Episodes

  • Former Zillow CEO, Spencer Rascoff: Leading Billion-Dollar Startups Through Crises

    Former Zillow CEO, Spencer Rascoff: Leading Billion-Dollar Startups Through Crises
    Dec 19 2024
    Spencer Rascoff’s career is a masterclass in navigating crises. After co-founding the travel site Hotwire, the 9/11 tragedy devastated the travel industry. Spencer helped steer the company through this crisis, leading to its $685 million sale to Expedia. He then co-founded Zillow, guiding it through the 2008 housing crash and growing it to a $20 billion market cap. His third venture, Pacaso, a luxury vacation home co-ownership platform, launched just before the pandemic. Despite initial fears about shared spaces, the crisis increased demand for second homes, helping Pacaso achieve unicorn status. In this episode, Spencer shares with Ilana his hard-earned insights on navigating the highs and lows of startup life and turning crises into opportunities. Spencer Rascoff is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and business executive best known for co-founding Hotwire, Zillow, and Pacaso. As the founder of 75 & Sunny Ventures, he mentors and invests in startups, aiming to democratize access to business opportunities and innovation. In this episode, Ilana and Spencer will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:03) His Early Exposure to Entrepreneurship (04:13) Building Strong Work Ethic in High School (06:07) Spencer’s Path from Banking to Startups (07:21) Founding Hotwire and the Impact of 9/11 (09:47) The Hard Truths of Building Startups (11:47) What It Takes to Keep Going During a Startup Crisis (13:58) How Zillow’s ‘Zestimate’ Led to Its Explosive Launch (17:52) Balancing Speed and Quality in Product Launches (20:50) Zillow’s Mobile-First Strategy That Won the Market (25:35) How Zillow Thrived During the 2008 Mortgage Crisis (28:40) Leading Zillow with Empathy and Teamwork (32:49) Why Spencer Left Zillow at Its Peak (33:58) The Fast Rise of Pacaso Amid Pandemic Fears (37:29) How Pacaso Is Opening Up to Retail Investors (38:20) Spencer’s Mission to Build Accessible Ventures (41:53) The Secret to His Success Spencer Rascoff is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and business executive best known for co-founding Hotwire, Zillow, and Pacaso. He served as CEO of Zillow, leading the company through the 2008 housing crisis and growing it to 4,500 employees and $3 billion in revenue. In 2015, Spencer co-wrote and published his first book, Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate, and in 2017, he was named the Most Powerful Person in Residential Real Estate by the Swanepoel Power 200. As the founder of 75 & Sunny Ventures, he mentors and invests in startups, aiming to democratize access to business opportunities and innovation. Connect with Spencer: Spencer’s Website: www.heylibby.ai/spencerrascoff Spencer’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/spencerrascoff Spencer’s Twitter: x.com/spencerrascoff Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    46 mins
  • Tom Bilyeu: How I Proved Everyone Wrong and Built a Billion-Dollar Brand

    Tom Bilyeu: How I Proved Everyone Wrong and Built a Billion-Dollar Brand
    Dec 17 2024
    Tom Bilyeu’s journey is a powerful story of transformation, from self-doubt to self-mastery. His early years were shaped by fear of failure, a lack of direction, and doubts from those around him. After struggling to break into the film industry, he joined a startup with the goal of getting rich, but found himself unhappy and in a strained marriage. Taking a leap of faith, Tom walked away from millions to pursue something more meaningful. This gave rise to Quest Nutrition, a billion-dollar company creating nutritious, great-tasting products. Yet, for Tom, wealth was never the endgame. He launched Impact Theory, a media company designed to impact lives positively. In this episode, Tom shares with Ilana the key moments that shaped his career, the philosophies that drive him, and how he defines true success. Tom Bilyeu is a billion-dollar entrepreneur, motivational speaker, co-founder of Quest Nutrition, and founder of Impact Theory. Through his content, he inspires millions by sharing tips on overcoming self-doubt, developing the right mindset, and building resilience for success. In this episode, Ilana and Tom will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:43) Facing Doubts and Rejection (04:21) How Neuroscience Changed His Mindset (06:28) Why People Struggle to Make Progress (07:59) Learning the Power of Discipline in Film School (12:46) Tom’s Guide to Finding Your Next Step (15:25) Walking Away from $2 Million to Save His Marriage (17:14) Building Quest Nutrition with the Right Team (22:00) Why Tom Launched Quest Nutrition (24:37) The Key to Surviving Entrepreneurship (26:19) Strategies for Thriving in Competitive Markets (30:20) Solving What Others Say Can't Be Done (31:16) Conquering Fear Through Hardwork (36:20) The Journey from Quest to Impact Theory (40:15) Using Entertainment to Inspire Young Minds (45:24) Lessons from Childhood that Built Tom’s Resilience (48:06) Two Beliefs to Unlock Your Potential (49:44) Letting Go of Ego to Grow Tom Bilyeu is a billion-dollar entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and co-founder of Quest Nutrition, a company that revolutionized the health and fitness industry with its protein bars. After selling Quest Nutrition, he founded Impact Theory, a media company focused on empowering people through storytelling. Through his podcasts, interviews, and online content, Tom inspires millions by sharing tips on overcoming self-doubt, developing the right mindset, and building resilience. Connect with Tom: Tom’s Website: https://tombilyeu.com Tom’s YouTube: youtube.com/c/TomBilyeu Tom’s Twitch: www.twitch.tv/tombilyeu Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    56 mins
  • Wistia CEO, Chris Savage: Master the Art of Pivoting, How to Adapt and Grow Against the Odds

    Wistia CEO, Chris Savage: Master the Art of Pivoting, How to Adapt and Grow Against the Odds
    Dec 12 2024
    Chris Savage is a master at pivoting. He co-founded Wistia with his best friend in his living room, originally aiming to create an online filmmaking competition platform. When that didn’t work, they shifted to portfolio tools and later to secure video hosting for businesses, which became Wistia’s core offering. Chris wasn’t afraid to turn down major clients like HBO when their goals didn’t align. Despite running a $300k monthly loss and receiving multiple life-changing acquisition offers, he rejected them and took on $17.3M in debt to continue growing the business. In this episode, Chris opens up to Ilana about the highs and lows of building Wistia, how he made tough decisions, and what it takes to build a lasting business. Chris Savage is the CEO and co-founder of Wistia, a leading video-hosting platform designed to help businesses create, host, and analyze video content in a way that maximizes engagement and drives growth. In this episode, Ilana and Chris will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (00:19) The Twists and Turns of Launching Wistia (05:02) Pivoting and Finding Success in the Unexpected (08:22) From Zero to Paying Customers (10:14) Rejecting an HBO Deal and Searching for Investors (14:51) How Focus and Authenticity Drive Success (18:02) Building a Serious Business with Fun Marketing (20:33) Learning to Make Tough, Risky Decisions (23:11) Chris’s Secret to Balancing Creativity and Speed (26:34) The Struggle to Close Deals and Break Even (30:31) How He Pushes Through Hard Moments (31:05) Turning Down Life-Changing Offers (35:23) What Chris Learned from Taking Time Off (38:24) The Power of Building a Personal Brand (43:05) Why Wistia is the Top Choice for Video Marketing (46:17) Chris’s Top Business Lessons Chris Savage is the CEO and co-founder of Wistia, a leading video-hosting platform designed to help businesses create, host, and analyze video content in a way that maximizes engagement and drives growth. A strong advocate for the Boston startup ecosystem, Chris is passionate about exploring unconventional paths in tech, entrepreneurship, marketing, video, company-building, and behavioral economics. Before founding Wistia, he contributed to an Emmy Award-winning documentary and, in 2009, earned recognition as a Top Young Entrepreneur by BusinessWeek. Connect with Chris: Chris’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cjsavage Chris’s Twitter: https://x.com/csavage Resources Mentioned: Webinar Wizard: https://wistia.com/webinarwizard Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    51 mins
  • Russell Brunson: From Rock Bottom to $100 Million in 5 Years with ClickFunnels

    Russell Brunson: From Rock Bottom to $100 Million in 5 Years with ClickFunnels
    Dec 10 2024
    At age 12, Russell Brunson was inspired to become an entrepreneur after watching an infomercial about making money. Over the years, he faced massive personal and professional setbacks, from losing 60% of his staff to battling infertility, financial struggles, and nearly going to jail. But instead of giving up, he turned each failure into a lesson, tweaking his approach and ultimately co-founding the multi-billion-dollar company, ClickFunnels. In this episode, Russell shares with Ilana how he transformed his toughest setbacks into the foundation of his thriving business, offering powerful lessons on resilience, success, and the impact of authentic relationships. Russell Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and digital marketing expert. He is widely recognized as the co-founder of ClickFunnels, a leading marketing software company that helps businesses worldwide boost conversions and drive sales. In this episode, Ilana and Russell will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:54) The Infomercial That Turned Him Into a Young Entrepreneur (05:29) What Wrestling Taught Him About Overcoming Failure in Business (07:55) Launching His First Business, The Potato Gun (09:52) Russell’s Rollercoaster Journey to His First Million (14:25) Key Lessons from His Toughest Year (21:27) The Birth of ClickFunnels (26:61) Finding Fulfillment in Helping Others Succeed (28:58) Leading ClickFunnels Through Its First Major Crisis (34:18) How Serving Tony Robbins Led to Lifelong Mentorship (37:32) Building Lasting Relationships with the Dream 100 Strategy (42:45) The Emotional Story of Russell’s Fertility Journey (44:38) Why Vulnerability in Business Can Lead to Unlikely Success (46:51) Tips for Building a Winning Team That Drives Your Success (49:58) Turning Your Pain into an Asset Russell Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and digital marketing expert. He is widely recognized as the co-founder of ClickFunnels, a leading marketing software company that helps businesses worldwide boost conversions and drive sales. Over the past 19 years, he has built a community of over a million entrepreneurs and authored New York Times bestsellers, including DotCom Secrets and Expert Secrets. Connect with Russell: Russell’s Website: www.russellbrunson.com Russell’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellbrunson/ Russell’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/russellbrunson Resources Mentioned: Russell’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@russellbrunson The 12 month millionaire Droplets: Vincent James's Unmissable Revelations by Vincent James: https://www.amazon.com/month-millionaire-Droplets-Unmissable-Revelations/dp/B0CXJGPXNN Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty: The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need by Harvey Mackay: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Well-Before-Youre-Thirsty/dp/0385485468 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    53 mins
  • Nextdoor’s Bryan Power: Turning Big, Scary Opportunities into Career-Defining Success

    Nextdoor’s Bryan Power: Turning Big, Scary Opportunities into Career-Defining Success
    Dec 5 2024
    Known for seizing “big, scary opportunities,” Bryan Power has defined his career by embracing risk, adapting to change, and staying focused under pressure. After turning down a promotion at Google for a new challenge at Square, he quickly realized he was in over his head. But it was in facing that discomfort head-on, that he experienced his most significant growth moments. In this episode, Bryan joins Ilana to discuss the importance of tackling challenging opportunities, the practices that lead to career growth, and his unique approach to leadership. Bryan Power is a certified executive coach with over 20 years of experience in human resources management. Having worked with top companies like Google, Yahoo!, Square, and Nextdoor, he specializes in guiding leaders through growth, high-stakes transitions, and fast-paced environments. In this episode, Ilana and Bryan will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (00:22) His Journey to Silicon Valley (01:31) Big, Scary Opportunities that Drove His Growth (03:45) Bryan’s Annual Growth Reflection Ritual (05:29) Transitioning from Google to Square (08:40) The Weight of Leadership in Today’s World (10:18) How COVID-19 Impacted the Way We Work (12:37) The Pros and Cons of Remote Work (16:52) Why Adversity Makes the Best Leaders (20:05) How Bryan’s Background Influenced His Success (22:46) Bryan’s Secret to Landing Your Dream Job (25:57) Key Skills Every New Leader Must Master (29:54) Building Trust in Your First 90 Days at a New Job (34:41) Nextdoor’s Success in Digital Community Building (39:37) Career Lessons Bryan Wishes He Had Learned Sooner Bryan Power is a certified executive coach with over 20 years of experience in human resources management. Having worked with top companies like Google, Yahoo!, Square, and Nextdoor, he specializes in guiding leaders through growth, high-stakes transitions, and fast-paced environments. Bryan has a proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia. His expertise extends to board-level work, where he has developed executive compensation strategies, company-wide cash/equity incentives, and benefits programs. Connect with Bryan: Bryan’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bryanpower Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    46 mins
  • The Accidental Entrepreneur: How Andrew Lacy Turned Rejection into Health Tech Innovation

    The Accidental Entrepreneur: How Andrew Lacy Turned Rejection into Health Tech Innovation
    Dec 3 2024
    Andrew Lacy stumbled into entrepreneurship after failing to land a tech job. His first company did so well that he eventually sold it to Disney. Believing he had business all figured out, he launched another company, only to realize that success wasn’t guaranteed. For his next venture, Prenuvo, Andrew took a more thoughtful approach, but investors repeatedly rejected the idea. Determined to make it work, he bootstrapped and secured loans to launch a clinic in Silicon Valley. Today, Prenuvo is revolutionizing preventive healthcare. In this episode, Andrew shares valuable insights on reinventing yourself, making bold career changes, and pushing through setbacks to bring innovative ideas to life. Andrew Lacy is an Australian serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and the founder/CEO of Prenuvo, a pioneering health tech company using whole-body imaging for early disease detection, including cancer. In this episode, Ilana and Andrew will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (00:35) From Lawyer to Accidental Tech Entrepreneur (06:44) Lessons from His First Business (13:19) The Pains and Gains of Having a Co-founder (14:59) Starting a Company, Again? (17:24) Cultural Differences in Entrepreneurship (19:57) Tough Truths About Building a Startup (22:44) The Health Scan That Birthed Prenuvo (28:33) Dealing with Investor Rejection (35:11) The Future of Healthcare with Prenuvo (36:35) A Surprising Fact About Andrew (37:56) His Hack for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Andrew Lacy is an Australian serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder/CEO of Prenuvo, a pioneering health tech company using whole-body imaging for early disease detection, including cancer. He envisions a future where healthcare is more affordable and accessible, and where people embrace health screenings as tools for long-term wellness. Andrew also co-founded Tapulous, a key player in the early iPhone app ecosystem, later acquired by Disney. He has held leadership roles at McKinsey and Disney. Connect with Andrew: Andrew’s Website: https://andrewlacy.com/ Andrew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewllacy/ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    46 mins
  • Surviving Lies, Rumors, and Digital Hate: Dan Ariely’s Guide to Thriving Online

    Surviving Lies, Rumors, and Digital Hate: Dan Ariely’s Guide to Thriving Online
    Nov 28 2024
    Dan Ariely didn’t just accept the hand life dealt him. He turned it into something powerful. After a traumatic burn accident that scarred 70% of his body, he struggled to find his place in the world. This journey led him to study human psychology and behavior, focusing on how people cope with pain and trauma. Later, when false rumors spread about him on social media, Dan chose to understand and empathize with the “misbelievers.” In this episode, Dan joins Ilana to share his journey from personal trauma to professional triumph, exploring how lies, rumors, and "misbelief" take root and affect lives, and what he’s learned by going through it all firsthand. Dan Ariely is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Economics at Duke University. His personal experience as a burn survivor has influenced his approach to understanding human behavior. His latest book, Misbelief, explores how false beliefs form and how to challenge them. In this episode, Ilana and Dan will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (00:28) The Story Behind the Iconic Half Beard (04:46) Turning Personal Pain into Professional Purpose (09:07) From Burn Victim to Social Scientist (14:49) Confronting Death Threats and Conspiracy Theorists (17:54) How Stress Fuels Misbelief (25:05) How Online Hate Turns to Moral Outrage (31:50) Navigating Trust, Risk, and Failure in Leadership (37:51) How Technology Is Making Us Worse (41:07) Dan’s 45-Minute Work Ritual for Better Productivity (43:43) Life Lessons on Finding Your True Strengths Dan Ariely is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Economics at Duke University. Known for his research on irrational behavior and decision-making, he’s advised companies like Google, Apple, and governments worldwide. His books Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, have been translated into 30+ languages, and his work inspired NBC’s The Irrational. As a burn survivor, Dan’s personal experience has influenced his approach to understanding human behavior. His latest book, Misbelief, explores how false beliefs form and how to challenge them. Connect with Dan: Dan’s Website: https://danariely.com Dan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danariely Resources Mentioned: Dan’s Book, Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things: https://www.amazon.com/Misbelief-Rational-People-Believe-Irrational/dp/0063280426 Dan’s Book, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone--Especially Ourselves: https://www.amazon.com/Honest-Truth-About-Dishonesty-Everyone-Especially/dp/0062183613 NBC Show: The Irrational: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16288838/ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    50 mins
  • Howard Behar, Former Starbucks President: Putting People Over Profits for Lasting Impact

    Howard Behar, Former Starbucks President: Putting People Over Profits for Lasting Impact
    Nov 26 2024
    Howard Behar went from making $300,000 a year to working at Starbucks for a third of that. Driven by his passion for the business, he rose to become president of Starbucks North America and later the founding president of Starbucks International, helping grow the company from 28 to over 15,000 stores worldwide. Despite these achievements, Howard faced a deep depression after retiring, prompting him to reevaluate his life’s purpose. He realized that his true calling is to serve and uplift others, with or without a formal title. In this episode, Howard chats with Ilana about redefining purpose after retirement, finding identity beyond titles, and why he believes in putting people before profits. Howard Behar is a speaker, advisor, mentor, bestselling author, former president of Starbucks North America, and founding president of Starbucks International. He champions the philosophy that businesses should focus on people rather than products. In this episode, Ilana and Howard will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Howard Behar (01:12) Howard's Rock Bottom Moment (02:31) Rediscovering Life's Work (06:29) Childhood and Family Background (08:27) Lessons from the Family Grocery Store (09:40) Joining Starbucks (14:25) The People-Centric Philosophy (17:39) Reviving the 'We' Culture at Starbucks (25:51) The Four Rules of Leadership (26:06) Listening to Your Team (26:43) The Birth of the Frappuccino (30:15) Overcoming Challenges as a Leader (37:29) The Importance of Core Values (43:11) The Six P's of Success Howard Behar is a speaker, advisor, mentor, bestselling author, former president of Starbucks North America, and founding president of Starbucks International. He champions the philosophy that businesses should focus on people rather than products. His impactful leadership principles include memorable lessons like, “The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.” He is the author of It’s Not About the Coffee and The Magic Cup, and he continues to share his insights globally with leaders and students. Connect with Howard: Howard’s Website: http://howardbehar.com/ Howard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-behar Howard’s Email: hb@howardbehar.com Howard’s Phone: 206-972-7776 Resources Mentioned: Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Robert K. Greenleaf: https://www.amazon.com/Servant-Leadership-Legitimate-Greatness-Anniversary/dp/0809105543 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
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    52 mins