In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael sits down with Chris Kline, Co-Founder and CRO of BitcoinIRA, to unpack what it really takes to build long-term wealth in an economy where traditional retirement systems are no longer guaranteed.

Chris shares the unfiltered origin story of BitcoinIRA, from leaving Colorado for Los Angeles, living in a motel, and grinding through long days, to scaling the company into a platform serving more than 200,000 users and managing over $12 billion in assets. Along the way, he reflects on the leadership tension between scaling complexity and the clarity of early-stage simplicity.

The conversation expands into the broader retirement crisis facing North America. With pensions disappearing and nearly half of Americans not actively participating in retirement planning, Michael and Chris challenge listeners to rethink responsibility, ownership, and strategy when it comes to long-term financial security.

They explore how Bitcoin fits into a modern, diversified portfolio, not as a speculative gamble, but as an alternative asset shaped by scarcity, adoption, and long-term macro trends. The discussion covers due diligence, dollar-cost averaging, portfolio diversification, and the persistent myth that Bitcoin is inaccessible due to price, despite the ability to invest fractionally.

Beyond Bitcoin, the episode addresses the importance of diversified income streams. Michael and Chris share real-world examples of building resilience through multiple revenue channels, passive income strategies, and investments across traditional markets, AI, defense, and digital assets. The message is clear: in an uncertain economy, relying on a single paycheck is a structural risk.

The episode closes with a reminder that leadership extends beyond business. Chris shares a personal story about his daughter’s passion for helping others, reinforcing the idea that purpose, curiosity, and long-term thinking are skills worth teaching the next generation.

Listeners also learn about a limited-time BitcoinIRA incentive, including a $1,000 reward for new accounts opened before April 15th, designed to encourage proactive retirement planning.

This is a grounded, practical conversation for anyone thinking seriously about financial resilience, leadership, and building a retirement strategy that reflects today’s economic reality, not yesterday’s assumptions.

http://bitcoinira.com/breakfastleadership

In this episode, Michael sits down with Steven Puri, a former Hollywood studio executive turned founder of Sukha, to explore career reinvention, sustainable creativity, and the science behind focus and flow. Drawing from Steven’s journey through the film industry and his transition into building tools for deep work, the conversation uncovers practical strategies for productivity, work-life balance, and long-term creative success.

Steven and Michael begin by unpacking Michael’s career trajectory in the film industry, from working directly on major motion pictures to stepping into senior executive leadership. Michael shares stories from his time collaborating with renowned directors and how those formative experiences shaped his understanding of storytelling, leadership, and execution.

His career evolved into executive roles at DreamWorks as Executive Vice President, where he oversaw high-profile projects including Transformers and Fringe, and later as Vice President at 20th Century Fox, managing large-scale summer action franchises. These experiences laid the foundation for his later work in leadership, burnout prevention, and performance.

Steven shares insights from his own career about the importance of craftsmanship and sustainability, particularly for writers and creative professionals. Rather than relying on bursts of inspiration, he emphasizes designing environments that consistently support deep focus and high-quality output.

He highlights examples of successful creatives who intentionally tied their work to specific locations, including writing teams who returned to the same villa in Puerto Vallarta or repeatedly booked the same room at the Universal Hilton to trigger a focused mental state. Steven encourages listeners to identify or create their own dedicated spaces that signal it is time to do meaningful work.

Michael reflects on his early experience working remotely as far back as 2007, long before remote work became mainstream. He explains how he established rituals to mentally transition into and out of work, including maintaining a dedicated workspace, dressing as if going to an office, and even using intentional entry and exit routines to mark the workday.

Steven connects this to his own writing on the concept of “commuting to your home office,” reinforcing how rituals can replace the psychological cues that traditional offices once provided.

As a father and entrepreneur, Michael shares how he learned to balance presence with productivity. He discusses setting clear boundaries during work hours while remaining fully engaged with his children outside of them, a strategy that helped him avoid burnout while maintaining performance.

The conversation moves into procrastination and task management, with Michael explaining how breaking large projects into smaller, manageable steps helps reduce resistance. Steven adds insights from his work with Sukha, noting that limiting visible tasks to just three at a time can significantly improve focus and execution.

The episode concludes with a deep dive into flow states, drawing on the research of psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Steven and Michael explore how elite performers across industries enter flow and the conditions required to sustain it.

Steven shares a pivotal personal experience of entering a deep flow state during a flight, which ultimately inspired the creation of Sukha. The company’s name itself came from a user who described how the tool helped them find balance between meaningful work and family life, perfectly capturing the mission behind the platform.

• Sustainable success is built through intentional environments and rituals, not constant hustle

• Flow states can be designed, not left to chance

• Clear boundaries support both productivity and well-being

• Limiting task overload is a powerful antidote to burnout and procrastination

For more information on Steven Puri and his work, visit https://thesukha.co or reach out directly at https://www.thesukha.co/media

Urban residents are increasingly adopting dopamine fasting as a structured way to disconnect from the constant noise of modern life. In cities like Austin, New York, and Cleveland, residents utilize this practice to seek relief from digital distraction and overstimulation.

According to the sources, here is how urban residents use these techniques to address overstimulation and burnout:

Residents in top-ranking cities for this trend engage in intentional breaks from activities associated with instant gratification. Rather than a literal "reset" of brain chemistry, the practice is focused on reducing the frequency of dopamine spikes triggered by modern behaviors. Common strategies include:

• Digital Detoxes: Taking multi-day or week-long breaks from social media and video gaming to break compulsive reward-seeking loops.
• Dietary and Lifestyle Changes: Avoiding sugary snacks, processed foods, and alcohol as part of a broader effort to manage stimulation.
• Reengaging with Low-Stimulus Activities: Using the time gained to focus on nature, reading, or direct social connection, which provides deeper satisfaction than digital inputs.

Urban residents utilize these breaks specifically to combat the "constant connectivity" that leads to burnout. By stepping away from incessant stimulation, they aim to achieve several psychological benefits:

• Mental Clarity and Productivity: Participants report increased focus and executive function, which are essential for navigating demanding urban work environments.
• Emotional Regulation: The practice is linked to improved mood, reduced anxiety, and a decrease in symptoms of depression.
• Present-Moment Awareness: By removing digital distractions, residents find they can cultivate greater mindfulness and intentional living.

The trend is also being recognized as a tool for holistic wellness in professional settings. Leaders and HR professionals are encouraged to support employees in setting boundaries with technology and taking intentional breaks to support long-term well-being and build healthier workplace cultures.

While many see it as a healthy practice, experts in the sources suggest that the most effective way to address burnout is through moderation and purposeful reduction rather than total deprivation. Taking the practice to extremes can lead to isolation or decreased life satisfaction; therefore, it is often recommended as a component of a balanced lifestyle rather than a rigid "fast".

Analogy for Understanding: Think of dopamine fasting like letting an overheated engine idle. The goal isn't to remove the oil or fuel (the dopamine) which the engine needs to run, but rather to stop redlining the motor so it can cool down and operate efficiently again without burning out.

Link to research: https://www.breakfastleadership.com/blog/why-dopamine-fasting-is-trending-across-american-cities-and-what-it-means-for-mental-clarity-focus-and-behavioral-health

Michael hosted the 1000th episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, expressing gratitude to listeners, guests, and the team for their contributions over the past 9 years. He emphasized the importance of being authentic and sharing one's unique perspective, noting that the show provides a safe space for guests to share their expertise and personal challenges. Michael also thanked the technical team, vendors, and sponsors for their support in making the show a top global and California leadership podcast.

Michael reflected on his personal journey and encouraged listeners to embrace change, sharing his willingness to support others in their own transformations. He expressed gratitude for reaching 1,000 podcast episodes, emphasizing his mission to help people become better leaders and improve workplace cultures. Michael also shared his plans to continue the podcast, promising to refine and enhance its value, and invited listeners to provide feedback or suggest future guests.

Visit https://BreakfastLeadership.com/blog for articles on business, entrepreneurship, and efficiencies

Burned out? Get help NOW! https://FreeFromBurnout.com

Does your workplace culture suck? You're not alone. Be part of a community to help navigate toxic workplaces: https://Community.BreakfastLeadership.com

In this episode, Michael is joined by Joel Hilchey, an engineer turned training and development expert, to explore the realities of leadership for accidental managers. Hilchey discusses his book The Six and a Half Habits of Highly Defective Bosses, a guide that uncovers the challenges leaders face when transitioning from high performing individual contributors to effective team managers.

Joel highlights the importance of managing both tasks and people. He explains that great leaders must balance short term project priorities with long term strategy, while also attending to immediate team dynamics and the larger arc of each team member’s career development. Through personal stories, including one involving a former assistant, Joel illustrates how managers can better understand the aspirations of their teams and create meaningful support structures.

Michael shares a powerful real world example from his leadership journey in healthcare. He describes stepping into a clinic plagued with an 86 percent annual turnover rate and transforming it into a stable environment with only six percent turnover within a year. His approach included listening closely to the team, removing unnecessary obstacles, and making small but consistent improvements.

Joel points out that this reflects research showing employees most often leave because of their relationship with management, not their peers. He emphasizes the concept of “de hassling” employees as a critical leadership practice that empowers people to do their best work.

Michael also reflects on Lean methodologies through a humorous and insightful hospital anecdote. A seasoned nurse, repeatedly told to move her equipment cart, finally threatened to use her access to needles if the relocation happened again. The directive immediately stopped.

This moment illustrates that while Lean principles aim to streamline systems, leaders must recognize times when established worker routines already support peak efficiency. Forcing change without understanding context can undermine performance rather than improve it.

In their discussion of leadership essentials, Hilchey and Michael emphasize the importance of nurturing high performers instead of burning them out or discouraging them. They highlight the role of managers in understanding what their teams need to excel and the power of frequent, authentic recognition.

Joel shares insights from The Six and a Half Habits of Highly Defective Bosses, urging leaders to take responsibility when mistakes occur, focus on solutions rather than blame, and cultivate environments where people can thrive. These principles, he explains, are foundational for building motivated and resilient teams.

https://JoelHilchey.com

In this episode, Anders Hansen shares his incredible evolution from performing magic to becoming a respected leader in personal development. He describes how reading The Power of Your Subconscious Mind shifted his understanding of human potential and set him on a path that eventually led to collaborating with Bob Proctor. Anders explains how these insights inspired him to create The Secret to Real Magic, a program that has helped thousands of clients and generated more than twelve million dollars in eight years. He reinforces the importance of aligning goals with deeper fulfillment, and how many people discover that the outcomes they chase are not always the ones they truly want.

Anders breaks down the idea of illusions in business and how hidden limiting beliefs shape the way leaders think and act. Using the example of a multi dimensional domino brick, he illustrates how the mind fills in patterns based on assumptions rather than truth. He shares the five most common illusions that hold business owners back which include hustle and hype, luck, fear, lack and limitation, and the illusion of knowledge. Anders highlights that real change requires integrating knowledge into behavior and raising personal consciousness. Michael reflects on this idea and highlights how growth often emerges from challenging seasons. The conversation reinforces that goals should be rooted in desire and identity, not just performance metrics.

Michael and Anders explore how leaders can overcome self imposed limits. Michael shares his own journey of challenging income ceilings he once believed were fixed. They discuss the power of intentional affirmations, identity shaping goals, and learning from multiple motivational sources. The conversation provides practical tools for addressing negative thought cycles and cultivating a mindset that supports expansive possibility.

Anders offers a grounded perspective on the future of AI and leadership. He believes AI should amplify human strengths instead of becoming a substitute for them. Emotional intelligence and inner leadership will remain at the center of all high performance work. Anders also explains why his company shifted from online coaching to live experiential events. He believes that integration and genuine connection are fundamental human needs and essential for sustaining growth. He encourages listeners to begin with a free assessment designed to reveal hidden illusions and offers tools that help shift energy to support aligned goal creation. His message is clear. Information alone does not transform. Implementation does.

To explore Anders Hansen’s work further, visit Instagram or Facebook and search for Real Anders Hansen. Comment with the words Breakfast Leadership to receive additional leadership and personal development resources mentioned in the show.

Anders Hansen: The Illusionist Who Turns Transformation Into Reality

Anders Hansen is more than an internationally recognized illusionist—he’s a 7-figure CEO and the creative force behind Real Magic LLC. With over 20 years of stage magic fused seamlessly with world-class personal development, Anders has redefined transformation by making it tangible, entertaining, and life-changing.

As a protégé of Bob Proctor, Anders co-created The Secret to Real Magic program, guiding over 10,000 people—including countless entrepreneurs—to break through limitations and unlock extraordinary results. His signature Real Magic LIVE© experience blurs the line between a show and a seminar, turning abstract concepts into unforgettable moments of clarity. To date, this work has generated more than $12M in revenue, proving that transformation can be both magical and measurable.

Today, Anders’ mission is simple but powerful: to help high achievers create quantum leap breakthroughs so they can live happier, healthier, and wealthier lives.