What the Helvetica?

Regulate to Create: Chris Geisler on Breath Work, Boundaries & Creative Calm

Episode summary

Creative work asks us to pour our hearts into something—and then invite opinions about it. In this conversation, men’s coach and podcaster Chris Geisler joins Michael and Bri to unpack practical nervous-system tools (breathwork, cold exposure, movement) that help stressed, coffee-fueled creatives swap reactivity for regulation. Chris shares his journey from anger and chaos to presence, how travel and men’s work reshaped him, and why “connection vs. protection” is the real toggle we’re all riding.

What you’ll learn

• Fight / Flight / Freeze / Fawn, explained—and how to spot which state you’re in during client feedback loops.

• Breath basics for creatives: low-diaphragm breathing, CO₂ tolerance, and why “calm is a skill.”

• Anger alchemy: making safe space to discharge energy (so it doesn’t leak into your projects or team).

• From goals to mission: reframing purpose to reduce anxiety and people-pleasing.

• Environmental design: curating communities and routines that help you stay regulated under deadlines.

Timestamps

• 00:01 – Why breathwork + cold plunge hit hard for a creative crowd

• 03:16 – Chris’s backstory: dysregulation, consequences, and course correction

• 12:33 – Two years of solo travel, humility, and nervous-system safety

• 21:24 – Practices that actually move the needle (“The Beautiful Practice”)

• 29:24 – Breathing 101: where to breathe and why it matters

• 44:36 – Fight / Flight / Freeze / Fawn for client scenarios

• 53:09 – Healthy anger: boundaries, expression, and repair

• 58:52 – A surprising place Chris learned to release rage

• 1:05:10 – Where to find Chris & how to go deeper

Memorable lines

• “We’re always toggling connection or protection—know which one you’re in.”

• “Calm is a skill. Practice creates capacity.”

• “I was born with everything I need to thrive—I just had to remember.”

Mentioned (light reading list)

• The Alchemist (on listening to your life)

• Gabor Maté on attachment & authenticity

• Thich Nhat Hanh on everyday mindfulness

• Tom Bilyeu’s Impact Theory (awareness as a prerequisite for thriving)

Try this (quick practices)

• 2 minutes of slow nasal, low-diaphragm breathing before client calls.

• After tough feedback, do 10–20 shakes through the legs/arms to discharge energy.

• Write a one-line mission (not a goal) you can contribute to daily.

• Post-work “off switch”: 5 minutes eyes-soft, mouth-closed, long exhales.

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Chris Geisler — Links

• Website: thechrisgeisler.com The Chris Geisler

• Podcast: The Chris Geisler Podcast (show page) The Chris Geisler+2The Chris Geisler+2

• Link hub (socials + more): Linktree (find Instagram, Facebook, etc.) Linktree

• Men of Earth (community): Inner Circle / Skool The Chris Geisler+1

• Retreats / Men’s Weekends: Facing the Shadow (info + dates) The Chris Geisler

• 1:1 & Group Coaching: Offerings & LEAD program The Chris Geisler+1

• YouTube: @thechrisgeisler YouTube

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🤝 Connect with Michael Janda

Michael Janda is an award-winning creative director, designer, and agency veteran. In 2002, he founded the creative agency Riser, which provided design and development services for clients that included Disney, Google, Warner Bros., Fox, NBC, ABC, National Geographic, and many other high-profile brands. Michael sold his agency in 2015 and now spends his time speaking, developing books, courses, and social media content to help creatives level-up. He is the author of “Burn Your Portfolio” and “The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.”

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/morejanda
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/morejanda
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/morejanda
• Website: https://michaeljanda.com
• Courses: https://morejanda.teachable.com
• Community: https://morecreativeacademy.com