Best Scott MacLean Podcasts (2025)

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North of the Border: A Canadian Perspective on the Free Trade Era (with Luke Savage) 30:42

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5d ago30:42

30:42

In the fifth episode of our series on trade, journalist and author Luke Savage joins Pitchfork Economics Producer Freddy Doss to unpack how decades of “free trade” between the U.S. and Canada have reshaped both economies—entrenching corporate power, hollowing out manufacturing, and weakening democratic control over economic policy. Savage traces ho…

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Trade Wars Are Class Wars (with Matthew C. Klein) 49:28

8d ago49:28

49:28

By Civic Ventures

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You Can't Tariff Knowledge (with César Hidalgo) 41:51

16d ago41:51

41:51

Tariffs won’t save America’s economy—but knowledge might. In the third episode of our Trade series, Nick and Goldy sit down with physicist César Hidalgo to explore how prosperity really grows—not through tariffs or trickle-down promises, but through the accumulation of knowledge and know-how. Hidalgo explains why digital exports don’t show up in tr…

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Scott MacDonald: FTSE 100 consultancy to elite-performance coaching 1:21:31

18d ago1:21:31

1:21:31

This week on the Total Mental Performance Podcast I sit down with my good friend Scott MacDonald - Advisor to FTSE 100 & global boards, ultramarathon runner, former pilot and high-performance coach to CEOs and elite performers. This podcast could easily have been a 4 hour episode… We dive into: 🔵 Lessons from the cockpit 👉 why fighter pilot trainin…

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How Economists Forgot the Real World and Led Us Astray (with Nat Dyer) 41:18

23d ago41:18

41:18

In the second episode of our Trade series, Nick and Goldy talk with author Nat Dyer about his book Ricardo’s Dream: How Economists Forgot the Real World and Led Us Astray. Dyer reveals how David Ricardo’s famous theory of comparative advantage—long touted as proof that free trade is always a win-win—was built on unrealistic assumptions and a false …

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Tom Dickinson: Grief to Meaning, Purpose and High Performance Leadership 1:10:27

29d ago1:10:27

1:10:27

In this episode, I sit down with my 1:1 client Tom Dickinson—Managing Director of OSI Ltd, motivational speaker, and mental health advocate. He’s one of the kindest, ambitious and driven guys you’ll ever meet. Tom opens up about losing his brother to suicide, how it nearly broke him, and the journey that followed—taking over his family business, sc…

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Trade Wars, Class Wars & Globalization: Unpacking The Truth About Trade (featuring David Autor & Marc Palen) 47:52

1M ago47:52

47:52

In this kickoff to our special series on trade, Nick and Goldy unpack why trade policy isn’t just about tariffs and treaties—it’s about people, power, and priorities. For decades, the prevailing narrative has been that trade benefits everyone by lowering prices. But the real question is: who does it help, and who does it hurt? From the false promis…

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Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers (with Mark Blyth) 39:02

1M ago39:02

39:02

Political economist Mark Blyth joins Nick and Goldy to unpack the myths and realities of rising prices, from pandemic supply shocks and corporate profiteering to central-bank missteps and decades of bad economic theory. Drawing from his new book Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers, Blyth explains why some narratives fall flat, why others reveal…

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Back to Basics Series: Homo Economicus Must Die (with Samuel Bowles) 32:34

2M ago32:34

32:34

What if the relentless drive to maximize personal gain isn't human nature, but just a flawed model we built? In this Back-to-Basics episode, behavioral economist Samuel Bowles helps us lay homo economicus—the myth of the perfectly rational, self-interested actor—six feet under. He shows how this caricature not only misrepresents human behavior, but…

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Marc Rhodes: “Being Hard to Kill is Bullsh*t” 2:01:31

2M ago2:01:31

2:01:31

Marc Rhodes has run three of the hardest foot races on Earth — but the toughest challenge wasn’t the desert, jungle, or ice… (all whilst scaling an elite successful coaching business and team), it was letting go of the crippling survival patterns that once controlled him. In this powerful conversation, my 1:1 client Marc shares how he transformed a…

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Back to Basics Series: Is the American Dream a Lie? (with Christian Cooper and Khiara Bridges) 42:47

