ready or not

“My biggest fear is not being able to prove these things at scale” - Abhay RanganAbhay is the founder of Goodmylk, a company aiming to make plant-based food accessible and affordable to all of  India. Goodmylk grew out of a nonprofit Abhay started in high school, and it has now grown to be a team of 12 with $400k in funding. In 2019 Abhay was placed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list.We talk about his dad’s small business, improvisational music, motivating a team, and everything in between. This is one of my absolute favorite interviews, and I hope you all enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

“There’s something in me that tells me to stop…it’s a monster that’s satisfied” - Natalia SethNatalia is my favorite Instagram follow. She is a multi-media artist who blends surrealism, color, and portrait photography to create a world entirely her own. She also does speaking gigs, online tutorials, and recently published her first book. All of this is on top of being a full-time college student. We talk about the power of perfectionism, timing a good jumping photograph, juggling multiple jobs, and much more. This interview is a great way to kick off 2020, as Natalia is so funny and full of life. It will definitely bring a smile to your face. Enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"I don't want them to change their views, I just want them to entertain the idea of a different view" - Rayouf AlhumedhiRayouf is a leading advocate for the hijab emoji. At 15 she began a movement that quickly got the attention of the BBC, Apple, and the cofounder of Reddit. Rayouf grew up in Germany, Austria, and Saudi Arabia. But after successfully premiering the emoji in 2017, she moved to the US to enroll at Stanford.The content of this interview was really unexpected for me (not usually the case). We obviously chat about the hijab and its accompanying emoji. But we also compare political correctness in the US versus Europe, discuss controversial speakers on college campuses, and hopefully avoid getting cancelled on Twitter :). Enjoy!MALING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

“Do what is uncomfortable but not unsafe” - Deja FoxxDeja is an activist, organizer, and 2036 front runner for President of the United States. She first rose to prominence at 16, when she confronted then Senator Jeff Flake at a Planned Parenthood town hall. Once homeless, she is now the founder of El Rio Community Health Center’s Reproductive Health Access Project, the creator of GenZ Girl Gang, and a student at Columbia University. This year she is on leave to work for Senator Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.We talk about everything from Deja’s recent backpacking trip to napping without alarms to Kamala For The People. Deja also compares online and in person community building. What stood out to me is just how goal oriented Deja is. The opening line about the presidency is partially a joke, but not really. She is brilliant, driven, and I certainly would not bet against her.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"Wake up fired up to come to work" - Dylan GambardellaDylan is the Co-founder of Next Gen HQ, a business hub helping tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs chase their dreams. At 17 he Co-founded Students4Students, a consulting firm helping student through the college admissions process. And he has also worked with major companies like Target and Capital One on engaging the next generation of customers.Through the lens of Next Gen we talk about mentorship, event planning, and motivating employees. We also get sidetracked by Kobe Bryant and Slack. Dylan has so many reps connecting with successful young people, and his insights here are really valuable. Enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"Most things in life we tell ourselves in our mind this number is gonna make me happy... then we get to that point and we're like ahh no" - Hunter WoodhallHunter was born with fibular hemimelia and at 11 months old both of his legs were amputated below the knee. In the nearly two decades since he has won Paralympic medals, developed a massive social media following, and become the first double amputee to receive a Division 1 track and field scholarship. Hunter and I talk about his difficult recruiting process, the benefits of having a public persona, and the Olympics vs. Paralympics. We also get into the weeds on the mechanics of starting a race with two prosthetics. I had high expectations going into this one, and Hunter blew right past them. Hard to do this interview justice in writing, just listen and enjoy.Support the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"If you're young and you want to seek help...you need to have a really clear vision of what you want" - Alex DeansAlex is an inventor, artist, and public speaker who I am so lucky to have on the pod this week. At 12 he invented the first iteration of iAid, a belt and joystick that helps the visually impaired navigate. Since then he has been named the Queen's Young Leader by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, given speeches to hundreds of thousands of people, and worked on multiple continents to screen for preventable eye diseases. We dive into his current work and future plans to attend medical school. Then we talk through everything from how to orient problems and find world-class mentors to Canadian politics in the age of Trump. It definitely jumps around lol but Alex is a fascinating person to talk with and I hope you all enjoy!Support the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"There seems to be a theme in my life where I just sit down, start fucking around, and then things happen" - Mac AyresMac is a self-taught musician who developed his own soulful sound while still in college. After then dropping out of Berklee College of Music, Mac moved to LA to kick off his career and he hasn't looked back since. He has toured across three different continents and his songs have been played more than a hundred million times on Spotify.In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about his musical influences, what makes a great live show, and what you can expect from his upcoming album, Juicebox. Reiterating something I say in the podcast, I am consistently impressed by my peers who are so clearly inspired to specialize at a young age. And Mac is a great example of someone who loves every part of their craft.Enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"Spread joy like jelly" - Jacob CramerJacob is the founder and executive director of Love for the Elderly, a nonprofit working to bring joy to elderly around the world. It began as one middle schooler sending letters of love to a single nursing home. Now the organization has send tens of thousands of letters and sunshine boxes to homes in more than 60 countries. In this interview Jacob and I talk at length about growing his nonprofit. Within that broad framework Jacob discusses his relationship with his dad, his favorite ways to procrastinate, and how his inspiration has evolved as the organization has grown.Enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

“I suppose that is the tricky thing about creative inspiration…you never know when it’s going to strike” - Hunter WilliamsHunter is a widely acclaimed director from New Zealand whose films have been shown in theaters across the world. His social enterprise, Focal Projects, has created meaningful content for many nonprofit organization in New Zealand. I was initially drawn to Hunter’s work because of his short film entitled “A Conversation About The Weather.” The deeply personal story chronicles phone calls between Hunter and his grandmother as she struggles with dementia. We talk about the creative process behind that film and a few others. Hunter also geeks out on some of his favorite films and explains why he chose a vocational film program instead of a four year university. Note that this interview took place before the recent tragedy in New Zealand, which is why we do not discuss it.Enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

“Would you be willing to host us? 99.9% of the time the first person we met said yes” - Kesava Kirupa DinakaranKesava is a social entrepreneur, budget traveller, and current gap year student. Last summer he cycled more than 4000 kilometers from Turkey to China, with the goal of fostering cross-cultural exchange in Central Asia. Now he is on the cusp of launching a social platform for budget travelers to share tips and experiences. He tells some amazing stories about finding a place to sleep in random towns and taking in the beauty of Kyrgyzstan. He also explains how to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under ten seconds. As a travel lover myself this interview was filled with great advice and inspiration.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

“The first two minutes is the dangerous part of that, because if they don't kidnap you in the first two minutes then you're fine” - Jonah GerckeWhat an episode we have this week with Jonah, an award winning documentary filmmaker specializing in conflict zones. Jonah's first major film centered on the next generations in Palestine and Israel who will inherit a deep and complex struggle. And Jonah's latest feature involves the illicit and underground world of Venezuela. We sit down to discuss various stories from productions including attending a wedding in Palestine and interviewing gang leaders in Venezuela. Jonah also explains how they manage and assess risk in order to stay safe. Jonah recently came out as non-binary, and at the end we touch on his transition to they/them pronouns.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

“We need to…work towards collective goals rather than individual goals” - Harry McCannHarry is an entrepreneur and media personality from Ireland. He founded his first business at 15, quickly earning him the title of “Ireland’s answer to Bill Gates.” Not bad. Since then he created the world's first Digital Youth Council and founded Trendster Media. He has received many accolades and rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in both the tech world and the Irish government.In this conversation we talk a ton about politicians and leaders who bring us together versus those who divide us. Harry tells stories from his various ventures and explains why integrating technology and education is vital. He also offers some hints at future work, including possibly running for public office.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"White supremacy...is sheltered in the home" - Rebecca DharmapalanRebecca is a Tamil/Goan artist, activist, and currently a masters student in Human Rights Law. Her first film, International Boulevard, gained widespread acclaim for depicting child sex trafficking in the SF Bay Area. She was named as Glamour’s College Woman of the Year 2017, on Vogue’s 21 under 21, and given an OZY 2018 Genius Award. Pretty amazing stuff.We dive deep into her past documentary work, then get super meta on the voyeuristic nature of documentaries. In that section she offers some powerful reflection on the shortcomings of her own work. She also gives some excellent strategies for discussing systemic oppression with family and friends. This one will definitely make you think.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"Our entire goal...is technology for the next billion users" -Anand ChowdharyAnand is a creative technologist and entrepreneur from India. He cofounded and now serves as the CEO of Oswald Labs, an accessibility technology company. Oswald creates cutting-edge products for those with an ability, economic, or geographic barrier to current tech. Anand has received countless honors including  a place on a Forbes 30 under 30 list.We talk all about his interdisciplinary approach to college, his growth philosophy for Oswald, and ambitious future plans. Anand also suggests some great business and productivity books and explains why audiobooks help him retain information. Enjoy a wonderful interview!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"The distance between where I am now and where I know I want to be...that gap is where the motivation lay for me" - Kennedy Ekezie-JosephKennedy founded the Calabar Youth Council for Women's Rights, which raises awareness about and advocates for the victims of gender-based violence, rape, and genital mutilation. Kennedy is currently also pursuing a masters degree in China and someday hopes to become president of Nigeria. He has been recognized by President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative, the U.N. Youth Assembly, and spoken at TEDx.We talk about a wide range of subjects including Kennedy's vision of the future for Nigeria and his organization. He also offers some advice on how to talk about issues of systemic oppression, which is something that I am always trying to get better at since it is so applicable here in the US. MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"Starting a business is like you're in a very dark room and you can see one step in front of you" - Mathew D'OnofrioA native of South Australia, Mathew started volunteering for St. John's Ambulance growing up and developed a love for helping patients. After helping drunk high school classmates, Mathew realized parties needed a better first aid system. Despite having no business background in his family he started Nightlife First Aid while still in high school. At 20 he is now a Forbes 30 under 30 member. We chat about his business philosophy and his ambitious dreams for the future of health care. Mathew also shares a startling story about his falling out with St. John's. This one is a blast enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"It didn't just come back to color, it came back to vibrancy" - James OkinaAt a young age James joined a street gang in his hometown of Calabar, Nigeria. But with tremendous determination and the help of a few key mentors, James turned his life around. He became top of his class and started helping other kids, especially those without homes, get off the streets and back into schools. His organization, Street Priests, has now served more than 3000 kids. James has received numerous awards including Global Teen Leader in 2017 and Future African Leader in 2016.James shares at length about the impact of his parents divorce. We also discuss the negative stereotypes that surround these children and James' plans to expand his efforts. I loved talking with him. This is definitely the closest I have come to crying during an interview.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"When it comes down to it I just want people to take care of themselves" - Abby KircherAbby started a nut butter company when she was fifteen to provide an alternative to sugary peanut butters. Using cashews, almonds, pecans, and natural sweeteners, Abby created five unique flavors with her food processor to sell at a local farmers market. From those humble beginnings in North Carolina, Abby's Better Nut Butter is now stocked in 1000+ stores across the country. Abby offers insight into running a family business, seeking out mentors, and improving her eating habits. She also tells an incredible story about overcoming her fear of public speaking after a nightmarish first pitch. Enjoy!MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)

"I like to try and make films about things that matter" - Ella FieldsElla is a filmmaker, photographer, and activist from LA. Themes in her work include queer issues, gun control, and teen angst in the internet age. Her short film "Stereo," which focuses on the arbitrary nature of gender stereotypes, has more than six million hits on Youtube. We discuss the ins and out of her creative process, including casting and picking a soundtrack. Ella also suggests some self-care habits, and explains why she had to film at seventeen different locations in just two days.MAILING LISTSupport the show (https://readyornotpod.wixsite.com/mysite/home)