Mind Soak

Floris has driven over 37 million dollars in Google Ads revenue, and his story proves what happens when you commit, stay curious, and build real skills over time.
In this episode, we go deep on how he built a global agency from scratch, scaled to 80 clients worldwide, and mastered one of the most profitable skill sets online. We break down how Google Ads actually work, why communication and clarity matter more than hype, and the key mindset shifts that turned him from a dropout to a 7-figure entrepreneur.
You’ll learn:
How to start a digital marketing agency from zero
What Google Ads really are and how to use them
How to hire and build a global team
The 90-day roadmap system Floris uses with all clients
Why clarity is the secret to retention and long-term success
How AI will reshape marketing in the next few years
If you’ve ever wanted to escape the 9-5, learn marketing that works, and create freedom through focus, this episode is for you.
Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, mindset, and modern freedom.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro and how Floris generated over 37M through Google Ads
04:23 From saying yes to everything to building a real agency
08:05 How Floris qualifies clients using data and proof
11:19 What Google Ads actually are and how they work
15:22 What’s next: info products, education, and filtering clients
19:09 Why community is the future of agencies
23:56 Building an ecosystem instead of doing everything yourself
27:17 Freedom, location independence, and long-term thinking
30:11 Client success, retention, and communication frameworks
33:06 The 90 day roadmap and clarity with clients
36:52 Business fundamentals before scaling with ads
40:11 Google Ads vs social media ads and buyer intent
44:43 AI, search, and the future of Google Ads
49:29 Personal branding, trust, and standing out in a noisy world
54:05 Final reflections and closing thoughts

Meet Dr Anaïs. German trained medical doctor who worked in large hospitals in Germany and Switzerland. She now helps clients heal fatigue, gut issues, and hormone problems with a mind body soul approach that blends clinical labs with nervous system work, nutrition, and energy practices.
We dig into root cause thinking, ceremonial cacao, grounding, blood sugar, morning and night routines, women’s cycles, supplements that actually help, stool testing, and why basics beat biohacking

What you will learn
• How to shift from symptom chasing to root cause thinking
• A simple morning routine that raises energy without coffee
• The gut and hormone mistakes that create bloating and fatigue
• The truth about carbs at dinner and blood sugar stability
• When lab work and stool tests matter
• Parasites and why basics come first
• How women can regulate cycles with food, stress tools, and sleep

Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Anaïs backstory
02:27 The doctor who told her to live with it
03:52 From symptoms to root cause
05:27 Getting in tune with your body
06:33 What a cacao ceremony actually is
08:54 Placebo or real benefits
09:32 Western meds and where they fit
11:26 Leaving the hospital for holistic care
13:14 Why Bali unlocked her practice
15:00 Common client issues fatigue gut and hormones
16:01 Bloating is not normal
16:42 Gluten dairy and inflammation
18:28 Enzymes probiotics and fermented foods
19:31 Nervous system regulation and routines
23:38 Night routine blue light and early dinner
25:51 Carbs at dinner for better sleep
27:05 Protein fat and carb order for meals
30:12 Women’s cycles stress and tapping
33:14 Food vs supplements the honest take
35:14 Her baseline supplements magnesium omega 3 amino acids
36:02 Blood work and stool tests made simple
38:02 Parasites basics before protocols
40:08 A model day from wake to sunset
43:36 Sitting with yourself and journaling
47:07 Vegan lessons butter hormones and cycle health
51:07 Fast food cravings and fullness
53:23 Eat slower and digest better
54:06 How she works with clients eight week container

Tristan Yoder, known online as @tristansocial, went from felony drug charges to becoming a confidence coach with over one million followers.

In this episode, we unpack how a man can rebuild everything from nothing — discipline, confidence, and purpose.

You’ll learn:

• How Tristan turned a felony arrest into a complete life transformation
• The truth about fear, rejection, and why approaching women matters
• His 5-stage system for dating success built from business principles
• The reality of dating culture in Bali
• How he grew from 40K to over 1M followers using POV glasses
• Why confidence is an area, not a trait
• How to handle hate and stay authentic online

This one hits deep. From felon to coach, this is Tristan’s story of ownership, self-worth, and transformation.

🎙️ Listen on all platforms → Mind Soak Podcast

📍 Follow Tristan: @tristansocial

📍 Follow Sam: @mindsoakpodcast & @Samuel_dignan 

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 From felony charges to confidence coaching
01:30 The arrest story
03:00 Turning chaos into purpose
05:10 How sales became his gateway
06:00 Building confidence through coaching
08:30 The fear of approaching women
10:30 Dating culture in Bali
12:00 The 5-stage system for dating success
18:00 Turning dating into data
21:00 Growing from 40K to 1M followers
25:00 The power of POV glasses
27:00 How he monetized his brand
30:00 His mission for global literacy
33:00 Dealing with hate and staying consistent
38:00 The Australian tall poppy syndrome
42:00 Three daily habits to build confidence

Damian Schechter, known as Damian the All-Rounder, has lived through every extreme. From bodybuilding and steroids to finishing an Ironman, his story is about discipline, heartbreak, and rebuilding from nothing.

This episode dives deep into identity, ego, and the pain that shapes growth. Damian shares how he turned validation into purpose, how heartbreak became his teacher, and what it truly means to evolve as a man.

If you have ever felt stuck, lost, or like you are starting over, this one is for you.

In this episode:

• How bodybuilding shaped Damian’s early mindset
• The dark side of chasing validation
• Rebuilding identity after heartbreak
• From bodybuilder to Ironman
• Why comfort is the real killer
• How to create discipline when motivation dies
• Letting go of friends to grow
• The mindset behind evolution and purpose

🎧 Listen to the full Mind Soak Podcast on:
Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Follow Damian:
Instagram – @damian_theallrounder

Follow Mind Soak:
Instagram – @mindsoakpodcast

Host – @Samuel_dignan

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and Damian’s story
02:30 Training with his dad and falling in love with bodybuilding
05:45 The pressure and ego of competition
10:20 Steroid use and the cost of validation
16:00 Why he left bodybuilding behind
20:50 Hitting rock bottom and losing identity
24:30 How heartbreak became the turning point
29:15 The start of Ironman training
34:00 What pain teaches you about growth
39:10 The truth about motivation versus discipline
44:25 Letting go of old friendships
48:10 The importance of solitude and reflection
52:00 Why men struggle to talk about emotions
56:15 How he rebuilt confidence from nothing
01:02:00 Hybrid training and finding balance again
01:09:00 The routines and habits that changed everything
01:15:30 What real evolution looks like
01:20:00 Lessons from Ironman and life after ego
01:25:00 Final message to anyone starting over

The 9 to 5 is dying, and AI is speeding up the change.

In this episode, Tekla Toppings breaks down how AI and remote work are transforming the way we build careers. From traditional office jobs disappearing to startups hiring globally, the world of work has completely shifted.

You’ll learn how to future-proof your career, use AI tools without being technical, and take your skills global whether you’re looking for more freedom, flexibility, or just want to stay ahead of the curve.

We cover:
• Why traditional careers no longer exist
• How to use AI to work smarter, not harder
• Finding global jobs and remote startup roles
• The truth about university degrees in an AI world
• How environment and community shape success

Tekla’s mission is to help 5,000 people transition to AI-ready, remote careers, and this conversation might just inspire you to do the same.

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

📺 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpqGkTJS6Io&list=PLzYbMNvjdryG1D5K026ZjEA0FRP7rODRv

🔗Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/samuel_dignan/

🔗 Follow Tekla: https://www.instagram.com/teklatoppings/
🔗 Follow Mind Soak: https://www.instagram.com/mindsoakpodcast/

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 How the pandemic changed careers forever
02:00 Why traditional jobs are disappearing fast
04:00 How AI is disrupting every industry
06:00 Companies replacing 10 employees with 2 using AI
08:00 Why learning AI is now non negotiable
10:00 How to use AI even if you’re not technical
12:00 Will AI kill creativity or make us more creative
15:00 The new skills that matter in the AI era
18:00 How to find global and remote startup jobs
22:00 Tekla’s mission to help 5,000 people go remote
26:00 Why university degrees are losing value
30:00 How your environment determines your success
34:00 Final thoughts on freedom, flexibility, and the future of work

In this episode of Mind Soak, I sit down with my mentor Tom Spark, a former teacher who became a creative entrepreneur by building leverage that pays him back and helps others do the same.

We talk about:

• The exact moment he knew he had to quit his job
• Why trading time for money is a broken system
• How to build leverage that compounds over time
• Why chasing alignment often holds people back
• How the online business space is becoming the new version of the nine to five
• What it really means to build offers around your truth
• The power of creating without permission and following your curiosity

If you're tired of doing work that drains you, this conversation will show you another way.

Follow Tom Spark on Instagram: @tomspark_

Learn more about Voics: voics-incubator.circle.so

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Why time-for-money is broken
2. 01:15 – The moment Tom knew he had to leave teaching
3. 03:00 – “Quiet quitting” and the energy shift
4. 06:40 – Overgiving and institutional burnout
5. 08:45 – Music, drugs, and lost identity
6. 12:00 – How Tom accidentally made more than his teaching salary
7. 14:00 – The power of just starting (Patreon + DIY success)
8. 17:30 – Consumption vs. creation: Tom’s philosophy
9. 22:10 – Why the online business world is becoming the next 9-to-5
10. 26:00 – The myth of alignment and “mental masturbation”
11. 30:30 – The power of conviction over funnels
12. 33:10 – Tom's journey into Voics and working with Darren
13. 39:00 – How to find your offer (without a Christ complex)
14. 45:00 – Building a business from raw conversations and momentum
15. 52:00 – Why Bali is heaven and hell for creators
16. 56:00 – Burnout vs. bliss: choosing the right kind of work
17. 01:01:00 – Final thoughts: conviction, curiosity, and peace

In this episode of the Mind Soak Podcast, I sit down with Mij, a personal branding strategist who went from travel vlogging during the pandemic to running her own consultancy helping founders grow through LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram.

We dive into:

• Why she quit her monetized YouTube channel
• The mental health struggles behind content creation
• Lessons learned from failed business attempts
• Building a purpose-driven brand that lasts
• Influencers vs entrepreneurs — and what the future holds

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burnt out, or unsure of where to start, this conversation will show you why starting anywherematters and how to align your vision with your business.

👉 Follow Mij on Instagram: @mijgon_b

👉 Listen to more Mind Soak episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQmON-sjU8&list=PLzYbMNvjdryG1D5K026ZjEA0FRP7rODRv

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Why Mij quit her monetized YouTube channel
02:10 – The pressure of always vlogging
05:30 – What she learned working full-time in marketing
07:40 – Discovering writing and LinkedIn as creative outlets
10:40 – Growing up in Tajikistan and building resilience
13:30 – How scholarships and volunteering shaped her mindset
15:40 – First travels and starting YouTube with Jakarta vlogs
17:20 – Using past footage creatively to tell new stories
20:20 – Lessons from marketing: work with what you have
23:10 – Launching her personal branding consultancy
24:40 – Why your deeper “why” matters in business
26:40 – Her first failed jewelry business and identity crisis
29:00 – Why starting a business is humbling
31:20 – How Bali pushed her into entrepreneurship
36:00 – Finding the right environment for growth
38:00 – The pyramid framework: purpose, storytelling, strategy
42:00 – Are influencers on their way out?
45:10 – Turning personal brand into real business
49:20 – How to uncover your vision and purpose
51:00 – Asking for help and finding mentors
54:30 – Why you need community on the same journey
56:00 – Final advice: action, resilience, and purpose

Men are told to be strong, but many are just performing. In this raw conversation, coach Lewis McFarlane shares the wake up calls that forced him to stop pretending and start rebuilding. We unpack modern masculinity, performative authenticity, sobriety, changing environments, and his simple framework of Thoughts → Beliefs → Actions → Habits that helped him transform.

What you’ll learn

• Why “authenticity” online often becomes acting
• How to spot your wake up moment and use it
• The four lever framework to rewire your life
• Why your environment beats your willpower
• How action beats anxiety and victim thinking

Chapters below. If this helped, hit subscribe and share it with a friend who needs it.

Lewis's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewismcfarlanecoaching/

Timestamps 

00:00 – Are most men emotionally weak

02:18 – Authenticity vs acting online

05:00 – Personal wake up moments and stretch marks story

08:20 – The car crash and double life conflict

11:10 – Spiral, intrusive thoughts, and asking for help

14:15 – From self sabotage to first hard choices

17:10 – The drug run story and adrenaline dump

20:06 – Cutting vices and going sober for 12 months

23:00 – Rebuilding through mentorship and new rooms

26:20 – 80 10 10 rooms rule and managing ego

30:05 – Thoughts, beliefs, actions, habits framework

34:25 – Daily high frequency toolkit and next best action

39:10 – Tracking emotions, negativity bias, and perspective

44:30 – Victim mindset, language, and choosing the now

49:05 – Designing the future self and identity habits

54:10 – Action cures anxiety and closing takeaways

Brian Siegal’s story is a masterclass in reinvention. From a shy, insecure kid with health struggles, to corporate life at Yelp, to collapsing from a life-threatening illness that pushed him to chase his dreams, Brian has lived many lives in one. His journey takes him from teaching English in Korea, to motorbiking across Vietnam, to becoming an improv coach, TEDx organizer, Discovery Channel host, Bollywood actor, and eventually a breakthrough coach helping entrepreneurs and creatives around the world.

In this episode, Brian reveals why reinvention is essential, how comfort zones keep us trapped, and why action is the cure to anxiety. He shares the mindset shifts that turned failures into opportunities, the power of saying yes, and why beliefs—not knowledge, determine transformation. If you’ve ever felt stuck or afraid to take the leap, this conversation will show you what’s possible when you stop saying “no” out of fear and start trusting yourself.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Why reinvent your life?
6:10 – The marbles video that changed everything
12:00 – Backpacking Asia & motorbiking Vietnam
18:00 – Improv, TEDx, and a Discovery Channel show
24:50 – Uber Eats burnout & hitting rock bottom
31:00 – Saying yes vs saying no in life
38:00 – Overcoming imposter syndrome at every stage
45:00 – One interaction can change your life
52:00 – Realizing your dream might not be your dream anymore
59:50 – The power of journaling & asking “why”
1:06:45 – Reinvention at any age & brain plasticity
1:13:45 – Practical steps to start reinventing yourself today

Alongside his incredible journey, Brian now works as a breakthrough coach and TEDx speaker, helping entrepreneurs and creatives around the world get unstuck and step into their potential. On Instagram @iambriannathan, he shares daily insights on mindset, confidence, and reinvention that continue to inspire thousands.

In this episode of the Mind Soak Podcast, I sit down with Taj Now Smith, a 20-year-old Australian entrepreneur who turned $50 into a $2M landscaping empire. But Taj’s story runs much deeper than business.

At just 16, he was raided by 17 cops for drug dealing. Ten days before his 17th birthday, everything changed. What followed was a wild journey of redemption: starting from a car wash hustle, battling mental health, rebuilding after losing everything, and finding purpose through pain.

We dive into:

• The truth behind making money young without social media
• What it takes to break free from small town syndrome
• Real-world entrepreneurship lessons no one talks about
• Mental health, identity, and choosing purpose over comfort

If you're feeling stuck, need a fire lit under you, or want to hear a story of raw resilience, this is the one.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations and stories that hit deeper.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Taj’s $50 to $2M story
01:03 – Why he chose the hard road over online fame
02:36 – Failing school, carpentry, and quitting his job
05:17 – The drug raid that changed everything
07:24 – Using car washing to escape the streets
10:06 – $50 to $10M dream: Swallowing ego and starting dirty
12:03 – The illusion of success on social media
14:51 – How Taj found a real-world mentor
16:54 – Growing too fast and losing $250K
21:14 – Mental health: How Taj rebuilt himself from zero
28:35 – The power of human connection in business
32:27 – Taj’s purpose: Helping others through real experience