The Freedom Project

S4E23: Why Personal Growth Fails Without Biological, Psychological and Neurological Support: How Character Makes Success Guaranteed

In this episode, Tom Foxley shares a deeply personal journey into mastering the mindset of success, especially for those of us who’ve struggled with hitting glass ceilings, plateauing, or feeling stuck despite trying everything. Tom reveals the missing link in most personal growth efforts and explains why some strategies—whether meditation, therapy, or mindset work—only take some people so far. He dives into the three critical zones of change that every business owner, athlete, or high-performer must understand to unlock their full potential: the nervous system, the stories we tell ourselves, and the philosophies we live by. 

Tom challenges the traditional approach to personal development, showing why mindset work alone isn't enough if the body isn't regulated first, and how these levels must be addressed in the right order to create lasting transformation. Tune in to discover why personal growth can feel so elusive and what truly makes success inevitable. This episode is a must-listen if you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and master the mentality needed to thrive in both business and life.

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Blog Link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/why-personal-growth-fails-the-3-hidden-zones-you-must-master-to-truly-transform

S4E22: Why Working Less Can Make You More Productive: The Power of Rest and Balance in Business

In this episode, I share the story of James, a business owner trapped in the endless grind, constantly working but seeing little progress. Like many entrepreneurs, he was stuck in a cycle of stress, hustling from dawn till dusk, and still feeling like he was falling short—at the expense of his happiness, his marriage, and ultimately his business. His fear of running out of time, money, and opportunities drove him into overdrive, yet the harder he worked, the less he achieved.

If you're a business owner struggling to switch off, this episode is for you. I’ll show you how James' mental state wasn't just a side effect of his lack of success—it was the *cause* of it. You’ll learn why the hustle-and-grind mentality can actually limit your productivity and creativity, and how working less can unlock more success. 

Tune in to discover how to break free from the grind and master the mentality that leads to true success.

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Blog Link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/why-working-less-can-make-you-more-productive-the-power-of-rest-and-balance-in-business

S4E21: How To Master Your Nervous System w/ Jonny Miller

In today's episode, I’m thrilled to introduce you to the incredible Johnny Miller!

Johnny is the dynamic host of the 'Curious Humans Podcast' and a dedicated Nervous System Specialist. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, he’s the brilliant mind behind Nervous System Mastery, where he provides personalised coaching and leads live cohorts aimed at helping individuals master the intricate art of regulating their nervous systems.

Over the years, Johnny has devoted thousands of hours to researching and mentoring high performers—from CEOs and startup founders navigating the challenging waters of burnout to busy parents striving to find balance amidst the chaos of family life.

Join us as we dive deep into the world of nervous system mastery, explore Johnny’s transformative insights, and uncover practical tools for thriving in today’s fast-paced world. 

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Johnny's Website: https://www.nsmastery.com 

Johnny's Instagram: @jonnym1ller

S4E20: Harnessing Willpower: Lessons from Commando Training to Business Mastery

In this episode of The Freedom Project, I dive into the two types of willpower essential for business success. Drawing from my experience in Royal Marines Commando training, I share the story of a pivotal moment where I learned the limits of forceful willpower and how that lesson carried over into running my own business. Tune in to hear how shifting from brute force to a gentler, more mindful approach to willpower transformed not only my work but also my entire life. If you want to learn how to train both types of willpower, I’ve written a full article on the subject at:  https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/how-to-train-the-2-types-of-willpower-essential-for-your-business-success 

S4E19: The Moment I Chose Craft Over Empire

In this episode of The Freedom Project, I share the story of a pivotal moment with a mentor who told me, “It’s not the best who win, it’s the best known.” On the surface, his philosophy made sense – generate money, work less – but something about it didn’t sit right with me. This realisation led me to abandon the empire-building mindset and focus on what truly matters: the craft. Tune in to hear how this shift brought more clarity, deeper work, and ultimately, more freedom. If you’re curious about the craftsman vs. empire builder path, I’ve written a full article on it at: 

https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/the-adventurepreneur-s-dilemma-craftsman-vs-empire-builder 

S4E18: Breath Work Mastery: The 2 Essential Ingredients For More Resilience

Welcome to The Freedom Project Podcast!

On today's podcast I'm joined by Breath Coach, Jacko.

We cover so much, everything from how to train at high altitude and a practical way you can put breath work into your existing psychological training programme to reap maximum benefits.

It's very practical. It's very applicable.

I've got three things that I'm taking from this that I'm beginning straight away.

 Enjoy the show.

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Jacko's Instagram: @jacko.david.jackson

Website: www.probreathwork.com

S4E17: From Overwhelm to Achievement: How Stillness Can Revolutionise Your Business

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the extraordinary moment that forever changed my perspective on focus, clarity, and precision—not only in the military  but in the chaos of everyday life. 

I reflect on the struggle between panic and calm, and the lessons learned from a moment of stillness in the heat of the moment, we explore how these principles apply to modern challenges faced by entrepreneurs and business owners.
Discover why the urgency to act can often lead us astray, and how finding stillness can enhance our effectiveness and decision-making.

This episode reveals six proven techniques to cultivate stillness in both body and mind—essential for achieving optimal performance.
Whether you're navigating the pressures of a small business or facing life's daily distractions, learn how to ground yourself and take deliberate aim at your highest values.

Tune in to find out how the power of stillness can redefine your approach to success, productivity, and personal growth.

Don’t miss out on insights that could transform your journey—visit TomFoxley.me for additional resources!

Blog Link

S4E16: How To Achieve Anything w/ Mitch Hutchcraft

Today I am interviewing Mitch Hutchcraft.

An  Adventurer and Wildlife Enthusiast who grew up in Cambridgeshire, and soon developed a passion for the mountains.

At 16, he climbed Kilimanjaro alone,  and at 18 he visited Everest Base Camp.
Mitch studied Zoology joined the Royal Marines and later rode 3000 miles across the Atlantic and cycled 5,000 kilometers across the USA. 

Now, he's on a mission to swim the British Channel, cycle to India, run to Everest, then clime it, all the while supporting veterans and wildlife conservation through SAVSIM.

You can discover more at: https://www.12000kmtoeverest.com.  

There's a piece in this podcast, which I cannot wait for you to listen to. It's all about building a catalog of 'Why's'. 

It's really powerful. It's something I've used myself, since.
The way Mitch phrases this concept is incredibly useful.

So, enjoy this conversation with Mitch Hutchcraft. 

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Website: https://www.12000kmtoeverest.com/

Givestar: https://givestar.io/gs/limitless--12000km-to-everest

S4E15: How To Meditate w/ Henry Shukman (The 4 Zones of Meditation)

Welcome back to The Freedom Project Podcast. And after a little bit of a hiatus, we are back and we're off with a bang!
Today, I'm joined by Henry Shukman who is a Poet, Author, and Zen master in the sand Buddhas and lineage. 

 

He is co-founder of the single path meditation app, 'The Way', founder of the Original Love meditation program and Spiritual Director Emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Centre. 

 His most recent books are Original love:The four ins on the path of awakening' and the Zen memoir, 'One Blade of Grass'.

He has taught at Google and Harvard business school, The Institute of American Indian Arts and Oxford Brookes University, and is the author of several award-winning books of poetry and fiction.
His poems have appeared in the New Yorker, Sunday times and Financial Times.
Henry has an MA from Cambridge and an MLitt from St. Andrews. 

Today we discuss a framework you can apply to meditation. I think this makes meditation so much more intentional, so much more deliberate, and from that, so much more effective.

I personally am really looking forward to using this framework to help me become a better meditator and ultimately, a better person too. 

So, enjoy this podcast with the wonderful Henry Shukman. 

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Henry's Website: https://henryshukman.com

Henry's Instagram: @henryshukman

S4E14: 7 Lessons from 6000 Metres: Extreme Personal Development

Welcome back to the freedom project podcast.

 

Thanks for putting up with the two week absence of podcasts. Things have been a little crazy since I got back from Pakistan.

 

Fair to say, life is full steam ahead. My wife is 17 weeks pregnant, we’re due to move into our first house purchase in 6 days’ time, and during all of that, I went to an uncontactable region of the world & experienced the most incredible times.

 

I said in a podcast a few months back, that at some point, you have to just say “fuck it” and book the trip.

 

The months between then and now, have been crazy. I’ve been forced to grow more than I expected, and in a completely different direction from normal.

 

I’ve learned far more than I bargained for, and I want to pass as much of that on to you as possible. So, in light of that, I am giving you access to a training I put together for my clients in the Adventurepreneur Collective.

 

It’s called 7 lessons from 6000 metres: a guide to personal development. It’s a summary of the most essential lessons I learned.

 

Now, because I want to protect the privacy of the members of the collective, there are some pieces that are edited out. So there may be some pieces you feel are non sequiturs.

 

That being said, you guys are all intelligent and you’ll be able to piece together what is missing.

 

So, here are 7 lessons from 6000 metres.

 

Enjoy