Beyond Curious ®

Crazy, but this past Saturday, I turned 30!I’ve been dreaming about how I wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday for ~3 years now.It all started when my friend, Vlad Solovetski, and I were talking about my vision for Beyond Curious, right when I had re-branded.He reacted by saying, “Maybe one day you’re going to have a Curiosity Island.”My response?“FUCK yeah I’m going to have a Curiosity Island!”Want to see the actual video? Here’s the moment when it happened! Thankfully I was recording so I had this captured…Several months later, I was at Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s live event when I set a goal to celebrate my 30th birthday by hosting a Curiosity Island event.Well, that just happened.It’s surreal, because it was everything I could have ever dreamed of and MORE.But beyond making this vision a reality, I also wanted to be incredibly intentional about who I’m choosing to become in this next chapter of my life.And because of this level of intentionality, I’ve decided to completely revamp the Beyond Curious podcast.In this episode, I’ll share three things:The story of how my 3 year Curiosity Island vision came true by taking you behind the scenes of everything that happened at one of the most transformational moments of my life.How I’M evolving in this next decadeHOW the show is evolving to match my own evolution (Hint: I’m shifting away from a weekly interview style show 😮)This was a FUN and unique episode, because I intentionally recorded it as a conversation between just you and I…Because my wife, Leah, and I booked an extra night in the resort where we hosted Curiosity Island, I started by recording the episode while on the beach.I ran out of time, so I continued in the airport, and eventually finished on the airplane (where I’m writing this now!).I can’t wait for you to listen. This is a special one ❤️

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series!👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right hereI’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t a bit star struck when I first met Michael Hauge.Here’s what I knew about him:Will Smith himself had said “No one is better than Michael Hauge at finding what is most authentic in every moment of a story.”Russell Brunson, the founder of Clickfunnels, credits Michael’s frameworks as one of the keys that helped grow his software company that has 100,000 active customers and creates millions of dollars a month in sales.For four decades, he has been one of Hollywood’s top story experts and consultants working on projects starring Julia Roberts, Morgan Freeman, and Tom Cruise (to name a few)... and specifically with Will Smith, he consulted on he consulted on the scripts for I Am Legend, Hancock, The Karate Kid, Suicide Squad, and Bright.I had been impacted by his work and was incredibly grateful he agreed to come on the show WAY back when I was just getting started on episode #36 in June 2021.It was during that interview that I did something I was nervous to do:I asked Michael for feedback on a story I was working on.Not only did Michael say yes and give me LIVE coaching on the recording, but he offered to come back for a part TWO where he would review the changes and tweak what I did with the story even more.That SINGLE ask was the start of what has been a transformational relationship with Michael over the last 5 years, and today I’m grateful to call him a dear friend and mentor.Like all of the guests on the 4% files, my life would be fundamentally different if it weren’t for Michael.Here’s why:Yes, Michael has made me a 100,000x better storyteller.Because unlike many storytelling frameworks that solely focus on the “external hero’s journey” (The call to adventure, meeting the mentor, etc.), Michael has become known for what he refers to as the hero’s “inner journey.”The Inner Journey is the deeper storyline that makes a story truly great of how the hero moves from hiding within a protective identity to experiencing his or her true essence.But beyond being a better storyteller, Michael’s storytelling frameworks gave me a blueprint for living a more courageous life.The way Michael teaches story structure gives you a glimpse into this pattern of the human condition that ANYONE must face if they are going to follow their heart and build a life doing what they care about.So as you listen to this one, I invite you to listen from two perspectives:How might I tell better stories to inspire others?How might I apply this pattern to living a more courageous life, doing what matters most to me?I can’t wait for you to listen!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 – Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Michael Hauge.Brandon Fong welcomes listeners to the 10th “4% File,” part of an 11-episode series distilling the most powerful insights from over 334 hours of Beyond Curious conversations. He explains the purpose of the series, reflects on the...

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series! 👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right hereBack in July 2025, I saw a social media post that made my heart stop:The headline prominently said:Rest in Peace Steve SimsJuly 1966 - July 2025Steve Sims was a podcast guest that had a profoundly deep impact in my life. In case you haven’t heard of Steve before, he was coined by Forbes as “The Real Life Wizard of Oz” who helped his clients do things like:Get married by the PopeTake submarine trips to the TitanicHave dinner in front of Michelangelo’s David while being serenaded by Andrea BocelliMeet celebrities like Elton John and Elon MuskHe even once took a group on a private tour of the Tesla gigafactory… followed by a visit to a legal, licensed brothel to learn about the power of communication (yes, seriously).But beyond the crazy experiences…Steve Sims gave me a new blueprint for life.In fact, a few years ago when journaling about the 3 people I most looked up to, Steve’s name was high on that list — right next to my wife and daughter.Even though we only spent a few hours together across these interviews, Steve’s mindset has been running like a background program in my brain ever since I met him.He embodied the values and passions that drive my life today:Family & Heart: He loved his wife and kids deeply, and built his business alongside themDoing the Impossible: His entire life was proof that “impossible” is just a starting pointExperiences: The most inspiring (and wildest) experience designer I’ve ever metFun & Play: He approached life like a big kid—joyful, absurd, and always ready to make you laughBeing Unapologetically You: Steve knew who he was and never tried to be anything elsePure Passion for Life: You could hear it in his voice—he lived with passion, every single dayStorytelling: Hands down my favorite storyteller of all time—he didn’t just live great stories, he delivered them in unforgettable waysSo to honor his legacy, on episode #250 of the show, I stitched together all 3 of our interviews at once.As I dove through my entire podcast library for this series, I HAD to include my interviews with Steve, despite the fact that I only recently published the trilogy.But of course, with this being the 4% Files I had to do something even more epic…You see:The magic of this series is that EVERYTHING I’m sharing I’ve tested personally… for years. None of this is something I just learned about and haven’t implemented in a deep way.So in addition to the truly transformational content that Steve himself shares in the episodes, I actually weave together ~45 minutes of bonus content walking you through exactly how I’ve implemented what I learned from Steve.These episodes with Steve truly showed me what was possible beyond my wildest imagination at the time…But just as a fair warning:This is my LONGEST episode to date, clocking in at 3 and a half hours. So you’re in for a ride if you commit to this one.But if you do, I promise it’ll be worth it.00:00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Steve Sims, as Brandon tees up a “monster” 3+ hour episode surfacing the full Steve Sims...

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series! 👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right here. . .If you asked me:“Brandon, what ideas have most permeated your life?”Of the ideas that I actively use on an almost daily basis and have done so consistently for years, there are really only two of them:The Find Your Four® concept that my entire world is built around+2 EnergyThese two concepts unlock the ability to:Build a life doing the things you love the most With the people that bring you the most energyI’ve gone deep on Find Your Four® already in the first file… but today is an opportunity to go SUPER deep on +2 Energy.On the surface, it’s a very simple concept:After every interaction you have, rate your ENERGY level from -2 to +2.You’ll start to notice several things:When you feel +2 energy from someone, they most likely feel +2 energy from youTherefore, when you feel +2 energy from someone, odds are the other +2 people in your world will feel it too!When you connect +2 humans to other +2 humans, EVERYONE winsThis simple concept has literally created an energy vortex of transformational humans.So much so that most people that operate in the “+2 World” are often receiving 10 or more incredibly transformational intros every single week.This also goes beyond just people though…Because this simple energy rating scale can help you start to orient your entire life around EVERYTHING you’re doing that gives you +2 energy.Because this is such an important concept that I talk about all the time, I wanted a deep dive “Masterclass” on this subject that covers perspectives from how people have implemented this concept.So, I brought on THREE of the humans most responsible for transforming my life with this concept:Randy MollandMark FujiwaraJennifer HillI can’t wait for you to listen… and even better IMPLEMENT this concept.It’s truly changed so many people’s lives, so I’d be honored to introduce it to you.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Randy Molland, with Jennifer Hill and Mark FujiwaraBrandon Fong kicks off...