2M ago42:47

42:47

The promise of the American Dream—work hard, play by the rules, and you’ll get ahead—is unraveling before our eyes. In this Back-to-Basics episode, Christian H. Cooper and law professor Khiara Bridges join Nick and Goldy to posit whether economic mobility has ever truly existed, or if the system was rigged from the start. As wages stagnate, homeown…

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Becoming a Certified TMP Mental Performance Coach 47:15

2M ago47:15

47:15

🎙️ Dan Martin and I discuss the origins of Mental Performance Coach certification: 👉 How the certification came to be 👉 Why now 👉 The curriculum 👉 Common patterns and frameworks for top coaches 👉 The type of coaches that get the best results Becoming a Mental Performance Coach isn’t about surface-level goal setting and motivational quotes. It’s abo…

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Back to Basics Series: How Monopolies Feed Plutocracy (with Matt Stoller) 31:58

2M ago31:58

31:58

When a few giants dominate the economy, democracy is the first to go. In this back-to-basics episode, author and anti-monopoly expert Matt Stoller unpacks how concentrated corporate power doesn’t just warp markets—it tilts the political playing field toward plutocracy. Drawing from his book Goliath, Stoller shows how corporate giants from banks to …

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Louis Calvert: Building an Aligned Coaching Business 1:08:36

2M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

Louis Calvert joins me to talk alignment, creativity, and building a coaching business that truly feels like you. 🎧 Tune in to learn how to find your unfair advantage and get paid to exist. Apply for a Mental Performance Coach Certification: https://join.totalmentalperformance.com/tmp-certification-2025-application…

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Back to Basics Series: Does the Market Really Pay You What You’re Worth? (with Marshall Steinbaum and Saru Jayaraman) 50:51

2M ago50:51

50:51

We’ve all heard the story: In a fair market, workers are paid exactly what they’re worth. Economists even have a name for it—marginal productivity theory. It’s neat, simple…and completely wrong. In this Back-to-Basics episode, economist Marshall Steinbaum and labor leader Saru Jayaraman dismantle the myth that the market fairly rewards labor. Stein…

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Luke Turner: Building Culture, Brand, and a Business That Serves 1:13:39

2M ago1:13:39

1:13:39

Luke Turner went from fitness coach to business leader — and in this episode, we dive into the mindset shifts that made it possible. We talk leadership, building high-performing teams, personal branding, mentorship, and how finding your Ikigai can transform your life and business.

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Back to Basics Series: The Velocity of Money (with Ann Pettifor) 42:30

2M ago42:30

42:30

If you’ve ever wondered why the economy feels stuck, even when it seems like there's a lot more money in the system, this episode will blow your mind. Political economist Ann Pettifor joins Nick and Goldy to explain why money isn't flowing like it used to, and why that matters. Over the last century, the velocity of money (how quickly a dollar circ…

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Ainsley Duncombe: Street Sales to Billion-Dollar Startups 1:19:44

3M ago1:19:44

1:19:44

Ainsley Duncombe—founder of Off Market Listings and ex‑CEO of Groupon MENA—joins me to share his climb from street‑level sales to C‑suite leadership. We cover everything from off‑market real estate strategies and cross‑border scaling to incentive psychology (“why a £20 Beckham shirt beat a $1,500 trip”) and the mental fluidity needed to map six mov…

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Back to Basics Series: Is Economics Moral? (with Heather McGhee) 35:57

3M ago35:57

35:57

For decades, orthodox economics has treated morality as irrelevant—as if economic decisions happen in a vacuum, separate from our values and social bonds. But that approach has failed spectacularly, giving cover to policies that divide and exploit us. In this episode, Heather McGhee joins Nick and Paul to argue that morality must be central to how …

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Destroy Digital Distraction 10:50

3M ago10:50

10:50

Your Phone Is Draining You — Here’s How to Take Back Control Social media. News. Notifications. It's all designed to keep you hooked. In this video, I break down why device addiction happens and give you a simple, proven toolkit to reclaim your focus, energy, and peace. Learn how to: ⚡️ Break the "hooked" cycle 📵 Use tech to control your tech 💡 Reg…

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Back to Basics Series: Where does economic growth really come from? (with W. Brian Arthur and Cesar Hidalgo) 46:51

3M ago46:51

46:51

Is economic growth just about money, trade, and GDP? Or is something deeper at play? In this episode, economist W. Brian Arthur and physicist Cesar Hidalgo join Nick and Goldy to reveal the real drivers of rising prosperity: human knowledge, know‑how, and innovation. They challenge the old assumptions of growth and argue that innovation isn't a byp…

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🎙️Neil ‘Shoney' Maclean: Business Camp Fire Stories 1:02:38

3M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Today we have big @neilshoneymac in the hot seat. Neil’s a legend, a leading Facebook ads veteran and entrepreneur. I’ve had the honour having Neil help me scale from 6 to 7 figures in TMP sales as well as mentoring him 1:1 on his mental performance. He truly is one of the good guys, that is great at what he does. Discover how Neil transitioned fro…

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Back to Basics Series: Is Econ 101 a Lie? (with Eric Beinhocker and James Kwak) 39:29

3M ago39:29

39:29

Trickle-downers love to pretend that "Econ 101" is a convincing argument against policies like the minimum wage that invest in working Americans. But the truth is that mainstream economists are terrible at predicting how the economy will behave in the future…Is Econ 101 broken? In this key foundational episode for the podcast, we dismantle the myth…

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Think Like A King 6:59

3M ago6:59

6:59

This one thinking framework will help you think more clearly, more strategically, and avoid the costly mistakes that sabotage high performers. Whether you're a business owner, executive, or entrepreneur — mastering this mindset can change the game.

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Back to Basics Series: What the hell are they talking about? Econ terms explained! (with Nick and Goldy) 14:48

3M ago14:48

14:48

Ever find yourself halfway through a Pitchfork Economics episode thinking, “Wait… what’s a monopsony?” You’re not alone. In this listener-favorite episode, Nick and Goldy break down some of the most important—and most misunderstood—economic terms we use on the show. From ‘neoclassical’ and ‘neoliberal’ to ‘monopoly’, ‘monopsony,’ ‘stock buybacks,’ …

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Sukh Sidhu: Biz building, UK vs Dubai, AI coaching 1:45:05

3M ago1:45:05

1:45:05

In this episode of the Total Mental Performance Podcast, Sukh Sidhu shares his journey from selling women’s shoes online to becoming a respected figure in the fitness industry and entrepreneurial world. We dive deep into: The business fundamentals that actually drive success How mentorship and real feedback shaped his path The influence of combat s…

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Back to Basics Series: Why do we call it Pitchfork Economics? (with Ganesh Sitaraman & Walter Scheidel) 33:16

4M ago33:16

33:16

In 2014, Nick Hanauer sounded the alarm: if economic inequality kept growing, the pitchforks would come—for him, and for the rest of America’s wealthy elite. Then 2016 happened. Donald Trump was elected president on a wave of economic populism that correctly identified massive inequality as a problem, but which offered all the wrong solutions. The …

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The Truth About Immigration and the American Worker (with Rogé Karma) 39:13

4M ago39:13

39:13

Conventional wisdom says immigration drives down wages and takes jobs from American workers. But what if that story is fueled by bad economics? Journalist Rogé Karma joins Nick and Goldy to challenge the Econ 101 logic that supercharges anti-immigrant rhetoric—and to explain what the data actually shows. Drawing on research from the U.S., Denmark, …

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Martin Bugaj: From Communist Poland to HNW Executive Leadership 1:38:28

4M ago1:38:28

1:38:28

In this episode, I sat down with executive transformation coach Martin Bugaj to go deep on what really drives personal transformation — especially for high-performing business owners. We covered: ⚡️ Why commitment trumps motivation 🧠 The hidden “secondary gains” that keep people stuck 💥 How mentorship, martial arts, and mindset shape long-term chan…

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America Adrift: Inequality, Power, and the Fight to Fix It (with Scott Galloway) 45:14

4M ago45:14

45:14

With inequality rising, housing out of reach, and young Americans falling further behind, some argue the American Dream is dead. But NYU professor Scott Galloway has a different take: America hasn’t fallen—it’s adrift. Originally recorded in late 2022, this episode features a candid conversation about what’s really hollowed out the middle class: ge…

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From Reagan to Reality: The Case Against Tax Cuts for the Rich (with Bruce Bartlett) 36:11

4M ago36:11

36:11

As Republicans work at break-neck speed to push another round of massive tax cuts for the wealthy, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit our 2019 conversation with Bruce Bartlett, a Reagan policy adviser and key architect of the 1981 tax cuts. Bartlett explains how the trickle-down logic he once championed turned out to be economic snake oi…

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Tony Mcaleavey: The Man Behind The Camera 1:36:56

4M ago1:36:56

1:36:56

In this episode, I sit down with 1:1 client and good friend Tony Mcaleavy, a multifaceted entrepreneur and coach, to dive into his journey from childhood struggles with self-doubt and communication to building multiple successful businesses. Inside, we cover powerful insights on: 🎙️ Entrepreneurial Growth – From fitness coaching to mentorship and p…

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Why Gutting SNAP Makes the Economy Worse for Everyone (with Lily Roberts) 44:19

5M ago44:19

44:19

The GOP’s new tax bill isn’t just a massive giveaway to the rich—it’s an all-out assault on SNAP, one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the U.S. That’s because SNAP is more than just a program designed to end hunger. It’s also a powerful economic engine, stabilizing local economies as well as supporting retailers and farmers. Lily Robe…

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Dave Kennedy: Farming, Performance and The Soul 1:43:20

5M ago1:43:20

1:43:20

In this episode of the Total Mental Performance podcast, we sit down with @davekennedytlb for a raw conversation that goes far beyond the usual mental performance talk. ⁣ ⁣Dave shares his raw journey of transformation, turning personal pain into purpose as a coach helping others through similar battles.⁣ ⁣We go a layer further into emotional resili…

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Good Company: Ending the Era of Shareholder Supremacy (with Lenore Palladino) 37:21

5M ago37:21

37:21

What makes a company good—and who gets to decide? Economist Lenore Palladino joins Nick and Goldy to dismantle the myth of shareholder primacy and explain how our current system of corporate governance has warped innovation, deepened inequality, and undermined democracy. Drawing from her new book Good Company: Economic Policy after Shareholder Prim…

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Nathan Joseph: Self-Sabotage To Soaring Entrepreneur 1:38:19

5M ago1:38:19

1:38:19

In this podcast episode, we welcome my 1:1 client, Nathan Joseph. Nathan took a big risk to come work with me for where he was at… Having more than 4x'd his turnover with more time and peace than ever within 6 months, It's safe to say he's truly experiencing reality-shaking change. He shares his inspiring journey from battling severe mental health …

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The Empire Strikes Back—With More Billionaire Tax Breaks (with Samantha Jacoby) 35:40

5M ago35:40

35:40

With Trump’s second major tax bill clearing committee and heading to the House floor—packed, as promised, with massive giveaways to the ultra-wealthy—we’re revisiting our timely conversation with Samantha Jacoby of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Originally recorded before Trump’s reelection, this episode breaks down the real impact of …

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Greedflation 2.0: How Tariffs Could Become an Excuse for Corporate Price Gouging (with Hal Singer) 44:43

5M ago44:43

44:43

During COVID, corporations blamed supply chain shocks for rising prices while quietly raising prices higher than costs, thereby boosting their profits to record levels. We know they did this because they bragged about doing it on corporate earnings calls. Economist Hal Singer warns that Trump’s proposed tariffs could spark a repeat, giving corporat…

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Why Democracy Needs a New Operating System (with K. Sabeel Rahman) 44:39

6M ago44:39

44:39

Decades of trickle-down thinking hollowed out our government—and now the anti-democracy crowd is finishing the job. This week, legal scholar and former Biden advisor K. Sabeel Rahman joins Nick and Goldy to talk about what happens when the rule of law becomes optional, what the Biden administration got right (and what it didn’t,) and why simply res…

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Democracy in Chains (with Nancy MacLean) 38:16

6M ago38:16

38:16

This week, we’re revisiting a critical conversation we had back in 2020 with author and historian Nancy MacLean, in which she exposes how today’s threats to democracy were decades in the making. Based on her groundbreaking book Democracy in Chains, MacLean traces how Nobel Prize-winning economist James Buchanan worked with billionaire donors to rig…

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The Abundance Doctrine (with Mike Konczal) 40:43

6M ago40:43

40:43

What does “abundance” actually mean—and who is it really for? In this episode, Goldy and Paul welcome back economic policy expert Mike Konczal to unpack the big new idea dominating political discourse: abundance. They dive into the buzz around Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s book “Abundance,” and Konczal’s sharp critique of its deregulatory leaning…

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Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back (with Marc Dunkelman) 54:17

6M ago54:17

54:17

Why does it feel like we can’t build anything anymore? In this episode, Nick and Goldy talk with author Mark Dunkelman about his new book Why Nothing Works, which examines how well-intentioned progressive reforms created a “vetocracy” that makes major public projects nearly impossible. From Seattle’s decades-long waterfront rebuild to the dysfuncti…

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Live From DC: Turning Middle-Out Economics into Good Politics 54:44

6M ago54:44

54:44

Timid tweaks won’t fix a broken economy. From Nick Hanauer’s blunt critique of Democratic incrementalism to a candid conversation with Representatives Ro Khanna, Delia Ramirez, and Jim Himes on how Democrats can reclaim working-class trust by embracing economic populism and fighting for real change, this episode brings you inside the 2025 Middle Ou…

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America Needs an Economic Bill of Rights (with Mark Paul) 39:34

7M ago39:34

39:34

Trickle-downers want you to believe that in America, freedom is a narrow idea—freedom from taxes, from regulation, from government itself. But what good is that kind of freedom if you can’t afford rent, see a doctor, or feed your family? So, this week we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations—our interview with economist Mark Paul about hi…

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The Middle-Out Moment Is Still Here 47:06

7M ago47:06

47:06

Twelve months ago, Democracy Journal announced we were entering the "Middle-Out Moment." A year later—after a brutal election and rising uncertainty—the question isn’t whether neoliberalism is over, but what comes next. In a new symposium titled “It’s Still the Post-Neoliberal Moment,” Democracy brings together leading voices to answer that questio…

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Why Working-Class Voters Are Turning Away from the Democratic Party (with Lainey Newman) 39:31

7M ago39:31

39:31

For decades, unions were more than just labor organizations—they were community anchors that shaped working-class identity and political loyalty. But what happens when an entire generation loses its economic and social foundation? The Rust Belt’s working-class voters were once a Democratic stronghold, but that’s no longer the case. Lainey Newman, c…

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Wall Street’s War on Workers (with Les Leopold) 36:59

7M ago36:59

36:59

Mass layoffs have become a routine corporate strategy—not because companies are struggling, but because Wall Street demands it. In Wall Street’s War on Workers, labor educator and author Les Leopold exposes how stock buybacks, deregulation, and financialized capitalism have made job cuts a tool for enriching CEOs and hedge funds at the expense of w…

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Breaking Up Big Econ (with David Deming) 39:07

8M ago39:07

39:07

A small group of elite universities holds an outsized influence over the field of economics, shaping research, policy, and the broader economic narrative. But is that concentration of power stifling innovation and reinforcing the status quo? This week, Harvard economist David Deming joins Nick and Goldy to discuss his recent Atlantic article, in wh…

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Poverty for Profit: How Corporations Get Rich off America’s Poor (with Anne Kim) 38:16

8M ago38:16

38:16

The U.S. spends billions on programs designed to fight poverty, but it appears that much of that money is actually making corporations richer instead of helping people. This week, Nick and Goldy sit down with Anne Kim, author of Poverty for Profit: How Corporations Get Rich off America's Poor, to talk about the vast industry that siphons public dol…

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Ciaran O’Connor - Launching an oats company at just 21 1:24:30

8M ago1:24:30

1:24:30

In this episode of the Total Mental Performance podcast, we bring on one of my youth mentees Ciaran O'Connor. (@soulofciaran on Instagram) Ciaran goes deep on his journey as a young entrepreneur facing grief and responsibility to launching his own healthy food brand, Soul Food. Ciaran’s story serves as an inspiration for young people looking to mak…