S2 Ep1: How to STOP Getting Defensive, Handle Difficult People & Take Back Your Power! Jefferson Fisher
You don’t need to shout to be heard. You don’t need to win every argument to be respected. And you don’t need to fear difficult conversations, if you know how to lead them.
In this episode, trial lawyer and #1 speaking coach Jefferson Fisher shares the communication frameworks that have made him one of the most trusted voices online for navigating conflict, setting boundaries, and speaking with confidence.
We explore why less is more when you speak, how to stay calm under pressure, and the one mindset shift that instantly makes you more magnetic in any room.
From boardrooms to relationships, Jefferson’s practical tools will help you argue less, say more, and lead without raising your voice.
If you’ve ever struggled with people pleasing, being heard, or standing your ground, this one’s for you.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Why Words Matter More Than Ever
1:30 Jefferson’s Backstory
4:50 Jefferson Powerful Online Voice
7:10 “What You Say Is Who You Are”
9:50 How to Spot a Liar
12:55 Nervous Before a Hard Conversation? Try This
15:20 Declutter Your Sentences, STOP Saying Um
17:45 Power of Speed & Tone in Speech
21:00 Why You Might Sound Like You're Lying
24:00 "Don’t Be a Waterfall, Be a Well"
27:00 How to Argue Less and Say More
30:00 How to Spot “Knots” in a Conversation
33:25 How to Lean Into Conflict
36:40 Feel an Argument Coming? Do This First
41:30 People Mirror Your Frequency, Use It Wisely
43:30 How to STOP Reacting to Insults
46:30 The Power of Letting Go
50:00 Stop Forcing Your Opinion, Try This Instead
56:00 The 3-Step Framework for Difficult Conversations
1:01:30 How to Argue Like a Lawyer
1:04:40 How to Say “NO” With Confidence
1:07:00 How to Clearly Set Boundaries
1:11:00 How to STOP People Pleasing
1:14:35 How to Stay Calm When Insulted
1:21:00 How to Apologise Properly
1:22:45 What to Say After a Bad Apology
1:25:30 How to Deal With a Narcissist
1:29:00 How to STOP Getting Defensive
1:30:30 Handling Insults at Work
1:33:00 How to Have Tough Conversations at Work
1:34:00 How Jefferson Leads His Business
Link to Book: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Jefferson: https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher/?hl=en
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S1 Ep16: Psychologist Reveals Mental Hacks That Will Unlock Your Dream Life In 3 Months - Maya Raichoora
This episode might change the way you think about mindset forever.
At just 17, Maya Raichoora was diagnosed with a chronic illness that left her unable to walk, eat, or even attend school. Doctors told her she’d never recover fully.
But what changed everything wasn’t just treatment — it was visualisation.
Maya shares the exact moment her healing journey began, how she used mental imagery to rewire her brain, and the powerful mindset tools she now teaches in her new book “Visualise.”
If you’ve ever felt stuck, burnt out, or like you’re living in survival mode
This conversation is a blueprint for getting back to yourself.
