OVER DEZE AFLEVERING
Some conversations feel less like an interview and more like sitting around a fire, listening to a master storyteller remind you of what's true. This episode with John St. Augustine is one of those. As a conscious leader, it's easy to get caught up in the logical, the planned, and the predictable—but John's life is a testament to what happens when you make room for the things you can't explain.
His journey is a wild one, from a recurring dream that wouldn't leave him alone, to an unplanned 300-mile walk, to finding himself in the basement of a concert hall receiving a life-altering message from John Denver. He is a master of weaving the practical with the profound, showing us that trusting your intuition isn't about passivity—it's about taking grounded action, even when you don't have the full picture.
In this deeply personal conversation, we connect the dots of his incredible life and the lessons it holds for how we lead our own lives and businesses.
Listeners will discover:
ü The exact moment John Denver told him "your voice matters" and how that single question changed the entire trajectory of his life.
ü The critical difference between responding and reacting, and how to create space for the path to become clear.
ü Why he traded a definition of "success" for one of "significance," and how that shift can lead to more meaningful work.
ü The story of how he almost said "no" to working with Oprah, and the powerful question she asked that changed his answer.
ü How to look back at your own life to find evidence of your "inner GPS," so you can trust the next intuitive hit.
Timestamps
00:00 The Bare Bulb in the Basement: John Denver's Challenge
00:40 Introducing a Masterful Storyteller and Creative Partner
03:52 Early Influences: How WGN, Teddy Roosevelt, and Cousteau Shaped a Life
07:24 A Recurring Dream and the Call to Walk to Chicago
11:21 Moving from Resistance to Response: How the Universe Gets Your Attention
13:32 The Great Mystery: The Choice That Changed Everything
15:58 The Zen of Letting the Mud Settle: Responding vs. Reacting
18:17 Meeting John Denver and the Ripple Effect of a Single Question
24:58 From Cat Box to Center Stage: Saying Yes to the Call
28:14 Shifting from Success to Significance
29:31 The Power of Connecting the Dots: Michele's Serendipitous Story
31:01 Finding Evidence of Your Inner GP
36:03 The Oprah Orbit: Almost Saying No to the Biggest Opportunity of His Life
46:04 Full Circle with Jack Canfield: A Masterclass in Taking Action
48:39 What's Next: Audiobooks, Storytelling, and a Bucket List Anthology
Resources
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-phillips-9409707
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/write-your-outcome/id1819724499
https://www.facebook.com/129170793830944/
https://www.instagram.com/energizewithmichele/
https://www.amazon.com/Michele-Phillips/e/B00EHZ38T4
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K8KSQC
