Dive into the complete episode list for Personable . Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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HKUST’s Stephen Shih on why an MBA education still matters in the age of AI
Stephen Shih joins Personable for a wide ranging conversation on consulting, academia, AI, leadership development, ethics, and preparing the next generation of executives for an increasingly complex world.
Stephen is the Associate Dean at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a former Bain partner, and former Executive Vice President of Learning and Development. He has lived and worked across Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, advising senior executives, building leadership pipelines, and now shaping one of Asia’s leading MBA programs.
He discusses: ◽️ What consultants really do and why perspective matters more than jargon ◽️ Leaving Bain for academia and returning twice ◽️ AI, automation, and the future of junior consulting roles ◽️ Why future professionals must think like executives earlier in their careers ◽️ The skills that matter most in an AI driven world
00:00 Stephen’s background and transition from Bain to academia 02:15 Consulting across Asia and leadership development 04:30 What consultants actually do 07:05 Perspective, judgment, and choosing the right mountain to climb 09:15 AI, consulting, and junior talent pipelines 12:15 Preparing for jobs that do not yet exist 13:30 Skills, mindsets, and executive thinking in the AI era 17:50 MBA education and developing future leaders 19:55 Differentiating HKUST and building a global class 23:30 Ethics, values, and responsible leadership 26:55 Making ethical decisions when no one is watching 28:25 Hong Kong, China, and a multipolar world 31:15 Listening, communication, and asking better questions 34:25 Admissions, individuality, and holistic evaluation 38:40 Discipline, values, and professional standards 41:10 Rankings, numbers, and misleading metrics 43:25 Traits of the most successful students 45:05 Networks, trust, and long term relationships 48:10 One key takeaway for listeners
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Ismail Radwan returns to Personable for a wide ranging conversation on global economics, jobs, AI, geopolitics, and the future of growth.
Ismail is a Lead Economist at the World Bank focusing on the GCC and the broader MENAP region. He previously served as Senior Director for Economics and Investment Strategy at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and spent over two decades at the World Bank.
In this episode, Ismail explains why jobs are the single most powerful tool for eradicating poverty, how AI is likely to reshape work without replacing entire economies, and why entrepreneurship matters more than individual projects. He also shares candid views on market cycles, speculative bubbles, youth unemployment, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and how countries balance values, development, and geopolitics.
This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in economics, policy, investing, global development, and how decisions made today will shape the next generation.
He discusses: ◽️ Why jobs are the foundation of prosperity and social stability ◽️ How the World Bank gathers data in fragile and conflict affected countries ◽️ AI, productivity, and why this cycle feels similar to past bubbles ◽️ What Saudi Arabia and the GCC are getting right with diversification ◽️ Entrepreneurship as the true driver of long term economic value ◽️ Youth unemployment, education gaps, and private sector readiness ◽️ Why markets detach from reality and how individuals should prepare ◽️ The role of values, communication, and dialogue in development
00:00 Introduction and Ismail’s background 01:40 Returning to the World Bank and MENAP focus 04:30 Why jobs matter more than any single policy 07:00 Data challenges in fragile states 11:00 AI, automation, and the future of work 18:50 Market cycles, bubbles, and historical parallels 26:00 Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s transformation 31:00 Security, governance, and social stability 36:00 Entrepreneurship and economic ecosystems 42:30 GCC investment priorities and diversification 49:00 Youth unemployment and education reform 53:40 Personal finance, markets, and risk management 59:30 One key takeaway for listeners
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Anthony Cheung shares an honest account of his journey from a state school to working with some of the world’s largest hedge funds, and why his mission today is focused on access, education, and demystifying finance.
Anthony is Chief Content and Culture Officer at AmplifyME and former Head of Markets Analysis at Newsquawk. In this conversation, he reflects on social mobility, imposter syndrome, resilience, and how skills from elite sport translate directly into success in trading and high pressure careers.
This episode is a practical guide for students and early professionals who want to break into finance, build real credibility, and focus on what actually matters beyond prestige and perception.
He explains: ◽️ How a working class upbringing shaped his mindset and ambition ◽️ Why access to opportunity matters more than raw talent ◽️ Lessons from elite youth basketball that apply to trading and life ◽️ The real skills banks look for beyond grades and technical knowledge ◽️ How AmplifyME helps level the playing field for students globally
00:00 Introduction and Anthony’s background 01:34 From state school to Wall Street 05:57 Why giving back became his mission 10:59 Sport, discipline, and transferable skills 17:35 The founding story of Amplify.me 25:14 Becoming a public voice in finance 33:17 How students should prepare for finance careers 38:32 Would he do it all again 39:16 The questions people should ask more often 40:10 One lesson to take away
Anthony Cheung: ◽️ Website: https://amplifyme.com/bio-anthony-cheung ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonycheung10/
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Founder and CEO of The Graduate Guide, Peter Wood returns to Personable to break down how graduate careers are changing, why traditional hiring is broken, and what it really takes to build ambition, confidence, and opportunity in a broken labour market.
Since first appearing on the podcast, Peter has scaled The Graduate Guide from a content driven community into a platform tackling the graduate skills gap head on, culminating in its acquisition by The Apprenticeship Group. His work sits at the intersection of education, startups, recruitment, and social mobility, with a clear mission to help people prove what they can do rather than where they come from.
In this conversation, Peter shares what he has learned about ambition, careers, community building, LinkedIn growth, venture capital, and why curiosity may be the most undervalued skill of the next decade.
He explains: ◽️ Why the graduate job market is fundamentally broken ◽️ How ambition gets lost and how to reignite it ◽️ What companies misunderstand about junior talent and AI ◽️ How The Graduate Guide evolved from content to acquisition ◽️ Why apprenticeships and upskilling are the future of work ◽️ How to use LinkedIn intentionally rather than chasing vanity metrics ◽️ What it really takes to stand out in a hyper competitive world
00:00 Returning to Personable and the Graduate Guide’s evolution 02:10 Solving the graduate career crisis 04:00 Why helping everyone is harder than it sounds 07:54 Building community instead of chasing brands 12:06 AI, skills gaps, and the future of junior roles 18:11 Apprenticeships, upskilling, and long term talent 22:20 Curiosity, boredom, and ambition 27:04 Social media, influence, and responsibility 29:26 Entering the VC and startup ecosystem 33:31 Outlasting competition and building momentum 37:56 What Europe needs to succeed in venture capital 40:12 Helping the average person unlock ambition 47:00 How LinkedIn actually works 53:42 Intentionality behind high performing content 1:02:38 Legacy, ambition, and long term purpose 1:09:44 One lesson to take away
Peter Wood: ◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petermwood_/?hl=en ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-m-wood/
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Travel creator Mungo McCosh (70,000 followers) breaks down how living differently, thinking independently, and embracing discomfort can unlock freedom, creativity, and a global audience.
Mungo is the founder of Mungo TV, a rapidly growing travel and culture platform known for raw storytelling, sharp humour, and honest perspectives on places most people never see. From Mongolia to China, his work challenges curated travel, mainstream narratives, and algorithm driven thinking.
In this conversation, Mungo shares what he has learned about authenticity, social media growth, comedy, censorship, and why doing your own thing is still the most powerful strategy.
He explains: ◽️ Why going off the beaten track creates better stories and a better life ◽️ How to grow on social media without chasing followers or trends ◽️ The real mechanics behind viral content and audience growth ◽️ How humour, satire, and risk shape long term reputation ◽️ What living in China is actually like beyond Western media
00:00 Growing Up Across Cultures 02:10 Rejecting Curated Travel 04:00 From School Expectations to Independence 06:43 Starting Mungo TV 10:43 Being Recognised and Staying Grounded 14:11 How Viral Comedy Really Works 21:45 Turning Ideas Into Content 26:54 Making Better Videos 32:46 Why Niches Matter 40:55 Comedy, Free Speech, and Risk 53:52 Living and Creating in China 58:12 Legacy and Meaning 1:00:44 One Lesson to Remember
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
World-famous adventurer BEAR GRYLLS reveals the TRUTH about success, failure, grief, and faith, and why resilience, family, and purpose matter far more than fame, money, or achievement.
Bear Grylls is a British adventurer, former SAS soldier, Chief Scout, bestselling author, and host of Man vs. Wild and Running Wild. He is one of the most recognisable survivalists in the world, having climbed Mount Everest, broken his back, and worked with presidents, prime ministers, and global leaders.
In this conversation, Bear goes far beyond survival and television to share the hardest moments of his life, including losing his father, enduring repeated failures, and how faith and family became his foundation.
He explains: ◽️ How losing a parent can become a source of strength ◽️ Why resilience is more important than talent or success ◽️ How repeated failure built his career behind the scenes ◽️ Why fame, money, and status never bring fulfillment ◽️ How faith helps navigate fear, doubt, and grief
00:00 Losing a Parent at a Young Age 02:10 Turning Pain Into Purpose 05:01 Fame, Presidents, and Staying Grounded 07:53 Why Success Never Comes From Things 10:20 The Trap of Validation and Recognition 12:19 Being Put in a Box by the World 15:41 Success as a Journey, Not a Destination 16:44 Why Character Is Built in the Valleys 18:55 The Failures No One Talks About 21:31 Faith, Doubt, and a Divided World 25:23 Family as the Ultimate Foundation 28:13 Why Bear Wrote The Greatest Story Ever Told 31:59 Living Faith Through Action 33:59 The One Lesson Bear Wants You to Remember 35:22 Closing Reflections
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Stephen Roberts, Founder of Orgueil Capital (an investment vehicle with its North Star to quintuple capital) and former Partner at Horseman Capital, returns to Personable Markets for one of his most information packed conversations yet.
From dissecting the disconnect between AI headlines and real market performance to uncovering where the true returns have been hiding this year, Stephen brings decades of global macro experience to help investors separate noise from opportunity. In this episode, he explains why commodities and banks have outperformed while tech dominated the narrative, how the steep yield curve transformed UK and European financials, and why Asia and Europe have quietly delivered standout performance.
With sharp analysis across rates, geopolitics, employment trends and the coming wave of AI driven productivity shifts, Stephen breaks down the forces reshaping markets, the risks investors are ignoring and the structural changes likely to define the next decade.
In this episode, Stephen Roberts discusses: ◽️ AI hype versus reality and why investors are missing the real trades ◽️ Commodities surging and the return of a global materials cycle ◽️ Banks minting money from the steep yield curve ◽️ Europe and Asia outperforming and why valuations still look attractive ◽️ China tech recovery, Alibaba’s rebound and cloud dominance ◽️ AI’s impact on unemployment and future economic policy
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:31 Markets since last episode, volatility, tech noise and real performance 02:12 AI bubble debate and why the narrative is misplaced 04:10 Commodities surge across gold, copper and miners 06:25 Banks, yield curves and earnings doubling across the UK 09:38 Europe and Asia outperform while investors stay fixated on AI 12:14 Alibaba, Tencent and China’s cloud advantage 15:03 How Stephen evaluates winners, losers and sector momentum 22:39 Why interest rates determine everything in markets 26:04 US manufacturing push and Mayoshi Son’s investment plans 29:21 Rare earth leverage, Nvidia dependence and geopolitical tension 32:48 Private markets versus public markets, liquidity and risk 43:17 Commodities, banks and where Stephen sees opportunity 47:01 Potential triggers for market stress across rates and employment 52:44 Closing insights and long term positioning 53:12 Outro
📌 Resources Stephen Roberts: ◽️ Orgueil Capital: https://www.orgueilcapital.com/our-story
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult
Yoshi Yokokawa, co-founder and CEO of Alpaca, joins Personable with Harvey Bracken-Smith. Alpaca is a leading brokerage infrastructure and self-clearing fintech powering over 7 million brokerage accounts across 40 countries and backed by more than 170 million dollars in funding.
Before building Alpaca, Yoshi began his career at Lehman Brothers, experiencing the rise and fall of one of the most famous investment banks during the 2008 financial crisis. He went on to become a day trader, founded machine learning startups, and ultimately created Alpaca, a company redefining how global investing is built through APIs.
In this episode, Yoshi shares how he learned from both the boom and the collapse of global markets. He discusses why every generation forgets financial history, why real diversification fails in downturns, and how to stay grounded while raising hundreds of millions of dollars. Yoshi reflects on founder-market fit, emotional resilience, and what it means to build something that gives others financial freedom, the goal he has chased since childhood.
In this episode, Yoshi Yokokawa discusses: ◽️ What it was like working at Lehman Brothers during the 2008 crash ◽️ Why diversification is often a myth in real crises ◽️ Lessons from day trading and "street fighting" in the FX markets ◽️ How machine learning led to the creation of Alpaca ◽️ The realities of raising 170 million dollars in venture capital
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:00 Lehman Brothers culture in Japan 07:30 Early signs of the 2008 crisis 10:00 Bubbles, hedging limits and market behavior 12:30 Retail investors and emotional decision making 15:00 Why hedging depends on local context 17:30 Leaving banking and moving into day trading 22:30 Probability, discipline and trading mindset 25:00 First software attempts and meeting technical friends 30:00 What an API is and why it matters 32:30 Licenses, compliance and protecting customer assets 35:00 Raising 170 million and dealing with dilution 37:30 Convincing VCs and founder market fit 42:30 Japan vs Silicon Valley 45:00 Expanding financial access around the world 47:30 Hiring philosophy and values 50:00 Personal investing style and risk approach 53:00 Burnout, limits and staying balanced 56:00 Legacy, family and long term thinking 58:00 Final reflections 1:08:00 Outro
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📌 Resources Yoshi Yokokawa: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoshiyokokawa/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice
In this episode of Personable Markets, host Harvey Bracken-Smith and guest Luke Sloman analyze a defining week in global finance. Nvidia hits a $5 trillion valuation, the Federal Reserve pauses rate cuts, and Trump and Xi Jinping outline a potential new trade framework that could reshape technology, agriculture, and rare-earth supply chains.
They explore the AI-driven surge in earnings from major tech firms, the growing dominance of the “BATMMAAN” stocks, and the UK’s controversial tax proposals ahead of the Autumn Budget. Harvey and Luke also debate whether record market highs represent sustainable growth or the early signs of an overheated AI bubble.
In this episode, they discuss: ◽️ Nvidia’s $5 trillion milestone ◽️ Record-breaking Q3 tech earnings ◽️ The rise of “BATMMAAN” in the S&P 500 ◽️ Meta’s drop despite strong results
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:35 Market overview and key themes 01:30 Tech earnings recap: Alphabet, Amazon, Apple 04:15 Microsoft and Meta’s AI CapEx spending 06:30 Market reactions and investor focus 08:15 “BATMMAAN” replaces the Magnificent 7 10:00 Nvidia’s $5 trillion valuation 12:10 Blackwell chip demand and revenue pipeline 14:00 Fed cut pause and data blackout 16:20 Powell’s “driving in fog” comment 18:00 Market reaction and inflation outlook 20:00 Trump–Xi meeting breakdown 22:15 Tariff reductions and fentanyl agreement 24:00 Rare-earth exports and semiconductor access 26:30 Nvidia’s China opportunity 28:00 AI market dependence and interconnectivity 30:15 Global markets hit record highs 33:00 Is the AI boom sustainable? 36:00 Comparing investor outlooks: optimism vs caution 38:30 UK Autumn Budget preview 41:00 Labour’s £36B tax hole 43:00 Income freezes, property taxes, ISA reform 45:00 20% exit levy and millionaire migration 47:00 UK inflation and household pressures 49:00 Energy costs and cost-of-living effects 51:00 Brain drain: UK talent moving abroad 54:00 Oxford, Cambridge, and education quotas 56:30 Entrepreneurship culture: UK vs US 59:00 Global capital flows and foreign investment 1:01:00 Retail investors, social media, and sentiment 1:04:30 Market psychology: crash fears vs growth belief 1:07:00 Outlook for 2026 global markets 1:10:00 Key takeaways and lessons 1:15:00 Outro
📌 Resources Luke Sloman: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-sloman-87a6742a9/?originalSubdomain=uk
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Alw
Jamil Qureshi, one of the world’s leading performance psychologists and the first-ever official global psychologist for the European Ryder Cup Team, joins Personable with Harvey Bracken-Smith.
Having coached six world number ones and worked with 22 golfers inside the top 50, Jamil has helped shape champions across F1, the English Premier League, and the Ashes-winning England cricket team. Known for unlocking the “mindset behind mastery,” he shares how world-class athletes and leaders think, learn, and perform at their best — and why ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things through consistent habits and purposeful thinking.
In this episode, Jamil reveals the mental frameworks that drive elite performance — from how to handle pressure and failure, to cultivating consistency, self-reflection, and purpose. Drawing lessons from sport, business, and life, he explains how to manage energy over time, how learning trumps winning, and why the world’s best stay open-minded no matter how successful they become.
In this episode, Jamil Qureshi discusses: ◽️ The psychology of high performance — why mindset beats talent ◽️ Lessons from coaching Ryder Cup golfers, F1 drivers, and Premier League stars ◽️ How to build consistency of mind and control the controllables ◽️ Why failure is “part payment toward success” ◽️ The difference between seeking to impress vs. express ◽️ Purpose, discipline, and the small habits that build greatness ◽️ Open-mindedness and the culture of elite teams ◽️ Internal vs. external success — and how to align the two
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:00 How he became a psychologist after sport 04:00 Spotting real experts vs. self-proclaimed “gurus” 06:30 Learning through experimentation — obstacles instruct 14:00 Learning over winning — how to measure progress 16:30 Praising effort, not outcome 18:30 Ordinary people doing extraordinary things through discipline 30:00 How Jamil keeps learning from top athletes and CEOs 35:00 The mindset of world champions — talent and teachability 40:00 Why play and curiosity drive lifelong learning 44:00 Failure as the price of success 47:00 Leadership lessons from sport — creating winners who create winners 52:00 How to build open-minded teams 1:07:00 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor bef
In this episode of Personable Markets, host Harvey Bracken-Smith and Luke dive into surging global markets as the S&P 500 hits record highs. They explore international outperformance, Magnificent 7 earnings, gold and silver rallies, Fed rate cut expectations, and key geopolitical shifts like the Trump-Xi meeting and US-Canada tariffs.
Luke Sloman, a third-year Business and Management student at the University of Exeter, joins Personable for his fourth appearance while studying abroad at the University of Sydney. Originally from Tokyo until age 13, he moved to the UK for boarding school, focusing his studies on finance-related modules.
Luke shares sharp insights on real-time market trends, analyzing interconnected economies, AI-driven valuations, and trade policies. The duo discusses whether a market crash looms, balancing risks like overvaluation with opportunities in today’s volatile landscape.
In this episode, Luke Sloman discusses: ◽️ Global market rallies: S&P 500 vs. KOSPI, DAX, and Nikkei ◽️ AI and tech overvaluation: bubble risks in semiconductors ◽️ Commodity surges: gold at $4,500/oz, silver short squeezes ◽️ Fed rate cuts: employment focus, market impacts ◽️ US-China trade: tariff pauses, agricultural deals ◽️ Trump’s Asia strategy: ASEAN summit, Japan/South Korea talks
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 04:43 South Korean reforms: trading fee cuts, Lee Jae-myung 05:30 UK FTSE 100: overseas earnings, commodity tailwinds 06:45 Gold at $4,500/oz: hedging, historical highs 07:30 Silver short squeeze: mechanics, leverage impacts 20:00 Market liquidity: VC saturation, government incentives 23:14 Fed rate cut: 98% chance for 25 bps on October 29 26:00 Employment focus: labor softening, inflation trade-offs 27:06 Tariffs as bargaining: US worker benefits, Apple case 28:30 Job market struggles: AI displacing graduates 31:00 Human-AI synergies: workplace collaboration 43:47 Trump-Xi meeting: trade war de-escalation 45:00 Framework agreement: tariff pauses, ag purchases 1:00:00 Government shutdown: 24th day, data delays 1:04:49 JP Morgan study: missing best days cuts returns 1:05:19 Staying invested: long-term importance 1:07:39 Retail sources: X, YouTube, Reddit for edges 1:09:00 Closing: market accuracy, critical thinking
📌 Resources Luke Sloman: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-sloman-87a6742a9/?originalSubdomain=uk
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before ma
Tommy Hyland, one of the greatest blackjack players of all time and a 2002 inductee into the Blackjack Hall of Fame, returns for his second appearance on Personable.
From decades of professional card counting to a 9–0 legal record defending players’ rights, Tommy has spent over 40 years beating casinos with skill, math, and grit. Known for running one of the longest-standing blackjack teams in history, he shares how he turned card counting from a side hustle into a full-time career — and why he believes professional play is “fighting the good fight.”
In this episode, Tommy reveals what it takes to survive and thrive as a professional blackjack player. He explains the math behind card counting, how to manage risk using the Kelly Criterion, and what separates hobbyists from pros. From casino surveillance and legal battles to emotional control and bankroll discipline, Tommy breaks down how to stay ahead of both the cards — and the house.
In this episode, Tommy Hyland discusses: ◽️ Card counting vs. casino countermeasures — legal, ethical, and tactical realities ◽️ Building a blackjack network — teams, mentorship, and trust in the industry ◽️ The “brotherhood” of professional players and how new players can break in ◽️ The Kelly Criterion — how much to bet and when to walk away ◽️ How to manage risk, emotion, and long-term swings
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⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Intro / Welcome to Personable 00:33 Life update — golf, blackjack, and staying sharp 02:20 Casino restrictions and playing smart under pressure 07:30 Why most casinos don’t use continuous shufflers 09:30 The blackjack brotherhood — community and shared intel 11:00 How to find mentors, teams, and investors 13:30 The Blackjack Ball and the legends who attend 15:00 Comparing blackjack, poker, and sports betting 26:00 Fighting back: 9–0 legal record against casino bans 31:00 The Kelly Criterion explained — how much to bet per hand 35:00 Emotional control and bankroll management 40:00 Building a team, finding investors, scaling your play 45:00 Handling swings, losses, and staying rational 55:00 Influences, mentors, and the evolution of advantage play 1:00:00 Legal battles, lawsuits, and false arrests 1:11:00 Believing the math — advice for new players 1:14:00 Legacy, life beyond blackjack, and what’s next
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📌 Resources Tommy Hyland: ◽️ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hyland
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investme
Dr. John Harpham, historian, Harvard PhD, Duke graduate, and author of The Intellectual Origins of American Slavery — a book nominated for the History Pulitzer Prize — joins Personable to explore the intellectual and moral foundations of one of history’s greatest wrongs.
From growing up in New Orleans to studying at Harvard and teaching across America’s top universities, John shares how a decade-long journey through rare books and political thought reshaped his understanding of human morality, freedom, and the legacy of slavery.
In this episode, John explains how he turned from a student of ideas into a scholar of history — and how studying slavery changes the way we understand ourselves.
He breaks down why slavery wasn’t just an economic system but an intellectual one, shaped by the moral reasoning, theology, and politics of its time. The conversation explores race, freedom, cancel culture, moral relativism, and the timeless need for critical thinking.
In this episode, Dr. John Harpham discusses: ◽️ Falling in love with books and scholarship at a young age ◽️ The leap from consumer to producer of knowledge ◽️ How he researched 16th–17th-century texts to trace slavery’s origins ◽️ Slavery as both an economic and intellectual institution ◽️ How moral “attention” shifts across history — and why that matters
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:34 Why John loves books and writing 05:00 Producing knowledge and the discipline of research 11:30 Growing up in New Orleans and confronting history 15:00 Remembering vs. erasing — how to deal with the past 17:00 The moral lessons of slavery and self-reflection 20:20 Monuments, commemoration, and moral complexity 25:00 Cancel culture and freedom of thought 32:00 Race, economics, and the origins of slavery 39:30 The moral logic that justified slavery 43:00 Moral relativism vs. moral absolutism 47:00 Why critical thinking is democracy’s foundation 49:30 How academia can protect reason and open debate 53:00 Lessons learned from writing for a decade 54:00 The biggest takeaways from studying slavery 57:00 Being nominated for the History Pulitzer Prize 59:00 Legacy, teaching, and what’s next — Volume Two 1:02:00 One thing every listener should take away
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📌 Resources Dr. John Harpham: ◽️ Page: https://www.ou.edu/cas/classicsandletters/people/john-harpham
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past perfor
Stephen Roberts, Founder of Orgueil Capital (an investment vehicle with its North Star to quintuple capital over the next 8–9 years) and former Partner at Horseman Capital, returns to Personable Markets for his third appearance.
From navigating hedge fund cycles to founding his own investment vehicle, Stephen brings decades of experience in global macro investing and portfolio construction. In this episode, he breaks down the real-time market volatility, the U.S.–China standoff over rare earths, the AI-driven reshaping of industries, and why he believes we’re entering a new commodities cycle.
With deep insights into policy, behavioral investing, and structural shifts across energy, gold, and tech, Stephen shares his framework for surviving volatility and thriving through the next decade of change.
In this episode, Stephen Roberts discusses: ◽️ Trump’s rare earths tweet and the latest market sell-off ◽️ AI’s winners and losers — why jobs and society are at risk ◽️ U.S.–China energy economics and rare earth dependencies ◽️ The Magnificent 7, valuations, and whether we’re in a bubble ◽️ Gold, commodities, and the next supercycle ◽️ Why AI could cause the next recession ◽️ Oil prices, defense stocks, and global macro risks ◽️ Portfolio construction for the next 10 years — equities, bonds & gold
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:37 Market volatility, Trump’s China tweet & rare earths 03:27 AI, commodities & “mining for AI” 07:01 U.S. vs. China — electricity, chips & competitive edges 09:20 The Magnificent 7: bubble or earnings-backed growth? 13:02 Leadership risk & investor psychology 17:19 AI’s job destruction, social fabric & regulation 24:25 The creator economy & new opportunities 29:17 Spotify, ownership of data & the new AI winners 34:44 Saudi Arabia, sovereign funds & poor investments 36:53 Gold, commodities & portfolio positioning 42:27 Bonds, deficits & a 20-year bear market 45:25 U.S. debt, taxation & political cycles 47:34 Key macro risks: oil, inflation & rates 55:55 Oil, defense stocks & geopolitics 59:49 Political uncertainty: France, Japan & the UK 1:03:22 Long-term allocation: equities, bonds & gold 1:04:01 Outro
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📌 Resources Stephen Roberts: ◽️ Orgueil Capital: https://www.orgueilcapital.com/our-story
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me reach this point. I don’t take your support for granted. Every like, comment and subscription genuinely means the world to me.
I feel honoured that 100 episodes coincides with reaching 1,000 subscribers, and I’m excited to keep building from here.
In this episode, I reflect on the past three years of Personable, the lessons and growth along the way, and what’s next for me and the podcast. I’ll also be focusing on strengthening the show’s narrative and building a closer community for core listeners.
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Harvey Bracken-Smith marks a major milestone: 100 episodes of Personable. Instead of hosting a guest, Harvey turns the mic on himself for a deeply personal, unscripted reflection on the journey so far: from the podcast’s origins at a music festival to its growth into a global platform helping listeners become the best they can be.
In this special episode, Harvey shares the story behind Personable, the lessons learned across 100 conversations with the world’s best, and the personal experiences: including the loss of his mother, Louise, that shaped his drive, discipline, and mission to spread love, learning, and ambition into the world.
In this episode, Harvey discusses: ◽️ The origins of Personable: from a sleepless night at a music festival to a global platform ◽️ Grief, resilience, and how loss shaped his mission ◽️ Lessons from 100 episodes: consistency, courage, and community ◽️ The importance of love, discipline, and applied knowledge ◽️ Goals for the future: building community, growth, and purpose ◽️ What’s next: evolving Personable into a global movement
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Harvey welcomes listeners to episode 100 06:10 Learning his mum’s diagnosis and the shock that followed 08:45 Processing grief and pushing forward instead of pausing 10:55 August 12 2022: the idea for Personable is born 19:55 Hitting milestones: 100 episodes & 1000 subscribers 23:20 Why passion matters more than fame or money 27:05 The odds of success and why love keeps you going 30:30 Learning from 100 guests — the value of curiosity 41:00 Finding purpose through loss and faith 45:10 Choosing your hard: growth through struggle 48:00 Life lessons, legacy, and what’s next for the podcast 50:10 Final message — “Just try.” 51:45 Closing thanks & sign-off
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks,
Harvey Bracken-Smith welcomes Luke Sloman back to Personable. Luke is a third-year Business & Management student at the University of Exeter, currently on year abroad at the University of Sydney. He grew up in Tokyo until age 13 before moving to the UK for boarding school. His academic focus is on finance-related modules that complement his broader Business & Management studies. This is Luke’s 3rd time on Personable.
In this episode Luke and Harvey unpack the week’s biggest market stories - from the record-breaking EA leveraged buyout to Tesla deliveries, Pfizer policy deals, the UK IPO slump, US fiscal risks and political volatility in France and Japan. Luke brings a student’s curiosity and a global perspective (Tokyo → UK → Sydney) to market structure, sovereign wealth flows, and what everyday investors should watch.
In this episode Luke Sloman discusses: ◽️ EA’s $55bn LBO — structure, sovereign wealth involvement, cultural impact ◽️ Saudi sports/“sports-washing” and private equity / Four Seasons style deals ◽️ Tesla Q3 deliveries, EV tax credits, and the longer-term robot/AI narrative ◽️ Pfizer + Trump Rx: pharma, tariffs, and on-shoring manufacturing ◽️ UK IPO & M&A slump — causes, consequences, and what would fix it
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:57 Luke returns — background and why he’s back on the show 02:06 EA $55bn LBO — who’s involved and deal anatomy 03:22 Cultural impact: EA Sports, FIFA, and player/community effects 07:21 Sovereign investors & the “fronted” private equity model (Four Seasons analogy) 11:13 Tesla Q3 surprise, US $7,500 EV credit, and the humanoid/robot thesis 22:43 Pfizer + Trump Rx deal: tariffs, manufacturing investment, and consumer impact 30:44 UK IPO & M&A slump — data, causes, and policy implications 37:30 Real-time markets: X, Caoshi, and how instant feedback changes behaviour 42:30 Eurozone & France — political instability, budget fights, and market moves 51:28 US debt downgrade, debt servicing vs defence spending, and shutdown costs 1:03:14 Breaking: French PM resignation — market reaction and political context 1:14:41 Japan outlook — likely next PM and market implications 1:18:49 Outro
📌 Resources Luke Sloman: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-sloman-87a6742a9/?originalSubdomain=uk
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Raj Setty, Owner of Setty & Associates and CEO of Cyclops, joins Personable. From graduating UC Davis in mechanical engineering to teaching physics in the Peace Corps (Namibia), to scaling a family-run MEP engineering firm from a lifestyle business into a national practice - Raj brings a rare blend of field experience, systems thinking, and product-led engineering. He’s built high-performance engineering teams, led complex federal and institutional projects, and created Cyclops, a digital-twin platform that aggregates building data to enable AI-driven operations.
In this episode Raj explains how boots-on-the-ground engineering informs product design, why engineers must learn to speak to humans, and how digital twins will transform facility operations. He walks through Peace Corps lessons, construction and commissioning stories, building and scaling a family firm, and the pragmatic near-term role AI plays in buildings
In this episode Raj Setty discusses: ◽️ Peace Corps teaching in Namibia: perspective, simplicity, budgeting ◽️ Early career: construction, overseas projects, power plants ◽️ Family business: joining, scaling, and preserving legacy ◽️ Running a full-service MEP firm: federal, institutional, campus work ◽️ Commissioning and hands-on problem solving (boots on the ground)
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro / Welcome to Personable 00:46 Career start, UC Davis and early market context 02:54 Peace Corps in Namibia: teaching, living on $200/month 05:56 Returning home: transition, priorities, and travel 08:32 Construction and on-site engineering experiences 11:13 Overseas projects: power plant, fiber, and manufacturing lessons 13:38 Joining family company: size, tradeoffs, and ambitions 16:29 Running & scaling Setty & Associates (people, offices) 19:54 Buildings as the major energy sector; resilience lessons 24:07 Differentiation, pricing pressures, and commoditization 26:10 Founding Cyclops (2017): motivation and evolution 27:32 Digital twin concept and AI’s “middle” role 31:48 Data ontology, sources, and who actually owns building data 35:08 Cyclops demo walkthrough: boiler troubleshooting use case 40:38 Commercial model: SaaS hosting + services, pilots, parts commerce 47:11 Leadership: craftsmanship, decision budgets, and legacy thinking 53:45 Day-to-day: what Raj values - people, tennis, community 1:04:56 Key takeaway: get good at something
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consul
David Esposito, President & CEO of ONL Therapeutics, joins Personable. From graduating West Point with a BS in Civil Engineering, to leading an infantry platoon in combat with the 101st Airborne Division, David brings a unique perspective from military service to biotech leadership.
With experience spanning pharma sales at Merck, diagnostics leadership, and biotech exits (Armune BioScience to Exact Sciences, Phadia to Thermo Fisher), David has navigated high-stakes environments from battlefields to boardrooms.
In this episode, David Esposito discusses: ◽️ Military service: calling to serve, leadership in combat, and teamwork lessons ◽️ Transition to civilian life: from infantry to pharma sales and biotech ◽️ Discipline vs. motivation: building endurance in sports, military, and business ◽️ Pharma career path: consistency, exits, and navigating big vs. early-stage companies ◽️ Biotech innovation: pricing, risk, trials, and balancing science with business
00:00 Intro 00:42 Why David joined the Army: calling to serve 01:57 Rallying cries for causes greater than self 03:44 Sports camaraderie parallels military teamwork 05:23 Leadership growth in sports, high-stakes army roles 06:37 Navigating debates, execution in high-pressure environments 08:26 Australia: respect, rules, transitioning to civilian life 10:03 From team environments to solo sales rep 12:52 Military discipline drives corporate hustle, endurance 14:50 Consistency over flash: path to senior roles 16:27 Career journey: Merck sales to biotech CEO 18:55 No overnight successes: grinding, practical realities 19:24 Long-form podcasts reveal successful people’s essence 22:45 Diverse experiences, personal trade-offs in careers 25:24 Pharma marketing, pricing, and staying grounded 28:24 Rewarding innovation: risk capital, vision value 28:54 Boots on the ground: frontline insights matter 30:10 Risk, incentives: why innovation needs rewards 37:32 Holistic health: diet, sleep, nuanced treatments 40:02 Pharma misconceptions: innovation improves lives despite failures 44:02 Building biotech: problem-solving, teams, capital 47:11 Success commonalities: relationships, honesty, learning 50:06 ONL Therapeutics: vision protection in retinal diseases 53:45 Managing risk: lean teams, transparency, dilution 1:05:57 Key takeaway: purposeful innovation moves society forward
📌 Resources David Esposito: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidesposito2/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always c
I am beyond excited to announce that Personable has hit 1,000 subscribers!!!
Thank you to everyone that has supported me up to this point.
I am grateful to have been given the platform to create the best conversations with the best guests on the planet to enable my listeners to become the best they can be
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Louis-Vincent Gave, CEO & Co-Founder of Gavekal, returns to Personable as a two-time guest. From graduating Duke University with a BA in Economics, History & Chinese, to studying Mandarin at Nanjing University, Louis brings a unique global perspective. He’s advised institutions, funds, and governments for decades - and in this episode, he dissects markets, AI, energy, and the U.S.-China dynamic with refreshing clarity.
With experience spanning macro research, portfolio strategy, and global policy insights, Louis has built Gavekal into one of the world’s most respected independent research firms. Known for sharp takes on U.S.-China relations, the future of AI, and structural shifts in energy, Louis shares why the U.S. still holds “pocket aces,” why investors should be watching China-India-Russia integration, and why we may be entering a 20-year bond bear market. In this episode, he lays out the risks, opportunities, and new frameworks for investors navigating 2025 and beyond.
In this episode, Louis-Vincent Gave discusses: ◽️ The evolving U.S.-China relationship, tariffs, and rare earths ◽️ AI: bubble or paradigm shift? U.S. closed vs. China’s open models ◽️ Energy economics: why coal may fuel America’s AI race ◽️ The Magnificent Seven, Nvidia, and overvaluation risks ◽️ Global macro trends: China-India-Russia integration vs. U.S. dominance
00:00 Intro 00:32 Meeting Louis-Vincent Gave: Gavekal & background 02:11 U.S.-China relations since 2018 semiconductor embargo 05:13 U.S. advantages vs. China’s rapid rise 09:19 Global trade trends: shifting toward the Global South 13:40 Western media narratives: “imploding or taking over” China 18:00 TikTok deal, Taiwan, tariffs & negotiations 21:53 AI: bubbles, Nvidia, DeepSeek & open vs. closed models 29:10 Employment disruption & the future of work 38:35 Energy: U.S. vs. China, renewables, coal & AI power needs 46:17 Inflation, social media, data & retail markets 49:28 Investment strategies: AI bets vs. global opportunities 53:10 Nvidia’s 75% corrections & systemic risk 56:18 Macro trends: U.S. vs. China-India-Russia integration 1:01:12 Gold, crypto & energy as diversification tools 1:09:59 Public vs. private markets for investors 1:13:20 Social media, retail investing & “gamifying” markets 1:16:36 Bonds, pensions & a 20-year bear market 1:18:11 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing invol
James Frost, creative strategist and director, returns to Personable as a two-time guest. From photographing for Complex and Hypebeast to relaunching his own app Buzz - which hit 30,000 downloads in 50 days and 2.6 million social impressions - James is shaping the future of culture at the intersection of fashion, music, and tech.
With experience across media, brand campaigns for Adidas and Jägermeister, and mentoring 1,700+ young creatives worldwide, James blends creativity with sharp digital strategy. He’s grown TikTok accounts past 4 million views, Instagram projects past 1 million impressions, and even scaled a client from 250 to 13K followers in eight weeks. In this episode, James shares his social media blueprint for 2025, why community beats algorithms, and how to build something that people want to talk about.
In this episode, James Frost discusses: ◽️ Social media hacks for 2025: hooks, algorithms & repeatable content ◽️ Building Buzz from guerrilla marketing to App Store top charts ◽️ Lessons from working with Complex, Hypebeast, Wonderland, and Clash ◽️ Mentorship: helping 1,700+ creatives break into the industry ◽️ Defining success, happiness, and legacy at 23
00:00 Intro 00:32 Meeting James Frost: From Creative Director to Entrepreneur 02:11 What is Buzz and Why Relaunch It? 04:12 App Store Strategy: 30K Downloads in 50 Days 06:39 Working with Developers & the Role of AI 08:36 Funding Yourself Without Investors 11:47 Breaking Into the Creative Industry 12:57 Mentorship: 27 Cohorts, 1700+ Students 16:10 Outreach & Networking Hacks 19:40 Pressure to Take a Traditional Path? 21:37 Reverse Engineering Goals 23:16 Social Media Blueprint: Hooks, Editing & Retention 29:37 Case Study: Turning Events Into Viral TikToks 32:49 Community Impact: Opening Doors for Others 38:40 Evergreen vs. Expiring Content 42:56 Editing Workflow: From Idea to TikTok in 20 Minutes 50:28 Overcoming Fear of Filming in Public 53:35 Scaling Content Production Efficiently 59:31 Camera Presence & Authentic Charisma 1:01:22 Building Buzz as a Brand, Not Just a Tech Tool 1:05:21 Monetization: Placements & Partnerships 1:07:27 Legacy: Tech x Culture at Scale 1:08:49 What’s Next: Expanding Beyond London 1:11:22 One Takeaway for Creators
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not in
Dr Markus Nauheim, a partner at Gibson Dunn’s Munich office, shares his journey from a small-town German student to a globally recognized corporate lawyer advising giants like Mercedes-Benz and KKR.
Dr Markus Nauheim has dual qualifications in New York and German law, a doctorate from Mainz, and an LL.M. from Duke, Markus blends discipline, integrity, and an entrepreneurial mindset to navigate high-stakes M&A and compliance challenges. In this episode, he reveals how his basketball background fuels resilience, why client trust is paramount, and how thought leadership builds a standout legal career.
In this episode, Markus Nauheim discusses: ◽️ Finding purpose in law through responsibility ◽️ Global perspective from studying worldwide ◽️ Discipline via incremental career goals ◽️ Resilience from competitive sports ◽️ Balancing intense work with self-care
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:32 Meeting Markus Nauheim: Background and Career 01:05 Why Law: Choosing a Purposeful Career 03:19 Global Perspective: Studying in Germany, Hong Kong, Duke 06:22 Entrepreneurial Mindset in Law 06:59 Discipline: Staying Motivated in Law School 10:58 Specializing: Pursuing Media Law Doctorate 12:34 From Junior Lawyer to Partner 13:01 Sports Background: Building Resilience 18:43 Work-Life Balance: Avoiding Burnout 19:22 Client Relationships: Earning and Keeping Trust 21:16 Efficiency: The 80-20 Rule in Law 23:27 Perfection: Delivering Flawless Work 25:33 Teamwork: Spartans vs. Persians in Deals 26:36 Parallels Between Law and Finance 27:38 Importance of Relationships Over Technology 30:49 AI’s Role: Enhancing, Not Replacing, Humans 32:07 Becoming a Great Lawyer: Key Traits 40:28 Integrity: Saying No to Unethical Demands 41:37 Networking: Acquiring High-Profile Clients 44:37 Thought Leadership: Building Visibility 46:20 High-Pressure Moments: Staying Focused 50:46 Corporate vs. Personal Legal Challenges 51:24 Legal Advice for Non-Lawyers 54:45 Mentoring: Coaching Young Athletes 56:31 Legacy: Making a Community Impact 57:21 Future Goals: Teaching and Community Projects 58:46 Balancing Law with Personal Life 1:01:22 Healthy Longevity: Creating a Blue Zone 1:01:44 Key Takeaway: Align Career with Self 1:04:15 Outro
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📌 Resources Dr Markus Nauheim: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnauheim ◽️ Gibson Dunn: https://www.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/nauheim-markus/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future resul
This is the 4th episode of Personable markets in which I aim to speak to a hedgefund manager, VC or Investment Banker every week on real world market events. In this episode I speak to...
Luke Sloman who is a third-year Business and Management student at the University of Exeter, currently spending his year abroad at the University of Sydney. Luke grew up in Tokyo until the age of 13 before moving to the UK for boarding school. His academic interests focus on finance-related modules, which complement his broader studies in Business and Management.
In the episode, Luke reveals: ◽️ Fed's 25 bps cut targets labor market slowdown. ◽️ AI displaces junior jobs but sparks new opportunities. ◽️ Nvidia-Intel $5B deal boosts AI chip production. ◽️ Apple's cult-like ecosystem drives loyalty, not just innovation. ◽️ Oracle’s cloud revenue surges 28% from AI demand.
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:30 Luke’s Academic Focus and Sydney Experience 00:44 Fed Rate Cuts Overview 01:18 Luke’s Take on 25 bps Reduction 03:00 Equities Boost from Lower Rates 03:32 Market Expectations and Fed-Trump Dynamics 04:08 UK Rate Cuts as US Precedent 05:15 Yield Curve Sensitivity to Inflation Expectations 08:20 H1B Visa Cost Hike to $100k 09:56 Payroll Slowdown: 22,000 Jobs in August 10:30 AI Disrupting Junior-Level Roles 11:15 Historical Tech-Driven Job Creation 12:00 Adapting Skills for AI-Driven Economy 14:35 AI’s Initial Job Displacement Effects 15:20 Ethical AI Use in Schools 16:00 Social Media’s Rise as a Career 17:32 Education’s Shift to AI Integration 19:10 Football’s Professionalization as Historical Parallel 20:00 Critical Thinking in AI-Dominated Future 21:30 Initiative and Human Element in AI Era 24:15 Chinese Restrictions on Nvidia Chips 25:30 Nvidia-Intel $5B AI Collaboration 31:51 Apple’s iPhone Innovation Stagnation 34:00 iPhone 17 Pre-Orders Up 19% in India 39:15 Apple’s Seamless Product Integration 41:00 Oracle’s $877B Market Cap Growth 48:00 US Ownership Push for TikTok Algorithm 49:46 Oracle’s Cloud Demand from AI Players 54:27 Larry Ellison’s Entertainment Empire Expansion 56:00 Quarterly vs. Semi-Annual Earnings Debate 59:27 Crypto Rally and Tariff Escalations 1:01:10 Trump’s Influence on Economic Policy Narratives 1:02:00 Importance of Nuanced Investment Analysis 1:02:42 Outro and Final Takeaways
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📌 Resources Luke Sloman: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-sloman-87a6742a9
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making inv
Hunter Black shares his serendipitous rise on The Voice Australia, from a surprise audition to battling for Ronan Keating's team, while pursuing his passion for songwriting and live performances across Sydney's music scene.
Hunter is a Sydney-based musician completing a Bachelor of Media and Communication at Macquarie University, with a Diploma in Music Production from SAE. His influences blend soul from Stevie Wonder and progressive pop from Supertramp into original storytelling songs, performed solo or with his band Lantana. In 2025, he captivated national audiences on The Voice Australia Season 14, turning his bar gigs into a launchpad for a full-time music career.
In this episode, Hunter Black discusses: ◽️ Serendipitous audition unlocked his Voice journey ◽️ Behind-the-scenes production revealed TV's scale ◽️ Nerves and song tweaks fueled performance breakthroughs ◽️ Coaches like Ronan provided heartfelt guidance ◽️ Media pitfalls taught emotional resilience in fame
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:32 Meeting Hunter Black: Background and The Voice Australia 01:10 Hunter’s Voice Experience: Blind Audition and Battle Round 02:43 Audition Process: How Hunter Got on The Voice 05:30 Behind the Scenes: Producer Influence and Storytelling 06:59 Production Scale: Size and Complexity of The Voice 08:28 Nerves and Emotions: Performing on a National Stage 09:42 Song Selection: Adapting for the 90-Second Format 11:41 Performance Dynamics: Judges Turning Chairs 12:51 Coach Interaction: Role and Impact of Mentors 15:11 Competitiveness: Balancing Inner Drive and Public Image 17:15 Media Training: Navigating Interviews and Public Perception 21:08 Mindset: Focusing on Personal Best 22:35 Misconceptions: Media Manipulation and Public Perception 26:04 Podcast Format: Value of Unfiltered Conversations 27:47 TikTokification: Impact of Short-Form Media on Perception 35:35 Applying Advice: Staying Present in Music and Media 37:12 Post-Voice Plans: Maintaining Momentum 39:32 Success in Music: Building a Sustainable Career 40:58 Getting Signed: Role of Social Media and Connections 43:41 Music as Entrepreneurship: Building an Audience 46:43 Networking: Importance of Industry Connections 48:52 Legacy: Creating Timeless Music and Authenticity 50:35 Future Goals: Songwriting and Industry Success 52:09 Social Media Strategy: Leveraging The Voice Exposure 53:14 Key Takeaway: Blocking Out Noise and Staying True 54:00 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a quali
Lihong Wang details his progression from internships at Jane Street and Akuna Capital to his former full time role at IMC Trading, with plans to innovate in DeFi through his startup Freeport backed by Y Combinator.
Lihong is a Duke University graduate with a background in mathematics and statistics. Lihong progressed from analyzing volatility decay at Jane Street to managing semi-systematic options books at IMC Trading. Lihong developed Freeport to simplify DeFi investing for self-custody users.
In this episode, Lihong Wang discusses: ◽️ Overcoming quant entry challenges shaped his career ◽️ Mastering trading styles enhanced market adaptability ◽️ Transitioning to entrepreneurship drove Freeport’s creation ◽️ AI’s role boosted trading research efficiency ◽️ Staking yields highlight DeFi’s potential for accessibility
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:32 Quant interest: Math roots to Duke exposure 02:04 GameStop experience: Early retail trading 03:36 Market efficiency: Retail vs. quant perspectives 07:38 Quant compensation: Options and AI trends 09:08 Retail investing: Long-term vs. day trading 11:30 Jane Street culture: Secrecy and operations 13:00 IMC vs. Jane Street: Work dynamics 14:13 AI’s trading impact: Automation and signals 15:21 Leaving quant: Seeking fulfillment 17:51 Freeport concept: DeFi simplification 21:16 Startup timing: Co-founder alignment 24:44 Staking mechanics: Proof-of-stake details 27:54 Ethereum staking: Pool risks and rewards 30:01 Staking incentives: Network validation 31:50 Lending vs. staking: Platform differences 33:00 Centralized cuts: Coinbase’s approach 36:17 YC backing: Trust-building in DeFi 39:00 Team strength: Finance and tech synergy 40:38 Regulatory window: Startup opportunity 42:25 Early users: Test phase progress 43:55 Crypto thesis: Long-term potential 46:44 Blockchain rails: Future finance 48:17 Investment advice: Top tokens 49:19 Target users: Retail and institutions 50:44 Safety measures: Protocol due diligence 53:48 Crypto bans: Technological resilience 55:14 Growth challenge: Product completion 57:29 Competitive edge: User retention 59:26 Learning crypto: Exchange resources 1:01:28 Portfolio strategy: Big vs. small tokens 1:02:15 Untapped topic: DeFi trading edges 1:04:12 Liquidity provision: Retail vaults 1:05:15 Legacy goal: Impactful innovation 1:06:38 Next steps: Launch and growth 1:07:39 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making
This is the 3rd episode of Personable markets in which I aim to speak to a hedgefund manager, VC or Investment Banker every week on real world market events. In this episode I speak to...
Lia Forcina who is a partner and portfolio manager at LGR Capital in London. She previously held roles at BlueCrest Capital, SAC Capital (now Point72), and Morgan Stanley. Lia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Rome Tor Vergata (110/110 cum laude) and a Master’s degree in Statistics and Econometrics from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
In this episode, Lia reveals: ◽️ The surprising impact of tariffs on global inflation ◽️ Why Federal Reserve independence faces growing scrutiny ◽️ Her secret to navigating UK’s economic challenges ◽️ The hidden struggles of Europe’s regulatory environment ◽️ The power of US markets and corporate relocations
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:44 Tariffs and Inflation Concerns 01:44 Tariff Legal Challenges, Outcomes 02:07 Companies Absorbing Tariff Costs 04:42 Tariffs’ Net Economic Impact 05:15 Strategic Production Shift from China 07:28 Europe’s Business Relocation Losses 09:02 UK Economic Decline, Budget Risks 09:47 UK Autumn Budget Implications 11:16 New UK Worker Rights Laws 12:35 Costly Employment Regulations 14:42 UK Investment Opportunities, Risks 15:04 Civil Service as Safe Sector 15:49 S&P 500 Overvaluation Debate 17:17 US Economic Resilience Advantage 17:32 UK Regulations Stifling Growth 19:31 EV and Grid Infrastructure Issues 20:47 Welfare’s Work Disincentive Problem 21:25 France’s Political, Economic Instability 22:11 France’s Welfare and Productivity Crisis 25:21 Crisis-Driven Economic Reforms 30:15 Elon Musk’s Unique Compensation 30:42 Banks Embracing Crypto, Gold 32:06 Trading Revenue Outpacing M&A 34:15 Private Firms’ Systemic Importance 34:45 Strong European M&A Activity 38:20 Undervalued Financial Sector Opportunities 40:49 AI Enhancing Finance Productivity 44:58 Creativity Over Technical Skills 45:59 Human Nuance in AI Era 47:14 Broader Education for Success 49:12 AI Investment Overspending Risks 51:54 Defense Stocks’ Long-Term Growth 53:04 Europe’s Rising Defense Spending 53:23 Fed-Government Relationship Tensions 53:54 Trump’s Fed Influence Overhyped 57:27 Filtering Media Noise Effectively 59:27 Banks’ Economic Leverage Risks 1:02:49 Outro
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📌 Resources Lia Forcina ◽️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-forcina-17352459
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualifie
Deanna Filippo, a visionary creative director, shares her journey from designing for Allure and Victoria’s Secret to pioneering iconic beauty visuals and building a luxury lifestyle brand.
Deanna Filippo, a pioneering creative director, has carved a bold path in design, evolving from crafting visuals for Allure and CosmoGirl to inventing tactile "blobs and smears" inspired by beauty, texture, and emotion. Her work, shaping brands like Victoria’s Secret, blends art and desire. In this episode, Filippo shares overcoming early struggles, mastering digital design, and valuing collaboration. She discusses balancing creativity with profit, launching a luxury lifestyle brand with makeup bags and decor, making beauty vibrant and accessible.
Deanna Filippo Discusses: ◽️ Digital design transformed her creative process ◽️ Evoking emotion elevates beauty visuals ◽️ "Blobs and smears" reflect texture and desire ◽️ Luxury brand blends exclusivity with accessibility ◽️ Collaboration fueled success at Allure, beyond
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:45 Why design? Deanna’s early inspirations 01:20 Sketching beauty products in high school 03:10 Breaking into magazines during recession 04:25 Early hustle: 80-hour Allure weeks 06:50 Collaboration drives creative success 08:40 First Allure role: Key lessons 10:55 Navigating high-pressure magazine demands 12:35 Thriving in competitive design world 14:15 From paste-ups to digital design 16:40 Evoking emotion in beauty visuals 19:25 Building consumer trust through design 22:10 What makes exceptional designers 24:45 Misconceptions about Deanna’s perfectionism 27:20 Perfectionism as a creative hurdle 30:05 Networking with top beauty brands 33:15 Emotional impact of design work 36:30 “Blobs and smears”: Beauty innovation 39:50 Vibrant visuals spark consumer desire 42:25 Dynamics of client-designer relationships 45:40 Victoria’s Secret, CosmoGirl brand work 48:55 Launching luxury lifestyle brand 51:20 Makeup bags sell out rapidly 54:35 Scaling luxury with quality control 57:50 Exclusivity shapes brand pricing 1:00:45 Legacy as designer and entrepreneur 1:03:10 Future products: Bags, decor expansion 1:06:25 Takeaway: Risk-taking fuels success 1:09:15 Design and business insights shared 1:11:30 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financia
David Stesner, a renowned photographer and artist, shares his journey from assisting legendary photographers to creating his iconic butterfly collection and building a luxury home decor brand.
David Stesner, a classically trained artist, has carved a unique path in the art world, transitioning from assisting iconic photographers like Albert Watson to creating his own globally recognized work, including his deeply personal butterfly collection inspired by life, loss, and transformation. His art, featured in prestigious galleries like the St Regis Hotel in Doha and collected by royal families, reflects a blend of fashion, nature, and emotional depth. In this episode, Stesner discusses the challenges of breaking into the competitive photography industry, the evolution from analog to digital, and the importance of networking and social media in amplifying his reach. He also shares how he balances passion and profit, culminating in the creation of David Stesner Art House, a luxury brand applying his art to home decor, making it accessible to a wider audience while maintaining exclusivity.
David Stesner’s Discusses: ◽️ Digital photography revolutionized his creative process ◽️ Capturing personality enhances portrait photography ◽️ Butterfly collection reflects life and loss ◽️ Luxury brand balances exclusivity and accessibility ◽️ Social media connected art with elites
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:46 Why art? David’s early influences 01:36 From childhood interest to professional art 04:09 Balancing passion and profit early 09:15 Assisting legendary photographers: Lessons learned 15:06 Analog vs. digital photography shift 21:10 Building rapport for emotional portraits 23:38 What separates great photographers 26:50 Misconceptions about David’s on-set demeanor 30:41 Networking for elite galleries, collectors 33:46 Emotional weight of selling art 39:49 Balancing interpretation in art creation 43:39 Artist-collector relationship dynamics 45:38 Lamborghini collaboration for luxury show 50:04 Launching David Stesner Art House 59:19 Exclusivity’s role in pricing strategy 1:02:07 David’s legacy as artist, philanthropist 1:02:47 Future exhibits and brand scaling 1:03:53 Takeaway: Passion with a backup 1:04:56 Art, business, and branding insights 1:06:41 Outro
📌 Resources
David Stesner: ◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidstesner/?hl=en ◽️ Website: https://www.davidstesner.com/ ◽️ Home Decor Brand: https://davidstesnerarthouse.com/ ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-stesner-arthouse-b19a1710
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified fin
The No 1 Parenting Expert in South Africa Meg Faure shares her journey empowering parents, blending neuroscience, and fostering curiosity.
Meg Faure, an occupational therapist and serial entrepreneur, is the co-author of eight bestselling parenting books, including Baby Sense. Raised in South Africa, she studied at the University of Cape Town and specialized in New York, focusing on neuroscience and early childhood development. She founded Baby Sense, Play Sense, Sense-IT, and Parent Sense, impacting millions globally. Now scaling her Parent Sense app, Meg supports parents in the critical first 1,000 days, driven by compassion and science.
Meg Faure discusses: ◽️ Shaping South Africa’s parenting landscape ◽️ Tackling bold entrepreneurial challenges ◽️ Transforming parenting with neuroscience insights ◽️ Scaling Parent Sense to global impact ◽️ Fueling parental confidence through curiosity
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:50 South African roots and early passion 01:42 Love for babies and childhood calling 02:25 Neuroscience shaping parenting approach 03:37 Writing Baby Sense bestseller 04:59 Radio show sparks overnight success 06:05 Impact of Baby Sense seminars 07:09 Curiosity drives lifelong career 08:12 Parenting in an information overload 10:52 Finding trustworthy parenting voices 12:19 Navigating social media’s noise 14:33 Essential advice for new parents 16:42 Emotional connection as top priority 18:12 Gut microbiome’s role in health 20:17 Sensory experiences vs. toxic screens 25:34 Supporting neurodiverse kids’ success 27:28 Resilience through failure 29:00 Nature vs. nurture’s lifelong impact 31:43 Adverse childhood events explained 34:58 Self-regulation predicts future success 38:15 Overcoming adversity with resilience 42:30 Screens as harmful as smoking 46:49 Supporting postpartum mental health 48:19 Finding purpose post-parenting 50:54 Balancing work and motherhood 53:40 Dangers of tiger parenting 56:24 Free play fuels child creativity 59:57 Parent Sense app’s innovative design 1:02:33 Insurers fund app for scale 1:04:06 Pricing strategy for global reach 1:05:51 Reflecting on slower motherhood 1:07:17 Legacy of impacting millions 1:08:24 Scaling Parent Sense globally 1:09:10 Curiosity as a parenting superpower 1:10:13 Outro
📌 Resources Meg Faure: ◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/ ◽️ Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-faure/ ◽️ Parent Sense LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parent-sense/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advi
Stanley Borden shares his journey of overcoming social anxiety, navigating NIL, and chasing NBA aspirations.
Stanley Borden, a 7’0, 241-pound former walk-on for Duke’s men’s basketball team, is now a scholarship player at the University of Texas San Antonio. Born in New York and raised in Turkey with Turkish-Portuguese roots, he transitioned from tennis to basketball at 15, later starting for Portugal’s U20 national team. At Duke, he contributed to a 2022 Final Four, 2023 ACC Tournament win, 2024 Elite Eight, and 2025 Final Four, all while earning a computer science degree with minors in computational biology and English. Honored with the ACC Top Six for Service Award for organizing a 7.8km run for Turkey/Syria earthquake relief, Stanley now pursues an MBA at UTSA while aiming for a professional basketball career. In this episode, he opens up about battling social anxiety, leveraging NIL opportunities, and defining success beyond the court, guided by values of humility, empathy, and relentless initiative.
In this episode, Stanley Borden discusses: ◽️ Growing up in Turkey, Portugal influence ◽️ Handling social anxiety at 7’0 ◽️ NIL’s impact on college basketball ◽️ Transferring to UTSA for playing time ◽️ Defining success, values, and purpose
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:50 Background and basketball beginnings 01:40 Height assumptions 03:43 Handling height-related questions 04:19 Social dynamics of being tall 04:43 Navigating perceptions in high school 06:30 Social anxiety and fame 07:23 Overcoming social anxiety 10:04 Confidence reflection 10:59 College loneliness and social media 11:32 Campus fame via Fizz app 12:40 Parasocial relationships and campus hate 17:33 Connecting with others despite fame 19:55 Basketball experience 20:51 Walking onto Duke’s team 23:05 Coach K’s involvement 25:47 Tryout experience and team acceptance 32:34 NBA aspirations 32:42 Team role and growth 34:21 Transferring for more playtime 35:55 Playing with Cooper Flagg, Jared McCain 36:26 Teammates’ personalities 39:10 Engaging with people, not ideas 41:21 Combating false narratives 42:26 Empathy for negative behavior 44:35 NIL’s impact on college sports 48:59 Reflecting on future regrets 50:04 Improving basketball skills 52:54 Balancing basketball and other pursuits 1:00:14 Being multifaceted 1:01:19 Closing reflections 1:02:24 Thanks and outro
📌 Resources Stanley Borden ◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stanleysborden/?hl=en ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanley-borden-4b8909224/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualif
This is the 2nd episode of Personable markets in which I aim to speak to a hedgefund manager, VC or Investment Banker every week on real world market events. Unfortunately, this week the hedge fund manager I was supposed to speak to dropped out at the last minute. Fortunately, a good friend of mine was able to fill the gap to join me on this week’s Personable markets episode...
Luke Sloman who is a third-year Business and Management student at the University of Exeter, currently spending his year abroad at the University of Sydney. Luke grew up in Tokyo until the age of 13 before moving to the UK for boarding school. His academic interests focus on finance-related modules, which complement his broader studies in Business and Management.
In this episode, Luke Sloman reveals: ◽️ Why Japanese PMs frequently resign ◽️ US tariffs’ impact on global markets ◽️ UK’s looming fiscal shortfall crisis ◽️ Gold and Bitcoin as economic hedges ◽️ Retail investors’ growing market influence
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:33 Japan’s political instability 01:34 UK Deputy PM resignation 01:35 Autumn budget concerns 02:19 US Fed rate cut expectations 02:49 Japanese PM resignation trends 03:10 Liberal Democratic Party dominance 05:42 Ishiba’s resignation reasons 06:03 Nikkei 225 and S&P correlation 07:08 US tariffs hit Japanese economy 08:35 Japan’s trade diversification strategy 09:07 Global stock market performance 12:27 UK’s Labour approval drop 13:00 Post-COVID economic struggles 15:57 Migration as UK voter priority 16:25 Labour’s tax hike challenges 18:02 UK’s £50B fiscal shortfall 20:55 UK’s entrepreneurial mindset gap 23:24 Simon Squibb’s startup inspiration 24:30 Harry Stebbings’ VC influence 25:30 UK’s AI potential untapped 27:27 US vs. UK entrepreneurial culture 30:20 Trump’s tariff unconstitutionality ruling 34:09 Silicon Valley Bank collapse 37:22 US $40T debt concerns 38:46 Potential financial crisis looming 42:57 Retail investors’ limited participation 46:55 GameStop retail investor phenomenon 51:37 Citadel’s trading data advantage 53:43 Gold prices hit record highs 54:14 Bitcoin’s 10x growth explained 57:20 Gold as inflation hedge 1:00:12 Bitcoin’s government-backed irony 1:03:12 Department of Defense renamed War 1:05:03 War’s economic implications 1:07:29 Strong US market performance 1:08:00 Final thoughts and outlook 1:08:48 Outro
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📌 Resources Luke Sloman: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-sloman-87a6742a9
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Alwa
Tim McInnerny shares his journey of mastering diverse roles and staying true to the craft of acting.
Tim McInnerny rose to prominence as a versatile actor, uniquely playing two leading roles in the iconic Blackadder series - Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling - while building a career spanning theater, film, and television. From his early days in school plays to starring alongside legends like Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, Tim has balanced comedy and drama, appearing in projects like Notting Hill, Game of Thrones, and Gladiator 2. A graduate of Oxford University, where he studied English Language and Literature, he honed his craft through the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, always prioritizing truth and authenticity in his performances.
In this episode, Tim McInnerny discusses: ◽️ Discovering acting through a reluctant school play debut at 14 ◽️ Balancing ambition with humility in a competitive industry ◽️ The importance of truth and collaboration in acting ◽️ Navigating the emotional depths of roles like Iago and Hamlet ◽️ Lessons from a 40-year career in theater, TV, and film
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:31 Tim shares school play start 02:09 Acting clicked for Tim early 04:36 Harvey contrasts modern acting motives 05:04 Harvey asks about role competition 05:24 Tim on theater, luck’s role 08:08 Tim’s first London play 09:19 Harvey cites passion-driven acting 11:23 Balancing uniqueness with director’s vision 12:19 Tim on collaboration, script’s role 15:29 Tim’s chameleon-like acting approach 16:20 Tim on accessing self for roles 18:36 Harvey references Game of Thrones 19:42 Tim on controlling role immersion 21:08 Harvey asks about disconnecting roles 23:21 Tim discusses playing Iago 25:24 Harvey relates to life balance 26:25 Tim praises Harvey’s self-awareness 27:01 Tim chose university over drama 29:42 Tim on Oxford theater opportunities 31:33 Harvey shares dyslexia, camera issues 33:02 Tim on Blackadder comedy 36:36 Tim defines humor as wit 38:04 Blackadder’s serious comedy process 40:38 Challenges with Shakespeare’s comedy 41:01 Humor from character truth 47:00 Harvey asks about inspirations 48:31 Tim on Redgrave, Dench, Holm 54:17 Harvey asks about legacy 54:38 Tim values kindness as legacy 55:35 Harvey asks about unasked questions 57:34 Acting as self-examination privilege 58:43 Harvey thanks Tim, recalls meeting 1:00:05 Harvey reflects on deep talk 1:00:11 Outro
📌 Resources Tim McInnerny: ◽️ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570570/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a
Will Judy, a former top scooter rider, shares his journey of building a 24,000-follower community and thriving as a data scientist.
Will Judy rose to prominence as a professional scooter rider, amassing over 24,000 Instagram followers through skill-driven video edits that garnered tens of thousands of views. He earned brand sponsorships for U.S. travel and signature skateboard parts in his name. Alongside his scootering career, he graduated magna cum laude from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in applied mathematics, earning Dean’s List and merit scholar honors. He now maintains a 4.0 GPA in a Master’s in Data Science at the University of Texas and works as a data scientist in marketing analytics.
In this episode, Will Judy discusses: ◽️ How scootering built lifelong discipline ◽️ Growing a 24,000-follower community ◽️ Balancing passion with academic success ◽️ Lessons from overcoming social pressures ◽️ Transitioning to a data science career
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:32 Will explains why he started scootering 01:24 Growing up active in Seattle 02:02 What drove Will to excel 02:10 Joy of landing new tricks 02:32 Building friendships at skate parks 03:47 Scootering as a unique skill 06:07 Key life lessons from scootering 07:11 Gratitude from diverse friendships 08:46 Common misconceptions about scooter riders 09:15 Lack of corporate sponsorships 10:59 Will’s shift to community focus 12:50 Supportive parents enabled balance 14:08 Choosing college over full-time scootering 16:23 Describing high-stakes scootering jumps 16:27 Risks of advanced scootering moves 17:41 Finding unique spots for tricks 19:22 Parallels to career risk-taking 20:55 Incremental steps for skill mastery 21:48 Patience in achieving big goals 24:32 Embracing discomfort for personal growth 25:39 Benefits of sticking with passions 27:54 Handling negative comments online 32:55 Building a loyal fan base 35:25 Quality over quantity in relationships 37:35 Impacting kids’ life choices positively 42:51 Staying true to scootering roots 46:05 Pursuing music as a passion 51:24 Love for puzzles and problem-solving 53:51 Landing data science job serendipitously 57:10 Legacy in music and sustainability 1:01:39 Future: Music, career, and balance 1:06:51 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Napa Valley’s Andrea Bartolucci pulls back the curtain on the hidden truths of winemaking, family business, and what it takes to thrive for a century.
Andrea Bartolucci is the proprietor of Madonna Estate and Madonna Vineyards, Napa’s second-oldest vineyard, founded by his Italian immigrant grandfather in 1922. A third-generation vintner, he’s led the family business to focus on organic, high-quality wines, producing 50,000 gallons annually. Now he’s confronting winemaking myths—from why passion trumps profit to how quality grapes, not branding, define great wine.
In this episode, Andrea Bartolucci reveals: ◽️ The SHOCKING prohibition-era winery survival trick! ◽️ Why he stuck with family vineyards! ◽️ The secret to Napa’s best wines! ◽️ How crop insurance saves disaster losses! ◽️ The mindset to outlast Napa competitors!
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:21 Three generations of Bartolucci winemaking 01:24 Surviving prohibition by selling grapes 01:54 Growing up with wine culture 02:10 Life in Napa’s vineyards as a child 03:47 Expanding from 24 to 275 acres 04:31 Quality vs. quantity in winemaking 04:52 Why good grapes make great wine 05:50 Differentiating Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 06:43 Matching grapes to Napa’s climate 07:11 Family legacy: Why kids joined winery 09:45 How vineyards grow under strict regulations 12:10 Producing 50,000 gallons with 120 acres 13:16 Custom crush: Boosting winery income 13:33 Family meetings for winery’s future 16:20 Crop insurance against fires, frost 18:09 Choosing wine: It’s all about taste 19:34 Napa’s cost barrier to new vintners 20:39 Passion drives Andrea’s winery devotion 22:59 Biggest regret: Staying too conservative 23:15 Tractor mishap: A childhood memory 27:04 Why wine doesn’t age forever 28:32 Speeding up wine aging risks 30:08 Location drives Napa wine quality 34:11 Branding vs. real wine quality 35:57 Competing in Napa’s crowded market 37:42 Upgrading barrels for better flavor 40:08 Winemaking mirrors raising daughters 42:57 Farming reality: Nature controls outcomes 44:52 Frost challenges in vineyard history 47:27 Organic farming since 1976 49:08 Grandfather’s advice: Accept gifts gratefully 51:39 Core value: Treat others fairly 52:44 Doubling down through adversity 53:06 One message: Find your passion 53:50 Reliving daughters’ birth moments 54:13 Legacy: Fairness and respect 54:55 What’s next for Andrea 55:12 One takeaway: Love your work
📌 Resources Andrea Bartolucci: ◽️ Website: madonnaestate.com ◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/madonnaestate
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financ
Duke dropout One Chowdhury pulls back the curtain on the lies we believe about startups, success, and what it really takes to challenge a $300B giant like Salesforce.
One Chowdhury is the CEO of Octolane, a Y Combinator-backed startup that raised $2.6M to build the first self-driving AI CRM. A self-taught coder who left Duke University to pursue his vision, he learned the pain of manual CRM entry during his internship at Mintlify. Now he’s confronting startup myths - from why focus trumps talent to how AI can transform sales workflows, freeing reps from tedious data entry.
In this episode, One Chowdhury reveals: ◽️ The SHOCKING Salesforce flaw reps hate! ◽️ Why he ditched Duke for startups! ◽️ The AI trick outsmarting CRM giants! ◽️ How Octolane’s $2.6M raise happened fast! ◽️ The mindset to beat impossible odds!
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:32 One’s discovery of Salesforce’s flaws 01:15 The emotional spark: Sales reps’ struggles 02:18 What Salesforce does and why it fails 02:47 Pain of manual CRM data entry 03:30 Why One chose to target Salesforce 04:51 Skepticism from others about his vision 05:06 Overcoming the “impossible” mindset 05:52 Silicon Valley’s hustle: Key lessons 06:30 Mintlify’s influence on One’s approach 07:17 Downsides of startup life exposed 10:33 Mintlify internship: Building AI products 11:50 Learning to ship fast, iterate later 12:46 Octolane’s self-driving AI CRM vision 14:20 How Octolane automates sales workflows 15:45 Early challenges: Gaining customer trust 18:06 Why focus beats shiny AI distractions 21:58 Coding as a superpower for all 23:15 High school project with 300,000 users 25:11 Why Duke was the right choice 26:10 Cultural shock at Duke University 30:34 AI tools like Cursor and Lovable 31:15 Can non-technical founders succeed? 33:00 Grit and discipline fuel Octolane’s rise 36:49 Biggest hurdle to beating Salesforce 39:11 Staying focused for a 10-year mission 40:30 Why Salesforce isn’t the real threat 42:40 Spotting real AI startups vs hype 44:15 Net Revenue Retention: The success metric 46:30 How One raised $2.6M so fast 48:00 Y Combinator’s role in Octolane’s growth 49:30 AI’s real-world impact on sales 58:49 Balancing AI rewards with safety 1:03:13 One’s legacy: Inspiring bold action 1:03:41 Next goal: Switch 100 companies 1:04:14 One’s advice: Focus and agency 1:06:51 Final reflections & takeaways
📌 Resources One Chowdhury: ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coffeewithone/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investm
This is the 1st episode of Personable markets in which I aim to speak to a hedgefund manager, VC or Investment Banker every week on real world market events. In this episode I speak to...
Stephen Roberts who is the founder of Orgueil Capital (an investment vehicle with its North Star to quintuple capital over the next 8-9 year period) & Former Partner at the Hedge Fund Horseman Capital.
In this episode, Stephen Roberts reveals: ◽️ The SURPRISING reason Hang Seng is one of 2025’s top indexes ◽️ Why Nvidia’s sky-high valuation could impact markets ◽️ His Secret to spotting China’s undervalued tech giants ◽️ The impact of Trump’s Fed pressure ◽️ The HIDDEN power of retail investors shaking markets
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:36 Hang Seng's Overlooked Surge 02:54 Alibaba's Cloud Computing Success 03:35 China's Geopolitical Investment Risks 05:00 U.S. Policies Create Global Opportunities 06:19 Nio's Strong China Performance 06:40 China's Online Shopping Trend 07:25 Misconceptions About China Media 09:19 AI Investment Beyond Nvidia 09:58 Nvidia's Competition Risks Exposed 10:49 DeepSeek's Sudden AI Launch 11:43 Mag 7's Continued AI Focus 12:31 Trump's Green Light for Tech 13:57 U.S.-China Trade Deal Prospects 14:39 China's Strength Against Trump 17:18 Trump's Growth Agenda Detailed 19:08 State vs. Fed Relationship 20:55 Fed Holding Rates Spitefully? 21:32 Presidents' Views on Rates 22:58 Rates Conversation Overemphasis 24:21 Finding Market Opportunities Elsewhere 25:49 Consumer Sentiment in U.S. 28:19 GameStop Retail Pump Phenomenon 30:10 Monitoring Retail Investor Sentiment 32:49 Citadel's AI Transcript Analysis 35:47 Nvidia's Singapore Revenue Risks 38:24 AI's iPhone Moment Evolution 40:08 Banks Benefiting from AI 41:08 LP's Long-Term Investment Strategy 44:08 Hedge Fund Failure Rates 45:18 S&P 500's High Risks 47:20 Equal-Weighted S&P Considerations 48:51 Mag 7 Distraction Warning 48:57 Key Trade Recommendations 49:39 Bitcoin's Government Hedge Role 50:56 Defense Stocks Like Palantir 55:02 Luxury Consumer Trends 57:16 Gambling Sector Regulatory Risks 58:25 Luxury's Global Bull Trend 59:05 Hedge Funds on Social Media 1:00:09 Podcasting's Structural Growth 1:00:53 Avoid U.S.-Centric Mindset 1:01:18 Final Market Themes Outlook 1:01:48 Key Risks in Next Months 1:03:08 Outro
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📌 Resources Stephen Roberts: ◽️ Orgueil Capital: https://www.orgueilcapital.com/our-story
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified fina
Duke basketball phenom Jadyn Donovan pulls back the curtain on the lies we believe about talent, success, and what it really takes to make it at the highest level
Jadyn Donovan is an elite basketball defender and two-time FIBA World Cup gold medalist (U17/U19). The Duke star earned 2025 ACC All-Defensive Team honors while leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Sweet 16. A former McDonald's All-American who maintained Academic All-ACC status. Now she’s confronting NCAA myths— from why she tracks defensive stops as points scored to how natural talent not enough at the highest level
In this episode, Jadyn Donovan reveals: ◽️ The SHOCKING last-minute twist that almost kept her from Duke ◽️ The defensive "basketball calculus" only elite players understand ◽️ How her FBI-level film study creates UNFAIR advantages ◽️ The 2 CRUCIAL plays that ended Duke's 2025 championship hopes ◽️ Why her academic focus remains UNTOUCHED by NIL distractions
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:42 How Jadyn First Fell in Love with Basketball 02:03 The Game That Made Her Realize She Could Go Far 03:27 Being a Young Girl in Basketball & Defying Expectations 05:16 How Duke Entered the Picture (Her Recruitment Story) 06:26 Almost Going to Notre Dame Instead 07:10 What Jadyn Thought Duke Would Be Like vs. Reality 08:31 Why the “Sisterhood” at Duke Is So Special 10:01 Why People Stay at Duke Instead of Transferring 11:11 What Coach Kara Saw in Her Game 12:46 Behind the Scenes: Competing for a Spot Every Week 15:08 Feeling Pressure & How She Became More Free 17:25 How She Stays Disciplined When No One's Watching 19:03 Why She Refuses to Cut Corners 20:13 Breaking Mental Limits & Growing From Year 1 to 2 22:02 Her First Game at Duke & Early Season Highs and Lows 23:33 Biggest Differences Between High School & College Ball 25:06 The “Baby Jadyn” vs. “Mature Jadyn” Mindset Shift 26:35 Becoming One of the Top Defenders in the ACC 27:26 Her Step-by-Step Defensive Strategy & Scouting Process 29:13 Do Players Really Stick to Their Habits in Games? 30:05 What’s the Real Goal of Defense? 31:38 How She Actually Stops Elite Players 33:27 Playing Alongside NBA Prospects Like Cooper Flagg 35:55 Her Honest Take on the WNBA & Making a Living 37:10 The Power of NIL & Players Like Angel Reese 38:09 The Inequality Between Men’s and Women’s Attention 39:58 How She Turns Lack of Support Into Motivation 40:13 Building a Brand Like Caitlin Clark 43:55 Her Honest Take on NIL’s Impact (Good & Bad) 46:51 Learning to Trust the Right People 48:22 What She’s Learned About Money & Investing 50:23 Would She Stay in College Longer Just for NIL? 51:55 Will Duke Women’s Basketball Win a National Title? 52:42 Where Her Fierce Mindset Comes From 54:26 Biggest Misconception About Her 54:47 What She’d Do Differently If She Started Again 55:11 Best Advice She’s Ever Received 56:31 What Happiness Means to Her 58:35 What’s Her Purpose in Life? 59:39 Biggest Life Lesson So Far 1:00:35 How She Deals With Adversity 1:01:21 What’s Next for Jadyn 1:01:54 How She Wants to Be Remembered 1:02:38 Final Reflections & Takeaways
From Apple’s Touch ID to a $650M hedge fund–and from Vietnamese medtech to $80M in DeFi–Makoto Tominaga & Quoc Anh Ngo expose why retail trading is rigged, and how their AI platform OpenQuant is rewriting the rules of crypto, equities, and real estate investing.
Makoto Tominaga is a quant strategist at a $650M hedge fund and former Apple engineer who helped develop Touch ID security. Quoc Anh Ngo (QA) built medical rehab devices in Vietnam before creating DeFi protocols that secured $80M in deposits. Together, they're founding OpenQuant - an AI platform bringing institutional-grade trading tools to retail investors across crypto, stocks and real estate.
Makoto & QA reveal: ◽️ Why 95% of traders fail—and how their AI cracks the code ◽️ From Apple’s biometrics to DeFi security—the hidden link in financial safety ◽️ The $80M DeFi disaster that rewrote their rules for risk ◽️ Why VC money is a trap—and their unconventional funding blueprint ◽️ "Institutional tools break for retail"—Makoto’s law of real-world finance
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:23 How Makoto and QA Met 02:33 Why Makoto Joined Forces with QA 05:10 Taking on Hard Problems with AI and Finance 08:20 Why Not Keep the Edge to Themselves? 10:50 Building a Win-Win Business Model 12:27 What Is OpenQuant? (Beginner Explanation) 15:56 How Funds Build Strategies Step-by-Step 17:54 Why Funds Miss Big Opportunities 20:08 How AI Supercharges Research and Strategy 22:44 Helping Everyday Investors Avoid Risky Mistakes 23:44 6 Big Questions from Harvey 25:53 Do All Users Get the Same Info? 27:25 Can Makoto and QA See Everyone’s Trades? 30:12 Privacy and Ethics of Trade Data 32:05 Why Give Risky Tools to Non-Experts? 35:16 Will Hedge Funds Lose Their Edge? 37:08 What Risks Should Users Be Aware Of? 39:33 Why OpenQuant Helps, Not Harms 40:53 Quant vs. Gut Investing – Which Is Better? 44:13 What People Don’t Understand About Crypto 47:53 Rapid Fire: What Drives Makoto and QA 50:50 What Motivates Them 52:13 Best Advice They’ve Received 55:20 How They Handle Stress and Uncertainty 57:07 Questions They’re Rarely Asked 1:01:03 Why Take Big Risks 1:03:20 Final Takeaways for the Listener 1:08:26 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Citadel Securities’ Chief People Officer, Alex DiLeonardo, reveals how the firm spots outliers early, evaluates talent with surgical precision, and ties every employee’s work directly to CEO-level goals.
Alex DiLeonardo is the Chief People Officer at Citadel Securities, where he leads global talent strategy across recruiting, development, and performance. He previously served as Chief Talent Officer at Activision Blizzard and was a partner at McKinsey & Company, with earlier experience at JPMorgan Chase and Deloitte. Alex holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business and Heinz College, and lectures at Harvard, Wharton, and other global business schools on aligning people systems with business performance.
In this episode, Alex reveals: ◽️ How Citadel Securities identifies high-potential talent and gives them direct project ownership from day one ◽️ Why every employee’s goals are explicitly tied to CEO-level business outcomes ◽️ How AI and automation are reshaping performance management - without losing the human touch ◽️ What makes HR in hedge funds radically different from Fortune 500 companies ◽️ His “capital I” career model - and why nonlinear growth beats fast promotions
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:42 Becoming Chief People Officer 03:07 People as competitive advantage 03:43 Culture that attracts talent 05:52 Early career growth opportunities 06:45 What talent really wants 10:48 Career as an “I” shape 11:24 Culture from top and bottom 13:43 Values: winning, meritocracy, learning 15:06 Culture vs. performance balance 16:31 Citadel Securities vs Citadel hedge fund 17:14 Graduate recruiting & training programs 18:45 Why Harvey chose Goldman Sachs 21:22 Resume proxies and candidate fit 23:20 Balancing established vs startup culture 24:28 Unique top-down project assignments 25:53 Talent insights from a headhunter’s son 27:31 Strategy amid fast-changing markets 30:20 Living meritocracy: goal ownership 34:19 Avoiding credit-stealing and accountability 35:48 Why share knowledge publicly? 36:58 Leadership beliefs unlearned 38:02 Competitive intensity & mental health 38:32 Values supporting performance 39:18 Assessing potential, long & short term 39:30 AI as an enabler, not threat 40:00 Common HR misconceptions 40:09 Advice for aspiring Chief People Officers 41:36 Question not asked enough 42:31 Favorite restaurant & cycling passion 46:51 Foot off the pedal? Restlessness 48:16 What’s next & desired legacy 49:39 Key takeaway for listeners 51:01 Outro
📌 Resources Alexander DiLeonardo ◽️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderdileonardo/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
From the NBA to leading Tiger Woods’ foundation, Rick Singer reveals why earning respect, not popularity, is the key to leadership, how elite athletes build lasting influence, and what most CEOs get wrong about impact.
Rick Singer is the former President and CEO of the Tiger Woods Foundation, where he led global education, youth development, and philanthropic strategy for one of the most iconic athletes of all time. Prior to that, he held senior roles at the NBA, IBM, and KemperSports Management, and served as a marketing professor at Duke University. With a career spanning elite sports, corporate leadership, and education, Rick brings hard-earned insights into influence, branding, and building trust at the highest level.
In this episode, Rick revealed: ◽️ Why being respected, not liked, is the trait top performers and great leaders prioritize ◽️ What it was like working directly with Tiger Woods - and how Tiger built trust without words ◽️ The leadership lessons CEOs can borrow from elite athletes and coaches ◽️ How to build a high-performance team culture without micromanaging ◽️ The most common mistake young professionals make when trying to lead early in their careers
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:03 Rick’s start in nonprofits 02:46 Poll EV question on nonprofits 03:55 Why Rick chose nonprofit work 05:57 Paying nonprofit workers better 07:06 Measuring nonprofit success 09:24 Fundraising and impact metrics 10:33 Comparing nonprofit to business 11:09 Working with Tiger Woods 13:41 Growth at Tiger Woods Foundation 16:53 Why Rick left the foundation 17:28 Deal making nonprofit vs for-profit 19:17 Rick’s time at IBM 23:24 Digital impact on sports 24:04 AI vs crypto/metaverse 27:33 Balancing profit and passion 30:05 Why sports marketing works 32:29 NBA vs IBM marketing 35:09 Handling backlash (Bud Light) 38:51 Marketing & evolving values 40:47 Importance of values 44:13 Aligning culture and values 49:28 Rick’s key personal values 51:39 Misconceptions about Rick’s work 52:26 Unlearning: being liked vs respected 53:16 Advice for college grads 54:33 Best advice Rick received 55:30 Question Rick hasn’t been asked 56:53 What’s next for Rick 58:00 Rick’s legacy 58:31 Rick’s message: patience 59:36 Outro
📌 Resources Rick Singer ◽️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-singer-9a44037/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Doug Perlman breaks down the media rights gold rush, why private equity is flooding into sports, and how NIL is transforming college athletics—drawing from deals across the NFL, Ryder Cup and NASCAR.
Doug Perlman is the Founder and CEO of Sports Media Advisors, a boutique advisory firm specializing in media rights, strategy, and transactions across professional sports. Since launching SMA in 2009, he has advised major leagues, teams, media networks, and private equity firms on high-value broadcast and digital rights deals. Previously, Perlman served as EVP of Media at the NHL and later as President of IMG Media North America. He began his career at Proskauer Rose LLP. A Sports Business Journal “Forty Under 40” Hall of Fame inductee, Perlman holds a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and a BA from Duke University.
In this episode, Doug Perlman revealed: ◽️ The founding story and core services of Sports Media Advisors (SMA) ◽️ How private equity firms are increasingly investing in sports, from major leagues to emerging ones like pickleball ◽️ Building trust through long-term relationships and handling failures in the sports industry ◽️ Strategies for maintaining a lean team while handling high-quality clients and deals ◽️ The evolution of NIL in college sports, from initial ideals to pay-for-play realities and future settlements
⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:56 How Doug got started in sports 02:31 Someone Doug worked with at IMG 03:00 What Doug’s company does 05:33 Are sports teams too expensive now? 06:04 What other sports people are investing in 07:13 How Doug got big-name clients 07:38 Why people trust Doug’s company 09:09 How Doug keeps strong relationships 10:09 What Doug does when something goes wrong 11:39 Doug’s first big deal 13:30 How Doug learned new skills 16:21 Doug’s dream client 18:27 What keeps Doug excited about work 20:53 Why his team is small 23:05 What NIL is and why it matters 26:39 Why NIL is tricky 29:46 Will people still like college sports? 31:44 What the Olympics can teach us 33:29 Why sports is like buying juice 35:08 How Doug knows what something is worth 37:20 Doug’s tips for making deals 39:34 Why hard work matters 42:09 A question Doug doesn’t get often 42:54 Doug’s best advice ever 45:12 One big lesson from Doug 46:29 Host shares his thoughts 47:34 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Lia Forcina shares how she went from a newspaper job ad to managing $100M+ - revealing what she learned from Steve Cohen, why AI is killing junior roles, and the “3-unit rule” that’s kept her profitable every single year.
Lia Forcina is a partner and portfolio manager at LGR Capital in London. She previously held roles at BlueCrest Capital, SAC Capital (now Point72), and Morgan Stanley. Lia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Rome Tor Vergata (110/110 cum laude) and a Master’s degree in Statistics and Econometrics from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
In this episode, Lia Forcina revealed: ◽️ How a random newspaper ad and a bar conversation launched her into Morgan Stanley ◽️ The ski accident that forced her out of banking - and into a trading desk that changed everything ◽️ What it was really like working under Steve Cohen and Mike Platt - and why their intensity isn’t for everyone ◽️ Her “3-unit rule” for cutting losses - the risk strategy that’s kept her profitable every single year ◽️ Why AI is wiping out junior roles - and how it’s forcing portfolio managers to evolve fast
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:45 How Lia got her job 05:30 Her work now and before 06:40 Working at SAC and meeting Steve Cohen 09:15 Why learning from older people helps 11:57 When to stop losing money 15:50 What keeps her working hard 18:00 How AI helps her work 20:57 Using AI her way 22:35 How she checks success and risk 25:17 Her secret: cut losses fast 26:41 Advice for new investors 29:11 Why Steve Cohen and Michael Platt are special 31:26 How to tell real ideas from noise 33:28 Why hedge funds beat banks 35:39 Can anyone be a great investor? 37:00 How to learn investing alone 39:41 Her view on tariffs 42:49 Her thoughts on AI changing jobs 45:33 Her worry about no AI rules 47:02 Investing US vs Europe 50:15 Biggest growth areas 52:36 Wrong ideas about her 53:21 Best advice she got 54:41 Question she’s not asked 55:28 Why she has strong opinions 56:45 Her thoughts on cancel culture 58:07 Personal story about honesty 1:01:44 Her message: talk to each other 1:04:34 What she wants next 1:05:53 How she wants to be remembered 1:06:45 Her biggest lesson: handle pain 1:07:16 Outro
📌 Resources Lia Forcina ◽️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-forcina-17352459
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Dylan Robbins shares how one strategic pivot scaled Lucra to $100M+, why second-time founders have an edge and why flawless execution still trumps big ideas.
Dylan Robbins is the Founder and CEO of Lucra Sports, a gamification technology company valued at over $100M. Lucra powers competitive experiences across consumer and B2B platforms. Before founding Lucra, Dylan worked at Goldman Sachs and AQR Capital Management. He previously co-founded Lifetime Vintage (acquired in 2023) and Verre Vert. He holds a B.S. in Economics from Duke University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
In this episode, Dylan reveals: ◽️ Why startups are "10% idea, 90% execution" (and his 1,500-idea testing system) ◽️ Why second-time founders have an edge (even after failed ventures) ◽️ How Duke/Stanford shaped his journey (and why peers over coursework) ◽️ His "life is short" philosophy with daily phone reminders ◽️ Why company culture beats profits: "If my team loves work, we've won"
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Dylan’s background: Duke, Stanford, Goldman 03:15 - How Lifetime Vintage started 04:24 - Writing down one idea every day 06:02 - Working with his wife 07:38 - What separates successful founders 08:40 - How COVID boosted the business 10:15 - Life after selling his company 11:42 - Staying motivated as a founder 15:00 - Who shouldn’t be an entrepreneur 16:57 - What Lucra started as 18:30 - Realizing the bigger opportunity 20:26 - The pivot to B2B 21:57 - Bootstrapping vs raising VC 23:59 - Focusing vs constantly changing 25:04 - Balancing innovation with execution 28:39 - Managing ambition and life balance 30:04 - Second-time founder advantage 31:12 - How to build credibility 33:20 - What success means to Dylan 35:01 - Creating a great startup culture 38:33 - Rapid-fire Q&A starts 38:33 - Best advice he’s received 38:53 - A question he’s never asked 39:14 - What he loves about startups 39:45 - What happiness means to him 40:23 - His personal philosophy 41:14 - Compartmentalizing stress 42:19 - Handling uncertainty 42:55 - Lessons from entrepreneurship 44:14 - A day he’d relive 45:35 - Knicks vs baby debate 46:10 - What’s next for Dylan 47:00 - How he wants to be remembered 47:42 - One takeaway for listeners 48:22 - Host’s closing thoughts 49:00 - Final thanks 49:18 - Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Charlie and Jack Bracken, sons of World Cup winner Kyran Bracken, reveal how rejection, rivalry, and relentless training shaped their rise through Saracens and England’s youth ranks.
Charlie and Jack Bracken are professional rugby players for Saracens and sons of Kyran Bracken, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning scrum-half. Both brothers began at St Albans Rugby Club and progressed through the Saracens academy while representing England at age-grade levels.
Charlie, a scrum-half, made his Saracens debut in 2022 and has 14 England U20 caps. Jack, a wing/fullback, made his U20 debut in 2024 with a hat-trick and went on to win the U20 World Championship. Together, they share the highs, lows, and mindset shifts that fuel their journey—on and off the pitch.
In this episode, Charlie and Jack revealed: ◽️ How backyard games with their World Cup-winning dad kickstarted their rugby obsession ◽️ The moment Jack walked away from football to chase his England dream—and delivered a U20 World Cup hat-trick ◽️ How Charlie turned Oxford rejection into motivation to double down on rugby at Loughborough ◽️ What really happens when you lose a challenge at Saracens (yes, Charlie did sing live on Instagram) ◽️ Why they believe mental toughness—not raw talent—is the “untrained 50%” that separates good from great
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:06 Charlie on starting rugby 02:26 Jack on rugby getting serious 02:55 Jack choosing rugby over football 04:00 Charlie on school and rugby 05:19 Are players born or made? 07:01 Saracens culture explained 08:49 Jack joining Saracens rebuild 10:27 Jack’s big game in Championship 11:19 Charlie’s path to main team 13:08 Charlie choosing England over Ireland 15:22 Charlie improving kicking skills 17:59 Charlie’s passing stats 18:35 Playing for England feelings 20:42 Jack’s England youth and World Cup 22:16 Importance of mental strength 24:02 Need for mindset training 25:08 Staying strong after bad games 27:31 Hard work inspiring others 29:23 Handling pressure in games 30:54 Focusing on present moment 32:36 Henry Pollock’s impact 35:16 Rugby’s future growth 37:15 Talking about being outgoing 38:52 Saracens dice roll punishments 41:37 Balancing university and rugby 43:39 Plans after rugby 45:56 Legacy and how to be remembered 47:52 Questions they wish asked 49:18 Habits they had to change 50:50 Messages on gratitude and life 52:07 Motivational questions between brothers 55:20 Rugby idols they admire 57:36 Goals to join first team 58:58 Long-term rugby dreams 59:13 How they want to be remembered 1:00:12 Key takeaways for listeners 1:03:17 Final thoughts 1:04:10 Outro
📌 Resources Charlie Bracken ◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliebracken9/?hl=en-gb
Jack Bracken ◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbracken_/
While others pursued Wall Street, Ladi Balogun built Nigeria’s 7th largest bank - unpacking how he scaled to 15M customers, navigated CEO term limits, and built a $5B institution by betting on Africa’s financial future.
Ladi Balogun is the Group Chief Executive Officer of FCMB Group Plc, a leading Nigerian financial services holding company operating in banking, asset management, pensions, and fintech. From 2007 to 2017, he served as CEO of First City Monument Bank, overseeing its expansion from 200 staff to over 15 million customers, the acquisition of Finbank, and the launch of UK operations. He previously worked at Citi in New York and Deutsche Bank in London, and today leads digital banking platform Rova while chairing FCMB Pensions and Credit Direct. His focus is scaling inclusive finance across African markets.
In this episode, Ladi reveals: ◽️ How leaving manufacturing led to building Nigeria’s 3rd largest bank—and why others missed the moment ◽️ Why “strategic naivety” was his secret weapon in scaling from 200 to 10,000 employees ◽️ How Nigeria’s CEO term limits forced him to think bigger—and launch a financial ecosystem ◽️ How digital banking became a lifeline for millions during economic instability ◽️ The single infrastructure reform he believes could ignite a 9% GDP explosion across Africa
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:10 Harvard MBA benefits 03:40 FCMB bank overview 05:30 Banking business segments 06:39 Investment vs commercial banking 07:33 CEO career path 09:20 Specialist vs generalist 11:19 Bank growth story 12:15 Team and naivety 14:06 Early goals: survival 15:40 Niche market focus 17:30 Digital banking strategy 19:55 CEO term limits Nigeria 20:17 Nigeria as headquarters 22:00 Customer growth figures 22:59 Balancing optimism and realism 25:53 Risk and return basics 27:23 What customers want 30:10 Providing certainty to clients 32:51 Role change: CEO to group 34:50 Leadership from sidelines 36:36 Culture of excellence 2.0 39:00 Leadership style evolving 40:53 Nigeria safety and community 43:15 Corruption realities 48:43 Nigeria investment returns 50:46 Growth obstacles 55:45 Handling high interest rates 58:32 AI’s impact on Africa 1:00:52 Future plans 1:02:54 Legacy hopes 1:03:50 Key takeaway 1:05:47 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Former Morgan Stanley MD turned startup CFO explains why the rise of AI marks a once-in-a-generation shift—and how it’s forcing Wall Street and Silicon Valley to collide like never before.
Ted Tobiason is CFO of Vimo and former CFO of electric scooter pioneer Lime. A Wall Street veteran, he served as MD at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank leading their Tech ECM divisions, following early career roles at Bear Stearns and Robertson Stephens. He holds a Princeton degree and Columbia MBA, and plays lead guitar in The Dirty Spoon Band.
In this episode, Ted Tobiason reveals: ◽️ Why banking analysts today work smarter (but face different challenges) than the 90s "all-nighter era" ◽️ How managing bankers is like coaching NBA playoffs - energy strategy matters more than hours ◽️ Government tech’s $1 trillion opportunity everyone’s ignoring ◽️ The "hot rock" theory of market bubbles - and what it predicts about AI ◽️ Why he’ll take curiosity over credentials every time when hiring
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:46 Breaking into Investment Banking 02:12 Why He Stayed in New York 03:10 Is Banking Still Worth It? 05:48 Why Banking Is a Black Box 06:40 What It Takes to Succeed in Banking 10:15 How Good Managers Prevent Burnout 12:00 Moving from Banking to Tech 15:12 What Tariffs Actually Do 16:07 Why China Won on Manufacturing 19:40 Is AI Real or Just Hype? 21:14 How AI Compares to Crypto and NFTs 25:48 How to Spot Real vs Fake Trends 28:53 Purpose vs Profit at Lime 32:48 What Vimo Actually Does 36:47 Why States Choose Vimo 39:51 What Ted Does as CFO 44:08 How to Win Big Deals 46:21 The Craziest IPO Story 48:36 How Real Investors Avoid Hype 50:26 What Makes a Good Banker 54:42 Why Humility Beats Ego 57:45 What’s Next for Ted 59:00 How He Thinks About Legacy 1:02:19 Final Takeaway 1:03:43 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Two 22-year-old founders reveal how they’re risking everything to build Scran, the TikTok-inspired app revolutionizing London’s dining scene before Big Tech takes over.
Maisie Roberts and Bertie Kinnings, UX Design graduates from Loughborough University, co-founded Scran, a Gen Z restaurant app combining TikTok-style discovery with booking. Maisie’s AI design expertise (Itsu, Orgueil Capital) powers Scran’s recommendation algorithm, while Bertie’s VR/AR background (BMW, Goldsmiths) shapes its immersive experience. They're building up Scran's socials to grow worldwide, balancing cutting-edge tech with viral appeal.
In this episode, Maisie and Bertie reveal: ◽️ The hidden UX flaw in OpenTable that made their app inevitable ◽️ The 3-word test for Scran-approved restaurants (and why vibes = reviews) ◽️ Why they’re exploiting the second-mover advantage in social dining ◽️ Their WhatsApp guerrilla tactic for building a beta tester army ◽️ How Hinge’s UI inspired their swipe-worthy restaurant discovery
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:31 Bertie’s story: UX, VR and Trackman 01:31 Maisie’s story: jewelry, UX and AI bootcamp 02:54 How they turn ideas into real, usable designs 05:20 What is Scran 05:57 The Gen Z problem they’re solving 07:02 Starting fast and why it mattered 08:54 Building as a couple 10:46 Their biggest early mistake 12:56 What success looks like for Scran 14:35 How the app works: content, bookings, community 16:30 The WhatsApp hotline and early fanbase 17:20 Trends vs substance 18:52 Their biggest challenge: team, funding, tech 21:10 Who inspires them: Hinge, WeWork, TikTok 23:33 How they actually build: Figma to dev 24:31 Is university worth it in 2025 28:29 Why they’re staying in London 30:38 UK vs US mindset: support vs doubt 32:57 Misconceptions about them 34:34 Posting online: fear and doing it anyway 36:48 Social media helped build confidence 39:38 Their brand strategy: be real, not perfect 43:44 What they’d do differently 48:38 Using Instagram to get partnerships 50:03 What Scran Approved really means 54:30 How they avoid short-term hype 56:05 The Scran badge idea 59:58 What’s next: MVP and beta launch 01:03:17 Long-term vision and legacy 01:05:40 Final takeaway from Maisie 01:06:16 Final takeaway from Bertie 01:07:12 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
Riya Jain who turned her childhood health struggles into a movement reveals how to transform personal pain into purpose and build a business that changes lives
Riya Jain is the founder and CEO of The Land of Can, a children's media company she launched in seventh grade to create empowering books and resources about health topics like food allergies, anxiety, and ADHD. Her company has sold over 30,000 books, partnered with 500+ schools, and earned her $30,000 from Duke University’s Startup Showcase. While studying at Duke, Riya continues to expand The Land of Can, developing new educational materials to help children overcome limitations and embrace their potential.
In this episode, Riya reveals: ◽️ How a middle school lunch table moment exposed the flaws in kids' educational books ◽️ Why food allergies and anxiety are surprisingly similar – and what doctors miss ◽️ How COVID accidentally made her a media sensation (and why the Today Show’s rejection backfired) ◽️ Why the Today Show passed on her viral idea (and how it backfired on them) ◽️ The brutal feedback from her toughest critics: 8-year-olds
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:44 What is The Land of Can? 01:14 Riya’s story 02:50 Why she wanted to help others 04:27 How the first book became a real project 06:37 Publishing during COVID & early traction 07:52 Explaining complex topics to kids 09:32 How worry vs anxiety is taught 10:41 Children’s books vs academic writing 12:17 Why even adults learn from these books 13:28 What makes a children’s book exciting 15:25 Why kids give the best feedback 16:32 The power of the first impression 17:45 How to create a great hook 18:47 Marketing to both kids and parents 20:10 How The Land of Can fits her career 22:44 Why she sees this as a full-time future 23:24 What she needs to scale the business 25:07 Is being young an advantage? 27:04 Why seasoned entrepreneurs want to help 28:58 What it’s like being a young CEO 30:26 Her leadership style 31:11 How to Motivating a team 32:42 How she defines leadership 34:30 What she'd tell her younger self 36:53 How she stays grounded through highs & lows 39:17 What she's had to unlearn 43:33 Message to the world 47:25 How she stays confident with her allergy 50:01 How to be yourself without offending others 56:35 What makes a good story 58:48 What’s next for Riya 1:00:46 What she wants her legacy to be 1:02:03 Takeaway 1:03:20 Final thoughts
📌 Resources Riya Jain ◽️ Land of Can: https://thelandofcan.com/ ◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riyajain-/ ◽️ Website: https://www.riyajain.org/
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
From NFL sidelines to global stages, Nathan Whitaker, bestselling author and ex-NFL insider, unleashes lessons on why character outshines athleticism, how Super Bowl legends like Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden forged winning cultures, and why embracing your role—on the field or in the boardroom—sparks unstoppable resilience and success.
Nathan Whitaker, #1 New York Times bestselling author and former NFL executive, draws on his Super Bowl-winning experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars to deliver bold insights on leadership, team culture, and resilience, bridging sports and business with lessons from co-authoring books with Tony Dungy and Tim Tebow. He now speaks to organizations about leadership, team culture, and resilience, drawing on his experiences in professional sports and business.
In this episode, Nathan reveals: ◽️ How Super Bowl-winning teams evaluate talent beyond physical stats (and why character trumps athleticism every time) ◽️ The leadership secrets behind Tony Dungy’s quiet dominance and Jon Gruden’s fiery intensity ◽️ Why NFL scouts always visit the strength coach first when assessing draft prospects ◽️ How to spot a "Do Not Draft" player (and why teams still ignore these red flags) ◽️ What Warren Sapp taught him about locker room leadership (hint: it’s not what fans saw on TV)
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⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:44 Why law after sports? 01:09 Early academic and sports background 02:24 How law shaped storytelling 04:36 Transition to football administration 06:28 Leadership lessons from NFL coaches 08:39 Different leadership styles observed 10:04 What scouts look for: metrics vs. character 13:41 Importance of character and team fit 16:03 Duke Final Four inbounding story 17:41 Consequences of “bad egg” players 20:36 Warren Sapp and locker room culture 23:41 Born vs. made success debate 26:40 Mindset for success: control the controllables 28:31 Michael Jordan’s persistence story 30:29 Value of trying even if you fail 33:14 Why Nathan shares knowledge and writes books 36:59 Daily habits of high achievers 39:44 Coaching vs. CEO leadership differences 43:50 Thoughts on NIL in college sports 46:59 Questions Nathan wishes to be asked more 49:31 Being great in your current role while growing 51:36 Favorite story: Stacey King and knowing your role 54:26 Audience reactions and impact of talks 57:48 What’s next for Nathan? 59:35 Desired legacy and how to be remembered 1:00:47 Key takeaway: practicing gratitude 1:02:38 Final reflections on leadership and growth 1:03:00 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to b
Seth Radwell exposes the lie behind America’s political divide - and the urgent fix before it’s too late.
Seth David Radwell is the Harvard-trained CEO (Proactiv, Scholastic) who revealed how America's founding clashes created today's crisis. His award-winning book the American Schism dismantles political myths. Now he works with leaders worldwide to combat polarization before he believes democracy collapses.
Seth explains: ◽️ The hidden 18th-century origins of America's political divide—and why history keeps repeating itself ◽️ How 40 years of failed economic policy created the MAGA movement's explosive rise ◽️ Why social media algorithms are designed to make us hate each other (and how to opt out) ◽️ The forgotten 1920s solutions that actually reduced polarization—and could work today ◽️ Why "compromise" became a dirty word—and how to reclaim it as democracy's superpower
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⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:49 What Is the American Schism? 02:32 Why the Founding Fathers Disagreed 04:38 Adams and Hamilton’s Vision for America 06:01 Jefferson and Franklin’s Vision for America 07:35 How These Two Sides Created U.S. Politics 08:39 Why Division Feels Worse Today 09:43 How Farmers Fought Back in the 1890s 11:54 What the Gilded Age Teaches Us Today 13:47 Globalization and the Decline of U.S. Towns 15:49 Who Won and Who Lost in the New Economy 17:42 How Democrats Shifted to Culture Wars 19:36 Why MAGA Became an Identity, Not Just a Vote 20:26 The Power of Social Media in Politics 22:14 How Identity Politics Divided the Country 24:03 Why Outrage Is Good for Business 25:54 What Happened to Real Journalism 27:57 Why It’s Hard to Think Critically Today 29:40 How to Know Who to Trust 30:58 The “Secret Sauce” to Fix the Divide 32:45 3 Steps: Listen, Use Facts, Compromise 34:34 What Schools Should Really Be Teaching 36:16 What Gen Z Can Do to Help 38:01 Why America’s Global Friends Matter 39:55 Can a Common Enemy Bring Us Together? 42:55 What the Founding Fathers Would Think Today 45:06 How to Speak Without Getting Cancelled 47:12 Why the Loudest Voices Get the Most Attention 49:10 How to Break Out of Political Bubbles 51:03 Why People Don’t Want to Stand Out 52:42 How the Media Shows Two Different Realities 54:55 Why Seth Left Business to Fix This Problem 58:37 What Seth Wants His Legacy to Be 1:00:25 Final Message: Listen, Think, Compromise 1:02:25 Outro
Additional: ◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io ◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.