Peace Lab 2020

About Peace Lab 2020

Created in 2020 and hosted by Elva Zhang (lawyer, neuroscience passionate, meditator), Peace Lab 2020 explores how to cultivate well-being and purpose through ancient wisdom and contemporary science, as they both underly the crucial relationship between the mind and brain as the KEY for lasting change. Elva will share her insight of Eastern philosophy and neuroscience, and will also speak to those who are already creating positive changes for themselves and others. Format: 1st Wednesday: Elva's Monologue; 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays: Peace Lab Conversation; 4th Wednesday: Legal Mind Unwired

Publisher

Elva Zhang

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Sept 2020

Latest episode

27 Jan 2022

Latest episodes

49 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Jan 2022

   Episode 32, Susan Pincus, National Careers Professional of College of Law

   Happy New Year everyone – welcome to the first episode of 2022 from Peace Lab podcast. In this episode, I caught up with the lovely Susan Pincus, National Careers Professional from the College of Law, a leading career college for lawyers in Australia and New Zealand. In her role, Susan provides specialised advices and guidance for graduate lawyers who wish to enter into the competitive legal market and also facilitates online seminars on diverse and interesting topics pertaining to the legal profession. Although COVID-19 has affected our professional lives in many ways, Susan strongly believes that it is important to find the balance between being kind to oneself in the job search process and keep charging forward with small steps each day. As Susan suggests, connecting and networking is still important, if not more important, when the predominant mode of communication is via Zoom or TEAMS in this COVID reality we are living in. So, do not feel discouraged; instead make an effort to meet new people with a curious mind and without a specific agenda. Sometime such meetings bring unexpected opportunities. Susan and I have never met in person, but her natural ability to connect led to the synchronistic meeting of us on LinkedIn. In truth, Susan’s own professional path is underlined by a series of synchronicities through a deep belief in what Susan calls “planned happenstance”, which is a career theory developed by Professor John Krumboltz of Stanford University, asking one to focus less on having specific plans for the future and more about finding opportunities in unplanned events. I am grateful for Susan to share with me her story and wisdom. I certainly feel that 2022 is a great year for me to explore and practise “planned happenstance” – look forward to meeting opportunities in unplanned events and places! To connect with Susan pls feel free to connect via her Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-pincus/

2. 

   1 Dec 2021

   Episode 31 - Zuong Dang, from Vietnam to Melbourne & from Law to Well-Being

   In today’s episode, I had the great pleasure to speak to a dear friend – Zuong Dang. Zuong and I first met at one of the well-being workshops I facilitated a few years ago for the Law Institute of Victoria, and we reconnected last year as Zuong was curious about my master studies in Applied Neuroscience with King’s College London. Each guest on Peace Lab Podcast has a unique story about their mental health, and I am grateful that Zuong shared openly about her personal journey from law to neuroscience and well-being. Similar to many lawyers, Zuong was always determined and hardworking, but in her own words, she didn’t take great care of herself especially in the junior years of her legal career. Until one day her body was showing her signs of chronic stress and she ended up in a gastroenterologist’s office. It was the first time she listened to her body and it was then and there she recalled what her father would often say to her – your work can replace you, but if I lose you as a daughter I cannot replace you. She walked out of that doctor appointment, crying and feeling overwhelmed with a feeling of inadequacy (why cannot I be like others, just work 14 hours a day?) But luckily Zuong decided to take action to look after herself and to address her own mental health issues in a more tangible way. She moved to Melbourne from Gold Coast, began a mental health care plan, and started learning about meditation and mindfulness practice to compliment traditional means therapy. Fast forward a few years later to 2020, COVID-19 became another catalyst for Zuong’ s next stage of transition. Zuong was working in a major financial service firm and completely engrossed with her work. To others, she was successfully climbing the ‘corporate ladder’; however, deep down she was experiencing bouts of depression for the first time in her life with an inability to enjoy life like before. With the wisdom gained from her past experience, Zuong brought herself back to the doctor’s office – to check in with herself as to what she truly desired in life. During those moments of her reflection, she realized maybe it is time for a career change, maybe it is ok to leave law and to pursue her innermost desire and curiosity – which is mental health and well-being. Once Zuong open herself to this new perceptions and new possibilities, opportunities came to her in a synchronistic way. Today not only is Zuong busy working as a Senior Policy Officer in COVID-19 response, but also is undertaking her master in Applied Neuroscience with King’s College London as well. There are so many great points mentioned during our conversation, and I will leave you one of the many great insights from Zuong, which speaks great truth to me: It is ultimately YOU that holds the power to change the mindset and to take responsibility to do something about whatever situation you are in. I hope you will enjoy this episode! To connect with Zuong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuongdang/

3. 

   20 Oct 2021

   Episode 30, Lu Ngo, Podcast Host & Lifelong Learning, sharing her international student journey and reflecting upon COVID-19 as her "rite of passage" into adulthood

   Hello all, Today I had the great pleasure to speak to Lu Ngo, whom I first met through a project involving working with international students.  Lu works as a Project Manager in the education technology space, is a Study Melbourne Ambassador supporting international students in Victoria.  Outside her day job, Lu is also a Podcast Host on the Glocals Podcast. I was curious about Lu's journey from her home country - Vietnam to Melbourne today.  In her own words, coming to study in Australia three and half years ago was her 'big shot in life' and she was so excited to experience a new city and a new country.  As the initial excitement faded away, Lu was confronted with the reality of being an international student without any family support.  Also a natural introvert, Lu didn't participate in any networking initially.  However, it was during a period of self-reflection, she decided to do something different and made great effort to network. Through that process, she was able to meet wonderful new connections and found a new sense of self in Melbourne.  This was just the start of her journey. When Lu finished her studies, it was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet instead of fear, she adopted an attitude of curiosity, as she was willing to go with the flow and to be surprised by life itself.  Then synchronicity happened - Lu was offered a job to work in industry engagement for international students through the connections and collaboration she created pre-COVID.  To her, this is her dream job, as she was able to connect local Australian businesses with international students, and provide real-life working experiences for the students.  Both Lu and I agree that international students are intrinsically resilient as they are studying in a foreign country without the usual support from families and friends.  I have personally worked with several cohorts of international students through Lu's platform, and each time I have been amazed by the talents, dedication and professionalism of the students. When asked what is Lu's biggest learning gained from the COVID-19 pandemic - "for me, it has been the best two years of my life".  From finding her first job in Melbourne at the start of the pandemic, to renting her own place and paying her own bills, starting her own podcast and continuing thriving in her job, the past two years have been like a 'rite of passage' into independent adulthood for Lu.  So, her personal experience was a great reminder how we can always find blessings in the seeming dark places. I left the podcast feeling uplifted by Lu and by her positive spirit.  I hope you will enjoy this episode too. - To find out about Lu's Glocals Podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-glocals - To connect with Lu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linh-van-thuy-ngo/

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