Behind The Human with Marc Champagne

Anna Severina, a multidimensional practitioner and filmmaker, dives deep into the exploration of consciousness, motherhood, and the role of ancient wisdom in modern society. She shares insights on homeschooling and nurturing 'polite rebels' who embrace discernment. Their conversation meanders through the connections between sacred sites and human consciousness, the implications of AI, and society’s split between fear and curiosity. Anna also reframes death as a transition and emphasizes the potential for children to lead us into a richer future.

Why is it that in the face of the most powerful tool humanity has ever created, so many capable people feel overwhelmed instead of empowered?Marc sits down with serial entrepreneur and AI consultant Mike Schwarz to explore what’s really happening beneath the AI conversation.This isn’t a discussion about tools or trends — it’s about fear, acceleration, mental overload, and the growing divide between those who adapt and those who freeze. Mike shares what he’s seeing inside the top 1–5% of AI adopters, why most people are stuck using AI at the surface level, and why mental fitness may be the defining advantage of the next decade.Show Partners:A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”00:02 — Mike’s journey from dot-com entrepreneur to AI founder00:06 — Why most AI adoption is still surface-level00:09 — The growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else00:13 — Neurodivergence, hyper-focus, and rapid adaptation00:17 — Fear, stress, and overwhelm as the real blockers00:20 — AI as a change-management problem, not a tech one00:24 — Automation, professional services, and job displacement00:29 — The runaway train metaphor for AI acceleration00:33 — Leadership responsibility during massive uncertainty00:37 — Mental fitness as a survival skill00:39 — Using AI to free time, not erase meaning00:41 — Final reflections on adaptation and humanity*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the strategies that built your success begin to hollow you out?Judi Holler shares the story she never planned to tell: how building a seven-figure business, listening to too many “experts,” and chasing the next level led her into burnout, disconnection, and a spiritual reckoning.This conversation explores identity loss after success, the danger of outsourcing self-trust, the role of spirituality and human design in self-leadership, and how awareness (especially discomfort) can become your most powerful signal back to alignment.Judi's Soul Dives - https://stan.store/HOLLAVERSE/p/soul-dive-with-judiShow Partners:A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeGet in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthehumanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-🧠💪-14767b17/Website: https://www.mchampagne.com/Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:30 — Why success can make identity more fragile, not stronger05:10 — The moment external advice drowned out inner knowing07:45 — “I was going bankrupt internally while everyone else got rich”10:30 — The dark spiral: money loss, confidence loss, self-loss13:00 — The difference between brain safety and soul truth15:20 — Practical self-leadership when you still have bills to pay18:40 — Scheduling spirituality instead of waiting for stillness22:10 — Finding peace inside chaos (even Times Square)25:30 — Human Design as a map back to alignment29:00 — Why bitterness is a warning signal, not a flaw32:15 — Projectors, decision-making, and riding emotional waves36:40 — Why most leadership cultures block creativity40:00 — Improv, failure, and psychological safety at work44:30 — Recreation as the fastest path to reinvention48:00 — Who Judi is becoming now50:00 — Final reflections on self-trust and expression*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How different would your life look today if you stopped preparing for “good enough” and started preparing for “extraordinary”?In this conversation, entrepreneur, investor, author, and extreme-preparation evangelist Randall Kaplan opens up about the surprisingly painful origins of his work ethic: childhood bullying, a debilitating stutter, and a long journey toward becoming a clear, confident communicator.Randall shares the exact mental frameworks he used to transform his life — from landing a book deal through a cold email, to becoming a TED speaker, to interviewing some of the world’s most accomplished leaders on his podcast.We explore extreme preparation, the habits that separate average performers from exceptional ones, and why “no” is often just the beginning of the road to “yes.”Timestamps:00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?”02:00 — How photography and beaches shaped Randall’s creative identity04:30 — Building Sandee: cataloging 100,000+ beaches around the world06:15 — How a cold email landed Randall a book deal08:00 — Childhood bullying, stuttering, and the start of extreme preparation10:30 — The breakthrough moment at the McDonald’s drive-thru14:00 — How speech therapy reprogrammed his mind and confidence15:30 — The emotional weight and triumph of giving a TED Talk17:00 — Studying the top TED Talks and dissecting what works19:00 — Cutting a 70-minute keynote into 18 minutes21:15 — Why the painful story had to stay in the talk22:00 — The team behind the TED Talk: coaches, comedians, voice experts26:00 — The Roger Love experience and knowing when not to change28:00 — The balance between outside coaching and trusting your intuition30:00 — Extreme preparation in interviewing: The EPT “torpedo question”32:00 — Why most people aren’t prepared — and how to stand out instantly35:00 — Randall’s research process: thousands of pages, distilled37:00 — “If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late.”38:00 — When life derails your plans: broken schedules and mental resets40:00 — Gratitude walks and the 40,000-foot reset42:00 — Never send an email when angry — Randall’s practice46:00 — Why AI should assist your preparation, not replace it47:00 — The small details that cost people opportunities50:00 — A coaching story: preventing a $3M mistake52:00 — The doctor who went from zero net worth to $10M in a year54:00 — The difference between success and stagnation: making a plan56:00 — Closing wisdom: “Why you must do what no one else does”****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Humble the Poet (Kanwer Singh) opens up about the years nobody saw — the debt, the failed deals, the fear, the self-judgment — and how these became the foundation for his creative success and his powerful new book, Anxious. We explore his 90-day nervous system reset, what anxiety really is (and isn’t), how to stop outsourcing your safety, and why progress is simple but never easy. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or tangled in your own thoughts, this episode will feel like a blueprint for reclaiming your mind and building real inner capacity.This is mental fitness at its most practical, honest, and human.Timestamps:00:00 — Who are you?01:00 — Humble breaks down the mechanics of words, poetry, and meaning02:00 — Childhood creativity: the first book and early signs of a writer04:00 — Performing for the first time and peeling off the layers of insecurity06:00 — The four-year tunnel: debt, denial, and rebuilding from zero10:00 — Extreme frugality and the financial habits that changed everything14:00 — Fear, creativity, and learning to feed the wallet vs. the ego17:00 — Discovering business as a creative art form23:00 — Harmony vs. balance: reframing how creatives work25:00 — Curiosity as courage: shifting away from fear-based judgment27:00 — How anxiety blocks opportunity — and why the pendulum has swung too far30:00 — Why anxiety is a signal, not a disease32:00 — The 90-day nervous system reset: dopamine, abstinence, and awareness37:00 — Identifying real addictions: validation, reassurance, overthinking42:00 — Sitting with discomfort: the foundation of mental fitness45:00 — Redefining freedom and building inner capacity49:00 — The burn of real growth — and why Humble sticks with it51:00 — The simplest mental fitness practice: sit quietly for 10 minutes54:00 — Simple vs easy, slow progress, and compassionate self-talk****Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram |*A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas.🧠  x 🥵 = 😃*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diane Kahn, founder of Humans of San Quentin, shares her transformative experiences interviewing over 3,000 incarcerated individuals. She highlights the power of a simple question—'How are you?'—and how it can break down walls of shame. Diane uncovers the reality that many inmates are victims themselves, pointing out media misconceptions about criminals. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and vulnerability, advocating for second chances and providing insight into the healing power of storytelling.

Andy Mills, an award-winning journalist and storyteller, dives deep into themes of meaning, curiosity, and culture's role in shaping our future. He reflects on his transition from ministry to journalism and the power of storytelling in navigating complex human experiences. Mills emphasizes the need for curiosity amidst societal polarization and discusses his transformative reporting in South Sudan. He also explores his groundbreaking AI series, The Last Invention, advocating for a long-term narrative on technology's impact and the importance of cultural change in addressing global issues.

Tony Conrad, a partner at True Ventures, shares insights from his extensive career in early-stage investing. He delves into the rapid changes brought on by AI and the need for adaptability in today’s world. The conversation takes a poignant turn as he recounts a life-altering experience in an Indian deportation jail, highlighting life's fragility. Conrad emphasizes the importance of culture over ego within teams and discusses how travel has broadened his perspective. Ultimately, he reflects on transitioning from a leader to a mentor in the venture capital landscape.

Lindsay Mattick, creative director and author of the bestselling 'Finding Winnie', shares the fascinating tale of her great-grandfather purchasing a bear cub during WWI, which inspired Winnie the Pooh. She discusses her leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of writing while pregnant, and how she found the perfect illustrator through serendipity. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of storytelling in branding, reflects on the role of AI in creativity, and shares her daily sunrise walks as a source of inspiration and clarity.

Claude Silver, the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of 'Be Yourself at Work', dives deep into empathy-driven leadership. She shares her journey of overcoming self-sabotage while writing her book and emphasizes the significance of patience in leadership. Claude discusses how fear and fake urgency contribute to workplace burnout, advocating for genuine connections through rituals like appreciation circles. Her transformative experiences, including a 93-day wilderness expedition, underline the importance of resilience and vulnerability in fostering a thriving work culture.