Flourishing Edge Podcast with Ashish Kothari

Founders are praised for their grit — but what about their grace?In this powerful episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with Lisa Mikkelsen, Partner at Flourish Ventures, to explore the hidden mental and emotional costs of entrepreneurship — and how founders can thrive without sacrificing their well-being.Lisa shares hard-won insights from 25 years in startups and venture capital, where she’s seen firsthand how “image management,” stigma, and burnout quietly derail brilliant founders. Together, they unpack how the VC world can evolve from “get rich or die trying” to “grow well and thrive together.”This is a must-listen for founders, funders, and anyone passionate about building sustainable success — from the inside out.💡 Key Topics & Takeaways:1️⃣ The Hidden Barriers to Founder Well-beingImage management: Founders feel pressured to project confidence even when struggling.Fear and stigma: Many hide their stress to avoid losing investor trust.Reality check: Nearly 70–90% of founders experience mental health challenges — they’re not alone.2️⃣ The Survival Trap of StartupsHow founders slip into “I’ll rest when…” thinking.Reframing survival mode with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — recognizing safety and rest as non-negotiable for creativity and performance.Why postponing self-care leads to operating at 30–50% capacity when founders need 100%.3️⃣ Lisa’s Journey: From Startups to Mental Health Advocacy25 years across startups and VC revealed one truth: behind every business problem lies a human one.Personal inspiration: raising a neurodiverse child changed how Lisa views inclusion, empathy, and awareness in leadership.How Flourish Ventures shifted its mission to center founder mental health.4️⃣ The Flourish Ventures Model: Investing in Human FlourishingBeyond capital: providing coaching, therapy access, and community circles for founders.Hosting monthly CEO and CXO gatherings designed for real conversations, not “chest-pounding.”Funded and validated the first 7-question mental health diagnostic tool designed specifically for entrepreneurs.Taking the movement global — reshaping the VC–founder relationship through empathy, trust, and transparency.5️⃣ Rethinking the VC–Founder RelationshipOnly 10% of founders tell investors when something’s going wrong.Flourish Ventures combats that by training investors in:6️⃣ The Organizational Ripple EffectFounder well-being sets the tone for company culture.Flourish Ventures runs CXO retreats and leadership coaching to spread healthy habits beyond the C-suite.Spotlight on the “frozen middle” — how empowering middle managers transforms entire organizations.7️⃣ Flourishing at Work and in LifeAshish and Lisa reflect on the Happiness Squad model and McKinsey research:97% of burnout factors come from job, team, and organizational systems — not individuals.To flourish at work = to flourish in life. You can’t “survive work” and hope to thrive elsewhere.“Work is where we spend most of our waking hours — it should be a source of joy, not depletion.”8️⃣ Lisa’s Daily Practices for Flourishing🌿 Time in nature — even 5 minutes daily📝 Journaling to process emotions and build self-awareness💤 Sleep as a non-negotiable🧘‍♀️ Quarterly rest breaks to reset energy and clarity💨 Breathwork & mindfulness to stay anchored in the present9️⃣ Advice for Founders“Find a way to disconnect from work every single day — even for five minutes. Build that muscle.”And for investors:“The next time you talk to your founder, ask how they are doing — not how the business is doing. Then ask again: how are you really?”👩‍💼 About the GuestLisa Mikkelsen is a Partner at Flourish Ventures, a global venture firm redefining what responsible investing looks like. She leads initiatives that support founder mental health and organizational well-being, integrating empathy, psychology, and business performance.🔗 Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamikkelsen1/ 🧘‍♂️ About the HostAshish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad, author of Hardwired for Happiness, and host of The Flourishing Edge Podcast.He helps leaders unlock joy, resilience, and performance through science-based habits of flourishing.If this episode resonated with you, share it with a founder or leader who needs permission to rest and reconnect.Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on living, leading, and working with greater joy, health, love, and meaning.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if working less could help us live more — with greater energy, purpose, and joy?In this eye-opening conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Karen Lowe, South Africa’s lead advocate for the 4-Day Workweek movement and founder of 4 Day Week South Africa, to explore how shorter work weeks are transforming productivity, culture, and well-being across the globe.Karen shares how a passion project in Cape Town became the world’s fourth major pilot of the 4-Day Workweek — and the results are nothing short of revolutionary: higher revenue, lower burnout, better sleep, deeper engagement, and teams that flourish together.This episode challenges the modern obsession with “more” and makes a powerful case for the 4-day week as both a science-backed productivity strategy and a human sustainability movement.