Beyond Curious ®

When Annie Strauch was in high school, her choir teacher forced her to make a choice:

Pursue sports… or pursue music.

She chose sports…. but life had other plans 😃

Today, Annie is one of Australia’s leading vocal physiotherapists and the founder of Performance Medicine—a physical therapy practice that supports some of the biggest theatrical productions in the world: Hamilton, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and more.

Thanks to Annie’s work, world-class performers are able to take the stage night after night—while protecting their voices and bodies for the long run.

But Annie didn’t find this career path. She pioneered it.

And her journey to get here is nothing short of inspiring.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🎭 How she built a first-of-its-kind business in Australia that combined all her passions—art, science, music, performance, and healing
• 🍼 How Annie built a thriving business while having three kids in 3.5 years—and why that wild constraint became one of the greatest gifts in shaping a sustainable and scalable company
• 💡 Why she invested early in her “home team” just as much as her business team—and how that helped her thrive as both a founder and a mother

If you’ve ever wondered how to design a business that honors your creativity, your calling, and your capacity—this conversation is your permission slip.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Annie Strauch.

Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Annie Strauch, a pioneering physiotherapist in Australia whose work combines her passions for art, science, music, performance, and healing.

01:12 - Three insights to look out for in Annie’s story.

Brandon highlights Annie’s unique achievements: building a first-of-its-kind business, raising three children in under four years while growing her company, and her philosophy of investing equally in her home and business teams.

03:38 - Annie shares her excitement and appreciation for the podcast.

Annie and Brandon share mutual excitement, setting the stage for a candid, energetic conversation about Annie’s unconventional journey.

04:35 - The unique challenges behind the stage of “Storm Boy”.

Annie vividly describes working with the Melbourne Theatre Company on Storm Boy, tackling the unusual challenge of performers acting on synthetic sand dunes and how her team devised safe, creative movement workshops for the cast.

08:01 - Brandon and Annie discuss the hidden intricacies behind live performances.

They explore the often unseen physical demands on performers, costumes, lighting, and how Annie’s work ensures artists can perform safely night after night.

12:29 - Annie’s high school choir teacher’s ultimatum: music or sports?

Annie shares how her choir teacher forced her to choose between athletics and choir practice, a pivotal moment that foreshadowed her future of blending both worlds into a fulfilling career.

18:29 - How Annie embraced nonlinear thinking to blend her passions.

Brandon and Annie unpack her journey of fusing art and science, from choosing physiotherapy to fuel her love of travel to rediscovering creativity while building her career.

22:17 - Annie’s “spark moment” working in London’s West End.

She recounts how an unexpected opportunity at a prestigious London clinic introduced her to theatre physiotherapy, supporting productions like Billy Elliot and tackling challenges like the physical impact of raked stages.

28:15 - Starting her own business and an unexpected surprise.

Annie details founding her clinic, Performance Medicine, in 2010, and finding out three months in that she was pregnant—turning what could have been an obstacle into the catalyst for building a sustainable, scalable practice.

35:28 - Investing equally in her “home team” and “business team”.

Annie shares practical advice for working parents: setting up childcare early, hiring help at home (cleaners, meal prep), and why she sees these as non-negotiable investments in her family’s and business’s success.

45:58 - Navigating setbacks: losing an employee while on maternity leave.

Annie reflects on a defining challenge—an employee leaving right after her second child was born—and how it forced her to confront hard truths about trust, resilience, and scaling her team.

50:36 - Going “all in” and the leap from small practice to national company.

She explains how this crisis led her to hire more staff, expand her premises sixfold, and eventually build a thriving national business supporting productions across Australia and beyond.

53:21 - Advice for anyone standing at their “go big or go home” moment.

Annie shares concrete advice: have passion, know your numbers, build systems as you go, and surround yourself with aligned, trustworthy people. She emphasizes using your core values as a decision filter for sustainable growth.

• Performance Medicine — Annie’s physiotherapy company serving Australia’s performing arts industry.
• Annie Strauch Linkedin Profile
• Episode #136 with Jem Fuller — The episode featuring the introduction to Annie.
• Melbourne Theatre Company — Where Annie’s Storm Boy production took place.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Trevor Blake

Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Trevor Blake, a returning guest known for his unique lifestyle and impressive entrepreneurial journey—having built and exited multiple nine-figure businesses with no employees, all while working under five hours a day.

00:45 - Eating ants and entering magical portals: Trevor's serendipitous night

Trevor recounts a bizarre yet magical experience involving eating ants (described as tasting like salt and vinegar) and a night of unexpected deep connections that tied directly into his business and media ventures.

02:15 - Recap of Trevor's accomplishments and lifestyle

Brandon highlights Trevor’s success, including his bestselling book Three Simple Steps, his scientific background, and his astonishing business feats, setting the stage for deeper discussion.

03:55 - Playing with elephants leads to an investor

Brandon teases an upcoming story where a simple desire to play with elephants serendipitously connects Trevor with a major investor, hinting at the themes of curiosity and nonlinear success.

06:04 - Trevor’s hidden lineage and the call to Norway

Trevor reveals a deeply personal story about discovering his biological father—a Norwegian naval officer—and the full-circle moment of traveling to his father’s homeland decades later.

10:00 - Redefining financial independence and real success

Trevor contrasts conventional financial advice with his own philosophy: true independence precedes financial flow. He and Jess are living proof, having shed material possessions to travel freely.

12:01 - Selling a company in a single day—while on a luxury cruise

While cruising, Trevor spontaneously decides to sell one of his companies. By dinner, the deal is done. He emphasizes living intuitively and letting life unfold with ease.

17:05 - Freedom through simplicity: Why now is the best time

Trevor celebrates how modern tools like Starlink enable living freely from anywhere. He critiques hustle culture and asserts that independence doesn't require millions—just a decision to live differently.

20:25 - Meeting extraordinary people through play and curiosity

Trevor shares how he’s constantly encountering aligned, successful individuals during his travels—simply by engaging authentically and not chasing outcomes.

28:25 - The elephant sanctuary story: Magic, tears, and a business breakthrough

Trevor details the emotionally profound encounter with elephants in Phuket. The experience was so moving he cried—and it ended with the unexpected bonus of meeting a Swiss doctor who became an investor.

34:22 - Quantum entanglement and serendipity: The physics of intuition

Trevor explains how quantum physics, specifically entanglement, can help make sense of magical meetings like the one in Thailand. When aligned with energy, he believes people and ideas naturally connect.

43:22 - Brain-forward vs. torso wand decision-making

Trevor introduces the concept of the “torso wand,” representing the alignment of the solar plexus, heart, and brain. He explains how shifting from analytical problem-solving to intuitive flow changed everything for him.

50:31 - Biography-inspired transformation: From bullied teen to nine-figure exits

Trevor credits reading hundreds of biographies as the foundation for creating his three simple steps. These helped him escape poverty, join the Navy, and later build wildly successful companies.

55:18 - Balancing brain, heart, and intuition for ease and fun

Brandon and Trevor unpack how magic and fun emerge from balancing thinking with feeling and knowing. Trevor confirms success rarely comes from brainpower alone—it’s the harmony of all three that makes the difference.

01:00:01 - Energy, resonance, and the modern shift from self-interest to contribution

Trevor explains how contributing to others raises your own vibration. By approaching interactions—like those with the ship’s crew—with genuine warmth, he creates deeper connections and unexpected opportunities.

Links & Resources:

• Trevor G. Blake’s Website – Learn more about Trevor’s teachings, including the Transformation Experience and torso wand concept.
• Three Simple Steps – Trevor Blake – Trevor’s bestselling book about achieving success through mindset and energy alignment.
• Jessica Von Innerebner’s Blog – Trevor’s wife’s poetic and insightful reflections from their global travels.
• Beyond Curious™ Episode #224 – Part one of the conversation with Trevor.
• Beyond Curious™ Episode #225 – A deep dive with Trevor’s wife, Jessica.

Gil Petersil used to feel awkward speaking to people.

With English as his third language, Gil built his confidence by serving hundreds of homeless people… and going to speed dating events.

Today, he’s known as a global leader in the world of networking—building relationships with royalty in Indonesia and running thousands of events worldwide, including many for Tony Robbins.

There is SO much magic in this episode, but here are 3 fun things to look forward to:

• How cooking a chanterelle mushroom for spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle led to Gil producing his largest event in Russia (6,000+ people) and getting invited to vacation with Eckhart’s family
• Unlocking the power of “Quantum Networking” — and how Gil uses “time algorithms” and “networking codes” to build deep relationships
• What Gil learned about connection from being DISCONNECTED by spending 72 hours in complete darkness

If you’re ready to take your relationships to the next level, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Gil Petersil

Brandon sets the stage for a wildly engaging episode featuring global networking expert Gil Petersil, highlighting stories involving Tony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle, and even networking during a darkness retreat.

00:01:08 - The power of small actions and foreshadowing Eckhart Tolle

Brandon teases three key stories: Gil's time with the homeless, his mushroom-cooking moment with Eckhart Tolle, and how he networks in complete darkness.

00:02:28 - Gil Petersil's background and tea-powered facilitation

Brandon shares Gil’s impressive bio, including his quantum networking expertise and his integration of tea ceremonies into strategic facilitation work.

00:05:13 - Practicing networking with homeless people in London

Gil recounts his early 20s in London, where he left a corporate job and began engaging in deep conversations with homeless people to improve his English and develop human connection skills.

00:07:29 - Lessons in empathy and humanity from the streets

Gil reflects on the most powerful takeaways from those conversations: empathy, soul-level connection, and the realization that anyone can end up in difficult life circumstances.

00:12:26 - Cooking for Eckhart Tolle and building an unlikely bond

Gil recalls nervously preparing chanterelle mushrooms at a retreat—only for Eckhart Tolle to walk in and accept the meal, eventually leading to Gil organizing Tolle’s largest-ever event in Russia.

00:17:28 - Networking as a thousand-step journey with Eckhart Tolle

Gil discusses the year-and-a-half-long process to bring Eckhart to Moscow and the unexpected depth of their eventual connection, including a family vacation together.

00:18:40 - Disrupting networking norms through darkness retreats

Gil shares how 72 hours in complete darkness helped him identify and reconnect with significant people in his life, reflecting on his relationship to presence, time, and disconnection.

00:24:18 - Quantum networking and writing in the dark

Inside the darkness retreat, Gil used an ingenious system to write and meditate on networking entanglements, karmic energy, and deepening valuable relationships.

00:26:30 - Follow-up as soul nourishment, not CRM tracking

Gil breaks down his intuitive follow-up system, including daily practices like scrolling WhatsApp and re-engaging people with heartfelt, time-aware voice notes.

00:39:12 - Live experiment: Brandon challenges Gil to a real-time follow-up

In a spontaneous moment, Brandon has Gil scroll four times in his WhatsApp and send a one-minute voice message to the first person who resonates—a woman named Kaya, who coincidentally shares a name with Brandon’s daughter.

00:46:46 - The anatomy of a one-minute voice message

Gil sends a voice note live, sharing his thought process in crafting a message that reflects presence, intention, and value—all in just over a minute.

00:53:10 - How many minutes in a day? The 1,440-minute mindset

Gil explains his time algorithm: with 1,440 minutes in a day, there are 1,000 usable networking minutes. He challenges listeners to rethink time allocation through this simple but powerful lens.

00:57:22 - Creating experiences to disrupt old networking codes

Brandon and Gil dive into how immersive, intention-driven events like tea salons can radically accelerate connection by bypassing outdated relationship-building strategies.

01:00:17 - The “1-2-3” algorithm for accelerated networking

Gil shares his favorite time-based code—1, 2, and 3-minute frameworks for intentional sharing and engagement—and how these have transformed the speed and depth of his network.

Links & Resources:

• Gil Petersil’s Website
• Connect with Gil on Instagram
• Episode #217 – Scott Griswold’s episode

Back in college, I took a $2,000 prize from a business plan competition in Sweden and made what seemed like a bold move at the time…

I invested all of it into an online course called Zero to Launch by Ramit Sethi.

One of the star students featured in the program?

Selena Soo.

Even then, I was blown away by her track record — so it was kind of a funny and full circle moment when my friend Jhana Li introduced me to her to bring her on the podcast to talk about her new book Rich Relationships.

Over the past 10 years, Selena has generated over $13M in revenue, built 400+ affiliate and referral partnerships, and helped thousands of entrepreneurs land features in places like Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and The Drew Barrymore Show.

But here’s what impressed me most:

Her intentional way of approaching relationships.

In this episode, we dive into some seriously transformational stuff, including:

• 💸 The “Generosity Fund” — a brilliant idea that redefines ROI in relationships and might make you rethink your Facebook ads budget
• 🔎 How to identify your unconscious patterns that may have lead to unhealthy relationships — and how to rewrite them
• 🫶 Selena’s “GIVE” Framework — how to make clear, generous asks that actually inspire people to want to support you

We also talk about the Six Circles of Connection — her mental model for protecting your energy and getting clear on which relationships to invest in and how.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to “network,” unsure how to ask for support, or drained by lopsided relationships…

This episode will rewire how you think about connection.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Selena Soo

Brandon Fong introduces the show and highlights Selena Soo's impactful work. He shares a personal full-circle story about discovering Selena through Ramit Sethi’s course and announces the main themes of today’s episode: the generosity fund, the GIVE framework, healing unhealthy patterns, and Selena’s six circles of connection model.

00:05:24 - Selena shares a story of her mother’s fearless curiosity and social grace

Selena recounts a touching story about her mother making an unexpected connection with a punk couple at a sushi bar in NYC. The anecdote illustrates the value of curiosity and presence in creating rich relationships, setting the stage for defining what those relationships look like.

00:10:22 - The serendipitous moment Selena met Ramit Sethi

Selena shares how spotting Ramit Sethi on the street led to a transformative mentorship. She describes going above and beyond by offering five hours of feedback instead of five minutes—an act of "breathtaking generosity" that became a pillar in her success and philosophy.

00:15:22 - What is a “rich relationship”? Selena defines her core concept

Selena outlines her definition: a relationship that enriches your life through abundance, alignment with your goals, and inspiration to become your best self. Brandon and Selena unpack the depth-over-width mindset for nurturing meaningful connections.

00:18:01 - Introducing Selena’s “Six Circles of Connection” framework

Selena dives into her popular model for managing relationship energy: Circle 1 (innermost) through Circle 6 (unconnected). She explains how to apply this model to prioritize and categorize relationships for personal and professional growth.

00:26:28 - How Selena uses a “Top 40 List” to stay in touch with key connections

Brandon asks how Selena operationalizes her relationships. Selena describes maintaining a dynamic list of 40 people to nurture throughout the year with a monthly “nurturing appointment” to stay connected and intentionally generous.

00:30:41 - The “Generosity Fund”: A new way to think about your relationship budget

Selena introduces her standout concept of the generosity fund—repurposing a budget traditionally used for marketing or Facebook ads into deepening relationships through acts of generosity. Brandon shares how he applied this idea by gifting his executive assistant’s time.

00:36:09 - How a $200 gift turned into $18,000 in value

Selena recounts using her generosity fund to purchase coaching sessions from a money coach and gifting them to friends. One recipient saved $1,500/month as a result—a real-life case of triple-win generosity.

00:41:05 - “Relaxed abundance”: Giving without attachment

Selena explains her philosophy of giving freely and fully without expecting immediate return. She contrasts this with transactional giving and encourages building energetically aligned relationships.

00:44:02 - Why people don’t receive support—and how to change that

Selena identifies three main reasons why people don’t receive help: lack of clarity, weak relationships, and difficulty asking. She walks through each with practical examples and reflections.

00:47:53 - The GIVE Framework for making impactful requests

Selena reveals her GIVE formula: Gratitude, Inspire, Very specific, Easy out. She models how she used it to raise $100,000 in book sales by asking supporters to buy in bulk with clarity and warmth.

00:52:42 - Recognizing and escaping toxic relationships

Brandon invites Selena to share a painful story of an emotionally and financially abusive romantic relationship. Selena vulnerably discusses how it evolved, how she escaped, and the critical lessons she learned about maintaining integrity in relationships.

00:58:55 - Uncovering unconscious patterns through a journaling exercise

Selena outlines a journaling exercise to identify patterns in past unhealthy relationships. She describes how analyzing what attracted you and what turned toxic can help stop repeated mistakes and build healthier future relationships.

Links & Resources:

• Selena Soo’s website
• Selena Soo’s Linkedin Profile
• Selena Soo’s Book: Rich Relationships – Create a Million Dollar Network for Your Business
• Zero to Launch by Ramit Sethi – The course where Brandon first discovered Selena

Here’s a small sample of where Johann Nogueira’s curiosity has taken him:

• Built a SaaS company from $0 to $20M in 4 years.
• Created a board game to teach his son how to build a business from $0 to $10M.
• Rallied 30+ companies and 600,000 people to launch a COVID app in 10 days — and why the Australian government and its 3 biggest tech companies came knocking
• Consulted for an IVF clinic and built an app that increased success rates by 35%.
• Oh, and he’s had three billionaire mentors.

Needless to say… Johann doesn’t think like most people.

This episode is a fascinating invitation into the mind of someone who solves BIG problems, plays a BIG game, and genuinely makes the world a better place.

Here are just a few things you’ll take away from this conversation:

• Why playing bigger can actually be easier — and more effective — than playing small
• How he built relationships with his billionaire mentors — and how they radically rewired how he thinks
• The exact mindset and strategies Johann uses to turn top competitors into high-leverage strategic partners

This one’s a peek into the mind of a man who plays the business game on an entirely different level.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Johann Nogueira

Brandon introduces the show and highlights Johann’s extraordinary background—building a SaaS company from $0 to $20M in 4 years, launching a COVID tracing app in 10 days, designing a business education board game for his son, and having 3 billionaire mentors.

00:04:32 - Johann’s board game: Teaching his son to build an 8-figure company

Johann shares how he designed a board game to simulate building a business, complete with strategies, setbacks like cyberattacks and lawsuits, and advanced features like dream team modules and capital reinvestment.

00:08:42 - The IVF app that increased pregnancy success rates by 35%

Johann discusses consulting with a major IVF clinic and identifying that stress was the biggest success barrier. He created an app delivering meditations and educational content during the critical two-week waiting period post-procedure.

00:11:09 - Engineering emotional intelligence through data and journey mapping

Johann explains how deep interviews and journey mapping led to the IVF app’s success, emphasizing Kaizen and emotional design to optimize user experience.

00:14:26 - COVID hits: The rapid launch of a contact tracing app with 600,000 supporters

Within 10 days of COVID lockdowns, Johann rallies 30 companies to build a contact tracing app. Despite political pressure and governmental interference, the project unites the tech community for public good.

00:18:31 - Playing bigger is easier: The psychology behind solving massive problems

Johann explains why aiming high attracts better resources and collaborators. He illustrates this through stories of helping others go from nothing to visionary goals with massive support.

00:21:07 - From PhD in agriculture to entrepreneurial powerhouse

Johann traces his journey from academia to financial freedom via eBay, affiliate marketing, lead gen, and ultimately founding multiple 7- and 8-figure companies by applying scientific rigor to business.

00:24:24 - A $365,000 problem solved with a mobile app: Real estate SaaS genesis

After noticing inefficiencies in building communication, Johann develops an app that eliminates paper notices, boosts community, and generates revenue through stakeholder services.

00:29:22 - Scaling from $0 to $20M: Identifying value and optimizing high-ticket offerings

Brandon and Johann break down how he transitioned from a struggling agency to a multimillion-dollar SaaS by identifying building owners as ideal clients, bundling value, and leveraging affiliate-style backend monetization.

00:34:53 - The path to high-leverage clients: Elevating your ICP and mindset

Johann shares a case study of a bootcamp trainer who shifts from low-ticket volume to four premium clients by understanding perceived value and gradually adjusting identity and offer positioning.

00:40:07 - Meditation meets mergers: $15K sessions and exponential value

A meditation expert charges $15,000 per session to help executives close multimillion-dollar deals. Johann illustrates how perceived outcome outweighs modality when targeting elite clients.

00:43:18 - Turning strangers into billionaire mentors: Relationship building through value

Johann recounts how he formed relationships with three billionaire mentors—one through organic friendship, another through consistent presence and value in a shared circle, and a third by solving a high-cost problem before even being asked.

00:54:33 - How to turn competitors into strategic partners

In every company Johann has built, he’s turned competitors into collaborators. He explains how he convinced rival agencies and SaaS companies to co-sell each other’s services by demonstrating win-win results.

Links & Resources:

• Johann’s company: White Label Suite
• Johann’s Linkedin Profile
• Check out Johann on Facebook and Instagram

The other day I tuned into a presentation from a $50M/year entrepreneur.

The guy was clearly brilliant. He had experience. Wisdom. Insight.

But here’s the thing:

I walked away remembering none of it.

Maybe I zoned out. But it got me thinking…

How often does this happen?

We sit through 60+ minutes of content, and walk away with nothing that sticks.

It’s frustrating, sure — but here’s the real question:

Do people remember you after your presentations?

Today’s guest, Meredith Grundei, is on a mission to make sure they do.

A seasoned performer, TikTok creator (100K+ followers), and former Second City improv teacher, Meredith helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders turn their message into unforgettable experiences.

She blends storytelling, theatre, and improv to make important ideas come alive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 🎭 How to turn any ordinary object into a powerful presentation tool (we do this live, improv-style)
• 🔥 How Meredith healed generational trauma through a one-woman show — and how your story can move people too
• 💡 How to find the “hook” in your message that leaves a lasting impression

If you care about creating impact with your ideas, this one’s for you.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Meridith Grundei

Brandon Fong opens the episode with enthusiasm, introducing Meridith Grundei—actor, Second City improv teacher, speaker coach, and TikTok creator. He previews the episode’s highlights: using improv to boost communication, Meridith’s winding journey through dance and acting, and her solo show that helped her heal generational trauma.

00:01:31 - Improvising with a Toy Boat: A Live Improv Demo

Brandon and Meridith engage in a spontaneous improv exercise, using a toy boat from Brandon’s Zoom background. They build a playful and creative presentation introduction on the fly, showcasing how props and improv can instantly energize communication.

00:02:14 - From Dancing Muskrat to Improv Queen: Meridith’s Creative Odyssey

Meridith’s journey from childhood dance, to performing as a muskrat on roller skates, to competitive cycling, and finally to improv and acting reflects her instinct to follow curiosity and non-linear paths to purpose.

00:04:26 - The Wonder Woman Moment That Changed Everything

Meridith recounts a pivotal moment at age 13 when she was asked to speak a line in a dance performance—"I want to be just like Wonder Woman"—which led a mentor to suggest she try acting, helping her break through shyness and discover her voice.

00:10:34 - Chicago and Second City: The Start of a New Chapter

After moving to San Francisco and dabbling in road cycling, Meridith moves to Chicago and finds her calling at Second City through an internship and a connection made while teaching after-school theater. She helps build the youth improv program and deepens her passion for performance.

00:19:07 - Bringing Play into Corporate Training: Improv at Amazon AWS

Meridith shares how she uses jazz hands, shimmy breaks, and unexpected prompts to dissolve resistance and infuse energy into high-stakes corporate workshops—including those at AWS. Her mantra: stop taking yourself so seriously, and play more.

00:24:05 - Using Movement and Humor to Shift Stuck Energy

Meridith explains how she breaks tension in daily life using movement, sarcasm, and humor, whether in workout classes or conversations. She emphasizes the power of being playful as a tool for emotional release.

00:26:33 - Healing Through Theater: The Birth of “Nothing Further”

Meridith opens up about her solo show “Nothing Further,” inspired by the sudden death of her father and the complex revelations that followed. She shares how the immersive performance became a powerful vehicle to investigate family secrets and generational trauma.

00:32:31 - Creating a One-Woman Exhibit: From Plexiglass Vision to Performance

After iterations involving other actors, Meridith takes center stage in a solo version of her show inside an imagined plexiglass box. Told largely in third person, it draws from police reports, childhood memories, and artistic metaphors like a dollhouse to create a voyeuristic, healing narrative.

00:41:10 - Artistic Healing for All: Theater as a Path to Personal Growth

Meridith discusses how theater and storytelling—especially solo shows and improv—can be accessible tools for processing trauma and reclaiming narratives, even for non-performers.

00:44:02 - Designing Immersive Retreats: From Recipes to Radical Expression

Brandon and Meridith explore her upcoming retreat, where participants ditch conventional “talks” and create expression-based “recipes” incorporating props and emotion, inspired by Meridith’s visual creativity and coaching background.

00:47:52 - Prop-Based Public Speaking: Reinventing the Stage

Meridith advocates ditching boring PowerPoints in favor of props and audience experiences. She and Brandon create an on-the-spot example using a dragon-boat toy to open a fictional talk about an overloaded schedule—complete with sound effects and humor.

00:57:23 - Finding Your Unique Voice: Unlocking Authenticity on Stage

Meridith encourages speakers to identify what truly sets them apart—even things they overlook as mundane. She shares her exercise of delivering unfiltered, 30-second stories to help clients uncover their most resonant messages.

01:00:04 - Breaking the Mold: A New Era of Presenting

From constraints in storytelling to shifting objectives in presentations, Meridith shares how each moment with an audience deserves its own emotion, action, and style. She urges all speakers to rebel against tradition and craft truly memorable experiences.

Links & Resources:

• Meridith Grundei on TikTok (@meridithgrundei)
• Grundei Coaching - Meridith's Speaking & Improv Services
• Episode #182 with Randy Molland – Go Big to Give Big

5 Companies… $12M in sales…. Being married to her best friend… and having 5 boys.

Is there really much more I need to say?

Seriously, I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Amy Walker.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

• How Amy shifted from running one company that did about $600,000 in sales to running five companies that are collectively generating about 12 million annually in ONE year
• How on earth Amy can do this while also raising 5 boys
• How Amy thinks about acquiring businesses with no money down
• Why Amy believes God is her business partner, and how she leverages her spirituality to inform her decision making
• How Amy thinks about jumping into the unknown, and what that has to do with barfing on a guy with a man bun

If you’re someone who is committed to living a full and meaningful life relentlessly pursuing what success means to you… this is a fun one!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Amy Walker

Brandon welcomes listeners and previews Amy Walker’s incredible journey, including how she scaled from one company to five generating $12M annually, all while raising five boys. He introduces Amy as a business strategist, speaker, and founder of The Exit School.

00:33 - Amy’s skydive story that ended in mid-air barf

Amy kicks things off with a humorous tale of skydiving that ended in her vomiting on her tandem partner, setting the stage for a candid and adventurous conversation.

01:20 - Three key takeaways to listen for in this episode

Brandon outlines what listeners should pay attention to: Amy’s business expansion, how she manages seven businesses and five kids, and how her faith guides her entrepreneurial journey.

03:39 - Starting a business six weeks before giving birth

Amy recounts launching Amy Walker Consulting during her third trimester with her fifth child. She explains being inspired to leap, despite enjoying a stable role making $15K–$18K/month.

08:03 - Creating her first business plan in a basement with a stranger (now her partner)

Amy describes the pivotal conversation with John Rogers, where they mapped out her new consulting business from scratch at a retreat, leading to $114K in revenue in the first year.

10:59 - Learning to jump into the unknown and trust divine timing

Amy uses cliff jumping as a metaphor for entrepreneurship, reflecting on when she jumped too soon or unprepared and the value of learning through bruises (literally and figuratively).

17:00 - How Amy co-works with God through prayer journaling

Amy shares her powerful process of business partnership with God, including prayer journaling as a tool to move from confusion to clarity. She explains how this spiritual practice influences decisions across business and family.

25:21 - The skydiving analogy returns: scaling to $12M across five businesses

Amy breaks down her year of acquiring companies, from the thrill of the deal to the inevitable moment of realizing the challenges and needing to recalibrate. She likens it to puking mid-air and finding calm afterward.

33:48 - The Exit School and helping others build wealth through acquisition

Brandon prompts Amy to talk about her business education company and how she teaches people—especially unlikely entrepreneurs—to buy and run successful businesses.

34:35 - Marie’s Crumbl Cookie acquisition story: From 0 to $6M exit in 1 year

Amy shares the inspiring journey of Marie, who acquired underperforming Crumbl Cookie franchises with no money down and increased their value through operational improvements.

39:25 - No money down explained: What it really means and the roles in a deal

Amy debunks myths about “no money down” acquisitions and explains the roles of the operator, strategist, dealmaker, and funder. She stresses the importance of relentlessness and clarity on what role you play.

43:44 - Why now is the time for acquisitions: $10T in wealth transfer underway

Amy explains the "silver tsunami" and the economic opportunity of buying profitable, cash-flowing businesses from retiring baby boomers—and how to evaluate deals based on performance, not just potential.

51:54 - Amy’s take on being a mother and a mogul (and her hate for “mompreneur”)

Brandon prompts Amy’s passionate rant about the term “mompreneur.” She reflects on balancing family and business, seeking support instead of permission, and rejecting the idea of needing to be superwoman.

57:57 - Final thoughts on motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship

Amy shares the lessons she and her husband have learned about staying aligned in values, even when they differ in opinions, and supporting each other through life and business’s ups and downs.

Links & Resources:

• Amy Walker’s YouTube Channel: Amy Exits – Real business case studies and acquisition advice
• Amy Walker’s Instagram Profile
• The Exit School – Amy’s program teaching entrepreneurs how to buy and sell businesses
• Beyond Curious Podcast: Episode #198 with John Ratliff – Additional episode on business acquisitions

If you asked me:

“Brandon, what ideas have most impacted your life?”

I’d give two answers:

• My Find Your Four™ concept that my entire world is built around
• +2 Energy

These two concepts unlock the ability to:

1. Build a life doing the things you love the most 
2. With the people that bring you the most energy

I’ve gone deep on Find Your Four™ already… but today is an opportunity to go SUPER deep on +2 Energy.

On the surface, it’s a very simple concept:

After every interaction you have, rate your ENERGY level from -2 to +2.

You’ll start to notice several things:

• When you feel +2 energy from someone, they most likely feel +2 energy from you
• Therefore, anyone ELSE that YOU feel +2 energy from, that same person will also likely feel +2 energy (and vice versa)
• When you connect +2 humans to other +2 humans, EVERYONE wins

This simple concept has literally created an energy vortex of transformational humans.

So much so that most people that operate in the “+2 World” are often receiving 10 or more incredibly transformational intros every single week.

• Randy introduced me to Jennifer
• I introduced Braxton to Yasmina. 
• I introduced Randy to Yasmina.
• Yasmina introduced Braxton to Jennifer.
• Jennifer introduced Braxton to Randy.

TLDR = everyone got connected to everyone, all off of the basis of +2 energy.

Because this is such an important concept, that I talk about all the time, I wanted a deep dive “Masterclass” on this subject that covers perspectives from how people have implemented this concept.

So, I brought on THREE of the humans most responsible for transforming my life with this concept:

• Randy Molland
• Mark Fujiwara
• Jennifer Hill

I can’t wait for you to listen… and even better IMPLEMENT this concept.

It’s truly changed so many people’s lives, so I’d be honored to introduce it to you ❤️

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guests, Randy Molland, Jennifer Hill, and Mark Fujiwara

Brandon Fong shares a heartfelt intro to three of the most influential people in his life, teasing the transformative “plus two” concept that has reshaped his energy, fulfillment, and relationships. He forgoes formal bios to speak from personal experience, expressing deep gratitude and excitement for this powerful conversation.

01:05 - Introducing Randy Molland and the "Plus Two" concept

Brandon describes Randy as the lead domino in introducing him to both the plus two concept and the other two guests. He highlights how Randy’s energy and connections radically influenced his podcast and life.

02:04 - Introducing Mark Fujiwara and Jennifer Hill

Brandon introduces Mark as a soulful brother in the wealth management space who’s transitioning to purpose-driven “Ikigai” work. He introduces Jen as a spiritually attuned super-connector and founder of OptiMatch, whose influence has shaped countless episodes of the show.

06:30 - The origin of the "Plus Two" concept from a Tim Ferriss podcast

Mark shares how he discovered the plus two energy scale through Jim Collins on Tim Ferriss’ podcast, and how he adapted it to track his energy in 15-minute increments, eventually discovering how deeply negative interactions affected his energy at home with his daughter.

10:49 - Randy on operationalizing the Plus Two concept in networking

Randy recounts how he simplified Mark’s system to assess people energetically after meetings and categorized them in his CRM from minus two to plus two. He used it to build a network where high-energy people introduced others with shared values and ethics.

14:46 - Jennifer Hill on spiritual filtering and the Anti-Asshole Prayer

Jen shares her unique daily practice that includes an "anti-asshole prayer" to spiritually filter her relationships. She emphasizes the importance of intentionality, self-connection, and reciprocity when cultivating plus two relationships.

20:31 - Jennifer’s spreadsheet system for tracking referrals and energy

Jen outlines her streamlined method for tracking over 500 referrals, noting who referred them, the energy they brought, what mattered to them, and how to follow up. She frames it as a scientific and spiritual practice rooted in neuroscience and authenticity.

24:50 - Creating days filled only with Plus Two energy

Mark describes a recent realization where every 15-minute increment of his day was filled with plus two energy. He shares the transformative effect this had on his interactions with his daughter and overall presence.

30:45 - Brandon shares his CAST acronym for identifying Plus Two people

Brandon distills his plus two criteria into the acronym CAST: Curiosity, Alignment, Spirituality, and Transformation. He explains how naming and recognizing these qualities makes it easier to cultivate and introduce kindred spirits.

31:15 - Randy on hiring and team culture using Plus Two energy

Randy explains how he applied the plus two system to hiring, instructing his team to assess interviewees based on energy instead of just qualifications, thereby fostering a culture rooted in values and psychological safety.

34:26 - Google’s Project Aristotle and psychological safety

Jen links the plus two idea to Google's Project Aristotle, which found psychological safety to be the number one predictor of team success. She reiterates that plus two energy fosters safety, trust, and mutual growth.

38:04 - Mark shares a business case study on Plus Two energy at scale

Mark recounts the story of Mike Walder, a manufacturing CEO who dramatically reduced employee turnover by focusing on energy alignment and hiring flow experts—essentially implementing plus two culture without the terminology.

41:33 - Connecting at the 0.8% level for long-term impact

Brandon expands on his "Find Your Four" model, emphasizing that deeper connections happen when people align at the identity level—not just business interests. This leads to enduring, meaningful relationships.

44:27 - The joy of giving out your phone number in a Plus Two world

Randy shares how plus two energy has made him excited—not cautious—about sharing his phone number. He recounts a story where someone skeptical of networking came to love receiving texts from newly introduced plus twos.

50:08 - Mark on serendipitous relationships that evolve beyond business

Mark tells the story of how a transactional intro blossomed into a deep, soulful friendship with Ian, highlighting how plus two connections often unfold in unpredictable and beautiful ways.

54:29 - Final reflections: guard your energy, give generous intros

Randy wraps up with powerful insights on setting energy boundaries with non-plus-twos and leveraging trusted introductions to build credibility and enter high-impact rooms. He describes intros to Brandon, Jen, and Mark as the highest form of social proof.

Links & Resources:

• Episode #182: Hiking 29,029 Feet In 36 Hours, How Money CAN Buy Happiness, & How You Can Go Big To Give Big w/ Randy Molland
• Go Big to Give Big – Randy Molland’s impact-driven venture
• Episode #207: Try These Spiritual Tools To Build A More Fulfilling & Loving Life… w/ Jennifer K. Hill
• OptiMatch – Jennifer Hill’s exited company
• Of Cour5e - Mark Fujiwara's company

During Apartheid in South Africa, townships were created to segregate non-white populations from white-designated areas.

Today, they still exist, and are very impoverished areas where life is difficult.

On top of that…

South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world.

Today’s guest, Willem Gous, is doing something AMAZING in these areas.

Take Lovedonia for example.

Lovedonia was an unemployed mother of two that lived off of handouts from her family.

She had broken English, but enrolled in Willem’s class.

Four weeks later, she’s making 4,000 Rand per week after starting a hair salon.

According to my quick google search, the median income in a South African township is closer to 2,000 Rand per MONTH.

This completely changed Lovedonia’s life. 

But it doesn’t stop with Lovedonia…

Willem is on a mission to solve the South African unemployment crisis by empowering them to create their own businesses.

Add on top of that the fact that Willem is absolutely a Beyond Curious human, having done things like:

• Created his first business to get a girlfriend (it worked)
• Celebrated his 33rd birthday by putting together a musical (despite the fact that he wasn’t a good singer) by writing songs and getting voice training coaching. 
• Became a firewalking instructor

… just to name a few ;)

Can’t wait for you to listen!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Willem Gous

Brandon Fong kicks off the episode with enthusiasm, welcoming new and returning listeners to another inspiring conversation. He introduces today’s guest, Willem Gous, a South African entrepreneur making waves by empowering people in townships to become business owners. Brandon shares the story of how they met serendipitously on Focusmate and teases three major takeaways from the conversation: Willem’s humorous path to fame, his transformative work in South Africa’s townships, and how his approach to entrepreneurship can apply universally.

00:03:07 - The Focusmate story: serendipity leads to podcast magic

Brandon recounts how a random coworking session on Focusmate led to meeting Willem. Their instant connection and shared energy sparked deeper conversations and ultimately this podcast episode.

00:04:36 - Exploring South African townships and Willem’s mission

Brandon defines South African townships for listeners unfamiliar with them, sharing how Willem’s work enables individuals in high-unemployment areas to create businesses—often within a single day of attending his workshops.

00:06:46 - Business as a tool for self-discovery: lessons from Willem’s father

Willem reflects on his entrepreneurial upbringing and how his father, an inventor and academic, inspired him to use business not just for profit, but as a vehicle for personal growth and exploration.

00:08:33 - The unconventional business that helped Willem find love

Willem humorously recalls starting his first business as a way to become famous and attract a girlfriend—an approach that unexpectedly landed him in newspapers, radio, and TV.

00:12:25 - From photo comics to mobile content: Willem’s early ventures

Willem dives into the details of how he revived a dead photo comic genre, negotiated full-color newspaper placements, and distributed mobile content to 25,000 users per week.

00:14:32 - Creativity is about perspective, not quantity of ideas

The conversation shifts to creativity and mindset. Willem emphasizes how changing one’s perspective—not coming up with more ideas—is the true source of entrepreneurial creativity and innovation.

00:17:45 - The true meaning of diversity: a celebration of different perspectives

Willem challenges conventional DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) narratives, arguing that the real power of diversity lies in the variety of lived experiences and perspectives people bring to the table.

00:23:30 - Bold moves require simply asking: the power of initiative

Willem shares that many of his biggest successes came simply from asking—asking for opportunities, dates, or deals—and that this courageous approach opens doors that preparation alone cannot.

00:24:55 - Willem’s musical on his 33rd birthday and creative self-expression

Brandon asks Willem about the musical he wrote, directed, and starred in to celebrate his 33rd birthday. Willem explains how he challenged himself to explore a new art form and found immense joy in the process.

00:29:41 - What it’s like inside a South African township

Willem describes the harsh living conditions in various townships—lack of sanitation, infrastructure, and resources—yet highlights the resilience and ingenuity of the people who live there.

00:35:26 - “I teach you how to create your own job”: Lovedonia’s deeper story

Returning to Lovedonia’s story, Willem breaks down how her mindset shifted when she realized she didn’t need a traditional job—just the perspective to see that she could create her own.

00:40:07 - From one tent to a rental business: another township success story

Willem tells the story of a woman who rented out her single party tent. With his guidance, she leveraged competitors’ unused tents and scaled up her business—eventually offering catering and chairs.

00:44:11 - Real entrepreneurs aren’t born—they’re made

Willem critiques elitist views of entrepreneurship and shares data from his programs: over 50% of participants remained profitable seven months after starting, and even more went on to start new ventures.

00:47:03 - From glassy eyes to action: breaking learned helplessness

Brandon asks how Willem facilitates such rapid mindset change. Willem explains how breaking the myth that you need money to start a business frees people to act. Often, attendees launch businesses the very same day.

00:52:44 - Facilitating entrepreneurship through storytelling

Willem describes how he teaches using relatable stories to convey business principles. These stories, like “don’t buy the bus” and “feed the baby,” help people internalize key lessons in an accessible way.

00:55:36 - Co-creating with your business: making yourself a customer

Willem debunks the romanticized idea of entrepreneurship and instead advocates a model where the entrepreneur, customer, and business all benefit—a balance that ensures long-term sustainability.

01:00:23 - Lessons for resourced entrepreneurs from township principles

Willem explains that even seasoned entrepreneurs can benefit from township-style thinking: enhancing their resourcefulness, shifting from external blame to internal control, and building mental resilience.

01:02:59 - A moonshot birthday idea: Brandon’s Curiosity Island vision

Brandon pitches his big dream—to host his 30th birthday on a private island—and Willem enthusiastically guides him through applying township entrepreneurial thinking to make the dream real.

01:05:32 - The power of “how might I?” questions

The episode ends on a high note with Willem and Brandon celebrating the transformative potential of “how might I?” questions, which spark creativity and allow others to co-create solutions.

Links & Resources:

• Focusmate – Brandon’s referral link: Try virtual coworking with a free 30-day account.
• Willem Gous’s book: Side Hustle Success: A practical guide to low-cost entrepreneurship in five steps
• The Human Entrepreneur: Willem’s program for empowering township entrepreneurs.

A catalyzing moment in Aidan Uttinger’s life could easily be a scene from a movie:

Closing your eyes, spinning a globe, stopping it with your finger, and going there.

Aidan’s finger ended up on the Philippines, and he ended up there as a teenager, eventually becoming adopted by a Filipino family.

But that’s just the start…

In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

• How living in the Philippines inspired Aidan to turn Love into a currency to alleviate poverty
• What Aidan learned after having a near death experience falling from a 2 story roof on his head
• How Aidan proposed to his fiance by hiding a box of treasure on an island and leading her to find it

…. And so much more.

I can’t wait for you to listen!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Aidan Uttinger

Brandon opens the episode with high energy, welcoming listeners and teasing four powerful themes in Aidan's story: becoming an illegal alien in the Philippines, experiencing cockfighting culture, attending a life-altering funeral, and surviving a near-death experience in Bali. He describes Aidan as a spiritual visionary creating a love-based economy and highlights his impact through global love farms.

00:07:32 - Aidan’s unforgettable treasure hunt proposal in the Philippines

Aidan recounts a year-long, elaborately planned proposal involving a fake treasure chest, Filipino divers, and a floating gold coin that saved the surprise. This romantic and adventurous gesture reflects his deep connection to the Philippines and commitment to expressing love in powerful ways.

00:12:18 - Aidan’s chaotic youth and the moment a globe changed his life

Reflecting on a troubled past of instability and homelessness, Aidan shares how spinning a globe in desperation landed him in the Philippines. Initially pointing to freezing Uzbekistan, he re-spun and committed to wherever he landed—The Philippines—altering the trajectory of his life forever.

00:16:38 - Culture shock and a world-shifting arrival in Manila

Aidan vividly describes his emotional arrival in Manila, observing children begging in the rain and families living under tin roofs. The stark poverty immediately shifted his worldview and filled him with gratitude for privileges he never realized he had.

00:22:22 - Becoming part of a Filipino family against all odds

With no money, no visa, and no plan, Aidan was taken in by a Filipino family with young daughters—an extremely rare act of trust and kindness. This moment became a cornerstone of his life, offering him the love and belonging he had never experienced.

00:26:09 - Immersed in cockfighting culture and underground arenas

Aidan shares an insider’s perspective on cockfighting, the national sport in the Philippines, including how bets are placed using intricate hand signals and how his Filipino dad—armed and respected—navigated these intense arenas. It's a surreal glimpse into a tradition outsiders rarely witness.

00:33:19 - The funeral that changed everything

A powerful story unfolds as Aidan recounts attending a funeral for a three-year-old boy who died from an illness that a $1.50 vaccination could have prevented. This tragic moment deeply etched itself into Aidan’s heart and set the emotional foundation for his life’s mission.

00:38:03 - A promise to pay love forward and the seed of the love farm vision

In a heart-to-heart with his Filipino dad, Aidan is told to repay the family's kindness by paying it forward. That simple directive became a spiritual contract—one Aidan would later fulfill by building love farms around the world to uplift others.

00:41:54 - Love as currency: the creation of The World’s Greatest Experiment

Aidan unveils his vision: replacing traditional charity with a love-based economy where impoverished communities meditate and send love in exchange for food, education, and essentials. Inspired by quantum physics, spirituality, and energetic healing, he seeks to create measurable impact through love.

00:53:06 - Flipping Maslow’s hierarchy of needs upside down

Exploring the psychology behind his model, Aidan explains how self-actualization through meditation is placed at the foundation, empowering the poor to feel valuable and supported. This reversal unlocks holistic change, providing spiritual, emotional, and physical sustenance.

00:56:51 - Inside the Pakistan love farm: kids funding school through love

Aidan details the structure of the love farm in Pakistan, where children meditate for one hour each morning and are rewarded with food, education, and care. Even six-year-olds, previously illiterate and homeless, now pay their way through life via the energy of love.

Links & Resources:

• The World’s Greatest Experiment – Aidan Uttinger’s global initiative turning love into a currency to fight poverty.
• Aidan Uttinger;s LinkedIn Profile
• Dr. Jude Currivan - Episode 223 – A scientific deep dive into consciousness and energy.