Beyond Curious ™
Beyond Curious ™

Beyond Curious ™

Brandon Fong

Overview
Episodes

Details

Curiosity alone won't change the world, but going Beyond Curious™ will. The people that shape society are the explorers — the brave adventurers willing to take a voyage into the unknown to satisfy their curiosity, fulfill their purpose, and bring their ideas to life. This show is for those people. The ones that are relentlessly curious about themselves, their impact, their potential, the people they love, and the world around them. The ones who CONSTANTLY ask themselves, “What if…”, “I wonder…”, “Why not…”, -- pushing the boundaries of what is possible for themselves and for society at large. Join me (Brandon Fong) as every week I interview pioneering adventurers who have dared to go Beyond Curious™. Past guests have included NYT Bestselling authors, main stage TED speakers, unicorn founders... ... and even an occasional Olympian, NFL player, FBI hostage negotiator, former gang leader, decorated air force pilot, illusionist, world-record setting mountaineer, royal Knight, Hollywood legend, Shark from Shark Tank, and even the man that invented the cell phone! I'm grateful to say that the show holds a top 1% global ranking out of the 3.5M+ global podcasts indexed by Listen Notes. To hear the full story of how Beyond Curious™ was born (show was formally called 7-Figure Millennials) and learn about the vision for the brand, listen to episode #140!

Recent Episodes

#233: Imperial Duke Who Impacted 1.5 BILLION Users Through Gamification Reveals How YOU Can Turn Your Life Into The Ultimate Game… w/ Yu-Kai Chou
APR 1, 2025
#233: Imperial Duke Who Impacted 1.5 BILLION Users Through Gamification Reveals How YOU Can Turn Your Life Into The Ultimate Game… w/ Yu-Kai Chou

During COVID, there was one “game night” that changed my life.

We were sitting down to learn a new game, when my wife, Leah, made a comment:

“It’s so funny and a bit frustrating playing board games with you, because you’re too good at figuring out how to win at them.”

(Though the last two nights, Leah has kicked my ass in DC Deck Building)

Anyways…

For some reason, Leah’s comment eventually triggered a question in my mind:

“If I’m so good at figuring out how to win at new games, what would it look like if I designed a game for myself (as a player) to play?”

This SINGULAR question changed my life.

More on that another day, but that’s why I’m SO excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Yu-Kai Chou.

Yu-Kai JUST released a brand new book called “10,000 Hours of Play: Unlock Your Real-Life Legendary Success

TLDR: It’s the ultimate manual for turning your life into a game that you’ll never want to stop playing.

If you’ve never heard of Yu-Kai, I’ve been a fan of his work for over a year now.

Yu-Kai… 

  • Is considered the leading authority on gamification in the world
  • Has impacted 1.5 BILLION users around the world
  • Was knighted (and eventually promoted to a duke) by the Joseon Imperial Family of Korea


Today we go DEEP into his work on gamification, focusing specifically on his new book.

If you’re someone that wants to (1) create the biggest impact you’re capable of making and (2) have TONS of fun in the process of doing so…

This is an episode you will NOT want to miss!


Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Yu-Kai Chou

Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Yu-Kai Chou, a globally recognized expert on gamification and behavioral design. He sets the stage for a fun and impactful episode, noting Yu-Kai’s influence on over 1.5 billion user experiences and hinting at stories ranging from gamifying war recovery to noble knighthood.

00:01:39 - From "total loser" to Duke: Yu-Kai’s epic transformation through gamification

Brandon teases three episode highlights, including Yu-Kai’s personal transformation story, the six steps to turn life into a game, and how gamification applies to family life. He also spotlights Yu-Kai’s impressive credentials, including his pioneering Octalysis framework, bestselling books, and recent consulting for President Zelensky’s office in Ukraine.

00:10:41 - The story behind Yu-Kai’s knighthood (and upgrade to Duke)

Brandon and Yu-Kai dive into the whimsical and real story of his knighthood—later promoted to Duke—by the royal family of the defunct Joseon Empire of Korea, which now operates as a digital nation. Yu-Kai explains the crypto-nation-building initiative and why he modestly still refers to himself as a knight.

00:16:14 - From "game-addicted loser" to real-life legend: Yu-Kai’s origin story

Yu-Kai shares a pivotal moment as a high schooler when years of in-game progress were erased as friends moved on. This triggered a life-changing question: what if he played real life like a game? That idea sparked his lifelong pursuit of gamification and making life itself the most rewarding game.

00:22:16 - Life as a game: designing, playing, and thriving

Brandon reflects on his own transformation using game-thinking and how creating a character-player split gave him deeper self-awareness. Yu-Kai expands on this, explaining how real-life "games" lack obvious goals and constraints—so we must design and define them ourselves to play meaningfully.

00:28:01 - The 10K HP framework: six steps to design your legendary life

Yu-Kai introduces the “10K HP” framework—short for 10,000 Hours of Play—offering six gamified steps to build a fulfilling life. He breaks down each step: Choose your game, Know your attributes, Select your role, Enhance your skills, Build your alliance, and Achieve your quest.

00:36:16 - Yu-Kai’s personal game and how he plays it

Yu-Kai shares how his personal game started with three missions: pioneer a new industry, make a global impact, and help others succeed. With playful intensity and a 100-hour workweek (timed in 15-minute increments!), he pursued his goals joyfully—driven not by discipline, but passion for his “game.”

00:43:04 - Blending big vision with family life through gamification

Yu-Kai discusses the powerful mindset shift of including his family in his life’s game. He gamifies parenting with his twin daughters and young son, seeing challenges as engaging design problems. He also redefines success as meeting personal expectations—not society’s—and builds family into that definition.

00:47:48 - Why having kids is a profound part of the game

Yu-Kai opens up about the deep emotional impact of parenting. For him, raising children is like mentoring a younger version of himself. This connection makes the challenges of parenting profoundly meaningful—reinforcing why it’s a central quest in his life’s game.

00:51:08 - Understanding the Strength Triangle: Know your attributes (Step 2)

Yu-Kai explains his "strength triangle," detailing how to identify and rank innate talents. He shares his top attributes—like associative thinking and empathetic intelligence—and shows how aligning activities with your strengths allows you to thrive. He also shares how school once punished his top trait!

00:57:58 - How unique talents evolve through experience and design

Yu-Kai reflects on his early strengths—chess, chemistry, and economics—and how they all stemmed from one shared attribute: visual model creation. Recognizing and doubling down on this gave rise to his signature Octalysis framework and global success in gamification.


Links & Resources:


play-circle
77 MIN
#232: Curing Stage 4 Cancer With Plant Stem Cells, Studying With The 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, & Unlocking ‘Health Coherence’ w/ Jennifer Payeur
MAR 25, 2025
#232: Curing Stage 4 Cancer With Plant Stem Cells, Studying With The 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, & Unlocking ‘Health Coherence’ w/ Jennifer Payeur

Here were the thoughts that ran through my mind the first time I met today’s guest, Jennifer Payeur at an event:

“She’s like a tree.”

I don’t know what it was.

Maybe it was her green dress… her grounding and wise presence… Whatever it was, I was like “I must talk to this incredible human.”

Sure enough, at dinner the first night I found myself right at her table, and we immediately hit it off.

She’s got a CRAZY story, and my intuition was right… She IS like a tree!

Jenn used to be a high flying corporate executive, and her life reflected it.

20 hour days… constant travel… AND was raising four children.

Eventually this high stress lifestyle led to severe health issues, including chronic fatigue, pneumonia, and ultimately, stage 4 cancer.

Through a crazy series of events, Jenn was introduced to a little-known therapy in the United States called gemmotherapy — plant stem cell therapy.

These plant stem cells played a significant role in her full recovery, and today she owns a company, Nature Provides, that is helping people all over the world to improve their health.

AND she’s even released a new book called Ancient Plant Wisdom that goes deep into how to resolve over 100 of our most common chronic and degenerative health conditions… including heart disease and cancer.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

  • How studying with the “13 Indigenous Grandmothers” reshaped her view on stewardship of the Earth.
  • What plant stem cells ARE and why they unlock systemic health benefits that go far beyond what other forms of herbal medicine can provide.
  • How Jenn has learned to listen to her intuition, and how it’s saved and majorly altered her life trajectory on multiple occasions

Can’t wait for you to listen!

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Jennifer Payeur

Brandon opens with a warm welcome and shares his excitement about today’s guest, Jennifer Payeur. He recounts their serendipitous meeting at an event in Turks and Caicos, describing Jen as having the wisdom and groundedness of a tree. Brandon previews three exciting themes from the episode: Jennifer’s battle with stage four cancer and plant stem cell healing, her studies with the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, and the incredible process behind her plant stem cell company, Nature Provides.

08:33 - Chronic fatigue, pneumonia, and a cascade of health crises from corporate burnout

Jen opens up about her unsustainable lifestyle in 2008: twenty-hour workdays, constant travel, and raising four kids. Ignoring serious symptoms until collapsing at work, she finally seeks medical help and receives a life-altering wake-up call from her doctor.

13:52 - A book falls off a shelf and leads Jennifer to Barbara Brennan’s healing school

In a moment of synchronicity, the book Hands of Light falls on Jen’s head, introducing her to Barbara Brennan. She embarks on a four-year intensive training in energy healing, learning how illness originates in the energetic field before manifesting in the physical body.

17:56 - The mystery of energy transitions and what Barbara Brennan witnessed in hospice

Jen shares insights about the soul’s transition after death, the disintegration of certain energy centers, and the preservation of others. She discusses how this knowledge helped her understand and process her mother’s recent passing.

24:20 - Meeting and studying with the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers

Jennifer recounts how she found the Grandmothers through one of them, Grandmother Flordemayo. She explains the mission of the Council—to protect nature and restore peace for seven generations forward and back—and how it shaped her understanding of stewardship, not ownership.

30:00 - Embracing stewardship and honoring sacred land and plants

Jen reflects on the concept of being a steward rather than an owner, especially in relation to the Earth and plant life. This teaching from the grandmothers deeply shifts her worldview and becomes a guiding philosophy in her work.

30:51 - A lightning-bolt moment: discovering plant stem cells in Dallas

While visiting Dr. Michael Einsoen, Jen is introduced to embryonic plant stem cells and experiences an intuitive lightning strike—she knows this is her path. She later buys the company producing the tinctures, after confirming their effectiveness in her own healing journey.

38:47 - What are plant stem cells and why are they powerful?

Jen explains gemmotherapy—the use of plant stem cells from buds—and how they carry vitality, peptides, amino acids, and light. Unlike adult plants, these early-stage cells offer regenerative benefits and help restore the body's blueprint for health.

41:24 - How plant stem cells work differently from essential oils and dried herbs

Brandon and Jen compare the multifaceted effects of plant stem cells with the limited, single-function nature of adult plant extracts. Jen explains how these stem cells communicate with the body to regenerate and detox at a cellular level.

44:15 - Wild harvesting in the Italian Alps: nature’s most pristine pharmacy

Jennifer reveals the incredible harvesting process: botanists climb the Italian Alps during a narrow 3-month window to hand-pick buds at the perfect moment. She shares how the plants are spiralized over 1,000 times a day and processed with sacred intentionality.

50:55 - Understanding single plant remedies vs. plant complexes

Jen breaks down how to approach plant stem cell remedies: beginners can start with complexes targeting issues like sleep or digestion, while advanced users and practitioners may customize single-plant regimens based on individual needs.

54:38 - What is health coherence and how do plants help restore it?

Jennifer emphasizes the importance of aligning the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic layers of health. She highlights that plant stem cells work holistically, helping bring coherence back into the body’s systems—not just targeting symptoms.

57:44 - The magic of nature and rediscovering intuitive connection

Quoting Dr. Zach Bush, Jen shares how plants and nature anticipate our return home before we arrive. She discusses the role of intuition, disconnection from nature, and the concept of “nature deficit disorder” as described in the book Last Child in the Woods.

59:54 - How to begin listening to your body and raising awareness

Brandon and Jen explore the power of stillness, listening, and noticing. Jen shares simple practices like grounding, checking in with the body, and questioning physical discomfort instead of immediately masking it with medication.

Links & Resources:


play-circle
76 MIN
#231: Sending Her Book To The Moon, Becoming a Fortnite Character, & Elevating Humanity As A World Builder… w/ Samantha Tauber
MAR 18, 2025
#231: Sending Her Book To The Moon, Becoming a Fortnite Character, & Elevating Humanity As A World Builder… w/ Samantha Tauber

Whenever I meet someone “in the wild” and they ask me what I do, I struggle with what to say.

Because in reality, my business is to gather world class humans on imaginary “Curiosity Island” to play and solve big problems.

I’m guessing today’s guest, has a similar struggle, because here are a few things that are a part of her “world”

  • She’s as multi-award-winning performer with her alter ego, VNCCII where she embodies a futuristic Super Sentient AI SuperHeroine digital avatar, merging music, live music performances, technology, and storytelling to craft immersive experiences that bridge the digital and physical worlds.
  • Her science fiction novel, "Galacta.i.ssance and the VNCCII Awakening," is set to travel to the moon with NASA.
  • She’s focused on elevating the consciousness of humanity leveraging world building from her novel + her alter ego

In other words:

Samantha is not only beyond curious… but she’s also built a life and career that is 100000% unapologetically her.

So cool.

I can’t wait for you to listen.


Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and Today's Guest, Samantha Tauber.


Episode: Exploring the Future with Samantha Tauber (VNCCII)

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Samantha Tauber (VNCCII)

Brandon Fong introduces today’s guest, Samantha Tauber, also known as VNCCII. A multidisciplinary artist, musician, and storyteller, VNCCII is pioneering next-gen metaverse art and blending music, tech, and storytelling to uplift collective consciousness. Her sci-fi novel is even being sent to the moon!

00:42 - Manifesting reality through imagination

Samantha shares a surreal moment—her novel, which features a scene on the moon, is actually being sent there via NASA’s Astrobotic Griffin Lander mission. She explores the idea of how imagination can shape reality over time.

02:04 - VNCCII’s mission and alter ego

Brandon explains VNCCII’s background as a digital avatar twin and stage persona. Samantha’s work embodies futurism, AI, and artistic innovation. Her book’s lunar mission is a testament to her vision of storytelling as a way to uplift humanity.

04:27 - How did Samantha’s book end up on the moon?

Samantha shares the incredible story of how her novel is being sent to the moon using NanoFiche technology, a highly durable space-age archival method. She explains her connection with Bruce Ha, who owns the patents for NanoFiche, and how the Interstellar Foundation made this dream a reality.

06:55 - The power of storytelling and intention in manifesting opportunities

Brandon asks whether Samantha had always intended to send her book to the moon. She reflects on the synchronicities between her imagination and the real-world manifestation of her ideas.

10:14 - The tuning fork as a tool for transformation

VNCCI, Samantha’s alter ego, wields a tuning fork as a symbol of attunement and alignment with one’s higher self. She discusses how frequencies and sound healing have shaped her journey and how tuning forks became central to her storytelling.

14:22 - The psychology of alter egos and personal transformation

Samantha explores how VNCCII as an alter ego has helped her grow. Referencing the “Proteus Effect,” she explains how embodying a character influences real-life behaviors. VNCCII has allowed her to level up and step into a higher version of herself.

18:08 - From music producer to sci-fi world builder

Samantha details her transition from music production to storytelling, metaverse creation, and novel writing. She shares how learning Unreal Engine and motion capture technology helped bring VNCCII to life.

24:18 - Speaking at A360 and Peter Diamandis' radar

Samantha recounts how she went from reading futurist books like Abundance by Peter Diamandis and The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil to actually speaking at A360. She describes the serendipitous moment when she was asked to open the Great AI Debate—while Elon Musk was watching via FaceTime.

32:27 - The creative process: From vision to reality

Brandon and Samantha dive into her creative process. She explains how she channels ideas through visualization, music production, and world-building techniques. She also shares how her experiences with sound healing and Tibetan singing bowls inspired VNCCII’s story.

38:40 - World-building and immersive storytelling

Samantha introduces Galacta.i.ssance and the VNCCII Awakening, her upcoming sci-fi novel. She explains the “floaters, swimmers, and divers” model for audience immersion and how she envisions her world as an expansive, participatory experience.

42:36 - The power of world-building for entrepreneurs and creators

Brandon connects the concept of world-building to entrepreneurship, sharing how creating immersive brands and communities fosters deeper engagement. They discuss how identity-building in storytelling parallels community-building in real life.

51:56 - AI, consciousness, and the future of humanity

Samantha shares her thoughts on AI, human evolution, and how embracing love over fear will determine our trajectory as a species. She discusses the importance of integrating AI positively rather than resisting it.

55:27 - The Fortnite experience: Bringing VNCCII to life in gaming

Samantha announces that VNCCII will be a Fortnite character! She discusses how Unreal Engine and user-generated content (UGC) are revolutionizing gaming and storytelling.

1:02:09 - Final thoughts and where to find VNCCII

Samantha reflects on her journey and offers words of inspiration for anyone looking to align with their highest frequency. She encourages listeners to explore her world through her website and social media.

Links & Resources


play-circle
67 MIN
#230: The Colorblind Award Winning Photographer That Photographed Muhhamad Ali, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, LeBron James & MANY more… w/ Marc Serota
MAR 11, 2025
#230: The Colorblind Award Winning Photographer That Photographed Muhhamad Ali, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, LeBron James & MANY more… w/ Marc Serota

Muhammad Ali. Lebron James. Tom Brady. Britney Spears. The Kardashians…

… he’s photographed them all.

As today’s guest, Marc Serota says, “It’s easier to say who I haven’t shot than it is to say who I have.”

I’m grateful to say that I actually first met today’s guest in person in beautiful Turks & Caicos at our buddy Al-B Hannemann’s event.

After spending several days snorkeling and sharing meals together, I quickly became enraptured by this man.

He’s TRULY lived a Beyond Curious life and has the wildest stories.

I’m talking things like:

  • Risking his life to chase hurricanes, document war zones, riots, and natural disasters.
  • Photographing dozens of Olympics, Super Bowls, NBA Finals…
  • Spending quality time with the world’s biggest celebrities, politicians, and athletes

If you want to see his insane portfolio, you can check out his site right here:

Marcserota.com

I just found hours slipping by as we sat together and he shared mind blowing story after mind blowing story…

So of course, I had to bring him on the podcast ;)

I can’t wait for you to listen!

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Marc Serota

Brandon introduces the episode with excitement, teasing incredible stories from the legendary photographer Marc Serota, who has captured some of the most iconic figures in sports and entertainment. From photographing Muhammad Ali, LeBron James, and Britney Spears to covering historic Super Bowls and Olympic events, Marc's career is nothing short of extraordinary.

02:18 - How Brandon Met Marc: Turks and Caicos & A Lifetime of Stories

Brandon shares how he met Marc at an event hosted by former pro beach volleyball player Albie Hanneman. Their conversations in Turks and Caicos left Brandon captivated by Marc’s storytelling and legendary career.

02:59 - Three Key Highlights to Look Forward To in This Episode

  1. What it was like to do a photoshoot with Muhammad Ali, Will Smith, Joe Frazier, and Mike Tyson.
  2. How to stay comfortable around high-profile people and make them feel at ease.
  3. Why being colorblind has actually helped Marc in his career as an award-winning photographer.

04:45 - Marc Serota’s Background: The Goat Hunter of Photography

A deep dive into Marc’s impressive bio—his work with Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and major leagues like the NBA, NFL, and NHL. He has covered four NBA Finals, two World Series championships, and numerous historic sporting events.

06:21 - The Super Bowl Shot That Changed Everything: John Elway’s Defining Moment

Marc shares an incredible story about how he captured a defining shot of John Elway’s Super Bowl victory, which later became a Sports Illustrated cover. He breaks down how he positioned himself in a unique way, separate from other photographers, to capture a legendary moment.

12:17 - The Philosophy of Being Different: Finding the Unseen Angles

Marc explains why he always seeks unique perspectives in his work. He shares how legendary photographers inspired him to go against the crowd and be in places where no one else was to capture iconic shots.

18:34 - Breaking into the Industry: The Miami Herald and a Wrestling Match

Marc tells the gripping story of how he hustled his way into an internship at the Miami Herald by sneaking into a wrestling event, capturing a dynamic shot of Hulk Hogan vs. Macho Man Randy Savage, and proving himself under pressure.

28:55 - The Unexpected Call That Changed His Life

Just when Marc thought he had lost his shot at the Miami Herald internship, he gets an unexpected call that puts his career on a whole new trajectory. A powerful lesson in perseverance.

33:11 - Shooting His First Celebrity: Eddie Murphy for Rolling Stone

Marc describes the nerves and excitement of shooting Eddie Murphy for Rolling Stone magazine. He shares how he discovered he was photographing the comedy legend only after hearing his iconic laugh.

41:07 - The Art of Making People Comfortable in Front of the Camera

Marc reveals his techniques for making high-profile figures feel at ease, emphasizing confidence, authenticity, and building trust through openness.

54:18 - The Legendary Camilo Villegas Shoot: A Photographer’s Triumph

A behind-the-scenes look at a Sports Illustrated shoot with golfer Camilo Villegas, who initially refused to cooperate. Marc explains how he used strategy and psychology to get the perfect shot.

1:01:05 - Photographing Muhammad Ali: A Career-Defining Moment

Marc shares the surreal experience of photographing Muhammad Ali at the historic Miami Beach Convention Center, where Ali fought Sonny Liston. Ali’s charisma and showmanship made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Links & Resources:


This episode is packed with legendary stories, invaluable lessons in photography, and insights into how to navigate high-pressure environments. Don't miss it!

play-circle
98 MIN
#229: Scaling A Dell Division To $1.5 Billion In 11 Months, Climbing The Inside Of The Great Pyramids, Taking Russian MIGs To Space & Other Normal Things… w/ Paul Kirchoff
MAR 4, 2025
#229: Scaling A Dell Division To $1.5 Billion In 11 Months, Climbing The Inside Of The Great Pyramids, Taking Russian MIGs To Space & Other Normal Things… w/ Paul Kirchoff

Here’s a small taste of some of the crazy adventures discussed in today’s episode:

  • Building a social network with members including space shuttle captains, members swimming oceans, skiing down from the summit of Everest, winning world cups, & olympic gold medalists
  • Growing a division of Dell Computer from 0 → 1.5B in 11 months
  • Being connected with some of the most influential people in the world (he once made an intro between Martin Luther King III and the founder of Earth day if that says anything)

OH…

And that doesn’t even include the crazy adventures he’s created for his community, including doing things like:

  • Visiting Mongolian Eagle Hunters
  • Taking Russian MIGs to Space
  • Climbing the inside of the Great Pyramids

OH…

And he’s also the founder of Domino.one which is an impact incubator and accelerator with clients representing the Pope and the United Nations.

I think that’s all.

(Just kidding, there’s still more).

Paul Kirchoff has a life that doesn’t seem even remotely possible (or real).

Add that to the fact that he literally lives in a bus traveling with his wife and, as he says, “moves his front door every 120 days or so”.

This is a wild one. I can’t wait for you to listen.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Paul Kirchoff

Host Brandon Fong introduces Paul Kirchoff, also known as "Kirch," a serial entrepreneur, investor, humanitarian, and global adventurer. Paul has built and led multiple companies, including EPX—a next-generation business and social network for superachievers. He has pioneered billion-dollar ventures, advised leading companies, and even co-founded efforts to combat COVID-19. This episode is packed with thrilling stories, entrepreneurial wisdom, and personal growth insights.

00:35 - Paul’s accidental strategy session with Michael Dell

Paul recounts an unforgettable moment early in his career at Dell. Just days into the job, he unknowingly critiques Dell’s operations to a fellow employee—who turns out to be Michael Dell himself! This sets the stage for Paul’s remarkable journey within the company.

02:05 - A deep dive into Paul’s entrepreneurial career

Brandon shares Paul’s impressive track record, from taking Dell’s Inspiron division from $0 to $1.5 billion in sales in 11 months to founding multiple companies in impact innovation, digital marketing, and business incubation.

05:24 - Connecting Martin Luther King III with the founder of Earth Day

Paul shares a powerful story of how he facilitated a life-changing conversation between Martin Luther King III and Professor Alan Trattner, bridging environmental sustainability and social justice in a profound way.

08:54 - The importance of adding value to powerful relationships

Brandon and Paul discuss how seemingly small introductions can lead to monumental impact, and how thinking outside traditional value exchanges can help anyone build meaningful connections.

11:15 - Paul’s early days at Dell: From struggling job applicant to top performer

Paul opens up about how he struggled to land his first job despite attending a prestigious business school at an exceptionally young age. After multiple rejections, he finally gets a foot in the door at Dell, leading to his meteoric rise in the company.

14:12 - The billion-dollar insight: Why Paul went against industry trends

Paul explains how a contrarian bet on large-screen laptops helped Dell dominate the market. While competitors focused on smaller devices, he realized that most users weren’t actually traveling. This counterintuitive move led to one of Dell’s biggest product successes.

17:53 - The lesson of ‘healthy paranoia’ in business

Paul shares one of Michael Dell’s key lessons: Always operate with healthy paranoia. He explains how it pushed Dell to innovate aggressively and why he later left the company when it couldn't adapt to the rising internet boom.

22:04 - Walking away from millions: Why Paul left Dell at the peak of success

Despite being ranked the #1 employee out of 30,000 at Dell, Paul chooses to leave, rejecting millions in unvested stock. He shares the internal struggles, reflections, and realizations that led him to prioritize freedom and innovation over financial security.

30:44 - The power of self-awareness and reprogramming negative emotions

Paul and Brandon dive into how entrepreneurs can recognize and neutralize deep-seated fears and limiting beliefs. They discuss how simple mindset shifts—like expressing gratitude in frustrating moments—can dramatically change one’s trajectory.

39:15 - The lonely New Year's Eve that sparked EPX

Paul recalls the exact moment he decided to create a global network of high achievers. Sitting alone on New Year's Eve, he realizes how much he had isolated himself through work. This moment of introspection leads to a spontaneous trip to Iceland, which sets off a chain reaction that ultimately results in the creation of EPX.

43:24 - Building a community of high achievers through adventure

Paul describes how EPX started with simple adventures—riding with Mongolian eagle hunters, crossing the Sahara, and climbing the inside of the Great Pyramids. Over time, it evolved into a business ecosystem for elite performers, blending entrepreneurship, adventure, and personal development.

50:51 - The DNA of a thriving community

Brandon and Paul discuss what it takes to build a strong, engaged community. Paul shares insights on curating the right first members, setting cultural norms, and fostering an environment of mutual admiration between entrepreneurs, athletes, and explorers.

56:46 - A life of freedom: Living in a bus while building global ventures

Paul shares why he and his wife choose to live in a mobile home, changing their front door every 20 days. Despite leading major ventures in AI and business networking, he prioritizes simplicity, adventure, and alignment with his true self.

Links & Resources


play-circle
76 MIN