Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to stay the course - even when no one’s watching. Inspired by the remarkable story of photographer Alan McFadyen (who took 720,000 shots over 6 years to capture one perfect photo of a kingfisher mid-dive), this episode invites you to reflect on the quiet power of repetition, ritual, and the long game.

We unpack what it means to become someone who returns. Someone who waits. Someone who doesn’t quit just because it’s hard or invisible or unrewarded … yet.

In this episode:

* (00:01:00) The kingfisher dive: a 6-year promise in one perfect photo

* (00:03:20) Why we abandon habits too soon (and what it costs us)

* (00:04:00) My personal story: showing up online when no one responded

* (00:05:00) Inner critics, team rituals, and the power of tiny returns

* (00:06:30) A Tea Routine to build your “return muscle”

* (00:07:45) The question to carry with you this week

Resources and Links

* More Tea Routines and inspiration: The Tea Mind

* Alan McFadyen’s Kingfisher Photo & short film Moment of Impact by Blair Stewart.

* David Hieatt’s Micro Blog Course

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to discover teas like Toasted Caramel Cookie Black Tea– to support your focus while nourishing your spirit.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

What happens when we stop striving and start noticing?

In this solo episode, Erica explores how everyday awe can help us feel more present, grounded and connected. You’ll hear a story about a night sky over a Scottish beach, a community gathered around a fire, and a moment where time slowed down.

We’ll look at why awe matters, how it helps shift our perspective, and what happens when we feel small in a way that opens us up instead of shutting us down.

This episode includes a calming three-minute Awe Tea Routine and a gentle tea suggestion to help bring wonder back into your day.

Brew something warm, get comfortable, and come back to what matters.

In this episode:

* [01:00] What happens when we’re always chasing

* [01:20] The link between awe and meaning

* [02:05] A story about awe at a surf competition

* [03:09] The small-self effect and why it helps

* [04:00] A practical Tea Routine for everyday awe

* [04:50] A seasonal tea recommendation

* [05:28] Final thoughts on stillness and perspective

Resources and Links

* More Tea Routines and inspiration: The Tea Mind

* Listen: The Happiness Lab episode on awe with Dacher Keltner

* Read: The Science of Awe summary article (ICHK School, 2025)

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Earl of Winter.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

This week, Erica speaks with Sally Harris, founder and operations director of Groundswell Scotland, a charity using surf therapy to support women’s wellbeing. Sally is also one of the first two female directors in Scottish Surfing’s 50-year history, advocating for access, inclusion and healing through the sea.

Sally brings both depth and warmth to this conversation. You’ll leave with a deeper respect for the sea, a new lens on personal power, and a few questions for your next tea break.

“The sea is a mirror. It reflects everything you bring to it.” – Sally Harris

In this episode:

* How Sally went from sailing and outdoor education to pioneering surf therapy for women

* What surf therapy really is, how it works, and why it matters now more than ever

* Why rituals, cycles and sea immersion regulate the nervous system and restore presence

* How community, ceremony and sisterhood in the water help women reclaim voice and joy

* The quiet rebellion against toxic surf culture and what it means to lead from rhythm, not urgency

Listen to the end for a beautiful grounding tea routine you can try this week

Resources and Links

* Groundswell Scotland: website

* Instagram: Groundswell Scotland

* Dr. Easkey Britton’s work on surfing and sea suits

* Tidal Connections community sessions

* Erica’s new tea blend: Sea Within – a calming infusion for post cold-water reset

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Earl of Winter.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

Ever feel like life is speeding past you while you’re stuck in a lay-by, wondering if you missed the memo?

In this episode of The Tea Mind Podcast, we pause for tea and unpack the habit of comparison. From a sunset in Morocco to science-backed insights on envy and self-worth, Erica explores how to shift your focus away from what others are doing and back to what matters.

This isn’t about chasing contentment. It’s about learning to notice what’s already here.

In this episode:

* Why comparison drains joy and energy

* What really happened on that picture-perfect Morocco trip

* The mindset shift Dean Furness used to redefine success after paralysis

* What psychology says about the real reason we compare

* A practical tea routine to help you stay grounded in your own life

Resources and Links

* Dean Furness TEDx Talk - “Redefining Your Personal Average”: Watch here

* SELF Magazine - “3 Things to Do When You Feel Like Everyone Else Is More Successful Than You”: Read here

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for free weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Earl of Winter.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

For three years, my podcast microphone sat untouched on my desk. I told myself I was preparing, but in truth, I was hiding.

This episode explores how perfectionism often disguises itself as productivity - the endless refining, researching and waiting for the perfect moment that never comes.

