

The Conscious Entrepreneur
Alex Raymond
The Conscious Entrepreneur is the podcast where founders come to sharpen their edge from the inside out - building businesses that are sustainable, aligned, and actually work for their life. It’s about becoming the kind of leader your business needs you to be, and doing it with clarity, connection, and purpose.
We don’t buy into hustle culture. And burnout? It’s not a badge of honor. Here, we believe thriving businesses are built by thriving people.
Hosted by Sarah Lockwood, The Conscious Entrepreneur is where growth starts within.
We don’t buy into hustle culture. And burnout? It’s not a badge of honor. Here, we believe thriving businesses are built by thriving people.
Hosted by Sarah Lockwood, The Conscious Entrepreneur is where growth starts within.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 27, 2025 • 30min
EP 112: Why HALF of Founders Want to Quit their Startups (Replay)
 “It can be difficult for people to know who they can speak to about it,” says Amy Lewin, of entrepreneurs who are unhappy in their own companies.  Amy is the Editor at Sifted, a media platform focused on Europe’s startup ecosystem and she joins The Conscious Entrepreneur podcast to discuss a survey Sifted recently posed to a number of entrepreneurs, the vast majority of whom reported experiencing poor mental health, high stress and even a strong desire to leave their businesses within the coming year. Though these figures may seem alarming, they merely shed light on common struggles and pressures felt by entrepreneurs which are so often swept under the rug for fear of looking weak or needing to maintain an ultra positive mindset in order to see their businesses succeed. On today’s episode Amy will reveal more of the survey’s findings as well as what venture capitalists (VCs) can do to support entrepreneurs, in whom they, after all, have a vested interest. 
 
The survey highlights the importance of a community in an entrepreneur’s life. Family and friends share the entrepreneur’s burden, while simultaneously being unable to relate. Professional networks of like-minded contemporaries can go a long way toward making isolated individuals feel heard and connected, as well as ease the mental health stigma. 
 
Today, Amy shares the common regret shared among most entrepreneurs and why quitting might be the best thing they could do for their careers. 
 
Quotes
“It was just a real sign of the personal toll—and not just even on the founders, but on their family, on their friends, on their colleagues—just another reminder that building startups is really tough.”  (4:48 | Amy Lewin) 
“Whenever we publish stories about that personal side of company building at Sifted, we get the most amazing response. People love knowing that they’re not the only ones. And I think sometimes, startup culture is so much that you’ve got to be optimistic. You’ve got to believe that your company can be the one in 100 that’s going to really make it. You hear from so many people that your idea is never going to work and you have to believe in it yourself and I think when times are really hard it can be difficult for people to know who they can speak to about it.” (6:27 | Amy Lewin) 
“That attitude that’s going to be out there from some corners that if you are struggling in any way then you are weak and that you’re not in it for the long term, which I obviously don’t believe, but is obviously what some people still think.”  (13:04 | Amy Lewin)
“Encourage founders to go on holiday. Encourage them to have a personal life. These things are important. We all need to recharge our batteries and ‘visionaries do,’ too. There’s that famous saying that comes from the VC world: “I’ve never seen a company go bust because the founder took a week off, but I have seen plenty of companies go bust because the founder didn’t.’”  (18:26 | Amy Lewin and Alex Raymond)
 
Links
Connect with Amy Lewin:
https://sifted.eu/articles/founder-mental-health-2024
 
Connect with Alex Raymond:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/
Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Oct 20, 2025 • 40min
EP 111: Honest Conversations, Compassionate Leadership, and Real Accountability with Marc Lesser
 Traditional leadership models tend to choose between kindness and clarity. Zen teacher and executive coach Marc Lesser argues that’s a false dichotomy.
 
In this episode, Sarah sits down with Marc to unpack the concept of compassionate accountability — or in Marc’s preferred language, alignment with caring. It’s the core of modern Entrepreneurship and Business leadership: setting clear expectations while staying deeply connected to the humans you work with. Instead of defaulting to micromanagement or passivity, leaders can choose high standards and high trust at the same time, the key to building high performing teams without sacrificing wellbeing.
 
