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The Mindful CEO

The Mindful CEO

Hosted by Aaron Hendon and Chris Angell

BusinessEntrepreneurshipSocietyCulturePhilosophy
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Episodes

150

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 11, 202646 min

Staying Loose When the Numbers Are Tight

Show Notes  When business gets uncertain, most leaders don't lose their strategy. They lose themselves. In this episode, Chris and Aaron explore what happens inside us when revenue slows, pipelines shrink, and pressure mounts. Rather than offering productivity hacks or motivational slogans, they unpack the subtle shift from curiosity to control and why tightening our grip almost always makes things worse. This conversation is about learning to recognize those moments, return to awareness, and lead from presence instead of panic. Because sometimes the most practical business strategy is becoming the kind of leader who can stay loose when everything around them feels tight. Learn more about Aaron Hendon at www.aaronhendon.com Want more Referrals? Learn more about Chris Angell's Referral Assessment at www.thereferraleffect.org/assessment  Episode Outline  1. A Terrible Intro... and an Honest Beginning The conversation opens with laughter before landing on a universal leadership challenge. 2. What Tight Numbers Actually Do to Us How scarcity changes our thinking, behavior, and relationships without us noticing. 3. Athletes, Artists, and Peak Performance Why our best work almost never happens from fear or force. 4. Awareness Before Adjustment Learning to notice the moment your nervous system shifts into survival mode. 5. Curiosity Over Control Why curiosity is one of the most practical leadership skills during uncertainty. 6. Staying Loose Beyond Business How the same principle applies to parenting, relationships, creativity, and everyday life. 7. Returning to Alignment Finding your way back to trust, intuition, and meaningful action instead of frantic activity.

August 4, 202648 min

D&D Alignment Chart and Mindfulness

Referenced Alignment Chart Show Notes  In this episode, Chris Angell and Aaron Hendon use the familiar Dungeons & Dragons alignment chart as an unexpected doorway into one of leadership's biggest questions: How do you know when to act, and when to wait? They explore the tension between hustle culture's obsession with constant action and a more mindful approach to business that values alignment, discernment, and trust. Rather than promoting procrastination or endless productivity, this conversation invites leaders to build businesses from clarity instead of pressure, discovering that the highest leverage often comes from acting at the right moment rather than acting all the time. Learn more about Aaron Hendon at www.aaronhendon.com Want more Referrals? Learn more about Chris Angell's Referral Assessment at www.thereferraleffect.org/assessment  Episode Outline  An Unexpected Leadership Lesson from D&D The alignment chart becomes a surprising framework for leadership. Why We Feel Guilty for Waiting Hustle culture teaches constant action. Mindfulness asks a different question. Is Procrastination Always a Problem? Exploring whether resistance sometimes contains useful information. The Difference Between Avoidance and Alignment How mindful leaders distinguish fear from wisdom. The Pressure to Perform Why forcing action often creates more friction than results. Building a Business That Fits You Creating from lived experience instead of borrowed expectations. Leading Without Hustling Practical reflections for making better decisions with less unnecessary effort.

July 28, 202633 min

The Engine of Bad Faith with Jean-Paul Sartre

Show Notes  Most leaders don't feel stuck because they lack discipline. They feel stuck because they've quietly accepted stories that make their current reality seem inevitable. In this conversation, Chris Angell and Aaron Hendon unpack Jean-Paul Sartre's idea of "bad faith" and explore how phrases like I have to, I should, and What choice do I have? slowly erode our agency. Together they examine responsibility not as blame for the past, but as ownership of the future. If you've ever felt trapped by your business, your role, or your circumstances, this episode offers a profoundly freeing way to think about choice, leadership, and the life you're actively creating. Learn more about Aaron Hendon at www.aaronhendon.com Want more Referrals? Learn more about Chris Angell's Referral Assessment at www.thereferraleffect.org/assessment  Episode Outline  1. The Problem with "Have To" Why everyday language quietly gives away our power. 2. Responsibility as a Future Conversation Moving beyond blame and into authorship. 3. The Philosophy of Bad Faith How we convince ourselves we have no choice. 4. The Stories Leaders Tell Themselves Where obligation masquerades as reality. 5. Agency Changes Everything Why freedom begins by acknowledging every choice has consequences. 6. Business as a Mirror How companies expose the stories we believe about ourselves. 7. Choosing a Different Future Practical ways to reclaim responsibility without self-judgment.

July 21, 202636 min

When Success Stops Feeling Like Enough with Brad Glantz

Show Notes  What happens when the goals you've spent your life chasing stop giving you the fulfillment you expected? In this deeply human conversation, Chris Angell and Aaron Hendon sit down with coach Brad Glantz to explore the relationship between achievement, identity, self-worth, and presence. Together they unpack why so many high performers unknowingly build their value on external success, how mindfulness interrupts that cycle, and what it looks like to create a life that feels meaningful rather than merely impressive. If you've ever wondered why reaching the next milestone never quite satisfies, this conversation offers a refreshing alternative. Learn more about Brad at www.mightybrad.com Learn more about Aaron Hendon at www.aaronhendon.com Episode Outline  1. Why Success Isn't Solving the Problem Introducing Brad Glantz The trap of achievement-based identity 2. The Story We Tell Ourselves How childhood experiences shape adult ambition Why external validation becomes addictive 3. Mindfulness as Interruption Becoming aware instead of automatically reacting Observing thoughts without believing them 4. Achievement vs. Self-Worth Why accomplishments can't permanently answer identity questions Separating what you do from who you are 5. The Courage to Feel Avoiding discomfort through productivity Learning to stay present with difficult emotions 6. Redefining Growth Moving from fixing yourself to understanding yourself Curiosity over judgment 7. A Different Way to Lead Bringing wholeness into business and relationships Living from values instead of proving yourself

July 14, 202643 min

Confidence, Curiosity, and the Future of Human-Centered Sales with Krystal Lee Moore

Show Notes  Sales isn't just about techniques. It's about the relationship you have with yourself before you ever meet another person. In this throwback conversation, Chris and Aaron sit down with Krystal Lee Moore to explore what separates sustainable success from constant hustle. Together they unpack confidence, curiosity, emotional regulation, authenticity, and why the highest-performing professionals stop trying to convince people and start learning how to truly connect. Whether you're in real estate, leadership, or any people-centered business, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that real influence begins long before the transaction. Learn more about Krystal Lee Moore→ https://www.youtube.com/@Krystalleemoore  Learn more about How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fucked Up World→ https://thegratefulbreath.com  Learn more about From Hustle to Flow: Sell more by stressing less→ https://www.therealtorsedge.com  Find Aaron’s course on Stan.store here:→ https://www.stan.store/realtorsedge   Episode Outline  1. A Throwback Conversation Why this early interview still feels incredibly relevant today. 2. From Law Dreams to Real Estate Krystal shares her unexpected path into the profession and what kept her there. 3. Performance Without Pressure How confidence grows when you stop attaching your worth to outcomes. 4. Curiosity Creates Better Conversations Replacing scripts and persuasion with genuine interest in another human being. 5. Emotional Resilience in Sales Learning to navigate rejection without making it personal. 6. The Human Side of Leadership Why trust, consistency, and authenticity outperform manipulation over the long run. 7. Selling Less, Serving More How removing attachment often leads to better business results.

July 7, 202651 min

Mental Training Plan with Ben Carnes

Show Notes  Whether you're leading a company, coaching a team, or simply trying to become a steadier version of yourself, performance eventually stops being about strategy and starts becoming about attention. In this conversation, Chris and Aaron sit down with mental performance coach Ben Carnes to explore what athletes can teach entrepreneurs about handling pressure, quieting self-doubt, and staying present when the stakes are highest. The discussion moves beyond motivation into practical mental training, revealing why confidence isn't something you wait to feel—it's something you practice. Learn more about Ben Carnes→ https://www.mentaltrainingplan.com  Learn more about How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fucked Up World→ https://thegratefulbreath.com  Learn more about From Hustle to Flow: Sell more by stressing less→ https://www.therealtorsedge.com  Find Aaron’s course on Stan.store here:→ https://www.stan.store/realtorsedge Episode Outline  1. Why Sports and Business Mirror Each Other Why entrepreneurs and athletes face many of the same internal battles. 2. The Collapse That Changed Everything Ben shares the coaching moment that exposed the missing piece in athletic development. 3. Training the Mind Like a Muscle Mental skills aren't personality traits. They're trainable behaviors. 4. Confidence Isn't Magic How focus, self-talk, breathing, and body awareness create consistent performance. 5. Identity vs. Outcomes What happens when your self-worth becomes attached to wins, losses, revenue, or recognition. 6. Staying Present Under Pressure Practical ways to redirect attention back to what actually matters in the moment. 7. Bringing Mental Performance Into Leadership How business owners can borrow elite athletic practices without becoming performance-obsessed.

June 23, 202640 min

Speaking, Storytelling, and the Courage to Be Seen with Marta Spirk

Show Notes Summary What if the most powerful business strategy isn't a funnel, a framework, or a better pitch, but a story? In this conversation with speaking strategist Marta Spirk, Chris and Aaron explore the deeper purpose of storytelling, speaking, visibility, and authentic leadership. Together they unpack why your personal journey matters more than polished messaging, how mindfulness changes the way we communicate, and why the stories we're afraid to share are often the ones that create the deepest connection. This episode is a thoughtful exploration of influence, identity, and the human desire to be understood in a world obsessed with performance. Learn more about Marta Spirk→ https://www.martaspirk.com Learn more about How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fucked Up World→ https://thegratefulbreath.com  Learn more about From Hustle to Flow: Sell more by stressing less→ https://www.therealtorsedge.com  Find Aaron’s course on Stan.store here:→ https://www.stan.store/realtorsedge   Episode Outline 1. Aaron's Unexpected Transformation Mindfulness, health, and sustainable change Why some forms of growth feel surprisingly effortless 2. Meet Marta Spirk Her journey into speaking strategy Helping entrepreneurs find and share meaningful stories 3. Start With the End in Mind The importance of a core offer What happens after someone hears you speak? 4. Storytelling Beyond Marketing Why stories create trust The difference between teaching and connecting 5. Visibility and Authentic Leadership Sharing the parts of yourself you'd rather hide Why vulnerability creates resonance 6. Mindfulness, Sales, and Corporate Culture Can mindfulness be taught without leadership buy-in? The tension between productivity and transformation 7. Speaking as Service Moving from persuasion to contribution Helping people see themselves in your story 8. The Story Only You Can Tell Owning your lived experience Why authenticity is more powerful than expertise alone