Through the lens of the Metal Element of Autumn, you will learn how to move from control to flow, from over-polishing to quiet progress. I share the story of how The Tea Mind began and how one imperfect recording changed everything.

Together, we brew a cup of Oolong tea and practise a short Tea Routine for Courage to help you take one small, real step forward before you feel ready.

Perfection keeps you waiting. Action helps you grow.

In this episode:

* How the Metal Element of Autumn can shift from rigidity to refinement.

* Why high standards can quietly turn into self-protection.

* How to find courage through movement rather than mastery.

* A simple three-minute Tea Routine for Courage using Yellow Gold Oolong or Orange Oolong Supreme to balance structure with surrender.

“The leaves can’t open until they meet the hot water. You can’t grow until you begin.”

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover seasonal teas, like Yellow Gold Oolong.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Heads-up: This episode contains a little strong language. Because sometimes, only a swear word will do.

Episode Summary

What if you’re not stuck, you’re just thinking in a way that keeps you stuck?

In this honest and energising conversation, I sit down with Rebecca Bonnington, CEO and Founder of Tricres, to explore how we can shift our thinking, lead with clarity and create change that sticks.

Rebecca isn’t just a leadership coach. She trains the coaches who train the leaders. Her background spans decades in business, leadership, NLP and personal transformation. And she’s not afraid to say what others won’t.

You’ll learn:

* How NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) can help you shift out of stuck patterns

* Why many of your beliefs may not even be yours

* The truth about burnout and business ego

* How to lead yourself when everything feels uncertain

* A 3-minute mental reset you can use while your tea brews

We also talk about healing, motherhood, divorce and resilience. This one’s not just about leadership. It’s about life.

“You’re the thinker of your own thoughts. And that means you get to decide what lives in your head.” – Rebecca Bonnington

Tea Mind Prompt

While your tea brews, try this:

* Place your tongue just behind the roof of your mouth

* Breathe slowly and intentionally

* Let your mind go quiet, even for a few seconds

This NLP-inspired pause helps quiet your nervous system and brings you into the present moment.

Mentioned in this Episode

* Tricres – Kick Ass Culture Coaching: tricres.com

* Rebecca’s book: How to Outshine the Rest and The Best Selling Coach

* Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari

* Deepak Chopra’s Abundance: The Inner Path To Wealth

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Pumpkin Chai.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

In this episode, we’re talking about stress. Not as background noise, but as a real signal that something needs your attention.

I share my own story of pushing through the demands of work, parenting, and building a business, while ignoring the signs my body was giving me. Until one day, it didn’t let me ignore them anymore.

We explore what happens when stress is left unchecked, how it often shows up quietly, and why intentional pauses can be a powerful tool for rebalancing your nervous system.

In this episode:

* How chronic stress builds silently and shows up in the body

* The signs you might be ignoring

* Why stillness is not laziness but strategy

* A practical tea routine to help you reset in just three minutes

Try This

You don’t need a retreat. Just a quiet moment, a cup of tea, and one grounding question:Where can I give myself permission to soften today?

Resources Mentioned

* Health in Mind: Understanding Stress

* My current tea: Ginger Gut Balance - discover your favourite: Tea Quiz

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Pumpkin Chai.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary:

If you’ve been feeling stuck, flat, or burned out, this episode invites you to pause, put the kettle on, and rediscover the quiet power of curiosity.

We explore why your best ideas often arrive not when you are pushing harder, but when you finally stop to listen. Erica shares the story behind the Tea Mind system, the subtle ways we trade creativity for conformity, and how a simple tea break can help you reconnect with your spark.

This episode also introduces a new Tea Routine called The Curiosity Cup, designed to help you reconnect with your inner voice and let your imagination breathe.

What You’ll Learn:

* How burnout can look like high performance

* Why society rewards conformity over creativity

* The difference between surface-level curiosity and deep inner wondering

* What happens when you stop filtering your ideas

* A practical tea-based reflection practice to revive your creativity

Tea Routine of the Week:

The Curiosity Cup

A four-step tea ritual to help you:

* Try a tea you have never had before

* Ask yourself, "What am I curious about right now?" while the kettle boils

* Reflect on three simple prompts while your tea steeps:

* What if I am wrong about something big?

* What is a project I secretly want to start?

* What am I not saying out loud?

* Sip your tea slowly and allow whatever thoughts arise to surprise you

This is not about productivity. It is about presence. No outcomes, no measuring, just space to wonder.

Reflection Prompt:

What is one idea you have not told anyone because it feels too weird, too unfinished, or too uncertain?

That might be the idea to sit with this week.

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Pumpkin Chai.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.