In this episode of UNLOCKED, we’re joined by Jonathan Poma, Founder and Executive Director at Loop, a company recognized as one of Forbes’ Next Billion-Dollar Startups. Formerly the CEO, Jonathan has led Loop through extraordinary growth and transformation. Now, he’s sharing the lessons he learned and how those insights translate into living a more intentional and fulfilling life.

Jonathan dives deep into the principles of intentional leadership, the value of self-awareness, and how to achieve alignment between professional success and personal well-being. Key topics include:

• Building a Strong Foundation: Why leading yourself is the first step to leading others effectively.
• Time Mastery: How to design your life and schedule around what matters most.
• Overcoming Challenges: Using failures and hardships as catalysts for growth.
• Family and Business Balance: Creating intentional systems to thrive in both areas without compromise.
• Practical Tools for Reflection: Leveraging rituals, feedback loops, and mindful practices to grow as a leader and individual.

This conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to design a life and career with purpose. If you’re ready to reimagine how you lead and live, don’t miss this episode!



Key Moments

• 00:02:01 – Jonathan's Journey: From entrepreneurship to redefining success and balance.
• 00:05:15 – Intentional Leadership: Leading a business starts with leading yourself.
• 00:16:08 – Breakthrough Moments: The lessons from failed partnerships and big transitions.
• 00:23:43 – The Operating System Metaphor: Upgrading your mental and emotional frameworks.
• 00:33:31 – Building a Life Organization: Aligning personal and professional values for harmony.
• 00:38:28 – Feedback Loops and Growth: Using rituals to strengthen relationships and leadership.
• 00:52:52 – The Value of Time: How Jonathan redefined his relationship with time post-CEO role.
• 01:01:26 – Quiet and Clarity: Cultivating stillness as a leader, parent, and individual.

About Jonathan:
With over 13 years of experience in ecommerce and startups, Jonathan is Founder and Executive Director on the board at Loop, a leading e-commerce returns platform that helps brands create loyal customers and increase retention. Also a member of YPO, a global network of chief executives who share insights and learn from each other. Jonathan is always eager to learn from others, collaborate with diverse teams, and contribute to the community.


Connect With Jonathan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pomajp/
X: https://x.com/pomajp


Connect with Owl & Key:
Website: www.owlandkey.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/owl_and_key/
Everything Else: linktr.ee/owlandkey

In this inspiring conversation, Joe DeLoss opens up about navigating life’s twists and turns, sharing his raw, personal journey through big changes and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Whether you’re facing a career shift, grappling with relationships, or just trying to figure out what’s next, this episode offers a relatable and refreshing take on the process of change. Here’s what we dive into:

• The Reality of Change: Joe unpacks the messy, paradoxical, and often beautiful journey of letting go and stepping into something new.
• Unlearning What No Longer Serves You: How to release old habits, identities, and societal definitions of success to rediscover what truly matters.
• Becoming a Wayfinder: Joe shares his approach to navigating uncertainty one small, intentional step at a time, and how you can start your own path forward.
• Why Nature Heals: The surprising way outdoor adventures helped Joe reconnect with himself and find clarity in chaos.
• Serving Through Your Struggles: How Joe’s challenges inspired him to create Baker Road, a space for men to find connection and purpose in nature.

This episode is like a campfire conversation between friends—real, vulnerable, and packed with wisdom for anyone ready to embrace growth and align with what truly matters in life.


Key Moments:

02:51 - Joe’s early relationship with change and the impact of identity shifts
06:48 - Reckoning with rock bottom: When personal pain meets external accountability
11:38 - Realigning purpose and identity: How to start the process of self-awareness
17:29 - The power of unlearning: Letting go of external validation to reconnect with inner values
22:42 - Defining personal success: From external KPIs to meaningful relationships
29:39 - Navigating life’s map: The wayfinding metaphor for embracing the journey
36:25 - Nature as a guide: Lessons from the wild and its transformative role in Joe’s work
43:09 - Creating Baker Road: Purpose-driven adventures for growth and connection
48:36 - Campfire wisdom: Letting go, finding peace, and embracing the abundance of change


About Joe:
Joe is a serial entrepreneur focused on building transformational experiences and businesses that improve the lives of everyone involved. Most recently, Joe exited Hot Chicken Takeover, a fast-casual restaurant chain he built in the Midwest. The business earned critical acclaim as a break-out brand in the segment and created nearly a thousand meaningful work opportunities in the region for people impacted by incarceration, homelessness, and addiction.

