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The Discomfort PracticeAuthor: Betsy Reed
The Discomfort Practice explores the value of discomfort in shaping who we are, how we are in the world and how discomfort can be a catalyst for positive social evolution. Betsy speaks to leaders, activists, athletes, creatives and others about comfort zones, having a conscious 'discomfort practice,' and the superpowers that lie on the other side of discomfort. Come get uncomfortable with Betsy... You can follow Betsy on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebetsyreed/ Twitter https://twitter.com/thebetsyreed LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebetsyreed/ Language: en Genres: Personal Journals, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode #123: Betsy by Herself on Navigating Your Own Threshold Moments in a Time of Monsters
Episode 123
Monday, 5 January, 2026
In this powerful solo episode, Betsy explores what it means to live, lead, and stay human in what philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously called "the time of monsters" - the in-between space where the old world is dying and the new world is still struggling to be born. Recorded at the close of 2025, this episode is an invitation for anyone standing at a threshold: the end of a year, a relationship, a job, an identity, or an old way of being. Betsy reframes overwhelm, grief, and exhaustion not as personal failure, but as signs of initiation - evidence that you are awake, feeling, and participating in the birth of something new. This is a reflection, a transmission, and a practice for those navigating collapse with consciousness. In this episode, Betsy explores: What "the time of monsters" really means, beyond politics or villains Why exhaustion, grief, anger, and sensitivity are appropriate responses right now How collapse acts as an initiation into embodied sovereignty What embodied leadership actually looks like (and why charisma isn't the point) Why boundaries, nervous system regulation, and saying no are revolutionary acts How initiations happen in ordinary moments - emails, conversations, rest The difference between being "nice" and being kind (especially to yourself) Why monsters are often teachers and how they accelerate your path How to practice the new world instead of talking about it A reflection exercise to take with you: Instead of measuring your life by achievement, try asking: Where did I meet monsters (and what did they teach me)? What parts of me am I letting die? What new world am I quietly embodying through my boundaries, voice, and presence? How am I practicing the future I want to live in? A gentle practice shared in the episode: Betsy introduces a version of the "Just Like Me," her favourite compassion practice, a simple but radical way to soften separation, regulate the nervous system and practice leadership through humanity. Links & Resources Subscribe to Voice Notes from the Edge on Substack For deeper access, weekly voice notes, behind-the-scenes sovereignty reflections and a front-row seat to Betsy's inner world: thebetsyreed.substack.com Subscribe and follow The Discomfort Practice Wherever you listen to podcasts. Here's Apple and Spotify for easy access. Work with Betsy For coaching, consulting, speaking, embodied leadership sessions, upcoming community circles, and the People Like Us dinners across Europe: www.betsy-reed.com Check out the brand spanking new Embodied Leadership Lab for monthly leadership circles and quarterly planning sessions (starting ahead of Q2 2026): www.embodiedleadershiplab.com (it'll take you to Betsy's website) If you enjoyed this episode Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review: it genuinely helps Share it with someone navigating their own edge Join Betsy on Substack for deeper, more intimate exploration
