Best Secure Ideas LLC Podcasts (2025)

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379: Another Side of Sebastian Manhart... 1:00:36

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44m ago1:00:36

1:00:36

It's that special time of year to put away worldly cares and focus on family, giving, and... carbon removal? Did I read that right? Come hang with Ross and CDR force of nature Sebastian Manhart to discuss family, parenthood, hope for the future, the quest to expand the moral sphere, and why we should be focusing on trendlines and not headlines. Hap…

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Building in Layers: The Compound Startup Playbook 48:00

1h ago48:00

48:00

April co-founder and CEO Ben Borodach joins Fund/Build/Scale to break down how he built a compound startup in one of the hardest markets in fintech: U.S. taxes. We talk about why some problems can’t be solved with a simple wedge product, how to sequence engineering, compliance, and distribution, and what it takes to operate inside complexity for ye…

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378: When Bad Companies Buy Good Carbon Removal 37:52

2h ago37:52

37:52

Is the voluntary carbon market a club for saints? Or is it a hospital for sinners? Are we meant to understand all and then to forgive all? How much time are we meant to devote to idealistic abstinence-esque policies for change, and how much of our professional lives should go to harm reduction? Today's show deals with some of the biggest questions …

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ASMR: Your one-hundred year-old Norwegian tall ship is sailing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 28:44

1h ago28:44

28:44

Gentle wind, sail, and ocean sounds with looped video taken during a trip from Seattle to San Francisco aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl for the One Ocean Expedition.

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Wrapping 2025 with Jon Favreau and Tim Miller 1:39:54

13d ago1:39:54

1:39:54

As 2025 draws to a close, Jon is joined by Crooked Media's Jon Favreau and "The Bulwark" host Tim Miller. Together, they assess Trump's tumultuous first year back in office, discuss whether his declining popularity offers reason for optimism, and examine what lies ahead for both parties as he enters lame-duck status and the races for both the midte…

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377: One Week Before the Mast—A Climate Sailing Travelogue from Seattle to San Francisco 1:03:03

7h ago1:03:03

1:03:03

One could fly to the Bay Area in about ninety minutes, but what if it took a week, enormous amounts of teamwork on a 111-year-old Norwegian sailing barque, and caused a near-universal seasickness in thirty-foot seas? Today's show is a monologue about my experience sailing from Seattle to San Francisco on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl for the One Ocean Exp…

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American “Heritage” vs. American History 1:28:07

20d ago1:28:07

1:28:07

As debates over what it means to be a "heritage American" enter mainstream political discourse, Jon is joined by University of Florida Professor Allen C. Guelzo and Yale historian Joanne Freeman, host of "History Matters" podcast. Together, they examine what this loaded term actually means, explore how American identity has been defined and contest…

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376: The Tragedy of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection—w/ Dr. Shuchi Talati of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering 1:21:57

6d ago1:21:57

1:21:57

Long a pariah climate solution, Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) is having its mainstream moment. As the climate movement ponders the planet's deep overshoot, more conversations about geoengineering, solar radiation management, global cooling, etc. are taking place in the open. Moreover, for-profit entities are raising venture rounds, with Sta…

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How to Build in a Market That Won’t Let You In 53:07

16d ago53:07

53:07

In most industries, if you’ve got a solid idea, a few engineers, and a working prototype, you can at least get in the game. Professional sports is not one of those industries. When Jordy Leiser co-founded Jump with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, he wasn’t just building software — he was trying to rebuild the entire fan experience from the ground up,…

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How to Prove You’re Building a Venture-Scale Company 1:00:46

1M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Most founders think VCs want a pitch deck full of market numbers, a roadmap, and a feel-good story about the future. Hoxton Ventures Partner Payton Dobbs isn’t looking for any of that. He wants to know if you actually understand the game you’re trying to play. In this conversation, Payton breaks down the tactical stuff founders almost always get wr…

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Govs.-Elect Sherrill & Spanberger: From the Hill to the State House 1:27:50

1M ago1:27:50

1:27:50

Fresh off their decisive election night wins, Jon is joined by Governors-Elect (and former congressional roommates) Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, to reflect on their journeys from Capitol Hill to state leadership. Together, they discuss their shared experience navigating Congressional gridlock, explore what drew t…

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The "Marionette Threat" of Generative AI with All Tech is Human’s David Polgar 19:50

28d ago19:50

19:50

Today’s episode is something a little different. I’m doing a feed swap with Humans of AI, a podcast from the team at Writer. What you’re about to hear is their conversation with David Ryan Polgar, the Founder and President of All Tech Is Human, a leading organization in the Responsible Tech movement. He’s a pioneer in tech ethics and responsible in…

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375: This CDR Marketplace Bought a Biochar Company. Now What?!—w/ Josiah Hunt of Pacific Biochar & Sophie Westover of Wren 1:03:40

1M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

Wren recently purchased a majority stake in Pacific Biochar, one of carbon removal's most prolific credit deliverers. What led to this deal, and will this model be emulated in a 2026 that might find carbon removal companies interested in (or maybe desperate for) deals that prolong runway and keep their companies alive? Wren is one of the oldest mar…

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From FTC to NYC with Lina Khan 1:25:50

1M ago1:25:50

1:25:50

In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s historic election in New York City, Jon is joined by Lina Khan, former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission and newly appointed co-chair of the mayor-elect’s transition team. Together, they discuss what tools the government has — both federally and locally — to advance policies that benefit consumers, examine how co…

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374: Mining with Microbes: Biomimicry in Copper Extraction—w/ Liz Dennett, PhD, CEO & Founder of Endolith 51:07

1M ago51:07

51:07

What if microbes could help us mine responsibly? What if astrobiology—the study of life beyond Earth—held clues for how to fix the way we extract resources on Earth? Today’s guest is Liz Dennett, CEO and founder of Endolith, a biotech startup using microbes to boost copper recovery from mining waste. With a PhD in astrobiology, experience at NASA, …

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We are the Dead—Why I Love Armistice Day 23:29

1M ago23:29

23:29

World War I profoundly changed the world. Nation-states replaced empires. Russia went communist. Fascism arrived. The West's claim to being the most civilized peoples on Earth was supremely undermined. And out of so much suffering, we received a holiday prioritizing grief and mercy. This bonus episode is me speed-running World War I and sharing som…

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Cyan Banister & Cristian Cibils Bernardes: Early Signals, Founder-Investor Fit, and Trustworthy Consumer AI 47:19

1M ago47:19

47:19

Recorded live in San Francisco during TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 week, this Fund/Build/Scale session brings together Cyan Banister (Long Journey Ventures) and Cristian Cibils Bernardes (Autograph) for a practical look at building consumer AI and the investor-founder dynamics that make it work. We dig into pre-traction signals that actually predict mom…

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Democrats Actually Win Something with Chris Hayes and David Plouffe 1:20:20

2M ago1:20:20

1:20:20

Following Democrats' decisive Tuesday wins, Jon is joined by MSNBC's Chris Hayes, host of "All In" and author of "The Sirens' Call," and David Plouffe, former Obama campaign manager and White House senior advisor. Together, they dissect the election results, explore the tension between political consulting and authentic campaigning, and discuss wha…

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373: Crucial Questions We Must Answer about Adapting to Climate Change—w/ Dr. Susannah Fisher, author of Sink or Swim 58:57

2M ago58:57

58:57

Adaptation begins at home. But it doesn't end there. What do you plan on doing with your family as climate change gets worse? Are you already making plans whether to stay or go? How should states respond as people flee disaster? Who should get access to fish stocks as they migrate to new regions? Once one starts asking these questions, they really …

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VP Kamala Harris on Defeat, Democrats, and the Fight Ahead 1:25:54

2M ago1:25:54

1:25:54

Nearly a year after her presidential campaign ended in defeat, Jon is joined by former Vice President Kamala Harris to reflect on the realities of running for the highest office and the state of Democratic politics. Together, they explore the challenges she faced on the campaign trail, discuss how Democrats can rebuild trust in their party by deliv…

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From Engineer to CEO: Ryan Wang on Building Assembled and Finding Product-Market Fit 53:40

2M ago53:40

53:40

I interviewed Ryan Wang, co-founder and CEO of Assembled, in his San Francisco office to unpack how he turned lessons from Stripe into a fast-growing startup that powers customer support teams at Robinhood, Canva, and Notion. We talk about: Finding the right co-founders and surviving a CEO hand-off Discovering product-market fit by asking one power…

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372: Climate Change on the Battlefield: New Missions, New Kit, New Theaters—w/ Erin Sikorsky, Director of The Center for Climate and Security 58:21

2M ago58:21

58:21

Is climate change a fringe and woke distraction in military planning that inhibits lethality? Or is it invaluable strategic context for this century's power projection? What kinds of missions will soldiers be asked to perform in a world that is getting hotter and more complex? Today's guest is Erin Sikorsky, Director of The Center for Climate and S…

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The Pentagon’s Press Purge 1:30:05

2M ago1:30:05

1:30:05

As the Pentagon implements sweeping new restrictions on press access, Jon is joined by Atlantic staff writer Nancy Youssef, War Horse founder Thomas Brennan, and former Pentagon spokesperson and retired Marine Corps Colonel David Lapan. Together, they examine why many journalists vacated the Pentagon and refused to sign on to these rules, explore t…

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371: Can Carbon Removal Grow with Sports? Why Athletic Media Goes Up and to the Right—w/ Aidan Preston of Milkywire 53:47

2M ago53:47

53:47

Much of legacy media is dying. You know what isn't? Live sports. Where the outcome is uncertain, people want to watch. That means bringing together large numbers of fans and athletes. And what does that all add up to? Emissions. And emissions that could potentially be detached from profitability, leading to budgets large enough to support meaningfu…

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Trump’s Peace Plan: Lessons from the Negotiating Table 1:31:31

2M ago1:31:31

1:31:31

In the aftermath of the ceasefire in Gaza, Jon is joined by Daniel Levy, former Israeli peace negotiator and President of the U.S./Middle East Project, and Zaha Hassan, former Palestinian legal advisor and Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Together, they examine the terms that ended the fighting, discuss the uncertain…

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370: This CDR Legend Just Catalogued (Nearly) All Carbon Removal Companies—w/ Grant Faber 50:56

2M ago50:56

50:56

What happens when you build a list of very nearly every carbon dioxide removal company in existence? You get access to intriguing data and the pride of a very laborious job done well. Presumably you also get to take a nap. Grant Faber is a long-time carbon removal community fixture working on Life Cycle Analysis and Techno-Economic Assessment. Form…

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The Starting Five: How to Build a Leadership Team That Can Scale 35:14

2M ago35:14

35:14

When startups fail to scale, it’s rarely because of bad code or bad luck. More likely, it's because they didn’t hire the right people at the right time. Chris Barbin, founder and CEO of Tercera, shares a playbook for assembling your “Starting Five” — the essential leadership roles every professional services startup needs to grow from $10M to $100M…

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AI: What Could Go Wrong? with Geoffrey Hinton 1:42:51

3M ago1:42:51

1:42:51

As artificial intelligence advances at unprecedented speed, Jon is joined by Geoffrey Hinton, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto and the "Godfather of AI," to understand what we've actually created. Together, they explore how neural networks and AI systems function, assess the current capabilities of the technology, and examine Hinton'…

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From Code to Customer: The Strategic Power of a Field CTO 31:16

2M ago31:16

31:16

By Walter Thompson

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369: I See a Darkness—The Climate Movement Expects Deep Overshoot 42:19

2M ago42:19

42:19

I came back from New York Climate Week energized. I loved seeing everyone. But many of the conversations I had profoundly scared me. We're staring into the abyss of deep overshoot, and it's staring back into us. What would it mean for us to make peace with a world that doesn't decarbonize fast enough? That doesn't scale carbon removal before tippin…

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The Republican Playbook: Democrat Edition with Tim Miller and David Faris 1:12:12

3M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

As the government shutdown takes effect, Jon is joined by Roosevelt University Professor and contributing writer at The Nation David Faris, and "The Bulwark Podcast" host Tim Miller to examine Democratic strategy. Together, they explore what Democrats are hoping to achieve through the shutdown, discuss whether the party should rethink its resistanc…

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368: The World Will Be Saved by Beauty: Carbon Removal's Feature Film Debut, LEGION 44—w/ Leila Conners, filmmaker 48:31

2M ago48:31

48:31

We all want to make sure carbon removal works. But who is working to make it beautiful? And could creating beauty be one of the most important jobs in all of climate? Leila Conners is a filmmaker who has been making environmental films for decades, including legendary ones like The 11th Hour with Leonardo DiCaprio. Her latest opus is Legion 44, whi…

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Wanted: Democratic Leadership with DNC Chair Ken Martin 1:23:04

3M ago1:23:04

1:23:04

As millions struggle to turn their political frustration into positive action, Jon is joined by Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. Together, they explore the role of party leadership in rebuilding after electoral defeat, discuss the fundamental challenges and internal divisions facing Democrats, and consider how the DNC and the party c…

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367: Is CDR Even Using "Bankability" Correctly?—w/ Ryan Covington, Attorney at Philip Lee LLP 54:00

3M ago54:00

54:00

Or "project finance", for that matter? Or are these just the current words we say at happy hours? Today, we attempt to nail down some of these definitions so we might have a chance of achieving either of these concepts. Ryan Covington is an attorney and partner in the Climate Projects team of Philip Lee (US) LLP, focused on the development and fina…

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I'm sailing from Seattle to San Francisco. Want to tag along? 9:15

3M ago9:15

9:15

Are you interested in sailing from Seattle to San Francisco on a sailing vessel older than World War 1?! Well, you can at the end of October 2025. Moreover, you'll be crewing alongside me. I recently joined the team of Maritime Blue as an Executive in Residence, working with ocean tech startups on commercial strategy, storytelling, and go-to-market…

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Dead Weight on the Cap Table: Inside the Ugly World of Founder Breakups 47:35

3M ago47:35

47:35

More startups die from co-founder breakups than from running out of money. Attorney David Siegel, a partner at Grellas Shah LLP, has spent years inside these conflicts, helping founders navigate everything from equity disputes to emotional meltdowns. In this conversation, he explains: Why greed and mismatched expectations trigger so many founder br…

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An Operator’s Playbook for Monetizing Product-Led Growth 46:20

3M ago46:20

46:20

What do you do when everyone loves your product but no one’s paying for it? That was the challenge facing Beautiful.ai. Founder Mitch Grasso nailed the product, but to build a sustainable business, he brought in operator Jason Lapp as CEO. In this conversation, Jason shares how Beautiful.ai killed its freemium tier, introduced a credit-card-gated t…

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Trending Towards Violence with Charlie Warzel 1:14:27

3M ago1:14:27

1:14:27

In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Jon is joined by Charlie Warzel, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of its "Galaxy Brain" newsletter. Together, they explore how algorithms distort the way we experience these tragic events while rewarding the most extreme reactions, investigate the online ecosystems that can radicalize individ…

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366: Raising Anti-Doomer Kids & Processing the Many Feelings of Climate Change—w/ Ariella Cook-Shonkoff, MFT; author of Raising Anti-Doomers 55:33

3M ago55:33

55:33

Raising kids is hard enough. How do we do it now when existential dread is such a major part of youth experience? And how do we keep ourselves mentally healthy enough to be good at both our professional climate work and parenting? Today's show is with Ariella Cook-Shonkoff, psychotherapist and author of the new book, Raising Anti-Doomers: How to Br…

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Jonathan Treussard, Founder of Treussard Capital Management LLC, Wealth Empowered newsletter 1:00:00

3M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

Jonathan shares his upbringing in France and educational journey that led him from music studies to economics and finance, including his academic work on option pricing and financial theory. Jonathan describes his risky decision to fly to Los Angeles with few resources and little English. He relates how his enrollment in a local community college b…

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A Conversation with Gov. JB Pritzker 1:11:55

3M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

As ICE arrives in Chicago under the banner of crime reduction, Jon is joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to examine the Trump administration's stated rationale for federal intervention in American cities. They explore what the administration is actually trying to accomplish in Illinois, consider what effective approaches to reducing crime and …

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365: Is Climate Action "Quixotic"?: Don Quixote's Psychosis & the Misuses of Political Nostalgia 21:48

3M ago21:48

21:48

Is that a noble man rejecting modernity and embracing tradition? Or is it a lunatic with a lance trying to disembowel a shepherd? The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes (Saavedra) is the much beloved literary classic—and perhaps the world's first true novel—but its reputation goes far beyond the book itself. The cha…

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Building a Bridge Across the Valley of Death 41:11

3M ago41:11

41:11

Frontier tech startups don’t fail because the science is bad — they fail because no one needs what they’re building. In this episode, Roadrunner Venture Studios CEO/co-founder Adam Hammer explains how to avoid that fate. We talk about why the U.S. struggles to turn research into startups, why being right isn’t enough, and what it really takes to cr…

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Are You Really Ready to Raise a Round? Here’s How to Tell 58:08

3M ago58:08

58:08

You don’t need a Stanford degree or a flashy deck to raise a pre-seed, seed or Series A, but you do need to show investors that you’ve put in the work. 645 Ventures co-founder Nnamdi Okike shares practical advice for founders who are prepping to raise capital, including what he looks for in pitch meetings, how to uncover “earned secrets,” and why c…

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From Side Project to Series B: How Learning Led to Product-Market Fit 36:32

4M ago36:32

36:32

Dan Lee co-founded what would become Nooks while on leave from Stanford. He wasn’t solving sales. He was exploring remote collaboration during the pandemic. But when they noticed that some of his most active users were in sales development — and that investors were starting to reach out — he followed the signal. Today, Nooks is a sales AI platform …

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364: Lowering the Onion into Hell: Strategic Realism vs. Christian Pacifism 42:29

4M ago42:29

42:29

In The Brothers Karamazov, the character Grushenka tells a story about an old peasant woman who never did a good deed in her entire life and went to Hell when she died. The woman's guardian angel petitioned God to let him search her life for a single good deed and if he found one, God would let her into Heaven. God agreed. It turns out she had once…

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Building Hard Tech: Lessons on Funding, Teams, and Timelines 51:52

4M ago51:52

51:52

UPDATE: On 9/8/2025, ZEI announced "the conclusion of its operations." https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zeroei_zero-emission-industries-zei-announces-activity-7371012829409177601-yQph? ******* Transforming breakthrough research into a sustainable company is never simple — especially in hard tech. In this episode recorded in December 2024, Zero Emissi…

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Carl Gershman, founding President of the National Endowment for Democracy 1:11:51

4M ago1:11:51

1:11:51

Carl Gershman is an American political activist and democracy advocate who served as the president of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) from its founding in 1984 until his retirement in 2021. Under his leadership, NED became a prominent organization supporting democratic movements and civil society groups worldwide. Carl describes the evol…

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363: Carbon Markets & The Art of Not Being Governed: Legibility vs. Complexity in James C. Scott—w/ Grant Faber 1:02:11

4M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

One of my biggest podcasting regrets is not having been able to interview the anthropologist Dr. James C. Scott before he died in 2024. We had corresponded by email, but he'll forever be one of the ones who got away... Rest in peace, James. Your scholarship is still making people think. Today's show serves as an introduction to anthropology, and to…

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Forget the Spin: Startup Myths That Hold Founders Back 43:43

4M ago43:43

43:43

Rob Biederman has sat on both sides of the table — first as co-founder and CEO of Catalant Technologies, and now as managing partner at Asymmetric Capital Partners. In this candid conversation, he explains why so much of the conventional wisdom around startups is actually counterproductive. He breaks down why design partners don’t equal traction, w…