Peter Freedman is the Founder of Australian company RØDE, one of the world’s leading technology brands for creators. After taking over his father’s company Freedman Electronics, Peter established RØDE in the early 90s, and with it, kicked off an audio legacy that he is still carrying on today. RØDE started out making high-quality yet affordable studio microphones like the NT1, which is now one of the best-selling mics of all time, and over the last 30 years become an audio powerhouse with groundbreaking innovations like the VideoMic, which was the first ever on-camera shotgun microphone, the Wireless GO, the first ever fully wireless compact microphone which you see everywhere today across social media, and the RØDECaster Pro.
@rodemic
Texas native Matthew McConaughey is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. A chance meeting in Austin with casting director and producer Don Phillips led him to director Richard Linklater, who helped launch the actor’s career. Since then, he has won an Academy Award, appeared in over 40 feature films that have grossed over $1 billion; and has become an author, producer, and philanthropist with his just keep livin Foundation – all the while sticking to his Texas roots and “just keep livin” philosophy. He is co owner of The Austin FC Soccer Club, and a professor at the University of Texas in Austin. In 2020, McConaughey released his first book, Greenlights which became an instant New York Times #1 best seller and has sold over three million copies worldwide. His second book, a children’s book titled Just Because was released September 2023, and also became an instant New York Times #1 best seller. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Camila and their three kids.
Antron Brown is a 3X World Champion drag racer from Chesterfield NJ. He became the first Black driver to win a major U.S. auto racing championship when he captured the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel series title. He drives a Top Fuel dragster, which are the fastest accelerating cars in the world. With over 11,000hp, they reach speeds of more than 330mph, doing 0-100 in .8 seconds. Yes, that’s 0-100 in .8 seconds. Antron has an impressive track record with 71 career wins.
Beyond his racing career, Antron was a host on Top Gear America, and was one of Idris Elba’s driving instructors in Discovery Channel’s “Idris Elba no limits”
Brown lives in Pittsboro, Indiana with his wife and their three children. He is active in various community activities including church, NHRA Jr. Drag Racing, Boy Scouts and other youth-related programs.
Randall Wallace is a screenwriter, director, producer, and songwriter who came to prominence by writing the screenplay for the historical film Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson. Braveheart was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 5, making it one of the most Oscar nominated films of all time. Shortly after, he wrote the screenplay for the Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster, Pearl Harbor, directed by Michael Bay. Randall has since directed films such as The Man in the Iron Mask, We Were Soldiers, Secretariat and Heaven Is for Real. His films have earned over $1 billion dollars at the box office.
Wallace graduated from Duke University and put himself through a year of divinity school by teaching karate. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, he has authored nine books, is the founder of Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity, and is the father of three sons.
wallaceentertainment.com
Andy Richter is an American actor, voice actor, writer, comedian, and late night talk show announcer. He is best known for his role as the sidekick of Conan O'Brien on each of the host's programs: Late Night, The Tonight Show on NBC and Conan on TBS. He’s been in numerous movies such as Elf, Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, and the Madagascar franchise along with TV shows including American Dad, Monk, and Arrested development.
Ben Napier is a woodworker and entrepreneur with a degree in history, founder of Scotsman Co. and co-owner of Laurel Mercantile Co. He is a past president of Laurel's Main Street America chapter dedicated to promoting the rebirth of their historic downtown district.
Together with his wife Erin, they host the popular HGTV show Home Town. Home Town was the highest rated pilot in HGTV history, becoming the #1 show on HGTV in its 4th season, as well as one of the most-watched shows on all of cable television.
Bert Jacobs is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Optimist of The Life is Good Company. A $100 million privately held business based in Boston, MA, Life is Good® spreads positive vibes with its colorful collection of apparel and accessories. Jake, Life is good’s iconic hero with the contagious smile, teaches men, women and children that optimism is fun, healthy, and empowering.
For the past ten years, Brett Dennen – with his poet’s perspective, off-kilter vocals, insane sense of humor, and limitless musical freedom – has turned dancing like no one’s watching into a lifestyle. As a songwriter, performer, watercolor artist, and environmental conservationist and outdoorsman, the shows he performs and the events he hosts generate more than good vibes. His impact has been to gather like-minded music fans to consistently try to make the world a better place.
Brett has toured with the likes of Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Trevor Hall. His songs have been heard on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, and Parenthood, and movies like Horrible Bosses and August Osage County.
brettdennen.live
Scott Avett grew up in a musical household in rural North Carolina. He is a founding member of the Grammy Award®-nominated band, The Avett Brothers. The band tours constantly, selling out arenas around the world. They’ve recorded multiple records with legendary producer, Rick Rubin, who MTV called the most important producer of the last 20 years. Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio co-directed a documentary called "May It Last" that followed the band as they wrote their Grammy-nominated album, "True Sadness." Coming next year is "Swept Away" - a musical inspired by and featuring the music of The Avett Brothers. Beyond Scott’s work as a musician, he is also an accomplished visual artist. His paintings and prints have been featured in coveted galleries. He describes his art as figurative work about spirituality and family/human relationships. Avett resides in North Carolina with his wife and three children.
theavettbrothers.com
Right before I joined Mike Posner on his walk across America, he asked me if Elliott had hit me up..
I said no, who’s Elliott?? His response? “ELLIOTT IS THE MOST AMAZING HUMAN ON EARTH, MEET HIM AT ALL COSTS!”
The next day, I got a FaceTime from a random number, and picked up to see a face I immediately recognized. I was in shock. This was someone I had been reading about in business books for years, someone Kody and I saw as a hero. Elliott Bisnow.
Years ago Elliott dropped out of college, and wanted to meet other up and coming entrepreneurs. He had a crazy idea.. Cold call amazing rising business leaders and invite them on an all costs paid ski trip with other amazing entrepreneurs. He got the founder of Toms to say yes. Then the founder of Vimeo, Thrillist, and College Humor among others. He then convinced sponsors to cover the costs.
The event was such a hit that he started to double this invite only gathering each year. It grew into Summit, now employing hundreds. His speakers include Jeff Bezos, Quentin Tarantino, Bill Clinton, Kobe Bryant, and Richard Branson. Elliott specializes in making surreal experiences, and has hosted these events all around the world, even renting out cruise ships.
More recently, he and his co-founders bought America’s largest ski resort, Powder Mountain, and are working on re-inventing the modern mountain town. Some of his neighbors here are Reed Hastings (the founder of Netflix), and Tim Ferriss.
As CEO of WD-40 Company since 1997, Garry Ridge has helped re-ignite excitement and create cultures that foster break-through innovation in companies and workplaces in over 62 countries. In addition to his full-time role at WD-40 Company, Garry shares his experience and insights externally through executive coaching; consulting; and speaking.
His first-hand experiences in transforming a global brand with a market cap of $2.3 billion, as well as his deep, profound commitment to creating workplace cultures that support the individual passions of all who work there, have attracted the recognition of today’s most influential thought leaders.
In 2016, he was named Igniter of the Year by Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Others. Additionally, Inc.com placed him in the fourth position in its list of Top 10 Global CEOs in 2017. He also collaborated with Ken Blanchard (One Minute Manager series) on the landmark book, Helping People Win at Work.
Richie Norton is the award-winning, bestselling author of the book The Power of Starting Something Stupid (in 10+ languages) and Résumés Are Dead & What to Do About It. In 2019, Richie was named one of the world’s top 100 business coaches by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith. He is an international speaker (including TEDx & Google Startup Grind) & serial entrepreneur.
He is the founder of Global Consulting Circle, creating/scaling business models for venture-backed startups. Millions of entrepreneurial-minded people study Norton’s work. Executives & celebrities alike seek out Richie to create new value-based products/experiences for their audiences.
Follow along at richienorton.com
This podcast is sponsored by Rode Microphones - rode.com
Having been punched in the face, and thrown out of windows in some of Hollywood’s most prevalent blockbusters in recent years such as Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame, Captain Marvel, Creed 2, and Jurassic World, Chris Romrell doesn’t have the average day job. Chris is a 6’3 full time life enjoyer who you might know as Star Lord, Thor, or from being on American Ninja Warrior. Romrell is Chris Pratt’s stunt double, as well as the closest thing to his clone that we’re aware of. Chris most recently worked in London as Chris Pratt’s stunt double in the upcoming Jurassic World 3.
Follow Chris on Instagram @chris.romrell
This podcast is sponsored by Rode Microphones - rode.com
Mari Takahashi, better known as AtomicMari is a professional ballerina turned Internet personality and gamer. She was the third person to join the wildly popular youtube brand, Smosh, with channels totaling over 40 million subscribers. Mari is best known for co-founding, hosting, and producing shows for the channels, Smosh Games and Smosh Pit, as well as being a contestant in the 33rd season of CBS' Survivor. She can most recently be seen on Quibi’s new show, Speedrun by Polygon.
Follow Mari at @AtomicMari
This podcast is sponsored by Rode Microphones - rode.com
With over 3 million followers on Instagram, Chris Burkard is an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Traveling throughout the year to pursue the farthest expanses of Earth, Burkard works to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere.
His visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on global, prominent campaigns with Fortune 500 clients, speak on the TED stage, design product lines, educate, and publish a growing collection of books. Along with his team, Burkard is based out of his production studio and art gallery in the Central Coast of California.
To follow Chris: @chrisburkard chrisburkard.com
This podcast is sponsored by Rode Microphones
Known as a marketing visionary, Sam Baldoni has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is widely known as one of the founding fathers of the multi-billion dollar product placement business. He launched Baldoni Entertainment while lending his advertising and product marketing expertise on Steven Spielberg’s Gremlins. The company quickly became the most profitable product placement company in the industry, and worked on nearly every major feature film with every major studio.
Sam Baldoni is the Vice President, Brand Partnerships and Executive Producer at Wayfarer Entertainment.
Connect with Sam: @sambaldoni http://wearewayfarer.com/
This podcast is sponsored by Rode Microphones.
Justin Forsett is a man of many accolades, whom we met in 2018 as Southwest Airlines Ambassadors. Former Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back turned motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and businessman! Justin has a one of a kind underdog story turning trials into triumph, showing that perseverance can take you to unimaginable heights, while lifting up everyone around you. Justin was recently seen on Shark Tank with his company, ShowerPill and Hustle Clean. When Justin isn’t busy keynoting at conferences, training, or running his start up, he can be found raising his four kids, jamming to Kirk Franklin, or watching home improvement shows.
Connect with Justin: @jforsett and @showerpill on IG
This podcast is sponsored by Rode Microphones.