FOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis

S14 E36 Gotham FC’s Emily Tisch Sussman on Building a Dynasty in Women's Soccer From the Inside. 02.07.2026 38min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Emily Tisch Sussman, co-owner of the two-time NWSL champion New York/New Jersey Gotham FC, creator and host of the award-winning iHeart podcast She Pivots, Tony-nominated Broadway producer, and Democratic political strategist. Emily's career has moved from federal policy to cable news to podcasting to sports ownership, and the through line is a relentless instinct for white space. The conversation covers what it actually takes to own a championship team in women's sports, why brands keep coming in at the wrong price point and missing the opportunity, and what it was like to fight the White House, the NYPD, and the transit authority all in one championship season. If you have any FOMO about the women's sports moment, Emily has one message: you are right to feel it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E35 Marcus Buckingham on Why Love Is the Most Powerful and Most Measurable Force in Business 25.06.2026 45min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis welcomes back Marcus Buckingham, New York Times bestselling author, psychometrician, and one of the most influential voices in leadership over the last 30 years, to discuss his new book Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business, published by Harvard Business Review Press. Marcus spent decades resisting the word "love" in a business context — until the data made it impossible to ignore. His research shows that the relationship between experience and behavior isn't linear but follows a J-curve, meaning only extreme positive experiences — the fives — drive any behavior at all. And when you study the fives, the word people instinctively use to describe them is love. The conversation gets into why Net Promoter Score is measuring the wrong thing, what love actually means when it's predictive of behavior, and how leaders can intentionally design experiences that make both customers and employees say "I love that" and mean it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E34 How to Change Your Behavior to Make GLP-1s Work Long-Term with Noom CEO Geoff Cook 18.06.2026 40min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Geoff Cook, CEO of Noom, the leading digital health platform combining psychology, technology, coaching, and clinical care. Geoff co-founded The Meet Group, a NASDAQ-listed social entertainment company he led for 18 years through its $500 million sale, before joining Noom to tackle something bigger: the full picture of human health. The conversation gets into why GLP-1s are only as effective as the habits built around them, what the real data shows about weight regain after discontinuation, how Noom's behavior change stack actually works, and why microdosing is quietly becoming one of the most interesting developments in preventative health. Geoff also shares why he started microdosing himself, what it did to his running habit and A1C, and how AI is making it possible to deliver genuinely personalized health guidance at scale for the first time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E33 Former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb on Raising Resilient Kids in a World That's Protecting Them to Death 11.06.2026 35min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Brandon Webb, former U.S. Navy SEAL, Course Manager of the elite SEAL Sniper Program, and New York Times bestselling author, to talk about his new book, Puddle Jumpers, and the uncomfortable argument at its center. The same mental management principles Brandon used to transform sniper training, including the visualization and self-talk frameworks developed by 1976 Olympic gold medalist Lanny Bassham, turned out to be just as powerful when applied to raising kids. The result is a parenting philosophy built not on protection but on preparation: letting children fail, experience consequences, and do hard things early so that they develop the roots to withstand whatever comes later. It's a conversation that will make a lot of parents uncomfortable and probably make their kids' lives a lot better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E32 Max Marchione: Building a New Health System From the Ground Up at 25 04.06.2026 42min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Max Marchione, co-founder and President of Superpower, a fast-growing preventative health platform making concierge-level medicine accessible for $199 a year. Max founded Superpower after a decade of misdiagnosis across more than 20 doctors, a frustration that led him to ask a simple but radical question: What if the best healthcare available to billionaires could be made available to everyone? The company has raised over $50 million, tests hundreds of biomarkers to build a digital twin of each member, and uses AI to deliver the kind of personalized health analysis that used to cost tens of thousands of dollars a year. But the conversation isn't just about health tech. It's about what it takes to build something from nothing as a first-time founder in your mid-twenties, why clarity comes from action rather than thinking, and why the single most important variable in your outcomes might be where you choose to live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E31 