In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Andy Zimmerman—CEO of Journey and former head of Frog Design—to explore the rarely told truth behind success. From high-powered corporate roles to a life-altering spiritual awakening, Andy shares the personal and professional pivot that helped him rediscover balance, purpose, and empathy.

🔥 Discover how six million air miles and relentless ambition nearly cost Andy everything—and how one soul reading in Glastonbury reset his life and leadership forever.

🎧 Whether you’re a founder chasing growth or a leader craving alignment, this conversation will challenge what you think success really looks like.

What You’ll Learn:
•The hidden cost of ignoring yourself in the name of growth
•Why vulnerability is a superpower in leadership
•How Andy built “Journey”—a creative agency designing immersive experiences (like The Sphere in Vegas and Empire State Building’s new deck)
•How spiritual practice, family, and writing helped him reset
•What “balance” means when the world doesn’t slow down

📺 Subscribe for weekly episodes: youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1
🌍 Learn more about the podcast: https://leogestetner.com/podcast/

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & Andy’s background
02:10 - From corporate to creative
07:20 - Mental health and the power of pause
11:45 - Designing The Sphere & immersive experiences
17:10 - Burnout, family, and reconnection
22:30 - The pivotal moment that changed his life
27:00 - How to build your business without losing yourself
30:00 - Final thoughts & where to find Andy

Learn more about Journey.World:

Journey.world

Connect with Andy:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewzimmerman1/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

Feeling stuck in a business that controls your life instead of supporting it?

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Andy Root—co-founder of Better Every Day—to explore how founders, especially in high-pressure industries like accounting, can break free from burnout and build a business that aligns with the life they want to live.

Andy shares how working 60+ hour weeks nearly cost him his health and family time—and what changed everything. From losing 40 pounds to redefining work-life integration, this episode is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs seeking balance, fulfillment, and sustainable success.

✅ Value You’ll Get:

• The truth about hustle culture and how to escape it

• How to build a business that fits your life—not the other way around

• The importance of daily routines, mindfulness, and health data

• What intentional living actually looks like for busy founders

• How to be present with your family without sacrificing your business

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

03:30 – Andy’s backstory: Air Force, accounting, and founding Better Every Day

08:00 – Breaking out of hustle culture in the tax industry

12:30 – Work-life integration vs. balance

15:00 – Andy’s journey: losing 40 lbs and prioritizing mental health

18:00 – Meditation, fitness, and health tech

22:00 – Family time, coaching softball, and the power of presence

26:00 – What a balanced day looks like (and how to build it)

31:00 – Andy’s best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Roy Vella, fintech veteran and founder of NextCoLabs, to explore what it really means to live with intention. From building PayPal in its earliest days to creating AI-powered meeting tools, Roy shares why presence—not productivity—is the true key to success.

🔥 Topics include parenting with purpose, optimizing health and sleep, founding companies in fintech and AI, and what exponential technology means for the future of work and life.

📌 You’ll learn:
• How to prioritize family and still lead at the highest level
• Why “you get what you measure” applies to life and business
• The science behind Roy’s biohacking and sleep strategies
• What founders can learn from feedback loops
• How to create a life that blends innovation, parenting, and fulfillment
• A behind-the-scenes look at his startup, NextCoLabs

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Roy’s Background
03:00 – Fatherhood and Attention as Currency
07:00 – Presence, Priorities, and Corporate Respect
10:00 – Personal Loss, Transparency, and Trust
13:00 – Sleep, Biofeedback, and Optimizing Health
22:00 – AI and the Future of Personal Assistants
30:00 – Building NextCoLabs and the CoLab Score
40:00 – Adventure, Curiosity & Continuous Learning
47:00 – Advice for Entrepreneurs

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1