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Nick Jonsson

Nick Jonsson

#1 Global Thought Leader on Executive Loneliness, International Bestselling Author and TEDx Speaker

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Nick Jonsson Podcast Episodes

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

I Lost My Job, My Wife & My Son To Alcohol & Oxycodone

June 23, 2026

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About this episode

From the outside Nick Johnsson had it all. Born in Sweden, educated in Australia, and based in Southeast Asia, he spent a decade climbing the corporate ladder until he was the general manager of 72 hospitals and clinics across Indonesia — one of the biggest roles of its kind in the world.

And he was quietly falling apart behind the closed door of his corner office.

Every promotion made him lonelier. He was drinking to control himself, working punishing hours, and slowly losing the discipline that had defined his life. When the pressure became too much he resigned, couldn't talk to his wife about why, filed for divorce, and separated himself from his five-year-old son. Isolated with no job, no marriage and no child, he gained 60 pounds and slid into a daily dependence on alcohol and oxycodone — which in Southeast Asia he could buy over the counter like popcorn.

It took two days to get off the alcohol and two years to taper off the medication.

Now 8 years sober, Nick is an author, speaker and entrepreneur who travels the world with his teenage son, volunteers for a suicide prevention agency, and wrote a book — Executive Loneliness — about the isolation at the top that nobody talks about.

In this thoughtful and powerful episode Nick shares how he rebuilt his relationship with his son from across the world through Minecraft, why he believes loneliness is the root so many high achievers try to numb, and what it really takes to come back.

This one is for every high achiever who looks successful on the outside and feels completely alone underneath.

🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week📲 Follow Nick on LinkedIn: Nick Johnsson🌐 nickjohnsson.com📖 Executive Loneliness — available now

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment.

Call or Text: 844-443-5669

Visit: https: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/rise-above/

#RiseAbove #SoberLife #8YearsSober #AlcoholRecovery #ExecutiveLoneliness #HighFunctioningAlcoholic#RecoveryIsPossible #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #SobrietyJourney #Loneliness#FatherhoodInRecovery #RiseAbovePodcast #KevinLanning #NickJohnsson #CorporateBurnout#MensMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #OneDayAtATime #OneMoreThing

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Nick Jonsson Podcast Episodes

Amplifying Leadership

Interview with Nick Jonsson

Amplifying Leadership

Jul 2026

Always Better than Yesterday with Ryan Hartley | A Podcast for Heart Centred Leaders

Ep 336 Interview Sessions with Nick Jonsson | Executive Burnout & Loneliness

Always Better than Yesterday with Ryan Hartley | A Podcast for Heart Centred Leaders

Jun 2026

The Jōrni Podcast

Episode 384 - Navigating Sobriety, Recovery, and Mental Health with Nick Jonsson

The Jōrni Podcast

May 2026

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

When Success Breaks You From the Inside

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

May 2026

Travis Makes Money

Make Money and Overcome Executive Loneliness with Nick Jonsson

Travis Makes Money

Apr 2026

Ruling Sports

Nick Jonsson - Tackling The Loneliness Epidemic With Sport

Ruling Sports

Mar 2026

Change Proof

Overcoming Burnout And Loneliness With Nick Jonsson

Change Proof

Feb 2026

Glenn van Zutphen on Saturday Mornings with Neil Humphreys

Saturday Mornings: “When Men Are the Silent Victims: Breaking the Stigma Around Spousal Abuse"

Glenn van Zutphen on Saturday Mornings with Neil Humphreys

Feb 2026

The Next Interview Show

Nick Jonsson Answers: Why Is Leadership So Lonely at the Top?

The Next Interview Show

Jan 2026

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Latest video

I Lost My Job, My Wife & My Son To Alcohol & Oxycodone

I Lost My Job, My Wife & My Son To Alcohol & Oxycodone

Latest episodes

Amplifying Leadership

Interview with Nick Jonsson

Amplifying Leadership

Always Better than Yesterday with Ryan Hartley | A Podcast for Heart Centred Leaders

Ep 336 Interview Sessions with Nick Jonsson | Executive Burnout & Loneliness

Always Better than Yesterday with Ryan Hartley | A Podcast for Heart Centred Leaders

The Jōrni Podcast

Episode 384 - Navigating Sobriety, Recovery, and Mental Health with Nick Jonsson

The Jōrni Podcast

View all episodes →

Key topics

Why Success Makes Leaders Lonely-and Why That’s an Organizational Risk

Isolation at the top isn’t a character flaw; it’s a leading indicator of burnout, secrecy, and bad decisions that can cascade through a company. Nick Jonsson-ranked the world’s #1 thought leader on Executive Loneliness and author of _Executive Loneliness_-turns a taboo into a leadership imperative. Drawing on lived recovery, global research, and years coaching senior executives, he reframes loneliness as a system problem that demands a system fix. His 5 Steps to Holistic Leadership™-Surrender, Connection, Purpose, Goals, Discipline-give leaders a practical, stigma-free playbook to move from silent strain to sustainable performance. Nick’s approach is disarmingly candid and deeply actionable: how to build psychologically safe peer forums, measure connection like any other KPI, and replace performative toughness with habits that boost engagement, retention, and decision quality. It’s the conversation leaders avoid-delivered by someone who’s been there, and knows how to get them out.

Why discipline and surrender matter more than hustle

We’ve been told that hustling harder is the key to a better life - but for many, it only leads to exhaustion, anxiety, or unhealthy coping habits. Nick learned this firsthand when chasing success left him burnt out and disconnected. What turned things around wasn’t more pushing, but two practices most people overlook: surrender and discipline. Surrender means letting go of the habits or patterns that keep you stuck, and discipline means building small, steady routines that bring you back to health and clarity. Drawing from his own journey of recovery, Nick shows why these two forces matter far more than hustle if you want lasting energy, connection, and wellbeing.

Performance & Biohacking for Business Leaders

Drawing from his experience as a top 2% Ironman athlete, Nick shares how leaders can optimize their energy, focus, and recovery through biohacking strategies. He connects physical conditioning, mental clarity, and executive performance, offering practical steps for leaders to sustain peak performance without burnout.

View all topics →