Are You Actually Free Or Just Comfortable Inside the Box?

I was recently a guest on The Empowered & Embodied Show, a podcast hosted by Kim Romain and Louise Neil.

We dove right in to a conversation on what it actually means to be free. Not in theory but in how we live, choose, and lead every day. We discussed the concept of autonomy, the power of intentionality, and why the systems designed to make life easier might be the very things keeping us small.

In Kim and Louise’s words:

“From algorithmic echo chambers to cultural conditioning, we explore how our choices are being curated without our awareness and what it takes to break out of the box you don't even know you're in.

Three key takeaways:

1. Autonomy begins with intentionality.
   Freedom doesn’t arrive fully formed. It’s built through small, conscious decisions. Through questioning defaults. Through choosing alignment over convenience, even when it’s uncomfortable.

2. The systems shaping us are often invisible.
   Algorithms, cultural expectations, and institutional norms quietly curate our experiences. Not necessarily maliciously, but powerfully. Awareness is the first step toward reclaiming authorship over our own lives and leadership.

3. Curiosity is more powerful than certainty.
   Breaking conditioning doesn’t require having all the answers. It starts with asking better questions. Curiosity creates space. And in that space, autonomy becomes possible.

This episode is an invitation to notice how your life is being lived by default and where you might choose differently.”

Check out the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.