The Long-Haul Leader

Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a neuroscientist, founder of Ness Labs, and the bestselling author of Tiny Experiments. Her work sits at the intersection of science, curiosity, and high performance, helping ambitious individuals build smarter, more sustainable ways to grow without burning out.

Despite achieving early career success, Anne-Laure found herself feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. That disconnect led her back to university to study neuroscience, where she began to understand why so many driven people follow paths that look impressive but feel empty. What started as a personal exploration turned into a global body of work that now helps leaders rethink how they approach growth, goals, and decision-making.

In this conversation, Chris and Anne-Laure unpack the concept of tiny experiments. Instead of chasing rigid, long-term goals, they explore a more adaptive approach rooted in curiosity and iteration — one that allows you to make progress without the pressure of having everything figured out.

They also get into how this mindset rewires your relationship with failure, why the scientists in the room aren't wired differently from the rest of us (they're just trained), and how a simple weekly tool called Plus/Minus/Next can help you stop overcommitting and start building a business you still love five years from now.

If you are building for the long-haul and want a more grounded, flexible way to move forward, this episode will give you a fresh perspective and practical tools to apply right away.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why big, rigid goals create the illusion of control and what to replace them with
• How scientists are trained to approach uncertainty with curiosity and how you can be too
• The Plus/Minus/Next weekly reflection method for cutting through overcommitment and building a business you still love
• The 24-hour anthropologist exercise to design your very first tiny experiment

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 04:24 - What Drove Anne-Laure to Write Tiny Experiments
• 07:56 - Why Your Newsletter Isn't a Book (Yet)
• 10:29 - Replacing Rigid Goals with Experiments
• 13:15 - How Experiments Rewire Your Relationship with Failure
• 15:03 - Using Tiny Experiments to Manage Your Energy
• 20:09 - The Plus/Minus/Next Method for Weekly Reflection
• 26:05 - Running One Experiment Alongside Your Current Career
• 28:41 - How Anne-Laure Tracks Her Experiments (+ A Failed One)
• 34:17 - The 24-Hour Anthropologist Exercise

IMPORTANT LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Check Out Ness Labs
• Anne-Laure's Book, Tiny Experiments
• Connect with Anne-Laure on LinkedIn

Will Polston spent his early twenties earning serious money, wearing bespoke suits, and hitting every goal he'd set and still felt like something was missing. That question, "why does success feel empty when you finally get there?", became the foundation of his work as a performance coach, speaker, and author of North Star Thinking.

His framework helps entrepreneurs and leaders stop chasing outcomes and start building a life with genuine direction, one rooted in who they're becoming, not just what they're accumulating.

In this episode, Chris and Will explore why so many high performers quietly drift away from what they actually want. They unpack how external influences shape our decisions without us realising, why traditional goal setting can feel risky or hollow, and how to shift from chasing outcomes to living a mission-driven life.

They also get into the difference between operating from desperation versus inspiration, why goals work better as milestones than finish lines, and how a vision board Will made in 2012 turned out to predict the next decade of his life.

If you've ever hit a goal and still felt something was missing, this conversation will challenge how you think about ambition, direction, and what you're actually building towards.

IN THIS EPISOD, YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Why the people you've accepted as authorities may be quietly writing your life story
2. The difference between living from desperation and living from inspiration and how your language gives it away
3. How to reframe goals as milestones instead of final destinations
4. Why a forgotten vision board resurfaced 11 years later and had come true
5. Why principles outlast tactics when you're building for the long-haul

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

1. 02:45 - Why other people's authority quietly writes your life story
2. 05:16 - What North Star thinking actually means
3. 06:44 - Why people avoid setting goals (and what it costs them)
4. 09:26 - Reframing goals as milestones, not finish lines
5. 10:27 - Desperation vs inspiration: how to tell which one is driving you
6. 14:24 - The vision board Will made in 2012 that came true 11 years later
7. 20:32 - Why high achievers still feel empty and what's actually missing
8. 32:10 - Why principles outlast tactics when you're building for the long-haul

IMPORTANT LINKS AND RESOURCES:

1. Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
2. Connect with Chris on Instagram
3. Check Out Will's Website
4. Connect with Will on LinkedIn

Catherine Morgan is a financial coach, speaker, and host of the It's Not About The Money podcast. She spent 15 years in financial services, including as the youngest female financial advisor in the UK before leaving to help individuals and business owners untangle the emotional side of their relationship with money.

Despite her background, Catherine’s own journey with money was far from straightforward. From sitting £30,000 in debt, to experiencing a series of life-changing moments, she discovered that money is rarely just about numbers. It's about identity, self-worth, and the stories we carry from our past.

In this episode, Chris and Catherine explore the deeper side of money. They unpack how our early experiences shape the way we earn, spend, and hold onto money, and why so many leaders still feel shame or confusion around finances despite outward success.

This is a powerful conversation about money, but not in the way you might expect. It is about understanding yourself first, so that money becomes a tool for alignment, not stress.

If you want to build a healthier, more intentional relationship with money, this episode will give you a completely different lens to look through.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• The three money zones and why the holding zone is the most emotionally loaded
• Why understanding financial jargon doesn't fix your relationship with money and what actually does
• How watching money used as control in childhood rewires your adult spending patterns
• Richard Branson's four circles model, and why leaders who close the world circle first end up undercharging and burning out
• The parallel between medical jargon and financial jargon and the shame both quietly create
• Why AI is an identity crisis waiting to happen for anyone whose self-worth is tied to their work

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 04:34 - Money as a Mirror
• 05:57 - From Financial Advisor to £30k in Debt
• 07:27 - The Wardrobe Wake-Up Call
• 11:45 - The Three Money Zones and Childhood
• 13:28 - When Her Son Almost Didn't Make It
• 16:41 - The Shame Hidden in Jargon
• 22:29 - Necker Island and the Four Circles
• 30:39 - Rewriting Your Money Scripts
• 33:13 - AI and Identity

IMPORTANT LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Check Out Catherine's Podcast
• Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn

Freddie Pullen is the founder of Recognize, a podcast guesting and personal brand agency helping entrepreneurs build authority and attract high-quality opportunities through long-form content. He also hosts The Healthy Entrepreneur, where he has now interviewed over 130 high-performing founders, executives, and leaders.

His journey into podcasting didn't start with a strategy. It started with a car crash.

In 2022, Freddie and his fiancée Antonia were hit by a distracted driver. They walked away but everything they thought they were building suddenly looked different. Within three months, they had quit their jobs, sold their house, and moved 4,000 miles to Dubai with no connections, no audience, and no clients.

When traditional networking failed him completely, Freddie did the lazy-smart thing: he bought $30 lapel mics from Amazon, grabbed some willing guests from Facebook groups, and started recording around his kitchen table on an iPhone. That podcast launched to number one in nine countries on its first day and became the foundation of the business he runs today.

In this conversation, Chris and Freddie get into the real mechanics of podcast guesting as a growth strategy, the concept of "borrowing trust" from established audiences, and what it actually looks like to build a sustainable media business without chasing vanity metrics. They also go deep on daily routines, the underrated role of sleep, and why Freddie, a 30-year-old in Dubai, is making a very deliberate move back to Europe in search of something the city can't give him.

If you want to grow your influence, build stronger relationships, and play the long game, this episode delivers a clear and practical approach.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why podcast guesting opens doors that traditional networking simply can't
• The "borrow trust" concept and how long-form content does the selling before you ever pitch
• How to monetise a podcast without a massive audience (and why sponsorship stats will surprise you)
• The daily structure Freddie uses to protect deep work, creative output, and physical health
• Why sleep became his number one non-negotiable and what finally changed it
• The "Casio mentality" and what long-haul leadership actually looks like at 30

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 05:11 — The Crash That Changed Everything
• 08:48 — Starting a Podcast at the Kitchen Table (With $30 Mics)
• 11:30 — The Difference Between an Interview and a Real Dialogue
• 12:10 — Why Long-Form Content Builds Credibility Faster Than Anything Else
• 20:22 — How to Monetise a Podcast Before You Hit Big Numbers
• 20:53 — Freddie's Daily Routine, From Walking Pad to Deep Work to Gym
• 23:51 — Why Sleep Became the Non-Negotiable
• 28:33 — Leaving Dubai: Quality of Life, Family Proximity, and What the City Can't Offer
• 31:28 — 130 Millionaires, One Billionaire, and What Freddie Actually Learned About Confidence
• 35:19 — The Casio Watch, the Long Haul, and What Success Looks Like Without a Rolex

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Check Out Recognized
• Connect with Freddie on LinkedIn

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.

Mike Michalowicz is a serial entrepreneur and bestselling author known for books like Profit First, Clockwork, and The Pumpkin Plan. Now on his 11th book, he has built a reputation for turning complex concepts into practical, behaviour-changing systems that actually get results.

In his latest book, The Money Habit: A Worry-Free Way to Financial Independence, Mike turns his attention to personal finance. Drawing from nearly 20 years of personal experimentation and real-world testing, he introduces a simple system designed to help individuals take back control of their money and reduce financial stress for good.

In this episode, Chris and Mike get into why so many people, regardless of income level, still feel anxious about money. They unpack the crucial difference between financial freedom and financial independence and why chasing "more" is often the wrong goal entirely.

Mike breaks down Optimal Foraging Theory and how it explains the "paycheck panic cycle" that keeps people stuck living month to month, no matter how much they earn. He also walks through the core framework of the Money Habit system, from carving up income across multiple accounts to tackling debt in the right order, dollar cost averaging, and why investing in yourself remains the highest-returning asset of all.

This isn't about getting rich quick. It's about building a system that works, so your money stops controlling you and starts working for you.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why financial stress has little to do with how much you earn
• The difference between financial freedom and financial independence and why it matters
• How Optimal Foraging Theory explains our modern money behaviour
• The core framework behind the Money Habit system (Needs, Wants, Dreams, and more)
• How to reframe debt as a season, not a permanent identity

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 02:03 - Meet Mike Michalowicz
• 06:34 - The Money Habit
• 08:28 - Imposter Syndrome Shift
• 11:43 - Financial Freedom vs Financial Independence
• 15:56 - Optimal Foraging Theory & The Woolly Mammoth
• 19:10 - The Method–Outcome Framework
• 20:01 - The Paycheck Panic Cycle
• 27:39 - Investing in Yourself: The Highest-Return Asset
• 30:44 - Chris' Wake-Up Call and Why More Money Isn't the Answer
• 35:35 - Seasonality, Recovery, and Reframing Your Circumstances

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• The Money Habit
• Connect with Mike on Instagram

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.

JJ Virgin is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, health expert, and one of the most trusted voices in nutrition, fitness, and long-term wellness. With over 40 years of experience coaching high performers, from CEOs to elite athletes, she specializes in helping leaders optimize their energy, resilience, and longevity.

She’s been featured on Dr. Phil, The Today Show, and hundreds of major media outlets, and is known for making complex health science simple, practical, and doable for busy entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Chris and JJ explore what entrepreneurs and leaders must do to stay strong, focused, and healthy over the long-haul. From protein and plants to resistance training, sleep, creatine, and VO₂ max, this conversation is packed with simple, actionable strategies to help you perform at your best, without burning out.

Whether you're a midlife entrepreneur or simply want more strength and stamina, JJ’s insights will help you build a stronger, more resilient foundation for the long-term!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why your health is the ultimate business advantage
• The single biggest shift midlife leaders must make in their nutrition
• Sleep as the cornerstone of recovery, energy and mental performance
• The rise of VO₂ max and why it's now a top indicator of lifespan

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 03:48 - JJ Virgin's Health and Wellness Philosophy
• 11:41 - The Importance of Protein and Diet
• 22:22 - Exercise and Movement for Long-Term Health
• 27:57 - Creating a Movement-Friendly Workspace
• 28:29 - Benefits of Post-Meal Walks
• 30:06 - Incorporating Resistance Training
• 31:44 - Overcoming Exercise Barriers
• 34:48 - The Importance of Sleep for Recovery
• 39:18 - The Role of Creatine in Health
• 44:30 - Understanding VO2 Max
• 48:25 - Personal Health Goals

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Check Out JJ’s Website
• Connect with JJ on Instagram

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.

Mark Schaefer is a globally recognized keynote speaker, marketing consultant, and author of 11 bestselling books including KNOWN, Marketing Rebellion and Belonging to the Brand. Mark has spent decades helping professionals and organizations build authentic brands and meaningful connections.

In this episode, Chris and Mark talk about what happens when success comes at the cost of your health, and how to find contentment on the other side.

After a health scare revealed dangerously high blood pressure, Mark made the courageous decision to pause, re-evaluate, and realign his work and life. The conversation dives deep into the importance of slowing down, creating space for creativity, and redefining what it truly means to be successful in business and in life.

This is an honest, refreshing discussion between two longtime friends about legacy, longevity, and letting go of the endless chase for more.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

• How a health wake-up call changed the way Mark approaches work and success
• The power of contentment and why it’s Mark’s new singular focus
• Why slowing down can lead to more creativity and impact, not less
• The importance of hobbies, reflection, and time in nature for sustainable success
• How to balance ambition with well-being
• The surprising connection between becoming a grandparent and redefining priorities

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 01:45 - Mark’s Journey and Recent Health Scare
• 02:19 - The Importance of Contentment and Life Changes
• 05:33 - Mark's New Lifestyle and Health Improvements
• 11:14 - Balancing Work, Health, and Hobbies
• 18:00 - Exploring Creativity and Avoiding Burnout
• 19:17 - Scaling Back and Resetting Priorities
• 21:36 - Embracing Contentment Over Hustle
• 25:19 - Financial Insights and Business Growth
• 29:15 - The Impact of Becoming a Grandfather
• 30:42 - Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
• 31:51 - Reflecting on Sacrifice and Long-Term Success

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Check Out Mark’s Books
• Mark’s Website
• Connect with Mark on Instagram

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.

Grant Baldwin is the founder and CEO of The Speaker Lab, a coaching and training company that has helped tens of thousands of speakers launch and grow successful speaking businesses.

A dynamic entrepreneur, bestselling author, and seasoned keynote speaker, Grant has delivered nearly 1,000 presentations to over half a million people across 47 states and beyond. Under his leadership, The Speaker Lab has been named to the Inc. 5000 list four years running and has become a trusted industry leader for aspiring and experienced speakers alike.

In this episode, Chris and Grant dive into what it really takes to build a business and a life that lasts. From staying the course and avoiding burnout to finding joy outside of work, Grant shares lessons from over a decade of leading a multi seven-figure company with intention and purpose.

He opens up about the power of consistency, why hobbies matter more than hustle, and how building genuine relationships (not just networking) has shaped his journey.

This conversation is a masterclass in long-term thinking, leadership, and creating a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

• The importance of long-term thinking and staying the course
• How to keep things interesting when you’ve been doing the “same thing” for years
• The value of hobbies, rest, and sabbaticals (including why Grant got his pilot’s license!)
• Building authentic relationships that lead to opportunity
• Why success means creating a business that supports your life, not the other way around

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 04:04 - The Journey of Building a Successful Business
• 06:11 - Maintaining Passion and Avoiding Burnout
• 15:44 - The Importance of Relationships and Personal Mastery
• 19:11 - Building Relationships: From Macro to Micro
• 19:25 - Networking Strategies: The Right and Wrong Approaches
• 20:14 - The Evolution of Social Media Engagement
• 21:14 - Intentional Relationship Building
• 23:58 - Hobbies and Pastimes: Finding Balance
• 30:08 - Living Like a Long-Haul Leader

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• The Speaker Lab
• Connect with Grant on Instagram

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.

Hal Elrod is the bestselling author of The Miracle Morning, a keynote speaker, and one of the most resilient humans you’ll ever meet. He has survived a tragic childhood loss, a near-fatal car accident, and an aggressive cancer diagnosis. Today he helps millions of people transform their lives simply by transforming how they start their day.

In this episode, Hal gets incredibly real with Chris about what it means to stay the course. He shares the mindset that helped him beat cancer, how he rebuilt his energy and mental health after treatment, and the practices he still relies on every single day.

You’ll also hear Hal open up about shifting from a constant-hustle extrovert to someone who now protects his solitude and peace, why he believes most entrepreneurs waste precious time wishing they were further ahead, and how to define success around what matters most: health, family, and freedom.

This conversation is packed with courage, perspective, practical tools and a refreshing reminder that the long game is the only game worth playing.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why Hal believes mindset is the #1 factor in healing and success
• The Miracle Morning and how it helped him beat cancer
• How Hal leads, earns, and impacts others while protecting his energy
• Outgrowing “busy” and discovering the joy of solitude
• What Hal now prioritizes most: health, family, and freedom

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 03:06 - Hal's Battle with Cancer: A Journey of Survival
• 08:03 - The Power of Mindset in Overcoming Adversity
• 15:03 - Life After Cancer: Challenges and Triumphs
• 17:24 - Balancing Leadership and Health
• 19:33 - Building a Lean Team
• 20:10 - Personal Relaxation and Hobbies
• 22:53 - Shifting from Extrovert to Introvert
• 27:21 - Advice to My Younger Self
• 29:48 - Prioritizing Health, Family, and Freedom

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Miracle Morning
• Connect with Hal on Instagram

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.

Ryan Deiss is the Founder and CEO of The Scalable Company (Scalable.co), DigitalMarketer.com, and a Founding Partner at Scalable Equity, LLC, a venture equity accelerator that builds and acquires B2B media, service, and software brands.

In his 20+ year career as a serial entrepreneur, investor, and advisor, Ryan has started 17 companies, exited 4, and his portfolio of companies generated in excess of $200M in revenue last year, alone. As one of the most respected minds in digital marketing, Ryan continues to shape the way entrepreneurs grow smarter, scale sustainably, and lead better.

In this episode, Chris and Ryan discuss the napkin moment that completely transformed Ryan's approach to business, and ultimately became the foundation for one of the most widely adopted marketing frameworks in the world.

He also opens up about redefining success after multiple exits, and the lessons that helped him prioritize purpose and family without losing his entrepreneurial edge.

This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to build lasting success, without losing sight of what matters most.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

• The story behind Ryan’s “million-dollar napkin” and how simplicity became his superpower
• Why most entrepreneurs overcomplicate their businesses and how to fix it
• The two turning points that shaped Ryan’s journey through burnout and back
• How to set calendar-based boundaries that protect your time and family
• The “Big 3” habit that keeps Ryan consistent and focused every week

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 02:38 - Ryan's Early Business Journey
• 05:45 - The Million Dollar Napkin
• 10:55 - Balancing Business and Family Life
• 15:50 - Setting Boundaries for Personal and Professional Success
• 21:11 - Flexible Time Blocking Strategies
• 22:13 - Personal Habits and Routines
• 23:49 - Weekly and Quarterly Reviews
• 30:34 - Avoiding Burnout
• 34:24 - Celebrating Wins and Learning from Mistakes

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Get Your Copy of The Long-Haul Leader
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Check Out Scalable Co
• Connect with Ryan on Instagram

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or your favorite podcast player) — it helps more long-haul leaders like you discover the show and join the journey.

Thanks for listening to The Long-Haul Leader podcast. See you next week with more insights to help you lead with purpose, resilience, and impact.