NAKED by The Future Farm

In this week’s ExtraNAKED episode, Vladi and Nektarios reflect on what’s been going on in their lives (a lot can happen in a week!), and on their conversation with Joshua Haynes, where they talk about his vulnerability and openness. They dedicate the beginning of the discussion to eating disorders and body image, and explore their own childhood experiences related to this, including coping mechanisms and root causes. Both our hosts are incredibly raw in sharing how much their early experiences have had an impact on their lives. Show notes Share your questions with Vladi and Nektarios at hello@thefuturefarm.co Listen to the guest episode with Joshua Haynes Connect with Joshua: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Connect with Masawa: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Reading materials: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts | Mator Gabé Let Your Life Speak | Parker Palmer How can you support the podcast? Tell your friends and share online. Subscribe & review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Podcasts) Spread the word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favourite episodes by posting it on social media. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince future guests to share their stories! For show notes and past guests, visit https://www.thefuturefarm.co/naked-podcast Don’t forget to sign up for more! Sign up for The Future Farm’s monthly newsletter (Pit-Stop) at https://www.thefuturefarm.co/newsletter Follow The Future Farm on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Joshua Haynes is an investor and founding partner of the world’s first mental wellness impact fund, Masawa. After beginning his career in business, innovation and entrepreneurship, and following time working for the Obama administration, Joshua founded Masawa, based on his own mental health journey. We talk about how his childhood poverty led him to develop coping mechanisms that led to unhealthy behaviours as an adult, and how a combination of eating disorders, alcohol abuse, anxiety and depression resulted in his breakdown. Specific topics covered in this episode include: The signals we get from our body when something is wrong; The tools we can use to understand and cope with the signals, including the role that therapy and antidepressants can play; How Joshua manages his own mental health while running a mental health business; In addition, we discuss the following questions: What tools are available to help manage mental health? What is the importance of playfulness? What is new on the horizon in the area of mental health support? Show notes Connect with Joshua: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Connect with Masawa: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Reading materials: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts | Mator Gabé Let Your Life Speak | Parker Palmer How can you support the podcast? Tell your friends and share online. Subscribe & review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Podcasts) Spread the word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favourite episodes by posting it on social media. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince future guests to share their stories! For show notes and past guests, visit https://www.thefuturefarm.co/naked-podcast Don’t forget to sign up for more! Sign up for The Future Farm’s monthly newsletter (Pit-Stop) at https://www.thefuturefarm.co/newsletter Follow The Future Farm on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Vladi and Nektarios are back with a new ExtraNAKED episode. They reflect on their conversation with Laura Shook Guzman and the impacts of trauma, both physically and mentally. Our hosts talk about better understanding trauma, what it means, and how trauma has had an affect on their lives. What are the root causes, how does our body signal that something is happening, how do we begin to heal? Show notes Share your questions with Vladi and Nektarios at hello@thefuturefarm.co Listen to the guest episode with Laura Shook Guzman Connect with Laura: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Reading materials: What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing | Oprah Winfrey The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma | Bessel van der Kolk M.D. Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body | Peter A. Levine Ph.D. GenerativeWork.space/  How can you support the podcast? Tell your friends and share online. Subscribe & review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Podcasts) Spread the word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favourite episodes by posting it on social media. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince future guests to share their stories! For show notes and past guests, visit https://www.thefuturefarm.co/naked-podcast Don’t forget to sign up for more! Sign up for The Future Farm’s monthly newsletter (Pit-Stop) at https://www.thefuturefarm.co/newsletter Follow The Future Farm on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Laura Shook Guzman is a psychotherapist specialising in trauma. She is also a business founder, and is perfectly equipped to talk about the interplay between trauma and entrepreneurship. We talk about the importance of signals, and how our brain is good at rationalising things even when our body disagrees. We discuss the impact trauma can have on how we respond to situations, especially in the world of entrepreneurship; and how Laura’s own traumatic moments have played a pivotal role in her life. Specific topics covered in this episode include: The signs we see or feel on an entrepreneurial journey, and where we need to look for them; How trauma can be stored in our bodies and the impact it has on our lives; Laura’s reflection on how her own trauma is linked closely to moments in her career; The relationship between trauma and entrepreneurship. In addition, we discuss the following questions: Where do we need to look for the signals? How do we learn to find compassion for the way the nervous system responds? How do you manage psychological problems when you ‘know the tricks’ and the importance of peer support and mentors? Show notes Connect with Laura: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Reading materials: The Big Leap | Gay Hendricks #Tools4Founders Project  Meditative Story Podcast  Self-Compassion.org How can you support the podcast? Tell your friends and share online. Subscribe & review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Podcasts) Spread the word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favourite episodes by posting it on social media. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince future guests to share their stories! For show notes and past guests, visit https://www.thefuturefarm.co/naked-podcast Don’t forget to sign up for more! Sign up for The Future Farm’s monthly newsletter (Pit-Stop) at https://www.thefuturefarm.co/newsletter Follow The Future Farm on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Vladi and Nektarios are back with a new ExtraNAKED episode. They reflect on their conversation with Yves Cornu and the high pressure environment that is the world of fashion. They talk about the parallels between the startup world and Yves’ world; identity and where validation comes from; and authentic relationships. Show notes Share your questions with Vladi and Nektarios at hello@thefuturefarm.co Listen to the guest episode with Yves Cornu Connect with Yves: LinkedIn How can you support the podcast? Tell your friends and share online. Subscribe & review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Podcasts) Spread the word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favourite episodes by posting it on social media. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince future guests to share their stories! For show notes and past guests, visit https://www.thefuturefarm.co/naked-podcast Don’t forget to sign up for more! Sign up for The Future Farm’s monthly newsletter (Pit-Stop) at https://www.thefuturefarm.co/newsletter Follow The Future Farm on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

TRIGGER WARNING: Please be aware that this episode covers sensitive topics including suicide. If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting themselves, contact a hotline: Global Suicide Hotline Resources Yves Cornu started off following his passion studying Russian Literature, but ended up in the high stakes environment of Haute Couture. He opens a window into a world where everything is about appearance and perception. Where everything is a performance.  We learn how Yves’ desire to belong and the pressure to fit in and keep up slowly sent him spiralling - hanging out with the biggest names in fashion was an easy escape from reality. Specific topics covered in this episode include: The high-pressure stakes in the fashion world and the impact it has on your health; What led to Yves’ breaking point and ultimately his breakdown; Burnout, identity, purpose and suicidal thoughts; Yves’ reflection on his former life, what saved him and how he lives his life today. In addition, we discuss the following questions: How do you recover from a breakdown and remove yourself from a toxic environment? How do you rebuild your life? How do you walk back into the business you left behind or get up and start something new? Show notes Connect with Yves: LinkedIn Reading materials: The Master and Margarita | Mikhail Bulgakov Mémoires d'Outre Tombe |  François-René Vicomte D Chateaubriand Siberian Shamanism: The Shanar Ritual of the Buryats How can you support the podcast? Tell your friends and share online. Subscribe & review: Please make sure to review, share comments & subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Podcasts) Spread the word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favourite episodes by posting it on social media. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference in helping to convince future guests to share their stories! For show notes and past guests, visit https://www.thefuturefarm.co/naked-podcast Sign up for The Future Farm’s monthly newsletter (Pit-Stop) at https://www.thefuturefarm.co/newsletter Follow The Future Farm on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

It’s time to pause and reflect on the stories we’ve shared in the last series of the podcast, before we introduce our upcoming series. In this special ‘Best of’ episode, Vladi and Nektarios introduce some of their series highlights, with a compilation of clips excerpted from a handful of our guests. Guests featured in this episode (all hyperlinked to their respective episodes where you can also read the episode notes) are as follows: Dame Kelly Holmes Stefan Kollenberg Dr. Michael Freeman Noa Matz Leyla Hussein James Routledge We’d love to hear your questions, thoughts and stories, to share on the podcast. Get in touch with us on social media or visit thefuturefarm.co. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review NAKED. Stay tuned for series 3 coming soon!

On this week’s episode, Vladi and Nektarios discuss the current state of their own mental health, personal challenges they’ve faced this week, and reflect on their conversation with Dan Murray-Serter. They talk about the variety of symptoms of poor mental health that entrepreneurs recognise but ignore; ego and where validation comes from; and the importance of good nutrition. Share your questions and thoughts with us and if you enjoyed the conversation, please leave us a review.

Why do we as entrepreneurs tell ourselves stories to normalise the mental health challenges we are facing? How much of this is influenced by the image of entrepreneurship portrayed by the media, that we adopt unchallenged? How does ego and masculinity play into it? “Your body is giving you an alarm signal that what you’re doing to yourself is not good and you need to make sure you’re looking after yourself.” As host of Europe’s top business podcast and founder of a brain care company, Dan Murray-Serter has long been an advocate for better mental health. He uses his platforms to share a candid account of his own mental health struggles, which have included burnout, chronic anxiety and insomnia. Dan joins Vladi and Nektarios for the final episode of Series 2, where he talks about his mental health journey and how he overcame the challenges he faced. Dan shares that he ignored all the signs his body was sending. He put a lot of effort into pretending that everything was fine, all while struggling under the surface. He tried different avenues of support, before a friend recommended a nutritionist, who recognised that his problem, rather than psychological, was linked to his brain and his plant-based lifestyle. Dan says that making changes to his diet transformed his life: the right nutrition and regular movement are key to good mental health. You can follow Dan Murray-Serter on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. For more about Dan and his business, Heights, visit https://www.yourheights.com/ Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review NAKED. To learn more about The Future Farm, follow us on social media or visit thefuturefarm.co

On this week’s episode, Vladi and Nektarios continue the conversation on the practices that they have in their lives to manage their mental health, and reflect on their discussion with Dr. Michael Freeman. They go into depth on caring about entrepreneurs as people - if you care about entrepreneurs as people, then you care about a lot of the things that we talk about; the personality traits of an entrepreneur and their own backgrounds in relation to this. Share your questions and thoughts with us and leave us a review.

Entrepreneurs have unique characteristics; what are the traits that make somebody do something risky and unpredictable like starting a business? How much control do we have over the entrepreneurial urge? Can you learn to be an entrepreneur or is it something you’re born with? “I have this unique experience of being an entrepreneur, understanding mental health and going on the same journey as everybody that I’m trying to understand.” Dr. Michael Freeman is the author of one of the only studies on the relationship between entrepreneurship and mental and emotional health. As a psychiatrist, psychologist, researcher and importantly, an entrepreneur himself, he brings authenticity and credibility to the conversation on entrepreneurial wellbeing. Michael joins Vladi and Nektarios for a special episode that explores the unique traits that make an entrepreneur. He talks about the role of motivation, curiosity and extroversion; how entrepreneurs have superpowers; the mental health challenges business builders are likely to face, and how much control we actually have over this. Michael shares insights from his own experiences as well as from his research, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, self-care and developing practices to prepare for the entrepreneurial journey. When talking about how we can help change the stigma around mental health, he left us thinking about one question: do you care about entrepreneurs as people? You can follow Dr. Michael Freeman on LinkedIn and his business Econa - Entrepreneur Mental Wellness, on LinkedIn and Twitter. For more about Michael and his research, visit his website. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review NAKED. To learn more about The Future Farm, follow us on social media or visit thefuturefarm.co

On this week’s episode, Vladi and Nektarios expand on their last ExtraNAKED conversation about their personal self-care practices and small habits, and reflect on the most recent NAKED episode with Selma Ribica. They talk about depression and the stigmas around the topic in different cultures; being vulnerable and vocal about mental health; and the importance of talking and therapy. Share your questions and thoughts with us and we’ll include a selection in the next episode of ExtraNAKED.

TRIGGER WARNING: Please be aware that this episode contains information and discussion on postpartum depression, which some listeners may find triggering. For more information and support, visit Postpartum Support International. How do you manage the struggle of early motherhood and building a business? How do you overcome the feelings of guilt and shame attached to postpartum depression and mental health? As a VC, why is it important to share your entrepreneurial journey with other entrepreneurs? “I was being torn between these two pools, the business and the baby. Both were demanding a huge amount of energy.” Selma Ribica built her first business while pregnant with her first child. There was no awareness of mental health in her life and no space to talk about the ‘taboo’ topic.  How do you manage when you are pulled in multiple directions? Selma’s answer was to be operational. Now a two-time successful entrepreneur turned investor, Selma is at a point in her life where she feels ready to talk about her depression -- which, after some encouragement from her husband to seek help, was eventually diagnosed as postpartum depression. Selma shares with Vladi and Nektarios that feeling of being split between business and family, the feelings of failure, guilt and shame that came with her diagnosis, and why mental health carries a stigma that physical health doesn’t. She also talks about the importance of therapy in her recovery, and small daily rituals of self-care: sleep, yoga and meditation. Now a VC, Selma is helping to destigmatise the subject by sharing her story with entrepreneurs. You can follow Selma Ribica on LinkedIn and Instagram. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review NAKED. To learn more about The Future Farm, follow us on social media or visit thefuturefarm.co

On this week’s ExtraNAKED episode, Vladi and Nektarios reflect on their conversation with Michael Lints, where Burnout remains a central theme of the series. They talk about how they have experienced struggles similar to those that Michael shared; how they have come to recognise the signals of mental health stress; and the self-care practices and tools that they have established for themselves. Often it's the small things that can make a difference. Share your questions and thoughts with us and we’ll include a selection in the next episode of ExtraNAKED.

What do you do when the world stops turning and your day-to-day responsibilities shift? How do you find new meaning? What do you see as real value to your life? As a VC, how do you build stronger relationships with the founders? “I had to step back and think about what my value is, as a person, a colleague, a friend, a husband and that hit me hard.” Michael Lints is a Singapore-based VC, and until the Covid-19 pandemic, led a busy and intense life. What do you do with all your time when you are suddenly not running from meeting to meeting, or on a plane flying to the next place? Challenges with our mental and emotional wellbeing can impact anyone, and Michael is an example of this. Having established a practice of introspection through journaling, as well as mediation and self-reflection through martial arts, Michael is highly self-aware. But once the intensity of the day-to-day was taken away, he felt empty and questioned his value, across all aspects of his life. Michael shares with Vladi and Nektarios how he had to dig deep to understand what was happening and be candid with himself. He also talks about recognising the external signals - drinking more to compensate or having no energy for sports - and making a conscious effort to change his habits. All of this happening in parallel with the Black Lives Matter movement bringing the scale of systemic racism to the world’s attention. You can follow Michael Lints on Twitter and Instagram, connect with him on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review NAKED. To learn more about The Future Farm, follow us on social media or visit thefuturefarm.co