In this episode of Lean Mind, Ben Johnson explores the hidden beliefs, outdated stories, and calcified habits we cling to — and what it might mean to start letting go. Using insights from football managers and nature itself, Ben invites thoughtful leaders, founders, and creatives to consider: where in life or work are you gripping too tight? And what might grow if you had the courage to cut some of it away? This is your weekly reset — a moment to interrupt the drift and reclaim clarity, agency, and joy.

In this episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben Johnson explores a powerful question: to collaborate or to compete? Drawing on the rivalries of tennis greats Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and cycling legends Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, Ben reflects on the moments of respect, appreciation — even love — that transcend winning. He reveals how these examples from elite sport hold lessons for leaders navigating high-pressure environments. What if your work was driven less by rivalry and more by collaboration? Could respect and shared growth become your competitive edge? This is a reset for thoughtful people who want to lead with clarity, calm, and wisdom — especially when the stakes are high.

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Caught in a thought loop? Overthinking a decision, problem, or conversation—again? This episode explores why trying to “outthink thinking” only fuels mental overload, and what to do instead.

Ben Johnson shares grounded tools from the LeanMind approach to help you shift out of overwhelm, regulate your emotional state, and access real clarity. Drawing on Buddhist wisdom, Einstein’s creativity, and real-world leadership pressure, you'll learn how to reset fast—especially when you're anxious, triggered, or burned out.

Whether you're leading a team, stuck in indecision, or lying awake at 3:42am, this is a practical guide to coming back to your senses—literally.

Key themes:
overthinking • burnout • decision fatigue • clarity • thought loops • mindfulness • leadership tools • sensory reset • emotional regulation • daily pause • LeanMind

What if chasing isn’t the answer? In this soul-reset of an episode, Ben Johnson explores the hidden cost of constant striving — for new roles, clients, success, or simply relief from overwhelm. Drawing from the quiet wisdom of walking meditation, Polynesian wayfinding, and even an unforgettable tale involving a raft and testicles (!), Ben offers a grounded alternative to the modern chase: a posture of orientation, presence, and letting what comes, come. Whether you’re stuck in pursuit or craving clarity, this episode is a gentle call back to steadiness, intention, and the art of sensing and responding. For thoughtful leaders, founders, and parents navigating transition — this one’s for you.

What do a 20-year career, a 50-mile bike ride, a silent retreat, and a 14-year-old’s nosebleed have in common?

In this episode, Ben Johnson explores the universal experience of the messy middle — the often-overlooked phase where early momentum fades and the real growth begins. Through personal stories and grounded reflections, Ben reveals how long journeys (in work, life, or on two wheels) call us to let go of old stories and find a new rhythm built on patience, clarity, and quiet endurance.

This is not a how-to. It’s a reminder: that steadiness and patient endurance, even when things get tough, is a deeper kind of strength. And that the wisdom we need often shows up in unexpected places — like sitting on your bike when you don't want to.

🔑 Keywords: messy middle, leadership fatigue, clarity, silent retreat, long-term growth, endurance, parenting, resilience, LeanMind, transition, leadership reset

For more tools and reflections, visit leanmindway.com

In today’s episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben explores the hidden force that often blocks our personal and professional growth — our money stories.

Whether you're aiming to grow a business or step into more meaningful work, these deeply ingrained beliefs about money can silently influence your decisions, your sense of worth, and your willingness to take bold steps.

Ben shares personal reflections and practical insights from LeanMind, Buddhist teachings, and conversations with entrepreneurs — all pointing to one powerful idea: it’s not about "letting go," it’s about understanding what you're holding on to.

If you’ve ever felt stuck despite having big goals, this short daily reset will help you pause, reflect, and begin to shift.

🎧 Topics include:

• The real reason your growth plans stall• How money stories silently shape your choices

• Practices to loosen the grip of fear, scarcity, and old beliefs

Follow Clearer, Calmer, Wiser for daily resets that help you lead with strength and humility — even when life gets messy.

Are you teetering on the edge of change? Whether it’s your role, your company, your relationship—or simply the quiet sense that *this chapter is over*—this short reset is for you.

Ben explores:

* Why so many leaders hit an inflection point around year 3, 5, or 10 in their company life cycle 

* What the natural rhythm of “death and rebirth” means for your work and life

* How to respond wisely instead of reacting destructively when the old road ends

With stories from startup cycles and ancient wisdom alike, this episode offers grounded reflection for thoughtful men navigating career transitions, restlessness, or burnout.

In this reflective episode, Ben Johnson shares a powerful train encounter that sparks a meditation on father-son relationships, emotional legacy, and the subtle forces shaping how we show up in stressful moments, at work or home. From Zen monk Haemin Sunim to regenerative thinker Giles Hutchins, Ben explores the tension between hot-headed reactions, cold withdrawal, and the grounded clarity of the "middle way." Drawing from LeanMind’s practical tools, listeners are invited to consider how past stories and silent wishes influence their everyday leadership—especially in the heat of parenting, work, and self-worth.

You’ve met the voice in your head. You’ve named it—“I see you, Mara.” Now comes the harder bit: meeting it with kindness. In this final part of the Know it, Name it, Love it series, Ben shares what it really means to love that inner critic—not with grand gestures, but with grounded, daily rituals that shift your chemistry, build your capacity, and grow your happy.

We talk about resetting after the metaphorical punch in the face. Why oxytocin matters. What elite athletes and ancient monks have in common. And how one simple gesture—hand to chest—can transform cortisol into calm.

This is for thoughtful men leading with strength and humility. Who get triggered. Who wrestle with self-doubt, procrastination, judgment. Who want to lead better at work, at home, and inside their own heads.

Welcome to Clearer, Calmer, Wiser — a short daily reset for thoughtful men navigating leadership, life, and family with strength and humility. In this episode, the second of a two parter, Ben Johnson explores the subtle sabotage of the inner voice — the one that undermines your choices, fuels procrastination, and echoes past criticisms. Drawing on Buddhist wisdom and lessons from elite athletes like Serena Williams, Ben introduces a powerful practice to create pause, reset your nervous system, and reclaim your clarity. If your mind races at 3:42 a.m., or you're stuck at a decision point, this one's for you.

Tools. Clarity. Calm. Let’s lead wisely.

Everything we offer here available over at LeanMind