Part 1 of 2: 🎙"Why DEI Failed: Jessica Pettitt on Project 2025 and the Myth of Progress." . What if the only way to fix DEI is to admit that almost everything we've been doing was performative from the start? . Description What if the entire conversation about DEI has been built on a fragile foundation of performance, guilt, and corporate fear, instead of anything real and human? In this explosive first part of my conversation with Jessica Pettitt, we go straight into the political and cultural landmines that leaders pretend not to see. Jessica is a seasoned DEI strategist, stand-up comic, and one of the few people in America who actually read the very controversial Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 cover to cover. What she discovered inside that document, its history, its intentions, and yes, even the parts she agrees with, will challenge every assumption you have about where the United States is headed, culturally and politically. And we don't stop there. We dig into the dark psychology of humor, trauma in leadership, and why some people become rigid. In contrast, others become deeply compassionate, and how self-awareness is usually the biggest illusion in the room. We confront what happens when organizations pretend to care, when DEI becomes a corporate accessory, and when leaders fail to examine what they are responsible for. This conversation isn't about ideology. It's about reality. And it might be the most honest discussion about DEI you've heard in years. . 🔥 In This Episode • Why DEI failed, and why performance culture set it up to fail • Jessica's surprising history with stand-up comedy, politics, and George Carlin ("Safety") • The dark psychology comedians and leaders share • Why trauma creates either deep compassion or rigid absolutism in high performers • The part of Project 2025 that shocked Jessica the most; because she agreed with it • The danger of people who "think" they are self-aware • Why most people outsource their beliefs instead of thinking • The simplest question that exposes a leader's real level of awareness: What are you responsible for? • Why reading original sources matters more than consuming opinions about them • What liberals misunderstand about conservatives, and what conservatives misunderstand about liberals • How to have a real conversation across differences without buzzwords • Why most organizations cannot tell the difference between harm reduction and performance branding . 👊 About Jessica Pettitt Jessica Pettitt is the DEI strategist organizations call when their "good intentions" start causing real harm. She is the author of Almost Doing Good, a professional truth-teller, and one of the few people who has deeply analyzed Project 2025 from 1972 to today. Her approach blends candor, humor, deep research, and a refusal to hide behind Instagram-friendly platitudes. . 🔗 Connect With Jessica Pettitt Website & Project 2025 Resources: https://jesspettitt.com/project-2025 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@JessPettitt Playlist (32 chapter discussions): Search "Jess Pettitt Project 2025" on YouTube Book: Almost Doing Good . 💥 Listen If You've Ever • Wondered whether DEI actually works—or if it ever has • Watched your company abandon initiatives it once claimed to "stand for" • Felt uneasy about how polarized conversations have become • Wanted to understand why people cling to rigid views • Been curious about what Project 2025 actually says (not what people claim it says) • Suspected that your definition of "responsibility" has been outsourced to someone else • Wanted a conversation about politics and culture without extremism, performance, or bullshit . 💭 Reflection Question for Listeners What are you truly responsible for, and how much of your worldview was handed to you instead of chosen?
Part 2 of 2: "Why Becoming Your Future Self Requires Letting Go | Dr. Benjamin Hardy" What if the hardest part of becoming your future self isn't discipline or clarity, but the willingness to let go of what once made you successful?. Episode Description Part 1 revealed why meaning comes before courage. Part 2 reveals the price of acting on that meaning. In this continuation, Dr. Benjamin Hardy takes the conversation out of the abstract and into lived reality. He dismantles one of the most seductive lies in personal growth: that you can create a radically different future without giving up the past that built your current life. Using the 80/20 principle, Dr. Hardy explains why most people remain trapped in "2x thinking", incremental improvement driven by familiarity, safety, and social approval. True 10x growth, he argues, is not additive. It is subtractive. It requires stripping away nearly everything that does not belong to the future you are committed to becoming. Together, Dov and Ben explore why letting go feels like tearing off a limb, how family and loved ones unconsciously resist your transformation, and why honesty, not harmony, is the foundation of real growth. This episode is not motivational. It is clarifying. And for many listeners, it will be confronting. . 👤 About Dr. Benjamin Hardy Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist and bestselling author whose work focuses on courage, transformational leadership, and exponential growth. His research explores how future identity, meaning, and commitment drive extraordinary personal and professional change. He is the author of Willpower Doesn't Work and Personality Isn't Permanent, and a sought-after speaker for entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 leaders. Website https://benjaminhardy.com https://FutureSelf.com Social Media https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminhardy88 https://www.facebook.com/benjaminhardy88 https://twitter.com/BenjaminPHardy https://www.instagram.com/benjamin_hardy_phd 🔥 What This Episode Confronts Directly Why 2x growth protects the past while 10x growth demands transformation How the 80/20 principle becomes a truth filter, not a productivity hack Why most of what fills your life today actively blocks your future The emotional pain of releasing identity, habits, and relationships How "good" becomes the enemy of "great" Why family and friends often resist your growth out of love The difference between loyalty to people and loyalty to your future self Why progress begins with radical honesty How simplification unlocks depth, mastery, and freedom Key Moments From the Conversation 2x vs 10x Dr. Hardy explains that 2x growth allows you to keep 80 percent of your current life intact. It is past-driven, linear, and familiar. 10x growth, by contrast, requires keeping only the core 20 percent and releasing the rest. Not because it is bad, but because it cannot scale to who you are becoming. Letting Go Feels Like Loss Letting go of the 80 percent does not feel empowering at first. It feels like grief. Like ripping away parts of your identity, comfort, and history. Dr. Hardy is explicit: this pain is not a sign you're doing it wrong. It's the cost of transformation. Why Growth Threatens Relationships As you move toward your future self, people who love you often feel destabilized. Your growth represents their loss of familiarity. This is why honesty and boundaries, not reassurance, are required. You cannot protect others from the discomfort of your becoming. The Deeper Psychological Truth The mind is designed to keep you safe, not fulfilled. Safety preserves the past. Transformation threatens it. Dr. Hardy explains that without a compelling future, the mind defaults to protection. The only force strong enough to overcome this is a future self that feels real, meaningful, and emotionally alive. Reflection Question What part of your current life are you protecting out of familiarity, even though you know it does not belong to the future you claim to want? Sit with that. Don't rush past it.
