The Business Of Thinking

Richard Reid
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  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

“The Business of Thinking” is the only podcast that gives ambitious leaders evidence-based psychological strategies for peak performance, decision-making, and resilience. Are you a founder, CEO, or senior executive struggling with decision fatigue, stress, or imposter syndrome? You're not alone. The challenges of modern leadership are primarily psychological. Join Richard Reid, organisational psychologist and leadership coach, as he cuts through the noise to deliver actionable mental models from psychology and behavioural science. In 30-45 minute deep-dives and conversations with global experts, you'll learn how to master the inner game of leadership, build resilient teams, and leverage your mind for competitive advantage. In every episode, you will: Discover the hidden cognitive biases sabotaging your strategic decisions.Learn to build psychological safety in your team for innovation and high trust.Find out the evidence-based secrets to sustained resilience without burnout. Stop managing your business. Start mastering your mind. Want the actionable takeaways and resources mentioned in the episodes? Find more information on www.richard-reid.com.  Subscribe today for your weekly mental upgrade!

  1. 4D AGO

    Shot Two Weeks Before His First Race - A Story of Resilience

    What happens when life keeps knocking you flat? Aaron Burros went from nearly 400 lbs to losing 178 lbs through running - then was shot two weeks before his debut ultra, followed by seven years of PTSD and a corporate cover-up. His message: treat the source, not just the symptoms. Key Takeaways Running is therapeutic, not therapy.  You are the CEO of your health.  Small steps compound.  Serving others lifts you when depression hits. Episode Highlights A doctor's warning at 40 started it all.  Aaron lost 178 lbs, was shot saving colleagues, survived a smear campaign and near-fatal sleep deprivation.  Now heading to Tokyo for his Abbott Majors six-star finish. Timestamps 03:19 Walking to work 10:36 Running vs therapy 19:01 The shooting 25:53 Cover-up 37:41 50 marathons quest 58:19 Final advice 🔗 Connect with Aaron Burros LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-burros-0a9a98101/Instagram: @therunningservantFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaron.burros⭐️ Connect and Subscribe Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid's work at www.richard-reid.com. Download the first two chapter of Richard's "Charisma Unlocked", audio or PDF version for free and begin your transformation towards authentic charisma: https://richard-reid.com/master-authentic-charisma/ Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

    1h 3m

  2. MAR 10

    Intentional Leadership: How To Unlock Your Team

    What does it really take to build a leadership brand that people trust - even when you're not in the room? In this episode, Richard Reid sits down with Skot Waldron, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of "Unlocked: A 52-Week Guide for the Intentional Leader". Skot shares how his journey from graphic design and global branding led him to uncover a powerful truth: your leadership brand is built not in boardrooms, but in the millions of micro-moments that make up everyday life. Skot challenges listeners to ask themselves: "Who is going to talk about you in 20 or 30 years?" It's a question that cuts through the noise of task lists and deadlines to reveal what truly matters in leadership - how you make people feel. From psychological safety and loyalty to intentionality under stress, this conversation is packed with insights that will shift how you think about showing up as a leader, every single day. Key Takeaways Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. Every handshake, corridor conversation, and email is a micro-impression - either a deposit or a withdrawal from your brand account. Authenticity, consistency, and differentiation are the three pillars of a strong leadership brand. Under stress, your true character is revealed - so do the pre-work before the pressure hits. Loyalty is earned through sustained effort, not grand gestures. Companies that invested in their people before COVID weathered the storm far better than those who scrambled when it hit. Ask five people five words they'd use to describe you. The patterns in their answers reveal your real brand - not the one you imagine you have. Gratitude is a leadership superpower. Expressing genuine appreciation for others is nearly impossible without shifting focus away from yourself - and it builds lasting brand equity. Episode Highlights From Design to Culture: Skot reveals how working at a global branding agency exposed him to the chaos that internal dysfunction causes - and how that led him to pivot entirely into leadership culture development. The Brand Account: Every micro-interaction is either a deposit or withdrawal. Skot explains why smell, tone, eye contact, and small moments matter far more than big presentations. Stress Reveals Character: When we're stressed, we become "accidental" rather than intentional. Richard and Skot explore how emotional regulation is central to consistent leadership branding. Psychological Safety in Action: A powerful story about a leader letting go of a long-serving employee - and how doing the relationship work beforehand transformed a painful moment into one of grace and mutual respect. Unlocking Permission: Skot closes with his core message - that we put people in cages of expectation and rob them of who they were designed to be. True leadership means giving people "permission to fly." Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Skot Waldron 00:52 — Skot's journey from graphic design to leadership coaching 06:51 — Defining brand: what people say about you when you're not around 09:35 — Consistency, the halo effect, and snap judgements 14:05 — Emotional regulation and how stress reveals your true character 15:48 — The COVID test: companies that did the pre-work vs those that didn't 18:02 — Skot's book "Unlocked" and the 52-week intentional leadership framework 23:14 — Differentiation: discovering your unique brand through asking others 27:32 — Gratitude as a leadership and brand-building tool 29:44 — Loyalty: why it's earned and why money alone won't buy it 32:18 — Psychological safety, Google's Project Aristotle, and fear of failure 37:10 — Hard leadership decisions and the power of relational pre-work 41:39 — "Who will talk about you in 20 years?" — Skot's defining leadership qu

    48 min

  3. MAR 3

    The Future of Cognitive Performance in Business with Dr. Jon Finn

    In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid sits down with Dr. Jon Finn, founder of Tougher Minds and author of "The Habit Mechanic," to explore the neurobiology of high performance in an era of rapid technological change.  Dr. Finn reveals the startling truth that we operate at only 2% consciousness, with 98% of our thoughts and actions driven by subconscious habits. "If you want to help people to do better, you've got to help them to understand how their brain is working," Jon explains as he outlines the shift from teams of humans to small teams co-working with AI. Key Takeaways Resilience is a two-part neurobiological process: recognizing unhelpful habits and having the tools to change them.  Success in the "jobless boom" requires transitioning from procedural tasks to high-charge cognitive performance.  Competitive advantage is no longer just about owning AI technology, but having the brain state intelligence to use it effectively. Episode Highlights Richard and Jon discuss why traditional leadership models fail by ignoring the physical brain.  They break down the three core brain states - recharge, medium charge, and high charge - and explain how to delegate "medium charge" procedural work to AI to focus on high-impact thinking. Timestamps 00:14 - Introduction to Dr. Jon Finn and Tougher Minds  02:28 - The 98% habit rule: Why your brain prioritizes automation  10:21 - The Three Brain States: Recharge, Medium, and High Charge  11:32 - How Agentic and Generative AI are reshaping the workforce  23:40 - The neuroscience of the prefrontal cortex vs. the limbic system  41:13 - The 30-minute legal brief: Real-world examples of AI superiority  43:30 - Future goals: Training 100,000 Habit Mechanic coaches 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jon Finn Website: https://www.tougherminds.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jon-finn/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjonfinn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TougherMinds/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TougherMinds ⭐️ Connect and Subscribe Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com. Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

    45 min

  4. FEB 24

    Neuroscience Secrets for Modern Leadership and Productivity with Dean Burnett

    In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid sits down with neuroscientist and best-selling author Dr. Dean Burnett to pull back the curtain on the “Idiot Brain.” They dive into common misconceptions that plague the corporate world, from the debunked 10% brain usage myth to how our brains handle maturity, stress, and performance. As Dean notes, “The brain is an incredibly resource-hungry organ,” and understanding its limitations is the first step toward genuine high performance. The conversation explores the friction between our primitive instincts and the demands of the modern workplace. Dean explains why uncertainty is the default “bad thing” for our species and why acknowledgment and autonomy often outweigh a pay rise when it comes to long-term worker satisfaction. Whether you are a leader looking to build a more harmonious team or an individual striving for efficiency without burnout, this episode offers a grounded, scientific perspective on the business of thinking. Key Takeaways The 10% brain usage myth is scientifically inaccurate. While we use all of our brain, we can only actively trigger a small fraction of neurons at once to avoid being overwhelmed.Human brains are instinctively stressed by uncertainty, making clear communication and reassurance vital during organizational change.True job satisfaction is heavily tied to autonomy and the ability to see the tangible results of your labor.Multitasking is largely a fallacy; the brain generally has one attention stream and relies on a “buffer” to jump between tasks, which can collapse if overloaded.Episode Highlights Why the brain is too resource-hungry to ever leave 90% of itself untapped, consuming nearly 25% of our fuel reserves.The “operating system” analogy explaining friction between modern thinking and older, impulsive instincts.Why “10 morning rituals of successful CEOs” are often retroactive wish fulfillment rather than scientific guidance.The importance of pushing the brain to its limits to form new neural connections.Why forced happiness is not a sustainable corporate strategy.Timestamps 00:52 – Debunking the 10% brain usage myth  05:21 – Brain evolution and instinctive friction  10:36 – Why uncertainty stresses the brain  16:07 – Autonomy and tangible workplace results  22:12 – The dangers of siloed working  31:32 – The truth about multitasking  37:58 – Improving brain capacity  42:29 – Why forced happiness fails 🔗 Connect with Dr. Dean Burnett Website: https://www.deanburnett.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-burnett-16303117/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdeanburnett/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeanBurnettAuthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl5o4NIxNFNKT6XdZ5jpdCg/videos ⭐️ Subscribe & Connect Thank you for joining The Business of Thinking. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ | https://www.the32collective.co/

    47 min

  5. FEB 17

    Dopamine, Serotonin, and the Psychology of Performance with Loretta Breuning

    In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid sits down with Loretta Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute, to explore the primal neurochemistry driving human behavior. Loretta reveals how "happy chemicals" like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin were designed for animal survival and how these ancient pathways still dictate our professional lives and personal success today. Key Takeaways Our brains are wired by early childhood experiences, creating neural "highways" that influence our adult reactions to competition and reward.  Understanding the mammal brain allows high achievers to move beyond surface-level motivation and master their emotional responses to workplace stress and social hierarchies. Episode Highlights Loretta discusses the reality of social hierarchies and why the drive for status is a natural biological impulse rather than a character flaw.  She breaks down the role of cortisol in decision-making, explaining how the brain decides when to "persist with a chase" or "cut losses" in a business context.  Finally, she provides a roadmap for retraining the brain through repetition to build new, healthier habits. Timestamps 00:50 Loretta’s journey from professor to brain behavior expert  06:17 The four happy chemicals and survival behavior  12:42 Serotonin, social dominance, and workplace competition  19:49 Oxytocin and the evolutionary need for protection  31:29 Lion’s perspective: Using cortisol for better business decisions  35:11 Strategies for retraining childhood neural pathways 🔗 Connect with Loretta Breuning Website: InnerMammalInstitute.org  Free 5-day Happy Chemical Jumpstart: https://InnerMammalInstitute.org/newsletter LinkedIn: Loretta Breuning  Instagram: @inner.mammal.inst  Facebook: LorettaBreuningPhD YouTube: @InnerMammalInstitute ⭐️ Connect and Subscribe Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com. Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

    41 min

  6. FEB 11

    The Life Switch: How to Master Your Mindset with Joel Steele

    In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid sits down with entrepreneur and author Joel Steele to discuss the psychology of resilience.  Joel shares his raw journey from facing borderline bankruptcy and life-threatening situations to building a thriving financial services business. He introduces the concept of the "Life Switch" - the internal choice to stop coasting and start living with intentionality. Key Takeaways Awareness is the first step toward high performance. Joel explains that we all possess internal assets and "pre-wiring" for success, but they remain dormant until we consciously "power them on" through vision and action. He emphasises that failure is only final if you accept it as a dead end rather than a pivot point. Episode Highlights Joel discusses how he transformed a failed restaurant venture and half a million dollars in debt into the foundation for a successful financial career.  He provides a masterclass on channeling anxiety into activity, explaining how to use fear as high-octane fuel for your goals.  The conversation also covers the importance of "self-actualization" and why tuning out digital distractions is essential to tuning into your purpose. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Joel Steele  02:43 - Overcoming bankruptcy and near-death experiences  05:55 - Transforming $500k of debt into a winning business  08:39 - The power of vision and your internal "GPS"  14:36 - Embracing the "Hard Road" and avoiding regret  18:18 - Converting anxiety and fear into productive activity  31:25 - How to extract your ideas and make them tangible  32:41 - The "Life Switch" mission and a $1M charity goal 🔗 Connect with Joel Steele Website: BookJoelSteele.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-steele-9685888 Instagram: @lifeswitchofficial ⭐️ Connect and Subscribe Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com. Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

    36 min

  7. FEB 3

    The Psychology of Medical Trauma and Recovery with Vanessa Abraham

    In this episode of The Business Of Thinking, host Richard Reid is joined by Vanessa Abraham, a dedicated speech-language pathologist whose career and life took a dramatic turn in 2019. Vanessa shares her harrowing journey from being a medical provider to becoming a patient paralyzed by a sudden neurological disorder that left her unable to speak or eat. She provides a raw look into the psychological toll of medical trauma, describing the "profound depression" and "invisible disabilities" that often go unaddressed after a patient leaves the ICU. Vanessa discusses her transformation into a "crazy researcher," diving into neuroplasticity and innovative healing modalities like the Neubie device to reclaim her life. Her story is a powerful testament to the psychology of high performance and the importance of purpose, reminding listeners that "when people have a purpose, they’re willing to withstand pretty much anything". Key Takeaways The episode explores Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), highlighting the cognitive deficits, anxiety, and PTSD that survivors face long after physical recovery. Vanessa emphasizes the necessity of a trauma-informed approach in healthcare, looking at a patient’s mental state and nervous system functioning as the primary foundation for physical healing. A major theme is the power of intellectual humility, where putting aside pride and asking "dumb questions" becomes the ultimate tool for innovation and recovery. The conversation delves into the shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic drive, explaining how creating a relaxed state allows the body and brain to repair itself. Episode Highlights Vanessa describes the rapid onset of her illness, going from a healthy, active lifestyle to being ventilated in the ICU within 48 hours. She explains the "missing piece" of healthcare: the lack of mental health support once a patient is discharged and the support system of the hospital slips away. The discussion covers Vanessa's book, Speechless, which serves as a guide for clinicians and survivors to understand the human side of medical trauma. Vanessa shares her future mission, including hosting workshops and retreats to educate medical providers on the realities of PICS and medical trauma. Timestamps 00:12 - Introduction to Vanessa Abraham and speech pathology  01:32 - Transition from clinician to paralyzed patient  03:56 - The rapid onset of a life-changing neurological disorder  08:28 - Discussing Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)  11:37 - Researching neuroplasticity and natural healing modalities  16:44 - The grieving process and losing one's identity  22:59 - How the Neubie device aids in neurological recovery  26:55 - Redefining trauma-informed care in medical practice  31:50 - Upcoming workshops and the Speechless book 🔗 Connect with Vanessa Abraham Website: www.aneuhealing.com Instagram: @speechless_slp To purchase book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cjvA4ao Facebook: Speechless SLP ⭐️ Connect and Subscribe Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com. Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

    34 min

  8. JAN 27

    The Psychology of AI: Religion, Hallucinations, and Critical Thinking with Beth Singler

    In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid is joined by Beth Singler, anthropologist and leading expert on digital religion and artificial intelligence. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping belief systems, decision-making, and critical thinking — not just in religious contexts, but across business, education, and society at large. From AI being treated as god-like by some users, to the dangers of outsourcing our thinking and blindly trusting machine-generated “truths,” Beth offers a grounded, thoughtful perspective on why healthy scepticism and critical reasoning matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. Key Takeaways AI is not a neutral tool. The language and narratives we use to describe it directly influence how people trust, adopt, and rely on it. Large language models do not reason like humans. They predict probabilities, meaning everything they generate follows the same process — some outputs are correct, others are not. Blind reliance on AI risks eroding critical thinking, particularly in education, leadership, and decision-making environments. Enthusiasm for AI often mirrors religious-style belief systems, especially within corporate culture and technological evangelism. Implementing AI in organisations should be treated as a change management project, not just a technical upgrade. Episode Highlights Beth explains how religious language and symbolism frequently appear in discussions about AI, even in secular corporate settings. The episode explores emerging AI-led spiritual practices and why some people experience large language models as god-like entities. Beth outlines the dangers of misinformation, fake expertise, and AI-generated authority entering education and professional spaces. The conversation highlights the tension between efficiency and truth, and how speed can undermine reflection and judgement. Business leaders are encouraged to learn from religious responses to AI, particularly around authenticity, trust, and ethical boundaries. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to The Business of Thinking 00:37 – What digital religion is and how Beth entered the field 02:56 – AI, spirituality, and god-like perceptions of language models 04:02 – AI evangelism and corporate enthusiasm 05:07 – Hallucinations, critical thinking, and education 07:04 – Why people trust AI answers too quickly 09:25 – Misinformation and the blurring of truth 10:41 – Building guardrails and thinking critically about AI 12:36 – Authenticity, sermons, and AI in religious spaces 14:47 – Utopia vs dystopia: where AI may be heading 17:13 – Beth’s research journey into AI and religion 18:59 – Advice for business leaders implementing AI 20:11 – AI as a change management challenge 21:56 – Final reflections on healthy scepticism 🔗 Connect with Beth Singler Website: https://bvlsingler.com LinkedIn: Beth Singler Instagram: @bethsingler Facebook: Beth Singler YouTube: Beth Singler ⭐️ Connect and Subscribe Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com. Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

    22 min
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“The Business of Thinking” is the only podcast that gives ambitious leaders evidence-based psychological strategies for peak performance, decision-making, and resilience. Are you a founder, CEO, or senior executive struggling with decision fatigue, stress, or imposter syndrome? You're not alone. The challenges of modern leadership are primarily psychological. Join Richard Reid, organisational psychologist and leadership coach, as he cuts through the noise to deliver actionable mental models from psychology and behavioural science. In 30-45 minute deep-dives and conversations with global experts, you'll learn how to master the inner game of leadership, build resilient teams, and leverage your mind for competitive advantage. In every episode, you will: Discover the hidden cognitive biases sabotaging your strategic decisions.Learn to build psychological safety in your team for innovation and high trust.Find out the evidence-based secrets to sustained resilience without burnout. Stop managing your business. Start mastering your mind. Want the actionable takeaways and resources mentioned in the episodes? Find more information on www.richard-reid.com.  Subscribe today for your weekly mental upgrade!

Information

  • Creator
    Richard Reid
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Business Of Thinking
  • Show Website
    The Business Of Thinking