Builders, let’s talk about power. 🎧

Not the performative kind. Not the “manifest harder” kind. The structural kind.

In this Season 3 episode of BUILDERS, I sit down with Eleanor Beaton - founder of Safi Media and host of the Woman Owned Podcast - to unpack one of the most quietly dangerous scaling traps in entrepreneurship: When women don’t have structure… they become the structure.

This conversation is about infrastructure, operating systems, money, power, and why mindset is rarely the real bottleneck.

We go deep on what actually allows a business to move beyond self-employment and into something scalable, sustainable, calm, and valuable.

No hype or hearsay. Tried and tested truths from her own experience and helping hundreds of women-owned businesses scale.

In this episode, we explore:

00:00 – 12:00 | Structure Creates Freedom

Eleanor shares Safi Media’s mission to double the number of women-led companies scaling past $1M by 2030. We unpack her core belief: structure creates freedom. When infrastructure is missing, founders overfunction. And over time? They burn out. They resent the business. Or they pivot prematurely because boredom feels like misalignment.

12:00 – 18:00 | Coaching vs. Operating Systems

We draw a clear line between coaching as a tool and over-coaching as a crutch. Eleanor breaks down why inquiry and raising standards matter- but why most advisory for women over-indexes on confidence and under-indexes on systems. We talk about the “barbie-fication” of entrepreneurship and how focusing on the person over the process quietly stalls scale. Mindset isn’t irrelevant. It’s just rarely the root constraint.

18:00 – 25:30 | Boring Businesses, Real Wealth

Predictability beats excitement. Every time. We unpack what actually creates enterprise value and why topline growth without replicability isn’t an asset- it’s exhaustion with better branding. As Eleanor says, “You know what lights me up? A fuck ton of money in the bank.” Not for ego. For stability. For leverage. For protecting your team.

25:30 – 35:00 | The Visionary Myth & The Operator Reality

Is it beneath a visionary to care about operations? We challenge the false binary of visionary vs. integrator - especially in bootstrapped companies. Most founders must build the first draft of their operating spine. Hiring someone to fix undefined chaos isn’t delegation. It’s avoidance. If you eat what you kill, you don’t get to skip this stage.

35:00 – 41:30 | Money, Power & Structural Access

Eleanor shares a powerful story about starting her first business alongside a male peer. Same starting point. Different guidance. Different outcomes. She was directed toward self-improvement. He was introduced to capital, acquisitions, and operators. This is the structural reality behind why many women-led businesses plateau. It’s not a lack of ambition. It’s a difference in access, introductions, and infrastructure.

41:30 – 55:00 | Health, Wealth & Standards

We close with a conversation about health, burnout, and scaling without sacrificing your nervous system. Eleanor shares how a fast-scaling company tripled revenue and burned out nearly the entire team in the process. Growth without standards is reckless. She shares what real boundaries look like inside Safi Media, the non-negotiables that keep her team focussed and functional.

Scaling isn’t just about velocity. It’s about the standards you refuse to violate in pursuit of it.

This episode is for the founder who is tired of being the all-in-one operating system.

The one who knows they're capable of more - but knows they need to calm the chaos to scale.

Because Wealthy Leadership isn’t endless hustle.

• It’s infrastructure.
• It’s power-aware design.
• And it’s building a company that doesn’t demand your entire existence to survive.

Connect wirh Eleanor:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorbeaton/

https://safimedia.co/

What do NFL quarterbacks, startup founders, and WNBA expansion teams have in common?

Pressure. Decision making. And the ability to regulate themselves when it matters most.

In this episode of Builders Season 3, I sit down with Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist to the Jacksonville Jaguars, advisor to the Toronto Tempo (WNBA expansion team), executive coach to founders and VCs, and builder of multiple ventures inside and outside of professional sport.

This conversation is about elite performance. Not the Instagram version. The real version.

We unpack high agency, hiring without bias, reframing stress, rest as a strategic weapon, and what it actually means to build a meaningful and maximized life.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ 00:00 – 07:00 Introductions & Finding Your Edge

The episode kicks off with the straight up facts on why job simulations beat a “good handshake,” before we dive into Alex’s background. We discuss his journey from clinical psychology to peak performance work in professional sport, and how he used experimentation and elimination of distractions to build his own ventures.

✅ 07:00 – 10:30 Athletes vs. Entrepreneurs: What’s Actually Different?

Alex breaks down the real similarities between elite athletes and elite leaders - and where the comparison falls apart.

✅ 10:30 – 15:30 High Agency, Self-Regulation & Ownership

We go deeper into internal locus of control- or what we call high agency. Alex explains why elite performers pair extreme ownership with self-regulation, and how the ability to control your thinking, physiology, and emotional response directly impacts team performance.

✅ 15:30 – 29:30 Stagnation vs. Plateaus & The Excitement vs. Stress Reframe

This section is deeply tactical. We unpack threat vs. challenge framing, the “stress is enhancing” mindset, and four ways to reinterpret pressure so it becomes fuel instead of friction.

✅ 29:30 – 37:00 The Pursuit of Excellence & Predicting Success

Alex discusses his personal drive to push human limits and how he transitioned from evaluating 300+ NFL/NBA draft prospects to bringing that same psychological rigour into the corporate world to solve the "fit" issue in executive hiring.

✅ 37:00 – 46:00 Designing Your Leadership Style

From observing polarizing figures like Nick Saban to defining what it means to be a servant leader, we talk about the power of intentional leadership design.

✅ 46:00 – 57:00 Meaningful & Maximized: Redefining Success

We pivot into how he defines success today - meaningful and maximal. We unpack core values, seasons of intensity, and why “having it all” is absolutely possible, but not in equal increments or equal velocity.

✅ 57:00 – 1:01:20 Building a Startup Inside Pro Sports

Alex shares what it’s like advising the WNBA expansion team, the Toronto Tempo. We talk about velocity, visibility, real estate, and what founders can learn from organizations that must launch an MVP that is immediately ready to compete for a championship.

✅ 1:01:20 – 1:09:20 The Tactical Playbook: Hiring Without Bias

This is a must-listen for anyone building a team. Alex breaks down exactly how to use structured interviews, job simulations, and hiring committees to dramatically increase your success rate.

✅ 1:09:20 – 1:21:20 Rest, Burnout & Sustained Elite Performance

We close with something hustle culture still misunderstands: recovery. Stress without recovery leads to breakdown. Stress with recovery leads to growth.

This episode is for the builder who wants to reliably and sustainably perform at an elite level.

Because growth in business and leadership isn’t just about revenue.

• It’s about agency.
• It’s about regulation.
• It’s about hiring well.
• It’s about recovering strategically.

And it’s about building a life that feels meaningful - not just impressive.

Connect with Alex:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexauerbachphd

Builders, this one goes deep. 🎧

In this episode, I sit down with Christian LeFer, CEO of Instant Nonprofit, for a wide-ranging conversation about justice, bureaucracy, leadership awakening, and what it actually means to build impact at the convergence of cause and commerce.

Christian has helped start thousands of nonprofits, redesigned a broken approval process, and built a company rooted in emotional intelligence, culture, and conviction.

This conversation isn’t about charity optics.

It’s about alignment.

Power.

Process.

And learning when to push - and when to pause.

In this episode, we explore:

00:00 – 09:00 | Justice, Special Olympics & Becoming a Builder

Christian shares how growing up with a developmentally disabled sister shaped his deep sense of justice and service.

09:00 – 16:00 | Bureaucracy, 501c3s & The “Love Letter to a Bureaucrat”

Why is starting a nonprofit often harder than starting a business? Christian breaks down the friction inside the 501c3 process and how he engineered dramatically faster IRS approvals by designing applications that made agents’ lives easier.

16:00 – 24:00 | High EQ as Competitive Advantage

We explore why emotional intelligence is not a “soft skill” but a strategic lever. From turning refunds into raving fans to listening without defensiveness and validating customers instead of hiding behind policy, Christian shares how empathy builds trust — and how trust compounds into long-term advantage.

24:00 – 31:00 | Breakdown, Shadow Work & The Inner Rebuild

This is the chapter most founders don’t talk about. Business strain. Relationship strain. Identity strain. Christian opens up about the personal collapse that forced him to confront unresolved trauma, self-talk, and misalignment. Out of that awakening came a powerful leadership principle: as within, so without.

31:00 –37:00 | Culture as a Safe Container

Why does safety fuel creativity? We unpack how vulnerability - done intentionally -strengthens teams, and how building a culture of acceptance creates the psychological safety required for innovation.

37:00 – 44:00 | Wealthy Leadership: Throttle Up vs. Throttle Back

Christian reflects on the shift from grinding harder to allowing space. We explore persistence versus patience, structure as a path to freedom, and optionality as a true form of wealth.

44:00 – 51:00 | Conviction, Discourse & Leading in a Fractured World

The conversation widens to culture and society. Christian shares his views on free speech, capitalism, and institutional trust — and why leaders can’t afford to retreat from difficult conversations. Wealthy Leadership isn’t just about revenue; it’s about participating in shaping the world you want to live in.

51:00 – 1:02:00 | How Nonprofits Fit into Smart Business Strategy

We break down what a 501c3 actually is and how nonprofits can strategically complement for-profit companies.

1:02:00 – End | Process Over Tools & Building Anti-Fragile Systems

We close with a discussion on why process is king. Christian shares how clear articulation of strategy drives alignment, and why systems that grow stronger under stress -inspired by Antifragile - are essential for long-term resilience.

This episode is for Builders who:

• Want to integrate impact into their business model
• Care about culture as much as cash flow
• Feel the tension between force and flow
• Believe leadership is both internal and external

This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation between two operators who believe business can be both profitable and principled.

🔗 Connect with Christian LeFer:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/InstantNonprofit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instantnonprofit

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/instantnonprofit

https://www.youtube.com/@InstantNonprofitUSA

Builders, this one goes deep. 🎧

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Berman - Founder/CEO of Speakeasy Mastermind- for a wide-ranging conversation about ownership, follow-through, community, and what it actually means to build success that lasts.

Eric has been building companies since the early days of the internet. He’s helped scale platforms, worked alongside names like Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield, lived through near-IPO highs and market-crash lows, and spent decades inside the agency world.

This conversation isn’t about hype. It’s about what you learn when you’ve been in the arena long enough to see the patterns.

We talk about the invisible cost of agency life, why most entrepreneurs underestimate follow-through, and how community becomes a strategic advantage, not a “nice to have”- as the game gets more complex.

In this episode, we explore:

00:00 – 13:00 | Becoming a Builder & The Crash

Eric’s early path into entrepreneurship, why building from nothing lit him up, and the reality of the "IPO that never happened"- being weeks away from a massive exit and watching it disappear.

13:00 – 24:20 | Resilience & The Pivot

How to navigate the aftermath of a market crash. We unpack resilience, identity, and why skills can’t be taken away, even when money can. Plus, how Eric pivoted to working with legends like Brian Tracy.

24:20 – 36:00 | “I Am Responsible”

The mindset that changed how Eric leads, navigates setbacks, and builds trust with clients and teams. Radical ownership as a leadership unlock.

36:00 – 48:00 | The Agency Trap

The realities of service businesses, capped upside, and the moment Eric realized he’d been climbing the “wrong ladder”. Why the agency model often traps founders in a cycle of revenue without asset value.

48:00 – 52:30 | Follow-Through as a Superpower

Why high follow-through is rarer than vision - and why it quietly separates builders who scale from those who stall.

52:30 – 59:30 | Asset Equity & Redefining Success

Why Eric is shifting from clients to partners, plus a candid look at fatherhood, presence, and how his definition of success has evolved.

59:30 – End | Speakeasy & The Power of Community

How Speakeasy Mastermind was born, why entrepreneurship is lonelier than we admit, and why in-person community matters more than ever in an AI world.

This episode is for Builders who:

• Are successful - but questioning the game they’re playing

• Feel the tension between growth and alignment

• Want leverage, ownership, and freedom- not just revenue

• Know community matters, but haven’t found the right room yet

This is a grounded, honest conversation between two operators who’ve seen enough cycles to know what actually matters.

🔗 Connect with Eric Berman:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/, https://www.instagram.com/ericbberman

🎧 What's it like to build an 8 Figure business, not just in your 20's but while you're still a full time student?

What do you need to understand for "working for your future" to be a path to deeper alignment instead of conflict?

In this episode of BUILDERS, I sit down with Adam Shaw and asked him these questins and more! Adam is an 8-Figure Founder, prolific venture builder, General Partner and future dad who shared openly about what it means to lead boldly without breaking yourself (or your relationships) in the process.

We dive into the real tension between identity and ambition, the importance of harmony, and the "surfboard" analogy for leadership in life and business.

This episode is for the builder who’s tired of defaulting to hustle and ready to lead with wholeness.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ 00:00 – 20:00 | The Board Game of Business & Building to 8-Figures as a Student

Adam shares his journey from "gaming" paintball systems as a kid to building an 8-figure supply chain business in his 20s. We discuss seeing business as a "chessboard" and why curiosity, not just hustle is the ultimate lever for growth.

✅ 20:00 – 32:00 | Founders, Funders, and "Strategic Money"

Why you shouldn't just chase a cheque. Adam breaks down the mission of Founders & Funders, why in-person community is making a comeback, and the shift founders must make from visionary to operator.

✅ 32:00 – 46:00 | Redefining Ambition & The Cost of Success

With a baby on the way, Adam and Alex get real about the "fire" of obsession. They discuss therapy, the transition to fatherhood, and why setting boundaries often makes the business more successful, not less.

✅ 46:00 – 56:00 | Married, Co-Founding, and Staying Sane

Adam digs into what it really looks like to build in business and life with your spouse. We cover the specific communication rules that save relationships (handling the "business partner" vs. "spouse" hats) and why your partner is your most important mentor.

✅ 56:00 – 01:16:00 | Harmony vs. Balance (The Surfboard Metaphor)

Why the myth of static balance is outdated. Why the "surfboard" metaphor for leadership makes more sense in practice. Adam shares how he navigates emotional surges and the importance of environment.

✅ 01:16:00 – 01:26:00 | Hiring Intrapreneurs & The "Airplane Test"

How do you spot a team member who thinks like an owner? Adam reveals his hiring strategy: looking for passion over resumes and finding people who pass the "airplane test".

✅ 01:26:00 – 01:45:00 | Visibility, Ageism, and Confidence

Adam opens up about the reality of being the youngest person in the room and dealing with ageism. Alex shares her own stories of repeatedly being the youngest. A powerful segment on the interplay of confidence and competence.

✅ 01:45:00 – End | Focus Filters + The Reverse Pitch

We close with the "reverse pitch" model changing the VC game, followed by rapid-fire insights on game changing decisions and what strategy done right feels like.

This episode is for the builder who:

• Wants to build with their partner without burning it all down
• Is ready to stop chasing balance and start riding the waves
• Believes culture is built moment by moment, not once a year at offsite
• Feels the cost of pushing too hard… and is ready to lead from a new paradigm

🔗 Connect with Adam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfnf?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

What if leading your company didn’t mean carrying it all on your back?

What if culture wasn’t something you “fix” in a crisis - but something you build with intention, energy, and clarity from day one?

In this episode of BUILDERS, I’m joined by Anne Robie - exec whisperer, leadership HR consultant, and the go-to speaker and strategist for people-first growth that actually scales.

She’s sat in the C-suite, coached founders mid-meltdown, and helped teams rebuild trust after the wheels came off - and she’s here to talk about the messy, necessary, human side of building companies that last.

We dive deep into:

• How to lead without losing yourself
• What it means to build trust that doesn’t need micromanaging
• Why your “people problems” are almost always “leadership signals”
• And how tools like Enneagram, boundaries, and brave conversations can shape a business where people want to stay

This one’s for the founders who are done with performative culture and ready to lead from the inside out.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ 00:00 – 14:00 | The Guru of Corporate WooWoo

Anne shares how she earned her unique title and the journey of integrating her "yoga weekend self" with her "tough guy" corporate persona. We discuss the myth of "bringing your whole self to work"- why we don't need the "Cheeto-eating" version of you, but rather the most important parts - and how getting fired was the catalyst for true alignment.

✅ 14:00 – 29:00 | The Enneagram, User Manuals & The Platinum Rule

Why standard personality tests often fail and why the Enneagram is the superior tool for building empathy by revealing the why behind what people do. Anne breaks down how to stop homogenizing talent and treating people how they want to be treated (The Platinum Rule).

✅ 29:00 – 35:00 | Escaping the "Broski" Dynamic: Intentional Culture at Scale

The chaos of a three-person startup doesn't scale. We explore the critical transition from founder-led adrenaline to structured values, and why you must contain dysfunctional early-stage dynamics between co-founders before it leaks out and damages the wider team culture.

✅ 35:00 – 43:00 | Cord Cutting, Boardroom Breathwork & Slowing Down Practical "woo woo" tools for high-stakes business. Anne shares a story about shifting the energy in a tense board meeting with a breathing exercise and explains techniques to reset your nervous system and body between back-to-back meetings.

✅ 43:00 – 57:00 | Strategic HR vs. "The Person Who Answers Phones"

Why a CEO needs a polarity of Finance and People perspectives to make the best decisions. We define "Strategic HR"—sitting at the table as a business person first rather than just handling operations—and discuss why leadership’s willingness to invest in onboarding is the number one predictor of an employee's success,.

✅ 57:00 – End | Rapid Fire: The "No Assholes" Rule

Anne reveals the decision that changed everything, her definition of strategy as "effervescence," and the one absolute boundary she sets for taking on new clients

This episode is for the founder who:

• Feels the weight of being “the emotional engine” of their business
• Wants to hire (and keep) people who care as much as they do
• Is ready to stop managing chaos and start designing culture
• Believes leadership should feel real - not robotic

🔗 Connect with Anne:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anne.robie.speaks?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annerobie

Website - https://www.annerobie.com/

What if the next level of your business wasn’t about doing more - but instead documenting what you arleady know, differently?

This episode is a masterclass in building strategic authority - the kind that opens doors, closes deals, and positions you as the no-brainer choice in your space.

I’m joined by Ben Gioia - publisher, coach, and founder of Leadership Awake Press - whose journey from meth addiction to Stanford keynotes and Fortune 100 contracts is anything but typical.

We dive into how to:

• Turn your lived experience into leverage
• Build a business that buys back your time and funds your freedom
• Lead with clarity, calm, and unapologetic value
• And how to use content (yes, even a book) to start client conversations before you've even written it

This one’s for the builders who want more space, more depth, more alignment - and a hell of a lot more strategic momentum.

✅ 00:00 – 11:00 | Book as Business Asset

Ben shares why most books fail - and how you can use your book to generate revenue, build authority, and validate your ideas before it’s even finished. No fluff. Just frameworks.

✅ 11:00 – 22:00 | Trauma, Transformation & the Power of Rewriting Your Story

From addiction to meditation in the Himalayas, Ben’s journey is a raw reminder that your lowest points can be the soil for your biggest growth.

✅ 22:00 – 34:00 | Strategic Publishing & Client Acquisition

How to leverage your book cover on LinkedIn, position yourself as a thought leader before you publish, and turn “research” into real leads.

✅ 34:00 – 48:00 | Wealthy Leadership & Moving to Spain

We unpack what success actually looks like on your terms — and how Ben built a business that supports his vision of service, stillness and sunshine.

✅ 48:00 – 1:00:00 | The 5-Week Book Method

Ben shares the exact framework he uses to help founders and experts write a high-impact book in just 5 weeks — using bullet points, voice notes, and a rinse-and-repeat blueprint.

✅ 1:00:00 – End | Publishing Power Moves to Fully Leverage Your Fire Power

Why you should separate your book release from your bestseller launch, and how Leadership Awake Press is giving purpose-driven founders a smarter path to publishing.

This episode is for the founder who:

• Has been “thinking about writing a book” for years
• Wants to turn ideas into income without waiting for perfection
• Feels the pull to serve - but isn’t sure how their voice fits in

🔗 Connect with Ben Gioia

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengioia/

Builders, are you ready? 🎧

In this raw, honest, and story-rich episode, I sit down with Emil Hodzovic—doctor, serial-entrepreneur, coach, operator extraordinaire and co-founder of The Longevity Clinic - to unpack the tension between external success and internal alignment.

We are diving deep into one of my favourite business-adjacent topics: health span. As Emil puts it, longevity is just how long you live, but health span is how long you remain healthy enough to actually enjoy it,.

From leaving emergency medicine to scaling a biotech startup to chasing “lazy operator” freedom, Emil’s journey is filled with intentional pivots, uncomfortable truths, and hard-won wisdom about what it means to build a life that actually works,.

We talk about ambition, over-optimization, and why creating space- mentally, emotionally, and operationally - might be the most strategic move you make this year,.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ 00:00 – 13:32 | Identity, The "100/10" Rule & The Pivot Emil unpacks how medicine taught him to tolerate hard things—but also hid the signs of misalignment. We explore the "100 out of 10" rule for choosing opportunities, his leap from doctor to founder, and the moment he realized he had to walk away from a profitable business simply because it didn't have an 'edge'.

✅ 13:32 – 25:10 | The Lazy Operator Philosophy What does it really mean to lead without doing? We break down Emil’s goal to "do nothing" and his systems-first approach to building high-performance businesses,. We discuss why leadership is just “people plus strategy” and why you must stop confusing busy work with building,.

✅ 25:10 – 36:15 | Playing Games Worth Winning From leading an 8-figure biotech company to building “safe places to fail,” Emil shares how he filters opportunities, protects focus, and creates companies that allow you to observe—rather than get lost in the weeds. We explore strategic pattern recognition, bandwidth, and the power of well-placed “laziness”.

✅ 36:15 – 53:18 | The 3 Quantum Leaps, Wheel of Life & Redefining Success We unpack the “three tattoos” that document Emil's rewiring: Pain is Growth, Effortless Flow, and Simple Alignment. He shares how hitting goals didn’t bring happiness—and how the Wheel of Life helped him course-correct his personal operating system.

✅ 53:18 – 1:10:37 | Longevity, “Near Enemies” & Biohacking Myths We go deep on health span—living a good life, not just a long one. Emil offers a grounded lens on peptides, “Wolverine stacks,” and why biohacking tech like grounding sheets and red light therapy are often overhyped. Spoiler: heavy lifting, sunshine, and better sleep still reign supreme.

This episode is for the builder who’s done all the “right” things-but is still asking, "Is this it?"

It’s a deep dive into the systems behind your business… and the self-leadership required to scale without sacrifice.

🔗 Connect with Emil Hodzovic

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dremilofficial/