Rocketship.fm

We welcome Lloyed Lobo, Co-founder & President, of Boast.AI to help us sort through two brand new confessions. Our first is from a founder who's friends think they're doing really well, but they're in fact struggling and not sure how to let everyone know. The second is from someone who can't wait to get back into the office to get some real heads-down time. *** This episode is brought to you by: NetSuite: NetSuite by Oracle is a scalable solution to run all of your key back office operations. Go to netsuite.com/rocketship today. Blinkist: Rocketship.fm is now on Blinkist! Listen to 12 minute episodes with no ads! Get seven days free when you check out Blinkist. Indeed: Indeed is the job site that makes hiring as easy as 1-2-3. Get started with a free $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/rocketship. BetterHelp: Unlimited Professional Counseling via Online Chat, Video or Phone Anytime, Anywhere. Get 10% off when you visit betterhelp.com/rocketship. Fundrise: Fundrise makes investing in private real estate as easy as investing in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Go to fundrise.com/rocketship today. Airfocus: The home for products and the people who build them. Airfocus is an easy-to-use and flexible product management platform that combines product strategy superpowers with modularity. Visit airfocus.com/rocketship and try it for free today. WIX: When your agency partners with Wix, you unlock an entire digital ecosystem for creating, managing and growing your business online. Head over to Wix.com/Partners and reimagine what your agency can accomplish. *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.    Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder.

In early 2022, the hype around NFTs was at its peak, and Mike Belsito found himself caught up in the frenzy—so much so that he and a lifelong friend decided to go all-in on a historic digital collectible: a 1-of-1 NFT of the legendary 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card. With a max bid of $60,000, they were ready to make a play, but the auction didn’t quite go as planned. In this re-released episode, Mike recounts the excitement, the nostalgia, and the financial risks of the NFT gold rush. From the conversations with his friend and fellow collector to the surprising aftermath of the auction, this episode captures the highs, the lows, and the lasting lessons of an investment that never materialized. Plus, we explore what happened to that elusive Mickey Mantle NFT—and whether it was really worth it after all.

Failure isn’t just a headline—it’s deeply personal. In this special re-release of one of our most powerful episodes, we explore the emotional toll of failure and how product leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives can navigate its aftermath. From the wisdom of Will Smith’s "fail forward" philosophy to the hard-hitting insights of startup coach Jerry Colonna, this episode dives into what failure really means and how it shapes those who experience it. Host Mike Belsito gets personal, sharing his own journey through a "fail sale" and how redefining success helped him move forward. With stories, expert advice, and even a parting lesson from Michelle Obama, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who has ever faced—or feared—failure.

In early February 2025, Meta slashed 5% of its workforce—about 3,600 people—calling it a purge of “low performers” to sharpen up for an “intense” year ahead. Mark Zuckerberg says it’s about raising the bar, but some of those cut are clapping back with receipts: glowing performance reviews that don’t match the “bottom 5%” label. From leaked memos to public pushback on LinkedIn, this episode unpacks the disconnect—did Meta really target the weak links, or is this a headcount trim in disguise? Host Mike Belsito digs into the employee backlash and asks what’s really at play when a tech giant leans into stack ranking. But this isn’t just Meta’s story—it’s a window into a bigger debate: does the old-school “rank and yank” tactic still work in today’s tech world? We’ll explore how this move echoes Jack Welch’s GE playbook, why some ex-employees call it a “scarlet letter” on their careers, and whether regular performance purges drive innovation or just paranoia. With other giants like Microsoft testing similar waters, is stack ranking staging a comeback—or setting up a talent trap? Tune in for the scoop, the stakes, and a question for every founder: could this be your company’s next move?

Elon Musk and Sam Altman—once allies in the quest for AI advancement—are now at the center of one of the biggest tech rivalries of our time. From co-founding OpenAI together in 2015 to Musk’s eventual departure and criticism of OpenAI’s shift toward a for-profit model, the tension between these two Silicon Valley titans has only escalated. In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we explore the origins of their partnership, the philosophical divide that drove them apart, and the latest in their ongoing battle—including Musk’s nearly $100 billion unsolicited bid to take over OpenAI. What does this feud mean for the future of AI? Is it about principle, power, or something more? We break down the history, the court battles, and the latest moves that have kept this tech showdown in the headlines. Buckle up—this is one tech rivalry you don’t want to miss.