Since this acquisition, Joe’s continued his dedication to supportive employment, social entrepreneurship, and vulnerable leadership. And with eyes set on new ventures, Joe’s seizing any opportunity he can get to inspire other entrepreneurs and leaders to make sustainable impact integral to their organization’s future. He honors this pursuit as an advisor, investor, speaker, and occasionally, as a reluctant consultant. His newest project, Baker Road, is an adventure studio offering men and high impact leaders immersive opportunities to learn about themselves in wild, natural environments. 

Joe’s work been highlighted by The Today Show, Forbes, Harvard Business School, Politico, The Rachael Ray Show and many others. He and his family live on a farm in rural Ohio, keeping adventure close in their own backyard.

Connect with Joe:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joedeloss/
Baker Road: www.bakerroad.com/

Connect with Owl & Key:
Website: www.owlandkey.co

In this episode of UNLOCKED, we sit down with Parneet Pal, a Harvard- and Columbia-trained physician and founder of Systematically Well Advisory, Inc., to uncover the roots of holistic well-being and the transformative potential of lifestyle medicine. Parneet shares pivotal “crucible moments” that redefined her view on health, shaped by her journey from traditional medicine to a focus on lifestyle, our biology, and planetary health. Through fascinating discussions on resilience, well-being, and leadership in the workplace, she brings actionable insights to balance growth and repair within our bodies and workplaces. Join us as we explore how each choice we make is a step toward building a thriving and healthy life—one that is deeply regenerative for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.


Key Moments:

00:02:01 – Parneet’s Journey: Parneet shares her shift from traditional medicine to lifestyle wellness.

00:08:01 – True Health Defined: Parneet expands on holistic health and the "exposome."

00:15:01 – Homeostasis & Energy: Discussing how cellular energy signals well-being.

00:21:01 – Lifestyle Medicine Basics: Key lifestyle factors for balancing health.

00:28:01 – Nature’s Model: Insights from nature on sustainable well-being.

00:38:01 – Workplace Well-being: Parneet on burnout and productivity in businesses.

00:46:01 – Leadership & Change: How leaders can support team well-being.

00:52:01 – Systematically Well Programs: Overview of Parneet’s wellness programs for teams.

00:56:01 – Closing Reflection: Parneet’s favorite quote on creating a life that fosters life.

About Parneet:
Parneet Pal, MBBS, MS is a Harvard- and Columbia-trained physician-educator who teaches skills and communicates ideas that advance personal, workplace and planetary health.

As the Founder of Systematically Well Advisory Inc., she works with business teams and global organizations to address leadership, performance, wellbeing and sustainability using evidence-based strategies from lifestyle medicine, neuroscience, behavioral science and psychology.

Previously, she designed preventive wellbeing programs for Executive Health (including at the University of California, San Francisco), and led faculty, curriculum and content development as the Chief Science Officer of a health start-up scaling corporate mental wellbeing.

Parneet speaks about the connections between Health, Leadership and Sustainability at global conferences and guest lectures at several universities. She has been a TEDMED scholar, Harvard Business Review contributor and has been featured on the cover of Mindful magazine.


Connect with Parneet:

Website: www.parneetpal.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/parneetpal

Instagram: @pal.parneet


Connect with Owl & Key:

Website: www.owlandkey.co

Instagram: www.instagram.com/owl_and_key/

Everything Else: linktr.ee/owlandkey

What if the way you think about money is holding you back from living the life you truly want? In this episode, we challenge the conventional approach to earning and spending by asking, how can you make money work for you, rather than letting it control your choices? Join us as we explore how to build a bridge toward making money in new ways—a critical step for many who feel stuck in their current lifestyle. We dive into the real meaning of success, not measured by the amount you earn, but by how well your financial choices support your life’s values and goals. This episode offers practical guidance on overcoming one of the biggest barriers to change and integrating money into your intentional lifestyle design.


Key Moments:

00:00 - Introduction and Initial Thoughts on Money

02:18 - The Role of Money in Intentional Living

04:43 - Redefining Success: Moving Away from Traditional Narratives

07:09 - The Importance of Financial Freedom and Flexibility

11:49 - Building Financial Awareness: Practical Tips

14:10 - Understanding Income, Expenses, and Financial Systems

16:36 - Navigating Big Life Transitions and Financial Fear

18:56 - Finding Value in Your Skills to Generate Income

23:45 - Avoiding the “Not Enough” Mentality in Financial Growth

28:24 - The Transition Period: One Foot In, One Foot Out

30:42 - Why Creative and Strategic Income is Energizing

35:26 - The Healthcare Barrier: What You Need to Know

37:44 - The Upside of Living Your Life Now, Not Later

44:36 - Practical Tips to Start Generating Income Today

51:19 - Final Thoughts: You’re Multifaceted, and So is Your Potential


Connect with Owl & Key:
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways we can help:

Grab Your Book:
Become The Creator Of Your Own Story. Imagine owning a 200-page book with a crystal clear vision for the person you want to become and the life you want to live, captured on the pages of your personal Strategic Plan for Life.

https://a.co/d/hkFfBcF

Strategic Planning For Life™:
The proven operating system used by CEOs, Fortune Companies, Professional Athletes, and people around the world! Start making your moves today!

https://courses.owlandkey.co/offers/updaSQDy/checkout

Owl & Key @ Work:
Created for conscious leaders and their teams, proven to help your employees make a bigger impact on their lives AND your business. Outcomes for everyone from the frontlines to C-suite executives and corporate employees in just 9 weeks.

https://www.owlandkey.co/business-start

Become An Owl & Key Guide:
Owl & Key is on a mission to help people become the best version of themselves, at work and in life. And we’re looking for others passionate about unlocking that potential with us.

https://www.owlandkey.co/guides

In this episode, Lee Povey, a former elite athlete and coach turned high-performance leadership expert, dives deep into the intersection of sports, leadership, and emotional intelligence. Povey shares his personal journey from a turbulent childhood, his rise through competitive cycling, and his transition into coaching Olympic athletes and startup founders. Throughout the conversation, he unpacks critical lessons on self-awareness, emotional mastery, and the importance of trust and failure in leadership. Povey explains how we are shaped by our upbringing but not defined by it, and how leaders can break through their own limitations to empower their teams and themselves. This conversation is a masterclass in how to cultivate an Olympic mindset in business and life.


Key Moments:

[00:00] Introduction – The origins of Lee Povey: from cycling to high-performance coaching.

[05:30] The impact of childhood experiences – How Povey’s relationship with his father shaped his mindset and drive.

[13:10] The transition from sport to business – How Povey brought the lessons from cycling into leadership and coaching.

[20:00] Emotional freezing vs. cognitive lighting up in conflict – Understanding emotional responses in high-pressure situations.

[28:00] The importance of self-awareness – Why recognizing emotional triggers is vital for leaders.

[35:00] Leadership parallels between parenting and coaching – How trust and empowerment are critical for growth.

[42:00] The power of feedback – How to give and receive feedback for maximum effectiveness.

[50:00] Changing programmed behavior – How to shift responses and rewire patterns in leadership and personal life.

[58:30] Key takeaways for leaders – Practical exercises to cultivate self-awareness and improve decision-making.

[01:04:00] Conclusion – Final thoughts from Lee Povey on taking control of your life and choices.


Connect with Lee:

https://www.leepovey.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leepovey/


Connect with Owl & Key:
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways we can help:

Grab Your Book:
Become The Creator Of Your Own Story. Imagine owning a 200-page book with a crystal clear vision for the person you want to become and the life you want to live, captured on the pages of your personal Strategic Plan for Life.

https://a.co/d/hkFfBcF

Strategic Planning For Life™:
The proven operating system used by CEOs, Fortune Companies, Professional Athletes, and people around the world! Start making your moves today!

https://courses.owlandkey.co/offers/updaSQDy/checkout

Owl & Key at Work:
Created for conscious leaders and their teams, proven to help your employees make a bigger impact on their lives AND your business. Outcomes for everyone from the frontlines to C-suite executives and corporate employees in just 9 weeks.

https://www.owlandkey.co/business-start

Become An Owl & Key Guide:
Owl & Key is on a mission to help people become the best version of themselves, at work and in life. And we’re looking for others passionate about unlocking that potential with us.

https://www.owlandkey.co/guides

Overview:

In this episode of the Unlocked podcast, Krista and Phil explore the concept of the "echoes of your expression"—how personal expression, whether intentional or unintentional, reverberates through our lives and the lives of those around us.

They're sharing real-life stories that illustrate how small acts of expression, like sharing a professional aspiration or speaking an intention, lead to unexpected and profound outcomes.

Expression is not just a solo endeavor but a collaborative process with the universe, inviting you to take small steps and observe the massive and meaningful impact over time.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00:03] - Introduction: Introduction to the topic of "echoes of your expression" and the power of expression.
• [00:01:19] - Personal Story: Introduction to how individual expression, when authentic, resonates outwardly, influencing outcomes and inviting collaboration.
• [00:05:07] - Example of Career Change: Story of a group participant who expressed a desire to change roles and quickly secured a new position due to external support, demonstrating the power of speaking intentions aloud.
• [00:12:41] - Co-Creation & Expression: Discussion on how expression invites unexpected feedback, and how navigating unwanted echoes can lead to deeper understanding and refined direction.
• [00:26:52] - Energetic Expression: Exploration of the quiet, internal side of expression through journaling and meditation, leading to synchronicities and unexpected opportunities.
• [00:35:39] - Reflecting on Action: Reflection on how small, consistent actions compound over time, leading to large, often unseen impacts.
• [00:44:34] - Ripple Effect of Expression: The hosts discuss how personal expression can extend far beyond the individual and create a ripple effect that influences others in profound ways.
• [00:50:39] - Real-Life Example: Story of how a single professional presentation created lasting change within an organization, demonstrating the long-term impact of authentic expression.
• [00:53:00] - Closing Thoughts: Final thoughts on the power of throwing the ball (taking action) and being open to how expression and feedback lead to co-creation.

Connect With Us:
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:

Grab Your Book:
Become The Creator Of Your Own Story. Imagine owning a 200-page book with a crystal clear vision for the person you want to become and the life you want to live, captured on the pages of your personal Strategic Plan for Life.

https://a.co/d/hkFfBcF

Strategic Planning For Life™:
The proven operating system used by CEOs, Fortune Companies, Professional Athletes, and people around the world! Start making your moves today!

https://courses.owlandkey.co/offers/updaSQDy/checkout

Owl & Key at Work:
Created for conscious leaders and their teams, proven to help your employees make a bigger impact on their lives AND your business. Outcomes for everyone from the frontlines to C-suite executives and corporate employees in just 9 weeks.

https://www.owlandkey.co/business-start

Become An Owl & Key Guide:
Owl & Key is on a mission to help people become the best version of themselves, at work and in life. And we’re looking for others passionate about unlocking that potential with us.

https://www.owlandkey.co/guides

In this heartfelt episode of the UNLOCKED Podcast, host Krista Franks sits down with Christina Christian, an inspiring leader and entrepreneur, to explore her journey from childhood struggles to finding her purpose. Christina shares how she turned her passion for creating intentional spaces and experiences into the Colorado Retreat Co., a breathtaking retreat center in the mountains of Colorado. They discuss her challenges, including personal grief, finding alignment with her vision, and learning to embrace the flow of life rather than control it. Christina's story of resilience and clarity in lifestyle design is both moving and motivating, reminding us to be intentional with our dreams, even in the face of adversity. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration on navigating life’s challenges with purpose, clarity, and intention.

Key Timestamps for Topics of Discussion:

• (00:00) – Introduction to Christina Christian and her inspiring journey.
• (01:14) – Christina’s childhood: Overcoming a chaotic upbringing and shaping her future.
• (03:49) – The transformative power of creating spaces for connection through events.
• (05:55) – A pivotal moment in 2014 at Rockmill Brewery: Dreaming of creating a community space.
• (07:06) – Building community and learning through experiences with brands like Yelp and Jeni’s Ice Cream.
• (09:49) – How running events led to a realization about wanting to create a permanent place for community.
• (12:33) – Reflecting on one’s journey: Connecting childhood threads to present-day purpose.
• (14:18) – The pandemic as a moment of clarity and manifestation of Christina’s vision.
• (17:40) – Finding the perfect property in Colorado: A personal and emotional journey.
• (20:54) – Personal grief: Losing a close friend and how it became intertwined with her dream.
• (27:21) – Learning to be flexible and adapt while running a physical retreat space.
• (33:12) – Feeling that her mission is bigger than herself and embracing the unknown.
• (37:07) – Blending operational logistics with the flow of creativity and purpose.
• (50:16) – Embracing discomfort and navigating financial and logistical challenges.
• (52:23) – Where to find Christina and the Colorado Retreat Co. for memorable experiences.

Connect:
https://thecoloradoretreat.co/

https://www.instagram.com/thecoloradoretreatco/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinachristian/

Josh and Erin share their personal journey of chronic illness and how they found healing through bioenergetics testing. They discuss the limitations of traditional Western medicine and the importance of addressing the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of healing. They emphasize the need for a sense of safety within the body and environment, and the role of practices like meditation and nervous system regulation in fostering that safety. They also highlight the transformative power of bioenergetics in empowering individuals to take control of their own healing journey. In this conversation, Josh and Erin discuss the importance of listening to oneself and the power of belief in the healing journey. They emphasize the need to be present and aware of one's body and emotions, as well as the role of mindset in healing. They also highlight the uniqueness of each individual's healing journey and the importance of finding what works for oneself. The conversation touches on the topics of manifestation, self-empowerment, and the transformative power of going inward.


Key Highlights:

• Chronic illness often requires addressing the physical body first to establish a foundation for healing, followed by the mental and spiritual aspects.
• A sense of safety within the body and environment is crucial for healing, as the body will not heal if it perceives danger or threat.
• Bioenergetics testing provides valuable information about the body's energetic frequencies and can guide the selection of remedies for healing.
• Healing is a holistic journey that involves empowering individuals to listen to their bodies and make choices that support their well-being. Listen to yourself and trust your intuition in the healing journey.
• Belief plays a crucial role in healing, and it is important to cultivate positive beliefs through thoughts, intentions, and experiences.
• Being present and aware of one's body and emotions is essential for healing.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:48 The Cost of Chronic Illness
05:24 The Journey of Chronic Illness
09:40 Discovering Bioenergetics Testing
12:34 The Transformative Power of Bioenergetics
27:43 Fostering a Sense of Safety for Healing
31:01 Empowering Individuals on Their Healing Journey
51:30 The Power of Listening
55:53 Belief and Mindset in Healing
59:03 Embracing Uniqueness
01:00:05 The Importance of Presence
01:01:33 Going Inward: Self-Empowerment

More about Erin & Josh:
Josh and Erin are the husband and wife duo behind Ruti, a wellness brand focused on bio-individual healing, and the "Pick A Lane" podcast, where they explore topics like holistic healing, personal growth, and spirituality.

Inspired by Josh’s own experience healing from debilitating chronic illness, Ruti offers personalized wellness solutions, creating products that reflect its founders’ belief that healing should be unique to each individual, while always incorporating a mind, body, soul approach.

Through the Pick A Lane podcast, they extend their passion for wellness, offering insights and practical advice to a community of like-minded listeners. Josh and Erin’s entrepreneurial spirit and creative vision drive them to innovate continuously, making a significant impact in the wellness industry. Their work in both Ruti and Pick A Lane reflects their commitment to guiding others toward a healthier, more balanced life.

Connect:
https://ruti.life/

https://www.instagram.com/ruti.life?igsh=bzExcmI5c2hzanl5

https://open.spotify.com/show/0svVxyGNLCHBRxMxLPacjL?si=G697OX46R4C09jA4HZHDvw

But what if it doesn't work?

It's the first question for most of us at every turn, change, or transition point in our lives.

The 🔑 is that the next question always must be, "But what if it does?"

Followed quickly by "What's the simplest next step to test it?"

Because possibility follows action.

The "what if" can go either way. It all comes down to whether or not you're willing to believe, try and adjust. And all of it must align to what it is you truly want.

Because even when things "haven't worked out," that "failure" ultimately worked out in our favor.


CONNECT WITH OWL & KEY:

https://www.owlandkey.co/

https://www.instagram.com/owl_and_key/

https://linktr.ee/owlandkey

In this enlightening episode of UNLOCKED host Phil Franks and guests, Sonya Dolan and BJ Miller, co-founders of Mettle Health, dive deep into the wildly misunderstood world of palliative care, grief, and the human experience of life and death.

They explore the five regrets of the dying, touching on the importance of living a life true to oneself and fully embracing all aspects of life. The conversation delves into the ways individuals can begin to engage with their own mortality, opening up about the role of grief in that process. Sonya and BJ emphasize that grief is not something to "get through" but a transformative journey of integrating loss into one's life, ultimately leading to personal growth and newfound perspectives on life and death.



KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Palliative care is about mitigating suffering and realizing joy, promoting quality of life irrespective of the outcome.
• Life and death are entwined, and appreciating both is essential for a fulfilled life.
• Learning to live with the hard emotions, including grief, is crucial for personal growth.
• Grief is not something to "get through"; it's an ongoing journey of integrating loss into your life.
• Embracing change and accepting the new version of yourself that emerges after loss can lead to personal growth and a deeper appreciation of life.

ABOUT BJ & SONYA:
BJ Miller is President & Counselor at Mettle Health, author, and renowned speaker. And is best known for his 2015 TED Talk, "What Really Matters at the End of Life" which has been viewed over 11million times.


You may have seen BJ as the subject of Netflix's Academy Award-nominated short documentary, End Game. Or, most recently, on LIMITLESS, where he helps Chris Hemsworth confront and accept his mortality. He also co-authored a book for approaching the end of life titled A Beginner’s Guide to the End. And wrote a chapter sharing his advice in Tim Ferriss' book Tools of Titans.



Sonya Dolan is Co-founder and director of operations at Mettle Health. Sonya came to work in the field of hospice and palliative care after the death of her mother. This loss and the experience of being a caregiver greatly influenced her career trajectory. Her work with hospice, coupled with caregiving for her mother and being a breast cancer survivor has given her a keen awareness of what the healthcare system provides and where it is lacking.

CONNECT WITH BJ & SONYA:

Mettle Health

https://mettlehealth.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mettle_health/

Interested in registering for the Mettle Method?

https://mettlehealth.com/curriculum

Grab the book:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Beginners-Guide-to-the-End/BJ-Miller/9781501157219

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj-miller-md/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-dolan-36697631/


CONNECT WITH OWL & KEY

https://www.owlandkey.co/
https://www.instagram.com/owl_and_key/
https://linktr.ee/owlandkey