In this episode of Founder’s Story, Daniel sits down with Stanford’s Dr. David Spiegel to unpack hypnosis with a level of clarity most people have never heard. Dr. Spiegel explains why hypnosis is not a loss of control, but an increase in control, and walks through the three core components that make it work. They explore how hypnosis differs from meditation, how it can help with stress and insomnia in real time, and the brain science that shows what changes during hypnosis. Dr. Spiegel also shares the origin story that made him commit his career to hypnosis, including a first patient experience that worked so fast it shocked an entire hospital.

Key Discussion Points:

Daniel and Dr. Spiegel unpack the biggest misconception about hypnosis, explaining why it is not a loss of control but a way to enhance it through focused attention, dissociation, and the ability to try being different. Dr. Spiegel contrasts hypnosis with meditation, highlighting why hypnosis works faster for people with racing minds and high stress. They explore how hypnosis can help break habits by focusing on what you are for rather than what you are fighting against, including real-world examples with smoking, stress, and eating behaviors. The conversation also dives into sleep, showing how calming the body first can quiet the mind and interrupt anxiety loops. Dr. Spiegel closes by explaining the brain science behind hypnosis, including how it turns down the internal alarm system and restores a sense of control.

Takeaways:

Hypnosis is not mind control, it is a trainable skill for better self control. The three pillars are focused attention, dissociation from unhelpful sensations and thoughts, and the ability to try being different by quieting rigid self narratives. For habit change, focus on what you are for, not what you are against, and use intermittent positive reinforcement by making choices that create immediate self respect rather than deprivation. For stress and sleep, start from the body up, calm the fight or flight response, and create distance from your worries by placing them on an imaginary screen. Brain imaging supports these experiences by showing reduced threat signaling and increased executive control during hypnosis.

Closing Thoughts:

This episode reframes hypnosis as a practical tool you can use in minutes, especially when stress is peaking and your mind feels impossible to quiet. Dr. Spiegel’s approach makes the science accessible, the techniques usable, and the impact feel immediate. If you have ever struggled with sleep, anxiety, pain, or habits, this conversation offers a way to regain control using a skill your brain already has.

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In this Founder's Story conversation, Peter Ashton breaks down the science, strategy, and soul behind Veyra—a trading platform designed to close the wealth gap by giving everyday people the same predictive tools that have been exclusive to Wall Street's elite for decades. Through personal stories of transition, loss, discovery, and a bold vision for 2026, Peter reveals why the future of trading isn't about chasing algorithms—it's about understanding the mathematical laws that govern markets.

Key Discussion Points:

Peter distinguishes mathematical intelligence from AI—while AI predicts based on patterns, mathematical intelligence uses unchanging laws to compress data and project market outcomes with remarkable accuracy. He discovered a NASA scientist who modified 1980s aerospace missile identification systems for trading, and after initially losing money, learned traders simply want automation or clear buy/sell signals. Veyra's unconventional structure includes 9-10 co-founders (including a CEO who raised $130 billion) united by making "the unwealthy wealthy," and six months in they've built a distribution network of 550,000 subscribers positioning them for billion-dollar valuation with just 15-20,000 customers at $499/month. Peter reveals all major financial firms still run on 1965 infrastructure, creating massive opportunity for Veyra's modern "rails" built for algorithmic trading.

Takeaways:

Mathematical intelligence operates on unchanging laws rather than probabilities, offering higher accuracy than pattern-based AI. The most powerful technology isn't always new—1980s NASA systems become more relevant with modern computing power. Strategic partnerships and distribution channels accelerate growth faster than traditional lead generation when targeting underserved markets. The simplest products win: complexity is the enemy of adoption when people just want clear signals or full automation.

Closing Thoughts:

Peter Ashton proves revolutionary disruption doesn't require brand new technology—it's about reimagining proven systems for different markets. With nine co-founders who spent careers making the rich richer now united to make the unwealthy wealthy, Veyra represents a fundamental shift toward democratized wealth-building tools. As AI competition intensifies, focusing on mathematical foundations rather than trendy algorithms may prove prescient. The question isn't whether the technology works—it's whether people will embrace institutional-level trading intelligence now available at their fingertips.

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In this Founder’s Story conversation, John Yirku shares the realities of first responder life—the trauma that accumulates silently, the memories that haunt long after the sirens fade, and the emotional cost families often bear without ever being asked. Through personal stories, including the moment he realized he wasn’t okay, John explains why communication is the lifeline to healing and how his four-pillar system helps responders reconnect with themselves and the people they love.

Key Discussion Points:

John begins by breaking down the biggest misconception about first responders: the public sees the action, but never the aftermath. He explains how trauma “stacks” over years when responders refuse to talk, believing vulnerability is weakness. John reflects on the moment he drifted into a traumatic flashback while playing with his grandson—an experience that forced him to confront how trauma impacts not only responders but their families. He shares how communication with his wife, who also served, became a critical part of their healing and partnership. John outlines his four pillars—Recognize, Reach Out, Respond, Rebuild—and tells stories from the field, including saving a coworker’s life and the silence that often speaks louder than words. He also discusses why he wrote his book and why first responders must learn to say “I’m not okay” without shame.

Takeaways:

John’s message is clear: responding to trauma is not weakness, it’s survival. Healing begins with recognizing emotional changes, reaching out before the weight becomes unbearable, and allowing others in. Communication saves relationships, presence heals unseen wounds, and vulnerability creates connection. First responders aren’t just allowed to ask for help—they must. And the lessons apply to anyone carrying heavy emotional burdens, uniform or not.

Closing Thoughts:

John’s story is a powerful reminder that bravery is not just running into danger—it’s the courage to face what comes afterward. His work and his book offer a path forward for first responders and families searching for hope, connection, and understanding in the moments when the sirens finally stop.

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Stuart White traces We Are Our World’s origin to a powerful scene on a Hawaiian beach that reframed how he thinks about access, dignity, and everyday generosity. He explains how WAOW’s model works (discounted products + automatic donations), why trust matters (Forbes Top 100 rotation each December), and how transparent cashback and referrals can turn giving into a repeatable habit.

Key Discussion Points:

Takeaways:

Closing Thoughts:

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In this Founder’s Story episode, Eric Bellinger dives deep into the early roots of his career, from recording voicemail songs for friends to becoming one of the most respected artists and songwriters in R&B. He shares stories from the studio, life on tour, how TikTok and AI are reshaping music, and why staying humble keeps him grounded while performing worldwide.

Key Discussion Points:

Eric opens up about his upbringing in church, how faith shaped his ambition, and the wild origin story of being discovered through a friend’s answering machine. He reflects on nostalgia, virality, and why artists focus too much on numbers instead of getting in front of the right person. Eric talks openly about the resurgence of R&B, his experience touring with Jagged Edge and Lloyd, and what it feels like hearing his songs played in public. He breaks down the difference between performing vs. writing hits, the global evolution of music, his creative chemistry with legends like Chris Brown, and the emotional connection with fans. He also speaks on fame, humility, the business of modern music, and how collaborations, shows, brand deals, and features create real financial freedom for artists today.

Takeaways:

Eric emphasizes that virality isn’t everything — one right person can change your life. He urges artists to focus on craft, ownership, and understanding their contracts. Success comes from relentless consistency, global thinking, and staying open to technology like social media and AI. He reminds creators to stay humble, be present with fans, plant seeds internationally, and take full responsibility for their careers rather than finding someone to blame. Above all, the journey is spiritual, personal, and fueled by gratitude.

Closing Thoughts:

Eric’s story is a reminder that roots matter, faith matters, and authenticity always wins. His perspective blends wisdom, humility, and hard-earned lessons that every artist and entrepreneur can learn from. This conversation will leave listeners inspired, nostalgic, and ready to dream bigger.

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Nicolas Bivero, CEO & Co-Founder of Penbrothers, breaks down the biggest misconceptions founders have about outsourcing and reveals why global teams only succeed when built with intention, clarity, and cultural intelligence. With 20+ years scaling ventures across Asia — including nearly a decade building companies for a 170-year-old Japanese multinational — Nicolas shares the hidden realities of building distributed teams, the human challenges behind remote work, and the mindset required to retain world-class talent at scale.

Key Discussion Points:

Nicolas explains how outsourcing has shifted from “cheap labor abroad” to a strategic superpower — but only for founders who truly understand the roles they’re hiring for and the cultural dynamics that go with them. He stresses why outsourcing fails when founders just want “a warm body,” and why clarity, structure, and expectations matter more than cost savings. Nicolas details the Hypercare Framework — bridging cultural gaps between founders and Filipino talent — and how companies collapse when they underestimate the human side of remote work.

He also shares his early career story: moving to Japan for martial arts, unexpectedly joining a Japanese corporation, and being the only foreigner in the entire company with zero guidance on day one. That journey eventually brought him to the Philippines, where he discovered extraordinary untapped talent and built Penbrothers into a 5,000+ team operation. Nicolas opens up about the challenges of scaling — from lacking coworking spaces in 2014 to handling remote teams across far-flung islands — and how weak infrastructure, power outages, and typhoons create real-world obstacles most founders never plan for.

Takeaways:

Outsourcing only works when founders understand the role, the expected outcomes, and the cultural nuances required to onboard talent effectively. Without clarity, remote teams fail quickly. With the right partner, global hiring becomes a competitive advantage — unlocking better skills, better time-zone coverage, and a better cost structure. Nicolas emphasizes that Filipino talent is deeply underestimated globally; behind the stereotypes lies a diverse, highly educated workforce capable of powering some of the world’s fastest-growing companies.

He also highlights a bigger mission: how creating meaningful, well-paid jobs in the Philippines can change entire families and communities for generations — allowing people to stay home, avoid migration, and build a life with dignity and opportunity.

Closing Thoughts:

Nicolas Bivero’s story is a reminder that global teams succeed not because of cost, but because of culture, clarity, and long-term commitment. Outsourcing is not a shortcut — it’s a strategy, and when done right, it transforms not only companies, but lives.

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In this episode, Daniel and Kate sit down with Dr. Roman Yampolskiy, one of the world’s leading researchers on AI safety, superintelligence, and the existential risks no one in Silicon Valley wants to talk about. His work has been featured by BBC, MSNBC, New Scientist, and dozens of global outlets — and his message is simple: we are racing toward something we don’t understand.

Roman explains why today’s AI models already outperform top PhDs, why governments are pushing for speed over safety, and why the next generation of AI might quietly outgrow human control long before anyone notices. This is not sci-fi. This is the inside view from someone who has spent two decades studying how intelligent systems break, behave, and escape oversight.

He also shares the personal story behind his obsession with AI risk, how he rose from an immigrant student to a world authority, and why fame has become a “productivity curse” for researchers sounding the alarm.

Key Discussion Points:

Roman opens with the truth that underpins his entire career: the people building AI don’t actually understand how it works — and they’re not slowing down. He explains how the U.S. government conflated “AI safety” with political correctness topics, entirely missing the existential-risk conversation and accelerating the race with no guardrails.

He breaks down why “losing control” won’t look dramatic — the world may appear normal for years as a superintelligence quietly secures resources, learns human behavior, and waits. He explains why AI trained on human data inherits not only our brilliance but our flaws, why Sam Altman understands the risks but can’t slow down, and why AGI is already partially here depending on your definition.

Roman dives into job loss, economic abundance, and whether anyone should still go to college. He shares how AI agents differ from tools, why they’re inherently dangerous, and the real threat behind humanoid robots (hint: it’s not their physical bodies). He explores global competition between the U.S. and China, the inevitability of AGI’s rise, and why cooperation is never as simple as people imagine.

Daniel steers the conversation into Roman’s personal journey — the sci-fi spark that led him into AI, how cybersecurity pulled him into safety research, and why rising fame has actually damaged his productivity. Roman reveals the bizarre messages he gets from conspiracy theorists and explains the ethical nightmare ahead: If AI becomes conscious, do we owe it rights?

Takeaways:

Humanity is racing toward a future it doesn’t fully comprehend. While AI may create abundance, cure disease, and automate nearly every job, it also introduces unprecedented existential risks — ones we are not structurally or politically prepared for. Roman emphasizes that controlling superintelligence remains an unsolved problem, and failing to solve it could make humans “irrelevant by default.” Yet he remains hopeful: with enough time and caution, we can still build systems that elevate humanity instead of replacing it.

Closing Thoughts:

Roman’s wisdom lands as both a warning and a call for clarity. The future of AI isn’t just about innovation — it’s about survival, alignment, and responsibility. And in a world sprinting toward intelligence we can’t undo, voices like his are not optional — they’re essential.

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Jeff explains how Promescent grew from a single PE treatment pioneered by Dr Ronald Gilbert into a full spectrum sexual wellness brand trusted by physicians and consumers. We unpack the medical data behind PE, the credibility strategy that won over leading urologists, and the retail playbook that carried Promescent from Target to national footprint.

Key Discussion Points:
Jeff recounts meeting Dr Gilbert, trying the product, investing, and then stepping in after Dr Gilbert’s death with a mission to give him a lasting legacy and provide for his family who retain twenty percent of the company. He outlines universal CEO traits, passion, work ethic, and listening to customers, that translated from semiconductors to sexual wellness. Jeff distinguishes clinical PE from recreational use cases and introduces the arousal or orgasm gap, noting men average about six minutes of penetration while women often need about eighteen, which informed a dual track strategy, medical and mainstream intimacy. He details Promescent’s credibility moat, IRB certified trials, endorsements from leaders in sexual medicine, and heavy physician sampling to overcome fears of transfer and numbing. We discuss stigma, why PE is often physiological rather than purely mental, and how porn driven expectations distort reality for young people. Jeff explains the constraints of marketing intimacy products on major platforms and how that pushed the team toward education, expert voices, and retail execution. He walks through the shelf by shelf grind that started with Target, then expanded to Walmart, CVS, Wegmans, HEB, and Meijer, plus a broadened product line of lubes, supplements, and devices built from direct customer feedback. Finally, Jeff shares the plan to partner with a billion dollar strategic to scale distribution, his commitment to remain an advocate post exit, and the emails from customers that prove the human impact.

Takeaways:
Clinical credibility compounds, real trials and named physician advocates create a defensible edge that advertising cannot buy. Listening beats guessing, product roadmaps built from patient, partner, and clinician feedback travel faster than founder intuition alone. Define segments clearly, serve both clinical PE and enhancement seekers with different messages that meet the same outcome, better intimacy for both partners. Normalize the conversation, reduce shame by naming the physiology and resetting expectations that have been warped by porn, then teach technique and tools that actually help. Distribution is a milestone not a finish line, getting on the shelf is step one, outperforming and expanding facings is where brands are made.

Closing Thoughts:
This is a founder story about purpose, promise, and proof. If you or a partner struggle in silence, know there are science backed options and a growing community of clinicians who can help. Learn more at Promescent and explore the education resources Jeff’s team has built to make intimate wellness accessible and effective.

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In this Founder’s Story episode, Daniel sits down with Dr. Mark Sherwood of The Functional Medical Institute, one of the nation’s most respected longevity and wellness doctors. Dr. Sherwood takes us through a remarkable life journey — from being an adopted kid no one believed in, to becoming a professional baseball player, to risking his life daily on SWAT operations, to now leading a global movement helping people live to 120 with strength, clarity, and purpose.

Key Discussion Points:

This episode begins with Mark unpacking why longevity has become a cultural obsession — and how the trauma of recent years has forced society to confront death in a way we never have before. Drawing from years of studying human biology, ancient records, and current data, he explains why humans should be able to live to 120, and why our healthspan is collapsing far earlier than it should.

Mark breaks down the three pillars of true longevity straight from the transcript:
• Eat intentionally — real food, nutrient-dense, information-rich, not calorie-rich
• Move purposely — daily movement as medicine, “the only day you shouldn’t move is the day you’re dead”
• Live at peace — eliminating chronic stress, disconnection, negativity, and reclaiming hope

He shares deeply personal stories from his time on SWAT — including witnessing death in front of him — and how those moments reshaped his beliefs about fragility, purpose, and the urgency of healing. One of the most powerful moments is Mark recalling his mother’s suicide and how it taught him that most battles are internal, not physical. This experience shaped his mission to help people rewire their mindset before they attempt to fix their bodies.

The conversation dives into the science of longevity — mitochondria, NAD, peptides, cold exposure, heat shock proteins, resilience-building, and the biological measurements he uses to reverse aging by decades. He reveals real patient results, including individuals in their 60s and 70s who now biologically test in their 20s and 30s.

Mark also explains how he turned pain into purpose, growing the Functional Medical Institute with his wife Michele — producing books, films, and signature experiences that transform thousands of lives.

Takeaways:

Listeners will learn that longevity is not a luxury — it is the byproduct of daily leadership over your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. Mark shows how aging is not inevitable decline but a choice that begins with your actions, your beliefs, your resilience, and your willingness to confront internal battles. The episode reinforces that your mindset builds — or destroys — your biology, and that radical health is within reach if you take full ownership.

Closing Thoughts:

Mark’s story proves that your past does not dictate your lifespan or your health future. With intention, discipline, and a shift in identity, you can rebuild your body and mind at any age. His framework offers a hopeful, science-backed path toward living younger, longer, and stronger — not by chance, but by choice.

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In this episode, Daniel sits down with Raheel Retiwalla, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Boost Health AI, the company unlocking the $500B in administrative waste trapped inside healthcare’s rules, guidelines, and policies. Raheel explains how Boost Health AI structures the complex medical rules buried in PDFs so payers and providers can finally access them consistently, accurately, and in real time. He shares the pivotal moment that convinced him this was the problem worth dedicating his life to—why timing with post-COVID financial strain and generative AI made this mission possible—and how Boost Health AI is rewiring healthcare operations rather than simply speeding them up.

Key Discussion Points

Raheel opens with the moment that shifted his career: a JAMA–McKinsey study revealing $500B in pure administrative waste—not from delivering care but from managing care. He breaks down how the root cause is shockingly simple: healthcare rules trapped inside PDFs, guidelines, and regulations, forcing humans to manually interpret them every time a decision is made.

He explains how generative AI allowed Boost Health AI to extract, structure, and validate these rules at scale, giving payers and providers instant, consistent access to the policies that govern every decision. Raheel walks through why timing mattered: post-COVID financial pressure pushed the industry to seek efficiency, and gen AI arrived at exactly the right moment.

Daniel dives into the deeper challenge: healthcare cannot use black-box AI. Raheel explains why Boost Health AI is built around transparency, citations, auditability, and an open model where payers own their intelligence instead of renting it from vendors. They discuss how unlocking medical policies speeds up authorizations, reduces friction, and creates room for automation across care delivery.

The conversation expands into future impact—rewiring broken processes instead of just accelerating them, shifting from reactive to proactive care, and preparing the system for AI-powered disease detection, drug discovery, and long-term population health.

Takeaways

Listeners learn that the most transformative AI in healthcare won’t diagnose disease—it will fix the invisible machinery beneath it. Raheel shows how Boost Health AI turns chaotic rule interpretation into structured intelligence, unlocking billions in value and reducing the delays that harm patients. This episode reinforces the importance of explainable AI, operational domain mastery, and building technology that rewires industries rather than automating old problems.

Closing Thoughts

Raheel’s story shows that the biggest opportunities in innovation often come from problems no one sees. Boost Health AI is proving that healthcare’s future depends on clear rules, transparent infrastructure, and AI systems that empower—not replace—human decision-makers. His journey reminds founders to look beyond the obvious, solve inefficiencies at their root, and build with transparency, courage, and long-term vision.

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