What if the most reliable path to impact isn’t a grand gesture, but a habit? We sit down with Ann Canela to unpack how a childhood marked by strict rules and food insecurity forged an uncommon lens on giving, volunteering, and community. At 17, Ann left Northern California for New York City, learned to stand on her own, and eventually built a career at the intersection of philanthropy, corporate giving, and community partnerships. Her core insight is disarmingly simple: small actions, done co...
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What if the most reliable path to impact isn’t a grand gesture, but a habit? We sit down with Ann Canela to unpack how a childhood marked by strict rules and food insecurity forged an uncommon lens on giving, volunteering, and community. At 17, Ann left Northern California for New York City, learned to stand on her own, and eventually built a career at the intersection of philanthropy, corporate giving, and community partnerships. Her core insight is disarmingly simple: small actions, done co...
What if the most reliable path to impact isn’t a grand gesture, but a habit? We sit down with Ann Canela to unpack how a childhood marked by strict rules and food insecurity forged an uncommon lens on giving, volunteering, and community. At 17, Ann left Northern California for New York City, learned to stand on her own, and eventually built a career at the intersection of philanthropy, corporate giving, and community partnerships. Her core insight is disarmingly simple: small actions, done co...
A quiet dinner turned into alarms, an emergency C-section, and a crash course in the NICU. When our daughter arrived five weeks early with her cord tightly wrapped and knotted, we met a calm, clear voice in the chaos: Dr. John Tran, a board-certified neonatologist at CHOC. He walked us through what was happening, what mattered right now, and how time and targeted temperature management could protect our baby’s brain after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). There’s a human side to the sci...
Paul Bernard-Jaroslawski's journey from freight broker to influential content creator begins with a unique international upbringing that shaped his worldview. Born in Chicago to Polish immigrants who fled communist Poland just before its fall, Paul's childhood straddled two worlds—modest living conditions in America and summers spent with grandparents in Poland, fostering a deep connection to his heritage. The catalyst for his unexpected career path? A knee surgery during the pandemic that l...
Behind every successful business lies a story of grit, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. In this extraordinarily personal episode, I share recordings of conversations with my grandparents Connie and Alejandro Castellanos that I've been collecting since 2017, capturing memories that I didnt want to get lost to time. Connie's entrepreneurial journey began at just nine years old, working in her father's grocery store where she mastered everything from inventory to bookkeeping witho...
Ever wondered how some people build extraordinary careers without following conventional paths? In this eye-opening conversation, we meet someone who crafted an impressive career journey—from trading floors to entrepreneurship—without ever formally submitting a job application. Growing up in tiny Gallup, New Mexico, where opportunities were scarce, our guest developed remarkable resourcefulness from an early age. Rather than seeing limitations, he cultivated a deliberate approach to career b...
What does it truly mean to pursue the American Dream? Sun Kwok's remarkable journey offers a powerful answer to that question. Moving 31 times before his 18th birthday, Sun's life has been defined by constant adaptation and relentless perseverance. Born in China, he relocated to Hong Kong at age two before immigrating to the United States at seven with parents who spoke no English but carried immense hope for their children's future. His father, having battled cancer at just 28, wasn't seeki...
Ever notice how impending parenthood transforms those long-ignored home projects into urgent missions? That's exactly where I find myself—deep in nesting mode, armed with caulk guns and Allen wrenches, frantically preparing for our newest family member arriving in just eight weeks. There's something surprisingly satisfying about stepping away from keyboard work to create tangible results with your hands. Though YouTube makes everything look deceptively simple (seriously, those tutorial video...
What happens when machines can do our jobs better than we can? This question is no longer theoretical—it's the reality reshaping our economy right now. My conversation with Chadd Olesen, CEO of a company building AI systems that are transforming business operations, left me genuinely stunned. Hearing an AI system negotiate over the phone using natural pauses, regional accents, and conversational rhythm completely indistinguishable from a human was a moment that will stick with me forever. Th...
What happens when the boardroom mindset collides with youth sports sidelines? This episode takes us on a deeply personal journey with a successful CEO whose competitive drive propelled him to the top of his industry—until he found himself struggling with his reactions to his 10-year-old son's club soccer experiences. The conversation unfolds with remarkable candor as our guest reveals how watching his son play triggered unexpected emotional responses, leading him to question his parenting ap...
What if the key to a more fulfilling life isn't doing more, but doing differently? Alex Payeta's journey begins like many ambitious professionals – climbing the corporate ladder, working relentless hours, and defining success through financial achievement. But something was missing. That realization led her to make a bold decision, walking away from a six-figure consulting career to pursue a more meaningful path. Through world travels, spiritual exploration in jungle retreats, and deeper con...
What happens when calculated risk-taking, unwavering values, and financial discipline converge? Adam Blanchard's remarkable journey from third-generation lawyer to multi-business entrepreneur provides the blueprint. After realizing that a career in litigation wasn't his passion, Blanchard pivoted dramatically when a casual beer conversation with a friend sparked the idea to start a trucking company. This decision marked the beginning of a entrepreneurial path that would lead to founding mult...
Have you ever wondered what it takes to thrive in a career that's both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling while maintaining your most important priorities? Mark Maggio's journey offers a masterclass in navigating this delicate balance. As a self-proclaimed "maniac," Mark built an exceptional 15-year career as a carrier sales representative before advancing to the C-suite of a multimillion-dollar logistics company. What makes his story particularly compelling is how he describes ...
Ever wonder what drives someone to start a podcast? In this revealing solo episode, I pull back the curtain on my journey as a podcaster, father, and professional navigating life's unexpected turns. As I approach 40, I share the real motivation behind creating Let's Ride—capturing those precious, curious conversations with my kids and providing a forum where we can all learn something valuable along the way. Growing up with entrepreneurial influences but unsure of my own path, I recount my s...
What happens when you prioritize both career success and family fulfillment? Alyssa Coriel's journey offers a masterclass in modern work-life integration that defies conventional wisdom. Rising from an entry-level position to Vice President at a multi-billion dollar transportation company before turning 40, Alyssa could have followed the traditional executive path. Instead, she made the radical decision to relocate her family to Steamboat Springs, Colorado – a remote mountain town that...
Dr. Mauro Zappaterra Harvard-trained physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, reveals how our understanding of pain needs a revolutionary update. Most doctors treat pain as a purely physical problem, reaching for prescription pads and scheduling procedures. But Dr. Zappaterra takes a fundamentally different approach—one that might change how you think about your body's pain signals forever. "Pain is not just a sensation; it's an experience created by your brain," expl...
What drives someone to leave a stable corporate career at age 33 to teach first graders in one of LA's toughest neighborhoods? For Gilbert Estrada, it was a journey that began with his own childhood experience of "Americanization" – moving from a predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood to a more affluent area where he first glimpsed different possibilities for his future. Growing up with parents who valued education but had no college experience themselves, Gilbert navigated his path wit...
Financial freedom isn't a social media catchphrase – it's an achievable reality for anyone willing to develop disciplined money habits and learn fundamental investment concepts. This candid conversation pulls back the curtain on how everyday people can build wealth through consistent investing, even when starting with just $100 per paycheck. What begins as a lighthearted chat about eagle watching quickly transforms into a treasure trove of financial wisdom as two longtime friends share their ...
Behind the badge lies a father, husband, and grandfather whose story reveals the profound human dimension of law enforcement rarely glimpsed by those outside the profession. Mario Estrada spent three decades patrolling the gang-infested streets of East Los Angeles on the midnight shift, facing life-threatening situations while somehow managing to leave the trauma at the station door when his shift ended. The heart of this episode unfolds when father and adult son sit down for a candid discus...
From prestigious finance careers to launching a startup revolutionizing the humble umbrella, Reed Jacoby's entrepreneurial journey demonstrates that sometimes the boldest business opportunities aren't flashy tech innovations but overlooked everyday problems. Reed's story begins in Michigan, where despite not being the academic superstar, he leveraged his natural talent for building relationships to secure admission to top business programs and eventually land coveted positions in banking and...
What drives a soldier to embrace both the sacrifice and the service that come with military life? Our guest, Brett Collins, a veteran of the US Army, delves into this deeply personal question by sharing his compelling journey from civilian life to the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through Brett's vivid storytelling, we explore the trials of military police work, the high-stakes missions with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, and the emotional burdens carried by those who serve. His refle...
What if the most reliable path to impact isn’t a grand gesture, but a habit? We sit down with Ann Canela to unpack how a childhood marked by strict rules and food insecurity forged an uncommon lens on giving, volunteering, and community. At 17, Ann left Northern California for New York City, learned to stand on her own, and eventually built a career at the intersection of philanthropy, corporate giving, and community partnerships. Her core insight is disarmingly simple: small actions, done co...
