Founder's Story
"Founder's Story" by IBH Media is a podcast that goes beyond the typical business interview. It features in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, exploring the personal struggles and doubts behind their success. Guests include well-known figures like Gary Vaynerchuk and Rob Dyrdek, as well as lesser-known founders. The show aims to provide a raw, honest look at the entrepreneurial journey.
Episodes
Southern Charm Star: I Built An 8-Figure Pillow Brand My Own Cast Rooted Against | Ep.454 With Craig Conover
Daniel and Kate sit down with Craig Conover for a candid conversation about childhood bullying, OCD, reality television, business, and personal growth. Craig reflects on how the pain and uniqueness he struggled with as a kid later became part of what made him relatable to millions of people.The episode also follows Craig’s journey from Southern Charm to building Sewing Down South, learning hard bu
Legendary Composer: AI Will Never Replace Human Creativity | Ep. 453 With Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Daniel sits down with Dmitry Sitkovetsky to explore a life shaped by music, discipline, freedom, and reinvention. Dmitry reflects on growing up in a legendary musical family, leaving the Soviet Union, rebuilding his life in New York, and creating a global career as a violinist, conductor, transcriber, and cultural leader.The conversation moves through the emotional power of music, the pressure of
Data Center Investor: "I Turned $40M Into $140M Before Anyone Noticed" | Ep. 452 with Anita Verma-Lallian
Daniel opens the episode by framing Anita’s work through one of the biggest investment themes of the moment: AI infrastructure. While many people focus on AI apps, models, and software companies, Anita is focused on the physical layer underneath all of it: land, power, and the shell required to support data centers. She explains that without land and power, the best AI models in the world cannot a
Acquisition Playbook: Scaling From 12 Buses to 600 Employees | Ep. 451 with Rich Thomson Founder of Dreamliner Luxury Coaches
Daniel opens the episode by asking Rich what it feels like to go from helping his parents in a frozen yogurt shop to working with artists like Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Drake, and IShowSpeed. Rich says it still feels surreal and explains that Dreamliner was never part of his original plan. He was building another company when he first learned about the touring transportation industry thro
Marriage Expert: "After 20,000 Hours Of Counseling, I Know What Kills A Marriage" | Ep. 450 with Tim Arrigo Co-Founder of Beyond Driven Enterprises
Daniel opens the episode by asking Tim one direct question: what really kills a marriage? Tim answers that selfishness and self-centeredness are often at the root, but those patterns usually come from deeper issues formed long before the marriage began. He explains that intimate relationships are shaped by early attachment, family systems, trauma, and the way people learned to love, protect themse
Tony Hawk: "They Offered Me $500K For Everything, I Said No!" | Ep. 449 with Tony Hawk
Daniel opens the conversation inside Tony’s skateboarding room by asking which item he would keep if he could only hold on to one. Tony points to one of his first signature skateboards from 1982, a board he rode in competitions, gave away to an amateur skater, and eventually received back decades later. He also shares the story behind a prop skateboard from the movie Hook, used by Robin Williams’
Franchise Expert: "I Got Laid Off, Bought ONE Franchise And Became Financially Free" | Ep. 448 with Gregory Mohr Founder of Franchise Maven
Daniel opens the episode by asking Greg about one of the most surprising parts of his story: Greg reached financial independence by owning just one franchise in one territory. Greg explains that while some people may need multiple territories depending on their income goals, it is possible to build meaningful financial freedom from a single franchise if the model, territory, effort, and personal f
Financial Expert: "Owning 5 Tech Stocks Isn't A Portfolio" | Ep. 447 with Christopher Zook Chairman & Chief Investment Officer of CAZ Investments
Daniel opens the episode by asking Christopher about a defining moment in 1991, when he watched a Tony Robbins video series and wrote down a 10-year goal. Christopher explains that he and his wife listened to Tony’s 30-day cassette program, and during the goal-setting workshop, he wrote that he wanted to start a firm named CAZ Investments that would become one of the leading alternative investment
The Billion-Dollar Energy Drink No One Saw Coming | Ep. 446 with Scott Frohman Founder and CEO of Odyssey Functional Energy
Scott begins by reflecting on his years working on Wall Street, where long hours, coffee, and traditional energy drinks became part of his daily routine. Eventually, the constant stimulation left him questioning whether that lifestyle was sustainable, leading him to search for a healthier way to maintain focus and energy. His discovery of functional mushrooms became the catalyst for what would eve
Estate Attorney: "I'm Giving Away What My Industry Charges Thousands For" | Ep. 445 with Atty. William Funk
Daniel opens the episode by asking Bill why it is so important for someone to create a will. Bill explains that without one, the court can end up deciding how a person’s assets are distributed, often in ways that may not match what the person actually wanted. He says that taking just a few hours to draft a simple will can help protect a lifetime of accumulated assets and make the distribution proc
Burnout Expert: "I Became A Millionaire At 23 And Felt Nothing" | Ep. 444 with Brent Freeman
Daniel opens the episode by asking Brent about a defining moment at 23, when he closed a $10 million commodities deal after years of work and expected to feel fulfilled. Instead, Brent says he woke up not just hungover, but “emotionally hungover,” realizing that the money and celebration did not create the joy he thought success would bring.From there, Brent explains the trap many founders fall in
Bitcoin Pioneer: I Was Paid 100 Bitcoin An Hour When It Was $10 | Ep. 443 with Charlie Shrem and Courtney Shrem "Prince of Bitcoin"
Daniel and Kate open the conversation by reconnecting with Charlie and Courtney and asking whether Charlie’s early Bitcoin story was genius, luck, or simply being early. Charlie says it was a mix of luck, chasing crazy opportunities, and being willing to put everything on the line. He reflects on the surreal rise, from being on a Bloomberg cover throwing money in the air as a “Bitcoin millionaire”
The Tax Strategy Billionaires Use That Almost Nobody Talks About | Ep. 442 with George Dimov, CPA and President of Dimov Tax
Daniel opens the episode with the question many people wonder but rarely ask directly: how do the ultra wealthy pay less taxes? George explains that there is a major difference between people earning high income through work and the ultra wealthy whose net worth is tied to appreciated stock or other assets. The “working rich” may earn a lot, but they often still pay significant taxes because their
One Airbnb Condo Turned Into $1 Billion In Real Estate | Ep. 441 with Sky Mitchell Founder and CEO of Everwild Nordic Spa & Hotels
Daniel opens the episode by asking Sky about a major shift in consumer behavior: people wanting fewer material things and more meaningful experiences. Sky agrees, saying “more things, more problems,” and explains that people are increasingly choosing to spend on food, wine, hotel rooms, thermal cycles, spa experiences, wellness, and hospitality instead of accumulating more possessions.From there,
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: "Money Cannot Buy A Quiet Mind" | Ep. 440 with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Founder of Art of Living Foundation
The episode opens with a striking question: why do some of the most successful entrepreneurs have money, achievement, and influence, yet still struggle to sit alone in silence? Gurudev explains that many people have never learned the skill of quieting the mind, and that this inability to handle the mind and consciousness is one reason the world is facing such a large mental health crisis.
The conv
Franchise Expert: How to Successfully Buy and Sell Boring Businesses | Ep. 439 with Cliff Nonnenmacher CEO of Franocity
Daniel opens with a wild movie idea about robots taking over the world, learning human behavior, unionizing, demanding time off, and eventually quitting, forcing humans to return to work. That leads Daniel and Cliff into a broader conversation about AI, automation, guardrails, and what happens when technology starts thinking beyond the limits humans intended.
From there, the episode goes back to C
He Made the Rich Richer for 20 Years. Then He Walked Away | Ep. 438 with Christopher Mackin WELLTH Advisor
Daniel opens the episode by asking Christopher the most important question of the conversation: how do you define wealth? Christopher answers by reframing wealth through the lens of abundance, infinite possibility, inner appreciation, doing what brings joy, balancing action with stillness, and giving back to community. For him, wealth is not just what sits in a bank account. It is the full experie
The Bootstrap Founder Who Turned $1,800 Into Pocket Prep | Ep. 437 with Peter Murphy CEO of Pocket Prep
Daniel opens the episode by asking Peter about college, AI, and whether young people should still take on debt for degrees when so many jobs feel at risk of automation. Peter responds through the lens of being a father with a daughter in college, saying that while AI may try to replace teachers, therapy, and many other human roles, there is still something irreplaceable about the instructor, mento
The Wall Street Veteran Who Bet on Blockchain Before Wall Street Believed | Ep. 436 with Vince Molinari Founder and CEO of FINTECH.TV
Daniel opens the episode by asking Vince whether the phrase “when you do something different, people might think you’re crazy, but when you make it with success, they think you’re a genius” resonates with him. Vince says there is a fine line between crazy and genius, and that entrepreneurs often live on that edge depending on whether the idea ultimately works.
The episode then traces Vince’s path
Why Most Brands Fail When They Try to Crack the U.S. Market | Ep. 435 with Nicole Eckels Founder of Glasshouse Fragrance
Daniel opens the episode with a simple but loaded question: has Nicole made it? Nicole admits that from the outside, many people would say yes, but from her own perspective, she is still close, still building, and still figuring out whether she will ever fully let herself acknowledge it. She reflects on gratitude, luck, hard work, and the fact that her background and education did not obviously se
MrBeast's Former Advisor: Social Media Is Brainwashing Millions of Kids | Ep. 434 with Antony Gordon Founder of Lighthouse Edutainment
Daniel and Kate open the conversation by asking Antony to look at social media from a much bigger lens: fifty or one hundred years from now, will we look back and say it was the best thing for humanity or the worst? Antony answers that while technology itself may be neutral, he believes the current impact of social media has been deeply harmful, especially for young people. He argues that platform
Everyone Said It Was Too Niche. Then Julia Louis-Dreyfus Signed On | Ep. 433 with Stephanie Wittels Wachs CEO & Co-Founder of Lemonada Media
Daniel opens by asking Stephanie about a statement she recently made: she would not have this company if her brother were still alive. Stephanie explains that Lemonada did not begin as a founder story about chasing money or becoming a media mogul. It began with the death of her younger brother, Harris Wittels, a beloved comedy writer and producer who worked on shows including Parks and Recreation
He Dropped Out in 8th Grade and Built a Viral Street Interview Empire | Ep. 432 with Shanes Ginsberg CEO of Street Poller
Daniel opens by asking Shane about one of the most surprising parts of his story: dropping out of school after eighth grade. Shane explains that the decision was shaped less by one teacher and more by his upbringing. His father was teaching people how to sell on Amazon as early as 2003, and Shane grew up attending business conferences, sitting in rooms with entrepreneurs, cash, and major speakers,
Mark Pincus Took Zynga Public Then Named “Worst CEO” in 12 Months Before a $12.7 Billion Acquisition | Ep. 431 with Mark Pincus Founder of Zynga
Daniel opens by sharing that Zynga was one of the most influential stocks he ever purchased, then takes Mark back to childhood to understand what shaped him. Mark shares two early influences: his lifelong love of games and a painful falling out with his father that pushed him to become independent earlier than expected. That tension eventually became part of the fuel behind his ambition, his desir
The FUBU Founder Got Rejected By 27 Banks. Then His Mom Bet the House. | Ep. 430 with Daymond John Founder of FUBU
Daniel and Kate begin the episode by reconnecting with Daymond through two surprising touchpoints: Clubhouse and the Inc. 5000 event in Palm Springs, where Daymond once shared the story of his mother mortgaging her home to help FUBU survive. That story becomes the foundation for a much deeper conversation about risk, branding, cash flow, and what founders misunderstand about money.
Daymond explain
Everyone Said Detroit Was Dead. He Bet Everything It Wasn't. | Ep. 429 with Larry Brinker Jr.
Daniel opens the episode by framing Detroit as a city that has been counted out again and again. Once the symbol of municipal collapse and economic decline, Detroit is also described as the beating heart of Black entrepreneurship in America. Larry Brinker Jr.’s story sits at the center of that transformation.
The episode follows Daniel and Larry through the buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural l
He Built An $8M Sports Empire With $100 And Zero Funding | Ep. 428 with Suryansh Tibarewal Co-Founder of EssentiallySports
Daniel opens by framing Suryansh’s story as a rare bootstrapped media journey: three college kids in India, roughly $100 for a domain, and a vision that eventually became a major American sports brand. Suryansh explains that the company did not begin with a polished business plan or a venture-backed strategy. It started with fandom, the internet, and the belief that the web could transcend borders
The CEO Betting AI Will Never Replace This | Ep. 427 with Vera Quinn CEO of Cydcor
Daniel opens by asking Vera Quinn, President and CEO of Cydcor, about one of the biggest questions in business right now: will AI replace human sales teams? Vera says Cydcor’s bet is that it will not—at least not for complex decisions where people want trust, context, and a real human conversation. She points to the Apple Store as proof that even when everything can be done digitally, people still
The AI Warning Nobody In Silicon Valley Wants You To Hear | Ep. 426 with Jamarri J. Founder of Klyno AI
Daniel opens by asking Jamarri J., founder of Klyno AI, why he started an AI company when so many people are jumping into the space for hype or money. Jamarri explains that his motivation came from frustration: too many AI tools were just wrappers, charging users monthly fees without solving the deeper problem of fragmented tools, lost context, and weak memory. That frustration led him to build Kl
After Exiting for Billions He Gave $50 Million to His Employees | Tom Sosnoff
Daniel opens by asking why someone with nearly $2 billion in exits is not sitting on a beach sipping drinks. Tom Sosnoff, founder of thinkorswim, tastytrade, and LossDog’s answer is simple: building is what turns him on. From there, the conversation becomes a raw and funny look into the psychology of a builder who says he has no hobbies, no Netflix account, and has never ordered anything on Amazon
$100M Revenue Profitably with No Outside Funding. Other AI Companies Are Burning Cash | Raj Toleti
Daniel opens by discussing the growing shortage of nurses and physicians across the United States and asks whether AI can realistically solve the problem. Raj Toleti, Chairman and CEO of Andor Health, explains that the shortage is already here and argues that automation is the only scalable path to democratizing healthcare, particularly for rural communities where clinicians are scarce. Rather tha
The Cybersecurity Expert Warning That AI Agents Could Leak Everything | Ep. 423 with Lee Rossey CTO and Co-Founder of SimSpace
Daniel and Lee Rossey, CTO and Co-Founder of SimSpace, open with the explosion of AI agent companies and the growing comfort people have with giving these systems access to business tools, financial data, credit cards, and personal information. Lee warns that the benefits are real, but so are the risks: every company eventually faces compromise, and users should assume that any sensitive data they
Everyone Is Asking The Wrong Question About AI | Ep. 422 with Rana Gujral CEO of Behavioral Signals
Daniel and Rana Gujral, CEO of Behavioral Signals, begin with the biggest misconception in AI: that the real debate is about capability. Rana argues that the more important question is not whether AI can write, reason, analyze, or outperform humans on benchmarks, but whether it is strengthening human instinct or quietly replacing it. From there, the conversation explores why enterprise AI often fa
Intern at 19. $750M in Property Sales by 26 | Lukas Kerrebijn
Daniel and Lukas Kerrebijn, co-founder of RD Dubai, RD Vastgoed, and RD Advisory, trace the journey from a teenage intern questioning what real estate agents actually did, to building a platform connecting property sellers with investors, to expanding into Dubai when Dutch regulations made the local market harder for investors. Lukas explains how his first deal in the Netherlands revealed demand f
He Got 30 Investor Rejections, Then Built a $12.7 billion Defense AI Company | Ep. 420 with Brandon Tseng President and Co-Founder of Shield AI
Daniel and Brandon Tseng, President and Co-founder of Shield AI, begin with the earliest days of Shield AI, when defense tech was not yet a major category and investors were not convinced autonomous military systems could become a massive market. Brandon explains how his confidence came from two places: a mother who believed he could do anything and the Navy SEAL teams, where Hell Week and combat
Ex-Uber AI Safety Lead: Your Home Is Already Exposed. Almost Nobody Knows It | Ep. 419 with John Lunsford Founder of Tethral
Daniel and John Lunsford, founder of Tethral, open with the hype around AI agents, but quickly move past the usual conversation about agents buying things online or talking to other agents. John argues that the real issue may be agents communicating with the devices already inside our homes: refrigerators, doors, lights, cars, smart locks, and everyday connected systems. He explains how the combin
Bitcoin Creator Revealed: They Say They Found Satoshi | Ep. 418 with Tyler Maroney and Tucker Tooley
Daniel joins Tyler and Tucker to go deep into the mystery surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. What began as Tucker's curiosity during COVID turned into a multi-year investigation spanning hundreds of interviews, financial insiders, coders, cypherpunks, family members, and people who worked directly alongside the film's leading suspects. The investigation ultimately p
Tech Employees Are Being Robbed Of Billions | Ep. 417 with Oren Barzilai CEO & Founder of Equitybee
Daniel and Oren Barzilai, Co-founder and CEO of Equitybee, dive into a problem hiding inside the startup economy: employees can spend years helping build valuable companies, receive stock options as part of their compensation, and still walk away with nothing because they cannot afford to exercise those options. Oren explains how his experience building Tapingo and watching employees miss out afte
I Was Worth $5 Million at 23. Eight Months Later I Was Negative $1 Million | Ep. 416 with Leo Pareja CEO of eXp Realty
Daniel and Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty, unpack what happens when someone finally reaches the goal they have obsessed over for years—and discovers it does not feel the way they expected. Leo shares how becoming the number one Keller Williams agent at twenty-eight left him depressed and confused because nothing inside him changed. From there, the conversation moves through his financial collapse d
Do You Need To Live In Silicon Valley To Start a Tech Company | Ep. 415 with Moe Seye Founder and CEO of 1099Workers
Daniel and Moe Seye explore how work is being rewritten by AI, layoffs, remote work, and a new generation that does not want the same corporate path their parents wanted. Moe explains why Silicon Valley still feels like a place living in the future, and why being around impossible-thinking founders can reshape what someone believes they can build. The conversation moves into Moe’s own journey from
Free Trading Isn't What You Think It Is (Wall Street CEO Explains)
Daniel and Daniel Schlaepfer dive into the evolution of trading from human-driven Wall Street desks to today’s app-based, AI-assisted, off-exchange market structure. Daniel explains how he accidentally entered the trading world through a free subway newspaper ad after law school didn’t go as planned, then later rebuilt a new firm after the original company collapsed under regulatory failures. The
This F1 Driver Got Cut, So He Built an AI Company | Ep. 413 with Jack Doohan Co-founder and CEO of Meuze
Daniel and Jack start inside the mind of a Formula 1 driver, unpacking how perception changes at extreme speed, why Monaco feels faster than wider tracks, and how drivers train their bodies to survive brutal heat and stress. The conversation then shifts into Jack’s entrepreneurial chapter, sparked by the uncertainty of being sidelined from Formula 1 after only six races. Rather than sit still and
He had a 9-Figure Exit (Then Almost Lost It All) | Ep. 412 with Steve Salis CEO of Catalogue.co
Daniel and Steve Salis dive into what it really takes to build restaurants at scale, from creating a brand people love to delivering hospitality every single day. Steve explains how restaurants become cultural beacons inside communities, why &pizza was built to recreate the feeling of a local mom-and-pop pizza shop, and how he turned a simple observation inside a Qdoba into a scalable fast-casual
$5B Real Estate Mogul Reveals The Price of Success | Ep. 411 with Mauricio Umansky Founder and CEO of The Agency
Daniel and Mauricio Umansky trace his journey from growing up in Mexico City, delivering pizzas at 16, and becoming one of the most successful luxury real estate figures in the world. Mauricio reflects on selling the Playboy Mansion, the fascination with luxury real estate, and why success eventually becomes less about money and more about making chess moves that shift an industry. The conversatio
He Made Millions Every Year, Then Went $800K Into Debt: Adam Hagaman on the Trap of Success | Ep. 410 Founder of Content Cash Flow
Daniel and Adam Hagaman dive into the painful early chapters of Adam’s life, including growing up without a father, trying drugs in sixth grade, selling drugs, dropping out of school, and going to jail every year from 18 to 25. Adam explains how a party invitation led him to meet his future wife, the daughter of a pastor, and how that relationship introduced him to faith after years of darkness. T
The Supplement Industry Is Broken and Ritual Is Rebuilding Trust From Scratch | Ep. 409 with Kat Schneider Founder & CEO of Ritual
Daniel and Kat explore the origin story behind Ritual, starting with Kat being four months pregnant and unable to find a prenatal vitamin she trusted. Kat explains how women’s health has been underfunded, understudied, and underestimated, and how that gap became the foundation for a brand built on transparency, science, and trust. The conversation covers venture funding, building while raising thr
Ex Meta Executive Reveals Why Your AI Bill Is About To Explode | Ep. 408 with Cylton Collymore Founder of Sirsi
Daniel and Cylton Collymore dive into one of the biggest questions facing founders right now: what happens when AI becomes essential, but the cost and control of that AI sits in someone else’s cloud. Cylton explains why he believes LLMs are still “book smart, not street smart,” why giving AI agents full access to your computer is like handing your bank account to someone on a second date, and why
He Became CEO With Zero Pharmacy Experience. Here's How | Kris Fishman
One in 8 Americans is now on a GLP-1 medication. That is roughly 35 million people, and it created one of the fastest-growing markets in the country almost overnight. The CEO at the center of this episode captured that wave from a company most people have never heard of, and he did it after walking into the industry with zero experience. Thirteen years later, he runs the whole thing. Kris Fishman
Bootstrap or Raise VC? Here's the Math From a $150M Founder | Ep. 406 with Tal Lev-Ami Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Cloudinary
Daniel and Tal trace Tal’s origin story from writing code in elementary school to building Cloudinary with two co founders over decades of friendship. Tal explains why bootstrapping forced discipline and protected culture, how Cloudinary grew product led before “PLG” was a label, and what it means for employees when option value rises without constant dilution from new funding rounds. The conversa
The Career Rule That Took Him From Bagger to 3-Time CIO | Ep. 405 with Harrison Allen Lewis Founding Partner at Jacob Meadow Associates
Daniel and Harrison Allen Lewis break down why the best leadership lessons often come from terrible management, and why clarity beats charisma in modern organizations. Harrison explains his operating model for transformation: define the outcome, anchor a strategy to that outcome, then build a plan that the business can own. They also explore career leverage, mentorship, fear as a signal, and why g
Anastasia Soare Built a $3 Billion Empire. Started With No English. No Money. | Ep. 404
Daniel and Anastasia Soare start with Romania, identity, and the immigrant experience, then trace her journey from arriving in the US in 1989 to building one of the most globally recognized beauty brands in the world. Anastasia explains how she went from an esthetician job to renting one room and one chair in Beverly Hills, betting on an overlooked idea: eyebrows. She shares why curiosity and mast
Spencer Pratt Wins LA Mayor and Other Shocking Predictions From Famous Psychic | Ep. 403 with Craig Hamilton-Parker
Daniel and Guest Host Nadja interview Craig Hamilton-Parker about how he developed his psychic practice, how he distinguishes intuition from opinion, and why he believes prediction is about probability, not destiny. Craig shares a bold call on the Los Angeles mayor race, then zooms out to discuss broader global tensions and what he sees as an approaching “pressure window” in the coming years. They
Built a $34M Company on One Lesson From Her Dad at 7 | Ep. 401 with Kate Monroe
Kate Monroe went from Marine Corps veteran to 8-figure CEO, actress, mother, and one of the most relentless entrepreneurs you'll ever hear from. But the lesson that shaped her life did not come from business school. It came from her dad when she was 7 years old.
In this episode of Founder's Story, Daniel Robbins sits down with Kate Monroe to talk about how she scaled her company from $750,000 to n
AI Made MVPs Instant. So Why Are Most Startups Still Losing | Ep. 401 with Eric Ries
Daniel and Eric Ries explore the collision of Lean Startup thinking with the AI era, why “anyone with a credit card” can now access world class tools, and why that democratization also creates brutal competition. Eric argues fatalism about AI is dangerous because we still have agency, but only if we build civic infrastructure and accountability. The conversation then pivots into Incorruptible, whe
Doctors Missed His Son's Disease for 20 Years | Ep. 400 with Chuck Knueve
Daniel Robbins interviews Chuck Knueve about watching his son suffer for decades while the healthcare system searched for answers. Chuck breaks down why Cushing’s disease is so difficult to diagnose, what he believes is broken in the process, and how earlier testing could prevent irreversible harm. He also shares why he wrote the book during COVID, how he learned to write at 73 by joining writing
He Built a $130M Company That Changes How You Sound | Ep. 399 with Shawn Zhang CTO and Co-Founder of Sanas
Daniel Robbins interviews Shawn Zhang, CTO and co-founder of Sanas, about the future of education, AI, and communication, and how a single unfair workplace experience turned into a generational company. Shawn explains why the real value of college is people, not lectures, and why the best startups start with real pain, not cool tech. He tells the origin story of Sanas, how they navigated public cr
How Trauma Built KIND to a $5B Exit | Ep. 398 with Daniel Lubetzky Founder of KIND Snacks
Daniel Robbins interviews Daniel Lubetzky on what shaped his obsession with bridging divides and building mission driven brands. Daniel explains how his father’s Holocaust survival created a survival instinct that later became entrepreneurship, and how early failures taught him the reps he needed before KIND. They dive into the psychology of founders, separating self worth from the pursuit of exce
"AI Isn't Under Control": The Founder Solving a $20 Trillion Problem | Ep. 397 with Brandon Card CEO of Terzo AI
Daniel Robbins interviews Brandon Card, the CEO of Terzo AI, about the hidden financial chaos inside enterprise contracts and why AI is the only scalable way to fix it. Brandon explains how Terzo helps companies treat contracts like financial assets, not legal documents, extracting obligations and commitments with 99.9% accuracy through a hybrid model of AI plus trained human review. They also dis
The CEO Who Predicted Bitcoin, AI, and What's Coming Next | Ep. 396 with Sam Tabar CEO of Bit Digital (BTBT) and White Fiber (WYFI)
Daniel Robbins interviews Sam Tabar on building conviction early, reinventing repeatedly, and taking theses into the public markets. Sam explains how witnessing the shift from analog to digital in the 1990s trained his pattern recognition, why Bitcoin threatened existing power structures by being “money from the people,” and why Ethereum’s smart contracts can disintermediate banks and even lawyers
They Already Wrote My Obituary. I'm 87 and Not Done Yet | Ep. 395 with Maury Povich
Daniel Robbins interviews Maury Povich about how a local news journalist became a national TV icon, the real production machine behind Maury, and what it was like competing in the early talk show wars of the 1990s. Maury explains how the show verified stories like a newsroom, how paternity, lie detectors, and out of control teen themes became mainstream, and why the tabloid talk era directly spawn
He Raised $350M to Rent Roofs: The 1 Sales Rule That Built It | Ep. 394 with John Witchel CEO & Co-Founder of King Energy
Daniel Robbins sits down with John Witchel, co founder and CEO of King Energy, to explore the economics behind today’s energy headlines and why solar plus storage is already the most practical answer for most businesses. John shares why the real bottleneck was never technology, it was incentives and deal structure, especially in multi tenant commercial buildings where landlords pass energy costs t
She Trained Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci and This Is What Actually Works | Ep. 393 with Monique Eastwood Founder of Eastwood Fit App
Daniel opens with a question he has carried since childhood, how real are celebrity transformations and what is actually happening behind the scenes. Monique Eastwood answers from the inside, explaining that transformation is built through consistent training, athletic foundation, and learning how your body moves in space, not a single hack. The conversation spans film readiness, aging and strengt
From Rock Bottom to 2 Exits and a New Brand Built on Discipline | Ep. 392 with Michael Chernow Founder of Kreatures of Habit
Daniel opens by recalling meeting Michael Chernow at Expo West and being struck by his willingness to go back to the grind, personally handing out bars and connecting with people one by one. Michael explains that human connection is his superpower and that word of mouth starts when the founder is the first person to hand you the product and tell the story. From there, the conversation turns into M
The Dark Side of Building a Healthcare System That Works | Ep. 391 with Harry DiFrancesco Founder & CEO of Carda Health
Daniel opens with a personal reflection on how health crises destroy families financially and emotionally, then Harry DiFrancesco explains why he built Carda Health after watching his father struggle to access prescribed rehab after a major heart event. Harry breaks down the structural issue: the system pays for interventions after people get sick, but underinvests in the lifestyle and behavior ch
The Elon Musk Playbook, Space Mining, and the Next Wave Nobody Sees Yet | Ep. 390 with Eric Jorgenson CEO of Scribe Media
Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe, explains why he chose Elon Musk as a subject, arguing Elon is singular in taking max risk on civilization scale problems and repeatedly pulling off what looks impossible. He breaks down his approach to writing as curation, building a “mosaic” from hundreds of sources so the reader feels like Elon is directly mentoring them. Daniel and Eric also discuss polarization,
Why Most Celebrity Brands Fail and How I Built High Level Science Instead | Ep. 389 with Ashley Parker Angel Co-founder of High Level Science
Ashley Parker Angel Co-founder of High Level Science opens up about the highs of becoming famous overnight and the hidden downside no one trains you for. He describes how entertainment can wrap your identity around external validation, how contracts and industry politics can leave artists far less wealthy than the public assumes, and why he reached a point where he wanted real control over his lif
David Grutman: From Bartender to Miami’s Nightlife King | Ep. 338
Daniel talks with David Grutman about the real mechanics of influence: not clout chasing, but doing the work to make people feel taken care of at a level they never expected. David explains how he made Miami “stick” for celebrities and founders by curating unforgettable trips, why hospitality is a game of obsessive details, and how social media turned nightlife into an instant feedback loop that m
Mark Manson: The Subtle Art of Building a 20 Million Copy Empire | Ep. 337
Daniel and Mark Manson go behind the scenes of modern internet fame, content creation, and the psychological cost of being online. Mark shares how he went from blogging in the early backlink era to viral Facebook articles, to traditional media deals, and then back to building a full scale media company. Along the way, they talk about why social platforms can be both magical and toxic, how to stop
She Built the Well-Being Strategy for the CIA. Here Is What Every Company Is Missing | Ep. 336 with Dr. Jennifer Posa
Daniel Robbins sits down with Dr. Jennifer Posa to unpack the real drivers of peak performance, burnout, and culture in elite organizations. Dr. Posa explains that wellbeing is a holistic system that includes emotional regulation, social connection, financial health, psychological safety, and the policies and processes that shape daily work. She shares why the best leaders empower others with conf
What Are You Running From? David Begnaud on Truth, Trauma, and the Oprah Interview | Ep 335 with David Begnaud Founder & CEO of Do Good Crew
Daniel Robbins interviews David Begnaud about the person who believed in him, the pain he carried growing up, and the moment he finally felt safe enough to be fully seen. David tells the story of his English teacher Josette Surratt, who redirected his life into speech and debate and gave him a nonjudgmental space to be vulnerable. He explains why disaster reporting eventually felt empty, how Puert
Why Payments Were Broken and How One Founder Fixed It | Ep. 334 with Thomas Aronica Founder and CEO of Biller Genie
Daniel Robbins interviews Thomas Aronica, the Founder and CEO of Biller Genie, on what it takes to build a fintech product inside an old industry and survive the cashflow chaos that almost breaks founders. Thomas explains how his early payments career began before smartphones, how he kept seeing the same pain point across industries, and how Biller Genie evolved from “free software to drive paymen
He Tried Hundreds of Jobs So You Don’t Waste 10 Years in the Wrong One | Ep. 333 with Gabriel DeSanti Content Creator & Founder of Staj
Daniel Robbins sits down with Gabriel DeSanti to explore what happens when content creation becomes a real career engine and a real impact engine. Gabriel explains how he finds jobs through simple DMs, why the series highlights unsung workers more than it highlights him, and how international episodes changed his perspective on poverty, environmental damage, and craft. He also shares the business
She Built a Luxury Brand With No Money, No Investors, and Instagram | Ep. 332 with Geeorgie Crossley Founder of GeeGee Collection
Daniel Robbins sits down with Georgie Crossley to unpack what it really takes to build a fashion brand in an oversaturated world. Georgie shares how GeeGee Collection started in 2020 with zero budget, how Instagram became her storefront, and how her mission evolved from “beautiful fabric” to “confidence and identity.” They also discuss why she prefers in store retail for premium products, how she
The Real Reason You Can’t Focus and What to Do About It | Ep. 331 with Nir Eyal NYT Best Selling Author
Daniel Robbins interviews Nir Eyal about how beliefs filter reality and why changing a single limiting belief can be the highest leverage move a founder can make. Nir explains why positive thinking and manifesting can backfire, how mental contrasting prepares you for the pain of the process, and why pain is data while suffering is optional. The episode also explores the dangers of over labeling, t
He Left Goldman. Then He Built a $40 Million Real Estate Platform | Ep. 330 with Alex Blackwood Co-founder of mogul
Daniel Robbins interviews Alex Blackwood about the future of real estate investing, why trust and access are the real moats, and how mogul(https://www.mogul.club/) is building a more democratized path to generational wealth. Alex breaks down how mogul sources and underwrites single family rentals, how the platform uses blockchain quietly in the background, and why the biggest opportunity is giving
The B2B Creator Economy Is Wide Open and Nobody Knows Pricing Yet | Ep 329 with David Walsh Founder & CEO of Limelight
Daniel Robbins interviews David Walsh about how Limelight connects B2B brands with trusted creators across LinkedIn, newsletters, podcasts, and YouTube to drive revenue through authentic content. David explains why personality led marketing is becoming the future of B2B, how creator partnerships can outperform paid ads when measured correctly, and why both brands and creators need more transparenc
The Hidden Compliance Wall That Blocks Small Businesses From Big Contracts | Ep. 328 with Kandace Swaisland Founder of KAKSCORP
Daniel Robbins interviews Kandace Swaisland, founder of KAKSCORP, about what “scaling” should actually mean, why many founders scale into collapse, and how compliance, licensing, and operational design determine whether a business can move into bigger work. Kandace explains her framework for credible growth, then breaks down why digital transformation fails when leaders install tools before they u
Why Great Hires Fail and How to Fix Talent Market Fit | Ep. 327 with Deepali Vyas of Founder & CEO, Vyas Media & 'The Elite Recruiter'
Daniel Robbins interviews Deepali Vyas about the real reasons people get put on performance improvement plans, how founders can diagnose misalignment before it becomes a firing decision, and how CEO and C-suite profiles must evolve as companies scale. Deepali shares behind-the-scenes insight into executive hiring dynamics, including the power networks that shape boards and why women founders can f
Neuro-Optometrist: Your Eyes Are Sabotaging Your Performance and You Have No Idea | Dr. Bryce AppelbaumYour Eyes Are Sabotaging Your Performance and You Have No Idea | Ep. 326 with Dr. Bryce Apbaum
Daniel Robbins interviews Dr. Bryce Appelbaum about why training the eye brain connection can be one of the biggest performance upgrades available and why vision decline with age does not have to be inevitable. They discuss functional vision problems that often go undetected, how screen habits are creating widespread strain and fatigue, and what people can do right now to improve clarity, stamina,
They Found a Problem Nobody Had Solved, Built It, and Scaled to 4.5M Users in Two Years | Ep. 325 with Martin Jensen and John Ramos CEO and CTO of Prop Firm Match
Daniel Robbins interviews Martin and John about Prop Firm Match, a platform that compares prop firms across categories like forex, futures, crypto, and stocks. The episode covers why most traders use prop firms to access larger capital pools, the dangers of unreliable firms, and how Prop Firm Match vets providers and uses verified trader reviews to create transparency in a fast-growing part of the
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