Eric Ries on Why Good Companies Go Bad, and How to Build One That Won't 28.05.2026 42min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup method and author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup, to discuss his bold and urgently needed new book, Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great. Eric's core argument is as simple as it is unsettling: the corruption that destroys great companies is not primarily a problem of bad actors or weak ethics; it is structural. The systems governing organizations, ownership, incentives, accountability, board composition, and decision-making quietly reshape behavior over time until even principled leaders are producing outcomes they never intended. Drawing on two decades of work with founders, CEOs, and investors, and on vivid case studies from Costco, Patagonia, and H-E-B, Eric makes the case that incorruptibility is not a fantasy — it is a design problem, and builders have more agency than they think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E30 Laura L. Rubin: Journaling Is the Most Underrated Performance Tool You're Not Using 21.05.2026 40min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Laura L. Rubin, founder of AllSwell Creative and author of The Big Unlock: Liberate Your Creativity Through Mindful Journaling, published by Simon & Schuster. Laura spent over a decade as a marketing and communications executive before building AllSwell into one of the leading voices on mindful writing, hosting hundreds of workshops for tens of thousands of participants and bringing journaling to some genuinely surprising places — from pro surfers to venture capital firms. The conversation gets into the science of what actually happens when you put pen to paper, why the inner critic exists and how to work around it, and why journaling may be the most cost-effective longevity and creativity tool available to anyone. Laura also introduces her four by four by four method — a gentle on-ramp for people who think they don't have time — and walks Patrick through a live coaching session that makes the whole thing feel very doable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 29 S14 - VaynerX’s Claude Silver on Why Being Yourself at Work Is the Most Strategic Thing You Can Do 14.05.2026 35min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Claude Silver, the world's first Chief Heart Officer and #2 executive at VaynerX, to explore what it actually means to show up as yourself at work — and why most people don't. Claude is the author of Be Yourself at Work, an instant USA Today bestseller that reframes authenticity not as a soft ideal but as a genuine strategic advantage, and the conversation lives up to that premise. They dig into the three pillars at the heart of her framework — emotional optimism, emotional bravery, and emotional efficiency — and what it takes to move through all three without skipping steps. Claude explains why the armor people wear to work is rooted in fear, why bravery without optimism goes nowhere, and why the people who seem most stoic are often the most emotional underneath. Patrick brings in the concept of pronoia — the belief that the world is conspiring to help you — and the two find a lot of common ground on what it means to lead from a place of genuine openness rather than performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E28 What VC Investors Won't Tell You About Getting Funded, with Charlie O’Donnell 07.05.2026 44min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Charlie O'Donnell, founder of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures and author of Founder Unfriendly: What Investors Won't Tell You About Getting Funded, for one of the most practical and honest conversations about venture capital you're likely to hear. Charlie has spent more than two decades inside the New York startup ecosystem, starting as the first analyst at Union Square Ventures, helping open First Round Capital's NYC office, and going on to invest in over 100 companies through Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, the first venture fund based in Brooklyn. In this conversation, he dismantles some of the most persistent myths about fundraising: what "interested" actually means from a VC, why rejection is data and not a verdict, how to time-bind a process to create real urgency, and how to shape the conversations investors have after you leave the room. If you've ever wondered why a seemingly weaker startup got funded while yours didn't, this episode has the answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E27 Jon McNeill: The Algorithm Behind Tesla's Hypergrowth 30.04.2026 35min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with Jon McNeill, former President of Tesla, former COO of Lyft, and CEO of DVx Ventures, to unpack the operating system behind one of the most extraordinary growth stories in business history. During McNeill's tenure at Tesla, revenue grew from $2 billion to $20 billion in just 30 months. That kind of growth doesn't happen by accident — it follows a system. In his new book, The Algorithm: The Hypergrowth Formula That Transformed Tesla, Lululemon, General Motors, and SpaceX, McNeill lays out the five-step framework Elon Musk built at Tesla: question every requirement, delete every unnecessary step, simplify and optimize, accelerate cycle time, and only then automate. The conversation gets into how established companies like GM used these same principles to build the Hummer EV in roughly half the expected time, why speed is an advantage that shows up most powerfully on the balance sheet, and how the one-way/two-way door framework can help any leader make faster, smarter decisions without second-guessing themselves into paralysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E26 B2B Sales Guru Rob Snyder on The Real Physics Behind Sales 23.04.2026 33min

Sales isn’t about persuasion, and that misunderstanding is what keeps most founders stuck. In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick talks with Rob Snyder, a serial B2B founder, Harvard Business School alum, and venture partner, to break down what actually drives revenue in zero-to-one startups. Rob shares how two years of brutal rejection forced him to unlearn everything business school taught him about sales, and how discovering real demand (instead of trying to create it) unlocked rapid growth. Together, they unpack why founders over-invest in product and pitch decks, why customers don’t want to be convinced, and how the best sales conversations feel effortless. If you’ve ever built something you believed in, only to find no one buying, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about sales, demand, and product-market fit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E25 Liz Tran on AQ: The New Intelligence for a World That Won't Stop Changing 16.04.2026 40min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with Liz Tran, founder of Inner Genius and author of AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing, to explore a simple but urgent idea: in a world defined by constant disruption, IQ and EQ are no longer enough. What we need now is AQ, the Agility Quotient, which Liz defines as your capacity to handle change, disappointment, and uncertainty. Drawing on a decade of work with over 200 founders and executives, Liz breaks down the four AQ archetypes — the Astronaut, the Firefighter, the Neurosurgeon, and the Novelist — and explains what each one looks like at its best and worst. The conversation gets into how AI is leveling the IQ playing field, why the most impressive résumés can actually signal lower AQ, and how the real divide in today's world isn't political or economic — it's between the people who are undone by change and the people who know how to use it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E24 Tracy Anderson on Why Integrity Outlasts Glamour 08.04.2026 55min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with wellness pioneer Tracy Anderson to explore what it takes to build something that actually endures in an industry built on trends. Tracy reflects on her 25-year journey, from pioneering a research-driven approach to movement in the late 90s to watching a flood of imitators cash in on simpler versions of her life's work. She explains why she never pursued celebrity clients, how authenticity and truth-telling became the foundation of her brand, and why the wellness industry's obsession with quick fixes, protein hacks, and longevity optimization is, in her view, just FOMO in a lab coat. The conversation also tackles creative protection as a moral issue, the difference between glamour and real beauty, and why living the questions, rather than chasing the answers, is the only path to results that last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E23 How to Remain Human in the Age of AI, with Florence Shaffer 02.04.2026 47min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with Florence Shaffer, the founder and CEO of Becoming, a human performance company that helps leaders navigate sustained complexity without losing themselves in the process. Florence spent more than 20 years leading digital transformation inside global brands, including Burberry and Estée Lauder, before turning her lens inward, to the hidden constraints that quietly distort how high-achievers think, decide, and live. The conversation centers on a counterintuitive idea: that the defining risk of the AI era isn't machines replacing humans, but humans increasingly behaving like machines: deferring decisions, optimizing obsessively, and losing their grip on what actually matters. Florence shares three core capabilities she believes will determine who thrives in this next era: stability of the nervous system, clarity of orientation, and commitment to a direction. If you've ever felt successful on paper but hollow underneath, this episode will help you understand why and what to actually do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E22 Buttcoin, Memecoins, and the Future of FOMO Finance, with Matt Beall 26.03.2026 33min

