The Founders Truth

A podcast diving into the realities of unconventional founders and builders, including corporate founders (i.e., product managers & technologists👊), bringing you real-time insights of the messy middle that gets edited out from success stories. If you are struggling to share your message when it’s a foreign concept that’s too innovative to be accessible yet. Or struggling to position yourself when you still don’t know who your audience will be. Or even struggling to live through all of that without losing the passion and drive that got you on this path in the first place. This podcast is for you. Every episode brings this to life, not expressed only in words but in the tension the dialogue creates. We discuss the unspoken challenges, the nuance that's rarely highlighted, and the in-between stages not to resolve or fix but to recognize, understand, and accept to move forward. In the space of ambiguity, absurdity, and aliveness, you will experience firsthand the founders truth in its uncertainty, discomfort, and fragility, so that when you encounter it on your own journey, you won’t be a stranger to it. Created by the author of The Founders Truth Trilogy, Carlo Mahfouz.

Last refreshed: May 6th, 2026 at 10:04 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

#11 AI Hype And The Two Years Revolution of Private Markets with Gaurav Gupta

Episode 11 of The Founders Truth brings Gaurav Gupta into a conversation that ranges across AI's institutional validation, the specific disruption coming to private markets, and the deepest challenge hiding underneath it all — that the human side of transformation has never been optimised, and the compression of change cycles is making that failure more costly with every iteration. AI's Institutional Validation Is Real, and the Disruption Is Unavoidable — Across Goldman, BlackRock, KKR, and even...

Mar 18, 2026•32 min•Ep. 11

#10 If AI Does the Thinking, What's Left for You? with Cornelia Kawann

In the second part of their conversation, Carlo Mahfouz and Dr. Cornelia Kawann move from the inner world of energy and team trust into the wider terrain of AI, human identity, and what it means to be genuinely connected in a world where connection is increasingly mediated by technology. The conversation begins where it left off — with appreciation, validation, and the quiet danger of depending on external recognition — before opening into one of the sharpest questions the AI moment has surfaced...

Mar 11, 2026•27 min•Ep. 10

#09 The Energy You'll Get Back When You Stop Fitting the Mould with Cornelia Kawann

In this episode, Carlo Mahfouz sits down with Dr. Cornelia Kawann, electrical engineer, energy executive, and Personal Energy Strategist, for a conversation that moves fluidly between the inner architecture of a founder's energy and the collective dynamics that shape how teams trust, create, and collaborate. What begins as a question about how Carlo's energy is doing today opens into a genuinely revealing exchange about the invisible forces that drain founders — not the obvious ones, but the pre...

Mar 09, 2026•24 min•Ep. 9

#08 From Real-Time Data to Real-Time Humanity: AI meets Aliveness with Satish Shenoy

In this concluding part of their conversation, Carlo Mahfouz and Satish Shenoy move from the philosophy of the Founders Truth trilogy into its most practical and provocative territory. They challenge the fear that AI will strip away human creativity — arguing instead that AI will force us to confront what we already lost. They explore the underrated power of communication as a founder’s most critical skill, unpack the connective tissue that ties all three books together into a single, dissolving...

Feb 26, 2026•29 min•Ep. 8

#07 What If You're the Problem You Need to Solve First? with Satish Shenoy

In this episode, Satish Shenoy and Carlo Mahfouz explore the philosophy behind The Founders Truth Trilogy. Moving from inner clarity to team culture to AI integration, the conversation challenges the myths founders are taught to believe — from startup performance theater to the illusion of solo success. We unpack why starting with yourself is the only honest way to recognize the right problem to solve, why most meetings are just disguised webinars, and why the tension between humans and AI is ro...

Feb 18, 2026•27 min•Ep. 7

#06 AI Won't Kill Creativity — Here's Why Human Nature Always Finds a Way with Monica Coronel

In this thought-provoking continuation of their conversation, Monica Coronel and Carlo Mahfouz dive deep into the tension between structure and flexibility in how we organize society, companies, and creative work. They explore why operating on principles rather than rigid rules creates more adaptive systems, discuss the inevitable shift toward decentralized, founder-driven ecosystems, and offer a surprisingly hopeful perspective on AI's impact on human creativity. Key Insights The Principle vs. ...

Feb 11, 2026•34 min•Ep. 6

#05 Bridging Technology, Humanity, and Art: A Conversation on Innovation and Identity with Monica Coronel

In this episode, Carlo Mahfouz and Monica Coronel delve into the complex, intertwined relationship between technology, human experience, and creativity. They explore how societal boundaries are dissolving, the importance of embracing uncertainty, and ways to foster inclusive innovation in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Key Topics: The intersection of technology, art, and human experience, and how embracing ambiguity enhances understanding The risks and opportunities of AI and digital inno...

Feb 04, 2026•34 min•Ep. 5

#04 AI, Communication, and the Hard Realities of Change with Dave Van Bennekum

In this continuation of our conversation with David Van Bennekum, author of the first self-help book on national security, we explore how AI and technology can bridge communication gaps, the power of playfulness in creating common ground, and the difficult but rewarding journey of extending beyond our comfort zones. We discuss why comedians are masters of vulnerability, how adults create self-imposed limitations, and why transformation is never a solo journey. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: • How...

Jan 28, 2026•36 min•Ep. 4

#03 From Technical Skills to Conversational Mastery with Dave Van Bennekum

In this episode, Carlo Mahfouz and Dave Van Bennekum explore the journey from technical skills to conversational mastery, discussing the challenges and rewards of this transition. They delve into the role of technology and AI in facilitating communication and the importance of bridging different disciplines. Takeaways Transitioning from technical skills to conversational knowledge is challenging but rewarding. AI can help bridge the gap between analytical and creative thinking. Effective communi...

Jan 21, 2026•29 min•Ep. 3

#02 Exploring the Self: Technology's Role in Our Reality with Vjera Orbanic

In this episode, Carlo Mahfouz and Vjera Orbanik delve into the intricate relationship between ambiguity, presence, technology, and language. They explore how these elements shape our understanding of reality and the role of founders in navigating these complexities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of being present, the impact of technology on society, and the power of language to create and interpret our realities. Takeaways Ambiguity often serves as the foundation for clarity. True ...

Jan 14, 2026•36 min•Ep. 2

#01 Beyond Self-Made: The Power of Team and Ecosystem with Vjera Orbanic

In this inaugural episode of "The Founders Truth," join Carlo Mahfouz and guest Vjera Orbanic as they delve into the paradox of the self-made founder. Explore the essential pillars of ambiguity, absurdity, and aliveness that define a founder's journey. Discover how embracing these elements can lead to personal growth and success, while challenging the myth of individual achievement. This episode offers a fresh perspective on the collective power of teams and the role of technology in shaping our...

Jan 13, 2026•27 min•Ep. 1

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