Season 3 Episode 5 | The Inner Work of Leadership: Why You Can’t Scale What You Won’t Face

The Business of Play Because hustle isn’t fulfillment

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] THE BUSINESS OF PLAY BECAUSE HUSTLE ISN’T FULFILLMENT. Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. What if the thing missing from your leadership isn’t more discipline, more strategy, or more productivity? What if it’s play? Somewhere along the way, many entrepreneurs stop playing. And without realizing it, they become a little less creative, less connected, less curious, and less alive. In this episode, Deborah explores what happens to a human being — and to a business — when play disappears, and what becomes possible when it comes back. Inspired by her conversation with Mia Sundstrom from the National Institute for Play, Deborah unpacks why play is not childish, but biological. It is part of how we reconnect with creativity, spaciousness, innovation, and ourselves. This episode also features a special edition of The Founder’s Pulse, where Deborah interviews young entrepreneurs between the ages of 8 and 13 at the Temecula Children’s Business Fair. Their honesty, creativity, and relationship to mistakes may reveal something many adult founders have forgotten. In This Episode, Deborah Explores: * The Biology of Play: Why play is not childish, but biological — and how it helps the brain access creativity, connection, and new ideas. * The Cost of Constant Pressure: How years of urgency, responsibility, and output can narrow creativity, disconnect us from aliveness, and make business feel like one endless performance review. * The Nervous System and Creativity: Why some entrepreneurs may not have a creativity problem, but a nervous system problem — and why spaciousness matters more than we think. * Play as a Leadership Practice: How play interrupts performance mode and brings founders back to presence, curiosity, connection, and human-centered leadership. * The Founder’s Pulse: Children’s Business Fair Edition: Real reflections from young founders on creativity, mistakes, confidence, collaboration, and what adults can learn from the way kids build. 🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🔹 Why Hustle Isn’t Fulfillment: The subtle ways entrepreneurs can build successful businesses while quietly disconnecting from their own lives. 🔹 When Life Becomes Something You Manage: Deborah shares what happens when responsibility takes over and play, wonder, and presence slowly disappear. 🔹 The Difference Between Pressure and Aliveness: Why success should not cost you your creativity, curiosity, or humanity. 🔹 What Kids Know About Creativity: Young entrepreneurs share how they turn mistakes into something new, trust themselves, collaborate, and keep joy in the process. 🔹 The Business Case for Play: Why creativity, experimentation, humor, imagination, and psychological safety are not distractions from performance — they are part of what makes sustainable performance possible. 🔹 A New Inquiry for Founders: Instead of only asking, “How do I grow this business?” Deborah invites us to ask, “What conditions am I creating for human beings to actually thrive?” Featured in The Founder’s Pulse: Eva – Eva’s Rosy Art Connor – Connor’s Arts and Crafts Harper Turnbull – Bubblicious Cecilia – Cecilia Sensations Emma & Aaron – Diamond Dugout Collectibles Addie – Silk & Scales 🔗 Connect with Us: Website: www.inspired-bp.com [http://www.inspired-bp.com] The Alignment Lab: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab [https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab] Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett ✨ Ready to Build with Intention? If this conversation opened something up for you, and you are realizing you do not need another productivity app as much as you need a different way of operating, come find out how you can join us inside The Alignment Lab [https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab]. Inside the Lab, we practice building and leading from a place that is more intentional, sustainable, present, and alive. Because alignment is not about perfectly balancing everything all the time. It is the practice of continuously returning to yourself while you build. ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Disclaimer: The Inspired Entrepreneur podcast and content posted by Deborah Hartnett is presented solely for general information, educational, and inspirational purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical, mental health, legal, or business advice for any situation and should seek the assistance of qualified professionals for any such conditions or decisions. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

You Don't Need More Strategy - You Need More Play

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] Season 3 Episode 7 | You Don't Need More Strategy - You Need More Play Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. In the relentless pursuit of growth, we have been conditioned to believe that rest is a reward and play is a luxury. We push harder, optimize longer, and build cultures around a dangerous, unspoken ideology: that continuous, grinding work is the only path to scale. But what if the very thing you are stripping out of your calendar is the exact catalyst you need for your next breakthrough? In this episode, we're joined by Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play. As a former Division 1 gymnast and granddaughter of play researcher Dr. Stuart Brown, Mia dismantles the myth that playfulness opposes professionalism. This conversation is a wake-up call for "go-mode" founders, proving true innovation can't be forced—it must be played with. *In This Episode, Mia Opens Up About:* *- The Biological Imperative: *How her grandfather’s study of mass murderers revealed that play is not a learned behavior, but an ancient, sub-cortical necessity embedded in our brains—just like our need for oxygen and sleep. *- The High-Achiever’s Trap:* The pivotal realization during her gymnastics career that holding onto outcome-driven pressure was slowly stamping out the joy, and how letting go of the metrics unlocked her greatest freedom. *- Escapism vs. True Play:* A vital framework for distinguishing the deep, state-altering power of authentic play from the numbing, long-term detriments of social media and addiction. *- The Paradox of Serious Play:* Why granting yourself the permission to be silly and laugh at your mistakes is the most potent, psychologically safe way to command respect and ground your team. *🔗 Connect with Mia Sundstrom * Website: https://www.nifplaystore.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playinstitute/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-national-institute-for-play/posts/?feedView=all YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@NI-FPlay 📘 Featured Resource: The Play Journal We have a brand-new Play Journal that includes 90 days of reflection and practice to help you create healthy, sustainable habits around play. Grab yours here: https://www.nifplaystore.org/ *𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬:* Website: www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett *✨ Ready to Build with Intention?* If you are ready to stop circling the same problems and actually shift what’s underneath them, let's move past the surface. *👉 Discover Your Path:* Take The Aligned Pathway Assessment tool: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/assesment-page *👉 Dive Deeper:* Visit our Alignment Lab for more resources: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBea Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 6 | You’re Not Running Your Business—Your Past Is

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. Success in business is often framed as a lack of discipline, the wrong strategy, or needing to "try harder." But if you are doing the work and not seeing the results you know are possible, we need to look deeper. In this episode we explore If your business isn't working the way you want it to, perhaps it’s not the business. Perhaps it’s you. In This Episode, Deborah Explores: * The Safety Mechanism * The Sneakiness of Avoidance * The Identity Ceiling * The Bike and the Bond Featured in The Founder's Pulse: Eric Cruz - Progressive Health & Performance  https://www.instagram.com/progressive_hp/ https://www.facebook.com/progressivehealthperformance [https://www.facebook.com/progressivehealthperformance]   Vivian Welch Vivians IO https://www.facebook.com/Vivians.AI.CRM [https://www.facebook.com/Vivians.AI.CRM] Instagraminstagram.com/vivians.io [https://www.instagram.com/vivians.io/]  Zachary Bach. Real Estate Agent  Instagraminstagram.com/zbhomes [https://www.instagram.com/zbhomes] www.facebook.com/Zacharywjbach [https://www.facebook.com/Zacharywjbach]   Vincent Shields Epic Dog Academy.  linktr.ee/epicdogacademy [http://linktr.ee/epicdogacademy] Instagraminstagram.com/epicdogacademy [https://www.instagram.com/epicdogacademy/] Faceookfacebook.com/epicdogacademy [https://www.facebook.com/epicdogacademy] Elyse Montanez - Life Of The Barty  https://www.facebook.com/lifeoftheBARty [https://www.facebook.com/lifeoftheBARty] Instagraminstagram.com/lifeofthebarty [https://www.instagram.com/lifeofthebarty/]   🔗 Connect with Us:  Website: www.inspired-bp.com [https://www.inspired-bp.com/] The Alignment Lab: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab [https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab] Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance  Facebook: @deborahannhartnett   ✨ Ready to Build with Intention? If you are ready to stop circling the same problems and actually shift what’s underneath them, let's move past the surface. Join us in the Alignment Lab to practice aligned action in real-time. ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Disclaimer: The Inspired Entrepreneur podcast and content posted by Deborah Hartnett is presented solely for general information, educational, and inspirational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of qualified professionals for any such conditions or decisions. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 5 | The Inner Work of Leadership: Why You Can’t Scale What You Won’t Face

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. In this powerful episode, we are joined by Dr. Jason Branch—executive performance coach, licensed therapist, and creator of the 3 Parallels framework. Dr. Jay specializes in taking leaders where they most fear to go: into "the basement." This conversation is a roadmap for the high-achiever who has realized that the very strengths that got them here are the same ones preventing them from getting there. 🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🔹 The "Basement" Rule: Why you are required to deal with your own "stuff" so you don’t project it onto your team.  🔹 Why the "Old Self" Screams: How perfectionism and past patterns drown out the "whisper" of your future self.  🔹 The Three Indicators of Business Friction: How to diagnose if you have a systems issue, a process issue, or a people issue.  🔹 Identity Death: What specific parts of a founder’s identity must die for the next level of leadership to emerge.  🔹 The 16-Second Shift: Why presence is the ultimate tool for breaking through neuro-pathway "walls."  🔹 Gator University: The mission behind decolonizing leadership and creating spaces for true self-mastery. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jason Branch * Website: www.DrJbranch.com [http://www.drjbranch.com] * Community: Gator University [https://www.skool.com/gator-university-1745/about] * Podcast: The 3 Parallels Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@3ParallelsPodcast] * Social: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-branch-phd-lpc-acs-2b318621/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dr.jasonbranch/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jason.branch06/] 🔗 Connect with Us: * Website: www.inspired-bp.com [http://www.inspired-bp.com] * Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbusinessperformance] * Facebook: @deborahannhartnett [https://www.facebook.com/deborahannhartnett] ✨ Ready to Build with Intention? If you are ready to stop circling the same problems and actually shift what’s underneath them, let's move past the surface. 👉 The Alignment Lab: A space for founders to practice aligned action in real-time. Join the Lab [https://bit.ly/inspiredprofitandgrowthaccelerator] 👉 One-to-One Coaching: High-touch, direct work for leaders ready to face their "basement." Only 15 spots available annually; 4 currently remaining. ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 4 | From Busy to Aligned: The Real Path To Scaling Your Business

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] You know what no one tells you about building a business? You can be working all day… and still not be moving anything forward. Your calendar is full. Your mind is busy. Your to-do list never ends.  But underneath it all is the question: Is this actually working? In this episode, Deborah Hartnett unpacks one of the most common challenges founders face—being constantly busy, yet deeply misaligned. Because businesses don’t stall from lack of effort… they stall from lack of alignment. Episode Summary In this grounding conversation, Deborah explores the difference between activity and aligned action—why so many founders feel stuck not because they’re doing too little, but because their energy and focus are fragmented. Blending science, strategy, and real founder insights, she reveals how cognitive overload, task-switching, and reactive decisions quietly drain clarity, creativity, and momentum. Through the Founder Pulse segment, entrepreneurs echo the same truth: growth doesn’t come from doing more, but from simplifying and aligning what matters most. In This Episode, We Explore: • Busy vs. Aligned — why productivity doesn’t always equal progress • Cognitive Overload — how fragmentation impacts performance  • The Illusion of Momentum — why “doing more” can still keep you stuck • Founder Identity — when busyness becomes self-worth • Scaling Through Simplicity — why less often scales better • Aligned Decision-Making — focusing on what truly matters • Structure + Soul — balancing systems with values • The Maturity Shift — moving from urgency to intentional leadership Founder Pulse Segment Featuring: Nancyrose Hernandez 🌐 Employment Law Attorney & Business Owner [https://nrhlawoffice.com/]📱 Facebook: @lawofficeofnancyrosehernandez 📸 Instagram: @lawofficeofnancyrosehernandez Abel Dominguez 🌐 Temecula Valley Junk Pickup & Victory Dumpster Rentals [https://www.temeculajunk.com/]📱 Facebook: @TemeculaValleyJunkPickUp 📸 Instagram: @temeculavalleyjunkpickup Alex Kowalkoski 🌐 Prime Media Consulting [https://primemediaconsulting.com/]📱 Facebook: @PrimeMediaConsulting 📸 Instagram: @primemediaconsultinginc Julie Seal-Gaustad 🌐 JSG Action Coach [https://jsgactioncoach.com/]📱 Facebook: @JSGActionCoach 📸 Instagram: @jsgactioncoach Robert Welsh 🌐 Vivians.io [https://www.vivians.io/]📱 Facebook: @Vivians.AI.CRM 📸 Instagram: @vivians.io Scaling Through Simplicity: Simple scales better than complexity. Aligned Decision-Making: Focus on what truly matters most. Structure + Soul: Align systems with your values. The Maturity Shift: Choose intentional over urgent. #ConsciousLeadership #FounderIdentity #BusinessStrategy #AlignedGrowth #EntrepreneurMin Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett