Aware with Seb

We welcome Richard Rudd, a world-renowned teacher, mystic, and poet who has spent decades exploring the depths of human consciousness. From trekking the Himalayas to earning a Master’s in Metaphysics, Richard has synthesized Eastern and Western mystical traditions into the Gene Keys, a profound system for unlocking the higher purpose hidden within human DNA.

In this conversation, Seb and Richard explore the journey from "Shadow to Gift" and the transformative power of the "Sacred Pause". They discuss the discipline of contemplation, the reality of spiritual evolution, and why true wisdom begins with being gentle toward ourselves. This episode is a masterclass on staying anchored to your personal ethos while navigating the complexities of the modern world.

Topics Discussed

• Mystical Roots
• The "Ugly" Side of Survival
• The DNA Myth
• The 7-Year Cocoon
• Contemplation is King
• The Individual vs. The Soul
• Sailing & Sourcing
• The 80/20 of Inner Work
• Learning Through Silence
• The Anti-Seriousness Stance

Connect with Richard & Gene Keys here

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Dan Cox, a Los Angeles–based entrepreneur and the visionary founder of the wellness brands Wellthy and Metcon. From his early days behind the retail counter to building and scaling multi-seven-figure CPG brands, Dan has mastered the transition from hands-on customer service to national distribution on major platforms like Amazon and GNC.

Join as we dive deep into the grit required to build a modern wellness empire without outside funding. They explore the "unsexy" side of the CPG industry, from the high stakes of inventory management to the logistical nightmare of single-origin sourcing, and why the "better for you" category is often just a marketing trap. Dan also tackles the toxicity of chasing trends, the reality of "learning by screwing up," and why true brand longevity depends on prioritizing customer trust over short-term Meta-ad wins. This episode is a masterclass on the discipline of scaling a business while staying anchored to a personal ethos in a flavor-first world.

Topics Discussed:

• Retail Roots
• The "Ugly" Side of CPG
• The "Better for a Few" Myth
• Supplement Trust & FDA
• Flavor is King
• D2C vs. Retail Reality
• Bootstrapping & Ingredient Ethos
• The 80/20 Founder Discipline
• Learning Through Failure
• The Anti-Mentorship Stance

Connect with Dan on Instagram

Connect with Wellthy here

Connect with MetCon here

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Brandon DesJarlais, a world-class athlete and the visionary founder of Beyond the Board. A Red Bull World Championship silver medalist and Hollywood stunt double for Vin Diesel, Brandon has transformed his professional longboarding career into a global movement. Since 2020, he has hosted over 300 events and mobilized hundreds of skaters worldwide, including his famous "Santa Run" involving over 500 skaters in full costume.

Recorded live during a walk through the iconic Venice Skatepark, this candid conversation explores Brandon’s unique approach to decision-making and his transition from a solo "badass" brand to a vulnerable, mission-driven leader. Together, Seb and Brandon pull back the curtain on the "pull vs. push" motivation of entrepreneurship, the visceral power of vision, and the courage required to conquer fear, whether bombing a hill or launching a new venture.

Topics Discussed:

• Decision-Making Without a Map
• The Power of Visceral Vision
• Push vs. Pull Motivation
• Hollywood Stunts and Persistent Value
• Transitioning Identities
• "Go Fast Alone, Go Far Together"
• Courage vs. Fear
• The Traveling Good Tour
• Speaking it into Existence
• Learning from Failure

Connect with Brandon on Instagram or brandondesjarlais.com

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Ruben Rojas, a Los Angeles–based artist, muralist, and the visionary founder of the Live Through Love movement. From transforming public spaces with large-scale installations to building a multi-seven-figure creative business, Ruben has bridged the gap between fine art and global commercial platforms like BMW and the NFL.

In this powerful conversation, Seb and Ruben dive deep into the radical transformation of a man who walked away from a career in finance to impact a billion people through creativity. They explore the collapse of the "American Dream" during the 2008 financial crisis, the toxicity of the "starving artist" narrative, and how to maintain mental resilience when your self-worth is no longer tied to material success. This episode is a masterclass on viewing creativity as a discipline and choosing love as a leadership tool in an increasingly divisive world.

Topics Discussed:

• The Finance Exit
• The 2008 Subprime Meltdown
• Redefining the American Dream
• Killing the "Starving Artist" Myth
• Abundance vs. Scarcity
• Scaling Creativity
• Global Brand Collaborations
• Healing through Art
• The Mission for Impact
• Love as a Discipline
• The Trapped Artist

Connect with Ruben on Instagram or rubenrojas.com

Connect with Live Through Love on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome James Merrill, the visionary founder of StokedPlastics and the inventor of the award-winning StokedPlastic® blend. He is also the driving force behind Opolis, a mission-driven eyewear brand that builds premium frames using upcycled water bottles pulled directly from the ocean.

Recorded live while walking on the street, this candid conversation pulls back the curtain on the "sweat and tears" reality of building a sustainable business from the ground up. Together, Seb and James explore the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges of raising capital, navigating long sales cycles with major retailers like Burton and REI, and the vital importance of mental resilience for conscious leaders.

Topics Discussed:

• The Reality of Startup Life
• Fundraising and Criticism
• The Opolis Mission
• Scaling Sustainability
• Mental Health and Letting Go
• Avoiding Burnout
• The Microplastics Crisis
• Fighting Greenwashing
• Purpose vs. Profit
• Innovating for the Mainstream
• Quantifiable Impact

Connect with James on Instagram

Connect with Opolis on Instagram

Connect with Stoked Plastic on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Travis Brewer, an elite athlete, American Ninja Warrior finalist, and conscious entrepreneur whose life is a testament to the power of movement and resilience. Travis is a leading figure in the functional fitness community, known for his mastery of calisthenics and his philosophy of "play" as a vital tool for mental health. In this conversation recorded live at The Kin, Travis sits down with Sebastian to break down his incredible transition from a corporate career in commercial real estate to becoming a world-class movement champion. They explore how to overcome fear through technical progression, the importance of integrating gratitude into the daily grind, and how the body possesses an intelligence capable of healing what the mind sometimes cannot comprehend.

Topics Discussed:

• Evolution of movement
• Fear management and risk assessment
• Technical progression vs. reckless courage
• Life pivots: From Real Estate to extreme sports
• Reinvention after the 2008 financial crisis
• Creating a brand with social impact (Pi)
• The GASM method: Gratitude, Affirmation, Shadow, and Manifestation
• "Play" as medicine for burnout
• Resetting the nervous system through the body
• Body intelligence: "The body keeps score"
• Conscious leadership and "The Conscious Edge"
• Impact goals: Super Bowl and NBA halftime shows
• Absolute presence and spiritual alignment
• Kinesthetic training and visualization

Connect with Travis on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome back Cory Klippsten, the founder and CEO of Swan, a leading Bitcoin financial services company dedicated to helping individuals and institutions build generational wealth. Cory is a prominent voice in the Bitcoin space, known for his relentless focus on education, his "Bitcoin-only" philosophy, and his deep roots in the Silicon Valley venture capital ecosystem. Five years after his first appearance on the podcast, Cory returns to sit down with Sebastian to reflect on the massive shifts in the Bitcoin landscape, the evolution of his vision from a small startup idea to a global wealth platform, and the personal growth that comes with leadership and fatherhood.

Topics Discussed:

• Bitcoin evolution
• Market crashes and cycles
• Bitcoin vs. Crypto
• Institutionalization of Bitcoin
• Quantum computing myths
• Venture capital in Silicon Valley
• Content-led customer acquisition
• Corporate raids and resilience
• Staffing and difficult layoffs
• Custody and security models
• Wealth management for the "middle"
• Fatherhood and decision-making
• Leadership through gut instinct
• Breathwork and physical grounding

Connect with Cory on Twitter

Connect with Swan on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Dr. Mary Pardee, naturopathic and preventative medicine doctor and founder of Modrn Med, a science-based integrative medical practice focused on personalized, preventative care. Specializing in chronic gut issues, Mary brings a grounded perspective that challenges rigid wellness narratives and reactive healthcare. Together, we explore discipline versus rigidity, intuition, nervous system health, and what it means to build a sustainable, informed relationship with health beyond rules and optimization.

Topics Discussed:

• Preventative medicine vs. reactive healthcare
• Longevity, healthspan, and optimizing how we live—not just how long
• Chronic gut issues (IBS, constipation, bloating) and their systemic roots
• Discipline vs. rigidity in health, nutrition, and lifestyle
• Intuition, nervous system regulation, and listening to the body
• The danger of misinformation in the integrative/functional medicine space
• Supplements, myths, and the importance of evidence-based treatment
• Personalized, patient-centered care vs. one-size-fits-all protocols
• Stress, control, and their impact on digestion and overall health
• Awareness and responsibility without shame or perfectionism
• Redefining health as a relationship, not a performance

Connect with Mary on Instagram

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SebastianNaum.com

In a rare twist, Jason Goldberg takes the interviewer’s seat and turns the conversation toward our dear host, Sebastian Naum Leon — entrepreneur, public speaker, and the inquisitive voice behind the top 3% global podcast Aware with Seb — to explore his personal journey, philosophy, and vision for conscious leadership. Throughout the episode, Seb reflects on integrating spirituality, business, and authenticity, showing how self-awareness, curiosity, and aligned action cultivate not just better leaders, but better humans. He speaks candidly about letting go of judgment, redefining success beyond performance, and building from purpose rather than pressure, offering listeners an intimate look at his values and long-term vision: a world where leadership is rooted in presence, connection, meaning, and joyful impact, and where conscious businesses catalyze a more human, alive way of living.

Topics Discussed:

• Rapid Fire: Seb’s Core Beliefs
• From God to Douche: Authentic Relationships
• Seb’s Childhood & Family Influence
• Early Interest in Psychology & Entrepreneurship
• First Business & Consciousness in Business
• Discovering & Leading CCLA
• Integrating Spirituality and Business
• Practical Steps for Conscious Business
• The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership
• The Conscious Edge Framework
• Awareness, Alignment, Meaning, and Joy at Work
• Creating Meaning in Any Job
• TV Analogy: Severance & Work-Life Separation
• Rapid Fire: Vulnerability & Spirituality
• Imposter Syndrome & Authenticity
• Delusion, Self-Belief, and Leadership Archetypes
• True/False: Self-Awareness, Spiritual Bypass, and Limiting Beliefs
• Seb’s Future: Speaking, Writing, and Impact
• Vision for a Wonderful World

Connect with Jason on Instagram

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SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Justin Toves-Vincilione, multi-award-winning hairstylist, internationally recognized educator, and creative entrepreneur, for an honest and deeply reflective conversation. Together, we explore what happens after success arrives; unpacking imposter syndrome, identity shifts, and the inner tension that comes with growth and reinvention. Justin shares his journey from going viral to building something of his own, opening up about fear, faith, pressure, and the responsibility that comes with leadership. Drawing from his experience in education, business ownership, and personal transformation, this intimate exchange reveals why authenticity, inner alignment, and self-trust are essential for sustainable success and conscious growth.

Topics Discussed:

• Imposter syndrome and self-doubt at higher levels of success
• Identity shifts that come with growth and reinvention
• Stepping into ownership, leadership, and responsibility
• Fear, pressure, and uncertainty during expansion
• Authenticity vs. chasing trends, algorithms, and validation
• Teaching, education, and creating meaningful impact
• Consistency, repetition, and long-term mastery
• Creative momentum vs. burnout
• Faith, spirituality, and inner alignment
• Personal transformation through adversity
• Redefining success beyond numbers and recognition
• Staying grounded while visibility and expectations grow

Connect with Justin on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com