Becoming a Sage with Dr. Jann Freed

My conversation with Arun Gupta focuses on how the societal systems reward achievement and net worth. But Gupta says society has to find ways to harness talent and wisdom. We talk about how AI is affecting organizations and the people in them. He said, “Stability is really risky because change is happening so fast.” To learn more about how we can all have more agency to our lives, listen to our conversation.

Arun Gupta is the CEO of NobleReach Foundation, which focuses on catalyzing and inspiring a renewed spirit of public service through innovation. He is also a Venture Capitalist, national bestselling author, Lecturer at Stanford University, and Adjunct Entrepreneurship Professor at Georgetown University. Arun is a frequent contributor to leading journals, podcasts, and conferences on topics related to emerging technology, public policy, entrepreneurship, and next-tgeneration mission-driven leaders. Arun earned engineering degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

We talk about inner transformation and how to cultivate an inner life. Ben explains habits of the heart and the power of practice needed to grow wiser faster. Now listen to our conversation about how to discover the wholeness of life.

Ben Katt is a spiritual coach, meditation teacher, and author of The Way Home who has spent over twenty years accompanying proven leaders on the spiritual journey from role to soul.

Ben serves as Faculty In Residence at Modern Elder Academy—the world's first midlife wisdom school. He holds a Master of Divinity degree, is a certified advanced meditation teacher, and served as an ordained minister for over a decade. Ben has accompanied the dying as a hospice chaplain, taught meditation in prisons to hundreds of incarcerated individuals, and served thousands of people experiencing addiction, mental illness, and homelessness as founder of Aurora Commons.

When he's not guiding leaders on the journey within, Ben enjoys trail running, karaoke nights with friends, and walks, meals, and road trips with his wife and three children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Samantha Fowlds is an authority on change and knowledge management. We discuss the numerous disruptions in which we are living and working. Listen to her advice about how to support employees in this environment by helping them feel psychologically safe in order to perform.

Samantha is a Principal Consultant, Executive Coach, and Change Leadership Advisor who partners with senior leaders in Financial Services and Technology to lead complex human capital development and enterprise transformation initiatives.

Her work connects psychology, leadership, and change to help organizations build real capability in their people. Samantha holds a Master of Science in Knowledge Management and Consultancy with graduate studies in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, and has worked inside organizations like Oracle, DXC, KPMG, Deloitte, RBC, TD Bank, Scotiabank, Toronto Stock Exchange, Sunnybrook Hospital, and Cadillac Fairview.

As a result of some health challenges, we talk about how Kevin had to pivot to find a new way after his successful career in higher education. We learn about his journey and how he felt during and after the process of making life changes.

Kevin Cool is a senior editor at Stanford Graduate School of Business and host of the GSB’s award-winning podcast, If/Then. 

Cool has reported extensively throughout the United States and abroad. His stories have included accounts of army atrocities in Guatemala, cultural observations of China, and how climate change is threatening the future of the Colorado River. 

He was editor of Stanford’s flagship publication, Stanford Magazine, for 20 years. Under his leadership, the magazine won over 70 national writing, editing, and design awards. His essays and articles have been named best in class among higher education publications more than a dozen times.

Cool retired from full-time work in 2025 and now splits his time between his podcast duties, outdoor activities, and volunteer work for nonprofit organizations in Half Moon Bay, California, where he lives.

Larry Carlson has been involved in retirement community administration for decades. We talk about how retirement has changed and what people are seeking is different. He describes how to make communities relevant to the people who are wanting to downsize and move to a welcoming place that they can lock and leave.

Larry is an author, advisor, and leadership voice focused on helping people live with strength, purpose, and clarity in the second half of life. After a long career in senior living leadership, he now writes, speaks, and advises on the deeper dimensions of retirement—identity, structure, health, and relationships. 

He is the author of Avandell: Reimagining the Dementia Experience and continues to serve on boards and mentor leaders, supporting mission-driven organizations and individuals stepping into their next chapter.

As like minds, Gregg and I talk about our passion for helping people make the rest of life —the best of life. We share ideas and tips on how we do this. 

Gregg Vanourek is co-author of three influential books, including LIFE Entrepreneurs (a manifesto for living with purpose and passion, written with Christopher Gergen) and Triple Crown Leadership (a winner of the International Book Awards, written with his father, Bob Vanourek). He runs a personal development and leadership company and teaches at the Stockholm Business School.

He’s also a former senior executive at a tech startup, now a market leader with $1 billion in sales. He is on the board of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in Colorado. He served on the board of SE Forum and the Vail Alliance. Gregg has given a TEDx talk and talks or workshops in eight countries. He is married and has two daughters, and has lived in the U.S., Sweden, and England.

Rob Walker is a journalist covering design, technology, business, the arts, and other subjects. He has contributed to The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Atlantic,  NewYorker.com, Design Observer, The Organist,  and many others. His latest book is The Art of Noticing. He is on the faculty of the Products of Design MFA program at the School of Visual Arts. Find his Art of Noticing newsletter at robwalker.substack.com

We talk about why it's important to pay attention, stay awake, and resist the constant battle for our focus. He describes how noticing leads to curiosity and curiosity to creativity, and he reminds us that the most valuable things to notice are the ones everyone else overlooks. Listen to learn how to stay alive to your life and live by design rather than by default.

Paul Long is a storyteller who spent nearly 50 years delivering information and content for others.

First, 15 years in television journalism and then 34 years as an Emmy Award winning content creator for global brands.

Starting in 2010, he began exploring how to find his New Way Forward in life as he approached olderhood. 

Since then, he has been researching, learning, experimenting and now sharing with others ways to avoid the pitfalls of retirement and olderhood by designing a life that is health, active and meaningful to take full advantage of the new reality of olderhood. You can find Paul on YouTube, Substack, LinkedIn and his website, www.NewWayFWD.com

Kelly Byrnes on Culture, Courage, and the Leadership Lessons That Still Matter in the Age of AI

Kelly Byrnes is the Founder and CEO of Voyage Consulting Group, helping leaders strengthen their organizations through culture and talent strategy. A former Chief Talent Officer and MBA professor at Rockhurst University, she's advised 75+ organizations and coached 200+ executives. Kelly co-founded Culture Matters, hosts the Leadership Book of the Month broadcast, and recently released The Basics of Gen AI: The Essential Guide for Business Leaders and Professionals. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. She was named one of the region's Most Influential Women and inducted into the Kansas City Business Hall of Fame.

Danny Morel is an entrepreneur turned spiritual guide who has helped thousands to achieve true abundance in their finances, relationships and health through deep healing work and spiritual awakenings. Danny offers private coaching, speaking, and his AWAKEN Your Highest Self events that draw upwards of 600-700 attendees at every event. He is also a recognized thought leader who is frequently featured in major national media such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.

Purchase his book Awaken Your Highest Self: The Limiting Beliefs That Keep You Stuck–And the Heart Work That Sets You Free here⁠ http://dannymorel.com/book⁠