Morgan Nelson – Founder of Dream Out Loud Institute: Breaking barriers and building an empire
On this episode of The Leap, we sat down with Morgan Nelson, founder of Dream Out Loud Institute and host of the Dream Out Loud Podcast — one of Australia’s top personal development shows. Morgan’s story is raw, real, and packed with lessons about resilience, mindset, and taking messy, imperfect action. What struck us most is how he turned some of life’s toughest moments into the very fuel that powers his global success today.
Morgan’s early years weren’t smooth sailing. As a teenager, he battled deep depression and even came close to taking his own life. Financial struggles followed as he worked as a broke apprentice carp
enter, barely scraping by. When he was first introduced to network marketing, he faced the classic “crab bucket” effect — people closest to him, including family, telling him not to pursue it. Like crabs pulling each other back into the bucket, he realised that stepping outside the ‘safe zone’ meant leaving behind old mindsets — and sometimes, old relationships.
What changed everything for Morgan was a decision to act anyway. He stopped waiting for the perfect moment and started moving forward, messy and unsure. He invested heavily in personal development, learning everything he could about human behaviour, influence, and mindset — even studying strategies from former CIA operatives. This depth of learning wasn’t just about business success — it helped him better understand himself and the invisible forces that shape all of us. By changing his environment and immersing himself in circles of growth, Morgan set himself on a new path.
Fast forward to today, and Morgan’s achievements are nothing short of inspiring. Financial freedom by his early 20s. Hosting Dreamfest, one of the country’s biggest personal development events. Interviewing and collaborating with global names like Dean Graziosi, Tai Lopez, and Les Brown. But perhaps most impressive is his groundedness — Morgan sees himself as a normal guy who made different choices, not someone who’s “above” anyone else. He’s passionate about making success feel accessible, not something reserved for the few.
Morgan’s story is proof that your starting point doesn’t define your destination. It’s a reminder that real success isn’t polished and perfect — it’s messy, uncomfortable, and built one step at a time. If you’re in the early stages of building something big, let Morgan’s journey remind you: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep moving.
Listen to the full episode and be inspired to take the leap:
