Scientific Articles
Are Entrepreneurs “Touched with Fire”?
Michael A. Freeman, M.D., University of California San Francisco; Sheri L. Johnson, Ph.D., University of California Berkeley; Paige J. Staudenmaier, Stanford University; Mackenzie R. Zisser, University of California Berkeley
The Mental Health and Well-Being of Entrepreneurs in Mexico
Endeavor Mexico (available in English and Spanish)
Going it Alone, The mental health and well-being of Canada’s Entrepreneurs
Canadian Mental Health Association
Military Veteran Entrepreneurs: A Comprehensive Profile of Demographic, Service History, and Psychosocial Characteristics
Heinz AJ, Freeman MA, Harpaz-Rotem I, Pietrzak RH. American Military Veteran Mil Psychol. 2017;29(6):513-523. doi:10.1037/mil0000195
Building brain capital
Harris A. Eyere, et al.
Neuron 109, May 5, 2021, pp. 1430-1432
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.04.007
Entrepreneurship during the Covid-19 Pandemic:
A global study of entrepreneurs’ challenges, resilience, and well-being
Ute Stephan, et al.
King’s Business School Covid-19 Research Impact Papers, No. 4, March 2021
Videos and Podcasts
Healthy ambition: defeating the dark side of audacious goals
This special Econa program filmed on April 22, 2021 brings together a successful serial entrepreneur, a leading entrepreneurship mental health researcher, and a Silicon Valley investor. Determine how to mitigate ambition-related damage by recognizing the dark side of intense goal-focused behavior and proactively preventing it from causing negative life and business outcomes.
Rebels with a cause: turning disruptive behavior into breakthrough startups
This special Econa program filmed on January 14, 2021 brings together a rebellious teen turned 2x James Beard Award winning entrepreneur, a rule-breaking entrepreneur turned VC investor, and an entrepreneur-psychiatrist who explains how kids who challenge norms in business and society can turn into entrepreneurs channel their disruptive energy into building powerful businesses and happy lives.
Overcoming entrepreneur depression: John Roa, Dr. Christine Guptill, and Dr. Michael Freeman
This special Econa program filmed on December 4, 2020 brings together a successful entrepreneur who lived through two major depressive episodes, an academic researcher who reviews state-of-the-art knowledge about depression among entrepreneurs, and an entrepreneur-psychiatrist who explains depression prevention and self-care skills that you can apply at once.
How to think about entrepreneur mental health differences
In the kickoff episode of the Stigma podcast series, Michael A. Freeman M.D. explains the unique nature of entrepreneur mental health differences, how they contribute to both superpowers and vulnerabilities, and how to proactively maintain your balance. The conversation is guided by Stephen Hays, M.B.A. – founder and CEO of What If Ventures.
Journey to Mental Wellness: an Entrepreneur’s Story
In this documentary video produced by Techstars, three distinguished entrepreneurs describe their mental health issues and their journey to recovery and wellness. Through life history narratives, strategies related to managing issues like depression, OCD, anxiety and burnout are presented. The mental health impacts related to being an entrepreneur as a woman, an immigrant, and a person of color are also discussed. Subsequently mental health professionals weigh in on achieving and maintaining wellness while entrepreneuring.
Mental Wealth For Entrepreneurs: Special Guest Interview with Michael A. Freeman, M.D.
Katerina Thomas of Mental Wealth for Entrepreneurs interviews Dr. Freeman on entrepreneur mental wellness.
The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship with Dr. Michael Freeman: Parts 1 & 2
In part 1 of this two episode series of the Between Us podcast, John Roa and Michael A. Freeman M.D. talk about how Dr. Freeman’s research aligns with John’s book as well as the identifying factors that can contribute to the pitfalls of entrepreneurship. They also discuss the modern phenomenon of entrepreneurs becoming celebrities, mental illness and suicide, and how ECONA is helping to reduce stigma.
In part 2, John and Dr. Freeman talk about specific situations detailed in John’s memoir, A Practical Way to Get Rich… and Die Trying. They also discuss similarities between modern Silicon Valley and the 1849 gold rush, the five genetically-passed traits associated with entrepreneurship, and Dr. Freeman’s brush with the world of Steve Jobs.
Dr. Michael Freeman on the science behind the entrepreneurial mind
Founders First is a show about mental health in entrepreneurship. Join Econa founder Michael A. Freeman, M.D. in a conversation about the entrepreneurial brain and what makes us different. Learn more about our common strengths and the hazards we need to look out for as we build and sustain mental wellness as entrepreneurs.
Proof that entrepreneurs really do think different | Black Swan #40
BetaKit covers the Canadian startup and tech innovation scene. In this episode, entrepreneur mental wellness expert, Michael A. Freeman, M.D., joins to discuss how entrepreneurship amplifies certain mental traits (for good and bad), and steps founders can take to promote positive mental health during trying times.
How to Use Self-Awareness to Overcome Mental Health Difficulties w/ Dr. Michael A. Freeman
On this episode of The Mindful Leader, Seven Jacobs and Dr. Freeman discuss attachment, mental health issues that affect entrepreneurs the most, loneliness and aloneness, why it’s so “abnormal” to be an entrepreneur, and so much more. Dr. Freeman paints us a picture of the difficulties we face as leaders, specifically as entrepreneurs, and most importantly helps us answer: what do we do about it?
Episode 258: The Entrepreneur Personality with Michael Freeman
Zen Founder interviews Dr. Michael Freeman, a psychiatrist, psychologist, consultant and former CEO. Dr. Freeman has done extensive and ongoing research of collecting data on the mental health of entrepreneurs. In this conversation they talk about what he has learned over time in the mental health field about the entrepreneurial mindset. They discuss the biological and personality traits common in entrepreneurs.
Mental Health Month with Dr. Michael Freeman
Startup Grind is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators, and creators. Michael A. Freeman, M.D. joins this webinar to discuss founder mental wellness, personality traits and maintaining stability during the roller coaster of entrepreneurship.
S2 Ep 9: Do you care about entrepreneurs as people? With Dr. Michael Freeman
The Future Farm is a global organization and community dedicated to healthier entrepreneurship. Dr. Freeman joins Vladi and Nektarios for a special episode of the NAKED podcast that explores the unique traits that make an entrepreneur. He talks about the role of motivation, curiosity and extroversion; how entrepreneurs have superpowers; the mental health challenges business builders are likely to face, and how much control we actually have over this. In Episode 10, the hosts reflect on their conversation with Dr. Freeman and discuss how they manage their own mental health.
Episode 22: Dr. Michael Freeman – Wired for Entrepreneurship
Profit and Loss is a podcast produced by PathStone Corporation, a non-profit community development and human services organization in Rochester, NY. Dr. Freeman joins Adam Tidrow and Yahaira Zapata for a conversation about mental health of entrepreneurs. They explore how neurodiversity makes entrepreneur personalities different from those of managers and employees. Entrepreneurs are “wired” differently, and this neurodiversity leads to their superpowers and vulnerabilities.
Mobile Apps
COVID Coach
Tools and resources to help manage COVID-19 pandemic related stress and build psychological resilience.
Mindfulness Coach
Learn how to practice mindfulness in your daily life with guided audio meditations
Books
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Sh*t Together: How to Run Your Business Without Letting it Run You
By Sherry Walling, Ph.D.
Thriving with Adult ADHD: Skills to Strengthen Executive Functioning
By Phil Boissiere MFT
Startup Life: Surviving and Thriving in a Relationship with an Entrepreneur (Techstars)
By Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor
Impact Founder: Inspirational stories of entrepreneurs who risk everything for what they believe in
By Kristin R. Darga