What Yoga Trapezes, Laser Lights, Kettlebells, Mini-Meditation & Ketogenic Doughnuts Have To Do With Building A Nutrition Supplements Empire

Angelo Keely is COO and Co-Founder of Kion, and a true renaissance man of many talents - including beatboxing, music, art and more. He's also a wizard at creating a healthy and robust company culture, and is building one of the most impressive and high-quality nutrition and supplement formulation companies on the face of the planet. From his near-death experience on an LSD trip to his impressive daily routine, we delve into his life and valuable experience on this podcast.

During our discussion, you'll discover: -The story of Angelo's life...11:20

• Hippy parents, owned a natural foods store in Wimberley, TX
• His dad collaborated with Whole Foods in its early days in Austin
• No doctors, vaccinations; all natural treatments
• Angelo and Ben were polar opposites in their diets as kids
• Minimalist approach to food and supplements
• Got into lots of trouble in high school
• Awful LSD experience at age 16
• Got some gigs as a musician/beat boxer
• Attended St. Edwards University
  • Centering prayer
  • Religious studies major (although raised non-religious)
  • Service projects to India, Central America
• Developed intense interest in humans, human interaction with one another

-How Angelo's meeting his wife is a case study in the power of visualization...28:45

• Doing an internship in France; had met her a few months prior
• Wrote a song that clearly described "the perfect wife" while living in France
• Performed the song for the first time after returning to the U.S.; she was there listening
• Began dating shortly after and eventually married
• Book: Creative Visualization

-How Angelo got involved with Ben and eventually co-founded Kion...36:20

• Moved to Boulder, CO to start family in 2012
• Heard of Ben in 2016; Ben has a large following in Boulder
• Angelo was impressed with Ben's authenticity and passion more than any business acumen

-A day in the life of Angelo Keely...47:30

• Go to sleep at the same time kids go to sleep; need alone time (in the morning)
• Go to bed early; you need less sleep, then wake up really early and be productive
• Drink two glasses of water, then an Americano
• Spiritual text (recontextualizes all of life)
• Journaling: just show up and do it
• Working out: do simple things with much intensity
• Cold/hot shower in the winter; all cold in the summer
• Show up at the office around 9 am

-The company culture within the dank, forbidding recesses of Kion World Headquarters...59:45

• "It's a mindset about what we're doing"
• Everyone is passionate about health, supplements (enemas not so much)
• The culture must reflect the stated mission statement of Kion: Live a joyful, fulfilling and adventurous life
• Blend of empathy and radical honesty
• Every day begins with a 15 minute daily huddle; begins with 3 minutes of silence
• My interview with Todd White of Dry Farm Wines
• Monthly team adventures; yearly retreat
• "We're trying to live what we're saying"
• Building a high quality company requires hiring the right people and build it intelligently
• Team approach:
  • Everyone has a unique distinct role
  • It takes time to develop chemistry
• Kion is not a fly-by-night, pie-eyed idealist company; it's profitable and being built the right way

-The biggest trends Angelo sees in the health and fitness industry...1:15:00

• Personalization of diet
  • Lots of "Mickey Mouse" practices
  • Education rather than instruction or "lecturing" (Kion fasting challenge w/ accompanying guide)
  • Big fight on the supply chain to get an awesome product
  • If everything is in stock at a supplement company, there's a red flag

-What will Angelo's life look like 5-10 years from now?...1:25:45

• Making a lot more music as of late
• One man show: music, visuals, comedic monologue

-And much more... Resources from this episode:

-Kion (use code "BGF10" to save 10% sitewide) -Ben Greenfield In The Hotseat: Angelo interviews Ben -