Brad Hook Podcast

In this conversation, Marilise de Villiers Basson shares her journey from a corporate career as a chartered accountant to becoming an entrepreneur and author focused on overcoming bullying and trauma in the workplace. She discusses the importance of recognizing and taming the inner bully, the ROAR framework for navigating difficult conversations, and the emergence of her new initiative, MOAR, which emphasizes workplace wellbeing and energy as currency. Marilise also highlights the need for integrating both masculine and feminine energies in leadership and the importance of finding meaning in work. She concludes with empowering messages about self-compassion and dreaming big.Connect with Marilise: https://www.marilise-de-villiers.com/Survey link: https://forms.gle/Zxw84anX8PfZDYjTAAbout the survey: https://www.marilise-de-villiers.com/blog/the-question-thats-changing-how-we-think-about-work

In this special episode, I (Brad Hook) share tools and practices to help you build personal resilience. You’ll discover a research-based framework for navigating change, challenge, and uncertainty — grounded in both science and real-life experience.In this session, we explore:Nervous system regulationBreathworkSleep optimizationMovement and vitalityEmotional agilityFocus and presenceFlow state practicesWhether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve performance, or enhance well-being, this episode offers practical strategies you can apply immediately.Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradhookLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyhook/Web: https://bradleyhook.com/ and https://resiliencei.com/Learnfulness: https://www.youtube.com/@learnfulness Get your free Values Assessment: https://values.institute/values-app/

Triathlete, founder, and private chef with 18 years of experience and a deep love for thoughtful food and performance-driven nutrition. Over the past decade, she’s cooked for longtime clients like Seth MacFarlane, worked with athletes like Christian McCaffrey, and quietly traveled the world cooking for families and individuals who value integrity, health, and flavor. Founder of a clean, vitamin B12–powered energy bar designed to support D1, Olympic, and pro athletes. At her core, Vikki believes great food should fuel both the body and the experience around the table.In This EpisodeWe dive into the remarkable journey of Vikki Krinsky — from aspiring soccer pro to Hollywood actress, to one of LA’s most sought-after private chefs. Vikki opens up about her South African roots, the grind of cooking for high-performance clients, the unexpected lessons triathlon taught her, and how RED-S changed everything. We explore what it takes to build a clean energy bar from scratch and why most bars on the shelf are misleadingly unhealthy. This is a deeply personal, energizing, and insightful conversation about food, mindset, performance, and grit.Big Ideas🥗 How sports nutrition shaped Vikki’s culinary philosophy💥 The pressure and privilege of cooking for A-list celebrities🧠 The mental toll of overtraining and her experience with RED-S🔥 Why most energy bars are more like candy bars🌱 What makes VK Energy Bar stand out in a saturated market🧃 The gut, inflammation, and why clean ingredients matter📉 The trap of guilt and hustle culture — and why rest is vital🇿🇦 Growing up with South African immigrant values and building resilience✍️ The power of food journaling, hydration, and even… 10 push-ups before snackingConnect with Vikki Krinskyhttps://vkenergybar.com/https://www.instagram.com/chefvikkikhttps://www.instagram.com/vkenergybarhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vikki-krinsky-9223a287/

Philosopher and educator Dr. Nikos Patedakis joins me for a deep, expansive conversation about the soul of education, the legacy of Socratic inquiry, and the urgent need for meaningful dialogue in an era of accelerating technology. Nikos challenges the idea of philosophy as abstract theory and instead shows how it can be a transformational way of life. We also explore the ethical and existential questions raised by artificial intelligence—and how wisdom traditions might guide our path forward.Resources from Nikos: https://dangerouswisdom.org/hook💡 Big Ideas We ExploreWhat Socratic dialogue really means (it’s not debate)Why wisdom is different from intelligenceHow philosophy can lead to personal and cultural transformationThe relationship between values, education, and well-beingWhy technological power must be matched with inner developmentHow AI might benefit from philosophical frameworks—and what’s at stake if it doesn’tRethinking schooling: What would a “wisdom-first” curriculum look like?The timeless power of wonder, reflection, and shared inquiryConnect with Nikos:https://dangerouswisdom.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikos-patedakis/

What does it mean to live with spiritual intelligence in an age of uncertainty and AI? In this conversation, Brad Hook connects with Dr. Yosi Amram—MIT engineer, Harvard MBA, licensed psychologist, and bestselling author—to explore how spiritual intelligence can transform leadership, deepen relationships, and connect us to what truly matters.Drawing from decades of research and cross-traditional wisdom, Dr. Amram shares insights on the 22 core spiritual qualities that transcend cultures and belief systems. Whether you’re a founder, coach, parent, or seeker—this episode offers a compelling roadmap to embody purpose, presence, and compassion in daily life.Meet Yosi AmramYosi Amram, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, CEO leadership coach, and best-selling, award-winning author. Formerly the founder and CEO of two tech companies he led through successful IPOs, he has coached over 100 CEOs—many of whom have built multi-billion-dollar businesses. With engineering degrees from MIT, an MBA from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Sofia University, Yosi is a pioneering researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence, with over 1,000 citations.He is the author of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired, which won the Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal. Today, Yosi is committed to awakening greater spiritual intelligence in himself and in others.🌐 Website: https://yosiamram.net📘 Book: https://spirituallyintelligentleadership.com🧠 Free Spiritual Intelligence Assessment: https://intelligensi.com/🌱 Nonprofit: https://awakeningsi.org/📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@awakeningspiritualintelligence📝 Psychology Today Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spiritual-intelligence💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosiamram/

Caren Carnegie is not your typical coach. She blends personal training, intuitive guidance, and psychic channeling into a transformative practice designed to unlock momentum—physically, mentally, and spiritually.As an Intuitive Momentum Coach, Caren helps her clients move through emotional blockages, step into their truth, and ignite sustainable energy from the inside out. In this episode, we explore how fitness, spiritual connection, and deep listening can awaken us to who we truly are.🔗 Connect with Caren CarnegieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carencarnegiefitnessFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/carencarnegiefitnessWebsite: https://transformfitnesscoaching.com✨ Big Ideas🏋️‍♀️ How physical movement clears emotional energy🔮 The power of intuitive coaching and channeling🌱 Why slowing down creates momentum in the long term🌀 The difference between forcing change and allowing it🎯 How to tune into your inner wisdom—even when life gets noisy💫 Stories of transformation through embodied coaching🔥 How Caren uses “energetic reads” in her practice🎙️ What it means to show up with soul in business and lifeI’d love you to check out my new book, Start With Values:👉 https://values.institute/start-with-values-book/It’s full of tools to help you lead a life that aligns with your deepest values—reducing stress, increasing clarity, and fueling meaningful action.🎧 All my links: https://bradleyhook.com

In this episode, I speak with grief wellness guide and ritualist Alyssa Rose about how grief, death, and emotional expression are essential parts of a life well lived. Alyssa shares powerful insights from over a decade of experience supporting individuals and communities as a death doula, grief guide, and somatic healing practitioner.We explore:Why grief is more than just loss—it’s love in motionThe Five Gates of Grief and how they show up in everyday lifeHow community grieving strengthens our sense of belongingWhat modern culture gets wrong about death—and how to reconnectThe importance of ritual, presence, and emotional vulnerabilityWhether you’re processing a loss, supporting someone who is, or exploring your relationship with impermanence, this conversation offers tools, perspective, and comfort.🎧 Listen and subscribe for more conversations on values, meaning, and resilience.Connect with Alyssa Rose:Website: https://www.alyssarosehealingarts.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssarosehealing📖 Want to explore your own values and how they shape your life?Check out my new book Start With Values:👉 https://values.institute/start-with-values-book/

David Robson is an award-winning science writer specializing in the extremes of the human brain, body, and behavior. A mathematics graduate from Cambridge University, David has written for New Scientist, BBC Future, The Guardian, The Atlantic, and Aeon.His books include:The Intelligence Trap (2019) – a global bestsellerThe Expectation Effect – BPS Book of the Year and BBC Radio 4 Book of the WeekThe Laws of Connection (2025)David’s work explores the power of mindset, the psychology of connection, and how small shifts in thinking can transform our lives.🔗 Connect with David RobsonWebsite: https://davidrobson.me60-Second Psychology (Substack): https://substack.com/@davidarobsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-robson-5761791b/Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/d_a_robsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidarobson/📘 Like This Episode? You’ll Love Start With ValuesWritten by host Brad Hook, Start With Values is a powerful guide to living with clarity, meaning, and integrity in the age of AI. Find out more: https://startwithvalues.com/start-with-values-book/

I’d love you to check out my new book, ⁠Start With Values⁠ (https://values.institute/start-with-values-book/). It’s packed with tools to help you lead a life aligned with your core values, reducing stress and increasing fulfillment. Find me at https://bradleyhook.comIn this episode of The Brad Hook Podcast, I speak with Dr. Amy Climer — creativity expert, author of Deliberate Creative Teams, and founder of Climer Consulting. Amy helps teams unlock their creative potential so they can innovate with intention. We explore what creativity really is (hint: it’s not about drawing), why it matters for every team, and how leaders can set the conditions for innovation to thrive. Amy breaks down the three essential elements of creative teams — shared purpose 💡, strong dynamics 🤝, and a repeatable process 🔄 — and shares practical tools for building trust, fostering psychological safety, and moving from idea to execution. Whether you’re leading a team or exploring your own creativity, this episode is full of actionable insight. Plus, we discuss how nature inspires creativity, how to be okay with failure, and how a deck of cards she designed ended up in 58 countries 🌍.Connect with Dr. Amy Climer:https://climerconsulting.comhttps://deliberatecreativeteams.comhttps://amzn.to/3WD4lMRhttps://climercards.comhttps://www.facebook.com/climerconsultinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amyclimerhttps://www.instagram.com/amyclimerhttps://bsky.app/profile/amyclimer.bsky.social

📘 Start With ValuesDiscover your core values and build a more meaningful life. My new book, Start With Values (Penguin), is your guide to living with clarity, calm, and purpose — even in an age of overwhelm.Grab your copy → https://values.institute/start-with-values-book/Explore everything else I do → https://bradleyhook.com/🎙️ What Happens When AI Hacks the Brain’s Failure Circuit? — Dr. Kyra BobinetDr. Kyra Bobinet is a physician, public health leader, and best-selling author of Unstoppable Brain. In this episode, we explore how AI and algorithmic platforms are hijacking the habenula — the brain’s failure circuit — and why that matters for motivation, addiction, and mental health. Kyra shares how dopamine burnout unfolds, why social media feels so compulsive, and what we can do to take back control. We dive into the neuroscience of behavior, parenting in the digital age, and how to reclaim joy, iteration, and human connection in an increasingly artificial world.🌐 Connect with Dr. Kyra BobinetWebsite: https://drkyrabobinet.com/Fresh Tri: https://freshtri.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrabobinet/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkyrabobinet/