Against The Grain
Louise Fuster
Despite the fat furphy we've been fed, there's no ‘one way’ or ‘right way’ to do life, and nor is there a ‘one size fits all’ approach to success and fulfillment.
The Against The Grain podcast is for the jaded woman who is done feeling discontent with her lukewarm life and can sense her inner rebellion rising.
The woman who knows she is meant for more. She's ready to courageously ditch the rule book and willingly take action to lead a life that is different to what's expected. A life that energises and excites her. A life that she's proud of and pumped about!
Tune in to hear Louise share her stories and wisdom and connect with interesting and inspiring humans who are living with intent, pursuing change as a choice and leading the way towards shaping their own success story.
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Against The Grain Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Against The Grain episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Against The Grain for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Against The Grain episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
03/21/24 • 12 min
Once upon a time going on a holiday and sipping cocktails poolside was the remedy prescribed to help us escape and reset. But not anymore. It’s no longer enough.
People are craving more. No longer simply seeking mojitos and massages, they are seeking CHANGE.
While there are various tools and techniques to build self-awareness and take charge of your mental narrative when it comes to making change there’s one modality that’s rising in popularity.
RETREATS!
Yep. According to the Global Wellness Institute the retreat industry is expected to grow an average of 21% annually through 2025 and beyond, which is almost double the rate of the tourism industry alone.
It’s an industry worth an estimated $639 billion USD globally. Woah!
In this episode we explore the rise of retreats - WHY I believe retreats are the perfect platform to inspire positive change and HOW attending a retreat can be another favourable option to help you move through the different stages of change.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
13 - The 4 Things You Want To Get Right When Running A Retreat
Against The Grain
03/06/24 • 14 min
Ask any professional planner what it really takes to prepare, plan and put on an awesome event and they’ll tell you it’s a freakin’ lot.
Whether it’s a conference or a concert, a fete or fundraiser, a rodeo or a RETREAT, there's lots of blood, sweat and tears that go into pulling off a successful event.
Events in general are complex to plan and handle so it’s not at all surprising that many people go cuckoo over the coordination, and consequently miss the mark in delivering a truly memorable experience.
If you've been imagining your own retreat and are getting fired up about facilitating one in the near future this episode is especially for you.
I reveal the 4 crucial things you want to focus on and get right to help you prepare the best possible experience and deliver a successful retreat your people will love!
This episode talks through the importance of:
- vision mapping
- proper planning
- the need for support
- elevating the guest experience
This episode is a goodie. Make sure you download it so you can easily come back and wrap your ears around it as you move through the often paralysing process of creating your retreat.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
12 - How To Lead Yourself In 2024: What’s Out & What’s In
Against The Grain
02/22/24 • 13 min
How is it that we skip into the new year feeling pumped and with the greatest of intentions yet it doesn’t take long at all, sometimes just a few weeks, to notice we’re not keeping those promises we made to ourselves?
We’re not leading our life as we had initially intended, and we’re now casually being swept along by society... again.
In this episode of Against The Grain I share my list of What’s Out and What’s In to lead yourself effectively in 2024. What you need to focus on to be the boss of your life, to shape more success, contentment and fun into your year.
This episode is short and sharp, intended for you to return back to it over and over as needed throughout the year, because we all know learning how to lead yourself is an art not a one-off activity.
It takes practice to build this lifestyle habit, and it requires commitment over time to be able to lead yourself and do it well.
I’m sharing 4 strategies that’ll strengthen your leadership ability fast, making you feel like you’re steering your own ship in 2024.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
11 - The Reason Your Goals End Up Dead & Buried By February (and how to change that)
Against The Grain
02/07/24 • 16 min
Did you know most New Year’s Eve resolutions are on life support by January 15th... and completely dead and buried by February?
Which makes me wonder, now that we’ve entered February, how ALIVE are your 2024 goals and aspirations?
Are you still eagerly pushing forward with them, or have you fallen out of sync and already experiencing the wobbles?
