The Mike Method

This special episode brings together some of the most meaningful moments from past conversations on AI, leadership, and the future of work, woven into one cohesive guide for building real literacy without losing the human side of how we think, decide, and create.Drawing from episodes with Kian Gohar, Dr. Hilary Currie, Carly Moir, Alex Brueckmann, and Nicholas Ning, we explore what it really means to move beyond the hype and work with AI as a thinking partner. Instead of approaching it as just another tool, this conversation invites leaders to engage with it as something that can expand perspective, challenge assumptions, and support better decisions.Along the way, we unpack how leadership is evolving alongside technology, why human capabilities like creativity and emotional intelligence matter more than ever, and how intentional learning and experimentation help teams move from hesitation to confidence.In this episode, we exploreWhat real AI literacy looks like inside organizationsWhy treating AI as a thinking partner changes decision makingThe growing importance of creativity, presence, and emotional intelligenceHow leaders can design learning experiences that move teams from uncertainty to capabilityThe role of experimentation in responsible and effective adoptionHow multimodal AI is reshaping communication, collaboration, and learningReflection questionsWhere am I approaching AI as a tool instead of a thinking partnerWhat human capabilities will matter most in my leadership as technology evolvesHow can I create space for experimentation without pressure for immediate masteryWhat would building real confidence with AI look like for me or my teamFeatured conversations includeKian Gohar on shifting from using AI as a search engine to engaging it as a collaborator that expands thinkingDr. Hilary Curry on the human skills that become more valuable as technology reshapes workCarly Moir on how people build confidence with new tools and what makes learning stickAlex Brueckmann on integrating AI into strategy with clarity, intention, and experimentationNicholas Ning on workforce transformation and building AI literacy at scale

What happens when the business you built starts running you?In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Pinnacle Global Network CEO Allison Maslan for a candid conversation about the success trap many founders quietly experience. Allison shares the shocking wake up call that forced her to rethink everything after literally running herself over with her own car, and how that moment became the turning point that changed the way she approached leadership, scale, and life.With 40 years of entrepreneurial experience and 10 companies built, Allison has helped more than 150,000 founders and leadership teams scale their businesses without becoming trapped inside them. Together, Mike and Allison explore why growth alone does not create freedom, how founders become the bottleneck without realizing it, and what it actually takes to evolve from being the hero or octopus leader into a visionary CEO.They also unpack Allison’s five phases of scaling, seeker, pioneer, ringleader, co-creator, and visionary, and explain why delegation so often fails when leaders are not clear on outcomes, ownership, and metrics.In this episode, you will learn:• Why so many entrepreneurs feel trapped by the very success they worked to create• The difference between the hero, the octopus, and the visionary CEO• Allison’s five phases of scaling and how to identify where you are now• Why delegation breaks down when leaders are unclear on success metrics• How to build a founder independent company that creates more freedom and enterprise value• Why enjoying the journey matters just as much as reaching the goalEpisode Resources:Download Allison Maslan’s Operational Scalability ebookLearn more about Pinnacle Global NetworkGet Allison’s book Scale or FailListen to the Scale It Method Podcast

If you have ever wondered why some environments drain you while others bring you fully online, this conversation will land.Entrepreneur and author Nigel Bennett has spent decades building high performing companies while navigating ADD and dyslexia, challenges that many entrepreneurs quietly share. Over time, he discovered that the key was not trying to eliminate those traits, but building systems that allow their strengths to work in your favor.In this conversation, Mike Desjardins and Nigel explore what happens when identity, work, and pressure collide. Nigel shares a defining moment early in his career that forced a difficult decision: leave the path he was on or stay and risk losing himself in it.Nigel Bennett is the author of Take That Leap: Risking It All for What Really Matters. He has been a member of MIT’s Gathering of Titans for over a decade, the Entrepreneurs’ Organization for nearly two decades, and received the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Distinguished Alumni Award. His company has also received multiple innovation awards for breakthroughs in oil spill response technology.Together, they unpack Nigel’s GIFT model for ADD, Gratitude, Ignore, Focus, Test, and explore why confidence is often built through experimentation, repetition, and supportive routines rather than certainty.In this episode, you will learn:• A turning point moment that changed Nigel’s career direction• Why ADD can become a strength when you build around it• The GIFT model: Gratitude, Ignore, Focus, Test• How fear decreases through repetition and practice• Why rest is a performance strategy, not a reward• A morning routine that supports nervous system stability and better decisionsEpisode Resources:Nigel Bennett’s GIFT ADD model linkNigel Bennett’s book, Take a LeapBCIT alumni article featuring Nigel’s story

This special episode brings together some of the most meaningful moments from past conversations on nervous system regulation, purpose, and leadership, woven into one cohesive guide for staying ambitious without losing yourself.Drawing from episodes with Lee Holden, Dr. David B. Wolf, Lynn Sumida, Anna Brooks, and Lisa Dion, we explore what it really means to move from have, do, be to be, do, have. Instead of chasing goals to feel worthy, this conversation invites you to let your goals become an expression of who you already are.Along the way, we unpack how the nervous system shapes our decisions, relationships, and leadership presence, why connection creates a deeper sense of safety than control, and how purpose is often something we notice rather than something we force.Featured conversations includeLee Holden on energy, emotion, and how shifting your internal state changes how you show upDr. David B. Wolf on becoming before achieving and redefining success from the inside outLynn Sumida on hidden patterns, protection, and the nervous system’s role in self sabotageAnna Brooks on what regulation really means and why curiosity only lives in a grounded stateLisa Dion on leadership as borrowing a nervous system and creating safety in teamsIn this episode, we exploreThe shift from have, do, be to be, do, haveWhy big achievements can still feel hollow and how to change that patternWhat nervous system regulation actually is and what it is notHow connection creates safety in leadership and relationshipsPractical ways to return to presence when you feel activated or stuckWhy purpose often reveals itself through joy, energy, and alignmentReflection questionsWhat goal am I chasing that I am hoping will finally make me feel enoughIf my goals were an expression of who I am instead of proof of worth, what would changeWhere in my life could I lead with more presence instead of pressureIf you have ever reached a milestone and wondered why it does not feel the way you thought it would, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and remember that the journey is the goal.

Your resume can look strong while your inner world is still reacting to old patterns.In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Susan Schmitt Winchester, executive coach and co-author of Healing at Work, to explore how early experiences shape the way we respond to authority, stress, and conflict at work.With over 36 years of corporate leadership experience, including serving as Chief HR Officer for Applied Materials and Rockwell Automation, Susan now helps leaders address the unconscious beliefs and stress responses that influence performance, culture, and relationships.Together, they unpack:Why reactions at work can feel bigger than the momentHow perfectionism and people pleasing develop as protection strategiesPractical tools to create more choice under pressureA powerful shift from judgment to compassion in leadershipIf you have ever wondered why certain situations activate you more than they should, this conversation offers clarity and practical next steps.Episode Resources:Susan: Website / LinkedInTackling Perfectionism at Work (Tedx talk) Healing at Work

Your story isn’t the truth of who you are. It’s a map of your soul’s curriculum.In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Celinne da Costa, author, speaker, and master coach who helps high-achieving leaders rewrite the invisible narratives shaping their decisions, influence, and impact. Celinne is a transformational leadership coach who helps high-achieving leaders bridge their inner truth with outer expression. Through her unique blend of neuroscience, subconscious reprogramming, and storytelling expertise, she guides CEOs, executives, and visionary professionals to lead with authentic magnetism and create meaningful impact. Her holistic approach has empowered Fortune 150 executives and industry leaders to communicate with confidence, lead with purpose, and build influential legacies. A licensed NeuroChange Solutions consultant under Dr. Joe Dispenza and featured expert in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider, Celinne's mission is to guide leaders in creating positive change by living, leading, and communicating from deep soul alignment.Celinne’s work blends deep inner transformation with practical tools. Drawing from modalities like NLP and hypnotherapy, she helps executives move out of survival mode and back into conscious choice. At the center of this conversation is a powerful idea: your life keeps repeating the lesson until you integrate it.Together, Mike and Celinne explore:• Why the map is not the territory• How old identity stories hijack leaders in high-stakes rooms• What it takes to neutralize emotional charge so you can respond rather than react• The shift from “I’m becoming” to “I choose that I am” and why that language mattersCelinne also shares the origin story behind her upcoming book, The Burning Ground — a ten-year journey that began when she left a prestigious New York life, couch-surfed across 18 countries, stayed with 70 strangers, and consciously dismantled the identity she had built in order to discover what remained underneath.This episode is about identity, alignment, and the courage to lead from who you truly are — not from who you were conditioned to be.Episode Resources:Celinne Da Costa: Website / Substack / Facebook PageSonosPeloton