Failure is Funny with Venk Potula

"Being scared is a good thing in that it shows that you actually care." - Cassie Petrey 

"If you want to be in something - go there. Learn the city." - Jade Driver

Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver formed Crowd Surf in 2007. The company has offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York and provides specialized marketing services to some of the biggest names in music and entertainment including Camila Cabello, Backstreet Boys, Becky G, and Britney Spears. They have been featured on lists such as ” Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and Billboard’s “Digital Power Players”.

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Leaders believe in the ability to make great things happen, they take charge and create the conditions for success.

Jeff is a former professional e-sports player in Vainglory (2015) and Clash Royale (2016), and head of competitive for mobile-focused esports organization Hammers Esports where in Vainglory, he led his teams to set a Spring 2016 season record winning every major tournament. He is a Twitch Partnered Streamer and mobile game tournament and league owner/administrator. A graduate of Cornell University, Jeff has been a speaker on Mobile Esports at World Cyber Games Xiian 2019, The Esports Insider's Digital 2020 Summit and a panel speaker at GamesBeat, PAX West, and Xlive Esports Summit. He is currently the CEO of and Founder of GameGether, an app where gamers finds teammates on-demand and coaches to improve their game.

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"With comedy - it's all about persistence."

Jacob Williams' comedy follows his misadventures through the worlds of dating, day jobs and dining alone. He recently made his late-night network television debut performing stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS). Jacob first made his primetime network television debut as a stand-up comedian on America's Got Talent (NBC) and advanced to the Semifinals. Jacob has been a cast member on the hit improv/sketch comedy series Wild 'n Out (MTV) for nine seasons including the upcoming one. He has also provided the voice of a cartoon character on the animated miniseries Football U (MTV Other). Jacob lives in New York City where he performs regularly when he is not on tour at comedy clubs, colleges and corporate events across America.

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"What's Your's Will Know Your Face." 

Jill Knox, who earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Brown University, is an acclaimed actress, artist and activist. Through her line, the Young Rebel's Studio, she has built an acclaimed brand focused on activism and action. She most recently teamed up with "Superstore" actor Ben Feldman to raise money for charities benefiting Black lives, including Black Lives Matter, Fair Fight and the National Birth Equity Collaborative. Together they sold 80 pairs of children's shoes that Knox hand painted. Knox most recently starred in "Keith Broke His Leg" and won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy at the Indie Series Awards.

Keith Powell is best known for his series regular role as James "Toofer" Spurlock on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy "30 Rock." Recently, Powell has mostly focused on writing and directing. He's currently writing a feature for Film 44 and HBO Films, and he is set to direct his first film, "Buffalo." In addition, Powell directs for television, having helmed an episode of NBC's "Superstore." He wrote and directed every episode of his web series "Keith Broke His Leg," in which he also starred along with his wife. It won the Indie Series Award for Best Comedy, and Powell won Best Actor in a Comedy. It is currently being developed for television.

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"Finish that sh*t draft!"

Nicolas Curcio broke into the industry with his Nicholl semifinalist script The Adventures of Rat Girl - a coming of age comedy about a loner teaming up with a group of comic book obsessed nerds in order to take down the mean girls at her new high school. Last fall, his script Barron: A Tale of Love, Loss & Legacy landed on the Black List, which founder Franklin Leonard praised as “an adorable, smart, winning coming-of-age story” via Vanity Fair. Currently, Nic is working as an in-house writer at Sony Animation on an unannounced project, as well as adapting a graphic novel for Paramount. Nic is an alumni of USC's MFA Film & TV Production program. 

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"Today’s failure is tomorrow’s success"

Stephen Chbosky is an author, director, and screenwriter.  He is best known for his award-winning adaptation of his debut novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (GLAAD, Independent Spirit, People's Choice, WGA nominee) which spent over two years on the New York Times Best Sellers list.  He co-wrote the screenplay for Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast as well as the film adaptation of RJ Palacio's Wonder, starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, which he also directed.  His first feature, The Four Corners of Nowhere, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.  He wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Rent and co-created the post-apocalyptic TV drama, Jericho.  His second novel, Imaginary Friend, was published in October and debuted as a New York Times Best Seller.

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From working with Scooter Braun, discovering Grammy-nominated artist Midland to the real story behind Justin Beiber's 'Boyfriend' and helping Ariana Grande - this episode featuring Matt Graham of BRND MGMT covers it all. Join us in conversations about building networking skills in clubs, managing celebrity artists, and advice for young managers looking to get into the music industry.

Matt is an LA-based Music Manager serving as president and founder of BRND MGMT and Tuxedo Records. He is also an early-stage investor in companies such as Casper, STEM, Cloud Technology Partners, Insolito Tequila, Winston House and others. The early part of his career was spent alongside friend/mentor Scooter Braun, promoting parties in Atlanta during their time at Emory University and subsequently working together in the early years of SB Projects. Graham has worked in the past with Cody Simpson, Mike Posner, Andrew Watt, Jack Harlow, and currently his team at BRND MGMT represent such Grammy-nominated artists as Midland and Wale as well as Nicky Romero and other up and coming acts like Republic Records, The Score, Hailey Whitters, Corey Harper and more. Graham also serves as the music consultant for The Ranch on Netflix and is working to develop a number of other film and TV projects.

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If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/Itunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a big difference in spreading the word. Thank you!  

From working with Scooter Braun, discovering Grammy-nominated artist Midland to the real story behind Justin Beiber's 'Boyfriend' and helping Ariana Grande - this episode featuring Matt Graham of BRND MGMT covers it all. Join us in conversations about building networking skills in clubs, managing celebrity artists, and advice for young managers looking to get into the music industry.

Matt is an LA-based Music Manager serving as president and founder of BRND MGMT and Tuxedo Records. He is also an early-stage investor in companies such as Casper, STEM, Cloud Technology Partners, Insolito Tequila, Winston House and others. The early part of his career was spent alongside friend/mentor Scooter Braun, promoting parties in Atlanta during their time at Emory University and subsequently working together in the early years of SB Projects. Graham has worked in the past with Cody Simpson, Mike Posner, Andrew Watt, Jack Harlow, and currently his team at BRND MGMT represent such Grammy-nominated artists as Midland and Wale as well as Nicky Romero and other up and coming acts like Republic Records, The Score, Hailey Whitters, Corey Harper and more. Graham also serves as the music consultant for The Ranch on Netflix and is working to develop a number of other film and TV projects.

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If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/Itunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a big difference in spreading the word. Thank you!  

"I'm willing to risk everything I have to see my dream come true." - Frankie Zulferino

A pop singer and performer based in New York, Frankie, in his earlier years, opened for artists such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Westlife, Jason DeRulo and more. He has previously toured across the United States, China and Canada and performed at New York Fashion Week in 2017. He was also a contestant on The CW show, 'The Next', where he was mentored by Joe Jonas. Outside of his music career, Frankie is a choreographer, whose work has been featured on America’s Got Talent and he will appear in the up-and-coming Netflix original movie, “The Fifth Boro.” Frankie has produced and directed his own sold-out show at the Mohegan Sun Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. His new single "I feel for you" is out now on all music streaming platforms. 

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"Failure is Fuel." 

Jet Jurgensmeyer was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He made his television debut with a guest role on the CBS television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2010. In 2012 he was cast as Spanky, one of the lead roles, in Alex Zamm's 2014 film The Little Rascals Save the Day. He has appeared in films such as American Sniper and Devil's Knot. In 2016 he appeared in the Disney Channel film Adventures in Babysitting, playing Bobby the middle son of one the sets of children being babysat. The same year Jurgensmeyer was cast in Nickelodeon's Legends of the Hidden Temple television film, playing Dudley the youngest of the three siblings who travel through the temple. Since 2018, he has portrayed Boyd Baxter on the Fox comedy series Last Man Standing, and since 2019 has been part of the cast of the Disney Junior children's television series T.O.T.S. voicing Pip the Penguin. When not acting, he loves to hang out on his family’s farm, ride horses, go fishing, and spend time outdoors.

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If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/Itunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a big difference in spreading the word. Thank you!