86: Mojo Under Fire: How to Bring More Heart To Your Leadership

What does it mean to truly lead from the inside out? In this episode, I sit down with Matt Hocking — founder of planet-centred design and impact agency LEAP, co-founder of GOODFEST, B Corp ambassador, and one of the most genuinely thoughtful leaders I've had the pleasure of talking to. Matt's journey began at The Eden Project, where his deep fascination with the natural world first took root, and it's shaped everything he's built since.

We get into the real stuff — burnout, what it strips away, and what it reveals. Matt talks openly about his own experience of running on empty, and how hitting that wall became one of the most clarifying moments of his life. It's a story a lot of leaders will recognise but rarely talk about.

Nature sits at the heart of Matt's philosophy — not as a nice-to-have, but as a genuine teacher. We explore how reconnecting with the natural world helps leaders slow down, recalibrate, and rediscover what actually matters. In a business culture that rewards relentless doing, Matt makes a compelling case for the power of stillness.

We also get into some territory that I think is long overdue in leadership conversations — the role of love and heart in how we lead. Matt believes the future of leadership looks less like command and control, and more like stewardship. Sharing responsibility. Creating the conditions for others to flourish. He talks about why uncomfortable conversations aren't something to avoid but something to lean into — because that's where the real growth happens.

One of my favourite moments in this conversation is when Matt talks about agency — the idea that each of us, wherever we sit in an organisation, has the power to create change. Not waiting for permission. Not looking upward for the answer. Just beginning.

As Matt puts it, the antidote to despair is action.

In this episode we cover:

• What mojo means to Matt and why it fluctuates
• His journey through burnout and the profound self-discovery it triggered
• Why nature is one of the most underrated leadership tools available
• The shift from ego-driven leadership to heart-led stewardship
• Why difficult conversations are a gift, not a threat
• How to reclaim your agency when the world feels overwhelming

Connect with Matt: Website: matthocking.eco LEAP Agency: leap.eco LinkedIn: Matt Hocking

Hope you love it
Richard 🦋

And if you'd like to book a free 30 minute discovery call with me to talk about some coaching can help get your Mojo back - just drop me an email.
richard@mojo-leadership.com
I'm also opening the doors for a new Mojo Men's Group - starting in Feb '26. It's a powerful and safe space for Men to open up and grow together. https://www.mojo-leadership.com/mojo-men-s-group

The Mojo Podcast Hosted by leadership coach Richard Stokes from Ibiza @mojorichard on Instagram
richard@mojo-leadership.com www.mojo-leadership.com (http://www.mojo-leadership.com)