The Next Mountain Podcast

What if the most powerful business decision you ever make is to stop analyzing and start listening to your heart?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Louis Gagnon shares a career that defies a single label. He left McKinsey in his twenties to build an AIDS prevention program in Rwanda, work that saved an estimated 15,000 lives. He then went on to hold senior leadership roles at Monster, Amazon's Audible, and multiple venture-backed startups, scaling companies from millions to hundreds of millions in revenue.But in 2021, after two near-death experiences, Louis made a different kind of decision. He stopped optimizing. He stopped strategizing. And he started following what his heart had been telling him all along. Today he dedicates his time to what he calls human regeneration, helping entrepreneurs and systems move from extraction to renewal, one relationship at a time.We explore why he built a company around three unusual values (compassion, passion, and dispassion), how he dropped weekly KPIs and never missed a number, and what it really takes to shift from leading with your head to living from your heart.Key Themes in This ConversationLeaving McKinsey for Rwanda and the life experience that shaped everythingThe yogi who told him he was already enoughCompassion, passion, and dispassion as company valuesWhy replacing KPI reviews with connection conversations actually worksThe practice of witnessing: meditation, breath, and questioning your beliefsMoving from forcing your way through life to letting life flow through youHuman regeneration and what the entrepreneurial class owes the worldLearn More About LouisLouis Gagnon on LinkedIn

What happens when you reach the end of the rainbow and realize you don't know where to go next?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Raman Sehgal shares his journey from accidentally starting a marketing agency to raising private equity and navigating the unexpected emptiness that followed. He never set out to be a founder. Two decades later, he'd built a thriving pharmaceutical marketing agency and achieved an exit he never planned for. But after the celebrations came something he didn't see coming: profound loneliness and the realization that the skills that made him great at building made the transition much harder.We explore why entrepreneurs struggle after reaching the pot of gold, the tension between making money and following your heart, and Raman's evolving vision for youth education and creating real-life skills programs for kids.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationThe emptiness and loneliness after reaching the pot of goldWhy entrepreneurs love the chase more than the destinationTransitioning from founder to board member in a private equity dealThe tension between making money and following your heartBuilding something meaningful: youth clubs, education, and real-life skillsWhy post-exit founders need peers, not just coachesLearn More About RamanThe Floundering Founder (Raman's book)Raman on Linkedin

What if the skills that make you an entrepreneur are exactly what the planet needs right now?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Ananda Fitzsimmons shares her unlikely journey from psychotherapist to ag-biotech founder. She built a company that raised $50 million, all while navigating a world that couldn't quite make sense of someone who called herself "just a witch." After her exit in 2017, Ananda didn't retire. She dove deeper into the work that had called her from the beginning: ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture.We explore living systems thinking in soil, in business, and in life. Ananda explains why real climate solutions go far beyond carbon and electric cars. She reveals how the complex web of soil, water, and biodiversity holds the key to planetary regeneration. We also talk about the messy reality of post-exit transition, the courage it takes to follow passion over business logic, and how exited founders are uniquely positioned to become stewards of regenerative systems.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationFollowing intuition into entrepreneurship without any experienceWhy living soils and ecosystem restoration actually matter for climateThe three pillars of life: carbon, water, and biodiversityHow passion attracts what you need, even when the path isn't clearThe economic system shift we need to truly value nature and lifeLearn More About AnandaRestoring the Pillars of Life (Ananda's book)Regeneration CanadaAnanda's website

What happens when reaching the pinnacle of success turns out to be the most miserable experience and you have to find what actually matters next?In this episode, Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health and founder of Trulia, shares how he went from post-IPO misery to discovering a mission worth building his life around. We explore his unconventional path to finding purpose: rowing across the Pacific Ocean, studying metabolic disease out of curiosity, and eventually committing to reverse diabetes in 1 billion people, not because it made business sense, but because he fell unexplainably in love with the problem.Sami reflects on why the best missions can't be found in spreadsheets, how taking action creates clarity rather than waiting for it, and the difference between building a business with a mission versus a mission disguised as a business.✨ Key ThemesThe post-exit identity crisis and addiction to being "on"Why unlimited optionality has negative valueFinding your North Star through action, not analysisBuilding a mission disguised as a businessThe power of discomfort in discovering what's next