Today we’re opening up The FOURTH 4% File — part 4 of an 11 part Beyond Curious series where I surface the most powerful, high-impact insights buried inside the 334+ hours of published episodes on this show.In this file, I’m introducing you to someone that has impacted my life in a BIG way… the brilliant Michael Roderick.I could spend several hours telling you about how awesome Michael is.In fact, I actually did do that earlier this year…In September, I reached out to 300+ people to throw him a massive virtual surprise party, just to say thank you:Turns out I’m not the only one that’s been deeply impacted by him!Anyways…This interview may very well be the most I’ve EVER invested in terms of “preparing” for an interview.I’m talking 100+ hours.How could that even be possible?Well, I’ve known Michael for over 5 years now and have not only invested significantly to be a part of his programs…But our relationship has evolved to the point where we talk once a week, and he’s become a truly transformational thought partner in my life.So this interview is unique from the perspective that EVERYTHING we talk about, I’ve implemented and gotten BIG results from.And now it’s time for you to get the best of the best!In The Fourth File, you’ll learn:Michael’s Thought Leader Triple Threat Framework: Discover which of the 3 thought leader types you naturally embody, and why knowing the order of your archetypes is the key to making your messaging memorable, and your ideas unforgettable.How to craft your “Unforgettable Big Idea” by doing what Michael calls challenging the dominant narrative.How to use Pre-Marketing to make your ideas so compelling that you stop knocking on doors and start opening them for the people already knocking on yours.How to use the power of Indirect Asks to turn your ideas into keys that unlock powerful relationshipsHow to use what Michael calls “Windows Thinking” to come up with innovative and original ideasAt the end of the day, it’s the quality of your thinking and the way you communicate your thinking that will unlock the biggest opportunities for you.This episode is the masterclass for that!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Michael RoderickBrandon Fong kicks off the fourth installment of the 4% Files series, diving into high-impact insights from past episodes. He introduces today’s guest, Michael Roderick, someone he credits with a massive influence on his life. Brandon sets the stage for a deep-dive into frameworks that bridge identity, connection, and idea development.01:06 - The Architect vs. Player Operating System FrameworkBrandon recaps the foundational files and introduces today's theme—a “power-up” focused on revealing your unforgettable big idea. He explains how today's episode ties into designing a game that supports your highest-impact self.02:47 - Choice Mapping and the 4% Humans Who Change EverythingBrandon shares a transformative choice-mapping experience from Kim DeYoung that spotlighted Michael...

-- To Access All Bonus Material Mentioned In This Series, Visit gobeyondcurious.com/files -- Last week, I released the FIRST ever 4% File -- the first of an 11-part series where I'm surfacing the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of interviews with some of the most curious minds out there.Quick recap (if you didn't listen yet, or you want a refresher from last week):In the first file, we started by asking a big question:What game am I currently playing in life, and did I choose it consciously?We talked about how society hands us these "default games", and just how easy it is to trick ourselves into thinking we're playing our own game...... when in reality, there may still be elements of the default games we're playing that no longer serve us.. . .The blessing and curse of living in 2025 is that exponential technology is causing more and more of those "default games" to freeze, and some to stop working altogether.And instead of seeing that as a threat, it’s a HUGE opportunity for us to pause, remove any fragments of the default game that may or may not have been handed to us… and design one that’s truly ours.That’s where the Player vs. Architect idea comes in.You have a Player — the version of you running around inside the game — and you have an Architect, the version of you who can step outside the game, see the whole thing, and consciously create it.In File One, we focused entirely on understanding your Player using the Find Your Four™ framework refined within my Curiosity Island™ community.It's the 80/20 of the 80/20 where you find just 4% that creates not only the greatest impact but the greatest joy.In the SECOND File we step into Architect mode.Here's what's on our roadmap for the Second File:For the first time ever on the podcast, I'm taking you inside Curiosity Island by sharing a raw, unscripted conversation that happened earlier this year.You’ll hear the exact breakthrough that completely reframed how we approach goals, accomplishment, and identity evolution… and why the traditional, default ways of setting big visions often don’t serve people like us — people who are using our game as a vehicle to become the next, truest version of ourselves.Then from that conversation, I reveal the core structure of what I now call The Operating System.This is a framework developed out of hundreds of hours of testing and evolution for the Architect version of you to design a game that fits your unique Player.And of course, I'll be giving you some powerful tools to help you as an Architect to design your own game.And finally, you’ll get the tools to start designing your own game.READY PLAYER ONE!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s exploration of the Architect Operating SystemBrandon Fong welcomes listeners to the second installment of the 4% Files series, designed to surface transformational insights from 334+ hours of Beyond Curious content. This episode moves from understanding the "player" (from File 1) to designing the game itself—as the "architect"—through a framework inspired by co-creation on Curiosity Island.00:51 - Recap of File 1 and introduction of the Architect conceptBrandon recaps the major theme of File 1—consciously choosing your life's game—and...

Two days ago, a question randomly popped into my head:“What if I applied my Find Your Four™ framework to the entire Beyond Curious library?”If you’re new here — Find Your Four™ is a framework I developed inspired by the 80/20 rule (aka Pareto Principle). At its core, it’s about identifying the smallest actions that create the biggest results.It turns out that if you apply 80/20 on the 20% — you get to something even more potent:4% of your efforts = 64% of your results.So I ran the numbers.There are 267 episodes before this one…4% of 267 = 10.68 → round that up = 11 episodesAnd this is how The 4% Files was born.Over the next 11 episodes, I’ll be digging through 334+ hours of Beyond Curious conversations and surfacing just the 4% — the most potent, high-impact ideas I believe can change your life.For more details, listen to the announcement here.Stay tuned for the first episode being released next Tuesday!Stay Curious,Brandon

I turn 30 in just about 3 months. As I sat down to reflect on what’s changed my career trajectory the most over the past decade, one thing stood out above everything else.I call it Slipstreaming.It’s a strategy I first used when I was 21 that helped me go from “broke college student” to working side-by-side with one of my mentors, traveling the world, getting flown into $25K mastermind rooms, and ultimately building the life I live today.In today’s episode, I’m finally breaking it all down.And instead of just telling you what it is, I show you — by weaving together audio from:A course I created 8 years ago with my mentor Jonathan LeviClips from past Beyond Curious guests like Todd Herman, Jessica Von Innerbrenner, and Lee Holden — who each used a similar method to create transformational opportunities in their livesWhether you're a teen, twentysomething or thirtysomething, or you’re further along in your journey and want to empower the next generation — this one is worth a listen.Here’s a peek at what you’ll learn:Why “learning from someone ahead of you” can shortcut years of trial and error (and how I still do this today)The psychology behind why the slipstream technique works (hint: IKEA furniture has something to do with it)When I realized that even though this strategy changed my life, I needed to let go of it in the way I originally learned to do itIn a world changing so fast that many of tomorrow’s most important jobs don’t even exist yet, I’m excited for the right people to hear this.If you know someone navigating their career path, I hope you’ll consider sharing this with them — it completely changed my life.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Brandon FongBrandon opens the episode with a deeply personal reflection: with just 99 days left before turning 30, he takes listeners on a unique solo journey into a strategy that completely transformed his life — one he calls the “Slipstream Technique.” He sets the stage by reflecting on speaking engagements with incoming college freshmen and the overwhelming uncertainty facing today’s youth in a rapidly evolving world.00:56 - The spark that changed Brandon’s life at 21Brandon introduces the moment that shifted his life trajectory in his early 20s and how it became a repeating pattern among many high achievers he interviewed. He introduces the “Slipstream Technique” as a powerful, unconventional method for career acceleration — one that doesn’t rely on traditional education or job applications.03:53 - Flashback: The original Slipstream course intro with Jonathan LevyBrandon plays the introduction to the original “Ultimate Advantage” course recorded in 2018 with his mentor, Jonathan Levy. Jonathan shares how Brandon reached out using the strategy and ended up becoming an integral part of his company, Superhuman Enterprises.06:07 - A day in the life: How Brandon’s strategy created dream opportunitiesBrandon recounts his then-current daily life in Tel Aviv — traveling, working alongside thought leaders, and helping shape educational programs that impact hundreds of thousands. Jonathan highlights how Brandon became one of the most valued, trusted, and highly paid members of his team — all without a traditional job application.08:26 - Defining the Slipstream Technique: A...

