Good Work with Barrett Brooks

Bestselling author Josh Kaufman and Barrett cover a range of topics from entrepreneurship to parenting, discussing letting go of assumptions, strategic self-publishing, setting priorities, emotional clarity for creativity, and defining success. They explore the trap of pursuing status, evaluating priorities, long-term thinking, and the power of playing the long game.

Michelle Tam is the co-creator of the Saveur Award-winning food blog, Nom Nom Paleo. Together with her husband, Henry Fong, they’ve also produced a two-time Webby Award-winning cooking app, authored three New York Times bestselling cookbooks, have been nominated for a James Beard Award, and created a best-selling line of paleo spice blends.This week, Barrett talks with Michelle about her journey from pharmacist to pioneer in the Paleo community, and her transition to food and wellness. She discusses the creative process of developing cookbooks with her husband Henry Fong, their balanced approach to Paleo eating, and the foundational role of family in their business. Barrett and Michelle cover a wide range of topics including the importance of creative integrity, handling audience feedback, dealing with criticism, the impact of community, and the joys and challenges of running a food blog and app. Michelle also shares her insights on climate change, the importance of professional relationships, maintaining authenticity, and her undying passion for food which continues to drive her work and life.In this episode: [00:00] - Intro [02:43] - James Beard Award nomination [06:32] - Family and food philosophy [08:49] - The journey of Nom Nom Paleo [15:02] - Cultural reflections and family dynamics [27:45] - Career choices and immigrant influence [35:57] - Embracing playfulness in work and life [37:13] - Balancing passion and partnership [41:04] - The creative process behind cookbooks [48:21] - The impact of night shifts and discovering Paleo [52:23] - Food as medicine and personal growth [01:00:28] - Reflecting on success and personal standards [01:11:55] - Learning from trolls and thoughtful feedback [01:13:03] - Evaluating which opportunities to pursue [01:18:09] - Connecting with the food community [01:25:02] - Balancing life between two cities [01:30:45] - Designing the perfect kitchen [01:34:02] - Reflecting on personal and professional growth [01:36:57] - The importance of quality friendships [01:43:11] - The beautiful future Michelle is trying to create [01:44:38] - Who Michelle is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Andrew Farah is co-founder and CEO of Density Inc., where he has spent the last 10 years building real-time radar technologies for measuring how people use buildings. The company works with many in the Fortune 500, manufactures its anonymous radar systems in the United States, and has raised $227m in venture capital. Andrew lives near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with his spouse, three daughters, and English Shepherd.This week, Barrett talks with Andrew about startup culture, building great teams, reading and contextualizing knowledge, and the essence of enthusiasm in leadership. They discuss the journey of personal and professional growth, the significance of humility in conflict, and the importance of feedback in establishing meaningful relationships and impactful businesses. In this episode: [00:00] - Intro [02:34] - "Skateboard Andrew" [07:47] - LLCs and their impact on global GDP [14:23] - Seriousness vs playfulness in Andrew's career [18:53] - The practicality of having multiple founders [22:05] - Density's three core values [26:49] - Building ambitious and humble teams [33:30] - Enthusiasm vs passion [52:30] - Reading in context [01:01:24] - How boards help you grow as a leader [01:08:07] - Building rapport with board members [01:12:34] - Evaluating and responding to feedback [01:17:41] - Handling negative feedback and the importance of conflict for growth [01:26:27] - How Andrew would design an office space starting from scratch [01:35:39] - How Density's success would change the world [01:36:52] - Who Andrew is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Join Nathan Barry, Founder of ConvertKit, and Barrett as they discuss building a $40M company, leadership growth, the importance of clear communication, feedback culture, strategies for team relationships, brand differentiation, and personal growth.

Entrepreneur Fil Aronshtein shares his journey creating Dirac to revolutionize manufacturing, emphasizing personal agency and community. Topics include overcoming rejection, transitioning to software, go-to-market strategies, the importance of manufacturing, and the power of community. Fil's early interest in science and engineering, role models, and envisioning a brighter future are also discussed.

Barrett Brooks talks with Polina Pompliano about her career as a storyteller and the sacrifices needed to pursue passion. They discuss humanizing stories, resilience, and meaningful work. Topics include personal growth, cross-cultural communication, balancing authenticity and aspiration, navigating ambition in relationships, and building resilience.

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, discusses leadership decisions, sabbaticals, web development future, and tech perspectives. Topics include unplugging, abundance mindset, AI, and vulnerability in leadership.

Matthew Marshall, Co-Founder of New Story, discusses their mission to end the global housing crisis through innovative sustainable housing solutions. They explore workplace culture, effective leadership, and emotional health to achieve organizational goals.

Julia DeWahl, entrepreneur with a background in startups, discusses transitioning from software to hardware, leadership lessons from SpaceX, and the exciting potential of nuclear energy. They also touch on family impact on work, choosing meaningful projects, and dispelling misconceptions about nuclear energy's safety.

Entrepreneur Ryan Delk and host Barrett Brooks discuss revolutionizing education, homeschooling principles, startup culture, balancing ambition with family, and existential problems faced by founders. They touch on college dropout experiences, networking in tech, going the extra mile, and gratitude in the journey.