Molly Bloom, an entrepreneur, author, and former Olympic-class skier, shares her intriguing journey from competitive sports to high-stakes poker. She discusses the importance of self-interest in building connections and the value of a beginner's mindset for daily improvement. Molly also explores how parenthood teaches mindfulness and peace amid chaos, and she reflects on personal growth, defining success beyond monetary gains. With her storytelling, she emphasizes resilience, the power of persistence, and the art of public speaking.
01:18:41
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Conserving Energy for Introverted Speakers
When speaking publicly, conserve your energy, especially if you're an introvert.
Prioritize delivering your core message effectively instead of socializing beforehand.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ryan Holiday's Pre-Speech Process
Ryan Holiday describes his pre-speech routine, emphasizing the need for focus and a specific headspace.
He avoids distractions and prefers to prepare alone, treating it as a serious performance.
insights INSIGHT
Understanding Your Audience
Understand your audience's needs and tailor your message accordingly.
Focus on larger themes for broader groups, and personalize for specialized audiences, finding common ground.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'The Psychology of Money,' Morgan Housel delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of financial decisions. The book consists of 19 short stories that illustrate how personal history, worldview, emotions, and biases influence financial outcomes. Housel emphasizes the importance of behavior over knowledge in managing money, highlighting the power of compounding, the dangers of greed, and the pursuit of happiness beyond mere wealth accumulation. He advocates for a frugal lifestyle, long-term perspective, and a balanced approach to investing, stressing that financial success is more about mindset and discipline than about technical financial knowledge[2][3][4].
The Girl Who Would Be Free
Ryan Holiday
Discipline is Destiny
The Power of Self-Control
Ryan Holiday
In 'Discipline is Destiny', Ryan Holiday explores the Stoic virtue of self-discipline, drawing on historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate its transformative power. The book emphasizes that discipline is the foundation upon which other virtues such as courage, justice, and wisdom depend. Holiday argues that self-control is essential for personal triumph and fulfillment, and he provides engaging stories and practical advice on how to cultivate discipline in a world filled with distractions and temptations. The book also cautions against the perils of extravagance and hedonism, stressing the importance of balance and self-mastery in achieving success and happiness[2][4][5].
Molly's Game
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].
The Boy Who Would Be King
Ryan Holiday
Victor Juhasz
Good to Great
Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
Jim Collins
In 'Good to Great,' Jim Collins and his research team investigate why some companies achieve long-term greatness while others do not. The book identifies key concepts such as Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, a Culture of Discipline, and the Flywheel Effect. These principles are derived from a comprehensive study comparing companies that made the leap to greatness with those that did not. The research highlights that greatness is not primarily a function of circumstance but rather a result of conscious choice and discipline. The book provides practical insights and case studies to help businesses and leaders understand and apply these principles to achieve sustained greatness.
Lives of the Stoics
The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This book presents the fascinating lives of twenty-six ancient Stoics, from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius, organized in digestible mini-biographies. It vividly brings to life the stories of key Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Cicero, and demonstrates how their philosophies shaped their actions and legacies. The authors intertwine historical context with philosophical insights, making the book both educational and entertaining. It shows how Stoic principles can be applied to modern life, emphasizing virtues like Courage, Justice, Temperance, and Wisdom[1][3][5].
Ryan speaks with Molly Bloom in-person at the new Daily Stoic podcast studio in the second of a two-part conversation, the first of which was conducted virtually. Today, they discuss the power of understanding and utilizing self-interest in order to connect with other people, how to improve at something every day by committing to the beginner’s mindset, what raising children can teach you about finding peace in your own mind, and more.
Molly Bloom is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and former Olympic class skier. After her competitive skiing career was derailed by injury, Molly became a bartender at the Viper Room in Los Angeles. She eventually started an event and catering company to host high-stakes poker tournaments, which attracted wealthy people, sports figures, and Hollywood celebrities. In 2013, she was sentenced as part of a $100 million money laundering and illegal sports gambling operation and served one year of probation with a $200,000 fine, and 200 hours of community service. Her story was turned into a 2017 film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Molly’s speaking and entrepreneurial work focuses on inspiring and educating people on how to become top performers.
The Daily Stoic 
