I Have Cool Friends

Serial entrepreneur and former professional skateboarder Mikey Taylor is President and Managing Principal of Commune Capital, a private equity real estate investment firm. He started with the goal of educating the masses on financial literacy. Sam and Mikey talk about his entrepreneurial journey, from launching his own craft beer company to his real estate investment career. Mikey talks about why his propensity for risk-taking as an athlete has translated to success in the business world. They discuss strategies for saving money, investing and the mindset required to become a millionaire and even a billionaire! Finally, Mikey shares his views on finding balance with work, family and friends, and talks about his future goals.

Entrepreneur, progressive social facilitator, and Founder & CEO of Quilt, Ashley Sumner, has an intuitive ability to understand human nuances and to bring different kinds of people together. She transformed this natural talent into a career as a community architect for brands and institutions such as Newhouse, Wanderlust, Breakout, and OneRoof, ultimately laying the foundation for Quilt, a new kind of social wellness space to connect, share, and learn with others through daily conversations. Quilt believes that community is the greatest form of self-care. Sam and Ashley talk about Ashley’s burning desire to be in service to people, building community, and the importance of caring. Ashley shares her thoughts on inclusivity and why she chooses to approach conflict with education rather than punishment. Finally, Ashley speculates on the future of Quilt and welcomes and encourages all listeners to join the community and become Quilters!

Ryan Nece is a former NFL player and the co-founder and managing partner at Next Play Capital. He has been a professional athlete, successful entrepreneur, and disciplined investor. He’s also a fellow UCLA alumnus - Go Bruins!

Today, Sam and Ryan talk about Ryan’s career path, what inspired him to launch Next Play Capital, and the value of fostering relationships. Ryan speaks to the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and shares why he chose to become a mentor for so many athletes transitioning into their careers outside of sports.

In today’s episode, Sam welcomes former athlete turned fitness trainer, Danyele Wilson. Danyele has a passion for coaching people to become the strongest, most powerful versions of themselves and she recently joined Tone and Sculpt as the app’s first US-based trainer.

Sam and Danyele talk about practicing confidence, having a positive mindset towards fitness, and the ‘Do It For You’ mentality. They reflect back on their lives as athletes and open up about struggles with body image and how they overcame those challenges. Finally, Danyele discusses the importance of being genuine, open, vulnerable and, above all, grateful.

In today’s episode, Sam welcomes podcasting powerhouse, entrepreneur, and wellness influencer Angie Lee is the host of The Angie Lee Podcast, a show for the dreamer, the multi-passionate, the ADHD, the go-getter, the side-hustler, the entrepreneur, and the ambitious. Sam and Angie talk about brand building, remaining humble, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. They talk about their Enneagram Test results and how it affects multiple relationships in your life, from personal to professional.

Sam welcomes engineer, entrepreneur, advisor, and coach, Meha Agrawal. Meha is the founder of Silk & Sonder, a subscription-based service centered around wellness, productivity, and authenticity.

Today, Sam and Meha talk about what inspired her to launch Silk & Sonder, the importance of physical and mental wellness, and the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship. Meha speaks to the aspect of her company that she is most proud of, how she approaches hiring, and the value she places on trying, failing, and trying again.

Sam welcomes mental health advocate, Megan Gallagher. At just 25 years old, Megan has spoken at over seven hundred and fifty universities across the country, given three Ted Talks and appeared in outlets such as OK Magazine and Forbes. She also has a new mental health workbook for teenagers that includes pages filled with journaling sections, tips for creating a healthy classroom from home and how teens can become emotionally aware.

Today, Sam and Megan talk about the importance of good mental health, how to curate a positive mindset, and the value of incorporating a daily routine. They discuss Megan’s passion for helping others, her struggles with anxiety, and why it is critical to find balance. Finally, Megan provides tips and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to build their own authentic brands.

Sam welcomes founder and CEO of Right Rice, Keith Belling. RightRice is a next generation rice brand that launched in February 2019. Keith is known for his experience as a founder, leader, and entrepreneur of several innovative consumer companies. He is the co-founder and former Chairman and CEO of PopChips, a leading, better-for-you snack food business launched in 2007 and has launched other businesses, including an e-commerce company. In this episode, Sam and Keith talk about Keith’s entrepreneurial journey, what it takes to create a successful company, and how to stand out in a saturated industry. They discuss how to maintain a healthy work-life balance and what advice Keith would give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark.

In today’s episode, Sam welcomes former Division-1 volleyball player, TED Talk speaker, social media influencer. and mental health advocate, Victoria Garrick. Since delivering her TED Talk in 2017, Victoria has become a leader in the mental health and body image advocacy space. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 2019, Victoria has traveled the country speaking on college campuses, hosting her hit podcast Real Pod, and creating daily content for over one million social media followers who follow her message and authenticity on self-care. In this episode, Sam and Victoria talk about Victoria’s journey from D-1 athlete to mental health advocate, the impact social media has had on the way we view ourselves, and strategies for overcoming body image issues and insecurities.

In today’s episode, Sam welcomes Matteo Franceschetti and Alexandra Zatarain, co-founders of Eight Sleep, the world’s first sleep fitness brand with a mission to fuel human potential through optimal sleep. Eight Sleep leverages thermoregulation, data, and technology to design products to restore individuals to their peak energy every morning. Eight Sleep has raised over $70 million in venture funding and has helped over 30,000 people get sleep fit with its hardware and digital products. Matteo is the co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, holds multiple patents in tech and health, and is a member of the Forbes Technology Counsel. Alexandra is the co-founder and VP of Brand and Marketing at Eight Sleep. In 2017, she was named by Forbes to the “30 under 30” list in Consumer Technology. In 2020, she was named by E! as one of the top 100 Female Founders.