The Happiest CEO Podcast

From a Passion For Surfing to a Global Business

In this episode of The Happiest CEO Show, we sit down with Nathan Folkes, founder of MojoSurf, one of Australia’s most iconic surf and adventure companies. What started in 1998 as a passionate, roaming surf lifestyle became an international business helping thousands of people catch their first wave across Australia, Bali/Indonesia, Portugal and beyond.Nathan shares the real story behind building MojoSurf — from leaving school at 14, carpentry trade life, and launching a “totally rogue” pop-up surf trip from Sydney to Byron, to scaling a complex multi-location operation built on fun, freedom, and community. We also dive into the less glamorous realities of growth: cashflow pressure, hiring the right people, and learning to outsource your weaknesses before they swallow your passion.Then comes the wild pivot: when COVID hit and tourism stopped overnight, Nathan and the team had to adapt or disappear — transforming their resources (beds, buses, and a whole lot of grit) into a large-scale accommodation and transport solution supporting Pacific Island workers in Australia’s farms. That unexpected chapter sparked something bigger: a long-term commitment to Pacific communities, sustainability, and responsible tourism — including projects in Indonesia and exploratory work in places like the Solomon Islands.This is a conversation about adaptation, resilience, purpose-led growth, and what it really takes to build a business that still feels like you.What You’ll Hear In This EpisodeSurfing as a metaphor for business: timing, persistence, and “paddling out the back”How MojoSurf began: a phone, a cartoon brochure, and a bus headed northThe truth about scaling: staff culture, systems, and outsourcing your weak spotsSustainability + responsibility: “people, planet, purpose, profit”The COVID pivot: from surf camps to supporting farm workforces and Pacific communitiesLessons from “failing forward” — and why showing up matters more than perfectionNathan’s best advice: “Keep breathing. Find a way.”Nathan Folkes — Founder, MojoSurfLearn more: www.mojosurf.com

From Burnout to Blue Brint: How To Design an Exceptional Life

What does it really mean to live — and lead — an exceptional life?In this episode of The Happiest CEO Podcast, Sebastian chats with Marcus Pearce — speaker, author, podcaster, and co-host of the globally acclaimed 100 Not Out: Mastering the Art of Ageing Well — for a powerful conversation about purpose, performance, and redefining success.Marcus’s journey is anything but ordinary. From a high-pressure career in elite sports media (Channel Nine, AFL Footy Show, Olympic Games, World Cups) to becoming one of Australia’s most trusted voices in health, wellbeing, and personal growth, Marcus shares the wake-up calls that reshaped his life — and how leaders can avoid burning out while building something meaningful.We explore:Why exceptional standards matter more than chasing balanceHow CEOs can design a life that supports long-term energy, health, and happinessLessons from 400+ conversations with the world’s greatest “graceful agers”What business leaders can learn from longevity cultures like IkariaHow to make the rest of your life the best of your life — without sacrificing ambitionThis episode is a must-listen for founders, CEOs, and high performers who want success that actually feels good — now and in the decades to come.🎧 Listen in and discover how to build a business, a body, and a life that truly lasts.

Exploring Hypnosis & Higher Mind States with Boris Walter

In this expansive and soul-stirring episode of The Happiest CEO, host Sebastian invites Boris Walter: a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and spiritual mind guide, to share his transformational journey from life as a boilermaker to becoming a deeply attuned practitioner of healing and consciousness work. Boris opens up about the pivotal shifts that led him from high-risk industrial environments into the world of emotional and spiritual healing. Rooted in both science and the unseen realms, his work bridges psychology with spiritual insight, offering clients—from everyday individuals to corporate leaders—a path toward authenticity, inner peace, and expanded awareness. The conversation explores hypnosis, past-life regression, the nature of consciousness, and how our beliefs shape reality. Boris speaks candidly about navigating skepticism, engaging with ancient wisdom, and accessing profound non-ordinary states of awareness. His reflections on trauma, reincarnation, soul evolution, and energetic healing challenge listeners to question the limits of their perception and embrace the full spectrum of human experience. Topics Covered: Healing trauma through hypnosis and visualization The role of belief, free will, and dharma Reincarnation, life reviews, and the Akashic Records Working with dying clients and witnessing the “Light” Encountering oversouls, entities, and psychic phenomena The role of humility and flexibility in personal growth Connect with Boris Walter: 🌐 Website: boriswalter.com 📷 Instagram: @boriswalterofficial ❇️ About the Podcast The Happiest CEO explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, creativity, healing, and consciousness. Through honest conversations with thought leaders, healers, and innovators, the show delves into how inner transformation can shape outer success—and how purpose-driven leadership begins from within. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If this episode resonated with you, leave a review or share it with someone exploring the edges of consciousness and personal growth.

Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Life with Charley O'Halloran

In this illuminating episode of The Happiest CEO Podcast, Sebastian sits down with gut health educator and functional practitioner Charley O’Halloran, founder of Holistic Gut Health. Known for his popular educational content on Instagram and TikTok, Charley shares how his own battles with chronic fatigue, anxiety, and poor digestion led him to discover the power of functional medicine and holistic gut repair. This conversation goes far beyond digestion. Charley unpacks the deeper systems often overlooked in modern health conversations — from the gut–brain axis to emotional trauma’s impact on the microbiome. He explains why true gut healing requires more than just supplements or fiber, and outlines a systems-based approach that includes nervous system regulation, bloodwork analysis, and personalized lifestyle shifts. Listeners will walk away with a fresh understanding of what gut health really is — and how healing it can unlock profound improvements in energy, sleep, clarity, and mood. Topics Covered: Charley’s journey from personal trainer to gut health educator The myths of “just take a probiotic” or “eat more fiber” Top 5 pillars of gut health: light, thought patterns, eating rituals, community, and sleep The impact of alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and snacking on gut lining and bacteria Rethinking fasting, meal timing, and mindful eating Connect with Charley O’Halloran 🌐 Linktree 🎓 Gut Health Hub on Skool ❇️ About the Podcast The Happiest CEO is a podcast for entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders who want to thrive in body, mind, and mission. Host Sebastian explores the habits, frameworks, and philosophies that support sustainable success — from gut health and mindset to creative purpose and conscious leadership. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If this episode helped you rethink your approach to health and energy, please rate and review the podcast. Share it with someone navigating burnout or looking to optimize from the inside out.

The Life-Changing Power of Breath with John Stamoulos

In this transformative episode of the Happiest CEO, Sebastian speaks with internationally renowned breathwork trainer John Stamoulos, a pioneer in conscious connected breathing. With over 30 years of experience, John has worked across the globe guiding individuals through profound emotional healing, trauma release, and personal breakthroughs using nothing but the breath. Together, Sebastian and John explore the astonishing power of breathwork to surface hidden traumas, release emotional blockages, and restore presence and vitality. John shares the foundational principles behind conscious connected breathing and explains why this modality can unlock transformation even without needing to "talk through" trauma. Their conversation journeys through birth trauma, ancestral patterns, and how repressed energy, when given space through breath, can finally be felt, moved, and integrated. This episode also dives into the safety, ethics, and integrity of breathwork, offering essential guidance on how to find a qualified practitioner. John emphasizes how breathwork must be trauma-informed, consent-based, and practitioner-guided to ensure lasting healing without re-traumatization. Topics Covered: What conscious connected breathing really is—and why it’s so powerful How the breath bypasses the thinking mind to surface and heal unconscious wounds The science and mystery of how birth and early childhood trauma shapes our lives Why breathwork doesn’t need to be dramatic to be effective Group vs. individual breathwork and how intention impacts outcomes The critical role of ethics, safety, and practitioner training in breathwork John's personal healing story and how it led to global breathwork leadership The return to presence, embodiment, and community as paths to healing Resources Mentioned: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay The Australian Breathwork Association Global Professional Breathwork Alliance John’s book: Breathing Into a New Life Connect with John Stamoulos: 🌐 Website: johnstamoulos.com 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lei.breathwork/ ❇️ About the Podcast The Happiest CEO invites listeners into honest, reflective conversations about healing, creativity, and living with emotional depth. Host Sebastian Mierau explores the intersection of wellness, self-inquiry, and transformation—unpacking the tools and insights that empower a more connected, intentional life. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If this episode moved you, leave a review or share it with someone seeking healing. Your breath might just be the doorway they’ve been waiting for.