Good Work with Barrett Brooks

Tim Grahl, CEO of StoryGrid and author of "The Shithead," is a book marketing guru who has helped numerous authors achieve bestseller status. In this engaging conversation, Tim reveals the moment he realized his business was broken and the secrets behind his success. He discusses the transformative power of therapy and its role in his personal and professional growth. Additionally, Tim shares insights on effective storytelling, the pitfalls of online courses, and the importance of embracing authenticity to foster deeper connections.

Mo Bunnell, founder of GrowBIG and author of 'Give to Grow', dives into the transformative power of authentic relationships in business. He shares personal stories, including his deep family connections and the importance of goal-setting. Mo discusses the impact of family rituals and community on personal growth. Listeners gain insights on overcoming self-imposed barriers and the contrast between 'doing' and 'winning' in business development. His unique frameworks provide actionable strategies that highlight how genuine connections can revolutionize careers.

Dr. Erika Siegel, a seasoned naturopathic doctor and author of 'The Nourish Me Kitchen,' shares her journey into health and wellness. She discusses the significance of mental preparation through her experiences, like a tough 40-mile hike. Erika emphasizes managing stress and sustaining health, especially for entrepreneurs facing burnout. The conversation also highlights the healing power of nature and the importance of honest communication in relationships and parenting. Discover practical strategies for emotional intelligence and holistic well-being.

Kevin Lavelle, founder of Mizzen+Main and Harbor, shares his entrepreneurial journey from revolutionizing dress shirts to navigating the nonprofit sector. He dives into the importance of principled leadership and creating meaningful workplaces. Kevin discusses his experiences in the Middle East and the necessity for nuanced conversations across political divides. He also highlights his innovative approach to baby monitoring technology and the significance of storytelling in branding, emphasizing personal connections and community engagement in business.

Brie Wolfson, Chief Marketing Officer at Colossus and founder of The Kool-Aid Factory, discusses her extensive experience in shaping company culture. She shares her journey through burnout and depression, emphasizing the importance of empathy in leadership. Brie dives into the writing process, the significance of personal identity in creativity, and her battle with technology overload. Her insights on navigating loneliness, self-soothing, and cultivating authentic connections are both relatable and thought-provoking, making for a truly enlightening conversation.

Nat West, founder and former CEO of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider in Portland, shares his unique journey from entrepreneurship to public service. He candidly discusses the challenges of running a business during the pandemic and the emotional decision to close it. After driving a city bus, Nat revived his love for Portland and decided to run for city council. The conversation touches on the importance of community engagement, building positive workplace culture, and how his entrepreneurial spirit influences his approach to local politics.

This week, I talk with Clea Kolster, Head of Science and Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a venture capital fund dedicated to solving climate change, or, as they put it, un-f***ing the planet. Lowercarbon is one of my favorite funds because they’re not just focused on making an impact—they’re also unafraid to make serious money along the way. Clea has a fascinating background, growing up between Persian and Danish cultures, and ultimately finding her passion in science, technology, and climate solutions. Over her career, she’s shifted from a policy-centric approach to tackling climate change to a venture capital perspective, where she now helps build the companies that will shape the future. We dive into Clea’s personal journey, the global challenges we face due to climate change, and how innovative companies are developing solutions. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Clea before, and I know you’ll enjoy our conversation. Let’s get to it!In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (04:21) - Biking from London to Paris (09:17) - Physical challenges and personal growth (16:37) - Cultural identity and its Impact (25:05) - Clea's mission-driven career in climate tech (32:13) - From policy to capital (38:25) - Lowercarbon and Clea's approach to solving climate change (44:24) - The impact of the IRA bill (47:47) - Hydrogen and its challenges (51:53) - Evaluating investment opportunities (54:48) - The excitement of deep tech (58:33) - Leadership and building a strong team (01:03:54) - The future of fusion energy (01:11:31) - Unique carbon capture solutions (01:20:00) - Clea's beautiful future (01:22:01) - Who Clea is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

In this discussion, Steph Smith, a renowned writer and podcaster, shares insights from her journey as a curator of the internet. She delves into the impact of the nomadic lifestyle on personal growth and relationships. Steph reflects on how early exposure to diverse experiences shapes adaptability. The conversation also touches on balancing specialization with exploration, and how the pandemic influenced her search for stability. As a multiracial individual, she discusses identity and its role in her entrepreneurial spirit and creative projects.

Laura Behrens Wu, co-founder and CEO of Shippo, shares her journey as one of the few female CEOs of a billion-dollar company. She discusses transforming shipping logistics for e-commerce, empowering small to medium-sized businesses, and how her global upbringing influences her leadership. The conversation dives into challenging customer feedback, building a strong co-founder relationship, and promoting company culture in remote teams. Wu emphasizes authenticity in leadership and the importance of resilience, blending optimism with the realities of business challenges.

Emily McDowell is an advisor, thought partner, and coach to creative entrepreneurs in the product space, helping to save their time, money, and sanity. As founder of the stationery and gift company Em & Friends, she inspired a sea change in the greeting card industry with Empathy Cards, a more honest and supportive alternative to traditional sympathy cards, and for nearly a decade, some element of her work was in a constant state of “viral.” In 2022, Em & Friends was acquired by Union Square & Co / Barnes & Noble, and Emily exited the business. She is also the co-author and illustrator of There Is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life Gets Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love (HarperOne, 2017), and offers unsolicited advice and cautionary tales in her newsletter, Subject to Change, a Substack Featured Publication of 2023.This week, Barrett talks with Emily about their mutual experiences of burnout, identity loss, and recovery after leaving significant professional roles. Emily shares her journey from a high-stress advertising career to creating a company focused on empathy cards, driven by her experience surviving cancer. Emily and Barrett discuss the rapid growth and subsequent burnout she experienced, the emotional and mental toll of such high stress, and the importance of reconnecting with one's authentic self amidst professional pressure. They cover a wide range of topics, including personal stories of financial insecurity, the search for purpose, self-acceptance, and the balance of ambition with self-care, emphasizing the significance of internal work and the healing power of genuine human connections and new beginnings.In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (05:19) - Emily’s advertising background and first viral card (11:30) - Navigating business growth and challenges (18:42) - Merging with Knock Knock and burnout (27:04) - Barrett’s story of burnout (32:06) - The aftermath of leaving a successful role (39:14) - Embracing quitting and self-discovery (55:53) - Facing setbacks and choosing a new path (01:01:55) - Redefining success and ambition (01:13:53) - A shift in self-perception (01:16:21) - Embracing vulnerability (01:18:25) - Letting go of burdens (01:22:14) - Rediscovering self-worth (01:24:58) - Navigating new ambitions (01:40:55) - Emily’s beautiful future (01:41:48) - Who Emily is becoming (01:45:41) - Barrett’s poem Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.