What if the tension you feel… the frustration, the unease, the sense that something isn’t quite right… isn’t random at all?
What if it’s feedback?
In this conversation, Michel van Amsterdam reveals something most people overlook: your body is constantly communicating with you. The problem is not that the signals aren’t there. It’s that we’ve been trained not to listen.
The Moment Everything Changed
Michel didn’t set out to become a voice for conscious communication or embodied awareness.
He started in medicine.
And like many in the system, he followed the path, studied hard, and did what was expected. Until one experience shifted everything.
A trip to India introduced him to a fully plant-based way of living. Not as a trend. Not as a label. But as a way of being.
When he returned to hospital life, the contrast was impossible to ignore.
Patients were being treated… while being fed food that worked against their healing.
That moment created a quiet but powerful shift: he stopped outsourcing his well-being and started taking responsibility for what he put into his body.
This Is Where Awareness Begins
It rarely starts with a big declaration.
It starts with noticing.
What am I eating?
How do I feel after I eat it?
What am I tolerating that doesn’t actually support me?
For Michel, that awareness didn’t stay confined to food. It expanded.
To the earth.
To sustainability.
To the realization that what we consume has impact far beyond ourselves.
Your Body Is Not the Problem—It’s the Messenger
One of the most powerful ideas Michel shares is this:
Your body knows before your mind catches up.
It tells you when something is off.
When trust is broken.
When you’re overriding your own boundaries.
When your environment is draining you.
But most people have spent years disconnecting from those signals.
Reconnecting doesn’t require perfection. It requires attention.
Why Communication Isn’t Working
Most people think communication is about saying the right thing.
It’s not.
It’s about presence.
It’s about whether the other person actually feels you.
Michel brings together theater, facilitation, and Nonviolent Communication to show that communication is lived, not just spoken.
And then comes the question that stops people in their tracks:
Do you want to be right… or do you want a relationship?
The Hidden Habits That Break Trust
Communication doesn’t break down in big dramatic moments.
It breaks down in the small ones.
Using words like always and never.
Reacting instantly instead of pausing.
Dismissing someone with a simple ‘but.’
Trying to win instead of understand.
These micro-moments shape whether trust grows or disappears.
Why You’re More Reactive Than You Think
We are living in a constant state of stimulation.
News cycles. Social media. Noise. Pressure.
And when you’re in that state, you don’t respond. You react.
That’s not a personal failure. It’s a nervous system response.
But it is something you can shift.
Simple practices matter more than people think:
Step outside.
Turn off the noise.
Create moments of stillness.
Eat in a way that supports your body instead of stressing it.
These aren’t luxuries. They’re stabilizers.
Your Environment Is Either Supporting You… or Working Against You
Most people underestimate how much their environment shapes their behavior.
It’s not just your mindset.
It’s your food.
Your space.
Your inputs.
Your relationships.
Even small changes create noticeable shifts.
A quieter space.
Better food.
Time in nature.
Less noise.
More intention.
The Power of Getting Closer to the Source
One of the most grounded parts of this conversation is Michel’s reflection on food and proximity.
When food is grown, harvested, and eaten with awareness, something changes.
Not just nutritionally. Experientially.
You feel connected.
You feel part of something.
And that changes how you show up in your life.
The takeaway is simple:
Get closer to the source—of your food, your choices, and your life.
Life Is Not Just About You
This conversation doesn’t stay at the level of self-improvement.
It moves into something deeper.
Life is growth. And life is contribution.
It’s not just about becoming more aware.
It’s about using that awareness in how you live, communicate, and relate to others.
If something feels off in your life, don’t rush to fix it.
Pause.
Listen.
Because the answer may already be there—waiting for you to pay attention.
Where to Learn More
Michel van Amsterdam is a Berlin-based keynote speaker and mentor working internationally.
About Michel van Amsterdam
Michel van Amsterdam is a keynote speaker and mentor who helps individuals and organizations build trust through authentic communication and embodied presence. His work is grounded in the belief that in a world full of noise, what people truly need is clarity, connection, and alignment with what is real.
Drawing from theatre, leadership development, and Nonviolent Communication, Michel delivers engaging keynotes that are both practical and impactful. He teaches audiences how to recognize the body’s signals around trust, boundaries, and energy, and how to use that awareness to communicate more effectively and lead with authenticity.
Michel also subscribes to a vegan lifestyle, reflecting his commitment to conscious, values-based living. With a style that blends depth, humor, and real-world application, he equips teams and leaders with simple, actionable tools to strengthen connection and create lasting trust.
About Kathleen Gage
Kathleen Gage is a multifaceted professional, renowned as the founder of Vegan Visibility. With certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell University, she’s a seasoned business consultant, keynote speaker, and marketing strategist.
Kathleen’s impact extends to hosting the Vegan Visibility Virtual Summit, a niche event supporting vegan and plant-based entrepreneurs with top-tier training from industry experts. Since establishing her business in 1994, she’s navigated economic challenges across various sectors, including high-tech, healthcare, and publishing.
Her influential voice resonates through popular podcasts like “Vegan Visibility” and “Plant Based Eating for Health,” where she advocates for a sustainable, compassionate world and provides guidance to thousands globally. Moreover, as an award-winning speaker and past president of Utah’s National Speakers Association chapter, Kathleen excels in crafting effective marketing strategies.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kathleen resides in Central Oregon, where she champions animal rescue and enjoys outdoor activities. Her commitment to creating a more compassionate and sustainable world shines through in both her personal and professional pursuits. Kathleen recently joined the Board of Directors for Blue Barn Farm and Sanctuary in Creswell, Oregon.