It’s no secret that it can be hard to find the motivation and enthusiasm to keep chasing down your goals after the hype of a new year has worn off. In fact it’s quite disheartening that 90% of people fail to follow through with their good intentions, allowing daily distractions to take over.
So how DO you keep pushing forward on your goals and maintain consistency once you’re out of the January / New Year haze without it feeling like a massive effort?
Listen in to this episode and uncover the tools and tips that’ll help bring your dreams and desires back to the forefront of your mind, so you can do what needs to be done to continue moving forward in the direction you want to lead your life.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
07 - 15 Signs It’s Time To Make A Change: Part 2
Against The Grain
12/20/23 • 17 min
Welcome to the second episode of this 3 part mini series where I share with you 15 Signs It's Time To Make A Change.
EVERYONE’S life could use a little change. But, it can be HARD to know when it’s the best time to make a change.
On today’s episode of Against The Grain I reveal another 5 fairly common, but often overlooked signs that scream IT’S TIME TO MAKE A SHIFT!
If you want to be able to recognise the signs WHEN it’s time to make meaningful, lasting change, change that makes your life better, then you must listen to this 3 part mini-series.
Not yet listened to Part 1, Episode 06?
No problem, you can go back anytime to check out the first 5 gold nugget signs I dropped.
The next 5 signs covered in this episode are:
6. Your life lacks purpose
7. You're not getting results you hope for
8. You either wish for the days gone by OR you daydream of your future
9. You feel trapped
10. You're becoming a person you don’t like
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
06 - 15 Signs It’s Time To Make A Change: Part 1
Against The Grain
12/13/23 • 17 min
I’m a big believer that your ability to recognise when change is calling, and your willingness to change, plays a huge part in whether you reach your full potential and live out your best life.
But, it can be HARD to know when it’s the best time to make a change. Am I right?
If you're nodding along here then this 3 part mini-series, designed to help you recognise if NOW really is the right time to make a change, is for you.
The fact is, EVERYONE’S life could use a little change. But most people are either too busy, stuck in surviving the day to day, that they never make the time to objectively evaluate their life...
OR... they've become VERY GOOD at ignoring the signs they’re out of alignment and consequently brush off how a change could positively benefit them.
So how can YOU create lasting change, meaningful change? Change that makes your life better?
In this first episode of three inside the mini-series we dive into 5 fairly common, but often overlooked signs that scream IT’S TIME TO MAKE A SHIFT!
1. You're no longer happy
2. Everything just feels ho-hum
3. You aren't being recognised or appreciated
4. Your well-being is taking a hit
5. What you’re doing feels stale, boring, no longer exciting or inspiringAfter listening to this mini-series 15 Signs It's Time To Make A Change you’ll be clear on WHEN the best time is to open the door to change, AND you'll know what you can easily do to start making a shift.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
02 - Embracing Self-Leadership: The Key to Living Life on Your Terms
Against The Grain
11/28/23 • 12 min
In this episode we’re deep diving into Self-Leadership and why this skill, yes it’s a skill, is so important to us pursuing the lives we desperately yearn for.
You’ll come to understand how self-leadership differs from regular leadership, because there's a misconception that they are one and the same thing. They're not!
You’ll also learn why it’s the foundation to leading your life your way, and I share ways you can start to develop your own personal leadership today.
Building Self-Leadership is a journey that takes time and effort through self-exploration, visioning and goal setting, building self-awareness and investing in self-development. There are no hacks, no shortcuts.
And the reason it’s so damn important is because YOU are personally responsible for the life you lead.
This episode emphasizes the importance of practicing self-leadership across ALL areas of life as a key factor in shaping personal success.
Self-Leadership is about stepping into that 'main character' energy everyone is talking about right now. It’s not easy. It takes courage, curiosity and discipline. But it’s definitely worth it.
When you can lead yourself, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. You can reach your full potential.
On the flip side, NOT knowing who you are, what you’re capable of and where you’re headed can leave you looking out to the world to be told what you should want, how you should think and how you should feel.
