Episodes

  • Closing The Funding Gap For Women Entrepreneurs

    Closing The Funding Gap For Women Entrepreneurs
    Jun 28 2025
    In today’s episode, I sit down with Evelyn Y. K. Lee, founder of Vine Ventures, international investor, mentor, and private equity expert. Evelyn shares why she backs entrepreneurs who demonstrate consistency, integrity, and a deep commitment to their mission. We discuss the persistent funding gap facing women, especially women of color, and why investing in these founders often leads to stronger long-term outcomes. Evelyn also shares why companies like Rocket Plan, which simplify outdated industries with scalable solutions, stand out in a crowded market. Legacy, impact, and execution remain at the center of her approach as she empowers founders building businesses that create real change.
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    18 mins
  • How Early Struggles Shape Great Entrepreneurs

    How Early Struggles Shape Great Entrepreneurs
    Jun 27 2025
    In today’s episode, I’m joined by Joe Tolzmann, entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of RocketPlan Technologies, for a conversation with Christine Tsai, Founding Partner and CEO of 500 Global. Christine shares how watching her mom program punch cards sparked a lifelong connection to technology and entrepreneurship. We talk about what it takes to succeed outside the typical startup hotspots, why investing in underrepresented founders matters, and how early rejection helped shape breakout companies like Canva. Christine also reflects on why entrepreneurship still holds the key to solving the world’s biggest challenges.
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    13 mins
  • What the Hootsuite CEO Learned from Interviewing 500 Gen Z Workers

    What the Hootsuite CEO Learned from Interviewing 500 Gen Z Workers
    Jun 26 2025
    In today’s episode, I sit down with Irina Novoselsky, CEO of Hootsuite, to talk about what leaders are getting wrong about Gen Z. After interviewing more than 500 members of the generation, Irina shares what’s really driving their decisions, including their preference for social-first communication and their shifting definition of success. We break down how anxiety, remote work expectations, and evolving relationships with authority shape their priorities. Irina explains why traditional sales tactics fall flat, how companies can actually reach Gen Z buyers, and what they really mean when they say they want flexibility. It’s not entitlement. It’s a different rulebook entirely.
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    17 mins
  • What to Do When Your Brain Tries to Stop You

    What to Do When Your Brain Tries to Stop You
    Jun 25 2025
    In today’s episode, I sit down with my high performance coach and longtime friend John Assaraf to talk about how to train the brain for sustainable success. John explains how our thoughts activate specific neural circuits and how to interrupt the negative ones before they take over. He walks through his signature “innercise” method and shares a simple morning practice that rewires the brain with repetition, not willpower. We talk about the neuroscience of fear, motivation, and identity, and the real reason most people do not trust their training when it counts. From visualization to blueprinting goals, this conversation covers the mental fitness needed to perform at the highest level.
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    18 mins
  • Why Traditional Search Is Dead (And How Exa.ai is Replacing It)

    Why Traditional Search Is Dead (And How Exa.ai is Replacing It)
    Jun 24 2025
    In today’s episode, I sit down with Will Bryk, co-founder of Exa.ai and former robotics lead at Harvard, to talk about the future of search, the limits of human understanding, and how AI can help us push past them. Will shares how his background in physics led him to build search tools focused on meaning rather than keywords. We talk about what makes Exa.ai different, how it’s helping people surface better information, and why designing for complexity creates more useful results. For anyone looking to make sharper decisions or grow with more clarity, this conversation offers a look at what’s possible when AI actually understands what you're asking.
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    24 mins
  • Shake Up Your Perspective

    Shake Up Your Perspective
    Jun 23 2025
    In this episode, I talk about one of the most underrated tools for growth—your perspective. I share why the way you see things often shapes what you get from them, and how small mindset shifts can lead to big changes in results. From the power of intentional disruption to the REFRAME method I use to reset and refocus, this conversation is about breaking patterns, getting clear on what matters, and moving forward with purpose. When we lead with gratitude and curiosity, everything starts to look different—and so do the outcomes we create. To join my next free Friday Training sessions, email me at david@dmeltzer.com
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    34 mins
  • The Hardest Lesson About Success

    The Hardest Lesson About Success
    Jun 22 2025
    In today’s episode, I break down the habits, mindset shifts, and uncomfortable decisions that lead to lasting growth. I talk about the importance of narrowing your focus, protecting your energy, and making peace with the fact that not everyone will grow with you. I explain why feeling like a fraud is often a sign you're on the right track, and how burnout happens when you try to serve everyone but yourself. From setting non-negotiables to releasing what no longer fits, I share what it really takes to stay aligned with your purpose. Greatness doesn’t come from doing everything;it comes from doing the right things consistently.
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    32 mins
  • What to Do When Everything Falls Apart

    What to Do When Everything Falls Apart
    Jun 21 2025
    In today’s episode, I break down what it really takes to move forward when everything falls apart. I talk about the pain of losing over $100 million, the identity loss that comes with failure, and the power of turning rejection into redirection. From firewalks to forgiveness, I share how non-negotiable behaviors and consistent values create long-term stability. I explain why faith matters more when nothing makes sense, why self-awareness beats self-pity, and how asking for help can be a higher act of service than offering it. This one’s about finding your direction through struggle—and turning setbacks into something that serves you.
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    1 hr and 1 min