Marc shares why psychological safety isn’t just a cultural ideal, it’s a metric that correlates directly with business performance. Referencing Google’s Project Aristotle, he explains how teams perform better when leaders normalize mistakes, invite real feedback, and resist the urge to appear infallible. A strong team culture isn’t born from rigid systems or motivational slogans, it comes from leaders modeling vulnerability and follow-through. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold people accountable with compassion, this episode is your roadmap.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Marc Lesser & Compassionate Accountability
02:51 What Compassionate Accountability Looks Like in Leadership
07:19 Misconceptions About Accountability and Compassion
13:14 Vulnerability as a Leadership Strategy
15:02 Google’s Psychological Safety Study & Business Impact
20:01 Emotional Intelligence and Business Performance
24:51 Turning Breakdowns Into Breakthroughs
29:21 How to Hold People Accountable With Compassion
32:05 Leadership Lessons From the Zen Monastery Kitchen
34:06 Prioritizing Joy and Humanity in High-Performing Teams
36:21 Daily Habits to Build Clarity and Trust
 
Connect with Marc Lesser:
Visit Marc’s website
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
Visit HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur website 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Oct 13, 2025 • 25min
EP 110: Don’t Feed the Critic. Train the Coach: How to Rewire Negative Self-Talk and Lead Better
 Entrepreneurship demands resilience, but too many founders rely on pressure and self-criticism as their fuel. Mike Robbins joins Sarah Lockwood to unpack why most business leaders treat self-worth as a scoreboard metric, praising achievement while ignoring wellbeing. He draws a clear line between recognition (results-based approval) and appreciation (inherent value), making the case that positive self-talk is foundational to sustainable leadership.
 
Mike shares how losing his professional baseball career forced him to confront a brutal truth: he had spent years chasing success without ever appreciating himself along the way. His philosophy of self-compassion isn’t about lowering standards, it’s about upgrading your mindset from harsh critic to effective coach. Entrepreneurs don’t need more pressure; they need healthier internal leadership.
 
The discussion then turns to feedback, another place where leaders misinterpret signals. Instead of defaulting to defense or shame, Mike suggests receiving feedback with curiosity rather than judgment. That small shift turns critique into growth material instead of evidence of failure.
 
This conversation reframes business success as an inner game as much as an external one. When wellbeing and performance are treated as allies rather than opposites, leaders become both more effective and more human.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Entrepreneurs Struggle with Self-Talk
01:14 The Leadership Mindset Shift
05:41 Mike Robbins’ Baseball Story and the Cost of Self-Judgment
09:34 How to Build Self-Compassion Without Losing Your Edge
14:07 Receiving Feedback Without Crumbling or Getting Defensive
18:37 How to Ask for Better Feedback (and Actually Grow from It)
22:05 Balancing High Performance with Humanity in Leadership
24:10 Evolving as Entrepreneurs Beyond Grit Alone
 
Links
Connect with Mike Robbins:
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn
Visit Mike Robbin’s Website
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
Visit HiveCast
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Oct 6, 2025 • 37min
EP 109: Bootstrapped, Purpose-Driven, and On Fire: The Product Invention of LavaBox
 Born on whitewater, built in an ammo can, Lavabox is Josh Thurmond’s proof that instinct and grit can power a bootstrapped business that gives back and keeps rivers wild.
 
What does it take to move from a design patent invention built in your garage to a product company trusted by tens of thousands? How do entrepreneurs balance protecting profits with opportunities for scale? And why might wellbeing and values be just as important as growth when inventing a new product and leading a business?
 
Josh shares how his background as a river guide shaped his entrepreneurship—reading the rapids, trusting instincts, and steering through uncertainty with purpose. He explains why he turned down multi-million-dollar deals, chose to stay 100% independent, and built Lavabox around authenticity, customer input, and community impact.
 
This episode offers a candid look at the entrepreneurship of product companies, what it really takes to bootstrap from idea to invention while protecting both your business and your wellbeing.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Josh Thurmond and LavaBox
03:16 The Birth of a Design Patent Invention
06:19 Patent Challenges and Market Strategy
10:25 Turning Down Multi-Million Dollar Deals
14:10 Bootstrapping and Financing a Product Company
19:00 Building a Lifestyle Brand and Company Culture
26:11 Giving Back Through Protect Our Rivers
27:46 Resilience and Advice for Entrepreneurs
 
Links
Connect with Josh Thurmond:
Connect with Josh on LinkedIn
Visit LavaBox Portable Campfire
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
Visit HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Sep 29, 2025 • 24min
EP 108: The Simplest (and Cheapest) Way to Keep Your Best People
 Employee recognition might sound obvious, but why do so many leaders miss it in practice? Dr. Bob Nelson joins Sarah Lockwood to explains why low-cost recognition ideas often matter more than paychecks or perks when it comes to real employee motivation. 
 
How do you create loyalty from day one with a new hire? What’s the difference between a generic end-of-year award and genuine recognition that lands in the moment? And how can asking employees for their ideas spark both engagement and business growth?
 
Dr. Nelson brings decades of research and real-world examples to these questions, offering workplace culture tips that work whether you’re leading a small team or a global workforce. He shows that recognition doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to feel thoughtful and consistent if you want it to change company culture.
 
This episode reminds us that company culture is built in the small choices leaders make each day to notice, acknowledge, and value the people doing the work.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Employee Recognition Matters  
01:52 Common Misconceptions About Recognition  
04:07 Onboarding Tips That Build Loyalty  
05:52 How Employees Want to Be Recognized  
07:45 Low-Cost Recognition Ideas That Work  
09:07 Involving Employees in Decision-Making  
10:02 Real Examples of Employee Ideas Driving Growth  
14:06 The Role of Leadership in Company Culture  
16:10 Recognition for Remote and Global Teams  
21:28 Continuous Development and Retention  
 
Connect with Dr. Bob Nelson:
Visit Dr. Bob Nelson’s Website
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
Visit HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Sep 22, 2025 • 24min
EP 107: 10X Accountability Updates From Alex Raymond
 Alex Raymond, founder of Amplify and creator of the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, returns to share what’s happened since he set a bold goal on stage: turning Amplify into a $3M business in two years. Inspired by Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s “10x Is Easier Than 2x” and “The Science of Scaling,” Alex explains how “pathways thinking” has shifted his focus from incremental tasks to operating as if the goal is already achieved.
 
One of the biggest shifts? Writing his first book, “The Growth Department.” Alex opens up about the discipline, support, and courage it takes to codify his ideas into something meaningful, rather than just another business book. He also shares how building a mastermind after the summit has created accountability, momentum, and a community committed to thinking bigger together.
 
This conversation raises questions every founder faces: Are you running your business from a place of scarcity or scale? What would change if you truly operated from your goal, not just toward it?
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction and Big Goals
01:25 Pathways Thinking and 10X Growth
02:40 Writing The Growth Department
04:27 Book Timeline and Value Creation
09:58 Delegation and Building Scalable Structures
12:56 Mastermind Group and Accountability
14:53 Using AI as a Thinking Partner
16:28 Community, Momentum, and Entrepreneur Wellbeing
20:50 Lessons from Podcasting and Entrepreneurship
 
Connect with Alex Raymond:
Visit AMplify
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
Visit HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Sep 15, 2025 • 34min
EP 106: From Pushy to Magnetic: How ‘Never Ask for the Sale’ Flips Sales Culture
 Sue Heilbronner, serial entrepreneur and conscious leadership executive coach, believes the strongest businesses are built when sales feel less like chasing and more like alignment. Joining Sarah Lockwood in this episode, she introduces the idea of “passionate ambivalence,” a values-based sales mindset that pairs genuine enthusiasm for your work with the ability to detach from any single outcome.
 
How do you recognize when a client is the right fit? Sue points to conscious client qualification as the key. By asking clear, sometimes disqualifying questions, you invite the kind of honesty that builds trust from the very start. She also shares her perspective on pricing strategy, reminding entrepreneurs that protecting your time and holding your value are essential parts of sustainable growth.
 
This episode invites you to reflect on your own sales mindset. Are you creating relationships rooted in clarity and confidence, or relying on pressure and persuasion? What would shift if you treated sales as a mutual process instead of a one-sided pitch?
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Radical Mindset Shift in Sales
02:07 Passionate Ambivalence Explained
04:15 Contrarian Sales Mindset vs. Traditional Selling
06:04 Never Ask for the Sale: Practical Examples
10:12 Startup Fundraising and Playing Small
15:08 Pricing Strategy and Early Sales Lessons
19:22 Fit Calls and Client Qualification
27:08 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Sales
 
Connect with Sue Heilbronner:
Hey Sue
Connect with Sue on LinkedIn 
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Sep 8, 2025 • 36min
EP 105: How Giving Back Shapes Great Leaders with Snooze COO Brianna Borin
 Philanthropy can change the way we think about business when it’s treated as part of the culture rather than an afterthought. How does a company grow stronger when it gives back to the community that supports it? And how can service outside of work shape the kind of leader someone becomes?
 
Sarah Lockwood talks with Brianna Borin, Chief Operating Officer of Snooze A.M. Eatery, about the lessons she has learned from nearly two decades of weaving community impact into her work. Brianna shares how Snooze’s early days of volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission set the tone for a company-wide approach that now includes programs like the Changemaker initiative and long-term partnerships with organizations such as Urban Peak. She also reflects on her own leadership development through board service, youth mentorship, and global volunteer experiences that have deepened her sense of personal satisfaction and purpose.
 
Listeners can learn more about supporting youth experiencing homelessness through Urban Peak’s Urban Nights Kicks & Culture Sneaker Ball at urbanpeak.org/urban-nights. Brianna also recommends Tommy Spaulding’s books, The Heart-Led Leader and The Gift of Influence, which have shaped her vision of philanthropy and leadership. Her story and these resources show how integrating service into business not only builds stronger communities but also creates deeper fulfillment for leaders and their teams.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Philanthropy and Service as a Business Value
02:03 Brianna Borin’s Journey with Snooze A.M. Eatery
06:57 Community Impact Through Grassroots Service
08:50 Partnering with Urban Peak to Support Youth
12:44 The Changemaker Program and Local Giving
18:36 Leadership Development Through Philanthropy
28:45 Lessons from the Global Youth Leadership Academy
34:03 Time, Treasures, and Talent as a Service Framework
 
Connect with Brianna Borin:
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Connect with Brianna on LinkedIn
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Sep 1, 2025 • 4min
EP 104: Success, Life Satisfaction & Service
 True fulfillment as an entrepreneur often begins the moment you step outside yourself and give back.
 
Sarah Lockwood shares a personal reflection on her uncle, Ralph Junker, who quietly gave blood every two weeks for nearly twenty years. It was never mentioned at his funeral or in his obituary, yet it may have been the most defining part of his legacy. What does it mean when the most meaningful acts of service in a life are the ones done quietly, without recognition? And how might those same choices shape who we become as leaders?
 
This episode invites you to look at philanthropy not as a grand gesture but as a steady practice that creates life satisfaction, perspective, and connection. Inward work like meditation and journaling has its place, but service pulls us into the lives of others and reminds us that leadership is rooted in humanity.
 
Sarah offers a challenge worth sitting with: what if giving back became a rhythm in your life and your business? It doesn’t have to start big. Maybe it’s a volunteer day, matching donations for your team, or simply stepping in when someone in your community needs help. However it looks, those choices ripple outward, shaping stronger leaders, more grounded teams, and a legacy that speaks louder than words.
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
 
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
Subscribe to The Conscious Entrepreneur on YouTube
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 

Aug 25, 2025 • 17min
EP 103: Right-Sizing with Care: Layoffs, Furloughs, and Rehiring Best Practices
 Layoffs, furloughs, and rehiring after downsizing are decisions that press on both the head and the heart.
 
Sarah Lockwood talks with Peggy Shell, the CEO of Creative Alignments, about the reality of leading a team through moments when survival means making choices no leader wants to make. Peggy shares how her company moved from furloughs to layoffs during an economic downturn and what it took to carry the weight of those decisions while still protecting the future of the business. How do you take care of the people who stay after you’ve had to let others go? How much truth should you share when your team is already anxious?
 
Peggy explains how transparency and steady communication built trust, even in the midst of layoffs, and why she chose approaches like covering health insurance, offering transition periods, and helping people find new roles. She also reflects on the uneasy process of hiring again after downsizing and the challenge of moving forward with confidence when past decisions still weigh heavy.
 
This episode encourages entrepreneurs to look closely at how layoffs, furloughs, and rehiring after downsizing affect more than just headcount. These moments test the culture of a company, the trust between leaders and their teams, and the resilience of a business when pressure hits. Peggy’s story shows how the choices a leader makes in these situations leave a lasting mark on both the people and the direction of the business.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction and Initial Layoffs
02:16 Fear of Rehiring and Economic Uncertainty
05:31 Conscious Leadership and Transparency in Layoffs
08:01 Furloughs vs. Layoffs
10:09 Handling Layoffs with Compassion and Support
11:14 Retaining A Players and Addressing Survivor Guilt
14:17 Lessons Learned and Building a Stronger Business
16:21 Innovation and Reimagining Company Culture
17:12 Final Takeaways for Leaders
Connect with Peggy Shell:
Creative Alignments
Connect with Peggy on LinkedIn 
 
Connect with Sarah Lockwood:
HiveCast
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
Connect with The Conscious Entrepreneur:
The Conscious Entrepreneur 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on LinkedIn 
Follow The Conscious Entrepreneur on Instagram 
 
HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm 


