Finding Founders
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© Finding Founders
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A podcast about vulnerability and entrepreneurship — learn from the life stories of founders 🚀, activists ✊, and even drug lords 💊 Our aim is to inspire you and let's face it... you aren't inspired when you hear about success. Real inspiration comes from hearing someone's lowest moment, and rising with their success. Using music, sfx, and voiceover, we interview the founders of companies, movements, and even drug cartels to reveal vulnerability so you can learn from victory. I’m your host, Samuel Donner, and together with my team we aim to inspire and educate a global community of leaders.
313 Episodes
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James Webb is a competitive eater from Australia who has completed over 400 food challenges and consumes as much 10,000 calories a day. As the #1 competitive eater in Australia and #5 in the world, James has learned how to navigate eating large amounts of food while maintaining his health, especially after recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome.
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Patrick Bertoletti‘s ability to eat large amounts of food took him from an insecure teen to the high-competition circuit of professional eating. He competed in 47 contests in one year at the height of his Major League Eating career, from state fairs to the stage of America’s Got Talent, where he repulsed judge Heidi Klum by consuming 120 eggs. He’s competed against a bear on Nickelodeon, been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, and has more world records than any other competitive eater, but let's go back to Chicago where he first earned the nickname “Deep Dish.”
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You just heard Josh Johnson recalling the moment where his worst nightmare came true: after finally stepping away from his safety net, he found himself jobless with the rug yanked out from under him. Now well known for his performances on Conan and Comedy Central, his tours with Trevor Noah, and a 2020 Emmy nomination, Josh has come a long way from his first script writing experience on the Tonight Show. Although this all seemed like a sudden rise to success there’s a lot of history behind these shining moments. Before late night talk shows and award ceremonies, there were years of non stop working. By night, he would tour the comedy circuits of Chicago and New York. And by day, he worked the early bird shifts at Aldi’s and Trader Joe’s. Believe it or not, his double life of growing comedian and grocery bagger continued well into his career. There was no ‘making it’, no easy way to fame. Instead, he remembered that for every one step forward, there was a chance at falling two steps back. This cautious approach to his career, this consistent humility, can be traced all the way back to his childhood in Louisiana…where love and danger seemed to be the only constants of his surroundings.
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Watching as he racked up tens of thousands of new fans over the course of the day, Sean Sotaridona let out a sigh of relief he didn’t even know he was holding. This success, this new and unexpected online stage, was what he had been looking for all his life. It only took him 16 years to find it. Going by the username SeanDoesMagic, Sean’s masterful magic tricks have garnered more than 21 million followers on TikTok and 5.44 million followers on YouTube. From networking with meme accounts over Instagram dms to performing tricks for Addison Rae and Dixie D’amelio, Sean’s unparalleled tenacity and drive have taken him on a wild journey. However, before his trips to vidcon and tryouts for America’s Got Talent, before Sean was even born, his roots grew far away from the beaches of Los Angeles and Florida…across the Pacific in the Philippines…
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From dreams of being in the NBA to personal assistant of multiple Hollywood stars, then a waiter, and finally becoming a YouTube sensation, Kevin Langue’s career path has been anything but conventional. Known for his genuine and fun-filled content, Kevin has always stayed true to being himself on and off camera. Now, with around a decade’s worth of experience in fostering an audience and creating a brand for himself, Kevin is keeping his focus on authenticity and creativity by setting ambitious goals and coming up with new ideas. Let’s find out how it all started.
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Imagine being launched into YouTube stardom within hours… From his first channel playing video games with friends to joining SMOSH and co-hosting Smosh Gaming, Josh Ovenshire, better known as Joven, quickly became a pivotal figure in YouTube Gaming Channels. Smosh Gaming showed there was an audience for friends just having fun playing games. In consuming loads of content, Joven became a skilled storyteller selling shows to Marvel, ArcadeCloud Cartoon, and even making a puppet show for Dungeons & Dragons. Today, he’s working on new media projects and has a podcast with his friends. Let’s see how it started.
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Mari Takahashi’s first video for SMOSH, a YouTube sketch comedy channel, wasn’t immediately met with praise. And this gig was far on the side – she had a legitimate career as a professional ballet dancer. Youtube stardom wasn’t even a consideration… but eventually she’d have to make a choice. Today Mari has a large digital media presence, has won 2 Streamy Awards, produced shows like Smosh Pit Weekly, Maricraft, and Operation: Open World, and amassed over 2 billion collective views. Today, she’s focusing on her own YouTube channel and is the co-owner of SpacestationGaming. Let’s find out how she got here!
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1It’s not every day Barbara Corcoran slides into your dms, but for Caleb Simpson this was suddenly the new normal. Now, if this name is sounding familiar at all, it’s because you’ve probably met Caleb before….on your For You page. Known for his casual house tours and the signature question “how much do you pay for rent,” Caleb has amassed over 7.1 million followers on TikTok and 2 million YouTube subscribers in the past few years. Traveling from house to house in New York to LA, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, he isn’t afraid to test out a stranger’s bed or play with your pets, or listen to a soundcloud music sample. But while these videos seemed to go viral in an instant, Caleb’s journey to filmmaking was anything but easy. From finding odd jobs on craigslist to sleeping behind a curtain in someone’s living room, Caleb had to build his skillset from the ground up while learning how to survive in NYC. And before tik tok was even invented, before Caleb first picked up a camera, his journey started in the unlikeliest of places: being homeschooled, amongst his eight other siblings.
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Jan Williamson is a dedicated artist and community leader who’s transformed Southern California's art scene over three decades. As the executive director of the 18th Street Arts Center, she has grown the organization into the region's largest artist residency center, supporting nearly 700 artists. She’s co-founded environmental art initiatives and led 18th Street through reinvention with new programs and significant grants. Active in her community, Jan serves on Santa Monica's Art Commission and Santa Monica Travel and Tourism board, demonstrating art's power to transform and unite communities. Let’s see what inspired her creative endeavors.
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This project, Shit Art Club, started from creative expression in high school. But from a high school rebellious art project, it grew into a thriving artistic community in Downtown Los Angeles. Dedicated to genuine creative expression, Shit Art Club rejects conventional form and function, embracing authenticity and anarchy. The collective invites everyone to join their creative crusade, fostering a space where beauty and discord coexist harmoniously. Their journey from a paint-soaked backyard to a vibrant hub in Skid Row exemplifies their commitment to real, unpretentious art that challenges norms and celebrates the true essence of creativity. But let’s start before all that, back at the beginning.
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Despite thinking his career was shattered by his injury, Eric Clem continued to follow his passion for woodworking. In 2010, Eric was able to mix his love for archery and woodworking through Bowyer Brooklyn, where he sold handcrafted bows and arrows to the people of New York. He would eventually move to Los Angeles where he realized his dream of sharing his craft with others, as he opened the doors to LA Woodshop, a haven for aspiring artisans seeking to carve their own path in the world of woodworking. Let’s go back to where it all started in Houston.
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Midtown Lunch was a hit but we’ll come back to that later… because before Zach Brooks was looking for hidden gems in food he was looking for gems in music. Zach’s career would go from radio to food blogging, to eventually becoming the general manager at Smorgasburg where he operates the largest open-air food market in LA county. But let’s find where this love of food started and go back to his childhood.
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So if you don’t know Berenice Abbott was a famous photographer known for capturing New York's transformation from low-rise to skyscraper-filled in the 1930s. Julia’s apprenticeship with this renowned photographer was just the beginning. Despite facing financial constraints, Julia's determination propelled her forward as she traversed the landscapes of the United States, capturing the essence of societal shifts and cultural nuances through her lens. Settling in Los Angeles, her passion for street photography flourished, leading her to establish the Julia Dean Photography Workshops, later evolving into the Los Angeles Center of Photography. Now she organizes an outdoor exhibit called Projecting L.A. that showcases stories about Los Angeles and its people. Let’s dive into how she got to where she is today.
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Amidst Covid lockdown disruptions, Adam Pisk navigated the challenge of keeping his Manila-based business running. Recognizing opportunities, he swiftly spearheaded the development of an online store for a major Supermarket, followed by a similar success with one of Australia's leading fashion retailers. With years of Global Sales experience at other companies, Adam co-founded Bruntwork, propelling it into a $5 million MRR business within just three years.
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From raising $60,000 to support social justice to founding the Venice Run Club, a run club with 1000+ runners, to the Abbot Kinney One Race, Justin Shields has always been successful in creating inclusive environments that connect people to the community. Justin continues to make his mark on Venice, one stride at a time, but let’s go back to where this race starts in Berkeley California.
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The realization that religion could prevent its followers from getting life saving medical attention, was something that shocked Evan. And this was yet another reason that he felt drawn to “atheism,” a word that he first discovered in a dictionary years before. Later, Evan would attend California Lutheran College which inspired him to create a Secular Student Alliance. Through this, he was able to create a community for students like himself who did not feel connected to religion. Springboarding out of college, he eventually settled in Los Angeles where he continued creating community for Atheists through his role as the executive director of Atheists United. But let’s go way back to life before all of this. A life that started in a conservative catholic school.
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Jiabao’s bioengineered clitoris is just the tip of what she’s capable of as an artist, designer, inventor, and professor. From a stint at Harvard to China’s 30 under 30 to TED talks on how technology mediates how we perceive reality, Jiabao’s multi-disciplinary approach to life flows into her art. She’s able to pull from her experience at Apple, founding experience of three companies, and numerous art exhibitions to bring innovative and unusual ideas to life. However, Jiabao Li was not always an artist. She studied to be an engineer, so let’s go back to the beginning to her early life in Shenyang China.
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Redfin had become a multi-billion dollar company, and that’s not all Dave Selinger has been involved in. He has stories of hacking into the early internet, working with Jeff Bezos, being unimpressed with a young Mark Zuckerberg, and eventually creating his own security company, Deep Sentinel. But let’s take it all back to the beginning to growing up in Oregon.
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Niyc spent many years perfecting her businesses, driven by a dual pursuit of personal fulfillment and financial success. Enduring personal trauma and health challenges, Niyc never let hardship stop her for too long, as she continuously worked towards her ultimate goal. Today, she is a motivational speaker and coach with a focus on positive psychology. With 7000+ current students and an impact on millions of people, let’s dive into how this all started.
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Dylan has navigated through many unexpected twists and turns, transitioning from professional Super Smash Bros commentator to martial artist, and now, a pioneering figure in the realm of biohacking. Through the follistatin gene therapy, Dylan not only experienced a physical transformation but also a renewed sense of vitality. As he continues to fine-tune his body, Dylan’s journey serves as an example for athletes seeking a safer, more sustainable path to peak performance.
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Super interesting podcast!
this! interesting, new, real interactions.
Nice!
Love hearing founder stories, from all different industries and backgrounds
Love how we get to hear the career and life trajectory of so many different people. Very inspiring!
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I liked episode #105 10/10
Very inspiring podcast
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Weve launched a new and improved newsletter! It will offer actionable advice from the lives of our founders alongside other exclusive content! Click here to subscribe —> https://bit.ly/3DhjKq5 Excited to see ya there 🙌🏻
Hello hello! We just released a mini episode about how a life extension tech could only be in the hands of billionaires and what steps we might take to stop that future and make sure everyone has access. It kind of reminds me of that movie In Time with Justin Timberlake. Solid movie. Definitely check it out. Anyways the founder of oval.bio thinks that a decentralized business can ensure life extension technology isn’t just for the super rich. Do you think that’s enough to democratize health?
Hey! 👋 It’s Sam the host of Finding Founders! Welcome to all the new people coming in and super excited to have you. We have some exciting episodes coming up with our drug dealer series over the next few weeks and I can’t wait to hear what you think of them! If you have any questions or just like the podcast leave a comment! I’ll reply to every one and answer all your questions!
Kong’s episode was so amazing😍 thanks sam for making this stuff, i feel hella inspired 💪🏻