Business Love Stories

Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen is a physician, co-founder of the Omega Institute (NY), creator of Blue Spirit (Costa Rica), and author of Time Shifting.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to live from presence rather than pressure — letting go of “somebody training,” trusting right action, and trading speed-driven anger for grounded being.

In This Episode, You Will Learn

Connect with Stephan

Danielle Brooks is an author and the founder of the Revelation Integration Method & Institute.

Her work sits at the intersection of spirituality, somatic healing, and psychedelic integration, helping people release old identities and return to the truth of who they are.

In this conversation, Danielle shares how a purpose revealed in ceremony (“way-show love”) reshaped her business and life, why cultivating awareness is the doorway to self, and how leaders can evolve their companies after a values-level awakening.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Connect with Danielle Brooks:

Mary Dee is an international speaker, author, philanthropist, and leadership advisor, well known for her podcast The MadLove Your Life Show. Her story is one of radiant resilience — from leading high-growth companies and surviving breast cancer, to helping others build lives and businesses infused with joy, faith, and self-love.

Mary’s approach to business is refreshingly human. She reminds us that falling in love with your work doesn’t always happen at first sight — sometimes it’s a slow burn that deepens through challenge, curiosity, and consistency. In this conversation, we explore the balance between ambition and joy, the discipline of self-forgiveness, and the habits that turn ordinary days into sacred rituals.

In This Episode, You Will Learn

Connect with Mary Dee

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In this powerful episode we sit down with John Shearer, a passionate advocate for mental health, suicide prevention, and the power of personal storytelling. John’s remarkable life journey — from surviving a devastating truck crash and enduring 15 years in the mental health system, to discovering mindfulness, spirituality, and purpose — offers profound lessons for dads and coaches alike.

John’s work has touched millions through live talks, documentaries, radio, podcasts, and more. As the founder of mindfullymad.org, John champions authentic, unscripted conversations around mental health, helping others reclaim their lives by embracing mindfulness and rewriting their inner stories.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Stand-Out Moments:

John’s Gift for Listeners:

Connect with John Shearer:

Ally Lyons is a holistic health practitioner and event experience curator.

She spent a decade leading operations for mission-driven startups and entrepreneurs.

Her own health challenges sparked an obsession with ingredient transparency.

Hours in grocery aisles turned into www.isitclean.org, a nonprofit rating ingredients and packaged foods to help people choose the cleanest option available.

In parallel, a Maverick community cacao ceremony opened a new door.

Ally deepened into herbalism, yoga, Reiki, and ceremony.

Daily practice with a friend became https://www.journeywithcacao.com/, sharing ceremonial cacao as heart medicine in community.

She now blends systems thinking with sacred ritual.

Clean food for the body.

Cacao for the heart.

Business as a conduit for love and service.

How to evaluate packaged food fast: a practical rubric for scanning labels and choosing the cleanest option in any store.

A simple path to reduce overwhelm: “good, better, best” choices when access to perfect options is limited.

How to build a mission tool from a personal pain point and invite community feedback to refine it.

What makes cacao “ceremonial” and how sourcing, stewardship, and intention change your experience.

A 10-minute cacao ritual to drop from head to heart: prepare, set intention, sip slowly, and listen to the body.

How to discern plant allies and align daily practices with genuine inner signals rather than 'force of habit'.

Ways to protect your energy as a founder: design roles around your zone of genius and partner for the rest.

Connect with Ally

Daniel's Story:

Daniel Robertson spent 14 years as a lawyer.

He excelled at analysis and argument, but the adversarial system clashed with his values.

At Pepperdine he studied world-class mediation and kept that seed alive for a decade.

Today he’s pivoting into relationship coaching, helping people heal and connect rather than fight and fracture.

His work blends spiritual inquiry (think A Course in Miracles and Richard Rohr’s “holy mystery”) with grounded tools for emotional processing.

He sees self-love and relational love as a both/and: we grow by validating ourselves and by receiving trustworthy love from others.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How to pivot from a head-led career to heart-aligned work without burning your bridges.

A clear way to process emotions (RAIN): recognize, allow, investigate, nurture—so you’re calm before you act.

How to use feelings as data: map fear, anger, sadness, joy, shame to the unmet needs they signal—and choose healthy strategies.

Attachment made practical: spot anxious/avoidant patterns in the moment and shift toward secure behavior.

A simple “pause protocol” for texts and tough talks: self-soothe first, then communicate with clarity.

And much more... 

Connect with Daniel Robertson:

Website: www.danielrobertson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielwilliamrobertson 

Jess's Story:

Jess Cox is an impact strategist, legacy advisor, and founder of Impact Loop.

She helps entrepreneurs and families align resources with purpose by connecting people, capital, and causes.

Her path began with B Corp advisory work in New Zealand, where she realised many leaders want a legacy they’re proud of but need a practical roadmap.

A string of striking synchronicities — from journaled intentions to a birthday spent on a private island with impact-driven founders — affirmed her role as a connector.

Working with UHNW families, founders, and operators, she now bridges intention and implementation across philanthropy, venture, and systems-level projects.

Jess sees business as inherently spiritual: a vehicle to create from purpose, guided by intuition and sharpened by disciplined execution.

Impact Loop is evolving into a platform and global network of fractional experts, so purposeful projects can access exactly the talent and resources they need, when they need them.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How to turn “legacy” into a plan: map your resources (financial, human, social, time) to the change you want to see.

A simple intuition practice: notice “whisper” ideas, test them fast, and separate fear from genuine gut wisdom.

The four kinds of luck (blind, hustle, preparation, unique) — and how to engineer more of them.

Practical ways to uncover purpose: eulogy writing, childhood passions, and rapid trial-and-error “small bets.”

How to fund or join high-leverage impact: from ocean science tech to access-to-justice platforms.

Connect with Jess Cox:

https://www.impactloop.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesscoxnz/ 

Eric Lochtefeld. Eric is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who has founded nearly 30 companies and exited more than a dozen. Drawing on decades of experience in live entertainment, education, real estate, and personal development, Eric has built a career that blends business success with a passion for helping others realise their dreams.

Eric’s guidance and mentorship have had a profound impact on me personally in discovering my own path — I truly wouldn’t be here without him. That’s why it’s such a privilege to share his story with you.

After transitioning from running one of Silicon Valley’s most recognized theater and event venues, Eric co-founded Bliss Champions, a coaching venture created to help entrepreneurs navigate life after an exit and rediscover their joy. Today, he continues to guide leaders while also developing hospitality ventures in Hawai‘i and pursuing new bliss journeys of his own.

In our conversation, you’ll learn:

Why financial and time freedom aren’t enough without joy.

How to avoid falling back into old roles after an exit.

The mindset shifts needed to start fresh with beginner’s mind.

How clarity helps break through fear and get unstuck.

Why listening to your soul is more powerful than following your ego.

Thank you Eric for sharing your wisdom, your stories, and your vision of life and business led by Bliss.

Connect with Eric: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlochtefeld/

https://www.hamakuahotel.com/ 

Matthew’s Story:

In this episode of Business Love Stories, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Matthew Blesso, founder of Blesso Properties, Shift Esperanza, and multiple ventures in hospitality and real estate.

From buying his first apartment in New York to designing a Manhattan penthouse that made the New York Times front page, Matthew’s career looked like a textbook success story.

But after years of building bigger and more ambitious projects, he realised success alone wasn’t enough.

That insight set him on a journey of self-love, purpose, and eventually to leading Shift Esperanza, a regenerative living community in Costa Rica where real estate development is about healing people, land, and local communities.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why big goals don’t always lead to lasting fulfilment — and what does.

How to spot when ambition is helping you vs. when it’s harming you.

Simple practices to grow genuine self-love and resilience.

How to align both joy in your work and a deeper purpose.

What it takes to build businesses and communities that give back more than they take.

Connect with Matthew:

ShiftEsperanza.com

Instagram: @shiftesperanza

Welcome to the Dads Who Coach podcast! In our very first episode, we have the privilege of hosting Perry Gladstone, an extraordinary coach who guides exceptional individuals through their life’s transitions.

What sets Perry apart is his unique ability to blend empathy with strategy, helping elite leaders—be it entrepreneurs, athletes, or artists—tap into their potential and redefine their paths.

Perry’s journey as a former record holder in free diving and a celebrated recording artist adds a multifaceted edge to his coaching acumen, making him an ideal mentor for those seeking to elevate their lives.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Stand-Out Moments:

Call to Action: Interested in diving deeper into self-discovery and transition under Perry’s expert guidance?

Connect with Perry Gladstone by visiting his website at perrygladstone.com, or reach out via email at [email protected] or follow him on LinkedIn for updates.

Perry’s approach is both confidential and personal, ensuring a customized experience tailored to your unique journey.