Permission To Shine

What does it take to go from a surf shop dropout to one of Britain's most elite Special Forces operators, then reinvent yourself all over again?Dean Stott MBE spent 16 years in the military, including time in the Special Boat Service (SBS), the UK's equivalent of SEAL Team Six. After a catastrophic parachuting accident at 15,000 feet ended his career, he refused to stop. He built a private security company from scratch, single-handedly evacuated the Canadian Embassy from war-torn Libya, rescued 220 people from Israel within 96 hours of the October 7th Hamas attacks, and, oh yeah, broke the world record for cycling the 14,000-mile Pan-American Highway in just 99 days, raising over $1.4 million for mental health charities along the way.In this conversation, Dean opens up about:— The parachuting accident that tore every ligament in his knee and ended his military career— Dressing as Taliban to run double agents in Kandahar, and the moment he nearly fired his weapon by mistake— How he buried 30 weapons in the Libyan desert and built a security empire from nothing— Why he believes anticipation is worse than participation— The raw "dead or divorce" conversation that changed everything in his marriage— Cycling 14,000 miles having barely ridden a bike — and smashing the world record by 17 days— How breathwork kept him calm in a boxing ring at age 49— His friendship with Prince Harry and the Heads Together mental health campaign— The Race Across America he's planning next, and why it's going to be specialDean is one of those rare humans who makes you rethink what's actually possible. This one will stay with you.📖 Dean's book: Relentless🌐 Dean's website: www.deanstott.com📸 Dean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanstott/💼 Dean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-stott-mbe-24725880/🎙️ Follow Permission to Shine:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/💼 Host Andrew Namanny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Matt Hranek is one of those guys who makes you want to live better immediately.Matt is the founder and editor of William Brown magazine, author of A Man & His Watch, A Man & His Car, Negroni, and Martini, and the world’s most interested guy. Not interesting. Interested.In this episode, we talk about taste, why AI still can’t fake it, the problem with modern fashion, how Ralph Lauren mannequins mess with our heads, why great style should feel lived-in, and what actually makes a good life. Matt also shares stories from his early photography days, building WM Brown, hosting his legendary Florence Negroni party, and why dressing well still matters.This one made me want to buy a ticket, put on a jacket, and pay closer attention.Thanks for listening! -Andrew

Gwyneth Paltrow… true or false: she blew her nose into Eddie Stern’s pocket square while he was officiating her wedding?True. 😂This week on Permission to Shine, I’m sitting down with the one-and-only Eddie Stern. A New York City original, one of the most respected yoga teachers alive, and the kind of teacher your favorite celebrities (and your favorite teacher’s teacher) quietly trust.Eddie has been practicing yoga since the 1980s and teaching since the late 80s. He’s the founder of Broome Street Yoga (opened in 1993) and he runs the Broome Street Ganesha Temple in SoHo. An actual temple, on Broome Street, that’s been a spiritual home in lower Manhattan for decades. In this conversation, we go deep; and in a way you can actually use today.We talk about:What the nervous system really is (and why so many of us are living in chronic “fight or flight” without realizing it)The simplest “brake pedal” you have access to 24/7: your exhaleA practical way to tell if you’re stuck in sympathetic vs. parasympathetic (and what to do about it)Why telling someone “just relax” is basically emotional gasoline 😅Eddie’s daily routine (yes… he wakes up around 3:45am like a peaceful psychopath)Punk rock, purpose, and the surprising link between freedom and disciplineAnd a powerful section on integrity: leaving a system that caused harm, reclaiming identity, and building what you wish existedWe also get into Eddie’s work bringing yoga and breath practices into the real world through tech, including The Breathing App, because he’s not just spiritual… he’s evidence-based and science-literate, down to a Master’s in Science for Yoga Research. If you’ve been stressed, reactive, tired, glued to your phone, or you just want to feel more calm and in control, this episode is for you.And if you love it, do me a favor: send it to one friend who’s been carrying a lot lately.Follow / Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube - and drop a review if you want to help us keep bringing you the best people on Earth.Love y’all.— Andrew Namanny

This episode is personal.I finally convinced my mom to join me for an interview. Chris Namanny, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Elite Executive Partners. She’s a leader I’ve learned more from than anyone on Earth… and if you’ve ever met her, you know she has a rare gift: she solves problems fast, calmly, and with a level of empathy that makes people feel safe even when the situation isn’t.Chris runs a national headhunting firm that finds and places talent across the country, and she also provides human resources consulting, representing the employer. She’s been in the trenches for decades. Advising leaders through tough decisions, building teams, and navigating the moments most people avoid (conflict, accountability, and hard conversations).We talk about:Why “fit” matters more than most people realize — in jobs and in lifeHow great leaders hold people accountable without losing their humanityThe art of firing with empathy (yes, it’s a skill. and yes, it matters)Why conflict, handled correctly, can actually make teams strongerWhat it takes to build a business that lasts — without getting complacentFamily, resilience, and the traditions that keep us groundedWhat success really means when you strip away the noiseIf you’re building a team, leading people, navigating a hard season, or simply trying to become a steadier version of yourself… this conversation will hit.I’m honored to share my mom with you.Follow Permission to Shine on Spotify and Apple, subscribe on YouTube, and if this episode helped you, send it to someone who’s leading through something hard right now.— Andrew Namanny

Sandra Yamada was the only woman in her class of 18 investment bankers. A Harvard MBA. A biology major turned venture capitalist. And now? The founder of NEAP. A first-of-its-kind collagen protein gel changing how we get our protein on the go.But the story that started it all… involves a protein shake, a work out, and an unforgettable emergency.In this episode, Sandra shares:How one humiliating moment became the spark for a multimillion-dollar ideaWhat it takes to walk away from a cush finance career to build something realThe mindset that helped her go from being “the only woman in the room” to leading an entirely new product categoryBrilliant. Humble. Hilarious. This might be the most human founder story you’ll hear all year.Follow NEAPTry NEAPFollow Permission To ShineFollow Andrew Namanny