Fulfillment Project

Fulfillment Project with: Andy Leonard
  • 5.0 (8)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Trying to figure out the secret to life, one question at a time. Join the conversation at fulfillmentproject.substack.com. fulfillmentproject.substack.com

  1. 1D AGO

    #53 | Health Span, Strength, and Cutting Through the Longevity BS with Paul von Zielbauer

    Aging With Strength: https://agingwithstrength.comGeezer Magazine: https://geezermagazine.comHow do you age with strength without falling for longevity scams?In this episode of The Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Pulitzer‑nominated journalist Paul von Zielbauer, creator of Aging With Strength, to cut through the noise around supplements, fitness fads, and the so‑called “longevity industrial complex.”Paul explains why healthspan matters more than lifespan, how to build real strength after 40 (without destroying your joints), and how to spot red flags when influencers and doctors are selling expensive longevity theater.This is a grounded, no‑BS conversation about strength training, aging well, bone density, balance, brain health, and living fully into the years you actually have.👇 In this episode, we cover: Why living longer isn’t the goal. Living healthier is The biggest mistakes people make starting strength training after 40 How to build muscle, balance, and bone density without a gym Why most supplements don’t work (and which ones might) How to spot longevity scams and hidden financial incentives The “eat and move like it’s 1899” framework for simple health Why social connection may matter more than any supplement Listener note: This episode contains occasional strong language as part of a candid, educational conversation.⏱️ Chapters00:00 From Pulitzer journalism to Aging With Strength03:50 Ageism, career disruption, and reinvention07:05 What it actually means to age well13:40 How older adults should start strength training safely16:25 Reversing muscle loss (sarcopenia)20:00 Longevity supplements and b******t detection29:15 Balance training and fear of falling32:40 Bone density and osteoporosis prevention34:40 The smallest strength routine that actually works44:47 Healthspan vs lifespan (and why this changes everything)56:26 Paul’s longevity scam red‑flag checklist🎧 Subscribe to The Fulfillment Project for conversations on purpose, agency, leadership, health, and living fully: physically, mentally, and spiritually.👍 If this episode challenged how you think about aging, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.💬 Question for you: What’s one “healthy” habit you’ve never questioned, but probably should? Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m

  2. MAR 30

    #52 | Purpose with Dr. Vic Strecher

    Vic's App: https://www.purposeful.io/ Vic's book: https://tinyurl.com/fulfillmentproject Vic's course available online: https://tinyurl.com/fulfillmentprojectcourse Promos: https://perfectsnacks.com/collections/bars https://freshpressedoliveoil.com/ -- -- -- -- -- In this episode of The Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Dr. Vic Strecher, professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, behavioral scientist, and one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of purpose. After the sudden death of his 19‑year‑old daughter, Julia, Vic was forced to confront a question many of us avoid until life makes it unavoidable: What actually makes a life worth living? Drawing from decades of research, neuroscience, psychology, and his own personal story, Vic explains how living with purpose fundamentally changes: - How we respond to stress - How we cope with grief and anxiety - How we make decisions under pressure - How long and how well we live In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why purpose is biological, not just philosophical - How purpose reshapes the brain and calms the fear center (amygdala) - Why people with purpose are more resilient, healthier, and less likely to become depressed - Why success, money, and prestige often fail to deliver fulfillment - How purpose evolves across seasons of life, loss, and transition - Why most people live as “wallflowers”, and how to step onto the dance floor of life - The difference between chasing outcomes and living in alignment with purpose - How purpose helps people survive trauma, poverty, and profound suffering Vic also breaks down practical ways to start building purpose today, even if you feel lost, overwhelmed, or stuck: How to identify what truly matters to you Why responsibility and service are powerful sources of meaning How daily intention shapes long‑term fulfillment Why purpose gives people hope, especially when life feels unfair This episode is for you if: - You feel busy but unfulfilled - You’ve been successful but still feel something is missing - You’re navigating grief, transition, or burnout - You want a science‑backed framework for meaning and resilience - You want to live with urgency, clarity, and depth — not sleepwalk through life As Vic explains, purpose isn’t a motivational poster. It’s a force that shapes how we suffer, how we endure, how we choose, and how we live. 🎧 Listen in — and ask yourself what kind of life you’re building. About Dr. Vic Strecher Dr. Strecher is the author of Life on Purpose and On Purpose, creator of the Purposeful framework and app, and host of the Purposecast podcast. His work bridges science, storytelling, and lived experience to help people live longer, healthier, more meaningful lives. If this conversation resonated with you: ✅ Like the video ✅ Subscribe to the channel ✅ Share it with someone searching for purpose New episodes of The Fulfillment Project explore purpose, leadership, fulfillment, resilience, and what it means to live a fully integrated life. Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 7m

  3. MAR 23

    #51 | Building a Financial System for the New Economy - With Tamara Laine

    Is the credit system broken for gig workers, creators, and non‑traditional earners? In this episode of Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Tamara Laine, Emmy‑award‑winning journalist turned FinTech founder and the creator of MPWR, a platform rethinking how credit and capital are accessed in the new economy. More than 50% of the U.S. workforce now earns income outside of traditional W‑2 jobs, yet millions are still denied loans because the financial system wasn’t built for how people work today. Tamara shares how MPWR uses AI, explainable decision‑making, and ethical design to help lenders responsibly say yes to more people—without sacrificing compliance or fairness. This conversation goes beyond fintech. We explore failure, risk‑taking, leadership, fulfillment, ethical AI, and why loving the journey matters more than chasing outcomes. In this episode, we cover: - Why traditional credit scoring fails gig workers and creators- How AI can expand access to credit without becoming surveillance - What “explainability” means in regulated industries like lending- The concept of owning your own credit identity (credit IP) - Why failure feels catastrophic—but rarely is - Ethical AI, bias, and why diversity matters in system design - Leadership lessons from building teams smarter than yourself Whether you’re a founder, freelancer, creator, leader, or someone navigating the modern economy, this episode will change how you think about money, systems, and opportunity. 👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on fulfillment, leadership, purpose, and building a meaningful life 👉 Share this episode with someone working in the gig or creator economy 👉 Comment below: Was the credit system built for you? About the Guest: Tamara Laine is the founder of MPWR, a FinTech company building AI‑powered infrastructure to expand fair lending for the new economy. She is an Emmy‑award‑winning journalist, advisor to startups, and advocate for ethical, transparent technology.#Leadership #FailureToSuccess #NewEconomy Non-Promotion-Promotion: Fuel your day with clean protein — grab Perfect Bar: https://perfectsnacks.com/collections/barsCheck out their channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PerfectSnacks Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    55 min

  4. MAR 16

    #50 | The Girl Who Followed the Dirt Road with Emily Eiguren

    www.emilymccartneyphotography.com www.emilymccartneyphotography.com/shop/ Learn the decision test that helps you choose calling over comfort. Keep your freedom now, and build a life you’ll be at peace with later. Emily McCartney Eiguren went all-in on a Western photography calling instead of the “safe job” path, and the choice reshaped her freedom, identity, and family life.In this conversation, we unpack the fork-in-the-road moment, how she built momentum, and why agency matters when your season of life changes. You’ll learn… • How to decide when the “safe route” is wisdom vs. fear (and how to tell the difference). • Why consistent craft beats waiting for permission (including the moment YETI reached out). • How to separate your worth from your work so transitions (like motherhood) don’t break you. This is for parents, leaders, and creatives who want more agency, more peace, and a life that fits the people they love most. #FulfillmentProject #Calling #Agency 📚 Explore more conversations on leadership + peace + fulfillment: SUBSCRIBE TO FULFILLMENT PROJECT today. Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 5m

  5. MAR 11

    #49 | Your Children Are Not the Future with Leah Ellis

    • Society of Child Entrepreneurs: https://soceict.org • Learn more about The Fulfillment Project podcast: https://fulfillmentproject.substack.com/ What if the biggest thing holding kids back… is adults? In this episode of The Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Leah K. Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, to explore why agency, not achievement, may be the most important skill we can give children. Leah shares powerful real‑world stories of kids as young as 4–10 years old launching real businesses, solving community problems, speaking at city council meetings, and learning resilience through failure. Not by being managed, but by being trusted. This conversation challenges everything we assume about parenting, leadership, and education in a rapidly changing world shaped by AI, automation, and constant disruption. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why “children are the future” might be quietly robbing kids of agency • How entrepreneurship builds confidence, resilience, and problem‑solving skills • The parenting shift from manager → guide (and why it matters)• How asking one word—“How?”—changes everything • Why failure is fuel when kids are allowed to own it • How leadership, autonomy, and purpose can be practiced today, not someday Leah connects child entrepreneurship to deeper truths about human motivation, self‑determination, resilience, and leadership—backed by research and lived experience. If you’re a parent, educator, leader, coach, or someone thinking deeply about the future of work and meaning, this episode will challenge and inspire you. 👉 Share this episode with someone raising kids or leading young people. 👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on fulfillment, agency, leadership, and purpose. Chapters: 00:00 – Raising Leaders: Why Kids Don’t Have to Wait to Lead 02:07 – From Crisis to Purpose: How Child Entrepreneurship Began 04:48 – A 4-Year-Old Starts a Real Business (And Succeeds) 10:23 – Parenting Shift: Stop Managing Kids, Start Guiding Them 12:42 – Agency in the Age of AI and Rapid Change 15:02 – The One Word That Builds Problem-Solving Skills: “How” 21:26 – A 10-Year-Old Speaks at City Council (Real Leadership) 27:31 – Entrepreneurship Basics: Find a Problem, Solve It, Monetize It 33:07 – Teaching Kids Resilience: Let Them Fail Without Rescuing 50:32 – The Provocative Truth: Children Are Not the Future Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    57 min

  6. MAR 3

    #48 | Calm Without Numbing with Morgan Smith

    www.kalmwithkava.com What if the way we cope with stress is actually making us less present? In this episode of Fulfillment Project, host Andy Leonard sits down with Morgan Smith, CEO of Kalm with Kava, to explore burnout, anxiety, addiction, ritual, and what it really means to calm the nervous system without numbing yourself. Morgan shares his personal journey from 80‑hour workweeks in tech and finance to discovering kava, a 3,000‑year‑old South Pacific plant traditionally used to promote calm, connection, and clarity. This is not a conversation about escapism. It’s about presence, agency, and building a life that doesn’t require constant stimulation to survive. This episode dives deep into: - Burnout, anxiety, and the moment “coping stopped working” - The difference between calming vs. numbing - Why addiction is really about loss of freedom - The power of ritual in a hyper‑stimulated world - Ancient wisdom from the Pacific Islands that modern culture has forgotten - Why silence, rules, and small daily practices matter more than hacks - Redefining success, fulfillment, and what actually lasts This is a raw, honest, and deeply human conversation about stress, faith, family, work, and reclaiming control of your inner life. Chapters: 0:04 – 2:08: Opening and Morgan’s Burnout Story 2:08 – 6:12: Burnout, Meds, and Exploring Alternatives 6:12 – 9:30: Kava Discovery and Early US Landscape 9:30 – 13:15: Kava Basics: What It Is, How It’s Prepared, and Forms 14:15 – 23:31: Calming vs Numbing, Addiction, and Life Rules 25:47 – 31:11: Rituals and the Value of Preparation 40:20 – 53:26: Fulfillment, Money, and What Really Matters 66:30 – 68:52: Legacy, Community, and the Path Forward with Kava 63:27 – 68:52: Practical Takeaways and Starting Points Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 9m

  7. FEB 23

    #47 | The Leadership Bill Always Comes Due. With: Phil Hayes-St. Clair

    About Phil Hayes‑St Clair Phil Hayes‑St Clair is a leadership coach, writer, and former entrepreneur who has built eight companies across healthcare, biotech, and technology. His work focuses on helping leaders scale without sacrificing health, relationships, or integrity. Weekly essays: The Wednesday Partnership Podcast: The Partnership Playbook Website: https://www.philhsc.com Most leadership advice focuses on growth.Very little talks about the human bill that shows up later. In this episode of The Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Phil Hayes‑St Clair—former Australian Army officer, serial entrepreneur (8 companies, 3 successful), and leadership coach—to talk about reinvention, partnerships, burnout, and what it actually costs to lead well over time. This isn’t a productivity conversation.It’s a formation conversation. Phil shares how a forced exit from the military reshaped his understanding of leadership, why most partnerships fail, and why growth without health and relationships is a debt—not a win. In This Conversation, You’ll Learn: ✅ Why “kind but not nice” is the mark of great leadership✅ The hidden cost of growth that most leaders ignore✅ How to scale without sacrificing your health or family✅ The IDEAL framework for building partnerships that actually work✅ Why burnout isn’t a failure of effort—but of perspective✅ The single boundary every high performer should set earlier✅ How small, human moments of leadership compound over time Key Ideas & Moments Covered Reinvention & Identity Phil shares how an unexpected eye condition made him “unserviceable” in the military—and forced a total reinvention. Why most leaders never learn how to reinvent unless life pushes them into it. What Great Leadership Actually Looks Like Why command‑and‑control leadership fails. How the best leaders assemble people smarter than themselves. The difference between being nice and being kind. Why Most Partnerships Fail 97% of global commerce runs on partnerships—yet most fail. Phil’s IDEAL framework: Intent Dual Benefit Era (long‑term thinking) Allies Land the First Win Growth, Burnout & the “Human Bill” “A lot of growth advice ignores the human bill it sends later.” What happens when leaders don’t pay that bill early. Why sleep, health, and relationships are leadership fundamentals—not luxuries. The Smallest Acts That Matter Most Why inviting someone to coffee can literally save a life. How warmth, humor, and presence create trust and influence. Why everyone—regardless of title—is already a leader. A Quote That Defines This Episode “The only people who will remember how hard you worked are the people who love you most.” About The Fulfillment Project Hosted by Andy Leonard, The Fulfillment Project explores purpose, leadership, work, family, and what it means to live a deeply meaningful life in a world obsessed with optimization. If this conversation resonated with you: 👍 Like the video📩 Share it with a leader who needs it🔔 Subscribe for weekly long‑form conversations on fulfillment Tags / Keywords:leadership podcast, burnout and leadership, scaling a business, healthy leadership, partnerships in business, servant leadership, entrepreneur burnout, fulfillment project podcast, phil hayes st clair, leadership without burnout, leadership and health 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:56 The Importance of Self-Compassion 02:59 Military Experience and Reinvention 07:02 Lessons in Leadership 12:11 Transitioning to Business and Science 17:33 Entrepreneurial Journey and Successes 19:18 The Ideal Plus Partnership Framework 26:28 The Art of Saying No 28:42 Growing Without Sacrificing Health and Relationships 33:39 The Consequences of Neglecting Self-Care 39:00 The Importance of Sleep for High Performers 43:45 The Role of Social Connections in Well-Being 47:10 Building New Relationships and Communities 52:36 The Power of Small Acts of Kindness 01:00:35 Substack Advert Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 1m

  8. FEB 16

    #46 | Excellence Is Built. You Can Do it. With: Raul Hernandez-Ochoa

    👤 About the Guest: Raul Hernandez‑Achoa is the founder of Do Good Work, where he advises entrepreneurs and executives on building durable businesses and sustainable lives. He’s also the host of the Do Good Work Podcast and a prolific writer on leadership, systems, and personal growth. 🌐 Learn more: https://dogoodwork.io What if excellence isn’t something you build—but something you discover through disciplined action, first principles, and consistency over time? In this episode of Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Raul Hernandez‑Ochoa, founder of Do Good Work, for a wide‑ranging conversation on growth, identity, and what actually separates average lives from extraordinary ones. Raul works with founders and leaders who want more than growth for growth’s sake. His focus is building businesses—and lives—that are operationally sound, personally sustainable, and rooted in timeless principles. This episode dives deep into: Why experience alone doesn’t create excellence The difference between first principles and frameworks How self‑talk, identity, and habits shape outcomes Why most people plateau...and how to break past it Visualization, consistency, and the “long, boring road” to success Why failures aren’t failures...they’re feedback loops How to discern truth vs. luck when learning from successful people What it really means to “Do Good Work” “If you’re not deliberately challenging yourself beyond competence, average is the default outcome.” This conversation blends psychology, philosophy, leadership, and lived experience into a practical guide for anyone who feels stuck, restless, or called to something more—but isn’t sure how to move forward. 🔔 Please Support the ShowIf this episode resonated with you: ✅ Like the video ✅ Subscribe to the channel ✅ Leave a 5‑star rating ✅ Share this episode with someone who came to mind while listening. That’s the best way to help Fulfillment Project grow. 📬 Want the Frameworks? Andy breaks down all the frameworks mentioned in this episode in his Substack and weekly Self‑Reflection Guide—no note‑taking required. 👉 Subscribe here: https://fulfillmentproject.substack.com/ Fulfillment isn’t found by accident. It’s practiced daily. 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:52 Childhood Influences and Mindset 04:59 Challenging Conventional Wisdom 07:48 The Importance of Deliberate Practice 11:26 Transformational Client Experiences 14:20 Identifying Truths and Principles 17:16 The Role of Passion and Calling 20:09 Learning from Failures 22:51 Communication as a Key Skill 27:48 Exploring the Nature of Reality 30:32 The Power of Self-Talk and Perception 34:17 Frameworks for Positive Change 38:12 Consistency and the Journey to Success 43:24 The Role of Vision in Achieving Goals Get full access to Fulfillment Project at fulfillmentproject.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min
See All (53)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Trying to figure out the secret to life, one question at a time. Join the conversation at fulfillmentproject.substack.com. fulfillmentproject.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Fulfillment Project with: Andy Leonard
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Andy Leonard
  • Show Website
    Fulfillment Project

You Might Also Like