The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project

Hosted by Gary Schoeniger

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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EN-US

About the show

In a world that often celebrates high-tech founders and overnight success stories, The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project turns the spotlight toward a different kind of hero—the everyday entrepreneur. Hosted by internationally recognized author and educator Gary Schoeniger, this podcast features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, educators, and changemakers who are unlocking human potential through entrepreneurial thinking. From classrooms to boardrooms, from overlooked communities to global institutions, we explore the powerful mindset that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Whether you're looking to start a business, lead a team, or reinvent your life, this podcast will challenge you to think differently, act boldly, and create meaningful change—wherever you are.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 13, 2026Episode 101 hr 20 min

Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential Inside Organizations With Gifford Pinchot III

Every large organization is sitting on a competitive advantage hiding in plain sight. It isn't technology, capital, or market position. It's the entrepreneurial potential of its own people. That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Gifford Pinchot III, the man who wrote the book on intrapreneurship. His 1985 bestseller Intrapreneuring introduced a simple but powerful idea: the entrepreneurial spirit can thrive inside large companies, if you create the right conditions. In this episode, Gary and Gifford explore the gap between what leaders say they want from their people and what their systems actually allow, why organizations suppress the very behavior they claim to want, and what it takes for that talent to surface. This is a conversation about human potential, and what becomes possible when organizations stop getting in its way.

July 2, 2026Episode 91 hr 15 min

Building An Entrepreneurial Movement Inside A Large Organization With Maria Racho

Many people at work just go through the motions because they have never been permitted to contribute in a meaningful way. But if they are given a chance to build an entrepreneurial movement, they can unlock so much more in their career journey. Gary Schoeniger is joined by Maria Racho , an intrapreneur, angel investor, and former organizational effectiveness leader at Allstate, who explores what happens when an entrepreneurial spirit enters a compliance-driven organization. They discuss why the managerial culture built for reliability tends to suppress the very creativity they need, as well as the right way to make the most of our innate nature to contribute.

June 18, 2026Episode 81 hr 17 min

How The Entrepreneurial Mindset Reignites Learning With Don Wettrick

What if the future belongs not to those who follow directions, but to those who can think for themselves? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Don Wettrick — an educator, speaker, and founder of the Innovate Within movement. Long before "future-ready skills" became an educational buzzword, Don was building classrooms where students were given something rare: autonomy, purpose, and the freedom to pursue problems that actually mattered to them. In this episode, Gary and Don explore why so many entrepreneurs dislike school but love to learn, why traditional education often suppresses the very capacities students need to thrive, and why agency, adaptability, and self-directed value creation may be the most important human skills in an AI-driven world. This is a conversation about motivation, discovery, and what becomes possible when we help young people solve problems they genuinely care about.

May 21, 2026Episode 71 hr 30 min

Life Is Not A Dress Rehearsal With Nico Yeats Zeelie

If life is not a dress rehearsal, then what will you do with it? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Nico Yeats Zeelie — an entrepreneurial mindset facilitator from South Africa who, after attending a faculty training workshop with ELI, took a simple framework back to his students and watched it change the way they saw themselves and what was possible. In this episode, Gary and Nico explore what happens when students stop waiting for permission — and begin to see themselves as capable of creating value, shaping their future, and changing the trajectory of their lives. They discuss agency, identity, purpose, and the idea that life is not something that just happens to you. This is a conversation about human flourishing — and what becomes possible when ordinary people are given the tools to think differently.

May 7, 2026Episode 61 hr 29 min

The Mindset Advantage With Evan Bush

What happens when someone with slightly-above-average talent learns how to optimize their mind? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Evan Bush — a professional goalkeeper in Major League Soccer who, at 39 years old, is still competing at the highest level. At 15, Evan discovered he could train his brain the same way he trained his body — through visualization, mindfulness, and intentional preparation. More than 25 years later, those same techniques are still the foundation of his performance. This is not a conversation about sports. It's a conversation about intentionality, incremental goals, and the idea that life is supposed to be an adventure — not something that just happens to you.

April 16, 2026Episode 51 hr 34 min

Agency, Mindset, And Human Potential With Anita Shankar And Paul Spurzem

In this episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, we sit down with Anita Shankar and Paul Spurzem from Johns Hopkins University to explore the root of human potential: agency. Through their global work, Anita and Paul reveal how the simple ability to make decisions and take purposeful action is far from an abstract concept—it is the catalyst that determines whether we stay stuck or move forward. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover: The tangible impacts of agency on health, learning, and daily motivation. Why personal agency is an often-overlooked dimension in entrepreneurship, education, and human development. The powerful roles that mindset, culture, identity, and social influence play in helping people see new possibilities for themselves. Tune in to discover the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things!

April 2, 2026Episode 41 hr 10 min

Unlocking Human Potential In South Africa With Linda Dhladhla

In a country grappling with high youth unemployment, what if the solution wasn't finding jobs, but building the capacity to create them? This is the mission of Linda Dhladhla from Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies in South Africa. In this conversation, we explore the powerful idea that unlocking human potential in South Africa requires a massive mindset shift. Linda's story—from his mother's side-hustles to her work shaping national education programs—reveals why 'entrepreneurship' is less about starting the next big venture and entirely about cultivating entrepreneurial competencies in every student. Discover how prioritizing discovery learning, agency, and adaptability can equip an entire nation to thrive in an evolving economy.

March 14, 2026Episode 31 hr 13 min

From Policy Wonk To Movement Builder — A Conversation With Cameron Cushman

If nearly two out of three Americans say they have a business idea, why do so few ever act on it? That question sits at the heart of today’s conversation. Welcome to another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, where we explore the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Today I’m joined by Cameron Cushman , co-creator of 1 Million Cups — a simple Wednesday morning experiment that grew into a national movement supporting entrepreneurs in communities across the country. Cameron began his career in trade policy at the U.S. Department of Commerce, helping share the “secret sauce” of American entrepreneurship with the world. But it wasn’t until he arrived at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City that he discovered something important: the real secret wasn’t policy — it was community. In this conversation, we explore what actually helps people move from intention to action — why community matters, why “weak ties” often prove stronger than close friends and family, and why, as Cameron likes to say, a dolphin tank beats a shark tank when it comes to real growth. Most importantly, it’s a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t reserved for the venture-backed elite. It’s a way of thinking — and engaging — that becomes possible when the right conditions are in place. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Cameron Cushman.

January 29, 2026Episode 254 min

Mastery Over Memory: The Future Of Learning With Tony Wagner

Why do students become less engaged the longer they are at school, which greatly diminishes their critical thinking skills? Tony Wagner , Senior Research Fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, is advocating for a complete education reform and vastly revamping the future of learning. He joins Gary Schoeniger to discuss how to reinvent learning approaches to make school less boring and disengaging for young people. He also talks about what it takes to move beyond grades and credentials to pay more attention to fostering curiosity, creativity, and purpose. Discover how to restore agency to learners and meaning to education, ultimately leading to highly empowered entrepreneurial thinking.

January 15, 2026Episode 11 hr 43 min

Redefining Economic Development Through Entrepreneurship With Thom Ruhe

If entrepreneurs are inspired, empowered, and genuinely love what they are doing, their efforts can lead to profound economic development. Gary Schoeniger speaks with his longtime friend Thom Ruhe , President and CEO of NC IDEA . Together, they discuss what it takes to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems – not just programs or funding pipelines, but cultures of agency, inclusion, and possibility. Thom also explains why mindset may be the missing piece in economic development and how to put entrepreneurial thinking at the heart of education, workforce, and economic growth. Tune in and discover why entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful forces for unlocking human potential.