What would you do if your company demanded you cut 17% of costs — and the only “approved” way to do it… was to fire your people?

That’s the position Patrick Cowden found himself in during the 2008 financial crisis.

But instead of blindly following orders, he tried something radical:

He brought his entire team together to co-create the solution.

They found a way to save 17% without laying off a single person.

Problem solved, right? Wrong.

When he presented the plan, the company said: “Great. Do both.”

That moment was a turning point — not just for Patrick’s leadership… but for his life.

Because it showed him the system was broken.

And it led him to create a 42-year plan to rehumanize the way we connect, lead, and collaborate.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

• How Patrick gathered 85 people from around the world — monks, therapists, scientists, even someone experiencing homelessness — to uncover the universal principles behind trust, connection, and human flourishing
• Why it took six more years to refine those discoveries into a repeatable workshop — and how that same transformation now happens in just three minutes using his technology
• The technology that lets you see truth emerge from thousands of human perspectives in real time — and how it unlocks a new level of co-creation and clarity in teams

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Patrick Cowden

Brandon introduces the episode with a story that encapsulates Patrick's unique leadership approach and sets the stage for a deep dive into his 42-year plan to elevate human consciousness through technology and connection.

00:38 - Patrick explains his concept of "we reality"

Patrick shares a powerful philosophy: that true reality is a collective of all human perspectives. He introduces technology built to ensure every voice is heard, highlighting the need for connected decision-making.

01:55 - Behind-the-scenes of recording in person with Patrick

Brandon recounts spending an entire day with Patrick, from coffee and lunch to walking by the Fox River, emphasizing the deep connection and special setting of their in-person recording.

02:23 - The turning point in 2008 that sparked Patrick’s mission

During the financial crisis, Patrick defied corporate orders to lay off employees, instead co-creating a cost-saving plan with his team that preserved jobs—igniting his 42-year mission to rehumanize leadership.

04:14 - Three key highlights to look out for in the episode

Brandon previews the episode: Patrick’s global gathering to define trust and connection, refining it into a three-minute transformation via tech, and enabling real-time truth emergence through collective human perspectives.

06:52 - Using Warm Space for the International Day of Peace

Patrick describes how his platform, Warm Space, turned a traditional broadcast into an immersive, participatory event—scaling global peace efforts with a simple QR code.

11:22 - Patrick’s multicultural and military-influenced leadership roots

Patrick reflects on his upbringing under a U.S. Army drill sergeant father and his diverse corporate experience across American, German, and Japanese companies that shaped his human-centric leadership model.

16:56 - Defying corporate orders to prioritize people over profit

Patrick recounts refusing to fire 17% of staff at Hitachi during a crisis, instead proposing an alternative that saved money and accelerated growth—highlighting people-first leadership.

22:19 - Creating Beyond Leadership through global collaboration

Patrick explains how 85 diverse contributors—from monks to a homeless person—helped him identify universal principles of connection, leading to the creation of Beyond Leadership.

28:12 - The emergence of repeatable protocols and global workshops

Through 2,000 workshops, Patrick refined his two-day workshop into a two-hour experience that scales human connection, eventually digitized into the Warm Space platform.

34:44 - The power of asking the right questions in the right way

Patrick explains how transformative questioning—framed within safe, appreciative environments—became the cornerstone of unlocking human connection in Warm Space.

42:51 - Why sequencing and psychological safety matter in questions

The duo unpacks how wrapping questions in appreciation and gratitude creates trust, allowing deeper reflection and connection in both tech and real-life conversations.

48:13 - Foundations beneath effective communication: connection protocols

Patrick reveals how connection precedes communication and how Warm Space leverages precise protocols to create deep cooperation and co-creation among teams.

52:05 - Live demo of Warm Space’s “Ignite Plus” flow

Patrick and Brandon walk through a live in-person demonstration of a Warm Space flow, highlighting the ease and potency of creating emotional elevation and connection in under three minutes.

01:01:23 - The science behind Warm Space’s emotional impact

Patrick explains how oxytocin floods the brain during flows, reducing stress and unlocking higher awareness—akin to military camaraderie but accessible to everyone.

01:06:05 - “We reality”: Why truth emerges from collective perspective

Patrick shares the philosophy that we only exist through the eyes of others and true decisions can only be made when all voices are heard, scaled through Warm Space technology.

Links & Resources:

• Warm Space Platform: Patrick’s technology platform enabling scalable human connection.
• The Beyond Company: Patrick Cowden’s company
• Episode 207 - Jennifer Hill: The episode featuring the guest who introduced Brandon to Patrick.