Founders' Mental Health - Do You Walk the Talk?

Paula Petcu
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Founders and entrepreneurs are praised for their innovation and audacity. Yet, there's an often overlooked issue that's pervasive in this group: founders face a high likelihood of mental health issues. The very individuals who bring about groundbreaking change are amongst the most vulnerable to psychological distress. In this podcast, we interview founders in the health industry in Denmark. One might argue, of all sectors, wouldn't they be the ones less likely to be afflicted given their proximity to health-related knowledge? Let's find out!

  1. #23 - Anja: Culturally Competent Mental Health, Deep Work, and The Founder’s Path

    02/20/2025

    #23 - Anja: Culturally Competent Mental Health, Deep Work, and The Founder’s Path

    In this episode, we talk with Anja Zhou, the founder of Well Well Well. Anja shares her journey from moving to US as a student to starting her own company which provides culturally competent mental health services for immigrants. She talks about the ups and downs of being a founder, personal growth, the importance of deep work in therapy, and also offers insights into maintaining mental health, dealing with imposter syndrome, and the importance of honest communication and self-belief. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the intersection of entrepreneurship and mental wellbeing. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Anja Zhou, founder of Well Well Well Theme song: The Pelican Brothers Link to Anja’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-well-well%E5%8C%97%E7%BE%8E%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%87%E5%BF%83%E7%90%86%E5%81%A5%E5%BA%B7/id1724103875

    39 min
  2. #22 - Thomas: Neurotech, Self-Reflection, and Building a Mental Health Start-up

    02/15/2025

    #22 - Thomas: Neurotech, Self-Reflection, and Building a Mental Health Start-up

    In this episode of the Founders Mental Health podcast, we talk with Thomas Ousterhout about his journey from California to Denmark and how his personal experiences with mental health led him to a career in cognitive neuroscience and neurotechnology and founding Hird, a company that uses neurotech to address workplace stress. Thomas shares insights into his entrepreneurial path, the change in roles over time, the importance of self-awareness, and how his company's tech help monitor and improve mental health in real-time. Thomas also reflects on the supportive environment in Denmark that enabled his success and offers practical tips for other startups to manage stress and mental health effectively. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Thomas Ousterhout⁠, Co-Founder & COO @ Hird Theme song: The Pelican Brothers

    29 min
  3. #21 - Simon and Emad: Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics in a Mental Health Tech Startup

    02/04/2025

    #21 - Simon and Emad: Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics in a Mental Health Tech Startup

    In this episode of Founders Mental Health, we welcome Emad and Simon, who share their experiences in the mental health tech startup space. Emad transitioned from corporate roles to founding the startup Saichologist, aimed at aiding mental health professionals. Simon, a psychologist with a tech background, connected with Emad through an shared community, and they quickly realized their shared passion for alleviating administrative burdens on mental health professionals. We discuss the importance of finding the right co-founder, handling disagreements, and sustaining mental health through open communication and the right support systems. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Emad Ghorbaninia and Simon Tobias Secher, from Saichologist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Theme song: The Pelican Brothers Resources: 1. Podcast mentioned in the episode: AI in Mental Health: a conversation with Emad Ghorbaninia, Human AI Experience2. Mental health retreat for developers: Maize Conf

    34 min
  4. #20 - Przemek: From Mentor to Startup Founder, Embracing Mental Health, and Being Open to Get a Trainer for Your Mind

    12/12/2024

    #20 - Przemek: From Mentor to Startup Founder, Embracing Mental Health, and Being Open to Get a Trainer for Your Mind

    In this episode, Przemek shares his journey going from mentoring other startups to taking the driver's seat and co-founding and growing the medical software development company Revolve Healthcare, and what he learned about himself on the way. We explore the importance of identifying your own personal limits, what being a founder means for your ability to ask for help from others, and we come also to the realization that we all might need a trainer for our minds! We take care of our bodies by going to the gym and even getting a personal trainer, but how about our minds? Why isn't it more common to see going to a therapist as taking care of our mind? Join us in this discussion. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Przemek Grzywa, Co-founder & Co-CEO @ Revolve Healthcare⁠⁠⁠ Theme song: The Pelican Brothers

    26 min
  5. #19 - Line: Human-Centric Productivity, Finding Your Superpower, and Embracing Sustainable Work Practices

    12/02/2024

    #19 - Line: Human-Centric Productivity, Finding Your Superpower, and Embracing Sustainable Work Practices

    In this episode, we are joined by Line, a specialist in creating efficient processes without burnout, to discuss her unique approach to productivity. Her LinkedIn tagline reads "Your company's got chaos? Excellent!". This is a must listen for improving productivity in your organization, no matter the size. Line shares her insights from her career in digital and tech, emphasizing the importance of considering human factors in organizational efficiency. She also opens up about her personal mental health journey, including her recent diagnosis, and how these insights have shaped her professional approach. Don't miss the deep dive into productivity, mental health, and the future of work, both for startups and larger corporations! Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Line Hviid, LINEH.DK⁠ Theme song: The Pelican Brothers

    32 min
  6. #18 - Natalia: Finding Energy and Joy in Work and Life

    11/16/2024

    #18 - Natalia: Finding Energy and Joy in Work and Life

    In this episode of Founders Mental Health, we talk with Natalia, a leadership advisor and coach, as she shares her transformative journey from two decades in corporate life to embracing the entrepreneurial path. Natalia shares the importance of identifying personal energy sources and cultivating joy in daily life, the challenges one faces while transitioning to coaching, strategies for sustaining balance and energy, and the tools that have helped her along the way. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Natalia Scherff , Leadership & career development coach Coach Scherff Theme song: The Pelican Brothers

    21 min
  7. #17 - Sam: Challenging The Myths About Entrepreneurship, Coaching and AI, and the Founder's Mindset

    10/01/2024

    #17 - Sam: Challenging The Myths About Entrepreneurship, Coaching and AI, and the Founder's Mindset

    In this episode, we have Sam Isaacson share his extraordinary journey from tech consultant to author, coach and founder, and together we explore the intersection of coaching and AI. Sam shares his unique journey from a career in corporate technology risk to becoming his own boss and developing an AI coaching service aimed at democratizing access to coaching. He also shares how he balances work and family, as well as why he believes working for yourself is about mindset and perseverance. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Sam Isaacson, Co-founder of AIcoach.chat and founder of the Coachtech Collective Theme song: The Pelican Brothers

    31 min
  8. #16 - Daniel: Behavioral Design, Intrinsic Motivation, and Navigating Obstacles as Mental Health Tech Founder

    09/26/2024

    #16 - Daniel: Behavioral Design, Intrinsic Motivation, and Navigating Obstacles as Mental Health Tech Founder

    In this episode, our guest is Daniel Viholm, founder of Nuance and a passionate entrepreneur and UX designer. We discuss the intersection of mental health and entrepreneurship, and Daniel shares his personal journey with ADHD and how it inspired him to create Nuance, an assistive app designed to help people with ADHD. From overcoming the struggles of being a solo founder to the emotional ups and downs of launching a tech startup, Daniel offers a candid look into the mental health challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Tune in to hear about Daniel’s innovative approach to behavioral design, his advice for aspiring founders, and how he's working to make a meaningful impact on the ADHD community. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a mental health advocate, or simply interested in tech, this episode will resonate with you. Your host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paula Petcu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Daniel Viholm, cofounder of Nuance Theme song: The Pelican Brothers

    35 min
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About

Founders and entrepreneurs are praised for their innovation and audacity. Yet, there's an often overlooked issue that's pervasive in this group: founders face a high likelihood of mental health issues. The very individuals who bring about groundbreaking change are amongst the most vulnerable to psychological distress. In this podcast, we interview founders in the health industry in Denmark. One might argue, of all sectors, wouldn't they be the ones less likely to be afflicted given their proximity to health-related knowledge? Let's find out!

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