The Kurty D Show

Episode Highlights:LinkedIn Networking Insights from Carey RansomThe Value of Loose TiesThe Challenges in Community BankingBlockchain's Potential in Ownership and PaymentsEvolving Business Models and Founder SupportCarey Ransom's Insights on Leadership and RolesThe Venture Studio ApproachOrange County's Unique Business LandscapeTweetable Quotes:“I think Orange County has a tremendous number of really talented, ambitious people that are spending most of their time doing and building.”  - Carey“Distribution of success is not going to happen equally. And that's ok. That's just the way the world is.” - Carey“I have strongly believed for a long time that it's difficult to be the leader of a lot of different things at the same time.”- Carey“A lot of the success that you have in business is timing and in some cases…luck.” - Carey“And if you want to attract the next generation of talent to your bank, you need to adopt systems that make them feel like they're doing the work that they want to do with the support systems to help them do that great.” - Carey“Whoever owns the lane owns the communication.” - Kurt“Complexity is finding the order that's hidden beneath.” - KurtLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInCarey RansomBrett BrewerEric SprinkKevin KellyKyle KamroozScott FoxBankTech VenturesBonus HomesCoastal Community BankFifth WallHunt ClubOctaneOC FellowsUCLA

Episode Highlights:How Did Brett Brewer's Early Real Estate Ventures Shape His Entrepreneurial JourneyThe difficulty of raising pre-seed financing, the role of accelerators and incubators, and the process of raising $300,000 for the business.The impact of the dotcom crash on e-commerce businesses and the shift to casual game development.The launch of Myspace, and the initial user engagement strategy.Brett's role in scaling Ad Knowledge, its rapid growth, and eventual sale to TPG and other private equity firms.The founding of CrossCut Ventures, and the evolution of its investment focus.The challenges of recruiting talent to LA, the evolution of the LA tech ecosystem, and CrossCut's role in connecting and supporting the community.The difficulties and challenges faced by venture capitalists.The significance of technology in education and the need to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots in accessing educational resources.Brett Brewer's investment philosophy and insights into private versus public markets, influenced by Annie Duke's book "Thinking in Bets.”Tweetable Quotes:“Be the straw that serves to drink.” — Kurt“So that starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy when you have that many smart people controlling that much capital living in the actual market.” —Brett“Understanding the best use of your time and how to be productive is a real challenge and ends up being the downfall of some VCs.” —Brett“Politics and infighting is the death of a startup.”—Brett“If you're gonna have an environment where people don't trust each other- where they can't give each other candid feedback, they will fail.”—Brett“And I think there's something really magical about being honest.—”Kurt“Culture isn't just values, it's the actual way ideas get put into practice. It's the behavior.”—Kurt“So it's more important than ever that as a society, we realize that we do have a moral imperative to invest in and believe in and educate all kids and give them a chance.” —Brett“Every individual and every company has a certain set of advantages. You have to take full advantage of them to greatly increase your chances of being successful.” —Brett“It's comforting when you realize there are just lots of things out of your control and the less time you spend worrying about them, the better off you'll be.”—Brett“You have to do something extraordinary and the only way you're gonna do something extraordinary is by actually doing some action.”—BrettLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInBrett BrewerCrosscut VenturesAber WhitcombAdam GoldenbergBrian GarrettJosh BermanPeter TomasuloRoss LevinsohnScott NolanThomas AndersonAllianceAmazonEdVoiceFableticsFedexFoundersfundIGNLAtechMicrosoftMySpaceNews CorpNVIDIAReal World Asset GroupSoftBankSpaceXStealing MySpace: The Battle to Control the Most Popular Website in AmericaThe Wall Street JournalTPG

Episode Highlights:The evolution of technologyThe Importance of Understanding History in Law and TechThe Role of History in Technology and DesignThe concept of calm technology, its principles, and the need for historical context in product design.The importance of long-term tech design and changing the narrative on what's considered cool.Amber's journey in founding Geoloqi, the challenges faced, and the early development of location-based technology.The importance of understanding the history of technology and innovation, and its impact on product development.Geoloqi's mascot and privacy-first approachThe significance of long-term thinking, learning from history, and the impact of small problems in business.Amber's personal journey, early experiences in entrepreneurship, and the impact of economic constraints on decision-making.Discussion on trusting oneself and persevering in the tech industry amidst challenges.Tweetable Quotes:“It's really hard to build something when everyday life doesn't look like the thing you're building yet.” - Amber“It's OK if it takes a while and it's OK if these things are informed by something in the past.” - Amber“Everybody should be able to make their own thing instead of just assuming that just one culture makes something.” - Amber“I think things are going so much faster and we seem to have linear time instead of slow time is that we keep thinking that we're moving forward and that we're modernizing in some way. But I think we're more like Victorian 2.0 times.” - Amber“But the more stuff we look at online, do we remember at the end of the day, what we actually looked at?” - Amber“Abstraction is actually causing us a lot of pain.” - Amber“Humans are social creatures and we're always comparing status.” - Kurt“Hospitality does not necessarily feel like what a shiny ad for technology looks like.” - Amber“Every company and every start-up, everything is hard or it can be really fun.” - Amber“People overestimate what can be done in a year or two, but they radically underestimate what can get done in five or 10.”- Kurt“A lot of people don't live their lives with enough slack to handle the turbulence when it comes up, they're, they're on the margin because they don't leave any moment unpacked and it's not really a huge risk..” - AmberLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInAmber CaseCase OrganicCalm Tech InstituteJeff BezosPaul OllingerRobin JonesRoger McNameeScott MorehouseVanessa CamonesAbletonEsriGeoloqiSeventh GenerationTeenage EngineeringUniversity of OregonZappos

Episode Highlights:Paul Ollinger's transition from an executive at Facebook to pursuing stand-up comedy.Discuss the focus of Paul Ollinger's podcast, "Crazy Money," and its exploration of living a fulfilling life beyond financial pursuits.How comedy has shaped Paul Ollinger's communication skills, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and handling unexpected situations on stage.Insights into the dynamics of the comedy industry, including the significance of connecting with fellow comedians and the audience.The gift of comedy is pursuing personal truths and presenting a unique perspective on the world.Paul Ollinger's reflections on enoughness, living without regret, and managing passion like a business.Tweetable Quotes:“I think the gift of comedy is the pursuit of truth.”  - Paul Ollinger“I don't think being an authentic person means saying every single thing that's on your mind.”- Paul Ollinger“Rich isn't about how much money you have. It's the ratio between your resources and your needs.” - Paul Ollinger“We're never going to stop wanting unless we control our desires. That takes a lot of awareness and a lot of self-control and a lot of reminding yourself of enoughness.”- Paul“Self-actualization is something to be pursued not to be achieved.”- Paul Ollinger“The richest people we know of in our society are people who aren't thinking about the money because they would have sold out decades ago.”- Paul Ollinger“The desire to have money makes us do crazy things, and money doesn't solve our problems the way we think it will before we have it.” - Paul Ollinger“There are tricks, there are shortcuts, there are things that you know what to do when something happens in the room. There are ways to react to that: you learn after repetition and by watching other people.” - Paul Ollinger“Not every battle's worth fighting.”- Paul Ollinger“Living your dream doesn't always mean perfect.” - Paul Ollinger“It's not a value unless it costs you something.” - Kurty D.“I think time has a wonderful way of redeeming things.”- Kurty D.“If you want something, you have to sort of. Be willing to give it away or say no or do the opposite. If you want love, you have to give love. If you want money, you gotta give money.”- Kurty D.Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInPaul OllingerAaron RossDave AtellEmo PhilipsFacebookJack DangermondJudy CarterKim ScottMatt RifeNicole Aimée SchreiberVince ThompsonBBDOEsriImprovLimeTuck School of BusinessYahoo

Episode Highlights:Small is Better: How small, autonomous teams can spearhead targeted missions.The Paradox of Failure and SuccessBreaking the Fear of Failure: A New Mindset for OrganizationsHow to be adaptable and nimble in taking risksThe need to change mindsets within organizationsTaking risks in many different places in the organizationTweetable Quotes:“Time is linear. Knowledge is exponential. And a book is a great way to memorialize that knowledge and make it accessible.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Vulnerability is such a powerful medicine.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Failure is a necessary ingredient for success.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“I think the nest real value in cross-functional is that you have unbounded thinking, and it encourages first principle reasoning too. ” — Brady Brim-DeForest“The closer you are to the higher density information, the more efficient your decision will be.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Large organizations tend to concentrate on resources, human resources, and capital, but they are also the breeding ground for innovation.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Autonomy doesn't just mean at the edge; it is a way of efficiency and decision making.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“None of us can accurately predict the outcomes of any hypotheses we're testing. So, the only way to proceed is to take the risk.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Risk comes along with failure.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Increasing the speed at which you fail is the critical path and requirement to succeed.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“We see failure as a negative thing and must change our mindset and the organization we work to embrace failure. ” — Brady Brim-DeForest“You will never reach the upside if you don't stumble along the way.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“Waste is the byproduct of experimentation.” — Brady Brim-DeForest“People have the freedom to fail because that's where sort of improvisation in the ensemble happens.” — Kurt Daradics“We all could be looking at the exact same information and come to totally different conclusions, but that only happens if we are looking at the same set of data.” — Brady Brim-DeForestLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInBrady Brim-DeForest WebsiteSmaller is Better Book WebsiteAaron RossDuke StumpJack DangermondKatie DeckerKen BurnsMyles SutherlandTalia JacquelineEsriFormulamonkLime

Episode Highlights:The smile box analogy and the Fluxus art movementSelf-actualization and enlightenmentThe dysfunctional nature of living in the past and the need to focus on the present.Exploration of the common presence of trauma in high performers and how it can drive their actions.The impact of taking things personally and the importance of humility in relationships and communication.The correlation between personal work, culture, and business growth.The influence of neuro-linguistic programming and the learning process through mentorship and practical application.Tweetable Quotes:“Having a golden handcuff is really challenging, and I think it's it's not a value unless it costs you something.” — Kurt“Values are meaningless in words; it's lived out.” — Kurt“Everything that we do in business is all relationships, and we all know that.” — Talia“There's so much psychology behind how relationships are built, how the report is built and broken and what you contribute to that based on what your own experiences are in life.” — Talia“For as long as you're growing, you need a coach.”— Talia“Every word has its own connotation and energy.”— Talia“When we go through things in life, we really have two choices: we can numb, or we can kneel, and a lot of us as a society were so accustomed to numbing.”— Talia“A lot of those high performers are using the fuel of their past and the pain itself to drive, and sometimes they get so afraid of letting that go cause it's their fuel for so long.”— TaliaLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInTalia JacquelineTalia JacquelineVisceralBrain KoppelmanChristopher DaradicsDerrick B. GrünerGabor MateJustin MitchellMichael NittiStacey McKinnonStaci GrayTony RobbinsMorton WealthOrganize to ScaleReal World Asset

Episode Highlights:Background and experience in data science, content creation, and storytellingApplying storytelling principles to content creationChallenges of pivoting content focus on YouTubeImportance of storytelling in content creationApplication of data science in careersExperiences in corporate America and improving presentation skillsTransitioning to own YouTube channel to focus on data scienceMaintaining creativity on YouTubeCreating online coursesInsights and experiences in the field of data science and content creationTweetable Quotes:Life is all about depth, and that's where the joy comes from. So, whenever I do anything, I try to go to the depths of it. - Ben SullinsI really like startups; they're so fun because you can really get stuff done and make a difference. - Ben Sullins“The bigger the company is, the less fun it is.” — Ben“Knowing the difference between an absolute difference and a relative difference can really make a big difference in how you understand what message that's coming across.”— BenYouTube is a very interesting place. It's such an amazing thing for people to share what they know, to entertain and educate. For me, it's just an ever-evolving journey. - Ben SullinsSee, feel, change. When we see something, it creates an emotion that gives us some conviction to go and make a choice. That's really the insight and the power of data visualization. - Kurt DaradicsLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInBen SullinsBen Sullins YTFree the Data AcademyElon MuskJack DangermondNancy DuarteNaval RavikantQuentin TarantinoSatya NadellaAdobe PremiereAngelListAtrixBardChatGPTDescriptElevenLabsEnergy SageEsriFigmaHollywood BowlMicrosoftMicrosoft CopilotMozillaNFLPluralsightPower biPythonSquadCastTableauTesla

Episode Highlights:Insights into the Broken Marketing Ecosystem and the genesis of Hawke MediaPublishing of Erik's book, "The Hawke Method."Brand building and energy managementShared roots in Ventura County and experiences growing upSignificance of the “Red Hawk” with the brand and emotional aspect of marketingImportance of managing energy and balancing business responsibilities with personal pursuitsImpact of AI on the future of work and the economyChallenges of entrepreneurship and the importance of maintaining mental and physical healthTweetable Quotes:“I'm a firm believer that the brand is what you make of it.” — Erik Huberman“People use logic to justify emotions, but we're emotional creatures.” — Erik Huberman“I think the logo needs to be a symbol that people can rally around. But the symbol needs to be meant more internally than externally.” — Erik Huberman“Businesses fail for two reasons only; one: they get underwater on debt or capital and they can't get above water and two: the leaders give up.” — Erik Huberman“The consistency of what you do is what becomes your brand.” — Erik Huberman“When you're part of an early company that turns into a powerhouse, that's really rewarding.” — Erik Huberman“If you want to keep something long-term and sustainable, fight for that!” — Erik Huberman“If you're gonna jump into something, you should have some proprietary knowledge or some connections to build a business.” — Erik Huberman“It is really easy to find the energy when you feel like your time is gaining momentum and you're on the upswing and everything is going well — that energy comes easily.” — Erik HubermanLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInErik HubermanHawke MediaAlex JacobsonAndrew Stewart LeahyChristian GarrettClark LandryDavid ConnorsDuke StumpJanine O'NeillJulian SteinbergPaige CraigRobert LeshnerSimon SinekTony Delmercado137 Venturesa16ZBarstool SportsFly kittGetty MuseumsHunt ClubLimeLululemonMartechNikeOak Grove SchoolSequoia Capital

Episode Highlights:Kurt and Doug reminisce about the Mindshare LA event and its impact on their lives and careers.Doug shares his experience and background, from his education in the UK to his diverse experiences and travels across the USDoug's exploration of generative AI for nonfiction writing, detailing the creative process and the successful launch of his bookThe impact of AI on creativity and the empowerment of individuals to be more creative.The process and challenges in creating the Rube Goldberg machine, including the team effort and the number of takes.Doug's transition from personal adventures to consulting on incorporating AI into business workflows.The importance of leveraging technology to improve efficiency and creativity, and Doug's approach to helping others achieve this.The benefits of leveraging technology to streamline tasks and reduce stress in day-to-day operations.The societal impact of the money game and the challenges associated with consumerism and debt.Tweetable Quotes:“AI revolution is not just about automation or replacing humans. It's a wonderful chance for people to become even more creative.” — Douglas Campbell“While there is a lot of upset and talk about how AI is ruining industries, a lot of people are actually spending time focusing on how to use this as a new tool.” — Douglas Campbell“If you wanna see what addiction looks like, you can see it in the eyes of the 10-year-old who hasn't gotten their full-screen time today.” — Douglas Campbell“If really your joy is painting, figure out a way to work with the AI so that you can live a life as a painter.” — Douglas CampbellAIs are giving us more spaciousness to play and to be creative.” — Douglas Campbell"To first step to get started with AI is mindfulness; the first step is looking at your flows." — Douglas Campbell“The reality is every day, terrible things are happening with human drivers.” — Douglas Campbell“No matter how many people said” that was amazing”, you're not gonna fill that hole until you actually figure out how to make yourself feel whole from within.” — Douglas Campbell“I feel like people are saying to me, “you're so valuable”, and I'm feeling it more than I ever had in the past.” — Douglas Campbell“AI is a quantum leap. It's a sea change.” — Kurty D.“Money is one easy way to measure value.” — Kurty D.“I think the thing that's wild about the human experience is that we're not truth-seeking creatures, we're social creatures.” — Kurty D.“People are getting in debt buying things they don't need to impress people they don't know.” — Kurty D.Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInDouglas CampbellThe Intelligents AI PodcastProjectFreshAndrew HubermanBrent BushnellChristopher DaradicsEfren ToscanoEric GradmanJim YoungNolan BushnellTim FerrisAehrAMDBardChuck E. CheeseElevenLabsEsriHarrowIO FundMarvell TechnologyMicron TechnologyMindshareNVIDIAOK GoReal World Asset GroupRISDSkirball Cultural CenterSuper Micro ComputerTask UsTechZuluTwo Bit CircusUCLA

Key Takeaways:Christopher's journey and experiences around the worldFulbright grants and Christopher's participation in the organizationThe concept of cultural production and definition of artCultural Production and Language LearningSoft Power vs. Hard PowerDescartes and Computational Theory of MindExtended Mind and Ecological ValidityThe dawn of AIArt and PhilosophyFluxus and its influence on art, its disruption of traditional art forms and relationships.Embracing ComplexityTweetable Quotes:“I think that God is something like the middle voice, and it's something like sunsets.”— Christopher“Cognition is not something that's constrained. This is, from the ecological perspective, from the extended theory of mind perspective, cognition is a distributed process.” - Christopher“The environment is too complex to control.”  — Christopher“So, are we fundamentally irrational? I think that there are parts of us that are profoundly irrational and that the rational parts of us have an incredibly difficult time wrapping our rational minds around. But I think that we're also rational.” — Christopher“My personal belief is that Descartes was not as dualistic and sort of Cartesian as history has painted him to be.” — Christopher“The hardest part about taking a very long trip around the world is leaving; the hardest part is just clearing your calendar enough to get away.” — Christopher“Complexity is simple rules playing out at scale. The simplicity and the fullness, and that it's really beautiful to embrace complexity.” - Christopher"To engineer something is hard power. Soft power is like cultural influence."— Christopher“Mind is not present in the object; it is only present in the subject.” — Christopher“Games are an amazing site for practicing, for using language. And then there's fan fiction and all of this stuff. So here's where we're starting to get into this sort of territory of cultural production.” – Christopher“So the world is getting more complex, it's getting more dynamic, and the questions emerging are like… It's incredibly non-linear, life is non-linear, and the rightness and wrongness of things has a lot to do with cultural preference like we described before.” - Christopher“We have this incredible capacity to process information, and we do it in ways that we absolutely cannot understand.” — ChristopherLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInChristopher DaradicsAndrew HubermanDan SiegelDescartesDuke StumpJack DangermondJane BennettJohn CageJohn LennonJulie SykesYoko OnoCenter for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS)EsriInstitute of International EducationPocket Guide to RevolutionSt. John's CollegeUniversity of Oregon

Key Takeaways:Dave's experience in the legal industry and working with startupsAligning Interests and Creating Incentives: A Key to Success in BusinessTurning Challenges into Opportunities: A Zen Master's PerspectiveThe Power of Giving: How Givers Outperform Takers and MatchersThe Importance of Health and Personal GrowthTweetable Quotes:At some level, you just have to realize that everything is a business decision, and that includes taking risks. — David YoungThe better lawyers are the ones who are using their judgment to help their clients. — David YoungLife is 10% what happens and 90% how you handle it. — David YoungOften times people push to close for no specific reason, because they know that time kills all deals. — David YoungIf you're going to give the point and you think it's reasonable, just give it. Some lawyers enjoy the arguing—that's just how some lawyers are wired. — David YoungWhen negative things happen, try to turn it into a positive.— David YoungLife is hard. So we have to choose our hard wisely. — KurtLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInDavid YoungAdam GrantAndreessen HorowitzJason NazarJim JonassenRachel HorningA16ZCooley LLPLimeReal World Asset GroupSiemens

