Twelve days after his 87th birthday, my grandpa passed away.

After we said our goodbyes at the funeral and shared a meal together, my family gathered back at his house.

That’s when many of them found out something they hadn’t known:

Several years before his passing, I sat down with my grandpa for six hours of interviews — just asking him questions about his life.

So we pulled out my uncle's Bluetooth speaker, set it on the floor, and for the first time together… listened.

His unforgettable laugh. His voice. His story.

It was one of the most connective family experiences I’ve had.

Originally, I never intended on publishing the recordings.

But after he passed, the first thing I turned to were those audio files.

And after relistening to all 6 hours, one thing became clear:

My grandpa’s story deserves to be told.

Born in a war-torn region of China. Immigrated to the U.S. at age 8 without either of his parents. Couldn’t speak the language. Worked himself to the bone making $5 per week to provide for his family. Faced loan rejection after loan rejection chasing the dream of opening his own restaurant…

… And somehow, through grit and the help of those who believed in him, he built a restaurant that became a staple of the Milwaukee community for 39 years.

But this story isn’t just about my grandpa...

It’s about your family’s stories too.

Because as much as I want you to hear about my grandpa’s journey, my intention is that it inspires you to do something simple yet powerful:

Click record, and get curious with the people you love.

When I sat down to interview my grandpa, I uncovered stories that even my dad didn’t know.

It deepened my self-awareness, helped me understand the mindsets passed from him to my dad… and ultimately to me.

It was a healing journey — and one that gave me the clarity to choose which beliefs I want to carry forward, and which ones I’m ready to evolve.

And finally — this episode is my way of consciously rewriting my grandpa’s story.

In the end, he didn’t believe his life was a success.

But I do.

And I hope it inspires you to reflect on the stories in your lineage — and the power we all have to shape the narratives that carry forward.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Kenny Fong

Brandon Fong introduces a uniquely personal episode dedicated to his late grandfather, Kenny Fong, who passed away on May 31, 2025. Brandon reflects on the emotional journey of capturing six hours of interviews before his grandfather's passing and how these recordings became a family treasure.

01:43 - The Power of Recording Family Stories

Brandon shares how recording these interviews became a priceless gift, both for preserving family history and deepening self-awareness. He encourages listeners to do the same with their loved ones.

03:03 - Rewriting a Legacy: Honoring Grandpa Fong’s True Success

Brandon explains his purpose behind sharing this episode—to consciously rewrite his grandfather’s story, which he believed wasn’t a success, despite its incredible substance.

04:43 - Escaping War-Torn China as a Child

Kenny recounts his childhood in Taishan, China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, revealing a life shaped by fear, survival, and early trauma.

07:05 - A Terrifying Journey to America at Age 8

Kenny shares the harrowing details of immigrating to the U.S. as a child, including a terrifying plane ride and being separated from his brother during immigration processing.

09:12 - Reuniting with His Father and Life in a New World

Kenny's first reunion with his father was awkward and distant, not the joyful moment he had imagined. He slowly adapts to life in America and later...

What would you do if your company demanded you cut 17% of costs — and the only “approved” way to do it… was to fire your people?

That’s the position Patrick Cowden found himself in during the 2008 financial crisis.

But instead of blindly following orders, he tried something radical:

He brought his entire team together to co-create the solution.

They found a way to save 17% without laying off a single person.

Problem solved, right? Wrong.

When he presented the plan, the company said: “Great. Do both.”

That moment was a turning point — not just for Patrick’s leadership… but for his life.

Because it showed him the system was broken.

And it led him to create a 42-year plan to rehumanize the way we connect, lead, and collaborate.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

• How Patrick gathered 85 people from around the world — monks, therapists, scientists, even someone experiencing homelessness — to uncover the universal principles behind trust, connection, and human flourishing
• Why it took six more years to refine those discoveries into a repeatable workshop — and how that same transformation now happens in just three minutes using his technology
• The technology that lets you see truth emerge from thousands of human perspectives in real time — and how it unlocks a new level of co-creation and clarity in teams

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Patrick Cowden

Brandon introduces the episode with a story that encapsulates Patrick's unique leadership approach and sets the stage for a deep dive into his 42-year plan to elevate human consciousness through technology and connection.

00:38 - Patrick explains his concept of "we reality"

Patrick shares a powerful philosophy: that true reality is a collective of all human perspectives. He introduces technology built to ensure every voice is heard, highlighting the need for connected decision-making.

01:55 - Behind-the-scenes of recording in person with Patrick

Brandon recounts spending an entire day with Patrick, from coffee and lunch to walking by the Fox River, emphasizing the deep connection and special setting of their in-person recording.

02:23 - The turning point in 2008 that sparked Patrick’s mission

During the financial crisis, Patrick defied corporate orders to lay off employees, instead co-creating a cost-saving plan with his team that preserved jobs—igniting his 42-year mission to rehumanize leadership.

04:14 - Three key highlights to look out for in the episode

Brandon previews the episode: Patrick’s global gathering to define trust and connection, refining it into a three-minute transformation via tech, and enabling real-time truth emergence through collective human perspectives.

06:52 - Using Warm Space for the International Day of Peace

Patrick describes how his platform, Warm Space, turned a traditional broadcast into an immersive, participatory event—scaling global peace efforts with a simple QR code.

11:22 - Patrick’s multicultural and military-influenced leadership roots

Patrick reflects on his upbringing under a U.S. Army drill sergeant father and his diverse corporate experience across American, German, and Japanese companies that shaped his human-centric leadership model.

16:56 - Defying corporate orders to prioritize people over profit

Patrick recounts refusing to fire 17% of staff at Hitachi during a crisis, instead proposing an alternative that saved money and accelerated growth—highlighting people-first leadership.

22:19 - Creating Beyond Leadership through global collaboration

Patrick explains how 85 diverse contributors—from monks to

What if shifting your entire reality and perspective of life could be as simple as jamming to one of your favorite songs?

After four months of experimenting, I can say this with full conviction:

AI music has become one of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered for upgrading my identity and living deeper into my core values.

Many approaches to belief and identity change are effective—but they can also feel heavy, complex, or abstract.

This episode is different.

I’ll take you behind the scenes of how I’m using AI-generated music to reprogram my belief system in a way that’s not just effective—but also joyful, seamless, and fun.

Inside this episode:

• Listen to 3x different AI songs I’ve created to shift my identity
• Follow along as I walk you through my exact creative process—so you can start using it too
• Watch me create a brand new song in real time, generating 2 powerful tracks in under 4 minutes (yes… writing lyrics, and having a jam worthy song in under 4 minutes)

By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a new way to integrate powerful identity shifts—not just intellectually, but emotionally and viscerally.

There is a VIDEO version of this episode if you want to see the walkthrough! Check it out here.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Brandon Fong (solo episode)

Brandon introduces a unique solo episode centered on a powerful new tool he’s using: AI-generated music. He shares that this episode is inspired by radical shifts in his own life and his desire to create more personal content. The focus today is on how AI music is being used to reprogram beliefs and identity.

00:01:18 - The three transformative uses of AI music

Brandon outlines three major ways AI music can impact lives: identity shifts, deepening relationships with loved ones, and simply for fun. In this episode, he zeroes in on using it for identity transformation.

00:02:01 - Introducing the AI-created "Beyond Curious" song

Brandon plays the AI-generated theme song “Beyond Curious,” created by inputting the show’s description and core values into ChatGPT. The song demonstrates the emotive power and authenticity achievable with AI music.

00:06:03 - The origin of Brandon’s AI music journey: Susan Drumm's influence

Brandon credits Susan Drumm’s book and podcast, The Leader’s Playlist, with introducing him to the concept of music-driven transformation. He recaps the key idea: shifting from an "old playlist" that reinforces limiting beliefs to a "new playlist" aligned with empowering identity.

00:08:20 - Clip from Brandon’s appearance on The Enlightened Executive podcast

Brandon shares a powerful clip where he discusses his old identity (driven by Ozzy Osbourne’s “I Don’t Wanna Stop”) and how he is transitioning into a more balanced version of himself through AI music.

00:11:13 - Debuting the transformational AI song “One Step at a Time”

Listeners are treated to a personal song representing Brandon’s new, grounded identity focused on presence, family, and intentional growth.

00:17:23 - The deeper meaning and purpose behind AI music in personal development

Brandon explains how having a song that resonates can reinforce a new belief system and serve as a daily anchor to live by.

00:18:03 - Explaining the Find Your Four framework

Brandon revisits his signature “Find Your Four” framework, tying it to the 80/20 rule and showing how understanding your most impactful 4% actions—and underlying 0.8% beliefs—can dramatically improve your...

When Annie Strauch was in high school, her choir teacher forced her to make a choice:

Pursue sports… or pursue music.

She chose sports…. but life had other plans 😃

Today, Annie is one of Australia’s leading vocal physiotherapists and the founder of Performance Medicine—a physical therapy practice that supports some of the biggest theatrical productions in the world: Hamilton, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and more.

Thanks to Annie’s work, world-class performers are able to take the stage night after night—while protecting their voices and bodies for the long run.

But Annie didn’t find this career path. She pioneered it.

And her journey to get here is nothing short of inspiring.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🎭 How she built a first-of-its-kind business in Australia that combined all her passions—art, science, music, performance, and healing
• 🍼 How Annie built a thriving business while having three kids in 3.5 years—and why that wild constraint became one of the greatest gifts in shaping a sustainable and scalable company
• 💡 Why she invested early in her “home team” just as much as her business team—and how that helped her thrive as both a founder and a mother

If you’ve ever wondered how to design a business that honors your creativity, your calling, and your capacity—this conversation is your permission slip.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Annie Strauch.

Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Annie Strauch, a pioneering physiotherapist in Australia whose work combines her passions for art, science, music, performance, and healing.

01:12 - Three insights to look out for in Annie’s story.

Brandon highlights Annie’s unique achievements: building a first-of-its-kind business, raising three children in under four years while growing her company, and her philosophy of investing equally in her home and business teams.

03:38 - Annie shares her excitement and appreciation for the podcast.

Annie and Brandon share mutual excitement, setting the stage for a candid, energetic conversation about Annie’s unconventional journey.

04:35 - The unique challenges behind the stage of “Storm Boy”.

Annie vividly describes working with the Melbourne Theatre Company on Storm Boy, tackling the unusual challenge of performers acting on synthetic sand dunes and how her team devised safe, creative movement workshops for the cast.

08:01 - Brandon and Annie discuss the hidden intricacies behind live performances.

They explore the often unseen physical demands on performers, costumes, lighting, and how Annie’s work ensures artists can perform safely night after night.

12:29 - Annie’s high school choir teacher’s ultimatum: music or sports?

Annie shares how her choir teacher forced her to choose between athletics and choir practice, a pivotal moment that foreshadowed her future of blending both worlds into a fulfilling career.

18:29 - How Annie embraced nonlinear thinking to blend her passions.

Brandon and Annie unpack her journey of fusing art and science, from choosing physiotherapy to fuel her love of travel to rediscovering creativity while building her career.

22:17 - Annie’s “spark moment” working in London’s West End.

She recounts how an unexpected opportunity at a prestigious London clinic introduced her to theatre physiotherapy, supporting productions like Billy Elliot and tackling challenges like the physical impact of raked...

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Trevor Blake

Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Trevor Blake, a returning guest known for his unique lifestyle and impressive entrepreneurial journey—having built and exited multiple nine-figure businesses with no employees, all while working under five hours a day.

00:45 - Eating ants and entering magical portals: Trevor's serendipitous night

Trevor recounts a bizarre yet magical experience involving eating ants (described as tasting like salt and vinegar) and a night of unexpected deep connections that tied directly into his business and media ventures.

02:15 - Recap of Trevor's accomplishments and lifestyle

Brandon highlights Trevor’s success, including his bestselling book Three Simple Steps, his scientific background, and his astonishing business feats, setting the stage for deeper discussion.

03:55 - Playing with elephants leads to an investor

Brandon teases an upcoming story where a simple desire to play with elephants serendipitously connects Trevor with a major investor, hinting at the themes of curiosity and nonlinear success.

06:04 - Trevor’s hidden lineage and the call to Norway

Trevor reveals a deeply personal story about discovering his biological father—a Norwegian naval officer—and the full-circle moment of traveling to his father’s homeland decades later.

10:00 - Redefining financial independence and real success

Trevor contrasts conventional financial advice with his own philosophy: true independence precedes financial flow. He and Jess are living proof, having shed material possessions to travel freely.

12:01 - Selling a company in a single day—while on a luxury cruise

While cruising, Trevor spontaneously decides to sell one of his companies. By dinner, the deal is done. He emphasizes living intuitively and letting life unfold with ease.

17:05 - Freedom through simplicity: Why now is the best time

Trevor celebrates how modern tools like Starlink enable living freely from anywhere. He critiques hustle culture and asserts that independence doesn't require millions—just a decision to live differently.

20:25 - Meeting extraordinary people through play and curiosity

Trevor shares how he’s constantly encountering aligned, successful individuals during his travels—simply by engaging authentically and not chasing outcomes.

28:25 - The elephant sanctuary story: Magic, tears, and a business breakthrough

Trevor details the emotionally profound encounter with elephants in Phuket. The experience was so moving he cried—and it ended with the unexpected bonus of meeting a Swiss doctor who became an investor.

34:22 - Quantum entanglement and serendipity: The physics of intuition

Trevor explains how quantum physics, specifically entanglement, can help make sense of magical meetings like the one in Thailand. When aligned with energy, he believes people and ideas naturally connect.

43:22 - Brain-forward vs. torso wand decision-making

Trevor introduces the concept of the “torso wand,” representing the alignment of the solar plexus, heart, and brain. He explains how shifting from analytical problem-solving to intuitive flow changed everything for him.

50:31 - Biography-inspired transformation: From bullied teen to nine-figure exits

Trevor credits reading hundreds of biographies as the foundation for creating his three simple steps. These helped him escape poverty, join the Navy, and later build wildly successful companies.

55:18 - Balancing brain, heart, and intuition for ease and...

Gil Petersil used to feel awkward speaking to people.

With English as his third language, Gil built his confidence by serving hundreds of homeless people… and going to speed dating events.

Today, he’s known as a global leader in the world of networking—building relationships with royalty in Indonesia and running thousands of events worldwide, including many for Tony Robbins.

There is SO much magic in this episode, but here are 3 fun things to look forward to:

• How cooking a chanterelle mushroom for spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle led to Gil producing his largest event in Russia (6,000+ people) and getting invited to vacation with Eckhart’s family
• Unlocking the power of “Quantum Networking” — and how Gil uses “time algorithms” and “networking codes” to build deep relationships
• What Gil learned about connection from being DISCONNECTED by spending 72 hours in complete darkness

If you’re ready to take your relationships to the next level, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Gil Petersil

Brandon sets the stage for a wildly engaging episode featuring global networking expert Gil Petersil, highlighting stories involving Tony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle, and even networking during a darkness retreat.

00:01:08 - The power of small actions and foreshadowing Eckhart Tolle

Brandon teases three key stories: Gil's time with the homeless, his mushroom-cooking moment with Eckhart Tolle, and how he networks in complete darkness.

00:02:28 - Gil Petersil's background and tea-powered facilitation

Brandon shares Gil’s impressive bio, including his quantum networking expertise and his integration of tea ceremonies into strategic facilitation work.

00:05:13 - Practicing networking with homeless people in London

Gil recounts his early 20s in London, where he left a corporate job and began engaging in deep conversations with homeless people to improve his English and develop human connection skills.

00:07:29 - Lessons in empathy and humanity from the streets

Gil reflects on the most powerful takeaways from those conversations: empathy, soul-level connection, and the realization that anyone can end up in difficult life circumstances.

00:12:26 - Cooking for Eckhart Tolle and building an unlikely bond

Gil recalls nervously preparing chanterelle mushrooms at a retreat—only for Eckhart Tolle to walk in and accept the meal, eventually leading to Gil organizing Tolle’s largest-ever event in Russia.

00:17:28 - Networking as a thousand-step journey with Eckhart Tolle

Gil discusses the year-and-a-half-long process to bring Eckhart to Moscow and the unexpected depth of their eventual connection, including a family vacation together.

00:18:40 - Disrupting networking norms through darkness retreats

Gil shares how 72 hours in complete darkness helped him identify and reconnect with significant people in his life, reflecting on his relationship to presence, time, and disconnection.

00:24:18 - Quantum networking and writing in the dark

Inside the darkness retreat, Gil used an ingenious system to write and meditate on networking entanglements, karmic energy, and deepening valuable relationships.

00:26:30 - Follow-up as soul nourishment, not CRM tracking

Gil breaks down his intuitive follow-up system, including daily practices like scrolling WhatsApp and re-engaging people with heartfelt, time-aware voice notes.

00:39:12 - Live experiment: Brandon challenges Gil to a real-time follow-up

In a spontaneous moment, Brandon has Gil scroll four times in his WhatsApp and send a...

Back in college, I took a $2,000 prize from a business plan competition in Sweden and made what seemed like a bold move at the time…

I invested all of it into an online course called Zero to Launch by Ramit Sethi.

One of the star students featured in the program?

Selena Soo.

Even then, I was blown away by her track record — so it was kind of a funny and full circle moment when my friend Jhana Li introduced me to her to bring her on the podcast to talk about her new book Rich Relationships.

Over the past 10 years, Selena has generated over $13M in revenue, built 400+ affiliate and referral partnerships, and helped thousands of entrepreneurs land features in places like Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and The Drew Barrymore Show.

But here’s what impressed me most:

Her intentional way of approaching relationships.

In this episode, we dive into some seriously transformational stuff, including:

• 💸 The “Generosity Fund” — a brilliant idea that redefines ROI in relationships and might make you rethink your Facebook ads budget
• 🔎 How to identify your unconscious patterns that may have lead to unhealthy relationships — and how to rewrite them
• 🫶 Selena’s “GIVE” Framework — how to make clear, generous asks that actually inspire people to want to support you

We also talk about the Six Circles of Connection — her mental model for protecting your energy and getting clear on which relationships to invest in and how.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to “network,” unsure how to ask for support, or drained by lopsided relationships…

This episode will rewire how you think about connection.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Selena Soo

Brandon Fong introduces the show and highlights Selena Soo's impactful work. He shares a personal full-circle story about discovering Selena through Ramit Sethi’s course and announces the main themes of today’s episode: the generosity fund, the GIVE framework, healing unhealthy patterns, and Selena’s six circles of connection model.

00:05:24 - Selena shares a story of her mother’s fearless curiosity and social grace

Selena recounts a touching story about her mother making an unexpected connection with a punk couple at a sushi bar in NYC. The anecdote illustrates the value of curiosity and presence in creating rich relationships, setting the stage for defining what those relationships look like.

00:10:22 - The serendipitous moment Selena met Ramit Sethi

Selena shares how spotting Ramit Sethi on the street led to a transformative mentorship. She describes going above and beyond by offering five hours of feedback instead of five minutes—an act of "breathtaking generosity" that became a pillar in her success and philosophy.

00:15:22 - What is a “rich relationship”? Selena defines her core concept

Selena outlines her definition: a relationship that enriches your life through abundance, alignment with your goals, and inspiration to become your best self. Brandon and Selena unpack the depth-over-width mindset for nurturing meaningful connections.

00:18:01 - Introducing Selena’s “Six Circles of Connection” framework

Selena dives into her popular model for managing relationship energy: Circle 1 (innermost) through Circle 6 (unconnected). She explains how to apply this model to prioritize and categorize relationships for personal and professional growth.

00:26:28 - How Selena uses a “Top 40 List” to stay in touch with key connections

Brandon asks how Selena operationalizes her relationships. Selena describes maintaining a dynamic list of 40 people to nurture throughout the year with a monthly “nurturing appointment” to stay connected and intentionally...

Here’s a small sample of where Johann Nogueira’s curiosity has taken him:

• Built a SaaS company from $0 to $20M in 4 years.
• Created a board game to teach his son how to build a business from $0 to $10M.
• Rallied 30+ companies and 600,000 people to launch a COVID app in 10 days — and why the Australian government and its 3 biggest tech companies came knocking
• Consulted for an IVF clinic and built an app that increased success rates by 35%.
• Oh, and he’s had three billionaire mentors.

Needless to say… Johann doesn’t think like most people.

This episode is a fascinating invitation into the mind of someone who solves BIG problems, plays a BIG game, and genuinely makes the world a better place.

Here are just a few things you’ll take away from this conversation:

• Why playing bigger can actually be easier — and more effective — than playing small
• How he built relationships with his billionaire mentors — and how they radically rewired how he thinks
• The exact mindset and strategies Johann uses to turn top competitors into high-leverage strategic partners

This one’s a peek into the mind of a man who plays the business game on an entirely different level.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Johann Nogueira

Brandon introduces the show and highlights Johann’s extraordinary background—building a SaaS company from $0 to $20M in 4 years, launching a COVID tracing app in 10 days, designing a business education board game for his son, and having 3 billionaire mentors.

00:04:32 - Johann’s board game: Teaching his son to build an 8-figure company

Johann shares how he designed a board game to simulate building a business, complete with strategies, setbacks like cyberattacks and lawsuits, and advanced features like dream team modules and capital reinvestment.

00:08:42 - The IVF app that increased pregnancy success rates by 35%

Johann discusses consulting with a major IVF clinic and identifying that stress was the biggest success barrier. He created an app delivering meditations and educational content during the critical two-week waiting period post-procedure.

00:11:09 - Engineering emotional intelligence through data and journey mapping

Johann explains how deep interviews and journey mapping led to the IVF app’s success, emphasizing Kaizen and emotional design to optimize user experience.

00:14:26 - COVID hits: The rapid launch of a contact tracing app with 600,000 supporters

Within 10 days of COVID lockdowns, Johann rallies 30 companies to build a contact tracing app. Despite political pressure and governmental interference, the project unites the tech community for public good.

00:18:31 - Playing bigger is easier: The psychology behind solving massive problems

Johann explains why aiming high attracts better resources and collaborators. He illustrates this through stories of helping others go from nothing to visionary goals with massive support.

00:21:07 - From PhD in agriculture to entrepreneurial powerhouse

Johann traces his journey from academia to financial freedom via eBay, affiliate marketing, lead gen, and ultimately founding multiple 7- and 8-figure companies by applying scientific rigor to business.

00:24:24 - A $365,000 problem solved with a mobile app: Real estate SaaS genesis

After noticing inefficiencies in building communication, Johann develops an app that eliminates paper notices, boosts community, and generates revenue through stakeholder services.

00:29:22 - Scaling from $0 to $20M: Identifying value and optimizing high-ticket offerings

Brandon and Johann break down...