Walkabout Elevations Podcast

Vietnam continues to attract investors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and innovators from around the world. But what is driving that growth, and what challenges still remain?

At Vietnam Financial Forum 2026, I sat down with market analyst and senior customer consultant Ho Le Khanh Uyen (Ami Benavides) to discuss Vietnam's rapid transformation and the opportunities emerging across the country.

In this conversation we explore:

• Why Vietnam is attracting record levels of foreign investment

• The growth of AI, technology, logistics, energy, and semiconductor industries

• Government reforms supporting economic development

• The importance of communication and English skills in attracting international business

• Why Da Nang remains one of Vietnam's most exciting cities

• The unique combination of business opportunity and quality of life that keeps people staying in Vietnam

Recorded at Vietnam Financial Forum 2026 in Da Nang, Vietnam.

As Vietnam attracts more international investment, technology, and global business, one critical question remains:

Can people communicate clearly across cultures, industries, and borders?

At Vietnam Financial Forum 2026, I sat down with Merianne Sontillanosa Nosa, founder of Speak Better and Connect Better, to discuss communication, networking, business relationships, and the human skills that remain essential in an increasingly digital world.

In this conversation we discuss:

• Why communication skills remain critical in the age of AI

• The importance of pronunciation, articulation, and clarity

• Challenges facing Vietnamese professionals in global business

• Building stronger cross-cultural relationships

• Why networking still matters

• The future of digital business cards and event technology

• How Connect Better is changing professional networking

A fascinating discussion about the human side of economic development.

Recorded at Vietnam Financial Forum 2026 in Da Nang, Vietnam.

What does the future of Da Nang look like?At Vietnam Financial Forum 2026, I sat down with Chris Vanloon, Chairman of AmCham Central Vietnam, real estate developer, investor, and one of the longest-serving foreign business leaders in Vietnam.Having lived in Vietnam for nearly three decades, Chris has witnessed the transformation of Da Nang from a small coastal city into one of Southeast Asia's most promising growth markets.In this conversation we discuss:• Why Da Nang is positioned to attract the next wave of foreign investment• The future of Vietnam's International Financial Center (IFC)• Manufacturing, semiconductors, and high-tech development• Energy infrastructure and the challenge of powering future growth• Talent retention and creating opportunities for young professionals• Why job hopping may be hurting long-term career development• The opportunities emerging across Central VietnamChris also shares a powerful message about moving beyond endless planning and focusing on execution.The future is being built now.Recorded at Vietnam Financial Forum 2026 in Da Nang, Vietnam.

What happens when the world becomes cashless?How do we teach children about money when they rarely touch cash, use piggy banks, or visit a bank branch?At Vietnam Financial Forum 2026, I sat down with Jamie Wellstern, Director of Saigon Fintech Capital, Galaxy Holdings executive, and founding member of Vietnam's International Financial Center initiative.

In this fascinating conversation we explore:• Why financial literacy is becoming one of the most important skills for the next generation• The future of fintech and digital banking• Raising children in a cashless society• Why parents should involve children in business and professional life• The challenge of balancing family and career• Why Vietnam is becoming a major player in global finance• The vision behind Vietnam's International Financial CenterJamie also shares her experience working across global financial centers including London, Singapore, Luxembourg, Moscow, and Dubai before returning to Vietnam to help shape the country's financial future.Recorded at Vietnam Financial Forum 2026 in Da Nang, Vietnam.

What does it take to bring more than 300 international finance leaders, investors, economists, and business professionals together in Vietnam?In this episode recorded at the Vietnam Financial Forum 2026, I sit down with Alex Castaneda, founder of Da Nang 365 and one of the driving forces behind many of the city's largest international events.We discuss:• The vision behind Vietnam Financial Forum 2026• Why Da Nang is emerging as a future fintech and innovation hub• The challenges of organizing large-scale international events• Vietnam's growing role in global finance• How COVID forced entrepreneurs to pivot and reinvent themselves• Da Nang 365's upcoming Summer Festival and Da Nang's Got TalentAlex also shares his personal journey from arriving in Vietnam in 2016 to becoming one of the most recognized community builders in Central Vietnam.Guest: Alex Castaneda | Da Nang 365Recorded at Vietnam Financial Forum 2026

What if overthinking isn't the problem?

In this episode of Walkabout Elevations, I sit down with author, coach, and former Google and Uber executive Alex Ostergaard to explore the deeper causes of overthinking, anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the constant search for validation.

Alex shares his journey from growing up between three cultures, to working at some of the world's most prestigious technology companies, to experiencing burnout that ultimately changed the direction of his life.

We discuss:

• Why overthinking is often a protection mechanism

• The hidden connection between achievement and self-worth

• Burnout, anxiety, and imposter syndrome

• Why success doesn't always bring fulfillment

• The role of AI, social media, and modern technology in overthinking

• Self-awareness, healing, and personal growth

• The philosophy behind his book, Dissolving Overthinking

This conversation goes far beyond productivity and mindset hacks. It's a deep exploration of identity, self-worth, and what it means to live a meaningful life.

Guest: Alex Ostergaard

Book: Dissolving Overthinking

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about personal growth, psychology, mindfulness, and human potential, consider subscribing to Walkabout Elevations.

What happens when childhood trauma, foster care, addiction, fame, self-sabotage, and heartbreak collide?In this episode of Walkabout Elevations, I sit down with James, founder of Rise Above The Journey, for one of the most honest and vulnerable conversations we've had on the show.James shares his journey from an angry and deeply troubled young man growing up in foster care in Liverpool, to experiencing reality TV fame, addiction, self-destruction, and ultimately finding peace and purpose.We discuss:• Childhood trauma and foster care• The masks we wear to survive• Reality TV fame and the addiction to validation• Self-sabotage and why intelligent people often struggle most• Addiction, recovery, and rebuilding a life from rock bottom• The difference between healing and acceptance• Why safety may be what we're all searching for• The RISE framework: Recognize, Integrate, Shift, EmbodyThis is a conversation about transformation, resilience, and the possibility of becoming someone entirely different from the person you once were.If you've ever struggled with self-worth, identity, relationships, or feeling stuck in old patterns, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Walkabout Elevations Podcast, I sit down with Ed Ryotatsu Barton, social confidence coach, former British diplomat, entrepreneur, and former Zen Buddhist monk.

Ed's story is unlike any I've heard.From working inside the British Embassy in Beijing and struggling with severe anxiety, to building a successful online business, traveling the world, and eventually spending more than three years living as a Zen monk in Japan, his journey has been one of transformation, discipline, and self-discovery.

One moment in particular changed everything.While driving through Sri Lanka with what seemed like the perfect life, Ed realized he had become someone he no longer liked. That realization set him on a path that would ultimately lead him to a Buddhist monastery in Japan and a completely different understanding of success, happiness, fear, and human potential.

In this conversation we discuss:• Social anxiety and self-esteem• Life as a British diplomat in Beijing• Entrepreneurship and the digital nomad lifestyle• Buddhism, Zen, and meditation• The psychology of fear• Self-acceptance and self-love• Monastic training in Japan• Focus, concentration, and mental resilience• Exposure therapy and confidence building• The modern loneliness epidemic• What it means to live a meaningful life

A fascinating conversation about transformation, courage, and what happens when we finally stop running from ourselves.🎙️

Walkabout Elevations PodcastExploring leadership, mindfulness, communication, performance, culture, entrepreneurship, and the human experience.

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In this episode of the Walkabout Elevations Podcast, I sit down with organizational psychologist, researcher, consultant, and entrepreneur Dr. Anna Wolf for a fascinating discussion on teamwork, leadership, psychological safety, and the future of work.Why do smart teams fail?Why do employees stay silent when they see problems?And why, despite having more technology than ever before, are so many people feeling disconnected at work?Drawing from years of research in team science, organizational psychology, healthcare teams, leadership development, and remote work, Dr. Wolf explains what separates healthy, high-performing teams from dysfunctional ones and why psychological safety may be one of the most important factors in modern organizations.We discuss:• Why humans struggle to work together• The science of teamwork• Psychological safety and leadership• Why employees stop speaking up• Technology, AI, and human connection• Remote work and digital collaboration• Building trust in organizations• The loneliness problem in modern workplaces• Meaningful work and belonging• The future of leadership and organizational cultureWe also explore Dr. Wolf's new venture, Wavelength, an AI-powered platform designed to help teams measure and strengthen psychological safety in remote and hybrid work environments.🎙️ Walkabout Elevations PodcastReal conversations about leadership, mindset, performance, communication, and modern life.

In this episode of the Walkabout Elevations Podcast, I sit down with career coach, LinkedIn strategist, community builder, and Da Nang Nomad Festival co-founder Markos Korvesis.What started as a conversation about careers and remote work quickly evolved into something much deeper: freedom, belonging, community, and the search for a meaningful life.Markos shares his journey from Greece to Southeast Asia, how he reinvented his career, built communities across continents, and became one of the driving forces behind Da Nang’s thriving digital nomad ecosystem.We discuss:• The reality of digital nomad life• Why so many people are leaving traditional careers• Building community around the world• Why Da Nang has become a global hub for entrepreneurs and remote workers• The hidden job market most people never see• LinkedIn, personal branding, and career growth• Freedom, purpose, and belonging• Entrepreneurship and remote work• The truth about finding meaningful work• How community can transform your lifeWe also conduct a live LinkedIn audit and discuss practical ways professionals can improve their visibility, build stronger networks, and create new opportunities in an increasingly digital world.A fascinating conversation about work, identity, freedom, and what happens when you intentionally design your life instead of simply following the default path.🎙️ Walkabout Elevations PodcastReal conversations about mindset, performance, identity, travel, and modern life.