Anne-Laure has always been been fascinated by human consciousness and the biology of the mind. A cognitive neuroscientist in training, she has a weekly newsletter on creativity, learning, and mindful productivity that reaches over 100,000 readers. She’s also the founder of Ness Labs, a learning community that helps people achieve more without sacrificing their mental health.

In this episode, Anne-Laure shares her journey from a bookworm teenager to community manager, Google employee, the creator of several failed start ups, and finally, the founder of Ness Labs. She always comes back to the importance of following your own path, and not getting caught up in external definitions of success.

We also dive into:

• Experimenting and learning without the pressure of a set destination
• The importance of understanding what truly fulfills you
• Lessons learned from launching and growing Ness Labs
• Building a successful newsletter through consistency and value
• Embracing curiosity to better understand yourself and serve your audience

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Early Interests and Community Building
04:18 Internships at Google and Decision to Leave
09:01 Transition to Starting Own Ventures
15:24 The Importance of Freedom and Self-Reflection
26:49 Creating a Learning Community for Growth and Mental Health
28:06 Creating a Community Rooted in Connection and Learning
30:29 Finding Meaning and Financial Independence through Nest Labs
34:48 Balancing Community Management and Self-Care
38:39 Handling Negative Feedback with Grace and Action
43:54 Growing a Newsletter through Consistency and Value
52:34 The Power of Curiosity for Creators

This show is produced and presented by Circle, where creators turn pro.

Back in 2008, Pat Flynn lost his dream job as an architect. Little did he know, it would lead him on an incredible journey into entrepreneurship. Today, he's not just a successful online business owner, best-selling author, and podcast host with over 80 million downloads—he’s also a dedicated family man who values impact over material success.

In this episode, Pat unpacks how his ethos of empathy and serving first shaped his business and parenting style. From battling bullies in his teens to finding himself in a college marching band, he shares how these experiences shaped his leadership skills and commitment to authenticity.

We also explore:

• Staying grounded amidst success, steering clear of ego and validation traps
• Lessons learned from writing his books 'Let Go,' 'Will It Fly?,' and 'Superfans'
• Managing his passion project, Deep Pocket Monster, alongside other ventures
• Unlocking YouTube success during the pandemic through storytelling and community
• The profound impact of community and the joy of embracing play in daily life

This conversation isn't just about business—it's about empathy, community, and finding joy in what you do.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Pokemon Event Planning
03:42 Setting the Tone with Empathy
13:08 Raising Children with Empathy
16:37 Reflecting on Teenage Years and Bullying
23:20 Lessons in Leadership and Empathy
25:38 Rumble Strips: Creating Personal Checkpoints
29:18 Finding Fulfillment and Gratitude in 'Making It'
35:17 The Journey of Writing Books: Challenges and Lessons
47:04 Balancing Passion Projects with Other Business Ventures
53:53 YouTube Success
55:40 Profitability and Personal Experiences
59:01 Building a Story Bank
01:03:00 The Impact of Community
01:05:22 Rediscovering Play
01:09:26 Michal Szafranski's Story

This show is produced and presented by Circle, where creators turn pro.