In this Episode, Matt Gardiner discusses addiction and the illusion of control that can come with being a "high functioning" addict.

He shares how addiction is a way of filling a void or addressing a problem, and that identifying that problem is key to overcoming addiction. Addiction can take many forms, from substance abuse to porn addiction to eating disorders, but the mechanics of addiction are the same. Ultimately, Matt believes that the real work of overcoming addiction is understanding why you have the addictive behavior in the first place.

Matt also talks about finding a balance between structure and freedom in one's daily routine. They mention having a vision of themselves taking a break and being free in the mountains, but also scheduling time for certain activities. He shares his experience of feeling anxiety and dread when he has downtime, even though they love what they do, and how to overcome that feeling and stay in flow.

This affliction is attributed to very achievement-oriented personalities and you'll hear advice on how being present and recognizing when you are not fully engaged is the key to integrating it all.

The first few months of entrepreneurship can feel chaotic and stressful. - 6:07

The power of a mastermind group. - 10:30

What was the turning point in his recovery journey? - 16:27

The perfect recipe for a spiritual awakening. - 21:23

The “ultimatum time” that changed everything. - 24:59

The difference between selecting the tangible and intangible. - 30:25

What’s the problem you’re trying to fill? - 37:14

When you’re a kid, trauma is perceived as a threat. - 42:10

Overcompensation is a form of growth and learning - 46:35

How to find balance between work and life. - 53:23

Recognizing when you’re not present. - 1:00:20

Being present when you’re alone. - 1:06:39

Chase Tolleson joins to share insights he's gained in the first 5 months of being a Father, and how he's charting his own path and instilling strong values in his daughter.

For those who have heard Chase before, you can imagine how power packed this episode is, and you'll hear what his main focuses are now as a leader, an entrepreneur, investor, and a dad.

We talk about how your actions and your words become your energy that gets passed on to those around you, and the practical application of your spirituality.

Enjoy =]

John "Manimal" brings his high-energy personality into the conversation that you get punched in the face with immediately

After we recorded a full hour-long episode and paused to break, only to realize that there was no SD card in the recording device.

So what you're hearing is take two, even better than the first one!

John came out to visit at my home in Staten Island, where we started our morning with a walk to the beach only a few minutes away, and some grounding on the sand so we could catch up.

I noticed while spending this time with John, how he thrives in the company of people who support him, which I imagine is true for many entrepreneurs.

With the right people, your ideas can come to life in the most beautiful ways.

John is no stranger to trying new things, and finding ways to make them work... which is something I'm fascinated by, and I imagine you'll also catch onto his genius throughout the conversation.

Please enjoy the show. Follow John on IG at @manimaljohn

and remember to subscribe and share this with a friend

Episode #4 of the Inside the Leaders Mind Podcast. - 0:01

Physical and mental challenges to get people out of their comfort zone. - 2:10

Podcasting as a way to create a container for yourself. - 6:36

When you’re not in the position to execute exactly as planned, you need to change things up. - 11:23

How Matt got into coaching and coaching. - 15:46

What is success? What does it look like? - 19:29

What success looks like to you. - 23:58

What does it feel like to have exactly what you want? - 27:45

How to make it impossible to fail by making success unavoidable for yourself. - 32:38

Take some notes, distill it down, and visit. - 37:09

The conversation with Kevin Thompson is about the importance of playfulness and joy in life, and how it can impact relationships and success.

Kevin talks about his experience as an entrepreneur and how he initially felt intimidated by others who had achieved more success than him.

He eventually realized that people meet them where they show up and that their own assessment of themselves is important.

He also mentions his experience curating intimate virtual roundtables for entrepreneurs and how people tend to want more of that experience once they've tried it.

The conversation touches on the importance of being open and approachable to everyone, regardless of their status.

You'll also hear about the importance of having fun and experiencing joy in all aspects of life,

the importance of staying in integrity and doing what one wants to do rather than what one thinks they should do. As long as one is staying true to themselves, the things they want will naturally occur.

Kevin shares an example of how this has shown up in his life and business, noting that he only does things that are intentional and have value for him, and that he only invites people into his life who he values and who add value.

Kevin shared a personal experience of hosting an in-person event for entrepreneurs he knew, and how it was successful because it was based on inviting people he valued and wanted to spend time with.

If I’m going to do this thing, it’s on my terms 100%. - 0:01

Who is the most valuable person in your life that has had a profound impact? - 1:57

Motivating people in many different ways. - 6:45

My business grew from $100 a month to $1 million in annual revenue. - 12:29

A moment of realization that money is meaningless in how you perceive it. - 20:03

What has happened since the conversation with Jesse in 2012. - 26:12

If I don’t get joy and satisfaction from what I’m doing, then what’s the point? - 31:07

When did you decide that fun and joy and playfulness is important? - 36:20

Taking care of yourself so that you can do your job. - 41:38

How does integrity show up in his current business and life? - 48:16

How he got the idea for his first event. - 53:04

It’s not what we do for them, it’s what we bring to them. - 59:58

What’s the most valuable asset you have in your business? - 1:05:53

Learn more about Kevin on his podcast - Million Dollar Relationships

In this podcast: Matt and Sammi Talk about Chaos, and much more.

Empathy is the ability to understand and feel other people's emotions and experiences. It does not require any magical powers, and it simply means being compassionate towards others.

Narcissism, on the other hand, is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, an excessive need for admiration, and a sense of entitlement.

People with narcissistic personality disorder are often unable to change due to their inner child wounding and lack of object permanence.

However, having narcissistic traits does not necessarily mean one has NPD.

It is possible to recognize and heal narcissism,

as demonstrated by people who have learned to recognize their narcissistic traits and seek help.

As an empath, it is important to set boundaries and avoid extreme people-pleasing.

You''ll also hear Matt and Sammi discuss the current transition period,

driven largely by the technological revolution,

which has become a requirement for society to adapt to.

They discuss how economic shifts and political changes necessitate adaptations to infrastructure and ways of life,

with a focus on the impact of algorithms

and social media on the way people think and see the world.

They delve into the poison injected into society by the curated content

of social media and discuss how chaos can be both creativity and addiction.

They also explore the roots of addiction to chaos and how it is woven into their personal identity story.

Holding a microphone feels cool - 0:00

The Dragon and the Phoenix are soulmates in Chinese astrology. - 3:08

When Matt learned about narcissism, he became resistant to the traits. - 7:13

The Power of boundaries. - 12:13

Fractal Shards.14:15

Algorithms are like “poison”. - 18:36

Addiction is something to feel. - 23:26

Chaos is a fun word. - 25:08

Chaos is creativity -.30:19

What happens when you write things down? - 34:56

What might be restricting you from being authentic? - 0:01

Why authenticity is important today –.2:22

The more you try to please other people, the less you are being yourself. - 3:55

When you’re trying to please so many people, you’re not allowing yourself to be yourself. - 7:38

When you’re in a leadership position, you feel the pressure to act a certain way to be seen in a certain way. - 9:20

Good sales skills can help you convince people to help themselves. - 12:32

Why you're having a hard time with selling yourself - 14:41

When you are totally unattached to the outcome, the real you gets to show and you can decide what that is. - 16:48

The importance of consistently showing up as oneself and embracing one's authentic self

How authenticity can help attract the right people and repel those who are not a good fit.

The danger of binary thinking and how it can lead to unconsciously attracting the very traits one is trying to avoid.

The challenge of identifying and releasing negative traits, and the importance of accepting oneself as they are.

The power of authenticity as a tool for getting what one wants in life, and the importance of action and turning belief into action.

Make sure you subscribe so you can get notified every day when a new episode is released, and remember to head over to mysummit.academy/podcast to get all the tools and resources we talk about in the show.

Lastly, would you send this to someone you care about, if you received any value from this? 

What can you expect from the Show?