Anna Gudmundson, CEO of Sensate, explores the intersection of technology, nervous system regulation, and human potential.From growing up in Northern Sweden with a deep curiosity for systems, to building a career in early-stage tech, Anna shares how she began to see her own behaviors as patterns—“bugs in her code”—that could be understood and improved.But everything changed when years of stress led to a complete breakdown in her health. What followed was a deep journey into functional medicine, meditation, breathwork, and nervous system awareness—ultimately reshaping how she lives, works, and leads.This conversation explores how to regulate your internal state in a chaotic world, why most people are operating far below their potential, and how combining ancient practices with modern technology may be the key to a more resilient future.Show Partners:Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip SaunasPersonal Socrates: Better Question, Better LifeConnect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagneTimestamps:01:00 — Growing up in Northern Sweden: math, music, and systems thinking02:30 — “I saw bugs in my code” — the mindset that changed everything04:00 — Early influences and discovering personal growth05:00 — Finding Qigong and learning to balance internal energy07:00 — Why “woo-woo” practices are becoming a competitive advantage09:30 — When the nervous system became impossible to ignore11:00 — The 10-day silent meditation that rewired everything12:30 — The health breakdown: stress, gut issues, and missed diagnoses14:00 — Functional medicine and rebuilding from the inside out16:30 — The hardest part: accepting a new way of living17:30 — Running a startup while protecting your nervous system18:00 — Reframing challenges: growth vs punishment19:30 — The non-negotiables: sleep, recovery, and self-awareness21:00 — How to actually “check in” with yourself22:00 — Meditation practices for different mental states24:00 — Automatic journaling and accessing the subconscious26:00 — Breathwork as a reset for mental overwhelm28:00 — Inside alchemy breathwork and altered states32:00 — Integrating logic, spirituality, and identity34:00 — What Sensate is and how it works36:00 — Why nervous system regulation matters more than ever38:00 — The global stress crisis and what it’s costing us40:00 — Meditation vs tools: what works when your mind is overloaded42:00 — Building a “mental fitness system” for your life44:00 — Bringing these practices into company culture46:00 — Why startups aren’t for everyone (and that’s okay)48:00 — Leadership, stress resilience, and the future of work50:00 — The future of health: sound, frequency, and personalization52:00 — Final reflections: embracing complexity and being “just weird enough”*Special props 👇Music: Clouds - Joakim KarudSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related