The Genuinely Interested Podcast

Martin Gregus moved from Slovakia to Canada back in 2004, little did he imagine what the future might hold for him. Martin recently won the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year award from the Natural History Museum for his now-viral photo series chronicling the summer lives of polar bears on the western coast of Hudson Bay. The first time I saw those images on Instagram, I had a hard time believing they were real, I've just never seen polar bears shot in such a way or in such a setting before. His photos really show the bears in an intimate way, as if giving you a peek into their personal lives & personality. Martin has won multiple awards and has had his images published in many publications including the coveted National Geographic. In order to get these amazing photos Martin had to spend 33 days in the Canadian Arctic, getting close to the bears and making sure they are comfortable with his presence so that he can document their incredible lives. Martin and I discussed: Where his love of photography stems from How one prepares for such an adventure in the Canadian Arctic The patience needed in order to be a wildlife photographer The Canadian government’s lack of environmental accountability How he got comfortable being so close to Polar Bears Why he feels that the indigenous community has been misrepresented Learning from Wildlife His insane growth on social media The logistical undertaking of a 33-day Arctic expedition And much much more... Martin Gregus My Take: That old quote "find what you love and let it kill you" while extreme has kernels of truth in it. If you believe in what you're doing, all the sacrifices made in the name of achieving that goal are worth it, and all the hardships & hurdles are but the price you must pay before you arrive at your destination. Support The Podcast⁠

Oren Schauble is a product & brand advisor to B2C brands, but also a content-creating machine! He was the President of the public CPG company, Unrivaled Brands. Prior to that, he worked as a product development and marketing executive specializing in regulated and luxury products. In addition, he recently launched Hyper, he runs a newsletter and community for building physical products in our modern world and is part of the Builders Build Podcast. In addition to all that he regularly puts out video content breaking down trends, products, brands, and more in a fun, digestible fashion that is always entertaining to watch (and learn from). To say he is a busy guy would be an understatement! Oren and I discussed: The importance of creating a personal brand Why you don't need to reinvent the wheel in order to start a company Content creation Breaks down product development The cannabis business Lifestyle businesses Finding your niche How to find the right platform for your brand How to "beat" the algorithm And so much more... Oren Schauble My Take: If you intend to grow on the internet, regardless of whether it is your own brand or a company, it pays dividends to invest in promoting yourself in the space in which you reside. Being part of a community, regularly sharing information and insights, and helping, but also learning is a great way for you to grow and cultivate the niche that you are actively involved in. Remember, sprint, not marathon, don't be deflated if things don't "blow up" overnight, the long game is the right game to play. Support The Podcast⁠

Karoliina is a Muay Thai fighter, turned MMA fighter, originally from Estonia. She currently trains in Thailand full-time and is dedicated to becoming the best MMA fighter she can be - with her sights set on the world's most prominent MMA organization - The UFC. Although she is still young, her clear vision for her future and determination to accomplish her goals are awe-inspiring. Karoliina wants to represent Estonia on the world stage and with an impressive fight record so far, she is on her way to doing so.  Karoliina and I discussed: Her accident, which in turn led to her pursuing Muay Thai Her future ambitions in the UFC Living & training in Thailand Representing Estonia on the world stage The importance of social media as a fighter Handling the pressures of being a fighter How she grew her online presence The female fighters who inspired her The community she found in Thailand And much more... Karoliina Arm My Take: It's not easy to have a vision for yourself, especially at a young age. Most people go through life just working and trying to figure it out as they go, never really finding their 'true purpose'. If you are lucky enough to find something that you want to dedicate your life to which can not only fulfill your soul but your pockets as well, you have to go for it! Support The Podcast

Frankie is a Denver-based adventure/outdoors and travel photographer. His deep passion and love for nature clearly stand out when you look at his photos. It’s always fun for me to have a conversation with someone who shares my love for the outdoors. Frankie is the definition of someone who embodies their ethos and follows a life that is commensurate with the work that he loves. He moved to Colorado from Ohio in order to pursue his passion for not only the mountains but also photography.  Frankie and I discuss: The path forward for any beginner photographer  How to grow your brand on Instagram How he got started with photography  Working with big brands Seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) Being present whilst outdoors Being safe while backpacking Encounters with wild animals And so much more... Frankie Spontelli My Take: You will never go wrong pursuing something you love doing, even if you don't succeed initially, keep at it. Its never easy but it is rewarding, especially when you finally achieve the outcome you desire.  Support The Podcast

Thibault Louis-Lucas, known as Tibo, is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Tweet Hunter and Taplio. However, Tibo's entrepreneurial journey was far from an overnight success. Prior to Tweet Hunter, he attempted to launch & scale two startups with little success.  His new approach was to launch 11 products, 1 every week or two, and see what sticks, i.e. what gets the most traction with users.  Once they figured out what worked, then the real work started. Tibo and I discussed: How he recently sold his company and for how much His 250k loan from the French government  His "failed" startups The entrepreneurial scene in France Why Twitter was crucial to their success What were some of the other products they shipped The importance of "personal branding" alongside building a company The rise of digital nomads & solopreneurs Why giving away a piece of the company was the best move they made The rise of AI And so much more... TIBO My Take: Failure isn't final, and success isn’t eternal. The key is to always progress, move forward and try new things. With the number of new tools available to entrepreneurs and online creators, it's never been easier to build. With that said, the standards by consumers for products have never been higher. The only way to ensure success is to try, try, & try again until something eventually sticks. Support The Podcast

Andrew Hamilton & Andrea Sansone are a couple who just happen to be two amazing endurance athletes with pretty incredible achievements. Andrew is not only the holder of the FKT (fastest known record) of climbing all of Colorado's 14ers in 9 hours and 21 hours but he is also the holder of the state’s 100 highest summits in one relentless push over 22 days, 16 hours, and 54 minutes. Andrea is the first person ever, man or woman, to climb 12 fourteeners in 24 hours which is only one of many records she owns.  Together they are a power endurance couple breaking records all across the country and enjoying the mountains along the way.   We Discussed:  His records on Colorado’s 14ers  Future expeditions  The logistics involved in achieving such feats  The mental challenges   The rules you need to follow in order to break these records  How Andrew & Andrea work as a team to support one another  Overcoming physical pain  Andrew Hamilton & Andrea Sansone And much more...  My Take: There's nothing better than the mountains, they are this massive playground that is there for everyone to enjoy. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere where the mountains are accessible to you, take as much advantage of that privilege as you can.   Support The Podcast

Neel Parekh is the founder and CEO of MaidThis® & MaidThis® Franchise, which helps homeowners and short-term rental hosts (Airbnb, VRBO, etc) with their cleaning needs. They are the first cleaning franchise that specializes in short-term rental cleaning. The exciting aspect of all of this is that Neel created and scaled this lucrative business all while being fully remote - both him, and his team. Neel has been living the "digital nomad" lifestyle for many years, meaning he travels the world, while still working on his business full-time.  Recently Neel decided he wanted to help other entrepreneurs who want freedom, so he created MaidThis® Franchise allowing other entrepreneurs to copy the blueprint in their local area.  Neel and I discussed: What it means to be a digital nomad Where he got the idea to start MaidThis® Some of his favorite countries  How many people he has on his team His advice for entrepreneurs just starting out The initial hurdles he ran into, and how he overcame them Why you don't need passion to run a business Mental health in the US vs other countries The benefits of travel And so much more... Neel Parekh My Take: Technology has changed not only the dynamics, but the whole notion of what it means to work. From the days of working out in the field to grow our food, to the mines to source our energy, and then to the office space.  The workplace has forever been an evolving 'idea' - that has changed and adapted to the tune of the times. Nowadays, and moving forward, our definition of what it means to have a full-time job and go to the "office" is forever changed - which is an exciting concept with varied potential. Support The Podcast

Dr. Dave Rabin, MD, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist, board-certified psychiatrist, health tech entrepreneur & inventor who has been studying the impact of chronic stress in humans for over 15 years. He is the co-founder & chief innovation officer at Apollo Neuroscience, which has developed the first scientifically-validated wearable technology that actively improves sleep, relaxation, focus, and calm, using a novel touch therapy that signals safety to the brain.  Dr. Rabin is a staunch supporter of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Just like anything, these drugs in the right setting can be an extremely beneficial & powerful tool that can help people heal past trauma and potentially even improve our general mental health.  David and I discussed: Why Ketamine assisted therapy is the only current legal psychedelic  The wrongful stigma psychedelic drugs have  He explains what Apollo Neuro is We cover the "right to try clarification act" and its potential benefits Why mental health is in such a decline nationwide  The importance of touch The potential benefits of psychedelic drugs under the right guidelines  The illusion of uniquenesses  The mind-body connection with regard to mental health  And so much more... Dr. David Rabin  Apollo Neuro My Take: There's more we don't know than we do know. There are many plants, drugs, and natural ways that are deemed "bad" in a general sense but can heal people and have been found to be quite powerful under the right circumstances. Instead of demonizing drugs or plants (which are inherently not good or bad), we should be open to exploring and seeing if indeed there is a potential for good.  Support The Podcast

Alex Heiden is the founder and CEO of Closify His track record at such a young age only points to the fact that taking risks (calculated ones) is a worthwhile endeavor as the upside x the downsides. Alex's story should be an inspiration to any young person out there considering dabbling in entrepreneurship. Alex recently launched Trackify (a new endeavor), and in the future, he plans to launch more sister companies that will all complement and work in unison under the Closify eco-system/umbrella. Alex and I discussed:  Being a very young CEO & Founder The importance of good mentors Being a student-athlete The trajectory that led to him starting Closify and what the company does Why founders/CEOs should focus more on creating an online brand via social media Alex explains what dropshipping is  Starting multiple companies  Why they’ve been bootstrapping the business  Why colleges in their current format will become obsolete  How to grow on Twitter And much more... Alex Heiden My Take: Take risks, especially when you are young - it's the best time. Before the marriage, the kids, the mortgage. Use that cloak of invisibility that covers you when you are in your 20s. Use it to take risks and chase dreams - build and fail, or succeed. At least you dared to do it, a luxury you might not have later on in life. So ya, take risks - dare to be great! Support The Podcast

Yossi is an Israeli adventurer, author, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and motivational speaker - known for his survival story when he was stranded in an uncharted part of the Bolivian Amazon jungle for three weeks in 1981.  Inspired by the book Papillon by Henri Charriere, in 1981 Yossi decided he wanted to find his own adventure. He worked several jobs to save enough money to travel to South America in the hopes of exploring the uninhabited heart of the Amazon Jungle In Bolivia, Yossi met a mysterious Austrian who claimed to be a geologist. This man offered to take Yossi and his new friends deep into the jungle, with the promise to see the indigenous tribes who lived there undisturbed- an opportunity Yossi and his friends capitalized on.  This quest deep in the Amazon led to the eventual death of 2 out of the 4 people involved. As for Yossi, he spent 3 weeks deep in the jungle, with no food, compass, proper clothing, or really any way of defending himself against the weather, the animals, and harshest of all - the solitude.  His time in the jungle, his rescue, his life after, the book he wrote, and the subsequent movie adaption have all been part of his long journey which I was eager to talk to Yossi about. Yossi and I discussed: How he survived those weeks in the jungle, and how hallucinations saved him The hardest thing for him while in the jungle, and why he thinks that survival is peak performance A close encounter with a Jaguar, almost drowning, and eating monkeys  The incredible story of how he was eventually saved/rescued The movie adaptation of Yossi's story, "The Jungle", and seeing Daniel Radcliffe play him His admiration for Daniel Radcliffe Why he only sleeps in tents Yossi's return back to the jungle, and living there for 3 years (close to where he almost died) How he helps the local indigenous community through ecotourism  And much more... Yossi Ghinsberg My Take: When everything is stripped from you and death is staring you in the face, you quickly realize a sobering fact, which is - all you have to rely on in this world - is yourself! While at the moment that can be frightening, in the long run, I imagine that feeling to be a liberating and empowering feeling. Speaking to Yossi and having had an experience myself, I tend to believe this truth more and more.  Support The Podcast