Beyond Instinct: The Orca Mindset draws inspiration from the intelligence, adaptability, and teamwork of orcas—nature’s most strategic apex predators.
Each episode features interviews with business leaders, industry experts, and strategists who share insights on building high-performing teams, leading with purpose, and mastering adaptability. Listeners will gain actionable advice, real-world examples, and proven frameworks to implement in their own organisations.
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.
In this episode, Michael Russell is joined by Katharine Pons, from Executive Wisdom, for a thought-provoking conversation on conscious leadership. Together, they unpack what it really means to lead with awareness, purpose, and empathy in today’s fast-moving business landscape. From decision-making and culture to personal accountability and sustainable growth, they explore how conscious leadership can drive stronger teams, healthier organisations, and more meaningful impact.
23 Jan 2026
Beyond Instinct: Michael Russell - Reflection & Direction
Beyond Instinct Podcast: Reflecting, Learning, and Looking Ahead
In this special episode of the Beyond Instinct podcast, host Michael Russell takes a step back to reflect on his journey since launching the show.
Looking ahead, he explores the future of Beyond Instinct and what listeners can expect as the podcast continues to evolve.
Plus, he shares his perspective as an SME business owner for 2026.
1 Oct 2025
Beyond Instinct: Darcy Laceby - Forbes 30 under 30 (8years of rapid scale)
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront. In this episode of Beyond Instinct, Michael Russell sits down with Darcy Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen. They explore Darcy’s journey as a founder, the challenges and rewards of working with family, and the rapid growth of Absolute Collagen and what it meant for her and the business.
17 Sept 2025
Beyond Instinct: Harsha Malaweera - From Founder to Owner
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.
Transitioning from founder to business owner is rarely a straight path. In this episode, we explore the unique challenges, frustrations, and roadblocks that SME founders face when stepping back from the day-to-day. We dive into the emotional journey of letting go—understanding that your business isn’t a reflection of you, and learning that sometimes, even with the best intentions, letting go doesn’t go quite to plan. Through candid stories and real-life experiences, we uncover the lessons, the missteps, and the unexpected growth that comes from shifting your role in the business you built.
Whether you’re a founder contemplating the next chapter or simply curious about the reality behind ownership transitions, this episode offers insight, empathy, and practical advice for navigating the leap from founder to owner.
3 Sept 2025
Beyond Instinct: Russ Edgar - Creativity & Design
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Russ Edgar from VDM to dive deep into the world of design. Together, they explore the creative process behind logos, effective branding, and the evolving role of design in shaping a company's identity. Whether you're a designer, business owner, or just curious about the power of visual storytelling, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.
In this episode, Michael is joined by Greg Sewell to explore how businesses can move beyond founder-led operations, focusing on building and developing teams and the challenges that come with it.
6 Aug 2025
Beyond Instinct: Leigh Hall - Intuition & Care for People
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.
In this episode, Michael is joined by Leigh Hall where they discuss how intuition and care for people shows up in small businesses.
23 Jul 2025
Beyond Instinct: Chris Wilson - Stress Science
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.
In this episode, Michael is joined by Chris Wilson from Health Tech Global for a deep dive into stress, wellbeing, and why traditional approaches to measuring them often fall short. Together, they explore how many organisations still treat wellbeing as a “one-size-fits-all” metric, and why it’s time for a shift.
They discuss:
The limitations of current wellbeing measurements and data use
How a multi-modality model can create a more layered, individualised approach
The critical role of health literacy in helping people understand and articulate their own state
Why emotions and physiology are deeply interconnected, and how recognising this can transform workplace wellbeing strategies
This is a must-listen for leaders and professionals looking to go beyond surface-level metrics and build healthier, more resilient organisations.
14 Jul 2025
Beyond Instinct: Jack Stevens - Going Beyond Instinct
The Beyond Instinct podcast delves into the world of innovation, business transformation, and industry advancements, bringing expert perspectives to the forefront.In this episode Michael is joined by Jack from Cookie Cut Media, where they explore the fascinating tightrope walk between intuition and intentional action. Share compelling stories of moments when overriding our gut feelings led to surprising successes, and equally insightful tales of when ignoring that initial hunch veered us off course.
Discover the delicate balance of trusting your instincts versus the power of considered choices.
Erin Nicolaisen discusses overcoming limiting instincts shaped by early experiences and internal narratives, offering insights on mindset shifts and challenging default reactions in an interview with Michael.
11 Jun 2025
Beyond Instinct: Michael Russell & Tim Britt - Going Beyond Your Instinct
Tim Britt interviews Michael Russell about the challenging yet vital process of surpassing one's instincts to achieve genuine expansion and triumph in the business world.
28 May 2025
Beyond Instinct: Stefano Gonnelli - Relationships
Stefano Gonnelli explores the pivotal role of relationships in achieving business success in an interview with Michael.
14 May 2025
Beyond Instinct: Carla Crocombe - Purpose
Carla Crocombe discusses discovering your personal and professional purpose, highlighting how individual identity influences creative output in this interview episode.
30 Apr 2025
Beyond Instinct: Harsha Malaweera - Mindset
Harsha Malaweera explores the importance of challenging conventional mindsets in business with Michael, revealing how entrepreneurs unlock potential by forging unconventional paths in this interview.
16 Apr 2025
Beyond Instinct: Pip Foulsham - HR: Power of Emotional Intelligence
Pip Foulsham explores the multifaceted world of human resources and emphasizes the critical role of emotional intelligence in driving business success in this interview with Michael.
2 Apr 2025
Beyond Instinct: Tim Britt - Strategy: Orca Vs Shark
Tim Britt of Orca Intelligence defines business strategy and its origins, explaining the Orca versus Shark mindset in an interview with Michael.
20 Mar 2025
Beyond Instinct: Kirsty Goddard - Marketing: More Than Just A Logo
Kirsty Goddard from VDM explains that marketing encompasses more than just a logo, detailing her background and insights in a discussion with Michael, in this interview episode.
5 Mar 2025
Beyond Instinct: Michael Russell - Welcome To The Beyond Instinct Podcast
Michael Russell introduces the Beyond Instinct podcast and shares the motivations behind launching a show focused on innovation and business transformation.
Who has been a guest on Beyond Instinct
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Erin Nicolaisen
Michael Russell
Stefano Gonnelli
Carla Crocombe
Harsha Malaweera
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
30
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Beyond Instinct
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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