Advertise on podcast: 🎙️ 33 CONVERSATIONS PODCAST

What if courage isn’t about becoming fearless—but learning where to place your attention when pressure takes over? Thomas Perkins has lived through combat, deep-water operations, military leadership, fatherhood, and moments when calm thinking mattered more than raw reaction. In this conversation, Thomas and Michael explore the human story beneath those experiences: control, emotional resilience, protecting what matters, leading teams you didn’t choose, and replacing fear-driven energy with preparation and thought. Thomas is the author of A Life Not Worth Living: What Combat, Courage, and Fatherhood Taught Me About Finding Inner Peace. In this episode: • Why resilience is more than physical toughness • The moment fatherhood changed how Thomas valued his life • What military leadership teaches about building the team you’re given • Why control is connected to safety—and when it becomes limiting • How to respond thoughtfully instead of letting fear run the room • Finding inner peace without pretending pressure disappears Connect with Thomas Perkins: Instagram and Facebook: @AuthorThomasPerkins Continue the conversation: https://33conversations.com

What happens when the corporate role you thought defined you is suddenly gone? For Antonio Taylor, a 25-year veteran of enterprise IT and healthcare leadership, that moment of loss was an awakening. It forced him to confront the gap between performing leadership and truly being a leader. In this conversation, Antonio shares his journey of separating identity from achievement, healing old wounds, and developing his BE Framework—a guide to leading from a place of authentic self-knowledge. Key themes in this conversation include: • Separating identity from your job title and performance • How childhood experiences shape our professional lives • The BE Framework: Be Aware, Be Aligned, Be Responsible • Turning career loss into a catalyst for profound self-discovery • Moving from seeking affirmation to authentic leadership • Taking responsibility for the example we set for the next generation This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck in a performance, who has tied their self-worth to their job, or who is navigating a significant career transition. It is for established and emerging leaders who are ready to move beyond just doing the job and start leading from who they truly are. Antonio’s story is a powerful and vulnerable account of what it means to find yourself after losing what you thought was everything. It offers a practical and soulful framework for a new kind of leadership—one based not on what you do, but on who you are. Connect with Antonio Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniodtaylor/ More conversations: https://33conversations.com

Can a story change a habit? In this live STORY Habits demonstration, Connie Kwan guides Michael Abney through a practical experiment in attention, values, and behavior change. Inside the conversation: • Why motivation and confidence both matter • The three-times-a-day practice: notice, name it, and turn around • How personal values create a stronger anchor than willpower • Michael’s chosen value: authenticity • The experiment they agreed to revisit after three weeks Complete the STORY Habits series: 1. Original conversation — Your Habit Isn’t the Problem—The Story Underneath It Is: https://youtu.be/6LY6K8KHaBw 2. Live STORY Habits demonstration — this episode. 3. Three weeks later — Michael Abney: Noticing It Changed Everything: https://conniekwan.substack.com/p/ep-9-michael-abney-noticing-it-changed Explore 33 Conversations: https://33conversations.com/

What if the habit you’re trying to change isn’t the real problem? In this Season 9 conversation, Michael Abney sits down with Connie Kwan, creator of STORYHabits, to explore why behavior-only systems often fail—and why lasting change begins with the story and identity beneath the habit. Connie shares how confidence, motivation, identity, and the stories we repeat shape whether change actually lasts. Together, they examine the difference between doing the habit and becoming the person who can sustain it. In this conversation: • Why behavior is only part of the habit-change picture • The identity underneath lasting change • Why “should” rarely creates commitment • How confidence and motivation affect success • What it means to change the story before changing the habit Part 2 features a live STORYHabits demonstration with Michael. Explore more conversations: https://33conversations.com Follow: @33conversations Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #Habits #Identity #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #33Conversations

What happens when the knowledge keeping your business alive is also keeping it dependent on you? Adi Klevit helps founders turn the instincts, standards, relationships, and decisions living in their heads into processes their teams can actually carry. In this conversation, Michael and Adi explore why founder knowledge becomes a bottleneck, how systems create freedom rather than confinement, and how to use AI as a tool without allowing it to choose the direction. “When I’m driving—not when AI is driving.” — Adi Klevit In this episode: • Why “only I can do it” signals trapped knowledge • How to extract a founder’s instincts without flattening them • Why documented systems create freedom, continuity, and business value • Where human judgment belongs in AI-assisted work • The practical first question every founder should ask CHAPTERS 00:00 Stop Carrying the Business in Your Head 02:10 Why Founder Knowledge Gets Trapped 05:09 The Hidden Cost of “Only I Can Do It” 09:10 Turning Vision Into a Business That Can Continue 11:51 Using AI Without Letting AI Drive 16:14 What Founders Must Let Go Of 17:33 How Adi Built Her Process Consulting Work 20:47 Human Creativity in an AI World 22:17 From Vision to Playbooks and Action 24:46 Where to Start This Week 25:52 The Leadership Threshold CONNECT WITH ADI KLEVIT Business Success Consulting Group: https://www.bizsuccesscg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiklevit Systems Simplified podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/systems-simplified/id1561408008 EXPLORE 33 CONVERSATIONS https://33conversations.com What part of your business still lives only in your head?

What if your business is simply reflecting the OS of the person leading it? Georges Hanna believes that many founders try to fix the visible problem first: sales, marketing, strategy, money, or team performance. But sometimes the real issue sits underneath all of it. In this conversation, Georges shares how his own business failures pushed him to examine what he calls the internal operating system of a leader: the beliefs, habits, emotional patterns, standards, and practices that shape how we make decisions and take action. We talk about why information alone rarely creates change, why repetition and practice matter, how founders become bottlenecks in their own companies, and why a business often cannot grow beyond the internal capacity of the person leading it. Georges also shares his framework around the four levels of profit and why profit is about more than money. This conversation explores: • The founder as the business OS • Why sales and marketing problems may be symptoms • The four levels of profit • Information vs. practice • How habits shape business outcomes • Why founders become the ceiling • Leadership before systems • Achievement vs. becoming • Collaboration instead of competition • Building a business that can grow beyond you • Why your business can become a mirror One idea sits at the center of the conversation: Your business can only grow as far as you are willing to grow. Guest bio Georges Hanna is the founder of Smart Income Lifestyle, a business coach, leadership architect, and mentor who helps founders and leaders strengthen the internal systems that shape how they lead, build, and grow. Host bio line Hosted by Michael Abney, 33 Conversations explores the honest conversations founders and leaders are having while building what comes next.

Pressure doesn’t create your leadership habits—it reveals them. In the Season 9 premiere of 33 Conversations, Michael Abney sits down with executive coach and U.S. Navy veteran Alexandra Mahanna to explore what happens when pressure rises, priorities compete, and clarity becomes difficult. Alexandra explains why capability alone does not earn trust, how self-awareness strengthens decision-making, and why leaders must practice clear communication before the stakes are high. They also discuss imposter syndrome, questioning the status quo responsibly, delegating with intention, and the shift from capable service provider to confident CEO. In this conversation: • Why pressure amplifies your existing leadership habits • How competing priorities and unclear communication erode trust • A simple daily reflection practice for greater self-awareness • How to question existing systems responsibly • The shift from service provider to CEO • Why steady, values-aligned leadership matters more than performance What does pressure reveal about the way you lead? Connect with Alexandra Mahanna: https://www.alexandramahannaleadership.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandramahanna Explore 33 Conversations: https://33conversations.com/

Self-doubt doesn’t have to stop you—it can become a signal that greater clarity is needed. In this episode of 33 Conversations, Michael Abney sits down with Abdul Fattah Ismail to explore how doubt, daily routines, reflection, and intentional action can help us make clearer decisions and move forward with purpose. In this conversation: • Why doubt can be useful instead of shameful • How morning routines shape focus and momentum • Turning uncertainty into clarity and action • Building the self-awareness to make better decisions • Moving forward with intention and purpose Discover more conversations and resources at https://33Conversations.com

Paul Lagerstedt, founder of ALKAA, shares how a personal question about his own physical reactions to alcohol became a multiyear journey of testing, laboratory validation, product development, and category creation. This conversation explores founder courage, imposter syndrome, product proof, mindful drinking, and the harder challenge of helping people trust something they have never seen before. Episode SummaryPaul Lagerstedt did not begin with a plan to create a company. He began with a physical pattern he could not explain. Instead of accepting the usual advice, he approached the problem like a mechanic and began investigating what was happening inside the drink itself. That curiosity eventually led to ALKAA, a patented product built around the concept of treating the drink rather than the body. Paul and Michael discuss experimentation, founder fear, self-trust, product validation, category creation, and why earning trust can be more difficult than developing the product. Content NoteThis episode discusses alcohol and drinking wellness. It does not encourage excessive alcohol use and is not medical advice. Individual responses to alcohol vary, and listeners should consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding personal health concerns, medications, allergies, or alcohol use.

What do you do when your body feels wrong, but no one can clearly explain why? Persistent fatigue. Brain fog. Pressure in the jaw. Old injuries that never fully resolve. Symptoms that appear unrelated, yet continue asking for attention. In this special bonus episode of 33 Conversations, Michael Abney speaks with Stephen Heuer, B.S. Nutripath and founder of Synergistic Nutrition, about the personal health experiences that led him to question conventional assumptions about aging, energy, dental health, minerals, and the body’s electrical systems. Stephen shares the framework he describes as “healing is voltage,” along with his experience of jawbone infections, dental procedures, chronic physical pressure, mineral balance, alkalinity, nervous-system stress, and other potential hidden stressors. Michael also opens up about his own experience with failed root canals, jawbone loss, dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and the frustration of trying to understand symptoms that did not come with clear answers. This is a conversation about curiosity, self-advocacy, and learning to ask deeper questions when something in the body does not feel right. In this episode: • Stephen’s personal experience with dental infections and chronic symptoms • Why he views the body as both biochemical and electrical • Michael’s experience with failed root canals and unexplained health changes • Questions to consider when seeking dental or medical support • Stephen’s perspective on minerals, energy, alkalinity, and structural health • The importance of listening to physical signals • Why aging does not have to mean accepting every symptom as inevitable • The role of curiosity and discernment in personal health decisions About Stephen Heuer Stephen Heuer is a B.S. Nutripath and the founder of Synergistic Nutrition. His work explores nutrition, mineral balance, structural health, and alternative approaches to personal wellness. Connect with Stephen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-heuer-122535202/ Website: [ADD STEPHEN’S WEBSITE] Medical disclaimer: This episode presents personal experiences and the guest’s individual perspectives. It is provided for general informational and conversational purposes only and is not medical or dental advice. Some ideas discussed are non-mainstream, may not reflect established scientific consensus, and have not been independently verified by 33 Conversations. Do not use this episode to diagnose or treat a condition. Consult an appropriately licensed medical or dental professional before making decisions regarding symptoms, diagnoses, medications, supplements, tests, dental procedures, or treatment. 33 Conversations is hosted by Michael Abney and explores the inner experiences, difficult questions, and human transformations shaping founders, leaders, experts, and people building meaningful lives.

Michael sits down with Gino Barbaro, money coach and co-founder of Barbaro 360, for a powerful conversation about money, legacy, family, and the emotional stories that shape our financial lives. Together, they explore how childhood money memories influence adult decisions, why families avoid honest money conversations, and how to begin rebuilding trust with money one conscious choice at a time. Episode NotesIn this conversation, Michael and Gino explore: Why money is often about fear, safety, love, and identityHow childhood experiences shape adult money patternsWhy financial success without emotional awareness can feel emptyThe role of family culture in building legacyHow couples can stop fighting about money and start understanding each otherThe difference between money as status and money as stewardshipWhy mindfulness matters in rebuilding your relationship with moneyHow financial education can begin with one simple bookPull Quote“Money is not the destination. It is the tool.” Guest BioGino Barbaro is a multifamily investor, certified money coach, financial educator, and co-founder of Barbaro 360. After building and selling his real estate education company, Gino shifted his work toward helping families understand their relationship with money, build financial intelligence, and create legacy through stewardship, purpose, and conscious family conversations.

What happens when life removes the physical evidence of who you thought you were? In this episode of 33 Conversations, Michael Abney sits down with Monica Leigh Rodriquez to explore what it means to lose everything and still find a deeper sense of self. After the Eaton fire destroyed Monica’s home, she was forced into a painful but clarifying process of grief, rebuilding, and identity transformation. Together, they talk about loss, self-worth, creative work, sociology, rebuilding a business, and the surprising clarity that can emerge after trauma. This episode is for anyone moving through grief, transition, reinvention, or the slow work of rebuilding a life that feels more aligned than the one that came before. If you’ve ever asked yourself who you are without the things that used to define you, this conversation is worth your time.

Kenny Zablotsky spent years in corporate facilities and construction, building polished environments for major brands. But the life that looked structured from the outside was no longer aligned with what was happening inside. In this episode of 33 Conversations, Kenny joins Michael Abney to talk about sobriety, leaving corporate identity behind, reconnecting with Jewish heritage, and building JewishJoy.co as a creative business rooted in meaning, memory, and joy. This conversation explores the uncertainty of creative entrepreneurship, the tension between art and profitability, and the deeper process of rebuilding a life from the materials of your own story. For founders, creatives, and anyone in a season of identity reconstruction, this episode is a reminder that clarity often arrives after the exploration, not before it.

In this episode of 33 Conversations, Michael Abney speaks with Mitchell, HR executive consultant, speaker, and founder of The Ember Collective, about uncertainty, anxiety, clarity, and the human side of leadership. Mitchell shares how ambiguity first showed up in his personal life through relationship anxiety and spiraling stories, then how he began to recognize the same pattern inside professional environments. When communication shifts, expectations become unclear, or leaders avoid naming what is happening, people often feel unsafe even when no direct threat has been stated. This conversation explores workplace culture, HR leadership, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, gratitude, difficult conversations, and why leaders need to acknowledge what their teams can already feel. This episode is for founders, executives, HR leaders, managers, consultants, and anyone who has ever sensed that something changed in a relationship or workplace dynamic and struggled to stay clear inside the uncertainty. It is worth listening to because it reframes uncertainty not as something to immediately fix, but as something to stay present with long enough to find clarity.

n this episode of 33 Conversations, Michael Abney speaks with Heather Esposito, founder of Movora Strategies, about adult development, leadership identity, values misalignment, and the deeper work of growing beyond the version of yourself that created past success. Heather shares her own transition from working inside organizations to building a purpose-aligned business focused on leadership, human systems, and brain-friendly communication. She also opens up about empty-nest transition, moving across the country, redefining freedom, and learning to trust more than just her cognitive intelligence. Key themes include adult development, values alignment, leadership maturity, identity change, intuition, embodiment, AI and human capability, and the uncomfortable realization that our greatest strengths can become limitations when we enter a new stage of growth. This episode is for founders, executives, coaches, consultants, and leaders who feel successful on paper but sense that something deeper is shifting. It is a conversation about letting go, growing up again, and learning to lead from a more integrated place.