ZenFounder

In this episode Sherry interviews Andrew Amann, CEO of NineTwoThree Digital Ventures, an agency that builds apps for mobile and web. Whats interesting about Andrew’s story is his company faced a unique challenge this past few months as 25 members of his team are based in Ukraine. He joins the podcast to talk about how his company has supported those team members and what he is learning about leadership and mental health from this experience. NineTwoThree.co NineTwoThree Blog

In this episode Sherry interviews Marika Reese who formed the “Community Healing Team” in Minnesota. The healing team is comprised of members of the African American community, including barbers, political activists, politicians and faith leaders focused on the mental health of their local community. Marika talks about the unique set of challenges she faces pursuing a non-conventional approach to mental health outreach.

In this episode Sherry interviews Andrew Herr, CEO of Fount, a company whose mission is designing a suite of health and performance solutions to give the mind and body what they need to perform at their best. Andrew’s vision is to figure out how to apply the science of individualized performance optimization to the population at scale. He also gives some practical tips entrepreneurs can start doing to increase cognitive performance.

One thing that can really undermine someone’s mental well-being, focus, and productivity is conflict. Conflict on the team or conflict at home has the power to disrupt even the most disciplined entrepreneur. Brooke Bergman Parr hosts this episode to talk about 3 different types of conflict (solvable, perpetual, and gridlock) and how to manage them with you or your team.

The way we work is changing. One of the biggest changes is the move away from the traditional workplace and towards a more remote setup. Sherry talks with Liam Martin, who has a book ‘Running Remote”, on this very topic. They discuss some of the best strategies for growing a remote company.

Breath is the most effective strategy to calm down an anxious mind and body. Sherry interviews Robbie Bent, CEO and Founder of Othership about the transformational power of breathwork. They talk about the birth of his company and it’s community driven mission as well as the benefits of breathwork and techniques you can use yourself to get the most out of it. Othership

One common topic you hear talked about often in the entrepreneurship world is the idea of Imposter Syndrome. There is a lot of advice given around this subject and Rob joins Sherry on the podcast to give his insights on how to parse the good from the bad. They also dismantle some common tropes people give out as advice like, “fake it til you make it” and “nobody really knows what their doing”.

In this episode Sherry talks about compartmentalization and integration. The idea of how we combine different elements of our personal and professional selves or when and how we choose to separate them. This topic hits close to home for Sherry as she prepares for a book tour for her new book about grief called “Touching Two Worlds”. touchingtwoworlds.com

ZenFounder team member, Brooke Bergman Parr hosts the podcast this week to talk about how the pandemic has reshaped romance. She shares reflections of the state of our relationships 2 years into Covid. From her work as a relationship expert she gives her insights and hopes to change the conversation about how we love.

In today’s episode Sherry interviews Danielle Steer, managing director at Lunar Startups about personal growth, commitment to self awareness and self reflection. They also discuss the unique challenges experienced by the founders she supports and her goal of shifting the value systems in venture capital.

Sherry is joined on today’s podcast by Julie Ellis, Co-Founder of Mabel’s Labels, an award winning Canadian small business. They talk about Julie’s upcoming book, “Big Gorgeous Goals” and her early entrepreneurial endeavors and the stories that inspired her to write her first book. Touching Two Worlds Julie Ellis & co.

To celebrate the 300th episode milestone, Rob joins Sherry to talk about the evolution of the podcast and reflect on what it has meant to them. They discuss some of their favorite episodes as well as what the future holds for ZenFounder.

This episode focuses on sensuality and sexuality, what to do when our level of desire of intimacy differs from our partner. Though on its surface it doesn’t sound like an entrepreneurial or business problem but Sherry has found in her work with entrepreneurs over the years that the ups and downs of business can have a negative effect the level of focus towards a romantic relationship. Sherry enlists the help of relationship expert Brooke Bergman to shine some light on the topic.

Rob joins Sherry on the podcast to talk about a story that has to do with such a simple question, “how many kids do you have?” Despite the simplicity of the question, for Rob and Sherry the answer is quite complicated. They update you on the journey of integrating a new member into the family, a long battle fighting to keep her (legally), and the heartbreak of having to let go. To catch up on the full backstory check Episode 146

This week's episode is hosted by Brooke Bergman, a ZenFounder team member and relationship specialist. Brooke talks about some practical ways you can improve your mental health and prevent problemsbefore they arise. She discusses strategies and dives deep on the differences between flow state and non-flow state exercises.

Due to the covid-19 landscape more people than ever have left their jobs and plan on creating their own opportunities. Having been recently contacted by Intuit Inc. to be involved in a campaign to help raise awareness around the unique challenges and needs of early stage entrepreneurs, Sherry shares her insights on the topic in this episode.

Rob Walling joins Sherry on the podcast to talk about shipping content. He shares his ideas and wisdom of how to setup your life & mindset to consistently create content for yourself and business. He discusses his journey of becoming comfortable in front of the camera and shares tips on how you can do the same.

In this episode Sherry talks about the importance of a reset. Sharing in the new year despite maybe some things staying the same (Covid) and being able to begin a new segment of time with fresh ideas and perspective. A reset offers the opportunity to say this time is different than last time. It is impossible to be a healthy, satisfied, connected person without having the capacity to reset.

Every once in awhile a decision can cause you angst and pull you in many different directions, making it difficult to be clear on whats the best direction to go. In this episode Sherry gives you some strategies to give you more clarifaction of whats going on inside yourself when you’re in the middle of these decisions and how to get the best results.

In this episode Sherry talks about the importance of being able to celebrate well with others. There is tremendous value in being in a role where you are committed to really cheering other people & supporting them in their goals. Sherry gives you 4 reasons why this can be helpful.

In this episode Sherry poses the question, do you plan your life around production that meets a schedule or have some structure with the ability to to wonder as inspiration strikes. At a certain stage in your career you may have less to prove. Strict sheduling can be a recipe for success in business but could also be a recipe for anxiety, and self criticism that is not in keeping with good mental health. Sherry explores the idea of giving yourself space and acceptance to try different strategies when it comes to how you produce.

In this episode Sherry interviews Scott Deluzio. Scott is an entrepreneur in the WordPress space, and army veteran who wrote a book about military life and losing his brother in Afghanistan. They talk a lot about the transition back to civilian life, coping with combat stress & the loss of his brother, and the unhealthy ways he dealt with it all.

In this episode Sherry talks about the back to school process for her kids. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, those entrepreneurial traits when they show up in kids can be tricky to navigate in day to day academic life. Going from flexibility and creativity to a more rigid schedule can cause some transitional stress and irritability. Sherry provides some tips for navigating this transitional time.

In this episode Sherry reads you a chapter from her upcoming book titled “Touching Two Worlds: a Guide to Finding Hope In a Landscape of Loss”. The chapter starts with a story from her own life that’s been a teacher about grief & loss and she concludes with a some practical takeaways about how to talk to grieving people.

There is still an uneasiness that’s taken place inside of us, we as the collective are not okay. One of the things that is driving this is the general sense that the voices we hear from leadership cant really be trusted. The pandemic has really unraveled us as a societies ability to feel like our leaders are making good choices (ex.flip-flopping between covid guidelines). Trust is essential to healthy human development. Sherry talks about the importance of consciously cultivating trust, reaching out and connecting to those around you.

As an entrepreneur we tend to stay busy and the practice of stillness is not easy or natural for us. However from a mental health perspective it is very important. A recent vacation reminded Sherry of what a great gift stillness can be. Its serves as a counterbalance to the hustle and bustle of business life. Sherry describes it as letting the mind and the body have a complete break and how she made it a deliberate point of focus this time around.

On a recent canoeing trip with some friends, Sherry found herself lost and unable to navigate using the map she was given. While in the lake the terrain she expected to see wasn’t there, none of the landmarks matched. The whole time she never questioned the map, only herself. Well it turns out that the staff member from the outfitter where she got the map marked the wrong spot. The entire trip she spent navigating a map with the wrong criteria. Sherry equates this situation to the business world in which entrepreneurs can often ignore indicators or red flags or explain it away. Questions such as do i have the right team, do i have product market fit, is this partnership working? When things aren’t adding up its important to find the actual cause and this is where an external observer (coach. mastermind, therapist) can help give a larger perspective.

As entrepreneurs who do anything in public, we seize to be individuals in the mind of the collective(general population/customers). We become part of a public conversation, which can blur the lines of what our customers want for us and what we want for ourselves. Sherry warns entrepreneurs to be careful to listen to the ques of your minds and bodies and what its telling you. You may be tired, burned out, depressed, these may be signs to step away, sell, or do something different. No matter how loud the noise, the collective will never know whats best for you and your business better than you do.

In this episode Sherry does a deep dive into Imposter Syndrome. Imposter Syndrome can be best summarized as the thought, “i don’t belong here”. It’s a gap between our self assessment and our assessment of the room were in or people around us and whether or not were qualified to be there. There’s an importance of recognizing this in yourself as it can hold you back from interactions, conversations and building deeper relationships. Sherry talks about some work arounds that can help if you’re suffering from condition.

In this episode Sherry talks about entrepreneurs and business owners being victims of cruel and untrue online attacks. Attacks that can get to the core of the credibility of a business. These type of attacks are designed to destroy your business reputation that you’ve worked so hard to build up over time. Sherry discusses the levels of dysfunction this can cause you as a person and to your business when your livelihood is threatened. She gives some tips and steps to take to prepare if you are ever faced with this kind of attack. MINDCURE

In the past 1.5 years, people have been thrust into virtual work places due to the pandemic and the question arises, what will be the new normal? Will we stay remote or be heading back to the office, and what situation best fits the individual needs? Can there be a way to combine strategies for a more hybrid approach? Sherry attempts to answer these questions along with author, entrepreneur, and CEO of global partner marketing agency: Acceleration Partners, Bob Glazer. Robert Glazer.com How To Thrive In The Virtual Workplace Book

In this episode Sherry talks about the mental health power of rites of passage. Most of these rites of passage are ceremonies that are tied to things like education (ex.gradations). Many adult rites of passages go unnoticed or un-celebrated. The challenge for adult development is we don’t have many markers that tell us we’ve moved from one phase of development to another. Sherry tackles this topic and explores the idea of celebrating aging as a badge of honor.

Rob joins the podcast to talk with Sherry on the subject of feedback. No matter what you’re building or putting into the world you’re going to get feedback. He brings up the question, “at what point do you react and change things based on that feedback”? They discuss how to judge whether or not the feedback is useful and what criteria to use to do so.

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a new(ish) form of treatment for depression, PTSD, and a variety of other mental health conditions that has been gaining popularity as of late. Sherry talks about the pros/cons, how it works, and what situations are right for it to be applied. She also shares her own individual experience of trying the treatment.

Assignments are often used in teams and coaching relationships to give a quick snapshot of an individuals trends, characteristics and values. The Enneagram is a common psychometric assessment that has become widely available, in the form of books, courses, and products that help you learn more about yourself, team, and family. As a clinical psychologist, Sherry has some concerns about the ways these assignments are being used. Approaching this topic with experience in psychological testing she sheds light on the subject as well as shares her own experiences taking some of these assignments herself.

In this episode Sherry interviews Craig Hewitt of Castos, about what its been like for him and his family to living abroad in France for the past 5 years, especially as the pandemic has changed community life around the world. They also talk about the growth of his company and the ways people are using podcasts to increase the strength of connections given the new challenges. Rogue Startups Podcast

In this episode Sherry talks about a new addition to the family this year, their dog Gus. There are many studies linking mental health benefits to owning a dog, including providing a sense of companionship, connection, and combating loneliness. Sherry interviews her son about some of his favorite things he loves about having a dog.

In this episode Rob returns to the podcast to give some updates on what he has been working on. They discuss the expansion of MicroConf On-Air and his podcast (Startups For The Rest Of Us) as well as the progress being made on his new upcoming book. Sherry also gives updates on her journey finding a publisher for her new book.

Layout catch Sherry talks about what she is learning running her business/professional life and through trapeze training. For her trapeze training is her play. Play is important to how she conceptualizes well being and mental health. Play helps people feel hopeful, helps people rest, and restores motivation. In this episode Sherry gives some lessons trapeze has taught her that can be applied to your business.

In this episode Sherry asks the question, how do people heal in the aftermath of terrible experiences? So many of us are in the process of trying to recalibrate and reorient after a time of major upheaval, and grief. Sherry shares a personal story that she hopes can provide insight and demonstrate some key components for healing.

Sherry talks with Emily Fletcher, the founder of Ziva Meditation and a leading expert in meditation for performance. They talk about Emily’s upcoming program zivaKIDS!, a new resource that helps kids learn to meditate. zivaKIDS!

Sherry talks with David Burkus, author and former business school professor who holds a doctorate in strategic leadership, about his new book “Leading From Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams”. They discuss the opportunities of having a fully remote company, building culture remotely, tracking productivity and more. David’s Book

Today’s episode is a throwback to a pair of previous episodes that focused on the practice of taking a founder’s retreat. A retreat is a foundational practice that really helps establish mental heath and clarity that can change the tone of your both personal and professional life. Sherry’s Retreat Book

Sherry talks about the experience of having a conversation with a friend who holds a different political view. In that conversation they touched on all the hot topic issues happening in America today. Sherry identifies three components that made the exchange meaningful. Having trust, empathy, and humility is are the key components to finding our way back to having hard, meaningful conversations politically, personally and professionally. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks with Erik Kerr, founder of LifeTraq, about his companies approach to tackling mental health conditions including addiction through wearable technology. Erik explains the types of real-time data they collect, how to gamify it, and all the different applications for this technology. LifeTraq Want more content like this? Check out our book.

There is real value in just getting back to work and refusing the distractions. Sherry talks about the importance of getting back to work and not being shamed for it. Just trying to buckle down and do work amidst this huge disruption that is the pandemic. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In the final episode of this year Sherry talks about the importance of both looking back and setting your sights on whats to come. The ability to shift energy into the future, set intentions, and build momentum is an important mental health tool. Since change is the only constant, you must be able to enter the mental practice of change. Sherry created and gave her family members a questionnaire to help them think through their desires for the coming year. She shares some of the questions and topics of discussion. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry is joined by her friend Alon, a Toronto based entrepreneur, to talk about holiday traditions & religious traditions and the value that they have had at different times in their lives. They explore the ways traditions we had as children can shape us as adults and professionals. They also discuss the changes they will make this year to their traditions due to the pandemic. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks about the death of Tony Hsieh, American internet entrepreneur,venture capitalist, and CEO of Zappos. Though she didn’t know him personally she followed his work and things he did outside of business. Sherry challenges the myth that if you have wealth and fame that you’re exempt from self destruction. The truth is no amount of financial wealth, prestige, success, relationship guarantees our immunity from self destruction. With suicide rates rising, its important to not walk around with the delusion that you don’t have that capacity. Tell the truth about it so you can make sure it stays dormant and these stories will hopefully make you aware and careful of the painful places that live inside of you.

Sherry and guest Jeff Banman have a conversation about the nature of trauma. Jeff is a former solider, CIA agent , and firefighter who has a lot of experience in the subject. They discuss Jeff’s idea of trauma/PTSD as a “love wound” versus an event, as well as early life trauma and why its so important. Operational Mindset Foundation JeffBanman.com Want more content like this? Check out our book.