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In this conversation, Michael sits down with brand strategist and founder Gio Petrucci to explore the delicate line between the founder and the human. Gio shares his journey of realizing his business, once built as 'proof' of his worth, was consuming his identity | and the path he's now on to separate, nurture, and reintegrate the two.

This episode is for founders, creatives, and strategists who feel the tension between who they are and what they're building. This is for anyone who has used their work as a shield or as proof, and is ready to build from a more authentic place.

Key themes include:

- The internal conflict between founder and human.

- Letting go of the need for 'security' and financial validation.

- The influence of immigrant parents on an entrepreneur's drive.

- Why human connection is the core of meaningful branding.

- Navigating founder anxiety and self-doubt.

- Building a business that is honest, not just big.

This isn't a conversation about marketing tactics. It's a vulnerable look at the inner world of a founder, touching on the universal fears and desires that drive us. It’s a permit to be more human in your work.