Mitchell Levy Presents Podcast

Burnout, anxiety, and stress are realities for so many professionals today. The pressure to perform, the endless distractions, and the belief that rest is a luxury often lead us to ignore our own well-being. But what if the answer isn’t in working harder but in slowing down? Mindfulness offers a path back to balance, clarity, and humanity. For Max Schneider, this realization came after years in co...

Immigration is one of the most life-changing journeys a person can face, filled with stress, uncertainty, and hope. For many, the process feels overwhelming, with rules and requirements that can shape or shatter their future. Behind every form and legal step is a human story, a family trying to stay together, a professional pursuing opportunity, or someone seeking safety and freedom. It’s not just...

Introduction Welcome to Leaders Living Their Values, where we go beyond the surface to explore how today’s changemakers lead with heart, alignment, and authenticity. In this episode, global credibility expert Mitchell Levy is joined by Jeremy Lessaris, a purpose-driven entrepreneur who has started nearly 50 ventures. Together, they explore how leaders can stop surviving and start designing lives t...

In this new episode, blue-collar entrepreneur Ken Rusk shares his remarkable journey from digging ditches to building a successful construction company with over 200 employees. Ken discusses his unique approach to business, leadership, and personal development, emphasizing the power of vision, goal-setting, and empowering employees to achieve their dreams. Summary: We discuss Ken's philosophy of h...

Introduction In this episode of Leaders Living Their Values , global credibility expert Mitchell Levy interviews Jeff Burningham, serial entrepreneur, former gubernatorial candidate, professor, and author of the upcoming book The Last Book Written by a Human . Jeff discusses his journey from building billion-dollar companies to running for governor, and how losing that race during the pandemic gav...

Toxic workplaces don’t always show up with yelling or obvious drama—sometimes it’s the subtle stuff, like favoritism, lack of trust, or leaders who only look out for themselves. Over time, that kind of environment wears people down, making them dread showing up even if they once loved the work. The worst part is watching good ideas and team spirit get crushed under office politics. It’s hard not t...

So much of today’s marketing feels cold—automated messages, generic ads, endless funnels that all sound the same. It’s like companies are more focused on clicks than conversations, chasing short-term wins over real loyalty. People notice when they’re being treated like a data point, and they tune out fast. The brands that actually stick are the ones that speak like humans, not sales machines, and...

There’s a weird kind of tension that builds when you know you’re capable of more, but things just aren’t clicking the way they should. You watch other people hit milestones, make moves, and part of you feels inspired—while another part feels left behind. It’s not always about talent or effort; sometimes it’s just timing, access, or mindset that shifts things. But that gap between who you are and w...

There’s this unspoken trade-off a lot of entrepreneurs make—more growth means less time, less sleep, less presence at home. You convince yourself it’s temporary, that the hustle now will pay off later, but “later” keeps moving further out. The business gets your best hours while your body, your relationships, and your peace take the hit. It’s not that the work doesn’t matter, but it starts to stin...

It’s strange how easy it is to settle into a version of yourself that doesn’t quite feel right, but feels safe. You tell yourself you’re doing fine, even when something deep down keeps nudging at you—reminding you that you’re playing small. The hard parts of your past don’t disappear, but they start to shape how you see yourself, sometimes in ways that quietly keep you stuck. It’s not always about...

Most people don't realize how in the dark they are about their own health until something goes wrong. We track our spending, our credit, even our screen time—yet we leave our most important system, our bodies, unchecked. It’s not that we don’t care, but that we’ve made routine health monitoring feel distant and reactive. If health indicators were as clear and accessible as credit scores, a lot of...

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the work itself—it’s what’s going on beneath the surface. That quiet voice telling you you’re not ready, not good enough, or not the kind of person who makes it. It doesn’t always show up loudly, but it shapes how you show up in every room, every pitch, every decision. Most people don’t even realize how much of their life is being run by fear they’ve never named. A...

It’s strange how the more advanced our tools become, the more distant people can feel. Emerging leaders find themselves in a spot where emotional intelligence matters just as much—if not more—than technical know-how. Technology may be fast, but it can’t replace eye contact, honest conversations, or a leader who actually listens. In a world flooded with automation, the ones who stand out are those...

There’s something powerful about a company that sees its success as a chance to lift others up. When giving becomes part of the mission—not just a line item—it changes how people show up to work. Employees feel seen, not just used. Leaders who care beyond the bottom line often create spaces where real connection can happen, and in turn, that energy feeds the business too. It’s not charity—it’s a s...

It’s exhausting to constantly measure yourself by what others think, always trying to hit some invisible mark of approval. That pressure to be perfect, to perform just right, can slowly wear you down and make even your biggest dreams feel like they’re slipping further away. Sometimes the more we chase recognition, the more disconnected we become from what we actually care about. Letting go of that...

It’s strange how easy it is to fall into routines that feel safe but slowly drain your sense of meaning. People chase what they’re told will make them happy—titles, paychecks, approval—without ever stopping to ask what they actually care about. Over time, that quiet discomfort grows louder, showing up as stress, boredom, or a nagging feeling that something’s off. The hardest part isn’t finding som...

Something as ordinary as mowing a lawn can turn into something massive when the right idea meets a real need. Most people see yard work as a chore, but some saw it as a chance to connect homeowners with hard-working crews in a smart, simple way. It’s not just about cutting grass—it’s about creating a better way to do business, where the little guy actually gets a shot. Sometimes the best ideas gro...

Financial stress has a way of creeping into everything—your sleep, your relationships, even how you see your own future. For many people, wealth feels like something distant, something other people get to build. But when money is put to work with intention, it can start shaping more than just today—it can create options, security, and impact that lasts well beyond one lifetime. It’s not just about...

Leadership often feels like a relentless drive to do more, fix more, and push harder—but that constant motion can create a disconnect. The irony is that real influence doesn’t come from always having the answers; it comes from paying attention, from actually hearing what people need. When leaders shift from commanding to understanding, their impact deepens, and their teams become more engaged. Som...

A lot of people in leadership roles find themselves going through the motions—busy, reactive, and unsure why their teams aren’t fully engaged. What they’re often missing is a sense of clarity and intention, the kind that comes from learning to think and act with purpose under pressure. High-stakes environments have a way of stripping away the fluff and forcing focus on what truly matters. When tha...

For many entrepreneurs, success isn’t just about profit—it’s about building something meaningful without compromising who they are. But when money is tight and pressure mounts, sticking to core values can feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. The ones who make it through aren’t just the smartest or the most strategic—they’re the ones who refuse to trade integrity for short-term gains. In the...

Trust and authenticity in a workplace don’t happen by accident—they come from leaders who consistently show up with honesty, transparency, and a willingness to listen. When priorities start to compete, it’s easy for communication to slip or for employees to feel like numbers instead of people. The best leaders keep trust intact by being clear about challenges, making space for real conversations,...

Leadership can be exhausting when it feels like no one notices the effort you put into guiding and developing others. In a results-driven world, investing in people is often dismissed as secondary to hitting targets and chasing profits. But real leadership isn’t about immediate recognition—it’s about long-term impact. The quiet influence you have today shapes the culture, confidence, and success o...

Feeling trapped in a career that drains you isn’t just about the long hours or difficult tasks—it’s about the disconnect between what you do and who you are. When your job feels like a constant uphill battle, it seeps into every part of your life, leaving you exhausted and uninspired. But what if work could be more than just a paycheck? Imagine waking up each day with a sense of purpose, knowing y...

When you’re building a business, the line between work and life blurs fast, and it often feels like there’s never enough time for both. The pressure to keep things running, grow, and stay ahead can make it hard to step away, even when you know you should. But constantly being "on" can drain the passion that made you start in the first place. The real challenge isn’t just managing time—it’s figurin...