174: New Life Perspectives with Liz Larson and Bill McKenna - Episode 174174: New Life Perspectives with Liz Larson and Bill McKenna - Episode 174
UK Health Radio Podcast
Liz Larson and Bill McKenna talk about how the brain and nervous system trap people in a single perspective and share practical tools for creating an "and" in tough situations. Their conversation blends personal stories with simple techniques aimed at easing panic, shifting viewpoints and improving daily life.
43:58•31 Aug 2026
The Power of "And": Rewiring Stuck Thoughts with Liz Larson and Bill McKenna
Episode Overview
- Rigid, "no way out" thinking often comes from the brain and nervous system locking into a single perspective.
- Introducing an "and" creates a pause that lets other viewpoints and solutions appear.
- Simple tools like body relaxation, figure-eight walking and paper-based self–other–observer exercises can quickly soften intense reactions.
- Processes such as the Walt Disney dreamer–realist–critic model show the value of separating different angles rather than mixing them all at once.
- Learning to find your "and" shortens periods of suffering and can significantly improve daily quality of life and relationships.
“"When you’re completely relaxed, there’s no more negative thought. And so that allows the space of an ‘and’."”
What drives someone to seek a different way of thinking when life feels completely stuck? This conversation between Liz Larson and Bill McKenna zooms in on those moments when the brain insists there’s "no way out" and shows how the simple idea of an "and" can crack that rigid reality wide open.
You’ll hear Liz and Bill talk about how the nervous system can lock into one version of events so tightly that panic, anger or fear feel like the only option. Using real-life stories—from chaotic family holidays to medical scares and intense grief—they show how their Cogno Movement System helps people access different parts of the brain so another angle becomes possible. As Bill puts it, "When you’re completely relaxed, there’s no more negative thought.
And so that allows the space of an ‘and’." The pair unpack practical methods for creating that "and": shifting physical tension in the body, using figure-eight movements, and a simple self–other–observer exercise borrowed from neuro-linguistic programming. They even explain the Walt Disney process, where separate teams focus on dreaming, making ideas real, and constructive criticism, to keep projects from getting stuck in one narrow view.
This chat speaks to anyone who’s ever spent a whole weekend replaying an argument or nursing a resentment. Liz and Bill gently point out how being "right" can quietly turn into long-term suffering, for you and the people around you, and suggest that finding your "and" is almost a moral responsibility. The tone stays down-to-earth, with humour and honesty about their own meltdowns, making the tools feel accessible rather than airy-fairy.
If you’ve got a situation in your life that feels like a brick wall, could it simply be missing an "and"?
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