Thriving Minds with Alberto Zandi

This week Alberto sat down with Viviane Paxinos, former Warner Bros Vice President, former AllBright CEO, and one of the most accomplished growth and transformation executives in media and digital, to unpack a career built on ambition, reinvention, resilience, and the courage to keep moving when things do not go to plan.Viviane shares how she grew up in a Greek immigrant family in Canada, moved to London on her own, built a remarkable career across Viacom and MTV, BBC Worldwide, A+E Networks, Warner Bros Discovery, UNiDAYS, and AllBright, and then faced one of the hardest leadership chapters of her life under public scrutiny.In this conversation, she speaks openly about ambition, burnout, public failure, identity, leadership shame, female leadership, fundraising, resilience, and what it really takes to rebuild yourself personally and professionally when a business goes through a painful transformation.You will learn• How to build a career across media, tech, and leadership without having everything planned from the start • What Viviene learned from leading global businesses through growth, transformation, and public failure• Why women often internalize business struggles more personally, and how to stop doing it• How to adapt to new industries quickly, even when you are not the obvious expert in the room • Why success, identity, and self worth should never be tied tightly to your title • The habits and mindset shifts that helped Viviane recover from stress, burnout, and intense professional pressureFollow Viviane:https://www.instagram.com/viv_paxinos/https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviane-paxinos-378a513/#podcast #entrepreneurship #leadership #personalgrowth #business #mindset #resilience #womeninbusiness #careeradvice #startup #wellness #storytelling #thrivingminds

This week Alberto sat down with Richard Mullender, the renowned former hostage negotiator and communication expert, to unpack what communication really is, why most people do it badly, and how better listening can transform negotiation, trust, persuasion, leadership, and relationships.Richard spent decades in policing, with the final part of his career leading Scotland Yard's hostage and crisis negotiation, where the stakes were often life and death. In this conversation, he explains why negotiation is not really about talking more or sounding clever, but about understanding what the other person values, what they are feeling, what they are motivated by, and why they believe they are right.He challenges some of the most common myths people still believe, including the idea that body language can reliably reveal truth, that asking more questions automatically makes you a better listener, and that great negotiation starts when the formal negotiation begins. According to Richard, trust starts much earlier, and the people who influence best are often the people who understand best.You will learnWhy most people think they are listening, but are actually just waiting to talkWhy body language can mislead you, and what to focus on insteadHow trust is built before a negotiation even beginsThe six things Richard says you should listen for in every important conversationWhy everyone believes they are right, and how understanding that changes everythingHow to negotiate better at work, at home, and in high pressure situationsFollow Richard & The Listening Institute:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-mullender-1b427910/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-listening-institute/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/listeninginstitute/⁠ ⁠https://listeninginstitute.com/richard-mullender/⁠ Get Richard's books: ⁠Amazon⁠ #podcast #negotiation #listening #communication #mindset #selfimprovement #thrivingmindspodcast

This week Alberto sat down with Oliver Cookson, the renowned founder of Myprotein, the world’s #1 supplement brand, serial entrepreneur, author, and one of the UK’s most compelling self-made business builders, to unpack how he went from humble beginnings in Manchester to building one of the most recognised names in sports nutrition.Oliver’s story breaks almost every rule people think success requires. He did not go to university, did not raise outside funding, and did not build Myprotein with a polished business plan or a big support network. He started with a £500 overdraft, built the first products himself, packed orders around a full-time job, and slowly turned a kitchen operation into a global business.In this conversation, Oliver explains how curiosity first led him to question what was really inside protein powder, why he believed he could build and sell a better version online, and how obsessive execution, discipline, and self-belief became the foundation of everything that followed.He also shares the reality of scaling without investors, the importance of hiring people who cover your weaknesses, the emotional toughness required to keep going, and why entrepreneurship is often far lonelier than people realise.You will learnHow Oliver built Myprotein from a £500 overdraft, with no degree, no investors, and no safety netWhy execution matters more than credentials, and how to start before you feel readyHow to scale a consumer business through lean cash flow, referrals, and smart direct-to-consumer marketingWhat great hiring really looks like, and why your senior team should cover your weaknessesWhy entrepreneurship is mentally hard, emotionally lonely, and still worth it if the mission is realWhat money does and does not solve, after building and selling major businesses Follow Oliver:IG: ⁠mrolivercookson⁠X: ⁠olivercookson⁠ Buy Oliver's book:⁠Bootstrap Your Life: How to Turn £500 into £350 Million⁠#entrepreneurship #businessstory #startupjourney #founderstory #mindset #selfgrowth #successmindset #motivation #myprotein #businesstips #hustle #resilience #podcastclips #growthmindset #startupadvice #myprotein

This week Alberto sat down with Georgie Coleridge Cole, the renowned founder and CEO of SheerLuxe, one of the UK’s most influential digital media brands, to unpack the real story behind building a business that shaped modern online publishing and recently reached a major acquisition milestone. Georgie started SheerLuxe in 2007, after spotting a clear gap in the market, a trusted destination that could help people discover the best places to shop online at a time when ecommerce was still in its early stages. What began as a simple but sharp idea evolved into a powerful modern media brand built on great content, trusted voices, first party audience, and commercial discipline.In this conversation, Georgie shares the full journey, from her early ambition and fascination with working women, to writing the business plan with her husband, raising a relatively small amount of capital, building the first version of the platform, and learning how to not only survive but thrive through nearly two decades of change in digital media. She explains why great businesses are built through constant adaptation, why curiosity is one of the most underrated entrepreneurial traits, and why content, people, and audience became the three pillars behind SheerLuxe success.You will learn:• How Georgie turned a simple market insight into one of the UK’s most recognised lifestyle media brands • Why content, people, and audience became the core pillars of SheerLuxe’s growth • How to build an audience, why trust is the most valuable asset in media and how to build it• What great hiring and team building really looks like inside a fast moving founder led company • What it feels like to sell a business for millions and millions• Why commercial savvy is one of the most important life skills, whether you are an entrepreneur or not and how to craft itFollow Georgiehttps://www.instagram.com/gcoleridgecole/https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiecoleridgecole/Follow SheerLuxehttp://www.youtube.com/@sheerluxehttps://www.instagram.com/sheerluxe/https://www.tiktok.com/@sheerluxehttps://uk.pinterest.com/sheerluxe/#podcast #entrepreneurship #startupstory #businessjourney #founderstory #ecommerce #contentstrategy #mindset #workethic #leadership #thrivingminds

This week Alberto sat down with Dr Tim Spector, a world leading gut health expert, medical doctor, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, bestselling author, and co founder of #ZOE.In this conversation, Dr Spector explains why the gut microbiome is one of the most important control systems in the human body, shaping metabolism, immunity, mood, cravings, inflammation, and even the way the brain functions.He breaks down complex science in a way anyone can understand, and challenges some of the biggest assumptions people still have about food, calories, supplements, protein, fasting, and weight loss.This episode is one of the clearest and most practical conversations you can watch if you want to understand what to eat, what to avoid, and how to build a healthier body and mind through better everyday decisions.You will learn• Why calories do not tell the full story, and why two people can eat the same food and have completely different responses• What the gut microbiome actually is, and how it affects your brain, immune system, weight, mood, and energy• How to identify the foods that are quietly driving inflammation, hunger, and overeating• Why ultra processed foods are designed to make you eat more, and how to spot the worst offenders• What a healthy day of eating should really look like, from plants and fermented foods to protein and meal timing• The truths about keto, fasting, creatine, alcohol, supplements, and OzempicFollow Dr. Spector:https://www.instagram.com/tim.spector/https://twitter.com/timspectorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/timspector/Dr. Spector Books:https://amzn.to/4m1KJNDFollow ZOE:https://www.youtube.com/c/ZOE-healthhttps://www.instagram.com/zoe/https://www.facebook.com/joinzoe1/https://www.tiktok.com/@join_zoehttps://zoe.com/zoeverse#GutHealth #Microbiome #Nutrition #HealthyEating #Wellness #TimSpector #Podcast #HealthScience #FoodMatters #ZOE #thrivingminds

This week Alberto sat down with Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims, one of the UK’s most recognisable and successful pizza brands.Thom shares the real story behind building Pizza Pilgrims from a single van into a national business with over 800 employees, and what it actually costs to scale in hospitality. From long hours and financial pressure to the emotional toll of leadership, this conversation goes far beyond the highlight reel.They explore the early days of the business, the realities of growth, why hospitality is often romanticised from the outside, and how pressure, responsibility, and risk change as a company scales. Thom opens up about burnout, identity, and the challenge of staying grounded while building something that demands everything.You will learn• What it really takes to build and scale a restaurant business• The personal cost of entrepreneurship in hospitality• How leadership pressure changes as a business grows• Why success does not remove stress or uncertainty• How to build something meaningful without losing perspectiveFollow Thom & Pizza Pilgrimshttps://www.instagram.com/pizzapilgrims/https://www.youtube.com/@UC_LiCe5657Ynu5G7lIzHGjg https://www.tiktok.com/@pizzapilgrimshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-elliot-9115ab2b/#podcast #entrepreneurship #pizzapilgrims #startupstory #hospitality #founderstories #businessjourney #streetfood #smallbusiness #motivation #thrivingminds

This week Alberto sat down with Martin Brooks, a world leading body language and communication expert who helps people use non-verbal communication to transform their professional and personal lives.Martin’s work sits at the intersection of psychology, communication, and human behaviour. He explains how body language shapes first impressions, why the body often reveals what the mouth is trying to hide, and how small changes in posture, voice, gestures, and eye contact can completely change the way others respond to you. You will learn• How to make a stronger first impression through posture, eye contact, and a genuine smile • How to look more confident by changing your internal state, not just your posture • The hand gestures that make you seem more credible, persuasive, and assertive • How to spot signs of deception, including truth slips and duping delight • How to read interest, disengagement, and power dynamics in real time, in person and on ZoomFollow Martin:https://www.instagram.com/martinbrooks1968https://uk.linkedin.com/in/martin-brooks-94566312https://twitter.com/impacttologisthttps://successthroughimpact.com#bodylanguage #communicationskills #confidence #socialskills #psychology #selfimprovement #charisma #publicspeaking #personaldevelopment #leadership

This week Alberto sat down with Dr Andy Cope, also known as The Happiness Doctor, a world leading positive psychology researcher, speaker, and best selling author, best known for his work on human flourishing, and for the idea that happiness is the goal behind all your other goals. In this conversation, Andy breaks down what happiness actually is, why we confuse short term pleasure with long term contentment, and why chasing happiness as a destination usually makes us feel worse. They explore destination addiction, the modern obsession with being busy, and how consumer culture trains people to believe that the next promotion, the next purchase, or the next milestone will finally make them feel fulfilled. This episode is simple, practical, and immediately usable, it is a toolkit for feeling better on ordinary days, not just special ones.You will learn• What happiness really is, and why you do not need to be happy all the time • Why happiness is often a starting point, not the reward at the end • The four minute rule, and how the first four minutes of any interaction can change everything • The simple habits that make you more present, gratitude, better questions, and fewer distractions • The relationship ratios that predict thriving teams and thriving families, and how to apply themFollow Andy& Art of Brilliancehttps://www.instagram.com/thehappybloke/https://www.facebook.com/Art-of-Brilliance-185597948129457/https://x.com/beingbrillianthttps://www.instagram.com/artofbrilliance/https://www.linkedin.com/company/art-of-brilliance/Get Andy's Books:https://amzn.to/4bkTT2U#Happiness #PositivePsychology #DrAndyCope #Mindfulness #MentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment #ThrivingMinds #Wellbeing #SuccessMindset #SelfImprovement

This week Alberto sat down with Maria Hatzistefanis, founder and CEO of the Rodial Group, bestselling author, and a Dragon on Dragons Den Greece.Maria grew up on a small island in Greece, dreaming of a bigger world. She moved into magazines, studied business at Columbia, entered investment banking, then got fired at 25, a moment that forced her to choose what she actually wanted.With 20,000 in savings and no beauty industry experience, she started Rodial from home, faced investor rejection, and built the brand through focus, persistence, and product storytelling. She took a suitcase to Cosmoprof, met suppliers stand by stand, found the lab she still works with today, and launched with a tight initial range, because focus beats noise in the early days.You will learnHow Maria built Rodial from home, with limited capital, no funding, and no industry backgroundWhy launching with focus beats launching too many products, and how to pick a niche that travelsHow to win attention without huge budgets, naming, storytelling, press strategy, and consistent brand positioningHow to think about influencers realistically, what works now, what changed after Covid, and why long term partnerships matterHow to handle failure, cash flow pressure, and decision making, including the lesson from a mistake that nearly ended everythingFollow Maria:https://www.instagram.com/mrsrodialhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-hatzistefanis-64b7985https://www.tiktok.com/@mrsrodialhttps://twitter.com/MrsRodialGet Maria's books:How to Make Your First Million: Build wealth with style and audacityhttps://amzn.to/4crK3P1How to Make it Happen: Turning Failure into Successhttps://amzn.to/46B3DENHow to Be an Overnight Successhttps://amzn.to/4b1ACmVHow to Live Your Best Life: Transform your mindset and manifesthttps://amzn.to/4blUL8F#entrepreneurship #founderstory #startupjourney #mariahatzistefanis #mrsrodial #rodial #beautybrand #businesspodcast #startupadvice #femalefounder #thrivingminds #marketingstrategy #brandbuilding #entrepreneurlife #dragonsdengr