In this conversation, Patrick talks with Matt Beall, Chairman and CEO of Bealls Inc., one of America's oldest retail chains and one of the first national retailers to accept cryptocurrency at checkout. Matt is also a prominent figure in the Buttcoin community, a memecoin born from a 2011 internet joke that has grown into something far more serious than its name suggests. They dig into how crypto became a real payment option at Bealls, what memecoin culture actually looks like from the inside, and why FOMO may be the single most powerful force driving speculative markets today. They also talk about the rise of $FOMO, a new memecoin that has kept Patrick busy learning about memecoins himself. Matt also shares his perspective on Buttcoin's trajectory, what it takes for a memecoin community to build genuine staying power, and why real-world commitment matters in a space that most people still dismiss as chaos. This episode is essential listening for anyone curious about the intersection of retail, crypto, community-driven finance, and the psychology of missing out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E21 The Wellness Industry’s Biggest Blind Spot, with Chris Wharton 20.03.2026 39min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Chris Wharton, to unpack what’s broken in the modern longevity and wellness industry. Chris argues that while interest in healthspan is exploding, the conversation is being driven by oversimplification, misinformation, and loud voices rather than rigorous science. He explains why there is no such thing as a single “longevity expert,” why biology is deeply individual, and why chasing hacks before mastering fundamentals is a losing game. Together, they explore the real drivers of long-term health, the danger of health FOMO, and why majoring in the “majors” — movement, nutrition, sleep, stress, and human connection — matters more than any trend, supplement, or biohack. This episode is a sober, science-first reset for anyone overwhelmed by modern wellness advice and looking for signal instead of noise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E20 The Hidden Beliefs That Control Your Attention, with Nir Eyal 12.03.2026 38min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick welcomes back Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, to discuss his newest book, Beyond Belief. The conversation starts with a paradox we all recognize: we know exactly what to do, yet we don’t do it. Nir explains why the missing piece isn’t discipline or motivation, but belief. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and personal experience, he introduces a powerful framework showing how belief shapes attention, anticipation, and agency, and how those forces quietly determine what we see, feel, and do. Patrick and Nir explore limiting beliefs, extremist certainty, and why nuance is a competitive advantage in a polarized world. They also examine how beliefs function not as truths, but as tools—and how choosing better tools can unlock better decisions, healthier relationships, and more focused lives. This episode is a practical and philosophical guide to reclaiming agency in an age of distraction, outrage, and endless information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E19 Daniel Coyle on Why Community Beats Status 05.03.2026 31min

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick sits down with Daniel Coyle, bestselling author of The Culture Code, The Talent Code, and his new book Flourish, to explore a deceptively simple question: why do so many high achievers still feel empty? Drawing from years of research inside elite teams, thriving communities, and high-performing organizations, Dan explains why nobody flourishes alone — and how modern life has quietly pulled us away from the connection we’re biologically wired for. The conversation spans leadership, anxiety, attention, and the difference between building a “machine” and cultivating a “garden.” Patrick and Dan break down practical ideas leaders can apply immediately, from the power of saying “I screwed that up,” to the difference between mowing the lawn and tending the greenhouse. This is an optimistic, grounded episode about how to reclaim energy, meaning, and growth — at work, at home, and in everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E18 Sahil Bloom on How to Win the Long Game Without Burning Out - Part 2 26.02.2026 27min

In Part 2 of this FOMO Sapiens conversation, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Sahil Bloom to explore what it actually means to build a meaningful life and career in the age of infinite noise.Sahil reflects on the responsibility that comes with modern influence, arguing that creators today wield unprecedented power to compound either positive or negative energy. He explains why chasing outrage and rage bait might juice short-term engagement, but quietly destroys long-term opportunity, and why the most durable creators think in decades, not days. The conversation turns deeply practical as Sahil shares his philosophy on time, boundaries, and decision-making. This episode is a masterclass in long-term thinking: how to protect your time, preserve your energy, and make decisions that compound over a lifetime instead of optimizing for the next hit of validation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S14 E17 Sahil Bloom on The Hidden Cost of the Default Path - Part 1 19.02.2026 29min

What if the biggest risk in life isn’t failure, but settling for something that’s merely fine? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Patrick sits down with Sahil Bloom, former private equity investor turned global creator and author of The Five Types of Wealth. Sahil unpacks the invisible forces that keep smart, ambitious people stuck on paths that don’t quite fit: from the psychology of insecurity to the “region-beta paradox” that explains why so many people stay in unfulfilling careers. This episode is a deep dive into agency, ambition, and why clarity doesn’t come before action… it comes from it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices