Finding Founders

In this emotional and inspiring episode, Theresa Bruno recounts her extraordinary journey from Juilliard-trained concert pianist to award-winning creative director and founder of a multi-million-dollar fine jewelry brand. After a career-ending injury, she pivoted into advertising, secured major clients like Regions Bank, and later launched a jewelry business that caught the attention of The New York Times and even First Lady Michelle Obama. Bruno shares the highs of building a seven-figure brand and the devastating lows of fraud, business collapse, and the tragic loss of her husband. Her story is a masterclass in reinvention and resilience — with powerful insights into grief, identity shifts, and how creativity can be a lifeline through life's darkest chapters. She now channels her purpose into the Soul Talks podcast, her book He's Not Coming Back, and new AI video projects that blend storytelling with emotional healing. Notable Takeaways: Why Juilliard prepared her for both artistic and business risk-taking. How offering to work for free helped her pivot industries successfully. The hidden financial realities of luxury product businesses. Strategies for rebuilding identity and business after deep personal loss. How AI is transforming emotional storytelling in her latest projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Surace, a legendary inventor, keynote speaker, and the man credited with creating the world's first virtual assistant—technology that would eventually power Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. With 94 patents under his belt and a track record of turning vision into billion-dollar industries, Kevin walks us through his unconventional path from tinkering with radios at age 12 to co-founding Air Communications, revolutionizing enterprise AI at Appvance, and retrofitting the Empire State Building to save millions in energy costs. We cover: How he landed 12 job offers out of college through coding his own mail-merge system in 1985. Lessons from building the first data-capable cell phone used by the FBI and U.S. schools. The inside story of how General Magic's patents led to billions in licensing revenue from Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. Why most founders get fired from their own startups—and how he bounced back stronger. How to identify pain points, build intellectual moats, and lead with joy and integrity. And finally, his latest work combining AI and video to push boundaries in storytelling and tech. Packed with actionable insights, hard-won wisdom, and inspirational storytelling, this is a masterclass in curiosity-fueled innovation. Kevin's journey will leave you rethinking how you build, lead, and live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only a year after joining social media, Joanne Molinaro would become a New York Times bestseller for “The Korean Vegan Cookbook”— but when she was crying in her car, stressed about her job, her divorce, and future, this eventual reality seemed like a fantasy. Now, Joanne is one of leading voices in the cooking world with 3 million followers on tiktok, nearly 1 million Youtube subscribers, and more than 600,000 instagram followers. Under her slogan ‘I veganize Korean Food. I koreanize everything else', Joanne explains how to make vegan kimchi and un-fuck-up-able pho, all while sharing her intersectional identity as a Korean American woman and her family's refugee experience. But let's take this back… before she became a successful blogger, content creator, writer, and attorney.. Let's start this story generations before in North Korea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all start somewhere…and for christian, that start was a best-selling, chart-topping, fart-themed ringtone. Now, with over 1.7 billion views on YouTube, 6 million subscribers, and 3 million monthly Spotify listeners, Christian-better known as TheFatRat- has outgrown this early legacy and made an extraordinary impact on the electronic music scene. But how did this German artist get his start? Before composing for Dota 2 and Rocket League and before producing the best selling CD in France, Christian surprisingly discovered music through classical piano training. To learn how his early interest in musical improv and Chopin turned into a love for glitch hop, let's go back to his childhood…all the way to when he first earned his elementary school nickname…‘the rat' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Omar Alvarez, founder of Kinnect, shares his incredible journey from growing up amid gang violence in Chicago to breaking into Nike's ultra-competitive hiring pipeline—beating a 0.5% acceptance rate. He dives into his experiences as a Division 1 athlete, surviving a Twitter mass layoff before even starting his job, and eventually launching Kinect, an AI-powered platform preserving human stories. Omar discusses: His early life in Chicago and the unique challenges of being a first-generation Latino navigating two worlds. How he broke into Nike despite having no elite school background or industry connections. The pivotal moment at NikeTown Chicago that changed his career trajectory. Why he left Nike for Twitter, only to be laid off before Day 1, and how he rebounded at Levi's. The personal loss of his grandfather and close friend that shaped his vision for Kinect. The problem with modern social media and how AI can revolutionize memory preservation and deep connections. Packed with actionable insights on resilience, storytelling, and startup building, this conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone interested in AI's role in human connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hunter Williams witnessed his mother's diagnosis, prognosis, decline, and passing in the span of only two months and two weeks. And at the end of the summer of 2016, he suddenly found himself stranded in the middle of his life, unable to move forward in any direction. Fast forward to today and Hunter Williams is a full time YouTuber known for his sharp, well edited video essays on the business of being a content creator. From hitting millions of views on his deep-dive analysis of Mr.Beast and Mark Rober to receiving a video response from Cody Ko himself, Hunter might be on the path to creating his very own YouTube empire. Yet before he converted his garage into a home studio and embarked on this creator journey, Hunter was just a young kid with a point and shoot camera. Miles deep into the rural countryside and 20 minutes from the nearest small town, there was a time when he didn't even know YouTube existed…. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Yehuda Niv, founder of Spines and Niv Publishing, shares his entrepreneurial journey from a struggling musician to a publishing disruptor. Yehuda details how he built Israel's largest publishing house, scaling it to over 1,200 books a year, and later transitioned into AI-powered publishing with Spines, securing $16M in Series A funding. Key takeaways include: Navigating failure: How Yehuda moved from an unsuccessful music career to engineering and eventually publishing. Scaling a business: Lessons from nearly going bankrupt twice and how he ultimately structured a self-sufficient management team. AI's role in publishing: How Spines automates book formatting, cover design, metadata optimization, and distribution, allowing authors to bypass traditional publishing constraints. Fundraising strategy: Yehuda's insights on securing venture capital, including his bold approach to pitching Oren Zeev (early investor in Audible). Leadership philosophy: The importance of mentors, data-driven decision-making, and empowering employees to create a scalable business. This episode is packed with actionable insights on growth, automation, and resilience, making it a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, authors, and tech founders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Miles, CEO of Money Ripples, who shares his journey from financial advisor to financially free entrepreneur – twice. Chris opens up about how he built a successful career, lost it all in the 2008 financial crisis, and came back stronger by developing cashflow-based wealth strategies that break the traditional financial planning mold. Key discussion points include: The biggest myths in financial planning and why the 4% retirement rule is broken How he freed up $50,000 in taxes for a chiropractor and the cashflow formula he now teaches clients The worst money mistake he made – and how cutting off his income streams led to over $1M in debt His favorite passive income strategies (real estate syndications, infinite banking, and more) Why networking and value creation are the ultimate drivers of wealth Chris breaks down real, actionable steps for achieving financial freedom, scaling your wealth, and building a lifestyle where work is optional. If you want to rethink how money actually works and take control of your financial future, this episode is packed with golden nuggets of wisdom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive deep into the mind of Remy Abode, the creator of Gemini Home Entertainment, a critically acclaimed YouTube horror anthology series with over 348,000 subscribers and 14.4 million views. We explore Remy's early inspirations, including his childhood fascination with horror soundtracks, his early experiments in filmmaking with his siblings, and the pivotal moment when he discovered Local 58, the series that defined the analog horror genre. We break down: How Remy leveraged nostalgia and lo-fi aesthetics to create a unique horror experience. The rise of analog horror on YouTube and how creators like Alex Kister (Mandela Catalog) fueled the genre's explosion. The psychological power of mystery and ambiguity in storytelling—and how keeping the audience guessing keeps them engaged for years. The business and creative strategy behind growing a niche YouTube channel and building long-term audience loyalty. The transition from making short horror videos to crafting an expansive, interconnected narrative. The future of analog horror and AI-generated video, and how these tools might reshape storytelling.  This episode is packed with actionable insights for creators looking to build a devoted audience and craft stories that stand the test of time. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, a YouTuber looking for non-traditional growth strategies, or just a horror fan, you won't want to miss this conversation with Remy Abode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek Ting began his entrepreneurial journey in high school, founding two companies: TorrentReactor, a torrent-sharing platform, and WoolNet, a web hosting service. He later earned a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo. In 2008, Derek launched TextNow to provide free texting, inspired by his own struggles to afford phone bills as a student. Despite early challenges Derek steadily grew TextNow into the first mobile provider offering free phone service with unlimited talk and text. Today, TextNow employs 200 people and generates $130 million in revenue, serving about 7 million users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linda has experienced a lot. She's traveled the world as an army brat, played piano and sung in Led Zeppelin's tour bus, explored drugs as an “X rated hippie”, and worked to understand her Latin American, Chicano, and Indigenous roots through her art. Through these various paintings, sculpture, and ceramic work Linda embraces her brownness and the world has taken notice. Her work has been shown globally in major galleries and museums, as well as Chicano and Latino spaces. Today, her artwork focuses on encouraging discussion surrounding how class, culture, and the color of our skin intersect, notably in her, “Make ‘Em All Mexican” pieces. But let's look at where this all started and dive into Linda's roots. Let's look back to where her family's story began, with her grandparents meeting while working on the railroads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You just heard from Jimmy Edgerton about a crucial time in his entrepreneurship career, a moment when it seemed like his new startup was going down in roasted chickpea flames. Luckily, these hard times didn't last forever, since today I'm presenting a special episode, a podcast swap with seasoned entrepreneurs and business consultants Jimmy Edgerton and Julie Meyer from AugMentors. Before they taught us to navigate the nuances of networking, Jimmy and Julie learned these lessons firsthand through running their own successful businesses. Julie found her start in writing her book Eat Well Shanghai and now works as the co-ceo of nutrition company Eat Well Global. Meanwhile, Jimmy worked in real estate until a fateful beer garden meeting launched his business career running Watusee Foods. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's hop in a time machine to the start of Julie's story and see how these lives intersected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey Ferro, CEO of Spot Pet Insurance, turned a lifelong love for animals into a mission to revolutionize pet care. From mimicking animal sounds as a toddler to raising millions in funding for Spot, Trey's journey blends personal passion with innovative leadership. Using AI and celebrity partnerships with names like Cesar Millan and MrBeast, he's made Spot one of North America's fastest-growing pet insurance companies. Tune in to hear how Trey is transforming pet care through technology and heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tech has always been a part of Jeremy Toeman's life. Loving math at a young age allowed Jeremy to want to continue his career path in the tech industry. Jeremy learned basic C++ programming during elementary school. Today he owns Augie Studio, a programmed AI system able to make videos for marketing as well as social media purposes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite having two hit book series under her belt, it was at this moment that Kimberly caught a glimpse of the publishing industry's true nature. The world of literature had a short term memory and she was only as good as her most recent book's sales. No matter how proud she was of her stories or how many book tours she'd finished, it felt like maybe she would never get the chance to reach the same heights. Luckily, this burnout didn't last forever and Kimberly Derting is here with us today as an established author in both Young Adult fiction and children's books. She mixes the genres of horror, mystery, and romance to create the captivating narratives of the award winning Body Finder series as well as the Pledge and the Taking trilogies. But before she spun these unique worlds from scratch, Kimberly was an imaginative kid who spent her days reading at the library and checking out the new releases at the neighborhood bookmobile. Words provided an escape from the darkness of her surroundings, banishing her home life and rough and tumble neighborhood with the flip of a page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You just heard Ali describing one of her breaking points, where a battle for a copyright claim over one of her creations caused her to file a lawsuit. Now, Ali Spagnola, musician, comedian, and artist, has proved herself to be a creator you can't look away from. With her eccentric dedication to living “outrageous”, Ali has won over 1.4 million tiktok followers and more than 400k subscribers on YouTube with her bubbly enthusiasm and boundless creativity. From turning her car into a chia pet to fighting for the world's right to party, Ali's career has been anything but mundane. Yet before music parodies and unusual crafts became her way of life, Ali had already fallen in love with the piano, plunking out melodies on her family's baby grand… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, Halloween expert, paranormal historial, and bookseller, Lisa Norton's entire life is defined by the genre she has devoted her career to. Beginning as a young child in Pasadena consuming a large amount of horror content, she now loves to set her prose in her hometown, creating stories of suspense and supernatural happenings. Lisa is a six-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award for both her fiction and nonfiction work relating to horror and Halloween as well as the former president of the Horror Writers Association. But let's begin where her love for the spooky holiday began, when she was just a child spending hours building her own costumes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Mufson has always been an entrepreneur, from her first imaginary business she began at the age of three years old to a very real horse training company that she ran nearly a decade. But after experiencing deep frustration with the medical system, she felt led to build a values based business to help support others battling similar situations. Without any investors, Alex built the company from zero figures to seven in three years and now is now obsessed with helping others do the same, putting money into the hands of people, and their businesses, who will heal the world with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somehow David has repeatedly found himself at the center of disaster. His most life changing trip through Asia was during the Asian financial crisis, his first big writing opportunity was during the 2008 financial crisis (which resulted in him losing his day job), this earthquake in Japan cemented that position as a writer, and now post covid the world needs the kind of community David is building more than ever. I actually think that's something the best entrepreneurs have in common. Finding opportunity in disaster. And in David's case I think he's able to see opportunity because his breadth of experience is so wide. David was a resource strategist on Wall Street, oversaw natural resource programs at the white House, and even ran a water-focused NGO in Africa. His writing appears in the LA Times, the New York Times, and he's published a book under Yale University Press called The Elements of Power. While writing this book in internet cafes around the world, David experienced firsthand how working remotely requires flexibility and breathable spaces–which is why he created OutPost, designed to be a safe place for digital nomads to break away from the conventional office. But before he was writing and traveling the world, a life of adventure in his hometown of Trumbull Connecticut had a pretty low bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach put 40 hours into his YouTube debut only to get 10 views and a spam comment. That left him to question his online identity; was this the end of his short-lived YouTube career? I mean there wasn't much in his favor. He was starting at the height of covid and the worst of med school just around the corner. I'm sure Zach was questioning whether juggling his work and his passion would amount to anything. But today, Zach Highley's 454K subscribers are proof that it was well worth the sacrifice. Zach now makes a living as a doctor but also as a YouTuber, and today he'll share how it all started: the nightmare of applying for med school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kyukei Goto was saddled with massive responsibility from birth. He was the first born son to his father of 50, meaning Goto would have to carry the weight of a tradition going back 28 generations. He comes from a lineage that has perfected the art of Kamakura Buri which is a method of carving wood and then coating lacquer to make sculptures, plates, tea sets, cutlery and other household items. But this sentence belies the spiritual and technical intricacies of this art form. Facing the death of his father, Goto dove deeper into his artistry and craft as a way to understand his father, his ancestors, but also as a way to understand and explore his own identity as an artist. He now owns the Kamakura Carving Gallery in Japan, selling pieces and hosting workshops to continue the Kamakura tradition. From his bamboo art to his popular exhibition in the Tokyo Art Museum, Goto strives for perfection in his work, and he's not alone in the practice. With 28 generations to make proud, Goto shares with us the story of how this tradition came to be in the first place… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up near the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Moreira lived for the water, first learning how to surf at 5 years old. He was a lifelong amateur surfer, but when his dog Bono joined him on his surfboard, the world took notice. At first it was just something fun for the pair of water loving creatures to do together, but now they travel the world together surfing. The duo has won 5 world championships, set two Guinness world records, and Bono has become one of the first pet influencers. Even though Bono retired from the surfing world earlier this year, now his daughter, Cacau, has taken over his spot on Ivan's surfboard, winning her first world championship in August. But before the medals and prizes, let's go back to when Bono was nothing more than a little puppy swimming after Ivan's paddle board… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disheartened by the 37 rejection letters in his back pocket, Daniel was shocked when a hasty bar-pitch landed him with a $40,000 publishing deal. After all, he was still relatively unknown…and his children's story was odd to say the least. What kind of kid would want to read a faux (FOE) gothic novel about three orphans with a bloodthirsty relative out for their inheritance”? If this plot is sounding familiar…you may have heard of Daniel Handler before—or should we say…Lemony Snicket. Despite Daniel's slow start in the publishing industry, he has since sold over 70 million copies of his books and become a household name. His literary work has also spawned countless film and tv spin offs, most recently the 2017 award-winning Netflix show “A Series of Unfortunate Events” starring Neil Patrick Harris. But before Count Olaf ever entered the picture, before he spent months writing in a dusty college basement, Daniel started like many other writers do: with a book in his hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kobe Earthquake 1995. At 5:46 in the morning, the city was struck by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, leaving 6,000 casualties and 45,000 others homeless. Nobu Okada was only just out of college when he witnessed this scene of devastation and decided to turn his life towards a path of action and purpose. But what career would he turn to next? Now, we know Nobu as the founder of Astroscale, a company working towards a goal of long term spaceflight safety by targeting space debris in Earth's orbit. His company has received multiple awards, earning the title of TIME100's Most Influential Companies, Forbes JAPAN's “Start-up of the Year” in 2019, and the Grand Prix (pree) for UNESCO's 2020 Innovation Forum. Despite this incredible growth over the past decade, Nobu's path did not always lay outside the stratosphere, as his career began in government finance, IT consulting, and business startups. Before we reach for the stars with today's guest, let's trace his story back to where it began, the innocent days of science magazines and the promise of space camp… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Damion Lupo has always been a hard worker since the age of 11. His first business started when he wanted to buy video games for himself. When he went to college he started another business of selling books at a cheaper price than his school bookstore. Damion was kicked out of college for outselling his school bookstore shortly after. Damion found a love for real estate. However during the 2008 financial crisis in America, Damion went from having a multimillionaire lifestyle to living in his car. Damion was able to find peace in Yokido, a fusion of Yoga and Aikido. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maybe it was black magic, or maybe it was the locals pushing back on the first signs of foreign development. Regardless, it is a complicated thing to start a business when you are a foreigner. In spite of countless roadblocks, Waterborn stands, and Sayan Gulino, the current CEO of Waterborn Bali, has pushed his father's legacy forward. Today, Waterborn has won several awards and is recognized for its dedication to sustainability, but joining the family business doesn't mean success was just handed to Sayan on a silver platter. Sayan's journey to success involves music, nature, boarding schools, party planning, summer jobs, and acting gigs. Lets go back to the beginning, to when his parents, eager for adventure, left Europe for the mystical island of Bali. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Paul Austin, psychedelics are a tool or skill to be used to courageously explore and create. His own psychedelic journey began at the age of 19, and through those journeys, they allowed him to release some of the shame and guilt he'd been raised in within a fundamentalist religious family. Now, with Third Wave and Psychedelic Coaching Institute, he works to expand knowledge and guide others through similar experiences, transforming people's lives through microdosing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raul Baltazar wields the power of painting, video, visual art performances, and much more to examine the experiences of the Mestizo Los Angeles Communities, including responses to trauma and post-colonialism. Baltazar has exhibited his community-focused art in LA and internationally, including Mexico, Taiwan, Vienna, and Australia. Baltazar has earned international acclaim and received fellowships to continue his work as an activist artist, working to preserve indigenous cultures. His unique talent for finding common ground between the old and the new is how he expresses pride in his culture and questions the nature of changing identities, bringing to the forefront of conversation groups that have long been overlooked. Raul Baltazar knows art is power and healing and is willing to share his special gifts with the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After growing up in Ireland, Patrick McAndrew moved to New York City to work in business. But after feeling called to quit his job to start his first business, he became interested in exploring human attention, particularly how we relate to technology. With that question in mind, he founded HARA, an inner circle for exceptional entrepreneurs and leaders trying to reach their highest potential in business. But before we get into his company for the 1%, let's go back to his childhood when he was just another boy growing up in Ireland… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in a city with no wilderness at close proximity, Joe Robinet found his love for nature through television shows such as Little House on the Prairie. With over a million subscribers on YouTube, Joe has been sharing his outdoors experiences since 2007. Joe goes on 1 - 2 week camping adventures. However, a dirt bike incident has resulted in Joe getting lots of nerve and ligament damage. The dirt bike incident has forced Joe into a hiatus on going on camping trips.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Have you ever wished you could capture a memory forever? Heather Maio-Smith and her team have made this reality through thousands of recorded interviews with Holocaust survivors. After working with them to create interactive testimony exhibits, Heather was inspired to develop new technology that not only captures a memory, but allows for the most unlikely of conversations to occur, crossing the boundaries of both time and consequence. Heather's natural curiosity and love of learning have led her and her team to work with the USC Shoah Foundation and Institute of Creative Technologies and thus, StoryFile launched in 2017 with the goal of bringing this technology to everyone with a device, some good lighting, and a story to tell. Heather has come a long way from growing up in a family-owned business to her own company being named the CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree. Likewise, StoryFile has evolved as quickly as technology itself has in the past decade, changing the way we communicate with businesses, future generations, and even our past selves! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janel Hawkins was just scrolling on Craigslist looking at jobs when she noticed one hiring sand sculptors, no experience necessary. She worked there through college, but as she was going into her senior year, she decided to blow her life up. In one month she cut her lease, left a bad relationship, dropped out of college, quit her job, and moved back home to start her own sand castle sculpting business, Sand Castle University. Today Janel has a team of instructors, 335K subscribers on Youtube, and 871K on TikTok, all watching her as she builds, and destroys, her sand art. But before that, let's begin with the first sand sculpture that shaped her path. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Goulding has been an entrepreneur & leader since the age of 14. He has led two start-up sales teams to success and been a top salesman wherever his career has taken him, closing more than $2 million in sales. Jamie has now turned his passion for mentoring into a new mentoring platform, BeenThere, which connects mentees with mentors around the world who have already “been there.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vietnam War put many people in the position to flee Vietnam. Marina Tran-Vu's parents were one of the millions of people put into the position. Marina's parents fled to Canada where Marina was born. As a refugee, it was hard to make a living as Marina's mother worked hard to get their family from a basement to the back of a store to a house in a nice neighborhood in Toronto Canada. Nonetheless, her parents' hard work paid off as Marina went to study marketing at the University of British Columbia. When Marina's father got sick due to late stage lung cancer Marina made the choice to move from Canada to Vietnam to be with her family. Marina saw her nephew stepping on trash everywhere they went in Vietnam which led to the idea of EQUO. Now Marina is the CEO of a successful company that offers 100% plastic free straws, utensils, dishwash, and drinkware made of materials like sugarcane, coffee, coconut, and rice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This author holds the title for having written the most shoplifted novel in British publishing history. Meet Irvine Welsh, the author of the critically acclaimed novel “Trainspotting”. Famous for his harrowing depictions of heroin addicts and imbuing them with humanity, it may be no surprise that Welsh had a similar tract in life to his characters with a troubled childhood– one that caused him to move constantly throughout different places, having difficulty feeling permanent security and a sense of belonging wherever he went. But thinking back to his childhood hometown, Welsh dwelled on the high drug usage and HIV rates which left Leith in decline and wrote his first novel as a thoughtful (and sobering) response. The book was an instant success, earning a cult following with those who recognized the harshness as a part of life while incurring mixed reactions from critics who did not. Despite the polarized reviews, Irvine has continued to write with ferocity since his first publication: publishing books, movies, and short story collections such as The Acid House, Filth, Porno, Glue, Skagboys, etc to shed light on the underrepresented side of fictional literature– the one most people are afraid to tell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Start-up millionaire nephew of former ABC chair Ita Buttrose, Andrew Spira has not had an easy life. But between the heavy drug use, childhood PTSD, and brushes with the law, he has managed to build several businesses, including a highly successful small loan business, Pineapple Funding, and a $10 million dollar real estate portfolio. But before diving into his success, let's look at the mistakes and lessons he's learned along the way… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Webb is a competitive eater from Australia who has completed over 400 food challenges and consumes as much 10,000 calories a day. As the #1 competitive eater in Australia and #5 in the world, James has learned how to navigate eating large amounts of food while maintaining his health, especially after recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Bertoletti‘s ability to eat large amounts of food took him from an insecure teen to the high-competition circuit of professional eating. He competed in 47 contests in one year at the height of his Major League Eating career, from state fairs to the stage of America's Got Talent, where he repulsed judge Heidi Klum by consuming 120 eggs. He's competed against a bear on Nickelodeon, been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, and has more world records than any other competitive eater, but let's go back to Chicago where he first earned the nickname “Deep Dish.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You just heard Josh Johnson recalling the moment where his worst nightmare came true: after finally stepping away from his safety net, he found himself jobless with the rug yanked out from under him. Now well known for his performances on Conan and Comedy Central, his tours with Trevor Noah, and a 2020 Emmy nomination, Josh has come a long way from his first script writing experience on the Tonight Show. Although this all seemed like a sudden rise to success there's a lot of history behind these shining moments. Before late night talk shows and award ceremonies, there were years of non stop working. By night, he would tour the comedy circuits of Chicago and New York. And by day, he worked the early bird shifts at Aldi's and Trader Joe's. Believe it or not, his double life of growing comedian and grocery bagger continued well into his career. There was no ‘making it', no easy way to fame. Instead, he remembered that for every one step forward, there was a chance at falling two steps back. This cautious approach to his career, this consistent humility, can be traced all the way back to his childhood in Louisiana…where love and danger seemed to be the only constants of his surroundings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watching as he racked up tens of thousands of new fans over the course of the day, Sean Sotaridona let out a sigh of relief he didn't even know he was holding. This success, this new and unexpected online stage, was what he had been looking for all his life. It only took him 16 years to find it. Going by the username SeanDoesMagic, Sean's masterful magic tricks have garnered more than 21 million followers on TikTok and 5.44 million followers on YouTube. From networking with meme accounts over Instagram dms to performing tricks for Addison Rae and Dixie D'amelio, Sean's unparalleled tenacity and drive have taken him on a wild journey. However, before his trips to vidcon and tryouts for America's Got Talent, before Sean was even born, his roots grew far away from the beaches of Los Angeles and Florida…across the Pacific in the Philippines… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From dreams of being in the NBA to personal assistant of multiple Hollywood stars, then a waiter, and finally becoming a YouTube sensation, Kevin Langue's career path has been anything but conventional. Known for his genuine and fun-filled content, Kevin has always stayed true to being himself on and off camera. Now, with around a decade's worth of experience in fostering an audience and creating a brand for himself, Kevin is keeping his focus on authenticity and creativity by setting ambitious goals and coming up with new ideas. Let's find out how it all started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine being launched into YouTube stardom within hours… From his first channel playing video games with friends to joining SMOSH and co-hosting Smosh Gaming, Josh Ovenshire, better known as Joven, quickly became a pivotal figure in YouTube Gaming Channels. Smosh Gaming showed there was an audience for friends just having fun playing games. In consuming loads of content, Joven became a skilled storyteller selling shows to Marvel, ArcadeCloud Cartoon, and even making a puppet show for Dungeons & Dragons. Today, he's working on new media projects and has a podcast with his friends. Let's see how it started.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mari Takahashi's first video for SMOSH, a YouTube sketch comedy channel, wasn't immediately met with praise. And this gig was far on the side – she had a legitimate career as a professional ballet dancer. Youtube stardom wasn't even a consideration… but eventually she'd have to make a choice. Today Mari has a large digital media presence, has won 2 Streamy Awards, produced shows like Smosh Pit Weekly, Maricraft, and Operation: Open World, and amassed over 2 billion collective views. Today, she's focusing on her own YouTube channel and is the co-owner of SpacestationGaming. Let's find out how she got here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not every day Barbara Corcoran slides into your dms, but for Caleb Simpson this was suddenly the new normal. Now, if this name is sounding familiar at all, it's because you've probably met Caleb before….on your For You page. Known for his casual house tours and the signature question “how much do you pay for rent,” Caleb has amassed over 7.1 million followers on TikTok and 2 million YouTube subscribers in the past few years. Traveling from house to house in New York to LA, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, he isn't afraid to test out a stranger's bed or play with your pets, or listen to a soundcloud music sample. But while these videos seemed to go viral in an instant, Caleb's journey to filmmaking was anything but easy. From finding odd jobs on craigslist to sleeping behind a curtain in someone's living room, Caleb had to build his skillset from the ground up while learning how to survive in NYC. And before tik tok was even invented, before Caleb first picked up a camera, his journey started in the unlikeliest of places: being homeschooled, amongst his eight other siblings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan Williamson is a dedicated artist and community leader who's transformed Southern California's art scene over three decades. As the executive director of the 18th Street Arts Center, she has grown the organization into the region's largest artist residency center, supporting nearly 700 artists. She's co-founded environmental art initiatives and led 18th Street through reinvention with new programs and significant grants. Active in her community, Jan serves on Santa Monica's Art Commission and Santa Monica Travel and Tourism board, demonstrating art's power to transform and unite communities. Let's see what inspired her creative endeavors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This project, Shit Art Club, started from creative expression in high school. But from a high school rebellious art project, it grew into a thriving artistic community in Downtown Los Angeles. Dedicated to genuine creative expression, Shit Art Club rejects conventional form and function, embracing authenticity and anarchy. The collective invites everyone to join their creative crusade, fostering a space where beauty and discord coexist harmoniously. Their journey from a paint-soaked backyard to a vibrant hub in Skid Row exemplifies their commitment to real, unpretentious art that challenges norms and celebrates the true essence of creativity. But let's start before all that, back at the beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite thinking his career was shattered by his injury, Eric Clem continued to follow his passion for woodworking. In 2010, Eric was able to mix his love for archery and woodworking through Bowyer Brooklyn, where he sold handcrafted bows and arrows to the people of New York. He would eventually move to Los Angeles where he realized his dream of sharing his craft with others, as he opened the doors to LA Woodshop, a haven for aspiring artisans seeking to carve their own path in the world of woodworking. Let's go back to where it all started in Houston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midtown Lunch was a hit but we'll come back to that later… because before Zach Brooks was looking for hidden gems in food he was looking for gems in music. Zach's career would go from radio to food blogging, to eventually becoming the general manager at Smorgasburg where he operates the largest open-air food market in LA county. But let's find where this love of food started and go back to his childhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So if you don't know Berenice Abbott was a famous photographer known for capturing New York's transformation from low-rise to skyscraper-filled in the 1930s. Julia's apprenticeship with this renowned photographer was just the beginning. Despite facing financial constraints, Julia's determination propelled her forward as she traversed the landscapes of the United States, capturing the essence of societal shifts and cultural nuances through her lens. Settling in Los Angeles, her passion for street photography flourished, leading her to establish the Julia Dean Photography Workshops, later evolving into the Los Angeles Center of Photography. Now she organizes an outdoor exhibit called Projecting L.A. that showcases stories about Los Angeles and its people. Let's dive into how she got to where she is today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amidst Covid lockdown disruptions, Adam Pisk navigated the challenge of keeping his Manila-based business running. Recognizing opportunities, he swiftly spearheaded the development of an online store for a major Supermarket, followed by a similar success with one of Australia's leading fashion retailers. With years of Global Sales experience at other companies, Adam co-founded Bruntwork, propelling it into a $5 million MRR business within just three years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From raising $60,000 to support social justice to founding the Venice Run Club, a run club with 1000+ runners, to the Abbot Kinney One Race, Justin Shields has always been successful in creating inclusive environments that connect people to the community. Justin continues to make his mark on Venice, one stride at a time, but let's go back to where this race starts in Berkeley California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices