LeanMind

You did everything you were supposed to do. Built the career. Created the business. Achieved the goals. So why does it feel like something is missing? In this episode, Ben explores the hidden transition many founders, leaders and creatives encounter in midlife. Using the metaphor of the tide, he reveals why periods of uncertainty, drift and loss of direction may not be problems to solve, but invit...

When business feels uncertain, most founders and leaders focus on growth, strategy and working harder. But what if the bigger problem is a leaky tank? In this episode of LeanMind, Ben explores how scarcity thinking, pressure and hidden need can quietly shape our conversations, leadership and decision making. Drawing on conversations with business owners, coaching insights and a simple daily practi...

In this episode of Lean Mind , Ben Johnson explores the hidden beliefs, outdated stories, and calcified habits we cling to — and what it might mean to start letting go. Using insights from football managers and nature itself, Ben invites thoughtful leaders, founders, and creatives to consider: where in life or work are you gripping too tight? And what might grow if you had the courage to cut some...

In this episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser , Ben Johnson explores a powerful question: to collaborate or to compete? Drawing on the rivalries of tennis greats Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and cycling legends Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, Ben reflects on the moments of respect, appreciation — even love — that transcend winning. He reveals how these examples from elite sport hold lessons f...

Caught in a thought loop? Overthinking a decision, problem, or conversation—again? This episode explores why trying to “outthink thinking” only fuels mental overload, and what to do instead. Ben Johnson shares grounded tools from the LeanMind approach to help you shift out of overwhelm, regulate your emotional state, and access real clarity. Drawing on Buddhist wisdom, Einstein’s creativity, and r...

What if chasing isn’t the answer? In this soul-reset of an episode, Ben Johnson explores the hidden cost of constant striving — for new roles, clients, success, or simply relief from overwhelm. Drawing from the quiet wisdom of walking meditation, Polynesian wayfinding, and even an unforgettable tale involving a raft and testicles (!), Ben offers a grounded alternative to the modern chase: a postur...

What do a 20-year career, a 50-mile bike ride, a silent retreat, and a 14-year-old’s nosebleed have in common? In this episode, Ben Johnson explores the universal experience of the messy middle — the often-overlooked phase where early momentum fades and the real growth begins. Through personal stories and grounded reflections, Ben reveals how long journeys (in work, life, or on two wheels) call us...

In today’s episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben explores the hidden force that often blocks our personal and professional growth — our money stories. Whether you're aiming to grow a business or step into more meaningful work, these deeply ingrained beliefs about money can silently influence your decisions, your sense of worth, and your willingness to take bold steps. Ben shares personal refl...

Are you teetering on the edge of change? Whether it’s your role, your company, your relationship—or simply the quiet sense that *this chapter is over*—this short reset is for you. Ben explores: * Why so many leaders hit an inflection point around year 3, 5, or 10 in their company life cycle  * What the natural rhythm of “death and rebirth” means for your work and life * How to respond wisely inste...

In this reflective episode, Ben Johnson shares a powerful train encounter that sparks a meditation on father-son relationships, emotional legacy, and the subtle forces shaping how we show up in stressful moments, at work or home. From Zen monk Haemin Sunim to regenerative thinker Giles Hutchins, Ben explores the tension between hot-headed reactions, cold withdrawal, and the grounded clarity of the...

You’ve met the voice in your head. You’ve named it— “I see you, Mara.” Now comes the harder bit: meeting it with kindness. In this final part of the Know it, Name it, Love it series, Ben shares what it really means to love that inner critic—not with grand gestures, but with grounded, daily rituals that shift your chemistry, build your capacity, and grow your happy. We talk about resetting after th...

Welcome to Clearer, Calmer, Wiser — a short daily reset for thoughtful men navigating leadership, life, and family with strength and humility. In this episode, the second of a two parter, Ben Johnson explores the subtle sabotage of the inner voice — the one that undermines your choices, fuels procrastination, and echoes past criticisms. Drawing on Buddhist wisdom and lessons from elite athletes li...

This episode of Clearer Calmer Wiser is for thoughtful people who lead with strength and humility, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by self-doubt, procrastination, or pressure to get everything right. Ben introduces “Mara,” the ancient Buddhist name for that internal voice that creeps in at 3:42 a.m. or triggers anxiety before tough decisions. Through grounded tools and stories—from executive client...

In this episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben explores how to stay grounded when someone else's anxiety triggers your own. Whether you're facing tension at work, unpredictability in a new venture, or chaos at home, this episode introduces one simple but powerful tool: just three breaths. Learn how to interrupt reactive spirals, return to clarity and calm, and lead wisely—even when it feels like e...

In this episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben shares a follow up simple tool for calm leadership, emotional regulation, and clear thinking under pressure. Using the metaphor of "Redhead vs. Bluehead" — impulsive reaction versus cool calculation — he offers practical ways to manage stress, improve communication skills, and handle difficult conversations. Building on the "WAIT"...

In this episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben shares simple tools for calm leadership, emotional regulation, and clear thinking under pressure. Using the metaphor of "Redhead vs. Bluehead" — impulsive reaction versus cool calculation — he offers practical ways to manage stress, improve communication skills, and handle difficult conversations. Learn the "WAIT" method ("Why...

Today’s episode is a raw, honest moment from Ben — struggling to record the podcast itself became the very topic of reflection. What do you do when you're stuck, when your plans won’t take shape, when the puzzle pieces won’t click? For Ben, the answer became clear in the midst of the fog: just start . This is a short, grounding reset for thoughtful men — especially those navigating leadership,...

In this episode of Clearer, Calmer, Wiser, Ben explores how to stay grounded amidst a relentless stream of daily stress—what one friend calls “an endless stream of minor catastrophes.” Through the lens of a Real Madrid vs Arsenal football match, Ben reflects on the balance between frantic redhead energy and cool bluehead clarity, and why the sweet spot between them—what the Buddha might call the “...

What if the path to better leadership and more meaningful connection wasn’t in doing more, but in doing differently? In this episode, Ben explores the power of presence and the courage it takes to sit with discomfort rather than rush to fix it. Drawing on Buddhist principles and the work of performance psychologist Dr. Ceri Evans, he shares how finding the “middle way” between effort and ease can...

What happens when success feels hollow? In this deeply personal episode, Ben shares the origin story behind LeanMind — a tale of two parallel tracks: external success and inner seeking. After a transformative business win, an unexpected thought ("maybe my work here is done") sparked a quiet shift. What followed was a journey through Buddhism, Taoism, meditation, and discomfort — toward a...

When money gets tight, we often push harder—on ourselves, on others, on sales. But what if that pressure is sending out all the wrong signals? In this episode, we unpack how your early wiring still shapes how you show up today—at work, in sales, in life. You'll hear why your 'need' might be making you harder to buy, and what to do instead. We offer a ritual— Breathe. Love. Go. —just fo...

I am prone to 3.42am wake ups. Or I am when I don't take care of something else later (or earlier?) in the day. In this podcast, Ben shares a practise and focus for 3.42pm which will help you sleep easier through the 3.42am worry shop. Enjoy. All the tools we share here are available over at LeanMind . Head on over and check them out.

In this unexpectedly brilliant reflection on football, flailing arms, and personal growth, Ben takes us from the drama of a Declan Rice free kick to the deeper tension between control and creativity. Why does the rise of the “set piece coach” irritate him so much? And what does that say about the hidden stories and triggers shaping his own actions — and maybe yours too? This episode is a lesson in...

A friend told me of his wish to taste simplicity on the other side of complicated. Managing, cajoling, marshalling the stuff of our work and home life is complicated. In this episode we share a tool which will help you find the signal amindst the noise of your work; to help you taste simplicity on the other side of complexity. Consider this a gift from me to you, via many wiser heads and hearts be...

Try to hit the ball less hard to create a more powerful serve. Today's lilte gift comes to you from the tennis court. You'll learn about the difference between focus and effort. And why the former wins and the latter loses - and what you can do about it. Head on over to LeanMind to join the community of people practising around these tools and teachings.