Liberatory Business with Simone Seol

If you've ever felt like all you're doing is regurgitating other people's ideas or repackaging your teacher's frameworks, this one is for you. Your original thinking has never mattered more, and I'm going to teach you how to have more original ideas.Listen to hear more about:Why the world needs your thought leadership now — especially if you've been marginalized by existing power structuresWhat original ideas actually feel like in your body (hint: it's not angels singing)The everyday genius move your brain is already doing that you've been ignoringWhy the people with the most distinctive points of view aren't thinking more — they're doing this 10 times moreReady to be more original? Let's go.

If you've ever called yourself lazy, or wondered what's wrong with you for not being able to just sit down and do the thing — this episode is for you.What if "procrastination" is just the wrong word for what you're actually doing? Maisie Cheong and I talk about:Why we internalize the identity of "procrastinator"What invisible work is, why it matters — and what our ancestors knew about itWhy the people who are always busy "getting things done" might be the least equipped to handle what's comingHow to get higher quality work out of yourself by changing the way you talk to yoruself______Connect with MaisieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatmaisiesaidWebsite: https://www.maisiecheong.com/

This is my love to courageous ones everywhere.People aren't just listening to what you say.They're listening to how you're saying it.If you're saying something that's worth saying... whatever it is, say it with your full chest. Say it like you believe yourself.It matters. 

Why is the deepest business wisdom you can find NOT in an online course?That's because it lives in Asian noodle stalls, kitchen hair salons, and family businesses run by aunties and uncles who've never heard of Canva. Let's learn from the quiet, unglamorous experts who've been turning high margins for decades.Listen to hear more about:Why the businesses that look like the "before" picture might actually be the "after" — and what that reveals about what we've been chasingThe four lessons that traditional family businesses can teach us that most online business advice directly contradictsHow a store owner managing 3,000 SKUs from memory and extending credit to 200 families exposes the limits of "relationship marketing"What my always-overbooked, never-online mother-in-law knows about demand that most funnel strategies get completely backwardsSo many of us are ignoring the people who've been quietly building generational wealth without a branding consultant in sight. This episode is your invitation to apprentice yourself to a much older, much wiser tradition of business.

I'm sitting down with two of my closest friends, and most effective pray-ers I know: Joey Liu and Danny Lim.We're talking about how to understand prayer NOT as the performative, begging, outcome-obsessed version so many of us grew up with, but as a powerful spiritual technology. Listen to hear more about:Why the version of prayer most of us inherited might be the very thing standing between us and what we actually wantHow to pray from power instead of desperation — and why the difference changes everythingDanny's $300K prayer story — what he asked for, what he didn't ask for, and what happened nextWhat it means to pray to something that was never separate from you in the first placeSo many of us are starving for a spiritual practice that feels true — not inherited guilt, not empty ritual, but something that actually moves things. This episode is an invitation back to that.______Connect with Danny: https://dannybunny.co/Connect with Joey: https://drjoeyliu.com/

My brother Billy Seol — software engineer, and Buddhist life coach — is one of the sharpest thinkers I know. And he has thoughts about AI I haven't seen anywhere else that really enlightened me, and I wanted to share them with you.Listen to hear more about:How we are exiting the Creative Age, and entering the Generative AgeThe new group of people who will be marginalized by AI, and how we should protect themHow AI is being shaped by the Buddhist idea of karma, both at the individual and social levelsMeasures we can take to reduce our digital footprintIf you've been trying to figure out how to be a conscious, ethical human being in this moment, I think you're gonna love this episode.______Connect with Billy Seol at: https://www.julylifecoach.com/

This is part 2 of a two-part series with Tallulah Le Merle — one of the most respected leaders at the intersection of AI and humanity. In this final episode, we talk about the impact of AI on the environment and mental health, where I think Tallulah makes her most powerful case for hope yet.Listen to hear more about:Why AI's environmental impact might be the opposite of what the headlines are telling youHow AI is helping us listen to the natural world in ways we've never been able to before (and what that might mean for how we treat it)The question Tallulah asks about mental health and AI that Silicon Valley is almost entirely ignoring — and why the answer could change everything_______Connect with Tallulah Le Merle LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tallulahlemerle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaseforhope Her book: https://www.tallulahlemerle.com/impact

There is no shortage of voices weighing in on AI right now, and a lot of them are scared. I was too, honestly. Then I heard a talk by one of the most respected leaders at the intersection of AI and humanity, and it cracked me wide open. I'm bringing that conversation to you today — in two parts. This is part one.Listen to hear about:Why AI disrupting the job market might not be the tragedy we think it is — and what it could make possible insteadHow AI is forcing the education system to finally ask the question it should have been asking all alongWhat we've been calling "intelligence" — and why that definition must evolveThe forms of knowing your ancestors had that got conditioned out of us — and why this moment might be the one that brings them backSo many of us are trying to find our footing in a world that feels like it's shifting beneath us. This episode offers a case for hope that is grounded, rigorous, and — I promise — genuinely soul-filling._____Connect with Tallulah Le Merle LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tallulahlemerle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaseforhope Her book: https://www.tallulahlemerle.com/impact

If the economy is supposedly in the shitter, why is consumer spending at an all-time high? Let's look at the data behind the scarcity narrative that's been shrinking many businesses.Listen to hear more about:The uncomfortable question hiding behind "people can't afford my prices"What your ideal client is actually choosing between The difference between extraction and circulation, and what it actually looks like to care about access without depleting yourselfIf you've been contracting your prices, your offers, and your energy around a scarcity story that doesn't match reality — this episode is the honest, data-backed wake-up call you didn't know you needed.

As someone who's spent her whole life feeling like a misfit for having too many interests and not enough specialization, I'm inviting you to reconsider everything you've been told about what makes you valuable — because the world is about to need your kind of brain more than ever.Listen to hear more about:What a $380 billion AI company actually looks for when they hire Why the strange, non-linear path that made you feel like you don't fit anywhere might be the exact thing that makes you an industry inventorThe difference between knowledge that machines can replicate and the kind of thinking that people can feel How to stop hiding your multidisciplinary brain and start building a body of work before the world catches up to youIf you've ever been told you're too much, too eclectic, too hard to pin down — this episode is your permission slip to stop shrinking and start treating those cross-pollinating connections as exactly what they are: the raw material for a future that hasn't been invented yet.

If you've ever sat in a coaching session and felt like the framework was useful but somehow too small, too constricting, like something essential was being left out... I'm inviting you to find out what that something is, and where it went.Listen to hear more about:The centuries-old philosophical tradition that every life coach is operating inside of without knowing it — and the specific blind spots it createdWhat European philosophers actually encountered in the Americas that catalyzed their most famous ideas (and why that history was deliberately suppressed)Why "What do you want?" might be the most loaded question in coaching — and what it assumes about who you areWhat a coaching practice rooted in ancestral wisdom could look like, and why the coming world is going to demand itIf you've been sensing that the relentless focus on individual goals, linear progress, and mindset isn't quite enough — that something older and deeper is asking to be honored in your work — this episode is my attempt to give you the language and the lineage for what you already know.

As I turned 40 recently, I started asking myself what the single biggest lesson of my thirties was — and the answer surprised me. It wasn't a business strategy or a mindset shift. It was about the importance of self-respect in relationships.Listen to hear more about:The difference between self-confidence, self-love, and self-respect What it looks like when someone loves you without needing to control, validate, or fix youThe quiet, almost invisible moments that told me something fundamental had shifted inside meIf you've been pouring yourself into relationships — romantic, professional, friendships — and wondering why some of them feel so heavy while others feel so free, this episode might show you what's actually making the difference.

You've been told that confidence is an inside job — go inward, believe in yourself, hype yourself up, and then go do the thing. But what if that kind of confidence is fragile and incomplete? In this episode, I'm offering a fundamentally different model of confidence — one that you don't have to generate at all.Listen to hear more about:The critical lesson that The Lion King (yes, the Disney movie) teaches about confidence that the entire self-help industry gets wrongThe difference between individualistic confidence and relational confidenceA concrete practice for the next time you're about to do something scaryIf you've been white-knuckling your way through "I believe in myself" and wondering why it never quite holds, this episode will show you what will.

I'm turning 40, and I could not be more excited about it. I LOVE getting older.As I reflected on this milestone, I realized there are four things I'm officially done carrying into this next chapter.If you're at any kind of threshold — 30, 40, 50, or otherwise — this episode is an invitation to ask yourself what you're finally ready to put down, and leave in your past.

Here is a completely different way to think about pricing — one that has nothing to do with industry norms or value propositions, and everything to do with what your ancestors planted inside you and what it actually requires to steward that.Listen to hear more about:Why the conventional pricing conversation is missing the most important part of the pictureThe question your ancestors would ask if they saw your current price tag The invisible costs of underpricingHow to tell the difference between a real ethical concern and a fear dressed up in the language of justiceIf you have any suspicion you might be undercharging, this episode will give you clarity. And clarity to move past any fears that might be blocking you from taking coherent action.***Prices on all existing courses are increasing on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. Grab my favorite courses before the prices go up:  👉 https://play.simonegraceseol.com/2026-prices 

It's 2026. What does this mean for coaches? Is AI coming for our jobs? Is the market oversaturated? Here's what I actually think is going to happen — and what it means for people building practices right now.Listen to hear more about:Why the coaching market isn't going anywhere, but the term "coach" is becoming meaningless as a categoryThe bifurcation happening in both coach trainings AND the market itself — and why the middle is getting squeezed from both endsWhat AI will threten, and what it won'tWhy "culturally neutral" coaching is becoming a liability, not an assetThese shifts are already happening. What's your move?

If you’ve ever written copy that felt amazing — full of passion, fire, excitement — only to have it land with a dull thud… this episode is for you.Today Simone breaks down why “I’m so excited!” energy often repels rather than connects, and what to do instead.You’ll learn:The hidden flaw inside passion-driven copy (and why it disconnects you from the person reading)How to shift out of your emotional enthusiasm and into your client’s lived experienceWhy your passion is fuel — but not the messageReal examples of how to transform “I’m passionate about helping ___” into grounded, client-centered languageThe 5-question checklist Simone uses to audit her own copy before publishingThe simplest form of “market research” (that isn’t corporate, gross, or extractive)How to let your passion shine through your work, not through over-excited marketing that confuses your audienceIf your writing feels heartfelt but isn’t converting… if people say your posts are “beautiful” but don’t actually buy… this episode will shift the way you think about communication forever.In this episode, Simone covers:The trap of self-centric excitementHow passion can distort clarityThe difference between information and valueWhy people hire expertise before enthusiasmHow to write copy that speaks to their problem, in their languageWhen passion becomes a bonus — not the hookYour passion is sacred and necessary — but your copy needs to center them, not you. When you do, everything becomes clearer, stronger, and more effective.

If you’ve ever scrolled back through your old posts and wanted to disappear into the floor… this episode is for you.Simone talks about what to do when you're haunted by who you've been on social media: the angry rants, the fake positivity, the performative cool girl era, the MLM hustle days, the silence when it mattered, or just… a version of you that no longer fits. She shares her own evolution online, and why your past does not get to veto your future.You’ll hear about:Why your future owes nothing to your past (and why you don’t need to “get everyone on board” with your changes)How to quietly drop old topics, dynamics, and spaces that no longer feel alignedA loving reminder that nobody is tracking your every move the way your brain thinks they areHow showing up as your current self naturally attracts new people who love this version of youThe radical truth that everyone has been the asshole in someone’s story—and why that doesn’t disqualify you from leadership, love, or visibilityHow extending more grace to your own messiness expands your capacity to love others as they areThis episode is your permission slip to stop letting your old posts, old choices, or old selves sit in the driver’s seat of your business. You’re allowed to grow. You’re allowed to change. And you’re allowed to start showing up today as the person you actually are now.

What if you stopped obsessing over “Is this post going to get me a client?” and started asking, “How much real help am I offering my people?” In this episode, Simone introduces her 10-to-1 Rule of Profitability – the idea that when you consistently put out 10 “units” of true help into the world, about 1 “unit” comes back to you as profit… and how that changes the way you think about marketing, generosity, and boundaries.This isn’t about being a martyr or giving yourself away for free. It’s about becoming deeply useful in ways that are sustainable for you.In this episode, you’ll hear about:What the 10-to-1 Rule of Profitability actually is (and why the exact math doesn’t matter as much as the mindset)The crucial difference between information and real value – with concrete examples for artists, nutritionists, and coachesWhy hoarding your “best stuff” in the name of protecting your paid offers often backfiresThe shadow side of “giving value”: unpaid emotional labor, especially for women and women of colorHow to tell whether you’re being genuinely generous or quietly abandoning yourself to earn worth or approvalReflection questions to help you set loving boundaries that make generosity more possible, not lessHow thinking in 10x value terms can soften your attachment to immediate results and help you play the long game in your businessIf you’ve been feeling stuck between “I should give more” and “I am so tired of giving for free,” this episode will help you recalibrate how you think about service, profitability, and your own capacity.

Social media is a mess and a miracle—surveillance capitalism, addictive design, billionaire overlords… and also, real friendships, clients, teachers, and opportunities we wouldn’t have had otherwise.In this episode, Simone names the complexity and gets practical: if you’ve chosen to use these platforms for your work, these four sneaky sentences might be quietly keeping you stuck, small, and invisible.In this episode, you’ll hear about:The real ethical and political problems with social media (and why Simone still uses it anyway)Why saying “I don’t know how to do that” keeps you in permanent beginner limboHow “I hate that” often hides simple discomfort and unfamiliarity—not deep valuesThe trap of “that’s just not for me” and how aesthetic snobbery can block your growthWhy “I don’t see the point” is usually code for “I’m scared to try and fail in public”How to experiment with new skills on social without betraying your values or burning outSimone invites you to hold the full moral complexity of these platforms and still let yourself learn, experiment, and be seen—without letting old stories decide what’s possible for your work.If you’re someone who has chosen to be on social media, but you feel stuck every time you go to post… this one is for you.Resources & next stepsReflect: Which of the four sentences do you say to yourself most often?Journal on: “What if I’m wrong about that?” each time it comes up this week.Share this episode with a friend who’s creatively blocked by social media but doesn’t actually want to quit it.

In this episode, I'm sharing the Ancestral Business Manifesto — 10 declarations that Dr. Joey Liu and I have created together about building business from ancestral wisdom rather than colonial frameworks.In this episode, you'll learn about:The surprising place your real authority comes from Why "owning" money might be the exact wrong relationship to have with wealthThe one question that reveals whether your marketing is manipulation or genuine serviceWhy staying small and anonymous might actually be a form of hoardingIf you've been looking for permission to build your business differently than mainstream models, this episode is that permission. Want to go deeper? Our upcoming course, Ancestral Wealth, is an eight-week intensive where you'll work with these principles in depth, in community, with deep structure and practical application. Learn more and apply here: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

I want to help create 1,000 millionaires of the Global Majority.1,000 millionaires is equal to 1 billionaire's wealth... except spread across 1,000 families, 1,000 communities, 1,000 lineages, 1,000 visions.You're meant to be one of them.Join me and Dr. Joey Liu for a free 2-hour live class: 7-Figures for LiberationLearn the entire arc of liberatory wealth — from your first dollar to building infrastructure that outlives youWednesday, November 19th (US) / Thursday, November 20th (Asia)Free. For Black, Brown, Indigenous, Arab, Asian, and Pasifika people only.REGISTER HERE (to access live call and recordings)

My parents built a seven-figure business in Korea starting at age 50, almost completely broke, with zero business experience. And I'm telling their story for the first time.Listen to hear more about:What happened when my parents put their home up as collateral with almost no money leftThe shocking move my mom made with money after a devastating tax penalty — and why it changed everythingWhy the Western obsession with ROI might be costing you longevity (and what to focus on instead)How my mom practices the feng shui of moneyMy sister-collaborator Dr. Joey Liu joins me to unpack this wisdom through Taoist and Buddhist lenses — and we're inviting you to run it through your own ancestral paradigms too. ---Take the free course Building Post-Capitalist Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/pcwApply for the 8-week course, Ancestral Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

Capitalism taught you that "generational wealth" is the pinnacle of success. But what if that vision is actually a trap designed to keep you stuck?Your ancestors might be crossing their arms and giving you a side-eye, asking: "Really? Is that all you think you're here for?"Listen to hear more about:How to think at the scale that your ancestors knew (but capitalism made you forget)Why whatever you're doing now is a fraction of what you're capable of — and what your ancestors have marked you forQuestions that will get you thinking at the scale that you're meant forHow to hold way bigger visions in your mind without collapsingIf something stirs in you as you listen to this — pay attention. That's how you know you're marked for more.---Take the free course Building Post-Capitalist Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/pcwApply for the 8-week course, Ancestral Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

You don't have to choose between extractive capitalist pricing and guilt-driven discounts that burn you out.We offer you a third way: liberatory pricing, which allows your business to thrive as an engine for redistribution.Listen to hear more about:How fear and imposter syndrome masquerade as virtueThe hidden costs of discount culture and scholarship programsThe game-changing redefinition of what "accessible" meansWhat equity looks like at different business stages: early, intermediate, and matureYour ancestors dreamed of you being abundantly resourced. May you live into the vision they are holding you in. ---Take the free course Building Post-Capitalist Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/pcwApply for the 8-week course, Ancestral Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

In the planning stage my new course, Ancestral Wealth, I told my mom that we'd be selling it for $460. Her next words to me were — no joke — "That's an embarrassment." Um. Excuse me. What?What followed was a conversation that cracked my brain open  —  about accessibility, investment, transformation, and the uncomfortable truths I'd been avoiding. Listen.---Ancestral Wealth starts December 9th. Applications are open now.https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

You can have the most beautiful vision for change — but without material resources, your vision can't go very far. Dr. Joey Liu and I chat about why good-hearted people have been systematically kept away from money, and what becomes possible when we step into our power as stewards of capital.Listen to hear more about:Why scarcity is a lie... there's actually a f*ck ton of money in the worldWhy decolonization REQUIRES massive amounts of capitalWhy business gives you autonomy over capital in ways that grants and nonprofits never willThe spiritual work of expanding your capacity to generate and redistribute wealthSo many of us have been taught that caring about money corrupts you.This episode offers a different path — one where your ambition to build wealth is in service to your community and your ancestors' dreams.---Take the free course Building Post-Capitalist Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/pcwApply for the 8-week course, Ancestral Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

When you know who dreamed of you, who sacrificed for you, who cleared the path for your existence — it becomes impossible to feel small. I'm inviting you to join me and Dr. Joey Liu for a conversation about why ancestral communion is essential decolonization work — and why remembering where you come from gives you a depth of power that nothing else can replace.Listen to hear more about:The practical — not just spiritual — importance of connecting to your ancestorsWhat gives ancestral work real power in your life, and not just be a poetic metaphorHow this work roots you in a power that can't be manipulated or negotiated awayWhat to do if you're thinking "but I don't know who I come from" or "I don't feel connected to my ancestors"How to start hearing your ancestors' messages for you right awaySo many of us are starving for belonging, aching to know who we are beyond what capitalism has reduced us to. This episode offers a way to root into that belonging today.---Take the free course Buiding Post-Capitalist Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/pcwApply for the 8-week course: Ancestral Wealth: https://play.simonegraceseol.com/ancestral-wealth

You're making offers for your thing — your program, your membership, your product — and wondering why people aren't buying. Here's what's probably happening: you're only selling the "big sell" and skipping the "small sells."In this episode, you'll learn about:The five things people have to believe before they'll click your buy button — and why believing in your offer isn't even close to enoughWhy someone might love what you do and still never buy from youHow to make what you offer feel as clear and obvious as buying an iron How to sell people on making a decision TODAY.If you've been putting calls to action at the end of your content and getting crickets, this episode will show you what's actually missing. 

So many of us are actually scared right now — for ourselves, our loved ones and neighbors. So many are asking: “What can I do?” In this episode, Rashida Bonds and I offer the answer. We’re talking about simple acts of care as the most powerful weapon of resistance. Listen to hear more about:Reasons to feel hopeful in this moment in historyHow the people in power have always used the same playbook to divide us (and why knowing this changes everything)Why caring for each other is actually the most threatening thing you can do right now – and what this means in practiceWhat to do when you feel isolated and don't know your neighbors or what they needResources mentioned in this episode:Liberated Life Community - Rashida's new community for people learning to show up and care for each other (limited time only offer: $60 total for first 3 months) Follow Rashida Bonds on InstagramShowing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): A national network of white people working to undermine white supremacy - 10-minute action list: Instant access to the full list of simple actions you can take right now

I'm celebrating Chuseok — one of Korea's biggest holidays — and I'm inviting you to join me, because the thousand-year-old wisdom at the heart of this tradition has never been more urgent.In a world that tells us that "self-made" is a real thing, that we're separate from nature, and that texts and FaceTime are enough, Chuseok whispers a different truth. And it might be exactly what you need.Listen to hear more about:Why your ancestors matter — and they might not be who you thinkThe harvests you've been overlooking (and why recognizing them plants seeds for what's next)Why showing up in person matters in a way that FaceTime can never replaceHow to practice gratitude in a way that doesn't feel performative (and why that matters)So many of us are starving for belonging and true togetherness. This episode offers a way to start building it today.

Episode 38: The “Spiritual”-to-MAGA Pipeline: Why Colonized Spirituality Leads to FascismHow do people who speak of love, light, and unity end up parroting authoritarianism, white supremacy, and fascism? In this powerful and deeply needed episode of Liberatory Business, Simone Seol unpacks what she calls the “Spiritual-to-MAGA Pipeline” — the hidden patterns that transform colonized spirituality into fertile ground for oppressive ideologies.Drawing from her own Korean shamanic lineage and examples from Catholic monastic and Buddhist traditions, Simone contrasts traditional, lineage-based spirituality with colonial spirituality — a version of “spiritual growth” that prioritizes individual transcendence over collective accountability. She explains how this shift produces people who feel entitled to “truth” while being accountable to no one, and how that mirrors the psychological conditions fascism thrives on.You’ll learn:The core differences between traditional, community-embedded spirituality and colonial, extractive spiritualityWhy colonized spirituality creates perfect conditions for authoritarian thinking and supremacist ideologyHow “natural law” rhetoric has been used historically to justify fascism — and why it’s resurfacing in modern wellness spacesThe antidote: what it actually looks like to practice spirituality in right relationship with land, elders, lineage, and communityWhy stolen medicine isn’t medicine at all — and how to recognize when “healing” practices are spiritually malnourishedIf you’ve ever felt uneasy about modern spirituality or wellness spaces but couldn’t quite put your finger on why, this episode offers a clear, compassionate roadmap for understanding and changing the culture.🎧 Listen now and start reclaiming spirituality as a force for collective liberation.

Back in March 2025, I recorded a raw and intimate conversation in Finland with my  friend Danny Lim, the preeminent life coach and coach trainer of Singapore. In this episode, we talk about:Why I share from oozing wounds, not healed scars — and why I don't believe in the idea of "oversharing" My time in the "void" where I lost all clarity and thought I might never get it backWhat it's like to run a business on pure gut feeling Why everyone you admire is exactly as fucked up as you areThis is a long one, so get comfortable. We go deep into what it means to "love the poop of life" -- and how to build your business from inside of the compost.---Hang out with the incredible Danny Lim on Instagram! 

Who cares if you've made millions of dollars and helped thousands of people... if you have no one you trust to pick up the phone at 2 AM when your world is falling apart? We live in an individualistic, "mind your own business" culture that has created in widespread deep loneliness, and "connection for sale." I'm sharing my personal practice of changing this culture: I call it intentional, aggressive, and imperfect care.Listen to discover:Why success, acclaim, and riches are worth nothing without deep relationshipsThe dangers of "minding your own business" The counterintuitive approach to caring that feels risky, but will change the culture of individualismHow to bring this principle into your business and personal lifeChoosing community over comfort changes everything. Let's do this together. 

Capitalism is so entrenched in our world, it's hard to think of business, money, and wealth outside of it. And yet, capitalism is extremely new to human history — even the history of human commerce.Commerce that connected and enriched humanity, as opposed to exploit and extract, has existed for thousands of years before capitalism. And it's time for us to reclaim and re-create what commerce can look like.Listen to hear more about:What sophisticated human commerce looked like for thousands of years before capitalism existedThe shocking historical event that changed everything overnight (that they didn't teach me about in school)Why capitalism literally cannot stop — it's not a choice, it's built into the systemFive key ideas that will point you toward participating in alternative liberatory forms of commerceThis conversation is deep and rigorous, and it matters. If you've ever felt conflicted about doing business in our current system, this episode will change how you see everything, and offer you a viable path forward.

Millionaire. Billionaire. These words get thrown around like they're similar, but they're far from the same. One is disastrous for the health of local economies, and the other is not.Listen to hear more about:What I learned from the Official Historian of the City of Detroit about the former wealth built by hundreds of Black business owners - which were destroyedThe difference in the scale of millionaire vs. billionaire wealth.How distributed vs. concentrated wealth changes communitiesHow your business-building decisions can make a differenceThis episode will free you from any guilt you might have had about seeking prosperity, and show you how building ethical wealth isn't just about self-interest — it's about building economic foundations that create resilient communities for everyone.------------------You are invited to our virtual retreat TOGETHER to take this work deeper. Check out more details here. 

If you've been searching everywhere for hope — in politics, business, self-development — only to find yourself more discouraged than when you started, this episode is for you. The surprising thing is that conventional ideas about hope might actually be keeping us trapped in the very systems we need hope to escape from.In this episode, we'll explore:Why conventional ideas about hope will always lets us downWhy your deepest pain might actually be the doorway to the change you're meant to create in the worldWhat we can learn from wisdom traditions that transforms collective grief into a force for unstoppable resistance The counterintuitive reason why uncertainty is where hope becomes most dangerous to oppressive systemsThis episode will ignite something in you that goes far deeper than optimism — it's a call to step into your role as an agent of the world that's trying to emerge through you, starting right now.If you're ready to turn radical hope into a daily practice that sustains you while creating real change, join our online retreat. Check out more details here. 

In this final episode of our series on finding your people, we explore why slow growth is the only real growth — and why the obsession with speed is actually working against your long-term success.In this episode, you'll learn about:Why the Charlie Munger/Warren Buffett investment philosophy applies directly to online business growthThe hidden costs of chasing shortcuts — and how they actually train your brain to think in ways that lose moneyFour business fundamentals that predict long-term success better than follower counts or viral posts ever couldThe difference between being patient vs. passiveIn a world where everyone else is burning out chasing the latest growth shortcut, find out why patience might be your best friend in business. ----Business Fundamentals Assessment WorksheetInstead of asking "Is this working?" based on follower counts or viral posts, assess your actual business fundamentals — the underlying factors that predict long-term success.1. Do you actually enjoy the work itself?Reflection questions:Do I find satisfaction in the process of sharing my ideas and connecting with people?Am I showing up because I want to, or just because I think I have to?Does my current approach align with my values and authenticity?What aspects of my work energize me vs. drain me?To do: Identify one change you could make to enjoy your work more.2. Are you getting better at your craft?The craft of your actual work:Am I more skilled at delivering my product/service than I was 6 months ago?What specific improvements can I point to?The craft of marketing and selling:Am I getting more comfortable sharing more of myself (not just polished work)?Am I finding it easier to focus on genuinely helping rather than performing value?Am I better at understanding what people actually need help with?Am I learning to be more creative with marketing (vs. cold strategy)?Am I finding it easier to have real conversations (vs. broadcasting)?To do: List 3 specific ways you've improved in the last 6 months:3. Are you actually building relationships?Remember: Growth starts with people closest to you. Don't dismiss connections from friends, family, or colleagues as "not real."Are people responding to your work (even if slowly)?Are your ideas traveling (people mentioning/sharing them)?Have you had genuine conversations this week?Are you helping people without attachment to outcomes? To do: List 5 real connections/responses from the past month (no matter how small).4. Are you actually showing up consistently?Are you doing the work or just stressing about the work? Track time spent this week on actually creating and sharing something that matters to you, having real conversations with human beings, helping someone solve a problem vs. stressing, analyzing, researching, overthinking.What foundation are you building that you can't see yet?

In the third episode of our 3-part series on finding your people, we explore why marketing is actually an art form, not just a business strategy — and why this shift  might change everything about how you attract the right people to your work.In this episode, you'll learn about:Why memorable marketing comes from creative vision -- and how to let your artistry lead your strategyFour paradigm shifts that move you away from chasing followers How to work with (not against) your unique communication style, timing, and creative seasonsWhy building your own "one-in-8-billion blueprint" is the most pragmatic path to sustainable business relationshipsLet me show you why you don't need to figure out something new to be more magnetic -- you just need to stop hiding who you actually are.

You've probably heard this advice a million times: "give value." Offer something helpful, useful, desirable... so that you can build trust, establish authority, and strengthen relationships. Sounds good, right?Well, weirdly enough, this popular advice might just be exactly what's keeping your people from finding you.Listen to this episode to explore:Why the ubiquity of "giving value" makes your shares invisibleWhy this framework sets up an impossible mental calculation that drives good-hearted people crazyHow conventional marketing advice is literally built on colonial thinkingThe one simple question that changes everything about how you show up

Let me help you find your people online (Worksheet included below!)The biggest mistake I see people making? Talking too much about your work — and not enough about the human being YOU are. This is a huge mistake... but it's one you can fix! Stop hiding behind "professional" content (e.g. your expertise, frameworks, tips and tricks) and give people a chance to find out: do I actually vibe with this human being?Listen to this episode to discover:What your brain is really scanning for when someone lands on your feed (hint: it's not your credentials)Why your "professional" content might be alienating your potential clientsThe counterintuitive reason you should collect more rejections, not fewerThe beliefs you're hiding that would make the right people obsessed with youUnless you prioritize this, you'll keep attracting lukewarm followers who never buy anything.________________Worksheet: five questions for leading with who you areQuestion 1: What's your natural way of speaking that you edit out to sound more professional?Examples: Maybe you're naturally blunt and tell people exactly what they need to hear, but you soften everything because you're terrified of being called mean. Maybe you use crude humor but sanitize everything because you're afraid people will think you're inappropriate. Maybe you explain things through weird pop culture references but force yourself to use boring, generic examples instead.Question 2: What aspects of how you actually work and became who you are, are you hiding because you feel like it's not relevant?Examples: Maybe you have ADHD and work chaotically, but you're ashamed and spend hours forcing your content into logical order. Maybe you started your business after getting fired for being "difficult to work with" but craft some vague story about turning setbacks into opportunity. Maybe you grew up in foster care and that trauma is exactly what makes you good at helping people, but you never mention it.Question 3: What part of your personality do you think would make people unfollow you?Examples: Maybe you're ruthlessly competitive but exhaust yourself trying to sound zen and balanced. Maybe you have a dark, pessimistic outlook that makes you great at spotting problems, but you force yourself to sound positive and sunny. Maybe you're judgmental as hell with strong opinions but act nonjudgmental because being judgmental is "bad."Question 4: What gets you genuinely excited that you think is too weird to share?Examples: Maybe you're obsessed with reality TV but fear it makes you look stupid. Maybe you're fascinated by serial killers but don't want people to think you're disturbed. Maybe you're still obsessed with Disney movies at 45 but fear no one will take you seriously.Question 5: What beliefs do you hold that you intentionally avoid mentioning because it feels like too much?Examples: Maybe you think having kids isn't for everybody but avoid the topic because you don't want people to think you hate children. Maybe you think most people complaining about being "triggered" are avoiding personal responsibility but don't want to be insensitive. Maybe you believe people who are constantly broke are making terrible financial decisions but won't say it out loud because you don't want to look like an asshole. This week's challenge: Pick ONE question and share something real about it in your next post, story, or email. Watch what happens.

The promise of "personal branding" has become gospel in online business circles. Build your brand, they say. Package yourself for maximum market appeal. But what if this entire approach is not just wrong, but actively harmful to both your business and your humanity?Listen to explore:Why personal brands are a less reliable business strategy than you've been toldThe crucial difference between strategic "authenticity" and genuine human expression — and why only one builds sustainable business successThe case for coherence over "branding"A simple but powerful question to ask before sharing anything that will transform how you show up onlineDiscover why the most sustainable and effective business strategy isn't about crafting the perfect brand image, but about having the courage to be genuinely, inconveniently, beautifully human.

In this final episode of our 3-part series on overcoming your fear of being cancelled for good, we'll explore why "cancellation" isn't real... and even if it is, it has far less power to hurt you than you think.In this episode, you'll learn about:The vast gap between your loudest critics and those who actually make your business workWhy critics don't get in the way of your work -- and may sometimes even help your impactThe key differences between constructive feedback and bad faith attacks -- and how to tell the difference What's really worth fearing (and it's not the opinions of internet strangers)This episode will give you the shot of permission, relief, and courage to do your most intentional work that you've been waiting for. Because what's inside you matters. 

What if everything you think you know about being "canceled" is wrong?Your fear of being canceled is based on two common misconceptions about how the world works. Today I'm addressing those misconceptions with evidence that might surprise you.In this episode:Why being "nobody special" is your superpower — the math behind why cancellation attempts fail for most creatorsThe attention span problem plaguing internet mobs — why even major controversies have expiration dates measured in daysThe comeback formula hiding in plain sight — what successful recoveries reveal about audience psychologyWhy good intentions aren't just nice-to-have — the practical protection that comes from genuine service Ready to stop creating from fear? This is part 2 of 3 in my series on overcoming the fear of being canceled once and for all. Enjoy this episode, and tune in next week.

The biggest threat to your voice isn't the internet mob.... it's YOU!If you are so afraid of being canceled that you're keeping yourself small, adding 47 disclaimers to every opinion, and editing your every message until it feels nothing like what you really wanted to say...... let's be clear. You're not being strategic... or professional... or considerate. You're committing slow-motion creative suicide. In other words, you're cancelling yourself before anyone else has a chance to cancel you.The first step to becoming un-cancellable?Developing an un-cancellable relationship with yourself. Let me show you how.This is Part 1 of a two-part series on disarming the fear of being cancelled to do your most courageous work. Next week we're getting into the messy reality of what actually happens when you put yourself out there. Tune in again!

Reality check! Most coaching programs will tell you that building a sustainable business is just a matter of mindset, skills, and persistence. But the rarely-discussed truth? There are deeper structural barriers at play that make life coaching one of the most challenging ways to earn reliable income.My brother Billy Seol, a software engineer and coach, breaks down exactly why life coaching businesses face such steep odds, even when coaching itself is transformative.Listen to learn more about:The multiple skill sets required to run a coaching business (and why most other professions only require one)Where life coaching fits in economic sector models and what that means for market demandHow social and financial capital affect your chances of building a sustainable practiceWhy coaching skills can enhance traditional careers more reliably than standalone businessesLet us be clear: we love coaching, believe in coaching, and our aim is NOT to discourage anyone. Instead, we want to equip you with the information you need to approach this work strategically and sustainably, so that coaching enhances your life rather than draining it.

Having to go back to working a "normal job" means you've failed in your business? Oh hell no. We're thoroughly debunking that dastardly lie in this episode.  Listen to learn more about:The unholy truth about who created "GO ALL IN" culture - and why it was never meant for youWhy having a "normal job" is your unexpected secret weapon in business-buildingWhy most people who have all the time and resources in the world to devote to their businesses actually -- surprisingly -- make the LEAST progressPractical strategies for managing your energy and time when you're building a business around other workIf you are seeking a job, or already have a job that supports you as you work on your business, this episode will help you to feel proud of yourself. Because your path is one of wisdom, self-respect, and sharp strategy. 

You've probably been told there's something wrong with you: maybe you're "too sensitive" or "too impractical." Maybe one side of you is full of dreamy ideas, and another side of you is hyper-critical and cynical. All of us come with internal contradictions. Most approaches to personal development ask you to "resolve" them... but what if these tensions are meant to be held in creative relationship instead?In this episode, I'm letting you in on the paradoxes that make me ME. I've asked my longtime mentor Karen Hawkwood to analyze my astrological chart as a live case study of her method. Listen to hear more about:How we often woefully misunderstand our own medicine How to broker peace between different parts of yourself that rub against each otherWhy things like internal tension and struggle (which conventional self-development try to get rid of) are actually vitally important How to carry paradox intentionally and skillfullyYou'll start recognizing your own patterns in ways that will surprise you, and ultimately liberate you.---Simone highly recommends!Karen's Paradox School is open for enrollment: www.theparadoxschool.comListen to Karen's podcast Human Equals Paradox: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/human-equals-paradox/id1793972271Hang out with Karen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjsassypants/

We're living through some intense times. The U.S. may be rapidly turning into a dictatorship. We're watching genocides, famines, and refugee crises unfold in real time, in almost every continent. Our message for you?Do not panic.And we have really good reasons why you shouldn't.Listen to this conversation between allyship educator and coach Rashida Bonds and me about how to navigate times of communal crisis. Many people have told us it gave them so much hope and encouragement, and we hope it does the same for you, too.---Hang out with Rashida and me on Instagram.