Mindfulness Mode

Vishal Desh is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fennec AI, a platform designed to bridge the gap between personalized guest experiences and operational efficiency. With a strong passion for AI-driven solutions, Vishal is dedicated to helping hospitality and nightlife businesses deliver exceptional experiences while driving sustainable growth. His vision is to build a hyper-personalized, AI-powered operating system that empowers businesses to increase revenue and strengthen customer relationships.

I know that everything happens for a reason so I put my mind to the right things.

That helps me think through my mind and helps feed my emotions in given situations.

I have heard that good breathing exercises are very helpful. I personally have not practiced a lot of that.

I haven't been in the position of being bullied but I have seen situations where other people had that intent.

The key if you are being bullied is to not put your mind to it and don't focus on it.

Part of the problems comes when you give importance to it. If you give importance to the right things you will be in a better place.

Book: Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret by Karen Salmansohn

App: Calm

Nadine Pember is the founder and Strategy Director at Simply Social Media. Storytelling is her passion. Simply Social Media is a small marketing agency in Vancouver, British Columbia working to help companies create compelling brands, then put that brand to work through a comprehensive content marketing strategy. 

I have moments where I feel I am maybe getting emotionally tied up into a situation.

I then take time to reflect on the bigger picture and let that go.

I let that person do what they need to do in that moment and then try to focus again on brand and aligned values and decide what my next step will be.

I have no professional experience in the area of breathing, but I personally do take a few moments to go sit down and breathe if I feel like I need it.

In my late 20s, I worked for an app development company as the director of business development, and it was wonderful.

I spent a lot of time on the road, attending conferences, mostly in the U.S. At the time, I was a young, and young-looking woman.

At those conferences I often encountered dismissive and sexist behavior. I learned how to navigate it, and as I grew more confident, I sometimes corrected it in the moment.

You pick and choose your moments to stand up for yourself.

Book: The Let Them Theory (New) A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins

Book: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer 

App: n/a

Grounded In Now is the name of today's episode, a solo episode with Bruce. He explores five simple mindfulness practices that can help ease anxiety and bring more calm into daily life. Through body awareness, focused breathing, self-kindness, gratitude, and emotional balance, you’ll learn practical ways to quiet the mind and steady your emotions. Anxiety is part of being human, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Discover how mindfulness can shift your perspective, soften anxious thoughts, and help you feel more grounded in the present moment.

Anxiety often shows up in the body—tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, a knotted stomach. Mindfulness begins by noticing these signals. Once you identify where tension lives, breathe, soften that area, and let go. Even labeling it—“this is worry”—creates space, opening the door to calm.

Anxiety speeds up the body, pushing it into fight-or-flight. Focused breathing reverses this by signaling safety. Inhale deeply, pause, and exhale longer than you inhale. That slow release calms the nervous system, anchors you in the present, and gently reminds you: right now, you are safe.

Anxiety often grows louder with self-criticism. Instead of fueling it, practice compassion: tell yourself, “It’s okay. I’m human.” Replace harsh scripts with gentler ones, the way you’d encourage a friend. Kindness softens anxiety’s grip, creating space for healing and reminding you that imperfection doesn’t diminish your worth.

When anxiety pulls attention toward threats, gratitude shifts focus to what’s good. Naming simple joys—a warm drink, a kind word, fresh air—balances the mind. Gratitude doesn’t erase worry, but it widens perspective, grounding you in what’s steady and reminding you that even in difficulty, moments of light remain.

Anxiety can trigger impulsive reactions. Mindfulness helps create a pause. Ask: “Is this a real threat, or just perceived?” That pause restores choice. Instead of reacting from fear, you respond with clarity. This balance turns anxious energy into thoughtful action, helping you stay steady in uncertain moments.

Jerry Kroll is the CEO of Jevitty Life Science, Founder and Director of ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp and owner of Bodycomp Imaging. He has spent decades transforming bold ideas into reality, from working in his parents’ greenhouses to managing world-class race car drivers. As founder of ElectraMeccanica, he pioneered the iconic one-seater electric car. Passionate about longevity, Jerry pushes the boundaries of human lifespan through science and technology. He is the author of Beyond Elon and Living Past 200.

Mindfulness has given me perspective. To me, mindfulness and perspective are the same thing; an awareness of where you stand in this vast world and universe.

When you recognize the importance of family, friends, your own health and happiness, and the happiness of those around you, it brings a deep sense of calm.

That awareness itself becomes a grounding and calming influence.

I have a running coach who's a two-time marathon Olympian for Canada.

Every time we're out there, we're talking about breathing. Not just the depth of the breathing, not just about the number of breaths you take, but breathing through your nose instead of your mouth, things like that.

He talks about really in-depth things such as how much oxygen your body is taking in. It's such a complex and important thing. It is part of life just like eating.

Book: Beyond Elon: The Next Great EV and Living Past 200 by Jerry Kroll

App: Jevitty.com

I feel encouraged that in 2025, awareness around bullying has grown so much. Today, if bullying happens, there are enough people ready to step in and say, 'That’s not right.'

It’s not the 1940s or 1950s anymore; we’ve evolved. People now recognize bullying for what it is, whether in everyday life or in high-profile political examples.

The greatest power is identifying bullying clearly, and I believe nearly everyone can. Addressing it may take time, but resolution is inevitable.

Bonnie Garvin is an award-winning writer, producer, painter, and USC screenwriting professor. She is the creator of Storytelling Lab, a six-person, six-week international Zoom workshop designed to unleash creative spirit. Accidentally discovering her passion for playwriting in her thirties, her first play became a finalist in a major U.S. festival. Since then, Bonnie has spent over three decades continually reinventing herself, building a multifaceted career in storytelling across stage, screen, and art.

I think a lot of bullying comes from a place where people need some therapy to find out really what the root cause of that is.

It's really about what's happening kind of under the surface

Mathew Hoi-Broad is the Creative Director at Happiness Interactive, a video game studio based in Vancouver, Canada. With a background in game design from Vancouver Film School, Mathew blends storytelling, systems thinking, and play theory to craft living digital worlds. His work explores games as tools for self-discovery and emotional growth. He believes play is a vital force across all stages of life, and designs immersive experiences where players and AI coexist equally. unlocking joy, curiosity, and a deeper sense of presence through interactive exploration.

Breathing is everything. It took me a while to realize this.

I've read a lot of Eckhart Tolle's books which talk about breathing. I realized that breathing is really the foundation of everything.

Things were okay when I started school, but I eventually realized I was being a bully, especially to my best friend. I used to threaten that if he didn’t do what I wanted, our friendship would “break,” even miming a chain snapping.

Once, I made him cry on the bus, and I lied about it. Seeing how much I hurt him changed me.

Later, I had to repeat third grade, which was traumatic. I lost connection with friends but stayed close with him—and even made a new best friend by annoying him into noticing me. We’re all still friends today.

Charulatha Vijayakumar is the creator of CollSong, a mindful music collaboration app that unites poets, singers, and musicians to create and share from the heart. With a background in software engineering, automation, UI/UX design, and digital media, she blends creativity with technology to build meaningful user experiences. A lifelong learner and entrepreneur, Charulatha holds certifications in Mobile App Development and Project Management from Cambrian College. Passionate about music, design, leadership, and poetry, she encourages mindful self-expression and community through her work. CollSong reflects her vision to inspire connection, creativity, and collective harmony in a fast-paced digital world.

When I'm stressed or overwhelmed, mindfulness helps me refocus. I take a deep breath, remind myself that things are under control.

I then shift my focus to what I can do now. Instead of dwelling on the past, I ask, “What can I do to feel better?”

That mindset has always helped me through tough times.

Breathing and mindfulness are powerful tools. Slowing your breath helps calm your heart rate and reduce stress.

Breathing is the core of meditation and yoga. Even a mindful walk, focused on your breathing, can make a big difference.

Regarding bullying, I believe the CollSong app can help reduce meanness. When you're mindful, you're less likely to engage in or be affected by bullying.

You stay focused on what's right and positive. I’ve always been energetic, curious, and upbeat. Maybe that mindset kept me from noticing negativity; I was too busy chasing butterflies in my own world. 

George Cork is an esports education specialist based in the U.K. With over a decade of experience in coaching, teaching, and operations, George designs innovative, standards-aligned curricula that use video games to re-engage students in education. He has delivered esports qualifications at both university and collegiate levels and is passionate about transforming traditional learning through industry-relevant content in areas like business, tech, and athlete care. A global leader in the field, George has launched pilot programs in the UK, Iceland, and North America. He also uses mindfulness to help players and students develop emotional resilience and maintain focus under pressure.

I would say mindfulness helps me a lot in terms of staying grounded. It’s about making sure I don’t react in an emotional way.

If I receive some bad news, I try to take time to decompress—just pause for a moment.

I try to fully understand the situation before reacting, because if I respond immediately, I’m likely reacting purely out of emotion.

I talk to non-native players I coach about what I call a tactical pause. That is where you pause the game and take a minute or 30 seconds to reset yourself mentally.

Because you're so focused and running on adrenaline, it’s necessary to reset your breathing and focus and just calm yourself down.

One of the main things right now in esports is inclusivity. There's a massive push in trying to make people more inclusive, like the industry more inclusive, especially to the women's female audience.

Esports is a very male dominated industry right now. Slowly it's starting to change. But there is a lot of core ground level work that needs to be done in order to make women feel more welcome.

It's not obviously all people, but some are very toxic in terms of their behavior and how they react overall.

Carol Mote founded The Maple Kind, where she helps businesses take care of their people and shape strong workplace cultures. She advises on everything from improving employee wellbeing and leadership support to handling major changes like mergers and business restructures. Drawing on nearly a decade with Global People and Culture, Carol specialises in guiding organisations through change, solving complex people-related challenges, and making sure employment policies are fair and effective. She’s known for her practical, people-first approach and for helping companies build trust, smooth transitions, and create positive, inclusive workplaces.

After my parents split, my siblings and I, all very young, were sent from Canada to the UK, where life became chaotic. We had no stable home, struggled to adapt, and faced bullying at school due to our accents and outsider status.

With little adult support or accountability, it was a harsh environment. That experience shaped my passion today—recognizing how, even in corporate life, a lack of accountability can allow similar harm to persist.

Sev Geraskin is a visionary leader in AI alignment and emotional design, serving as Founding VP at PolarGrid, President of Economy of Wisdom, and Executive Director at Lantern Lab. He champions peer-led AI education and collective wisdom through ventures like Past5. Grounded in mindfulness, Sev integrates meditation, emotional presence, and reflective walks into his daily rhythm, allowing clarity and creativity to thrive. His work centers on inclusion, emotional depth, and meaning in the human-AI experience.

Regarding bullying, I think it has to do with a lack of self-awareness. When I was younger, I wasn't as self-aware as I am now.

I've had years of personal development. Maybe I wasn't always as empathetic. I see now that human connection is something that needs to be nurtured consciously.

It does matter how you communicate.