ZenFounder

Sherry starts a new series of episodes, with co-host Alon, that provides guidance, support, and strategies for their community of entrepreneurial friends. They talk with friend Eric Rosenberg who struggles with his weight and has recently started a new diet program. Some of the things they touch include valuing yourself, self-discipline, finding balance, taking time and energy for self-care, and the history of trauma in your DNA and how it can affect the present. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

With the continued chaotic state of things and the US election thrown in the mix now, Sherry talks about the ways in which our bodies handle stress. The way we respond to stressors that are outside of our control is hardwired. When the body is overwhelmed it stops doing fight or flight and moves into numbing/detachment. Having done some new training in this area, Sherry is newly aware of the dangers of the numbing response. It feels good to detach in the short term but can present some dangers in the long run. She talks about how to observe what your body is doing and choose a counterbalance response. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry returns after a brief break from the podcast to talk about burnout. Having been feeling it herself she talks about the effects burnout can have on our neurological health and our bodies. While most people think burnout is the result of working too hard too long, it can also stem from a sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness. Sherry describes what symptoms to look for as well as some simple solutions. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry interviews Dr. Michael Freeman, a psychiatrist, psychologist, consultant and former CEO. Dr. Freeman has done extensive and ongoing research of collecting data on the mental health of entrepreneurs. In this conversation they talk about what he has learned over time in the mental health field about the entrepreneurial mindset. They discuss the biological and personality traits that are very common in entrepreneurs. Research Project Survey Touched with Fire Research Report Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Covid has forced parents into a unique situation in that whether you chose to home school your kids or not, its something everyone is now dealing with. Parents now have a higher demand on their time than ever before with this new model. Sherry and Rob talk about some of the best practices surrounding the challenge of how to help support kids in school/home-school/distance learning, while trying to maintain some level of professional productivity. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry interviews successful entrepreneur Aaron Houghton. Aaron started his first business at age 17 and sold two companies to private buyers for $169M before his 30th birthday. Despite all this success Aaron realized he still wasn’t happy and in fact the years of growing his businesses took a toll on his health as well. He suffered from panic attacks, debilitating anxiety, and a cancer diagnosis in 2009. This lead to him making some drastic changes to his life. He and Sherry talk about how personal happiness and business success are not interrelated the way we think and what to do about it. www.foundersfirstsystem.com Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Wildfires, hurricanes, civil unrest, Sherry asks the question: “How do we keep going when the bad news seems endless”? There is a real importance of returning and re-grounding to what is controllable to each of us. This sense of specific targeting a deep connection to your own self is a really helpful counterbalance to the unsettling world around us. She talks about how to connect with your body and space and exercises to achieve this. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

After a brief break from the podcast to put the finishing touches on her upcoming book, Sherry returns to talk about the balance between our internal disciplinarian and nurturer. Leaning into our own self discipline is important right now because there is so much chaos and disruption in the world and in our personal lives. Organization, repetition, and execution is the model that allows us to be highly functional. As important as self discipline is, if its the only voice within us we listen to it can become problematic. To understand the toll work takes on us and create space for healing we must also listen to our internal nurturer as well. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In these current times people are feeling nostalgia for a time before the pandemic, when you could give hugs, gather with friends, attend concerts, and just be in crowds. Looking back feels different than it did before covid as does looking toward the future. Sherry talks about mental health and our relationship with time. She explains how being future-past-and present oriented shapes how we relate to time and what it can mean for our well being. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Rob takes over the podcast this week. He talks about 5 things he’s learned from over 20 years of entrepreneurship in dealing with his own psychology. He admits to making much more mistakes on the personal side than the business side of things and hopes this episode can be of service to anyone juggling the demands of life and business. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry interviews Jonathan Stark, former software developer and author who is on a mission to rid the world of hourly billing. They discuss at length a book by Alfred Adler as it pertains to its application to entrepreneurs and mental health. The book talks about the basic theories that guide Adler’s work including the struggle between inferiority and superiority as well as social interest. Alfred Alder Book Jonathan Stark Episode 144: A Conversation with Jonathan Stark Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Rob joins the podcast again to talk about his current endeavors. They talk about the effect the pandemic has had on the MicroConf conferences, TinySeed batch two updates, and overall stressors. They also discuss the idea of Rob entering a different phase of his career, from scrappy builder to more well established with a deeper foundation as a businessman. This leads Rob to reflect back on one of his mentors that helped shape him into the person he is today. Rob’s Founder Origin Story Want more content like this? Check out our book.

The current state of the world has caused a major shifts in our lives. There has been a shuffling of our businesses, financial situations, lively hoods, relationships and it has been leaving people feeling confused on what they want. Its a value question. what you do want? whats do you fight for? what will you leave behind? Not knowing the answers to these questions can leave you vulnerable to drift towards other peoples and/or entities desires. Knowing the answers to these questions is what can carefully keep you on track. Sherry explores the deeper meanings behind these questions. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry talks with Pam Sherman., who she met during a TEDWomen conference in which Sherry had been invited to speak. Pam is an attorney, actress, writer, and leadership consultant who teaches businesses and entrepreneurs how to be fully emotionally present within the context of their leadership. They have a in depth conversation on the importance of being an emphatic leader for your team in these unprecedented times. thepamsherman.com Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks about change and the different types of change. Inside out change is change in our behavior because of our thoughts or feelings. Sometimes inside out change isn’t enough and that’s were outside in change and social pressure comes into play. This is the type of change we are seeing in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Sherry also reads an excerpt from her upcoming book about grief. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

As the smoke clears and the chaos subsides Minneapolis slowly starts to return to normal. However the message cannot be forgotten as it is too easy for the well off to pick back up their daily routines and just forget. Sherry talks about the issue of privilege and she shares some personal stories in which she benefited from her own privileges. As the country moves forward and changes for the better, its important to look within yourself, recognize your privileges, prepare for change, and call out the injustices being done to others.

In light of the tragic death of George Floyd, Minneapolis has erupted in protests and riots. This senseless loss of life from a psychological perspective causes grief, fear, and anger. A deep fracture of the basic sense of trust is at the heart of this type of turmoil. Losing trust in our leaders can lead to questions of safety. The fundamental question for us as entrepreneurs, as leaders, as humans, is how can we communicate our trustworthiness to others? Sherry answers this question by giving you the components of building trust. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry interviews the founder of The Hustle, Sam Parr. Sam shares his story which has a common theme of being able to shift and pivot as times change. Themes that really hold true today more than ever. They also explore the downside of “hustle”, what it costs to your personal or family life, and the importance of balancing “hustle” with mental health. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry talks about mothers, motherhood, entrepreneurship, mental health, and all the energy that goes into forming something or someone important. Mothers assume many different roles and shift back and forth between them in order to respond to what is needed. They are the original entrepreneurs, so take time to pause and notice and celebrate the mothers in our lives. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

This week Sherry interviews Dr. Dan Engle, a Psychiatrist and Neurologist who specializes in Transformational Medicine. He is someone who is at the forefront of emerging science of plant based medicines effectiveness in treating many kinds of mental health challenges. They talk at length about MDMA assisted psychotherapy and the breakthrough science around it. Dr. Dan Engle Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry talks about a challenge living in this pandemic is finding a sense of calm inside ourselves when the environment around us is not. She takes you through a guided meditation exercise to bring calm to your brain, breath, and body. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry talks with entrepreneur, author, and speaker: Ronsley Vaz. He is the producer of the audio documentary, The Psychology of Entrepreneurship, in which he dives deep into the unique mindset, mental habits, and perspectives of successful entrepreneurs. In this conversation, Sherry and Ronsley talk about how his work to understand others has led him to a deeper understanding of himself. Ronsley is the founder of Amplify, the world’s first audio marketing agency and the founder of the We Are Podcast event which will be hosted virtually in May. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry talks about the importance of shelter. Shelter is a place of safety and refuge. As the government mandated “shelter in place” is in full effect, Sherry explores the idea that shelter should also be solace and comfort in the things and people around us. Unfortunately not everyone feels safe in their home for many different reasons and a lack of safety in the place where you reside is one of the most disruptive human experiences. Sherry shares some key approaches to help reestablish safety in our homes, heads, and hearts. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In this episode Sherry talks about the topic of grief. Grief is sadness, but grief is also when things are outside of our control and disrupt our plans or intentions. We are all currently experiencing this right now as the pandemic continues and grieving over our cancelled plans, sense of well-being, and restrictions to our freedom of movement. Despite all this, grief can spark passion, purpose, and advocacy and show us what is really important in life. Grief doesn’t mean roll over, stay stagnant and do nothing. You have to face it, you have to name it. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks about ways to self assess and check for symptoms of internal unrest. As the global pandemic continues, and we are faced with a situation were we have limited control over things there’s in impulse to go, buy, hoard. All emotions we hold is shared with family and can be highly contagious, specifically fear and anxiety. In these times you need to be comfortable with letting go of control to benefit your mental health and your family. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

As part of a MicroConf Connect live stream hosted by Rob Walling, Sherry talks about how to stay mentally healthy and productive in these unprecedented times. Managing expectations, the importance of play, giving yourself permission to work less hours are some of the topics she dives into in this episode. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

As the global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus continues to increase, Sherry talks about the importance of finding your own relative spot of internal stability among the chaos around us. Finding moments away from the noise and changing our exposure to the ever changing information can help us find calm. She gives some tools and tips to help turn down our body’s emergency response systems and restore clarity. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In today’s episode, Sherry talks with software entrepreneur and Qigong healer Saud Juman. Saud tells his entrepreneurial and spiritual journey from the chaos of owning a night club in his twenties to completing 10 months of nocturnal solitude in order to find purpose. Once armed with his purpose he reveals how he entered the software world with a mission. Then ultimately how a martial arts injury lead him to find Qigong and how he became a healer. Saud Juman Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry interviews Andrew Warner of Mixergy about running, money, mental, and grief. They discuss his accomplished goal of running a marathon in every continent, how he has improved as a businessman, and some personal changes that he’s experienced recently. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In today’s episode, Sherry interviews Emily Fletcher, the founder of Ziva Meditation and author of Stress Less and Accomplish More. Emily make meditation accessible for busy folks and high performers. Their conversation covers 3 simple meditation strategies specifically designed for busy entrepreneurs. Emily also unveils her plans to create a medication course for children. Ziva Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks with Marine Corps Veteran, speaker, adventurer, and entrepreneur, Akshay Nanavati. He talks about how life experiences come from engaging in the extremes of the human condition and that darkness isn’t something avoid but to be sought after in order to appreciate the light of life. After serving in the military he was diagnosed with PTSD, not satisfied with conventional treatments he started healing himself using hostile environments and pushing his own physical limits. From cave diving to climbing mountains, he used it as a form of therapy. FEARVANA Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks with registered dietitian, author, and speaker Irene Pace, who with over 15 years of experience has been helping people think through how to eat well. Having had her own personal struggle with food in the past Irene has developed a unique way of approaching these issues and sees eating as an opportunity to practice mindfulness. She shares her steps to achieving a “nutrition reset” by identifying the types of hunger you experience and answering three simple questions. Irenepace.ca Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry shares the results of a recent study that found a new intervention for some of the most complicated mental health problems we face as a society today. So what is this magical cure? If you think it comes in pill form then you would be wrong. It’s far simpler than that. It’s Exercise! Exercise as a treatment was able to help improve many of the most difficult conditions and yet it is a very uncommon diagnosis. Sherry explores the idea of changing the way her field of study approaches the mind-body connection. Article referenced in this episode HERE. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks with motivational speaker Patrick Combs, about the important art of telling your own story. He believes that leaders should know their story and how to tell it because in business it can create trust. Bliss Champions Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry experiences a close call while on vacation with her family. She slips off a suspension bridge, but thanks to her new found ninja skills (from aerial yoga), she’s able to grab a rope mid-air and avoid major injury. She uses the story as a reminder that as entrepreneurs the things we practice, the things we do repeatedly, will be available to us in a time of need. She also talks about the new year being a time for picking a theme of growth, and for her this year’s theme is focus: being more intentional and organized within her business. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

As the holiday season is upon us, Sherry reflects back on this past year. A year she describes for herself as being filled with darkness, grief, and loss. This has brought an awareness for a need for hope. She talks about participating in holiday traditions that mean something to you and some tips for those who aren’t feeling very joyful and merry this season. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

We don’t know what challenges and gifts life has in store, but we know that the ups and downs will come. How do you enhance your ability to manage, embrace, battle, and cope with the tough stuff? AND be someone who is constantly learning, growing and pressing in to an extraordinary and joyful life? I’ve been thinking about these questions a lot. And I like the term “capacity building” to describe the process of expanding both to cope with challenge and to build greater joy. Robert Glazer has been thinking about capacity building for years. He’s a CEO and best-selling author. He also writes a weekly newsletter called Friday Forward which is one of the only newsletters that I actually read. We had a great conversation about anxiety, parenting and his relentless commitment to expanding human capacity. We discuss his book, Elevate and the simple practices that are core to living a grounded yet optimized life. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Following MicroConf Europe, Sherry and Rob talk about the idea of having diversity of ideas and backgrounds at events (or in communities) and what roles leaders/organizers can play in welcoming diversity. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Coping with recent losses, sparked a curiosity about how people dive deep into challenging times. Sherry has also been doing a lot of research in different forms of healing and ways to process grief. This leads us to her most recent mediation practice of mixing breathing techniques, meditation, and the shooting of guns at a gun range. She talks about the lessons she carried away from the experience.

Sherry sits down with Adii Pienaar, fresh off of his exit from Conversio. They talk about how entrepreneur’s identities often become intertwined with their businesses and the importance of finding something outside of that. For Adii this is a love for poetry. He shares his journey of finding poetry and also shares some of his work. Adii’s book “Motion” Want more content like this? Check out our book.

In honor of mental health awareness day, Sherry tells the story of her brother’s suicide 5 months ago. In an intensely personal episode, she talks about the isolation that this type of loss can cause, the struggle to maintain her business during this season of disruption, and trying to grapple with her own mental health in the wake of this loss. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks about the life enhancing power a good hobby can have. At a time of grief from the loss of family members, her own hobby aerial sling, helped her cope and balance herself. Sherry also discusses how hobbies outside of work can help sustain and protect our mental health. Want more content like this? Check out our book. Video of an Aerial Sling performance by Sherry

Sherry talks with ZenFounder team member Brooke Bergman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, about specific problems that entrepreneurial couples face as well as introducing the idea of “erotic energy” and how it can be properly used in the business and in the relationship. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

As the seasons begin to change from summer to fall it brings new sets of challenges. Not everyone likes change or deals with it the same. These changes in an entrepreneur’s life could be a key employee leaving, adding new teams members, etc. In this episode Sherry stresses the importance of anticipating change with a sense of calm. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry interviews Jordan Axani of Shift Collab, about his journey into the mental health space. During a time in which he was part of a viral internet story and had high momentum professionally, personally he was at a low. He talks about how a TED Talk invitation changed his outlook and focused his energy towards mental awareness. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks with Alda Karen of MINDX, about how she has taken her own battle with chronic depression and turned it into a tool to help others with their mental health. Her unique approach incorporates virtual reality to help train the mind. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Using the example of Mister Rodgers taking off his suit jacket and work shoes when he gets home in exchange for a sweater and casual shoes in the intro of Mister Rodgers Neighborhood, Sherry talks about shifting versions of yourself. How what works with your business self will not translate to your home/family self and how to help make those transitions successful to meet the different needs of each. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry interviews successful entrepreneur, Kelsey Ramsden about life after success. Even after you’ve reached every milestone, and accomplished every goal, there still may be a feeling of emptiness. They explore how successful entrepreneurs answer the what’s next question. Check out Kelsey’s book: Success Hangover Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry talks about some of the common kinds of loss that entrepreneurs face both in their professional and business lives. She discusses the importance of grieving those losses and steps to take to grieve in a healthy way. Want more content like this? Check out our book.

Sherry interviews Jason Fried of Basecamp, about some of the ways his remote company helps team members connect with each other. They also discuss other topics including burnout, sleep, what does calm mean to him, and how he has maintained a long term business partnership. Love this conversation? Check out Jason’s latest book. It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work. Want more content like this? Check out our book. Episode transcript: Rob Walling: In this week’s episode of ZenFounder, Sherry interviews none other than Jason Fried of Basecamp. It’s a really good interview. Sherry talks to Jason about all manner of things ranging from family life, to building a company slowly and deliberately. One thing that I really like about Jason is just how genuine he is. He really doesn’t have anything to hide. I met him for the first time in person at MicroConf just a few months ago. And I was struck by just how normal he is given his amazing success with Basecamp and his numerous New York Times bestsellers and everything he’s accomplished in his life. We just had a conversation about life, and about kids and family, and where we lived and just normal day to day things. And I liked that he was real and that carried on to the stage. I hosted a moderated Q&A where I asked him questions about his history in growing Basecamp and what he thinks of bootstrapping today, and all kinds of stuff. And he just answered the questions. That sounds so simple, but so much of the time when you are around people who have had success, especially in certain circles, I’ll say startup circles are notorious for this. People are puffing up their chests and they’re saying things that make them look good, or they come up with this, you know, a theory so that they can name it after themselves or something. Or you see someone on a panel and you know that their business isn’t doing great and they’re saying all these things like they know everything. That’s not what MicroConf is about, and B, that’s not what Jason was about at all. He was just about talking from his experience, and that’s something that I really respect about him and others who I know who are successful, but they let their success talk for them. They don’t sit there and trumpet it themselves. And so with that, let’s get started with the interview. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Sherry Walling: Welcome to the ZenFounder podcast. This is a place where we have conversations about mental health and entrepreneurship. We have a pretty broad conceptualization of what mental health means. Sometimes depression, anxiety, sometimes relationships or physical health. The goal here is to bring some calm into the crazy rollercoaster of ups and downs that is life for many entrepreneurs. I’m your host, I’m Dr. Sherry walling. I’m a clinical psychologist and an entrepreneur, married to an entrepreneur, live in the world of entrepreneurs, and I’m so pleased that you have joined us for this conversation. Sherry Walling: So, I gave a talk at a conference about a year ago and at the end of the conference people were sharing their take home and they were like, “What did you get out of these two days of content? And it made me feel good, but a number of people were like, “Sherry’s talk about sleep is the thing I’m going to take home from this $2,500 conference that I invested in for my business.” And I spent 20 minutes talking about the importance of sleep for having a sound mind that works well at work. And I know that’s something that you’ve spent, apparently, a lot of time thinking about, or you just knew intuitively, but what is the deal with slee...