What if the way we cope with stress is actually making us less present?
In this episode of Fulfillment Project, host Andy Leonard sits down with Morgan Smith, CEO of Kalm with Kava, to explore burnout, anxiety, addiction, ritual, and what it really means to calm the nervous system without numbing yourself.
Morgan shares his personal journey from 80‑hour workweeks in tech and finance to discovering kava, a 3,000‑year‑old South Pacific plant traditionally used to promote calm, connection, and clarity.
This is not a conversation about escapism. It’s about presence, agency, and building a life that doesn’t require constant stimulation to survive.
This episode dives deep into:
- Burnout, anxiety, and the moment “coping stopped working”
- The difference between calming vs. numbing
- Why addiction is really about loss of freedom
- The power of ritual in a hyper‑stimulated world
- Ancient wisdom from the Pacific Islands that modern culture has forgotten
- Why silence, rules, and small daily practices matter more than hacks
- Redefining success, fulfillment, and what actually lasts
This is a raw, honest, and deeply human conversation about stress, faith, family, work, and reclaiming control of your inner life.
Chapters:
0:04 – 2:08: Opening and Morgan’s Burnout Story
2:08 – 6:12: Burnout, Meds, and Exploring Alternatives
6:12 – 9:30: Kava Discovery and Early US Landscape
9:30 – 13:15: Kava Basics: What It Is, How It’s Prepared, and Forms
14:15 – 23:31: Calming vs Numbing, Addiction, and Life Rules
25:47 – 31:11: Rituals and the Value of Preparation
40:20 – 53:26: Fulfillment, Money, and What Really Matters
66:30 – 68:52: Legacy, Community, and the Path Forward with Kava
63:27 – 68:52: Practical Takeaways and Starting Points
