Fully and Pursuing Dreams
02:20 The Story of Joe and the Power of Publishing
06:23 Why Stories Matter and Leave a Legacy
08:15 From Scientist to Accidental Publisher
16:19 Building a Publishing Business by Accident
21:55 Helping Authors Share Their Voice
31:20 Lessons Learned in Business and Entrepreneurship
37:11 The Publishing Process Explained
42:22 Creating Strategic Business Books
52:24 Honest Feedback and Improving Manuscripts
01:00:46 The Emotional Experience of Holding Your Book
01:07:47 Why Dreams Should Never Be Left Untouched
01:14:44 What’s Important for the Future

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If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

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In this engaging and thought-provoking conversation, Gabrielle Dolan shares how storytelling became her life’s work and why it remains one of the most powerful tools in leadership and communication today.

Drawing from her experience in senior leadership roles and over two decades of working with global organisations, Gabrielle explains how authentic storytelling builds trust, strengthens relationships, and brings values to life in a way that data alone never can.

We explore the difference between telling stories and choosing the right story, the courage required to be vulnerable, and how storytelling can shape not only how we lead others, but how we see ourselves.

Gabrielle also shares her perspective on AI and communication, offering a balanced view on how to use it as a tool without losing your authentic voice.

• Storytelling is a skill that can transform how we lead and communicate
• Stories give credibility to messages and make them memorable
• Authentic storytelling requires truth, alignment, and vulnerability
• The most powerful stories are often simple and personal
• Clarity of message comes before choosing the story
• Storytelling strengthens trust and accelerates connection
• Values are best demonstrated through stories, not statements
• AI can support storytelling, but should never replace authenticity
• The stories we tell ourselves shape our identity and perspective
• Influence comes from emotional connection, not just logic

• Gabrielle’s journey from corporate leadership to storytelling expert
• The role of storytelling in change management and leadership
• Choosing the right story for the right message
• Authenticity, vulnerability, and trust in communication
• Using stories to demonstrate organisational values
• The emotional impact of personal storytelling
• AI and the future of communication and storytelling
• The connection between storytelling and self-awareness

00:00 The Power of Storytelling in Business
07:28 From Corporate Leadership to Storytelling Expert
12:02 Choosing the Right Story for the Message
19:22 Authenticity and Leadership Communication
25:53 Values in Action Through Storytelling
32:32 The Power of Personal Stories
37:36 Building Trust Through Stories
42:23 Authenticity and Relatability in Communication
50:44 AI and the Future of Storytelling
01:01:26 Finding Gratitude in Disappointment
01:06:04 Overcoming Educational Labels and Limiting Beliefs
01:10:58 Embracing Your Unique Story
01:15:32 Future Vision and What’s Important

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If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

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