Beyond Curious ®

Two weeks ago, I launched The 4% Files -- an 11-part series where I'm surfacing the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of Beyond Curious episodes.The First File revealed how to uncover your 4% — the magical zone where your greatest impact meets your greatest joyThe Second File revealed an Operating System to help you to architect a game completely based off of your unique strengthsIn the Third File and beyond, we’re shifting into “power-up” territory.I’m surfacing the “80/20 of the 80/20” of Beyond Curious content that led to a disproportionate impact on my life.And the first power up is a strange one.Naming.Yes, naming.Today I’m re-surfacing an episode I recorded with my friend, Alexandra Watkins.Ever heard of the Wendy’s Baconator?Yep, Alexandra named that. She’s the author of one of my favorite books, Hello My Name Is Awesome, and has created love-at-first sight names for companies like Amazon, Coca-Cola, Disney, Google, Twitter, and Colgate.Of all places, why start here?Here’s the embarrassing truth:For 139 episodes, my brand and podcast was called 7-Figure Millennials 🤮That brand was the PERFECT example of me “playing a game” I didn’t consciously choose.It was what I thought I needed to be, inspired by copying others.And while that name helped get me started… it quickly became a straightjacket.Every time I saw it, spoke it, or shared it, I felt a wave of emotional resistance.Because it didn’t reflect my truth.Through the deep work that eventually became the Find Your Four™ framework, I knew who I was…But I didn’t yet know how to express it.So I hired Alexandra, handed everything I’d uncovered about myself to her and said:“Please please please help me find a name that will let me be me.”What came out on the other end was not only Beyond Curious®, but also Curiosity Island™… two core pillars of my world.These two brands bridged the gap between who I knew I was and how the world saw me.Which is why I truly believe:Unlocking the right brand name is a single decision that solves a thousand problems.Because the moment your brand clicks into alignment, everything gets easier:You attract the right people.You get invited into the right rooms.You show up with more confidence and clarity.You stop being misunderstood.And in this episode, Alexandra will help you build a brand name that sticks. We explore:Her signature SMILE & SCRATCH framework for creating memorable brand namesReal examples of hilariously bad names (Yes, we talk about P*nis Land and Americans Crapping Metal)Behind the scenes of how she helped to come up with the Beyond Curious® brandThis one was a game changer for me, and I know it can be for you too!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious Episode, The Third FileBrandon Fong opens the third 4% file of an 11-part series, sharing insights from 334+ hours of Beyond Curious content. This file introduces an "Architect Power-Up" focused on the often-overlooked but transformational skill of naming, featuring branding expert Alexandra Watkins.03:22 - Why Naming is an Architect Power-Up That Changed EverythingBrandon shares his emotional struggle with misaligned branding—specifically, how "Seven Figure Millennials" caused him deep pain and prevented full self-expression. Naming, he reveals, was the key to aligning identity, environment, and external perception.06:55 - Naming as a Bridge from Internal Clarity to External UnderstandingExploring the fractal 80/20 framework, Brandon explains how the right brand name affects environmental conditions, actions, and core identity. The right name can remove massive obstacles and unlock thousands of opportunities.08:23 - The Struggle of Being Nonlinear and the Power of an External BrandBrandon encourages nonlinear, curious people to consider an external brand that allows them to fully express themselves, rather than defaulting to using their own name.11:30 - Alexandra’s World of Creativity and the Power of AdventureAlexandra shares a hilarious story about refusing to whitewater raft on terrifyingly named rapids like “Meat Grinder” and “Satan’s Cesspool.” The story becomes a metaphor for the emotional impact and power of names.14:23 - A Near-Death Rafting Experience in Africa (and Ending Up in the Wrong Country)Alexandra recounts a wild experience on the Zambezi River where a capsized raft and a swim gone wrong landed her in the wrong country—underscoring how names and unexpected adventures go hand-in-hand in her life.15:38 - How Travel Supercharges Alexandra’s CreativityBrandon and Alexandra discuss how international travel expands creativity by introducing new experiences and forcing people outside their comfort zones. This adventurous spirit shapes Alexandra’s naming genius.19:06 - The Creative Influence of Alexandra’s MotherAlexandra credits her mom for encouraging out-of-the-box creativity from a