The Inner Entrepreneur

Hosted by Paul Ryan

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100

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Conversations about finding success in the world while creating a life of peace, prosperity, happiness and fulfillment.

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60 recent

October 3, 2026Episode 29012 min

Is Growing Your Business Costing You Your Life? | Inner Mentor #285

I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same. Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome Get Your Guide To Freedom: The 7 Bottlenecks That Keep You Trapped In Your Business and How To Break Free here: https://www.pauljryan.net/request-guide/ What’s the point of building a bigger business if, in the process, you create a smaller life? In this episode of the Inner Mentor series, I’m recording from a beach in the south of Spain and reflecting on what true wealth actually means. For me, it isn’t simply the size of your business, your net worth, your home or the things you own. It’s having the freedom to live the life you actually want — while also having meaningful relationships, looking after your health and experiencing peace of mind and fulfilment. I’m not against ambition or scaling. Building and scaling my own business helped create the financial freedom I enjoy today. But I believe we need to think beyond simply scaling our businesses. We need to scale our lives. In this episode, I explore why entrepreneurs can become so focused on the next revenue target that everything else begins to shrink around the business — their time, relationships, health, wellbeing and freedom. I also share why my own experience of sitting at my desk at 40, believing I was having a heart attack, forced me to reconsider what I was actually building all of this for. Because you can build a bigger business and a bigger life. The challenge is being intentional enough to create both. In this episode: What true wealth means to me Why I’m not against scaling your business The danger of making business growth your only measure of success Why a bigger business can sometimes create a smaller life What I mean by “scaling your life” Why financial freedom is only one part of wealth The importance of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing Why different seasons of life require different priorities How my wake-up call at 40 changed the way I approached success Why you need a vision for your life as well as your business Work with Paul I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I help entrepreneurs do the same. If you’ve built a successful business but it still depends too heavily on you, apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan

October 1, 2026Episode 28857 min

The Night That Changed Emanuel Maxim's Life #284

Get Your Guide To Freedom: The 7 Bottlenecks That Keep You Trapped In Your Business and How To Break Free: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome What if the very thing that made you successful is also the thing that’s slowly exhausting you? Emmanuel Maxime grew up in extreme poverty in Romania, the eldest of seven children in a violent and abusive home. At 13, he was effectively handed responsibility for helping his mother raise the family. As a teenager, desperation almost pulled him into crime — until one decision by his mother changed the direction of his life. Years later, Emmanuel had built successful businesses and created the financial security he had spent his life chasing. But underneath the success, he was exhausted, disconnected from his family and still being driven by wounds he had never dealt with. In this conversation, we explore how childhood experiences can quietly shape ambition, why some entrepreneurs build their self-worth around achievement, and the difference between being driven by your wounds and being pulled by something you genuinely want. Emmanuel also shares how counselling changed his life, why he eventually trained as a counsellor himself, and why sometimes the answer isn’t to push harder or climb higher — it’s to go deeper. In this episode, we discuss: Growing up as the eldest of seven children in extreme poverty The childhood vow that shaped Emmanuel’s life The night he almost entered a life of crime Why desperation can lead good people towards bad decisions Becoming the provider at just 13 years old How trauma can disguise itself as ambition Building your self-worth around achievement and productivity Why success doesn’t necessarily heal insecurity Emmanuel’s wife telling him she would give up their lifestyle just to have him back Why successful entrepreneurs can become disconnected from themselves and their families The difference between healthy ambition and being driven by old wounds Why Emmanuel finally went to counselling Learning to confront memories he had buried for decades Moving from achievement to authenticity How to recognise when your success is being powered by the wrong fuel One of the central ideas Emmanuel shares is that we often look for trauma in the wreckage of our lives — but rarely consider that trauma might also be hiding inside our success. About Emmanuel Maxime Emmanuel Maxime is an entrepreneur, qualified counsellor and coach who works with driven men who may appear successful externally but feel exhausted, disconnected or unfulfilled internally. https://eqcac.com Work with Paul Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same.

September 29, 2026Episode 28959 min

Replay: Rewire Your Mind, Change Your Life | Joey Klein #123

In this replay episode Paul and Joey Klein dig into how unconscious emotional conditioning drives our thoughts, choices, and results—and how to retrain it. Joey outlines a practical path: awareness → nervous-system regulation → conditioning future-aligned emotions and beliefs. In the back half, they shift to Relationship Alchemy: taking responsibility for your feelings, managing attention, and creating a 20-year vision for your relationship. Key Takeaways: Your “inner matrix” = emotional patterns + thought strategies + nervous system conditioning that run (mostly) outside awareness. • Start with awareness & ownership “How am I feeling right now?” (no story, no blame). • Train the nervous system (e.g., gentle box breathing) to move from sympathetic to parasympathetic; then install new patterns. Emotions drive thoughts (not the other way around). Access and train future-aligned emotions first. Transformation can be fast; mastery takes repetition (immersion + daily reps). In relationships: 1) You’re responsible for your feelings. 2) Manage attention toward a shared future vision. Guest information: https://joeyklein.com/https://innermatrixsystems.com/ Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan

September 26, 2026Episode 2872 min

Quickie | The Employee You Won't Fire Owns You #283

September 24, 2026Episode 28652 min

Burnout, Wellbeing & Building a Life Your Future Self Will Thank You For | Dr Mark Rowe #282

What if the choices you make today are determining the health, happiness and quality of life you'll have ten or twenty years from now? In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, Paul sits down with physician, author and wellbeing expert Dr. Mark Rowe to explore burnout, stress and how to build habits that support a healthier, happier life. Mark shares his own experience of burnout and why successful people often ignore the warning signs until something forces them to stop. Paul also reflects on his wake-up call at 40, when he sat at his desk convinced he was having a heart attack — only to discover the real problem was accumulated stress. They discuss why wellbeing isn't built through dramatic changes, but through small actions repeated consistently: exercise, sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, relationships, gratitude and taking time to reflect. Mark also explains the central idea behind his book Things Your Future Self Will Thank You For — why we often treat our future self like a stranger, and how imagining the person we want to become can help us make better decisions today. In this episode: The warning signs of burnout Why high achievers often respond to stress by working harder Mark's personal experience of burnout Paul's wake-up call at 40 How chronic stress can lead to self-sabotage Why small habits compound into major changes The power of starting with just five minutes How lifestyle medicine approaches long-term wellbeing Why your future self should influence the decisions you make today A simple exercise for designing the person you want to become About Dr. Mark Rowe Dr. Mark Rowe is a physician, author and wellbeing expert whose work combines medicine, lifestyle medicine and positive psychology. He is the author of four books, including Things Your Future Self Will Thank You For, and has spent years helping people become more active participants in their own health and wellbeing. Find out more at drmarkrowe.com. Chapters Burnout and the warning signs we ignore Mark's own burnout story Paul's wake-up call at 40 Why modern medicine needs to think beyond illness Stress, self-sabotage and unhealthy coping mechanisms How small habits transform your health Why five minutes is enough to get started Building a relationship with your future self What will your future self thank you for? Work with Paul Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same.

September 22, 2026Episode 28515 min

Bitesize | Why Failure Feels Different To Women with Dr Liz DuBois #281

Why do so many highly successful women still question whether they deserve to lead? In this bite-sized conversation, Paul is joined by Dr. Liz DuBois to explore the hidden beliefs and social conditioning that can hold women back from fully embracing leadership, ambition and power. They discuss why boys and girls are often taught very different lessons about confidence and leadership, the pressure on women to be collaborative and consensus-driven, and why failure can carry very different consequences for women and men. Using Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton as an example, Paul and Liz explore power dynamics, gender and public judgment, before looking at the relatively recent history of women’s financial independence and how generations of limited access to money, property and positions of influence may still shape how women see themselves today. Chapters 00:00 — Why Successful Women Question Whether They Deserve to Lead —:— — How Boys and Girls Are Taught to Lead Differently —:— — Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton and the Consequences of Failure —:— — Gender, Age and Power Dynamics —:— — Why Society Judges Male and Female Leaders Differently —:— — How Recently Women Gained Financial Independence —:— — Money, Property and the Freedom to Leave —:— — What Trinity College Reveals About Women and History About Dr. Liz DuBois Dr. Liz DuBois is a coach who works with high-performing women and leaders around leadership, identity, deservingness and breaking through the barriers that can limit their growth. Work with Paul Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same.

September 19, 2026Episode 2842 min

Quickie | The Advice Trump Wouldn't Take #280

I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan

September 17, 2026Episode 28351 min

Porn Addiction, Shame & Building a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From | Steven Wolt #279

What happens when pornography stops being entertainment and becomes a way to escape your life? In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, I sit down with Steven Wolt, founder of Valor Recovery, who has spent decades in recovery from pornography, sex, drug and alcohol addiction. Steven’s own story took him from a successful career in financial services to losing his career, spending millions of dollars on addictive behaviours and eventually bankrupting himself. But this conversation isn’t really about pornography. It’s about why so many men use behaviours — whether porn, alcohol, drugs, social media or even work — to numb anxiety, loneliness, shame and emotional discomfort. Steven explains why simply trying to stop watching porn often doesn’t work, how pornography can affect intimacy and relationships, and why recovery requires much more than willpower. We also explore the growing loneliness and disconnection among men, the importance of vulnerability and male friendships, and Steven’s belief that real recovery is about building a life you no longer need to escape from. In this episode, we discuss: Why pornography can become so addictive How smartphones and unlimited access have changed porn consumption Why sexualised social media may create similar problems How porn can become a tool for regulating anxiety, loneliness and stress Steven’s own journey through porn, sex, cocaine and alcohol addiction How his addiction eventually cost him his career and millions of dollars The difference between guilt and shame Why shame can actually reinforce addictive behaviour How pornography can affect intimacy, relationships and sexual performance Why simply stopping porn isn’t necessarily recovery The importance of understanding the root cause behind compulsive behaviour Why Steven describes pornography abuse as an intimacy disorder The connection between male loneliness, isolation and addiction Why men need other men to become better men Vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness How to recognise when pornography may be becoming a problem Why recovery is about becoming emotionally regulated, socially connected and honest The role of exercise, mindfulness, meditation and community in Steven’s recovery How Valor Recovery helps men struggling with pornography and sexual compulsivity One of Steven’s most powerful insights from the conversation is remarkably simple: “Porn was not my problem. Steve was my problem.” Because ultimately, recovery isn’t simply about removing the thing you use to escape. It’s about changing the life you’re trying to escape from. Connect with Steven Steven is the founder of Valor Recovery, a virtual coaching and recovery programme helping men struggling with pornography abuse, sexual compulsivity and intimacy issues. Visit FindYourValor.com to learn more.

September 15, 2026Episode 28221 min

Bitesize | The Midlife Crisis Successful Entrepreneurs Don’t Expect - Mike Bricc #278

The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Innerentrepreneur Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same. In this bitesize episode Paul chats with entrepreneur, adventurer, and founder of Wayfinders, Mike Brcic After building and scaling a successful adventure travel business, Mike found himself facing a question that many entrepreneurs eventually encounter: What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted and still feel something is missing? The conversation explores the tension between external success and inner fulfilment, why so many entrepreneurs continue chasing “more” long after they have enough, and how discomfort often becomes the doorway to transformation. Mike shares the lessons he learned from scaling a business that was no longer aligned with who he was becoming, and why he believes the most important question we can ask is not “What should I do?” but “Is this right for me?” About the Guest: Mike Brcic is the founder of Wayfinders: https://www.mikebrcic.com/ About the Host: Paul Ryan is a CEO, 8-figure business owner, and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast 👉 https://pauljryan.net/

September 13, 2026Episode 28114 min

Your Business Should Serve Your Life, Not Consume It | Inner Mentor #277

The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Innerentrepreneur You don't have to choose between success and a great life. In this episode, I talk about why so many successful entrepreneurs unknowingly build their lives around their businesses, why clarity about what really matters has to come first, and how to create success, wealth and financial independence without sacrificing your family, freedom or peace of mind. Because your business was never supposed to consume your life. It should fund the life you actually want to live. In this episode: The wake-up call that forced me to rethink how I was living The four priorities that have guided the last 20 years of my life Why successful entrepreneurs often have their priorities upside down Why “I'm doing it for my family” can become a dangerous story How to design your business around the life you actually want Why wealth, success, family, fulfilment and peace of mind can coexist How to build a life you can look back on without regret