The Kyle Thiermann Show

Recorded north of the border, this episode with my pal Charlie Hart covers the ins and outs of throwing a party, upping your ancient philosophy game in 2025, and why, if you're starting a company, you should never try to build a cult, instead just be the Kool-Aid. At age 24, he became the 10th employee at RXBAR, the protein bar company known for its clean branding and "No BS" campaigns. Hart quickly rose to lead the brand’s marketing and growth, helping guide the company to a $600m exit before his 30th birthday. After traveling the world, Hart founded Sign and Sapien - an agency specializing in advising and investing for early and mid-stage companies and joined Factor75 as Chief Marketing Officer, where he steered the company towards a ~$300m exit. Today, he works as the Chef Marketing Officer for entertainer and entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek, managing and growing his media verticals and portfolio companies. Charlie doesn't have Instagram, but you can reach him at his email: thisischarliehart@gmail.com or follow him on LinkedIn. If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on Apple Podcasts? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel and join my newsletter on Substack. It’s glorious. Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at thiermann.substack.com/subscribe

In this conversation with Charles Duhigg, the bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better, listeners dive into the fascinating world of habits and communication. Duhigg shares insights into transforming personal habits, like waking up for early morning surf sessions. He explores the power of humor in enhancing connections and offers practical strategies for navigating tough family conversations. Along the way, he reflects on his journey from business to authorship, highlighting the importance of storytelling and genuine engagement.

Chris Keener is a master storyteller who helps brands translate their objectives into entertainment. Former Creative Director of MUD\WTR and Producer for outfits like National Geographic, Discovery Channel, PBS, ESPN, and the Travel Channel, Chris' film accolades span far deeper than this little bio has room for. But the dude knows his shit. Chris is also the founder of Goldenair Breathwork, which facilitates transformative experiences by connecting people to the power of their breath. He conducts workshops for clients like Salesforce, Soho House, Alo Yoga, and Penn University, while also working in prisons and with the underserved. This was Chris' fourth time on the podcast, so it was more of a friendly catch-up. We talked in detail about his home-purchase-from-hell, and how to emotionally handle the massive stressors that can come with buying a home that started to crumble the moment he signed on the dotted line. Go to Goldenair to breathe. If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on Apple Podcasts? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel and join my newsletter on Substack. It’s glorious. Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at thiermann.substack.com/subscribe

Kiana Reeves, a Certified Somatic Sex Educator and Full Spectrum Doula, dives into the realms of love, sex, and spirituality. She candidly discusses the journey of sexual awakening, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and authentic connections. Kiana also explores navigating intimacy, the significance of open communication, and the complexities surrounding female pleasure, especially post-childbirth. With a humorous touch, she addresses societal pressures and insecurities, promoting emotional resilience and healthy relationships.

Chris Douglas, a California-based endurance coach and elite triathlete, dives into the exhilarating world of SwimRun. He shares his personal transformation from injury to national champion and the unique challenges of partnering in this niche sport. Chris emphasizes the vital role of gut training for endurance and the importance of teamwork during races. Listeners will be captivated by his stories of camaraderie and resilience, while gaining insights on preparing both mentally and physically for the thrilling ÖTILLÖ SwimRun events.

Chris Burkard, an acclaimed photographer known for his breathtaking landscapes, discusses the intersection of creativity and personal growth. He shares insights about the evolution of surf photography and the importance of authentic connections. Diving into the impact of psychedelics, Burkard reveals how they’ve informed his journey through parenthood and his artistic identity. He also reflects on a transformative darkness retreat that emphasized self-discovery and vulnerability. His passionate advocacy for nature underscores the need for deeper connections with the world.

Derek Sivers, an author and former musician known for his quirky insights, dives into the essence of courage and the value of asking bold questions. He reflects on his noble decision to donate $22 million from his business sale to charity, emphasizing the release from chasing status. Their conversation explores the importance of genuine communication in relationships, the transformative power of confronting fears, and the joy derived from unexpected passions like ping pong, all while navigating the fluid nature of self-identity.

Hailing from Half Moon Bay, California, August Howell grew up surfing up and down the state’s northern coast. He studied journalism at the University of Oregon and was a reporter for his hometown newspaper, the Half Moon Bay Review, for nearly five years. But he was raised on a diet of surf magazines, and surfing (and writing about it) remains his passion. He has written about teenagers at Maverick’s, shark researchers in the Farallon Islands, the nuances of big-wave guns, and is a staff writer for SURFER Magazine. In this podcast, we talk about the importance of physical magazines to consume information and preserve surf culture. If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on Apple Podcasts? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel and join my newsletter on Substack. It’s glorious. Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at thiermann.substack.com/subscribe

Chas Smith (@BeachGrit) is a luminous figure in surfing, an adept journalist, and author. Born in San Jose, California in 1976, Smith’s family uprooted and landed in Coos Bay, Oregon where he learned to surf. After studying intercultural studies in undergrad, Smith graduated with a master’s in linguistics, going on to study in Egypt and at Oxford. Following a story he published in Australia Surfing Life about surfing in Yemen in the wake of 9/11, Smith went on to report in Lebanon, Somalia, Israel-Palestine, and wound up a captive of Hezbollah reporting for Current TV. In the early-aughts, Smith worked for Vice. Soon, he joined Stab magazine at the behest of Derek Rielly, then editor-in-chief, and they set in on an unparalleled era in surf journalism. Some of Stab’s more controversial content garnered unsavory public spats that earned Smith some anti-Semitic epithets, and then in 2014, Smith and Reilly began Beach Grit—a deep well of incendiary, tongue-in-cheek honesty drenched in satire, sans filter. He’s now a regular contributor to The Surfer’s Journal, with bylines at Esquire and Playboy, and the author of Paradise, Now Go to Hell, a cultural vignette of Oahu’s North Shore, which was a finalist for the PEN Center USA Award for Nonfiction.If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on Apple Podcasts? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel and join my newsletter on Substack. It’s glorious. Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at thiermann.substack.com/subscribe

Robin Greenfield (@RobinGreenfield) is an American environmental activist, adventurer, and humanitarian known for his bold, experiential campaigns that challenge consumerism and promote sustainable living. He has become widely recognized for living in radical simplicity to inspire others toward sustainability, self-sufficiency, and ecological awareness. Greenfield’s work has included biking across the United States on a bamboo bicycle while living off the grid, creating public displays from edible food found in dumpsters to expose food waste, and famously wearing every piece of trash he generated for 30 days to visually demonstrate consumer impact. In 2018, he undertook a yearlong project in Florida, during which he ate only what he grew or foraged himself—an effort to show what's possible outside industrial food systems. Rejecting modern excess, Greenfield has lived without a personal car, phone, or permanent home. He owns fewer than 50 possessions and donates 100% of his media income to grassroots causes. His campaigns have been featured by National Geographic, The Guardian, and TEDx, where he has shared his vision of a world rooted in harmony with nature. If you dig this podcast, will you please leave a short review on Apple Podcasts? It takes less than 60 seconds and makes a difference when I drop to my knees and beg hard-to-get guests on the show. I read them all. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel and join my newsletter on Substack. It’s glorious. Get full access to Kyle Thiermann at thiermann.substack.com/subscribe