Three Acts of August: From Wizards to AI to Warrior (Yoga)
(+Yoga is back on & a PS appeal, as I think of my avalanche near-wipeout near the second-highest mountain in the world.)
August, to me, always feels a bit like a Saturday or Sunday — cram in the fun, festivals and adventures before it’s Monday… or should I say September, and time to restart!
So, how did August go for you?
I seem to have talked a lot over the last month, and, hilariously, I’d forgotten people were recording me. 😂
So this blog has three offerings & a little appeal.
Skip to whichever takes your fancy…
ACT 1 — The Psychology of the Boy Who Lived ⚡️
Harry Potter: beyond fandom, can it actually help us understand mental health?
I joined the Everything Psychology Podcast with psychologist Paul Davies to explore the psychology behind Harry Potter, including the books' and films' positive and negative impacts.
And yes, we talk about She Who Shall Not Be Named — and the complicated question of whether we can separate the artist from the art.
We also took a rather wonderful David Bowie tangent.
My fellow guest, Professor Will Brooker — Professor of Film and Cultural Studies at Kingston University and author of Batman Unmasked and Why Bowie Matters - shared the extraordinary story of how he dressed, acted and travelled to the places Bowie had been, shortly before Bowie passed away
Everything’s Psychology. A Behaviour podcast.
(Some pics: A speech in the Great Hall to my meditation I ran for my colleagues in the Great Hall; On set in the Gryffindor common room)
ACT 2 — AI: Following Each Other into Uncertainty 🤖
Part II of my conversation with the brilliant Dr Ricci-Jane Adams, founder of the International Institute of Intuitive Intelligence.
This one is actually less about AI itself and more about human behaviour in uncertainty.
We explore the rapid rise of AI, psychological manipulation, conformity, and systemic bias
The use of fear in AI narrative (i.e. "Buy my AI package, or you'll be left behind") - but also which system/agenda is behind the narrative
The lack of regulation, and why personal agency and ethical guardrails matter.
And, somehow, we get from AI to Greek mythology, foundational psychology studies, Kung Fu Panda… and Cyclops.
Because the one-eyed giant is king in the land of the blind.
The point?
Eyes wide open & be discerning
As a reminder, technology has been my day job for the last 25 years. I now sit at the intersection of technology, AI, psychology, intuitive science and wellbeing — so these conversations are a fascinating place for me to explore what happens when all those worlds collide.
ACT 3 — Future Looking 🧘🏽♀️
And finally… Flow Yoga is back!
Thursday 3rd September, I’m returning to my lovely people in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell - we can practice our warrior poses again!
Honestly, watching how much everyone has grown since we started back in February has been one of the highlights of my year.
I haven’t actually stopped teaching over the summer — I’ve been covering classes at the gym, sometimes with around 30 people in the room. Don't worry, I was on a stage, so I think the people in the back saw me! (LOL, yes I am petite!)
But I’m very happy to be coming home to my regular Flow Yoga crew.
Come along and strengthen, lengthen and flow - with movement, breath, nervous-system awareness and a healthy dose of curiosity with our arm balances.
All levels welcome - See you on the mat. 💛
With moonbeams
Nila
PS. A little love for Nepal ❤️
I can’t finish this newsletter without mentioning what has happened in Nepal this week.
I’ve travelled to Nepal three times and spent months trekking through the Everest region and other parts of the Himalayas. The Nepali people have stayed with me more than almost anywhere I’ve travelled — incredibly kind, generous and warm, often despite having so little.
This disaster feels particularly close to home. I had hoped to travel to the Mount Kailash region and walk there one day, and seeing this beautiful part of the Himalayas devastated has really touched me.
So, if you can, please consider donating to the relief effort. Even a small amount can help.
On 30 July, Nepal also lost one of its great and inspiring mountaineering legends, Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja MBE (see below).
He and his party of 9 were struck by an avalanche on Broad Peak, Pakistan. (FYI - I was lucky to avoid being hit by an avalanche near Mount Kanchenjunga (second-highest mountain in the world - it sounded like a Boeing aircraft a few meters from my head - terrifying, and I was on my own!)
If you haven’t seen it, watch 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible on Netflix. It is genuinely inspiring — and you’ll understand why we loved Nims so much.
Donate:
❤️ Red Cross Nepal — for emergency humanitarian relief
❤️ Nimsdai Foundation — supporting mountain communities and rescue efforts
Sometimes the best thing we can do when a place we love is hurting is help in small ways.
