Nervous System Optimization for Leaders: Perform Without Burning Out with J.J. Ruescas

Unlock the secret to sustainable leadership with JJ Ruescas, who is a human optimization strategist. In this episode of “The Call to Rise,” he reveals how mastering your nervous system, emotions, and physical health can transform your life and impact your movement building.

JJ shares his own burnout journey and how he came to a new way of performing at his best (not through hustle), but through personalized and science-backed self-care through his Human Optimal Performance System framework.

JJ breaks down practical tools like recovery calendaring, breathwork, and micro-movements that boost vitality and mental clarity. We also cover insights into managing the rising influence of AI and cyber regulation, ensuring leaders stay in control as technology evolves.

This episode reveals why neglecting your well-being turns leaders into bottlenecks, and how investing in personal growth ripples outward to transform teams and movements.

If you're committed to continuous growth and creating impact from a place of wholeness, this conversation is essential.

Top Highlights Discussed:

* The most effective leaders develop a nuanced awareness of their nervous system, emotions, and mind, enabling intentional regulation rather than reactive overexertion.

* Understanding and listening to one’s internal signals (physical sensations, emotional states, and intuition) are essential for genuine leadership grounded in presence and authenticity.

* Optimizing just 1% each day (be it through movement, mindset, or moments of curiosity) leads to profound transformation over time without burnout.

* As humans increasingly co-regulate with AI systems, cultivating critical thinking, ethical conditioning, and self-awareness becomes essential to prevent loss of agency.

Resources:

https://jjruescas.com/

Book Recommendation: "The Hour Between Dog and Wolf" by John Coates.

J.J. Reuscas Bio:

J.J. is a human driven by curiosity, learning and continuous personal improvement.

After more than a decade applying principles of continuous improvement (Kaizen) to lead and transform high-performance teams in technology, he asked myself: “why not apply similar principles to our own personal improvement?”

In this way he began his adventure of continuous and holistic individual improvement in 2014.

His current mission: to share the lessons he is collecting so that more people like you embark on their own human optimization adventure.

In this conversation, Jim Glaser, also known as Costume Jim, shares how Costume Kult and Costume Network grew out of the simple joy of dressing up and showing up together.

What starts as a playful New York Halloween parade tradition becomes a bigger story about participatory culture, community building, and using spectacle to break down barriers.

His approach makes activism feel accessible…not just something you believe in, but something you can live, laugh through, and share with other people.

What makes the episode especially energizing is the idea that fun can be a serious organizing tool. From leprechaun protests to zombie marches, Jim shows how costumes, creativity, and collective play can carry a message further than anger alone.

It’s an inspiring reminder that movements grow faster when people feel connected, seen, and excited to participate—and that joy itself can be a form of resistance.

Jim Glaser Bio:

Jim Glaser is the Founder and Creative Director of the Kostume Kult Arts Collective and Costume Network. They have produced multiple annual events including NYC Halloween Parade Floats (since 2000), Burning Man festival theme camps (since 2001), group participation in numerous parade and public events and dozens of large art themed galas including the upcoming Kryptopia (Creative Tech Week’s Closing Party, May 12, 2018) Horned Ball, Black & Light Ball, Alt.

In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing Tim Sae Koo, who is the co-founder of Generation Bitcoin, where he is transforming and paving the way we approach money, legacy, and systemic change moving forward.

Tim shares his inspiring journey from childhood wounds around money to becoming a steward for financial sovereignty. We unpack many topics emphasizing the power of decentralization, ancestral lineage and how it often brings you to the heart of your purpose, and the need for mastery in movement building.

Discover how Bitcoin uniquely serves humanity as a catalyst for personal and societal evolution.

Key Topics We Explore:

* Tim’s personal story of overcoming financial and parental cycles

* The concept of financial parentlessness and how Bitcoin aims to solve it

* The importance of mastering one’s craft and the role of proof of work

* Decentralization, sovereignty, and rules without rulers

* Ancient indigenous wisdom and its relevance to modern decentralization

* The role of consciousness, ego, and connection to source in leadership

* Building movement mastery through storytelling and mastery hours

* The significance of stewarding energy, power, and lineage for systemic change

Resources & Links:

* studybitcoin100.com — Free resource to learn Bitcoin intensely

* generationbitcoin.co — About Tim’s movement for generational wealth

* Bitcoin Heirloom Book — A tool for passing down Bitcoin stories and values

Tim Sae Koo Bio:

Tim Sae Koo is a first-time father and second-time founder building Generation Bitcoin, a company and movement helping parents break the cycle of financial parentlessness by preparing their next generation for a Bitcoin Standard.

After 7 years as an exited technology founder and then 7 guiding himself and others through psychedelic experiences, Tim has found his next movement worth his devotion: giving parents the tools and long-term thinking to pass down sound money, so their children grow up financially fluent and stand on financial grounds their parents never had.

His work sits at the intersection of generational stewardship, sovereign technology, and inner development. Through Generation Bitcoin, he is building a suite of technology products designed to make Bitcoin a living part of family life: from heirloom books and personalized children’s stories to community spaces for Bitcoin-aligned parents. Alongside this, he also mentors second-mountain founders on building profitable businesses that don’t require sacrificing the life around them.

Tim lives in Costa Rica with his partner, their son Kya, and their dog Bodhi, rooting in fatherhood, enjoying jungle living, and building a movement his son will one day be proud of.

In this inspiring interview, Mike Margolies, Founder of the Global Psychelic Society, shares his transformative journey from corporate America into psychedelic activism, emphasizing the importance of learning the valuable skills of decentralized movement building, community, and leadership. Discover practical insights on creating healthy psychedelic ecosystems and leading with TEAL organizational principles in a rapidly evolving field.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:12 Mike’s journey from ExxonMobil to psychedelics

02:10 Pivotal ayahuasca experience in Peru

03:07 Backpacking in India and Southeast Asia

04:35 Discovering passion for psychedelics

05:17 Jump without the rope - inner knowing

06:33 Societal awakening and destiny

08:11 Being ahead of your time as a movement leader

09:08 The archetype of the fool and trickster

10:01 Misunderstanding and isolation in movement leadership

12:00 Building a healthy psychedelic ecosystem

13:17 Three pillars of the psychedelic movement

14:25 Culture, research, and policy interplay

15:43 Creating infrastructure for post-prohibition world

16:41 The importance of community as foundation

18:23 Decentralized networks and Teal organization principles

20:12 Avoiding hierarchical power and charismatic leaders

22:14 Self-management, wholeness, and evolutionary purpose

24:50 The role of agreements and boundaries

26:05 Up power vs down power in leadership

28:15 Transparency and authentic leadership

30:18 Embodiment and shadow work in leadership

31:54 Advice for future movement leaders

33:52 Community building and relationship focus

35:45 How to connect with Mike and his projects

Resources and Links:

https://globalpsychedelic.org/

https://mikemargolies.net/

What movement maker archetype are you?: quiz.globalmovementmaker.com

Mike Margolies Bio:

Mike Margolies is a psychedelic community catalyst and conversation creator. He is Co-Founder and Co-Steward of the Global Psychedelic Society, a central node for a decentralized network of Psychedelic Society leaders around the world, connecting and empowering them to thrive.

Mike has worked full-time in psychedelic education and community building since 2015, when he founded Psychedelic Seminars, an events and media platform for nuanced, open and honest conversations. Mike is also Co-Founder of the CryptoPsychedelic Summit. Behind the scenes, Mike has sparked and mentored numerous Psychedelic Societies and professional networks.

On the PsychSems stage, he has interviewed and featured a range of leaders including Michael Pollan, Johns Hopkins researchers, advocates at MAPS, and more.

In this enlightening conversation, Kristina Kyser, a former psychotherapist and intuitive teacher, explores the deep roots of neurodivergence, societal norms, and the path to collective awakening.

Discover how dismantling patriarchal and colonial systems can lead to a more authentic, embodied, and inclusive future where the ones stewarding the new earth are those who think outside of the box and are most connected to Source.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Neurodivergence and New Paradigms

05:31 Redefining Normal: The Impact of Cultural Conditioning

09:27 The Isolation of Neurodivergent Individuals

11:34 Understanding Neurodivergent Burnout

15:27 The Body as a Temple: Healing and Embodiment

20:46 The Role of Leadership in the New Paradigm

25:47 Matriarchy vs. Patriarchy: Building Movements

30:31 The Dangers of Spiritual Bypass and Authenticity

35:17 The Call to Civic Service and Community Building

Resources and Links:

https://www.kristinakyser.com/

7 Archetypal Leaders Here to Birth the New Earth. Which Are You?: quiz.globalmovementmaker.com

Kristina Kyser Bio:

Kristina (she/her) is a late-diagnosed AuDHD educator, former psychotherapist, and course creator with a PhD in English Literature and over 13 years of clinical experience. Her work bridges trauma healing, animist practice, and systems-level critique. She creates initiatory spaces that blend science, soul, and lived neurodivergence in service of collective remembering and repair.

Turning Pain to Purpose: Scarlet Lewis and the Choose Love Movement.

Scarlett Lewis tragically lost her son, Jessie, in the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012. In this deeply moving interview, Scarlet shares her powerful journey from tragedy to activism.Discover how her movement, Choose Love, is transforming schools worldwide and empowering people to respond to life's challenges with love, kindness, and compassion rather than anger, hatred, or revenge.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pain and Purpose

06:00 The Message of Nurturing, Healing Love

11:52 Finding Your Sacred Why

17:53 The Importance of Pain and Forgiveness

23:59 Building a Movement from Personal Experience

29:58 Living a Life of Service and Meaning

36:04 The Power of Asking for Help

41:52 Embracing Your Unique Calling

Resources and Links:

https://chooselovemovement.org/

What movement maker archetype are you?: quiz.globalmovementmaker.com

Scarlet Lewis Bio:

Scarlett Lewis is the founder of the Choose Love Movement™ , a non-profit that has positively influenced millions of children and educators in every state in the US and 135 countries. She is the author of Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey of Hope & Forgiveness and From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives, as well as several children’s books.

After the tragic loss of her son Jesse in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Scarlett created revolutionary, award-winning, proactive and preventative solutions that teach essential life skills to help individuals learn and grow from pain instead of being overcome by it — empowering people of all ages to thoughtfully Choose Love™ in any circumstance.

Her programs are designed for all ages and stages of life. The movement’s reach extends beyond schools to homes, communities, foster care, at-risk youth, corrections, and more.

Scarlett has received numerous honors, including the 2024 AARP Purpose Prize Fellowship, the 2023 Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Award, recognition in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2022 Bloomberg 50, and as a Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact Honoree. She has been featured on national and local media outlets including NBC, CBS, Fox News, and CNN.

Scarlett continues to speak worldwide, sharing a powerful message of courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion that is transforming lives across the globe.

In this enlightening conversation, Zubin Desai shares his journey of self-realization and the creation of Realization Labs, a platform aimed at fostering authentic community and connection to the divine.

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He discusses the importance of nurturing one’s relationship with God, the distinction between spirituality and religion, and the role of community in spiritual practices. Zubin also reflects on his experiences with psychedelics, the lessons learned from the tech industry, and his vision for a new business model that prioritizes humanity and love. The conversation emphasizes the significance of surrender, trust, and dreaming big in both personal and professional endeavors.

Chapters:

00:00Introduction to Zubin Desai and His Journey

02:02The Awakening to Spirituality and Connection to God

05:49Nurturing the Relationship with the Divine

09:51Exploring Spirituality vs. Religion

13:47The Role of Community in Spiritual Practices

17:34The Impact of Psychedelics on Spiritual Awakening

21:29Building Conscious Technology: Realization Labs

26:27Lessons from the Tech Industry and Silicon Valley

30:38Creating a New Business Model for Humanity

34:31The Importance of Surrender and Trust in Business

38:20The Role of Love in Community and Technology

42:33Reflections on the Movement Maker Incubator

46:01Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Resources and Links:

https://torealize.com/

globalmovementmaker.com

Which movement maker archetype are you? Take the quiz!: https://thehub-api.mastermind.com/widget/quiz/3TcUvNtGvBhgz43culks

Zubin Desai’s Bio:

Zubin Desai is the founder and CEO of Realization Labs. The company is building a platform called Realize, which is a digital sanctuary for self-realization and authentic community. Through Realize and its flagship experience, Love Notes, he’s building simple, sacred social tools that invite people to practice gratitude, devotion, and everyday communion with God—by whatever Name you use: Source, the Divine, the Universe. Rooted in Hawaiʻi, Zubin’s mission is audacious and clear: to help communities awaken their infinite potential and nurture our relationship with God, one Love Note and one community at a time.

Values are at the core of any movement. Today, I sit down with Robert McPhee who shares his journey into values-based living, the importance of aligning actions with core values, and practical strategies for integrating them as the bedrock of any organization or movement. Discover how clarity on priorities and ways of being can transform leadership and community impact.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Robert McPhee and his work

01:21 What led Robert to focus on values-based living

04:43 Defining personal values and their importance

09:59 Prioritizing values and managing over-devotion

14:19 Values and belonging in organizations and movements

20:25 Implementing values in organizations and community movements

28:17 The impact of values on brand and change management

34:18 The role of awareness and triggers in living values

36:25 The importance of values in navigating a chaotic world

Resources and Links:

https://valuesbasedlife.com/

What movement maker archetype are you?: quiz.globalmovementmaker.com

Robert MacPhee Bio:

Robert MacPhee is a coach, consultant, speaker and facilitator who helps people maximize their productivity and satisfaction. He is an expert in experiential learning, peak performance and leadership development. Robert is the author of the book “Living a Values Based Life”, the creator of the “Excellent Decisions” values-based leadership program, the former Director of Training for the Canfield Training Group, (Jack Canfield/The Success Principles), a Founding Member of the Transformational Leadership Council, a Co-Founder of the Southern California Association of Transformational Leaders, and a former Executive Board Member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of Conscious Capitalism.

In this insightful conversation, Julie Foucht empowers changemakers, and women especially, to transform their relationship with money.

It’s not just about numbers, but about understanding our beliefs and the societal structures that influence our financial choices.

Julie shares powerful insights on how money is neutral and is not inherently good or evil; it’s how we choose to use it that matters. When we start viewing money as abundant, we unlock our potential to receive and thrive.

Many of us carry ancestral beliefs that limit our ability to accept wealth. It’s time to break those cycles and embrace our worth so we can start making a larger impact out in the world. Let’s shift the narrative!

What’s one belief about money that you’re ready to let go of? Let’s support each other in this journey toward abundance.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

02:20 Reframing Society’s Money Stories

04:51 Money as a Neutral Energy and Its Moral Value

05:52 Money as Abundant and Unlimited Source

07:14 Expanding to Receive More: Money, Love, Acknowledgment

10:23 Stewardship of Money and Paying Attention to Finances

12:15 Having Conversations with the Energy of Money

14:24 The Missing Education for Women on Money

15:58 Money as a Tool for Freedom and Liberation

17:00 The Myth of Hoarding Wealth and Conscious Giving

20:00 Using Debt Strategically for Growth and Joy

23:37 Making Decisions with Embodiment and Intuition

28:07 Julie Fouch’s Gift: The Witchpreneur Quiz

Resources and Links:

https://juliefoucht.com/

What movement maker archetype are you?: quiz.globalmovementmaker.com

Julie Foucht Bio:

In 2000, Julie Foucht left a 20-year abusive relationship feeling lost and broken. As a partner in her husband’s construction company, she left both her marriage and her income. She had stayed because she believed that she couldn’t make enough money to support her 4 children, but was determined to find a way to create the life she dreamed of.

She dove into personal development and started her study of the Energy of Money.

She quickly realized that her purpose on the planet was to get more money in the hands of more women.

When women have money they have a choice. They can choose to stay or leave a relationship, a job, an area based on their highest good. They give to the causes they believe in. And they can live a joyful, juicy life that raises their vibration and the vibration of the world.

For over 20 years Julie has worked with women coaches, healers and soul-fueled entrepreneurs to open their money channels and create soul-fueled, financially abundant businesses.

Julie received her coach certification in 2006 and has built a 6-figure coaching practice that allows her multiple vacations a year, her dream home on the Central Coast of California, and lots of time to play with her grandchildren.

She is married to the love of her life, has 4 children, 2 stepchildren, 2 furry babies and 8 spoiled grandchildren.

In this conversation, Olivia McDonald shares her journey from a challenging upbringing in a religious cult to becoming a leader in the psychedelic integration space. She discusses the importance of integration in the psychedelic experience, the intersection of AI and psychedelics, and the need for integrity in leadership. The conversation also highlights the challenges faced by female leaders in the tech sector and the importance of building movements that align with personal values and purpose.

Key Takeaways

* Olivia emphasizes the importance of integration in the psychedelic experience.

* She shares her personal journey of overcoming trauma and finding purpose.

* The conversation explores the shadow side of leadership in spiritual communities.

* Olivia discusses the potential of AI to enhance communication and integration.

* Integration is not just about understanding but also about applying insights into daily life.

* The need for accessible and affordable integration tools is highlighted.

* Olivia believes in building a movement rather than just a business.

* She encourages female leaders to embrace their feminine energy in leadership roles.

* The importance of community and connection in the integration process is emphasized.

* Olivia’s work aims to create a supportive environment for facilitators and clients.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Psychedelics and Integration

03:22Olivia’s Journey: From Pain to Purpose

15:08The Shadow of Leadership in Spiritual Communities

26:09The Intersection of AI and Psychedelics

40:38Building a Movement vs. a Business

46:43Empowering Female Leaders in the Tech Sector

Links and Resources:

The Activation Project: https://www.tapintegration.com/

Movement Maker: globalmovementmaker.com

Olivia MacDonell Bio:

Olivia MacDonell is a seasoned professional in the field of psychedelics with over five years of experience as an integration specialist. Her journey in this transformative realm began as a passionate educator, guiding individuals through profound frameworks to help them unlock their inner potential.

Recognizing the critical importance of integration as a fundamental aspect of the psychedelic journey, Olivia founded The Activation Project (TAP). TAP is a pioneering software platform dedicated to simplifying and revolutionizing psychedelic aftercare. Under Olivia’s visionary leadership, TAP is a transformative force in the field, providing accessible and affordable tools and resources for individuals on their integration journey.

Olivia is deeply committed to making integration(aftercare) an integral part of the psychedelic experience, ensuring that individuals receive the support they need to translate their insights into lasting positive change. Through her work at TAP, Olivia is reshaping the landscape of psychedelic therapy, empowering individuals to harness the full potential of their transformative experiences.