Beyond Curious ®

I’ll never forget my sophomore year of college, wandering the cobblestone streets of Sevilla, Spain, earbuds in… listening to something brand new to me at the time:Podcasts.One show in particular stood out: Entrepreneurs on Fire.Hearing real entrepreneurs talk about building businesses that made an impact felt revolutionary compared to the dry, theoretical lectures I was getting in class. It was like discovering a portal into the life I knew I wanted.Fast forward almost a decade…Selena Soo (episode #242) invites me into one of her curated “Rich Relationships” mixers, and I find myself in a breakout room with Kate Dumas — the heartbeat of EO Fire.If you don’t know, EO Fire is one of the most downloaded business podcasts (175M+ downloads), hosted by John Lee Dumas. But what many people don’t see is that behind the scenes, Kate has been co-building the entire empire with John… while also navigating a romantic relationship, cross-country moves, and now raising a kid together.To date, EO Fire has generated $28M+ in revenue while impacting millions — and their relationship all started with Kate meeting a sweaty John while in his boxers in the middle of an Insanity workout (hilarious story you’ll hear on the show.)In this episode, we go deep on:🔥 What it’s really like to build a multimillion-dollar business with your life partner with two OPPOSITE skillsets🔥 How Kate went from feeling invisible to launching her own show and stepping into her power🔥 Why they intentionally scaled back from 8 employees to 3 — and what it taught them about freedomWhether you’re in business with your partner, thinking about it, or just curious how 175M downloads happen behind the scenes…This episode will give you a rare look into what makes it all work.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Kate Erickson DumasBrandon opens the episode with a heartfelt welcome and shares a personal story about his early exposure to podcasts, specifically "Entrepreneurs on Fire" (EO Fire). He introduces today’s guest, Kate Erickson Dumas, as the co-builder and operational force behind EO Fire, a business podcast with over 175 million downloads and $28M+ in revenue.00:36 - A hilarious first encounter: boxer shorts and insanity workoutsKate recounts the unforgettable moment she met her now-husband John Lee Dumas—he answered the door in boxer shorts, mid-insanity workout, to show her an apartment. This funny and awkward first meeting would eventually blossom into a powerful romantic and entrepreneurial partnership.02:17 - Behind the scenes of EO Fire: a podcasting empire co-built with loveBrandon shares how he met Kate through a breakout room in Selena Soo's mixer and highlights EO Fire’s success and transparency, including monthly income reports. He introduces the key themes of the episode, including working with a romantic partner, stepping into personal power, and pivotal business decisions.06:35 - Launching Kate’s Take: from invisibility to intentional leadershipKate opens up about joining EO Fire and feeling unsure of her worth. She discusses a life-changing transformational training in LA and how it helped her overcome feelings of invisibility. Launching her podcast "Kate’s Take" became a powerful declaration of self-worth and a major growth milestone.12:30 - The meet-cute love story of Kate and JohnKate shares their love story—from awkward neighbors in Pacific Beach to...

Back in March, I hosted the first ever LIVE event for my community, Curiosity Island.We hired my friend and Curiosity Island “Castaway” Bob Regnerus to produce the video footage for our event:Click right here to watch the videoWhy am I sharing this with you?* Incoming humble brag *If you listen to that video, there was definitely a theme in what the Castaways shared:“You feel like you're entering a Brandon world when you come into his space. It is warm, inviting, challenging, curious and so exciting in the best way.”“I've never met anybody like Brandon who takes creating experiences so seriously.”“This Curiosity island that he's created is so much more than a business or a brand or a mastermind… This is really an experience”.The theme that I notice is World Building / Experience Design.After designing several live events, hundreds of virtual experiences, and speaking on many stages, I’ve never actually sat down to ask myself:“What am I actually doing?”Meaning:How would I actually teach someone about my approach to World Building?When another Castaway, Meredith Grundei, asked me to come on her LinkedIn live show to talk about it… it was a perfect excuse for me to actually teach my approach.So after several hours of GPT biking and playing around, I arrived at this:To design transformational experiences, have your MOM make a WAFFLE 👇MOM is an acronym that stands for the 3 phases of an experience…While WAFFLE is an acronym for the 6 keys to make an experience stick.Whether you run events, lead a community or team, create content, or just want to inject more magic into your daily life… this one’s for you.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Meredith GrundeiBrandon introduces the episode as a unique hybrid format: a collaborative conversation with friend and Curiosity Island castaway, Meredith Grundei. The focus is on designing transformational experiences, anchored by Brandon's custom "Have Your MOM Make a WAFFLE" framework.00:57 - The MOM and WAFFLE Framework: A Sneak PeekBrandon sets the stage for the framework he created to help people design memorable and magical experiences. The acronym “MOM” (Momentum, Open Loops, Memory) and “WAFFLE” (World, Anchors, Fusion, Flaws, Language, Emotion) serve as the episode’s central theme.03:24 - Meredith Welcomes Brandon & Introduces the Speaker's LoungeMeredith welcomes Brandon to the Speaker’s Lounge, her monthly conversation series. She invites him to share the origin story of Curiosity Island, the imaginative community he leads.04:29 - The Birth of Curiosity Island: A Domain Bought in a FlashBrandon recounts a pivotal Zoom call with his friend Vlad where the phrase “Curiosity Island” was coined—and how he immediately bought the domain. He explains how the name gave conceptual structure to his vision of a place filled with wonder and transformation.06:16 - What is Curiosity Island? A Transformational, Imaginative CommunityBrandon describes Curiosity Island as a place of infinite possibility—“mirrors, not mentors”—where castaways help each other uncover their gifts. Meredith adds how impactful it’s been for her, especially through the “Breeze Offer” concept.08:45 - Why Presentations Need to Become ExperiencesBoth Brandon and Meredith discuss how modern audiences are no longer captivated by static presentations. With content overload, the key...

Imagine this:You’re driving to a high-end coaching workshop—an event you’ve just spent a big chunk of money to attend.You’re hopeful, nervous, not totally sure if you even should be going…And then, mid-drive, you get into one final painful conversation with your mother—and decide, in that moment, to end the relationship.This was a pivotal moment for today’s guest, Kim DeYoung.Kim showed up to that event tear-streaked, emotionally raw… and more open than she’d ever been.That one choice—to attend the event and to let go of a meaningful relationship—was the catalyst for everything that followed.In today’s episode of Beyond Curious, Kim shares how that moment cracked her open… and how it led to her life’s work helping others unpack their choices through something she calls “choice mapping.”We explore:🔍 The 3 types of maps that help you understand the ripple effects of your past decisions🧭 The 5 questions you can ask to help you make more conscious and intentional choices✍️ How to leverage “Choice Mapping” to re-write your internal stories in a more impactful wayIf you’re navigating a big decision,  looking for clarity in your next chapter, or simply desire to be more intentional with your choices, this one’s for you.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Kim DeYoungBrandon opens the episode with gratitude and excitement, introducing Kim DeYoung—choice coach, facilitator, and author of The Book of Choice. He outlines three key takeaways: understanding the three types of maps (unfolding, people, and exploration), five powerful questions for intentional decision-making, and how mapping choices can help rewrite internal narratives.00:01:28 - Three essential tools to listen for in today’s episodeBrandon previews what listeners should pay attention to: the unfolding, people, and exploration maps; five key decision-making questions; and how to use mapping to shift internal stories. He teases a live mapping session that takes place during the episode.00:02:52 - Why choice mapping matters and how it transformed Kim’s lifeKim shares a pivotal moment in 2012 when she made a life-altering decision to end her relationship with her mother. This emotional event led her to a personal breakthrough at a transformational workshop and marked the beginning of her deep dive into understanding choice and its ripple effects.00:06:50 - The power of listening to your own truthBrandon reflects on Kim’s vulnerability and how expressing deep truths leads to meaningful connections. Kim shares how a single choice can unfold into life-changing opportunities and how this realization birthed her “choice mapping” process.00:08:02 - What is choice mapping and how did it begin?Kim explains how her choice mapping process began with personal reflection and evolved through mapping other people’s stories. Initially using mind-mapping software to track decisions, she developed a visual, flexible, and powerful framework for understanding life’s most important choices.00:10:23 - Brandon shares a personal reflection about legacy and intergenerational impactBrandon opens up about his grandfather’s recent passing and how a recorded interview with him highlighted the deep ripple effects of past decisions. He connects this reflection to the power of choice mapping and its potential to affect future generations.00:12:35 - The three types of choices: simple, momentary, and proactiveKim outlines the three types of choices we make daily. She emphasizes the “proactive choice” as the one that truly warrants deeper exploration—choices that move your life in a meaningful direction.00:15:21 - The three...

One of my core values is something I call conscious storytelling.I believe the stories we tell — both internally to ourselves and externally to the world — create our reality.Change your story, and you can change your reality.That’s why in this Beyond Curious Time Machine episode, I wanted to hit both sides of storytelling:How do we tell more magnetic external stories that attract the right people and opportunities into our lives?How do we rewrite the internal stories running in the background of our own lives?To do this, we are bringing in clips from 3 previous guests:Episodes #36 and #37 with Michael Hauge — Hollywood storytelling legend that has worked on projects starring will smith, julia roberts, tom cruise & many others whose 6-step formula helped me become a dramatically better storyteller. Episodes #147 and #148 with Jude Charles — documentary filmmaker who has produced stories for Google, Steve Harvey, and dozens of visionary CEOs… flips the script, showing us why storytelling isn’t a formula… and reminding us that the most important story you’ll ever tell is the one you tell yourself.Episode #160 with Britt Lefkoe — one of the world’s top mindset experts, who reveals how our childhood stories quietly shape our reality… and how to put more possibilities back on the table.If you also believe in the power of storytelling — both internal and external — this episode is for you!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guests, Michael Hauge, Jude Charles, and Britt LefkoeBrandon introduces this special "Time Machine" episode centered around the art and impact of storytelling. He explains the Time Machine format, which revisits past episodes and extracts key insights. Brandon also shares his philosophy of "conscious storytelling" and how this episode will explore both external and internal narratives.02:20 - Michael Hauge’s Six-Step Storytelling FormulaBrandon introduces Michael Hauge, highlighting his Hollywood credentials and deep influence through works like Hero’s Two Journeys and Storytelling Made Easy. He explains why Michael’s six-step framework became foundational for Brandon’s storytelling journey.05:59 - Michael Hauge Explains the Six Key Beats of StoryMichael details his six essential story steps:SetupCrisisPursuitConflictClimaxAftermathHe walks through each phase with examples, showing how to build empathy, define a visible goal, and end with a transformation that aligns with the audience’s aspirations.11:30 - Brandon Reflects on Michael's Influence and Additional EpisodesBrandon shares more episodes featuring Michael—#36, #37, and #168—and offers unique glimpses into how Michael’s storytelling wisdom manifested in live coaching and even a “liquid storytelling” experiment.13:02 - Introduction to Jude Charles and His Storytelling PhilosophyBrandon introduces Jude Charles, known for his work with Google and Steve Harvey, and for his book Dramatic Demonstration. He sets the stage for Jude’s perspective that storytelling is not bound by formulas.13:24 - Jude Charles Defines Storytelling as a Specific Moment in TimeJude emphasizes storytelling as “a recounting of a specific moment in time.” He explains how specificity and visual detail pull listeners into a narrative and why everyone inherently has the ability to tell compelling stories.16:28 - Why Jude Rejects Storytelling FormulasOffering a counterpoint to Michael Hauge, Jude argues that life is not a formula—and neither is storytelling. He critiques the rigidity of the hero’s journey and

As a 13-year-old immigrant struggling to fit in, Dmitriy Kozlov found rap music.In some ways it saved him — it gave him an outlet and a path to self-expression. But in other ways it nearly killed him.Dmitriy ended up getting involved with gang activity — and eventually, the very gang he ran with turned on him and nearly killed him… more than once. Those near-death experiences became the wake-up call he needed to walk away from that life for good.Fast forward to today…Dmitriy is working with some of the most legendary names in the thought leadership world — people like Lewis Howes, JJ Virgin, Daymond John, Dan Lok, and Joe Polish — helping them build “category of one” personal brand websites through his agency, Influex.Even more incredible?At age 25, he rediscovered his passion for spoken word poetry — and has since used it to grow his business, attributing over seven figures in revenue to performing live on stages around the world.Some things to look forward to in this episode:How Dmitriy uses “unapologetic self expression” via spoken word artistry to land high-end clientsHow to integrate your past, present, and future into a brand that feels fully aligned and multidimensionalDmitriy performs a spoken word piece called, Remember Who You Are!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Dmitriy Kozlov Brandon introduces today’s guest, Dmitriy “Dima” Kozlov—a spoken word artist and the founder of branding agency Influex. Dima shares a teaser of his poetic talent, and Brandon previews the themes of the episode, including unapologetic self-expression, brand alignment, and Dima’s gripping life journey from immigrant to influential entrepreneur.00:05:24 - The roots of Dima’s expression: Eminem and a near-death experience Dima recounts his early life as a Russian immigrant, discovering self-expression through rap after being bullied. A pivotal moment came after being jumped by a gang at age 13—an experience that pushed him toward academics, work ethic, and eventually entrepreneurship.00:10:36 - Reigniting the flame of expression with spoken word at 25 After a major breakup and lifestyle shift, Dima reconnects with his artistic roots. A spoken word piece written in a shower in LA reignites his creative expression and unlocks a powerful tool for healing and connecting with others—especially fellow entrepreneurs.00:14:25 - Meeting his mentor, Yannick Silver, and entering the world of Mavericks Dima shares how he earned a scholarship to Underground Online Seminar, where he met Yannick Silver. This connection evolved into mentorship and the co-creation of Maverick NEXT, a community for impact-driven young entrepreneurs.00:20:13 - Planting the seeds of an elite network through service Brandon and Dima discuss the ripple effects of co-founding Maverick NEXT, highlighting the long-term impact of building meaningful relationships with purpose-driven peers and mentors.00:21:41 - The art of mentorship and the power of giving first Dima breaks down how he approached Yannick Silver with a value-first mindset, offering web services at cost in exchange for mentorship. This “give first” strategy laid the foundation for many high-profile relationships and business opportunities.00:25:48 - Scaling with soul: Unscalable moves that built a premium agency Dima shares how going above and beyond for early clients, focusing on quality and relationships, created a reputation that attracted top-tier clients like Lewis Howes and Joe Polish—without heavy marketing.00:30:43 -...

Last year I committed to a new endurance challenge:A 100 mile bike ride.Somewhere along the way, a wild idea hit me…What if I could work while riding?Not just answering emails — I’m talking deep, creative, transformational work.Fast forward to today, and I’m getting more done on my bike than I do at my desk.I call it GPT Biking.In this episode, you’ll ride along with me (literally… I recorded this episode on my bike) as I share:How I use ChatGPT as a creative partner while cruising down the road — generating better ideas than I often do sitting stillThe relationship-building hack I’ve developed that lets me send unforgettable personal messages while pedalingBehind-the-scenes of my real-time creative process — from developing facilitation structures to dreaming up frameworksI’ve had SO many people ask me about how I do this, so it’s about time an episode came out on it.If you’ve ever wanted to combine movement, nature, and creativity into a single, game-changing productivity ritual…You’re going to love this one.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s solo episode with Brandon Fong. Brandon shares that there’s no guest today—just him revealing how he gets more work done while training for a 100-mile bike ride than at his desk, including building relationships and using ChatGPT as a creative partner. 00:01:35 - Brandon demonstrates the difference between raw iPhone bike audio and an AI voice-filtered version, noting the improved listening experience despite some quirks. 00:02:47 - He explains how the episode was recorded in two separate biking sessions—initially for friends curious about “GPT Biking,” later expanded into a behind-the-scenes workflow session. 00:03:32 - Quick definitions of recurring concepts: Curiosity Island (invite-only community), Find Your 4 (framework for maximizing results), Architects (co-creators of Curiosity Island’s future), and Moonshots (ambitious personal goals). 00:04:54 - Beginning of the on-bike recording: Brandon introduces GPT Biking, his process for using ChatGPT during rides via a phone mount and voice-to-text/audio replies. 00:05:53 - Case study: Using GPT Biking to refine Curiosity Island Architects’ core values into themes like “Breathtaking Collaboration,” “Conscious Contribution,” and “Childlike Curiosity,” plus brainstorming systems for balanced contributions. 00:10:48 - Brandon’s second major on-bike activity: sending video messages via WhatsApp and iMessage to build and nurture relationships while riding. 00:13:23 - GPT Biking Part 2 begins: Brandon outlines four goals for this ride, including drafting a trademark specimen for Curiosity Island, evolving moonshot weaving frameworks, collaborating with his wife Leah, and refining the Find Your 4 software. 00:15:32 - He details the “moonshot weaving” process—pitching moonshots in group facilitations, collecting instant collaborative feedback, and synthesizing ideas for collective action. 00:22:00 - Brainstorming the “Moonshot Domino” concept: a metaphor inspired by The One Thing for defining each castaway’s next impactful move, including potential collaboration with experts like Colin to assess clarity and alignment. 00:25:48 - Expansion on moonshot storytelling: chronicling each castaway’s journey with tools like Descript to document breakthroughs and refinement in real time. 00:27:24 - Ride wrap-up: 46 miles completed, 11 video messages sent, an introduction made, facilitation plans finalized, and partial progress on software ideas, with physical fatigue marking the session’s end. 00:29:17 - Studio wrap-up weeks later: reflections on which bike-born ideas stuck (Moonshot Domino evolving into Moonshot Portals) and which...

Today’s guest has one of the boldest book titles I’ve ever come across…It’s called: “Your Brand Should Be Gay (Even If You’re Not): The Art and Science of Creating an Authentic Brand.”And what I love so much about that title is that Re Perez lives it.In today’s episode, you’ll hear how Re went from growing up in an all-boys Catholic Jesuit school—where he felt unsafe, ashamed, and unable to express who he truly was because of his sexuality……to building a life and brand rooted in deep alignment, self-love, and full-spectrum authenticity.Fast forward to today—He’s not only written a book with the word “gay” in the title…He’s helping some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs 2x, 3x, and even 10x revenues by doing the very thing he’s mastered: uncovering who they truly are, and building a soul-aligned brand that can’t be ignored.This episode is a beautiful mix of raw story, deep self-inquiry, and powerful business wisdom.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Re PerezBrandon welcomes listeners to another thought-provoking episode, introducing Re Perez—a Fortune 500 brand consultant turned spiritual brand architect. Brandon previews the episode’s core themes: curating a world with your brand, remembering who you are, and embodying your brand as a spiritual journey.00:52 - Shoutout to Jhana Li and three themes to watch forBrandon credits Jhana Li (Episode 146) for connecting him with Re, and encourages listeners to look out for three key insights: repelling the wrong people with your brand, using branding as a path to self-remembering, and the crucial step of embodying your brand.01:30 - Re Perez’s background and visionBrandon shares Re’s professional journey and credentials, highlighting his unique blend of corporate branding experience and deep personal transformation. Re is introduced as the author of Your Brand Should Be Gay (Even If You’re Not) and the founder of Category of One Branding.04:19 - A spiritual transformation in DubaiRe recounts a pivotal period in his life when a move to Dubai—sparked by a relationship and a high-level job—led to personal collapse and emotional breakdown. This “bus moment” launched his inner journey toward alignment, self-love, and eventual transformation.08:01 - Healing in Sedona and the birth of purposeAfter returning to the U.S., Re embarks on a spiritual retreat in Sedona. What began as a mission to heal a broken heart becomes a revelation of his soul’s purpose: helping mission-driven brands share their impact with the world. This sets the stage for the launch of his first brand consultancy.10:54 - Remembering vs. discovering: guiding clients to authenticityRe explains that most clients don’t need to “find” themselves—they need to remember who they already are. His work involves helping them strip away conditioned beliefs and reconnect with their innate joy and alignment to fuel authentic branding.13:22 - The “I want X, but Y” breakthrough exerciseRe shares a transformative self-inquiry exercise that helped him leave a job misaligned with his purpose. By uncovering his limiting belief that quitting meant “losing control,” he...

Episode 250 of the Beyond Curious Podcast marks a huge milestone… and also carries a heavy heart.This episode is dedicated to a podcast guest who profoundly impacted my life — and who left us far too soon.His name was Steve Sims.You may have heard me talk about Steve before. He’s the “Real Life Wizard of Oz” who helped his clients do things like:Get married by the PopeTake submarine trips to the TitanicHave dinner in front of Michelangelo’s David while being serenaded by Andrea BocelliMeet celebrities like Elton John and Elon MuskHe even once took a group on a private tour of the Tesla gigafactory… followed by a visit to a legal, licensed brothel (yes, seriously).But beyond the crazy experiences…Steve Sims gave me a new blueprint for life.In fact, a few years ago when journaling about the 3 people I most looked up to, Steve’s name was high on that list — right next to my wife and daughter.Even though we only spent a few hours together across these interviews, Steve’s mindset has been running like a background program in my brain ever since I met him.He embodied the values and passions that drive my life today:Family & Heart: He loved his wife and kids deeply, and built his business alongside themDoing the Impossible: His entire life was proof that “impossible” is just a starting pointExperiences: The most inspiring (and wildest) experience designer I’ve ever metFun & Play: He approached life like a big kid—joyful, absurd, and always ready to make you laughBeing Unapologetically You: Steve knew who he was and never tried to be anything elsePure Passion for Life: You could hear it in his voice—he lived with passion, every single dayStorytelling: Hands down my favorite storyteller of all time—he didn’t just live great stories, he delivered them in unforgettable waysSteve passed away from cancer on July 7, just shy of his 59th birthday.To honor his legacy, I’ve stitched together all 3 of our interviews in one place—for the first time ever.So whether this is your first time hearing Steve or you’re revisiting his wisdom…I hope this tribute inspires you to live with more passion, play, and purpose… and to imagine a life far beyond what you ever thought possible.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Steve SimsBrandon Fong opens this emotional 250th episode with a tribute to Steve D. Sims, who passed away on July 7th. He introduces the episode’s purpose: to honor Steve’s impact through a compilation of their most meaningful past conversations. Brandon also shares seven personal reasons why Steve’s presence left a lasting imprint on his life and work.05:14 - Discovering Steve: An Ice Bucket, a Stage, and Instant ConnectionBrandon recounts seeing Steve for the first time online—dumping a bucket of ice over himself on stage—and being struck by his fearless authenticity. This moment set off a chain of events that led to their eventual connection and friendship.08:23 - Steve’s Superpower: Creating the Seemingly ImpossibleBrandon outlines the legendary experiences Steve was known for—like arranging a Vatican wedding officiated by the Pope and organizing a dinner at the base of Michelangelo’s David. He highlights that Steve’s gift wasn’t extravagance, but in designing moments with purpose and intention.11:36 - The $1,700 Proposal Re-Creation That Rivaled LuxurySteve shares the story of helping a client recreate his marriage proposal from 25 years earlier. The budget was modest, but the execution—complete with custom fencing, actors, dogs, and...

Imagine you’re at your favorite restaurant when — out of the corner of your eye — you spot Madonna.Most people would whisper about it to their friends and watch from afar.Not Karen Salmansohn.Karen — a best-selling author of 20+ books with over 2 million copies sold — didn’t just say hi. She walked right up to Madonna’s table, dropped her hilariously titled book “How To Succeed In Business Without A Penis” in front of her… and left with a blessing from the Queen of Pop herself.That’s Karen: wildly bold, infectiously curious, and masterful at turning life’s heaviest topics into delightfully practical wisdom.Her latest book, Your To-Die-For Life — which is out TODAY — turns the heavy subject of death into a powerful tool you can use to make clearer decisions and live more fully…  starting now.In this conversation, we explore:What it means to have a near-life experience — and why you might be having some right nowThe “marble jar” ritual that makes mortality motivating (not morbid).How writing your own eulogy can become your ultimate filter for a life well-lived (I even read Karen’s out loud!)If you’re someone who wants to truly “begin with the end in mind” and live a life you’re proud of, this one’s for you!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Karen Salmansohn Brandon opens the episode with enthusiasm, introducing Karen as a wildly bold, delightfully mischievous behavioral change expert and bestselling author. He previews Karen's book, "You're To Die For Life," which explores using death as a motivator to live more intentionally.00:36 - Karen’s unforgettable Madonna moment Karen recounts her bold encounter with Madonna at a restaurant where she gifted her the book “How to Succeed in Business Without a Penis,” resulting in an unexpected blessing from the pop icon.01:36 - The story behind Karen’s book title and her unique approach to serious topics Brandon explains how Karen’s mix of humor and boldness makes difficult topics accessible, like mortality, and previews three big takeaways from the episode.02:21 - Karen’s mission: Wake people up from autopilot Karen’s book challenges listeners to confront mortality and stop living on autopilot. Brandon describes how she turns the fear of death into a life-enhancing tool and shares her quirky yet deeply impactful approach.05:24 - A hilarious start: Madonna, boldness, and book titles Brandon invites Karen to share how she handed her provocative book to Madonna, tying it into her career-long commitment to empowering women and embracing audacity.10:25 - How Karen landed Marisa Tomei for her book’s film rights Karen shares a second bold story about hand-delivering her novel to Marisa Tomei, which led to an option by Miramax—reinforcing the power of fearless action.14:26 - Leaving a successful ad career for passion and purpose Karen reflects on her thriving yet unfulfilling advertising career, the moment she realized her job lacked soul, and the bold decision to quit and pursue writing and personal growth.19:33 - A mysterious letter from college appears the day Karen’s father dies Karen shares a moving synchronicity: the rediscovery of a college letter to her dad containing profound thoughts on life’s ripple effects—offering a powerful message about giving.23:04 - The concept of a “near life experience” Karen defines “near life experiences” as moments when we are physically present but emotionally or mentally absent—on...

Twelve days after his 87th birthday, my grandpa passed away.After we said our goodbyes at the funeral and shared a meal together, my family gathered back at his house. That’s when many of them found out something they hadn’t known:Several years before his passing, I sat down with my grandpa for six hours of interviews — just asking him questions about his life.So we pulled out my uncle's Bluetooth speaker, set it on the floor, and for the first time together… listened.His unforgettable laugh. His voice. His story.It was one of the most connective family experiences I’ve had.Originally, I never intended on publishing the recordings.But after he passed, the first thing I turned to were those audio files. And after relistening to all 6 hours, one thing became clear:My grandpa’s story deserves to be told.Born in a war-torn region of China. Immigrated to the U.S. at age 8 without either of his parents. Couldn’t speak the language. Worked himself to the bone making $5 per week to provide for his family. Faced loan rejection after loan rejection chasing the dream of opening his own restaurant…… And somehow, through grit and the help of those who believed in him, he built a restaurant that became a staple of the Milwaukee community for 39 years.But this story isn’t just about my grandpa...It’s about your family’s stories too.Because as much as I want you to hear about my grandpa’s journey, my intention is that it inspires you to do something simple yet powerful:Click record, and get curious with the people you love.When I sat down to interview my grandpa, I uncovered stories that even my dad didn’t know. It deepened my self-awareness, helped me understand the mindsets passed from him to my dad… and ultimately to me. It was a healing journey — and one that gave me the clarity to choose which beliefs I want to carry forward, and which ones I’m ready to evolve.And finally — this episode is my way of consciously rewriting my grandpa’s story.In the end, he didn’t believe his life was a success.But I do.And I hope it inspires you to reflect on the stories in your lineage — and the power we all have to shape the narratives that carry forward.00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Kenny Fong Brandon Fong introduces a uniquely personal episode dedicated to his late grandfather, Kenny Fong, who passed away on May 31, 2025. Brandon reflects on the emotional journey of capturing six hours of interviews before his grandfather's passing and how these recordings became a family treasure.01:43 - The Power of Recording Family Stories Brandon shares how recording these interviews became a priceless gift, both for preserving family history and deepening self-awareness. He encourages listeners to do the same with their loved ones.03:03 - Rewriting a Legacy: Honoring Grandpa Fong’s True Success Brandon explains his purpose behind sharing this episode—to consciously rewrite his grandfather’s story, which he believed wasn’t a success, despite its incredible substance.04:43 - Escaping War-Torn China as a Child Kenny recounts his childhood in Taishan, China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, revealing a life shaped by fear, survival, and early trauma.07:05 - A Terrifying Journey to America at Age 8 Kenny shares the harrowing details of immigrating to the U.S. as a child, including a terrifying plane ride and being separated from his brother during immigration processing.09:12 - Reuniting with His Father and Life in a New World Kenny's first reunion with his father was awkward and distant, not the joyful moment he had imagined. He slowly adapts to life in America and later...

What would you do if your company demanded you cut 17% of costs — and the only “approved” way to do it… was to fire your people?That’s the position Patrick Cowden found himself in during the 2008 financial crisis.But instead of blindly following orders, he tried something radical:He brought his entire team together to co-create the solution.They found a way to save 17% without laying off a single person.Problem solved, right? Wrong.When he presented the plan, the company said: “Great. Do both.”That moment was a turning point — not just for Patrick’s leadership… but for his life.Because it showed him the system was broken.And it led him to create a 42-year plan to rehumanize the way we connect, lead, and collaborate.In today’s episode, you will learn:How Patrick gathered 85 people from around the world — monks, therapists, scientists, even someone experiencing homelessness — to uncover the universal principles behind trust, connection, and human flourishingWhy it took six more years to refine those discoveries into a repeatable workshop — and how that same transformation now happens in just three minutes using his technologyThe technology that lets you see truth emerge from thousands of human perspectives in real time — and how it unlocks a new level of co-creation and clarity in teamsShow Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Patrick Cowden Brandon introduces the episode with a story that encapsulates Patrick's unique leadership approach and sets the stage for a deep dive into his 42-year plan to elevate human consciousness through technology and connection.00:38 - Patrick explains his concept of "we reality" Patrick shares a powerful philosophy: that true reality is a collective of all human perspectives. He introduces technology built to ensure every voice is heard, highlighting the need for connected decision-making.01:55 - Behind-the-scenes of recording in person with Patrick Brandon recounts spending an entire day with Patrick, from coffee and lunch to walking by the Fox River, emphasizing the deep connection and special setting of their in-person recording.02:23 - The turning point in 2008 that sparked Patrick’s mission During the financial crisis, Patrick defied corporate orders to lay off employees, instead co-creating a cost-saving plan with his team that preserved jobs—igniting his 42-year mission to rehumanize leadership.04:14 - Three key highlights to look out for in the episode Brandon previews the episode: Patrick’s global gathering to define trust and connection, refining it into a three-minute transformation via tech, and enabling real-time truth emergence through collective human perspectives.06:52 - Using Warm Space for the International Day of Peace Patrick describes how his platform, Warm Space, turned a traditional broadcast into an immersive, participatory event—scaling global peace efforts with a simple QR code.11:22 - Patrick’s multicultural and military-influenced leadership roots Patrick reflects on his upbringing under a U.S. Army drill sergeant father and his diverse corporate experience across American, German, and Japanese companies that shaped his human-centric leadership model.16:56 - Defying corporate orders to prioritize people over profit Patrick recounts refusing to fire 17% of staff at Hitachi during a crisis, instead proposing an alternative that saved money and accelerated growth—highlighting people-first leadership.22:19 - Creating Beyond Leadership through global collaboration Patrick explains how 85 diverse contributors—from monks to

What if shifting your entire reality and perspective of life could be as simple as jamming to one of your favorite songs?After four months of experimenting, I can say this with full conviction:AI music has become one of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered for upgrading my identity and living deeper into my core values.Many approaches to belief and identity change are effective—but they can also feel heavy, complex, or abstract.This episode is different.I’ll take you behind the scenes of how I’m using AI-generated music to reprogram my belief system in a way that’s not just effective—but also joyful, seamless, and fun.Inside this episode:Listen to 3x different AI songs I’ve created to shift my identityFollow along as I walk you through my exact creative process—so you can start using it tooWatch me create a brand new song in real time, generating 2 powerful tracks in under 4 minutes (yes… writing lyrics, and having a jam worthy song in under 4 minutes)By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a new way to integrate powerful identity shifts—not just intellectually, but emotionally and viscerally.There is a VIDEO version of this episode if you want to see the walkthrough! Check it out here.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Brandon Fong (solo episode) Brandon introduces a unique solo episode centered on a powerful new tool he’s using: AI-generated music. He shares that this episode is inspired by radical shifts in his own life and his desire to create more personal content. The focus today is on how AI music is being used to reprogram beliefs and identity.00:01:18 - The three transformative uses of AI music Brandon outlines three major ways AI music can impact lives: identity shifts, deepening relationships with loved ones, and simply for fun. In this episode, he zeroes in on using it for identity transformation.00:02:01 - Introducing the AI-created "Beyond Curious" song Brandon plays the AI-generated theme song “Beyond Curious,” created by inputting the show’s description and core values into ChatGPT. The song demonstrates the emotive power and authenticity achievable with AI music.00:06:03 - The origin of Brandon’s AI music journey: Susan Drumm's influence Brandon credits Susan Drumm’s book and podcast, The Leader’s Playlist, with introducing him to the concept of music-driven transformation. He recaps the key idea: shifting from an "old playlist" that reinforces limiting beliefs to a "new playlist" aligned with empowering identity.00:08:20 - Clip from Brandon’s appearance on The Enlightened Executive podcast Brandon shares a powerful clip where he discusses his old identity (driven by Ozzy Osbourne’s “I Don’t Wanna Stop”) and how he is transitioning into a more balanced version of himself through AI music.00:11:13 - Debuting the transformational AI song “One Step at a Time” Listeners are treated to a personal song representing Brandon’s new, grounded identity focused on presence, family, and intentional growth.00:17:23 - The deeper meaning and purpose behind AI music in personal development Brandon explains how having a song that resonates can reinforce a new belief system and serve as a daily anchor to live by.00:18:03 - Explaining the Find Your Four framework Brandon revisits his signature “Find Your Four” framework, tying it to the 80/20 rule and showing how understanding your most impactful 4% actions—and underlying 0.8% beliefs—can dramatically improve your...

When Annie Strauch was in high school, her choir teacher forced her to make a choice:Pursue sports… or pursue music.She chose sports…. but life had other plans 😃Today, Annie is one of Australia’s leading vocal physiotherapists and the founder of Performance Medicine—a physical therapy practice that supports some of the biggest theatrical productions in the world: Hamilton, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and more.Thanks to Annie’s work, world-class performers are able to take the stage night after night—while protecting their voices and bodies for the long run.But Annie didn’t find this career path. She pioneered it.And her journey to get here is nothing short of inspiring.In this episode, we explore:🎭 How she built a first-of-its-kind business in Australia that combined all her passions—art, science, music, performance, and healing🍼 How Annie built a thriving business while having three kids in 3.5 years—and why that wild constraint became one of the greatest gifts in shaping a sustainable and scalable company💡 Why she invested early in her “home team” just as much as her business team—and how that helped her thrive as both a founder and a motherIf you’ve ever wondered how to design a business that honors your creativity, your calling, and your capacity—this conversation is your permission slip.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!Show Notes: Beyond Curious with Annie Strauch00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Annie Strauch. Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Annie Strauch, a pioneering physiotherapist in Australia whose work combines her passions for art, science, music, performance, and healing.01:12 - Three insights to look out for in Annie’s story. Brandon highlights Annie’s unique achievements: building a first-of-its-kind business, raising three children in under four years while growing her company, and her philosophy of investing equally in her home and business teams.03:38 - Annie shares her excitement and appreciation for the podcast. Annie and Brandon share mutual excitement, setting the stage for a candid, energetic conversation about Annie’s unconventional journey.04:35 - The unique challenges behind the stage of “Storm Boy”. Annie vividly describes working with the Melbourne Theatre Company on Storm Boy, tackling the unusual challenge of performers acting on synthetic sand dunes and how her team devised safe, creative movement workshops for the cast.08:01 - Brandon and Annie discuss the hidden intricacies behind live performances. They explore the often unseen physical demands on performers, costumes, lighting, and how Annie’s work ensures artists can perform safely night after night.12:29 - Annie’s high school choir teacher’s ultimatum: music or sports? Annie shares how her choir teacher forced her to choose between athletics and choir practice, a pivotal moment that foreshadowed her future of blending both worlds into a fulfilling career.18:29 - How Annie embraced nonlinear thinking to blend her passions. Brandon and Annie unpack her journey of fusing art and science, from choosing physiotherapy to fuel her love of travel to rediscovering creativity while building her career.22:17 - Annie’s “spark moment” working in London’s West End. She recounts how an unexpected opportunity at a prestigious London clinic introduced her to theatre physiotherapy, supporting productions like Billy Elliot and tackling challenges like the physical impact of raked...

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Trevor Blake Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Trevor Blake, a returning guest known for his unique lifestyle and impressive entrepreneurial journey—having built and exited multiple nine-figure businesses with no employees, all while working under five hours a day.00:45 - Eating ants and entering magical portals: Trevor's serendipitous night Trevor recounts a bizarre yet magical experience involving eating ants (described as tasting like salt and vinegar) and a night of unexpected deep connections that tied directly into his business and media ventures.02:15 - Recap of Trevor's accomplishments and lifestyle Brandon highlights Trevor’s success, including his bestselling book Three Simple Steps, his scientific background, and his astonishing business feats, setting the stage for deeper discussion.03:55 - Playing with elephants leads to an investor Brandon teases an upcoming story where a simple desire to play with elephants serendipitously connects Trevor with a major investor, hinting at the themes of curiosity and nonlinear success.06:04 - Trevor’s hidden lineage and the call to Norway Trevor reveals a deeply personal story about discovering his biological father—a Norwegian naval officer—and the full-circle moment of traveling to his father’s homeland decades later.10:00 - Redefining financial independence and real success Trevor contrasts conventional financial advice with his own philosophy: true independence precedes financial flow. He and Jess are living proof, having shed material possessions to travel freely.12:01 - Selling a company in a single day—while on a luxury cruise While cruising, Trevor spontaneously decides to sell one of his companies. By dinner, the deal is done. He emphasizes living intuitively and letting life unfold with ease.17:05 - Freedom through simplicity: Why now is the best time Trevor celebrates how modern tools like Starlink enable living freely from anywhere. He critiques hustle culture and asserts that independence doesn't require millions—just a decision to live differently.20:25 - Meeting extraordinary people through play and curiosity Trevor shares how he’s constantly encountering aligned, successful individuals during his travels—simply by engaging authentically and not chasing outcomes.28:25 - The elephant sanctuary story: Magic, tears, and a business breakthrough Trevor details the emotionally profound encounter with elephants in Phuket. The experience was so moving he cried—and it ended with the unexpected bonus of meeting a Swiss doctor who became an investor.34:22 - Quantum entanglement and serendipity: The physics of intuition Trevor explains how quantum physics, specifically entanglement, can help make sense of magical meetings like the one in Thailand. When aligned with energy, he believes people and ideas naturally connect.43:22 - Brain-forward vs. torso wand decision-making Trevor introduces the concept of the “torso wand,” representing the alignment of the solar plexus, heart, and brain. He explains how shifting from analytical problem-solving to intuitive flow changed everything for him.50:31 - Biography-inspired transformation: From bullied teen to nine-figure exits Trevor credits reading hundreds of biographies as the foundation for creating his three simple steps. These helped him escape poverty, join the Navy, and later build wildly successful companies.55:18 - Balancing brain, heart, and intuition for ease and...

Gil Petersil used to feel awkward speaking to people.With English as his third language, Gil built his confidence by serving hundreds of homeless people… and going to speed dating events.Today, he’s known as a global leader in the world of networking—building relationships with royalty in Indonesia and running thousands of events worldwide, including many for Tony Robbins.There is SO much magic in this episode, but here are 3 fun things to look forward to:How cooking a chanterelle mushroom for spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle led to Gil producing his largest event in Russia (6,000+ people) and getting invited to vacation with Eckhart’s familyUnlocking the power of “Quantum Networking” — and how Gil uses “time algorithms” and “networking codes” to build deep relationshipsWhat Gil learned about connection from being DISCONNECTED by spending 72 hours in complete darknessIf you’re ready to take your relationships to the next level, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Gil Petersil Brandon sets the stage for a wildly engaging episode featuring global networking expert Gil Petersil, highlighting stories involving Tony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle, and even networking during a darkness retreat.00:01:08 - The power of small actions and foreshadowing Eckhart Tolle Brandon teases three key stories: Gil's time with the homeless, his mushroom-cooking moment with Eckhart Tolle, and how he networks in complete darkness.00:02:28 - Gil Petersil's background and tea-powered facilitation Brandon shares Gil’s impressive bio, including his quantum networking expertise and his integration of tea ceremonies into strategic facilitation work.00:05:13 - Practicing networking with homeless people in London Gil recounts his early 20s in London, where he left a corporate job and began engaging in deep conversations with homeless people to improve his English and develop human connection skills.00:07:29 - Lessons in empathy and humanity from the streets Gil reflects on the most powerful takeaways from those conversations: empathy, soul-level connection, and the realization that anyone can end up in difficult life circumstances.00:12:26 - Cooking for Eckhart Tolle and building an unlikely bond Gil recalls nervously preparing chanterelle mushrooms at a retreat—only for Eckhart Tolle to walk in and accept the meal, eventually leading to Gil organizing Tolle’s largest-ever event in Russia.00:17:28 - Networking as a thousand-step journey with Eckhart Tolle Gil discusses the year-and-a-half-long process to bring Eckhart to Moscow and the unexpected depth of their eventual connection, including a family vacation together.00:18:40 - Disrupting networking norms through darkness retreats Gil shares how 72 hours in complete darkness helped him identify and reconnect with significant people in his life, reflecting on his relationship to presence, time, and disconnection.00:24:18 - Quantum networking and writing in the dark Inside the darkness retreat, Gil used an ingenious system to write and meditate on networking entanglements, karmic energy, and deepening valuable relationships.00:26:30 - Follow-up as soul nourishment, not CRM tracking Gil breaks down his intuitive follow-up system, including daily practices like scrolling WhatsApp and re-engaging people with heartfelt, time-aware voice notes.00:39:12 - Live experiment: Brandon challenges Gil to a real-time follow-up In a spontaneous moment, Brandon has Gil scroll four times in his WhatsApp and send a...

Back in college, I took a $2,000 prize from a business plan competition in Sweden and made what seemed like a bold move at the time…I invested all of it into an online course called Zero to Launch by Ramit Sethi.One of the star students featured in the program?Selena Soo.Even then, I was blown away by her track record — so it was kind of a funny and full circle moment when my friend Jhana Li introduced me to her to bring her on the podcast to talk about her new book Rich Relationships.Over the past 10 years, Selena has generated over $13M in revenue, built 400+ affiliate and referral partnerships, and helped thousands of entrepreneurs land features in places like Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and The Drew Barrymore Show.But here’s what impressed me most:Her intentional way of approaching relationships.In this episode, we dive into some seriously transformational stuff, including:💸 The “Generosity Fund” — a brilliant idea that redefines ROI in relationships and might make you rethink your Facebook ads budget🔎 How to identify your unconscious patterns that may have lead to unhealthy relationships — and how to rewrite them🫶 Selena’s “GIVE” Framework — how to make clear, generous asks that actually inspire people to want to support youWe also talk about the Six Circles of Connection — her mental model for protecting your energy and getting clear on which relationships to invest in and how.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to “network,” unsure how to ask for support, or drained by lopsided relationships…This episode will rewire how you think about connection.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Selena Soo Brandon Fong introduces the show and highlights Selena Soo's impactful work. He shares a personal full-circle story about discovering Selena through Ramit Sethi’s course and announces the main themes of today’s episode: the generosity fund, the GIVE framework, healing unhealthy patterns, and Selena’s six circles of connection model.00:05:24 - Selena shares a story of her mother’s fearless curiosity and social grace Selena recounts a touching story about her mother making an unexpected connection with a punk couple at a sushi bar in NYC. The anecdote illustrates the value of curiosity and presence in creating rich relationships, setting the stage for defining what those relationships look like.00:10:22 - The serendipitous moment Selena met Ramit Sethi Selena shares how spotting Ramit Sethi on the street led to a transformative mentorship. She describes going above and beyond by offering five hours of feedback instead of five minutes—an act of "breathtaking generosity" that became a pillar in her success and philosophy.00:15:22 - What is a “rich relationship”? Selena defines her core concept Selena outlines her definition: a relationship that enriches your life through abundance, alignment with your goals, and inspiration to become your best self. Brandon and Selena unpack the depth-over-width mindset for nurturing meaningful connections.00:18:01 - Introducing Selena’s “Six Circles of Connection” framework Selena dives into her popular model for managing relationship energy: Circle 1 (innermost) through Circle 6 (unconnected). She explains how to apply this model to prioritize and categorize relationships for personal and professional growth.00:26:28 - How Selena uses a “Top 40 List” to stay in touch with key connections Brandon asks how Selena operationalizes her relationships. Selena describes maintaining a dynamic list of 40 people to nurture throughout the year with a monthly “nurturing appointment” to stay connected and intentionally...

Here’s a small sample of where Johann Nogueira’s curiosity has taken him:Built a SaaS company from $0 to $20M in 4 years.Created a board game to teach his son how to build a business from $0 to $10M.Rallied 30+ companies and 600,000 people to launch a COVID app in 10 days — and why the Australian government and its 3 biggest tech companies came knockingConsulted for an IVF clinic and built an app that increased success rates by 35%.Oh, and he’s had three billionaire mentors.Needless to say… Johann doesn’t think like most people.This episode is a fascinating invitation into the mind of someone who solves BIG problems, plays a BIG game, and genuinely makes the world a better place.Here are just a few things you’ll take away from this conversation:Why playing bigger can actually be easier — and more effective — than playing smallHow he built relationships with his billionaire mentors — and how they radically rewired how he thinksThe exact mindset and strategies Johann uses to turn top competitors into high-leverage strategic partnersThis one’s a peek into the mind of a man who plays the business game on an entirely different level.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Johann Nogueira Brandon introduces the show and highlights Johann’s extraordinary background—building a SaaS company from $0 to $20M in 4 years, launching a COVID tracing app in 10 days, designing a business education board game for his son, and having 3 billionaire mentors.00:04:32 - Johann’s board game: Teaching his son to build an 8-figure company Johann shares how he designed a board game to simulate building a business, complete with strategies, setbacks like cyberattacks and lawsuits, and advanced features like dream team modules and capital reinvestment.00:08:42 - The IVF app that increased pregnancy success rates by 35% Johann discusses consulting with a major IVF clinic and identifying that stress was the biggest success barrier. He created an app delivering meditations and educational content during the critical two-week waiting period post-procedure.00:11:09 - Engineering emotional intelligence through data and journey mapping Johann explains how deep interviews and journey mapping led to the IVF app’s success, emphasizing Kaizen and emotional design to optimize user experience.00:14:26 - COVID hits: The rapid launch of a contact tracing app with 600,000 supporters Within 10 days of COVID lockdowns, Johann rallies 30 companies to build a contact tracing app. Despite political pressure and governmental interference, the project unites the tech community for public good.00:18:31 - Playing bigger is easier: The psychology behind solving massive problems Johann explains why aiming high attracts better resources and collaborators. He illustrates this through stories of helping others go from nothing to visionary goals with massive support.00:21:07 - From PhD in agriculture to entrepreneurial powerhouse Johann traces his journey from academia to financial freedom via eBay, affiliate marketing, lead gen, and ultimately founding multiple 7- and 8-figure companies by applying scientific rigor to business.00:24:24 - A $365,000 problem solved with a mobile app: Real estate SaaS genesis After noticing inefficiencies in building communication, Johann develops an app that eliminates paper notices, boosts community, and generates revenue through stakeholder services.00:29:22 - Scaling from $0 to $20M: Identifying value and optimizing high-ticket offerings Brandon and Johann break down...

