Guarding your joy while leading high-stakes work is not optional. It is the only way to last.

Dr. David Johns sits down with Alex Raymond for a conversation on what it means to lead without losing yourself. What keeps you grounded when the work feels endless? How do you stay in the fight without letting it consume you?

Drawing from his journey, from growing up in Inglewood to serving in the Obama White House and now leading the National Black Justice Coalition, Dr. Johns shares how his leadership is shaped by purpose, community, and a deep sense of responsibility. He talks about centering the voices that are too often excluded, especially in education, and calls out the difference between performative gestures and true accountability. He reflects on the emotional cost of this work, the need for spaces that restore rather than drain, and why joy is something worth protecting at all costs. The episode also touches on his podcast, Teach the Babies, and his belief that love and dignity must be foundational in any conversation about democracy and schooling.

For entrepreneurs trying to lead with both heart and backbone, Alex and Dr. Johns’ conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to choose between ambition and integrity, and that doing the hard thing doesn’t mean doing it alone.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Dr. David Johns

01:58 Who Are You Beneath the Work?

05:14 Purpose, Passion, and Leadership Philosophy

07:10 Centering the Most Marginalized

11:13 Guarding Your Joy and Protecting Your Peace

14:44 The Power of Community

21:18 What It Means to Nourish Yourself

23:48 Why He Launched Teach the Babies

27:10 Education, Democracy, and the Fight for Equity

30:52 Real Allyship vs Performative Action

36:36 From Ally to Accomplice

Links

Connect with David Johns:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdavidjohns/

Website: https://nbjc.org/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Happiness isn’t a finish line; it’s the system you build every day to actually enjoy being alive.

Brian Dubow had the career, the money, the validation, and none of it made him feel fulfilled. So he stepped off the path, studied the science of happiness, and rebuilt his life from the inside out. In this episode, he joins Alex Raymond to share what he learned along the way and how entrepreneurs can stop chasing success and start creating lives that feel good to live.

Brian breaks down the “MAGIC” framework (mindfulness, activity, gratitude, inspiration, and connection), and explains how simple daily habits can have a bigger impact than any external win. Could feeling better have less to do with getting more, and more to do with doing less of what drains you? Is your energy, not your output, the real measure of progress?

Alex and Brian’s conversation also touches on the role of discipline in happiness, why mood follows action, and how small systems can keep you aligned when the pressure ramps up. For anyone who’s ever looked successful on paper but felt off inside, this episode offers a reset and a practical way forward.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Brian’s Journey from Corporate to Happiness Coaching

08:23 The Science Behind Happiness

10:17 Happiness as a Choice and the Power of Discipline

13:32 Redefining Happiness: Enjoying the Passage of Time

18:00 Mood Follows Action and the Role of Systems

19:35 The MAGIC Framework Explained

21:00 Mindfulness and Managing Distractions

24:10 Movement and Physical Energy

29:03 Rewiring Your Mind with Gratitude

37:09 Finding Daily Inspiration

42:41 The Power of Meaningful Connection

Links

Connect with Brian Dubow:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-dubow/

Website: https://hitofhappiness.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs want exponential growth. Few pause long enough to ask what’s quietly getting in the way.

In this episode, Alex Raymond shares what’s ahead for the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, happening May 28th and 29th in Boulder, Colorado. This is the one event built entirely around the well-being of entrepreneurs, and it’s designed for those who are serious about scaling both their business and their inner capacity to lead.

Sarah Lockwood, the founder of HiveCast and longtime member of the community, joins Alex to ask the questions many potential attendees are already thinking. Is it worth stepping away from the day-to-day? What’s different about this event? And how does a theme like “10x Growth” apply to someone who isn’t chasing vanity metrics?

They walk through what to expect, from the small, curated outdoor workshop with Dr. Benjamin Hardy to the larger summit day packed with speakers like Michael Freeman, Brad Feld, and Rachel Romer. The lineup covers both the internal and external work of growth, with plenty of space for connection, reflection, and actual momentum.

If you’re ready for clarity, challenge, and community, all in one place, this is why the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit belongs on your calendar: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/#tickets

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Conscious Entrepreneur Summit Overview

02:32 How the Agenda Is Personalized

04:04 Theme of the Year: 10x Growth

06:16 Dr. Benjamin Hardy Workshop and Keynote

12:06 Regulating the Nervous System for Growth

14:23 Michael Freeman on 10x Personal Growth

16:06 Fireside Chat with Brad Feld

18:13 Rachel Romer’s Story of Resilience

20:26 Jim Dieters on Building Boldly

22:58 Expressive Movement with Shine Living Community

26:31 Tickets, Community Dinners, and Integration

Links

The Conscious Entrepreneur Summit: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/

Connect with Sarah Lockwood:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/

Website: https://hivecast.fm

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm