Join Scott Norton, a creative entrepreneur behind Sir Kensington’s condiments, as he converses with world-class creatives who have achieved commercial success and lived to tell the tale. At Large explores the many ways the creatives that have shaped our modern world navigate business and use commerce to scale their craft.
Join Scott Norton, a creative entrepreneur behind Sir Kensington’s condiments, as he converses with world-class creatives who have achieved commercial success and lived to tell the tale. At Large explores the many ways the creatives that have shaped our modern world navigate business and use commerce to scale their craft.
Following in the tradition of artists before him like Madonna and Prince, our guest today refers to himself by a single name: Wiz.
Wiz is co-founder and general partner of Spacecadet ventures, which invests in breakthrough technologies at the edge of impossible.
But why did I choose Wiz to be the first investor interviewed on At Large? As Wiz says, technology may be the fuel, but storytelling is the oxygen. A creative marketer by background, Wiz partners with early stage companies on story sprints and vision quests to help shape what might be a wonky technology into an infectious narrative arc.
He tells us about some of the moonshot ideas he's backed, how he evaluates founders (which he calls space cadets), and we'll get into our shared love of cooking over open flame.
This is Wiz from Spacecadet, At Large.
Topics Mentioned:
Working from a home office outfitted with a built-in test kitchen, Jerry Greenberg has launched six distinct restaurant concepts—from elevated sushi to handmade pasta to Philly cheesesteaks. The most iconic of these is Sugarfish, a cult-favorite sushi chain revered for its meticulous yet effortless approach to the dining experience.
Tall, trim, and totally composed, Jerry is not what you picture when you hear “restaurateur.” Yes, he once took a tech company public in the ’90s, but don’t mistake him for the money guy. For Jerry, it’s all about the food.
In this conversation, Jerry shares how he and his partners treat each concept like a Rubik’s cube, twisting every detail until it clicks. From menu to lighting to timing, every element serves a singular mission: to deliver that one transcendent bite when a guest says, “Damn, that’s good.”
On this show, I seek out “business artists.” These are artists who build a business to get their creations into the world, and businesspeople who approach company building with the intentionality of an artist. Jerry fits both of these definitions.
Please enjoy my conversation with a restaurateur, business artist, and obsessive entrepreneur. This is Jerry Greenberg, At Large.
Show Links:
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Today’s guest is culinary powerhouse Missy Robbins. Chef and co-owner of the acclaimed Lilia and Misi in Brooklyn, she’s written standout cookbooks and carved her reputation one hand-rolled pasta shape at a time.
But this conversation isn't just about accolades. It’s about brinksmanship. Missy opens up about nearly walking away from cooking altogether, and the unlikely business partner who nudged her to greatness, changing her course, and maybe her fate. She tells the story of transforming a derelict auto body shop into one of New York’s most coveted tables.
And we host a game show segment where I quiz Missy on increasingly obscure pasta shapes, and she tests my knowledge of condiments to see if I’m a sauce boss, or a sauce fraud.
Here’s Missy Robbins, at large.
Show Links:
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Humberto Leon has spent his life setting the cultural thermostat — somehow always staying a few degrees ahead.
He has an uncanny ability to sniff out the world around him, stay true to his personal taste, and craft something that people are attracted to from across the room – or across the city – or across the ocean. A vibesmith of the highest order.
Quick background on Humberto: Alongside Carol Lim, he co-founded Opening Ceremony, the first-of-its-kind concept store that redefined retail by curating global designers and pioneering the high-low collaborations that now crowd every brand’s playbook.
Four store locations later, the leadership pair was tapped by LVMH to revive Kenzo — a turnaround that didn’t just restore the label but multiplied its size tenfold and returned it to profitability.
After selling Opening Ceremony, Humberto came home to Los Angeles, where he opened Chifa — a vibrantly electric Peruvian-Chinese restaurant that’s as much a mood as it is a meal (and where we filmed this episode).
And because one life is apparently not enough, he’s also the creative director behind Katseye, a K-pop-inspired girl group pushing the boundaries of style and sound.
There’s more — there’s always more with Humberto — but it’s time to let him tell it.
Show Links:
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
TIMECODES:
00:00 - Introduction to Humberto Leon
03:27 - Humberto Quits to Start Opening Ceremony
08:05 - How Havaianas Flip Flops Blew Up OC
14:29 - Humberto’s View on Collaborations
18:41 - Humberto’s Take on the Current Fashion Industry
23:14 - The Pitch to Kenzo
28:51 - The Infamous Kenzo Tiger Sweatshirt
31:00 - Private Equity comes to Opening Ceremony
33:20 - KATSEYE and Empowering Female Voices
38:35 - CHIFA: a Restaurant Ode to his Mother
44:05 - At Large & Off The Cuff
Hunter S. Thompson said: “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
Perhaps there is no truer living practitioner of professional weirdness than Eric Wareheim, a polymath of life’s pleasures.
If you've heard of Eric Wareheim, you already know that he's one of the greatest living minds in comedy. You practically couldn't press play fast enough when you saw his name pop up in your feed.
And if you haven't heard of Eric Wareheim, don't be ashamed - you're in for a treat. His breakout show, Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job! is a genre-defining masterstroke of absurdist television. I’ve linked a bunch of clips from this show and his other work below for you to watch and laugh uncontrollably.
But even if you have heard of Eric, did you know he wrote a cookbook, called Foodheim and has another one on the way called Steak House? Do you know he makes really good natural wine under the brand Las Jaras? Did you know his production company abso-lutely produced other groundbreaking shows like Nathan for You and the Eric Andre show?
Well, today, at Eric's loft, which he calls Loftheim, we sit down to talk about all of those projects and more. I loved hearing his story about how he and Tim Heidecker first got Bob Odenkirk's attention to break into Hollywood. I was thrilled to hear the unexpected creative inspiration behind their shows, and how Eric is paying it forward by creating space for other renegade humorists to give their gifts.
On this show, Eric treats me to a tasting of Las Jaras, educating me about natural wine, and I reciprocate with a pairing of Sir Kensington's mustard and pretzels. Enjoy my conversation with the prolific, hilarious, and professionally weird Eric Wareheim.
Show Links:
📸@swhnorton
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Our guest today is Sophia Amoruso, founder of the first internet native fashion brand, Nasty Gal. Since growing Nasty Gal to global prominence and then taking it through a sudden bankruptcy sale, she’s subsequently founded three other businesses including Trust Fund, her VC firm. Sophia coined the term #Girlboss, which is the name of her second business, a Netflix show based on her life, and the title of her memoir which spent 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
I admire Sophia for her courage and action in the face of fear. Fear of failure and fear of not looking good can be overwhelming to the point of paralysis (certainly I am governed by these fears) but today we'll get into how Sophia has achieved a buoyancy to rise above them.
Good brands transcend the reality of the businesses they represent, and in this show, she talks about what it's like for her personal brand to decouple from her lived experience - to the extent of taking a company through bankruptcy just as a Netflix series debuted about her company's success. Talk about cognitive dissonance.
Sophia and I talk about the scrutiny put on female leaders, her recent rumspringa, what she thinks is cool right now in fashion and music, and I ask her to roast my outfit.
Enjoy my conversation with Sophia Amoruso, a refreshingly real storyteller and entrepreneur who's dedicated to living on her own terms.
Show Links:
📸@swhnorton
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Today's guest is director Daniel Goldhaber, who blends high-tension genre films with piercing social commentary. His 2018 debut feature, Cam, a provocative, psychological thriller about a camgirl's stolen identity marked him as a director unafraid to dig deep into the darker recesses of contemporary culture. Cam captivated audiences with an unexpectedly feminist perspective using a technique Goldhaber calls "sensory ethnography," while putting forth a vision of how horror can reflect the anxieties of our digital age.
But if Cam was Goldhaber's statement of intent, his 2022 feature How to Blow Up A Pipeline solidified his place as a filmmaker with something to say. Boldly political yet tightly constructed, Pipeline is further proof that Goldhaber is mastering the art of genre with a conscience, a rarity in the landscape of popular cinema often content with spectacle over substance.
Daniel's films and Daniel's life explore the tension between capitalism and activism, between creativity and the imperative of commerce. In this conversation, you'll hear the best parts about his film education at Harvard, how he crashed a party at Cannes to get his movie financed, and how a weekend raving in Berlin changed the course of his life forever. He gives us hot takes on how the film industry is unexpectedly changing, and on the ethical rationale of controversial climate activism.
Call him a raconteur, a provocateur, but just don't call him an auteur - either way I have a feeling that Daniel's career as a filmmaker is just getting started. So whether you're listening to this conversation in 2024 or doing retrospective research in 2034, please enjoy my conversation with Daniel Goldhaber.
Show Links:
Alex Hughes - Spacemaker Productions
Golden Gate Nightclub - Berlin
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…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Dinara Kasko is a study in contrasts.The precision of an architect, with the soul of an artist. A playful crafter of haute patisserie, with the grit to escape a Russian invasion. The poise and perfection of a pastry chef, with the daring to dance for days in the dusty desert of Burning Man.
There are pastry chefs, and then there’s Dinara Kasko—a woman who doesn’t just bake cakes but sculpts them, bending mousse and ganache into hypnotic geometric forms that feel more at home in an art gallery than a bakery display. She's been named one of the top entrepreneurial creatives on the 50 Best Restaurants list, with her creations served in patisseries from Qatar to California.
But Kasko’s journey has been anything but conventional. Originally trained as an architect, she seamlessly translated her understanding of form and structure into the ephemeral beauty of pastry, creating silicone molds that turn cakes into intricate, almost otherworldly designs. They are mesmerizing in their complexity, precision, and – as she discovered 10 years ago – are perfectly instagrammable. Social media became her stage, and like any artist navigating the pleasures and sorrows of algorithm-induced fame, she has embraced both the opportunities and the challenges of a livelihood and a life lived largely online.
Like many other guests of At Large, Dinara has made a living out of her exceptional creative abilities. However, unlike anyone else we've talked to, Dinara hails from Kharkiv, a region in Eastern Ukraine invaded by Russia in 2022, which remains under attack to this day. That year, she was forced to flee her beloved home city, leaving her pastry studio behind. She sought the refuge of a better life in Southern California with her young family of four. Here in America, she continues to build her business, refine her craft, and explore new outlets for expression and emotion at dance music festivals.
On At Large, Kasko shares her remarkable journey of resilience, reinvention, and creativity in exile—along with a recipe for kefir pancakes that, like the chef herself, is equal parts tradition and transformation.
Show Links:
📸@swhnorton
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…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Henry Ford famously said, "If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." When sweetgreen was founded in 2007, nobody was asking for a chain of fast casual salad restaurants. But sweetgreen reframes the question - how do you make healthy food convenient and cool?
My guest today is Nicolas Jammet, one of the three co-founders of sweetgreen, and the one most responsible for its food. Sweetgreen is one of the great brands built by our generation that's found itself woven into the fabric of cosmopolitan culture. Seventeen years after opening its first location, sweetgreen now operates over 250 restaurants and, as of this recording, is valued at nearly $5 billion as a public company.
I have known Nic for over 10 years, and sweetgreen has been a fantastic partner to Sir Kensington's, having used a number of our condiments over the years including our mayonnaise in the dressing of their famous Kale Caesar.
In this conversation, we'll talk about what it takes to stick together as a trio of co-founders through thick and thin, the value of leadership coaching, how he approaches culinary innovation without alienating their audience, and how automation surprisingly helps hospitality rather than hinders it.
Special thanks to Andrea Hernandez of Snaxshot whose readers submitted questions for Nic to answer in this interview.
Please enjoy my conversation with the sultan of salad, Nicolas Jammet.
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Special Announcement - LA Wildfires:
We recorded this conversation in December of last year. However, as of this writing, disastrous wildfires in Los Angeles have displaced over 10,000 people and taken 25 lives over the past two weeks. Los Angeles is where I live along with many of our guests, and where we record the show. While the fires are now largely contained, it's been a traumatic moment. If you've suffered as a result of these fires, I have all the faith in your resilience a - even in the face of uncertainty.
If you've in any way been part of the relief effort, on behalf of everyone whose lives have been derailed - I give you my genuine thanks, including to Nic, our guest on today’s show. As an LA-based company, Sweetgreen has been focusing the past two weeks on supporting its community and providing meals for firefighters, first responders and displaced families.
To support Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts as a volunteer or donor visit:: https://lacity.gov/LAstrong
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Website Show Notes:
Support Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts: https://lacity.gov/LAstrong
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…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
Mike Tyson said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” That's how I feel every time I try to write something. You don't really realize how hard writing is until you actually sit down and do it. If it’s any consolation, just remember the copywriting law of physics from this episode’s guest: If a problem exists, so does the solution.
Thomas Kemeny has made a career writing for advertising, one of the most challenging written mediums. You need the copy to sell, but it can't be salesy. It's gotta make people smile, but you can't come off as trying to be funny. The shorter the better, but make sure to pack in all the features and benefits. Got it?
For people who have practiced this all their life, like Thomas, writing for advertising is an art, a science, and a business. And for the rest of us to learn, Thomas wrote one of the very few books on how to write advertising copy. The book is called Junior, and today we'll talk about many of the lessons he shares in this book.
In this episode, Thomas will take us through copywriting exercises to generate headlines using the shortcuts and “dirty tricks” the industry has used for decades. He talks about how his creative process involves tricking your brain into never thinking it’s done, so that you can push from the logical and into the nonsensical before arriving at an unexpected solution. Best of all, Thomas reveals what he calls “the secret rule for great work” which no company will ever actually abide by.
Enjoy the show, enjoy his book, and enjoy making Hungarian chicken paprikash.
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Website Show Notes:
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…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.
My guest today is Clare Vivier: celebrated fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her eponymous brand, Clare V. Over 16 years in business, she has quietly, yet undeniably, reshaped the landscape of accessories.
The French-inflected simplicity of her designs—leather handbags adorned with bold stripes, understated totes that whisper rather than shout—echo her essence: practical and deliberate, with an artist’s cool. Vivier has managed to bottle up California ease and Parisian sophistication, infusing it into a brand that feels both timeless and strikingly now.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Vivier's path to the fashion world was anything but linear. A former journalist, she honed her style sensibilities while living in France, where she noticed a glaring gap in the accessories market: bags that married utility with understated luxury. Armed with curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a sewing machine purchased with found money, she taught herself the art of leather working to make a laptop bag that she herself would want to carry.
What began as a modest operation soon blossomed into Clare V., a brand that has come to define West Coast chic. From its early cult following in indie boutiques to its current status as a staple among tastemakers, Clare V. has grown into a quietly powerful force in the fashion industry, without compromising integrity or its signature style. Her pieces, whether carried by Hollywood A-listers or creative professionals on the go, feel both egalitarian and aspirational, a reflection of the woman behind the brand.
Yet for Vivier, success is as much about community as it is about commerce. With stores across the country—each one a carefully curated love letter to its neighborhood—and a commitment to ethical production practices, she has proven that achieving scale doesn't require sacrificing the values that guide you in the early days.
Without further adieu, please enjoy my conversation with Clare.
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Website Show Notes:
📸@swhnorton
🐦@swhnorton
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
Alex Bogusky didn’t just change advertising — he rewrote the rules.
Many people have been called the father of modern advertising, but today you're going to hear from the man I call the father of postmodern advertising.
Alex was named creative director of the decade by Ad Age for the work he led as a partner at his agency, Crispin Porter and Bogusky. His work has received countless awards and he's in the hall of fame of both the Art Directors Club and the American Advertising Federation.
Alex is best known for launching Mini Cooper in America, anti-smoking ads for the Truth campaign that enraged big tobacco, ads for Domino’s Pizza that ignited an 80-fold increase in their stock price, and arguably his most groundbreaking work: Burger King’s Subservient chicken - one of the first digitally native campaigns to go viral online, and one that changed marketing forever.
This is an episode with two chapters. In chapter one, we'll talk to Alex about the creative process that went into his best known campaigns. In chapter two, we'll talk about his spiritual journey of finding peace, and healing after the death of someone very close to him. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you from Boulder Colorado, Alex Bogusky.
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Show Notes:
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
My guest today is Alexis Gay. While on the rise in her career in tech, Alexis took to the internet to lampoon her own industry as her social alter ego, @yayalexisgay. With razor sharp comedic instincts and magnetic screen presence, she pokes fun at the absurdity of a new professional class that’s trying to put a dent in the universe while navigating petty personal problems. After 25 million video views, countless industry conference keynotes, and over a hundred episodes of her podcast Non-Technical, Alexis has left her desk job and incessant slack notifications behind. She’s now started a new chapter as an entertainer, trading annual performance reviews for nightly standing ovations.
After debuting her one woman show Unprofessional at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, she’s taking it on an eight city tour across the United States. We sat down a day before her performance in Los Angeles to talk about her travels in the creator economy and her craft of self-parody.
Please enjoy my conversation with the consummate unprofessional professional, Alexis Gay.
Show Notes:
“Unprofessional” tour dates and tickets
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…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
Years ago, I made a pilgrimage up the Hudson river to visit a guru. Conscientious, soft spoken, and sporting a shiny bald head, he had the profile of a wiseman in eastern philosophy. But in fact, he was a guru in the secular (yet mystical) philosophy of marketing.
Towards the end of our meeting, as I asked for advice on growing our startup Sir Kensington’s, he wrote a note on a piece of torn paper and slipped it across the table. I picked it up and read it: “People Like Us Do Things Like This.”
Huh?
My guest today is Seth Godin, whose work I've followed for nearly 20 years, and has informed both the businesses I've built and how I evaluate companies for investment.
Seth is the poet laureate of modern marketing. His genius lies in his ability to distill complex ideas into clear, actionable insights that resonate in today's attention-scarce world. And in a world addicted to shortcuts and quick wins, Godin’s message is refreshingly real and profoundly human: great work takes guts, vision, and the courage to stand out. As Seth says, "safe is risky."
Today we'll talk about his greatest hits -- though we took this occasion to talk about his brand new book, "This is Strategy" which he simplifies strategy into what he calls "a philosophy of becoming."
In Seth's world, marketing isn't just about selling - it's about making a difference. So if you want to build something consequential, queue up Seth's books on your kindle and please enjoy my conversation with Mr. Seth Godin.
Website Show Notes:
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
Sometimes you’ll meet someone, and halfway through the conversation it dawns on you: This person is different. This is a person doing their life’s work. Nicholas Coleman is undeniably one of those people. And with eloquence to match his passion, the more he shares the more interesting he becomes.
Nick is one of the world’s foremost experts on olive oil. He is an educator, speaker, and co-founder of Grove and Vine, a full service bespoke olive oil merchant and producer. Nick chases the harvest annually through the northern and southern hemispheres to deliver a curated selection of the freshest extra virgin olive oils to both home cooks and Michelin starred restaurants.
Nick was the chief oleologist at Eataly for seven years, a position they created for him and has judged countless olive oil competitions around the globe. He is a lifelong musician and bassist alongside Action Bronson in their band, Dr. Bachlava and Human Growth Hormone.
In this interview, Nick will teach us how to properly select and taste olive oil, how to squeeze two days into every one, what it’s like to collaborate with Action both with oil and music, and the secret to landing your dream job.
Prepare to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about olive oil and the business surrounding it, and enjoy my conversation with oleologist Nicholas Coleman.
Want to try Nick’s oil? Listeners can use the code "atlarge" at https://groveandvine.com/ for $20 off a Grove and Vine membership.
Recorded at studio and community space 57 NYC.
Show Notes:
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This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
A decade ago, Gabe Whaley figured out how to light the internet ablaze and has been leading a relentless scorched earth campaign ever since.
Gabe is CEO and co-founder of MSCHF, a Brooklyn-based high-output for-profit art collective behind hundreds of radical and delightful projects. These range from shoes filled with holy water, to anime tax software, to forged picassos, to the mega-viral Big Red Boots. He’s been dragged into court for ticking off big companies, sold a laptop full of viruses for over one million dollars, and gotten MSCHF represented by Perrotin, a leading global contemporary art gallery.
Softspoken and understated, Gabe has an unlikely history for a provocateur. He grew up in rural North Carolina, insulated from popular culture, and attended West Point where he learned military discipline before dropping out. After working dead-end jobs back home, he flew up to New York City wearing an ill-fitting suit for a long shot interview with Buzzfeed, where he landed a job working on viral content. Then once his extracurricular MSCHF projects took off, it launched as an undefinable N-of-one company with both adoring fans and corporate nemeses around the world.
In this interview, we’ll hear the backstory of some of the collective’s most radical works, how he leads a team with world class ideas and execution, and how creativity and commerce coexist amidst explosive growth for MSCHF.
If you do not know MSCHF today, prepare to have your mind cracked open – and prepare to start seeing them everywhere.
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"Creativity is a shared international language"
Website Show Notes:
📸@swhnorton
🐦@swhnorton
…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
So far, Kareem Rahma has packed more into his 38 years than most people do into a lifetime.
Egyptian? Yes. Midwesterner? Yes. New Yorker? Yes. Brooklynite? Yes.
Corporate employee? Yes. Post-exit founder? Yes. Media entrepreneur? Yes.
Comedian? Yes. Musician? Yes. Published author? Yes. Film producer? Yes. Pizza gallerist? Improbably, yes
Is there anything that isn’t a “yes” for Kareem? Well, tune into his viral Instagram series @subwaytakes and indeed, he’s not afraid to blast “100% disagree” when it’s time to say no.
In this episode of At Large, we’ll hear how Kareem Rahma built a livelihood pioneering essentialist internet video formats for a divided nation with a shrinking attention span, without losing his fresh optimism and vibe of disheveled cool.
Between commandeering the L train for his impromptu hit talk show and hopping into yellow cabs to tell drivers “take me to your favorite place in the city and keep the meter running,” Kareem has collapsed the distance between what he wants and what he does by refusing to let asking for permission be part of his creative process.
Thanks to Primary Venture Partners, who generously provided their office studio for this interview in NYC.
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Website Show Notes:
📸@swhnorton
🐦@swhnorton
…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
Cool, calm, and collected, you’d never peg Food52 founder Amanda Hesser as having an insatiable appetite for risk. Self-described as “impulsive” and described by others as “frighteningly ambitious,” Amanda comes off as conscientious and considered as she does intelligent and industrious. So what makes her tick?
After following her sense of adventure and love of food to a chateau in Burgundy where she wrote about seasonal cooking, she went on to unexpectedly land a job writing for the food section of the New York Times, where she ultimately rose to food editor of the Times Magazine, and authored The Essential New York Times cookbook. Then in 2009, when internet media and food media were becoming intertwined, she co-founded Food52 as a website and marketplace for people who put food at the center of their life.
In this conversation, Amanda talks about the interconnected ecosystem of Food52’s business model, including its strong community, advertising model, marketplace, and recent acquisitions for vertical integration with heritage brands. She’ll share stories of partnering with private equity investors, the importance of delighting customers in inefficient yet effective ways, and operating in “founder mode.” Prepare to be very hungry (and itching to make chocolate cake) by the end of this episode.
Thanks to Primary Venture Partners, who generously provided their office studio for this interview in NYC.
“In so many ‘consumer’ business, the consumer gets forgotten and treated like some sort of widget”
Website Show notes:
📸@swhnorton
🐦@swhnorton
…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
For someone who’s ridden the highs and lows of life’s roller coaster, Shane Heath comes across as remarkably grounded.
Between the death of a college roommate, the unexpected chapter of fatherhood, and leading a hypergrowth company in an ultra-competitive industry, there are plenty of challenges that most people would be overwhelmed by. Shane doesn’t easily get overwhelmed, but he isn’t exactly easygoing. As charismatic as he is introverted, his cool demeanour belies a deep-seated intensity and unrelenting quest for existential investigation. He’s propelled forward by the moments of intensity in his life to keep creating, keep asking why, and will literally wake up compelled to do a surprise triathlon just because it’s hard.
As Shane would say: No mud, no lotus.
Shane is the CEO and co-founder of MUD\WTR, a product he created to drink less coffee which turned into a category-creating company of significant scale that he continues to lead.
In this interview, we’ll talk about Shane’s co-existing roles of interdisciplinary creative and CEO, his daily practices for energy and creativity, and the changing perception of psychedelics in American society.
Note that as of the time of this episode’s publishing, I am an investor in MUD\WTR and that this interview is separate from my professional relationship with the company.
Website Show notes:
📸@swhnorton
🐦@swhnorton
…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
Most people just dream of going viral. Michael Dubin has actually pulled it off.
Mike went from being rejected from every business school he applied to and being laid off from Sports Illustrated to revolutionizing how razors are sold in America with Dollar Shave Club. Beyond operational ingenuity and opportunity spotting, Mike made use of his talents in sketch comedy and improvisation to create a video in 2012 that lit the internet on fire and birthed a generation of “direct-to-consumer” businesses. Four years later, Dollar Shave Club counted over 3M subscribers and secured a $1B sale to Unilever.
Has fame and fortune changed him? Not really.
In this interview, we’ll talk about the cultural undercurrents that enabled Dollar Shave Club and provide a peek behind the curtain of how multinational corporations approach acquisitions and divestitures. We’ll also drink a lot of MUD\WTR as Mike talks about his latest creative endeavors in screenwriting, his pause practice with Vedic meditation, and the sentimental bowl in which I serve mike a homemade peach and fennel salad.
Finally, if you’re interested in joining our Friday morning Santa Monica swim club called The Starfish, send me a DM on Twitter or Instagram @swhnorton
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Website Show notes:
📸@swhnorton
🐦@swhnorton
…….
This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!