Part 1 of 2: Why Meaning Comes Before Courage | Dr. Benjamin Hardy | 10X Yourself . What if the reason you're afraid to step into your future self has nothing to do with confidence, and everything to do with meaning? Description In this deeply unexpected and profoundly honest conversation, Dov Baron sits down with Dr. Benjamin Hardy for a dialogue that goes far beyond performance psychology and into the foundations of courage, faith, and identity. . For the first time publicly, Dr. Hardy shares his personal origin story, including his beliefs about God, purpose, and why he sees life itself as an educational journey rather than a test to pass or fail. What unfolds is not a debate about religion, but a powerful exploration of how meaning shapes courage, entrepreneurship, and the willingness to let go of who you used to be. . Together, Dov and Ben examine why so many high performers feel deflated even after achieving everything they were told would make them happy, and why clinging to a past identity quietly poisons the future you're trying to build. . This episode challenges the glossy image of entrepreneurship, confronts ego-driven success, and reframes leadership as an act of service rooted in dignity, not status. . If you've ever felt torn between who you've been and who you sense you're meant to become, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. 🔥 In This Episode Why achievement without meaning often leads to emptiness, not fulfillment Dr. Hardy's rarely shared beliefs about God, origin, and human potential How deep meaning fuels courage and psychological freedom The hidden cost of dragging your past identity into your future Why entrepreneurship, at its best, is a vehicle for service, not ego The difference between living for status and living with dignity How your view of your future self quietly shapes every decision you make today 👤 About Dr. Benjamin Hardy Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist and bestselling author whose work focuses on courage, transformational leadership, and exponential growth. His research explores how future identity, meaning, and commitment drive extraordinary personal and professional change. He is the author of Willpower Doesn't Work and Personality Isn't Permanent, and a sought-after speaker for entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 leaders. . Website https://benjaminhardy.com https://FutureSelf.com Social Media https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminhardy88 https://www.facebook.com/benjaminhardy88 https://twitter.com/BenjaminPHardy https://www.instagram.com/benjamin_hardy_phd 💭 Reflection Question If your future self no longer needs the identity that once kept you safe, what are you still holding onto, and why? 🔔 Up Next in Part 2 In the next episode, Dov and Dr. Hardy go deeper into the psychology of the future self, the illusion of being "finished," and how most people unknowingly sabotage their next evolution by confusing familiarity with truth. 🎧 Listen, Subscribe, and Share If this conversation challenged the way you think about success, courage, or identity, share it with a leader who's questioning what comes next. 🏷️ Hashtags #BenjaminHardy #FutureSelf #LeadershipAndLoyalty #MeaningOverMetrics #EntrepreneurialCourage #IdentityShift #PurposeDrivenLeadership #PersonalTransformation #EmotionalSourceCode #TheDovBaronShow
🎙️ "Stop Forcing Outcomes: Trevor Blake on Energy, Intention, and Creating Results Without Struggle." 🔥 What if struggle isn't noble, and the only reason your goals feel hard is that your energy is working against the future you're trying to build? …According to the physics of intention, most people are not failing. They are interfering. ⭐ DESCRIPTION In this second part of Dov Baron's conversation with Trevor Blake, we step past productivity, burnout, and brain performance into the deeper operating system that determines all success: energy, coherence, and intention. . Trevor explains why trying too hard actually collapses possibility, why the emotional field predicts outcomes before strategy does, and why most entrepreneurs unconsciously sabotage their breakthroughs by reverting to what feels familiar instead of what feels aligned. He reveals how childhood patterns shape the meaning we assign to effort, why the mind becomes addicted to struggle as an identity, and how to reset that pattern so creativity opens up again. . Together, Dov and Trevor dismantle the myth that success must be linear, logical, or earned through sacrifice. Instead, they explore how the future is created internally long before it appears externally, and how intention becomes a force multiplier when it's not polluted by fear, doubt, or overthinking. . If Part 1 rewired how you see burnout, Part 2 rewires how you see reality itself. ⭐ IN THIS EPISODE • Why struggle becomes a psychological addiction • The physics of "intention fields" and why they outperform strategy • How emotional incoherence collapses creative potential • Why logical people often block their own breakthroughs • How childhood meaning-making shapes adult ambition • Why trying harder limits what's available to you • The difference between force, effort, and aligned energy • Trevor's process for "winning internally" before taking action 👤 ABOUT TREVOR BLAKE Physicist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Three Simple Steps, Trevor Blake has built multiple nine-figure companies using principles rooted in creativity, neuroscience, and intention. His work challenges the myth that success requires stress, sacrifice, or struggle. 🔗 CONNECT WITH TREVOR BLAKE Website + resources: https://TrevorGBlake.com Twitter/X https://x.com/TrevorGBlakeInsta: https://www.instagram.com/trevorg.blake/ ⭐ 💥 LISTEN IF YOU'VE EVER… • Tried harder but made no progress • Felt like your ambition and energy were misaligned • Achieved success but felt empty afterward • Wanted to create instead of chase • Suspected your childhood shaped your work patterns • Wondered why your breakthroughs come when you stop trying . 🔥 CALL TO ACTION If this episode challenged the way you think about effort and success, hit subscribe now. Please share this with a leader still trapped in force so they can step into creation. ⭐ HASHTAGS #TrevorBlake #TheDovBaronShow #Intention #EnergyField #NonLinearSuccess #ThreeSimpleSteps #LeadershipRewired #EmotionalSourceCode #EliteThinkers #QuantumMindset #PurposeDrivenLeadership
🎙️ "Why Burnout Isn't Success: Trevor Blake on Rewiring Your Brain to Build Without Stress." 👊 What if everything you've been taught about hard work, ambition, and so-called 'success' is nothing more than a socially accepted nervous system collapse? . Because, according to neuroscience, and to today's guest, most leaders are not "driven." They're dysregulated. We glamorize exhaustion as ambition. We praise burnout as courage. We wear overwhelm like a badge of honor. . But biology says something very different. Chronic stress shrinks your hippocampus, throttles creativity, hijacks the nervous system, and turns leaders into threat-scanning machines instead of vision creators. . Dr. Trevor G. Blake: In this powerful first part of Dov Baron's conversation with Trevor Blake, the entrepreneur who built multiple nine-figure companies without employees, offices, or burnout, we dismantle the fantasy that suffering equals progress. . Trevor reveals how he used the science of coherence, the physics of energy, and a five-hour workday structure rooted in military and NASA brain research to build massive success without sacrificing health, relationships, or meaning. . This episode exposes why leaders become addicted to grind culture, how the dopamine loop masquerades as discipline, and the identity traps that pull entrepreneurs into endless cortisol cycles. It's a direct challenge to every belief you were taught about ambition. . If you want to lead from brilliance instead of biological chaos, this conversation is a reset button for your entire operating system. 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE • Why burnout is "biochemical chaos," not ambition • How NASA, the military, and neuroscience prove the brain only performs in short cycles • Why grind culture becomes a dopamine addiction • How Trevor built multiple nine-figure companies with no employees and no burnout • Why entrepreneurs mistake anxiety for productivity • The truth about multitasking, context shifting, and cognitive decline • How identity gets fused with hustle, and how to break that pattern • Why slowing down increases output and innovation 👤 ABOUT TREVOR BLAKE Trevor Blake is a physicist, entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author of Three Simple Steps, and the creator of multiple nine-figure exits. He built companies on coherence, alignment, and brain optimization instead of hustle. His ideas challenge everything the entrepreneurial world worships. 🔗 CONNECT WITH TREVOR BLAKE Website + resources: https://TrevorGBlake.com Twitter/X https://x.com/TrevorGBlakeInsta: https://www.instagram.com/trevorg.blake/ . 💥 LISTEN IF YOU'VE EVER… • Felt guilty slowing down • Achieved success but felt fried inside • Thought creativity should come from pressure • Wondered why your smartest decisions happen away from the desk • Wanted proof that you don't need burnout to build something meaningful 🔥 CALL TO ACTION If this episode challenged the way you think about ambition, subscribe right now. Share this with the one leader in your circle who still believes burnout is a strategy. Your curiosity is your edge—protect it. Hashtags #TrevorBlake #TheDovBaronShow #BurnoutMyth #NeuroscienceOfSuccess #FiveHourWorkday #LeadershipRewired #EmotionalSourceCode #EliteThinkers #Coherence #BrainPerformance #PurposeDrivenLeadership
PART 2 of 2 🎙️ "The Lies We Tell Ourselves: Susan Ibitz on Truth, Trauma, and the Patterns You Can't Hide" . Guest: Susan Ibitz, Former Political Influence Consultant, Profiler, and Civilian Hostage Negotiator 🔥 What if the most dangerous lies in your life are the ones you tell yourself about your past, your identity, and the person you insist you have already become? . This episode will push you to confront the truth you avoid, the story you hide, and the patterns that still drive you even when you swear they no longer matter. Episode Summary In part two of my conversation with Susan Ibitz, we go deeper into the psychology of human behavior, deception, survival, and the hidden emotional coding that shapes every decision, every relationship, and every leader. Susan has lived more lives than most people can imagine. From surviving a chaotic childhood in Buenos Aires to running political influence operations across the globe to being trained by Paul Ekman to profiling criminals and CEOs alike, she brings a level of experiential insight that punches through the nonsense fast. . This is a masterclass in human truth. We dismantle the myths of body language, the false confidence of pop psychology, and the ways people use oversimplified ideas to avoid confronting the deeper emotional facts of their own history. We discuss survival patterns, childhood adaptation, and how leaders unknowingly repeat unresolved trauma in the boardroom. Susan walks you through her own story, including the brutal honesty of being a dyslexic child misunderstood by her family, leaving home at seventeen with a backpack, being mentored by broken people who recognized her brilliance, running political campaigns on multiple continents, and building a career behind the scenes shaping powerful figures. She reveals how survivors read micro-signals before a mood becomes a word, the difference between real threat and imagined danger, and why most people misread others because they have never learned to read themselves. Prepare to be changed. What You Will Learn • Why most body-language advice is wrong, and how real profilers actually decode behavior • How childhood survival strategies become adult leadership blind spots • Why nuance and context matter more than any "tell" or gesture • How dangerous people actually choose their victims, and why your posture, tone, and energy decide everything • Why forgiveness has nothing to do with allowing people back into your life • How unresolved emotional history shows up in your leadership identity • The truth about political influence operations and the people behind the people • Why real strength is the courage to confront the story you keep avoiding 👤 About Susan Ibitz Susan Ibitz is a former political influence consultant, profiler, and civilian hostage negotiator. She is the author and researcher behind Irrational Humans and the founder of the Human Behavior Lab. Her specialty is decoding deception, patterns, and human behavior in high-pressure environments from sales to politics to crisis negotiation. 🔗 Connect with Susan Ibitz Website: https://susanibitz.comYouTube: Human Behavior Lab Blog: Irrational Humans LinkedIn: Susan Ibitz #SusanIbitz #TheDovBaronShow #HumanBehavior #EmotionalSourceCode #LeadershipPsychology #TraumaPatterns #BehavioralScience #SelfAwareness #EliteThinkers #PatternRecognition #IdentityWork #PsychologicalSafety #HighPerformanceLeadership #DecisionMaking #ReadingPeople #InfluenceWithoutManipulation
🎙️ "The Human Behavior Hacker: Susan Ibitz on Pattern Recognition, Hidden Agendas, and the Truth We Don't Want Seen" 🔥 What if someone could see the parts of you that you've spent years polishing, managing, or hiding… in less than 30 seconds? 📘 Description Most leaders believe they can read a room. Most believe their success sharpened their instincts. Most believe they can spot the liar, the manipulator, or the hidden agenda. . That confidence is often the most dangerous delusion in the room. . Today's guest doesn't just read people, she sees through them. . Susan Ibitz, known globally as "The Human Behavior Hacker," is a former political influence consultant, profiler, and civilian hostage negotiator. She is the author of Irrational Humans and founder of the Human Behavior Lab, where she teaches others to decode patterns most people will never notice. . But what makes her truly unsettling to leaders is this: She didn't learn to read humans from textbooks. She learned to survive. . Her dyslexia and Asperger's didn't hold her back; they rewired her into a world-class pattern recognizer who can see emotional seams and identity fractures long before her clients feel them. . In this gripping conversation, Susan and Dov tear down the myths of communication, curiosity, and "reading people." They expose why most leaders are blind to their own filters, how first impressions have nothing to do with you, and why ambivalent people are the most dangerous ones in the room. . And somewhere in the middle of this… you'll hear something you've never heard on a leadership podcast: . A master profiler explaining why she genuinely doesn't like people…(well a certain kind of people) . This episode will rewire the way you see communication, power, and the emotional logic driving every room you walk into. 🔥 In This Episode Why leaders massively overestimate their ability to read people The number one mistake everyone makes about human behavior Why communication fails even when you think you're being clear The danger of ambivalent people and hidden agendas How dyslexia and Asperger's became a superpower in Susan's work Why first impressions aren't personal and never were How curiosity, not technique, reveals the emotional truth What trauma teaches you about morphing and mirroring Why most "experts" don't know what they're talking about How to ask questions that evoke genuine emotion instead of rehearsed answers 👤 About Susan Ibitz Susan Ibitz is a former political influence consultant, profiler, and civilian hostage negotiator. She is the author and researcher behind Irrational Humans and founder of the Human Behavior Lab. Her specialty is decoding deception, patterns, and human behavior in high-pressure environments from sales to politics to crisis negotiation. 💥 Listen If You've Ever… Felt like you're missing the hidden dynamics in the rooms you lead Wanted to improve your communication but didn't know where to start Suspected people weren't telling you the truth, including yourself Wanted a deeper understanding of how irrational humans really are Been told you're "too intense," "too perceptive," or "too much" Wondered why certain people trigger you instantly Wanted the real tools—not the myths—to read people accurately 🔗 Connect with Susan Ibitz Website: https://susanibitz.comYouTube: Human Behavior Lab Blog: Irrational Humans LinkedIn: Susan Ibitz 💭 Before You Hit Play Ask yourself: What part of my identity am I protecting so fiercely that I can't see the truth right in front of me? #SusanIbitz #TheDovBaronShow #HumanBehavior #EmotionalSourceCode #LeadershipPsychology #TraumaPatterns #BehavioralScience #SelfAwareness #EliteThinkers #PatternRecognition #IdentityWork #PsychologicalSafety #HighPerformanceLeadership #DecisionMaking #ReadingPeople #InfluenceWithoutManipulation
🎙️Part 2 of 2: Jeff Burningham The Future of Human Wisdom . What part of you must die for humanity to survive the age of artificial intelligence? Description: In this gripping second half of the conversation, Jeff Burningham and Dov Baron go deeper into the crisis and opportunity of our time. AI is reshaping economics, politics, leadership, and identity, but Jeff argues the real transformation begins inside each of us. . Drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur, investor, bishop, political candidate, and now author of The Last Book Written by a Human, Jeff lays out what he believes are the four stages of human and technological evolution: disruption, reflection, transformation, and evolution. . He warns that AI will accelerate everything we have not resolved within ourselves. Division, greed, and power games are already cresting. If we do not evolve, we collapse. But Jeff is not a pessimist. He sees a doorway into a new kind of leader, a new kind of human, and a possible renaissance in human consciousness. . This is not a discussion about machines. It is a discussion about the soul, responsibility, ego death, and the courage to change the story before the story changes us. 🔥 In This Episode • Why Jeff titled his book The Last Book Written by a Human • How AI mirrors the heroic journey of disruption, reflection, transformation, and evolution • The spiritual trap of turning technology into a new god • The three escalating risks: disinformation, unemployment, and manipulated violence • Why men aged 18 to 40 are the demographic most vulnerable to unrest • Jeff's fear: that society will double down on division, greed, and power • Jeff's hope: a renaissance in human consciousness • Why systems must evolve from the inside out • What leaders must sacrifice for their people • Why a leader's courage determines whether AI becomes a tool for unity or destruction • How to stay human in a digital world through nature, silence, presence, and relationship • The practical steps Jeff uses to stay grounded in his own life 👊 About Jeff Burningham Entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Last Book Written by a Human, Jeff Burningham blends business success with deep spiritual inquiry. He has founded companies, run for governor, served as a bishop, and now writes about what technology cannot replace: wisdom, faith, responsibility, and human connection. Every insight shared here is grounded directly in his words from the conversation. 🔗 Connect with Jeff Burningham Website: https://jeffburningham.com Social: @JeffBurningham Book: The Last Book Written by a Human 💭 Reflection Challenge What part of your identity is resisting the transformation you know you need to make? #TheDovBaronShow #JeffBurningham #TheLastBookWrittenByAHuman #ArtificialIntelligence #Humanity #Identity #Faith #Awakening #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #SpiritualLeadership #FutureOfHumanity #SelfAwareness #ConsciousnessRenaissance #AIandEthics
🎙️What AI Can't Give You: Jeff Burningham on Faith, Identity, and the Human Problem . What if the real crisis of artificial intelligence is not technological at all, but spiritual? Description: Artificial intelligence is accelerating faster than any technology in human history. But according to Jeff Burningham, the real threat is not that machines will outperform us. The real threat is that we will forget what it means to be human. . In this intimate and often surprising conversation, Jeff recounts the collapse of the life he built. The pressure of building companies, chasing success, running for Governor, and tying his identity to constant doing finally broke him apart. What followed was not a business pivot but a spiritual reckoning that reshaped how he sees himself, his faith, and his place in a world racing toward automation. . Together, Jeff Burningham and Dov Baron explore why the future belongs to people who cultivate wisdom, humility, and soul. AI will not destroy humanity. It will reveal the parts of ourselves we have avoided: our longing, our fear, our beliefs, and our inability to sit quietly in our own presence. . This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered who they would be without their achievements, their title, or their constant motion. 🔥 In This Episode • Why Jeff believes AI is a mirror rather than a replacement • How losing his sense of identity forced a complete spiritual reset • The hidden burnout of high performers who never stop doing • Why the soul, not the mind, is the key to the next era of leadership • How faith, doubt, and awakening shaped Jeff's view of the future • Why success can become an emotional hiding place • What it means to raise AI responsibly • The danger of confusing constant achievement with meaning 👊 About Jeff Burningham Entrepreneur, investor, gubernatorial candidate, and author of The Last Book Written by a Human, Jeff Burningham spent decades building companies and chasing momentum until the weight of it forced him to examine the deeper questions he had been outrunning. His work now focuses on what technology cannot replace: soul, wisdom, responsibility, and the courage to be fully human. 💥 Listen If You Have Ever • Wondered who you are without your achievements • Felt something inside you break under the pressure to perform • Questioned the role of faith or spirituality in modern leadership • Feared being replaced or forgotten in a rapidly changing world • Wanted to stop running and start listening to your life 💭 Reflection Challenge If AI only reflects what is already inside you, what is it showing you right now? 🔗 Connect with Jeff Burningham Website: https://jeffburningham.com Social: @JeffBurningham Book: The Last Book Written by a Human 🧠 Apple Podcast Keywords and Discovery Tags #TheDovBaronShow #JeffBurningham #TheLastBookWrittenByAHuman #ArtificialIntelligence #Humanity #Identity #Faith #Awakening #PurposeDrivenLeadership #SpiritualLeadership #SelfAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #TechnologyAndSoul #FutureOfHumanity
🎙️When Metrics Meet the Heart: The Science of Relationship Fitness | William "Wagz" Wagner What happens when the same mind that builds billion-dollar systems turns that precision inward, to measure love, trust, and truth? Description: . Most leaders think of measurement as data, numbers, and KPIs. But what if the real key performance indicators of your life are emotional: trust, respect, and alignment? . In Part 2 of this raw, revealing conversation, William "Wagz" Wagner and Dov Baron dive deeper into how an engineer-turned-coach built a framework to quantify the unquantifiable: the health of your relationships. . Wagz shows how the same systems that transform corporations can heal marriages, friendships, and teams. Together, they unpack the uncomfortable truth that most people don't actually want better relationships, they want the other person to get better. . As Dov says, "I've watched countless leaders hide behind their spreadsheets—until their marriages collapse." . This episode cuts through the illusion of control, revealing how self-awareness, emotional honesty, and measurable accountability can rebuild the very connections that success too often erodes. 🔥 In This Episode How to apply continuous-improvement principles to emotional connection Why clarity without self-knowledge breeds resentment The Relationship Fitness App—how data meets empathy The fatal trap of control and validation in leadership and love How resentment forms when your commitments violate your values What business partners can learn from marriage therapy The hidden pain that drove Wagz to build this model—and how it changed his family forever 👊 About William "Wagz" Wagner Engineer, business architect, and author of Relationship Fitness, Wagz merges decades of corporate transformation experience with deep emotional intelligence. His measurable approach to relational growth has helped leaders, couples, and teams rebuild trust through clarity, alignment, and accountability. 💥 Listen If You've Ever Tried to fix relationships by controlling outcomes Led teams that couldn't align, no matter how many meetings you held Wanted to bridge the gap between emotional awareness and measurable growth Realized your ambition outpaced your self-awareness Known that every spreadsheet hides a story of unmet expectations 💭 Reflection Challenge Where in your leadership—or your love—are you still trying to control what should be measured, and measuring what should be felt? 🔗 Connect with William "Wagz" Wagner Book: https://www.relationshipfitnesscoach.com/ Website: peopleworkingbettertogether.com Email: wags@peopleworkingbettertogether.com 🧭 Keywords / Hashtags for Apple Discovery #TheDovBaronShow #WilliamWagzWagner #RelationshipFitness #Leadership #EmotionalSourceCode #Trust #Alignment #SelfAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #BusinessRelationships #RelationshipApp #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EmotionalAccountability #EliteThinkers #CulturesOfBelonging
🎙️ "Relationship Fitness: The Hidden Discipline Behind Business, Love, and Leadership." What if the universal currency of business isn't money … but relationships? Description: He's an engineer turned business architect turned relational revolutionary. . For decades, William "Wagz" Wagner helped organizations and leaders engineer change. But it wasn't until he began confronting the patterns in his own history, forty years of marriage, ten grandchildren, and a lifetime of corporate transformation, that he realized: the same principles that build great companies are the ones that build great relationships. . In this first part of their delicious conversation, Dov Baron and Wagz unpack how emotional logic, unmet expectations, and assumed agreements quietly erode trust in families, teams, and organizations. . They dismantle the myth that relationships "work out," and replace it with a measurable, trainable model for what Wagz calls "Relationship Fitness." . I've watched countless leaders hide behind their spreadsheets until their marriages collapse. Because the truth is, every business problem is a relationship problem in disguise. . Whether you're leading a company or trying to save a marriage, this episode will redefine how you see communication, alignment, and commitment, and why they're the true currencies of leadership. 🔥 In This Episode Why most leaders fail at relationships (business and personal) for the same reasons How to align expectations so you stop breeding resentment The power of clarity and commitment in every relationship you lead How AI and technology are eroding emotional literacy—and what you can do about it Why "assumptions kill connection" and the three disciplines that build relational fitness What leaders can learn from marriage about communication and trust 👊 About William "Wagz" Wagner Engineer, business architect, and author of Relationship Fitness, Wagz has spent over 30 years helping organizations and leaders move from surviving change to mastering connection. He teaches that relationships aren't built on luck but on discipline, clarity, and courage—the same principles that scale empires and heal families. 💥 Listen If You've Ever Felt like your success outgrew your relationship skills Wondered why you can manage a company but struggle to connect at home Wanted to lead without losing your humanity Seen patterns you swore you wouldn't repeat Known that you're strong but crave real connection 🔗 Connect with "Wagz" Book Website: https://www.relationshipfitnesscoach.com Email: wags@peopleworkingbettertogether.com Coaching Site: peopleworkingbettertogether.com 💭 Reflection Challenge Which expectation in your relationships have you never actually spoken out loud? 🧭 Keywords / Hashtags for Apple Discovery #TheDovBaronShow #WilliamWagzWagner #RelationshipFitness #Leadership #EmotionalSourceCode #BusinessRelationships #EmotionalIntelligence #Communication #Trust #Alignment #RelationalDiscipline #SelfAwareness #EliteThinkers #PurposeDrivenLeadership #CulturesOfBelonging
🎙️"When the Self-Protection Becomes the Cage: Ed Latimore on Breaking Identity Addiction and Finding Forgiveness." . What if the identity you're defending isn't protecting you anymore and it's imprisoning you? Description: In this raw and unflinching second part of Dov Baron's conversation with Ed Latimore, we step beyond the boxing ring and deep into the fight that every high performer eventually faces—the battle with their own identity. . Ed reveals how the survival identity we build as children becomes our greatest addiction as adults. Together, Dov and Ed dismantle the illusion of control, the myth of "doing it for yourself," and the emotional logic that keeps us loyal to pain long after it stops serving us. . This episode confronts the real sobriety: identity sobriety. It's about facing the parts of yourself that are terrified to open their eyes when life throws the punch you've been avoiding. . If you've ever looked successful on the outside but secretly felt like you're holding your life together with emotional duct tape, this one will hit you square in the gut—and leave you standing stronger. 🔥 In This Episode Why most leaders are addicted to identity, not alcohol How "victimhood" hides inside high achievement Why you can't change until the pain of staying the same exceeds your comfort. The truth about love, tolerance, and breaking points in relationships How to rebuild yourself one habit at a time without losing your edge The fierce meaning of forgiveness, and why it's not permission How forgiveness dissolves hypervigilance and restores peace 👊 About Ed Latimore Former heavyweight boxer, TEDx speaker, and author of Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business, Ed Latimore, went from family abuse, public housing, and failing school to a degree in physics. From isolated boxing champion to husband and father, and finally to inner peace. Bestselling author of: Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life. His story is a blueprint for anyone ready to face themselves, rebuild, and lead with authenticity. 💥 Listen If You've Ever Felt trapped by an identity that once made you successful Loved someone who's lost in their own addiction or denial Wondered why self-awareness hasn't brought peace Needed to forgive someone, or yourself, but didn't know how Wanted to turn pain into wisdom instead of performance 🔗 Connect with Ed Latimore Website: https://edlatimore.com Newsletter: https://edlatimore.com/newsletter Instagram & X: @EdLatimoreYouTube: @EdLatimore1LinkedIn: Ed Latimore 💭 Reflection Challenge Ask yourself: Who would I be if I stopped protecting the version of me that was built to survive pain? . #TheDovBaronShow #EdLatimore #IdentityAddiction #EmotionalSourceCode #Leadership #Forgiveness #SelfMastery #Resilience #TraumaRecovery #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #StoicStreetSmarts #EliteThinkers #CulturesOfBelonging
"From the Hurt Business to Healing the Self: Ed Latimore on Addiction, Identity and Rebuilding Your Truth" . What if the person you became to survive is now the reason you can't evolve? Description: He was a heavyweight boxer with a physics degree who could take a punch from anyone—except himself. . In this electrifying first part of Dov Baron's conversation with Ed Latimore, discover how a man who built his identity on toughness, intelligence, and control had to dismantle it all to find peace. . From public housing to the boxing ring to sobriety, Ed reveals the brutal paradox every high performer faces: the traits that made you unstoppable are often the same ones that keep you imprisoned. . Together, Dov and Ed expose how emotional logic, the invisible code that drives addiction, ambition, and self-sabotage, can quietly run your life until you learn to rewrite it. . This episode will change how you see the story you tell yourself to survive, and what it's costing you to keep believing it. 🔥 In This Episode The hidden link between trauma, drive, and success Why "emotional logic" always wins over rational thought How identity becomes an addiction more powerful than alcohol The upside and downside of hypervigilance (and why it destroys trust) The single skill every fighter and leader must master: keeping your eyes open when the punch is coming 👊 About Ed Latimore Former heavyweight boxer, TEDx speaker, and author of Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business, Ed Latimore, turned pain into process and process into power. His writing and teaching on sobriety, discipline, and self-mastery have inspired hundreds of thousands to confront the truth they keep dodging. Bestselling author of: Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life 💥 Listen If You've Ever Outgrown your success but feared losing who you are Confused performance with connection Felt like you're winning on paper but losing yourself Wanted to rebuild without starting over 🔗 Connect with Ed Latimore Website: https://edlatimore.com Newsletter: https://edlatimore.com/newsletter Instagram & X: @EdLatimoreYouTube: @EdLatimore1LinkedIn: Ed Latimore 💭 Before Part 2 Drops Ask yourself: Which part of your identity are you still defending because you're afraid of who you'd be without it? #EmotionalSourceCode #EdLatimore #TheDovBaronShow #Identity #Addiction #Leadership #SelfMastery #TraumaRecovery #Resilience #PurposeDrivenLeadership #Resilience #EliteThinkers #CulturesOfBelonging
🎙️ Part 2: "When Gratitude Isn't Enough: How to Find Meaning at Work with Curiosity, Exposure, and Values."| Mef Shebi . 🔥 What if gratitude isn't enough, and the real question is whether your work still fits who you've become? Follow The Dov Baron Show to catch upcoming conversations that redefine leadership and purpose. Episode Summary 💡 In Part 2 of our conversation, Meftehe (Mef) Shebi reveals the moment when gratitude and exhaustion collided. . He had everything he was supposed to want—an American education, a consulting job, stability for his family. Yet, something felt off. Gratitude couldn't silence the quiet ache that his work no longer fit the person he was becoming. Then one night, his body forced the truth: stress landed him in the ER, and the cost of misalignment was no longer theoretical. . That moment became a turning point. Mef began asking more profound questions: What am I truly curious about? What experiences expand me? Which values anchor my choices? Out of those questions came his practical framework for meaning, Curiosity, Exposure, and Values—the same framework he now uses to guide leaders out of survival mode and into significance. . This isn't about quitting your job; it's about redesigning your relationship with work before your body, your purpose, or your sanity do it for you. What You'll Learn Why gratitude and emptiness can coexist—and what that paradox reveals. The story behind Mef's "welcome to America" moment and how it redefined his view of work. How engineering at UVA and graduate studies at Harvard shaped his global outlook. The difference between external success and internal alignment. Why stress and health breakdowns often point to emotional misalignment, not weakness. How the Curiosity, Exposure, Values triad can transform your career and leadership. Simple reflection tools: the Short List Test and Photo Roll Prompt for clarity. How to recognize when your values have shifted—and your work hasn't. Why 90,000 hours of working life means meaning is not optional. About Meftehe (Mef) Shebi Meftehe (Mef) Shebi is a first-generation Ethiopian immigrant, an engineer, a Harvard graduate, and a career strategist. A former consultant and policy advisor, he now serves as Director of MBA Career Coaching at UCLA Anderson, where he helps high performers rediscover purpose through clarity and alignment. . His book, How's Work, distills decades of lived experience and coaching insight into a guide for turning work into a place of growth, not burnout. Connect with Mef 🌐 mc2careercoaching.com 📘 How's Work — available wherever books are sold 📱 LinkedIn: Meftehe Shebi📸 Instagram: @mef.shebi The Big Questions We Tackle When does gratitude become a cover for misalignment? Why can success still feel like loss? How do you realign your work with the person you've grown into? What happens when the body becomes the messenger for a misaligned life? Can curiosity, exposure, and values turn exhaustion into evolution? Why It Matters for Leaders You can't lead from a place of depletion. Mef's framework strips away illusion and replaces hustle with honest reflection. Leaders who integrate Curiosity, Exposure, and Values don't just create better teams, they create healthier lives. . Meaning isn't a luxury; it's an operating system. Call to Action If this episode made you rethink your relationship with work: Follow The Dov Baron Show to catch upcoming conversations that redefine leadership and purpose. Rate & Review with one insight you'll act on this week—it helps other conscious leaders find the show. Share this episode with someone who's doing well on paper but quietly running on empty. . Apple rewards engagement, saves, and completions. If you listen through, you'll see why alignment isn't indulgence, it's integrity. #Leadership #Purpose #MeaningfulWork #Fulfillment #CareerTransformation #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkCulture #SelfAwareness #AuthenticLeadership #PersonalGrowth #ImmigrantStory #Ethiopia #Resilience #WorkIdentity #SuccessMindset #HumanPotential #PurposeDriven #BelongingAtWork #TransformationalLeadership #LifePurpose Branded / Episode-Specific Hashtags #TheDovBaronShow #MefShebi #HowIsWork #ScarcityToSignificance #SoulOfWork #LeadershipWithMeaning #DovBaron #PodcastLeadership #FulfillmentAtWork
🎙️ Part 1: "The Soul of Meaningful Work: From Scarcity to Significance | Mef Shebi . 🔥 "What if the greatest poverty isn't material, but the emptiness of a life without meaning?" Follow The Dov Baron Show to catch upcoming conversations that redefine leadership and purpose. Episode Summary 💡 This is far more than a story about escaping poverty, it's a powerful and very human story of transcending it. . In Part 1 of my two-part conversation with Meftehe (Mef) Shebi; career strategist, executive coach, and author of How's Work, we journey from his early life in Ethiopia, where survival was the goal, to his rise as a respected voice on purpose-driven leadership. . Mef's childhood "normal" meant scarcity, long hours, and the unspoken belief that work was something you endured, not enjoyed. But when animated TV, and movies in a foreign language gave him a view beyond the landfill and brothel he lived next door to, education and opportunity brought him to the United States, he realized the real poverty wasn't in what he lacked, it was in how disconnected modern professionals had become from meaning. . Together, we unpack what it truly means to find fulfillment in a world obsessed with achievement. Mef reveals how his hardships became the foundation of his life's work: helping people rediscover purpose, contribution, and alignment inside their careers. . This conversation bridges the personal and the universal; it's a story of migration, mindset, and the soul of work itself. What You'll Learn How growing up in Ethiopia shaped Mef's understanding of work, purpose, and survival. Why true poverty has less to do with money and more to do with meaning. The mindset shift that turns struggle into service. How ambition, when untethered from purpose, leads to burnout. The surprising ways culture and upbringing shape our relationship with success. How to recognize when your work is feeding your ego instead of your soul. Why fulfillment requires alignment, not balance. What leaders can do to create workplaces that nourish identity and belonging. About Meftehe (Mef) Shebi Meftehe (Mef) Shebi is a career strategist, executive coach, and author of How's Work: A Practical Guide to Finding Fulfillment and Purpose in Your Career. After graduating from university as an engineer, he became a management consultant and later a policy advisor. From there, he became the Director of MBA Career Coaching at UCLA Anderson School of Management. . Mef founded MC² Career Coaching to help individuals and organizations redefine success through the lens of meaning, growth, and contribution. His work invites professionals to stop chasing status, and start building significance. Connect with Mef Shebi 🌐 Website: mc2careercoaching.com📘 Book: "How's Work" Available Now! 📱 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mefshebi 📸 Instagram: @mef.shebi The Big Questions We Tackle What happens when achievement replaces meaning? How do you transform work from survival to significance? What's the hidden cost of chasing external success? How can leaders build cultures that reconnect people to purpose? What does "wealth" look like when fulfillment is the new currency? 🎯 Why It Matters for Leaders In a world addicted to metrics and performance, this story cuts through the noise. Mef's journey is a masterclass in rediscovering humanity at the heart of work. His life proves that leadership isn't about titles or accolades, it's about contribution, courage, and connection. . For anyone who's ever achieved everything they thought they wanted and still felt something missing, this episode is your mirror. Call to Action If this story moved you, here's how to deepen the conversation: Follow the show so you don't miss Part 2, where Mef and I reveal the framework for finding fulfillment and purpose in your work. Rate & Review with one insight that challenged your view of success—it helps other conscious leaders find the show. Share this episode with someone who's chasing success but starving for meaning. Apple's algorithm rewards completions, saves, and shares. If you listen all the way through, you'll understand why fulfillment isn't found—it's remembered. #TheDovBaronShow #MefShebi #MeaningfulWork #Leadership #Purpose #Fulfillment #CareerTransformation #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkLifeAlignment #Curiosity #Values #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipPodcast #PurposeAtWork #HowIsWork #WhenGratitudeIsntEnough #DovBaron #AuthenticLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #MindfulLeadership #PodcastForLeaders
Part 2 of 2: 🎙️ "The Case of the Sexual Cosmos" Howard Bloom: Destroying Darwin What if everything you know about nature, even Darwin, is wrong? Welcome back to Part 2 of our mind-bending journey with Howard Bloom. He's a MacArthur Genius nominee, founder of the Howard Bloom Institute, and author of The Case of the Sexual Cosmos: Everything You Know About Nature Is Wrong. 🔥 If you haven't heard Part 1, stop now and go back, because Part 2 is where Bloom breaks the cosmos wide open. 🔍 Inside This Episode (Don't Miss 34:11) The Truth Bomb Heard Around the World): • The true role of chaos in evolution, and why "balance" is a dangerous myth • Why Darwin only got it half right, and what science missed • The sexual engine of the cosmos and how it rewires what we believe about love, power, and progress • What Elon Musk doesn't understand about interstellar destiny • Why evolution rewards transcendence, not stability • The shocking role of cultural infection and mass mind in your decisions • How ancient myths, pop stars, and subatomic particles are all part of one system .🚨 At 34:11: Howard drops a philosophical atom bomb that reframes our species' place in the universe. You'll never think about life the same way again. This episode is a cosmic confrontation between the myths we live by and the truths we've ignored. . If you're ready to transcend mediocrity and rewire your worldview — Subscribe now. Rate. Review. And share with the smartest person you know. . Howard's newly released book, "The Case of the Sexual Cosmos: Everything You Know About Nature is Wrong" https://www.amazon.com/Case-Sexual-Cosmos-Everything-Nature-ebook/dp/B0F92TTVND/ . 🔗 Learn more about Howard Bloom: • Website: www.howardbloom.net • Howard Bloom Institute: www.howardbloom.institute • Watch the award-winning documentary: The Grand Unified Theory of Howard Bloom
Part 1 of 2: 🔥 "The Savage Truth of Nature: Howard Bloom Destroys the Myth of Harmony" . What if nature isn't nurturing? What if nature is ruthless, and the only way forward is to rebel against it? Crazy? . Maybe. . Howard Bloom In a world obsessed with harmony, balance, and "returning to nature," Howard Bloom asks a radically different question: "If bacteria didn't rebel against their environment... would you and I exist?" We hear the word "nature" in a conversation or a post and we might think it's a discussion on eco-purity. No one bothers to ask: Is there a dark side to "eco-purity" and is it sabotaging human innovation . This is a reality-shattering conversation with the man Wired Magazine dubbed "The Next Stephen Hawking." Howard Bloom is a MacArthur Genius Award winner, founder of the Howard Bloom Institute, and author of The Case of the Sexual Cosmos: Everything You Know About Nature is Wrong. . He's the intellectual heavyweight who's advised NASA, explored chaos theory, and lived backstage with Michael Jackson, Prince, and Billy Joel, all while launching an unprecedented scientific rebellion against what we think "nature" really is. 🧠 If you loved our conversations with Douglas Rushkoff or The Godfather of Curiosity James Burke… buckle up! 💥 Inside This Episode: Why nature is homicidal, rather than harmonious. The true forces of evolution: Chaos and Rebellion. What Darwin, Freud, and Einstein all missed, and why it matters now. The dark side of "eco-purity" and why it's sabotaging human innovation. Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Greta Thunberg: what they reveal about tribal psychology. Why you're not just part of nature, you're meant to transcend it. The hidden sexual engine driving cosmic evolution, from bacteria to Bach. Why cancel culture is a death trap for the human imagination. According to Howard Bloom: "You're not here to protect nature. You're here to be its next evolutionary leap!" Howard's newly released book, "The Case of the Sexual Cosmos: Everything You Know About Nature is Wrong" https://www.amazon.com/Case-Sexual-Cosmos-Everything-Nature-ebook/dp/B0F92TTVND/ 🎥 Don't miss the award-winning documentary: 🎬 The Grand Unified Theory of Howard Bloom🏆 Best Picture, Science Design Film Festival 🏆 Best Documentary Feature, Not Film Festival (Italy) 📚 Explore His Mind-Bending Work: The Case of the Sexual Cosmos The Lucifer Principle The Genius of the Beast Einstein, Michael Jackson & Me ⚡ Stay Curious. Stay Rebellious. Stay Human. If this episode rewired your thinking, subscribe and share it with the boldest mind you know. 🔖 Hashtags (Apple-Friendly & Trend-Triggered): #HowardBloom #DovBaronShow #RebelScience #NeurosciencePodcast #RadicalIdeas #BigBangThinking #EvolutionMyth #LuciferPrinciple #CancelCultureCrisis #FutureOfHumanity
🎙️ Find Your Four: The 4% That Drives 64% of Your Results | Brandon Fong . What if 96 percent of what you do barely moves the needle, and the secret to exponential growth lies hidden in the 4 percent you've been ignoring? Episode Summary In this continuation of our conversation, Brandon Fong reveals his Find Your Four framework, a fractal evolution of the 80/20 rule that uncovers the 4 percent of what you do that generates 64 percent of your results—and the 0.8 percent of who you are that shapes everything you create. . We explore how to identify leverage points, turn self-awareness into systems, and rewire the way you create value. It's not about working harder; it's about decoding your unique pattern of genius and designing a life, business, and leadership style that compounds from there. . This is practical alchemy for elite performers: strategy meets self-knowledge, delivered through the lens of curiosity, neuroscience, and conscious design. What You'll Learn How the Find Your Four framework transforms the 80/20 rule into a personalized growth engine. The hidden 4 percent of actions that drive the majority of your results. Why most people create to fill a hole instead of from being whole—and how to flip that script. The unseen 0.8 percent of your identity that governs every choice you make. How to reveal your unconscious strengths and build systems that multiply them. Why awareness without application is self-sabotage—and how to operationalize insight. The neuroscience behind energy compounding ("over-unity") and how to sustain flow. How world-building leadership turns personal mastery into cultural transformation. About Brandon Fong Brandon Fong is the creator of Curiosity Island, founder of 7-Figure Millennials, and host of the Beyond Curious podcast (Top 1% globally). His mission: to help high performers turn curiosity into exponential leverage. Through AI-driven tools, gamified learning, and deep inner work, Brandon guides leaders to find their 4 percent—so they can design lives and organizations that thrive on energy, meaning, and purpose. Connect with Brandon Fong 🔗 Websites: http://gobeyondcurious.com http://curiosityisland.com 📱 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-fong The Big Questions We Tackle What's the 4 percent of your life that creates nearly all of your success? How do you find the 0.8 percent of identity driving every result you produce? What happens when you stop chasing productivity and start engineering leverage? How can leaders build cultures that compound energy instead of depleting it? What would change if you led from wholeness rather than control? Why It Matters for Leaders Extraordinary leaders don't manage everything—they locate the few things that move everything. Find Your Four gives you the lens to do just that. When you align your deepest strengths with your highest leverage, effort collapses and impact compounds. The result isn't hustle—it's harmony. If this conversation changed the way you see performance and purpose: Follow the show for more episodes decoding what drives the world's most effective leaders. Rate & Review with one discovery you'll apply this week—it helps others find the show. Share this episode with the person you know is doing too much of the 96 percent. Apple's algorithm rewards completions, shares, and fresh reviews. Listen through, reflect, and remember: mastery isn't about doing more—it's about finding your four. #Leadership #Curiosity #FindYourFour #EmotionalIntelligence #BrandonFong #DovBaron #HighPerformance #7FigureMillennials #BeyondCurious #PersonalDevelopment #Neuroscience #TransformationalLeadership #ConsciousLeadership #SelfAwareness #MindsetShift
🎙️Why The Best Leaders Choose Curiosity Over Control | Brandon Fong . If control feels powerful, why do the best leaders keep surrendering it, and how does curiosity become their secret weapon? What if the secret to transforming fear, burnout, and disconnection isn't control, but curiosity? In this episode, Brandon Fong; entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of 7-Figure Millennials; shares how curiosity became the tool that rewired his life, leadership, and relationships. . From a childhood shaped by scarcity and learning challenges to building a global movement that's redefining success, Brandon shows us that curiosity isn't just a mindset; it's a mastery practice. . Together, we explore how fear dissolves when leaders replace judgment with curiosity, and how this single shift can rewire everything from decision-making to belonging. This isn't "soft leadership," it's what separates those who manage results from those who transform people. What You'll Learn Why curiosity, not control, defines the world's most adaptable leaders. The three levels of curiosity—personal, relational, and systemic—and how to apply them to your leadership. How Brandon turned early insecurity into an engine for empathy and insight. The neuroscience behind curiosity and how it overrides judgment and fear. Why uncertainty is not weakness but a gateway to influence and innovation. The difference between informational curiosity and transformational curiosity. How to create cultures that turn questions into breakthroughs. Why curiosity dismantles ego and builds psychological safety faster than any incentive plan. About Brandon Fong Brandon Fong is the founder of 7-Figure Millennials and host of the Beyond Curious podcast, where he interviews visionary thinkers exploring how curiosity shapes purpose, connection, and high performance. Through his programs and community, Brandon helps high performers design lives and businesses built on happiness, health, and impact—not hustle. His "Applied Curiosity" framework is redefining how leaders and creators sustain meaning in a world addicted to control. Connect with Brandon Fong 🔗 Websites: http://gobeyondcurious.com http://curiosityisland.com 📱 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-fong The Big Questions We Tackle Why do leaders abandon curiosity the moment they gain power? Can curiosity coexist with authority—or does power kill it? What happens when achievement becomes a wall against connection? How do you lead when your old answers no longer fit your new reality? Are you brave enough to be curious about your own fear before demanding innovation from others? Why It Matters for Leaders In a world that glorifies control, curiosity is a form of rebellion. It's the trait that keeps leaders relevant, creative, and human. Brandon's journey proves that control builds compliance, but curiosity builds commitment. When you lead with curiosity, you don't lose authority; you expand it. Call to Action If this conversation challenged your assumptions: Follow the show to catch Part 2, where we dive deeper into operationalizing curiosity in life, love, and leadership. Rate & Review with one insight that shifted your perspective—it helps other leaders find the show. Share this episode with someone brilliant who's forgotten how to stay curious. Apple's algorithm rewards saves, completions, and reviews. If you listen all the way through, you'll know why the leaders who trade control for curiosity always win. #Leadership #Curiosity #FindYourFour #EmotionalIntelligence #BrandonFong #DovBaron #HighPerformance #7FigureMillennials #BeyondCurious #PersonalDevelopment #Neuroscience #TransformationalLeadership #ConsciousLeadership #SelfAwareness #MindsetShift
Part 2 of 2 "Ego, Errors, and the Truth About Just Culture" | Mandy Hickson If fighter pilots can admit mistakes under missile fire, why do business leaders still hide their errors behind ego and politics? Episode Summary What does it take to lead with radical honesty when lives are on the line? In Part 2 of my conversation with Mandy Hickson, one of the first female fast-jet pilots in the RAF, we go deeper into the psychology of Just Culture, emotional maturity, and decision-making under extreme pressure. From life-or-death choices in combat to creating psychological safety in the boardroom, Mandy shows how leadership collapses without trust, accountability, and the courage to say, "I don't know." Her insights dismantle the illusion of ego-driven authority and challenge leaders to build cultures where truth and responsibility aren't optional—they are non-negotiable. What You'll Learn How emotional maturity can make or break culture—even more than technical brilliance. Why "Just Culture" isn't about avoiding blame, but about embracing accountability without fear. The exact decision-making framework fighter pilots use when missiles are inbound—and how leaders can apply it in crises. Why healthy conflict builds stronger teams, while fake harmony destroys them. How to spot when ego is killing leadership—and what courage looks like when you admit you're not the most qualified in the room. Why building psychological safety means expecting people to challenge authority, not stay silent. About Mandy Hickson Mandy Hickson became the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, flying 45 combat missions over Iraq. She is now a bestselling author (An Officer, Not a Gentleman), aviation ambassador, and internationally recognized speaker, teaching organizations how to translate cockpit-tested lessons of trust and resilience into real-world leadership cultures. 🔗 Links Mandy Hickson: MandyHickson.com | An Officer, Not a Gentleman Dov Baron: https://DovBaron.com The Big Questions We Tackle Can you truly build psychological safety without lowering standards? Why do most companies confuse "no blame" with "no accountability"? What happens when leaders cling to ego instead of creating trust? How do you lead a team that not only tolerates challenge but demands it? What would change if you treated errors as fuel for growth, not shame? Why It Matters for Leaders In aviation, "Just Culture" prevents disasters. In business, it prevents cultures of fear and silence. Mandy's story proves that leadership is not about being flawless—it's about creating environments where mistakes are surfaced, lessons are shared, and growth is inevitable. This is the difference between teams that survive and teams that thrive. Call to Action If Part 2 of this conversation shook your assumptions: Follow the show for more conversations that push leaders to the edge of truth. Rate & Review with the insight you'll act on this week, it helps others find the show. Share this episode with the leader in your circle who thinks accountability is optional. Apple rewards completions, shares, and fresh reviews. Listen all the way through, then prove you're not just a consumer of insight, you're a catalyst for change.
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Dov is pretty much a devil's advocate in this episode where it results in incredible insights revealed.