Chapter:
00:00 – Introduction
02:31 – Introducing Maya
03:24 – Maya’s Early Life as a High Performer
04:09 – Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis
05:19 – The Mental and Physical Struggle
06:39 – Isolation and Shame
08:39 – Searching for a Cure Worldwide
09:39 – The Question That Changed Everything
10:39 – Visualising a New Future
12:09 – The Obsession with the Mind-Body Connection
13:09 – Turning Pain into Purpose
14:09 – How to Start Visualising
15:09 – Building Your Future Self Through Reps
16:39 – The Power of Slowing Down
19:09 – Mind Like a Lake: A Visualisation for Calm
20:39 – The Energy Diet No One Talks About
22:39 – Recognising Your Seasons
26:09 – Hibernation Mode for High Performers
28:09 – Spring, Summer, and Harvest Cycles
30:39 – Following Your Own Race
33:39 – Building a Character-Driven Identity
36:09 – Taking Radical Responsibility
39:39 – The Real Role of Social Media
42:09 – Internal vs External Validation
45:39 – When You're Overwhelmed by Feedback
48:39 – Building Mental Fitness Habits
51:39 – Celebrating the Present Moment
54:39 – Letting Go of the Hustle Guilt
57:39 – Learning to Delete, Not Just Add
01:00:39 – Visualising Nike-Level Mindset
01:03:39 – Book Writing, Reading, and Rewriting Beliefs
01:06:39 – Building Accessible Tools for Young People
01:09:39 – Future Plans for Mental Fitness Education
01:12:39 – Why We Avoid Hard Conversations
01:15:39 – 6 Vulnerable Questions That Build Deep Connection
01:18:39 – Managing Stress Through Language and Awareness
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Maya: https://www.instagram.com/maya.mental.fitness/?hl=en
Link to book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/465180/visualise-by-raichoora-maya/9781846048524
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S1 Ep15: Tetris, The KGB, and a $15 Million Gamble – The Untold True Story
No one teaches you how to walk into Soviet negotiations on a tourist visa and walk out with one of the biggest gaming deals in history.
Today, I’m sitting down with Henk Rogers, the entrepreneur who brought Tetris to the world and outplayed billion-dollar corporations to secure the rights. His journey is a masterclass in risk-taking, negotiation, and reinvention.
We dive into:
- How Henk convinced Nintendo to bet on Tetris
- The truth behind the movie vs. reality: what really happened in Moscow
- The Game Boy deal that changed gaming forever
- How a near-death experience turned him into a climate change activist
- His new book, The Perfect Game: Tetris: From Russia with Love, where he reveals the untold story behind the Tetris battle and what Hollywood didn’t show
Now, he’s on a mission to make the world 100 percent renewable by 2045, and he’s already led Hawaii to become the first state to commit.
This is about big risks, big wins, and using success to change the world. Let’s get into it.
Chapters:
0:00 The Origin Story Begins
1:23 Henk's Humble Beginnings
3:19 Following Love All the Way to Japan
6:00 Bringing Western Games to the East
10:00 Betting the Farm Literally
11:00 The Moment Henk Found Tetris
20:00 Tetris Meets Game Boy
23:00 Entering the Soviet Union… on a Tourist Visa
24:00 The KGB Is Now Involved
31:00 Negotiating Behind the Iron Curtain
39:00 When It All Nearly Fell Apart
40:00 Why the Tetris Launch Initially Flopped
48:00 Henk & Alexey Pajitnov Friendship
53:00 Fact vs Fiction Does the Movie Get It Right
57:00 How Writing His Book Came to Be
59:00 Henk's Near Death Experience
1:01:00 Henk’s Mission to Ditch Carbon Fuels for Good
1:02:00 How Much Henk Sold His Company For
1:03:00 How to Actually Make Renewables Profitable
1:09:00 Henk's New App to Help Climate Change
1:11:00 Advice for the Next Generation of Dreamers
1:12:00 The Real Story Behind Henk’s Book
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Henk: https://www.instagram.com/henkrogers/?hl=en
Link to Henk's Book: https://www.diangelopublications.com/shop/p/the-perfect-game
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S1 Ep14: Neuroscientist REVEALS: The Truth About Discipline, Laziness, Stress & Dopamine - TJ Power
Social media is hijacking your brain. Dopamine overload is killing your focus. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are wrecking your body. The modern world is designed to keep you addicted, distracted, and exhausted. So how do you take back control?
In this episode, neuroscientist TJ Power explains the science behind dopamine, addiction, and productivity. The author of DOSE: The Brain Chemistry That Drives Happiness & How to Optimize It, TJ has trained over 80,000 people in brain chemistry optimisation, helping them rewire their habits, overcome distractions, and regain control of their minds.
We also dive into dopamine fasting, the ideal morning routine for peak productivity, and why your phone might be the biggest obstacle to deep focus.
If you’re feeling stuck, unmotivated, or overwhelmed, this conversation will give you strategies for resetting your brain and reclaiming your focus.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:00 TJ’s Upbringing
5:00 Family Friendship with Jay Shetty
6:00 Growing Up with OCD
8:40 TJ’s Party Phase
11:00 Hitting Rock Bottom
14:00 TJ’s Teachings Begin
15:30 The DOSE Framework Explained
23:00 The Power of Slowing Down in Nature
24:30 Chris Sells His Company
29:00 A Smarter Way to Set Goals
32:00 Why Entrepreneurs Often Struggle with Addiction
39:00 What Alcohol Really Does to Your Dopamine
43:00 TJ’s Dad Quits Drinking
48:00 Understanding Serotonin
51:00 Why Mental Health Issues Are on the Rise
53:00 Boosting Motivation by 48% (Yes, Really)
58:00 The Surprising Benefits of Watching More TV
1:03:30 Is Cold Water Therapy Actually Effective?
1:06:00 How to Enter a Flow State
1:12:30 How Your Diet Impacts Brain Function
1:18:00 How to Boost Melatonin and Sleep Better
1:22:30 Does WHOOP Accurately Track Sleep & Fitness?
1:24:00 What Is Oxytocin (and Why It Matters)
1:27:00 Single vs. Relationship Oxytocin – What’s the Difference?
1:31:00 How Oxytocin Relates to Sex and Intimacy
1:35:00 The Science of Stopping Overthinking
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow TJ Power: https://www.instagram.com/tjpower/?hl=en
Link to Book: https://thedoseeffect.co.uk/
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S1 Ep13: Why I’m Stepping Down from Dragons' Den & How to Build a £50 Million Dollar Business… Sara Davies
No one teaches you how to build a £50 million business from your university bedroom, but getting it right can change everything.
Today, I’m sitting down with Sara Davies, entrepreneur, investor, and former Dragons' Den star. Sara started as a young founder, juggling imposter syndrome, tough decisions, and relentless pressure. Now she’s built an empire, invested in countless businesses, and even danced her way through Strictly Come Dancing.
But for the first time, she’s revealing why she’s stepping away from Dragons’ Den and what’s next.
She also shares amazing insight into her new book, "The Six Minute Entrepreneur: 52 Lessons for Long-Term Success," where she breaks down the small, daily actions that lead to big results in business and life.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:30 Why Sara is leaving Dragon Den
5:30 How Sara became an entrepreneur
9:00 Start of Sara’s crafting journey
19:00 Sara’s husband supporting her
21:00 Working with family
26:00 Jugerling Parenting & Business
32:00 Sara’s Legacy
34:00 Relationship with Risk
39:00 Imposter syndrome
44:20 Strictly come dancing
57:00 Should you build a business to sell?
1:00:00 How to win over Sara's investment
1:08:00 Sara’s first day on Dragons Den
1:15:00 Sara couching the guest dragons
1:19:00 Sara’s New Book
1:24:00 How to stay focused
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Sara: https://www.instagram.com/saradaviescc/?hl=en
Link to Sara's Book: https://amzn.eu/d/a3F1uHA
A few years ago, I was just like many of you, figuring out the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, facing setbacks, and chasing breakthroughs. By 25, I had built and sold a leading digital marketing agency. By 30, I was co-founding Lottie, a health tech company transforming care solutions, and growing into one of the UK’s fastest-rising business creators. But along the way, I noticed something: the world is changing, yet most of us are still stuck playing by outdated rules.
That’s why I launched Wake Up, a podcast for people who are ready to rewrite the playbook. It’s not just about hearing incredible stories, it’s about taking those stories and turning them into real, actionable steps. Each week, I sit down with some of the most inspiring leaders, creators, and innovators to uncover their strategies, struggles, and unfiltered truths.
Wake Up isn’t here to inspire you for a moment, it’s here to empower you for a lifetime. Together, we’ll rethink the way we work, lead, and succeed in a world that demands new ideas. Thank you for joining the movement. Let’s wake up to what’s possible and create something extraordinary.
Ireland