Today we talk to Greg Bennick. He’s a punk rocker, activist, documentary filmmaker, philanthropist, keynote speaker, juggler and expert coin collector. He’s also written a new book, Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now.

I could have talked to Greg for an hour about any one of these parts of his life - he’s got a way of making everything that interesting. We talk about Seattle’s teen dance ordinance, a real-life Footloose law that he helped overturn. We talk about how punk music is really just love songs. And we explore the central themes that tie all of his various pursuits together.

If you ever struggle with focusing on what matters, finding your purpose or trying to figure out what makes you special in this world - this conversation is for you.

Connect with Greg:
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn

Key Takeaways:

1. Changing the system from within: Greg’s involvement in overturning Seattle’s teen dance ordinance showcases the power of grassroots advocacy and persistence when making changes from within the system.
2. Straight edge movement: Explore a subgenre of punk that emphasizes a lifestyle free of alcohol and drugs that is centered around the love of music..
3. Majestic failures: Nobody advertises their failures. But behind every best-selling book or successful keynote speech are dozens of failures that paved the way for the success everyone sees.
4. Re-inventing yourself throughout your career: Your journey is unique. You have more to offer the world than you think. Deciding what to do next in your career is not about what, but why.
5. Focus and Balance: Strategies to maintain focus and balance in a world filled with distractions, as discussed in Greg’s upcoming book, “Reclaim the Moment.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Podcast: Let the Kids Dance (KUOW & NPR) – A deep dive into the history of Seattle's teen dance ordinance.
• Books:
  • Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
  • Art and Artist by Otto Rank
  • Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• Upcoming Book: Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now by Greg Bennick

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

Connect with Bob Mathers
Website
LinkedIn

Today, we talk to Peter Laughter. Peter is an expert in crafting stories and coaching people to find purpose in their lives and in their work.

Peter talks about how growing up with dyslexia and ADHD drew him to storytelling as a way to cope with the world around him. He also shares practical tips on building your storytelling muscle to connect emotionally with people in a way they’ll never forget.

Then we talk about purpose - you know, that thing you’re supposed to have that gives your life meaning? Peter believes you already have one, everyone does - it’s simply a matter of revealing it. And once you know it, all the big decisions in your life that you’re struggling with - around your career and relationships - become much simpler.

Finally, we explore the crisis leaders face today with the lack of engagement most people feel at work. If leaders really care about tapping into the creativity of their teams, they need to abandon traditional hierarchies and push decision-making out to the farthest reaches of the organization.

Takeaways

• The Power of Names: Names carry profound meaning and can shape our identities and interactions with others.
• Storytelling as Connection: Storytelling is a tool for creating deep emotional connections and fostering empathy.
• Reinvention and Purpose: Navigating career transitions requires a clear sense of purpose and the courage to explore new paths.
• Non-Hierarchical Organizations: Shifting from traditional hierarchies to distributed authority can unlock innovation and engagement.
• Experimentation in Leadership: Starting small and experimenting with new approaches can lead to meaningful change in organizations.

Resources:
The Moth
Adam Wade's Storytelling Classes
Reinventing Organizations by Frédéric Laloux
Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini
Chip Conley - Modern Elder Academy

Connect with Peter:
LinkedIn
X
True Bearing
Peter’s TedX talk on Radical Empathy

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

Connect with Bob Mathers
Website
LinkedIn

Today we talk to Kelsey Ramsden. Kelsey is an entrepreneur, author and speaker but if you ask her, she’d say she’s a creator. By 26, Kelsey was running her own construction company and was ranked the top female entrepreneur of the year by Profit magazine - 2 years in a row. Yet despite the financial success and industry accolades, she had never felt so depressed and alone.

Kelsey is vulnerable and honest as she shares her struggles with mental health and how a psychedelic therapist helped her find the clarity she needed. Since then in typical Kelsey fashion, she’s gone on to start two new companies on the forefront of psychedelic mental and sexual health.

We talk about the misconceptions around psychedelics, the growing body of research for treating depression, anxiety and opioid addiction - and how getting easy access to legalized therapy is closer than you think.

Connect with Kelsey
Website
LinkedIn
Play is the new PHD: Kelsey Ramsden at TEDxKelowna
Book: Success Hangover: Ignite your next act. Screw your status quo. Feel alive again

Takeaways

• You don’t need to know your purpose. You can stay open to opportunities and take what comes. But if you always go with the flow, you can end up in a place that crushes your soul.
• Some of the most tragic parts of our lives are required education.
• Nobody learned to ride a bike without skinning their knee. Yet somehow as adults, we’re taught to expect success the first time. The only failure is not jumping.
• Psychedelic research has shown amazing promise for depression, anxiety, PTSD and opioid addiction.
• Legalized psychedelic therapy is coming. MDMA therapy could be legalized in parts of the US in the next 12 months.
• If you’re interested in exploring psychedelic therapy, rely on trusted sources of information and ask targeted questions to find the right facilitator.

Resources
Tim Ferriss Podcast - For discussions on psychedelics and mental health.
"How to Change Your Mind" on Netflix.
Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

Connect with Bob Mathers
Website
LinkedIn