Episode 215
Building a Meditation App with AI: How Walker Ferguson Turned Stress Into a Startup
Mental health struggles and performance anxiety are common, especially for student-athletes juggling academics, sports, and personal challenges. Walker Ferguson knows this firsthand. As a football player at Wake Forest University, he faced anxiety and performance pressure. Traditional meditation apps didn’t resonate with him, leaving him searching for a more personalized solution.
In this episode, Walker shares how he co-founded Ascend Meditations, an AI-driven app that creates custom meditations on demand. Discover how Walker bootstrapped his business while in college, built a team of tech innovators, and developed a tool that empowers users to manage stress and visualize success.
Key Takeaways:
• The Birth of Ascend Meditations: Walker explains how his own struggles with stress inspired the creation of an app that generates personalized meditations within seconds.
• The Power of Visualization: Learn how athletes can use the app to set goals, break them into actionable steps, and mentally prepare for peak performance.
• Bootstrapping as a Growth Strategy: Discover why Walker and his team resisted early investment offers to build a solid foundation before raising funds.
• AI and Mental Health Innovation: Explore how Ascend Meditations leverages AI technology to deliver guided meditations, sleep stories, and mindfulness plans tailored to individual needs.
• Lessons in Teamwork: Walker shares how his athletic background taught him the importance of surrounding himself with the right people—a principle that helped him grow his startup.
About the Guest:
Walker Ferguson is the President of Ascend Meditations, an AI-powered app designed to enhance performance and well-being for high achievers, especially student-athletes. A former Wake Forest football Safety, Walker leveraged his experience in sports, business, and technology to create meditation tools that help users reduce stress, sharpen focus, and build confidence.
Currently a senior at Wake Forest University, pursuing a degree in Economics with a minor in Communications, Walker is committed to making mental preparation as essential as physical training, helping athletes and high performers visualize success and stay motivated.
Links:
https://ascendmeditations.app/
Fast Five Questions:
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Lock himself in a room with his co-founder Hampton Tanner and brainstorm their next venture.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Hiring the wrong people early on—emphasizing the importance of finding team members who align with company values.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey.”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT—Walker uses AI tools to streamline tasks, improve marketing copy, and boost operational efficiency.”
5. What is your definition of freedom? “Doing what he wants, when he wants, with the people he loves—living life on his own terms without external constraints.”
About Jeff:
Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation
Connect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/
Connect with Jeff:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/
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