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The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
Ben Laws
57 episodes
6 days ago
Hosted by Ben Laws, the MaxLife Podcast goes beyond the highlight reel to bring you real, unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs and high performers. We dive into their journeys—the wins, the struggles, and the game-changing moments that shaped their success. These are raw, free-flowing conversations about business, relationships, health, and the mindset shifts that lead to massive growth. Our mission is to fire you up and inspire action—whether it’s a bold business move, a new habit, or a fresh perspective that changes everything.
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Entrepreneurship
Business
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All content for The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws is the property of Ben Laws and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Hosted by Ben Laws, the MaxLife Podcast goes beyond the highlight reel to bring you real, unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs and high performers. We dive into their journeys—the wins, the struggles, and the game-changing moments that shaped their success. These are raw, free-flowing conversations about business, relationships, health, and the mindset shifts that lead to massive growth. Our mission is to fire you up and inspire action—whether it’s a bold business move, a new habit, or a fresh perspective that changes everything.
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Entrepreneurship
Business
Episodes (20/57)
The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#57 (New Year Re-Release): Why Successful Entrepreneurs Never Say "I'm Busy"- Liz Hartke's Game-Changing Leadership Hack

Get Liz’s Clarity Prompt at: https://luminaryleadershipco.com/clarity or DM the word CLARITY to Liz on Instagram @elizhartke 

DM the word SCHEDULE  to liz on Instagram @elizhartke to get the Visionary CEO schedule

In this conversation with leadership advisor Liz Hartke, we uncover the hidden patterns that keep high performers stuck in the trap of “busy,” even when they appear successful on the surface. Liz shares the transformative mindset shifts and tactical frameworks that help entrepreneurs step fully into visionary leadership — without sacrificing their families, freedom, or fulfillment.

You’ll learn:

  • The 4 levels of leadership (and how to know which one you’re really operating from)

  • Why hustle is often just a mask for insecurity or misalignment

  • How to design your business to elevate your life — not consume it

  • A countercultural approach to growth rooted in clarity, peace, and long-term legacy

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing everything right” but still feel off-track, this episode is you

Guest Bio

For over a dozen years, Liz has served as a Business and Leadership Advisor to thousands of ambitious entrepreneurs internationally - including greats like JOHN C. MAXWELL - helping them exponentially grow in business while unlocking their God-given potential. Liz is the award winning founder and CEO of the Luminary Leadership Co. and is proud to work alongside her incredible team and husband, while also homeschooling their 4 kids from their farm property. Through her competitive masterminds, mentorship, and online programs, Liz has broken the mold on what it looks like to go from busy work, to your life’s work, while honoring the areas of life that matter most. Her expertise and unconventional wisdom has been featured in media outlets including Forbes, Fast Company and Entrepreneur. She’s personally mentored top industry leaders, and has spoken on stages throughout the world. 

After losing their 5th baby at 17 weeks pregnant, and experiencing a miraculous event after nearly losing her life herself, Liz is fiercely passionate about getting ambitious entrepreneurs out of the trap of busy, and into visionary leadership where they can access the intentional, meaningful, and freedom-filled lives they crave.

https://luminaryleadershipco.com/

https://www.instagram.com/elizhartke/

Resources & Mentions

Get Liz’s Clarity Prompt at: https://luminaryleadershipco.com/clarity or DM the word CLARITY to Liz on Instagram @elizhartke 

DM the word SCHEDULE  to liz on Instagram @elizhartke to get the Visionary CEO schedule

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Liz’s Podcast: Your Big Next Podcast

10X is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Ben Hardy

https://luminaryleadershipco.com/


Show more...
6 days ago
1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#56 (New Year Re-Release): The Science Behind Inner Mastery with Joey Klein

A Perfect New Year Revisit
As we kick off a new year, we wanted to reshare one of our favorite conversations from this past summer. This episode hits differently when you’re setting intentions, evaluating your direction, and deciding how you want to show up in the year ahead.

Consider this a reset, a reminder, or the spark you didn’t know you needed right now.

______


Most leaders optimize their calendars, teams, and tech—but ignore the one system that runs it all: the self.

In this raw and revelatory episode, Joey Klein—transformational coach, martial artist, and founder of Inner Matrix Systems—joins Ben Laws to explore:

  • Why personal mastery is the lever that scales your business

  • The inner “operating system” running your emotional reactivity

  • How to train resilience like a muscle (and why willpower isn’t enough)

  • The 4-step method Joey uses to reprogram thoughts and behaviors

  • Why alignment—not hustle—is the true edge for entrepreneurs

  • What elite leaders do internally that others never see

This is a masterclass in emotional conditioning, visionary leadership, and the inner technology that fuels outer performance.

Guest Bio

Joey Klein is a Transformation and Mastery Expert, Author, Speaker, and the Founder & CEO of

Inner Matrix Systems, a personal mastery training system for high achievers. He is the author of The Inner Matrix: Leveraging the Art & Science of Personal Mastery to Create Real Life Results and his book, Relationship Alchemy: A Practical Guide to Getting Along Well With

Others.

Since starting Inner Matrix Systems in 2002, Joey has trained over 84,000 individuals worldwide, including executives from Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes to ensure their vision is not only enduring but actually creates the fulfillment and impact they desire. After crawling out of the ditch of a hard-partying lifestyle that culminated in a near-death experience at 19 years old, Joey set out on a journey to find peace and joy for himself. He became obsessed with figuring out how to make instant transformation possible, a quest which took him all over the world to study different traditional disciplines like meditation, martial arts, and spiritual traditions.

Upon his return, he studied with expert psychologists and neuroscientists, ultimately leading him to create his proprietary Inner Matrix Method. While instant transformation is possible, Joey’s enduring passion is training mastery inside himself and his clients to truly live the life that’s possible for each one of us As a result of his research, training, and experience, Joey has long been considered an expert on the inner game of performance and is passionate about supporting his clients to live their life all-out with fulfillment and purpose. He embodies this passion through his core values of Excellence, Ownership, Mastery, Integrity, and Results.

Among his clients, Joey has a reputation of fixing un-fixable problems, removing the obstacles that keep them from the life of their dreams, and making himself responsible for their desired outcome until it’s fulfilled. He puts himself directly in the trenches with every client to ensure they achieve the results they’re looking for. His methods are direct, comprehensive, and proven to produce the desired outcome every time.

Joey currently lives in Colorado and enjoys hiking, skiing, and mountain biking to fulfill his desire for fun and adventure.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyklein/

https://www.facebook.com/JoeyKleinIMS/

Instagram: @therealjoeyklein


Resources & Mentions

The Inner Matrix

Relationship Alchemy

joeyklein.com


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1 week ago
1 hour 51 minutes 55 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#54: The Hidden Patterns Blocking Your Growth (And How to Find Them) with Patrick Walker

In this episode of The Max Life Podcast, Patrick Walker reveals why blind spots aren’t flaws—they’re signals. Learn how to work with discomfort, feedback, and altered states to uncover your true edge as a leader and human being.

Guest Bio

Patrick Walker is an accomplished entrepreneur, strategic consultant and coach with over three decades of experience navigating all aspects of starting and growing a business through disruptive change and reinvention in challenging markets, industry upheaval and technological change. As a senior consultant, Patrick consults with leaders at all levels in organizations from

Fortune 500 companies to smaller regional firms, Patrick’s work has been both broad and deep, including strategic consulting, exit and succession planning, attracting and retaining top talent, as well as helping both individuals and organizations to identify, work with, and grow beyond their blind spots – a process necessary in business environments of rapid change and increasing complexity.

As the founder of a digital design and manufacturing company, Patrick wore all the usual entrepreneurial hats, but it is in the areas of individual and team development and growth that he is most keenly focused, and has trained with Integral Coaching Canada, The Neuroleadership Institute, The Center for Applied Rationality, Otto Scharmer, Robert Kegan and Terri O’Fallon.

Patrick’s approach is playful but direct, supportive but challenging, and he is devoted to finding that sweet spot that we all require in order to continue our personal and professional evolution – enough discomfort that we’re sufficiently engaged and open to new ideas and behaviors, but not so much that we are overwhelmed - all in service to healthy transformation and sustainable new outcomes. He also loves to read, study and travel with his wife Jeanne, and also plays music - which he did many years ago on cruise ships for 2 years, right after a season on a crab boat out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, which was between semesters during his studies at Western  Washington State University in Elementary Education. He will readily admit to his “checkered past.”

https://www.northish.com 

https://thetelosinstitute.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickwalker4/

https://www.instagram.com/thisisnorthish/

Resources & Mentions

Add link to Finnian Kelly Episode

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan

wecroak.com


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3 weeks ago
1 hour 30 minutes 45 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#53: The 3 Habits That Make You Unshakeable (from a 30-Year Trial Lawyer) with Carl Ficks

Carl Ficks spent over 30 years thriving in one of the most high-pressure jobs on the planet. Now, he coaches leaders on how to lead with emotional clarity, stay consistent under fire, and build trust from the inside out.

In this episode of The Max Life Podcast, you'll uncover three habits that protect your energy, sharpen your thinking, and help you lead without losing yourself — especially when it’s hard.

The first 20 commenters on YouTube get a free copy of Carl's book!

Guest Bio

Carl R. Ficks, Jr., J.D. helps leaders fire up their teams, boost engagement, solve problems collaboratively, and lead with emotional intelligence. A former trial lawyer with 30+ years in the trenches, Carl knows how to thrive under pressure - and teaches others to do the same. He’s a trusted advisor to organizations and nonprofits, an endurance athlete who believes resilience is a superpower, and a frequent voice on leadership and legal podcasts. Carl has a bi-weekly newspaper column titled “The Friday Ficks” and is a contributing author to both the #1 International Bestseller THE WISDOM COLLECTION: Stories That Transform How We Live, Connect, and Lead, and THE DIFFERENCE: Essays on Loss, Courage and Personal Transformation.

https://carlficks.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlrficksjr/

https://www.facebook.com/carl.ficks.1

@carlficks

Resources & Mentions

The Difference: Essays on Loss, Courage, and Personal Transformation 

The Friday Ficks

Rage Against the Dying of the Light by Dylan Thomas

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)


Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 46 minutes 59 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#52: How Stress Masquerades as Drive with Jeff Benton

Jeff Benton—advisor to Special Forces, pro athletes, and Fortune 500 leaders—reveals how stress hides in plain sight, disguised as ambition. Discover the simple physiological shift that restores clarity, energy, and connection most high performers never realize they’ve lost.


Guest Bio

Jeff Benton, Founder & CEO of Paragon Performance Evolution, focuses on peak performance training through various aspects of personal and collective growth. By developing customized leadership and high-performance programs, Paragon’s focus is to create significant impact for individuals and client organizations, ranging from FORTUNE 500 companies to Special Forces, professional athletes, leading academic institutions, Global First Ladies, and astronauts.

The core of Paragon's teachings revolve around achieving a coherent state through self-regulation and increased awareness of thoughts and emotions. By helping individuals attain this state of coherence, it enables them to optimize key brain functions and improve overall physiology, leading to greater clarity, presence, joy and gratitude. This enables an individual to achieve greater overall performance, and also deeper and more authentic relationships, at an individual, team and organizational level, creating a collective state of coherence.

The topics covered in Paragon's peak performance training programs are diverse and essential for personal and professional growth. Leadership, resiliency, heart-centered leadership, coherent communication, self-mastery, and emotional intelligence are all vital areas that contribute to overall success and well-being.

Paragon's approach is holistic, combining transformative methodologies with a deep understanding of human behavior to help individuals and organizations reach new heights of success and fulfillment.  This includes combining the best of modern science and human behavior with timeless wisdom.

Ultimately, Jeff’s work allows for him to combine his deepest passions of connecting people and supporting individuals in their journey of transformation, and to be his own human lab, exploring what is possible in this lifetime.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-robert-benton-51240a4/

https://www.instagram.com/paragon_performance/


Resources & Mentions

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

www.performanceparagon.com 

https://performanceparagon.com/individual-programs/

To Receive a Free Coherence Call Invite - Email jeff@performanceparagon.com

https://performanceparagon.com/resilience-reset/ 


Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 36 minutes 6 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#51: Breathe Like a Leader with Finnian Kelly

In this episode of The Max Life Podcast, high-performance coach Finnian Kelly shares how breath — not hustle — unlocks clarity, energy, and calm leadership. You’ll learn how to regulate stress, lead from presence, and shift from reactivity to strategic momentum.


Guest Bio

Finnian Kelly is the founder of Intentionality Inc., a sought-after speaker and high-performance coach, and a master breathwork facilitator. He helps world-changing leaders implement his Intentionality® methodology to find new levels of fulfillment and growth in their creative endeavors, relationships, and overall well-being. As a successful entrepreneur and a retired officer in the Australian military, Finnian has been dubbed "the Business Mystic'' because of his unique ability to awaken consciousness in business and inspire CEOs and leadership teams to have a more expansive human experience. 

www.finniankelly.com

https://www.instagram.com/thefinniankelly/

https://www.facebook.com/thefinniankelly/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefinniankelly/

https://www.youtube.com/@thefinniankelly

https://x.com/TheFinnKelly


Resources & Mentions

The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter

Intentionality: A Groundbreaking Guide to Breath, Consciousness, and Radical Self-Transformation by Finnian Kelly

https://www.omya.life/

https://cascada.me/



Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 38 minutes 57 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#50: The Discipline of Stillness: Leading Without Losing Yourself with Scott Hollrah

Scott Hollrah scaled a nationally recognized firm—then chose to pause. In this episode, we explore why stepping back sharpened his leadership, and how clarity follows stillness.

You’ll learn: using sabbaticals as strategy, hiring by values, and leading without burnout.

Guest Bio

Scott Hollrah is the Founder & CEO of Venn Technology, where he transformed a one-person consultancy into a nationally recognized integration firm trusted by mid-market organizations and backed by strategic partnerships with Stripe and Sage Intacct. Venn has earned consistent recognition on the Inc 5000, Aggie 100, and as a Best Place to Work, while delivering millions in recurring revenue through automation that makes businesses run smarter.

Known for a values-driven approach to leadership, Scott has built a culture where people thrive and results follow. He has advised organizations across industries—from construction to healthcare to nonprofits—always with a focus on solving complex problems with practical, lasting solutions.

Outside of Venn, Scott hosts In the Thick of It, a podcast that highlights the raw and real journeys of fellow founders. A husband, father of three, traveler, and aspiring photographer, he balances entrepreneurial grit with a passion for investing in people and purpose.

Scott is a proud graduate of Texas A&M’s Mays Business School (BBA, Marketing) and remains deeply connected to his Aggie roots.

linkedin.com/company/venn-technology

linkedin.com/in/scotthollrah

linkedin.com/company/in-the-thick-of-it-podcast


Resources & Mentions

venntechnology.com

Not Being Bothered by Dan Sullivan

10X is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan

The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself by Mike Michalowicz

Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage by Gary Thomas

Scott’s Podcast: In the Thick of It  


Show more...
1 month ago
2 hours 36 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#49: Selective Ambition — Build a Life by Values, Not Vanity with Charlotte Grimmel

Entrepreneurs are told to want more. Charlotte (The Mind Friend) challenges that narrative with Selective Ambition — the art of pursuing goals rooted in values, not vanity. Learn the 3 questions that reveal what truly drives you, how intentional constraints protect freedom, and why discomfort is a feature, not a flaw. This episode of MaxLife is a masterclass in designing success that feels good on the inside — not just the outside.


Guest Bio

Charlotte is a psychologist-turned-business coach who helps founders, coaches, and creatives build freedom-first businesses rooted in clarity, self-trust, and sustainable growth. Through her brand The Mind Friend, she blends grounded psychology with high-performance strategy to help her clients rewire internal blocks, show up fully, and scale without burning out or selling out. 

Originally from Switzerland, Charlotte once moved to a remote island in the South Pacific — and has since built a location-independent business that reflects the life she actually wants to live. She’s a former competitive athlete, certified yoga teacher, and divemaster — now splitting her time between Cape Town and Europe, helping entrepreneurs grow businesses that are mentally sustainable and strategically sound.

Instagram: @themindfriend

Substack (Selectively Ambitious): https://themindfriend.substack.com/

Self-sabotage course: https://themindfriend.net/ssc

1:1 Coaching Application: https://3nwicvkwnfe.typeform.com/to/hINLmOTb

 

Resources & Mentions

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat

Substack (Selectively Ambitious): https://themindfriend.substack.com/

Self-sabotage course: https://themindfriend.net/ssc

1:1 Coaching Application: https://3nwicvkwnfe.typeform.com/to/hINLmOTb


Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 55 minutes 55 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#48: The Silent Tipping Point: Why 2028 Changes Everything - Part 2 with Don Barden, Ph.D.

Behavioral economist Dr. Don Barden unpacks the leadership framework driving what he calls the next great economic expansion. Based on thousands of interviews and deep quantitative research, he outlines the unseen advantages women bring to leadership—and the exact steps any leader can take to replicate the results. You’ll hear how empathy, empowerment, and perspective are reshaping retention, revenue, and the rhythm of modern business.

DM Don for a FREE ecopy of his book Here Come the Girls.


Guest Bio

Dr. Don Barden is a classically trained economist, globally recognized as an expert in leadership and the decision-making process. With three decades of corporate leadership and production in employee benefits and organizational leadership, he has changed the landscape of several US and international firms.

Don was named one of the Top 30 Most “Transformational Leaders in North America” by John Maxwell and the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. In 2019, the Department of Defense recognized him with honors from the 75th US Army Ranger Regiment, and he was named 2020 YMCA Volunteer of the Year.

He is certified in Cybersecurity Management from Harvard University and has a Ph.D. in Economics and Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University. He earned his M.B.A. in Global Technology Management and International Business with an undergraduate B.B.A. in Economics and Finance. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Don’s work challenges and motivates organizations and leadership teams to think deeply about their beliefs to consistently achieve their communication, culture, sales, and management goals. His “unfair advantage” theories are revolutionary in today’s economy as he leads and builds companies in a way that exposes the myth of modern leadership and communication techniques. Don’s recent work, “Here Come the Girls,” celebrates women in leadership. The study aims to help frustrated organizations transform by awakening their creative energy, thereby paving the way for uncharted production through cultural change.

Conquering the highest levels of ethical performance with humor, intellectual capital, and time-tested systems, Don engages his teams with his highly personal style of steward leadership. His experience with cultural change and record-setting growth has drawn him to corporations that want to tap into his real-world expertise to move their organizations to higher levels of achievement. Don is well known in the financial industry, with sales averaging over $ 1 billion per year, and for his original book, The Perfect Plan, is available in 39 countries worldwide.

Don also serves as a Trustee and the past Chairman of the Summit Counseling Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a past board member of the Metro Atlanta YMCA and was responsible for designing their COVID response and post-COVID strategic initiatives. He is a past Board Member of the Sua Sponte Foundation. Additionally, he lectures at Wake Forest University, The Wharton School of Business, and Oxford University (U.K.) Dr. Barden is a frequent instructor at the US Army 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalion / 75 th Regiment’s Leadership and Professional Development Program.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwbarden/

https://www.instagram.com/donbarden 

 

Resources & Mentions

https://donbarden.com/category/here-come-the-girls/

Here Come the Girls: A Celebration of Why Women Will Take Over Global Leadership In 2028 by Don Barden


Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 10 minutes 2 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#47: The Price of Passion with Don Barden, Ph.D.

Dr. Don Barden is a recognized leader in leadership and decision-making psychology. With global influence, military honors, and a track record of leading billion-dollar organizations,  he helps elite performers align purpose, power, and performance.

In this episode of MaxLife, we unpack what most people get wrong about passion, why high performers often feel isolated, and how true leadership is forged through sacrifice—not spotlight.

You’ll learn:

  • Why real passion always demands sacrifice

  • How to lead with strength in soft, uncertain times

  • The “two-minute decision” framework for clarity under pressure

  • How to break through when success still feels empty

  • Why legacy is about ripples, not recognition

It’s not louder leadership — it’s a different way forward.

Guest Bio 

Dr. Don Barden is a classically trained economist, globally recognized as an expert in leadership and the decision-making process. With three decades of corporate leadership and production in employee benefits and organizational leadership, he has changed the landscape of several US and international firms.

Don was named one of the Top 30 Most “Transformational Leaders in North America” by John Maxwell and the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. In 2019, the Department of Defense recognized him with honors from the 75th US Army Ranger Regiment, and he was named 2020 YMCA Volunteer of the Year.

He is certified in Cybersecurity Management from Harvard University and has a Ph.D. in Economics and Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University. He earned his M.B.A. in Global Technology Management and International Business with an undergraduate B.B.A. in Economics and Finance. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Don’s work challenges and motivates organizations and leadership teams to think deeply about their beliefs to consistently achieve their communication, culture, sales, and management goals. His “unfair advantage” theories are revolutionary in today’s economy as he leads and builds companies in a way that exposes the myth of modern leadership and communication techniques. Don’s recent work, “Here Come the Girls,” celebrates women in leadership. The study aims to help frustrated organizations transform by awakening their creative energy, thereby paving the way for uncharted production through cultural change.

Conquering the highest levels of ethical performance with humor, intellectual capital, and time-tested systems, Don engages his teams with his highly personal style of steward leadership. His experience with cultural change and record-setting growth has drawn him to corporations that want to tap into his real-world expertise to move their organizations to higher levels of achievement. Don is well known in the financial industry, with sales averaging over $ 1 billion per year, and for his original book, The Perfect Plan, is available in 39 countries worldwide.

Don also serves as a Trustee and the past Chairman of the Summit Counseling Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a past board member of the Metro Atlanta YMCA and was responsible for designing their COVID response and post-COVID strategic initiatives. He is a past Board Member of the Sua Sponte Foundation. Additionally, he lectures at Wake Forest University, The Wharton School of Business, and Oxford University (U.K.) Dr. Barden is a frequent instructor at the US Army 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalion / 75 th Regiment’s Leadership and Professional Development Program.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwbarden/

Resources & Mentions

https://www.maxwellleadership.com/

The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter

The MaxLife Podcast: #42: Why Hustle Is Failing: The New Future of Productivity with Jason Henkel

Lech Walesa


Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 47 minutes 12 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#46: How to Become Irreplaceable to a Visionary Founder with Jeremy Bergeron

What if your next level as a high performer isn't about doing more — but about becoming someone no one else can be?

Jeremy Bergeron was a successful entrepreneur, but it wasn’t until he followed a gut-level “yes” and stepped into an undefined role beside a polymath founder that his career — and life — transformed.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What true Chiefs of Staff actually do (and what founders get wrong)

  • How to sense and serve a business athlete before they even ask

  • Why trust and presence outperform tactics in high-stakes leadership

  • Jeremy’s personal practices to expand capacity and reduce self-sabotage

  • How to find (or become) the #2 that scales the mission and the soul

This is required listening if you’re building something big — or supporting someone who is.


Guest Bio

 Jeremy Bergeron is a serial entrepreneur, podcast host, and executive advisor behind 9-figure ventures and category-defining communities. As Chief of Staff to a full-stack polymath leading multiple businesses in multiple industries, Jeremy plays a Rick Rubin-style role; supporting visionary founders across industries like tech, health, real estate, and media. His journey includes building a B2B media network with over 4 million annual podcast downloads, pioneering new models in fractional leadership, and integrating somatic healing, plant medicine, and nervous system mastery to scale with soul. Jeremy lives at the intersection of performance, presence, and purpose...and helps other leaders do the same.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremybergeron/

https://x.com/bergeronstrong


Resources & Mentions

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liorweinstein/

https://ctox.com/

https://www.mocharymethod.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepostles/

mission.org 

The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level―A Transformative Guide to Overcoming Fears and False Beliefs for Personal Growth and Success by Gay Hendricks


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2 months ago
1 hour 54 minutes 31 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#45: Why a $2.5B Exit Didn’t Feel Like Success – Alex Bean on Purpose After Divvy

In this episode, former Divvy co-founder Alex Bean unpacks the real story behind a $2.5B exit—and what no one tells you about life after. You’ll learn:

  • Why success feels empty without purpose—and how to find yours

  • How to hire elite talent using the “Car Theory”

  • The unexpected downside of wealth (and how it affects identity, marriage, and parenting)

  • The power of defining your personal “Factory for Good” to sustain impact and fulfillment

  • Tactical advice for testing product-market fit before you ever write a line of code

If you're an entrepreneur chasing a big exit—or wondering what comes after—you’ll walk away with clarity, caution, and conviction.

Guest Bio

Alex Bean is a managing partner at Tandem Ventures, an investment group focused on leveraging operator experience to drive investments in promising startups. 

Before Tandem Ventures, Alex co-founded Divvy, a revolutionary business expense and budget management platform. Under his guidance, Divvy experienced meteoric growth, leading to an impressive $2.5 billion exit. 

Originally from Seattle, Alex lives in Highland, Utah with his family. Alex has been married to his wife Megan for 17 years, and they have four children, two girls, and two boys. Alex enjoys playing golf, pickleball, skiing, and spending time with his family and friends. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbean/

Resources & Mentions

Factory for Good by Alex Bean

http://www.factoryforgood.com/


Show more...
3 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes 30 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#44: Stop Using Insurance First: The Healthcare Mindset That Saves You Thousands with David Berg

Are you being tricked every time you step into the healthcare system? In this episode of MaxLife, Dr. David Berg reveals how MRI prices range from $250 to $18,000, why your insurance card is the worst place to start, and how to save thousands with simple shifts in mindset and logistics.

Learn:

  • Why much of healthcare is actually cheaper today—but hidden under layers of waste.

  • The three-step framework to avoid getting taken advantage of.

  • How to navigate fear, urgency, and asymmetry of knowledge.

This isn’t about demonizing doctors or insurance companies—it’s about understanding the system and regaining control of your family’s health costs.

Guest Bio

Dr. Berg has served as CEO and Co-Founder since Redirect Health's inception in 2013. Prior to co-founding Redirect Health, Dr. Berg established and maintained successful healthcare clinics both in Canada and the United States. With Redirect Health he has leveraged his decades of healthcare leadership experience to make healthcare simple and affordable for businesses throughout the country. Dr. Berg is the author of "The Business Owner's Guide to Ending the Fight with Healthcare", a how-to guide that helps business owners leverage healthcare as a competitive advantage. The Phoenix Business Journal honored Dr. Berg with the “Healthcare Heroes Innovator Award” for creating a transformative healthcare member experience that eliminates barriers for people to get affordable healthcare. Dr. Berg was also the finalist for three best-in-class awards at the World Health Care Congress in Washington DC. He holds degrees in both Physics and Biology from the University of Toronto as well as a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidfberg

Resources & Mentions

redirecthealth.com

https://www.strategiccoach.com/

https://www.wittforever.com/

Lior Weinstein: linkedin.com/in/liorweinstein


Show more...
3 months ago
1 hour 29 minutes 43 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#43: God in the Pilot Seat: Ken Neumann on Faith-Driven Entrepreneurship

Ken Neumann believes success begins by letting go of control and trusting God with the outcome. As an entrepreneur, inventor, and visionary behind Youtopia, he brings both spiritual clarity and tactical insight to business building.

We explore:

  • How faith can guide bold business decisions

  • Practical leadership lessons from building and scaling companies

  • The vision behind Youtopia’s mission to end preventable disease

  • Why impact, not ego, is the ultimate measure of success

A must-listen for entrepreneurs who want their work aligned with their purpose.

Guest Bio

Ken Neumann is a passionate husband, brother, father, and grandfather. Ken strives to be known as a “man after God’s own heart” and follows a purpose to “be a good and faithful servant in all that he is called to do”.

He is currently building a company called Youtopia, focused on "Making Vibrant Health and Longevity to 120 a Simple and Achievable Reality for All of Us”. A visionary serial entrepreneur with a strong engineering and business background, he excels in identifying opportunities and leading transformative ventures. He has built numerous businesses from startups and driven over $500 million in annual revenue and $5 billion in total revenue in diverse industries. Ken's ventures span pharmaceuticals, energy tech, software, team development, real estate, and homebuilding. Recognized by Training Magazine as one of the Top 11 CEO’s in the world. His businesses earned prestigious awards like the National Housing Quality Award, 100 Best to Work For, America’s Best Builder, and Top Technology Company of the Year. He is recognized as one of the top 1% inventors in the world with over 260 issued patents.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-neumann-57688010/

Resources & Mentions

Strategic Coach

youtopia.com


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3 months ago
1 hour 27 minutes 44 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#42: Why Hustle Is Failing: The New Future of Productivity with Jason Henkel

Most entrepreneurs are sprinting harder than ever—yet falling further behind. In this conversation, Jason Henkel reveals why stillness is the next frontier of productivity and what separates those who thrive from those who burn out.

You’ll learn:

  • How AI can enhance your thinking instead of replacing it

  • Tactical prompts that sharpen clarity and decision-making

  • Daily practices to access flow and authentic leadership

  • The unlearning required to break free from performative success

  • Why love—not hustle—is the highest form of leadership

If you don’t apply these shifts, you’ll keep chasing hacks while others quietly unlock the future of productivity.

Guest Bio

Jason Henkel is a renowned expert in personal and team productivity. Jason's unique, brain-based approach to productivity and wellbeing is not just about getting more done, but rather about achieving far more meaningful output in less time while keeping balance and wellbeing at center stage.

 

Jason's journey to becoming a productivity expert is as inspiring and relatable to so many. He climbed the ranks of a Fortune 100 company, finding himself in a demanding, globe-trotting role. Despite his hard work and determination, he found himself overwhelmed by the always on culture of our modern era and sheer volume of workload. The imbalance this created in his life became a toxic norm.

 Jason eventually realized the path he was on was not leading to joy, but to burnout and quickly diminishing quality of life. This realization sparked an intense period of study and self-reflection, during which Jason discovered the meta-skills, modalities and strategies that allowed him to escape the trance of busyness and begin a new path. He found a way to thrive and achieving a state of spacious productivity that enabled him to still get it all done but in a truly sustainable way.

 Jason often says, "My mess has become my message." His experiences have fueled a mission to share with the world his learnings that have transformed his life so dramatically.

 When asked what he does, Jason's answer is simple and clear: "I deliver calm, deliberate, and authentic productivity." His unique approach has earned him the nickname 'The Productivity Whisperer' from US Navy SEALS Commander Mark McGinnis. Having trained executive leadership teams and organizations around the globe, Jason's ultimate goal is to help individuals and teams thrive in their highest priorities while enabling a more spacious, healthy, and high-performing life.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasehenkel/

Resources & Mentions

https://www.focustoevolve.com/

https://www.flowgenomeproject.com/

Modern Elders Academy

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr

The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks

Willpower Doesn't Work: Discover The Hidden Keys to Success by Ben Hardy


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3 months ago
1 hour 55 minutes 31 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#41: Success Isn’t What You Think: The Unfiltered Truth from a Top Designer & Entrepreneur with Lisa Cini

Most people chase success using the wrong map. In this unfiltered conversation, award-winning entrepreneur and designer Lisa Cini reveals what high performers often miss—and how to redefine winning on your own terms.

You’ll learn:

  • Why “work-life balance” is a damaging illusion—and what to replace it with

  • How to reframe fear, failure, and indecision into elite performance assets

  • The power of “micro-mistakes” and emotional agency in building resilient teams

  • How identity, ego, and alignment influence consistency and long-term wins

  • A candid take on ambition, gender roles, and why “different” is better than “equal”

Whether you’re scaling a company or your family life, this episode delivers the mindset shifts and systems that actually move the needle.

Guest Bio

We are an award-winning design, project management and procurement studio specializing in Aging in Place, Residential Assisted Living (small home) and Senior living.

We have patented budget building software that provides clear, correct, comprehensive numbers that gives you the confidence to move forward with your RAL project.

Our mission is to serve the aging population and the clients that serve them.

https://www.facebook.com/lisa.m.cini

https://www.instagram.com/lisacini/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacini/

https://www.youtube.com/@lisacini6779

Resources & Mentions

https://www.lisamcini.com/

Amazon Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Infinite-Living-Secrets-Werner-House/dp/B0B8MQ7XK5

Boom: The Baby Boomers' Guide to Preserving Your Freedom and Thriving as You Age in Place by Lisa Cini

The Future Is Here: Senior Living Reimagined by Lisa Cini

Hive by Lisa Cini


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3 months ago
1 hour 24 minutes 40 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#40: The Clarity System You Need with Mike Williams

While most high performers chase bigger systems and tighter routines, Mike Williams — former CEO of Getting Things Done and enterprise architect at Zappos — helps elite leaders subtract everything that doesn’t matter.

In this conversation, we unpack the clarity-first frameworks that simplify complexity, unlock capacity, and make sustainable performance possible.

You’ll learn:

  • How to use the “roles, projects, practices” model to regain focus and energy

  • The coaching questions that create breakthroughs — even in difficult conversations

  • Why traditional goal setting often fails, and what to do instead

  • Micro-habits that build clarity, consistency, and leadership presence

If you're operating at a high level but still feel scattered or stuck, this episode is your reset.

Guest Bio

CEO Mike Williams has transformed the productivity and presence of thousands of leaders from overwhelmed to focused. Through his leadership at General Electric, as the CEO of the David Allen Company (Getting Things Done), and as Enterprise Productivity Architect at Zappos, Mike developed the frameworks that help successful people navigate complexity without losing their sanity. Unlike traditional productivity coaching that adds more systems to manage, Mike's approach helps you subtract everything that doesn't matter—creating the clarity that makes complex leadership sustainable.

www.doingtodone.com

https://www.instagram.com/askmikewilliams/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/askmikewilliams/

Resources & Mentions

Doing to Done: Productivity Made Simple by Mike Williams

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter

The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think Possible by Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Blake Erickson

Doing to Done: Productivity Made Simple by Mike Williams

www.doingtodone.com 


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4 months ago
1 hour 48 minutes 42 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#39: Why Discomfort is the Secret to Real Confidence with David Engel

#39: Why Discomfort is the Secret to Real Confidence with David Engel

Most people run from discomfort. But what if leaning into it was the key to confidence, growth, and joy? In this powerful conversation, David Engel shares decades of wisdom on how change shapes success, why failure can be your greatest teacher, and how relationships define a meaningful life.

What you’ll take away:

  • How to reframe discomfort as your fastest path to growth

  • The hidden link between confidence and trust

  • Why failure often teaches more than success

  • How to ask bolder questions that change everything

  • The mindset shifts that redefine what “success” really means

Guest Bio

David Engel is the visionary founder of Innovative HRT, the marketing innovation consultancy he established in 1995 following a distinguished 20-year career in direct mail marketing. As both CEO and Chief Innovation Officer, David has become renowned for pioneering proprietary, patent-backed solutions that consistently elevate customer acquisition, retention, and response rates—especially within the financial, retail, and loyalty sectors innovationhrt.com+6innovativehrt.com+6innovativehrt.com+6.

Over more than two decades, David has developed a reputation as a leading innovator in direct response marketing. His deep industry knowledge and forward-thinking approach have driven the creation of bespoke “innovation platforms” that supercharge client marketing efforts through an effective blend of creativity, technology, and strategic research innovativehrt.com+1.

Under David’s leadership, Innovative HRT offers clients enterprise-level guidance through a highly individualized process: global research, tailored technology scouting, and quarterly presentations of actionable, client-specific recommendations. This model has consistently produced improved marketing outcomes and performance well beyond baseline expectations innovativehrt.com+2innovativehrt.com+2.

David’s influence extends across the broader marketing community. He is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) and has been honored with prestigious awards such as the CMA’s Director’s Choice Award and the RSVP Award for Resource Partner Innovation, affirming his contributions to advancing marketing education and innovation

dengel@innovativehrt.com


Resources & Mentions

Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall

HRT.com


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4 months ago
1 hour 2 minutes 54 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#38: Why Entrepreneurs Fail at Their Dream Life (and the 4 Keys to Fix It) with Jerome Wade

Most high performers think they know what they want — but in reality, their goals are fuzzy, their actions scattered, and their results inconsistent. In this conversation with global adventurer and entrepreneur Jerome Wade, we unpack exactly why clarity and courage are the missing ingredients.

You’ll discover:

  • The 4 C’s Framework for building the life you want

  • How to avoid the trap of “how?” thinking that kills dreams

  • The power of reframing failure as tuition, not loss

  • Why indecision is more expensive than bad decisions

  • The real cost of playing it safe vs. failing forward

If you want a tactical roadmap to design and execute your dream life, this conversation delivers the formula.

Text 719-480-2125 to get a free digital copy of UNLEASHED!

Guest Bio

Jerome Wade embodies boundless potential and audacious spirit. He's not only a glider pilot, powered pilot, sailor, dive master, and global adventurer who consistently pushes beyond limits, but also an entrepreneur whose ventures have impacted over 100,000 households; exemplifying authority founded on deep success.

As a professional speaker, he has delivered over 4000 presentations. He is a best-selling author and the visionary founder of EPIC Global, a consultancy dedicated to unlocking human potential and empowering leaders and teams to exceed their limits.

He is currently launching Midlifers.com - a global community of midlife business-owning couples ready to ignite purpose, adventure, and the best years of their life.

https://www.facebook.com/jerome.wade

https://www.instagram.com/jeromewade

https://www.youtube.com/jeromewade

Resources & Mentions

midlifers.com/reinvent

UNLEASHED: Dominate Your Limitations, Break Through Your Barriers, Live an Extraordinary Life! By Jerome Wade


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4 months ago
1 hour 35 minutes 40 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
#37: Do Less, Make More: Walt Hampton’s System for Time Freedom & Peak Performance

What if you could radically increase your results while working fewer hours? Walt Hampton — bestselling author, high-altitude mountaineer, and former managing partner — reveals the proven systems he’s used to help elite entrepreneurs reclaim their time, scale their businesses, and live life on their terms. In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • The 3 “Power Principles” of time mastery that create immediate bandwidth

  • How to identify and eliminate the work that doesn’t move the needle

  • Strategies for building a location-independent business

  • Lessons from mountaineering and ultra-running that sharpen leadership and decision-making

  • How to align your business with your deepest values for sustainable success

This is your roadmap to breaking free from the grind and stepping fully into your high-performance life.

Access Free eBook & Executive Tools: The Power Principles of Time Mastery: https://summit-success.com/time-mastery-maxlife

Guest Bio

Walt Hampton, J.D. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Summit Success International, a global personal & professional development firm; and the Acquisitions Director at Summit Press Publishers, a premier publisher of expert positioning books. Walt is a business coach, management consultant, leadership trainer & motivational speaker. He is the bestselling author of Journeys on the Edge: Living a Life That Matters, named a Top 10 Non-Fiction Book and a two-time recipient of the North American Book Awards; as well as the author of The Power Principles of Time Mastery: Do Less, Make More, Have Fun. A 1984 graduate of The Cornell Law School, Walt was managing partner of a law firm for nearly 30 years with a practice focused on commercial litigation and criminal defense. He was trained as a Results Coach by Robbins Research International and worked directly for Tony Robbins as one of Tony’s elite-level certified business coaches. Walt’s passions are high-altitude mountaineering, ultra-distance running, blue-water sailing & adventure photography. He and his wife, the publisher Ann Sheybani, reside in Intervale, New Hampshire.

walthampton.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/walthampton/

Resources & Mentions

Journeys On The Edge: Living a Life That Matters by Walt Hampton

The Power Principles of Time Mastery: Do Less. Make More. Have Fun by Walt Hampton

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl


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4 months ago
1 hour 31 minutes 12 seconds

The MaxLife Podcast with Ben Laws
Hosted by Ben Laws, the MaxLife Podcast goes beyond the highlight reel to bring you real, unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs and high performers. We dive into their journeys—the wins, the struggles, and the game-changing moments that shaped their success. These are raw, free-flowing conversations about business, relationships, health, and the mindset shifts that lead to massive growth. Our mission is to fire you up and inspire action—whether it’s a bold business move, a new habit, or a fresh perspective that changes everything.