And it’s here where you become susceptible to accepting others' views, opinions and suggestions on how to live your life.
Don’t fall into that trap. Instead be brave, take control of your own life so you can consciously create the kind of future you want to experience.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
11/26/23 • 11 min
Welcome friends to the very first episode of Against The Grain.
Thank you so much for tuning in. I'm so happy to have your support here and super chuffed to be able to connect with you in this new way.
This opening episode is where I share a bite-sized bit of my story and what you can expect listening to Against The Grain, the podcast.
So hey there, I’m Louise, your host... and I’m coming to you from Melbourne, Australia where I currently live with my French husband Ben and our Dalmatian dog Maia.
Over the years I’ve had many, many people say to me “Wow, you’ve done so much in your life!”. It’s one of the most common things I hear from others when I chat to them about the various things I’ve experienced.
And you know what, they’re not wrong. I've definitely encountered some interesting things, I’ve made MANY changes and have been blessed with success.
But what really blows me away is they then follow that up with "Gee I wish I could experience as much as what you have, but I could never do what you've done, you're so brave".
The thing is YOU CAN! You too can learn how to expand your capacity to adapt to change so you can live a life that inspires, energises and excites you.
And that right there, is why I've created this podcast. There’s no more thinking “why can’t my life be like that?”
As you journey with me, my hope is that you become open to boldly pursuing change as a choice and along the way you too learn how to take the lead and build a life you’re proud of and pumped about!
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
08 - 15 Signs It’s Time To Make A Change: Part 3
Against The Grain
12/27/23 • 15 min
Welcome to the third and final installment of this 3 part mini series 15 Signs It's Time To Make A Change.It’s the end of the year and it’s a time when many of us are thinking about next year and contemplating the changes we’d like to see happen.
But you might be feeling cautious at the moment, wondering if NOW really is the best time to take action towards change.
If you're feeling this then you’ve landed in the right place. This mini-series was made especially for your ears.
Today in Part 3 I’m covering the final 5 signs that highlight WHEN it’s time to make a change in your life.
If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1 & 2, no worries, go have a listen in to episodes 06 & 07 after this one as there’s no set order.
The 5 signs covered in this final episode are:
11. You're exhausted from trying
12. You shy away from taking risks
13. Things just feel off
14. You become ok with settling
15. Everything feels hard
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
16 - The Point Of Purpose And Why It's Vital To ‘Living The Dream’
Against The Grain
04/18/24 • 12 min
“Off To Live My Dreams”
It sounds like a slogan splashed across the mug you gift to your colleague on their last day working together right?
Even though you wish the very best for them, you know they're probably not going to end up living their dream in their new company and role.
I mean does that reality even exist?
Well it did for me! In my 30’s I landed myself one of these desirable ‘dream lifestyle’ opportunities.
And yet at the supposed peak of my life, the "it's not going to get better than this" stage, I gave it up.
Yep, I pulled the pin on this once in a lifetime Living The Dream scenario.
In this episode I talk about the point of purpose, and why it's a vital ingredient towards creating your version of soul-aligned success.
I share the reasons why I decided to quit the good life, despite others telling me to stick with it, and you’ll hear how advocating for myself turned out to be a damn good decision on my part.
Connect with me on IG: louise.fuster
Jump on my mailing list HERE
Grab your free Retreats On Repeat workbook HERE
Work with me as your coach HERE
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Against The Grain have?
Against The Grain currently has 24 episodes available.
What topics does Against The Grain cover?
The podcast is about Success, Goal Setting, Change, Leadership, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education and Planning.
What is the most popular episode on Against The Grain?
The episode title '19 - The Power Of Planning: The Key To Delivering Incredible Events' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Against The Grain?
The average episode length on Against The Grain is 14 minutes.
How often are episodes of Against The Grain released?
Episodes of Against The Grain are typically released every 13 days, 18 hours.
When was the first episode of Against The Grain?
The first episode of Against The Grain was released on Nov 22, 2023.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