What does it really mean to take ownership, not just of a company, but of your life and the impact you leave behind?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Kerry Siggins shares her journey from overcoming personal challenges to becoming CEO of StoneAge at just 28 years old, despite having no prior experience in the role.We explore the power of employee ownership as a model for building wealth, trust, and culture, and what it takes to lead with autonomy, accountability, and care. Kerry also opens up about her creative path as a writer and speaker, and how aligning with her true self continues to shape the legacy she hopes to leave behind.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationThe ownership mindset as a foundation for leadership and cultureEmployee ownership as a model for trust, wealth, and accountabilityLeading through feedback, autonomy, and self awarenessPersonal growth as an ongoing leadership practiceLegacy defined by impact on others, not titles or recognitionLearn More About KerryKerry Siggins’ WebsiteAbout StoneAge ESOP ModelKerry Siggins on Linkedin

What if regeneration isn’t something you add to a business, but a completely different way of seeing the world?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Cordell Jacks, CEO & GP Regenerative Capital Group, shares his journey into impact investing and regenerative thinking. We explore why regeneration represents a true paradigm shift, one that asks businesses and investors to move beyond extraction and optimization toward relationships, trust, and long term vitality.Cordell reflects on the current landscape of regeneration in Canada, the real challenges it faces, and the opportunities opening up for those willing to work differently. We also talk about personal transition, identity, and what it takes to let go of old ways of defining success while stepping into a more aligned contribution.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationRegeneration as a paradigm shift, not an add onTrust and relationships in impact investing and businessThe role of community in regenerative economiesPersonal transition and letting go of old identitiesBuilding a more joyful and life sustaining approach to businessLearn More About CordellRegenerative Capital Group WebsiteCordell Jacks on Linkedin

What happens after you exit a business and realize the real work might just be beginning?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Roy Moëd reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, the emotional complexity of building and exiting companies, and the quieter questions that surfaced once the exit was behind him. He speaks candidly about the peaks and troughs of entrepreneurship, the relief and disorientation that can come with letting go, and the search for meaning that often follows.We explore how Roy found renewed purpose through Lifebook Memoirs, a venture dedicated to preserving personal stories and legacies across generations. Through his work, he has discovered that the process of storytelling can be just as powerful as the stories themselves, creating connection, healing, and continuity between people and across time.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationFinding purpose and fulfillment after an exitStorytelling as a way to preserve memory and meaningLegacy as something lived and shared, not achievedCreating impact through connection, one story at a time

What happens when purpose driven work pushes the body past its limits, and success comes at the cost of vitality?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, we sit down with Yancy Wright, leadership retreat facilitator, conscious communication guide, and founder of a retreat center in Puerto Rico. Yancy shares his deeply personal journey from climbing his first mountain of professional success in green construction and sustainability to a life altering collapse that landed him in the ICU.What followed was a long and very human transition shaped by burnout and risk, with repeated invitations to slow down and listen. That process ultimately led Yancy to reconnect with his purpose and to found a retreat center rooted in presence, vitality, and a more sustainable way of leading.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationWhy purpose alone isn’t enough when work is fueled by stress and pressureBurnout as a signal, not a failure, and why high functioning doesn’t mean healthyThe unconscious commitment to struggle that keeps many leaders stuckNature as a powerful teacher for presence, intuition, and leadershipLearn More About YancyCasa Alternativa Retreat Center WebsiteAmplify your Leadership BookYancy Wright on Linkedin

What happens when you discover that moving from personal ambition to unconditional love becomes the key that opens the door to your greatest growth, in business and in life? In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Jordi Ricard of CURATED Vintage Supercars opens up about his journey from chasing money to building a life grounded in authenticity, generosity, and purpose. He talks honestly about the struggles he faced early in his career, the moments that cracked him open, and the mentors who believed in him before he fully believed in himself. We explore the shift from transactional thinking to unconditional giving, why connecting with your heart changes the way you lead, and how bringing humanity into business builds cultures where people can thrive. Jordi also shares what inspired him to write a book, and how sharing stories can help others reconnect with meaning and happiness.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationMoving from money driven ambition to heart centered purposeThe power of unconditional giving and paying it forwardMentorship, belief, and the courage to receive supportBringing humanity and authenticity into businessThe connection between inner growth, generosity, and happiness

What shapes a founder beyond the metrics, the milestones, and the story on paper?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Dao Jensen opens up about her journey from arriving in the United States as a Vietnamese immigrant to becoming a successful tech entrepreneur and CEO. She talks about the challenges she faced, the mentors who changed her trajectory, and the personal loss that forced her to rethink what success really means.We explore what it looks like to build a career that aligns with your values, how vulnerability can deepen relationships, and why community, food, and shared experiences create the strongest foundations for support. Dao also reflects on her future aspirations and the impact she hopes to make through her speaking work and new projects.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationResilience and adaptability in the face of adversityThe role of mentorship in shaping career pathsHow personal loss can reshape purpose and prioritiesAligning work with personal values and cultural fitCommunity, connection, and the courage to be vulnerableLearn More About DaoLinkedinSix Sisters Website

Duncan Grossart shares his shift from a successful career as a photography agency owner to a purpose-driven life focused on rewilding, nature conservation and community. We talk about curiosity, the emotional side of transition, and how reconnecting with nature can reshape purpose and impact. His journey shows how following your heart and engaging with the living world can lead to deeper fulfillment.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationCuriosity as a guide for personal and professional transitionRewilding and restoration as meaningful pathways to impactNature as a catalyst for perspective, connection, and identityCommunity and collaboration as the foundation for lasting changeRedefining success through long term environmental stewardshipLearn More About DuncanWebsite: https://www.journeyswithpurpose.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncangrossart

Anastasia Mourogova Millin shares her path from science and finance to building solutions that blend systemic investing, community stewardship, and real social impact. We talk about trusting your values, leaving old identities behind, and creating financial models that help both people and nature thrive. Her journey shows how bold choices and collective action can reshape the systems we all rely on 🌿.

After leading global ventures and impact funds, Florian Kemmerich began questioning how success could serve something larger. In this episode, he shares his journey from corporate achievement to a life centered on impact investing, purpose, and personal growth, exploring how vocation, authenticity, and reflection can turn experience into meaningful contribution.🌐 To Learn More About FlorianNew book: On Vocation: How to Align Your Purpose with Your ProfessionFlorian on X (Twitter): https://x.com/flokemmerichFlorian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floriankemmerich

What happens when a lifelong entrepreneur realizes that success isn’t just about growth, but regeneration?In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Marie France Montpetit shares her journey from building multiple ventures to becoming a catalyst for meaningful change. She reflects on how following intuition, embracing failure, and building community can transform both business and life.We explore how entrepreneurship can become a force for good and how aligning purpose with participation leads to collective impact.✨ Key Themes in This ConversationThe power of intuition in entrepreneurshipTurning business into a regenerative forceBuilding community for personal and collective growthLearning from failure and navigating transitionCreating a life-sustaining cultureCoaching as a path toward conscious leadershipWhy collective impact matters more than individual success🌐 References & Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeYvon Chouinard – Let My People Go SurfingA seminal work on values-driven entrepreneurship and the founding philosophy behind Patagonia — where business and environmental stewardship meet.

What happens when a fast-rising corporate leader realizes that success needs a deeper meaning? In the first episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, Nathalia Del Moral Fleury shares her journey from a rapid rise leading a global cosmetics brand to redefining success as a coach and regenerative economist. We explore how she reframed leadership, redefined achievement, and found purpose in contributing to the renewal of systems that sustain life. Full References & ResourcesDonella Meadows – Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System📄 Read the original paper (PDF)Tomas Björkman & Lene Andersen – The Nordic Secret (personal development & social evolution / Bildung)📘 Book on AmazonRobert Sapolsky – Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst (emergence, behavior, complexity)📘 Book on AmazonIain McGilchrist – The Master and His Emissary (divided brain, culture, and meaning)📘 Book on AmazonMartha Beck – Finding Your Own North Star (authenticity, truth, and life purpose)📘 Book on AmazonFrédéric Laloux – Reinventing Organizations (complex adaptive systems & self-management)📘 Book on AmazonMichelle Holliday – The Age of Thrivability (living systems principles & regenerative organizations)🌐 Author websiteZita Cobb – Founder of Shorefast / Fogo Island model🎧 What the Fogo Island Inn Can Teach Us – CBC’s The Current📚 Wikipedia: Zita CobbDark Matter Labs & Shorefast – Regenerative, place-based economy models📄 A Possible Future for Canada: Capitalizing Places for Resilience and Regeneration (Report)🌐 Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies