The Matt Balaker Podcast

Toly Kvitnitsky emigrated from Ukraine as a child and landed in New Jersey. Since then he's worked as a caddy, tennis instructor, and now serves as the CEO and founder of AI or Not, an AI detection startup. It not easy, but he's having fun. Hear him discuss the importance of authenticity in a world increasingly influenced by AI.

Patrick Keane has traveled the world for the past 24 years performing stand-up comedy and has appeared on the Late Late Show, Live At Gotham, Comics Unleashed and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has a comedy special on the Dry Bar comedy network and his work can be seen in his book The Patrick Keane Collection. Hear his take on comedy's past and future.

Michelle Harper grew up in Kansas, where she developed a love for basketball and math. Now she lives in Laguna Beach but never lost her heartland roots. Computer programming launched her career. Now she has a unique take on the future of the programming industry and how we can parent in the world of AI.Follow 'The BeEngaged Podcast' on YouTube & Insta ‪@BeEngagedNow‬

Michelle Harper grew up in Kansas, where she developed a love for basketball and math. Now she lives in Laguna Beach but never lost her heartland roots. Computer programming launched her career. Now she has a unique take on the future of the programming industry and how we can parent in the world of AI.Follow 'The BeEngaged Podcast' on YouTube & Insta  @BeEngagedNow 

Neil Twa is the CEO of Voltage Digital. Neil has been building online businesses since 2007 after leaving his corporate career with IBM. Through Voltage Digital, Neil launches, operates, and acquires e-commerce brands with a focus on the Amazon FBA channel.You can claim a free of Neil's book by going to this link https://www.voltagedm.com/freebook and enter the discount code BALAKER.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa

Jo Ann Skousen is the founding director of the Anthem Libertarian Film Festival, the world's only film festival dedicated to supporting filmmakers who create short and full length documentaries and narrative films with libertarian themes. Jo Ann completed her graduate degree in English Literature and began teaching at Rollins College. She taught English writing and literature at Mercy College and served as a co-director of the Learning Center. She also taught in Mercy's degree-seeking program for inmates at Sing Sing prison. Currently, Jo Ann teaches English literature and writing at Chapman University in Orange County, California

Pablo Serrato leads data intelligence and AI strategy for Iron Light, specializing in sentiment modeling, audience segmentation, and AWS infrastructure. His work spans cybersecurity, product management, and user experience design at the intersection of technology and analytics.

A note from the guest, "“It is not 100% clear that there is a brown act violation and I retract that statement. And it's alleged that Tim Leary's son never stole records. He just gave them away." Newth Morris is a Managing Director at Ankona Capital in Laguna Beach, California. Newth was a co-founder of Telogis, which was sold to Verizon. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.

Dr. Kevin Peter Hickerson is a California Institute of Technology-trained nuclear physicist. He holds a dozen patents in 3D printing, robotics, tablet computing, machine learning, optics, and solar energy. He is also the host of the science and comedy podcast Surely You're Joking. https://www.kevinhickerson.com/https://x.com/kphickerson

Jon Tomashefsky (AKA Jon Shefsky) is a comedian turned realtor in Southern California. He hosts the podcast “FANTASY HOUSE with Jon Shefsky.” Listen to his discussion on how elections impact real estate and why do people watch the news.

Zander Abrams is the Founder of the Cannabis Policy Forum where he analyzes cannabis politics, policy and regulation. None of that matters in this episode. Zander is a wealth of Minnesota Timberwolves knowledge. Listen to his dissect the recent Wolves Knicks trade. Trade details: Knicks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns (via Timberwolves) Draft rights to James Nnaji (via Hornets) Timberwolves receive: Julius Randle (via Knicks) Donte DiVincenzo (via Knicks) Keita Bates-Diop (via Knicks) Future first-round pick (from Knicks via Pistons)

Adam Wasserman is a standup comedian and owner of the Grand Comedy Club in Escondido, CA. Get more details on the club by clicking the link below: https://www.grandcomedyclub.com/

Zach Weissmueller is a senior producer at Reason. He has produced documentary shorts, video interviews, and feature articles for the platform since 2010 covering permissionless technology, free speech, mental health and homelessness, experimental governance, COVID-19 policy, criminal justice reform, and drug legalization. Judges honored Zach's video series "Anarchy in Detroit" with an L.A. Press Club award and called it "an awesome piece of journalism" and awarded him again in 2019 and 2021 for his documentaries on the mental health system and the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. His work covering Hong Kong's mass movement against creeping authoritarianism was cited in national media, and at least one of his multiple video essays exploring libertarian philosophy have been viewed more than a million times on Reason's YouTube channel.

Dave Siegel started as doorman at the DC Improv, while a college student in Washington, DC. His first show as a performer came at an open mic at 'The Comic Strip' in New York City. Since that time, he has headlined premier comedy clubs across the country from 'Carolines on Broadway' to 'The Improv' on Melrose and recording his first album 'Live in DC' at the very club where he once escorted customers to their seats. Dave has opened for such comedians as Pete Davidson, Anthony Jeselnick, Richard Lewis, Mark Normand & Kevin Nealon. He has appeared on Comedy Central on three occasions as well as in the 2016 season of 'American's Got Talent.' Dave has also appeared as a panelist on CNN, HLN, the CW, ABC's 'Good Morning America' and is a regular guest on SiriusXM's. He is currently a writer/producer for a television show that airs nightly on NewsNation. https://www.davesiegel.com/   / @whiteguyindifferent  

Beau McFarland is a stand-up comic, writer, and actor from Southern California. Beau has performed in clubs, theaters and, venues all over the United States, Canada, the U.K., China, and Thailand. He has also performed for the troops in Seoul, South Korea, as well as on season 1 of Fox Network's Boom, and is a frequent contributor to Table Read the Podcast. https://beaumcfarland.com/

Isaac Israel is a nationally touring comedian and owner of Tickle Me Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Tickle Me Comedy: https://www.ticklemecomedy.com/

Brian Scolaro is most known for his appearances on “CONAN”, his half hour Comedy Central special “COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS: BRIAN SCOLARO”, as Brian on ABC's “A MILLION LITTLE THINGS”, as Doug on TBS's “SULLIVAN AND SON”, Uncle Bill on “TEN YEAR OLD TOM”, his “DRY BAR SPECIAL: TROUBLE”, his Amazon special “I DON'T KNOW WHO I AM EITHER”, and as Stuart on FOX's “STACKED”. Brian has appeared on “SHAMELESS”, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”, “DEXTER”, “MAD MEN”, “LAW AND ORDER: SVU”, “BONES”, “CASTLE”, “GREY'S ANATOMY,” “THE MIDDLE”, “SUPERIOR DONUTS”, “I'M DYING UP HERE”, “ALONE TOGETHER”, “NIGHT COURT,”, “THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON”, “GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE”, “LIVE AT GOTHAM”, “COMICS UNLEASHED ”, “MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE”, “GIRL MEETS WORLD”, and has also had recurring roles on “KROLL SHOW”, “LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM”, and “WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE”. He was also a regular castmember on NBC's “THREE SISTERS” as Gordon. He has four comedy albums available on all platforms and is also the author of the book “How to Punch a Monkey” on Amazon. About his role of Stuart Miller on “Stacked”, The LA Times said “Scolaro is terrific. An actual sitcom find.” About his role as Doug on “Sullivan and Son”, Brian Doyle-Murray (Caddyshack) said Brian is “one of the best I've ever seen.”And Marc Maron said on WTF podcast, Brian “might be the funniest fuckin person alive.” Watch Brian's new special, "Brian Scolaro: I Don't Know Who I am Either" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brian-Scolaro-Dont-Know-Either/dp/B0CWGYN9V3/

Sagar Patel is a revenue and growth executive with 15+ years in sales and management in the healthcare and technology industries. He has held leadership roles with global companies such as IBM, Boston Scientific, and Karl Storz Endoscopy. Sagar has led revenue teams for three venture-backed healthcare technology start-ups, including most recently Honor, a home care technology company that raised over $350M in venture capital and recently closed Series E round in 2021 at a valuation of $1.25B reaching unicorn status prior to his departure. Sagar also is an advisor to startups in need of guidance for growing revenue and building sales organizations in a repeatable and scalable manner that is sustainable. Additionally, Sagar is an angel investor and board member to healthcare-tech startups, commercial real estate, hospitality, and sports teams, including most recently a minority investor of a professional soccer team, Chicago House AC. https://www.oceancalm.co https://m.youtube.com/@OceanCalm01 @oceancalm01 @sagarpatel01 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagar-patel-01

Dave Hoeffel is an entrepreneur from Minnesota. Dave graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1992 with a degree in Chemistry. He is the former owner of Endurance Technologies, which owned several brand names including Custom Polymer Design, MAS Epoxies and Bristol Finish. Endurance Technologies was sold to a private equity firm in 2020.

For more than 20 years, Sugey Piedra has been working in the tax preparation and wealth management industry. She and her two sisters co-founded Prominence Business & Wealth Management, and together they have helped hundreds of high-earning service-based business owners to grow and scale their businesses with holistic financial planning. Her signature program Business Elite is a 12 month Tax Prep, Planning, and Strategy Program for Service-Based Business Owners. And she also is the host of the Tax Talk with HeyHey where she shares her knowledge and expertise around removing the mystery surrounding taxes, financial planning, and wealth accumulation techniques and strategies. When she's not helping others with their business finances and talking shop on her podcast, Sugey is also spending time with her other Shmillie's in Rachel Rodgers' Hello7 Mastermind. https://www.prominencebusiness.com/https://www.instagram.com/prominence....https://www.linkedin.com/in/sugey-pie...

Hear policy expert Zander Abram's take on cannabis rescheduling and Minnesota sports. Zander Abrams is the Founder of the Cannabis Policy Forum where he analyzes cannabis politics, policy and regulation. Zander is focused on macro trends affecting the cannabis industry and draws on his experience in political campaigns, lobby organizations, and his background as an attorney. Through his company, CPF Ventures, Zander works with cannabis operators, ancillary technology companies, and investors to build expansion strategies, manage public affairs, and to facilitate foreign entry into the U.S. market. Zander is active in private equity and debt markets, often interfacing to navigate challenging regulatory environments. Prior to founding CPF in 2019, Zander served for 5 years as an Area Director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), where he oversaw a number of state operations in the Midwest. Before joining AIPAC's professional staff, Zander was the Political Director and spokesman for a governor's campaign in Minnesota. Zander began his legal career working with tech trade associations to achieve state funding for angel stage investments and has experience in criminal law, real estate transactions, and employment litigation. In college, Zander interned at the Minnesota House of Representatives, focusing on tax and fiscal policy. Zander received his J.D. from the University of Iowa: College of Law, and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota.

Jon Tomashefsky (AKA Jon Shefsky) is a comedian turned realtor in Southern California. Hear his take on tattoos, comedy, real estate, and the apocalypse. Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gods-of-real-estate-fancy-boy-edition/id1452740499 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gods-of-real-estate-fancy-boy-edition/id1452740499) Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/show/39Iyck1BbosmfdCOIXSYOb?si=uU80zaPmSC60tF09um17wQ (https://open.spotify.com/show/39Iyck1BbosmfdCOIXSYOb?si=uU80zaPmSC60tF09um17wQ)

Ro DelleGrazie has been a stand-up comedian for >20 years. Originally from New York, at the start of her stand up career she was coached by Lisa Lampanelli. Ro moved to L.A. in 2004 and started studying at the I.O West where she graduated and was part of an improv group called Tentatively Marty. Ro has performed at the top comedy clubs across the country including Comic Strip Live, Caroline's on Broadway, The Comedy Store and The Improvs throughout California, Laugh Factory and Flappers Comedy Club. Ro stars in several webisodes on YouTube. Ro's latest adventure is being documented through her vlog "Mamma Moody". You can also see Ro on TruTv and FX and her comedy is currently streaming on Tidal, Amazon and Pandora. www.rodellegrazie.com Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammamoody?_t=8lcFP8kKDb0&_r=1 IG https://www.instagram.com/rodellegrazie?igsh=MXpmbDVpZDhiY3Nx YouTube https://youtube.com/@RoDelleGrazie?si=Y396IwwDhZR9YR-S FB www.facebook.com/rodellegrazie

In this episode, we dive into the journey of Ryan Austin, Founder and CEO of Arondight Advisors, who shares not only his professional triumphs but also the personal milestones that have shaped his path. Raised on Long Island, NY, Ryan faced challenges early on that led him to the disciplined halls of Valley Forge Military Academy at 15, a pivotal moment that set the course for his future endeavors. Ryan's story is one of perseverance, insight, and success. MORE ABOUT RYAN AUSTIN Today, as the leader of Arondight Advisors, Ryan connects best-in-class companies with his proprietary network of over 5,000 Family Offices, UHNW, and institutional investors. Ryan's work has appeared on major publications including Nasdaq.com, Business Insider, and Seeking Alpha. His expertise spans the fintech, tech, AI, biotech, and emerging sectors, where he has been instrumental in securing investments from UHNW investors and institutions. Ryan is also the author of Family Office Growth News, a monthly newsletter that covers Family Office intelligence and the Series A ecosystem. Recognized as a top voice in strategic communications, public relations, and venture capital on LinkedIn, his insights have been featured in Nasdaq.com, Business Insider, Benzinga, and Seeking Alpha. Join us as Ryan Austin shares his journey, strategies, and the vision behind Arondight Advisors.

Lea Marlene is the founder of the Lea Marlene Actors Studio and the Namastage Theatre. After a battle with melanoma cancer, she pivoted from being a professional stand-up comedian and actress to business owner. Hear her story about leaving LA to find her calling. In her own healing journey she had developed a deep desire to pay forward the powerful tools that have saved her life. That has become her life mission. Lea opened up what was originally called ACTASANA Acting Studio and Theatre in 2012 and it grew into what is Lea Marlene Actors Studio and The Namastage Theatre today, home of the revolutionary Actasana Technique whereby yoga is integrated into the acting curriculum to get the actor out of their head and into their heart. A native Coloradan, Lea earned a degree in Journalism; Broadcast News & Television with a minor in Theatre from Colorado State University. There she hosted a campus television show and interviewed several famous bands such as Outkast , Tribe Called Quest and The Black Eyed Peas. While in college she also wrote, directed, produced and acted in her first short film. After college Lea moved to Hollywood where she landed roles on stage and screen while also studying the Meisner Technique. While in LA, Lea developed a stand up comedy act; producing, hosting and performing in numerous comedy venues in The US including the world famous Improv and The Comedy Store.

Dennis O'Malley is CEO & President of Caliva, the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in California. Dennis has over a 20 year track record of leadership roles in fast growing companies in emerging markets as well as successfully raising capital from institutional investors and in addition holds multiple technology patents. Dennis also co-founded and lead a venture backed software company that enabled brands like Red Bull, Nike, Adidas, The North Face, and Reebok to scale their revenue through ambassador marketing programs.

Hermin Thind moved from India to the Pacific Northwest as a child. He endured countless business setbacks and challenges. His entrepreneurial battle scars helped make him a successful business leader. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT HERMIN THIND In 2013, amidst the challenges, Hermin, alongside his brother-in-law Gurmeet, ventured into the vaping world by opening "Vapor World" inside a hotel room. This bold step, fueled by passion and free rent, allowed them to rapidly expand their footprint, eventually branching out across Kansas City and beyond. However, as their venture flourished, family dynamics started to strain under the pressure of success. In a strategic move to prioritize family harmony and mutual growth, Hermin and Gurmeet decided to amicably divide the business, with each taking ownership of half the stores. Hermin's share of the enterprise was rebranded as "Vapor Maven," marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Critical to Vapor Maven's expansion was Hermin's creation of numerous brands within the hemp and vapor industry, including "Cannablast CBD," "Gametime Vapes," and dozens more, spanning hundreds of unique SKUs. Not only did these brands diversify Vapor Maven's product offerings and significantly boost the company's margins, but Hermin also strategically wholesaled these products to smoke and vape shops across the nation, ingeniously making money from his own competitors and fueling rapid expansion. Under Hermin's leadership, Vapor Maven has seen explosive growth, with 50 new stores opening in Texas during 2020 and 2021 alone, and 57 more in 2023, alongside the inception of "Smoke Stop," a premium tobacco venture. As of today, Hermin's empire boasts 200 Vapor Maven stores and 3 Smoke Stop outlets, with ambitious plans for expansion on the horizon. Tune in to hear Hermin Thind share his inspiring journey of turning challenges into opportunities, his insights into the vaping and hemp industries, his innovative approach to brand creation and wholesale strategies, and his vision for the future. It's a story of family, resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and ingenious market tactics that you won't want to miss.

Nate Watson, of Ailia Family Office Club and Halbar Partners, shares his perspective on purpose-driven entrepreneurship, the "silver tsunami," and prioritizing stakeholder value over profit. MORE ABOUT NATE WASSON Nate Wasson is the co-founder of HalBar Partners and a principal member of Alvearia, and a founding member of the angel/VC group Keiretsu Forum Chicago. Nate has over 20 years of expertise advising investors and family offices. Nate spent his early career in investment management, business banking, and as a JPMorgan consultant. Nate later served as a Principal and Managing Director for Bank of Montreal's US Private Bank. After leaving BMO, Nate developed the Midwest family office practice for Capital Group; there, he developed investment strategy for pre-institutional family offices focused on both public and private opportunities. Nate holds an BA from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management, with a concentration in asset management. https://halbar.io/

PK is a regular at World Famous Laugh Factory, Improv, Comedy Store, Pasadena Ichouse, Haha Comedy Club, The Hollywood and Pasadena Comedy! He has brought over 10,000 people to the clubs, many of them seeing stand up comedy live for the first time. He's performed at over 100 universities across the United States. He was The Grand Prize Winner of The Uncle Clyde's Comedy Cup at The Pasadena Icehouse sponsored by H2F Productions, which featured 100 comedians and he took first place. PK is the Founder, Exec. Director, and host for ten years of a non profit organization and annual Asian talent show called Kollaboration. He is the Co-founder of LiNK, Liberty in North Korea, a non profit organization dedicated to bring awareness to the needs of North Korean refugees. He was a producer, writer, and host of Mnet's BPM - Beats Per Mnet - a daily talk show on TV focusing on food, fashion, and clothing. PK is also the Founder/Director of a wedding events company called Prokreation Productions (Proactive Kreativity). He has emceed, DJ'd, and provided sound for over 500 weddings. https://pkcomedy.com/

Ron Babcock shares his insights on savings and personal finance. He's a comedian, so this will be fun. Ron Babcock is an editor and comedian. He's edited on Clone High (Max), Cat Burglar (Netflix), Ten Year Old Tom (HBO Max), Muppet Babies (Disney) and The Life and Times of Tim (HBO). He's written and directed multiple original web series for MTV, AOL, Cinefix, Tasted, Mashable and others. As a comedian, he's appeared on Adam Devine's House Party on Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, Montreal Just For Laughs, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and was a winner at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. He started out performing at UCB in Los Angeles.

Ron Richards is a lawyer, business leader, and music festival producer. So why is he writing a book about dominoes? Tune in to hear his story. Ron Richards is a co-founder and Managing Director of Gray Wolf Partners. He assists clients in their efforts to understand and analyze complex operational, financial, legal, and accounting issues. Ron practiced corporate and labor law and was a practicing accountant with Deloitte & Touche. He from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also holds an M.B.A. from The Anderson School at the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. While at UCLA, Ron conceptualized and produced the first annual UCLA JazzReggae festival. Now in its 32nd year, the music festival is a major annual event at UCLA and is currently one of the longest running, most successful student-run events in the United States.

Matt Ritchey raced motocross as a teen. A serious injury motivated him to learn about brain protection. Now he is the author of Elevated Executive & founder of Inner Circle, a dedicated plant medicine community of leaders and innovators. Hear his story. His team building skills have been utilized by brands like Facebook and AirBnB. His leadership framework has produced over $100M in profits for brand's he's helped grow. www.InnerCircle.biz

Brian Swinehart took his small-town work ethic to Los Angeles. He carved out a niche as an actor and produced one of the most acclaimed and longest running standup comedy shows in Hollywood. After a couple older ladies chastised him while walking his dog, he returned back home to find purpose, love, and a new approach to show business. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT BRIAN SWINEHART As a professional comedian Brian has traveled the world putting smiles on faces and has enjoyed every moment. Brian's career in the entertainment industry started at age 20 when he naively moved to Los Angeles California with dreams of breaking into Hollywood. It's not easy to create a career in Show business however Brian has made it work he now has over 32 professional acting credits. As well as writing and producing short films and feature length movies. On this website you can enjoy his videos see his upcoming tour schedule and buy merchandise from the online store. ​https://www.instagram.com/brianswinehart/ https://linktr.ee/brianswinehart

Warren Patterson moved across continents, climbed Mt. Kilmanjaro, and now serves as CEO of Summit Hosting. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT WARREN PATTERSON At the age of 13, Warren Patterson's family moved from South Africa to the US in search of greater opportunities. His college years at Clemson got interrupted by his desire to explore and climb Mt Kilimanjaro. His dream of working with animals brought him cross country to CA where he quickly discovered that life in a veterinary office under the artificial light was not for him. A temp job led him to his business partner, a plant expert, who together built a successful landscape design company. As a result of the 2008 financial crisis, he closed his first company and sought new opportunities back on the East Coast. Warren's ingenuity led him to complete his college degree and start a cloud hosting company to aid his father's bookkeeping business. Success followed, with a series of nine calculated business transactions, culminating in his most recent and largest acquisition yet, elevating Summit Hosting to new heights.

Richard Barrett has over two decades of experience as the night manager and Entertainment Director for Los Angeles' Comedy & Magic Club, one of the premier comedy clubs in the world. He also serves as the booker for one of southern California's newest comedy clubs, The Stand Up Comedy Club, and produces live shows for major corporations and festivals.

Joshua Robbins wrote hand-written letters to woo his wife. After a stint in the Air Force, he worked his way into the energy industry. Now his on the front lines of the transitioning energy industry. Hear his story. More About Joshua Robbins: Joshua Robbins has been consulting oil and gas companies on where to find their next energy deal (from $9,000 to billion-dollar deals) since 2014. He assists family offices in finding new assets that deliver consistent returns in a short time window. Joshua and the team at Beachwood built a central source of data called the Helix, a digital Price Guide designed to assist the energy industry (carbon and renewable) by publicly showcasing price metrics of the current market. Joshua has been featured in a number of industry publications, most notably on the cover of Oilman Magazine. He was a keynote speaker for the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), delivering a presentation on where to find the best assets. A new abstract has been written for future SPE presentations that defines energy asset pricing called "The New Energy Marketplace Transformation". Joshua is an active member of the Assembly of Catholic Professionals, is married with two children and is an Air Force veteran.

Chris Fried applied to the FBI. Now he's a comedian. This former Conan O'Brien intern leveraged a Harvard degree to earn free drinks at the Comedy Cellar. Hear his story. www.patreon.com/krisfried

What is inflation? Why do we have it? What's bitcoin? Economist Larry White breaks it down. MORE ABOUT LARRY WHITE Larry White is a banking and money scholar who has taught at NYU and George Mason University. He has authored several books and edited numerous volumes on monetary theory and banking history. He has received the Adam Smith Award and is currently a senior scholar of the Cato Institute Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives and a co-editor of Econ Journal Watch.

Ryan Milliman has invested in surf shops, real estate, and much more. He's well versed in family offices and breakfast burritos. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT RYAN MILLIMAN Ryan is a highly accomplished financial services professional with a stellar track record spanning over 20 years in the finance sector. Ryan has consistently demonstrated expertise and regulatory compliance. Notably, he has held the esteemed position of Supervisory Principal for Alternative Investments at the world's largest independent broker dealer. As a Business Consultant, Ryan has had the privilege of advising the top 1% of advisors at the same prestigious firm, showcasing his exceptional acumen and ability to drive success for high-performing individuals. Notably, he has successfully raised multiple millions in capital for private equity funds and ventures, securing the trust and investments of accredited limited partners. Ryan's entrepreneurial spirit has led him to found private ventures and startups, further amplifying his comprehensive understanding of the financial landscape. With a formal education in Economics and International Trade and Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ryan seamlessly combines academic prowess with practical expertise, ensuring a well-rounded perspective on investment opportunities. His vast network of several hundred investor connections stands as a testament to his influential presence within the industry. Ryan's deep-rooted knowledge of the financial sector, coupled with his unwavering commitment to excellence, positions him as an invaluable asset to investment banks and investors seeking to maximize their returns and navigate complex market conditions.

Pete Karabas had a steady career in real estate. But he took a different path. Find out why. More about Pete Karabas:Pete Karabas is a Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners, where he is responsible for origination, due diligence, and execution of investment opportunities in addition to developing strategic partnerships and fundraising initiatives for the firm. Pete is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BDSA and sits on the Board of Directors of Front Range Biosciences, two of KEY's portfolio companies. Prior to founding KEY, Pete spent four years as a member of Partners Group's Private Real Estate Group where he was responsible for originating opportunities, conducting due diligence, and executing portfolio transactions. Prior to Partners Group, Pete spent three years at Equity Residential where he focused on the acquisition and asset management of Class A multifamily properties. Pete holds a BBA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Originally a Chicago native, he moved to Denver in 2016 to help build out Partners Group's U.S. real estate team. After seeing the growth in the cannabis industry first-hand, Pete pivoted his career to focus on connecting investors with early-stage cannabis companies.

Barry Katz shares his insights on comedy's past, present, and future. Hear his story. More About Barry Katz: Barry Katz is an Emmy and Grammy nominated TV-film-record producer, talent manager, and podcast host. Katz is universally known for representing iconic artists like Louie Anderson, Ken Jeong, Andy Dick, Hasan Minhaj, and Mike Epps, giving the first quality stage time in New York City and Boston to future stars like Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Sarah Silverman, Anthony Clark, Dave Attell, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Gould, Timothy Olyphant, Denis Leary, and the late Patrice O'Neal, as well as helping launch the careers of some of the most extraordinary comedy artists in the business—including Dave Chappelle, Nick Swardson, Louie CK, Felipe Esparza, Bill Burr, Frank Caliendo, Marc Maron, Whitney Cummings, Bill Bellamy, Judah Friedlander, Wanda Sykes, Bert Kreischer, Jeff Dye, Jim Gaffigan, Dane Cook, Steve Byrne, Jeffrey Ross, Neil Brennan, and former and present SNL stars Darrell Hammond, Jay Mohr, Melissa Villasenor, Jim Breuer, and Tracy Morgan. Throughout his career, Katz has sold 39 out of 40 stand-up comedy specials he produced and has brokered an unprecedented 100 TV development deals, created 3 television shows, and executive produced over 50 different specials, documentaries, reality shows, and scripted series including the YouTube TV produced Telethon for America (with Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Jennifer Lawrence, Pete Davidson, Alicia Keys, Charlize Theron, Ray Romano, Chelsea Handler, and Jane Fonda), NBC's Whitney, Netflix's The Road Trick, FOX's Action, HBO's Tourgasm, Showtime's Jay Mohr: Happy. And A Lot, History Channel's Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery, TBS's Frank TV, Comedy Central's Whitney Cummings: Money Shot, CBS' Welcome to New York (Letterman's first produced sitcom), HBO's Heidi Fleiss: The Would-be Madam of Crystal, the syndicated Bellamy/Tim Meadows/Jon Lovitz/Vivica Fox sitcom Mr. Box Office, and 7 seasons of the Emmy-nominated NBC series Last Comic Standing. Katz started his involvement in the film business when he helped Chappelle and Neal Brennan (who eventually went on to create Chappelle's Show) sell the cult classic Half Baked to Universal Studios and went on to produce several films after that, including Employee of the Month (starring Jessica Simpson and Cook), Good Luck Chuck (starring Jessica Alba), My Best Friend's Girl (starring Kate Hudson and Alec Baldwin), I Killed JFK (about the only living person in history to admit to killing Kennedy), and Misery Loves Comedy (starring Tom Hanks, Amy Schumer, Judd Apatow, and Larry David). Katz was the first manager to work with a comedy artist to use social media to accelerate their career, with Dane Cook. At the height of his popularity, he was able to press a button on his computer and sell out 2 shows in one night at Boston Garden and 2 shows in one night at Madison Square Garden for a total of 75,000 tickets sold in less than a week—which had never been done before. In the recording world, he has produced Grammy nominated, multiple gold, platinum, and double platinum albums, while becoming the only manager/producer to debut a comedy album in Billboard's top 5 national charts–twice. In other facets of the business, Katz was one of the driving forces and co-founders of Comedy Dynamics, which has become one of the largest independent comedy production and distribution companies in the world. Additionally, he was involved in the original sale of the Emmy-nominated Comedy Central Roasts to the network, which has become one of the longest running, most profitable, annual specials franchises in the history of TV. https://www.barrykatz.com/

Danielle Patterson exemplifies resourcefulness. She parlayed undiagnosed dyslexia and her father's job loss into a lifelong commitment to networking and learning. Balancing her love for family, art, and business, she is at the forefront of the family office industry. Hear her story. MORE ABOUT DANIELLE PATTERSON From an early age, I often heard people say, "Danielle, you have a real talent for saving money." Little did many know, my journey held untold stories. By the time I hit 28, my husband and I found ourselves facing the daunting prospect of bankruptcy. Let's rewind to my childhood – picture a young me orchestrating yard sales, convincing neighbors to buy odds and ends. Growing up in a bustling household with hardworking parents and three siblings, we were instilled with an unwavering creed: to understand the worth of a dollar and carve your own path. As a resourceful Californian, I set my sights on the University of California, Santa Cruz, maneuvering to avoid the hefty expenses of out-of-state tuition. Ingenious financial moves by my dad enabled me to participate in work-study programs, ensuring student debt wouldn't shackle my dreams. After graduation, I found myself managing the gallery of world-renowned National Geographic Photographer, Frans Lanting. Marrying the man of my dreams, and acquiring a home by the West-Cliff shores, everything seemed to fall into place. However, the seismic tremors of the 2008 financial crisis shattered our plans. In a bid to preserve our beloved home, we adopted resourcefulness, selling belongings, renting out our house, and setting forth fresh horizons on the East Coast. Grateful for the haven provided by my husband's parents, we toiled relentlessly to rebuild our lives. Steering clear of the art world, I found stability in a job that blossomed into a 7-year career, culminating in my role as Business Development Manager. Throughout my tenure, I elevated revenue by an astounding 300%. Despite financial success, a yearning to build something personal persisted. Fortune favored me as I partnered with an enterprising Fund Manager who had pioneered several financial service companies, streamlining capital raising. From this collaboration emerged "Family Office List," to which I took the reins, transforming it from a rudimentary Excel product into a dynamic platform, revolutionizing the Family Office intelligence. As a founder, funder, mother, wife, and the Chief of Everything, I reflect on my journey spanning diverse fields – from fine art to sales, marketing, business development, and finance – weaving the vibrant fabric of my life connected by threads of resilience, a penchant for meaningful connections, unconventional thinking, and an unwavering growth mindset. Each step carved the path to where I stand today, and for every opportunity, gratitude abounds. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-patterson-/

How can we live longer and healthier? James Payer has dedicated his career to finding out. Hear his story. James Peyer is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Cambrian Bio. He also holds multiple board and executive roles across Cambrian's pipeline. He has spent his entire life dedicated to the mission of finding ways of preventing people from getting diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's instead of waiting for people to get sick. James was previously Founder and Managing Partner at Apollo Ventures, the first global longevity-focused venture capital firm, investing across the US and Europe. Prior to Apollo, James was a biotech R&D specialist at the New York office of McKinsey & Company, serving major pharmaceutical clients. He earned his PhD in stem cell biology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a National Science Foundation Fellow and received his B.A. with special honors from the University of Chicago.

Chad Wade vowed to never go bankrupt. A stint in the slammer didn't help his job prospects. So he took matters into his own hands. He launched his business at a flea market. Then he built his own own brick and mortar shop. Now he's an entrepreneur, consultant, and YouTuber. Hear his story. More about Chad Wade Chad is the CEO of UNS Wholesale and owns three retail smoke shops in Louisville, Kentucky. Join him as he shares valuable insights and expert advice to help you start and grow a successful business. Subscribe now to build the future you deserve. https://chadwadetv.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/ChadWadeTV

Tiby Erdily didn't wait for his dream job to come to him, we went out and found it. This may have meant driving to schools he didn't attend, but he got the job. He was influenced by entrepreneurial parents, Top Gun, Pretty Woman, and San Antonio tacos. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT TIBY ERDILY At KEY Investment Partners, Tiby is responsible for structuring and leading investment opportunities, developing the marketing and client relations initiatives, driving firmwide strategic initiatives, conducting due diligence on deal opportunities, driving proactive outreach for deal sourcing opportunities, and leading co-investment syndication processes. Erdely championed and led KEY's first investment in BDS Analytics (‘BDSA') and championed the formation of KEY's advisory board. Erdely currently sits on the Board of Open Book Extracts, Katalys, Botanica and Day Three Labs, KEY portfolio companies. Prior to co-founding KEY, Tiby spent three years as a member of Partners Group's (SIX: PGHN) client solutions team, where he was responsible for raising flagship funds and sourcing opportunities. While at Partners Group, Tiby worked with the various deal teams learning Partners Group's approach to sourcing deals and conducting due diligence. Prior to Partners Group, Tiby spent four years with Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), working most recently for the Fundamental Equity team in Goldman Sachs Asset Management (‘GSAM'). Tiby was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and holds a BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at San Antonio where he graduated with honors. In his free time, Tiby enjoys skiing, traveling, hiking and live music. https://keyinvestmentpartners.com/

Rich Williams is a Best Damn Comic. He's dealt with orphanhood, suicide, and bringer shows. He's many things but not a victim. Hear his story.

Amy Rubenstein is the CEO at Clear Investment Group and Partner at Windy City RE, both real estate investment firms that have owned and sold over a half billion dollars of properties since 2005. She is originally from Chicago and graduated from Brandeis University, Cum Laude. She has been working in real estate for the past 20 years and holds a real estate licenses in the states of California and Illinois. Clear Investment Group invests in large distressed multi-family complexes throughout the country including Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, New York and Illinois. Amy's portfolio includes multi-family properties, retail and office. She specializes in creative structuring and stabilization, maximizing the financial performance and the revitalization of acquired assets. She is also a major philanthropist in Arts and Education, specifically in the theater world. Amy serves as Artistic Director at Windy City Playhouse, an award winning non profit professional theater company in Chicago with a specific focus on immersive works. She was the co-creator of the smash hit Southern Gothic and A Recipe for Disaster, a food comedy with celebrity chef Rick Bayless. https://youtu.be/Irsei3XAmME

Named one of the “25 Angel Investors in New York You Need to Know” by AlleyWatch in 2014, Jeff has been a venture investor for ten years, an angel investor for eight years. Jeff is CEO of Arcview Ventures, the manager of The Arcview Collective Fund, the first member-managed fund in cannabis. He also serves as Chairman of the Evaluation Committee and Treasurer of the ARC Angel Fund. Jeff has been actively advising startups at Reitler Advisory Group and publishes insights to his blog www.finkabout.it. He is a frequent panelist, speaker, and judge on venture investing and pitch competitions in NY. Jeff has also guest lectured and held office hours for many incubators/accelerators including Start-up Leadership Program, 37 Angels, NYU Polytech Incubator (New York City and Brooklyn), DreamIT Ventures, and FashInvest. Prior to his work with angel and seed groups, Jeff was a partner of Odeon Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund. Prior to Odeon, Jeff was an operating executive at CA, Inc., and Cheyenne Software, Inc., where he served as GM of the Unix Division, VP of Corporate Development, VP of Corporate Marketing, and Director of Product Management. Jeff also serves as Chairman of the Board of WellLife Network, a not-for-profit offering residential, clinical, and day programs to 25,000 individuals with developmental, psychological, and behavioral disabilities in NYC's five boroughs and Long Island. http://finkabout.it/

Robin Lauber is a serial angel investor and entrepreneur, having co-founded his family office and private investment firm Infinitas Capital, the real estate company GreySky Properties Holding AG, and two VC funds with Korify Capital and Prediction Capital, among other entrepreneurial endeavours. He looks back on over 10 years of VC and Real Estate investing as well as incubating, building, and scaling numerous ventures. His entrepreneurial journey includes bringing Dunkin' Donuts to Switzerland, where he successfully exited the business in 2020. He graduated from Basel University with a BSc in Business Administration and Cass Business School with a MSc in Entrepreneurship.

Loren DeFalco cured himself of epileptic seizures through a regime of CBD and cannabinoids Loren's Story In 2008, I had a massive seizure at the airport while waiting curbside for my ride home after a business trip. I woke up in an ambulance and had no idea where I was or where I had come from. It was quite scary. I went to a neurologist who ran tests on me. I was told that I had a “seizure disorder” and would need to take anti-seizure drugs or I would not be allowed to drive my car. This was all very disturbing as I felt broken. The medication began to take its toll on me right away and the side effects were debilitating. The solution I was provided for the side effects of the medication was…MORE medication. I ended up taking five different prescription drugs that caused my body to break down even more to the point that I was no longer able to work. I decided that it was time to take matters into my own hands and I started to research to find alternate ways of handling my new situation. This is when I came across the endocannabinoid system. My discovery was nothing short of revolutionary for my mind and body. I started to learn how diet and cannabinoids influenced disease in the body and completely changed my lifestyle. I started on a diet that was based on making sure I was balancing the omega 6 and omega 3 levels in my body as well as ingesting cannabinoids through hemp plant seeds and other sources. Six months after I started my new lifestyle, focusing on the endocannabinoid system, I was cleared by my neurologist after my EEG showed no more seizure activity in my brain. Finally, I was able to shed all of my prescription drugs. Not only did my seizures stop, but I started to experience relief from other physical issues that I had been dealing with, such as sleeping issues and arthritic knee pain. This was amazing to me and I strived to learn more about this system that I had never heard of before and that had only been recently discovered.

Brendon Mulvihill is a serial try-er. He's always exploring a new hobby, venture, or taco stand. He created the Quarter Pound Cookie. Hear his story. https://quarterpoundcookies.myshopify.com/