FOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis

What if the biggest solution to climate change is the one we fear the most? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Isabelle Boemeke—known online as Isodope—a climate influencer and creative technologist who has become one of the most visible advocates for nuclear energy. Isabelle shares her unconventional journey from fashion model to climate activist, why the public perception of nuclear energy is so misaligned with reality, and how her futuristic persona, Isodope, helps communicate complex data in a way that sparks curiosity. She reframes the history of nuclear incidents, breaks down the myths that fuel our fears, and paints a compelling vision of a future powered by safe, abundant, and clean energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really makes a team successful? Is it star power, charisma, sheer talent, or something else entirely? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis talks with behavioral scientist and author Jon Levy about his groundbreaking work on leadership and team intelligence. Levy challenges conventional wisdom by debunking the “alpha leader” myth, tracing its roots back to a misinterpretation of wolf behavior, and exposing how toxic individualism can undermine entire organizations. Levy also introduces the idea of “glue players”—individuals who may not have standout stats but dramatically elevate everyone else’s performance. From the pitfalls of too much talent to the benefits of “bursty communication,” this episode reframes how we should think about leadership and teamwork. If you’ve ever led a team or been part of one, you’ll want to hear these unconventional rules for unlocking collective genius.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katina Mountanos, founder of Kosterina and trained olive oil sommelier, shares her journey from corporate roles to building a wellness brand. She dives into the importance of high-polyphenol olive oil, inspired by her Greek heritage, and discusses industry challenges like quality control and safe packaging. Katina reveals how she balances direct-to-consumer education with retail partnerships, including Whole Foods and Target. Plus, she shares insights on using AI for marketing and the benefits of olive oil in skincare.

What would make you leave a thriving Wall Street career to start something completely new? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo and one of the most influential voices in clean beauty. After seven years at Goldman Sachs, Nancy walked away to build a brand rooted in authenticity and passion. She shares the personal loss that sparked her entrepreneurial journey, how she carved out a unique niche with Briogeo, and what she learned about leadership and letting go of control. Today, after a successful exit, Nancy is focused on mentorship and philanthropy through the Makers Mindset accelerator and the DreamMakers Founders Grant. A must-listen on resilience, innovation, and leading with purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the cure for deadly diseases is already sitting on a pharmacy shelf? Dr. David Fajgenbaum, a physician, scientist, and co-founder of Every Cure, nearly died five times from Castleman disease before finding an existing drug that saved his life. Now in remission, he’s leading a global mission to unlock hidden uses for thousands of forgotten medicines with the help of AI. In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, David shares his incredible patient-to-scientist journey, the breakthroughs Every Cure is driving, and what it means to turn hope into action, whether in medicine, business, or life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you stuck believing you must pick just one path? Cathy Heller, host of Abundant Ever After and best-selling author, returns to FOMO Sapiens to break that illusion wide open. In this episode, Cathy shares how embracing a multi-hyphenate identity, from music to real estate to coaching, unlocked more freedom, creativity, and abundance than she ever imagined. She reveals her surprising discovery that she’s an introvert who needs sacred alone time to fuel big ideas, plus the rituals she uses to stay in flow. Patrick and Cathy explore how creativity, not perfection, is your real unfair advantage, why every career “detour” secretly prepares you for the next leap, and how generative AI can free you to do more of what only humans can: build community, nurture connections, and live with true equanimity. If you’re ready to be messy, follow your breadcrumbs, and multiply your impact, this conversation is your permission slip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at Wharton and author of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, challenges the notion that success is tied to venture capital and unicorns. She shares seven diverse paths to value creation, emphasizing the importance of relatable role models for innovation. Lori discusses how embracing an empathetic leadership style transformed her career and highlights how today's entrepreneurs value impact alongside profit. If you’re seeking alternative routes to success, this conversation is a vital guide.

What if your biggest entrepreneurial edge wasn’t your skills or network, but your capacity to endure setbacks and keep innovating anyway? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis talks to Ankur Gopal, founder and CEO of Interapt, named one of the “100 Most Meaningful Businesses in the World.” Ankur shares how discovering his own resilience reshaped his journey from Kentucky to nationwide impact. He explains how Interapt’s paid tech apprenticeships train and launch talent from underserved communities into high-demand careers, delivering a “win-win-win” for individuals, families, and companies tackling talent shortages. He breaks down how Interapt grew from one training track to over 70, how they stay ahead of AI disruption with constant upskilling, and why human skills matter now more than ever. If you’re building against the odds, this conversation is your proof that profit and purpose don’t just coexist: they power each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like your digital life has turned into a mind-bending simulation? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Hannah Koizumi and Hugh Jones, co-founders of Drumbeat Labs and the nonprofit Civic Attention, to dissect how today’s online platforms hijack our attention and warp our sense of reality. Hannah, a data scientist and civic organizer, and Hugh, a self-taught developer and digital strategist, break down the evolution from genuine social connection to endless scrolling, the addictive dopamine loops baked into every feed, and how AI is amplifying it all. Drawing from their own journeys and fresh polling, they reveal why growing up in this system is fueling anxiety and civic breakdown, and what we can do about it. Tune in for real-world strategies: how to add friction to your feeds, choose healthier online spaces, and build deeper offline connections without going full “Luddite.” If you’ve ever scrolled yourself into a stupor and wondered how to snap out of it, this episode is your antidote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dean Carignan, Co-author of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, shares insights from his 20 years at the tech giant. He reveals the learnable strategies behind Microsoft's continuous innovation, emphasizing the role of a growth mindset and collaboration. Carignan discusses the difference between invention and innovation and the company's approach to navigating AI responsibly. He also shares lessons learned from Microsoft's missteps, underlining how failures can lead to monumental successes. A must-listen for anyone interested in fostering innovation!