What does it actually look like to be a flourishing leader in a turbulent world?
In this episode, Dr. Scott Parsons and co-host Jason Viyar sit down with Michael Balchan — CEO and Head Coach at Heroic Public Benefit Corporation — for a rich, practical, and deeply human conversation on how to operationalize flourishing in everyday life and leadership.
A Harvard-trained behavioral economist and psychologist, former options trader, and top 10% Ironman finisher, Michael has spent the last decade helping thousands of people around the world move from Theory to Practice to Mastery. As CEO of Heroic, he’s all-in on a bold mission: to help create a world in which 51% of the population is flourishing by 2051.
In this episode, Michael shares:
- His definition of a flourishing leader — integrating the individual, the group, and the intersection where both can thrive
- How ancient wisdom (from Aristotle, the Stoics, and spiritual traditions) and modern science (behavioral economics, psychology, and habit design) come together in the Heroic framework
- Why Heroic exists, the core problem it’s designed to solve, and how tools like Philosopher’s Notes and the Heroic app help people cut through overwhelm and focus on what matters most
- The difference between world-class coaching and merely “good” coaching — including presence, perspective-taking, structure, and spontaneity
- How to cultivate anti-fragile confidence so that challenge, stress, and “failure” become fuel for growth rather than reasons to quit
If you care about flourishing leadership, virtue, coaching, or personal mastery, this episode is packed with insights and tools you can start using today.
Connect with Michael & Heroic
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Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey.
Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy
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Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.
