Employee recognition might sound obvious, but why do so many leaders miss it in practice? Dr. Bob Nelson joins Sarah Lockwood to explains why low-cost recognition ideas often matter more than paychecks or perks when it comes to real employee motivation. 

How do you create loyalty from day one with a new hire? What’s the difference between a generic end-of-year award and genuine recognition that lands in the moment? And how can asking employees for their ideas spark both engagement and business growth?

Dr. Nelson brings decades of research and real-world examples to these questions, offering workplace culture tips that work whether you’re leading a small team or a global workforce. He shows that recognition doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to feel thoughtful and consistent if you want it to change company culture.

This episode reminds us that company culture is built in the small choices leaders make each day to notice, acknowledge, and value the people doing the work.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why Employee Recognition Matters  

01:52 Common Misconceptions About Recognition  

04:07 Onboarding Tips That Build Loyalty  

05:52 How Employees Want to Be Recognized  

07:45 Low-Cost Recognition Ideas That Work  

09:07 Involving Employees in Decision-Making  

10:02 Real Examples of Employee Ideas Driving Growth  

14:06 The Role of Leadership in Company Culture  

16:10 Recognition for Remote and Global Teams  

21:28 Continuous Development and Retention  

Connect with Dr. Bob Nelson: Visit Dr. Bob Nelson’s Website

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

Visit HiveCast

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

The Conscious Entrepreneur 

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 

Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Alex Raymond, founder of Amplify and creator of the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, returns to share what’s happened since he set a bold goal on stage: turning Amplify into a $3M business in two years. Inspired by Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s “10x Is Easier Than 2x” and “The Science of Scaling,” Alex explains how “pathways thinking” has shifted his focus from incremental tasks to operating as if the goal is already achieved.

One of the biggest shifts? Writing his first book, “The Growth Department.” Alex opens up about the discipline, support, and courage it takes to codify his ideas into something meaningful, rather than just another business book. He also shares how building a mastermind after the summit has created accountability, momentum, and a community committed to thinking bigger together.

This conversation raises questions every founder faces: Are you running your business from a place of scarcity or scale? What would change if you truly operated from your goal, not just toward it?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction and Big Goals

01:25 Pathways Thinking and 10X Growth

02:40 Writing The Growth Department

04:27 Book Timeline and Value Creation

09:58 Delegation and Building Scalable Structures

12:56 Mastermind Group and Accountability

14:53 Using AI as a Thinking Partner

16:28 Community, Momentum, and Entrepreneur Wellbeing

20:50 Lessons from Podcasting and Entrepreneurship

Connect with Alex Raymond:

Visit AMplify

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

Visit HiveCast

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

The Conscious Entrepreneur 

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 

Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Fear isn’t the enemy of great leadership. Ignoring it is.

How often do you walk into a meeting already bracing for impact? Or catch yourself shrinking back in a moment where you meant to lead with clarity? Sarah Lockwood sits down with Beck Sydow, the founder of HumanKind Business Leaders, and Marina Suholutsky, the founder of PurposeBuilt, for a conversation on emotional self-regulation, fear in business, and the kind of inner work that makes better leadership possible.

They explore how fear lives in the body, how it shows up in the boardroom, and why most founders are still operating from old survival patterns without realizing it. You’ll hear why simply pushing through isn’t a strategy and how learning to notice your internal state (tight shoulders, shallow breath, reactive thinking) can open the door to more aligned decisions. Beck and Marina walk through tools for getting out of autopilot, including body scans, self-inquiry, and what they call “active choice,” the skill of pausing just long enough to shift out of fear and back into presence.

This doesn’t just explain why inner work matters. It shows you how to begin. Whether you’re leading a team, building a company, or trying to show up more fully for your own vision, this is the kind of episode that gets under the surface and invites you to lead from a deeper, steadier place.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Emotional Self-Regulation in Leadership

02:19 Why Fear and Suffering Matter for Founders

05:03 How the Amygdala Shapes Fear in Business

06:08 Welcoming Fear as a Tool, Not a Threat

10:08 Tools for Recognizing and Naming Fear

14:06 The Leadership Power of Softening and Owning Fear

18:13 Making Active Choices to Lead with Awareness

Links

Connect with Beck Sydow:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becksydow/

Humankind Business Leaders: https://www.humankindbusinessleaders.com/

Connect with Marina Suholutsky:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-suho/

PurposeBuilt: www.purposebuilt.io

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/ 

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Imagine building a successful tech company, selling it to GoDaddy, and still feeling like an imposter. That's exactly what Brian Nolan, founder and CEO of Book Outdoors, experienced. In this episode of The Conscious Entrepreneur podcast, Brian opens up about his journey as an entrepreneur, the challenges he faced, and how he manages imposter syndrome. He shares valuable insights on the importance of being gritty and resilient, combatting entrepreneurial loneliness by surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs, and taking care of your mental health. Brian's story is a reminder that success doesn't always eliminate self-doubt, but with the right mindset and support, you can thrive as an entrepreneur. 

Key Takeaways:

• The willingness to push harder, venture further, and take bold risks distinguishes successful entrepreneurs from the rest. Tenacity sets entrepreneurs apart.
• Knowing when to harness your energy for maximum productivity and when to step back for rejuvenation to prevent burnout is part of mastering your energy management.
• Brian's concept of a 'conscious entrepreneur' highlights the advantage of those who can tap into their emotional landscape, using self-awareness of strengths, weaknesses, and feelings to inform pivotal decisions.
• Entrepreneurs require more than business networks; they need authentic emotional backing. There is profound importance of such support in facing obstacles, confiding fears, and counteracting feelings of isolation and burnout.

Quotes

• I've always thought this in my life and my career - I've always felt like if it doesn't work out, I know what my skill set is and my strengths, and I could just go back to getting a job. If I really need to, I could go back to getting a job. And so that's always given me the safety net and the comfort of taking these risks. (10:51 | Brian Nolan)
• "Imposter syndrome is a real thing, even now. Even now that I've built and sold and had some success at building a company. It creeps in all the time." (18:39 | Brian Nolan) 
• “I actually gave a little talk on this back in the day about grit and about persistence and perseverance and passion. Those are sort of the things that go into grit. That's one of the things as an entrepreneur, you just have to have, you have to be able to go a step or more further than most people would. And so you have to find that energy and figure out how to push forward through burnout.” (26:19 | Brian Nolan) 
• “This is what I think a conscious entrepreneur is actually, it’s  that awareness of what your strengths and weaknesses are, and awareness of how you're feeling and your emotions so that you can use them to your advantage.”  (49:22 | Brian Nolan)
• “Part of our employee perks are that we reimburse for any kind of mindfulness app that somebody wants to subscribe to, or gym membership, or Peloton or whatever it is, those are the perks that we offer since we don't have the office.” (53:39 | Brian Nolan)

Links

Connect with Brian Nolan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancnolan/ Website: ​​https://bookoutdoors.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Modern entrepreneurship demands conscious leadership. In the latest episode of "The Conscious Entrepreneur," host Alex Raymond sits down with Julie Penner, a seasoned startup coach and investor who has worked with over a hundred early-stage companies. Together, they discuss the evolving role of founders and the new expectations they face. Julie shares her insights on a range of “startup killer” dysfunctions, from focusing on culture too late, failure to delegate responsibilities, to co-founder conflicts and more. She emphasizes the value of self-awareness for founders, noting its role in attracting and retaining top talent and building successful companies. Creating positive company culture is crucial for early-state companies, and it brings major benefits in the long run. Julie provides actionable advice based on real-world situations. She also provides great advice for start-up founders around accelerator programs - what to look out for and how they can accelerate your company.

Key Takeaways:

• The role of the entrepreneur is evolving, and conscious leadership is becoming increasingly important for attracting top talent and building a successful company.
• It is crucial for entrepreneurs to do their own personal work and be aware of their impact on others in order to create a positive company culture.
• Many VCs are not actively evolving their behaviors and expectations, and often only recommend founders to get a coach without addressing deeper issues.
• Ineffective management of co-founder conflict can be a major obstacle for startups, and it is important to practice disagreement and have tools for effective communication and resolution.
• Building a strong co-founder relationship requires trust, open communication, and the ability to repair and learn from mistakes.

Quotes:

• "I think our tolerance for leaders that aren't aware of how they're coming across and aren't aware of their impact on others is decreasing." (04:13| Julie Penner )
• "If you want to build a great company, you have to attract great people. And if you want to have great people, you have to treat them well. And to treat them well, you have to understand how you're impacting them. And that starts with your own work." (04:54 | Julie Penner) 
• "The worst thing that can happen is building a company that you end up hating that's successful." (07:23 | Julie Penner)
• "So you as a founder, who you are, your shadows - you are the limiting factor on the success of this business." (17:04 | Julie Penner) 
• “My working definition of a conscious entrepreneur is someone who's aware of their own patterns of thought, actions, and behaviors, as well as at a minimum being curious, if not aware of how their impact is on others. And, this path of building companies, if you think about it for a while, can be a spiritual path.” (52:42 | Julie Penner)

Links:

Connect with Julie Penner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliepenner/

Website: https://soulofstartups.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Do you feel you are on a tightrope walk between ambition and anxiety? Jeff Benton and Brett Weinroth, the dynamic duo behind Paragon Performance Evolution, share the message we all need to hear: stress isn't dictated by what's happening around us but by our body's internal reactions. For entrepreneurs who may feel overwhelmed and dysregulated, it’s a welcome message. By mastering the art of shifting our body's chemicals and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, we can foster clarity, enhance communication, and deepen empathy. The pair also spotlight the transformative power of self-awareness. By disrupting detrimental thought cycles and embracing techniques like deep breathing and heart-focused meditation, we can ignite positive emotions and foster internal harmony. Sharing wisdom taken from ancient texts, meditation, breath work and tools and insight from HeartMath Institute, Jeff & Brett explain the concept of Coherence and even lead Alex and our listeners on a quick coherence exercise!

Key Takeaways:

• Stress is not caused by external circumstances, but rather by our body's physiological reaction to those circumstances.
• Being in a constant state of stress impairs key brain functions, such as problem-solving, communication, and empathy.
• We have the ability to shift our body's response to stress through tools and techniques that promote coherence and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
• By slowing down our breath and focusing on the area of the heart, we can send signals to the brain that everything is okay and reduce the stress response.
• Developing awareness of our thoughts and emotions is crucial for making positive changes and breaking free from negative thought patterns.

Quotes:

• "When we feel stressed, we limit key parts of the brain. In particular, our frontal cortex, which is the smart thinking part of the brain. So we're limited in our problem solving, in our communication, a number of other things, and also our ability to have empathy and see somebody else's point of view." (7:49 | Jeff Benton)
• "If we don't teach people how to get out of a stress response, they're going to be limited in how they can show up. And this is just science. And the beautiful thing is we've seen it with thousands and thousands and thousands of executives. As we teach them these tools and techniques, and they go from a stressed response to a more optimal state, which we call coherence, it literally enables them to think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and have deeper empathy." (8:27 | Jeff Benton)
• "I think a conscious entrepreneur is heart centered. They operate from a high level of emotional intelligence and awareness. And I would say a conscious entrepreneur is less concerned with maybe what others are thinking of them. And they're more focused on prioritizing how they're showing up in the moment. So their own state of being is important to them. I also think a conscious entrepreneur thinks of others in a more empathetic or compassionate way. And as a leader, they're seeking to empower others rather than dictate. (59:40 | Brett Weinroth) 

Links

Connect with Jeff and Brett:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bweinroth/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-robert-benton-51240a4/

https://www.performanceparagon.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"Hustle culture is bullshit," says Dave Mayer. And he knows a thing or two about suffering through hustle culture. 

Alex Raymond sits down with Dave, the CEO and founder of Technical Integrity, to discuss his journey from burnout and exhaustion to building a successful business with a focus on cultural fit. Dave shares his personal struggle with burnout and how he overcame it by embracing a service-led, give-first approach. He emphasizes the power of slowing down, practicing breathwork, and giving yourself space to breathe and reflect so you can create the life and business you want.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize self-care and well-being as an entrepreneur. Taking care of your mental and physical health is crucial for long-term success.
• Giving without expecting anything in return can lead to meaningful connections and opportunities.
• Take time to breathe, reflect, and avoid the pressure to solve all problems immediately.
• Foster a culture of curiosity and safe spaces for asking questions. Embrace co-elevation, where everyone holds each other accountable towards a common goal.
• Ensure you are well-rested to do your best work.

Quotes:

• “Give everything space. Nothing needs to be solved right now. The immediacy of all of these problems in your head actually can afford space and can afford breath. And the more time you give them, the better. Slow replies to emails are actually a good thing. You don't need to solve all these problems on your own, right? You're a member of a team, you're a member of a community.” (08:11 | Dave Mayer) 

• "The older you get, you know, the more you just, you slow down, you sort of appreciate and savor more." (08:50 | Dave Mayer)

• "Asking questions in a safe space means growth for you and growth for us." (32:30 | Dave Mayer)

• "Rest is a core component of becoming and really accessing your creativity, accessing your productivity, accessing your profitability." - Dave Mayer (35:19)

• "A conscious entrepreneur is somebody who shows up as their best selves to the best of their ability on an ongoing basis." (37:07 | Dave Mayer)

Links

Connect with Dave Mayer:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveincolorado/

Website: https://technicalintegrity.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Super fans of “The Big Leap” will love this week’s episode - it’s the conversation with Gay Hendricks you’ve dreamed of having.  We are a lucky fly on the wall as our host, Alex Raymond, asks Gay Hendricks, the brilliant author behind "The Big Leap", the questions you’ve probably had after reading the book.

Gay elaborates on key concepts, discussing how to navigate limiting beliefs, address the upper limit problem, and transition from working in your Zone of Excellence to your Zone of Genius. For enthusiasts seeking more, Gay also provides a glimpse into his exclusive, in-person half-day workshop that is coming up in November in Boulder.  It’s a hands-on experience to further tap into one's unique potential, and tickets are available here.

Listeners can anticipate a blend of actionable tools and perspectives from Gay, crafted to foster both personal and business growth. He shares insights on mastering time, urging listeners to harness it proactively. Additionally, Gay sheds light on recognizing personal barriers, integrating spirituality into entrepreneurship, and shares his own grounding practices, like meditation, which anchor him in his genius.

Key Takeaways:

• The Zone of Genius is about spending more time on the things you love and are uniquely talented at, rather than getting stuck in the zones of competence or excellence.
• Upper limit problems, such as limiting beliefs and fears, can hold entrepreneurs back from reaching their full potential.
• It's important to cultivate emotional intelligence and be aware of how our emotions can impact our success and relationships.
• The fear of outshining others or feeling burdened by success can hinder entrepreneurs from fully embracing their genius.
• Time management is crucial for entrepreneurs, and adopting an Einstein time mindset can help shift from feeling like a victim of time to being the source of time.

Quotes:

• "An upper limit problem is caused by limiting beliefs in ourselves, and one of the most common ones is that I have an old unconscious belief that I'm not worthwhile, that because of things that happened to me in my life, I don't deserve the good things of life." (03:20 | Gay Hendricks)

• "In Einstein time, you don't find time, you make time. You're where time comes from. I'm where time comes from, so I can make up exactly enough time, plenty of time to do everything I love to do." (23:47 | Gay Hendricks)

• "From working with a whole bunch of executives over the years, we found that the happiest ones are the ones that make that transition out of the excellence zone and spend some time every day in their genius zone." (26:47 | Gay Hendricks)

• "A conscious entrepreneur is one who goes about the execution of his or her vision also with a complete openness to learning." (45:16 | Gay Hendricks) 

• "Your body is where your mind lives. It's not the other way around." (50:42 | Gay Hendricks)

• "We need to get ourselves in harmony with our spirit, our body, and our minds in order to make best use of ourselves." (51:03 | Gay Hendricks)

Links

Connect with Gay Hendricks

Website: https://hendricks.com/

Workshop: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/zone-of-genius-workshop-with-gay-hendricks/

Learn More About The Workshop From Gay Hendricks: What can people expect from the Zone of Genius workshop with Gay Hendricks?

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"Shame is this place that gets us into burnout and keeps us in burnout because we don't want to let people in on what's actually going on," says Jim Young.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, embarrassed, and alone, this episode of The Conscious Entrepreneur podcast is a must-listen. Host Alex Raymond interviews Jim Young, a men's burnout coach and author of the book "Expansive Intimacy." In this powerful conversation, Jim shares his personal journey of burnout and the moment he realized he wasn't okay. He delves into the one-two punch of burnout and shame, discussing the societal expectations placed on men and the impact it has on their well-being. Jim offers a fresh perspective on burnout recovery, debunking common fallacies and emphasizing the importance of social support and intimacy. Through his concept of "expansive intimacy," Jim encourages entrepreneurs to cultivate deep connections, both personally and professionally, to combat burnout. This episode will provide you with valuable tools and resources to navigate burnout, redefine success, and create a more fulfilling entrepreneurial journey. 

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout is a chronic condition that requires a comprehensive approach to recovery, including addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
• Shame plays a significant role in burnout, as men often feel the need to hide their struggles and weaknesses, leading to increased stress and exhaustion.
• Expansive intimacy, which involves building deep and authentic connections with others, is a powerful tool for combating burnout and creating a support system.
• Burnout recovery fallacies, such as taking a vacation or implementing productivity hacks, are not effective solutions and do not address the underlying causes of burnout.
• Seeking support from trusted individuals, whether they are friends, colleagues, or professionals, is crucial in navigating burnout and finding the necessary resources for recovery.

Quotes:

• “I think that the socialization that we get as men in Western culture has a set of rules, and they're pretty clear to any guy who's grown up in this culture, and that's we need to be strong, we need to be successful, we can't show our emotions, we can't ask for help. And when you put all that together, it's kind of an impossible puzzle. that it's going to lead to, well, I just got to be alone. I have to suffer in silence if anything is up for me because I can't share emotions. I can't ask for help. Well, that's not human. That's not a reasonable expectation.” (14:47 | Jim Young) 

• "If you're having problems sleeping, if you're having more bouts of whether you want to call it moodiness, or depression, if you're feeling anxious, oftentimes anxiety and lack of sleep are going together." (21:19 | Jim Young)

• "Anything that you might find under an article that talks about life or productivity hacks is not going to be an effective strategy for burnout recovery." (29:12 | Jim Young) 

Links

Connect with Jim Young:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecenteredcoach/

Website: https://www.thecenteredcoach.com/

Expansive Intimacy Podcast: https://www.thecenteredcoach.com/podcast

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"How does mindfulness impact business?" In this episode, Beck Sydow delves into the heart of conscious entrepreneurship, discussing burnout, the role of emotions in business,  shadow work's transformative potential and the inverse relationship between consumption and creativity. Sharing personal experiences with burnout, Alex and Beck highlight the critical need for self-awareness and timely self-care. They advocate for more than just resilience, emphasizing the importance of overall well-being.

Beck presents a refreshing take on emotions in business, making a case for their vital role in successful leadership. They speak about the significance of creating environments that encourage genuine interactions and mutual respect, fostering a culture of psychological safety.

Shadow work emerges as a crucial topic, with Beck illuminating the growth stemming from understanding our deeper selves. They point out the valuable lessons our inner complexities offer, suggesting that embracing them leads to a holistic sense of authenticity.

Addressing self-care, Beck aspires to achieve more of a flow state mindset rather than adopting a rigid, disciplined routine.  Time outdoors, walking & journaling are part of a regular morning.  Reading and learning are daily priorities; however, Beck warns that overconsumption of content kills creativity and masks a lack of confidence to create and be seen.

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout can affect anyone, regardless of privilege or access to resources.
• It's important to recognize the signs of burnout and take action before it becomes overwhelming.
• Building a conscious business requires integrating business acumen with leadership skills and a focus on understanding and serving customers.
• Creating intimate spaces for leaders to be vulnerable and authentic is crucial for personal and organizational growth.
• Taking radical care of ourselves involves not only physical self-care but also caring for our minds by cultivating awareness, embracing our shadows, and practicing self-acceptance.

Quotes:

• "I knew I was burning out and I did what most of us do. I kept trying to convince myself that there would be, you know, just ‘in one more month’ or ‘in a couple weeks’ or ‘when we get this part of the business to a completion’ or just all of those ways that there's some someplace out in the future." (08:16 | Beck Sydow)

• “The reality is when we think we're going to be okay out there somewhere sometime in the future, we're missing the ways that we can be okay in the moment.” (10:09 | Beck Sydow) 

• “I wish I could remember where I heard this, I heard someone say that consumption is the enemy of creativity. so and and it is the um expression of a lack of confidence so as you continue to consume you're consuming because you don't think that you could put something out and boy is that a big part of my story i mean you you follow me a little bit i'm starting to be more active on LinkedIn, I'm writing more. The journey to get to that was huge.” (49:20 | Beck Sydow) 

Links

Connect with Beck Sydow:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becksydow/ 

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"Entrepreneurship is a personal growth journey," says Lizelle van Vuuren.

Lizelle is a force in the Denver Startup Community, she’s founded her own companies, is an advisor and an investor, and now she’s exploring her passion for soccer and her mission to bring professional women's soccer to Denver.  On this episode of The Conscious Entrepreneur, Alex Raymond  is in conversation with Lizelle about her journey as an entrepreneur and the resilience and inspiration needed to build a successful business. Through her own experiences and reflections, she shares valuable insights on the importance of self-discovery, community engineering, and mental health for entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways:

• Being an entrepreneur is a long journey that requires resilience and self-awareness.
• Belonging is a fundamental human need, and creating communities that foster belonging is essential.
• The entrepreneur's journey is a path of self-discovery, where personal growth and self-awareness are key.
• Work can be a coping mechanism and an escape, but it's important to find a balance and not tie our self-worth solely to our work.
• A conscious entrepreneur is someone who has a heightened sense of self-awareness and connection to others, and strives to create impact while also being profitable.

Quotes:

• “What wonderful things have you created, because you have not felt like you belong? And there's millions of people who feel the same. In fact, I think that is really quintessentially a part of the human experience and people want to belong in places and spaces. And I believe that when you belong, when you feel like you belong and you are welcomed into belonging somewhere. It untaps your full human potential. So now people who feel like they belong, whether it's in a tiny startup or a big community or in their school or adversity or in a club or whatever, now they can relax. Our nervous systems kind of take a breath and we can fully show up.” (23:06 | Lizelle van Vuuren) 

• "Now I look at the entrepreneur's journey as an athlete's journey, which is to say, you cannot possibly think that you're going to be an exceptional athlete without training and stretching and eating well and doing the movement, doing the motion, doing the work, doing the exercise, whatever that might be. And it's true for an entrepreneur. You can't possibly imagine that you're going to be your best as an entrepreneur without quite literally sleeping well, eating well, exercising, training, walking, having friends, having a community, maybe going to therapy, unpacking some trauma, like all those kinds of things." (28:58 | Lizelle van Vuuren)

• "Entrepreneurship is a personal growth journey." (49:58 | Lizelle van Vuuren)

• "Being an entrepreneur is not a job title. It's not something you do. It's how you are. It's how you behave in the world, how you act in the world. And we need to broaden that conversation so that we're talking about all these things that really add up and that really matter." (55:45 | Alex Raymond) 
• "A conscious entrepreneur is someone who with every fiber in them creates impact for people while attempting to be profitable." (57:21 | Lizelle van Vuuren) 

Links

Connect with  Lizelle van Vuuren:

Website: https://lizellevanvuuren.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. 

Are you tired of the adversarial relationship between entrepreneurs and investors? Matt McCall, a seasoned VC with 28 years of experience, offers a refreshing perspective on the traditional relationship dynamics we’ve come to expect. In this episode, Matt shares his unique approach to investing, where he not only provides funding but also coaching to help entrepreneurs thrive. He believes that the key to success lies in focusing on the human aspect of business, elevating entrepreneurs to be their best selves. By investing in personal growth and fostering authentic relationships, Matt has seen firsthand how this approach leads to greater resilience and success. Discover how Matt challenges the traditional VC model and why he believes that investing in the well-being of entrepreneurs is a competitive advantage.

Key Takeaways:

• The relationship between entrepreneurs and investors doesn't have to be adversarial; it can be a partnership where both parties work together for success.
• Investing in personal growth and well-being supports the achievement of results in business.
• VCs can act as guides and safe harbors for entrepreneurs, providing support and resources to help them thrive.
• The concept of the Aristotelian ethic, focusing on curiosity, discipline, courage, and love, can lead to a more fulfilling and successful entrepreneurial journey.
• Taking care of one's well-being and addressing internal issues, such as unsaid conversations and energy drains, is crucial for long-term success and avoiding burnout.

Quotes:

• "Everything that I would do as a traditional coach, I do as a VC, but I do it from the perspective of making them the highest version of themselves so we can have the best success with the company." (13:58 | Matt) 

• "What launched this whole thing is we interviewed,10 years ago, a hundred entrepreneurs and said, 'How do you want your VC to show up to be most helpful?" And number one, by far, they said, I don't trust any of you guys. But if I could trust you, it was who can be there on a Sunday night when the demons are running through my head." (31:56 | Matt) 

• "The way that I'm thinking about it is, you know, we're putting all these demands on an entrepreneur and he or she's got 30%, they're at 30% of their capacity because 70% of it is blocked by something else. And so the work of becoming more aware, doing personal work, becoming more mindful, learning to meditate, learning tools and frameworks for communication, and so on. Those are about increasing the amount of available energy that I have to do the things that I love. And if I'm not focused on it, then I'm just burning myself down, and that's what leads to burnout, collapse, companies going poof." (35:03 | Alex)

Links

Connect with Matt McCall:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmccall/

Website: https://somethingventured.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Where does your money sleep at night, and is it working for the kind of world you want to live in?

Jennifer Kenning was managing the wealth of high-net-worth families by day and volunteering with unhoused communities in Los Angeles by night. That contrast raised a question that’s stuck with her ever since: What if capital could be a force for good, without giving up returns? Now the CEO and co-founder of Align Impact, Jennifer leads a registered investment advisory firm managing over $750 million. 

Jennifer joins Sarah Lockwood to talk about values-based investing, conscious capitalism, and how we can all, regardless of portfolio size, be more intentional about where and how our money is working. Jennifer explains why impact investing isn’t charity, how ESG works (and where it falls short), and the practical steps anyone can take to align their investments with their values. She shares examples of funding solutions in climate change, affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, and why investing in women and underrepresented founders creates ripple effects that go far beyond profit. She also reflects on her leadership as the outgoing president of EO Colorado, the power of servant leadership, and how Align’s commitment to being a B Corp shapes the way they do business.

If you’re an entrepreneur rethinking how your capital is allocated, or simply curious about whether your investments align with your intentions, Sarah and Jennifer’s conversation will help you take a more conscious, empowered role in shaping your financial impact.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Jennifer Kenning’s Path to Impact Investing 03:15 Breaking the Myth: Do Values-Based Investments Sacrifice Returns? 07:34 How Align Measures Real-World Impact 10:29 Aligning Your 401(k) and Business Capital With Your Values 18:07 Why Align Impact Became a Certified B Corp 22:11 Bringing an Impact Lens to EO Colorado 25:15 Leading Peers and Evolving as a Servant Leader 30:05 Defining the Hopeful Pioneer and Investing for 2030 35:45 Staying Grounded: Purpose, Practice, and Long-Term Vision 38:06 Advice for Founders Committed to Conscious Capitalism

39:39 Empowerment Through Financial Awareness

Links

Connect with Jennifer Kenning:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennkenning/ Website: https://www.alignimpact.com/ 

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/ Website: https://hivecast.fm

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/ 

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

A carefully planned CEO exit unraveled and what came next reshaped how one founder leads for good.

When Chris Schwalbach stepped away from the CEO seat at AVL Growth Partners, he had a clear plan, a strong successor, and years of preparation behind him. But even with all that in place, something didn’t sit right. The business started to wobble, and Chris found himself wondering if he’d made a mistake. What do you do when the leadership transition you spent years building starts to crack? How do you know when it’s time to step back in?

Joining Sarah Lockwood, Chris shares the real story behind his succession planning journey, from the slow handoff to the unexpected return, and what he learned about himself in the process. He talks openly about the shame he felt stepping back in, the inner work that helped him move through it, and the version of leadership he brings to the table now. If you’re thinking about founder exit planning or wrestling with what it means to let go, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what happens when plans shift and perspective deepens.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Chris Schwalbach’s CEO Exit and Return

02:06 Founding AVL Growth Partners and the Original Vision

04:07 Hitting Growth Ceilings and Planning a Leadership Transition

10:05 The Inner Journey: Failure, Trust, and Self-Doubt

17:12 Becoming CEO 2.0: Leading with Clarity and Confidence

22:00 Managing Team Expectations During a Leadership Transition

28:10 Reflecting on Progress: Using the Gap and the Gain

30:07 Personal Habits That Support Founder Mental Health

37:47 Lessons in Succession Planning and Self-Trust

Links

Conscious Entrepreneur Previous Episode with Chris Schwalbach:

https://consciousentrepreneur.us/chris-schwalbach-the-conscious-handover-embracing-change-at-the-top

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/ 

Connect with Chris Schwalbach:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cschwalbach/

Website: https://avlgrowth.com/

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Jesse Pujji reveals how he builds wildly successful companies from scratch by doubling down on talent, distribution, and the power of bootstrapping.

In this episode, Sarah Lockwood sits down with the serial founder and investor behind Gateway X, a venture studio that launches and scales high-performing companies without venture capital. Jesse shares how he went from Goldman Sachs and McKinsey to building Ampush, one of Facebook’s earliest and most effective performance marketing agencies, which grew to manage over $1 billion in ad spend for top brands like Uber, Peloton, and Dollar Shave Club. That experience became the foundation for how he now builds high-performance teams and scalable businesses through bootstrapping.

Jesse breaks down the core principles that drive his companies: hiring exceptional talent, obsessing over sales and distribution, and staying rooted in profitability from day one. He shares the origin stories of ventures like GrowthAssistant, which connects startups with offshore marketing talent, and explains how each business at Gateway X is shaped by a unique unfair advantage and the right operating partner, not a VC-funded roadmap. From his two-farm model for sourcing ideas and people to his frameworks for knowing when to walk away from a failing project, Jesse offers a rare look into what it really takes to scale without VC.

This is a must-listen for founders ready to trade the unicorn myth for real traction, culture-driven leadership, and sustainable growth on their own terms.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Jesse Pujji’s Entrepreneurial Journey from Ampush to Gateway X

05:01 Core Principles for Bootstrapping and Scaling Without VC

08:48 How GrowthAssistant Scaled to $20M in Revenue

13:32 The Two-Farm Model: Matching Ideas with the Right People

15:00 Knowing When to Kill an Idea and Move On

16:02 Inside Aux: Translating Marketing for Private Equity

21:09 Why Sales and Distribution Matter More Than Product

22:14 The Power of High Performance Teams

27:02 Building Profitable Companies with Operational Rigor

34:30 Managing Attention, Energy, and Leadership Across Startups

38:48 Conscious Leadership and the Value of Coaching

Links

Dave Kashen - Startup CEO Coach

Book - The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: https://a.co/d/j4uKz9A

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/ 

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

Connect with Jesse Pujji:

Website Gateway X: https://www.gateway.xyz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessepujji/

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Most entrepreneurs aren’t drowning in work because they lack ambition. They’re stuck doing too much of the wrong kind of work.

Sarah Lockwood talks with Julie Johnston, the founder of Rhino Squad, about what it looks like to operate from your zone of genius. They unpack the mindset traps that keep founders stuck in the weeds and walk through how small shifts in delegation can lead to major changes in time management and business growth.

Julie shares what she’s learned helping leaders hire and work with virtual assistants, especially from the Philippines, and how a global workforce can unlock more freedom, better output, and stronger team culture. Are your top people doing high-value work? What could your business look like if they were?  

Julie encourages founders to think big and recognize where VAs can support every part of your organization from revenue driving activities to business operations - VAs can do much more than confirm appointments, reschedule meetings or manage your inbox (although that ‘s a great place to start if you haven’t yet)! If you’ve been hesitant to delegate or unsure where to start, Sarah and Julie’s conversation will help you rethink how you’re spending your time and what it’s really costing you.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Julie Johnston and Rhino Squad

02:03 Mindset Shifts for Effective Delegation

06:53 Maximizing Time with Virtual Assistants

10:50 Building a Supportive Team Culture

14:01 10X Thinking and Global Workforce Strategy

24:17 Julie’s Conscious Entrepreneurial Journey

29:49 Core Values Behind Rhino Squad

Links

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/

Connect with Julie Johnston:

Website: www.rhinosquad.org 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhinosquad_virtualassistants/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhinojulie/

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most teams aren’t drowning in work. They’re drowning in distractions.

Sarah Lockwood is joined by Jenna Piché, the founder of First Light Time Management Coaching, for a timely conversation about team productivity, deep work, and sharpening your leadership focus. With the year halfway over, it’s a good moment to stop and ask: Are you making real progress on the goals you set in January or just staying busy?

Jenna shares why so many leaders unintentionally build cultures where busyness is rewarded, and why that’s such a dangerous trap. When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to lose sight of the work that actually moves the needle. What signals are you sending to your team about what matters? Are people clear on what to focus on or are they stuck reacting all day?

They also discuss the psychology of productivity and procrastination, including what’s actually going on in your brain when you put off the hard stuff. And they talk through what it looks like to shift into a culture that values deep work and gives people the space to do their best thinking.

If your team’s attention feels fractured (or maybe your own), Jenna offers a smart reset. The kind that helps you see where time is leaking out of your day, and how to fix it before the second half of the year slips by.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Reflecting on Goals and Productivity

02:53 Misaligned Priorities and the Myth of Busyness

06:14 Creating a Culture of Focus

09:00 Identifying Misalignment in Teams

14:55 Overcoming Procrastination and Fear

18:05 Shifting Mindsets for Deep Work

21:00 Building a Supportive Team Culture

23:56 Setting Seemingly Impossible Goals

Links

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/ 

Connect with Jenna Piche:

Fractured or Focused Attention Assessment: https://eencclvnukx.typeform.com/to/dMYQ67rp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennapiche/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstlightcoach/

Website: https://firstlighthealth.co/womens-health-and-focus-coaching

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivecast.fm/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

The Conscious Entrepreneur is the podcast where founders come to sharpen their edge from the inside out - building businesses that are sustainable, aligned, and actually work for their life. It’s about becoming the kind of leader your business needs you to be, and doing it with clarity, connection, and purpose.