The other day I tuned into a presentation from a $50M/year entrepreneur.The guy was clearly brilliant. He had experience. Wisdom. Insight.But here’s the thing:I walked away remembering none of it.Maybe I zoned out. But it got me thinking…How often does this happen?We sit through 60+ minutes of content, and walk away with nothing that sticks.It’s frustrating, sure — but here’s the real question:Do people remember you after your presentations?Today’s guest, Meredith Grundei, is on a mission to make sure they do.A seasoned performer, TikTok creator (100K+ followers), and former Second City improv teacher, Meredith helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders turn their message into unforgettable experiences.She blends storytelling, theatre, and improv to make important ideas come alive.In this episode, you’ll learn:🎭 How to turn any ordinary object into a powerful presentation tool (we do this live, improv-style)🔥 How Meredith healed generational trauma through a one-woman show — and how your story can move people too💡 How to find the “hook” in your message that leaves a lasting impressionIf you care about creating impact with your ideas, this one’s for you.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Meridith Grundei Brandon Fong opens the episode with enthusiasm, introducing Meridith Grundei—actor, Second City improv teacher, speaker coach, and TikTok creator. He previews the episode’s highlights: using improv to boost communication, Meridith’s winding journey through dance and acting, and her solo show that helped her heal generational trauma.00:01:31 - Improvising with a Toy Boat: A Live Improv Demo Brandon and Meridith engage in a spontaneous improv exercise, using a toy boat from Brandon’s Zoom background. They build a playful and creative presentation introduction on the fly, showcasing how props and improv can instantly energize communication.00:02:14 - From Dancing Muskrat to Improv Queen: Meridith’s Creative Odyssey Meridith’s journey from childhood dance, to performing as a muskrat on roller skates, to competitive cycling, and finally to improv and acting reflects her instinct to follow curiosity and non-linear paths to purpose.00:04:26 - The Wonder Woman Moment That Changed Everything Meridith recounts a pivotal moment at age 13 when she was asked to speak a line in a dance performance—"I want to be just like Wonder Woman"—which led a mentor to suggest she try acting, helping her break through shyness and discover her voice.00:10:34 - Chicago and Second City: The Start of a New Chapter After moving to San Francisco and dabbling in road cycling, Meridith moves to Chicago and finds her calling at Second City through an internship and a connection made while teaching after-school theater. She helps build the youth improv program and deepens her passion for performance.00:19:07 - Bringing Play into Corporate Training: Improv at Amazon AWS Meridith shares how she uses jazz hands, shimmy breaks, and unexpected prompts to dissolve resistance and infuse energy into high-stakes corporate workshops—including those at AWS. Her mantra: stop taking yourself so seriously, and play more.00:24:05 - Using Movement and Humor to Shift Stuck Energy Meridith explains how she breaks tension in daily life using movement, sarcasm, and humor, whether in workout classes or conversations. She emphasizes the power of being playful as a tool for emotional release.00:26:33 - Healing Through Theater: The Birth of “Nothing Further”...

5 Companies… $12M in sales…. Being married to her best friend… and having 5 boys.Is there really much more I need to say?Seriously, I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Amy Walker.In today’s episode, you’ll learn:How Amy shifted from running one company that did about $600,000 in sales to running five companies that are collectively generating about 12 million annually in ONE yearHow on earth Amy can do this while also raising 5 boysHow Amy thinks about acquiring businesses with no money downWhy Amy believes God is her business partner, and how she leverages her spirituality to inform her decision makingHow Amy thinks about jumping into the unknown, and what that has to do with barfing on a guy with a man bunIf you’re someone who is committed to living a full and meaningful life relentlessly pursuing what success means to you… this is a fun one!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Amy Walker Brandon welcomes listeners and previews Amy Walker’s incredible journey, including how she scaled from one company to five generating $12M annually, all while raising five boys. He introduces Amy as a business strategist, speaker, and founder of The Exit School.00:33 - Amy’s skydive story that ended in mid-air barf Amy kicks things off with a humorous tale of skydiving that ended in her vomiting on her tandem partner, setting the stage for a candid and adventurous conversation.01:20 - Three key takeaways to listen for in this episode Brandon outlines what listeners should pay attention to: Amy’s business expansion, how she manages seven businesses and five kids, and how her faith guides her entrepreneurial journey.03:39 - Starting a business six weeks before giving birth Amy recounts launching Amy Walker Consulting during her third trimester with her fifth child. She explains being inspired to leap, despite enjoying a stable role making $15K–$18K/month.08:03 - Creating her first business plan in a basement with a stranger (now her partner) Amy describes the pivotal conversation with John Rogers, where they mapped out her new consulting business from scratch at a retreat, leading to $114K in revenue in the first year.10:59 - Learning to jump into the unknown and trust divine timing Amy uses cliff jumping as a metaphor for entrepreneurship, reflecting on when she jumped too soon or unprepared and the value of learning through bruises (literally and figuratively).17:00 - How Amy co-works with God through prayer journaling Amy shares her powerful process of business partnership with God, including prayer journaling as a tool to move from confusion to clarity. She explains how this spiritual practice influences decisions across business and family.25:21 - The skydiving analogy returns: scaling to $12M across five businesses Amy breaks down her year of acquiring companies, from the thrill of the deal to the inevitable moment of realizing the challenges and needing to recalibrate. She likens it to puking mid-air and finding calm afterward.33:48 - The Exit School and helping others build wealth through acquisition Brandon prompts Amy to talk about her business education company and how she teaches people—especially unlikely entrepreneurs—to buy and run successful businesses.34:35 - Marie’s Crumbl Cookie acquisition story: From 0 to $6M exit in 1 year Amy shares the inspiring journey of Marie, who acquired underperforming Crumbl Cookie franchises with no money down and increased their value through operational improvements.39:25 - No money

If you asked me:“Brandon, what ideas have most impacted your life?”I’d give two answers:My Find Your Four™ concept that my entire world is built around+2 EnergyThese two concepts unlock the ability to:Build a life doing the things you love the most With the people that bring you the most energyI’ve gone deep on Find Your Four™ already… but today is an opportunity to go SUPER deep on +2 Energy.On the surface, it’s a very simple concept:After every interaction you have, rate your ENERGY level from -2 to +2.You’ll start to notice several things:When you feel +2 energy from someone, they most likely feel +2 energy from youTherefore, anyone ELSE that YOU feel +2 energy from, that same person will also likely feel +2 energy (and vice versa)When you connect +2 humans to other +2 humans, EVERYONE winsThis simple concept has literally created an energy vortex of transformational humans.So much so that most people that operate in the “+2 World” are often receiving 10 or more incredibly transformational intros every single week.Randy introduced me to JenniferI introduced Braxton to Yasmina. I introduced Randy to Yasmina.Yasmina introduced Braxton to Jennifer.Jennifer introduced Braxton to Randy.TLDR = everyone got connected to everyone, all off of the basis of +2 energy.Because this is such an important concept, that I talk about all the time, I wanted a deep dive “Masterclass” on this subject that covers perspectives from how people have implemented this concept.So, I brought on THREE of the humans most responsible for transforming my life with this concept:Randy MollandMark FujiwaraJennifer HillI can’t wait for you to listen… and even better IMPLEMENT this concept.It’s truly changed so many people’s lives, so I’d be honored to introduce it to you ❤️Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guests, Randy Molland, Jennifer Hill, and Mark Fujiwara Brandon Fong shares a heartfelt intro to three of the most influential people in his life, teasing the transformative “plus two” concept that has reshaped his energy, fulfillment, and relationships. He forgoes formal bios to speak from personal experience, expressing deep gratitude and excitement for this powerful conversation.01:05 - Introducing Randy Molland and the "Plus Two" concept Brandon describes Randy as the lead domino in introducing him to both the plus two concept and the other two guests. He highlights how Randy’s energy and connections radically influenced his podcast and life.02:04 - Introducing Mark Fujiwara and Jennifer Hill Brandon introduces Mark as a soulful brother in the wealth management space who’s transitioning to purpose-driven “Ikigai” work. He introduces Jen as a spiritually attuned super-connector and founder of OptiMatch, whose influence has shaped countless episodes of the show.06:30 - The origin of the "Plus Two" concept from a Tim Ferriss podcast Mark shares how he discovered the plus two energy scale through Jim Collins on Tim Ferriss’ podcast, and how he adapted it to track his energy in 15-minute increments, eventually discovering how deeply negative interactions affected his energy at home with his daughter.10:49 - Randy on operationalizing the Plus Two concept in networking Randy recounts how he simplified Mark’s system to assess people energetically after meetings and categorized them in his CRM from minus...