Rod Yancy on Building Companies That Serve People, Living With Intention, and Innovating in the Music Industry

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Rod Yancy — entrepreneur, writer, attorney, and founder of Oath and Bootleg. Rod shares how he’s found success across multiple industries, from law and financial planning to software and now music. The conversation explores what it means to build companies that serve people, live with intention, and innovate within the modern music industry. Rod offers timeless lessons on creativity, courage, and taking action to turn vision into reality.

Episode Highlights:

• 5:04 - The Power of Mortality in Entrepreneurship
  Rod discusses how contemplating mortality (memento mori) shaped his philosophy and inspired the founding of Oath, emphasizing the importance of living intentionally and making meaningful decisions.
• 9:39 - Overcoming the Success Trap
  Rod and Marcus explore the “success trap” many entrepreneurs fall into—chasing money or status at the expense of fulfillment, health, and relationships, and how true success requires self-awareness and balance.
• 40:07 - Delegation and Leadership Lessons from Richard Branson
  Rod shares advice from Richard Branson about the importance of delegation, empowering others, and stepping back as a leader to allow the team to thrive, even if it means feeling less “needed.”
• 56:00 - Empowering Artists with New Revenue Streams
  Rod introduces his new venture, Bootleg, which helps artists monetize live concert recordings, providing fans with unique experiences and artists with ongoing revenue, illustrating innovation and creative entrepreneurship.

Rod Yancy is a serial entrepreneur, attorney, and founder of Oath, a company dedicated to helping people live intentionally by contemplating their mortality and planning their legacy. With a background in philosophy and law, Rod has built and scaled multiple businesses, including Oath Planning and Bootleg, a platform empowering artists to monetize live performances. Known for his creative approach, resilience, and commitment to meaningful work, Rod draws inspiration from both ancient philosophy and modern mentors like Richard Branson. He is passionate about fostering innovation, supporting artists, and helping others find purpose beyond financial success.

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

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