#16: Thinking Patterns of CEOs, Tech Founders, and the Top 0.01% | Dr. Julie Gurner

Dr. Julie Gurner has a two-year waiting list. The Wall Street Journal calls her the real-life Wendy Rhoades (the psychologist from the show Billions). Though her clients are CEOs, founders, billionaires, and elite operators, she actually started her career inside a supermax prison. In this episode, Michael Easter sits down with Dr. Julie Gurner to unpack what actually separates the top 0.01% from everyone else: audacity, what-if-it-goes-right thinking, and using anger as fuel. She also explains why "be humble" might be the worst career advice you have ever received. Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today’s episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. This episode was edited by Ryan Mulhern. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager. GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI. GO TO https://www.twopct.com AND ENTER YOUR EMAIL. I share similar insights around health and wellness here:https://substack.com/@michaeleasterhttps://instagram.com/michael_easter/https://linkedin.com/in/michael-easter-b208848/https://facebook.com/easter.michaelhttps://tiktok.com/@michael_easter6https://x.com/Michael_Easter — CHAPTERS — 00:00:00 - Cold open & intro 00:01:47 - From Supermax Prison to billionaires: Julie's origin 00:08:49 - Audacity, imaginary rules, the side path 00:11:10 - What if it goes right? 00:14:11 - The repetitive reflex 00:19:06 - Haunting agitation: the whisper that becomes a scream 00:25:18 - Why money does buy happiness 00:27:57 - Survival mode and the J.K. Rowling story 00:30:59 - Helping people get out of their own way 00:33:28 - In defense of billionaires 00:35:49 - Stoicism's blind spot: anger as fuel 00:38:14 - Bezos got laughed at for wanting to go to space 00:40:13 - Losing a dog, loving fleeting things 00:42:57 - Why "be humble" is bad advice 00:45:36 - Reframe, lean into your quirky self 00:50:12 - Farmhouse in Amish country: the cognitive break 00:52:42 - The moment that unlocked Julie's range of vision 00:56:28 - The whole game is exposure 00:57:18 - Five years from now