Ep 2/12 || Midlife, Travel, and Psychology with Dr Marc Rogatschnig
In this thoughtful and deeply resonant conversation, Pierre speaks with clinical psychologist and executive coach Dr. Marc Rogatschnig. Together, they unpack what it means to live meaningfully, navigate midlife transitions with courage, and discover the power of boredom, friendship, and self reflection.
Marc opens up about his early desire to become a politician, his detour into law, and how travel became the education that truly shaped him. From there, he explores the challenges of modern life, the dangers of over scheduling, and how to reconnect with your true self.
This episode is a slow burning masterclass in intentional living with insights that are especially potent for anyone approaching (or already in) midlife.
Time - stamped Topics
[00:00] What brings Marc joy
[02:00] Who is Marc? Optimism, activism & restlessness
[05:30] Idealism, injustice, and the pursuit of universal truths
[08:30] Travel, home, and why Namibia still holds his heart
[10:00] Childhood dreams politics, then law
[14:30] The power of a gap year and real world education
[16:00] Why he chose psychology over law
[21:00] How do we truly get to know ourselves?
[23:30] The forgotten value of boredom in identity formation
[25:00] Friendship, risk, and the beauty of being unstructured
[28:00] Why travel is a rite of passage
[30:00] Midlife reflection, ego shedding, and relationship wisdom
[36:00] From rectangles to circles: the AI future and human reconnection
[40:00] How not to get stuck in the midlife loop
[43:00] What does meaning feel like?
Pull Quotes
“You can always be true to yourself, but you’ll never make everyone happy.”
“Boredom is the birthplace of creativity and self discovery.”
“Most people get stuck in midlife because they double down on the old plan.”
“The only real upgrade worth making is the one that brings you joy.”
“Friendship and wisdom are the true markers of a good life.”
“Our lives are run like diaries full, structured, and disconnected from who we really are.”
“We don’t find ourselves by adding more we find ourselves by subtracting the noise.”
Find Marc on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcrogatschnig/
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1:34:47
Ep 1/12 || Entrepreneurship, Boxing, & Plant Medicine with Rob Paddock
In this first episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, educator, and friend Rob Paddock. Together, we unravel what it means to live a life of depth, how boxing became a surprising teacher, and why marriage and fatherhood are proper spiritual practices.
We touch on everything from men’s work, plant medicine, and the culture of overwork, to parenting, leadership, and the transformative power of committed relationships.
Time-stamped Topics
[00:00] Welcome & intro to “Through The Fog”
[02:00] Introducing Rob Paddock — from GetSmarter to Valencia Institute
[04:50] First meeting at an unexpected place — Vision Quests at an accounting conference
[06:00] Rob’s life today — fatherhood, remote leadership, and nourishment
[08:25] ‘Who is Rob?’ — seeking depth, shadow work, and creative identity
[10:50] Lessons from the boxing ring — anger, embodiment, and safe aggression
[16:40] Addicted to suffering? The illusion of value through overworking
[24:30] Ayahuasca insights: “You do not need to suffer to find peace.”
[29:00] Belonging vs. status — the paradox of human motivation
[33:30] How marriage becomes the ultimate mirror
[36:00] The value of fighting well — nothing is too small to bring into the relational space
[40:00] Children as spiritual teachers & the creative force of family
[44:00] Tradition as a guide — the forgotten wisdom of lineage
[46:00] What does the world ask of us now?
Pull Quotes
“Life will present us with the people and circumstances to reveal where we’re not yet free.” – Rob Paddock
“You can talk about this stuff until you’re blue in the face, but to embody it is a very different experience.”
“I realized I had an addiction to suffering. I thought if I wasn’t carrying the heaviest burden, I wasn’t valuable.”
“Boxing taught me more about myself than boardrooms ever could.”
“Marriage isn’t there to make you happy — it’s there to make you holy.”
“We don’t change easily. We change when life backs us into a corner.”
“I seek depth. In business, in love, in self.”
“Children are spiritual teachers. They show you what real service means.”
LINKS
Sign up to my daily letter: https://thisispierre.co
Rob's links:
https://www.valentureinstitute.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-paddock
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1:39:33
Rob Paddock
Coming soon with Rob Paddock, co-founder of Get Smarter, founder Valenture Institute creating low fee online High Schools in Africa.
This is a fortnightly podcast that explores some of life's biggest questions:
"What do I do now, where do I go next, what do I do with this one precious life?"
Through open and honest conversations with people doing their best work; founders, artists, musicians, and pioneers, we delve into why these people made the choices they did that led them to where they find themselves today.
We all hit moments where the path ahead feels unclear, where doubt creeps in, and every decision feels like a gamble, this is about those moments.
Hosted by Pierre, a strategist and systematic theologian who’s spent years helping people and businesses make their way through the fog. This is for anyone trying to find their way and do their best work. Expect honest conversations, hard-won insights, and real strategies to help you move forward, even when you can’t see the whole map.
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