High Magick X Systems | I see & remove blocks you don't know exist, but feel - without Zoom, phone calls or being in the same room | Change Mentor for Executives & Founders who want to live with more depth & die happy

Most of the decisions you regret weren’t “bad decisions”.

They were built on values you never defined properly.

It’s why you stay in roles, relationships and versions of you that look fine on paper but wrong in your body.

You didn't just end up there - you unknowingly decided your way into them.

Because each choice you make sits on top of values that collapse the moment people, money or pressure push back.

In The Obsidian Vault, we cut through all of it so your tough decisions feel simple to make:

We'll break down: 
- What’s really happening.
- What you’re actually loyal to and why it matters.
- What it will cost to keep things as they are.

That’s how you stop making decisions you regret and build a life you don't.

You'll see clearly, decide cleanly, and live closer to what you truly value with each choice you make.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫
 -You’re smart, capable & deeply responsible, but privately exhausted
 -You’re dragging unfinished conversations, roles or relationships behind you
 -You’re standing in a life that looks fine on paper & wrong in your body
 -You’re value driven, but feel a constant gap between what you stand for vs what you tolerate.

More insights, healing or content won’t change that. This is the lever:

Language, structure and perspective that makes it harder to lie to yourself.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐈 𝐚𝐦
I’ve walked parallel paths since I was 19, when I quit uni to build a 25 year career with the likes of Goldman Sachs, UBS, HSBC, Barclays and others.

I set up my first business alongside my first job, went on to build two jewellery brands, a business transformation consultancy, and a private practice working with 600+ founders and executives through High Magick.

All while navigating Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (c-PTSD)

Tough calls come with that territory, and often arrive all at once. But that wasn’t new to me.

Aged eight, I became a carer for my disabled aunt. It was violent and turbulent.

I had a front row seat to what happens when loved ones refuse to make obvious decisions, what it costs them, and me.

It taught me something most miss:

Your best decisions are made when you can be a bystander in your own life at the right moment - then move swiftly.

That’s tough for most people.

Master it, and you solve problems before they can even exist - just like I, and 600+ executives and founders have.

Through real-life (anonymised) examples from their sessions and my own life, I explain how.

When you need to stop making decisions you regret and build a life you don't, welcome.

https://theobsidianvault.substack.com/about

Sonal Bhaskaran

What being a carer in a violent home at 8 taught me about decision-making at 45:

Clarity requires separation.

The closer you are to a situation, the more deliberate that separation must be.

We view separatiom as ‘cold’.

I know many people have thought that of me with personal decisions I've made.

But it isn't.

It’s objective curiosity.

Curiosity creates understanding.

Understanding creates distance.

Without distance, most adults react and call it ‘intuition’. 

But if you can observe chaos without entering it, you control the next move.

That distance creates clarity.

Clarity gives you choice.

And when you have choice?

You gain the kind of personal power you've needed all along.

Writer @The Obsidian Vault | Letters for smart people who are tired of making decisions they regret - and want to build a life they don’t.

Chris Hall-Franzkowiak

Video Editor

Your brand’s next big move deserves world-class sound and visuals. Whether you’re planning your first podcast, dreaming of a standout brand video, or ready to turn a book into an audiobook, we help you launch with confidence and the highest production quality.

I founded Between Tracks Media Productions after years teaching sound engineering and spending every commute devouring podcasts. I knew ambitious brands wanted the connection and credibility of broadcast-level production without the guesswork. My first show was cut right there between the tracks, and we’ve been elevating stories ever since.

Today my wife and I run a media production company trusted by global sports networks, influencers, bestselling authors, business leaders, and fast-growing small businesses. We deliver:

🎧 End-to-end podcast production – strategy, recording, editing, distribution

🎥 High-impact brand videos – impactful storytelling 

📚 Audiobook production – recording coaching and broadcast-quality masters

Our process is collaborative and premium, providing a seamless experience so you can focus on your message while we handle the craft.

And every project makes a difference beyond the mic. For every episode, chapter or video we produce, we plant a tree, supporting local communities and helping fight climate change. 🌳

Let’s create content your audience can’t stop listening to, or watching.

📩 Connect here on LinkedIn or email chris@betweentracks.com

☎️ Book a call here - https://calendar.app.google/oVBT8B1eMNueh3UCA

Lecturer in Music Production and Advanced Practitioner in Digital Communications

Lecturer in music production specialising in recording studio and live sound engineering and sound for the moving image. I am also an advanced practitioner at the college for digital communications and developing teaching practice across the college.

3.5 years ago I joined The HoLT

I joined because I knew to succeed in business I needed to learn (a lot!), be challenged, and have support around me.

Since joining I have met, worked, & become friends with lots of the wonderful people from the community, including Lea 🌈 Turner herself.

Lea has not only taught, challenged and supported me and every single other person in The HoLT over the last 3 years, she is constantly striving to find ways for us to thrive.

Today, she's doing it again with The HoLt Directory.

I couldn't be prouder to be one of the founding members of The HoLT Directory.

A completely free, searchable directory designed to make finding brilliant support easy.

It’s packed with hundreds of trusted expert small business owners (like me!) and solopreneurs, covering a full spectrum of services, from automation pros to architects, contract lawyers to copywriters, PR to paid ads, SEO to speakers (and everything in between).

Easy to use. Free to access.

Just great services, great people and absolutely no knobs.

If you’re a business looking for reliable experts you can actually trust, this is a link you’ll want to bookmark.

Check it out here 
www.the-holt.com/directory

Thank you Lea 🌈 Turner & Robyn MacMillan for all your hard work to help us thrive.

Storytelling That Plants Trees - Podcasts | Brand Videos | Audiobooks We plant a tree for every single piece of content we create for your brand 🌳

I wasn't looking after myself towards the end of last year

My routine became - bed, desk, sofa, bed, desk sofa

To be honest I didn't enjoy November and December very much at all. We suddenly had lots of work, which sounds great, but it took it's toll.

I was physically sedentary and mentally spent. I could also feel it in how I was showing up with my wife and kids, saying no a lot.

I could feel it in how I was showing up on here, little thought into posts, ignoring comments, not engaging with others. I just had to do the work.

I haven't made a plan for this year. I haven't set goals. I haven't thought about much apart from trying to slow down for a bit, because that is what I need.

So this week I managed to go out for my first lunch time walk in 2 months.

That is my big win for the week.

Oh and I started my newsletter again today after also neglecting that too!

You can sign up here - https://lnkd.in/eM6e63vd

What's your big win this week?

Creating video content in your 40s be like

What the f*&k is happening to my face?!

It's the 19th of the month!

And that can only mean 1 thing....

The next episode of AI for Non-Techies podcast How I Use AI is out!

Every month Heather Murray talks to real business owners who are successfully using AI today. No tech jargon, coding or complex workflows - just practical, actionable insights from everyday entrepreneurs who’ve figured out how to make AI work for their business.

There were a couple of tips I'll definitely be taking into my prompting workflow from this one!

Plus it has a personal connection, my granddad had dementia, so hearing about ways AI can be used to help those suffering with it, and the families around them is a really hopeful and interesting thing.

Check out the links to the episode in the comments.

But that's not all!

We're cooking up some exciting things with AI For Non Techies for their YouTube channel I can't wait to tell you more about soon!

So get in touch to see how we can support you with your podcast and YouTube content.

What's your best non-techie AI tip?

It's launch day!

The Home Project Podcast is live today!

A huge congratulations to Tina Patel & Bart Kolosowski.

A show full of expert knowledge on the process of building a home.

Whether you’re planning an extension, renovation, or full refurbishment, this podcast gives you the insight professionals use every day — without the jargon, confusion, or horror stories.

The show has launched on all podcast platforms, with 3 excellent episodes to get your home building ears and eyes on.

Plus you can watch the full episodes on YouTube and Spotify.

But the launch is just the start....new episodes will be coming every week!

Right now it's launch celebration time!

I think I'll celebrate by sanding the bathroom window frame!

How do you celebrate launches?

Day 13 of 2026

We lost our first client to taking things internal

They said:

"I want you to know how much we appreciate your work: your editing style, professionalism, and turnaround time have been truly outstanding."

I left nothing on the table for them, and they got everything I stand for. So these words meant a lot, even if it meant the end.

Am I gutted? Of course
Did I try everything to keep them? Definitely

Offers of services at different price points were given, but the writing felt like it was on the wall regardless.

They were brilliant to work with and I can only ever wish them well. Thank you for trusting us with your brand's podcast.

But this is the reality of working for yourself and putting yourself out there like this.

2026 Day 12? Upsold a client
2026 Day 15? 1st podcast launch of the year

The highs and lows come thick and fast. You just have to keep moving.

Are we crazy to put ourselves through this?

Probably.....all I know is I love the game.

But seriously, are we crazy?!

1 week since launching The Home Project Podcast

How have we done?

The  podcast launched last Thursday and since then we have

- Hit #11 in Apple's Home & Garden Chart
- Hit #48 in Apple's Leisure chart
- Had 1.6K views across episodes & shorts on YouTube
- Displayed 3 episodes at The Homebuilding & Renovation Show

But most importantly already had comments on Spotify from a listener feeling stuck with exactly the issue the hosts Tina & Bart are trying to solve.

Lead #1 - call booking link sent.

Happy launch days!

Launching a high end podcast needs a strategy as well as top quality production.

The success of this launch involved many steps, but here are 3 top tips to remember

🎙️ Know the right categories to submit your show to

Use a mix of main and sub categories

🎙️ The audio platforms & YouTube have different algorithms

Plan for them with how you launch, they may not match

🎙️ Know how to set up Spotify & Apple fully

Don't rely on your podcast hosting platform's 1 click connect buttons


And the most important thing to remember?

This is only week 1 of your show's lifetime. We already have 12 episodes recorded and long term plans for the show.

If you're brand is planning on launching a podcast the combines high end production with all platform strategy we'd love to hear from you.

In all the commotion of ending 2025 and starting 2026 I forgot to mention how many trees we've now planted!

By the end of 2025 and after planting trees for 3 years for every single podcast episode, brand video or audiobook chapter we have produced we have now planted 1355 trees.

We've planted - 

Olive trees in The West Bank 🇵🇸
Mangroves in The Bahamas 🇧🇸
Inga trees in Madagascar 🇲🇬

We've - 

Supported indigenous reforestation in Malawi 🇲🇼
Funded women-led conservation in Kenya 🇰🇪
Donated to local communities in the UK 🇬🇧

And lots more.

We believe the work we do with clients can have a positive impact on our planet's environment, help the fight against climate change, support local communities, and be a force for hope.

Want your podcast, brand videos or audiobook to be part of that?

Get in touch and let's get planting.

🌳

It's that time of year again when I bust out my cake making skills.*

It's the wife's birthday!

*I do bake cakes other days of the year. I ain't no lazy, no cake making bro, leave all that flour and sugar shizzle to the women kinda guy!

I'm talking birthday cakes here.

You know the ones, you put in all the love, the care, the time, smash it out of the park.......only for the kids to decorate it like Hellraiser on a sugar trip...

Happy birthday my partner in life and business, 16 years together, 2 years working together. Both have been a roller coaster and I couldn't do either without you!

You 𝐜̶𝐨̶𝐦̶𝐩̶𝐥̶𝐞̶𝐭̶𝐞̶ ̶𝐦̶𝐞̶ are an insanely incredible person, who does so much good in this world, and constantly inspire me to try to do the same. You're amazing.

Let's eat cake!!

You are launching a podcast with multiple episodes

Remember this 5 minute trick to get it right

You've heard it's good to release multiple episodes on day 1. People can binge a few at the start, which racks up the listen counts. This in turn gets you more visible to others and the cycle continues...

But whatever you do remember this

Space your launch episode release times by 5 minutes

Episode 1 goes out at 06:00
Episode 2 goes out at 06:05
Episode 3 goes out at 06:10

Why?

Because your podcast runs off of an RSS feed.

You've spent months planning, recording, producing your launch episodes, working out the perfect launch sequence.

If you put them all out at the same time your RSS feed doesn't care which is episode 1, 2 or 3, it's pot luck what order they go up.

If you space them by 5 minutes you'll guarantee the order, you're in control, your launch sequence is in tact.

So remember the 5 minute trick when you're launching with multiple episodes.

Just as I've done for the launch of The Home Project podcast coming out in 2 days!

Which is why I have my focus face on....

If you are planning to launch a podcast, get in touch to work with us and get this trick and many more as part of your launch strategy.

Our 1st podcast launch of 2026 is 8 days away!

So here's a little teaser of what's to come..

The launch episodes are ready ✅
Podcast hosting platform setup ✅
Listening Apps primed ✅ (Apple tricky as usual!)
Designs complete ✅
Video assets created ✅
Audio launch strategy set ✅
YouTube launch strategy set ✅

All that's left is for me to complete the YouTube channel setup today and we are ready to drop the full trailer tomorrow!

The Home Project Podcast is a show about high end home builds and renovations hosted by the brilliant TINA PATEL & Bart Kolosowski.

We can't wait to share this with the world!

If your planning on launching a high end podcast for your brand this year, and want to work with us on your show we're ready for you, just get in touch.

& check back in for the trailer tomorrow!

If your podcast producer isn't comfortable wearing lycra on the school run, you have to ask yourself - Am I with the right person?

If your podcast producer isn't comfortable quickly using someone's beach hut for a stunning photo op, in said lycra, then running away, you have to ask yourself - 

Does my producer have what it takes?

I'm Chris I produce podcasts. And sometimes I wear lycra.

If you have a podcast the first thing I'd be doing after reading this post is contacting your producer with 1 simple question - 

Do you wear lycra?

If the answer is no - you know where I am.

Lots of businesses start a podcast or YouTube channel without really knowing what they are doing, and even more importantly why. So it fails & they stop having never reaped the rewards.

What can happen if it's done properly?

Long form video & audio can have a huge impact on a businesses income & authority in their space.

I've worked in podcasts & video for nearly a decade
Here's the low down - 

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿:

Creating long-form content works for service-based brands, experts, and founders where people buy based on the relationships that are built over time.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲:

The options are endless - work out your pillars and create to them. Educational, industry news & experiments, thought leadership, testimonial interviews, industry peer interviews. The list goes on.

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆:

First, always ask - 'What's manageable to you?' Do it too frequently, you burn out, lose the love & stop. But know that YouTube algorithms, & podcast audiences thrive on consistency & regularity. So whatever you pick stick to it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂:

So much!

Podcasts and YouTube content give you marketing materials for socials, audio content for around 20 listening apps, video content for YouTube & Spotify, material for website blogs, SEO opportunities for your website through episode web pages, searchable content in Google & YouTube, a way to connect with potential clients as guests, both free and paid for content, advertising space for other offers & more

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀:

This is what it comes down to, but the answer is not so simple, there are many factors in play that determine what ROI you get & when. It all depends on your marketing approach, release frequency, existing size of audience, production quality & most importantly editorial quality.

Done right a podcast and YouTube content can have big impacts on your business.

Be honest, what haven't you thought about yet?

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The Battle

Sonal Bhaskaran

Chris Hall-Franzkowiak

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taplio

The Battle

Sonal Bhaskaran

Chris Hall-Franzkowiak

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Sonal Bhaskaran's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreChris Hall-Franzkowiak's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreSonal Bhaskaran's LinkedIn Performance