Molly Bloom, a former high-stakes poker game organizer, shares her fascinating life story that inspired the film, 'Molly’s Game.' She reveals the thrilling journey from aspiring Olympic skier to running high-stakes games with celebrities and crime figures. Molly discusses the importance of accountability and the profound lessons learned from her choices. Listeners will find insights into personal growth, the art of hospitality in poker, and the significance of making ethical decisions in life and work.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Skier to Poker Host
Molly Bloom's path to running high-stakes poker games began unexpectedly.
After a skiing injury ended her Olympic dreams, a temporary job serving drinks at a high-profile poker game sparked her interest.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Legal Poker Empire
Molly Bloom initially ran her poker games legally, avoiding taking a rake (percentage of the pot).
Her games became popular due to the high stakes, celebrity clientele, and her control over seating and credit, leading to lucrative tips.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Transition to Illegality
Molly Bloom's games transitioned from legal to illegal when she expanded to New York and began taking on increasing financial risks.
Extending large amounts of credit and taking a rake to cover potential losses led to her downfall.
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From Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker
Molly Bloom
In 'Molly's Game,' Molly Bloom recounts her journey from a competitive skier to the 'Poker Princess' of Hollywood. She describes her transition from working as a waitress and assistant to running lucrative underground poker games that attracted A-list celebrities, athletes, billionaires, and politicians. The book details her rise to success, her encounters with the Russian and Italian mobs, and her eventual legal troubles with the U.S. government. It is a story of ambition, self-discovery, and redemption, highlighting the glamour, privilege, and secrecy of the high-stakes poker world and the personal costs of her actions[2][3][5].
Unreasonable Hospitality
The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
Will Guidara
In 'Unreasonable Hospitality,' Will Guidara shares his experiences as the General Manager of Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad, highlighting the importance of hospitality in any business. The book emphasizes that simply offering a great product is not enough; organizations must also focus on creating authentic connections and memorable experiences for both customers and employees. Guidara provides practical advice on setting expectations, managing teams, and adapting to unexpected situations, all while maintaining a commitment to hospitality that goes beyond mere service. His approach is applicable across various industries, not just limited to restaurants and luxury businesses.
Molly Bloom’s life story is one-of-a-kind.
Her Olympic dreams were dashed, so she planned on going to law school. Instead, she wound up running a high-stakes poker game where hundreds of millions of dollars would change hands in a night.
Molly made a lot of money. Celebrities, mafias, and federal informants soon took an interest in her and her game. Eventually, she lost everything and had no one to blame but herself.
Her story later became the Academy Award nominated movie, Molly’s Game, and the lessons she learned from her extraordinary journey have tremendous value for the rest of us.
A Bit of Optimism 