June 16, 202628 min

Calling It Forward

Show Notes Summary What does it actually take to bring something meaningful into the world? In this conversation, Chris and Aaron explore the invisible forces behind finishing books, launching ideas, building businesses, and pursuing work that matters. They unpack the role of attention, vision, feedback, relationships, and future possibility in creating momentum without falling into hustle culture. Along the way, they challenge the myth that aligned action always feels easy and offer a more grounded perspective on growth: meaningful work often asks something of us, but when it's connected to a compelling future, effort becomes purpose rather than grind. Learn more about How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fucked Up World→ https://thegratefulbreath.com  Learn more about From Hustle to Flow: Sell more by stressing less→ https://www.therealtorsedge.com  Find Aaron’s course on Stan.store here:→ https://www.stan.store/realtorsedge   Episode Outline 1. The TED Talk and the Attention Crisis Aaron shares his TED Talk proposal Why phones aren't the real problem Attention as a trainable skill 2. Bringing Something Into the World Writing books, creating talks, building businesses The challenge of holding attention over time Why meaningful projects require intentional focus 3. When Purpose Turns Into Grind The tension between aligned action and difficult action Why meaningful work isn't always effortless Cleaning the cat box still counts 4. The Power of Future Pull Vision as a source of energy Creating a future worth moving toward Why goals alone often aren't enough 5. Relationships Over Transactions The long game of connection Communities, conversations, and opportunity How business grows through authentic relationships 6. Creating Conditions for Momentum Environment matters Surrounding yourself with people moving in a similar direction Removing friction from growth 7. Feedback Without Defensiveness Learning to value feedback over ego Growth through awareness Becoming more committed to improvement than comfort 8. Calling It Forward The role of leadership in creating possibility Letting go of limitations that no longer serve Choosing action in service of a bigger future  

June 7, 202649 min

A Zen Mind | Interview with Jo Rose

In a Mindful CEO live event, Aaron interviews Jo Rose, founder and host of the Spotify Zen meditation podcast “A Zen Mind Guided Meditations” and CEO of Ascension Global Enterprise, a wellness media company focused on guided meditation, nervous system regulation, and neuroscience education. Jo shares how meditation helped her recover from PNES and severe night terrors during college, how she created five meditations in 2020, and how she revived the project in May 2023 while working in New York, growing from about 40,000 listeners to nearly 25 million with 1.2 million downloads per month. They discuss “McMindfulness,” arguing mindfulness is a way of being rather than a corporate productivity tool, and emphasize attention agency, presence in daily activities, and asking “why” to interrupt automatic habits like doomscrolling.

June 2, 202642 min

Aligned Action from Your “Encodings”

Show Notes Most business advice starts with what you should do. This conversation starts somewhere different. Chris and Aaron explore the idea of "encodings," the natural abilities, interests, and patterns that seem to come preloaded into each of us. Drawing on insights from Jim Collins and their own entrepreneurial journeys, they unpack why so many leaders burn themselves out trying to follow someone else's playbook. The deeper question isn't whether action matters. It does. The question is whether your actions are aligned with how you're actually wired. If you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected from the work itself, this episode offers a different lens for creating momentum, fulfillment, and results. Learn more about How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fucked Up World→ https://thegratefulbreath.com  Learn more about From Hustle to Flow: Sell more by stressing less→ https://www.therealtorsedge.com  Find Aaron’s course on Stan.store here:→ https://www.stan.store/realtorsedge Episode Outline 1. The Manifesting vs. Action Debate Why action still matters, and why the real conversation lives somewhere deeper. 2. Jim Collins and the Idea of Encodings The difference between learned competence and natural wiring. 3. The Trap of Borrowed Playbooks How professionals adopt industry norms without considering their own strengths. 4. Looking Back Instead of Looking Forward Why clues to your calling are usually found in your history, not your imagination. 5. Forced Action vs. Aligned Action The energy difference between doing what works and doing what fits. 6. Aaron's Pattern of Reinvention The relationship between passion, longevity, and sustainable effort. 7. Designing a Business Around Your Wiring What happens when you build around your natural gifts instead of your weaknesses. 8. The Infinite Game of Meaningful Work Why fulfillment often comes from expressing who you already are.    

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