Key Takeaways:The benefits of putting your work online as a photographer or someone in the creative industry.How everyone is uniquely beautiful in their own way from a photographer's perspective.How beauty inspires Kris Krug to step things up for himself.How adding the context of time to a photograph deepens its meaning.How AI is changing our response to beauty.Internet culture and how it has allowed people to be more expressive with their fashion.How Kris uses English and language to change the world around him.Why copying the same camera systems that your friends use and simply switching equipment is a good practice.The importance of getting your work online to accelerate growth as a photographer.Why it's important to visit places like Discord and Flickr to see some interesting activity with not just photography, but all sorts of mediums.How AI has helped Kris speed up his editing process.Tweetable Quotes:“I make beautiful portraits of all sorts of people.” - Kris Krug“The more you put yourself out there, the more you give yourself away, the more value there is in your work and in your name, more people want you involved in their stuff.” – Kris KrugThere's something about everybody that really speaks to me.” – Kris Krug“I often walk away from an encounter with beauty feeling inspired or called to a greater part of myself to step it up.” – Kris Krug“This idea of giving space in the context of time gives a better kind of a more of a wider perspective.” – Kris Krug“As we enter into this AI age, I wonder what our response to beauty is going to change because these computers can make perfection all day long.” – Kris Krug“The ways that people express themselves through fashion is more interesting than ever. And I think that a lot of it comes directly from internet culture in some ways.” – Kris Krug“I've always tried to use my relationship with language and English to kind of like change the world around me.” – Kris Krug“If you want to accelerate your growth as a photographer, get out there and make stuff. Get it online, read the comments, and incorporate it into your work.” – Kris Krug“The most interesting things on the internet are happening under the surface.” – Kris KrugLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInKris KrügKris KrügAndrew WarnerAsa MathatBarack ObamaBill ClintonBrian EnoDuke StumpFrank GruberIan RogersJack DangermondMalibu BabieMatt WolfeMikhail GorbachevPaige CraigRick RubinRobert ScobleShaquille O'nealStewart ButterfieldZane LoweZsofin SheehyApple MusicCanonChatGPTCitySourcedCreative CommonsDiscordEsriFlickrInternation Space StationJavascriptKelly Slater Wave Co.Lincoln GroupMicrosoftMidjourneyNational GeographicNickelodeonNikonNvidiaPhytonPostmatesRolling StoneSupermicroTechcrunchTEDTopspinTrinity Western University

Key Takeaways:Unpacking the Journey: Real Estate, Tech, and FinanceThe Perfect Office and Unexpected ConnectionsUnforgettable Meeting and the Birth of a BusinessUncovering the Truth: A Risk Manager's Journey Through the Financial CrisisBuilding a Community and Embracing the Power of GivingThe Power of Giving: How the Universe Rewards SelflessnessThe Impact of Macro Trends on Risk Management in Real EstateThe Ultimate Music Fan: Dream Band and VenueTweetable Quotes:“Trust, but verify.” – Justin Mitchell“People pay back, but properties don't. When you focus on creditworthiness and the borrower, you, most of the time, stay out of the trouble.” – Justin MitchellSometimes, the best deal you'll ever do is the one you didn't do.– Justin Mitchell“One of the things that made me relevant in this business is that when you deal with the best in the business, they start to appreciate your opinion and your insight.” – Justin Mitchell“Saying no is probably the best trait I have where not everything will work out, and it's not meant for me. It doesn't mean that someone else won't do it for them.” – Justin Mitchell“When you start doing business with the best borrowers, their competitors want to know why they're doing business with you and what makes you special. That leads to referrals and inquiries from the best borrowers.” – Justin Mitchell“We know what it's like to be a borrower and the sensitivities and speed of execution. Most of all, creativity is everything, and there's a balance to that.” – Justin Mitchell“It's being creative, but also managing risk, whether that's with the asset that I'm lending on, or maybe I take additional collateral outside of that asset.” – Justin Mitchell“In the context of private credit, if you don't do any background or underwriting on the borrower, that can lead to problems quickly.” – Justin MitchellLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInJustin MitchellAaron RossAndrew SmithBrian StandingBrook FainCharles SchwabElias BadinGregor WatsonHoward MarksJeff SartiRob BloemkerStacey McKinnon1Sharpe CapitalAFLACBank of AmericaBlackstoneCohnReznickFidelityGenesis CapitalGoldman SachsMorton WealthOakland Capital ManagementQuanta FinanceRealworld Asset Group

Key Takeaways:Highlighting Frank Gruber's career highlightsFrom Blogging to Tech Ecosystem Development: A Journey of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipThe Evolution of Technology and the Importance of Business Model InnovationThe Business Mechanism as a Path to Self-ActualizationInvesting in Next Gen: A Journey of Early Stage Funding and PartnershipsOvercoming Challenges and Embracing ResilienceTweetable Quotes:“The people that can tell their story the best usually do the best.” - Frank Guber“A lot of times what I tell founders is just, pick one that you're best at rather than try to do everything because it's just exhausting trying to do all the different things.” - Frank Guber“If you can start early when you're not comfortable, it's better because once you get comfortable with all the things you're used to, it's harder to do it.” - Frank Guber“Some of the stuff that we had to do was to make those sacrifices so I can get done with school.” - Frank Guber“These people that are out there have that ability to be able to tell that story and convince people that this is the direction that we're going.” - Frank Guber“Everyone's got a social channel, there's so much noise, it's how do you get ahead of that now?” - Frank Guber“As an actual investor, you gotta make those relationships before you need them.” - Frank Guber“You just never give up - you learn and get stronger along the way.” - Frank GuberLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInFrank GruberDan MendezDave MatthewsGary VeeJack JohnsonJen ConsalvoJesse TorresMike ArringtonSteve ResslerAOLAtlantic Sea FarmsAWSCapital OneChicago TribuneGreater Colorado Venture CapitalHuffington PostKauffman FoundationNASANextgen Venture PartnersPurdue UniversityTechCrunchTechstarsTech CocktailTikTokVerizonWGNWim Hof

Key Takeaways:How mentorship is a two-way street where you teach someone and learn from them too.The impact that you can get by operating from principles vs. a playbook.The importance of letting yourself be uncomfortable.Why it's essential to learn that what works in one culture will not automatically translate into success in a different culture?The requirements for greatness.Why you need to be self-aware and understanding of yourself.The power of language in life.Tweetable Quotes:“The goal is not to create magic. It's to create the conditions for magic to happen.” – Duke Stump“We all want greatness but we're not willing to have the courage to accept what it quite often takes to get there.” – Duke Stump“Self-awareness or self-understanding is the key ingredient in any journey.” – Duke Stump“Language has the ability to pierce through the barbed wire of life when it's done well.” – Duke Stump“Make yourself uncomfortable because it's one of the few times you know you're growing.” – Duke Stump“Life is about impermanence. It's this mercurial, ever-changing, ever-flowing thing like we don't have control on much other than maybe our chosen response to things.” – Duke Stump“Financials are not a predictor of success. They're a function of doing other things.” – Duke Stump“Rather than just focus on a number of financials every day, focus on other things that will deliver the numbers.” – Duke Stump“Freedom and aliveness for me is being in an environment where there's a real beautiful level of trust.” – Duke Stump“I think if we learn differently, we would invite so much more possibility.” – Duke Stump“My parents were high school teachers and they always said teaching is about mentoring and being mentored.” – Duke Stump“I didn't operate from a playbook, but I operated from a set of principles.” – Duke Stump“I'm proud of the fact that, once again it wasn't a playbook but it was a philosophy and a different approach around how to build something.” – Duke Stump“Because something works in one culture doesn't mean that playbook is transferable.” – Duke Stump“I'm just obsessed with the human condition that can create possibility versus stifle it.” – Duke StumpLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInDuke StumpChris ZimmermanChris DaradicsEllen DeGeneresGregg HoffmanJanine BenyusJeffrey HollenderLaura Lee BrownMartha StewartOphra WinfreyRick RubinSteve WilsonTim Ferriss21c Museum HotelsAppleBauerBiomimicryBonfire With SoulEsriEQTLululemonNikeOverhear Episode with Gregor Barnum and Duke StumpPatagoniaSeventh GenerationTargetTechCrunchThe University of VermontThe Wall Street Journal

This week, I'm excited to share my conversation with my friend, Paige Craig- the Founder and General Partner at Outlander VC- which is launching its third early-stage VC fund.Paige has one of the most incredible stories of any of my friends- from growing up dirt poor outside of Sacramento, California, to getting to Westpoint, then becoming a Marine, and starting the Lincoln Group- a Private Military Company operating across the Middle East, Africa, SE Asia that he grew to 1,000 full-time headcount.After Paige sold the Lincoln Group, he transitioned into an angel investor and has 17 unicorns from early-stage investments, including Postmates,  Lyft, AngelList, Gusto, Wish, and more.Paige and the team at Outlander are finding diamonds in the rough- founders who have what it takes to win but aren't part of the elite networks of the top schools, top cities, or social networks.Paige's background all comes together to deliver returns that put him in the top 1% of tech investors, and I'm excited to share this honest and inspired conversation with one of the most interesting people I know.Key Takeaways:Paige Craig's remarkable story of growing up.Paige's experience at WestpointWhat spurred Paige to enter and serve in the Marine CorpsWhat it was like trying to start a business without access to money.The origin story of the Lincoln Group, and when Paige sold it.The lessons Paige learned from working alongside people from poorer countries.Why and how analyzing people forms a core pillar and differentiator in Paige's business.The importance of establishing trust and understanding with your investors.Why a startup's success lies in its founders.When the true value of a business shows itself.Tweetable Quotes:“My job is to find incredibly special people who can create incredible value and create profitable companies eventually that change the world.” – Paige Craig“It's about finding out who is your ideal customer. Are you serving them?” – Paige Craig“I love learning, but even more than learning, I've always really enjoyed doing.” – Paige Craig“When I look at founders now, I understand how hard it is when you don't have access to money.” – Paige Craig“The most incredible value typically takes a decade or longer to find and build.” – Paige Craig"If you build incredible value for customers and you run your business right, you will get revenue." – Paige Craig“If you're going to go after certain types of people, you have to understand them; you have to understand why they perform or outperform in certain environments.” – Paige Craig“The very basic pillar of our business is to analyze people and realize that our mandate is picking exceptional, rare type of Founders.” – Paige Craig“I think too much money corrupts founders early. And there's great value created when there are restrictions on the money given to them.” – Paige CraigIf you want to be a great investor, particularly at the early stage, the number one most deterministic thing in a startup's success is its founders.” – Paige Craig“But that's one of the great benefits of being in the military. I fully utilized all my education benefits in the Marine Corps.” – Paige Craig“As a company gets later on in life, you can analyze the product and the customers, and there's lots of different ways to become a great investor.” – Paige CraigLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInPaige CraigAna Gabriela BonBailie SalkBlaine DavisBlake HallDavid TischJack DangermondJoshua ReevesLeila ChreitehLeura CraigLucas HoffmannPete WilsonPeter SzulczewskiClubhouseDam Neck VirginiaDARPAEsriGustoHunt ClubLincoln GroupMarine CorpsNASDAQNavy Federal Credit UnionOutlander VCRIASacramento State UniversityWest PointWish

Key Takeaways:Words from Margaret Cho and other comedians that inspired Nicole.How the pandemic opened up a lot of new perspectives on Nicole.The scary thing about growing old.How Nicole figured out how to navigate the loss of her dad in the mindset of a global pandemic.What it's like for Nicole to look at things with a microscope perspective to pick apart things and discover what's funny.The role of competitiveness in our lives.Why it's important to be a good sport whether you win or lose in life.How living your life transparently can get people invested in you.The impact of political correctness on comedy.Tweetable Quotes:“I didn't worry about dating anybody, I dated comedy.” – Nicole Aimee Schreiber“The pandemic put a lot of things into perspective about what matters and chasing a dream matters.” – Nicole Aimee Schreiber“When things are bad and you're at the bottom, the only place to go is up.” – Nicole Aimee Schreiber“The whole reason we are competitive in nature is to win.” – Nicole Aimee Schreiber“Don't lose, go for winning. And if you lose, be a good loser, don't be a sore loser.” – Nicole Aimee Schreiber“Getting older is a scary thing because you lose your relevance. Like you're not as much of a hot topic anymore.” – Nicole Aimee SchreiberLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInNicole Amy SchreiberBrian IngramDana WhiteDarwyn MetzgerDave ChappelleDave AttelEddie MurphyFahim AnwarJacob TellJack JohnsonJamie DrakeJaimee Lee CurtisJanis JoplinJason CalacanisJoe RoganJudy CarterMadi DiazMatt RifeMargaret ChoMichell YeohNicole NorenNeal BrennanPeter PhamSarah SilvermanTaylor TomlinsonTomm HanniganTyler CrowleyCitySourcedComedy CellarComedy CornerDistrict 216DoleESPNHBO MaxLiquid DeathMonster of FolkNetflixNFLSherwood Country ClubPhantomTim TebowTechCrunch DisruptThe Comedy Store

What We Covered:The importance of having a purpose behind what you're doing.How something that doesn't cost anything can't be called a value or a principle.How Jacob and his team became a much fuller service by not just building the assets but also designing the strategy.How Jacob and his team used “technology mashups” to leverage his business.What it means to build a foundation around the things that you are passionate about.The importance of building a foundation before launching a bigger corporation/company.The impact of creating a safe place where people are allowed to have conversations about mental health, death and dying, and more.The concept of “edutainment” and how it does a better job at teaching compared to more traditional methods.Tweetable Quotes:You can tell if a brand or an organization is being purposeful and truthful about making that emotional connection with the audience when they have a purpose behind what you're doing.” – Jacob Tell“We do our best work at the intersection of storytelling and technology now. It's not just the technology piece, it's also the storytelling and creating the brands.” – Jacob Tell“We create a culture of positive disruption and that's been a throughline for all the ventures that I'm involved in.” - Jacob Tell“Entertainment meets education is the idea behind edutainment” – Jacob Tell“You have to be fully lit up and aligned in whatever you do and be able to draw that inspiration from within.” - Jacob TellWhen you have the right mindset, the right environment, and you know what you are after, You then create the conditions for the magic. – Jacob Tell“It's creating conditions for not just magic but for healing.” – Jacob TellLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInJacob TellBen HarperBruno MarsDuke StumpG.LoveGary GershIan RogersJack DangermondJack JohnsonJason KieselJengoJimmy IovineJohn LegendJoseph CampbellKelly SlaterKen BurnsKim JohnsonKurt CobainLenny KravitzPaul McCartneyRob MachadoSteve JobsThe BeatlesThe WailersDolby AtmosDreams TourEMI RecordsEsriFacebookLodo StudiosLVMHMySpace MusicNikeOniracomPepsiRevolverSony Music[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/?)TechCrunchTopspinUniversal MusicUniversity of California Santa BarbaraWarner Bros.Yahoo Music

What We Covered:The back story behind the “Betsy and Irv” documentary movie.The story behind NBA player Enes Kanter.The importance of mental health and focusing on this issue.Mental health is not exclusive to gender but is connected to physical health.Tweetable Quotes:“I like humanizing issues.” — Nicole Noren“I want people to think, and I would hope that after they're done watching something that I've made, they're going to be thinking more broadly and differently.” - Nicole Noren“So I think the only way you can do that (promote advocacy) is by showing people fair pieces of work that make them think rather than telling them how they should think.” — Nicole Noren“It's been a fascinating evolution to get to this point now where it's becoming so normalized to talk about brain health, and it's wonderful.” — Nicole Noren“Honestly, women have made me aware of mental health, and now men are catching on” — Nicole NorenLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInNicole NorenEnes KanterSasha Menu CoureyBetsy & IrvChatGPTESPNMurrow AwardNBANCAASpotify

What We Covered:Success and people behind TEDxDos and Don'ts of storytellingThe Power of Narrative, Communication, and SharingThe importance of authenticity in a storyThe explosive viral effect of TEDxHow widely you can spread ideasHow you can bring together curious people“See, Feel, Change” framework by Duke StumpTweetable Quotes:“It's special to hear people tell stories of the TED talks that were meaningful to them. Talks that help people understand themselves and understand the world better or spur them into action in some way. Anytime you hear like that, I feel so grateful to have been part of the TED journey” — Kelly Stoetzel“The hard things that you struggle with, even if someone has not experienced the same thing, there are so many people who can relate, and there's something that is also really useful knowing we're not alone.”— Kelly Stoetzel“I would always tell speakers to be as much yourself as possible when you're standing on stage. It's like almost being yourself with the volume turned up just 10%.” — Kelly Stoetzel“As people write their talks—instead of thinking about what's the thing I have to say, it's like what is the thing  I have to give to people that they would like to receive from me — that would be useful for them to receive.” — Kelly Stoetzel“But there is no formula, and the best talks are just like what someone wants to design for themselves. And that's authentic to how they think, talk, or live. So, I think that's important.” — Kelly Stoetzel“As part of my career journey, I got to this point where I just realized I wanted always to do work that makes an impact and purpose for me, and the situation with our planetary health that we face right now is as important as anything can be.” — Kelly StoetzelFor anybody who may be listening to that is preparing for a talk, no matter what, it is always always always so useful to run it by someone. If you can do it with a speaker, coach, or something. — Kelly Stoetzel“I used to pray “God, if you give me ears to hear, I'll do my little part to change the world.” — KurtLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInKelly StoetzelAdam GrantAmber CaseChris AndersonDuke StumpHeather MasonJack DangermondJason CalacanisJim YoungJohn CalkinsRichard Saul WurmanSusan CainStephanie SimonTalia JacquelineTyler CrowleyZ. HayleyAtomic MapsCity SourcedClubhouseCochlearEsriEdelman Fossil ParkLXD (the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers)LululemonNikeTEDx

What we covered:Why storytelling matters, and how a simple sentence can unlock profound impacts.The importance of blockchain in the economy.How to move and think as a CEOWhy “thinking above the line is so important” and why context matters more than content.Why imagination is essential, both as a CEO and as a person.The importance of self-awarenessTweetable Quotes“User-owned networks will grow faster and become more valuable than corporate-owned networks or investor-owned networks.”“My framework to storytelling is to iterate, iterate, iterate until it feels like you can feel the reaction is like yeses and nods and smiles.”“If you can't explain in a sentence why what you're doing matters to who's listening, the odds are that every sentence you say after that, they're tuned out.”“If you can't convey why, what you do matters to who it should matter to, you may as well not do it.”“The whole world is driven by storytelling.”“Brands, sales pitches, whatever, they have to have an emotional reaction. And if they don't, the reaction will be boredom and apathy.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInAdam JacksonChris BordeauxRob LeshnerCompound LabDuke StumpGabriel Luna-OstaseskiJack DangermondJulia CrassAirbnbBlockchainBraintrustDoctor on DemandDoorDashHuntClubFedExLuluLemonUber 

What we covered:Why passion is a key ingredient to living a life you love.How Rick's passion for music and surfing made him into the person he is now.How Rick has helped progress the punk rock genre to how we know it today.Tweetable Quotes:“It's just amazing when you're passionate about something. It didn't feel like work.”“If I'm gonna put a lot of time into something, I get very passionate about it.”  “You gotta be passionate, you have to have a ton of discipline, and you have to be consistent, and THEN you get results. And then you get that result, and you have a little win, and then you keep going and redo it every day and keep going.”“Everyone that helped me, I'm gonna pay it forward and help out.”“I love music, I love surfing, I love surfers, I love podcasts, and I love your guitar collection behind you!”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInRick's LinkedInRick's InstagramBill SilvaBob HurleyChris BystromTaylor SteeleTimmy CurranRyan GleasonVince VaccaroBad ReligionBlink 182BillabongHoodoo GurusHurleyLoft 100 StudiosSitting on StacyThe AquadollsThe Red WestThe SpecialsThe Sully BandThe Warped TourUnwritten LawQuiksilver

What we covered:Learn more about addictions and sobriety as a whole.Get to ask yourself the questions that you need to know yourself better.The importance of interventions and sobriety in the long runWhy trauma can lead to substance abuseWhy it's essential to give out second chances to people who are recovering from addictionThe importance of creating a safe space for people who aim for sobriety.Tweetable Quotes:“If your definition of success is going into rehab, it works. But it takes a lot more to get somebody into recovery. You can't trick someone into a program of rigorous honesty.”“People are greater than the sum of their faults.”“If there's someone I'm a victim of, it's myself.”“When you think you're smart and larger than life and have a successful career, the idea of being an alcoholic is preposterous. How would you not be able to control this? You can control everything else.”“It took me ten years to stop drinking and recognize my problem.”“I can't undo what I've done. I can't undo what he has done, either. But what we can do together is face forward and fix the future. Create healing. But we're not going to do that while we're wallowing in our despair. We have to find out how to recover from that. Find ourselves and make that a place of power.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInStop, Pause, Play websiteClay Johnson's LinkedInClay Johnson's TwitterJack DangermondDuke StumpKirk DeWittRonald ReaganBlue StateCNNThe Sunlight Foundation

What we covered:Colin's experiences with his evolution of transforming being a “salesperson”.The lessons that Colin learned that led to him writing “The Unsold Mindset” with Garret BrownHow showing your flaws and imperfections lets people see that you are authentic as a person.How Colin shifted things around by asking questions he wanted to know the answers to instead of asking questions he was supposed to.The reason why successful salespeople do so well, and the same thing they are all doingDistinguishing ‘transformational' vs. ‘transactional.'The value of vulnerability and authenticity when connecting with other peopleWhy finding a niche is essential for sales.The importance of a healthy and competitive culture for salesTweetable Quotes:“If you can't move people, how do you change the world? How do you change anyone's world if you can't move people?” - Colin Coggins“One thing that we found was that all these great salespeople permitted themselves to share. Not because they knew the law of reciprocity but because they showed up on the call and chose to share something about themselves. That is probably the inflection point across almost everyone we've spoken to.” - Colin Coggins“People want to know what's inside of your head.” - Colin Coggins“What you love doing and what you're good at doing are not always the same.” - Colin Coggins“There's a bunch of definitions for valuable but one of them is that you make people around you better and that you can turn that into a culture like even in sales, I mean especially in sales.” - Colin CogginsLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInColin and Garrett's InstagramColin and Garrett's TwitterColin and Garrett's WebsiteThe Unsold MindsetThe Unsold Mindset - AmazonThe Unsold mindset - Barnes & NobleThe Unsold Mindset - TargetAnna BarberAaron RossBryce MaddockDave MatthewsDave Matthews BandDuke StumpGarrett BrownJon WexlerKelly PerdewPaige CraigRyan BurkeRoy ChoiWilliam BarnesLululemonM13Shell VacationsUberWyndham Fractional Ownership

What we covered:The importance of hiring pure talent.Why CEOs should hire talent rather than anything else.The importance of a good interview session with prospective employees to gauge their capabilities.The importance of momentum, especially from a business standpoint.Why aiming high for your business helps you have fewer bottlenecks and the like.Why having fun is just as important as succeeding.Why having a substitute plan is always a good idea.Tweetable Quotes:“I feel like in this bizarre macro, talent is the only leverage.” - Jim Jonassen“We feel like we can add more value if there are higher stakes” - Jim Jonassen“The changes that Covid brought on us will not sort themselves out next quarter, next year. It's gonna be a decade. Among them is the rapid digitization of everything.” - Jim Jonassen“You can't piggyback on anybody else's due diligence. You gotta do the work; you got to get to the unit economics, and the business plan and the product market fit and everything else on your own.” - Jim Jonassen“Don't hire for a job ‘til you've done the job.” - Jim Jonassen“If the work is done, if the rigor is maintained, if you keep that forward momentum, that's what you've gotta have, you gotta have a real partnership and engagement. If you do, it's going to work real flawlessly.” - Jim Jonassen“You can't comfort the afflicted without afflicting the comfortable.” - Jim Jonassen“Why get a “B Meal?” when you could say,” Hey, let's go raise a little bit more money and hit the bit at Nobu or Maestro's?” -Jim JonassenLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInJim JonassenAdam MillerChristian ChabotJason NazarRay DalioRyan ScottEsriBoys and Girls Club of Sta. MonicaHunt ClubJJA.CoPixarSequoiaStone Eagle Golf Club

What we covered:The fear of failure can be your biggest struggle and your best allyThe importance of failure and why giving up isn't an option.Why belief in yourself is your biggest weapon against difficulties and adversities.Why happiness shouldn't be the end goal.How important motivation can be when you want to know what it's like to succeed.The importance of having a strong mindset, especially when you're just starting out.Tweetable Quotes:“I love being happy as much as the next person does. But if you set happiness as your goal, you're setting yourself up for failure. The key is fulfillment, not happiness.”“People aren't afraid of failing so much that they're being afraid of being a failure.”“All people need is permission. They just need somebody to go “yeah, go ahead. You can do this.”“Once you realize that failure doesn't mean that you're a failure, it gives people the license to act more broadly”“It can be a little overwhelming. But if you take things really slow again, just starting out real simple (and) childlike.. You'll find it immediately..“Learning is a lot of failures.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInJoshua GrangeAaron EmbryConor OberstK.D LangLex PriceNatasha BedingfieldNick CaveRobert RandolphTemple GrandinTodd HanniganThe Echo GuildGuitar Institute of Technology (GIT)The Joshua Tree InnTiny BuddhaThe New York TimesThe Red Hand File

What we covered:Why it's essential to stay curious, even if you've already figured everything out.How hard work and having your eyes on the prize can land you toward your end goal.The importance of hard work and perseverance to reach your dreams.How Jake has juggled both his career as a hockey player and a musicianJake's creative process and his love for creating contentThe fear of failure can be your biggest struggle and your best ally.The importance of creating a headspace where your actions don't matter to those around you.Tweetable Quotes:“The biggest thing I've learned is that it's okay to be bad at something. You'll crawl your way out.” - Jake Hutt“Everyone is so much less aware of what everyone thinks. No one is looking or caring as long as you get your attitude and keep everything up.” - Jake Hutt“If you put in the work and you don't know what's gonna happen or when, but if you keep doing it and doing it and doing it, at some point, something's gonna change as the product gets better.” - Jake Hutt“If you can combine the niche, you can be the best boss.” - Jake Hutt“For me, the biggest hurdle has been the fear of failure, and that's essentially why I didn't get where I want to with hockey.” - Jake HuttLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedIn[Robyn Ward](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynmward/,)Jake Hutt Adeel Yang Jack DangermondJames Clear Kelly Slater Steven PressfieldShannon EllisDryveboxEsri ForbesNational Hockey League (NHL)PicmonicPGA

What we covered:Challenging yourself can open you up to being a better version of yourself.How startups need to prioritize their people better first to prosper.Creating the right ecosystem can make things better for you and your business.How her growth as a person can help other people find out what they want in life.Why coaching is her real goal, and why it's never bad to hire a life coach when you need one for yourself.Coaching is more than just telling people what they need to do.Her journey as a woman has empowered her in all her life experiences.The importance of equality, both in life and in business.Loving your work can make you much more functional and empowered in what you do.How coaching works, and how it's supposed to build businesses up.Tweetable Quotes:“I realized nine times out of ten, startup companies struggling have nothing to do with their product or technology - its people stuff. You do not understand your blockers as a leader.” - Robyn Ward“It was actually through a work with a coach that I thought, “I just really love working with the founders.” - Robyn Ward“My superpower is helping in grow and develop great leaders.” - Robyn Ward“We had the right mix of people. It was very formative to what it takes to build an ecosystem. You need the universities, and you need the city to be excited to do this.” - Robyn Ward“Coming off of it (9/11 attacks), I feel like there;'s a unified America that we've lost since.” - Robyn Ward“I got enough equity in various things to use as toilet paper.” - Robyn WardLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedIn[Robyn Ward](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynmward/,)Kathleen AllenAmazonDocstocDonaldson, Lufkin & JenretteFounderForwardGreg SalesHudson InstituteJames DavisJason NazarMilken InstituteOANDAUnited Talent AgencyUniversity of Southern California (USC)Verified Person

What we covered:How COVID has changed everyone's perspective, especially regarding employment.A disciplined mindset from childhood can help make you much more efficient as an adult.It's not always about how long you've worked or how many jobs you've had, but how much you've learned from them in the first place.A career path isn't always linear unless you're in a specialized practice.Your career isn't always set in stone; sometimes, you just need to find out what you're good at and what you need to do the hard way.A loving community can help you with your growth, both personally and professionally.How small business owners can make the best of their situation using government-provided services (like sba.gov)Tweetable Quotes:“The main takeaway from the pandemic is that we shine a light on just how important community, communication, and interpersonal relationships are. And when we shattered those opportunities for people to connect, how quickly we kind of devolved into real negativity,” - Jesse Torres“There are tremendous amounts of resources available for small business owners nowadays.” - Jesse Torres“Nothing comes easy all the time. Sometimes, the most important lessons come from failures.” - Jesse Torres“To be successful, you need to drive yourself right and learn how to become your own boss.” - Jesse Torres“I'm a big believer in great things that come from creating teams and connecting others.” - Jesse Torres“I think everyone's trying to figure out what the world's going to look like,” - Jesse TorresLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInJesse TorresGil Cates Jr.Gil CatesMike SamsRay DalioVince ThompsonAmerica OnlineArroyoWestBridgewaterCalifornia Small Business Development Center NetworkDojo ManGeffen PlayhousePepperdine UniversityReal VisionUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Sta. BarbaraU.S. Small Business Administration

What we covered:How to create a brand new software categoryThe secret to scaling a business.A deeper connection with yourself and what your true purpose in life is.Why taking your time can be just as impactful as going all-in.How his obsession with computers during the 80s eventually proved to be his “gold mine.”The importance of clear and efficient communication when it comes to growing a businessHow being an entrepreneur means thinking two, even three steps ahead.Tweetable Quotes:“I think my purpose on this planet is to grow my soul. And I think I do that best by helping other people grow theirs. And if I could help other people achieve their dreams by building relationships to key relationships they need at scale, then I'm doing my job.”“I'm a testimony to the brave souls who got on boats and came to America and allowed me to realize the dream.”“If your intention is to help the person you're engaging with to grow and achieve their goals or dreams, I think you're doing your job as a salesperson.”“Leveraging the trusted advisor of your prospect is key to scaling a business, especially if you're going to do it in a bootstrap way.”“It's a long game in technology, and you just gotta keep putting one foot in front of each other daily. And it's a lot of believing.”“Our purpose on this planet is to grow in the time that we're here, and the best way to grow is by helping other people grow, and that's my biggest reward.”“I love to hire liberal arts majors ideally from Midwest schools or even hairdressers because they know how to listen and communicate, and in life and business is about listening and communicating effectively.”“An entrepreneur is a certain beast; I think they need to evolve and grow.”“The best way to grow your soul is by being present with people who love you, especially your kids.”“If you go to school, you should do internships or work throughout that time to get experience and knowledge.”“I actually recommend that you lean into community colleges because you can save two years of costs, and you have much smaller classrooms and much more intimate, and you could transfer into university.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInDan BricklinJon FerraraNatalie BurdickZiff DavisBanyanCalifornia State University, NorthridgeDan Bricklin's Demo ProgramGoldmineGoogle WorkspaceMicrosoft 365NimbleNuvelUCLAUniversity of Southern CaliforniaSta. Monica City College

What we covered:How the way you were raised by your parents/how you raise your children can help create better interpersonal relationships in the future.The path towards personal growth is not always the easiest, but one that everyone needs to take.Why competitiveness can help you improve yourself and your craft.The importance of empathy and interpersonal skills when it comes to building your business even further.How honing your interpersonal capabilities can help make you become a better CEO and business owner.Tweetable Quotes:“If you're ever not growing or working on your craft, either somebody will come by and pass you or you won't be able to rise to the level to go to the next level of the plateau.”“(COVID) has changed the way people are hired, the talent they can attract, and how they use network effects that can actually get them interested,”“Learning the right way to (communicate), how to create transparency and do it authentically I think is something that I'm constantly working towards as a CEO.”“I don't think of myself as a CEO. I never have, I think of myself as a teammate in a 100-person room trying to build a business.”“If you care about performance and doing a great job and you're learning how to work with others and with a team of different sizes that are changing every 3. 6. 12 months, it's a constant evolution of learning how to manage those instincts.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInNick CromydasBrian SchwartzEgon ZehnderJeffrey SternbergScott KacynStephen CorbyAcre HomesBintiGoPuffHipcampHunt ClubKPMGNew Coast VenturesVanderbilt University

What we covered:Aaron's journey throughout the years as a professional.How his career in sales was more of an accident rather than a career path he actually wanted.How the idea of “doing the things that you love and you don't have to work a day” lead to burnout.The importance of having “good” and “bad” days if you want to succeed even more with your career.The importance of not letting your ego dictate your career path.Tweetable Quotes:“Whatever you do, some days you're gonna suck and some days, you're gonna be better. Everything I've done, there are some good days and bad days. You'll be surprised, maybe tomorrow or next year things will change.” - Aaron Ross“It's easy to go back to what you used to before, but it doesn't always work.” - Aaron Ross“Don't be an asshole in the way you write. Get your ego out of the way.” - Aaron Ross“So much about doing startups is about luck.” - Kurt Daradics“Some people may not believe in luck. They believe in fate or everything happens for a reason, and I tend to be in that camp, honestly.” - Aaron Ross“I took the job because I knew I needed to learn that craft. And you can't learn it by reading books. It's a way to get paid to learn.” - Aaron RossI didn't let my ego get the job that I want to. It wasn't the title and definitely wasn't the pay.” - Aaron RossLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInElon MuskTom CruiseTom WilliamsAppleLease ExchangePandesicNASARobertson StephensSleeqStanford UniversityStanford Graduate School of BusinessUC Sta. Barbara

What we covered:The importance of spending a good amount of time on hiring.The importance of continuously adapting to modern technology, even after you have graduated.How ideas are born from even the most unlikely of sources.Personal growth is also a great deciding factor if you want to succeed in your current endeavors.The importance of persistence and hard work, especially if you have a goal in mind.Burnout can be formed even when it comes to the most unlikely places.Working with a goal in mind can help alleviate and prevent burnout.How entrepreneurship can drive the country forward.Why building a business where people care and need is an important part of your business' growth.The importance of pain and personal growth towards your success.Tweetable Quotes:“The easiest way to learn is through imitation, the most painful way to learn is through experience, and the most notable way to learn is through reflection.” - Minnie Ingersoll“If your heart is set on solving a problem, then it's possible.” - Minnie Ingersoll“I graduated as a woman with a degree in computer science. And it did make me feel like I'm not missing some secret handshake or something.” - Minnie Ingersoll“I've learned a powerful secret- to find a way to get to yes.” - Minnie Ingersoll“Entrepreneurship is one of the bright spots of our country.”“Sometimes, you just have to get through things.”“Charity starts at home.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInElon MuskBrian GarrettGil ElbazEytan ElbazPatrick PichetteEv WilliamsOmar HamouiDavid WaxmanEric PakravanBrett BrewerTenOneTenPolytechnic SchoolCaltechStanfordGoogleHarvard Business SchoolApplied SemanticsYahooInnovate Pasadena Chapter

What we covered:How Neil's journey throughout the years has helped him be the individual that he is today.Why consistency is much more important as compared to intensity.How struggle plays a huge part in our development as businessmen and as individuals.The importance of making, and learning from past mistakes.The importance of making time for the things that matter the most.How creating engaging and smart content can be the most powerful thing that you can do if you have limited resources.The importance of playing smart and thinking outside the box, especially if you have limited resources.Why it's important to continuously learn from your line of work.Tweetable Quotes:“I'm just an entrepreneur or a marketer, whatever you want to call it. I create businesses, and never really worked much with other people, most of my life I spent as an entrepreneur, and specifically, I focus on marketing as an entrepreneur.” - Neil Patel“Some people always think (that) the journey is easy, but it's never really easy. It's a lot of little things that add up to get to where you are. It's a lot of grinding for a looong time.” - Neil Patel“No matter what you do, you're probably not gonna get it right the first time. And that's okay! But if you keep at it and learn from your mistakes then it can get you to wherever you want.” - Neil Patel“People aren't patient and consistent. They just keep going through whatever they're gonna go through with.” - Neil Patel“If you say you're gonna do something, then do it.” - Neil Patel“You gotta create time for what's important. And when you spend time, you gotta make it count.” - Neil Patel“There's always so much time in this world. Make it count, give it 110%.” - Neil Patel“The point is if you create something amazing that people love, you can do well either way.” - Neil Patel“You learn from your mistakes.” - Neil PatelLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInCharlie MungerIlya PozinJack DangermondWarren BuffetApplied SemanticsCalifornia State FullertonComcastCrazy EggEsriGoogleHello BarKissmetricsPaypalPluto TVUbersuggestViacomYahoo

What we covered:The importance of knowing what you want and what you're capable of.Why it's important to find an environment where you can shine to your best potential.The value of hard work, and why it's important to work on problems you want to solve in order to get more clients in the long run.Why it's important to create a marketing strategy that can perfectly compliment your company.How to figure out what to do next after a major step back.How to find out your particular niche if you want to succeed, especially online.The value of finding a place where you can grow even further, both as an individual and as a businessman.Knowing that sometimes, miracles are something that we create for ourselves.How challenges forge us to become a better version of ourselves.It the importance of becoming committed to growth and progress to ensure that you and your company are moving forward.Tweetable Quotes:“You want to create an environment where you can create an ambiance and an ecosystem for you to be comfortable enough to focus.” - Brady Brim-DeForest“Kindness is different from niceness. Kindness is speaking the truth, even if they're not going to make them happy.” - Brady Brim-DeForest“I think most of life is just about being at the right place at the right time.” - Brady Brim-DeForest “You always have to come face-to-face with your failings. And it's certainly character-building, that's for sure.” - Brady Brim-DeForest“Growth is binary. You can either grow or you can sink.” - Brady Brim-DeForestLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInBrady's LinkedInBrady's TwitterBrady's InstagramDrew CasperDuke StumpJack DangermondSir Martin SorrellWarren BuffetBerkshire HathawayS4 CapitalTheoremOneUniversity of Southern CaliforniaWire and Plastic Products (WPP)

What we covered:How life isn't always the easiest, and how hard work always pays dividends, no matter who we are.Why it's important to choose a career path that you love to live a life you've always wanted.Why sobriety is a difficult thing to achieve, and why it's one of the things that people should be proud of going through.Why learning from past mistakes is essential to ensure that you're living a wonderful life.The importance of forgiveness to live our best lives.Why creating a work environment where people can be the best versions of themselves can ensure that everyone succeeds.How his business model relies on the work-life balance and how it works for them.How his past experiences have forged his way towards success.Why curiosity is important if you want to succeed even more.Tweetable Quotes:“People understand that you're human, you're not perfect, and you make mistakes.” - Kevin Miller“There's nothing that feels better than making a living in amends, doing the right thing. Proving that you're learning from your mistakes, what could be better.” - Kevin Miller“You can't really enable somebody. You gotta let them fall on their own. That's how it works.” - Kevin Miller“Nothing changes if nothing changes.” - Kevin MillerLinks Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInKevin MillerKevin's TwitterKevin's InstagramArjun SethiArmie HammerChris GadekIlya PozinJon ZachariasJudd SchoenholtzAdQuickGenexaGoogleGr0Open ListingsPluto TVSpireTradeCraftTribe CapitalTrue Ventures

What we covered:The strong points of Amazon, Apple, Google, and NVidia, and how business startups can emulate them towards success.Why having a belief system, or something that you can look up to, is a great thing that can aid us in our own personal journeys.How privacy is becoming more and more of a luxury, especially with today's current trends.How his idea for the future of mankind and computing can drastically change within the next 20 years.Why Physics can greatly contribute to a business's successHow technology has evolved and continues to evolve into the creature we know today.How his humble beginnings as a journalist have forged him on the right path towards the leading names in the industry.How his time at Microsoft as a technological evangelist has changed his mind about how the industry worked.Tweetable Quotes:“A dictator can move fast, this is why we miss Steve Jobs.”“Soon, we're gonna move from computing at flat pieces of glass to computing everywhere.“The speed at which technology is building neural radiance fields is exponentially changing, it's crazy. And that's just one technology among all that.”“Many of us have different belief systems, and that conforms to who we are.“I mean, it's amazing how far we've come to be and where we're about to go.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInSteve JobsSteve WozniakEric Ross WeinsteinElon MuskTim CookMark ZuckerbergMarc BenioffJensen HuangTeslaAppleAmazonNvidiaWalmartFacebookGoogleGoogle  MapsYoutubeNianticEsriOmniverse

What we covered:How his time at Walt Disney has forged his career and made him view things in a different way.How and why influencers and modern celebrities dictate what sells and what does not.How the internet and creating viral marketing strategies have evolved over the yearsHow and why social media is a critical key to success in today's modern world.Why it's important to properly view and analyze metrics to ensure success.The importance of peak hours and adding CTAs to every content can make or break a business.Why having fun with your business can make your business that much more prosperous.Sometimes, slowing down can be the secret to accelerating your business.Why adapting to different client needs can ensure that you're going to give them the best experience.Why mindset and being around positive people can help you have a better perspective in life.Tweetable Quotes:“Influencers are a key component of viral marketing. Which viral marketing really at the end of the day is word of mouth plugged into the power of the internet.” “One of the big lessons outside of resilience is awareness because I think awareness is really, really important.”“The body is easy. The mind is a difficult one.”“You always have to think strategy before tactics.”“The people who gravitate towards negativity will manifest those negative things.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInRachel McCordSenator Mitch McConnellMelissa PatackRobert IgerKellan LutzSchirmer McCordLaunchpreneurViralBrandThe McCord ListWalt DisneyMagic Fashion Trade ShowRepublican National CommunityPepperdine universityChick Fil A 

What we covered:Insights on how to scale a global technology company from 40 to over 7,000 employees.How SJ's leadership strategy is to lead his people to grow and be better than he is after he was gone.The importance of great leadership is to create people that can serve their clients better.How my years of working with SJ made me a better team member.Why it's important to properly identify what your niche is first before transitioning into adjacent niches and/or another field - this will help your organization function better and find product-market fit quicker.Why making maximizing making money is not always the best end goal when it comes to a fulfilling career.Tweetable Quotes:“Human nature (dictates that) you'd want to be in your tribe.”“The requirements and the needs and the way that you dealt with startups vs. larger organizations are much different.”“One thing people need to understand is everybody has an ego, and everybody is replaceable.”“Products need to be products. That's how you run a product company, and it's different from services. We found the balance at 80% products and 20% services.”“At Esri, we felt everybody should be compensated equitably across the organization.”“Sure, I've made mistakes, but that is where the learning comes from”.Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInEsriArcGISSJ Camarata's LinkedInSJ Camarata's TwitterJack DangermondThe University of UtahHarvard UniversityRichard TothCarl SteinitzCharles “Chuck” KillpackGISScott MorehouseJared Diamond

What we covered:How his platform as a Governor of Arkansas can help Arkansasans discover their true genius.Teamwork makes the dream work is not just a saying. It's a legitimate strategy that can help pull you through difficult situations.Learn that everyone's a genius in their own little ways, they just need to discover it by themselves.The deeper connection between science and spirituality.How humility is the best value you can have as a person.How important childhood is to know where you want to be in life as you grow older.How to solve complex problems using the most basic solutions.The importance of bringing out the genius in everyone.Why it's important to learn how to “humanize” success.The importance of taking failure to reach brand new heights of success.Tweetable Quotes:“Get an education. Because if you get it in your head, nobody can get that.”“It's important to frame childhood to start discovering who you are.”“When you come together with a group of people different from you, when you allow yourself to truly explore your passions, that's when you can solve big problems. And that's when you can begin to shape the future in ways you never thought you can do.”“When you go through that crucible that forces you to work with others, the outcome is that every time we work together, we produce things that are far better than we do when we work alone.”“Any complex problems can be solved if you break it down to a series of really basic problems and bring it back together.”“Humility is one of the most important values you'll need to have.”“An acronym I made up that works wonders for me is “FADAF” - failure and difficulty are feedback.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInChris Jones' TwitterChris Jones' InstagramChris Jones' websiteRonald McNairBill ClintonBlanche StatonRichard LesterBrick HowzeNeils BohrJerrilyn JonesFranklin R. Chang-DiazArkansas Innovation Hub7 Habits of Highly Effective People

What we covered:The power of intentional sellingWhat is soul-centered sellingLearn the process and criteria for getting a venture debtThe difference between debt facility and term loanThe ideal client profile for equity financingWhat to expect during the equity financing processThe difference between a community bank and a national bankHow Pacific Western Bank works, and how they work with some of their clients.The importance a good introduction can give when you want to work with certain clients.How a “competitive” business model can do more harm to both your employees and sales.The value of breaking generational trauma to make a better future for our children.How letting go of your anger can be the best thing that you can be and the best thing you can do for yourself.Tweetable Quotes:“People like to do business with people that they know, like, and trust.”“It's hard to get from know to trust on a zoom call, you need people to be there, to experience people's energies and connections, and be able to look them in the eye and see a smile on their faces.”“You got to be who you are. You be you!”“Great salespeople have always been leaders, and great leaders have been great salespeople.” “Sales is a service, it's helping people and serving others.”  “What's amazing about listening is that so many of us are listening to respond as opposed to listening to understand. And when you're listening to respond, you're thinking of what it is you want to say and respond to whatever you're hearing as opposed to listening to understand where you are focused on what the person is saying and asking good follow-up questions.” “When you talk about transformations, sometimes there are bigger ones, sometimes there are smaller ones. Sometimes, it takes two seconds, sometimes, it takes 20 years.” Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedIn

What we covered:The importance of building relationships with the right audience.How to monetize the right business the right way.His experience with journalism, and how it can help local businesses grow even further.Giving minimal supervision to the people you hire can sometimes be the key to growth.How publications and media are responsible for the growth of a company's ecosystem.The decentralization of tech has paved the way for smaller hubs where people can grow.Why there are larger opportunities for the media to cover, connect and expose the smaller hubs for the entire world.How to optimize, cultivate, and monetize a business in the right way by tapping the right audience.How giving context and “connecting the dots” to their audience can give quality content as time goes on.How providing quality content written with good intentions can help potential clients differentiate between good and bad information.Why geographical locations are still relevant, even in today's age where the Metaverse is slowly creeping towards us.Tweetable Quotes:“Good journalism and media can play a catalyzing effect in the growth of an individual company.”“Oftentimes, the simple answers will be misleading or inefficient.”“Being immersed into a different culture and getting a different viewpoint on the world is such a treasure.”“You have to trust people to be able to differentiate between (good and bad information), but the difficulty in doing so is a big problem.”“Until we're all living in the Metaverse, there is a crucial role for hubs and communities, and that's the premise we're operating on.”“Keeping the focus on the mission and being flexible about how you can accomplish that because you're always going to be bounded by the possible and the available. But I think as long as you hold on to your key guiding principles, then I think that's the key to success there.” “Being able to take some pointers about how to make everyone feel included and feel like everyone's on the same page… is something that I'm trying to learn as much as I can.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInSam N. Adams' Linkedindot.LASam's E-mailTechcrunchSpencer Rascoff

What we covered:What is Futureforth - How it helps fast-growing tech companies, CEOs, founders, VCs, and more by improving culture and retentionThe methods that Futureforth uses to help talent and communication within companiesHow kindness goes a long, long way, for both your personal life and company growthHow The Dunbar's Number can directly correlate to your company's successDave's epiphany and insight on how and why he developed the “Nice Method” for helping companiesWhy he loves connecting and networking with peopleHow to be kind and spread that message.Where being nice breaks down and doesn't workHow you can train yourself to be nice despite being triggeredHow & why Nashville is a fast-growing modern tech marketTweetable Quotes:“In this day and age when so many companies have gone fully remote, Professor Robin Dunbar (Dunbar's Law) believes that this will not work long-term for most businesses unless you bring your team together.”“I30% of new hires leave within 45 days if there's no recognition, no onboarding, or anything like that. So that's a big problem spot that I aim at solving” “Everything I do, I do because I genuinely love connecting with people and bringing people together.”“Basically, my rule is to treat people the way you want to be treated. Not just that, but also be nice to yourself and do that first.” “Call it karma, call it planting seeds but really it's always been about meeting cool people, bringing people together, and just providing value.” “Being nice is a matter of slowing down and giving yourself some time to pause.”“Don't burn bridges and keep in touch with people.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInDave Delaney's e-mailDave Delaney's personal websitePeggy Pup Delaney's InstagramThe Futureforth websiteDave Delaney's LinkedinThe Dunbar's NumberDave Delaney's TwitterDave Delaney's YouTube pageThe Futureforth websiteThe Dunbar's NumberThe ROI of NiceThe Great Resignation CalculationEmma - Email MarketingMarcus Whitney

What we covered:How she pioneered social media marketing with brands like LiveNation and TicketMasterStrategies for effectively dealing with COVID pandemic burnoutHow to properly deal with burnout as a leader while leading a group of burnt-out people as well.How to deal with suppression and be honest with what you really feelHow working with horses has helped her elevate her consciousness to the new levels.How her “rebel spirit” pushed through and helped her become successful. Tweetable Quotes:“If all leaders are kinder, more empathetic, there will be a ripple effect”“If you're not prepared to live in this modern world, you'll always be caught flat-footed”“I'm aware that I'm not fully recovered from burnout, but now I'm more aware of the orange and red zones”“There's the thing you're experiencing and the narration of the thing you're experiencing – and oftentimes the judgment is the worst part.”“Everything we've learned as coping skills are survival skills.”“Business is the biggest lever that we have to fix the world. And if business changes into a force for good, then we can right all the mess that we have.”I do work on myself constantly to dismantle the errors of my ways and the things that I've learned and the ways that business has been done for a long time. It's not nice, actually.”“Be a part of the change that we need in the world. The world right now is a dumpster fire of problems, but it doesn't have to be.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInGretchen Fox Palmer on InstagramGretchen on Twitter

What we covered:01:33 – Kurt welcomes to the show, Ed Wilson and gives his background 03:55 – Ed & Kurt recall their first meeting at Ed's Santa Monica office with a sublime Pacific Ocean view 08:00 – Ed talks about his growing up and school journey 11:11 – Ed shares about the transformative learnings he got from school which propelled him to where he is today 28:09 – Ed talks about their thesis and deals in Impulsum Ventures 28:49 – Background on an Impulsm investment— Care Connections Network 39:35 – Ed shares how his semi-professional skateboarding journey has been the unlock for his Ikigai 51:23 – Ed talks about what's hard about being an investor 53:41 – Ed shares about the hurdles he went through and what he had gained from them 59:35 – Ed spills a fun fact about him 1:04:24 – Kurt thanks Ed and expresses his appreciation to himEpisode Sponsor: Hunt Club Tweetable Quotes:“But I'd also say on the flip side, there are bigger funds out there as well, that actually still love co-investing with people. Because I think there is this idea that if you're bringing more kind of smart people around the table, people who have different skill sets, it only kind of accelerates the business's chance of success.” “Through the development studio, we build constantly. So, we know what the latest technology is, we know what's happening right now. And being able to advise companies with that information is so beneficial.” “And you know, you get older and think more about what really matters at the end of the day- it's how you spend your time and who you spend it with.” “I love the neuroscience side of things. I've always been interested in the brain. When I was in the fourth grade, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. And so began this process of discovery, understanding, and celebration about what makes us different. What makes us think differently. What are the positives? What are the negatives?” Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInEd's LinkedInImpulsum Venture's WebsiteImpulsum Venture's LinkedIn

What we covered:01:41 – Kurt welcomes to the show, Adam Struck and gives his background 04:50 – Adam shares his personal story about growing up in South Africa and immigrating the United States 09:04 – Adam talks about his background in law and how it helped him in business and gives him an edge in investing by helping his founders with legal advice 13:19 – Adam shares how he found the leverage to quit his job as an attorney at a prestigious law firm and striking out on his own to found Long Island Iced Tea Brands 16:47 – Adam talks about his journey as an early investor doing Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) 19:58 – A walkthrough on Struck Capital from how the firm started 28:36 – Adam shares more about Struck Capital, including portfolio highlights and how the platform has evolved from core VC offering to Struck Crypto and now a Venture Studio 38:41 – Adam talks about the challenges he has faced 42:21 – Adam shares about how his parents feel about his decisions and about what he's currently doing 43:07 – Adam talks about his brother Greg being his best partner 49:22 – Rapid-fire general interest questions Episode Sponsor: Hunt Club Tweetable Quotes:“And I sort of took that entrepreneurial spirit and decided how could I take my learnings and my success, and really share that with as many individuals as possible, and I thought venture capital and backing young founders is an amazing way to do that.”“That chip on my shoulder, and that adversity that I that I've gone through, it has really given me an edge actually, especially when it's seed-stage investing. And it really is about sweat equity. At the end of the day, who is willing to show up first, and leave last, that's the mindset.”“I feel very lucky in a very sort of young age, to get some very robust legal and operational expertise. And I take those learnings and try and channel them, to helping the founders that we work with to be as successful as they can be when they're trying to get from zero to one.”“So, my advice to anybody listening is if you're going to bet on yourself, do it when you're young. Because you're in a situation where you can, you can fail, you can take a few falls, and you can get back up.”“It's both a privilege and responsibility to be the first money in seed investor. I'm proud to be an ally with the Founders. I think it says a lot about sort of our next-gen mindset and our ability to spot massive companies way before they become in vogue.”“Life is tough, things are hard. Just continue to persevere and bet on yourself. And you'll hopefully find what you're looking for.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInAdam's LinkedInStruck Capital's Website Struck Capital's LinkedIn

What we covered:01:42 – Kurt welcomes Ross the and highlights their unique coincidences.05:57 – Ross shares his experience about what makes Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch unique09:42 – When and how Ross started surfing, and where he surfs now12:54 – Ross shares what he learned from his time at UC Santa Barbara19:58 – Ross covers career highlights, including his time at Pivotal Software 24:00 – Ross shares what he was gratefulness and proud about his startup experiences28:14 – A walk through on Pivotal Tracker and how it evolved41:15 – Kurt and Ross peek into the emerging future43:00 – Ross shares thoughts on thinking machines (computers)01:03:44– Kurt thanks Ross and expresses his appreciation to himEpisode Sponsor: Hunt Club Tweetable Quotes:“So, we kind of realized that was those three things, it's software development, capability, talent, strategy, and leadership strategy. And like, if you can do all three of those, that's a software development capability in a box.”“That's where I want to spend my time. And I think those, you know, those are the people that I think, are also worth spending time with, you know, the people that want to build something and want to make an impact out there.”“I think that's what life is all about- pushing our boundaries and trying to become the best version of yourself. I think that's the most satisfying thing, most satisfying when you're surrounded by people that are doing it with you.”“Surfing itself is such a humbling activity, right, the ocean is always going to when the wave has so much power, you're really at its mercy. And so, I think for the people that engage with that, it creates a natural humility. And that humility just makes it so much easier to connect with one another authentically.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInRoss's LinkedInArtium's WebsiteArtium's Instagram

What we covered:01:18 – Kurt welcomes to the show, Brick Howze, and shares how they met.06:00 – Brick shares his thoughts on what makes the surf ranch unique08:11 – Brick narrates when and how he started surfing18:35 – Brick talks about what surfing has given him and how he feels about it20:57 – Brick shares about Timothy Leary23:22 – A walkthrough on Brick's journey in school37:47 – Brick talks about what urges him to use his creative skills and his voice to congregate people through surfing43:19 – Kurt asked Brick on any other channels that folks could plug in to learn more01:11:39 – Kurt thanks Brick and expresses his appreciation to himEpisode Sponsor: Hunt Club Tweetable Quotes:“And I felt like no matter what group of people you were to put together from around the world, no matter who they were, no matter what their background is, or what they do. Or whether they knew how to surf or not, I think that's one thing about that's basis it's such a novelty.” “The real prize in all of that is when those moments are happening, just appreciating them as they are and when they are.”“Then, time goes on and I'm doing videos for him, doing his photos for him and I'm just like being myself and I'm just getting interested in other things.”“The problem was like there was nowhere for us to console and congregate so through the creative skills that I have, and just my voice and even the platform, we can actually make noise about this and it's just cool.”“The problem was like there was nowhere for us to console and congregate so through the creative skills that I have, and just my voice and even the platform, we can actually make noise about this and it's just cool.”“It's just cool to trust your process, whatever it is!”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInBlack Sand Surf WebsiteBlack Sand Surf Instagram

What we covered:01:23 – Kurt welcomes to the show, Tim Curran, who speaks to his background in surfing, in music, and eventually in construction05:30 – Tim talks about Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch and what makes it unique10:45 – Tim shares those times he played music with Kelly Slater and their jams17:36 – How surfing became a blessing to Tim and how the waves make him feel better24:00 – A walk through of Tim's musical journey and some of the highlights28:57 – Tim narrates how his construction journey started33:40 – Tim speaks about the Thomas Fire in Ventura and how it affected them36:41 – Tim opens up on his plans about the possible surf ranch development38:52 – Tim talked about his challenging time dealing with Celiac disease  41:25 – The best boss Tim ever had, the best team he's been a part of, and what makes them special and different46:21 – Kurt thanks Tim for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can connect with him and how they can be of service to TimEpisode Sponsor: Hunt Club Tweetable Quotes:“You never know- in 10 or 20 years that dream of yours could be something big- that you really worked hard for. So, dream big and work hard, otherwise, you'll never know!”“I think what I could say is like, surfing was such a blessing. It is just jumping into the water, jumping into the water just like being baptized. So even if like, life's crazy or stressed out, just like jumping into the water, catching a couple of waves, even if it's not good, you just feel better.”“You never think you're good or you're always striving to get good or better but I think when I was around 14 when I was able to start doing the tricks that I watched in the surf movies.”“I am thankful for the opportunity. Music was definitely just a hobby that turned into something a little bigger than I ever imagined. it was more like a super far out dream to play music and do shows.”Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInLink to Deadwood Construction Site Deadwood Construction Instagram

Key Takeaways:Surf Ranch discussion around the whole experience of the eventPlaying competitive volleyball at StanfordTaking an MBA to really find out what Brian is interested inWhat is Crosscut VenturesSense of the emerging future for Los AngelesJust as entrepreneurs tweak their business and their business models, so do Venture Capital funds. The smartest / best VCs stay relevant to entrepreneurs by differentiating their capital.How we show up is more important than what we accomplishFlow and let go mindsetQuotes:All these things I face, I was just carrying the weight of this world. And it was so much about the next achievement instead of being able to stop and say, "You know what, I've achieved enough, like to what end you have to keep grinding?" And I was grinding. In a moment of clarity, I said, "Okay, how do I instead wake up and live in joy every single day?" "How can I wake up content with what I've done?" I'm not saying I'm stopping. I'm still competitive, but content in what I've done and realizing that how I show up is more important than what I accomplish." - Brian Garrett"Don't take any day for granted. It can end in a blink of an eye."- Brian Garrett, co-founder of Crosscut Ventures"How I show up is more important than what I accomplish." - Brian Garrett, co-founder of Crosscut Ventures"I'll take true domain and in the trenches experience, even if it's failed experience over pedigree any day." - Brian Garrett, co-founder of Crosscut VenturesLinks Mentioned:Kurt's Twitter – https://twitter.com/kurtydKurt's Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kurtyd/Kurt's LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtdaradicsKurt's newsletter – https://www.kurtyd.com/Rate the podcast – https://ratethispodcast.com/kurtydBrian's LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangarrett1/Brian's Twitter – https://twitter.com/brianmgarrettThe Inertia's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theinertia/Crosscut's Website – https://crosscut.vc/

Joining us on the show is the founder and CEO of The Inertia, Zach Weisberg. The Inertia is a new media platform that has emerged as the definitive digital voice of surfing and the outdoors.In this episode, Zach and I relived our experience in Kelly Slater's surf ranch in central California for an event called Making Waves- a premium event at Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch in Central California. It was an intimate retreat of investors, entrepreneurs, and service providers from the LA Tech Startup Community sponsored by Hunt Club, Crosscut Ventures, Fenwick & West, Artium, & Pacific Western Bank.We dove into how the Surf Ranch "created the conditions for the magic" and how the power of imagination combined with follow-through is the key for bringing new businesses into market, with the Surf Ranch being one of many examples.We also press rewind and survey Zach's early career, where he worked as a freelance journalist for The New York Times, Esquire, his time as online editor at Surfer Magazine - the seminal print publication- from 2007 through 2010, plus a fascinating story on why he left Surfer Magazine to found The Inertia in September 2010.Zach also completed the MBA Program at USC Marshall School of Business, and Zach shares an unexpected insight about an important lesson he learned at USC that was deeply insightful, and useful- that relationships are the key.This show has a lot to offer for anyone interested in surfing, story telling, online communities, the Los Angeles Tech Community, and moreKey Takeaways:Surf Ranch discussion around the whole experience from going to the venue to actually ride the wavesJack Dangermond - above the line (context vs. content) conceptEducation background in USCEarlier experience in Journalism at NY TimesImpact of surfing on Zach's careerWhat is "The Inertia" and the idea behind the voiceTransformation from idea to realityEpisode Quotes:"I'd like to create that sort of magic and opportunities like that for other people too, the fact that the surf ranch exists and it was built. Anyone who goes through there is leaving. Happier, they're leaving feeling better. They're leaving, feeling fulfilled. They're leaving thinking what the possibilities might be. How could they translate that into their own life? What plays to make that kind of impact. And it's so just kind of got me sitting, like how can I help create magic like that in this world? That's my biggest takeaway was. And strive for that. Try to, because that was not a possibility, not very long ago, but now it is." - Zach Weisberg"I feel that those are often the most exciting time when you're making a pretty big change. That also in my view is kind of a fun zone to live in, and maybe not constantly, but that's when you would learn a lot, you question a lot what's going on and you make some big decisions and you see how they shake out.""An insight that one of my mentors, duke stump, quotes frequently is that we can't create the magic but we can create the conditions for the magic. And that's definitely what the surf ranch has achieved, are the conditions for the magic." - Kurt Daradics"Jack Dangermond, my former boss, over at Esri had that idea of living above the line and above the line is having context and below the line is having content. And he would talk about that frequently and say that part of the reason for his success is he would always try to sort of step back and look at the big picture and not get so caught up in the automatic stimulus-response function, but try to have some space" - Kurt Daradics Links Mentioned:Kurt's TwitterKurt's InstagramKurt's LinkedInKurt's newsletterRate the podcastZach's LinkedInZach's InstagramZach's TwitterThe Inertia's InstagramThe Inertia's Website