The Amanda Dake Podcast

Amanda Dake
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Amanda Dake Podcast How it started. How it's going. Every week I sit down with founders, executives, and high achievers for one honest conversation about their journey the decisions that changed everything, the moments that don't make the highlight reel, and what it actually took to get here. What I've noticed after years of these conversations is the same thread running through almost every story. A moment where success was visible on the outside but something underneath didn't add up. Where the life they were living and the life they were capable of weren't the same one. These conversations will make you think. Some of them will surprise you. And at least one of them will change the way you see your own story.

  1. 2d ago

    Escaping the Grind: How Cornelius Schmahl Went From Launching Uber Cities to Thailand

    He launched Uber cities at 27 and managed a massive P&L across Germany, Africa, and Russia.  Then, business owner burnout forced a full reset. In this episode Amanda Dake talks with entrepreneur and coach Cornelius Schmahl about how it started — chasing attention through hard work, scaling teams at Rocket Internet and Uber, thriving in high-pressure markets — and how it's going — recovering from burnout, building a balanced life in Thailand, and now building AI to optimize rideshare marketplaces. Cornelius shares why his "back against the wall" mentality kept him forcing outcomes long after he was financially secure, how a slipped disk became the wake-up call, and why nearly a decade with a coach has been his highest-ROI decision.  You'll hear his take on entrepreneur burnout recovery, work life balance, entrepreneur mindset strategies that actually stick, leadership without ego, and why human connection matters more in an AI-driven world. If you're navigating success that doesn't feel sustainable, this is a roadmap for how to recover from burnout while still building something that matters. Key moments in this episode: ➡️ How It Started: Chasing Attention to Uber ➡️ How It Scaled: Launching Cities and Managing Millions ➡️ The Turning Point: Burnout and the Health Wake-Up Call ⭐️ How It's Going: Thailand, Balance, and Intentional Work ⭐️ What's Next: AI for Rideshare and Coaching for Impact Subscribe for weekly How It Started, How It's Going conversations — stories of high-performing leaders navigating growth and transition. Connect with Cornelius: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornelius-peter-schmahl/  Website: https://viriatos.co  and https://unicorn.coach  Connect with Amanda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-dake  Website: https://amandadake.com  Find Your Blindspot: https://blindspot.amandadake.com  Founder Studio Experience: https://founderstudioexperience.com

    Escaping the Grind: How Cornelius Schmahl Went From Launching Uber Cities to Thailand

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for the Best Possible Life with Oprah and Jim Murphy from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOK! Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy https://amzn.to/4xuD5Qg Performance coach and bestselling author Jim Murphy’s book Inner Excellence took the world by storm and rocketed to #1 after NFL wide receiver A.J. Brown was spotted reading it during a playoff game. Seemingly overnight the book became a New York Times bestseller, resonating far beyond the world of sports. Drawing from the powerful lessons in Inner Excellence Jim shares the mental tools you can cultivate to help manage your mind, unlock your potential and expand what's possible in your life. He also discusses his transformative new book, The Best Possible Life, revealing how you can cultivate greater peace, purpose and fulfillment. 00:00:00 - Welcome Jim Murphy, author of Inner Excellence 00:04:40 - Jim’s path to inner excellence 00:07:40 - The pursuit of joy  00:11:40 - How to manage our minds  00:13:20 - 5 questions to clear a mental block 00:15:30 - 2 paths in life  00:18:40 - Post sports identity 00:21:30 - The definition of Zoe  00:24:10 - Jim’s advice to those on the journey  00:27:00 - How to figure out what matters  00:30:30 - How to detach from the outcome of your goals  00:35:50 - Power of intention  00:39:55 - We are all human  00:41:20 - Keeping our ego in check  00:47:55 - The pursuit of success   Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. Sep 3

    Signals for Success: Reading Body Language with Christopher Carter

    Body language expert Christopher Carter reveals the nonverbal habits that are quietly shaping how you're perceived in sales, leadership, and everyday conversation. A former theater PhD candidate turned professional mentalist and speaker, Christopher shares the eye contact trick that fixes "distracted" video calls, why crossed arms shut people down without you realizing it, and how his stage training became the foundation for helping leaders overcome imposter syndrome. Plus: the story of performing for tennis legends in Doha, Qatar, and surviving a rowdy first gig in a West Virginia dive bar. A practical, entertaining conversation for anyone who wants to connect better — on stage, on screen, or across the table. Key Moments: 00:23 – How Amanda and Christopher met at a Chicago business conference 01:24 – From theater PhD candidate to professional mentalist 04:21 – His first paid gig: a rowdy biker bar in West Virginia 06:01 – Performing for tennis legends Nadal and Ferrer in Doha, Qatar 08:50 – The #1 hurdle in communication: self-awareness 11:00 – The trade show study on open vs. closed body language 12:07 – Why you can't read body language and make eye contact online at the same time 15:08 – The sticky-note fix for staying present on video calls 22:54 – How Amanda accidentally named his signature program "Signals for Success" 23:30 – His three flagship programs 24:54 – What's next: multi-day immersive training Connect with Christopher Carter:  Website: https://christophercarter.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophercarterspeaker/ Connect with Amanda Dake:  Website: https://amandadake.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-dake/

    Signals for Success: Reading Body Language with Christopher Carter

  4. Aug 19

    Why High Achievers Self-Sabotage | Allie Casazza on the Neuroscience Fix

    Allie Casazza built a multi-eight-figure business — then realized the success wasn't the point. In this episode, the behavioral neuroscience practitioner and master hypnotherapist breaks down why smart, driven people keep hitting the same wall: the subconscious "set point" running 95% of your decisions. She shares the moment that broke her (standing in a store, unable to afford both tampons and toothpaste), how she turned a $99 course into eight figures, and why she walked away from all of it to rewire brains instead of declutter homes. This is the episode for leaders who've done everything right and still feel like something is missing. Key Takeaways from Allie's Journey: Recognize Your Roots: Understanding where you come from can help you identify the constraints you need to overcome. Pivot with Purpose: When you feel out of alignment, don't be afraid to shift your focus. Your passion may lie in a completely different area. Build a Community: A membership model fosters ongoing relationships and support, which can be more beneficial than one-time transactions. Leverage Your Skills: Use your unique talents and experiences to create value for others; this can lead to unexpected success. Connect with Allie:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliecasazza/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allie_thatsme Take the Quiz: The Hidden Block Secretly Running Your Business  Connect with Amanda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-dake/ Founder Studio Experience: https://founderstudioexperience.com Get Amanda's Book: https://amandadake.com/book

    Why High Achievers Self-Sabotage | Allie Casazza on the Neuroscience Fix

  5. Jul 1

    If You Can't Find What You're Looking For, Create It

    What happens when you can't find what you're looking for?  Lea Woodford creates it. From broadcasting school where they told her at 19 her career had an expiration date, to founding her own media empire and a private jet company, Lea Woodford has built everything on one principle: frustration is fuel. In this conversation, Lea breaks down her journey from local media to luxury branding, revealing how she took control of her content strategy and saw a 780% increase in LinkedIn engagement.  We dive into why most brands are "swimming in the sea of sameness," what "brand perception" actually means, and why tangibility still wins in an AI world. What You'll Learn: 0:00 — The expiration date they gave her at 19 3:45 — Why she walked away from local media 7:20 — "You don't own your personal brand" — the hard truth about broadcasting 12:30 — Single mom, no child support, building from nothing 18:15 — How she accidentally became a speaker 22:40 — Frustration → Innovation: the Speaker Life Media origin story 28:10 — The 780% LinkedIn turnaround 32:00 — Why most brands drown in sameness 37:15 — Tangibility, luxury branding & the private jet company 42:30 — The Speaker Life Summit difference (no pitch fests) 47:00 — Leaving a legacy: "send the ladder back down" 🔗 Connect with Lea Woodford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leawoodford/ → Speaker Life Media: https://www.speakerlifemedia.com → Legacy Jets: https://legacyjetservices.com/ 📚 Amanda's Resources: → Take the Blindspot Quiz: https://blindspot.amandadake.com → "6 Moves To Your Next 6 Figures": https://amandadake.com/book → Amanda's website: https://amandadake.com

  6. Jun 25 ·  Video

    Just Because You CAN Doesn't Mean You SHOULD

    Just because you can do it all doesn't mean you should. If you're a high-achieving entrepreneur who's exhausted from doing everything yourself, this conversation is your wake-up call.  Strategic advisor Amanda Dake breaks down why capable leaders get trapped in misalignment, doing tasks that drain their energy and stall their growth. We dive into: • The "just because you can" trap- and why it's killing your fulfillment • How to run a time audit that reveals what's actually eating your day • Using human design, DISC, and StrengthsFinder to identify your blind spots • Why isolation is the hidden amplifier of entrepreneur overwhelm • Practical delegation strategies that don't feel like losing control Amanda also shares two free tools: a blind-spot quiz and a custom AI guide built to help you identify your unique alignment profile.If you've been telling yourself "I'll just handle it"- this is the conversation you didn't know you needed.  Stop doing everything. Start doing what matters. 🔗 Take Amanda's blind-spot quiz: https://blindspot.amandadake.com 🔗 Learn more about Amanda Dake: https://amandadake.com

  7. Jun 3

    The 7-Figure Business Built on a Layoff | Andrew Chesnutt

    Andrew Chesnutt didn't plan to build a seven-figure business. He planned to keep his job. When that was taken from him, he had to figure out what he was actually good at — and what he found changed everything. In this episode Andrew talks about the pivot from corporate trainer to entrepreneur, why most webinars fail and what to do instead, the power of story over features, and the small inner circle that has made every hard moment survivable. In this episode: • Why he calls bad corporate training "academic assault" • How stories light up the brain in a way features never will • Why entrepreneurs' baseline stress level is what most people feel as panic • Why webinars are not dead — AI is just making them worse • How to find the people whose honesty is the point Connect with Andrew: https://theauthorityforge.com Connect with Amanda: Take the free Business Blind Spot Quiz: https://blindspot.amandadake.com Website: https://amandadake.com

    The 7-Figure Business Built on a Layoff | Andrew Chesnutt

  8. May 28

    From Adjusting Spines to Rewiring Brains | Dr. Clifton Brady

    What do you do when your practice burns down and you can't see patients for months? If you're Dr. Clifton Brady, you accidentally invent telehealth — and discover your real calling. Clifton went from home builder to chiropractor to brain health coach, and the detours are what made him. Today he helps people struggling with anxiety, depression, and what he calls "stinkin' thinkin'" using nutritional protocols that get the brain what it actually needs to function. No medication. No traditional therapy. Just biology. In this episode we talk about: ⭐️ Why complimenting someone who's depressed can actually make them feel worse ⭐️ The emotional guidance scale and why you can't skip levels ⭐️ How a teenager told her mom "I tried to get depressed today but I couldn't" ⭐️ Why most people are nutrient-starved — not broken ⭐️ What it looks like when the brain finally gets fed If you've tried everything and still feel stuck, or you love someone who has, this one's worth your time. Connect with Dr. Clifton Brady: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffton-brady/ Connect with Amanda: Take the free Business Blind Spot Quiz: https://blindspot.amandadake.com Website: https://amandadake.com

    From Adjusting Spines to Rewiring Brains | Dr. Clifton Brady
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Amanda Dake Podcast How it started. How it's going. Every week I sit down with founders, executives, and high achievers for one honest conversation about their journey the decisions that changed everything, the moments that don't make the highlight reel, and what it actually took to get here. What I've noticed after years of these conversations is the same thread running through almost every story. A moment where success was visible on the outside but something underneath didn't add up. Where the life they were living and the life they were capable of weren't the same one. These conversations will make you think. Some of them will surprise you. And at least one of them will change the way you see your own story.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Dake
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Amanda Dake Podcast