Champion Mindset Collective

AI may become faster and cheaper at almost every task. Derek Rydall argues that your lived wisdom, identity and courage to be yourself are what make you irreplaceable in the AI age.

In this episode of the Champion Mindset Collective, Anthony Dahya sits down with bestselling author and teacher Derek Rydall to explore one of the biggest questions of our time: as AI becomes more capable, what is a human being really for? Derek shares the Law of Emergence, the acorn-and-oak metaphor, his experience of grief and reinvention, and why he believes the authentic, purposeful human being becomes the new moat.

The conversation explores lived wisdom, self-knowledge, trust, presence, human agency, Shift See Serve, and how technology can scale humanity rather than replace it.

CONNECT WITH DEREK

https://derekrydall.com/

https://derekrydall.com/wholenewhuman/

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

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLawOfEmergence

https://derekrydall.com/podcasts/

CHAMPION MINDSET COLLECTIVE

https://championmindsetcollective.com/

https://championmindsetcollective.com/academy

Key Takeaways

- Human potential is something Derek says emerges from within when we understand our nature and create the right conditions.

- AI should make us question a machine-like definition of human value based only on efficiency and productivity.

- Derek distinguishes lived wisdom from information. AI can process knowledge about human experiences without having lived them.

- Know yourself and have the courage to be yourself is the central principle running through the episode.

- Derek describes the authentic, purposeful human being as the new moat.

- Patience, listening, presence, attention and focus are qualities he believes become more valuable as technology accelerates.

- Shift, See, Serve gives leaders and entrepreneurs a simple way to turn inward insight into one aligned action.

- Build trust, authenticity, community and live human interaction first, then use technology to scale humanity.

- Derek defines a champion mindset as knowing yourself and having the courage to be yourself in service of a worthy goal, summed up in one word: love.

Chapters

0:00 Why This Conversation Matters in the AI Age

2:14 Derek’s Journey from Self-Improvement to Emergence

5:00 The Near-Death Experience That Changed His View of Self

9:20 The Acorn, the Oak and the Law of Emergence

16:17 When Growth Requires Letting Go

23:42 Losing His Son and What Grief Taught Him

27:43 When the Form of Love Is Shattered

31:56 Pressure, Challenge and Human Growth

37:35 Know Thyself and Have the Courage to Be Yourself

40:13 How Struggle Can Build You or Break You

44:50 AI, the Meaning Crisis and What Humans Are For

47:08 The Real Danger Derek Sees in the AI Age

55:43 The Superintelligence Within the Human Being

58:20 You Are the User, Not the Tool

1:06:52 Knowledge Is Not Wisdom

1:07:41 Why AI Cannot Live Your Unique Human Wisdom

1:13:58 A Human Being Is the New Moat

1:15:43 Rebuilding a Relationship with Yourself

1:19:48 Why Patience, Presence and Focus Become Superpowers

1:21:37 Shift, See, Serve in Daily Life

1:26:53 A Whole New Human and Future-Proofing Your Life

1:30:24 Handcrafted Humanity and Scaling What Is Real

1:32:07 Quickfire Questions

1:33:43 What a Champion Mindset Means to Derek

Links

Website: https://derekrydall.com/

A Whole New Human: https://derekrydall.com/wholenewhuman/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLawOfEmergence

The Emergence Podcast: https://derekrydall.com/podcasts/

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest: https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

If customers hear your message but do nothing, communication may not be the real problem. Bob Rogers explains how leaders use story, emotion and experience design to change customer behaviour.

Key Takeaways

- Start with the end in mind. Define the specific change in customer action or behaviour before discussing the message, technology, story or creative treatment.

- Make the experience about the audience, not about proving how clever, impressive or innovative the organisation is.

- Look for an emotional truth that already exists in both the audience and the brand or subject. Bob argues that this shared truth is what creates connection.

- Do not confuse a KPI with the objective. A KPI is a sign that you may be moving in the right direction; the objective is the real change you want to create.

- Identity matters. Bob's strongest examples do more than inform people; they help people see themselves differently and act from that new identity.

- Story and emotion can move people in ways that facts alone often do. The heart may lead before the head begins arranging the reasons.

- Creative freedom becomes more useful when the destination is clear. Constraints can focus creative energy rather than reduce it.

- Choose the tool after you understand the task. New technology, including AI, is useful only when it serves a clearly defined outcome.

- Bob defines a champion as someone who does the right things, especially when those things are hard.

Chapters

0:00 Why Messaging Alone Doesn't Change Behaviour

1:53 Meet Bob Rogers: Magic, Disney, NASA and Deep Story

2:13 The Magic Shop Lesson: Show and Business

4:53 It's About Them, Not You

7:30 Deep Story: Find the Emotional Truth

10:32 Four Rules for Transformational Experiences

13:47 Choose the Task Before the Tool

16:37 Define the Change Before the Means

20:26 KPI vs Objective: Don't Confuse the Signpost for the Destination

21:29 Raider Nation and Emotional Brand Connection

24:24 Show, Business and Identity

27:17 Why Messages Don't Change Behaviour

28:28 Johnnie Walker and Identity Transformation

32:39 Aspirational vs Invitational Transformation

35:59 Why Communication Fails to Change Behaviour

38:48 Story and Emotion Drive Action

39:56 GM Robots and the Power of Mythology

48:05 Get Clear About the Change You Want

50:03 AI Is a Tiger: Learn to Ride It

52:23 Milwaukee Brewers: The Power of One Clear Idea

56:29 Disney Animation: Move the Audience, Not Just the Drawings

59:08 NASA: Sell the Adventure, Not the Spin-Offs

1:01:47 Why Constraints Make Creativity More Useful

1:04:33 What Creates a Real Before and After

1:10:16 Deep Story: A Practical Toolkit for Leaders

1:13:42 Bob's Book and Where to Connect

1:15:39 Quickfire Questions

1:18:06 What a Champion Mindset Means to Bob

1:18:31 Final Reflections

Links

Website and DEEP STORY™: https://www.bobrogers.com/

BRC Imagination Arts: https://www.brcweb.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-rogers-34a193146/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobrogerscreates/

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest: https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

Success can look impressive on the outside while you feel numb, angry or empty underneath. In this episode, Anthony Dahya speaks with performance psychologist and former professional Muay Thai champion Nico Verresen about high achiever burnout, stress management, emotional regulation, heartbreak and the hidden cost of constantly pushing through pain. Nico shares how retinal detachments and seven surgeries ended the fighting career that had become his identity, why he now says Rocky lied to us, and how he came to see the same pattern in founders, executives, athletes and ambitious people who sacrifice health, relationships and enjoyment in pursuit of the next win.

Key Takeaways

- High performance can become unsustainable when toughness is treated as endless capacity to absorb pressure.

- Nico’s fighting career ended after retinal detachments and seven surgeries, forcing him to confront how deeply achievement had become part of his identity.

- Achievement can create a short-lived dopamine peak without resolving the emotional needs underneath it.

- Nico describes unresolved pain as a black hole that bigger achievements cannot permanently fill.

- Emotions become more useful when we can name them precisely and treat them as information rather than something to suppress.

- Heartbreak and emotional pain can be numbed through overwork, substances, sex, constant self-improvement or the next achievement.

- Nico encourages people to notice the difference between genuine danger and emotional discomfort, then widen their perspective rather than reacting automatically.

- His message to ambitious people is that they do not have to suffer their way to the top, and that a champion mindset means daring to go fully in.

Chapters

0:00 When the Hardest Hit Isn’t in the Ring

2:24 Nico Verresen: From Wild Kid to Fighter and Psychologist

6:30 Retinal Detachments and the End of the Fighting Dream

6:55 Rocky Lied to Us: When Toughness Stops Working

7:41 The Hidden Cost of High Performance

8:20 Can Stress Become a Competitive Advantage?

13:03 Nico’s Reframe on Bad Stress

16:54 Trauma, Survival and Post-Traumatic Growth

21:29 Writing About Pain and Processing Difficult Experiences

23:00 Why Relationship Patterns Keep Repeating

28:27 What Nico Learned from His Father’s Illness

29:56 Nobody Owes Me Anything: Turning Entitlement into Gratitude

31:15 Why Nico Thinks Men Should Experience a Fight

33:50 What Getting Hit Reveals About You

35:34 Can Awakening Happen Without a Crisis?

38:21 The Dopamine Hunt and Why Achievement Is Never Enough

40:17 The Black Hole of Achievement

42:33 How Emotional Suppression Made Nico Numb

45:19 Use Emotions as a Compass, Not Just a Conversation

48:39 Nervous System Regulation Under Pressure

49:58 Danger vs Discomfort and the Power of Zooming Out

55:08 Stop Trying to Remove Stress

56:15 Heartbreak, Identity and the Pressure on Men

1:01:00 How High Performers Numb Heartbreak

1:02:57 The First Step: Acknowledge What Is Really Happening

1:03:40 Burnout Boxing Xperience and Nico’s Coaching Work

1:05:11 Quickfire Questions

1:05:52 What a Champion Mindset Means to Nico

1:06:00 Final Reflections

Links

Website: https://burnoutboxingxperience.com/

2yourTop Coaching: https://burnoutboxingxperience.com/coaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-verresen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nico_verresen/

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com/

Champion Academy: https://championmindsetcollective.com/academy

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest: https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

You can be highly capable and still lose access to your best thinking when pressure rises. In this episode, Anthony Dahya speaks with Antoinette Engelke about leadership under pressure, nervous system regulation, decision fatigue and her 3-Brain Alignment™ approach to reconnecting the gut, heart and mind. Antoinette shares how her own corporate stress wake-up call changed the way she led, why self-awareness matters more than pretending we never get triggered, and what her horse Lily taught her about the impact of our internal state on the people around us.

Key Takeaways

- Experience and intelligence do not automatically protect leaders from becoming reactive or mentally overloaded under pressure.

- Antoinette's corporate turning point came when health warnings made her realise she needed to change how she was showing up, not only what she was doing.

- Self-regulation is not about never being triggered. It is about recognising misalignment sooner and returning to centre more quickly.

- Antoinette describes the gut, heart and brain as interconnected centres that influence energy, emotion, attention and decision-making.

- Decision fatigue and replaying conversations can be useful signs that pressure is affecting how clearly you are thinking.

- Breath, posture, emotional check-ins and observing thoughts are practical ways Antoinette uses to create a pause before responding.

- Her horse Lily showed her how quickly another being can respond to changes in our internal state, reinforcing the importance of presence in leadership.

- Antoinette defines a champion as someone who keeps learning to come back to centre, especially when pressure pulls them away from it.

Chapters

0:00 When Success Starts Costing You Your Peace

2:46 From Ohio to Technology Leadership and Holistic Health

7:11 The Health Wake-Up Call That Changed How Antoinette Led

10:56 Why Having the Right Tools Wasn't Enough

11:10 The Gut, Heart and Brain as Three Centres of Intelligence

16:22 What Is the Microbiome?

18:30 What Misalignment Looks Like Under Pressure

21:13 How Do You Know When You're Aligned?

23:37 Heart-Brain Coherence and Clearer Thinking

26:51 Where to Start When Stress Is Showing Up Physically

28:06 Decision Fatigue and Leadership Under Stress

29:32 Reiki, Energy and Antoinette's Holistic Perspective

33:18 The Real Work: Recognising Patterns and Returning to Centre

36:02 Lily the Horse and the Lesson in Self-Regulation

39:39 Attention Is a Flashlight: Presence Under Pressure

42:01 The 3-Minute Reset

44:49 A Deeper Walkthrough of the 3-Brain Reset

48:40 The Quantum Blueprint and the Symphony Within

52:53 Free Resources and the 3-Brain Toolkit

54:40 Quickfire Questions

58:42 What a Champion Mindset Means to Antoinette

59:06 Final Reflections and Resources

Links

Website: https://www.soaringtosource.com/

The Quantum Blueprint on Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Quantum-Blueprint-Symphony-Alignment-Coherence/dp/B0GQGMT24N

3-Brain Reset Toolkit: https://soaringtosource.com/3brainresettool

3-Minute Reset: https://www.soaringtosource.com/3minreset

3-Brain Performance Map: https://soaringtosource.com/3-brain-performance-map

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S2SNaturalHealth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2snaturalhealth/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@s2snaturalhealth

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest: https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

You can look successful on the outside while chronic stress, anxiety or recurring symptoms become harder to ignore. Anthony Dahya speaks with Sarah Dawkins about subconscious beliefs, identity, nervous system safety, external validation and the mind-body connection. Sarah shares the question that changed her direction, the conflict she felt leaving nursing, and three questions for examining whether an old belief is objectively true.

Key Takeaways

- High achievement can hide chronic stress, anxiety and emotional exhaustion. Looking successful is not the same as feeling well.

- Sarah's turning point began when another nurse questioned a belief she had never thought to examine.

- Many everyday reactions can feel like identity even when they may be learned patterns that can be questioned and changed.

- Sarah encourages curiosity and compassion toward recurring patterns rather than immediate self-judgement.

- Her three-question framework asks: What keeps showing up? What belief is driving it? Is that belief objectively true?

- External validation can keep people attached to roles and stories that no longer fit.

- Creating moments of safety, stillness, walking, mindfulness and gratitude can help people notice what constant activity covers up.

- A champion mindset, in Sarah's words, means believing in yourself, validating yourself and remaining open-minded.

Chapters

0:00 When Success Looks Good but Your Body Says Otherwise

1:45 Sarah Dawkins' Journey from Nurse to Holistic Coach

4:30 The Question That Challenged Her Medical Beliefs

6:00 Diet, Lifestyle and Sarah's Personal Health Changes

8:41 Depression, Burnout and Rebuilding from Within

11:44 Are We Living on Subconscious Autopilot?

13:08 The Conflict Between Conventional and Holistic Health

16:01 Understanding the Dark Night of the Soul

17:23 Who Are You Without Your Job Title?

21:57 Becoming an Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author

26:08 What If Symptoms Are Messages to Slow Down?

30:15 Moving from Fear to Curiosity

34:18 Subconscious Beliefs and Nervous System Safety

39:17 Identity Is Not Destiny, It May Be Programming

41:24 How High-Performer Beliefs Show Up Under Stress

44:21 Changing the Story Behind Emotional Overwhelm

45:20 Is This Belief Truly Yours?

46:37 Sarah's Three-Question Belief Framework

50:52 Why Self-Inquiry Can Feel Confronting

52:01 From Anger and Control to Self-Understanding

53:21 Heal Yourself, Sarah's Book and Podcast

57:36 Quickfire Questions

58:34 Sarah Dawkins' Champion Mindset

59:34 Final Reflections and Resources

Links

Sarah Dawkins: https://www.sarahdawkins.com/

Book: Heal Yourself

Podcast: Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest: https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

Your business may not have a traffic problem. It may have a clarity problem. In this episode Anthony Dahya speaks with J-Ryze about hidden profit leaks, fear of definition, brand foundations, founder ego, follow-up and the stranger-to-sale journey. J-Ryze also shares how homelessness and surrender changed his understanding of identity and why he believes founders need to choose business physics over comfort.

Key Takeaways

- More traffic is not the answer when your brand foundations are weak. Clarify who you serve, why they should care and how your offer creates value.

- Fear of definition makes founders go broad, vague and additive when the market rewards specificity and focus.

- Existing leads can contain more opportunity than constantly chasing new strangers. Follow-up matters.

- Map the stranger-to-sale journey to see where attention, trust or conversion is leaking.

- Founder ego and identity can make it difficult to adapt to what the market is showing you.

- Choose the cold truths of business physics over mood, comfort and romanticised optimism.

Chapters

0:00 Hidden Profit Leaks and the Rebelpreneur Problem

2:26 From Gifted Kid to Failed Founder

5:44 Homelessness, Surrender and the Turning Point

7:29 Meeting Evan Carmichael

11:48 What Homelessness Taught J-Ryze About Identity

18:36 The Dark Night of the Soul

20:27 What Is a Rebelpreneur?

21:14 The Biggest Money Leak: Going Broad

24:01 Founder Brain, Ego and Identity

26:49 Stop Chasing Traffic: The Brand Foundations

31:29 The Money Already Sitting in Your CRM

34:33 Why Business and Romance Are the Same

47:14 Why 'Do What You Love' Can Keep You Busy and Broke

50:06 A Better Measure of Business Success

53:25 Dark Night of the Soul and Identity

59:55 Map Your Stranger-to-Sale Journey

1:02:08 Why Pivoting and Rebranding Can Be Bad Advice

1:07:00 Choose Business Physics

1:08:30 Eyes Wide Open and J-Ryze Resources

1:11:04 Quickfire Questions

1:13:27 The Champion Mindset

Links

Website: https://jryze.me

Free guides: https://jryze.me/guides

Eyes Wide Open Volume One: https://eyeswideopenfree.com

Social: @RyzeOnline on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest: https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

What if better leadership is not about pushing harder, but understanding how your brain, body and energy work together?

In this episode of the Champion Mindset Collective, Anthony Dahya speaks with award-winning clinical psychologist, leadership coach and neuroscience researcher Helen Argyrou about the connection between neuroscience, psychology, energy medicine and leadership.

Helen shares how leaders can move beyond constant hustle and develop greater awareness, resilience, creativity and presence.

We explore why slowing down can sometimes help you move further forward, how breathing and meditation can support nervous-system regulation, how creativity and rhythm can create peak states, and why difficult experiences do not have to define who you become.

Helen also challenges traditional leadership thinking by explaining why some of the best leaders know when to step back, open the space and allow the wisdom of the group to rise.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why high performers can still feel stuck or depleted
• How neuroscience and brain states influence leadership
• Why slowing down can improve clarity and performance
• The connection between breathing, meditation and self-regulation
• What Helen means by energy medicine
• How adversity can become an opportunity for growth
• Why creativity, rhythm and music can unlock peak states
• How leaders can create space for others to rise
• What it means to live with a Champion Mindset

CONNECT WITH HELEN ARGYROU

Website: https://www.helenaha.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heleniq_how-do-they-know-how-great-you-are-activity-6710120576284938240-H09U
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18qFBiz8Si/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenahargyrou
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@helenaha

CONNECT WITH ANTHONY DAHYA

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com
Champion Academy: https://championmindsetcollective.com/academy
AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonydahya/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AnthonyDahya
Email: [email protected]

BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW

Have a story, expertise or message that could help others grow?

Apply here:
https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

TOPICS

Leadership, neuroscience, energy medicine, leadership development, brain energy, high performance, personal growth, emotional intelligence, resilience, conscious leadership, nervous-system regulation, peak performance, human potential, mindset, self-awareness, mindfulness, leadership coaching, psychology, integrative leadership, Champion Mindset

If your organisation still treats AI as a collection of tools, it may already be falling behind.

Anthony Dahya speaks with Steve Brown, AI futurist, former Google DeepMind and Intel executive, and bestselling author of The AI Ultimatum.

Steve explains why AI transformation requires more than adding a chatbot or chasing the latest tool. Leaders must rethink how their organisation operates, makes decisions and creates value.

They explore predictive, generative, reasoning, agentic and physical AI, including why AI agents are becoming digital employees that can plan, learn, use tools and complete complex tasks.

You’ll discover:

• How to move from AI experiments to an AI-first strategy
• Steve’s framework: Enable, Re-engineer and Reimagine
• Why using AI only to cut costs limits its business value
• How AI can amplify people rather than simply replace them
• How leaders can prepare their workforce for AI transformation
• The first steps towards an enterprise AI strategy

Will you lead the AI transformation or be left behind?

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why every leader needs an AI strategy
01:35 Steve Brown’s technology and AI journey
02:44 Working at Intel and Google DeepMind
03:50 Steve’s first experience with AI
05:42 Predictive, generative, reasoning and agentic AI
09:40 How physical AI and robotics will change work
13:22 Will AI replace human jobs?
16:31 The Wisdom Network and future workforce
18:31 Where business leaders should start
20:11 Three stages of AI transformation
24:01 From AI tools to business strategy
25:41 Building your AI intelligence portfolio
28:51 How small businesses can start with AI
29:49 The biggest AI strategy mistake
31:15 Measuring success beyond productivity
32:23 The AI-first leadership mindset
34:03 How SHEIN built an AI-first business
36:45 Why employees will manage AI machines
38:35 Preparing people for AI transformation
42:40 Identity, purpose and a post-labour future
44:18 How leaders should manage AI agents
47:36 Learning to lead digital employees
50:46 Inside The AI Ultimatum
53:47 Innovate or be left behind
54:59 One practical step leaders can take today
55:55 Why becoming AI-first is a business race
58:06 Building a human-first future with AI
58:51 Connect with Steve Brown
1:00:50 Quick-fire questions
1:02:27 What it means to have a champion mindset

RESOURCES

Steve Brown

Website: https://www.stevebrown.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futuresteve/
The AI Ultimatum: https://a.co/d/1YoFV5C
AI Innovation Workshops: https://www.stevebrown.ai/workshop

Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com
AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonydahya/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AnthonyDahya
Email: [email protected]

READY TO WORK SMARTER WITH AI?

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#AIStrategy #AITransformation #AIAgents #AgenticAI #AIAutomation #AILeadership #AIForBusiness #FutureOfWork #TheAIUltimatum #SteveBrown #AnthonyDahya #ChampionMindsetCollective

You're in rooms not built for you, trying to fit in, to shrink yourself, right? But what if the very parts you're hiding are your greatest assets?

Join Anthony Dahya and Lori Crooks, founder of Cadra, as she shares her powerful journey. From cybersecurity compliance in a 'navy blue' world to rebuilding her business from scratch after a devastating loss, Lori reveals how she transformed a season of struggle into a declaration of self-worth. Discover the true meaning behind her 'I Am Enough' tattoo and why standing authentically in your power is your ultimate business advantage. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling the pressure to conform, struggling with identity shifts, or navigating the tough road of entrepreneurial setbacks.

Key Takeaways

- Your unique identity, even in conservative industries, can be your biggest business asset, not a weakness.

- A major business setback can be a catalyst for deep personal growth and a stronger, more authentic foundation.

- The phrase 'I Am Enough' isn't just a slogan; it's a powerful daily reminder to counteract self-doubt and internal criticism.

- Prioritise diversification in business (clients, revenue streams) to prevent catastrophic single-point failures.

- Childhood experiences, like striving for perfection, can impact adult self-worth and require conscious reframing.

Chapters

00:00 You Are Enough
00:13 Building a Business Without Shrinking Yourself
02:06 Meet Lori Crooks
02:15 From Accounting to Cybersecurity
04:01 When Lori’s Biggest Contract Disappeared
05:09 The Personal Cost of Losing the Contract
06:21 Rebuilding the Business Differently
07:55 Why Lori Tattooed “I Am Enough”
10:28 What “I Am Enough” Really Means
12:37 Getting Through the Difficult Days
13:49 Ten Years of Building CADRA
15:50 Choosing Authenticity and Hot-Pink Branding
17:13 What If People Don’t Like the Real Me?
19:41 Stop Shrinking Yourself
21:51 Discovering Who You Really Are
23:58 The Loneliness of Running a Business
24:32 One Step Towards Greater Authenticity
25:20 Learning to Ask for Help
27:25 Lori’s Self-Care Checklist
29:35 A Final Reminder That You Are Enough
31:07 Quick-Fire Questions
32:23 What It Means to Have a Champion Mindset
32:43 Final Thoughts and Closing Message

Links

🔗 **Connect with Lori Crooks & Cadra:**

CADRA Website: https://www.cadra.com/

About CADRA and Lori Crooks: https://www.cadra.com/about/

Lori Crooks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-crooks/

CADRA LinkedIn Company Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cadra-compliance/

CADRA Services: https://www.cadra.com/services/

CADRA Cybersecurity and Compliance Blog: https://www.cadra.com/blog/

The Cadra Compliance Monthly Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-cadra-compliance-monthly-7318689843104919554

Contact CADRA: https://www.cadra.com/contact-us/

✨ **Special Offers from Lori Crooks:**

Free Compliance Discovery Call: https://www.cadra.com/schedule-a-call/

Free FedRAMP Resource: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/klY9Mrt4Ejj3YuYpZqXt

Book Lori for Podcasts & Speaking Engagements & Workshops: https://www.cadra.com/media/

Media Enquiry Form: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/hrpHy8XEMHBz8WHKCMPa

Lori Crooks Official Media Kit and One Sheet: https://www.cadra.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lori-Crooks-Cadra-One-Sheet.pdf

Connect with Anthony Dahya

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

Contact: [email protected]

Book an AI Clarity Assessment to identify where AI & automation could make the greatest difference in your business. Discover opportunities to reduce repetitive tasks, improve efficiency, and free up more time for the work that matters most.

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What if dyslexia is not simply a reading problem, but a different way of thinking that can become a powerful advantage?

In this episode of the Champion Mindset Collective Podcast, Anthony Dahya speaks with dyslexia educator and researcher Russell Van Brocklen about understanding dyslexia, supporting children who learn differently, and helping dyslexic thinkers organise and communicate their ideas.

Russell shares his experience of living with what he describes as an extreme case of dyslexia. He explains how a New York State-funded study of his brain revealed a remarkable “light switch” effect, where his reading and writing ability could change dramatically depending on how he activated and organised his thinking.

Russell challenges the belief that dyslexia is simply a reading problem. He believes reading difficulties are often a symptom of a deeper challenge involving the organisation and communication of fast-moving ideas.

During the conversation, Russell explains his approach of using word analysis followed by articulation. He also shares how writing can help dyslexic learners organise their thoughts, improve communication and develop greater confidence.

Anthony even steps into the learner’s seat as Russell uses a challenging language exercise to demonstrate what reading can feel like for a dyslexic child.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Russell describes dyslexia as a superpower
• What his “brain switch” experience revealed
• Why dyslexia may be more than a reading problem
• How dyslexic thinking can support analysis and problem-solving
• Why writing and articulation are central to Russell’s approach
• The biggest dyslexia myths affecting parents and educators
• Why early intervention can change a child’s learning journey
• How parents can support dyslexic children at home
• The value of building learning around a child’s interests
• How AI can support communication, education and productivity
• How Russell turned a personal struggle into a meaningful mission

About Russell Van Brocklen

Russell Van Brocklen is a dyslexia educator, researcher and founder of Dyslexia Classes. His work helps parents understand how dyslexic children think and provides practical methods for improving reading, writing, communication and confidence.

Russell’s mission is to make effective dyslexia education more accessible, helping children recognise their strengths, organise their ideas and prepare for success in education and the real world.

Additional Resources and Links

Connect with Russell Van Brocklen:

Official Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

Free Guide, The 3 Reasons Your Child’s Dyslexia Education Isn’t Working: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook

Dyslexia Classes for Parents Membership: https://www.skool.com/dyslexia-classes-2483/about

PodMatch: https://podmatch.com/guestdetail/1746760245746122c4ceee23d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

Connect with Anthony Dahya:

Champion Mindset Collective: https://championmindsetcollective.com

AI Workflows Agency: https://aiworkflows.agency

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

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AnthonyDahya

Contact: [email protected]

Be a Guest on the Show:

https://championmindsetcollective.com/be-a-guest

If this conversation helped you see dyslexia differently, follow the Champion Mindset Collective Podcast and share this episode with a parent, educator or dyslexic thinker who may benefit from Russell’s message.