Cesar shares how he spent 25 years at CNN before an unexpected layoff pushed him to a major crossroads. Instead of simply trying to return to the same corporate path, he began asking deeper questions about who he was, what mattered, and how he wanted to live.

A major part of the conversation is Cesar’s experience with plant medicine and psychedelics.

He explains that he does not frame the conversation as a recommendation, but as part of his own story and an educational discussion about how these substances changed his relationship with cannabis, presence, and purpose.

Michael and Cesar also talk about fatherhood. Cesar shares that becoming more present helped him realize that loving his children was not enough. He needed to truly see them, understand their worth, and recognize how his actions affected them.

The conversation expands into men’s emotional lives. Cesar talks about the need for men to have someone they can be honest with, not just about victories, but about heartbreak, failure, stress, and fear. He believes fathers need spaces where they can be vulnerable, supported, and more present for their families.

In this episode:

● What happens when a long career suddenly ends

● Why presence matters more than achievement

● How Cesar’s relationship with cannabis changed

● Why intention matters in conversations about psychedelics

● How fatherhood changed Cesar’s perspective

● Why men need honest support systems

● What it means to be present instead of distracted

● Why today is the only day you can actually live

This episode is a reminder that success can still leave people asking, “Is this it?” Michael and Cesar explore what can happen when that question becomes an invitation to be more honest, more present, and more connected to the people who matter most.

rest of their lives.

Joel explains that bad leadership does not stay at work. When people feel diminished, ignored, stressed, or afraid in the workplace, they often bring that pressure home. Michael connects this to the bigger idea behind In-House Retreat: many teams are not broken or unmotivated. They are constrained. The energy is blocked, ideas die too early, and people begin holding back even when they still care.

Michael and Joel discuss the difference between managing and leading. Managers focus on tasks, goals, and whether people are doing the work. Leaders go deeper. They influence, inspire, ask better questions, and create the kind of environment where people want to bring their full energy. One of the strongest ideas from the conversation is that leaders create owners, while managers create renters.

They also explore communication, psychological safety, and Joel’s phrase, “Tell Me More.” For Joel, it is not just a question. It is a mindset. Leaders need to listen, ask open-ended questions, and create space for people to say what is really happening before ideas, trust, and momentum

disappear.

The conversation closes around AI and the future of work. Even as technology changes jobs and workflows, Joel reminds leaders that AI cannot replace real human connection. Michael’s brand reinforces that same point: teams move forward when people stop holding back,

participate honestly, and experience trust in the room.

In this episode:

● Why leadership follows people home

● Why teams are often constrained, not broken

● The difference between managing and leading

● Why leaders create owners

● How better questions create better communication

● Why psychological safety helps truth reach leaders

● Why AI makes human connection even more important

This episode is a reminder that leadership is not just about productivity. It is about unlocking people, restoring trust, creating participation, and building the kind of environment where teams can move forward together.