Daniel Umfleet — The Disconnect Between Real Dollars and Virtual Spending

Daniel Umfleet is the Chairman and CEO of the Kindbridge Group, Founder of Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and a member of the Kindbridge Research Institute's Board of Trustees. His work involves expanding Kindbridge’s mental health and responsible gambling initiatives, partnering with government and corporate entities, and leading innovative solutions such as AI-driven responsible gambling tools and athlete mental health programs.

In this episode of Mindful Money, I talk with Daniel about the rising tide of gambling-related financial harm—especially among young adults. Daniel shares insights from his work with Kindbridge’s partnership with UCLA, the psychological roots of gambling addiction, and the financial systems unintentionally enabling it. We discuss the role of dopamine, how gamification affects decision-making, and why financial literacy alone isn’t enough. This conversation will open your eyes to the silent damage happening behind closed doors—and what we can do, as individuals and a society, to address it head-on.

In this episode:

• (00:00) - Intro

• (01:59) - Daniel's background and upbringing

• (04:23) - From consulting to coffee shops to Kindbridge

• (09:48) - The invisible crisis: gambling addiction in America

• (12:19) - Raising awareness around gambling addiction

• (14:57) - What counts as gambling? Defining risky behavior

• (18:18) - How gamification is rewiring our relationship with money

• (25:00) - Warning signs of problematic gambling

• (28:55) - How to talk to a loved one about gambling

• (32:54) - Entertainment or addiction? Rethinking "healthy gambling"

• (37:19) - Gambling in a 24/7, app-based world

• (39:32) - Strategies for combating impulsive decision-making

• (46:13) - Personal reflections and where to connect with Daniel

Get full show notes and links at https://mindful.money. 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindfulMoney.