Episode recap

In this powerful conversation, Marcel sits down with Joshua Freedman, a global leader in emotional intelligence and the CEO of Six Seconds, to explore the ideas behind his new book, Emotion Rules. Drawing from 30 years of research and more than a million emotional intelligence assessments, Joshua shares why he believes we are living through an “emotional recession” and what leaders must do about it. 

Joshua discusses how many leaders struggle with old patterns that no longer serve them, especially when moving from being a high-performing doer to a leader who must grow others. Marcel highlights two major shifts leaders must make: from knowing to learning, and from doing to being. The episode closes with a fast-paced speed round and reflections on what it truly means to lead with practical, actionable love in business.

Bio:

Joshua Freedman is CEO and cofounder of Six Seconds, the world’s largest  emotional intelligence network. A pioneer in applying EQ to business and social impact, he directs The State of the Heart  study, a landmark longitudinal analysis tracking global trends in emotional intelligence, which first identified the  “Emotional Recession” – a sustained worldwide decline in emotional and relational capacities affecting wellbeing, engagement, and organizational resilience. His frameworks and tools are used by over a million people in 150+ countries, delivering measurable improvements in performance and culture.

Quotes 

Takeaways 

Timestamps 

00:00:02 – Introduction & Joshua’s Background 

00:04:11 – The Emotional Recession 

00:07:42 – Emotional Intelligence vs. Emotional Wisdom 

00:15:11 – Decline in Key EQ Capabilities 

00:18:14 – Fighting Our Emotions 

00:23:40 – Emotions as Data & Needs 

00:31:04 – Emotions as Advisors, Not Bosses 

00:34:24 – Patterns That Keep Leaders Stuck 

00:43:03 – The To‑Be List Practice 

00:46:22 – Wisdom Lives Within 

00:52:39 – Leading with Love 

00:54:39 – Final Takeaway 

Conclusion 

This episode ultimately makes the case that emotional wisdom is not about perfection or sentimentality, but about honestly listening to what our feelings are telling us so we can build more humane, resilient, and high‑performing lives and workplaces; when leaders stop fighting emotions, treat them as data, and model curiosity and courage, they unlock deeper engagement, stronger cultures, and a more sustainable way to navigate a chaotic world. 

Links/Resources 

Emotion Rules book: https://www.6seconds.org/emotionrules/

Six Seconds - https://www.6seconds.org/

Emotional Wisdom Wheel (Constellation Map): https://www.6seconds.org/emotionrules/wheel/

Episode #191 with Joshua Freedman: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/josh-freedman-emotional-intelligence-and-how-to-use-it-to-get-results-ep-191/

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