FOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis

Latest Episodes:

S14 E18 Sahil Bloom on How to Win the Long Game Without Burning Out - Part 2 Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

In Part 2 of this FOMO Sapiens conversation, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Sahil Bloom to explore what it actually means to build a meaningful life and career in the age of infinite noise.
Sahil reflects on the responsibility that comes with modern influence, arguing that creators today wield unprecedented power to compound either positive or negative energy. He explains why chasing outrage and rage bait might juice short-term engagement, but quietly destroys long-term opportunity, and why the most durable creators think in decades, not days. The conversation turns deeply practical as Sahil shares his philosophy on time, boundaries, and decision-making. This episode is a masterclass in long-term thinking: how to protect your time, preserve your energy, and make decisions that compound over a lifetime instead of optimizing for the next hit of validation.

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S14 E17 Sahil Bloom on The Hidden Cost of the Default Path - Part 1 Feb 19, 2026

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What if the biggest risk in life isn’t failure, but settling for something that’s merely fine? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Patrick sits down with Sahil Bloom, former private equity investor turned global creator and author of The Five Types of Wealth. Sahil unpacks the invisible forces that keep smart, ambitious people stuck on paths that don’t quite fit: from the psychology of insecurity to the “region-beta paradox” that explains why so many people stay in unfulfilling careers. This episode is a deep dive into agency, ambition, and why clarity doesn’t come before action… it comes from it.

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S14 E16 Who Controls Knowledge Now? Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia’s Founder, on the Future of the Web - Part 2 Feb 12, 2026

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In Part 2 of this conversation, Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, joins Patrick McGinnis to confront the hardest question of our time: how do we build trust in a world where reality itself is becoming unstable? From AI-generated content and deepfakes to misinformation and collapsing institutional credibility, this episode explores what trust looks like under pressure. Jimmy shares his framework for rebuilding trust, the governance principles that protect neutrality, and the leadership choices required to build systems that endure in an era of technological acceleration.

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S14 E15 Jimmy Wales on How Wikipedia Builds Trust in a Post-Truth World - Part 1 Feb 05, 2026

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What does it take to build trust at the scale of billions? In this episode, Patrick sits down with Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, to unpack how one of the internet’s most improbable projects became one of its most trusted institutions. From early skepticism and ridicule to the human systems that made collaboration possible, this conversation explores how trust is built person-to-person, how purpose creates alignment, and why Wikipedia succeeded where so many platforms failed. This is a deep dive into the architecture of trust — and the foundations of building something that lasts.

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S14 E14 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: How Anthony Passalacqua Built Shootin’ School with the 10% Mindset Dec 18, 2025

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What happens when a dedicated teacher decides to build a business on the side, one lunch break at a time? In this episode, Patrick talks with Anthony Passalacqua, founder of Shootin’ School, who transformed a passion for basketball into a thriving training company, multiple inclusive sports ventures, and a nonprofit serving kids with special needs. Anthony shares how the 10% Entrepreneur framework gave him the confidence to go full-time, the systems he built to scale while teaching, the risks he took during the pandemic, and the mindset that keeps him grounded as a father, business owner, and community leader.
Guest bio:
Anthony Passalacqua is the founder of Shootin' School, one of the fastest-growing basketball instruction programs in the region, known for its emphasis on skill development, coaching quality, and player mindset. A former teacher turned entrepreneur, Anthony built Shootin’ School using the 10% Entrepreneur approach: starting small, systemizing early, and scaling sustainably while still working full-time in education.
After transitioning into entrepreneurship, Anthony expanded his impact by co-founding Because We Can Sports, an inclusive sports instruction program for kids of all abilities, including those with special needs. During the pandemic, he and his team took a bold step by building their own training facility, Jump Shots, allowing them to continue serving athletes at a time when most gyms were closed.
Anthony is also the founder of the Integrated Athletic Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive leagues and providing high-quality uniforms for children with special needs. His commitment to community development recently led to a donation of 2.5 acres of land for a future accessible sports complex.
Known for his process-driven mindset, relentless work ethic, and customer-first philosophy, Anthony brings a unique blend of teaching, leadership, and entrepreneurial creativity to every venture he builds.

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S14 E13 Goldie Chan: How to Build Your Personal Brand Online Dec 11, 2025

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In this inspiring conversation, Patrick sits down with Goldie Chan, the “Oprah of LinkedIn” and author of Personal Branding for Introverts, to unpack how introverts can thrive in the noisy world of online self-promotion. Goldie shares how she became one of LinkedIn’s first video creators—posting over 800 consecutive daily videos—and built a global reputation for her creative authenticity and consistency. She breaks down the difference between ego and confidence, the art of storytelling over bragging, and why a strong personal brand starts with understanding your audience. Whether you’re an introvert looking to grow your influence or simply want to build a brand that feels real, this episode is a masterclass in sustainable visibility and authentic connection.

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S14 E12 The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage with Ranjay Gulati Dec 04, 2025

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What if courage isn’t about being fearless, but about taking action despite fear? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Ranjay Gulati, Harvard Business School professor and author of How to Be Bold. Ranjay shares why our cultural myth of the “fearless hero” is misleading and explains how courage is a learnable skill that anyone can practice, whether as an individual, a team, or an organization. He explores the dangers of analysis paralysis in business, why acting boldly is often safer than standing still, and how leaders can use sense-making and storytelling to reframe adversity into opportunity. Drawing on vivid examples, from nuclear plant managers to Antarctic explorers, Ranjay shows how courage is collective, not solo, and why a strong support system is essential to bold decision-making. Packed with practical insights and inspiring stories, this conversation serves as a playbook for anyone seeking to replace fear with bold, decisive action.

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S14 E11 Adapting Mindfulness to the AI Age, with Mo Edjlali Nov 27, 2025

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In this conversation, Patrick talks with Mo Edjlali, founder and CEO of Mindful Leader and author of Open MBSR, about the future of mindfulness in an age defined by distraction, polarization, and artificial intelligence. Edjlali reflects on his journey from tech entrepreneur to mindfulness advocate after the 2008 financial crisis, and offers a powerful critique of how popular meditation apps have turned mindfulness into “comfortainment.” He argues for a new era of deep, secular, and community-based mindfulness, one that embraces discomfort, fosters genuine human connection, and helps us navigate the mental health challenges of the AI age. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in authentic practice, critical thinking, and emotional clarity in a world that’s changing faster than ever.

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S14 E10 Byron Loflin: Think You’re Ready to Be CEO? Here’s What it Takes. Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

In this FOMO Sapiens episode, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Byron Loflin, Global Head of Board Advisory at NASDAQ and co-author of CEO Ready, about how to build better boards, smarter leaders, and more resilient organizations. Loflin’s career was shaped by the 2008 financial crisis, when he saw firsthand the cost of poor governance and weak risk oversight. Since then, he’s made it his mission to elevate board standards and prepare future CEOs for the realities of leadership.
He argues that true readiness goes beyond qualifications; it’s about humility, process, and the courage to ask the right questions. Loflin explains how succession planning should be a continuous improvement cycle, not a last-minute search, and why boards must proactively manage stakeholder dynamics to avoid surprises like the OpenAI leadership crisis. Through case studies and practical frameworks, Loflin offers a playbook for leaders who want to build excellence at every level, from boardrooms to executive suites.

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S14 E9 SharkNinja’s Playbook for Relentless Innovation (and FOMO), with Mark Barrocas Nov 13, 2025

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In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Mark Barrocas, CEO of SharkNinja, to explore how the company transformed from a small appliance player into a global innovation powerhouse. Barrocas explains how SharkNinja’s consumer-obsessed culture drives every breakthrough—from identifying overlooked frustrations to designing products that cross the “threshold of viral.” He also shares how lessons from failure, like the Shark MultiVac, led to some of their biggest wins, and why adaptability is their competitive advantage. This conversation offers a rare look inside one of the world’s most agile and creative consumer brands, and the leadership mindset that keeps it growing.

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