The Genuinely Interested Podcast

Jost Kobusch is a mountaineer, alpinist, speaker and author. His love for the sport is pure and his passion to push the perceived limits of what is possible is infectious. Jost has been making attempts on the west ridge of Everest in winter, solo and without supplementary oxygen. He’s up against extremely cold weather that dips to -50 C and winds that reach 200 mph. He just had to turn around from his most recent try.   Jost and I discussed:  Overcoming fear  What Reinhold Messner thinks about his attempts   Why his Everest summit attempts are different  What it's like to summit Everest via the "regular route"  Financing these endeavors  What he looks for after a day in the mountains  Why he doesn't use oxygen tanks in elevation His harrowing night on Everest Jost Kobusch  My Take: It's always impossible until it's done. Intentions matter. If you are challenging yourself and improving daily your seemingly unachievable goals become less of a dream and more like a reachable reality. If you want something hard enough, it is going to take hard work, dedication, persistence and passion to keep up the pursuit - even after you fail once, twice, or many times more.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook

Jimmy Soni, an author and speaker known for his insights into PayPal's history, highlights the fascinating journey of its founders. He explains the origins of the term 'PayPal Mafia' and discusses his encounters with Elon Musk. The conversation dives into the company’s innovative strategies that led to its success while navigating early tech challenges, including fraud management. Soni shares stories from his extensive research, emphasizing the unique personalities and creative problem-solving that shaped not just PayPal, but the entire Silicon Valley landscape.

Nir Barzilai, M.D. is the director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is also the Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Human Aging Research and of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging. Dr. Barzilai’s research interests are in the biology and genetics of aging. He is currently leading an international effort to approve drugs that can target aging. Targeting Aging with METformin (TAME) is a specific study designed to prove the concept that multi-morbidities of aging can be delayed by metformin, working with the FDA to approve this approach which will serve as a template for future efforts to delay aging and its diseases in humans. Nir and I Discussed: What is Metformin and what was it previously used for? What does he mean by "cure aging"? Why do your chances of getting sick increase as you grow old Why do women live longer The longevity effects of intermittent fasting How to decipher between good & bad information  Can we really extend human life to 200 years or more? And much more... Nir Barzilai My Take: Technology has allowed us all the luxuries that we currently enjoy. Our food, transportation, entertainment, clothes, medicine, communication - and everything else we can think of. Can technology extend human life? Well, it already has. 100 years ago the median age was half what it is now. It will be interesting to see what science will accomplish in the next few years, or decades, with age-related diseases and human longevity.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook

Gigi Levy Weiss not only served as a pilot in the Israeli Air Force - he is also a two-time CEO, founder, board member, and was previously a super-angel. Up until April 2011, Gigi served as the CEO of 888 Holdings, one of the world’s leading online gaming entertainment companies in the world. Currently, he is a general partner at NFX, one of Israel's leading VC firms - and he also sits on the board of MEET (Middle East Education through Technology). He is behind some of the most well-known and successful tech companies that have emerged in the last decade.  Gigi and I discussed : What he looks for in young entrepreneurs  His opinion on why Israel is such a strong player in the tech space What happened with Clubhouse? The power of network effects Why the future is Web3 Social Mobility  His personal time management skills The reason he always tries to return everyone’s emails Why more young people want to become entrepreneurs than ever before And so much more... Gigi Levy Weiss My Take: There is so much to discuss when it comes to entrepreneurship. Because technology is evolving so rapidly, our need to learn as entrepreneurs and keep up with the latest Innovations and emerging markets are key as well. However, some life lessons/wisdoms are classics, if not eternal - not bogged down by time or era, but simply great frameworks to work within regardless of externalities. Support The Podcast

Brendan Fitzgerald is a play-by-play announcer for the UFC. He also has his own podcast and YouTube show called Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC where he does a great job talking to fighters and allowing them to open up on their own terms. Brendan always wanted to be a sports broadcaster, he started by doing high schools & colleges until 2017, when he got the opportunity to audition for Dana White's Contender Series. With little to no MMA background, Brendan passed the audition and became a staple in the UFC commentator booth.  Brendan and I discussed How he landed his current job in the UFC An insight into the preparation needed before a live broadcast What it's like calling fights without fans  The difficulty of commentating abroad or away from home His most memorable UFC event  Objectivity when calling fights Being persistent in chasing your goals The importance of authenticity  And much more... Brendan Fitzgerald  My Take: Life is rarely a linear line. In order to get to the top, you have to go through some valleys and smaller peaks before you conquer that renowned summit. Persistence and personal improvement are the names of the game when chasing one's dreams. Don't allow minor setbacks to discourage you from your path; setbacks are simply minor bumps in the road - not a dead end.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook

Ryder Carroll is a product designer, New York Times best-selling author, Ted X speaker, and inventor of the Bullet Journal method. Growing up Ryder realized he was a bit different than the other kids in class, soon after he was diagnosed with learning disabilities which forced him to figure out alternate ways to stay focused and be productive. Through years of trial & error, Ryder eventually came up with the Bullet Journal method which is, as he describes it, a mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system. His methodology has helped countless people become more focused, more productive, and live a more intentional life.  Ryder and I discussed:  What differentiates the Bullet Journal from other productivity methods What it is like having ADD His feeling on taking drugs like Ritalin How did his ADD manifest in school What it was like growing up in Austria Areas he found the most success in How the work he's done has helped him with monotasking vs multitasking The future of online education And much much more... Ryder Carroll My Take: Being able to focus on a specific task is often the difference between failure & success. Not being able to focus and not knowing why can be extremely frustrating and lead to emotional stress. Luckily there are many more studies today and much more understanding of ADD. Methods like Ryder's are trailblazing a way to help kids and adults without drugs and the side effects they cause.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook

Arturo Elizondo is the co-founder & CEO of the biotech food company, The Every Company (formerly Clara Foods), and has also been featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Almost a decade ago Arturo decided to take a look at our broken food system and see what he could do to improve it. What he developed was a fermentation technology that uses yeast to convert sugar directly into egg proteins. The animal-free proteins are a cheaper and greener replacement for the vast quantities of eggs that go into everything from instant cakes, mayonnaise to dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. Unlike most other alternative protein companies, The Every Company is (currently) strictly a B2B company - and with a recent $175 Million Series C round financing - they are well on their way to changing how we eat. Arturo and I discussed: Why animals are incredibly inefficient protein machines His reason for starting the company Why Arturo decided to change the company name Why The Every Company decided to focus on B2B instead of B2C Being an "overnight success" Overcoming Self-doubt  How our food choices affect the climate  Their collaboration with Pressed Juicery What it's like being a first-time founder  Pausing to appreciate your personal achievements  And much more... Arturo Elizondo My Take: Our food system is inefficient at best and completely unsustainable at worst. We need to figure out ways to feed the world that are less water-intensive, less carbon-intensive, and most importantly, are less meat-heavy. We can make small choices every day to support companies that align with our vision for a better, more environmentally conscious world.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook

Anna Lembke is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations.  She is the author of Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop, and most recently she released her second book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, which became an instant New York Times Bestseller! Addiction is a serious problem in the US. From the obvious - like drugs & alcohol - to the less obvious, collective addiction we have to technology in the form of video games, social media, screen time, etc. We are on the fast track to total dependence.  Anna and I discussed: What a dopamine deficit state is What is the clinical criteria or definition for addiction? How kids will be impacted by screens in 10-20 years from now  Her part on the Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma'  Why porn addiction is less talked about than other addictions  Can addiction be used in a positive way? Why does pleasure diminish over time? Social media addiction  The social impact of being online too much And much, much more... Anna Lembke My Take: We are all addicted to something, constantly looking for our next dopamine fix. We can't escape technology but we can control what we use, how we use it, and how often we use it. Everything in moderation - easy to say, hard to implement - I know. This is an important topic to discuss, as addictions are currently ravaging the nation and the world on multiple fronts.  Support The Podcast

Blake is a freelance writer, a columnist, and new media director for Jewish Journal. He is also the president and co-founder of The New Zionist Congress. They are a group of students, young professionals, professors, thinkers, and leaders from around the world, who believe in Zionism's mission and its continuity today. Blake was a lifelong progressive Democrat, but when he went to college he was met with antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric coming from the same groups which he previously championed. After finding himself in a bit of an identity crisis, Blake managed to find his calling and became a new fresh voice for a younger generation of Jews in America. Jews have a long history of being persecuted for nothing more than holding a different belief. With antisemitic attacks being at an all-time high, we need more brave voices like Blake. I'm happy he came on the podcast for us to discuss some extremely important and relevant topics.  Blake and I discussed:  What is the future of progressivism? What the New Zionist Congress org is all about The current political atmosphere on college campuses  Why Jews are attacked by both sides of the political spectrum  What is Pinkwashing? Hiding your Jewish identity when traveling  The profound impact summer camp in Oregon had on his understanding of his Jewish identity  Populist messaging masquerading as truth  The problem with Identity politics  Filter bubbles & echo chambers of information on social media And much, much more... Blake Flayton  My Take: The highly politicized climate we find ourselves in steals reason and agency from individuals and lumps us all into groups - it's the most tribal inclination humans possess. We need independent thinkers to steer people away from identity politics, political tribalism, and the mob mentality in which we currently find ourselves.  Support The Podcast

Stu Heinecke is a hall-of-fame nominated marketer, a Wall Street Journal cartoonist, best-selling business author, and founder of Cartoonists.org, a group of prominent cartoonists from around the world who donate their art to help charities raise funds. The American Marketing Association just recognized him as “the father of Contact Marketing,” a term coined in his highly successful book, “How to Get a Meeting with Anyone”.  Stu and I discussed -  His soon to be released, new book - "The Magic Of Weeds" The premise of his book, "How to Get a Meeting with Anyone" How he landed his most important meeting ever What is contact marketing? Why visuals are so effective in locking down meetings How to stand out when reaching out to prominent business execs / VIPs The negatives & positives of island living And much more... Stu Heinecke My Take: Being able to sell is an important skill to hone. In life, we are always selling - whether consciously or unconsciously. We are either selling ourselves, ideas, or services. We use the skill at work when finding a spouse/dating. social media - the list goes on. If you want to level up, being able to market yourself or your ideas is a critical piece of the puzzle.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook