Episode 166

Staying Authentic While Growing Big with CorePower Yoga Co-founder Brandon Cox

Published on: 25th August, 2025

To be honest, I used to be a bit of a purist when it came to yoga—and I’ll admit, I was judgmental about CorePower. But then I tried it. Now I love it—for the heat, the community, the challenge. And I love it even more after getting to know Brandon Cox, its co-founder.

Brandon started CorePower Yoga back in 2002, and he’s very rarely interviewed. You’re going to love this episode of The Wise Effort Show, where you’ll not only hear the story behind CorePower, but also get to know the good people behind it—and what you can expect if you’ve never tried it

You’ll also hear about why Brandon has branched out to Orange Theory and Restore Hyper Wellness, the values behind why he does what he does, and how the size of our grief is the size of our love.

In This Episode, We Explore:

  • Balancing authenticity and mass appeal
  • The evolution of corepower yoga
  • Detaching from the brand by letting go of ego
  • The importance of community and relationships

Suggested Next Episode:

Episode 122: The Future Of Wise Leadership With Dr. Emma Sappälä

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Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

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    The Wise Effort Show
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    Diana Hill

    Dr. Diana Hill, PhD is a clinical psychologist, executive consultant, and international trainer who helps leaders and teams navigate complexity without precedent. Her Wise Effort Method addresses a problem most high performers recognize immediately: the drive that got them here is now working against them. A leading voice in the evolution of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, she co-leads ACT BootCamp with ACT founder Dr. Steven Hayes, trains the trainers, and serves as an instructor for the University of California's Climate Resilience Initiative. She has led executive retreats and intensives for leadership teams including Deckers Brands, Lightfully Behavioral Health, and YPO. Diana is the author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most and three other books, hosts the Wise Effort podcast, and has been featured on NPR, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. With over 20 years of yoga and meditation practice, she teaches from embodied experience rather than theory alone — her sessions are experiential and transformational.