The Kristen Boss Podcast

Episode 244: Success, Surrender, and the Spirit of Wisdom with Pedro Adao

Release Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Kristen Boss
Guest: Pedro Adao

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kristen Boss sits down with entrepreneur and thought leader Pedro Adao to explore what it truly means to pursue success that is not only substantial, but sustainable and deeply aligned with personal values and spiritual wisdom. As the new year approaches, Kristen and Pedro engage in an unfiltered, vulnerable conversation about clarity, wisdom, and the pivotal moments that require us to "die" to old versions of ourselves for genuine growth. This episode is especially resonant for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone seeking to realign their pursuit of success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Pedro Adao’s Five-Year Journey: From Success to Reinvention

• 2020 as the Year of Unveiling: Pedro describes 2020 as transformational, moving from a successful financial services career into pioneering faith-based entrepreneurship and introducing the “challenge model” in online marketing.
  • “Before 2020 I was doing well… but I felt led to start talking about my faith in business...I call it kingdom entrepreneurship.” (03:11)
• Origin of the Challenge Model: Pedro’s innovative challenge format became a staple across the industry, influencing major players such as Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi.
  • "All of these five day challenges, three day challenges, seven day challenges… that’s my fault. I’m sorry, but I created that." (06:10)
• Giving Without Expectation: He emphasizes relational integrity in business and the dangers of hidden agendas, preferring directness and generosity.
  • “I don’t give to get. I think that’s just weird energetically.” (07:52)

Crash, Burnout, and the Rebirth of Purpose

• The Turning Point: After devastating financial losses and public shaming, Pedro fell into deep depression and contemplated not waking up.
  • “I lost money, friends, reputation, I lost my identity... I was begging God to not let me wake up.” (13:38)
• Building on the Rock: Pedro attributes his comeback to grounding himself in wisdom literature, specifically the biblical book of Proverbs, which forms the foundation for much of his current teaching.
  • “You can build your house on sand or you can build your house on the rock. I built my house on sand.” (13:56)
• Spirit of Desperation & Orphan Identity: Both Pedro and Kristen reflect on how desperate striving for validation—often rooted in parental approval—can drive business decisions, but ultimately leads to self-destruction.
  • “When you partner with a desperate spirit, you end up looking for a savior or a rescuer. And when you look for a rescuer, you always find an oppressor.” (16:45)
  • Kristen: “My business was one giant trauma response in looking for... a good job.” (19:14)

Pursuing Sober-Minded Success

• Checking for Addictive Patterns: Kristen asks how to maintain a “sober mind” in the face of big goals, recognizing when desperation, scarcity, or validation-seeking reappear.
  • “How are you doing that sober-minded now while still doing really big things in the world?” (20:17)
• Sobriety Equals Clarity: Pedro underscores that being “sober-minded” means being free from any influence—including ambition, fear, or the desire for affirmation.
  • “Sober-minded means being, which means being free of any other influence... not just drugs.” (20:22)
• Success Is Not an Idol: Accolades and recognition, necessary for credibility, cannot be the centerpiece; when they mean “too much,” they become dangerous.
  • “If it means too much, when it means too much... no, you’re not as good as you think you are. I thought I was good and I self-destructed.” (23:52)

Death and Rebirth in Entrepreneurship

• Literal and Metaphorical Deaths: Both share stories of dying to previous identities, highlighting that the entrepreneurial journey demands repeated “deaths” of the ego and false self.
  • “God allowed me to attend my own funeral... I had to be a willing participant in that death and rebirth.” (31:21, 32:16)
  • Kristen: "Your need for approval will die a thousand times over in this... it is the death of the ego." (33:03)
• Embracing Frequent Change: Small and large “deaths” are part of ongoing personal evolution; the reward is freedom, wisdom, and an unburdened spirit.
  • "You come out of this free...you come out liberated." (34:34)

Freedom from the Fear of Loss

• The Fear of Death as the Taproot: Pedro shares a spiritual/psychological insight that all fear is ultimately rooted in the fear of death; overcoming it undercuts all lesser fears.
  • “If you are not afraid to die, the enemy has nothing on you… the fear of death is the taproot that feeds all other... fears.” (37:43)
• Lose the Fear, Gain True Freedom: Both recount that facing worst-case scenarios—major financial loss, loss of reputation—actually results in a fearless attitude toward risk and new ventures.
  • Kristen: “It was actually losing that helped me stop being afraid of loss. Turns out loss didn’t kill me.” (40:42)
• Idols, Addiction, and Bondage: Anything we cling to can become an idol or addiction, which inevitably demands increasing sacrifice and leads to bondage rather than fulfillment.
  • “Our possessions, if we’re not careful, will... end up possessing us.” (56:01)

Practical Wisdom for the New Year

• Reflect and Let Go: Practical suggestion to listeners preparing for the new year: examine what can’t go with you, what needs to be surrendered, or “weeded out” to make space for wisdom and clarity.
• Invitation to Wisdom Challenge: Pedro invites listeners to his free 31-day Wisdom Challenge, focused on Proverbs and timeless principles applicable to all, regardless of faith background.
  • “You do not have to be a person of faith to gain wisdom from this challenge... There are universal laws that are timeless.” (59:22)
• Embodying Business as Service: True alignment is “using business to love people at scale” rather than using people for profit.
  • “Your business... I use my business to love people at scale.” (56:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Generosity and Integrity in Business:
  • “I don’t give to get. I think that’s just weird energetically... Be emotionally clean that you really don’t expect anything in return or be upfront.” – Pedro (07:52)
• On the Root of Desperate Ambition:
  • “I risked all that just at the hope of having my dad say, I’m proud of you.” – Pedro (15:13)
• On Dying to Old Identities:
  • “God allowed me to attend my own funeral... I had to be a willing participant in that death and rebirth.” – Pedro (31:16–32:16)
  • “In what other area of life do you sign up to die?” – Kristen (27:47)
• On Fearlessness:
  • “If you are not afraid to die, the enemy has nothing on you... that is the taproot that feeds all the other fears.” – Pedro (37:43)
• On True Success:
  • “You’re not actually truly free to live unless you’re ready to die.” – Pedro (39:02)
• On Freedom from Idols:
  • “Our possessions, if we’re not careful, will. Our possessions can end up possessing us.” – Pedro (56:01)
• On Purpose in Business:
  • “Use business to love people at scale.” – Pedro (56:22)

Important Timestamps

• Pedro’s journey & creation of “the challenge” model: 03:08–07:52
• Crash and rebuild; spiritual transformation: 13:38–24:30
• On sober-minded success & identity: 20:17–29:05
• Death/rebirth and no longer fearing loss: 31:16–34:34, 39:02–42:40
• Addiction, idols, and true fulfillment: 45:52–56:22
• Practical New Year’s reflection & Wisdom Challenge invitation: 59:22–64:00

Tone and Language

Open, honest, and vulnerable—both speakers share meaningful, hard-earned wisdom in a conversational, occasionally humorous manner. The conversation is peppered with faith-based language, but emphasizes universal principles applicable to believers and nonbelievers alike.

Recommendations & How to Connect

• Join Pedro’s Free 31-Day Wisdom Challenge:
  Dive into daily live sessions unpacking the book of Proverbs for practical, timeless wisdom (even if you’re not of faith).
• Reflect for the New Year:
  What fear, idol, or old identity might you need to surrender to move forward unhindered?
• Follow Kristen and Pedro for more wisdom and authentic conversations.

For anyone ready to stop chasing external markers of success and pursue purpose with intention, this conversation is both a comfort and a challenge for the new year.