EP. 112 No matter how far or fast you fall, if you’ve helped enough people, you’re always going to come out on top.

Kris Dehnert used to be an opportunist. He was ‘good enough’ to crush a wide range of projects and this skill led him to found eight different businesses in a variety of verticals including fitness, real estate, eCommerce and consulting. Kris made a lot of money driven by the ‘lie’ that he was doing it for the family. 

Until the day he nearly died…

The year was 2015 and his first daughter was just a few months old. The abdominal pain was so intense, Kris was forced to take refuge on the floor of a Starbucks restroom. But instead of visiting the hospital, Kris decided to return home, take some pills, and carry on. After all, he had meetings booked and deals to close.

When the pain didn’t subside after a few days, Kris did go to hospital – and the prognosis wasn’t good. He needed emergency surgery and was given a 30% chance of surviving.

Post surgery, Kris had time to reflect on his choices. This near life-ending experience forced Kris to reassess everything in his life. He learned to say no, he overhauled his priorities, and he figured out how to build a business and a life by design.

Fast-forward to January 2020, and Kris just had his second baby – but his life is unrecognisable. He’s still a hustler, but he only works on meaningful projects that he loves – such as Dugout Mugs, which is currently experiencing exponential growth.

Kris’s story is an inspiration. He’s proof that when you know your why, anything is possible. Check out some of the things Kris and I discuss in this powerful episode:

• How does being a father make you a better entrepreneur?
• How do you escape the trap of equating busy with valuable?
• Why you must remove yourself from the things you’re not good at.
• The power of saying NO.
• The blessings that show up when you align yourself back on your path.
• The full story of how Kris nearly died.
• Why it’s OK to not finish the books you start.
• The story behind the exponential growth of Dugout Mugs.
• And more…

“When you subscribe to the Stay Grounded Podcast, you help new people discover the show. And it means the podcast will automatically show up in your app of choice every time a new episode is released on Mondays.”

Kris Dehnert

EP. 111 Presence gives us the capacity to experience what we’re experiencing, but with an internal container that can hold that experience in such a way that we aren’t completely overwhelmed or burdened by it.

I’ve had a long-held goal to interview someone like today’s guest for the podcast. An individual who spent time living in isolation as a monk while living inside the realities of chaos in today’s fast-paced world.

So when I met my good friend Cory Muscara a year ago, it felt like divine timing! Cory is an international speaker and teacher on the topics of mindfulness and positive psychology – a journey that began with a desire to impress a girl.

This ‘hippy’ college girlfriend sparked Cory’s interest in meditation. After their relationship broke down, Cory’s pain called him to take meditation more seriously. In turn, he spent six months in silence living as a monk in Burma where he’d meditated for over 14 hours a day.

As a result of this experience, Cory is now in a beautiful position where he can bridge the gap between monk-like enlightenment – and those of us seeking truth amongst the triggers and challenges of everyday life.

A frequent guest on the Dr. Oz show and an instructor of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Cory’s on a mission to help people embody the principles of mindfulness in a practical and relatable way. His meditations have been heard more than 10 million times in over 50 countries, and he lives on Long Island where he offers workshops and retreats.

Cory is also the new author of Stop Missing Your Life. How To Be Deeply Present In An Unpresent World. In this book, Cory offers a roadmap that will help you reconnect with your life in a beautiful way.

Our conversation gets very meta, but it’s also highly practical. In this deep conversation, Cory explains how to create presence. A state when you experience the fullness of yourself – without shutting down, turning away, or numbing the sensations of the moment.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What is presence – and how to deepen into it.
• Why curiosity is the opposite of fear.
• What Cory learned about life in a Bermese monastery.
• How to build a better relationship with the voice inside you.
• What is intuition?
• The pebble method that guides you to know what to do at any moment.
• Why being OK with not being yourself is the ultimate expression of self-love.
• The problem with trying to transcend the ego before you’ve befriended it.
• The “Good luck, bad luck – who knows…” parable for a better life.
• And more…

I had so much fun with Cory and I know you’ll love this episode too. Check out this episode now and discover simple secrets for a more fulfilling life.

“When you subscribe to the Stay Grounded Podcast, you help new people discover the show. And it means the podcast will automatically show up in your app of choice every time a new episode is released on Mondays.”

Cory Muscara

EP. 109 It’s the pursuit and the process of doing something — not the outcome — that actually matters.

This episode turned out a little different than our usual format! I’ve spoken with Sachit Gupta countless times. So in this episode, I was keen to see what would happen if we dived down the rabbithole with zero expectations.

And the result was pure gold!

Sachit is the deep-thinking, creative genius behind Platforms Media – a company that helps amplify podcasters, authors, and other creatives by creating win-win partnerships with brands. Through this platform, Sachit has worked on marketing campaigns with top podcasters including Tim Ferriss of the Tim Ferriss Show, Andrew Warner of Mixergy, and Seth Godin, as well as social media influencers and international sports stars. In addition to his work with top creatives, Sachit is also the host of the Conscious Creators Show – where he helps his listeners make a life through their art without selling their souls.

Creativity runs through his blood and I was excited to learn more about his take on this crucial topic. But we didn’t stop there… As the deep-dive continued, Sachit and I explored a delicious mix of topics that stretched from fear, courage, curiosity, to how to live a fulfilling life.

If you’re curious to be a fly-on-the-wall as two creatives discuss creativity, life, and more, this is your chance! Check it out now.

This is one of those episodes where our conversation will get you thinking and contemplating about your own creativity and life. So if you’re ready to be challenged and engage in deep thought with myself and today’s guest, dive in now.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why society is driven by creation.
• How to define creativity and where inspirational sparks come from.
• How to get clear on your best next steps and why the answers come when you take action.
• Why helping someone else gets you out of a funk and creates space for creativity.
• How to reach out to friends you haven’t contacted for a while – and why it’s important to do this.
• Why we’re scared of being seen starting something small.
• The danger of believing ‘borrowed’ stories.
• And more…

Be sure to watch out for the listener challenges too and let us know how they impact your life.

“When you subscribe to the Stay Grounded Podcast, you help new people discover the show. And it means the podcast will automatically show up in your app of choice every time a new episode is released on Mondays.”

Sachit Gupta