💡 Key Takeaways & Topics Covered:Karen’s Origin Story:How a curiosity about human well-being and burnout in South Africa led to running a national pilot for the 4-Day Workweek — now one of the most successful global case studies.The 180-100 Model Explained:100% pay, 80% time, 100% productivity — a simple but transformative framework for redesigning work around efficiency, not excess.Flourishing Defined:Flourishing isn’t just about happiness — it’s a felt sense of capacity, energy, connection, and purpose.Time is our new currency, and how we spend it determines how much we truly thrive.Workplaces Are Broken — Here’s How to Fix Them:With only 20% of people thriving at work, Ashish and Karen discuss why most workplaces are “fundamentally broken” and how human-centered redesign can heal them.Trust, Autonomy, and Agency:Successful 4-day week cultures are built on permission — trusting employees to co-create boundaries, prioritize deep work, and use time wisely.The South African Case Study:Over 82% of organizations kept the 4-day workweek two years after the pilot.Science Meets Flourishing:German trials even measured lower cortisol in hair samples, proving physiological stress reduction.From Burnout to Breakthrough:A powerful story from Stellenbosch University shows how cutting hours from 5 days to 4 dropped absenteeism from 51 days to 4 — while improving service delivery and saving millions in costs.Leadership Lessons for the Future of Work:→ Productivity starts with permission→ Recovery is doing→ Trust and meaning drive output→ Rest fuels creativity and innovationAshish’s Personal Reflection:From his own experience at McKinsey working 70% time while increasing client impact, Ashish reflects on how less can truly be more — when done with purpose and trust.🧭 Notable Quotes:“Flourishing is a felt state — a sense of capacity, connection, and purpose that comes from using time deliberately.” – Karen Lowe“We don’t need to fix work; we need to redesign it for humans.” – Ashish Kothari“The 4-day week isn’t about working less — it’s about working better.” – Karen Lowe🪴 About the Guest:Karen Lowe is the Founder and Director of 4 Day Week South Africa, a nonprofit initiative driving the movement toward shorter, smarter, and more humane work weeks across the African continent. Her work bridges neuroscience, productivity research, and organizational psychology to help businesses thrive through human flourishing.🔗 Connect:Host: Ashish Kothari | Founder of Happiness Squad and author of Hardwired for HappinessIf today’s conversation inspired you to rethink how you work, share this episode with your team or leader.Subscribe to the Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on how to lead, live, and flourish at the edge of what’s possible.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if your next “competitive edge” as a company wasn’t innovation or efficiency—but compassion?In this eye-opening episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with David Shapiro to unpack how recovery-friendly workplaces are redefining what it means to truly support employees.From mental health to substance use recovery, David reveals why inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety aren’t “nice-to-haves”—they’re the foundation of human flourishing at work. Together, they explore how stigma, stress, and hidden workplace norms silently fuel substance misuse—and how small cultural shifts can create massive change.💡 Key Topics & Takeaways:1️⃣ The Human Side of Workplace Health:David’s journey from anthropology and family-friendly policies to leading the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative.How his personal story of recovery informs his mission to make work environments more empathetic, inclusive, and safe.“My work matches my life”—the power of aligning personal purpose with professional service.2️⃣ Understanding Substance Use & Recovery:What substance use disorder really means—and why it’s a medical condition, not a moral failing.The spectrum from low-risk social use to addiction, and how 30 million Americans live with diagnosed substance use disorders.The ripple effect: for every person impacted, two to three others are affected at home or at work.Why workplace culture and chronic stress can drive coping behaviors—and what employers can do differently.3️⃣ Redefining “Recovery”:SAMHSA’s inclusive definition: “a self-directed process of change.”→ Recovery can mean abstinence, harm reduction, or simply the courage to seek help.Why judgment—not lack of resources—is the biggest barrier to recovery.“We rally around cancer, but we isolate addiction.” How empathy transforms stigma into connection.4️⃣ Culture Shift: From Judgment to Curiosity:Don’t label—listen. Describe what you see objectively before assuming impairment.Replace words like “addict” with “a person experiencing substance use disorder.”“Connection is the opposite of addiction.” – Johan HariLanguage matters: empathy and curiosity are the foundation for healing cultures.5️⃣ Building a Recovery-Friendly Workplace:David outlines the three pillars (the 3 P’s) of Total Worker Health®:Policies: Shift from “zero tolerance” to “we care about you and want to help.”Practices: Encourage leaders to model openness, empathy, and awareness.Programs: Offer real support—Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health resources, Narcan/Naloxone training, and flexible benefits.💡 “If your policy doesn’t reflect how you actually care for people—it’s time to rewrite it.”6️⃣ The “Frozen Middle” Problem:Leaders may support recovery, but real culture change happens in the middle—among supervisors and managers.Middle managers often feel overworked, under-supported, and hesitant to engage in sensitive issues.Why equipping the “frozen middle” with empathy and training unlocks lasting change.7️⃣ Practical, Low-Cost Shifts That Make a Big Difference:Offer mocktails and non-alcoholic options at company events.Avoid centering celebrations around alcohol—make inclusion visible.Provide healthy alternatives in breakrooms (fruit alongside candy).Reconsider payday timing (e.g., Tuesday instead of Friday) to support budgeting and reduce relapse triggers.Equip first-aid kits with Narcan/Naloxone for overdose preparedness.Encourage leaders to test their own EAP before recommending it—know what the employee experience is like.8️⃣ Stories of Impact:ODB’s Sandwich Shop (Denver): 60–70% of staff are in recovery. Alcohol still served—but the culture is care-first, not cocktail-first.JHL Contractors: Supported an employee through opioid treatment and welcomed him back; he’s now a top performer.Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing: Frequent conversations about recovery helped normalize help-seeking behavior.State of Colorado: Now exploring recovery-friendly policies across public agencies.9️⃣ The Bigger Picture: Flourishing Through CompassionFrom fear to curiosity, from stigma to support—these are the building blocks of a flourishing workplace.When businesses choose empathy over judgment, they not only retain talent—they redefine leadership.If this conversation inspired you, share it with your HR team or leadership circle—because every workplace can become a recovery-friendly one.Visit recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com to take the pledge, or explore how Happiness Squad can help your team build a culture of flourishing.Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on leading and living with more joy, health, love, and meaning.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if the most painful moments in life could become the greatest catalysts for growth?In this deeply moving episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with Ian Ziskin, President of EXec EXcel Group LLC, author, and leadership thought leader, to explore the powerful connection between loss, learning, and leadership.Ian shares the personal story that shaped his life from age 13 — losing his father to multiple sclerosis — and how that early experience of grief forged his lifelong commitment to intentional living, compassion, and resilience. Together, Ashish and Ian unpack what it truly means to flourish through adversity, why intentionality (not time) heals wounds, and how leaders can create workplaces where people feel trusted, valued, and alive.This episode is a masterclass in transforming suffering into strength — and leading with both heart and purpose.💡 Key Topics & Insights:The Early Loss That Defined a Leader:At 13, Ian lost his father to multiple sclerosis — a moment that sparked his lifelong choice to turn lemons into lemonade and lead with empathy and purpose.The Fork in the Road: Grief or GrowthHow an 11-year-old learned to focus on helping others, mastering his emotions, and finding meaning — three timeless principles for navigating hardship.Intentionality Over Time:“Time doesn’t heal all wounds — intentionality does.”Ian shares how conscious reflection, not waiting, transforms loss into wisdom.Flourishing Beyond Balance:Ian’s modern definition: “Do what I want, when I want, where I want, with whom I want.”True flourishing is about reconciling passions, relationships, and purpose — not chasing work-life balance.Lessons from Sweden: Systems That Support LifeThrough time spent with family in Sweden, Ian discovered how public policy and culture can align to prioritize humanity — a stark contrast to the U.S. work model.The Trust Crisis at Work:Why only 20% of people are thriving — and how rebuilding trust between leaders and teams is the missing link to organizational flourishing.→ “Do what you say you’ll do, and treat others with dignity and respect — that’s real trust.”Rethinking HR and Engagement:Ian challenges outdated corporate norms:Stop overcomplicating engagement surveysMeasure fewer things, more oftenHold leaders accountable for culture and well-being, not just performance metricsLives Lost and Leadership Found: The BookInspired by the loss of his brother and mother within six months, Ian’s latest book compiles stories from leaders who found meaning, courage, and compassion through grief.The Smoothie Effect 🥤:A brilliant metaphor for blending life’s contrasting emotions into something nourishing and whole.Ingredients = People and experiences you chooseBlending = Processing chaos into growthIntention = The key to turning pain into purposeA Call to Write Your Own StoryThe book includes writing prompts to help readers process their own loss — of a loved one, relationship, or career — and find wisdom through reflection.💬 Memorable Quotes:“Time doesn’t heal all wounds — intentionality heals all wounds.” — Ian Ziskin“We can hold grief, but we don’t have to let grief hold us.” — Ashish Kothari“Flourishing isn’t balance. It’s reconciliation — between passion, purpose, and the people we love.” — Ian Ziskin“Trust isn’t doing what makes others happy. It’s doing what you said you would, with honesty and respect.” — Ian Ziskin👤 About the Guest:Ian Ziskin is the President of EXec EXcel Group LLC, leadership advisor, and author of Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Life and Leadership Lessons Learned from Lost Loved Ones. With over 40 years of experience as a CHRO, coach, and consultant, Ian’s work bridges strategy, culture, and human potential to help leaders flourish through authenticity and purpose.🔗 Connect with Ian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-ziskin-bb1504/ If this conversation moved you, share it with someone navigating loss or leading through challenge.Get your copy of Lives Lost and Leadership Found and try the reflective writing exercise Ian includes at the end of the book.Then, subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly inspiration on leading and living with purpose.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if our obsession with being “happy all the time” is actually what’s keeping us from true wellbeing? We’ve been chasing happiness as a fixed state, a finish line we’re supposed to reach and stay at. But that’s not how life works. Real flourishing isn’t about constant positivity, but learning to move with life’s rhythm through the highs and the lows. Because when the world gets hard, the question isn’t how to stay happy — it’s how to keep flourishing anyway.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Michelle McQuaid, to explore why flourishing isn’t about being happy all the time — it’s about learning how to rise with confidence, compassion, and courage when life knocks us down.Dr. Michelle McQuaid, Ph.D. is an award-winning researcher, best-selling author, and workplace wellbeing teacher who translates positive psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies for leaders and teams. She is an honorary fellow at Melbourne University’s Centre for Wellbeing Science, hosts the Making Positive Psychology Work podcast, and has helped organizations globally to build psychological safety, strengths-based cultures, and more resilient workplaces. This episode teaches how leaders and individuals can cultivate true flourishing not by avoiding discomfort, but by embracing it as a path to deeper growth, purpose, and human connection.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why happiness alone isn’t the true measure of flourishing• The power of confidence in navigating life’s highs and lows• How embracing imperfection fuels learning and growth• Why self-compassion is a leadership advantage• The neuroscience behind psychological safety at work• How to shift from chasing happiness to building inner strengthListen to the full episode now and discover practical tools you can use to redefine what it means to flourish.✅Resources:• How to make flourishing your competitive edge by Ashish Kothari on TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg&t=146s • michellemcquaid.com  (Company)• thewellbeinglab.com  (Company)• permahsurvey.com  (Free Wellbeing Survey)• Dr. Michelle McQuaid on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chellemcquaid • Seligman’s PERMA+ model: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/ • Oxytocin shot tool: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6949379/ • Carole Dweck’s The Power of Yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-swZaKN2Ic ✅Books:• Your Wellbeing Blueprint by Dr. Michelle McQuaid: https://a.co/d/8mLoSHr • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/ftKT8SZ

Tamara Lechner, a happiness and flourishing expert at Harvard, dives deep into the double-edged sword of AI. She discusses how AI can either erode our humanity or enhance our well-being, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks centered on productivity, protection, and fairness. Tamara highlights the importance of prioritizing relationships and collaboration in AI design. She encourages collective action for humane technology and shares her personal well-being practices, underscoring the potential of AI to identify meaningful work and foster purpose in our lives.

What would it look like if organizations were intentionally designed for human flourishing instead of mere survival? Most workplaces today are leaking energy—burnout is rising, workers are underpaid, and leaders are still chasing profits at the expense of people.We’ve never had more knowledge about wellbeing, yet we remain starved for practice, with millions stuck in jobs that deny them dignity, security, and purpose. But today, that changes.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Andrew Soren to explore how to design organizations where people can flourish using the ancient Greek concept of Eudaimonia—living a life of purpose, growth, and virtue.Andrew Soren is the founder and CEO of Eudaimonic By Design, a global network of facilitators, coaches, and advisors who partner with organizations to design systems that enable people to flourish. For more than 20 years, he has worked at the intersection of positive psychology, organizational design, and leadership development, helping companies around the world embed purpose, meaning, and wellbeing into the heart of work. Andrew also teaches in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program, sharing the science and practice of human flourishing with the next generation of leaders.Things you will also learn in this episode:• The meaning of Eudaimonia and how it differs from Hedonia.• Why modern society is disconnected from nature and what it means to “suffer well.”• The role of decent work (freedom, equity, security, dignity) as the foundation for flourishing.• The business, competitive, and moral cases for designing organizations where people thrive.• Practical ways leaders can create cultures of care, growth, and purpose at work.Tune in now and learn how ancient wisdom and modern science can help us bring virtue and flourishing back into our workplaces.✅Resources:• Eudaimonic by Design: https://www.eudaimonicbydesign.com/andrewsoren • Eudaimonic by Design: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eubd/ • Confuscian and Aristotelian Philosophy: https://bigthink.com/thinking/confucius-aristotle/ • Changemaker Wellbeing Index: https://wellbeingindex.ca/ • Column: U.S. Surgeon General: Loneliness Is at Heart of Growing Mental Health Crisis: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/publication/column-us-surgeon-general-loneliness-heart-growing-mental ✅Books:• The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay, and Meaning to Everyone's Work by Zeynep Ton: https://a.co/d/f8OmSfT • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/8qWGfEU 

Great leaders pour themselves into serving others, sometimes until they burn out. But if you want lasting impact, understand that it requires balance. When service comes without self-care, burnout follows. And when self-care comes without service, your leadership’s meaning fades. That’s why the key is learning to hold both, so you can thrive while helping others flourish.In this episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Tenzin Dadul explore how leaders can build a flourishing life by aligning service with self-care, gratitude, and continuous growth.Dr. Tenzin Dadul is a Clinical Associate Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology and Director of Educational Research at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is also the founder of "Wild Flower," a mission-driven organization that, since around 2009, has provided free medical, dental, and cancer care and educational support to underprivileged children and Himalayan refugee communities. In 2022, he was awarded the Agere ex Missione Award by Detroit Mercy for his outstanding service and other honors from institutions in the U.S. and abroad.His story is a powerful reminder that true leadership and flourishing begin when we care for ourselves as deeply as we care for others.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Why service without self-care leads to burnout• How Dr. Tenzin transformed failure and hardship into a flourishing life of purpose• The importance of mentorship and education as a “golden ticket” for generational impact• Insights on preventing burnout in healthcare and leadership• How Eastern and Western philosophies can be integrated for resilience and wellbeingTune in now to hear how you can lead a flourishing life with both service and self-care at the center.✅Resources:• Michigan Ross: michiganross.umich.edu• Dr. Tenzin Dadul's website: tenzindadul.org/ • Cancer Medical Dental Organization founded by Dr. Tenzin Dadul: https://www.tenzindadul.org/mission • His Holiness The Dalai Lama: https://www.dalailama.com/• Sadhguru: https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/sadhguru • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: https://www.unc.edu/ • University of Detroit Mercy: https://www.udmercy.edu/• Saveetha Medical College: https://www.smc.saveetha.com/ • Andrews University: https://www.andrews.edu/index.html • University of Michigan Center for Positive Organizations: https://michiganross.umich.edu/terms/center-positive-organizations ✅Books:• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/

In this engaging discussion, Sri Kaza, an entrepreneur and former McKinsey consultant, reveals how small and medium businesses (SMBs) can thrive by embracing their underdog status. He introduces the three Underdog Principles: Positioning, Proximity, and Purpose, explaining how these can differentiate SMBs from larger corporations. Sri shares inspiring real-world examples, such as a community bookstore adapting during COVID, and highlights how AI can amplify the strengths of SMBs. Discover practical strategies that empower small business founders to play their own game and succeed.

Grace Zuncic, a seasoned executive known for her roles at Chobani and Cotopaxi, dives into the essence of flourishing at work. She argues that a culture of courage and kindness is crucial for unlocking human potential, not just wellbeing programs. Grace shares insights on how fear stifles contribution, revealing that clear roles and trust are key to engagement. The discussion highlights the impact of human-centered leadership during COVID and emphasizes that private equity must prioritize culture for sustainable growth. A compelling conversation on leading with heart!