Claim OwnershipFOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis
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FOMO Sapiens is the podcast for anyone who wants to make smarter decisions, take action, and thrive in an unpredictable world. Hosted by Patrick J. McGinnis—the guy who coined FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)—this show brings you insights from world-class entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders who’ve mastered the art of navigating uncertainty.
Each episode is packed with real-world strategies, powerful stories, and actionable advice to help you cut through the noise, take control of your choices, and build a life you actually want—without the fear of missing out.
Listen now and start making decisions on your own terms.
515 Episodes
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What would make you leave a thriving Wall Street career to start something completely new? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo and one of the most influential voices in clean beauty. After seven years at Goldman Sachs, Nancy walked away to build a brand rooted in authenticity and passion. She shares the personal loss that sparked her entrepreneurial journey, how she carved out a unique niche with Briogeo, and what she learned about leadership and letting go of control. Today, after a successful exit, Nancy is focused on mentorship and philanthropy through the Makers Mindset accelerator and the DreamMakers Founders Grant. A must-listen on resilience, innovation, and leading with purpose.
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What if the cure for deadly diseases is already sitting on a pharmacy shelf? Dr. David Fajgenbaum, a physician, scientist, and co-founder of Every Cure, nearly died five times from Castleman disease before finding an existing drug that saved his life. Now in remission, he’s leading a global mission to unlock hidden uses for thousands of forgotten medicines with the help of AI. In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, David shares his incredible patient-to-scientist journey, the breakthroughs Every Cure is driving, and what it means to turn hope into action, whether in medicine, business, or life.
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Are you stuck believing you must pick just one path? Cathy Heller, host of Abundant Ever After and best-selling author, returns to FOMO Sapiens to break that illusion wide open. In this episode, Cathy shares how embracing a multi-hyphenate identity, from music to real estate to coaching, unlocked more freedom, creativity, and abundance than she ever imagined. She reveals her surprising discovery that she’s an introvert who needs sacred alone time to fuel big ideas, plus the rituals she uses to stay in flow. Patrick and Cathy explore how creativity, not perfection, is your real unfair advantage, why every career “detour” secretly prepares you for the next leap, and how generative AI can free you to do more of what only humans can: build community, nurture connections, and live with true equanimity. If you’re ready to be messy, follow your breadcrumbs, and multiply your impact, this conversation is your permission slip.
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What if your biggest entrepreneurial edge wasn’t your skills or network, but your capacity to endure setbacks and keep innovating anyway? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis talks to Ankur Gopal, founder and CEO of Interapt, named one of the “100 Most Meaningful Businesses in the World.” Ankur shares how discovering his own resilience reshaped his journey from Kentucky to nationwide impact. He explains how Interapt’s paid tech apprenticeships train and launch talent from underserved communities into high-demand careers, delivering a “win-win-win” for individuals, families, and companies tackling talent shortages. He breaks down how Interapt grew from one training track to over 70, how they stay ahead of AI disruption with constant upskilling, and why human skills matter now more than ever. If you’re building against the odds, this conversation is your proof that profit and purpose don’t just coexist: they power each other.
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Ever feel like your digital life has turned into a mind-bending simulation? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Hannah Koizumi and Hugh Jones, co-founders of Drumbeat Labs and the nonprofit Civic Attention, to dissect how today’s online platforms hijack our attention and warp our sense of reality. Hannah, a data scientist and civic organizer, and Hugh, a self-taught developer and digital strategist, break down the evolution from genuine social connection to endless scrolling, the addictive dopamine loops baked into every feed, and how AI is amplifying it all. Drawing from their own journeys and fresh polling, they reveal why growing up in this system is fueling anxiety and civic breakdown, and what we can do about it. Tune in for real-world strategies: how to add friction to your feeds, choose healthier online spaces, and build deeper offline connections without going full “Luddite.” If you’ve ever scrolled yourself into a stupor and wondered how to snap out of it, this episode is your antidote.
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How does a company as massive as Microsoft keep innovating year after year? Patrick McGinnis sits down with 20-year Microsoft veteran Dean Carignan, co-author of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, to find out. Dean reveals the surprisingly learnable and scalable strategies behind the tech giant’s transformation, from launching Xbox to navigating the AI frontier. You’ll learn why innovation isn’t just about invention, how a growth mindset reshaped Microsoft’s culture, and why the company’s “innovate with everyone” approach actually works. Plus, Dean shares lessons from Microsoft’s biggest misses—and how they paved the way for its biggest wins. Whether you’re leading a startup or driving change inside a big company, this episode offers a real-world roadmap to sustainable innovation.
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What drives someone to turn down the 9-to-5 path before it even begins? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis talks to Firat İşbecer, CEO of Commencis and one of Turkey’s most active angel investors, about how he knew early on that he would never work for someone else. Firat recounts the founding of Pozitron, a mobile banking startup launched before smartphones became ubiquitous, and how he scaled and sold it to Monitise, setting off a new chapter in venture building. Now at the helm of Commencis, a digital transformation powerhouse, Firat discusses the evolution of the Turkish tech ecosystem, the psychology behind great founders, and why angel investors should think of themselves as collaborators, not just check-writers. It’s a rare look into the mindset of someone who's helped shape an entire region’s startup future.
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Forget the glossy startup story. This week, serial entrepreneurs Kass and Mike Lazerow join Patrick J. McGinnis to blow up the myths of effortless success. These two built and sold Golf.com and Buddy Media (to Salesforce for $745M)—but not without near-death experiences, crippling anxiety, and plenty of shoveling $h!t along the way. In this raw and often hilarious conversation, they share the real playbook: how to lead with emotional honesty, use anxiety as a superpower, raise capital when everyone says no, and stay obsessed with customers through every pivot. If you’re tired of startup hype and want hard-earned, practical lessons from people who’ve been through it all, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.
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Are you constantly battling the feeling of not having enough time? Join Patrick McGinnis as he explores the enlightening world of Oliver Burkeman, the acclaimed author of 4,000 Weeks and his latest release, Meditations for Mortals. Oliver shares his surprising realization that doing everything is impossible and how embracing our limitations can lead to greater productivity and peace of mind. Together, they unpack the modern phenomenon of FOMO, its roots in our digital age, and the universal challenge of choosing one path over another. Oliver also introduces the core concepts from his new book, offering practical, bite-sized meditations to help you shift your perspective on time, embrace imperfection, and prioritize what truly matters—all without getting bogged down by complicated systems. Get ready to rethink your relationship with time and discover a more intentional, serene way of living.
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From revolutionizing the mattress industry with Casper to tackling the complex world of mental health with AI, Neil Parikh’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring. Join Patrick McGinnis as they dive into Neil’s ability to persevere through adversity, a trait honed through both personal challenges and the ups and downs of scaling a billion-dollar business. They explore Casper’s disruptive success, the critical supply chain crisis, and the lessons learned from taking a company public. Now, Neil is co-founding Slingshot AI, focused on building the first foundation model for therapy, aiming to provide scalable, accessible mental healthcare. He delves into the unique approach of learning from real human therapy interactions and discusses how AI could pave the way for new therapeutic methods. Together, they tackle the skepticism and ethical considerations surrounding AI in mental health, offering a thought-provoking conversation on innovation, resilience, and the future of mental well-being.
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What happens when a driven entrepreneur is suddenly forced to confront the ultimate test—not in the boardroom, but in his own body? In this powerful episode of FOMO Sapiens, Romain Kapadia—founder, investor, marathoner, and stage four cancer survivor—joins Patrick McGinnis to explore how resilience, mindset, and business acumen intersect in the face of life-altering adversity. Romain shares the unconventional tools he used to navigate both startup chaos and his diagnosis, including his non-negotiable morning routine, a radically different perspective on time, and why optimism can be a form of strategy. This conversation isn’t just inspiring—it’s a masterclass in how to meet life’s hardest moments with clarity, decisiveness, and strength.
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Get ready to dive into the electrifying world of nightlife and brand building with Josh Wyatt, the CEO of Avant Gardner and the iconic Brooklyn Mirage. Join Patrick McGinnis as they explore Josh’s journey from risk-averse to embracing bold ventures, a transformation that led him to helm cultural hotspots like Noya House and Fotografiska. Discover the magic behind the relaunch of the Brooklyn Mirage, a purpose-built entertainment mecca in New York City. Josh shares the innovative strategies he's using to create a lasting, FOMO-inducing experience that transcends traditional nightlife. From drawing inspiration from operatic grandeur to reimagining audience engagement, they explore Josh's forward-thinking ideas, including a fully non-alcoholic bar concept that caters to evolving consumer preferences. This episode is a backstage pass to the vision and execution behind building a cultural phenomenon.
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Can you actually become more outgoing, more conscientious, or even more emotionally stable? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Olga Khazan, staff writer for The Atlantic and author of Weird, to dive into the science of personality change. Drawing from her own experience to become more extroverted, Olga explains how traits we once thought were fixed can shift through small, intentional actions. From the Big Five to mindfulness and behavioral tweaks, this conversation offers science-backed tools for reshaping your self—and why it’s not too late to become the person you want to be. Perfect for anyone curious about personal development, identity, or reinvention.
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Isabelle Hau, author of "Love to Learn" and Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, joins Patrick McGinnis on FOMO Sapiens to discuss the critical importance of relational intelligence (RQ) in child development. Hau, who overcame early assessments of low academic aptitude, emphasizes the need for nurturing relationships and free play to counteract the relational deprivation crisis affecting children today. She highlights the impact of smaller families, reduced play time, and excessive technology use on children's social and emotional development. Hau advocates for "relational tech" over "junk tech" and stresses the importance of fostering a love for learning through play and human connection. She also provides insights for entrepreneurs in the education space, emphasizing the unprecedented opportunities for innovation in learning due to advancements in data, brain science, technology, and evolving educational needs.
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On this week’s episode of FOMO Sapiens, Kevin Evers, senior editor at Harvard Business Review and author of There’s Nothing Like This, uncovers the secrets behind Taylor Swift’s business brilliance. Patrick McGinnis explores how Swift built a brand through consistency, trust, and innovation while making bold moves to stay ahead of the competition. Evers delves into her customer obsession, drawing comparisons to Jeff Bezos, and how her use of social media fosters FOMO and loyalty among fans. With a keen eye on her ability to turn controversies into narrative-driven opportunities, they discuss how Swift’s strategic thinking has reshaped the music industry and beyond. Entrepreneurs will walk away with insights on building brand loyalty, navigating industry disruptions, and adapting strategies while staying authentic.
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In an age where media often feels oversaturated, Nayeema Raza is boldly carving out a space for genuine curiosity and fearless inquiry through her podcast Smart Girl Dumb Questions. On this week’s FOMO Sapiens, Patrick J. McGinnis dives into Nayeema’s journey—from producing at top outlets like The New York Times to launching her own independent show. Nayeema shares how she’s turning “dumb” questions into an essential tool for sparking deep, meaningful conversations. This episode explores the art of creating content that isn’t just accessible but also thought-provoking—engaging everyone from astrophysicists to everyday individuals. They also dive into the challenges of building a digital media brand where AI isn’t just a threat but a tool. Nayeema’s ultimate mission is to democratize knowledge and prove that sometimes the simplest questions lead to the most profound insights.
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What if the right question could change everything? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Topaz Adizes, Emmy award-winning writer, director, and founder of Skin Deep, to explore the transformative power of asking well-crafted questions. With over 1,250 intimate conversations under his belt, Topaz explains how discomfort in a question—not the answer—can deepen connections and foster resilience. He shares practical techniques for creating open, vulnerable spaces that go beyond yes/no answers and how regular practice of these conversations can change the way we reflect and relate to others. Tune in to learn how focusing on the right questions can reshape your reality.
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The future isn’t something that just happens—it’s something you can design. This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with Frederik Pferdt, Google's first-ever Chief Innovation Evangelist and author of What’s Next Is Now, to uncover how the world’s top innovators reframe uncertainty, take action, and shape their own futures. Frederik shares why the most successful people don’t fear change—they leverage it—and how shifting your mindset from “having” to “being” and “feeling” can create breakthroughs in both life and business. From rewiring your brain for adaptability to making better, bolder decisions (without the FOMO), this conversation is packed with tactical strategies for thriving in an unpredictable world. Tune in to learn how to turn uncertainty into opportunity and take control of what’s next.
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What if you just walked away—literally? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with Tom Turcich, the 10th person in history to walk around the world, to explore what seven years of solitude, cultural immersion, and extreme endurance taught him about risk-taking, adaptability, and finding purpose in the unknown. With only a backpack and his loyal dog, Savannah, Tom navigated 38 countries, countless challenges, and life-altering moments—from dangerous encounters to deep self-discovery. Now, he shares how the lessons from the road apply to business, decision-making, and breaking free from the fear of missing out. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping outside your comfort zone—or wondered what it really takes to do the impossible—this episode is for you.
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What kind of person looks at an old, abandoned building and thinks, This should be a museum about words? Ann B. Friedman did. But turning that vision into reality wasn’t easy. This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick talks with Ann about the steep challenges of launching Planet Word—from convincing funders to back an untested concept to navigating DC politics and designing exhibits that actually engage modern audiences (including those who claim they "don’t like reading"). Ann shares how she tackled skepticism, built a world-class team, and turned an abstract idea into an immersive, interactive experience. Plus, they dive into the impact of language in the digital age, how words shape our reality, and why the way we communicate is evolving faster than ever. If you’ve ever had a big idea but doubted whether it could work, this episode is for you.
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#YangGang America's best hope.
whenever anyone from the USA says "the rest of the world" what they really mean is the USA only lol
#yanggang