We don’t buy into hustle culture. And burnout? It’s not a badge of honor. Here, we believe thriving businesses are built by thriving people.

Hosted by Sarah Lockwood, The Conscious Entrepreneur is where growth starts within.

Most entrepreneurs say they want to think bigger, but only a few actually build the systems, community, and habits that make those impossible goals inevitable.

Fresh off the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, Sarah Lockwood and Alex Raymond came home with more than just notes. They came home with decisions. In this episode, they talk through what shifted for them, what they’re already doing differently, and how the right kind of environment can shake you out of survival mode fast.

Alex shares how Dr. Ben Hardy’s session pushed him to commit publicly to growing AMplify into a $3M business in two years. Sarah walks through the behind-the-scenes changes she’s making at HiveCast right away, from automating scattered processes to freeing up time for the kind of work that actually moves things forward. They both reflect on the deeper mindset work sparked by the event, including what it means to lead with intention and how to shrink the timeline between vision and execution.

One of the biggest pieces of post-summit momentum is the launch of the 10X Implementation Circle, which is a year-long, founder-only group for serious entrepreneurs who want accountability, structure, and real community while working toward their boldest goals. Didn’t make it to the summit this year but want in on what’s next? Apply here 👉🏽www.consciousentrepreneur.us

Listen for:

00:00 Post-Summit Reflections and Key Takeaways

01:43 Dr. Ben Hardy on Impossible Goals and Time as a Tool

05:43 Alex Raymond’s $3M Business Commitment

07:06 Rethinking Priorities and Delegating for Impact

10:41 Nervous System Regulation with Marina and Beck

13:07 Entrepreneurial Mindset with Dr. Michael Freeman

17:33 Inside the 10X Implementation Circle

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

Website: http://www.consciousentrepreneur.us 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-entrepreneur/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_entrepreneur_summit/ 

Connect with Alex Raymond:

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

Website: https://hivecast.fm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivecast.fm/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most podcasts talk tactics, but The Conscious Entrepreneur turns the spotlight inward.

This episode marks a new beginning for The Conscious Entrepreneur as Alex Raymond passes the mic to Sarah Lockwood, the show’s new host. They reflect on the recent summit in Boulder and the kind of conversations that matter most to this community, the ones that don’t just skim the surface.

Sarah shares why she raised her hand to take on this role and what keeps her so invested in the work. As the CEO of HiveCast, she’s helped hundreds of founders launch and grow their podcasts. But here, she’s stepping into something more personal: creating space for honest conversations about the fears, habits, and thought patterns that shape the entrepreneurial journey.

What happens when we stop comparing our beginnings to someone else’s highlight reel? How do we keep showing up when the pressure to hustle never really lets up? Sarah and Alex unpack these questions and more, with a shared belief that the real growth happens behind the scenes, in community, through vulnerability, and with a little less pretending.

Alex isn’t disappearing; he’ll still be around. But with Sarah at the helm, the podcast enters a new season, one built around thoughtful interviews, lived experience, and ideas you’ll actually want to take back into your life and work.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome and Summit Recap

01:04 Meet the New Host: Sarah Lockwood

02:30 Sarah’s Entrepreneurial Journey

05:12 The Story Behind HiveCast

08:37 Why Podcasting Matters

17:52 Rethinking Hustle Culture

20:31 Habits and Inspiration for Entrepreneurs

23:40 What’s Next for the Show

Links

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Guarding your joy while leading high-stakes work is not optional. It is the only way to last.

Dr. David Johns sits down with Alex Raymond for a conversation on what it means to lead without losing yourself. What keeps you grounded when the work feels endless? How do you stay in the fight without letting it consume you? 

Drawing from his journey, from growing up in Inglewood to serving in the Obama White House and now leading the National Black Justice Coalition, Dr. Johns shares how his leadership is shaped by purpose, community, and a deep sense of responsibility. He talks about centering the voices that are too often excluded, especially in education, and calls out the difference between performative gestures and true accountability. He reflects on the emotional cost of this work, the need for spaces that restore rather than drain, and why joy is something worth protecting at all costs. The episode also touches on his podcast, Teach the Babies, and his belief that love and dignity must be foundational in any conversation about democracy and schooling.

For entrepreneurs trying to lead with both heart and backbone, Alex and Dr. Johns’ conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to choose between ambition and integrity, and that doing the hard thing doesn’t mean doing it alone.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Dr. David Johns

01:58 Who Are You Beneath the Work?

05:14 Purpose, Passion, and Leadership Philosophy

07:10 Centering the Most Marginalized

11:13 Guarding Your Joy and Protecting Your Peace

14:44 The Power of Community

21:18 What It Means to Nourish Yourself

23:48 Why He Launched Teach the Babies

27:10 Education, Democracy, and the Fight for Equity

30:52 Real Allyship vs Performative Action

36:36 From Ally to Accomplice

Links

Connect with David Johns:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdavidjohns/

Website: https://nbjc.org/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Sue Heilbronner, serial entrepreneur and conscious leadership executive coach, believes the strongest businesses are built when sales feel less like chasing and more like alignment. Joining Sarah Lockwood in this episode, she introduces the idea of “passionate ambivalence,” a values-based sales mindset that pairs genuine enthusiasm for your work with the ability to detach from any single outcome.

How do you recognize when a client is the right fit? Sue points to conscious client qualification as the key. By asking clear, sometimes disqualifying questions, you invite the kind of honesty that builds trust from the very start. She also shares her perspective on pricing strategy, reminding entrepreneurs that protecting your time and holding your value are essential parts of sustainable growth.

This episode invites you to reflect on your own sales mindset. Are you creating relationships rooted in clarity and confidence, or relying on pressure and persuasion? What would shift if you treated sales as a mutual process instead of a one-sided pitch?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Radical Mindset Shift in Sales

02:07 Passionate Ambivalence Explained

04:15 Contrarian Sales Mindset vs. Traditional Selling

06:04 Never Ask for the Sale: Practical Examples

10:12 Startup Fundraising and Playing Small

15:08 Pricing Strategy and Early Sales Lessons

19:22 Fit Calls and Client Qualification

27:08 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Sales

Connect with Sue Heilbronner:

Hey Sue

Connect with Sue on LinkedIn 

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

HiveCast

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

The Conscious Entrepreneur 

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 

Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Happiness isn’t a finish line; it’s the system you build every day to actually enjoy being alive.

Brian Dubow had the career, the money, the validation, and none of it made him feel fulfilled. So he stepped off the path, studied the science of happiness, and rebuilt his life from the inside out. In this episode, he joins Alex Raymond to share what he learned along the way and how entrepreneurs can stop chasing success and start creating lives that feel good to live.

Brian breaks down the “MAGIC” framework (mindfulness, activity, gratitude, inspiration, and connection), and explains how simple daily habits can have a bigger impact than any external win. Could feeling better have less to do with getting more, and more to do with doing less of what drains you? Is your energy, not your output, the real measure of progress?

Alex and Brian’s conversation also touches on the role of discipline in happiness, why mood follows action, and how small systems can keep you aligned when the pressure ramps up. For anyone who’s ever looked successful on paper but felt off inside, this episode offers a reset and a practical way forward.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Brian’s Journey from Corporate to Happiness Coaching

08:23 The Science Behind Happiness

10:17 Happiness as a Choice and the Power of Discipline

13:32 Redefining Happiness: Enjoying the Passage of Time

18:00 Mood Follows Action and the Role of Systems

19:35 The MAGIC Framework Explained

21:00 Mindfulness and Managing Distractions

24:10 Movement and Physical Energy

29:03 Rewiring Your Mind with Gratitude

37:09 Finding Daily Inspiration

42:41 The Power of Meaningful Connection

Links

Connect with Brian Dubow:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-dubow/

Website: https://hitofhappiness.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs want exponential growth. Few pause long enough to ask what’s quietly getting in the way.

In this episode, Alex Raymond shares what’s ahead for the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, happening May 28th and 29th in Boulder, Colorado. This is the one event built entirely around the well-being of entrepreneurs, and it’s designed for those who are serious about scaling both their business and their inner capacity to lead.

Sarah Lockwood, the founder of HiveCast and longtime member of the community, joins Alex to ask the questions many potential attendees are already thinking. Is it worth stepping away from the day-to-day? What’s different about this event? And how does a theme like “10x Growth” apply to someone who isn’t chasing vanity metrics?

They walk through what to expect, from the small, curated outdoor workshop with Dr. Benjamin Hardy to the larger summit day packed with speakers like Michael Freeman, Brad Feld, and Rachel Romer. The lineup covers both the internal and external work of growth, with plenty of space for connection, reflection, and actual momentum.

If you’re ready for clarity, challenge, and community, all in one place, this is why the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit belongs on your calendar: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/#tickets 

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Conscious Entrepreneur Summit Overview

02:32 How the Agenda Is Personalized

04:04 Theme of the Year: 10x Growth

06:16 Dr. Benjamin Hardy Workshop and Keynote

12:06 Regulating the Nervous System for Growth

14:23 Michael Freeman on 10x Personal Growth

16:06 Fireside Chat with Brad Feld

18:13 Rachel Romer’s Story of Resilience

20:26 Jim Dieters on Building Boldly

22:58 Expressive Movement with Shine Living Community

26:31 Tickets, Community Dinners, and Integration

Links

The Conscious Entrepreneur Summit: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Building a business is one thing; holding your vision steady through growth, pressure, and uncertainty is something else entirely.

Alex Raymond sits down with John Sampogna, the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, to talk about what the entrepreneurial journey really demands once the excitement wears off. John shares how he built a 100-person agency, why he created a “mental balance sheet” to manage the emotional costs of leadership, and what he learned from selling his company while staying true to its original vision. How do you scale without losing yourself in the process? How do you know when a business opportunity is truly right for you, not just financially but personally?

John also digs into the realities of leadership that rarely get talked about: why bottlenecks are your best feedback loop, why approachability matters more than you think, and why a thriving business culture starts with making space for mistakes. He challenges entrepreneurs to rethink what scale really means in the age of AI and shares why lasting success depends on more than just growth metrics.

If you are building a business and want to do it with intention, resilience, and clarity, this conversation will give you a much-needed shift in perspective.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Holding a Long-Term Vision Through Growth and Uncertainty

03:49 Selling Wondersauce and Choosing the Right Partner

09:01 How the Founder Role Changes After Acquisition

10:02 Navigating Earn-Outs, COVID, and the Rise of AI

12:10 Building a Mental Balance Sheet for Emotional Resilience

15:00 Scaling a Business Without Burning Out

19:25 Bottlenecks as a Signal for Operational Change

22:05 Creating Psychological Safety and Strong Leadership

25:59 Smart Marketing and True Differentiation for Entrepreneurs

32:44 How AI Is Redefining the Idea of Scale

Links

Connect with  John Sampogna:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsampogna/

Website: https://www.wondersauce.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Real leadership isn’t being the smartest person in the room. It’s creating the kind of culture where people feel safe enough to say, “I don’t know.”

In this episode, Alex Raymond talks with Garry Ridge, the former CEO of WD-40 and the author of “Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It.” Garry shares how a moment of “jumping in to fix it” early in his career completely reshaped his approach to leadership. That shift, from problem-solver to coach, set the foundation for one of the most admired cultures in business, with 93% employee engagement and a company-wide commitment to learning and accountability.

Garry explains why admitting what you don’t know isn’t weakness but the beginning of trust. He unpacks the idea of “dumbassery” as a leadership superpower, and why removing fear in the workplace creates room for growth, innovation, and genuine connection. What can happen when you stop calling things failures and start treating them as learning moments? What will change when your company values are more than just words on a wall?

This episode offers ideas for leaders who want to build purpose-driven companies without losing their people, or themselves, in the process. From the power of clearly ranked values to the surprisingly effective “Maniac Pledge,” Garry provides a framework for creating a workplace where people feel safe, supported, and proud to contribute.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:13 Learning Moments and Redefining Failure

05:25 “I Don’t Know” as a Leadership Superpower

07:28 Psychological Safety and People-First Cultures

14:16 Purpose, Values, and the Will of the People

21:44 Purpose Beyond Product and Real Accountability

33:19 Leading with Love

Links

Connect with Garry Ridge:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/

Website: https://thelearningmoment.net/

Website Quiz: https://thelearningmoment.net/quiz/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Building a business with purpose will push you to grow in ways you probably didn’t expect. What happens when your ambition outpaces your timing? Or when your team starts breaking down and you realize the real issue starts with you?

In this episode, Alex Raymond talks with Brian Dally, the co-founder and CEO of Groundfloor, a fintech company that gives everyday investors access to real estate debt. Brian shares what he learned from starting too early, betting on the wrong timelines, and eventually paving the way for a market that wasn’t quite ready for him.

Brian also opens up about a turning point in his leadership when a blowout between two teams during a family ski trip forced him to confront the culture he had helped create. That moment led to a reset, not just in how the company operated, but in how he saw himself as a leader.

What do you do when your company hits a wall? How do you stay committed when the cost of building starts to feel personal? Brian reflects on his spiritual life, his leadership missteps, and the values that guide him today. He also shares the habits that keep him steady like hiking Colorado trails, practicing mindfulness, and checking in with the people who matter most.

If you’re building something ambitious, this conversation will make you think more deeply about the kind of person you’re becoming in the process.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:07 Early Challenges of Launching Groundfloor

05:55 The Cost of Being Early

08:10 Lessons from Republic Wireless

12:09 Personal Growth Through Leadership

14:45 Faith, Vulnerability, and Inner Work

16:48 How Company Culture Broke and Got Rebuilt

23:05 Big Goals, Ambition, and Opportunity Cost

30:59 Real-World Impact on Customers

34:02 Habits That Keep Brian Grounded

Links

Connect with Brian Dally:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdally/

Website: https://groundfloor.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs think they need a new growth strategy. What they actually need is a better relationship with themselves.

In this episode, the tables turn as Sarah Lockwood, the founder of HiveCast, interviews Alex Raymond about the upcoming Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, happening May 28–29 in Boulder, Colorado. Now in its fourth year, the summit offers something most business events miss entirely: a chance to work on the person behind the company.

Alex shares how the idea for the summit came from countless conversations where founders showed up to talk about strategy but ended up revealing stress, fear, and self-doubt. What if those internal struggles are actually the bottleneck in your business? And what would happen if you had space to name them, examine them, and move through them?

This year’s summit features Dr. Benjamin Hardy, the author of 10x is Easier Than 2x, leading a small-group workshop on the psychology of exponential thinking. Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading voice in entrepreneur mental health research, will speak on how entrepreneurship can become a path for deep personal growth.

Sarah and Alex also talk about what makes this event feel so different. The connections are real. The conversations go deep quickly. And the room is full of people who are serious about growth, not just in revenue, but in clarity, confidence, and capacity.

If you’re the kind of founder who wants to scale your business without losing yourself in the process, The 2025 Conscious Entrepreneur Summit might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Get your tickets now and don’t miss your chance to join the exclusive 10x Workshop with Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Seats are limited!

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Sarah Lockwood on the Conscious Entrepreneur Community

04:45 The Origin of the Summit and Why It Matters

08:20 Personal Growth as a Business Strategy

13:00 Big Ideas from Past Speakers

15:55 Ben Hardy and 10x Thinking

24:15 Why In-Person Connection Still Wins

26:50 Founder Well-Being with Dr. Michael Freeman

29:00 JV vs Varsity Thinking for Entrepreneurs

35:20 Who the Summit Is For

Links:

Dr. Srikumar Rao on The Conscious Entrepreneur:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000?i=1000641708365

Gay Hendricks on The Conscious Entrepreneur: ​​https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000?i=1000630685954

Touched by Fire Publication: https://michaelafreemanmd.com/Research_files/Are%20Entrepreneurs%20Touched%20with%20Fire%20(pre-pub%20n)%204-17-15.pdf

The Conscious Entrepreneur Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Benjamin Hardy Website:  https://www.benjaminhardy.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/ Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most outbound sales strategies rely on volume and noise. Mark Kosoglow is betting on something different: relevance, proof, and actually caring about the people on the other end.

Mark helped scale Outreach to over $230 million in revenue as its first sales hire. Now he’s a first-time founder and CEO at Operator, a startup built inside the GTM Fund, where he’s rethinking what outbound should look like and calling out what’s broken. What happens when you stop chasing reply rates and start focusing on provable business problems? How do you build a company without tying your self-worth to the outcome?

In this episode, Mark sits down with Alex Raymond to talk through the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the decision to say yes to starting something new after being fired, and how “work hard and have fun” became the filter he uses to make decisions. He shares lessons from working alongside leaders like Manny Medina and the Chu Brothers, his take on building authentic company culture, and why he treats the CEO role like a sales role: listening first, solving second.

If you’re tired of the spray-and-pray approach to sales or wondering how to stay grounded while building something ambitious, this conversation will land.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Mark Kosoglow: From Outreach to Operator

03:16 Lessons from Catalyst and Customer Success

06:56 Why Outbound Is Broken

13:46 The “Great Ignore” and Rethinking Sales Math

17:43 Starting Inside a Venture Fund

21:24 Hiring, Delegating, and Lessons from Past Leaders

27:36 Leading Through the Emotional Highs and Lows

35:20 Daily Habits, Book Recommendations 

Links

Connect with Mark Kosoglow:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkosoglow/

Website: https://www.operator.ai/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Surviving a lawsuit, scaling a franchise, and losing 125 pounds all pointed Bennett Maxwell toward one surprising realization: his nervous system had more influence than he ever imagined.

Bennett joins Alex Raymond to talk through the chaos and clarity that came with building Dirty Dough. When Crumble, a billion-dollar competitor, sued him over sprinkles and box shapes, he could have folded. Instead, he went bold. His response—cheeky billboards and viral content—caught fire and helped fuel the sale of 450 franchises in just two years.

But what happens after the adrenaline fades? What if growth brings a whole new kind of pressure? Bennett shares how success forced him to confront his health, his identity, and his relationship to stress. He talks about selling his first company, hitting his financial goal, and realizing he still felt miserable. That moment led to a full-body reset from gastric sleeve surgery to daily meditation to red-light therapy and vagus nerve stimulation. He even carved out half his workweek to focus on his mental and physical state.

This episode raises a bigger question: can you really lead well if your nervous system is fried? Bennett’s story is a reminder that personal growth and business growth aren’t separate, and that sometimes the most strategic move is stepping back.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction 

01:37 Mental Resilience and the Power of Detachment

03:37 Franchising Dirty Dough

05:52 The Cookie Wars with Crumble

08:06 Handling Stress During the Lawsuit

10:32 Decision-Making and Personal Mission Statement

14:52 Raising Capital During the Lawsuit

17:07 Importance of Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

21:06 Consciousness and Physical Health

23:34 Focusing on the Nervous System

28:19 Using Tools to Optimize Mental Health

30:10 Importance of Regulating the Body

32:24 Experience with Ketamine and Psychedelics

Links

Connect with Bennett Maxwell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-maxwell-703717126/

Website: https://bennettmaxwell.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs think they’re chasing success. Could they actually be addicted to the struggle?

Alex Raymond is joined by Dr. Nona Djavid, the founder of eLIVate Club, to discuss why so many business owners feel stuck in cycles of burnout, even when they seem to be thriving. Dr. Djavid built a successful business, but instead of feeling fulfilled, she found herself exhausted and trapped. That realization changed everything. She wasn’t chasing success; she was hooked on the struggle.

Why does overwork feel normal? And how do you break free from it? Dr. Djavid explains how subconscious beliefs and nervous system patterns keep entrepreneurs locked in hustle mode, even when they know there’s a better way. She shares a four-step framework to shift from burnout to real, lasting success, starting with setting an unreasonable vision and ending with bold, aligned action.

For anyone tired of grinding toward the next milestone, Alex and Dr. Djavid’s discussion offers a different path. Success doesn’t have to come at the cost of exhaustion.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Entrepreneurs Addicted to Struggle

05:00 Personal Story: Nona’s Closet Breakdown

07:00 Realization: Scarcity and Worthiness

09:07 Identifying Scarcity in Life

11:22 The Role of the Nervous System

16:36 Four Steps to a Quantum Leap

33:09 Taking Unreasonable Actions

36:11 Addressing Common Objections

38:02 Areas Where People Get Stuck

40:24 Belief for Entrepreneurs: Worthiness and Enough-ness

Links

Connect with Dr. Nona Djavid:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nonadjavid/

Website: https://www.elivate.me/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely grind, but it doesn’t have to be. Dave Parker, the CEO of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, knows firsthand what it takes to build, scale, and sometimes close a business. In this episode, he joins Alex Raymond to share what separates successful founders from those who get stuck—breaking down product-market fit, the power of timing, and why self-awareness matters more than most people think.

A key takeaway? Forum, EO’s peer-driven support system, offers entrepreneurs a space to be real about the highs and lows without the noise of unsolicited advice. Dave opens up about his own mental health journey and why having the right people around you can make or break your ability to keep going. He also challenges the idea of failing fast, arguing that knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing when to push through.

For founders navigating uncertainty, this episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t just about grinding harder, but about making better decisions, leaning on the right community, and staying clear-eyed about what actually works.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:31 Product-Market Fit

05:01 Five Components of Product-Market Fit

10:20 Timeless Advice from Mentors

15:09 Timing and Market Conditions

18:09 Importance of Clear Communication

20:09 Solving Complex Problems

25:00 EO’s Mission and Growth Goals

28:48 Personal Mission and Vision

30:30 Entrepreneurship is Lonely but Doesn’t Have to Be

34:20 Dealing with Burnout and Mental Health

38:00 Importance of Forum in EO

40:02 Self-Awareness as a Key Mindset Shift

Links

Connect with Dave Parker: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveparker/

Website: https://eonetwork.org/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Philanthropy can change the way we think about business when it’s treated as part of the culture rather than an afterthought. How does a company grow stronger when it gives back to the community that supports it? And how can service outside of work shape the kind of leader someone becomes?

Sarah Lockwood talks with Brianna Borin, Chief Operating Officer of Snooze A.M. Eatery, about the lessons she has learned from nearly two decades of weaving community impact into her work. Brianna shares how Snooze’s early days of volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission set the tone for a company-wide approach that now includes programs like the Changemaker initiative and long-term partnerships with organizations such as Urban Peak. She also reflects on her own leadership development through board service, youth mentorship, and global volunteer experiences that have deepened her sense of personal satisfaction and purpose.

Listeners can learn more about supporting youth experiencing homelessness through Urban Peak’s Urban Nights Kicks & Culture Sneaker Ball at urbanpeak.org/urban-nights. Brianna also recommends Tommy Spaulding’s books, The Heart-Led Leader and The Gift of Influence, which have shaped her vision of philanthropy and leadership. Her story and these resources show how integrating service into business not only builds stronger communities but also creates deeper fulfillment for leaders and their teams.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Philanthropy and Service as a Business Value

02:03 Brianna Borin’s Journey with Snooze A.M. Eatery

06:57 Community Impact Through Grassroots Service

08:50 Partnering with Urban Peak to Support Youth

12:44 The Changemaker Program and Local Giving

18:36 Leadership Development Through Philanthropy

28:45 Lessons from the Global Youth Leadership Academy

34:03 Time, Treasures, and Talent as a Service Framework

Connect with Brianna Borin:

Snooze A.M. Eatery

Connect with Brianna on LinkedIn

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

HiveCast

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:

The Conscious Entrepreneur 

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn

Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 

Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs play it safe with their goals, but Dr. Benjamin Hardy makes a bold case: setting “impossible” goals is the fastest way to scale. Is aiming for something that feels out of reach exactly what forces clarity, focus, and exponential growth?

In this episode, Alex Raymond sits down with Dr. Hardy, an organizational psychologist and bestselling author, to discuss the mindset shift behind 10X growth. Why do so many entrepreneurs stay stuck in slow, incremental progress? According to Dr. Hardy, the problem isn’t effort. It’s the way we set goals. Most people aim for what feels achievable, which keeps them trapped in the same patterns. A true 10X goal demands a different way of thinking, working, and making decisions.

The discussion touches on why scaling requires accountability and brutal honesty. Dr. Hardy introduces a game-changing concept called “raising the floor,” eliminating distractions, letting go of tasks that don’t drive results, and narrowing your focus to what truly moves the needle. He also explains why urgency matters. A distant, 10-year goal won’t push you to make bold moves today, but setting a 3-year deadline forces better decisions and a clearer path forward.

Along the way, Dr. Hardy shares examples of entrepreneurs who made massive leaps by shifting their focus. He also previews his upcoming workshop at the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit in Boulder, Colorado, where he’ll break down the science of scaling and help attendees build a strategy for exponential success.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction 

03:33 Challenges in Scaling for Entrepreneurs

04:05 Systems Dynamics and Business Goals

06:13 Accountability and Economic Models

08:27 Raising the Floor Concept

09:20 Selective Attention and Goal Framing

11:05 Strategy and Eliminating Non-viable Options

12:45 Time as a Strategic Tool

14:52 Future-Driven Decision Making

17:54 Avoiding Distractions and Making Hard Decisions

19:03 Self-Honesty and Ambition to Scale

23:49 Personal Story: Overcoming Sunk Cost Fallacy

26:03 Letting the Future Drive the Present

28:42 Identity and Entrepreneurial Growth

30:13 Practical Steps to Create a Bigger Vision

35:44 Specializing and Focusing on a Niche

41:08 Preview of Conscious Entrepreneur Summit

Links

Connect with Benjamin Hardy:

Website: https://www.benjaminhardy.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs assume growth means doing more. More effort. More complexity. More stress. But what if scaling 10X was easier than doubling your efforts?

Alex Raymond digs into the bold idea behind 10X Growth, inspired by 10X is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Ben Hardy. He challenges the trap of incremental thinking and explains why real success comes from eliminating distractions, simplifying decisions, and focusing on what truly moves the needle. If most of your results come from a small fraction of your efforts, what would happen if you let go of everything else?

Alex also explores the psychology of growth, including the concept of “the gap and the gain.” Many entrepreneurs measure success by how far they have left to go instead of recognizing the progress they have already made. Before next week’s conversation with Ben Hardy, Alex shares a preview of the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, where Hardy will lead a deep dive into the 10X mindset.

If you’ve been grinding toward growth and feeling stuck, this episode offers a different path. One where doing less leads to far greater results.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction 

02:00 The Inner Game of 10x Growth

03:42 The Trap of Incremental Thinking

04:49 The 80/20 Rule and Eliminating Low-Impact Tasks

08:02 Unique Ability and Zone of Genius

09:04 Delegation and Focusing on High-Impact Activities

12:05 Case Studies and the Cumulative Effect of Focus

14:02 The Mindset Shift for 10x Growth

16:18 The Gap and the Gain Concept

18:05 Living in the Gain vs. Living in the Gap

21:37 Overcoming Scarcity Mindset

24:44 Physical and Mental Signs of Scarcity vs. Abundance

26:04 Summary of Key Themes: 10x vs. 2x

28:01 The Courage to Focus on Unique Ability

29:46 Implementing the Gap and the Gain

30:18 Scarcity vs. Abundance Thinking

31:00 Immediate Action Steps for 10x Thinking

36:38 Final Thoughts on 10x Growth

Links

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Pain and curiosity are two of the greatest forces for growth. Dr. Anna Yusim, a psychiatrist and spiritual teacher, shares how entrepreneurs can use both to tap into intuition, break free from limiting patterns, and build a more fulfilling path.

Her journey from Stanford and Yale-trained psychiatry to a deeper exploration of spirituality and Kabbalah wasn’t planned. It started through unexplainable moments with patients and a dream that shifted everything. In this episode, she challenges the idea that success is purely external, showing how personal growth and self-awareness shape the way entrepreneurs lead, create, and navigate uncertainty.

Are you growing because of past pain, or are you choosing growth before hardship forces your hand? Dr. Yusim breaks down the difference and offers insights on intuition, purpose, and the inner roadblocks that often hold entrepreneurs back. She also explores the importance of community in a world where loneliness is at an all-time high and explains how spirituality—and for some, even psychedelics—can be powerful tools for transformation.

Alex Raymond and Dr. Yusim’s discussion is a reminder that business isn’t just strategy and execution. The inner work matters just as much.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality and Entrepreneurship

09:07 Embracing Growth: The Spiritual Path of Entrepreneurship

13:13 Challenges in Balancing Professional Success and Personal Relationships

15:06 Exploring Inner Emptiness and Its Impact on Relationships

17:06 Navigating the Human Condition: Addressing Inner Voids and Mindset Shifts

20:48 Transforming Mindset: A Holistic Approach

23:49 Holistic Approaches to Changing Thoughts: Biological, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual

24:38 Shifting Perspectives: Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health in Entrepreneurship

28:56 Finding Purpose and Building Community in Entrepreneurship

33:23 Understanding and Addressing Burnout: A Medical Perspective

36:26 Psychedelics and Mental Health: Exploring Benefits and Spiritual Connections

Links

Connect with Anna Yusim MD:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annayusim/

Website: https://annayusim.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Entrepreneurs chase optimization, but what happens when that’s not enough?

Jamie Wheal joins Alex Raymond to talk about flow, resilience, and the deeper search for meaning in leadership. He challenges the idea that personal optimization is the ultimate goal, suggesting it’s only the first step. The real work is in navigating uncertainty, making an impact, and staying grounded through Hedonic Engineering—a way to keep motivation high even when the path ahead isn’t clear.

Jamie shares how flow states unlock creativity and why great teams embrace dynamic subordination, letting the most capable person take the lead at any moment. He also reflects on the Bhagavad Gita’s lessons on purpose, reminding entrepreneurs that leadership isn’t about control, but about clarity, adaptability, and knowing when to step forward or step back.

If the pressure to perform feels overwhelming, Alex and Jamie’s discussion offers a unique view on leading with purpose and keeping your footing when everything shifts around you.

Quotes

• “I think it’s really important that we don’t end up in the kind of late stage neoliberal fetishization of infinite individual perfect ability for a price. And we actually just realized, Hey, Shaolin temple style, train your body and mind, right? Push it to its limits so that you can hone it and direct it to those things of most meaning and significance and impact. Otherwise, we’re all just trapped little monkeys in the machine.” (04:25 | Jamie Wheal)
• “Business leaders are in varying degrees and intensities themselves. It requires a very strong center for you to be able to enter the melee and not lose your own footing.” (07:51 | Jamie Wheal)
• “You don’t want to get stuck in a model or a mode simply because you think it’s groovier or more enlightened. And again, Silicon Valley leadership culture has kind of now permeated, has kind of become the default norms, which is, I’m a level five leader, a la Jim Collins. I’m a little Yoda behind the scenes. I want to make everyone feel empowered and heard, and our collective intelligence will win the day. Maybe, it depends.” (17:17 | Jamie Wheal) 
• “Small is beautiful. It’s a timeless text, but I’d super encourage folks to just give themselves permission to do a beautiful thing in the world at a high quality or standard that is satisfying to you and the people you serve. And just have that as one other option, at least, versus just chasing the series.” (55:39 | Jamie Wheal) 

Links

Connect with Jamie Wheal:

https://www.flowgenomeproject.com/

https://jamiewheal.substack.com/

https://www.recapturetherapture.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Success isn’t supposed to feel like a grind. The real challenge is knowing when to let go and step into what feels effortless.

Alex Raymond sits down with Ret Taylor, the co-founder and former co-CEO of Ned, to talk about the moment he knew it was time to walk away. After years of building a wellness company with a mission he believed in, Ret found himself stuck in the day-to-day demands of running a business that no longer felt right. A banking crisis forced him to make a decision, but his real breakthrough came when he stopped pushing and started surrendering.

Inspired by Michael Singer’s teachings, Ret learned to let go of fear and lean into what felt natural. That shift led him to Foria, a company that shared Ned’s values, and gave him the space to step fully into his zone of genius. 

Join Alex and Ret’s discussion to be reminded that the path forward isn’t always about working harder but about knowing when to trust the pull toward something better.

Quotes

• “What if it’s not supposed to be hard? What if it’s supposed to be easy, like it was for me the last two retreats I did? And I had this big realization that I’ve been idolizing the wrong things. I should be idolizing, and I want to idolize those who don’t work so hard, those for whom it comes easy, and those that really surrender to their paths and move with confidence in them.” (13:08 | Ret Taylor) 
• “I’m meant to be with people outdoors, sharing my passion for nature, sharing my expertise that I’ve gathered over the last 25 years, and helping people heal and thrive with them. Ned, my business, has done that for hundreds of thousands of people.” (17:21 | Ret Taylor)
• “My mantra has become: ‘Worry doesn’t serve me.’ It just doesn’t. It doesn’t help to worry. It’s this thing left over from prehistoric days when there actually were things to worry about.” (21:30 | Ret Taylor) 
• “ I just feel much more fulfilled and very, very grateful. I’m grateful for those learnings, grateful to Josh, my best friend, for the opportunity, for Finian, and for you, for the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit. It all came together at the right time for me.” (31:22 | Ret Taylor) 

Links

Connect with Ret Taylor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rettaylor/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Success won’t fix what you think it will—and Wil Schroter, founder of Startups.com, explains why so many entrepreneurs hit major milestones only to feel more lost than ever.

Wil has built, sold, and acquired multiple companies, yet he’s seen countless entrepreneurs hit their biggest milestones only to feel more lost than ever. He sits down with Alex Raymond to talk about why financial wins don’t fix deeper struggles and how chasing an exit can leave founders grappling with purpose, identity, and unexpected disappointment.  

Wil shares what he’s learned from working with thousands of entrepreneurs—why they conflate success with happiness, why scaling too fast can backfire, and how to build something sustainable without losing yourself in the process. He also gets personal, talking about the non-negotiables that keep his life in balance.  

If you’re constantly pushing toward “someday,” this episode might change how you define real success.

Quotes

• “Everything we thought was going to get cured, doesn’t change at all. In fact, it actually gets worse. Now, when people hear that, they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry that you made a million dollars. I’m so sorry your life is worse.’ It’s not that easy. Yes, it’s improved safety, but it hasn’t changed purpose.” (09:16 | Wil Schroter) 
• “The value of anything is the fact that you don’t have it. And once you get it, once you get that success, you realize that it didn’t change any of the things you were expecting it to. And it’s really depressing, which is ironic.” (11:55 | Wil Schroter) 
• “If you are unhappy on a canoe, you’re not gonna be happy on a yacht. You’re the same person just on a more expensive boat.” (14:13 | Wil Schroter) 
• “It feels very lonely, and that is kind of the worst part about the founder journey. It is incredibly alienating. That’s something that we’ve tried to kind of unpack for a very long time—to tell founders we’re in the business of showing you you’re not alone.” (26:32 | Wil Schroter)

Links

Connect with Wil Schroter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/

Website: https://www.startups.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Why do the most thoughtful leaders hesitate to share their stories online? Justin Nassiri, the founder and CEO of Executive Presence, believes those voices are exactly what the world needs. In this episode, Justin joins Alex Raymond to break down how leaders can use LinkedIn to build authentic personal brands that amplify trust and authority without losing their true selves.

From navigating discomfort with social media to creating content that genuinely reflects your voice, Justin shares strategies for standing out in the noisy world of online platforms. He explains why personal branding should be more about creating meaningful connections and making your expertise visible to those who need it most.

If you're an entrepreneur who’s looking to build a genuine presence on social media, join Alex and Justin as they share tips on creating and repurposing content, and staying consistent with your message.

Quotes

• “The people listening who are least interested in [establishing a personal brand], the world probably needs to hear from them the most.” (03:29 | Justin Nassiri)
• “Authenticity sells. And I think that, when I work with a CEO, oftentimes they’re like, ‘Who do I need to be? I’m all of these things, but who do I need to be online?’ And my kind of biased reaction is, ‘We need to present you in the highest fidelity possible online.’” (08:25 | Justin Nassiri)
• “When that one person has the courage to be vulnerable, almost all the heads around the room nod like, ‘Oh yeah, I know that.’ It’s almost like this person having the courage to voice something has put a name on something everyone else is feeling, but now it’s out there, so it’s almost like a sense of relief, and then that person sharing realizes they’re not alone and it creates connection.” (10:03 | Justin Nassiri) 
• “You can’t, in the long term, build a personal brand or reputation or executive brand that is in conflict with who you are. I think eventually the truth will come out.” (13:15 | Justin Nassiri)
• “If you reveal what’s important to you, if you talk about the things that you know and where you’re an authority, you actually have experience, or more importantly, you just share your own experience like, ‘Hey, I made a mistake in my first company with this. I really regret it but here’s what I learned, I hope you benefit as well.’ That’s just a way of giving visibility into why you do the things that you do and what you know about where your expertise is.” (13:46 | Justin Nassiri)

Links

Connect with Justin Nassiri:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnassiri/

Website: https://executivepresence.io/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Entrepreneurship throws constant challenges, but Ajay Prakash has mastered staying grounded through resilience, psychological safety, and a no-excuses approach to leadership. 

In this episode, Ajay, the co-founder and CEO of Rinse—a company transforming the laundry and dry cleaning industry with a tech-driven approach—joins Alex Raymond to reflect on how he’s built Rinse into a national brand over 11 years while navigating setbacks like revenue losses and the pressures of scaling. As a leader, how do you keep a team motivated when the stakes are high? Ajay believes transparency, trust, and a culture of openness are key to keeping people engaged and innovative. 

Ajay also touches on the importance of managing energy, avoiding burnout, and staying excited about your work. Tune in to this episode if you’re looking for real-world strategies to stay resilient and lead with purpose.

Quotes

• “My mom always used to say, it’s not about the ‘what IF?’, it’s about the ‘what NOW?’ You can’t control these things that are happening to you, but you can control how you respond and how you react.” (08:50 | Ajay Prakash)
• “The number one mentality for the entrepreneur is this run-through-walls mentality—where there’s going to be a roadblock in front of you… You can sit there and say, ‘Oh, there’s a wall, I can’t do anything about it,’ or you can try to get through it, get around it, get over it.” (10:57 | Ajay Prakash) 
• “As a CEO, you have to evolve for the needs of the business and for the scale and stage of the business. For me, it’s been encapsulated by shifting my focus over the years from execution to enablement and acceleration.” (12:33 | Ajay Prakash) 
• “You have to be okay asking for help because a lot of times people will go on this journey and try to be alone… But there are a lot of people who have been through it who would be happy to just share the mistakes they made, because why should you make the same mistake I made if I can help you out?” (30:11 | Ajay Prakash)

Links

Connect with Ajay Prakash:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprakash03/

Website:https://www.rinse.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Happiness isn’t a destination. For Peter Teuscher, it’s the feedback guiding your choices, beliefs, and the way you see the world. But what does that really mean, and how can we shift our understanding of happiness from something we chase to something we cultivate every day?

Peter, an executive coach and the author of “Rethinking Happiness,” shares how his own journey—from outward entrepreneurial success to inner fulfillment—led him to redefine happiness as a deeply personal and practical state of being. Why do so many of us feel stuck in the cycle of “I’ll be happy when…”? And how can we break free from beliefs that no longer serve us?

Through his insights, Peter offers a roadmap for creating more joy in life, from building small daily habits to challenging the stories we tell ourselves. If you’d like to learn more about how happiness fits into the entrepreneurial grind, this episode will leave you inspired to rethink what truly matters and how to align your choices with the life you want.

Quotes

• “One of my coaching mottos is: awareness allows change. Happiness is a major component, and much of it comes down to changing the way we habitually believe and think.” (03:43 | Peter Teuscher)
• “Happiness is this feedback that either the way I’m thinking about the world or the actions and choices that I’m making are really not on track or not in alignment with my values or the needs that I have.” (06:33 | Peter Teuscher) 
• “We have this inner emotional guidance system that will, whether you call it your intuition or your instincts, when you have certain outcomes, you’ll feel emotions, disappointment or happiness or joy or satisfaction.” (07:28 | Peter Teuscher) 
• “Sometimes we’ll believe something despite the facts. But a lot of times our beliefs are those things that we can’t necessarily prove one way or another, or we don’t have enough information to, so we just develop this belief about something. And so instead of asking yourself, is this belief true? I ask people to consider if this belief is useful.” (15:50 | Peter Teuscher) 
• “Happy people tend to make better decisions that tend to be better citizens, neighbors, partners in relationships, because that happiness is this feedback that they’re on the right track and that they’re making the right choices.” (36:50 | Peter Teuscher)

Links

Connect with Peter Teuscher:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-teuscher-7480257/

Website: https://www.peterteuscher.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Some would say they manage people. We like to think we lead hearts, and that if we tap into the power of the heart, then the mind and the hands and the effort comes much more powerfully thereafter,” shares Ryan Heckman, Olympic athlete turned private equity investor and co-founder of Rallyday Partners, a firm transforming private equity with a deeply human-centered approach.

In this episode, Ryan joins Alex Raymond to discuss how Rallyday Partners is challenging the traditional stigma of private equity as a necessary evil. Ryan explains how his experiences as both a CEO and an investor shaped the firm’s mission to prioritize purpose and people over mere financial returns. Their approach includes building meaningful connections with founders, fostering personal and professional growth for employees, and redefining leadership to focus on hearts rather than assets.

Ryan also shares insights into Rallyday Partner’s unique methodologies, including purpose-driven strategies, leadership development, and organizational culture tailored to the vision of each founder. As a proponent of Conscious Capitalism, Ryan introduces the Colorado chapter launch aimed at promoting stakeholder-centric business practices.

This episode invites you to rethink private equity and consider a model where purpose and profit work hand in hand. How can businesses grow sustainably while creating fulfilling experiences for everyone involved? Ryan’s vision provides a compelling answer.

Quotes

• "How could we make private equity a source of goodness and not a necessary evil? That was a very fundamental question that we asked." (04:04 | Ryan Heckman)
• “There's two problems with saying you manage assets for a living. First of all, management is a primitive form of leadership. It's as if to say that your role in the world is to manage something, not lead something. The difference is leadership is earned. Management is more of a compliance relationship.” (04:49 | Ryan Heckman)
• “Some would say they manage people. We like to think we lead hearts, and that if we tap into the power of the heart, then the mind and the hands and the effort comes much more powerfully thereafter.” (05:46 | Ryan Heckman)
• "We have an expression here that we use all the time, which is that the objective is professional, but the journey is personal." (20:18 | Ryan Heckman)
• “Purpose is what catalyzes discretionary effort. It's what attracts great talent. Meaningful work and being part of meaningful work is what really drives the human heart to do extraordinary things.” (21:46 | Ryan Heckman)
• "The first job in leadership development is to make sure that people feel the pride in themselves first, that they feel like they deserve to grow." (30:12 | Ryan Heckman)

Links

Connect with Ryan Heckman:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-heckman-906a2530/ 

Website: https://rallydaypartners.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

True fulfillment as an entrepreneur often begins the moment you step outside yourself and give back.

Sarah Lockwood shares a personal reflection on her uncle, Ralph Junker, who quietly gave blood every two weeks for nearly twenty years. It was never mentioned at his funeral or in his obituary, yet it may have been the most defining part of his legacy. What does it mean when the most meaningful acts of service in a life are the ones done quietly, without recognition? And how might those same choices shape who we become as leaders?

This episode invites you to look at philanthropy not as a grand gesture but as a steady practice that creates life satisfaction, perspective, and connection. Inward work like meditation and journaling has its place, but service pulls us into the lives of others and reminds us that leadership is rooted in humanity.

Sarah offers a challenge worth sitting with: what if giving back became a rhythm in your life and your business? It doesn’t have to start big. Maybe it’s a volunteer day, matching donations for your team, or simply stepping in when someone in your community needs help. However it looks, those choices ripple outward, shaping stronger leaders, more grounded teams, and a legacy that speaks louder than words.

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“With an improved healthspan, cognitively, people are on their game. They’re in flow with their business. They’re able to be much more productive.” For Dr. Fred Grover Jr., the Chief Medical Officer of Phi Longevity, this is more than a vision—it is a measurable goal. By prioritizing proactive, integrative health strategies, Dr. Grover points out that optimizing physical and mental well-being goes beyond extending life; it’s about thriving in every area of work and life. Entrepreneurs, he explains, can unlock extraordinary creativity, leadership, and resilience when they prioritize their health as much as their business goals.

In this episode, Alex Raymond is joined by Dr. Grover and Steve Pinedo, the co-founder and CEO of Phi Longevity, to discuss why health is an important foundation for effective leadership and sustainable business success. Together, they introduce the Foundational Five—a holistic wellness framework centered on nutrition, movement, sleep, regenerative self-healing, and cutting-edge therapies.

By treating health like a business—tracking key metrics and focusing on impactful strategies—this episode reveals how to boost performance, extend longevity, and enhance mental clarity. It’s a call to shift from a reactive to a proactive approach to wellness, offering entrepreneurs practical steps to take control of their health and future-proof their lives.

Quotes

• “In the allopathic traditional world, you’re looking at a 10-minute visit that just doesn’t provide an ample amount of time to address prevention other than say, ‘Okay, it’s time for your mammo, time for your PSA, time for your colonoscopy.’ And that’s about all they’re able to tackle.” (05:46 | Dr. Fred Grover Jr.)
• “With an improved healthspan, cognitively, people are on their game. They’re in flow with their business. They’re able to be much more productive.” (06:28 | Dr. Fred Grover Jr.)
• “Wellness is just critically important because medical science has delivered a number of great innovations that have allowed us to live longer and really long, potentially fulfilling lives. But because of a lot of our unhealthy lifestyles, we’re living a lot of our end of our years in a very debilitated state. And the only way we can really counteract that is through proactive medicine and proactively taking care of ourselves.” (03:02 | Steve Pinedo)
• “What are those numbers that you manage your health to? And what are those key performance indicators for your health, for cardiovascular health, for body composition? What is your percentage of muscle? What is your percentage of fat? How are they changing over time? So you have to sort of think about this more systematically about what those numbers are, and then work with a team to think about what are the modalities that you can employ and control to address those.” (11:30 | Steve Pinedo)

Links

Connect with Steve Pinedo and Dr. Fred Grover Jr., MD:

https://www.philongevity.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I set up Oyster as a software platform to enable any company in the world to tap into the global talent pool without setting up entities, hiring lawyers, accountants, payroll providers, benefit providers. I established it as a mission-driven company, first and foremost, because what I realized was if I align what I do with what I believe in, I feel more fulfilled. I feel happier in my life,” shares Tony Jamous, the CEO and co-founder of Oyster, a company that’s shaping the future of work by embracing borderless, flexible, and human-centered principles.  

In this episode, Tony joins Alex Raymond to talk about the challenges and opportunities of building culture in a distributed workforce. How does one lead with trust in a world where connection often feels distant? Tony’s journey to creating a $1.2 billion company during the pandemic highlights how belonging and empathy can transform workplace culture.  

With a team spanning 80 countries, Oyster proves that diversity and flexibility can fuel both fulfillment and productivity. Tony shares how his personal experiences, including overcoming PTSD, shaped his leadership approach and commitment to creating workplaces where people truly thrive.  

This episode will challenge how you think about leadership and belonging in a post-pandemic world. Can culture evolve to meet the needs of a global workforce? Tony’s story suggests it must.

Quotes

• “We are a talent magnet. We have diversity that is unheard of. We achieve a level of engagement and fulfillment for our employees that leads into productivity that is unheard of, because people feel cared for. They feel that we are designing a work model for them that makes them successful no matter where they live.” (05:36 | Tony Jamous) 
• “We believe that democratizing access to global job opportunities has a massive potential in creating more equal worlds. The reason why emerging economies remain emerging is because they lose their best talent to the West, and they don’t come back.” (06:58 | Tony Jamous)
• “It’s really about having a clear and strong vision and strategy, and then assembling and empowering the best team to deliver on it. That’s been my formula.” (15:32 | Tony Jamous)
• “Leaders at the very top of their game have to learn how to recognize themselves and not expect recognition from the outside. You can even push it to the extreme and say they can thrive on neglect. They are here to build the systems on which a business can thrive in a healthy way, including fostering a healthy culture. That’s what I believe leaders should be striving toward.” (16:57 | Tony Jamous)
• “The reason we’re not moving as fast as we need to toward a better future is because leaders are caught in a cycle of meeting quotas and delivering results, such as hitting numbers. There’s immense pressure, and the ability to handle stress and pressure is diminishing as stress levels rapidly increase for leaders.” (18:21 | Tony Jamous) 

Links

Connect with Tony Jamous:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teljamou/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“How do we get organizations where everyone has the opportunity and the support to contribute to their fullest?” For Michele Zanini, the co-author of “Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them” with Gary Hamel, the answer lies in rethinking the way companies operate. 

In this episode, Michele explains how organizations can move beyond rigid bureaucratic systems to create environments that thrive on creativity, resilience, and accountability. He points out the power of a clear, shared purpose to align teams and the importance of nurturing small, autonomous groups that stay agile and entrepreneurial as companies grow. Michele also redefines leadership as a tool to multiply individual potential rather than manage from above, and challenges outdated performance systems by advocating for peer-driven accountability. 

Join Alex Raymond and Michele Zanini as they explore how leaders can rethink traditional approaches to organizational design and create workplaces that genuinely empower their people.

Quotes

• “The idea of humanocracy is really about how to create organizations that are as capable as the people inside them, that are as daring, as courageous as people can be when they’re at their best. They’re as resilient, they’re able to bounce back from a crisis as we often are in our personal lives. As creative as millions of people who are on YouTube, sharing content that sometimes gets millions of people to engage with it. And are as passionate as we can be.” (02:54 | Michele Zanini)
• “People will still be part of organizations, but what if, instead of organizations viewing people as tools, we saw the organization as the instrument to better our lives and the lives of those we serve? The organization becomes the platform for impact.” (05:37 | Michele Zanini)
• “The other thing that a mission really does is that it provides a lot of motivation and alignment. So in a way, the mission is your boss. If everybody’s united by a particular purpose that is shared, you don’t need a lot of supervision.” (15:43 | Michele Zanini)
• “How do I give everyone in the team or the organization maximum autonomy and maximum accountability? And then how do I enable that? How do I create an organizational environment where that is encouraged and flourishes? You can specify some of that by wiring the organization in a particular way, but there are also things you need to do. For instance, how do you give everyone the competence to make the right decision for the business?” (47:39 | Michele Zanini)

Links

Connect with Michele Zanini:

Website: https://www.michelezanini.com/

Humanocracy: https://www.humanocracy.com/course/BMI

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Success on paper can hide a mountain of stress, as Andrew (Andy) Johns reveals in this episode how a seemingly perfect startup career left him barely holding it together, and what he learned about reclaiming resilience through nervous system mastery.  

Why do so many entrepreneurs push themselves to the brink without realizing the cost? Andy, a Silicon Valley veteran, joins Alex Raymond to open up about the burnout that forced him to reevaluate everything and shares the tools that helped him recover. From the power of breathwork as the “remote control to your nervous system” to the impact of routines, sunlight, and even thermogenesis, he explores practical ways to protect your body and mind.  

How can you create habits that prevent stress from becoming burnout? Andy’s insights offer simple yet transformative steps to help entrepreneurs build resilience, thrive under pressure, and take control of their well-being.

Quotes

• “When the body activates those superpowers because part of the nervous system perceives a threat, it floods the body with stress hormones, like adrenaline. These hormones are meant to be temporary, helping us respond to immediate danger before the body returns to a rest-and-digest mode. But the body wasn’t designed to sustain that heightened state of activation. Increasingly, research shows a direct link between sustained psychological stress and chronic illness, both mental and physical.” (13:12 | Andrew Johns)
• “It’s not just that we might be eating unhealthy food—we are. And it’s not just that we’re less physically active than we used to be—we are. It’s also that we’re living under constant psychological stress.” (14:43 | Andrew Johns)
• “We need to be wise in understanding the complicated and nuanced nature of the pros and cons of the environment we’ve crafted for ourselves.” (16:48 | Andrew Johns)
• “Okay, your career is in tech. You may be asking yourself, well, is this good for me in the long run? Maybe, maybe not. Everyone’s different. Certain people have different resilience characteristics. I know some folks where, myself included, are very, very sensitive to the environment around me. And so, I would absorb all of these psychological stressors and the moods of my employees around me. Other people I know, they’re not like this, but to the question of like, what do we do about it?” (17:04 | Andrew Johns)
• “You have the mechanisms built into you to feel calm and clear and in a state of peace. Your body has evolved those mechanisms, and you may just need to experiment to find your way back to those things. You don’t need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to search and discover the tools or the techniques or the experts. It’s the inherent wisdom of the vitality of the human body, and that’s really all we're encouraging. If you tap into its inherent vitality, your resilience will be remarkable.” (46:03 | Andrew Johns)

Links

Connect with Andrew Johns:

Website: https://cluesdotlife.substack.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“In the context of entrepreneurship, ADHD can be an advantage, but it surely can be a disadvantage in life,” says Dr. John Torrens, an accomplished entrepreneur, professor of entrepreneurial practice at Syracuse University, and author of “Lightning in a Bottle: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Their ADHD to Win.” Joining Alex Raymond in this episode, he discusses how traits like impulsivity and hyperfocus often associated with ADHD can fuel entrepreneurial success but require careful management to avoid burnout and personal setbacks.

Dr. Torrens shares his work on ADHD and its interesting connection to entrepreneurship. From his university course on entrepreneurial well-being to his research with the Young Presidents’ Organization, he uncovers how many high-performing CEOs share ADHD traits. Could this be a hidden “superpower” for innovation and decision-making in entrepreneurship?

Join Alex and Dr. Torrens’ discussion to learn actionable strategies for maintaining health, building strong support networks, and achieving resilience. Dr. Torrens offers a fresh perspective on how prioritizing well-being can lead to sustainable success in both business and life.

Quotes

• “Why work so hard for your company that you can’t even enjoy the fruits of your labor? I’ve seen it in myself and my peers—they push so hard that, in their final years, they can’t even enjoy what they’ve built. They’re dealing with chronic diseases that could’ve been prevented or struggling with mental health issues. Some focus everything on the business and acquiring things, only to find themselves spiritually bankrupt. What better place to address this than at an institute of higher education, where we’re teaching people about entrepreneurship?” (04:25 | John Torrens)
• “The reality is that stress is a real part of entrepreneurship, but you can manage it if you’re proactive.” (11:11 | John Torrens)
• “When you dive deeper and you start to look at impulsive and hyperactive ADHD and the traits that are associated with that, you see a pretty clear link with entrepreneurial success... It’s really two sides of the coin. On one side, it really works well for you, but on the other side, if you’re not managing it, it could be seriously detrimental... It’s the context. In the context of entrepreneurship, ADHD can be an advantage, but it surely can be a disadvantage in life.” (23:49 | John Torrens)
• “People with ADHD often don’t choose conventional paths. What we’ve figured out is that they choose entrepreneurship because other pathways don’t always feel accessible to them.” (25:23 | John Torrens)

Links

Connect with John Torrens:

Website: https://whitman.syracuse.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-staff-directory/details/jtorrens

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Resting requires a stillness and a surrender that is uncomfortable.”

Alex Raymond is joined by Tovi Scruggs-Hussein, a visionary leader and healer, to explore how meditation and emotional intelligence can reshape how we live and lead. Tovi shares her journey from a life of high achievement to one grounded in mindfulness and self-awareness. How can rest, ease, and intentionality bring flow into our lives, especially in a culture that glorifies hustle?

Tovi discusses the role of “beingness” in leadership and challenges the constant drive to “do” with a more self-aware and compassionate approach. She also touches on the power of racial healing as she explains how a deeper connection to ourselves can create more inclusive spaces and interrupt ingrained biases.

If you’re an entrepreneur trying to overcome the pressures of leadership, this episode offers an invitation to rethink success. What would it mean for us to embrace ease without guilt? Tovi’s insights remind us that real growth begins with stillness.

Quotes

• “Sometimes, as leaders, we are the trigger for our staff. We’re the trigger for our teams. But if we don’t know how we’re triggering to others, if we’re not fully aware of what’s happening in us as we’re being engaged with others, then it limits us as leaders.” (11:57 | Tovi Scruggs-Hussein) 
• “We absolutely act and behave from who we be. That’s what influences and impacts our doing. So, if we’re not conscious of who we be and say we want to be a more inclusive leader, if we’re not conscious of what needs to be healed and transformed within us—where we’re not inclusive—then how do our policies and practices create inclusion?” (14:52 | Tovi Scruggs-Hussein) 
• “I believe that we burn out because we make our living and leading so difficult. It’s like going against the grain of who we are, almost like grinding a clutch or gears, instead of finding flow, smoothness, and alignment.” (16:06 | Tovi Scruggs-Hussein)
• “If we want to be a certain kind of leader, we have to invest in that beingness. We have to invest in ourselves as how we want to be experienced. And that can look different for a lot of different people. It can mean that you need some energy work for a while. It can mean that you need some consciousness work. It could mean that you need to meditate or go on a silent retreat. It can look like different things for different folks.” (44:34 | Tovi Scruggs-Hussein)

Links

Connect with Tovi Scruggs-Hussein:

Website: https://www.ticiess.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm