Today's teachers are Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, founders of Acquired, the podcasting sensation telling the stories and strategies of the world's great companies. In this episode, we turn the tables on Ben and David in order to discover their own stories and the fairy dust behind Acquired's success.

We'll cover the history of the formation of one of the most successful podcasts in the world, why having a co-founder & friend is vital to building an enduring company throughout the highs and lows, and their most valuable lessons learned from dissecting the greatest stories in business, investing, and entrepreneurship. Please enjoy our class with Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.

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Show Notes

(00:05:36) - (First question) - Acquired podcast's journey, founders' insights, and entrepreneurial lessons

(00:11:00) - David Rosenthal's journey from 80s Pennsylvania to entrepreneurship

(00:23:12)- How David's exposure to entrepreneurship shaped his beliefs and co-founder dynamics

(00:14:12) - How Ben and David forged a unique friendship through their shared passions

(00:30:54) - Exploring side hustles & transforming hobbies into career opportunities

(00:42:07) - Why building success requires nurturing intrinsic compounding factors

(00:52:15) - The roles of luck and persistence in achieving success

(00:56:35) - Prioritizing product over monetization for long-term success

(00:60:57) - The importance of staying authentic amidst success

(01:08:15) - Balancing success and well-being with Acquired's freedom-driven approach

(01:10:37) - Recognizing the value of ownership in the journey to success

(01:15:32) - The power of optimism in overcoming challenges and achieving success

(01:19:27) - The significance of authenticity in long-term success

(01:25:07)- Upholding integrity in interactions as an essential component of success

(01:35:04) - Why successful companies often mirror the founder's personality

(01:43:17) - Acquired's biggest strength and the potential risk on the horizon

Year End: The Big Themes for 2021