I am Alberto, host of Thriving Minds, entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 and Sunday Times 100 founder. Most importantly, I’m a human figuring out life’s highs and lows, and I’m glad you’re here.
This show helps you move towards your own version of success in business, career and personal life. Every Thursday I sit with world leading doctors, scientists, athletes, entrepreneurs and celebrities to uncover what it really takes to thrive.
My promise to you is that every episode gives you something you can feel and something you can use, so that you can become the best version of yourself. If you want to grow in life, not just go through it, you’re in the right place.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/alberto.zandi
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-zandi-ba0a54130
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I am Alberto, host of Thriving Minds, entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 and Sunday Times 100 founder. Most importantly, I’m a human figuring out life’s highs and lows, and I’m glad you’re here.
This show helps you move towards your own version of success in business, career and personal life. Every Thursday I sit with world leading doctors, scientists, athletes, entrepreneurs and celebrities to uncover what it really takes to thrive.
My promise to you is that every episode gives you something you can feel and something you can use, so that you can become the best version of yourself. If you want to grow in life, not just go through it, you’re in the right place.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/alberto.zandi
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-zandi-ba0a54130
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Alberto sat down with Dr Rachel Gow, leading nutritional neuroscientist, researcher, author, and founder of Nutritious Minds Trust.
Dr Rachel explains why we have been taught to think about food only in terms of weight, calories, or appearance, while completely ignoring its impact on the brain, mood, focus, and emotional regulation.
Drawing from decades of clinical research and personal experience as a mother, she reveals how what we eat directly shapes neurotransmitters, brain structure, inflammation, and long term mental health.
They explore how ultra processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and nutrient deficiencies quietly impair attention, motivation, emotional stability, and resilience, and why many mental health conversations ignore the biological foundations of the brain.
This conversation bridges neuroscience, nutrition, psychology, and real life application, offering simple but powerful ways to support brain health at any stage of life.
You will learn
This episode is a practical guide to understanding your brain, feeding it properly, and protecting it for life.
Follow Dr. Gow:
https://www.instagram.com/nutritious_minds
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-v-gow-phd-09b68514
https://www.facebook.com/DrRachelVGow
Get Dr. Gow book, Smart Foods for ADHD and Brain Health: How Nutrition Influences Cognitive Function, Behaviour and Mood:
https://amzn.eu/d/41QW2GG
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Alberto sat down with Vinny Raval, one of the UKs leading speech coaches whose work blends acting, speech and language therapy, and over fifteen years in the field with deep experience coaching CEOs, founders, actors, politicians, and senior executives.
Vinny transforms the way people communicate by teaching them what to say, how to say it, and how to say it with confidence, clarity, and impact.
In this conversation Vinny breaks down the real reasons so many people struggle to express themselves at home and at work, why we speak too fast, why we do not finish sentences, why we listen to respond instead of listening to understand, and why our tone and body language matter more than the actual words we use.
We explore the science behind intonation, pace, pauses, and clarity, how to use storytelling and vocal range to influence others, how to manage nerves before speaking, how to improve your voice at any age, and how small daily exercises can radically transform the way you are perceived.
For the first time Vinny also shares the emotional story of his childhood, his complicated relationship with his father, how he used pain and adversity to become the leading coach he is today, and why communication cannot be mastered unless you understand the emotions driving your voice.
You will learn:
• How to slow down, speak clearly, and hold attention
• How to use intonation to influence emotion and meaning
• How to control nerves and fear when speaking
• How to practise speech daily in less than three minutes
• How to build confidence in any room, with any audience
This episode will change the way you communicate and the way others listen.
Follow Vinny:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thespeechcoach
https://www.thespeech.coach
https://www.youtube.com/@UCPS8i-9VIziaK7p6Q54qQmQ
https://www.instagram.com/thespeech.coach
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Alberto sat down with Caroline Dubois, world champion boxer, the younger sister of heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois, and one of the most extraordinary young athletes of her generation.
This is the story of a GOAT in the making.
Caroline’s story is unlike anything you have heard before. She started boxing at nine years old in a gym that did not allow girls, so she entered under a fake name, pretending to be a boy, driven by a desire to be seen by her father and to claim her place in a male dominated sport.
On top of that, she grew up carrying the weight of the Dubois name. Instead of letting the expectations and comparisons break her, she learned to turn them into fuel. In this conversation, she opens up about how she navigated the pressure of being Daniel’s sister, how she refused to live in his shadow, and how she converted that pressure into motivation, focus, and an even higher standard for herself.
Since those early days she has become a world champion, and carried the weight of expectation in a discipline where a single punch can change your life or end a career. Caroline shares what she had to sacrifice, how she rebuilt herself after painful losses, and why she is willing to push her mind and body to the edge in pursuit of greatness.
We explore her relationship with fear, her complicated relationship with her father, what it means to train for ten weeks knowing you could lose everything in ten minutes, what it takes for women to rise in a sport where the financial and cultural barriers remain enormous, and how she uses pain and pressure as fuel rather than an anchor.
You will learn
• How to develop unshakeable tunnel vision
• How to recover from devastating failure
• How to stay disciplined when your goals feel out of reach
• How to build confidence when nobody believes in you or you are living in someone else’s shadow
• How elite fighters manage fear, intensity, and pressure
This is the real story of what it takes to chase a dream when the world tells you it is impossible.
#ThrivingMinds #CarolineDubois #Boxing #WomensBoxing #WorldChampion #Olympics #Mindset #Discipline #Resilience #AthleteLife
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This week, Alberto sat down with Victor Lugger, the entrepreneur behind two of Europe’s fastest growing companies, Big Mama and Sunday. He built a hospitality group now valued at over $310M, and then launched a FinTech company processing billions a year, all while raising a family and staying sane through the pressure.
In this conversation, Victor opens up about the truth behind building a company from zero, why success is never linear, how ambition develops over time, and how much of entrepreneurship comes down to resilience, timing, and who you choose to build with.
He shares the emotional and psychological journey behind scaling restaurants across countries, raising twenty five million in the US, navigating co founder relationships, and learning to balance family life with two high pressure roles.
You will learn
• How to build a company when you have no industry experience
• How ambition grows with results and why early wins matter
• How to choose a co-founder and build a team that scales with you
• How to survive uncertainty, pressure, and mental fatigue as a leader
• How to spot the idea that changes everything and when to double down
Follow Victor:
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/victorlugger
Follow Sunday App:
https://www.instagram.com/sundayapp_
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sundaytech
https://twitter.com/sundayapp_
https://www.facebook.com/sundayappUS
#ThrivingMinds #VictorLugger #BigMamma #SundayApp #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality #Startups #Neurodiversity #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Alberto sits with TJ Power, a world leading neuroscientist, best selling author, and the creator of the DOSE framework.
His work investigates how dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins influence mental and physical health, particularly in the context of our digitally driven lifestyles.
TJ’s framework is designed to unlock your best life, to live with purpose, intention, focus, and a positive mindset.
This episode also unpacks why phones, alcohol, porn, and sugar, severely erode attention, mood, and drive, and how to reset your baseline with simple habits you can start today.
You will learn:
• How dopamine actually works
• Why chasing dopamine peaks lowers motivation
• How to run a 7 day reset
• How things like sleep, morning light, protein, movement, nature, and real connections support healthy brain chemistry
This conversation is a clear path back to focus, energy, and calm.
You can purchase TJ’s book, The DOSE Effect, here: https://geni.us/doseeffect
Follow TJ Power:
https://www.instagram.com/tjpower
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tjpowerneuroscience
#ThrivingMinds #TJPower #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #DigitalBalance #Dopamine #Attention #Wellbeing #Mindset #StressManagement
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This week Alberto sat down with Bianca Bustamante, the twenty year old driver who is now the future face of F1.
Born in Manila and raised in a working class family, she fell in love with karting at three. At six she asked to be homeschooled to train more. Her father worked three jobs to keep her dream alive. She became the best in her country but the international costs were astronomical. So she moved to the US, and learned all she could about personal branding.
Her hope was that her social media channels would help fund her driving career.
Years later she has millions of followers, sponsors, and is now signed by McLaren for F1 Academy, and working to become the first woman of her generation to reach F1.
She is rewriting the racing history by fighting all the odds in a sport where only 1.5 percent of drivers are women, and largely built for the rich and elite.
Now the face of major outlets like Forbes and Vogue, her story is the blueprint for achieving your dreams when the door is closed.
You will learn:
• How talent grit and strategy can replace missing resources
• How she used social platforms to fund a racing career
• The real pathway from karting to F1 Academy
• How to train recover and perform under pressure
• The mindset required to become the best
Follow Bianca:
https://www.youtube.com/@racerbia
https://www.instagram.com/racerbia/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/racerbia/
https://www.facebook.com/racerbia/
#ThrivingMinds #BiancaBustamante #F1Academy #McLaren #WomenInMotorsport #RacingJourney #Inspiration #Mindset #PhilippineAthletes #Resilience
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What happens when the dream job nearly breaks you?
This week on Thriving Minds, Alberto sat down with Celebrity Chef, Thomas Straker, the chef, founder, best selling author, and digital powerhouse behind the Straker’s restaurant group and global ‘All Things Butter’ brand.
From burnout in fine dining to millions of views on Instagram, Thomas reveals the full story of how he rebuilt his relationship with food, found freedom through content, and became one of the most watched, and talked about, chefs on the internet.
In this raw and revealing conversation, he opens up about self-worth, criticism, building a business, and staying grounded when the spotlight finds you.
You’ll learn:
🟠 What the world of fine dining gets completely wrong
🟠 How Thomas built a viral food brand while running restaurants
🟠 Why content is every founder’s unfair advantage
🟠 The truth about burnout, ego, and starting over
🟠 How to stay true to your vision, even when others doubt you
This isn’t just a story about restaurants.
It’s a story about reinvention.
Follow Thomas:
https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasStraker
https://www.instagram.com/thomas_straker/
https://www.tiktok.com/@UCDci5O1KG2SqFr79vWbuCJQ
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/thomas-straker-58034280
#ThrivingMinds #ThomasStraker #ChefLife #RestaurantBusiness #EntrepreneurJourney #FoodCreators #HospitalityMindset #CookingPassion #Resilience #SuccessMindset
Visit the Thriving Minds website:
https://thrivingmindsshow.com/
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What if your gut is running the show, not your brain?
This week on Thriving Minds, Alberto sat down with Dr. Megan Rossi, one of the world’s leading gut health experts, bestselling author, and founder of The Gut Health Doctor. With 70-80% of your immune system based in the gut, and powerful links to mood, memory, energy, and inflammation, your gut health may be affecting you more than you think.
In this expert-led, myth-busting episode, Megan breaks down how your microbiome works, the truth about probiotics, and the small daily changes that can transform your health from the inside out.
You’ll learn:
This is more than digestion, this is the foundation of your health.
Follow Dr. Megan Rossi & The Gut Health Doctor
https://theguthealthdoctor.com/
https://www.instagram.com/theguthealthdoctor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-rossi-4214408a
https://www.youtube.com/ @theguthealthdoctor
https://www.tiktok.com/@theguthealthdoctor
#ThrivingMinds #MeganRossi #BioAndMe #GutHealth #Microbiome #Nutrition #Wellbeing #Entrepreneurship #HealthyLiving #Mindset
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when you outgrow the identity the world gave you?
This week Alberto sat down with Caspar Lee, one of the first YouTubers to build global fame, make millions, and become an online legend.
After achieving success most dream of by his early twenties, Caspar walked away from the internet spotlight and rebuilt himself, from burnout and identity loss to business, clarity, and purpose.
Now a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of several companies, Caspar reveals the personal and professional lessons behind his pivot from content creator to entrepreneur.
This episode dives into the rise, the crash, and the rebirth, and what it really means to evolve.
You’ll learn:
This isn’t just a story about going viral, it’s about going inward and forward in life.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do we feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected, even when life looks fine on the outside?
This week, Alberto sat down with Jamie Clements, world leading and pioneer breathwork expert, mental health advocate, and founder of The Breath Space.
They explore why so many people today feel stuck in survival mode, and how reconnecting with the body through breath can transform not just your mind, but your entire life.
Jamie shares how breathwork helps regulate anxiety, unlock emotion trapped in the body, and create space for clarity, healing, and self-trust.
Whether you're facing burnout or simply want to reconnect with yourself, this episode offers a practical path forward.
You’ll learn:
#ThrivingMinds #JamieClements #Breathwork #Mindfulness #MentalHealth #CalmMind #StressRelief #Wellbeing #SelfGrowth #ConsciousLiving
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Why do some people stay stuck while others live their best lives?
This week, Alberto sat down with Roxie Nafousi, aka Manifestation Queen. Roxie is a leading self-development coach, bestselling author, and the woman behind the global manifestation movement.
In this powerful and practical conversation, Roxie breaks down the psychology of manifestation, and how you can use it to finally move forward, and achieve all your goals, no matter where you're starting from.
They explore the emotional patterns that hold us back, the habits that help us thrive, and the mindset shifts that lead to real change.
Whether you're chasing clarity, healing from the past, or building a new version of yourself, this episode is a toolkit for transformation.
You’ll learn:
Roxie's Books:
Confidence: https://amzn.eu/d/dCPlpwb
Manifest: https://amzn.eu/d/8cfBxQ7
Follow Roxie:
https://roxienafousi.com/
https://www.instagram.com/roxienafousi/
https://www.tiktok.com/@officialroxienafousi
https://twitter.com/Roxie_N
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxienafousi7
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if burnout isn’t a time issue, but an energy one?
This week, Alberto sat down with Tam Kaur, self-made entrepreneur, investor, and a powerful voice for ambitious women navigating business, identity, and burnout.
Tam shares how chasing success nearly broke her, the rejection that made her stronger, and the cost of trying to prove your worth to a world that misunderstands you.
They explore the hidden struggles of high performers, setting boundaries without guilt, and how to protect your peace without losing your ambition.
Tam also opens up about what it really takes to grow a personal brand from scratch, what content converts, how she monetizes authentically, and how she protects her mental health behind the scenes.
This episode is about more than hustle, it’s about healing, clarity, and becoming unshakable.
You’ll learn:
Follow Tam:
https://www.instagram.com/tamkaur/
https://www.youtube.com/tamkaur
https://www.tiktok.com/@tamkaur_
https://www.facebook.com/tamxkaur/
#TamKaur #ThrivingMinds #ConfidenceJourney #HealingOutLoud #BurnoutRecovery #FemaleCreators #MindsetGrowth #EmotionalResilience #AuthenticityOnline
#UKContentCreators
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What if burnout isn’t a time issue, but an energy one?
This week Alberto sat down with Simon Alexander Ong, globally acclaimed life coach, bestselling author of Energize, and trusted advisor to elite entrepreneurs and high-performers.
They talked about the real reasons so many of us feel stuck, tired, or unfulfilled, even when everything looks “successful” from the outside.
Simon shares how we can change the game by managing our energy instead of just our time, how to make brave career pivots, and what he’s learned from coaching top 1% performers around the world.
This is a masterclass on clarity, purpose, and taking back control.
You’ll learn:
Follow Simon:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/simonalexandero
YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/SimonAlexanderOng
X: https://x.com/SimonAlexanderO
FB: https://www.facebook.com/simonalexanderong.official/
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Would you risk everything to be truly seen?
In this deeply personal conversation, Alberto speaks with Varada Sethu, leading actress and star of Andor and Hard Sun, about the emotional cost of chasing success in an industry that often overlooks people like her.
Born in India and raised in Newcastle, Varada opens up about growing up between cultures, never feeling like she belonged, and the struggles that nearly pushed her to walk away from acting. From rejection and typecasting to finding her voice and rebuilding confidence, this episode explores what it truly means to stay true to yourself when the world tells you otherwise.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Follow Varda:
https://www.instagram.com/varadasethu
#VaradaSethu #ThrivingMinds #ActingFromWithin #QuietPower #ImposterSyndrome #SouthAsianVoices #EmotionalIntelligence #CreativeJourney #SelfWorth #WomenInFilm
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Why do relationships fall apart, even when two people love each other?
Today, Alberto sits down with Dr. Victoria Shalet, a globally renowned relationship therapist who has spent years helping couples navigate intimacy, conflict, and connection.
Drawing on her deep experience, Victoria shares why love fades, what truly breaks relationships apart, and how to rebuild trust and closeness.
Alberto and Victoria explore why couples repeat the same arguments, and how unresolved wounds shape the way we fight. They discuss why passion turns into distance, how blame and defensiveness keep us stuck, and what it takes to move from conflict to genuine understanding.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
Love does not end because it disappears, but because it is left unattended.
This conversation is a reminder that lasting relationships are not about avoiding problems but about learning how to face them together.
#VictoriaShalet #ThrivingMinds #RelationshipsMatter
#TherapyTools #RelationalHealing #EmotionalIntelligence
#CouplesTherapy #BurnoutRecovery #FoundersInLove #InnerWork
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How do we break free from stress?
In this powerful conversation, stress and anxiety expert Alice Law reveals the hidden cost of burnout, the emotional patterns behind chronic anxiety, and the science of becoming mentally free.
After losing her father and burning out under the weight of high-pressure expectations, Alice didn’t just learn about stress, she lived it.
What followed was a deep personal reinvention, during which she studied a wide range of stress-related practices, a journey that now informs her work as one of the world’s leading stress and performance mentors.
In this episode, Alice shares:
Follow Alice:
https://www.instagram.com/alicelaw._
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-law-a6aa7547/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unstressable_alice
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How do you keep going when everyone says no?
India Amarteifio knows what it means to be rejected.
Before becoming Queen Charlotte in Netflix’s global hit Bridgertonprequel, she spent years auditioning, getting knocked down, and questioning everything, including herself.
In this emotionally honest conversation, India reveals the truth about the acting industry: the pressure, the insecurities, the resilience it takes to survive, and the mental cost of chasing a dream in the public eye.
You’ll learn:
🟠 How India dealt with hundreds of rejections before her first major role
🟠 The mindset shift that changed everything
🟠 The reality of being a rising star in the age of social media
🟠 Why many actors lose themselves, and how she holds on to who she is
🟠 The balance between ambition, vulnerability, and emotional health
This isn’t a fairytale. It’s the real story behind one of the UK’s most exciting rising stars, told with clarity, courage, and vulnerability.
#indiaamarteifio #indiaamarteifiointerview #indiaamarteifiotea #indiaamarteifiosinging #indiaamarteifio2025 #bridgerton
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What’s the real game behind the world's most followed sport?
Guido Fienga has sat at the very heart of football power. As former CEO of AS Roma and of Al-Nassr, he has dealt with world-class players, fan revolts, multi million-euro transfers, and the media storm that surrounds elite clubs. But in this rare, introspective interview, he reveals the side of football no one sees.
In this episode Guido reveals:
🟠 What happens behind closed doors when a club is in crisis
🟠 The emotional cost of leadership in football
🟠 What makes great players
🟠 Behind-the-scenes with Mourinho and Cristiano
🟠 Leadership in high-pressure environments
🟠 The truth about business of football
🟠 Lessons for success beyond football
This is a masterclass on power, pressure, and purpose, told through the lens of a man who’s lived it.
#thrivingminds #cristianoronaldo #romafc #josemourinho
#football
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What if everything you believed about health, medicine, and nutrition was wrong?
Dr. Aseem Malhotra, one of the world’s most outspoken cardiologists, joins Alberto to expose what he calls one of the biggest deceptions in modern health care.
In this episode, Dr. Malhotra takes us on a wellness journey.
This episode will show you:
🟠 How to Keep the Heart Strong
🟠 Nutrition for Heart Health
🟠 Warning Signs & Early Detection
🟠 Stress, Sleep & Lifestyle Factors
🟠 Medications & Interventions that Actually Work
If you've ever struggled with diet, weight, energy, or trust in medical advice, this episode is your wake-up call.
Follow Dr. Malhotra:
https://www.instagram.com/lifestylemedicinedoctor
https://www.youtube.com/@UC94PuG9g2_lvYgTFSzyyfvg
Books by Dr Malhotra:
A Statin-Free Life - https://amzn.eu/d/73ajmXE
The Pioppi Diet - https://amzn.eu/d/h9v9PYJ
Join the Metabolicr Reset:
https://www.metabolicreset.co
#bigpharma #bigpharmaandmentalhealth #thrivingminds #30andthriving #forbs #cardiology
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He’s the world’s most respected body transformation coach and fitness book author.
He’s built a global empire in fitness.
And he’s about to tell you why your workouts, diet, and mindset are failing you.
Nick Mitchell, founder of Ultimate Performance, has trained royalty, celebrities, elite athletes, and billionaires. But in this episode of Thriving Minds, he gives you what most trainers won’t: brutal honesty.
You’ll learn:
🟠 How to Work Out for Maximum Results
🟠 Nutrition for Muscle Gain & Fat Loss
🟠 The Best Rest & Recovery Methods
🟠 Supplements That Actually Work
🟠 How do you stay motivated and consistent long-term
This isn’t just a fitness episode.
This is a mental and physical wake-up call.
Follow Nick:
https://www.instagram.com/heynickmitchell/
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/nick-mitchell-a69b3a1a
https://x.com/HeyNickMitchell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.