Chief Change Officer

• #372 Building a Life (and Career) on Everyday Generosity — Part Two

  What does generosity look like in a divided, distracted world?In Part Two, Monte Wood—former CEO of Opus Agency and author of Generosity Wins—dives deeper into how generosity gets lost in the noise of modern life and what it takes to reclaim it. From quiet reflections on Steve Jobs’ legacy to a chance encounter with Elon Musk in a hotel hot tub, Monte shares how generosity can take many forms—and why practicing it daily is the ultimate leadership move.He also unpacks the forces working against generosity: media polarization, digital disconnection, and our culture of performative success. But with optimism, awareness, and a bit of handwritten gratitude, Monte believes we can rewire how we relate to ourselves—and each other.Key Highlights of Our Interview:What Generosity Isn’t: Learning from the Hard Edges“Steve Jobs wasn’t always kind—but his mission was generous. He wanted everyone to access technology. That matters.”The Hidden Generosity of Power Players“Elon Musk sat in a hot tub and talked German cinema with strangers. That moment of presence? Pure generosity.”Why Greed and Media Noise Make Generosity Harder“Our media doesn’t report anymore—it polarizes. It’s designed to divide us, not connect us. That’s why generosity is revolutionary.”Connectivity ≠ Connection“Texting someone in the same room isn’t connection. Real generosity requires presence—not just Wi-Fi.”A 600-Day Habit That Changed His Life“For nearly two years, Monte has written down one act of generosity and one moment of appreciation. Every. Single. Day.”How to Start Your Own Generosity Practice“It doesn’t have to be dramatic. A smile. A name remembered. A moment of full attention. That’s the starting line.”The ROI of Generosity Isn’t in Metrics—It’s in Meaning“You won’t find it in a spreadsheet. But the return? Real connection. Better leadership. More joy.”Be Generous With Yourself, Too“Monte exercises daily. Not for performance—for self-gift. Being generous starts with how you treat your own body and mind.”Hope Isn’t Naive—It’s a Form of Generosity“Monte calls himself ‘appropriately optimistic.’ His optimism is calibrated—not blind. It’s a gift he gives carefully to others.”Why He Still Believes in a More Generous World“We can’t control the noise—but we can choose how we show up. And small, consistent acts of generosity still move the world.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Monte Wood  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.17 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>160,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<

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• #371 Monte Wood: Why Generosity Isn’t Just Noble—It’s Strategic — Part One

  Is generosity a nice-to-have—or a career superpower?In Part One, Monte Wood, former CEO of Opus Agency and author of Generosity Wins, makes the case for generosity as a leadership strategy with real-world ROI. Drawing from personal stories, his time working with legends like Steve Jobs, Andy Grove, and Mark Benioff, and life lessons from his own mentors, Monte shares how small acts of generosity can ripple out into long-term success—and why true generosity isn’t transactional, it’s transformational.This episode explores what it means to give without expecting anything in return—and how doing so just might give you everything you’ve been looking for.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The 16-Year-Old With a Generosity Formula“My mentor told me: believe you can succeed, live a good life, and be generous. That’s it. That’s what I followed.”From Milton-Freewater to CEO“Even in a town of 3,500, I believed I’d lead a $100 million company. Generosity helped me get there.”The Real Test of Generous Leadership“Great leaders don’t just care about your output—they care about your growth, your family, your life beyond work.”The Taco Bell CEO Who Taught His Team to Change Tires“Leadership isn’t just coaching performance. It’s preparing people for life—even if that means teaching them how to balance a checkbook.”Why Remembering Someone’s Name Is a Leadership Move“Mark Benioff would walk into a room of 2,000 people and greet them by name. That’s not ego—that’s care.”The Toyota Truck and the Corner Cubicle“Andy Grove reinvented Intel—and drove a beat-up Toyota. That’s not performative humility. That’s values in action.”Is It Generosity If It Helps You Win?“If generosity leads to success, is it selfish? No—it’s just wise. When done with pure intent, generosity multiplies.”Defining Generosity (Without the Guilt Trip)“It’s not about money. It’s any act of giving or kindness done without expecting a return. Even a smile counts.”Smiles, Bathrooms, and the Chemistry of Connection“A smile can save a life. Cleaning a public restroom can create joy for someone you’ll never meet. This is the power we all hold.”The Ripple Effect Is Real—And It Changes Lives“When you’re generous to one person, they’re more likely to be generous to someone else. The ROI? It might not be financial—but it’s exponential.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Monte Wood  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.17 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>160,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<

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• #370 Paul Austin: Can Psychedelics Unlock Performance—Without Losing the Plot?

  Paul Austin isn’t here to evangelize psychedelics. He’s here to demystify them.As the founder and CEO of Third Wave, Paul has spent a decade educating the public on responsible psychedelic use—from microdosing protocols to full-dose journeys. In this episode, he shares how psychedelics are being used not just to treat mental health conditions, but to enhance leadership, decision-making, and personal clarity.We explore the science of neuroplasticity, the legal gray zones, and the risks of skipping the prep work. For high-performers feeling stuck or burnt out, Paul outlines a roadmap grounded in safety, structure, and serious self-inquiry. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this conversation is a guide—not a push—for what transformation can look like when approached with respect.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Why He Started Third Wave—and Why His Dad Tried It Too“My dad once told me he hadn’t been that disappointed since his brother died. Years later, I guided him through his first psilocybin journey.”From Microdosing to Life Design“Microdosing isn’t about escape—it’s about reprogramming. You still have to show up and do the hard stuff.”Psychedelics as a Skill, Not a Fix“Just like cooking or martial arts, this is a practice. You get better with time, feedback, and intention.”When Leaders Feel Stuck, This Is the Pattern Breaker“For many execs I work with, it’s not about trauma—it’s about lost clarity, emotional fog, or a 360 review that hit too close to home.”Start Low, Go Slow: Why That Advice Matters More Than Ever“You can always take more—you can’t take less. Begin with microdosing. Build awareness before diving deep.”The Snow Globe and the Ski Slope: Two Metaphors That Explain It All“Think of psychedelics as shaking up the snow globe. Or fresh powder on a slope—you’re no longer stuck in someone else’s ruts.”Legal Doesn’t Mean Safe. Illegal Doesn’t Mean Dangerous.“Psychedelics became illegal for political—not medical—reasons. But that doesn’t mean you can skip the legal risks.”Where It’s Legal—And What to Do If It’s Not“Colorado. Oregon. The Netherlands. Costa Rica. Go where it’s legal. Work with a guide. Respect the law.”The Five Elements of a Safe Psychedelic Journey“Assessment. Preparation. Facilitation. Integration. Microdosing. Miss one, and the whole thing can derail.”Why No One Should Be Talked Into It“Don’t do it for your friend, your spouse, or your coach. You have to want this for you.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Paul Austin  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.17 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>160,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<

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• #369 Chris Schrader: From Rainy-Day Idea to Global Movement—The 24 Hour Race Story–Part Two

  After launching a global anti-trafficking movement in his teens, Chris Schrader didn’t settle down—he leveled up.In Part Two, the founder of the 24 Hour Race draws parallels between navigating the Gobi Desert and leading high-growth businesses across continents. From dropping out of Harvard to leading expeditions and scaling software companies, Chris shares why building teams isn’t about maximizing your strongest players—it’s about supporting your weakest. And why sometimes, real leadership means being the “secretary of the team,” not the star.This episode goes beyond business tactics and into the mindset behind meaningful leadership. It’s a deep dive into servant leadership, self-doubt, ruthless decision-making, and how to chase your personal North Star—even if you never reach it.Key Highlights of Our Interview:When ISIS Threats and Identity Crises Collide“Some challenges are existential—like not knowing what we are. Others are urgent—like whether to cancel an event after a terror threat.”The Expedition Analogy: Climbing Unmapped Peaks“Trying to grow an organization is like summiting a mountain no one’s climbed before—you’ll miss things, reroute, and sometimes have to turn back.”The Gobi Desert and the North Star“You navigate by stars knowing you’ll never touch them. That’s what great goals are—worth chasing even if you never arrive.”The Secret to Team Performance“You’re not defined by your best players. You’re defined by your weakest. Great leaders either lift them—or make hard calls.”Servant Leadership Isn’t Just Humility—It’s Precision“As a leader, I’m the expedition secretary. My job is to clear the path so my team can outperform me in every way.”When to Cut Loose and When to Coach“Too many leaders let low performers drag down morale. In expeditions, that mistake can get someone killed. In business, it just slowly kills momentum.”The Myth-Building Side of Leadership“Sometimes leadership means becoming something aspirational—a myth people can believe in. But you still serve the mission, not yourself.”Between What You Want to Be and What You Need to Be“I want to be the first man to circumnavigate the moon. But I need to be a good son, a great partner, a reliable chairman—and pay my sous-vide-powered electricity bill.”The Hardest Impact Isn’t Global—It’s Personal“It’s easy to romanticize Musk or Zuckerberg. Harder? Being the friend who actually shows up. That’s the real Paragon of humanity.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Schrader  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.17 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>160,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<

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• #368 Chris Schrader: From Rainy-Day Idea to Global Movement—The 24 Hour Race Story–Part One

  Sometimes the biggest movements begin with a simple question: What can I do?In Part One, Chris Schrader, founder and executive chairman of the 24 Hour Race, shares the unfiltered origin story behind the world’s largest student-run movement to fight human trafficking. What started as a walk across England in memory of a friend became a 24-hour endurance race, then a global platform that’s raised over US$20 million across 25 cities.But Chris doesn’t romanticize it. He breaks down how it all came together—messy, accidental, and fueled more by belief than a master plan. From skeptical school principals to six-figure fundraisers, this episode explores what happens when students stop waiting for permission and start building real impact from the ground up.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The Walk That Started It All“Six months after a joke about walking across England, we were actually doing it—and raised HK$200,000 for rare diseases.”From Expedition to Endurance Sport“We turned a 150km trek across Hong Kong into a run-swim-row challenge—just to prove what students could really do.”The Birth of the 24 Hour Race“A simple idea: teams running a 24-hour relay. No elite athletes, just anyone willing to push themselves for a cause.”Why He Chose Human Trafficking—Without Knowing Much About It“It wasn’t the topic at first. It was the intensity. We needed a cause strong enough to power people through the pain.”Ignored by Schools, Backed by Students“Principals laughed us out of the room. So we went straight to students—and they built the movement themselves.”From One-Off Event to Global Force“What was supposed to be a one-time race exploded. Within a year, we were oversubscribed and scaling city by city.”Beyond Fundraising: Creating Life-Defining Moments“It’s not just money. Over a million young people have done the race. We want them to remember it when they’re 80.”Why They Treat Charity Like a Marketplace“People come for the music, the sleepover, the fun—and that’s fine. We win them over without preaching.”Raising Future Leaders, Not Just Dollars“Student directors interview NGOs, ask hard questions, and learn how to be real fiduciaries—not just fundraisers.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Schrader  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.17 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>160,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<

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