Living Vision with Aaron Velky

Latest Episodes:

From Billion-Dollar Executive to Starting Over With NOTHING | Phil Vella Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Phil Vella helped grow Cisco’s WebEx division into a $5 billion machine. He had the title, the power, the money. Then he walked away, no team, no plan, no identity. In this raw and uncomfortable conversation, Phil opens up about the dark side of success, the brutal transition into the unknown, and how he rebuilt his life from the ground up.

We talk fatherhood, purpose, identity loss, self-destruction, and why men often wait until it's too late to change. If you’re building your empire but feeling disconnected or hollow behind the scenes, this one is going to hit hard.

In this episode:

The crash after leaving a billion-dollar role

Why “the exit” isn’t what you think it is

Rebuilding identity without a title

Fatherhood, faith, and facing yourself

Building a mission-driven company from the ashes

This isn’t just about business. It’s about becoming the man you're meant to be.

Subscribe for more real conversations with high-level leaders navigating the next chapter of life.

Connect with me www.aaronvelky.com

Is This How Humanity Ends in 10 Years? Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

What happens when the future walks right into your living room? In this episode of The Living Vision Show, Aaron and Marty debate the launch of the new Neo robot from 1X, an eerily human looking home assistant that’s sparking equal parts excitement and fear. Is it the next breakthrough in freedom and productivity, or a step too far into a sci-fi nightmare?

They dig into the real questions behind the tech: what happens to jobs, how automation changes leadership, and whether delegation through machines pushes us closer to or further from what it means to be human. From economics to ethics to entrepreneurship, this one goes deep.

Tune in to explore:

The blurred line between innovation and overreach
How robotics will reshape work, home life, and identity
Why automation could force us to redefine what “being human” really means

Listen now and decide for yourself: is Neo the future of freedom or the start of something we can’t control?

What You Probably Get Wrong About Strategy Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Are you actually being strategic, or just reacting to stress?

In this episode of The Living Vision Show, myself and Marty unpack what most entrepreneurs get wrong about strategy, and how fear, reactivity, and scarcity often masquerade as smart decision-making.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or constantly firefighting in your business, this is for you.

What you'll learn:

- Why “movement” isn’t the same as progress

- The 3 hidden states keeping you stuck

- How to tell if you’re making decisions from fear

- What real strategic thinking looks like, and how to get there

Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a team, or navigating a tough season, this episode will help you think clearly, lead better, and move with purpose.

7 HUGE Mistakes Emotionally Blocked Entrepreneurs Make Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Are you constantly hitting an invisible wall in your business or personal life?

I'll show you the 7 HUGE mistakes emotionally blocked entrepreneurs make. These patterns are often hard to see from the inside.

Whether you're burning out, stuck in solo mode, or trapped in "I'll do it myself" thinking, this video reveals how your subconscious beliefs, emotional triggers, and internal blocks might be the real reason you’re not growing.

🔥 You’ll learn:

Why emotional walls are harder to break than business problems
How anger and defensiveness reveal the truth about your mindset
The hidden cost of trying to grow without help
Practical steps to decode your emotional triggers and move forward

This isn’t just about strategy. It’s about inner transformation that sets you free.

The Hidden System Behind Taylor Swift’s Success Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Taylor Swift is more than pop culture. She is a living playbook for growth, resilience, and scaling yourself without clones. In this episode, Aaron and Marty break down the “messy middle” that Swift publishes through her albums and tours, and translate it into practical frameworks for founders, creators, and CEOs. From identity shifts to operational scale, from public evolution to repeatable delivery, this is a masterclass in reinvention you can apply to your business today.

What you will learn:

How to navigate the gap between where you are and where you want to be
Why showing your process can build trust and momentum
Lessons from touring scale, logistics, and delivering the same product with excellence
Using doubt as a tool and asking better questions to unlock growth
Leadership that evolves in public instead of pretending to have all the answers

Chapters:

0:00 Why Taylor Swift models the messy middle

0:41 Dating an NFL star and navigating new arenas

1:13 Internet reaction and the Swifties effect

1:50 Swift as a business case for entrepreneurs

2:08 Reinvention and the gap to your next level

3:30 Headlines vs what leaders should notice

4:54 Composure, hardship, and resiliency

5:19 Publishing the messy middle through albums

7:34 Touring scale and delivering consistency

9:13 Scaling yourself without clones

10:18 Avoiding the weeds and building operators

12:16 Getting good by being bad first

13:03 Not every song is a hit and why that is okay

14:02 Public evolution and protected private life

15:58 Narrative identity and reframing

16:52 Telling the story of where you are going

18:05 Fear, commitment, and getting stuck in the middle

19:31 Beliefs, identity, and freefall

20:13 The self doubt loop founders face

21:35 Programs evolve and so should you

22:39 Doubt as a tool and better questions

23:27 Blank Space and perspective shifts

24:44 Why artists change the world

26:21 Evolving as a leader with your team

27:51 Optics, imperfection, and real leadership

29:12 Getting people from A to B

If you found this helpful:

Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, mindset, and sustainable growth

Share this episode with a founder who feels stuck in the middle

Comment your biggest takeaway and the next brave step you will take

You're Not Burned Out: Why Everyone SEEMS To Be Crushing It But You’re Drowning Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

You’re putting in the hours. You’re doing everything “right.” So why does it still feel like you’re stuck, exhausted, and barely holding it together?

In this raw and transformational conversation, Mike Christensen, a veteran and custom home builder, shares how he went from total burnout to building the life and business he actually wanted.

We talk about:

The hidden warning signs of burnout that high-achievers ignore

Why chasing revenue can destroy your vision

What happens when you finally let go of control

How Mike scaled his company and launched a nonprofit without losing his weekends

The difference between being a boss and being a visionary leader

If you’ve ever felt like you're the only one drowning while everyone else seems to be thriving, this is your wake-up call.

🔗 Learn more about Mike’s nonprofit: freedom4heroes.org

🔗 Check out his business: peakonebuilders.com

STOP Delivering Flat Presentations. Tell These Stories Instead. Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode of The Living Vision Show, host Aaron Velky sits down with master storyteller and presentation coach Kyle Gray for a true masterclass on authentic communication, storytelling for visionary leadership, and turning personal struggle into magnetic influence.

Kyle shares how stories shape vision, build authority, and create deep emotional connection whether you’re leading a team, growing a business, or just trying to be seen. From the boardroom to bedtime stories, this episode reveals the human power behind every effective message.

What We Talk About:

How storytelling builds trust and authority

Turning shame and pain into influence

Vision casting through emotional narrative

The #1 mistake high achievers make when communicating

Why your personal story is your greatest asset

Real-life storytelling frameworks from a world-class coach

🔥 Whether you're a CEO, an entrepreneur, or someone who wants to connect more deeply with others, this episode will change how you think about your story forever.

🌐 Website: https://www.thestoryengine.co

This Is What Happens When Free Speech Gets Politicized Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

What do Jimmy Kimmel, Charlie Kirk, and the FCC have in common? In this explosive episode, we explore the dangerous intersection of free speech, political censorship, and the true cost of speaking out as a public figure.

What We Talk About:

The Jimmy Kimmel suspension controversy
FCC involvement in media censorship
Free speech vs. professional consequence
The illusion of freedom without responsibility
Why modern leaders are afraid to lead
Cancel culture’s new corporate form
The real meaning of servant leadership

If you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or visionary:

This conversation will challenge you to rethink your relationship to power, risk, and public voice. It’s time to lead with courage AND care.

Join the conversation below:

What part of this episode hit you hardest? Do you think Kimmel should have been suspended?

Subscribe for more real, raw leadership talks: @LivingVision

Charlie Kirk Wasn’t a Politician. He Was a Mirror. Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Living Vision Show, Aaron Velky and Marty Nocchi discuss the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. This is not a political debate. It’s a deep dive into the reality of leadership, risk, and responsibility in a time where speaking out can come at the highest cost.

They explore what it takes to share your beliefs publicly, the fear leaders now face, and the pressure of building a movement in a culture that often punishes strong opinions.

Whether or not you agreed with Charlie Kirk, this moment reflects a bigger truth about leadership, courage, and silence.

What you'll learn:

The personal cost of public leadership

Why more leaders are choosing silence

How to build psychological safety for your team

The risks of visibility in the digital age

What real courage looks like in leadership today

If you lead a team, own a business, or are building a platform, this conversation will challenge how you think about influence and impact.

Subscribe to the show for more honest conversations about leadership and vision.

The EQ Playbook for Leaders with Stanford’s Carole Robin Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Discover how emotional intelligence shapes leadership, business, and relationships in this powerful conversation between Aaron Velky and Dr. Carole Robin, coauthor of Connect and longtime Stanford Graduate School of Business professor.

Carole is known for teaching the legendary “Touchy Feely” course on interpersonal dynamics at Stanford GSB. In this episode she explains how leaders can move beyond contact into real connection, why the 15% rule transforms relationships, and how feedback done right builds trust instead of resentment.

Aaron and Carole dive into: