Divot

Before he became an award-winning filmmaker and humanitarian, Brandt Andersen built a tech company from scratch, scaled it to tens of millions in revenue, and sold it before moving into filmmaking, where he went on to produce major films like Everest, Lone Survivor, and American Made. But behind the success is a life shaped by extremes: a skydiving accident that nearly killed him, surviving the Malibu fires with his son, and years spent inside war zones helping people in crisis.In this conversation, Brandt shares the real stories behind I Was a Stranger, his new film inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis. He explains how meeting smugglers, soldiers, parents, and children across Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Haiti reshaped his understanding of judgment, fear, and humanity.This episode is also deeply personal. Brandt is Derek's older brother. Together, they revisit the moments that forged their bond: childhood chaos, life-or-death situations, and the lessons Brandt passed down through the way he lives. Their conversation reveals the heart, flaws, courage, and philosophy of a man who has spent his life running toward the fire for others, and the profound impact that has had on Derek.Learn More About Brandt - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandt_AndersenFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersenTimestamps:1:39 — Who Brandt Andersen Really Is & Why His Story Matters3:03 — The Skydive That Should Have Killed Him8:47 — What Facing Death Taught Brandt About Life14:02 — The Wild Childhood Stories That Shaped Him18:10 — The Banksy Above His Fireplace & His Dark/Light Identity22:30 — From Startup Exit to Hollywood Storytelling28:41 — Producing Everest, Lone Survivor & American Made32:12 — The Real Families Who Inspired I Was a Stranger36:55 — Inside Syria: Crisis Through Human Eyes41:38 — “Don't Judge People by Their Worst Day”45:52 — Haiti Earthquake: Chaos, Hunger & Purpose52:10 — The Moment That Changed His View of Humanity1:12:03 — Trapped in the Malibu Fires With His Son1:29:45 — What Brandt Ultimately Wants People to UnderstandFollow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorgHashtags:#BrandtAndersen #IWasAStranger #Filmmaking #Storytelling #SyrianRefugeeCrisis #HumanitarianAid #WarZones #Resilience #Courage #PurposeDrivenLife #LoneSurvivor #Everest #AmericanMade #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #DivotPodcast

Before he became chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute, David Meltzer lived a life driven by scarcity, ambition, and the need to prove himself. Raised by a single mother in Akron, he chased success to change their future, eventually becoming a multimillionaire and CEO in the sports world. But behind the achievements was an identity built on ego, bad habits, and external validation, leading to the breaking point that forced him to confront who he’d become.In this conversation, David shares the mindset shift that saved his marriage, the four values that rebuilt his identity, and how losing over $100M became the foundation for a healthier, more purposeful life. He explains how faith, gratitude, sleep discipline, and time mastery helped him recover, along with the frameworks he teaches today to serve his mission of empowering over a billion people. From stop-drop-and-roll to emotional chemistry and using failure as fuel, David breaks down the tools that rebuilt his life from the inside out.A vulnerable and practical look at reinvention, this episode reveals what it truly takes to grow through loss and rebuild meaning. If you’re navigating change, recovering from setbacks, or redefining success, David’s story offers perspective, resilience, and a blueprint for living with intention.Follow David - X (Twitter): https://x.com/davidmeltzerFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersenTimestamps:0:00 — David’s Life: The Fall That Saved Him2:21 — Akron Roots: Scarcity, Survival & a Single Mom Who Never Quit4:58 — The Dream Life That Almost Destroyed Him7:06 — His Wife’s Warning: The Sentence That Changed Everything8:44 — Rebuilding the Man: The Four Values That Brought Him Back10:51 — Losing $100M: The Collapse He Was Finally Prepared For13:02 — The Habits That Saved His Marriage, Mind & Future17:47 — Failing Faster: Why Losing Is the Only Way to Win22:06 — Emotional Alchemy: Training His Reactions Every Single Day29:32 — “Stop, Drop & Roll”: The Method That Resets His Entire Life34:39 — Ego, Pain & Perspective: Understanding the Chemistry of a Breakdown42:18 — Turning Trauma Into Purpose: How He Rewrote His Story53:17 — The One Lesson He Wants to Leave Humanity55:38 — “What I Hope God Says to Me When I Arrive”Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorgHashtags:#DavidMeltzer #Reinvention #Resilience #Mindset #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #OvercomingFailure #EmotionalIntelligence #SpiritualGrowth #Leadership #DivotPodcast

Before becoming the photographer trusted by the world’s biggest icons, Squint built his path on discipline, creativity, and a lifelong commitment to mastering storytelling. Raised in Palo Alto and shaped by years inside a TV studio before he turned 18, he grew from a kid with a camera into a filmmaker and cinematographer behind iconic portraits of Nas, Michael B. Jordan, Dave Chappelle, Draymond Green, and Steph Curry. As co-creator of the New York Times bestselling book Shot Ready, his black-and-white, emotionally driven style reflects a belief that great photography comes from patience, intention, and truly seeing people.In this conversation, he breaks down the ingredients of a powerful photograph, motion, eyes, framing, intimacy, and explains why rejection became his greatest superpower. He shares how he wrote a list of dream subjects at age 12 and photographed every name on it, how fatherhood reshaped his purpose, and why staying in the Bay Area defined his career more than any move to LA or New York. Squint reflects on rediscovering black-and-white photography after losing his father and earning Steph Curry’s trust through consistency, humility, and discipline.A grounded masterclass in photography, vision, resilience, and legacy, showing what it takes to create work that endures. This episode is a reminder that great art is built on love, discipline, and showing up, especially when the world tells you no.Follow Squint - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsquintFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersenTimestamps:0:00 Introduction & how Squint became a visual storyteller3:48 First camera at age five5:17 Running a TV studio at eight6:44 Deciding at ten to do this forever8:09 The list he wrote at age 129:46 Shooting Nas for the first time12:12 How he processes rejection13:46 The Killers story16:30 Identity vs his work18:47 What makes a great picture20:31 Reading emotion through the eyes22:37 Atmosphere vs the subject26:13 Black and white vs color28:41 Training his eye32:59 Mastering relationships in the industry35:32 Showing people how he sees them48:53 Steph Curry’s discipline & ego50:20 Losing his father & rebuilding56:01 What makes a great dadFollow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorgHashtags:#PhotographyMasterclass #VisualStorytelling #BlackAndWhitePhotography #CinematicPortraits #ShotReady #StephCurry #CreativeDiscipline #IconicImages #ArtOfSeeing #LegacyAndPurpose #CreatorsJourney

Before helping elevate the rise of global entrepreneurship, Christine Tsai, CEO & Founding Partner of 500 Global, built her path on curiosity, consistency, and an instinct for spotting potential early. From her beginnings in tech to guiding an investing platform that now reaches founders across dozens of countries, her journey reflects a belief that great companies can start anywhere, and that humility, resilience, and long-term thinking still define the world's strongest leaders.In this conversation, she breaks down the traits she's seen across exceptional founders, the realities of building companies through cycles, and how early-stage investing has evolved over the last decade. She shares lessons on ownership, clarity, adaptability, and speed, and why the most enduring teams evolve faster than the markets around them. Christine reflects on backing thousands of founders worldwide, what she looks for in leaders under pressure, and how a global perspective shapes better decisions and more intentional company building.A grounded masterclass in global insight, founder psychology, and building with purpose, offering a rare perspective on what it takes to scale, endure, and create lasting impact in a rapidly shifting world.Follow Christine - X (Twitter): https://x.com/christine_tsaiFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersenTimestamps:0:00 — Early Curiosity, Identity & Finding Her Path3:12 — Lessons From Google & YouTube's Early Days6:58 — The Decision to Build a Global Investing Platform10:45 — Launching 500 & the Chaos of the First Years14:40 — How Early-Stage Investing Changed Over a Decade18:26 — The Traits She Sees in Exceptional Founders22:51 — Speed, Humility & the Signals That Truly Matter26:33 — Surviving Cycles & Leading Through Volatility30:55 — What Backing 3,000+ Founders Teaches You35:18 — Global Perspective: Why Innovation Comes From Everywhere39:07 — Leadership Moments That Define a CEO43:50 — Legacy, Purpose & Why Relationships Are the Real ScorecardFollow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorgHashtags:#GlobalFounders #VentureCapital #StartupLeadership #EarlyStageInvesting #FounderMindset #ScalingStartups #GlobalInnovation #WomenInVC #LeadershipLessons #BuildingEnduringCompanies #Entrepreneurship #500Global

Mike Maughan, an executive with Smith Entertainment Group and co-founder of Five for the Fight, dives into the essence of impactful leadership. He discusses his transformative work on Salt Lake City's urban core, emphasizing the importance of community in billion-dollar projects. Maughan shares insights on the growing value of in-person connections amidst AI's rise, and the necessity of integrity and collaboration in leadership. He argues against chasing passion, instead advocating for solving meaningful problems, and highlights the importance of humility in leadership.

Stacy Brown Philpott, founder of Cherry Rock Capital and former CEO of TaskRabbit, reflects on her inspiring journey from a challenging upbringing in Detroit to leading teams at tech giants. She discusses lessons in grit and faith, breaking barriers to attend Wharton, and managing teams at scale. Stacy dives into the complexities of transitioning from COO to CEO, shares insights on investing in underrepresented founders, and emphasizes the importance of integrity in leadership. Her narrative is a powerful reminder that success can coexist with values and family.

Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box, transformed a college project into a billion-dollar SaaS platform. He dives into the lessons learned from Box's evolution and discusses the current AI disruption. Aaron explains why startups may thrive in new markets while incumbents should focus on adaptation. He highlights AI's potential to enhance productivity and the necessity for human oversight in automated processes. Plus, he shares insights on the changing role of CEOs in the AI landscape and emphasizes the importance of maintaining human relationships in business.

Kim Scott, New York Times bestselling author and leadership coach, dives into the principles of Radical Candor. She shares how her experiences at Google and Apple influenced her feedback-driven approach. Scott explores the origins of Radical Candor, emphasizing the balance of caring personally while challenging directly. She critiques the ineffective feedback sandwich and highlights the importance of honest communication in fostering trust. Valuable insights are offered on applying these ideas not just at work, but also in personal relationships.

Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, shares his entrepreneurial journey from a simple idea to challenging Blockbuster. He discusses the importance of experimentation, revealing that failure can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. The conversation touches on customer obsession, rapid-testing ideas, and cultivating a positive culture without losing personal balance. With insights on defining success, Marc emphasizes that ambition can coexist with a meaningful life, highlighting the moments that truly shape our paths.

Nolan Bushnell, the visionary behind Atari and Chuck E. Cheese, reflects on the playful origins of his groundbreaking companies. He delves into how fun and innovation shaped Silicon Valley, shares his thoughts on the importance of game-based learning through his venture, Exodexa, and explores the impact of AI in education. Nolan discusses lessons from mentors, the concept of 'marinating' ideas, and offers candid parenting advice. His insights reveal why creativity and persistence are crucial in facing challenges and shaping the future.