Best Apex Communications Network Podcasts (2025)

1
Abhay Parasnis on Creating Moats, AI Strategy, and Selling to Enterprise 47:45

2M ago47:45

47:45

Abhay Parasnis is founder and CEO of Typeface, is former CTO/CPO at Adobe, and sits on the board of Dropbox and Schneider Electric. He joined Ben Casnocha, co-founder and partner at Village Global, for a live masterclass for Village Global founders. Takeaways: If you can break into the top tier of the enterprise market, it’s hard to dislodge you. B…

1
Fundraising in AI with Aaron Harris 46:26

3M ago46:26

46:26

Aaron Harris was a partner at YC for 7.5 years where he funded Deel, OpenSea, Scale AI, Rappi, Lattice, and others. He also built YC's Series A program where he worked with founders on over 200 Series As and Bs that raised in excess of $3B in capital. He joined Sam Kirschner, VP at Village Global, to give Village Global founders helpful tips on fun…

1
Hiring Technical Talent with Kathy Copic and Lindsay Pettingill 57:37

4M ago57:37

57:37

Kathy Copic is founder of Fieldwork Partners, where she works closely with early stage companies on scoping technical projects, getting early ML models into production, and helping them hire. She was interviewed by Lindsay Pettingill, Investment Partner at Village Global, during this masterclass for Village Global founders. Takeaways: Maintain at l…

1
Eynat Guez of Papaya Global on Mastering Enterprise Sales and Building Long-Term Partnerships 55:36

4M ago55:36

55:36

Eynat Guez, founder and CEO of Papaya Global, was interviewed by Ben Casnocha, co-founder and partner at Village Global, during this masterclass for Village Global founders. Takeaways: Show up to key meetings as the founder or executive team — don’t just send the sales team. It signals to the client that you’re personally invested and committed to …

1
Auren Hoffman and Ben Casnocha on Career Strategy, Undiscovered Talent, Networks, and more 58:01

6M ago58:01

58:01

Auren Hoffman, CEO of SafeGraph and GP of Flex Capital, interviewed Ben Casnocha, Village Global co-founder and partner, on Auren's World of DaaS podcast. They are longtime friends and had a wide-ranging discussion on career strategy, evaluating founders, serendipity, wealth, and much more. We've cross-posted that conversation here. Highlights: The…

1
Howie Liu on Airtable's Early Days, Scaling, and AI 1:01:18

6M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

Howie Liu, founder and CEO of Airtable, was interviewed by Village Global co-founder and partner Ben Casnocha live in downtown San Francisco in front of an audience of Village Global founders and friends of the firm. Highlights: - Embracing discomfort is part of the founder's journey. Learning to tolerate and even appreciate this discomfort is impo…

1
Guillermo Rauch on AI, Scaling Vercel, and The Future of Web Apps 56:11

9M ago56:11

56:11

Guillermo Rauch is founder and CEO of Vercel, a company that provides the developer tools and cloud infrastructure to build, scale, and secure a faster, more personalized web. He was interviewed by Ben Casnocha, co-founder and general partner at Village Global, an early stage venture capital firm backed by some of the world’s most successful entrep…

1
Encore: Secrets of Public Speaking and Oral Communication from Renowned Speaking Coach 42:20

11M ago42:20

42:20

Michael Balaoing, founder of Candlelion, joins Village Global co-founder and partner Ben Casnocha on this episode to discuss: - The importance of the acronym WTF (what’s the feeling?) when you’re giving a presentation. - The four roles that you take on as a speaker: captain, pilot, guide, and game show host. - The five questions to ask when seeking…

1
Encore: Brad Feld on What Nietzsche Can Teach Entrepreneurs 50:09

12M ago50:09

50:09

Brad Feld (@bfeld), VC at Foundry Group and co-author with Dave Jilk of The Entrepreneur’s Weekly Nietzsche, joined Village Global co-founder and partner Ben Casnocha to discuss: - Common misconceptions about Nietzsche and why being misunderstood makes him an especially interesting philosopher. - What Nietzsche can teach entrepreneurs deciding whet…

1
How to Nail Product-Market Fit and Scale a B2B Company with Thejo Kote of Airbase 57:45

1y ago57:45

57:45

Thejo Kote (@thejo) talks to Village partner Ben Casnocha. Thejo is a two-time founder and CEO. His current company, Airbase, is a spend management platform serving companies with 100 and 5,000 employees like Coda, 15Five, Front, Marqueta, CaptivateIQ, Abnormal, and more. Airbase has raised over $200 million, has tens of millions in ARR, and is con…

1
Encore: Cloudflare Co-Founder Michelle Zatlyn’s Advice on Hiring, Fundraising, Scaling, and more 50:26

1y ago50:26

50:26

Michelle Zatlyn (@zatlyn), co-founder, president, and COO of Cloudflare, joined Village Global co-founder and partner Ben Casnocha for a masterclass with our founders in late 2020. They discussed: - The origin story of Cloudflare, including how the co-founders met, and how Michelle realized that she too could start a company. - Her advice on fundra…

1
Rethinking Youth Education: Design Thinking, Community Engagement, and Cultivating Empathy with Joel from TomTod Ideas 1:01:49

1y ago1:01:49

1:01:49

Have you ever considered the profound impact design thinking could have on the development of middle schoolers? Join Jan as he chats with Joel from TomTod Ideas and uncover how revolutionizing the education system through co-learning and innovation can reshape not only individual lives but also entire communities. This episode is full of insights f…

1
Lessons from the Early Days at Uber and Advice for Founders with Kevin Novak 46:37

1y ago46:37

46:37

We're excited to launch a new EIR program for data science founders in partnership with Rackhouse Ventures, founded by Kevin Novak. Learn more about the program: https://www.villageglobal.vc/rackhouse-village-global-eir-program Kevin Novak (@novakkm), an early Uber employee, was instrumental in developing their data science program and was the crea…

1
Embracing the Journey: Parental Wisdom for Nurturing Neurodiverse Children with Dr. Inna Rozentsvit 1:09:55

1y ago1:09:55

1:09:55

Embark on a transformative journey with us as we sit down with the renowned Dr. Inna Rozentsvit to uncover the triumphs and trials of parenting neurodiverse children. Through our in-depth discussion, you'll gain invaluable insights into how to shift from feeling unqualified to embracing the profound role of being your child's confident, mentor, and…

1
Encore Episode: John Donahoe’s Lessons on Leadership and Being a Better CEO 54:14

1y ago54:14

54:14

This encore episode is a recording of a special masterclass roundtable session for our founders with John Donahoe. John is CEO of Nike and was previously CEO of ServiceNow and eBay. He is known as one of the most inspirational leaders in Silicon Valley and is a highly sought-after mentor to CEOs including Brian Chesky at Airbnb, Drew Houston at Dro…

1
Identifying 275M Unreported Genetic Variations To Improve Healthcare with NIH All of Us Program CTO Chris Lunt 49:08

1y ago49:08

49:08

Chris Lunt is a technology executive with more than 25 years of experience building web services and data platforms. He is in his seventh year as the CTO for the NIH's All of Us Research Program. He joined the NIH from GetInsured, where he worked to improve health insurance shopping and enrollment systems. Previously Chris ran VC-backed internet st…

1
Building Bridges Beyond the Business Plan: Entrepreneurship, Social Harmony, and the Power of Events w/ Mercedes McElley 59:11

1y ago59:11

59:11

Have you ever wondered how a leap of faith into entrepreneurship can redefine not just a career but a life? My friend Mercedes joins us to unravel her transformative journey, a tale that ebbs from the allure of the courtroom to the dynamic pulse of event planning. She lays bare the trials and triumphs of her path, from coordinating weddings to over…

1
Mastery of the Mind: Exploring Neuroplasticity, Neurodiversity, and the Art of Self-Directed Cognitive Development w/ Dr. Inna Rozentsvit 1:20:35

1y ago1:20:35

1:20:35

Unlock the mysteries of your mind with Dr. Ina Rozentsvit, a visionary in the convergence of neurology, psychology, and holistic healthcare. Our conversation takes you on a transformative journey, illustrating how a compassionate approach to patient care that integrates medical, psychological, and social dimensions can profoundly impact healing and…

1
Building Hardware Companies and Choosing Co-Founders with Michael Hochberg 57:04

1y ago57:04

57:04

Michael Hochberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hochberg/) is a physicist and a founder of four successful startup companies in semiconductors and telecommunications, including Luxtera, acquired by Cisco in 2019, and Elenion, acquired by Nokia in 2020. He won the highest awards for young scientists in Singapore (NRF Fellowship) and the United States …

1
Secondaries with Matt Pellini of Hamilton Lane 40:19

1y ago40:19

40:19

Matt Pellini, Managing Director at Hamilton Lane, joins Olga Serhiyevich on this episode. Highlights: - Matt says the secondaries market has grown over 5x from 15 years ago to now. - Selling in the secondary market used to be a sign of distress but is no longer. There are many different reasons for doing so and it’s mostly a sign of a manager being…

1
Lessons Learned From Running CalSTRS with Chris Ailman 52:38

1y ago52:38

52:38

Christopher Ailman (@CJAtheCIO), Chief Investment Officer at CalSTRS, joins Olga Serhiyevich on this episode. Highlights: - CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, was created in 1913 and is actually older than Social Security. It has over 400 members who are over 100 years old who are still receiving their pension. - Chris says …

1
Empowering Holistic Health: Unpacking Chiropractic Wisdom, Nutrition Secrets, and the Art of Natural Wellness 54:01

1y ago54:01

54:01

Step away from the medicine cabinet and into the world of holistic healing with Dr. Lexie Taylor, who brings a wealth of knowledge from the chiropractic field, focused on nutrition and natural wellness. Imagine a world where your diet is your prescription and your lifestyle your therapy. This episode promises an enlightening exploration into altern…

1
Encore: Mark Pincus on Product Management, Raising Capital, and Building Zynga 1:10:17

1+ y ago1:10:17

1:10:17

This encore episode is a recording of a special event where Mark Pincus (@markpinc) was interviewed by Ben Casnocha in San Francisco in front of a live audience of portfolio founders, friends of the firm, and LPs. Mark is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Zynga, and is an angel investor in Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and other companies. He tal…

1
Encore: Bill Gates on Advice For Founders, Mistakes, and Philanthropy 59:58

1+ y ago59:58

59:58

This encore episode is a recording of a special event where Bill Gates was interviewed in San Francisco by Julia Hartz, co-founder of Eventbrite. It originally took place in 2018 in front of a live audience of Village Global founders and friends of the firm. We are honored to count Bill Gates among our luminary LPs whose financial capital and engag…

1
Encore: Jerry Yang on Yahoo!, Early-Stage Investing, and China 56:18

1+ y ago56:18

56:18

Jerry originally joined us on the podcast in 2019. He is co-founder of Yahoo! and founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures. He was interviewed in front of a live audience in San Francisco by Village Global co-founder and partner, Ben Casnocha. Jerry told stories from the early days of Yahoo! and explained his lessons learned from the experience. He a…

1
How Superplastic Built a Social Media-Native Character Universe 44:00

1+ y ago44:00

44:00

Paul Budnitz, founder of Superplastic, and Jennifer van Dijk, CEO of Superplastic, join Christina Des Vaux, head of marketing and platform at Village Global, on this episode. Takeaways: Superplastic is a creatively-led company that has managed to maintain its unique identity and artistic integrity while nevertheless running a thriving business. The…

1
Navigating Life's Paradoxes: Analysis Paralysis, The Power of Spontaneity, and Embracing Positivity Amid Chaos 45:44

1+ y ago45:44

45:44

Join us, as we weave through the winding paths of surrender, fate, and the surprising power of spontaneity. Inspired by the inventive genius, Dr. Forrest Bird, we unpack the role of fate, time, and circumstance, and share thought-provoking insights into how sometimes, just showing up and being open to opportunities can unlock unforeseen paths to su…

1
Changing Traditions: Black Friday Memories, Gaming Evolution, and Tech Industry Adventures 39:54

1+ y ago39:54

39:54

Remember the days when Black Friday was all about elbowing your way through crowded stores? Well, we've come a long way from that, and in this episode, we're taking a trip down memory lane to reminisce about the evolution of Black Friday and its undeniable impact on our holiday shopping and gaming culture. You might find it amusing to hear our tale…

1
Digital Detox: The Reality of Technology, Promoting Mindful Usage, and Enhancing Human Connection in a Screen-Driven World 52:43

1+ y ago52:43

52:43

Are you feeling overwhelmed by technology? Have you ever wondered if there could be a healthier balance between our digital and physical lives? Join us in this powerful dialogue with our guest, Forrest Bronson from Digital Detox, an organization that sparks a healthier relationship and balance with technology. Get ready to be inspired by Levi Felix…

1
Anime Insights and More: Dissecting One Piece, Manga Versus Anime, the Curiosities of Weather, and Diving into Simulated Reality 28:39

1+ y ago28:39

28:39

Ever wondered how One Piece's animation has evolved since the Timeskip, and how it stacks up against the buzzworthy Jujutsu Kaisen? We've got you covered. As we embark on our journey, we dissect the current arc, warlords, and Yonko in One Piece, and share our thoughts on navigating the nuanced differences between manga and anime. We also compare th…

1
Inked Chronicles: Unraveling Tattoo Artistry, Travel Hacks, Social Media Trends, and Celebrating Podcast Growth 29:10

1+ y ago29:10

29:10

Ever wondered what goes into creating a tattoo sleeve? Join us as we unwrap the fascinating world of tattoo artistry, alongside our co-host, RJ, a human canvas for the talented Chris House from Nimbus Tattoo. RJ takes us on a journey through his sleeve-creation process, from mapping characters and villains on Google Sheets, to enduring long hours i…

1
Navigating Life's Path: The Value of Stepping-Stone Jobs, Dealing with Stress, and Embracing Personal Growth 32:26

1+ y ago32:26

32:26

After years of working two full-time jobs while simultaneously studying for his nursing degree, Jan can attest that not every job has to be a dream job to serve as a stepping stone for achieving your dreams. Jan and RJ explore this very notion in this episode, recounting personal experiences with jobs that didn't quite fit the long-term vision, yet…

1
Harnessing Anger for Growth: Personal Accountability, Boxing, and the Power of Instincts in Business and Life 31:34

1+ y ago31:34

31:34

Did you know that the intense emotions you feel when your temper flares could actually be harnessed for your growth? This episode offers a fascinating exploration into the correlation between managing anger and the sport of boxing. We share our personal lessons and talk about how controlling and directing anger towards productivity has benefited us…

1
Reference Checking and Personality Assessments with Investor Graham Duncan 51:26

1+ y ago51:26

51:26

Graham Duncan (@GrahamDuncanNYC) is a longtime investor and author of a legendary essay on reference checking: https://grahamduncan.blog/whats-going-on-here/ He was interviewed by Village Global co-founder and partner Ben Casnocha (@bencasnocha) during a special masterclass for Village Global founders and friends of the firm. Takeaways: - Be aware …

1
Insights on Capital Power Brokers from Hedge Funds to Venture Capital with Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Power Law 51:29

1+ y ago51:29

51:29

Sebastian Mallaby (@scmallaby) is the Paul A. Volcker senior fellow for international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. He is the author of five books, including most recently The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future. He joined Olga Serhiyevich, head of investo…

1
Global Escapades: Unpacking Travel Tips, Cultural Insights, and Tattoo Adventures, Plus Upcoming Podcast Excitement 17:49

1+ y ago17:49

17:49

Come along as Jan unpacks the suitcase of his recent global escapades! From the charming streets of Slovakia to the historic grandeur of Italy, London, and Ireland, he has a few travel tips and cultural insights. Discover how Toronto can be your secret weapon in booking flights and why Google Maps is the ultimate co-pilot abroad. And if you've ever…

1
LatAm Digital Transformation Report from Atlantico 49:16

1+ y ago49:16

49:16

Julio Vasconcellos (@JulioV), managing partner at Atlantico, and Ana Martins (@martinsg_ana), partner at Atlantico, join Anne Dwane (@adwane), co-founder and partner at Village Global, to discuss Atlantico’s 2023 report on digital transformation in Latin America. Takeaways: - If Latin America was its own country it would be #3 in the world in terms…

1
Opportunities in Public Health Investing with Gurdane Bhutani and Zeshan Muhammedi 52:43

1+ y ago52:43

52:43

Gurdane Bhutani and Zeshan Muhammedi are co-founders and GPs at MBX, a VC firm investing in early-stage bio/healthtech companies tackling major public health threats. Prior to that they co-founded healthcare and life-science venture capital firm FundRx, where they championed the firm's build-out of its community-driven investment infrastructure, mo…

1
The Future of Retail with Lee Hnetinka 38:00

1+ y ago38:00

38:00

Lee Hnetinka, founder and CEO of Future and Darkstore, joins Olga Serhiyevich, Head of Investor Relations at Village Global, on this episode. Lee and his companies are building innovative solutions in retail and e-commerce and have worked with world’s most admired brands like Nike, Adidas and Disney where they enabled same-day and 1-hour delivery f…

1
CIO Series: Wealth Management Platforms, Private Investment Strategies, and the Current (non-Twitter) Macro Outlook with Cameron Dawson 39:48

1+ y ago39:48

39:48

Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer at NewEdge Wealth, joins Olga Serhiyevich, Head of Investor Relations, on this episode. Prior to joining NewEdge Wealth, Cameron was the Chief Market Strategist at Fieldpoint Private Securities and a Senior Equity Analyst at Bank of America. Takeaways: Cameron says that wealth management firms can provide th…

1
Exploring the Wellness Traditions of Eastern Europe and Retail Spaces Turned Pickleball Courts in the US 37:06

1+ y ago37:06

37:06

What if we told you that the secret to robust health and vigor at 85 years old could be found in the rural landscapes of Slovakia? Join Jan and RJ on a journey as Jan discusses the lifestyle and wellness differences between America and his family deep within the heart of his home country - Slovakia. He shares his personal experiences, from witnessi…

1
Opportunities at the intersection of software and hardware in national development projects with Prescott Watson 56:03

1+ y ago56:03

56:03

Prescott Watson (@prescottwatson) joins Olga Serhiyevich (@olgaserhi), head of investor relations at Village Global, on this episode. Prescott is co-founder of Port Power, a software platform that aims to de-risk commercial fleets’ adoption of electric vehicles by ensuring their charging infrastructure functions flexibly and reliably. Takeaways: - …

1
Redefining Success: Breaking Societal Norms to Forge Your Own Path 40:42

1+ y ago40:42

40:42

In these episodes, Jan and RJ jump between talking about their weekends, what it's like growing a marketing agency, and other show types. For the next few months, they will be working their way through 52 pieces of advice to live by. Today's pieces of advice include: 1. You are the only person that can determine your definition of "success." 2. Goa…

1
Casual Tuesday: A First-Gen Entrepreneur's Journey, The Growing Trend of Pickleball, and Google's Medical AI Innovation 28:18

2y ago28:18

28:18

You think you've got grit? Wait till you hear Andrew's journey of blazing the entrepreneurial trail as a first-gen business founder in our latest episode. Offering a fresh perspective on the challenges and victories that come with being the pioneer in your family to venture into the world of business. Speaking of firsts, we have an exciting discuss…

1
Apex Interview: Cultivating Community and Support for First-Generation Business Owners 50:04

2y ago50:04

50:04

Can you remember the excitement of earning your very first paycheck? In this captivating episode, Andrew McIntosh from 1stGen and Jan reminisce about their early entrepreneurial ventures, from delivering newspapers to starting a grass-cutting business. These formative experiences shaped their understanding of the power of entrepreneurship and drove…

1
Casual Tuesday: How to Save Time, Enjoy Life, and The Importance of Kindness 47:01

2y ago47:01

47:01

Welcome to Casual Tuesdays. In these episodes, Jan and RJ jump between talking about their weekends, what it's like growing a marketing agency, and other show types. For the next few months, they will be working their way through 52 pieces of advice to live by. Today's pieces of advice include: 1. To save time, do things right the first time. 2. En…

1
Mark Cuban on Disrupting Healthcare, Trends in AI, and Randomness 54:27

2y ago54:27

54:27

Mark Cuban (@mcuban) joins Olga Serhiyevich (@olgaserhi), head of investor relations at Village Global, on this episode. Takeaways: - In the US healthcare system the interests of patients, providers, and payers are not aligned. This drives many of the problems in the system today and is part of what inspired Mark to get involved in trying to disrup…

1
Casual Tuesday: 52 Pieces of Advice To Live By - Part 1 40:32

2y ago40:32

40:32

Welcome to Casual Tuesdays. Yes, Jan finally got tired of explaining why they were called "Casual Mondays" even though we release the episodes on Tuesday. You live and you learn. In these episodes, Jan and RJ will be working their way through 52 pieces of advice to live by. Today's pieces of advice include: 1. Never Half Ass Two Things, Whole Ass O…

1
Casual Monday: Things We Learned While Starting Our Podcast 31:08

2y ago31:08

31:08

Welcome to Casual Mondays. Yes, we know they are being released on Tuesdays - but we record them every Monday so... deal with it. In these episodes, Jan and RJ talk about their weekends and whatever adventure is coming up that week. Today Jan and RJ talk about a question that pops up in Jan's DM's pretty frequently. How do I start a podcast? In thi…

1
Disrupting VC Benchmarking and Closing The LP-GP Information Gap with Eric Woo and Spencer Tyson 48:35

2y ago48:35

48:35

Eric Woo (@ericjwoo), co-founder and CEO of Revere, and Spencer Tyson (@SpencerGTyson), Head of Investment Ratings at Revere, join Olga Serhiyevich (@olgaserhi), Head of Investor Relations at Village Global. Revere has pioneered the world’s first rating system for venture capital funds. Takeaways: - Venture has changed a lot over the last couple de…

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Apex Communications Network Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen