

ZenFounder
Sherry Walling
The ZenFounder podcast is a combination of interviews with successful entrepreneurs, conversations with experts, and honest reflections on entrepreneur life, focused on helping entrepreneurs practice better mental health. Forbes called it one of the 12 best podcasts for entrepreneurs.
Host, Dr. Sherry Walling, is a clinical psychologist, coach for entrepreneurs and startups, and best-selling author. She is an expert in trauma, stress and burnout, and her research has been published in academic journals such as the Journal of Traumatic Stress. She has also endured being married to a serial entrepreneur for 23 years.
Host, Dr. Sherry Walling, is a clinical psychologist, coach for entrepreneurs and startups, and best-selling author. She is an expert in trauma, stress and burnout, and her research has been published in academic journals such as the Journal of Traumatic Stress. She has also endured being married to a serial entrepreneur for 23 years.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 10, 2023 • 29min
Episode 339: Expanding Erotic Intelligence with Brooke Bergman Parr
In this week's episode, relationship expert Brooke Bergman Parr dives into the topic of sex in relationships and its significance in couples therapy. It's no secret that sex is often one of the top concerns that couples address when seeking counseling. Despite being a normal part of a healthy relationship, sex can be a source of tension and confusion for many couples. However, with the right guidance and support, it can also be a source of connection and play.
Brooke shares with us the importance of addressing sexual concerns in couples therapy and provides practical tips and techniques for couples to improve their sexual relationship. She helps dispel common misconceptions about sexual frequency and provide a framework for what a healthy amount of sex may look like for different couples. Tune in to learn how to turn sex from a source of heartache to a source of connection and play in your relationship.

Feb 3, 2023 • 10min
Episode 338: It Isn’t About You
In this episode Sherry focuses on the foundation for a healthy co-founder relationship and its impact on overall business relationships and mental health. Research shows that relationship quality is one of the strongest predictors of mental health and therefore, it's impossible to discuss entrepreneur mental health and well-being without touching upon relationships. The podcast delves into the key elements that make up a healthy relationship, the common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and the impact it has on business success and personal well-being. Whether you are starting a business with a partner or dealing with internal relationships within your organization, this podcast offers valuable insights and practical tips to help build strong, healthy relationships.

Jan 27, 2023 • 11min
Episode 337: The Power of Presence
In this episode Sherry talks about the power of presence. The ability of being fully available to the person you are interacting with. In today's modern society, there are so many distractions vying for our attention, making it difficult to remain present. Sherry discusses some best practices you can implement to become more present in your life and to those around you.

Jan 13, 2023 • 20min
Episode 336: Psychedelics as Medicine
Sherry talks about the conversation around how psychedelics may play a role in mental health treatment and care. With FDA approval for MDMA therapy as a treatment for PTSD possibly coming as soon as this year, she shares a personal story of what sparked her interest in the movement to integrate psychedelic medicine into mental healthcare.
Sherry’s TEDx Talk

Jan 6, 2023 • 15min
Episode 335: The Power of the Reset
Sometimes external cues (a new calendar year, holidays), can give us the opportunity to remind ourselves to check in and evaluate. In this episode Sherry shares the process of doing a “double check” of self reflection that can help to reshape the direction of our personal and professional lives.
Sherry’s TEDx Talk

Dec 23, 2022 • 21min
Episode 334: Home for the Holidays: Practices for Mental Health
Brooke Bergman hosts the podcast this week to talk about families of origin, grief, and how to find hope in what can be a challenging time of year for some people. As we move into the heart of the holiday season, she helps answer the question, what do we do if being home isn’t actually restful?
Sherry Walling’s TEDx Talk

Dec 16, 2022 • 37min
Episode 333: True Consciousness with Gay Hendricks
In today’s podcast Sherry talks with psychologist, writer, and teacher in the field of personal growth Gay Hendricks. They talk about how he got his start in psychology in his early days at Standford University, an accidental fall on some ice that changed his proception of self, and his discovery of “pure consciousness”.
Hendricks Institute

Dec 9, 2022 • 24min
Episode 332: To Podcast or Not to Podcast with Rob Walling
Rob Walling joins the podcast this week to help Sherry talk through the question of whether or not to continue this podcast. They discuss the advantages, disadvantages, the podcast’s legacy, and new possible options for the future.

Dec 2, 2022 • 34min
Episode 331: Growth from the Inside Out with Dr. Steve Thayer
A fellow psychologist, Dr. Steve Thayer joins the podcast this week. Steve also shares an interest in entrepreneur mental health and the new wave of research around how psychedelic science can help people who suffer from mental illness or want to optimize or improve performance.
Dr. Steve Thayer, Ph.D.
Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers

Nov 18, 2022 • 19min
Episode 330: Alone Not Lonely
Even with the holidays fast approaching, people can still feel alone this time of year. In this episode Sherry shares some reflections about the power of aloness and how to re-frame difficult interactions as an opportunity for sovereign aloness.
Touching Two World