The Grateful Podcast with Jack Wagoner

How Travel and Language Rewired His Brain for Gratitude with Lachie Colledge | 84

Episode 84

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The Grateful Podcast with Jack Wagoner
Episode 84
Guesting Lachie Colledge

What if the key to living a truly grateful life was hidden in a foreign language—or in a 7-year-old street kid’s smile?

Today’s guest is Lachie Colledge, a medical student who left behind textbooks to travel the world in search of something deeper. From monasteries in Myanmar to roadside reflections in Norway, Lachie’s story is a masterclass in mindfulness, purpose, and finding gratitude in the most unexpected places.

In this conversation, we explore:
 • What “gratitude” really means (and why most of us are doing it wrong)
 • Why a single French word changed Lachie’s life
 • How a moment in India with a street kid flipped his understanding of generosity
 • The link between reconnaissance, gratitude, and ambition
 • Why meditation isn’t just calming—it’s painful, raw, and transformational
 • How to find joy without changing your life—just your awareness

If you’ve ever struggled to balance gratitude with ambition… this episode is for you.

Takeaways:
Gratitude is about being intentional and present.
Decisions can be made through intuition and logic.
Language encodes wisdom and life lessons.
Understanding pain leads to compassion for others.
Meditation helps in self-discovery and clarity.
We are interconnected and dependent on others.
Gratitude can drive ambition and purpose.
Small acts of kindness hold significant value.
Travel teaches profound lessons about generosity.
Our journey is shaped by those who support us.

Chapters:
00:00 Meet Lachie
06:50 The Depth of Gratitude
12:47 Meditation and Self-Discovery
18:14 Understanding Generosity and Community
24:30 Lessons from a Young Boy
32:18 The Duality of Gratitude and Ambition
40:53 Navigating Decision-Making: Heart vs. Logic
47:01 The Courage to Act: Overcoming Hesitation
51:16 Embracing Opportunity: Staying Ready for Change
57:10 Dreams and Aspirations: Paths to Fulfillment

Follow Lachie:
📖 Blog: afrenchworld.substack.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lachie.colledge/
🧘‍♂️ Read his article on “Reconnaissance”: https://afrenchworld.substack.com/p/reconnaissance

📺 Listen on your favorite platform:
Spotify/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-grateful-podcast-with-jack-wagoner/id1725776061

Subscribe for more deep conversations with thinkers, seekers, and soulful creators. 🙏



🧠 More from Jack:
Newsletter (Magic, Meaning & Momentum): https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/aa6b0945-43aa-43c8-b320-0fde6998f852?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack_wagoner_/
1:1 Coaching & Dream-Chasing Guidance: jackcwagoner@gmail.com

💬 If you found this conversation meaningful, send it to a friend and leave a review. It really helps more people find this kind of soul-nourishing content.



🎙️ About Jack:
I’m an 18-year-old high school student with a big dream: to show the world that you can be grateful and ambitious at the same time. Through The Grateful Podcast, I explore what it means to live a meaningful life—one deep conversation at a time.

I am on a mission to get 100k downloads by August 31st. Help me get there by sharing this podcast.

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