young age, including a high school report where she wrote to prison inmates instead of researching at the library—foreshadowing her inventive problem-solving approach.23:14 - Why Your Brand Name Is the Longest-Lasting InvestmentAlexandra explains that names are like oil paintings that hang over your desk forever—they should be loved, memorable, and differentiating. She emphasizes that a good name can attract not just customers, but also employees and investors.27:51 - The Good, the Bad, and the Slurly: Branding Fails and Hilarious SlurlsFrom baby brands like "Speesees" to infamous domain name flubs like “PenIsland” and “American Scrap Metal,” Alexandra dives into naming horror stories that perfectly demonstrate what not to do.32:56 - The Story Behind “Spoon Me”: Naming That Builds Culture and ViralityAlexandra details how she renamed a frozen yogurt brand from “Zenyo” to “Spoon Me,” leading to viral success, merch sales, and even a real-life marriage. A great name became a customer experience in itself.36:13 - Why a Name Can Literally Build a CommunityFrom T-shirts to theme slogans, Alexandra explains how “Spoon Me” and similar brand names create a deeper connection between brand and audience—sparking joy and active participation.38:27 - The Smile Test: 5 Qualities of a Great NameAlexandra introduces the SMILE framework:SuggestiveMemorableImageryLegs (extendable theme)EmotionalShe explains how these elements help a name stand out and build brand love.41:23 - Emotional Branding and Wedding Services That Make You LaughFrom “Meet the Parents” (rehearsal dinner) to “Bloody Married” (post-wedding brunch), Alexandra shares how renaming basic wedding services for a San Francisco hotel led to a 25% increase in sales.44:04 - Legs: Names That Keep on GivingAlexandra discusses how names like “Firetalker PR” and “Church of Cupcakes” allow brands to create memorable themes, personas, and even theme songs, turning names into full-blown experiences.46:39 - The Scratch Test: 7 Deadly Sins of Bad Brand NamesShe breaks down the SCRATCH framework for names to avoid:Spelling-challengedCopycatRestrictiveAnnoyingTameCurse of knowledgeHard to pronounceBrandon uses “Seven Figure Millennials” as a real-life example of violating multiple SCRATCH rules.53:52 - Clear vs Clever: Striking the BalanceAlexandra emphasizes that clarity doesn’t mean boring—names can be both clear and clever, like “Kryptonite” for bike locks. It's all about avoiding confusion and delivering a memorable experience.57:39 - Brainstorming the Right Way: Say Goodbye to the WhiteboardDitch the corporate brainstorm rooms. Alexandra shares powerful tools for ideation: image searches, thesauruses, metaphors, and looking at the familiar with fresh eyes. Great ideas often come from solo inspiration.Links & Resources:Eat My Words – Alexandra Watkins’ brand naming companySMILE & SCRATCH Name Test Tool: Free interactive testHello, My Name Is Awesome – Alexandra’s book on brand naming: Amazon linkBrand Name Course - Alexandra's naming course that Brandon has takenHire Alexandra - Services Tab on https://eatmywords.com/naming-services/

-- To Access All Bonus Material Mentioned In This Series, Visit gobeyondcurious.com/files -- Last week, I released the FIRST ever 4% File -- the first of an 11-part series where I'm surfacing the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of interviews with some of the most curious minds out there.Quick recap (if you didn't listen yet, or you want a refresher from last week):In the first file, we started by asking a big question:What game am I currently playing in life, and did I choose it consciously?We talked about how society hands us these "default games", and just how easy it is to trick ourselves into thinking we're playing our own game...... when in reality, there may still be elements of the default games we're playing that no longer serve us.. . .The blessing and curse of living in 2025 is that exponential technology is causing more and more of those "default games" to freeze, and some to stop working altogether.And instead of seeing that as a threat, it’s a HUGE opportunity for us to pause, remove any fragments of the default game that may or may not have been handed to us… and design one that’s truly ours.That’s where the Player vs. Architect idea comes in.You have a Player — the version of you running around inside the game — and you have an Architect, the version of you who can step outside the game, see the whole thing, and consciously create it.In File One, we focused entirely on understanding your Player using the Find Your Four™ framework refined within my Curiosity Island™ community.It's the 80/20 of the 80/20 where you find just 4% that creates not only the greatest impact but the greatest joy.In the SECOND File we step into Architect mode.Here's what's on our roadmap for the Second File:For the first time ever on the podcast, I'm taking you inside Curiosity Island by sharing a raw, unscripted conversation that happened earlier this year.You’ll hear the exact breakthrough that completely reframed how we approach goals, accomplishment, and identity evolution… and why the traditional, default ways of setting big visions often don’t serve people like us — people who are using our game as a vehicle to become the next, truest version of ourselves.Then from that conversation, I reveal the core structure of what I now call The Operating System.This is a framework developed out of hundreds of hours of testing and evolution for the Architect version of you to design a game that fits your unique Player.And of course, I'll be giving you some powerful tools to help you as an Architect to design your own game.And finally, you’ll get the tools to start designing your own game.READY PLAYER ONE!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s exploration of the Architect Operating SystemBrandon Fong welcomes listeners to the second installment of the 4% Files series, designed to surface transformational insights from 334+ hours of Beyond Curious content. This episode moves from understanding the "player" (from File 1) to designing the game itself—as the "architect"—through a framework inspired by co-creation on Curiosity Island.00:51 - Recap of File 1 and introduction of the Architect conceptBrandon recaps the major theme of File 1—consciously choosing your life's game—and introduces the player vs. architect framework. He previews how this episode will guide listeners through creating a customized operating system to design their own game.02:49 - Curiosity Island origin story and framing the Architect episodeListeners are invited to hear an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation from Curiosity Island where core ideas about vision-setting and goal design were first developed. Brandon also introduces the metaphor of the Disney board game Villainous to explain individualized objectives within a shared framework.04:51 - Villainous and the metaphor of personal gameplayBrandon explains how Villainous—a board game where each player has unique goals and strategies—mirrors the approach of designing personal visions. The goal isn't to prescribe a path, but to provide a system for customizing your own.06:53 - Curiosity Island voices introduce a major breakthroughBrandon sets the stage for a transformative group discussion featuring past podcast guests turned castaways. He introduces contributors by their Curiosity Island (CI) passport numbers and names: Jhana Li, Bob Regnerus, Caitlin Doemner, Michael Roderick, Anthony Englert, Susanne Goldstein, and Todd Herman.08:01 - Jhana Li challenges traditional goal setting with vulnerabilityJhana shares her internal conflict with setting a moonshot goal without deep alignment. She highlights the difference between outcome-based and process-based thinking, revealing the struggle of committing energy to a vision she doesn’t yet fully embody.10:04 - Brandon introduces the idea of goals as tools, not verdictsBrandon references Benjamin Hardy’s The Gap and the Gain to explain how goals are strategic tools to filter decisions, not measurements of self-worth. He argues for blending outcome-based clarity with process-based flow.13:08 - Susanne Goldstein reframes goals as evolutionary identity shiftsSusanne critiques traditional "hit-the-number" goals and advocates for “fuzzy goals” focused on who you become along the journey. Her deeper north star is upgrading human consciousness, and she explains how her projects serve that overarching vision.14:14 - Brian Kurtz expresses fear of pivoting from declared goalsBrian uses a health analogy—aspiring to look like Ryan Gosling—as a humorous but insightful example of how people evolve away from early goals, and how that possibility makes public commitment feel risky.18:06 - Todd Herman introduces "vision layering" and the identity evolution pathTodd reframes moonshots as evolving visions, using his own journey from basketball to coaching to illustrate how feelings and future identity—not exact goals—should lead decision-making.20:27 - Susanne and Todd co-create the concept of “meandering with purpose”The castaways explore the power of intentional direction with flexible pathways. Instead of rigid focus, they advocate for staying open to universal nudges and timeline shifts that may better align with your purpose.24:17 - Michael Roderick draws parallels to improv theater and creative constraintsMichael compares moonshots to improv theater: creatives need containers and constraints to spark innovation. The group embraces this idea as central to making moonshots actionable and fun.27:32 - Top Chef analogy: constraints inspire creativityTodd recalls a conversation with a Top Chef contestant where the most creative dishes were made under tight constraints. The castaways agree that moonshots should function the same way—setting focused boundaries without emotional attachment.32:29 - Jhana introduces the concept of "markers" for goal designJhana proposes rebranding “moonshots” as one of many useful constraints or “markers” that offer directionality without rigidity. Her metaphor of plotting markers across an ocean voyage becomes a visual metaphor for flexible but intentional growth.35:11 - Brandon shares his next moonshot vision: a live collaborative eventBrandon shares his current moonshot—a 4% ecosystem-building event—and emphasizes his emotionally detached but playful approach to making bold moves. His framing encourages iteration and experimentation over perfection.42:01 - Transition into the Architect Operating System: 4-cycle breakdownAfter reflecting on the castaways' input, Brandon unveils the operating system that arose from this organic conversation. He defines its four cycles: Moonshot Vision, Moonshot Vehicles, Minimum Viable Moonshots, and Moonshot Portals.45:38 - Moonshot Vision: defining who you want to becomeThe first cycle helps you articulate the future you’re committed to and who you must become to make it real. Brandon offers his own moonshot vision as an example: a world where everyone knows their true self and contributes their unique brilliance.49:42 - Moonshot Vehicles: bringing the vision to lifeCycle two explores platforms and tools that serve your vision. Brandon shares his three vehicles—Find Your Four, the Beyond Curious podcast, and Curiosity Island—and how they support his broader moonshot.51:12 - Minimum Viable Moonshots: bold, time-bounded experimentsCycle three emphasizes launching bold, testable projects on a 3-month to 3-year timeline. Brandon shares examples including the founding of Curiosity Island and launching a closed-loop economy inside the community.54:56 - Moonshot Portals: short-term high-leverage sprintsThe final cycle focuses on 2–8 week sprints that collapse time and catalyze nonlinear growth. Brandon shares the creation of RAD (a gift for Michael Roderick) and the 4% Files series itself as examples of transformative moonshot portals.57:32 - Your next step: crafting your Moonshot Vision rough draftBrandon encourages listeners to take imperfect action by drafting their own Moonshot Vision. He reminds listeners that this is an iterative process, and tools are available at gobeyondcurious.com/files to assist with refining their 4% game.59:04 - Clips from past episodes emphasize the power of the “What do you want?” questionBrandon replays wisdom from two previous guests—Todd Herman (Ep. 76) and Shannon Graham (Ep. 49)—about the psychological weight and transformative potential of honestly answering “What do you want?” This sets up a reflective exercise for listeners to explore their true desires.Links & Resources:🌐 Free Bonus Materials: Workbooks, Slides & Custom GPTs🎙️ Todd Herman – Episode 76: The Alter Ego Effect, peak performance, and defining what you want🎙️ Shannon Graham – Episode 49: Expanding vision beyond what's realistic to create world-changing impact🎙️ Perry Marshall – Episode 177: Referenced for the “problem well-defined” quote and systems thinking🎙️ Maxine Cunningham (CI011) – Creator of Pick My Brain, which powers the Curiosity Island Economy🧠 Ben Hardy – "10x is Easier Than 2x" / "The Gap and the Gain" (Referenced for goal setting psychology)🎧 Castaway Guests Featured:Jhana Li (CI002)Bob Regnerus (CI003)Caitlin Doemner (CI008)Maxine Cunningham (CI011)Michael Roderick (CI014)Anthony Englert (CI015)Susanne Goldstein (CI019)

-- To Access All Bonus Material Mentioned In This Series, Visit gobeyondcurious.com/files -- Last week, I announced a new series being released on Beyond Curious® called The 4% Files.In this 11-part series, I’ll surface the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of interviews with some of the most curious minds on the planet.The inspiration?The 80/20 rule… but on steroids.Because 80/20 is fractal, you can 80/20 the 80/20 — which means just 4% of efforts are responsible for over half your results (64% to be exact).So this means the same is true for my podcast…Buried within the 267 previously released episodes, there lies 4% of the content that is the most valuable and potent.AND… because I love you…Within this series, I’m going FAR beyond simply replaying my most powerful episodes.I’m sharing it within an overarching framework and pattern I’ve developed that took me THOUSANDS of hours to develop.In The First File, I reveal this mega framework, and how we’ll be exploring it through the theme of video games.To say I’m excited to share this with you is a massive understatement…As I started poring over all of my content, it's almost as if suddenly the thousands of hours I've invested into creating this show all began to click into place.I can’t wait for you to open the first file!Stay Curious,BrandonP.S. Not only am I creating this series, but I’m also giving away EPIC bonus material to help implement it all.If you truly want to make the most out of this series, you’ll want to check it out here. P.P.S. If you want to see the mini 8 Bit Brandon series I had too much fun creating using Sora (in that GIF you see above) it’s also on that link :) Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 – Introduction to Beyond Curious with host Brandon FongBrandon introduces the "4% Files" — a special 11-part series within Beyond Curious. He shares that this series distills the most impactful insights from over 334 hours of published episodes to help listeners surface their own unique brilliance and consciously design their lives.00:36 - Growing up Zillennial and the video game metaphorBrandon reflects on being born in 1996 and feeling like part of a unique "zillennial" generation. He shares nostalgic stories of playing Super Nintendo with his brother and friends, humorously recalling their odd method of fixing cartridges, then connects it to a powerful metaphor: the “game” of modern life is freezing — and it’s time to choose whether we’re playing consciously or unconsciously.02:02 - Why the “game” of work and life is freezingBrandon explains how linear societal programming prepares us for predefined roles — or “games” — such as doctor, lawyer, or entrepreneur. But with AI rapidly transforming industries, even entrepreneurs aren't immune to unconscious patterns like chasing success for external validation. The key is choosing to play consciously.03:57 - Are you playing your own game… or someone else’s?Brandon dives into the importance of playing a game you’ve intentionally chosen. He warns against blindly following the frameworks of “gurus” and emphasizes a new paradigm: you’re already whole, and the growth journey should come from your truth, not a place of lack.05:43 - Learning to listen to your own wisdomBrandon highlights how many external programs subtly suggest you’re “not there yet.” Instead, he urges listeners to trust their own wisdom and filter external advice through the lens of their own game. This becomes the foundation for the 4% Files.07:30 - Architect vs. Player: The foundational conceptBrandon introduces a defining analogy: there’s a Player version of you (who acts) and an Architect version (who designs the game). Inspired by a conversation with his wife and a Google Doc called “personality test synthesis,” this concept reframes how we should approach personal growth.11:14 - The video game-themed structure of the 4% FilesBrandon lays out the framework for the 4% Files series:Know your playerDesign your gameUse the power-upsHe introduces the idea of “player” and “architect” power-ups — insights that have created disproportionate results in his own journey.13:03 - The "Find Your 4%" process explainedBrandon begins walking through the “Find Your Four” framework — a distillation of the Pareto Principle. He explains how 4% of your actions drive 64% of your results and outlines how to uncover your 20%, 4%, and 0.8% layers of impact and joy.17:40 - The 3 layers of the 4% FrameworkBrandon introduces the three nested layers:20%: Your environment — where your genius naturally emerges4%: Your potent actions and qualities — often unconscious0.8%: Your core identity and beliefs — the energetic foundation powering everything22:02 - The power of "Plus Two" castaways and creating your ideal environmentBrandon shares the Plus Two energy framework from episode 238, explaining how to identify and surround yourself with people who elevate your energy and co-create trust-based, expansive feedback loops that support growth.28:43 - Brandon’s personal 4%: Energy, thinking, and clear transmissionBrandon breaks down his 4% into three core elements and shows how they appear in real life:Clear energy — the felt experience people have with him - A blend of curiosity, love, enthusiasm, appreciation, and resonance. He often hears “I love your energy” and treats it as meaningful feedback. He shows up with high presence, asks thoughtful questions, reflects people’s strengths, and intuitively tunes to the room.Metacognitive synthesis — how he thinks and builds solutions - He breaks complexity into simple mental models, recombines patterns into new frameworks, and uses precise questioning to turn ambiguity into clarity. This includes his “fractal” 4% thinking and constant optimization to increase leverage.Clear transmission — how his ideas land with people - He blends storytelling with structured frameworks so ideas land both logically and emotionally, making them immediately usable.He notes this understanding came from many iterations (he jokes he’s on “version 42”) and from others helping him “read the label on his jar.”35:07 - The 0.8%: Why your core beliefs create over 50% of your resultsBrandon introduces the final layer: your 0.8% core identity. He shares his values, shaped by guest Darius Mirshahzadeh (ep. 121), and explains how beliefs like childlike curiosity and conscious storytelling fuel every action.41:13 - A journaling process to uncover your 4% with ChatGPTListeners are guided through a powerful self-inquiry process using a custom GPT designed to extract their 20%, 4%, and 0.8% layers. Prompts include:Tell a story of a meaningful and fulfilling accomplishmentShare a challenge you solved uniquelyName three people you admire and why47:23 - Final reflections and next stepsBrandon wraps the episode with encouragement: finding your 4% is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey. He shares that your brilliance doesn’t need to be earned — it only needs to be expressed. File Two will explore how to design your own game based on the 4% insights.Links & Resources:Find Your Four™ Workbook & Bonus Materials — Includes journaling prompts, bonus tools, and access to the custom GPT.Episode 238: Plus Two Framework — Deep dive into identifying high-energy relationships.Episode 221: Find Your Four™ Masterclass — Original episode explaining the foundational metaphor.Episode 121: Darius Mirshahzadeh on Core Values — Influence behind Brandon’s core values framework.

Two days ago, a question randomly popped into my head:“What if I applied my Find Your Four™ framework to the entire Beyond Curious library?”If you’re new here — Find Your Four™ is a framework I developed inspired by the 80/20 rule (aka Pareto Principle). At its core, it’s about identifying the smallest actions that create the biggest results.It turns out that if you apply 80/20 on the 20% — you get to something even more potent:4% of your efforts = 64% of your results.So I ran the numbers.There are 267 episodes before this one…4% of 267 = 10.68 → round that up = 11 episodesAnd this is how The 4% Files was born.Over the next 11 episodes, I’ll be digging through 334+ hours of Beyond Curious conversations and surfacing just the 4% — the most potent, high-impact ideas I believe can change your life.For more details, listen to the announcement here.Stay tuned for the first episode being released next Tuesday!Stay Curious,Brandon

In his 20s, Keith Hodge was the last person you’d ever expect to become a transformational healer.He spent his nights DJing in clubs, his days snowboarding, and followed the well-worn societal script straight into becoming a tax professional. Life looked “normal” from the outside… until everything collapsed.Within months of starting his corporate career, Keith hit rock bottom after he walked into a doctors office feeling completely drained… and walked out with a chronic fatigue diagnosis and a note excusing him from work for an entire year.Out of pure desperation, Keith followed a friend’s advice and visited a 70-year-old psychic named Mari. He walked into her room skeptical, agnostic, and absolutely not the “spiritual type.”She took one look at him and said words that changed the entire trajectory of his life:“You’re going to be a healer.”Keith’s first reaction was, “What’s a healer?”Fast-forward to today, and Keith has worked with 10,000+ people across the world, dissolving emotional patterns at their root and now helping them step into what he calls “True North Alignment.”Here’s what specifically resonates with me about Keith’s work:Keith helps people shift away from a “you need fixing” paradigm into a transcending paradigm — where transformation happens not through doing, but through being.And if that wasn’t inspirational enough, I’m truly magnetized by Keith’s vision of creating a world of Trauma-Free Children.Imagine:A world where kids are taught how to feel, process, and regulate their emotions instead of suppressing them. Keith believes that by holding children in presence rather than trying to fix or rush their feelings, we can end generational patterns at their root and raise humans who grow up centered, connected, and emotionally whole.This is a beautiful conversation where explore:Why trauma forms in the first place—and why it’s not the “event,” but the unfelt emotion and story created underneath itHow our children can learn emotional regulation as naturally as they learn language.Why boredom, procrastination, anger, and anxiety aren’t “problems”… they’re protectors. (Keith walks me through an example in real time on something I’m working through now related to boredom!)How to make decisions from your heart’s intelligence instead of excitement, fear, logic, or conditioning.Why it’s completely normal to outgrow something that used to be true for you, and how to step forward into a new truthEspecially as a parent, I left this recording with a completely new understanding of what it truly means to raise emotionally healthy children.Whether or not you have kids, this episode will change the way you see your own emotional patterns, your past, and your potential.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Keith HodgeBrandon welcomes listeners and introduces Keith Hodge, a transformational healer whose mission is to help people reconnect with their true state of being. He outlines three powerful themes explored in the episode: seeing boredom and anxiety as protectors, making heart-led decisions, and creating a world of trauma-free children.01:40 - Exploring boredom, procrastination, and emotional triggersKeith and Brandon begin their deep dive by examining how emotions like boredom and procrastination are not problems, but protective mechanisms. Keith shares how becoming aware of where these emotions are stored in the body is the first step in healing.04:30 - Grounding in presence before storytellingThe conversation kicks off with a moment of grounding, setting the tone for presence. Brandon opts to start by diving into the idea of uncovering and removing limiting beliefs vs. stepping directly into your true self.06:30 - The body as a map for emotional awarenessKeith explains how emotional tracing works by using the body as a guide. He discusses how unconscious reactions surface and how presence allows us to meet them in real time for healing, especially in early childhood development.10:35 - A vision for trauma-free children begins with parentsKeith shares a powerful story of holding presence for his two-year-old son’s emotional meltdowns and how regulation, not repression, creates resilience. He speaks to the importance of helping children feel, not fix, their emotions.17:10 - How to handle emotional tantrums in public settingsBrandon asks how to hold presence for a child in socially pressured environments like planes or restaurants. Keith explains that true presence isn’t location-based—it stems from regulation within the parent.20:03 - Keith's vision for ending generational traumaKeith shares how his vision for trauma-free children emerged and how it involves holding children in presence so they learn emotional regulation. He explains how generational healing requires adult self-work first.24:20 - How stories are formed and how to avoid new onesKeith unpacks the mechanics of story creation in both adults and children, emphasizing that not all emotions need to be turned into lifelong narratives. He offers insights into how children—and we—can feel emotions without forming stories.31:24 - Identifying boredom as a micro-triggerBrandon brings up boredom as a subtle emotional trigger and Keith guides him in real time to trace the feeling, helping him uncover anxiety as the emotion beneath boredom.36:22 - Keith live-guides Brandon through emotional tracingIn a powerful moment, Keith walks Brandon through a live emotional tracing session, helping him locate where boredom manifests in his body and trace it back to an underlying feeling of anxiety.45:15 - Keith’s personal journey: From tax consultant to healerKeith shares his transformative journey from working in tax to becoming a world healer. A chronic fatigue diagnosis forced him to confront his disconnection from self, leading to his first encounter with a psychic named Mari.50:03 - The danger of “shoulds” and evolving beyond themBrandon explores how identity-based "shoulds" from society or personal history can limit growth. Keith explains how our emotions shape these identities and how to spot when evolution is asking us to shift.57:59 - When your current path no longer fitsBrandon and Keith discuss the liminal space of outgrowing your old teachings, methods, or brand, and stepping into a new, truer version of yourself—one that’s guided by presence, not past success.01:03:52 - The difference between excitement and intuitionKeith powerfully differentiates between decisions made from excitement and those made from intuition. He explains that excitement often comes from protective patterns, while true intuition arises from grounded presence.01:08:35 - Discerning emotional stories from intuitive truthKeith outlines how to tell the difference between stories created by past wounds and genuine intuitive signals. He emphasizes that true heart intelligence is consistent and unwavering, unlike fleeting emotions or excitement.01:11:00 - Heart intelligence as a compass for true northWrapping up, Keith encourages listeners to trust their heart’s wisdom, tune into its consistent signals, and let it guide decisions instead of the mind. Brandon expresses deep gratitude for Keith’s presence and teachings.Links & Resources:Keith Hodge's Website: Learn more about Keith’s root healing method and transformational work.Intuity International - A transformational healing hub offering training and 1:1 sessions that clear emotional blocks at the root so real, lasting change can unfold.