On August 7th, I had a session with my friend Keith Hodge where he supported me in connecting deeper with my vision and future self.In that session, a new awareness came through:To step into the next level of my vision and impact, I would need to shift my relationship with judgement.(I’ll explain more what I mean by this in a second)A day or so later after that session, I stumbled across a podcast interview from someone I didn’t know at the time: Dr. Steven Young.I almost skipped it. The message could’ve easily gotten buried in 50+ WhatsApp notifications.But something nudged me to listen.…And I’m SO glad I did.What I heard in that episode hit me like a cosmic 2x4 — in the most beautiful way.I counted five synchronicities between what Steven shared and the exact thoughts, questions, and awarenesses that had been bubbling up for me.Most of them were things I hadn’t shared with anyone. It was like he was reading my mind 😆One of the biggest synchronicities was the fact that he has worked to consciously remove judgement language from his vocabulary, specifically:Good / BadRight / WrongPositive / NegativeAND that he had a course that, through the teachings of Hermetics, would share how to dissolve this language. I went through the course and was BLOWN away, and also was so grateful that he agreed to come on the show.This conversation is packed with deep wisdom about how we shape our reality, often without realizing it.In this episode with Dr. Steven Young, we explore:Why the traditional SMART goal framework might actually limit growth — and how to guarantee better results by doing what Dr. Young calls, “Approaching Life Obliquely” How you can increase awareness of the unconscious language you’re using that may be inhibiting your growth… including removing judgement language. 3 Fundamental Shifts in How You View Reality: Why your perception of time, your awareness of context, and your ability to zoom between dual and non-dual perspectives might be unconsciously shaping your entire life — and how learning to shift these frameworks gives you new tools to navigate reality with greater clarity and power.If you’re someone who values elevating your consciousness, language as a tool for transformation, and spiritual growth, this is a HUGE episode for you.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Dr. Steven YoungBrandon opens by welcoming listeners and sharing the synchronistic story of how he discovered Dr. Steven Young, whose teachings on dissolving judgment and shifting perception deeply resonated with him. Brandon also previews three mind-expanding themes listeners can expect in the episode: why SMART goals may limit growth, the power of upgrading unconscious language, and transformative shifts in perceiving reality.00:04:41 - Who is Dr. Steven Young?Brandon introduces Dr. Steven Young’s profound body of work, highlighting his 36 years of research into harmonizing mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Young has launched five businesses, treated 9,000+ patients holistically, and now helps others craft a reality based on harmony, not separation.00:06:09 - The story behind a viral Shaolin monk photo and a dream come trueDr. Young recounts how a dream about actor...

Last week, we released part one of a two-part series featuring Marcia Martin — the woman who helped pioneer the self-help empire.In case you missed it…Marcia was one of the original pioneers behind EST (now known as Landmark Forum). She helped grow it from a 30-person seminar into a worldwide phenomenon with 800,000+ graduates, worked behind the scenes with Tony Robbins, helped catalyze The Secret, and was part of the early movement that sparked the coaching industry as we know it today.Part one was all about her story — the raw, wild, and fascinating origin of the self-help movement.But today…We go deep into how you can create a movement that lasts — learning directly from the woman who helped build one of the most influential transformational empires of all time.Specifically, we explore how you can:Build a movement the way nature grows — by creating virality without using social mediaLeverage Marcia’s “Three Faces” framework to get in touch with your deepest inner truth — and teach, lead, and create from that place of authenticity.Design training experiences that engage both your body and your mind to create transformation that actually lastsCan’t wait for you to listen!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Marcia MartinBrandon welcomes listeners to part two of his interview with Marcia Martin, one of the original architects of the Self Help Empire. He recaps part one and previews what’s to come: the nature-inspired strategy Marcia used to build viral movements before social media, her Three Faces framework, and how to design transformative learning experiences that engage both body and mind.00:32 - Marcia explains how true movements grow organicallyMarcia begins with a profound insight: nature holds the answers to movement-building. By authentically sharing with one person, teaching them to share, and then teaching them to teach others, a self-sustaining, viral movement emerges—no social media required.02:36 - Three key takeaways from this episodeBrandon outlines the episode’s focal points: building movements like nature, Marcia’s “Three Faces” framework to unlock deep authenticity, and the integration of physical and intellectual learning for true transformation.04:20 - The dark side of power, fame, and cult-like dynamicsMarcia reflects on her time working with Werner Erhard and the transformation of noble movements into cultish hierarchies. She shares how unchecked power and adoration can lead even good people astray and why deep self-awareness is essential.06:22 - Why admitting you're wrong is harder than it seemsMarcia discusses the human resistance to admitting mistakes and the psychological trap of justifying bad behavior to maintain a powerful image.09:30 - The weight of leadership and the responsibility of influenceMarcia shares her lifelong mission to help others feel safe enough to grow. She reflects on how trust and love from others have been her gift—but also a burden she’s had to rise to.11:26 - The duality of certainty and curiosity in leadershipBrandon and Marcia explore the seductive power of certainty. While certainty can drive action, Marcia cautions that it often blocks collaboration, compromise, and higher truth. True leadership requires balancing conviction with curiosity.13:15 - The three stages of consciousness and how they evolveMarcia lays out a powerful framework for understanding consciousness: from victimhood to personal empowerment to living with purpose. She explains how real fulfillment only comes when your actions serve something bigger than yourself.16:20 - Consciousness is not static; it's...

A year into her coaching journey, Amy Birks generated a grand total of… $60.Pair that with a big investment she made into a coaching program, and Amy ended up with a $36K loss that first year.Fast forward 10 months later, and Amy is sitting in a Sedona hotel room with friends when someone feeling stuck with their business said, “I just wish someone would tell me what steps to take.”Amy started asking questions — and within 12 minutes, a full strategy appeared in her mind like a Google Map.Everyone in the room froze.“Wait,” they said, “you actually see this in your head?”That was the day Amy realized she had what she now calls her GPS Brain — the superpower that helps her instantly map people’s paths from confusion to clarity.Having personally hired Amy, I’ve personally experienced Amy not only helping to save me 25 hours per month in my business… but she’s also helped TWO of my community members (we call them Castaways) in transformational ways.She helped one Castaway identify a strategy that will help double her business next year… and in 30 days generated nearly six figures.Another Castaway she helped save 35 hours per WEEK by transitioning some 1-on-1 work into a group format, with results pouring in one week later.Amy’s brain is epic, and I can’t wait for you to learn from her on how to leverage her GPS brain to help simplify your business!Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Amy BirksBrandon introduces Amy as a close friend and fellow Curiosity Island castaway. He previews three core takeaways from the episode: how Amy helped him save 25 hours per month, her journey from $60 in profit to a $64k week, and her nonlinear career path that developed her unique “GPS brain.”00:39 - Amy discovers her “GPS brain” in a Sedona hotel roomAmy recalls a pivotal moment at a mastermind retreat when she spontaneously mapped out a full strategy for a friend’s business idea in just 12 minutes. This unlocked her realization that she had a natural gift for strategy and clarity — a turning point that redirected her entire business.03:14 - Brandon highlights Amy’s incredible impact and bioBrandon shares Amy’s background — from corporate strategy roles to consulting for the Dallas Mavericks — and the ripple effects of her GPS brain on the Curiosity Island community, including transformative results for Laura DeFranco and Jennifer Pear.06:45 - Brandon compares Amy’s origin story to getting bitten by a radioactive spiderBrandon dives deeper into Amy’s strategic superpower. Amy describes how her mind visualizes strategy as a dynamic GPS map that forms through curiosity and inquiry, allowing her to chart efficient, values-aligned paths for clients.10:42 - Brandon and Amy explore unconscious genius and how most people miss itAmy shares how her strategic ability always felt so “normal” that she didn’t value it — until others pointed it out. She and Brandon discuss how people often overlook their most valuable gifts because they come naturally.14:19 - Building momentum through intuition and simplicityAmy explains how she asks questions to uncover clear paths for action, turning complexity into momentum. Her excitement and deep understanding of her clients’ visions fuel rapid transformation.17:21 - From $60 in profit to deep personal alignmentAmy opens up about her first year in business, where she made just $60. She reflects on the internal judgment she felt and how she later realized that following her curiosity — even when nonlinear — gave her all the skills she needed.24:23 - The $64,000 week: when alignment changed everythingAmy describes how simplifying her offerings and writing her book led to her most successful week. The big shift? Focusing...

At 19, Anthony Englert thought he’d cracked the wealth code.He was living in a million-dollar mansion, cashing checks from a hedge fund with 12% monthly returns, and feeling on top of the world……until his business partners accused him of not being willing to take enough risk, kicked him out of the company, and he lost everything — including his entire life savings and his closest friends.It was a rock bottom moment.But in a wild twist of fate… getting kicked out ended up saving him. Because just a few months later, he learned the truth:He had unknowingly been part of a Ponzi scheme — and his partners’ betrayal became the thing that protected him from disaster.But as crazy as that sounds — that near miss taught him the valuable lessons that eventually led Anthony to joining an elite team at Goldman Sachs managing $33 billion in assets.Today, Anthony is on a mission to help entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes he’s seen made at the highest levels, and truly design holistic wealth… from the inside out.We jammed on a LOT in this episode — but here are 3 things I especially loved:The “Lifestyle vs. Legacy” decision that will impact every other decision you make in your businessWhy increasing your profit isn’t the most effective way to unlock value in your companyHow to use F.A.S.T. thinking to make smarter business and financial decisions (without getting lost in tactics)If you’re ready to start thinking like an investor — and design a life and business that outlives you — this one’s a must-listen.ALSO...I'd highly recommend taking Anthony’s curated financial assessment to reveal whether your current strategy supports long-term wealth or holds you back — and what to do next.Select founders may be invited to a complimentary 90-minute session (no pitch, just value) with Anthony which is a HUGE value.👉 Alfa Advisory Founders Financial AssessmentShow Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Anthony EnglertBrandon Fong introduces his friend and financial strategist, Anthony Englert. He highlights Anthony’s journey from surviving a Ponzi scheme to leading a Goldman Sachs team managing $33 billion, and now advising entrepreneurs through Alfa Advisory.00:44 - Anthony’s teenage entry into real estate and how a Ponzi scheme taught him his first major financial lessonAnthony recounts his first big “investment” at 19, involving a sketchy hedge fund, fraudulent equity banking, and a $125,000 check—only to find out later it was all part of a Ponzi scheme. His early mistake became a catalyst for pursuing real financial literacy.02:17 - Why Brandon isn’t a “finance guy” and how Anthony made wealth building accessible for entrepreneursBrandon shares his past struggles with understanding finances as a business owner and how Anthony’s clarity and holistic strategy transformed his approach to money and business.04:07 - Lifestyle vs. Legacy: A framework that will shift how you view your businessBrandon previews Anthony’s “Lifestyle vs. Legacy” framework, explaining how the type of business you choose to build shapes every other financial and strategic decision you make.05:42 - Brandon reads Anthony’s bio and explains why he trusts him with his financial futureFrom Goldman Sachs to climbing Kilimanjaro, Brandon reads Anthony’s impressive bio and gives listeners a glimpse into his character, brilliance, and values as both an advisor and adventurer.08:12 - “The Wendy’s Moment”: How a 7-year-old optimized a fast food order and formed a belief that money = happinessAnthony shares a vivid...

Back in March, I hosted the first ever LIVE event for my community, Curiosity Island.We hired my friend and Curiosity Island “Castaway” Bob Regnerus to produce the video footage for our event:Click right here to watch the videoWhy am I sharing this with you?* Incoming humble brag *If you listen to that video, there was definitely a theme in what the Castaways shared:“You feel like you're entering a Brandon world when you come into his space. It is warm, inviting, challenging, curious and so exciting in the best way.”“I've never met anybody like Brandon who takes creating experiences so seriously.”“This Curiosity island that he's created is so much more than a business or a brand or a mastermind… This is really an experience”.The theme that I notice is World Building / Experience Design.After designing several live events, hundreds of virtual experiences, and speaking on many stages, I’ve never actually sat down to ask myself:“What am I actually doing?”Meaning:How would I actually teach someone about my approach to World Building?When another Castaway, Meredith Grundei, asked me to come on her LinkedIn live show to talk about it… it was a perfect excuse for me to actually teach my approach.So after several hours of GPT biking and playing around, I arrived at this:To design transformational experiences, have your MOM make a WAFFLE 👇MOM is an acronym that stands for the 3 phases of an experience…While WAFFLE is an acronym for the 6 keys to make an experience stick.Whether you run events, lead a community or team, create content, or just want to inject more magic into your daily life… this one’s for you.Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Meredith GrundeiBrandon introduces the episode as a unique hybrid format: a collaborative conversation with friend and Curiosity Island castaway, Meredith Grundei. The focus is on designing transformational experiences, anchored by Brandon's custom "Have Your MOM Make a WAFFLE" framework.00:57 - The MOM and WAFFLE Framework: A Sneak PeekBrandon sets the stage for the framework he created to help people design memorable and magical experiences. The acronym “MOM” (Momentum, Open Loops, Memory) and “WAFFLE” (World, Anchors, Fusion, Flaws, Language, Emotion) serve as the episode’s central theme.03:24 - Meredith Welcomes Brandon & Introduces the Speaker's LoungeMeredith welcomes Brandon to the Speaker’s Lounge, her monthly conversation series. She invites him to share the origin story of Curiosity Island, the imaginative community he leads.04:29 - The Birth of Curiosity Island: A Domain Bought in a FlashBrandon recounts a pivotal Zoom call with his friend Vlad where the phrase “Curiosity Island” was coined—and how he immediately bought the domain. He explains how the name gave conceptual structure to his vision of a place filled with wonder and transformation.06:16 - What is Curiosity Island? A Transformational, Imaginative CommunityBrandon describes Curiosity Island as a place of infinite possibility—“mirrors, not mentors”—where castaways help each other uncover their gifts. Meredith adds how impactful it’s been for her, especially through the “Breeze Offer” concept.08:45 - Why Presentations Need to Become ExperiencesBoth Brandon and Meredith discuss how modern audiences are no longer captivated by static presentations. With content overload, the key...