The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership

What if the most powerful business strategy today isn’t AI, automation, or scale… but relationships? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with serial entrepreneur and investor Noah Berkson to talk about the surprising power of real human connection in a digital world. Noah shares how he went from a self-described terrible student with ADHD to building and exiting multiple companies—including a recent sale of his farmland marketplace—by focusing on relationships, curiosity, and relentless momentum. The conversation explores why in-person gatherings still outperform online networking, how Noah built a reputation as a “super connector,” and why generosity and introductions can unlock opportunities that strategy alone never will. They also dive into lessons from Noah’s entrepreneurial journey—from selling companies and investing through Austin Capital to launching curated events like Outcove, designed to bring extraordinary people together in ways that spark real collaboration. If you’re building a company, investing, or simply trying to create more meaningful opportunities in your life, this episode is a powerful reminder: the right relationship can change everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jess sits down with bestselling author Nir Eyal to unpack his newest book, Beyond Belief — and the conversation goes far deeper than productivity hacks or surface-level motivation advice. Nir, the author of Hooked and Indistractable, explains why knowing what to do isn’t the problem. We already have more information than ever. The real challenge is understanding why we don’t do what we know we should. He breaks down the hidden power of belief — how limiting beliefs quietly sabotage performance, relationships, and even health — and how shifting perspective can unlock persistence, clarity, and focus. What makes this conversation powerful is that it’s not theoretical. Jess steps into the hot seat and works through his own internal tension around time, ambition, and self-expectation. It turns into a candid, almost therapeutic exploration of identity, pressure, and what it really means to live up to your potential. If you’ve ever felt stuck despite knowing exactly what to do next, this one will hit home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to jump into a war zone, break a world record, and still come home grounded? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show, Jess sits down with former Tier 1 Special Boat Service operator Dean Stott to unpack a life that sounds like fiction—but isn’t. Dean shares what it really means to pass one of the world’s toughest special forces selections, why humility and integrity matter more than bravado, and how mindset separates those who quit from those who finish. He opens up about undercover missions, high-risk evacuations in Libya and Israel, and the moment a parachute accident ended his military career. Instead of spiraling, he reinvented himself—cycling 14,000 miles from Argentina to Alaska, breaking world records, and raising over $1.4 million for mental health. But this conversation goes deeper than adrenaline. It’s about identity, purpose, discipline, and building a life that means something long after the medals fade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re revisiting one of our standout conversations on The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership. In this throwback episode, Jess sits down with Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, to unpack the leadership story behind one of the internet’s most remarkable growth narratives. From navigating the dot-com crash to steering through global uncertainty and economic downturns, Glenn shares how long-term thinking, disciplined execution, and relentless focus on product and service helped transform Booking Holdings into a company with a market cap exceeding $55 billion. This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, strategic optimism, and scaling through volatility. If you’re building, leading, or investing in innovation, this episode is worth a revisit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throwback episode alert. We’re re-releasing one of the most replayed conversations on The Jess Larsen Show. Jess sits down with retired FBI international kidnapping negotiator Chris Voss, bestselling author of Never Split the Difference. Chris takes you inside real hostage negotiations and breaks down the skills that actually move people: tactical empathy, listening for what’s unsaid, staying calm under pressure, and using the right words when stakes are high. This one isn’t just for dealmakers. It’s for anyone who’s ever had a hard conversation, felt stuck, or needed to influence without escalating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a repost of one of our favorite episodes. Jess Larsen is joined by Dr. Greg Bailey (biotech investor behind the $11.6B Nurtec exit and a $14.3B Pfizer deal) and Brant Pinvidic, the Hollywood pitch guy who’s sold more than 300 shows and wrote The 3 Minute Rule. Brant talks about leaving Canada, landing in the U.S., and why the “big ideas” weren’t the problem. The problem was getting people to understand them fast. He breaks down why so many founders and CEOs struggle to say what their company does in one clean sentence, and how that one skill changes fundraising, sales, hiring, and leadership. They also go somewhere unexpected: why high performers often don’t know how to have fun, why the office becomes the only place they feel “alive,” and Brant’s concept of “created nostalgia” (training yourself to enjoy the moment before it even happens). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an older episode, but it’s one of those conversations that still holds up. Jess Larsen sits down with Jim Stengel to talk about what actually makes companies and leaders last. Not trends. Not hacks. Just the hard-earned lessons that come from seeing brands grow, stumble, and sometimes lose their way. They talk about focus, trust, and why the best organizations are built around serving people—not chasing the next shiny thing. It’s calm, thoughtful, and surprisingly grounding. We’re reposting this one because if you’re building something right now, it’s a good reminder of what really matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re resurfacing a favorite Jess Larsen Show conversation with Keith Ferrazzi—bestselling author of Never Eat Alone and the follow-up, Never Lead Alone. In this episode, Keith breaks down why the next era of leadership isn’t “hero CEO” energy—it’s teams stepping into leadership together. Jess and Keith connect the dots between lean/TQM, agile, and what Keith calls the real opportunity right now: re-engineering collaboration and workflows (not just debating office polices). You’ll hear practical tools from the book—like stress-testing, upgrading the team’s “social contract” from conflict avoidance to candor, and the simple “energy check” practice that helps teams actually have each other’s backs. If you’re leading through hybrid work, AI change, or org complexity, this one still hits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Jessica Markowski from SERHANT. (and Netflix’s Owning Manhattan) to talk about using media as a real business advantage—not a vanity play.Jessica shares how she treats Instagram like a curated portfolio and TikTok like a playground, why she focuses on the work (not follower counts), and how visibility turns into inbound clients—from Starbucks conversations to serious listings. They dig into the mindset shift from “private” to “public,” controlling your narrative without oversharing, and why hiring help (video/editing) can be the fastest way for founders to scale content without losing focus.They also touch on her immigrant family grit, what she learned from her parents, and what to expect in Owning Manhattan Season 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Repost: Defending the Underdogs — Cybersecurity Lessons from Kyle Hanslovan (Huntress) This is a repost of an earlier episode of the Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership. In this episode, Jess Larsen sits down with Kyle Hanslovan, cybersecurity expert and CEO of Huntress, to unpack what it really takes to protect small and mid-sized businesses from modern cyber threats. Long before Huntress became a trusted name in defensive security, Kyle’s journey began in the U.S. Air Force, continued through the intelligence community, and ultimately led him into the front lines of cybersecurity entrepreneurship. Kyle shares how thinking like an adversary—rather than just reacting to threats—became foundational to his approach, and why strong communication skills are just as critical as technical expertise in the security world. He also tells the origin story of Huntress: a real-world challenge, a bold proof-of-concept, and a clear realization that smaller organizations were dangerously underserved when it came to cyber defense. Even years later, this conversation remains strikingly relevant—offering timeless insights on leadership, problem-solving, and building mission-driven companies that protect the people most often overlooked. If you’re interested in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, or leadership forged under pressure, this episode is well worth revisiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bootstrapping to a $4.2B Global Powerhouse: Inside G-P with Founder & CEO Nicole Sahin What does it take to turn a complex, “impossible” idea into a multi-billion-dollar global infrastructure company — without raising a dollar of venture capital for the first eight years? On this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Nicole Sahin, Founder & CEO of G-P (Globalization Partners), the company that pioneered the global Employer of Record model and grew it into a $4.2 billion category leader serving companies in 180+ countries. Nicole’s story is both unconventional and deeply intentional. Before launching G-P, she helped companies like Tesla and NetSuite expand internationally — witnessing firsthand the pain, delays, and cost of setting up entities around the world. Her solution? Build the entire global legal infrastructure once, then let customers plug into it instantly. What followed was a masterclass in conviction: —turning down venture capital until G-P was already thriving, —scaling through explosive growth (30 employees → 200 → 1,100+), —reengineering the company during the pandemic as global hiring transformed overnight, —and launching Gia, a fully AI-powered global HR and compliance platform built on 13 years of proprietary data. Nicole opens up about the truth behind her success: the spiritual practices that kept her grounded, the brutal decisions required to scale leadership, the moments of doubt, the “dark night of the soul,” and the discipline of following intuition even when her entire team disagrees. Her approach blends operational rigor with mindset mastery — a rare balance in a founder who has built a category-defining global company. This conversation is both entrepreneurial strategy and personal philosophy — a blueprint for founders who want to build massive companies without sacrificing integrity, clarity, or themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Godin on Significance, Status, and the Future of Work This episode is a special repost from the archives of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, featuring legendary author and thinker Seth Godin. Originally recorded around the launch of his book The Song of Significance, this conversation feels even more relevant now than when it was first released. Seth and Jess dig into why the industrial age model of work is breaking down—and what should replace it. They talk about how to build workplaces where people don’t just show up, but come alive: doing work that matters, with people they care about, in environments of dignity, agency, and meaning. Seth shares powerful stories about Ray Anderson’s carbon-neutral carpet company, Jacqueline Novogratz and Acumen’s patient capital, and a $3 pair of eyeglasses that changes someone’s entire life. If you’re a founder, CEO, fund manager, or leader who cares about more than just the next quarter’s numbers, this replay is a roadmap for building companies that race to the top—not the bottom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Holly Parker, legendary NYC broker, bestselling author, and founder of The Holly Parker Team—personally responsible for more than $13 billion in sales. Holly opens up about the real secrets behind long-term success: empathy, emotional intelligence, impeccable integrity, and the ability to serve clients in ways that have nothing to do with square footage or contracts. Holly shares stories from behind the scenes of ultra-high-net-worth real estate: co-op board landmines, ego mistakes rookies make, how to build trust with people who live in a world of constant requests—and why her clients invite her not just into their apartments, but into their lives. She and Jess dive deep into authenticity, family legacies, investing like a portfolio manager, and why connection—not transactions—is the currency she cares about most. This conversation blends strategy, relationships, psychology, and heart. If you want to sell at the highest levels, build real trust, or simply learn how the best in the world think, this episode is a masterclass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luxury, Trust & the Future of Travel: Inside THIRDHOME with Giles Adams What if your second home wasn’t just a retreat—but a passport to the world’s most extraordinary properties? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Giles Adams, Partner & President at THIRDHOME—the global private club redefining luxury travel, home exchange, and how the world’s wealthiest families experience their time off. With more than 20,000 properties across 103 countries, THIRDHOME has built a trusted network of second-home owners who trade time at multimillion-dollar estates, private islands, penthouses, safari reserves, and even yachts. Giles shares the origin of THIRDHOME’s “club over platform” philosophy, why simultaneous swaps don’t work for ultra-high-net-worth travelers, and how they built a brand so trusted that growth is driven almost entirely by member word-of-mouth. He also breaks down the creation of THIRDHOME Reserve, the ultra-exclusive tier for owners of $10M+ homes—and what it takes to serve some of the world’s most discerning clientele. Jess and Giles dive into the art of earning trust with luxury homeowners, the surprising impact of their Paramount+/Netflix TV series Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, and why connection—not consumption—is the currency that really powers global travel at this level. Whether you’re building a premium brand, navigating UHNW markets, or simply fascinated by the future of luxury hospitality, this conversation is packed with insight, psychology, and strategies from a company that has quietly mastered them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From $700 a Month to a $9B Giant: Building Life360 with Chris Hulls What happens when a founder ignores the “safe path,” bets on himself, and keeps going long after most people would’ve quit? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Chris Hulls — Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Life360, the world’s largest family safety platform with 90+ million monthly active users and a public valuation approaching $9 billion. Chris’s journey is anything but conventional. He went from growing up in a small farm town… to enlisting in the Air Force at 17… to almost becoming a dishwasher at the South Pole… to dropping out of Harvard Business School… to living in a friend’s closet on $700/month while building the first version of Life360. But the real story is what came next: —a category-defining pivot from disaster response to family location sharing, —launching on Android before anyone believed teens would ever have smartphones, —surviving seven slow years before meaningful traction, —and ultimately building a platform that detects car crashes, dispatches tens of thousands of ambulances a year, and has become a “social network for families.” Chris and Jess go deep into what it actually takes to scale from zero to multi-billion-dollar market cap: the messy pivots, the lucky breaks, the conviction bets, why too much “data-driven thinking” kills innovation, and why founders must learn to hold two opposing truths at once — relentless belief and complete surrender to the chaos. This is a conversation for founders, leaders, and anyone who wants to understand the real psychology behind building something massive from scratch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Gordon Neufeld—developmental psychologist and author of Hold On to Your Kids—joins Jess to explain why our children’s greatest need is not techniques, but relationship. Discover the true cost of peer orientation, the five relational needs that never expire, and the power of boredom, nature, and play to refuel connection. Neufeld shares how he won back his own daughters by removing competing attachments and rebuilding time, trust, and warmth. This is a field guide for modern parents who want practical language and steps to re-anchor family life—simple, profound, and deeply humane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eva Yazhari shares hard-earned lessons from Wall Street, her time managing billions, and what she’s learned saying “no” to short-term thinking. This episode is a masterclass in balancing risk, resilience, and relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can trauma be inherited across generations? And more importantly—can it be stopped? Dr. Nadine Burke Harris has spent her career answering those questions. As California’s first Surgeon General, she championed screening for ACEs, built networks between clinics and communities, and pushed for policies that save lives. In this conversation with Jess Larsen, Nadine shares the science, the policy battles, and the deeply human side of this work—from seeing patients transformed when told “you’re not crazy” to showing how neuroplasticity means no one is permanently broken. It’s science, leadership, and hope rolled into one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venture capital isn’t luck — it’s math. Jess Larsen sits down with Jamie Rhode, Partner at ScreenDoor, to reveal how elite allocators consistently hit 3× returns and 20–25% CAGR over decades. They break down 42 years of VC data, the power law behind billion-dollar outcomes, and how top investors turn volatility into long-term advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julie Wainwright transformed the stigma around “used” luxury into a movement worth over a billion dollars. The founder of The RealReal, reveals the story behind the luxury resale empire that changed how the world shops for secondhand fashion. In conversation with Jess Larsen, she shares how she identified a market gap Amazon couldn’t fill, scaled from her living room to IPO, and turned setbacks into strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices