🎙️ 33 CONVERSATIONS PODCAST

Michael Abney
  • 4.9 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED DAILY

33 Conversations Podcast is a space where mission-driven founders are witnessed in their becoming. Not a podcast about success stories, this is real-time reflection: the messy middle, the identity shifts, and the truth behind building something that matters.

  1. Your Body Knows

    3D AGO

    Your Body Knows

    In this episode, Dominique Dubon shares a grounded perspective on burnout, workplace wellness, and the long-term cost of ignoring the body. The conversation moves beyond surface-level health advice and into the real patterns driving exhaustion in modern work. Key Themes Burnout as a physical and systemic issueThe impact of repetitive strain and stress over timeNervous system overload in high-performance environmentsThe limits of productivity-driven thinkingBuilding sustainable habits for long-term healthWho This Is For Founders experiencing ongoing stress or fatigueLeaders responsible for team wellbeingAnyone questioning the sustainability of their current paceWhy It’s Worth Listening This episode offers a practical shift in perspective—from reacting to burnout to preventing it. It reframes health as something built daily, not fixed later.

    31 min
  2. What If Life Is a Game?

    5D AGO

    What If Life Is a Game?

    This conversation explores what happens when high performers lose their connection to play, and why it matters more than most realize. Michael sits down with Peter Williamson to unpack how games, space, and human behavior intersect in leadership, learning, and life. Key themes discussed: The psychological cost of perfectionismWhy play improves decision-making and creativityHow physical and social environments shape behaviorThe role of experiential learning in leadershipReconnecting with curiosity in high-pressure environmentsWho this is for: Founders feeling stuck, rigid, or burned outLeaders looking to unlock better team dynamicsAnyone craving more creativity and energy in their workWhy it’s worth listening: This episode reframes play as a strategic advantage, not a distraction and offers a practical way to reconnect with clarity, energy, and better thinking.

    31 min
  3. Listening Your Way Back

    APR 9

    Listening Your Way Back

    This episode explores the tension between inherited expectations and authentic identity. Vivian, founder of The Inner Room, shares how cultural narratives, family pressure, and internalized beliefs shape the lives we build—and how to begin separating from them. Key themes include identity formation, founder anxiety, self-doubt, and the role of listening in building clarity and trust. The conversation reframes failure as a necessary ingredient for success and explores how environment, not ability, often determines alignment. This episode is for founders, creators, and deep thinkers who feel disconnected from their current path—or sense there’s more beneath the surface. If you’re navigating uncertainty, identity shifts, or questioning the life you’ve built, this conversation offers a grounded way forward.

    36 min
  4. Why Purpose Requires Movement, Not Certainty

    APR 7

    Why Purpose Requires Movement, Not Certainty

    This episode explores the transition from hesitation to action in mission-driven work. Erickson Brickers shares how he moved past overthinking and stepped fully into building the Brickers Foundation. The conversation focuses on community impact, the role of storytelling in nonprofit work, and why visibility often matters more than funding. Key themes include: Founder fear and overthinkingThe psychology of taking actionBuilding impact without resourcesThe importance of staying uncomfortablePurpose as something revealed through movementThis episode is for founders who: Feel stuck or uncertainAre waiting for the “right time”Want to create meaningful impactIf you’re navigating purpose, identity, or direction in your work, this conversation offers a grounded perspective on how to move forward.

    29 min
  5. Your Brain Is Lying

    APR 2

    Your Brain Is Lying

    This conversation explores how the brain processes stress, trauma, and uncertainty—and why so many of our patterns are rooted in survival rather than choice. Egzona Morina shares insights from neuroscience, including how early experiences shape behavior, why anxiety develops, and what it actually takes to rewire the brain later in life. Key themes include: Survival-driven brain patternsThe long-term impact of stress and traumaNeuroplasticity and habit formationEnvironmental effects on cognitionThe relationship between awareness and changeThis episode is for founders, leaders, and individuals navigating pressure, uncertainty, or internal resistance. If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you can’t explain, this will help you understand why—and what to do next.

    38 min
  6. From Burnout to Authentic Leadership

    MAR 31

    From Burnout to Authentic Leadership

    This conversation explores what happens when a founder realizes the path they’re on no longer fits—and chooses to rebuild from truth instead of pressure. Michael sits down with Laura, founder of Tattd, to unpack her transition from burnout and anxiety into a more aligned way of building and leading. Key themes: Founder burnout and physical stress signalsIdentity and self-worth in entrepreneurshipLetting go of external validationAuthentic decision-making in businessRedefining success on your own termsWho this is for: Founders feeling pressure to performEntrepreneurs navigating burnout or anxietyLeaders questioning their current pathAnyone building something meaningful but feeling disconnectedWhy listen: This episode gives a grounded look at what it takes to step out of the traditional startup model and build something that actually reflects who you are.

    33 min
  7. Empowering Rural Areas

    MAR 26

    Empowering Rural Areas

    This conversation explores what happens when traditional funding systems begin to fail, and what replaces them. Phoebe Sutton shares her work with rural communities and nonprofits, revealing how relationship-driven models are outperforming institutional approaches. Through real-world examples, including raising nearly $1M in grassroots funding, she breaks down the shift from transactional fundraising to trust-based community building. Key themes include: The collapse of traditional nonprofit fundingRelationship-based leadershipCommunity-driven growth modelsFounder identity and visibilityBuilding trust at scaleThis episode is for founders, nonprofit leaders, and community builders navigating uncertainty and looking for grounded, human-centered ways to move forward. If you're questioning old systems and searching for what works now, this conversation will give you clarity.

    24 min
  8. The Hidden Co$t of Being “Of Service”

    MAR 24

    The Hidden Co$t of Being “Of Service”

    This conversation explores what happens when meaningful work starts to disconnect you from yourself. Brandy Walker shares her journey from service-driven burnout to rebuilding her life through alignment, self-trust, and intentional action. Key themes: Founder burnout and identity lossRedefining success and “good work”Trusting internal signals over external validationNavigating forced career pivotsBuilding a life that actually feels alignedThis episode is for: Founders feeling drained despite doing meaningful workAnyone navigating a career shift or identity transitionLeaders questioning their current pathWhy it’s worth listening: Because sometimes the problem isn’t your work. It’s that you’ve outgrown the version of yourself doing it.

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

33 Conversations Podcast is a space where mission-driven founders are witnessed in their becoming. Not a podcast about success stories, this is real-time reflection: the messy middle, the identity shifts, and the truth behind building something that matters.

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