Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed

• How an internship at Tough Mudder redirected Brian from a traditional legal career toward entrepreneurship.
• Why being clear, following through, and building genuine relationships can matter more than a marketing playbook.
• How a few conversations sparked the Wellness Growth Mastermind.
• What helps people feel safe enough to show up authentically and help one another.
• Why community is defined by the relationships members build—not just the events, calls, or platforms that bring them together.

Timecodes are estimates based on the transcript’s sequence; verify them against the audio before publishing. The supplied transcript includes only a start time.

• 00:00 — Meet Brian: the unexpected engine behind business growth
• ~01:30 — From law school to Tough Mudder
• ~05:00 — The lessons Brian learned about sales and marketing
• ~08:00 — The first gathering that became a mastermind
• ~12:00 — Creating a give-first space for wellness leaders
• ~16:00 — Why community lasts beyond events and platforms
• ~19:00 — The surprising opportunities sparked by connection

LinkedIn : linkedin.com/in/brianvonancken

Website : https://www.joinwgm.com/

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:

• Why Sheikh believes businesses can succeed because of their values
• How “financial gravity” can pull companies away from their original mission
• Why founders should clarify what they’re truly convicted about
• How working norms can translate values into observable behavior
• How “Start with Why” and human-centered design can guide purposeful growth

• 02:23 — The experience that sparked Forerunners
• 04:58 — Bringing personal values into professional life
• 11:33 — What values-driven organizations actually do
• 17:56 — The hidden pressure Sheikh calls “financial gravity”
• 27:03 — Three foundations for building a purposeful venture
• 33:50 — Frameworks for finding your organization’s “why”
• 36:51 — Practical steps to align your work with your values

• Forerunners: forerunners.org
• LinkedIn / Instagram: Not mentioned in the transcript
• Books discussed: Start with Why by Simon Sinek; Incorruptible by Eric Ries; The Lean Startup by Eric Ries; Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Stop hiding behind your product.
  People don’t remember features; they remember you and the origin story behind why you created what you created.
• Story beats spreadsheets.
  Humans are wired to learn and buy through emotionally resonant stories, not data dumps and pitch decks.
• Design your business as a quest, not a grind.
  Use 30‑day campaigns, clear milestones, and quest rewards so you don’t burn out chasing a tiny light at the end of a 10‑year tunnel.
• Track your energy and tasks ruthlessly.
  Classify what you love/do, love/don’t do, don’t love/do, don’t love/don’t do – then batch, delegate, or delete so you’re not drained by the wrong work at the wrong time.
• Imposter syndrome dissolves when you turn around.
  You’re always someone else’s “12 out of 10.” Look back at the people on step 1, help them, and you’ll remember how far you’ve already come.

• 0:00:00 Business is not punishment: turning entrepreneurship into a game
• 0:01:47 Quit selling your stuff: why hiding behind products kills your value
• 0:05:53 The Bard’s Guide: how story beats pitch decks and wins real humans
• 0:15:25 Designing a 30‑day quest line that actually creates revenue
• 0:22:13 Quest rewards, dailies, and why most creatives quit too early
• 0:26:23 Gear, “pocket people,” and the armor you wear into the marketplace
• 0:34:14 The internal boss fight: imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and fear of being seen
• 0:38:59 The MacGyver mindset: building with nothing but a paperclip and a problem
• 0:41:33 What glassblowing teaches us about timing, patience, and not forcing growth
• 0:45:45 GamifyBusiness.com, personality classes, and not living life as an NPC

• https://www.paulpapedesigns.com
   
• https://www.gamifybusiness.com
   
• https://www.youtube.com/paulpapedesigns
   
• https://www.instagram.com/paulpapedesigns/
   
• https://www.facebook.com/paulpapedesigns
   
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulericpape
   
• https://www.tiktok.com/@paulpapedesigns

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Constraints supercharge creativity
  Why working for Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon taught Paul that tight budgets, timelines, and approvals don’t kill creativity—they focus it.
• The real problem isn’t money, it’s translation
  Most creatives don’t lack talent; they lack a bridge between creative and business language. Gamify Business exists to translate MBA-speak into something artists, makers, and storytellers can use.
• The starving artist is an identity, not a destiny
  Paul shares how a “starving artist” mindset quietly forms in school, on Twitch, and in freelance life—and how shifting from selling products to selling your unique point of view breaks that cycle.
• Turn your business into a game you actually want to play
  From micro-rewards and naming your equipment after your clients (like a computer paid for by The Tonight Show) to thinking in quests, XP, and loot, Paul shows how to rewire your motivation and momentum.
• Build your party, don’t duplicate your class
  Using RPG archetypes (warrior, ranger, bard, artificer, etc.), Paul explains why you should stop hiring “clones” of yourself and instead assemble a party that covers your blind spots—especially around marketing, operations, and sales.

• [00:00] From props to podcasts: Who is “Santa for nerds”?
  Junaid introduces Paul’s 30-year creative career, from custom props for Disney & Universal to his mission to destroy the starving artist mindset.
• [02:30] The brutal truth about creativity inside big entertainment
  Paul explains why working in major studios means constraints, committees, and cutbacks—and how limits actually sharpen creativity.
• [06:19] Maker to teacher: Why Gamify Business had to exist
  How years of coaching creatives and streaming on Twitch exposed a translation gap between creatives and business people that Gamify Business now solves.
• [09:49] Starving artist as identity: The hidden cost of creative education
  Paul unpacks why 96% of creative grads never work in their field, and how schools train artists in craft but not in business, pricing, or positioning.
• [13:47] Turning work into an RPG: Rewards, loot, and the “Jimmy Rig”
  From grinding World of Warcraft for a motorcycle to earning a real-life gaming PC from a Jimmy Fallon gig, Paul shows how to assign rewards to every project.
• [20:03] NPCs, factory workers, and why humans aren’t machines
  A raw look at corporate life, factory culture, and how many people are “playing life as NPCs” instead of heroes with agency, quests, and autonomy.
• [25:35] Character creation, party building & selling yourself (not your stuff)
  Paul breaks down RPG-style character sheets, business “classes,” party synergy, and why creatives must sell their story and identity—not just their products.

• Website / Framework / Work With Paul
  • Gamify Business: gamifybusiness.com
• Books by Paul Pape (on Amazon)
  • Quit Selling Your Shit – A guide for creatives to stop competing with Amazon/Walmart and start selling their unique point of view.
  • The Game Master’s Guide to Business – How to run your business like an RPG campaign.
  • The Bard’s Guide to Story Craft – A story-driven book that teaches you how to sell yourself through narrative and perspective.
• Social & Professional Profiles
  • LinkedIn: Search for “Paul Pape – Gamify Business”
  • Instagram / Social: Search “Paul Pape Gamify Business” or “Santa for Nerds” to see his creative work and updates.
  • https://www.paulpapedesigns.com
     
  • https://www.gamifybusiness.com
     
  • https://www.youtube.com/paulpapedesigns
     
  • https://www.instagram.com/paulpapedesigns/
     
  • https://www.facebook.com/paulpapedesigns
     
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulericpape
     
  • https://www.tiktok.com/@paulpapedesigns

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What intuition really is (and why it’s not a “psychic gift” reserved for a few)
How to tell intuition from fear, anxiety, and wishful thinking in real time
Why crisis, grief, and “shamanic death” often trigger spiritual awakening
How decision fatigue and delayed choices quietly destroy your energy
A 3-step “Confident Pause” practice to regulate your nervous system in 3 breaths
How to reclaim your happiness from others and stop outsourcing your joy
The power of micro-manifestations (like chocolate chip cookies and paid-off houses)
Key Timestamps
0:00:00 Intuition is a skill, not a gift
Junaid introduces Emily Atlantis and her work helping 3,500+ people awaken their intuition and inner compass.

0:01:31 What intuition really is (in plain language)
Emily defines intuition as your inner compass, the inner answer you can trust—even when it tells you to quit the safe job or leave the predictable life.

0:04:31 Intuition vs. fear, anxiety, and wishful thinking
How to know if a message is from your heart or your fearful mind, and why expansion—not contraction—is the simplest test.

0:06:35 Shamanic death & spiritual awakening through loss
Emily’s story of holding her mother’s hand as she died, seeing Archangel Gabriel, and how crisis cracks us open to non-physical experiences.

0:08:34 35,000 decisions a day & the hidden cost of delay
Understanding decision fatigue, analysis paralysis, and why avoiding decisions drains your energy and your health.

0:13:41 The real signs you’re disconnected from yourself
Chronic fatigue, frequent illness, and the inability to name 10 things that make you happy—what they reveal about your inner life.

0:17:56 The “Confident Pause”: 3 breaths to reset your nervous system
Emily’s Clear–Connect–Query method to regulate your body, plug into the divine, and ask “How can I take one step forward out of this?”

0:21:14 Micro-manifestations, chocolate chip cookies & paid-off houses
How small, playful requests build trust in your intuitive power and open the door to bigger miracles.

0:28:15 Inside Intuition Academy: from fear to freedom in six months
What happens over six months of layered intuitive training, archetypes, and practice—and what actually changes in people’s lives.

0:32:01 Where to start today & how to work with Emily
Breathwork, cacao ceremonies, retreats, and how to connect with Emily if you’re ready to build a real relationship with your intuition.

5 Big Takeaways
Intuition is a trainable faculty, not a rare gift.
It’s as real as your five physical senses—just operating in the inner, “celestial” realm: knowing, imagination, willpower, and inner guidance.

Fear shrinks you; intuition expands you.
Fear lives in the mind and clings to safety and single outcomes. Intuition speaks through the heart, feels expansive, and allows many paths to feeling alive.

Delayed decisions are draining your life force.
With roughly 35,000 decisions a day, postponing important choices stacks mental load and leads to exhaustion, illness, and chronic “I have no energy” states.

You can regulate your nervous system in three breaths.
Emily’s “Confident Pause” (Clear, Connect, Query) helps you move from overwhelm to grounded clarity—and delivers an honest inner answer every time, if you’re willing to act on it.

Stop outsourcing your happiness to other people.
When your joy is dependent on a spouse, job, or external condition, you’ve handed away your power. True intuition work starts with reclaiming that joy and asking from a place of love, not fear or comparison.

Guest Links – Emily Atlantis (Atlantis Wolf)

Web: https://myintuitionacademy.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-atlantis-wolf

IG: @DragonMedicineWoman
https://www.instagram.com/dragonmedicinewoman/

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Cybersecurity is human first, tech second
  Most failures start with people, not machines. Training, culture, and clear stories matter more than shiny tools.
• Mission assurance = belts, suspenders, and duct tape
  From the International Space Station to hospitals, resilience is built on redundancy, anticipation, and constant “what if” thinking.
• Resilience starts with one brutal question
  Ask: “If I took you out at the knees, what absolutely has to keep running?” That’s where your cyber and operational priorities live.
• Satellites quietly run your entire life
  Weather, GPS, logistics, streaming, dating apps, the Super Bowl, even the Olympics — all depend on vulnerable space infrastructure most leaders never think about.
• Stories, data, and never wasting a crisis
  Renee turned an “F” in cybersecurity and a national security warning into a culture shift by combining vivid stories, hard evidence, and real incidents as teaching moments.

• 00:00 – Space-grade resilience for earthbound businesses
  Junaid introduces Renee and reframes cybersecurity from a checklist to life-or-death mission assurance.
• 02:00 – “Cyber is a human problem, not a tech problem”
  Renee explains why fame, fun, and fortune drive attackers — and why even AI still inherits human error.
• 04:45 – Inside NASA: life support, astronauts, and failure that’s not allowed
  How mission assurance works on the ISS and why redundancy is non-negotiable.
• 11:15 – Cyber resilience for CEOs: what really matters when everything breaks
  Defining truly critical systems, running scenarios, and planning for generators, paper, and people.
• 16:20 – Turning an ‘F’ in cybersecurity into a leadership movement
  The story of NASA being labeled a national security risk — and how Renee used stories and evidence to change the culture.
• 23:20 – Why satellite security should terrify (and empower) every leader
  The hidden dependencies: weather, GPS, logistics, streaming, and how old satellites were never designed for today’s threats.
• 30:00 – How to measure resilience and think like a mission-critical leader
  Uptime, time-to-react, time-to-remediate, and why multi-factor authentication is the Cinderella story of cybersecurity.

Guest Links – Renee Wynn

• Website: Renee Wynn – Cybersecurity, AI Risk & Board Advisory
• LinkedIn: Renee Wynn (Former CIO of NASA, Board Director & Advisor)
• YouTube Playlist (Recommended Cyber + AI Videos): Curated “YouTube University” for leaders and kids (as discussed in the episode)
• Speaking & Advisory: Mission assurance, cyber resilience, and satellite security consulting

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Confidence is a process, not a personality trait
  Confidence comes from preparation, repetition, and trust — in your content, your photographer/coach, and yourself — not from being “born confident” or “naturally photogenic.”
• Fear of judgment is why you freeze on camera
  Most on-camera tension comes from worrying how others will perceive you. The antidote is clarity: clear content, clear audience, and a supportive environment where you feel seen, not judged.
• Your visual brand is how you show up everywhere
  From your headshots and thumbnails to your studio backdrop and wardrobe, your visuals should authentically reflect who you are — not just what’s trending.
• Simple preparation beats expensive gear
  Planning your content, choosing and testing outfits and hair two days before, and dialing in good lighting will instantly make you look more credible, even with a basic webcam.
• Reps create readiness — not the other way around
  Short, consistent on-camera reps (like a 7–10 day challenge) will transform how you sound, look, and feel on video far faster than waiting to “feel ready.”

0:00:00 The real reason people freeze on camera
Junaid introduces Ana Gil and sets up the core promise: showing up confidently on video without feeling scripted, stiff, or fake.

0:02:50 Fear, judgment, and the truth about confidence
Ana explains why judgment — not the camera — is the real enemy, and why confidence comes from preparation and trust, not personality.

0:08:40 Myths that are killing your camera confidence
Ana debunks the myths that only “good-looking” or “naturally confident” people belong on camera, and Junaid shares how the right photographer changed his opportunities.

0:14:30 Looking good vs. looking credible on camera
What “visual branding” actually means, how your studio and appearance communicate who you are, and why authenticity is part of your brand strategy.

0:18:20 Building a visual brand without overthinking it
How to decide what photos and visuals you really need: from podcast art and speaker pages to newsletters, landing pages, and banners.

0:25:55 The simplest instant upgrade: lighting
Why lighting beats camera quality every time, and how to use natural light and basic setups to look dramatically more professional.

0:29:10 A one-week exercise to find your on-camera voice
Ana’s practical exercise for practicing your story and elevator pitch on camera so you can look, sound, and feel more confident in just a week.

• anagilstudios.com
• anagilstudios insta
• anagilstudios youtube

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Dr. Kary Oberbrunner Turns One Idea into 18 Revenue Streams (and Protects It in the AI Era)

You’re sitting on assets you don’t even know you own.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kary Oberbrunner — Wall Street Journal best-selling author, creator of Instant IP, and TEDx speaker — pulls back the curtain on how to turn your hidden intellectual property into 18 streams of income… and why if you don’t protect your ideas in the age of AI, someone else will.

We go deep into the mindset shift from “I just do this thing” to “I own a proprietary framework,” how naming your process instantly increases your authority, and how blockchain is quietly becoming the truth machine for creators, coaches, founders, and thought leaders. If you’ve ever dismissed your way of doing things as “not that special,” this episode will completely reframe how you see your work — and your worth.

Top 5 Takeaways

• You’re already an IP company – your frameworks, checklists, operating systems, and even color choices can be intellectual property if you name and protect them.
• Naming equals ownership – from Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” to Kary’s “Igniting Souls Proven Process,” naming your process is the first step to building authority and defending your ideas.
• Blockchain as the “truth machine” – how Instant IP turns your phone into an IP engine, moving ideas from smartphone to smart contract in 60 seconds.
• Confidence comes from frameworks – clients trust you more (and pay more) when you show them a clear process instead of “I think I can help.”
• AI is accelerating IP theft – with AI tools scraping content 24/7, creators who don’t protect their ideas risk not just being copied, but being outpaced by their own stolen work.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – The question that changes everything
  Why some entrepreneurs scale effortlessly while others burn out protecting one income stream.
• 02:07 – French Alps, flow state, and the birth of an idea
  How cycling off the grid became the catalyst for a new way to think about IP and creativity.
• 03:06 – “Abracadabra” and the curse of self-awareness
  Why kids create fearlessly, adults don’t, and how Instant IP was born from “I create as I speak.”
• 05:10 – Are you accidentally giving away your IP?
  Taylor Swift’s 300+ trademarks, the “Hacks and Hobbies” example, and why your systems are more valuable than you think.
• 07:36 – The power of naming your process
  From Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” to Kary’s “Igniting Souls Proven Process” and Junaid’s studio framework.
• 11:29 – Smartphone to smart contract in 60 seconds
  How blockchain, provenance, and certification marks turn your everyday ideas into protected assets.
• 19:03 – Colors, scents, and a $4.7 trillion fake economy
  Play-Doh’s smell, John Deere green, Tiffany blue, red soles — and what they teach creators about brand protection.
• 21:01 – When AI stole his TEDx talk
  Kerry’s real-life story of discovering his words copied online and the simple move that gave him leverage.
• 23:20 – The real risk: creators who stop creating
  Why unprotected ideas lead to burnout, resentment, and lost momentum — and how Instant IP aims to fix that.

Guest Links – Dr. Kary Oberbrunner

(Note: Exact URLs may vary; search the titles/names below to find the most current links.)

• Instant IP (App/Platform): Search for “Instant IP Kary Oberbrunner” to access the tool and learn how to protect your ideas on blockchain.
• Book – “You Are an IP Company” by Dr. Kary Oberbrunner: Available via major book retailers (Amazon, etc.) – teaches the full framework for turning ideas into IP-backed revenue streams.
• Podcast – Igniting Souls (and related content): Look up “Kary Oberbrunner podcast” to find episodes, teachings, and IP-focused content.
• LinkedIn: Search “Kary Oberbrunner” on LinkedIn to connect professionally and follow his latest work on IP, AI, and entrepreneurship.
• Website / Hub: Look for “Kary Oberbrunner official site” or “Igniting Souls Kary Oberbrunner” for his speaking, books, trainings, and resources.

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:00 – Why most people don’t have a clarity problem, they have a truth problem

01:27 – What are “soul-level patterns” really?

05:11 – The high achiever trap: proving your worth through performance

08:23 – Growth mindset vs. perfection: softball, skinned knees, and riding a bike

10:53 – Entrepreneurs, employees, and caregivers: same patterns, different costumes

14:26 – The ‘Life is…’ diagnostic: what your nervous system really believes

21:29 – Releasing the past & choosing a new foundation

27:01 – A 60-second reset when you’re striving instead of living

28:40 – Surrender, visibility, and living aligned on purpose

Website

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Timestamps

🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies

📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com

🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.