Peter has one of the most interesting Youtube channels I've ever come across. He travels to countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and other nations that are not exactly high up on anyone's summer or winter vacation lists. He goes to these places, not with a biased agenda, but with an open mind and a willingness to listen and connect to people (without the politics). For the most part, he has had nothing but positive and humbling experiences, memorable human connections, and insights into communities that very few foreigners will ever get. Peter wants to make videos showing people the world that the media fails to show you, the human side. We tend to make blanket assessments - this country is X, and the people that inhabit it incapsulate all of the bad or the good that that country represents. The reality however is that humans are extremely nuanced, and layered, and not as binary as good or bad. Peter's courage and belief in the good of man is inspiring. He was recently invited to the insular community of the Hasids in New York, which is notoriously difficult to get into. The story he was able to capture there, by just listening, is better (and probably more accurate) than most media outlets’ reports. Peter and I discussed: - Why he moved to Ukraine - How this travel idea started for him - Has he been in dangerous situations? - Why he fears the loss of free speech in the US - His journey through Saudi Arabia - Why alternative media is thriving - What surprises him the most when traveling - Why he was called a nazi And much, much more. Peter Santanello  My Take: The best education comes with travel. When you experience other cultures, other foods, other ways of doing things -  it opens your mind to the endless possibilities that exist within humans and human consciousness. When we set aside politics, religion, and biases, and we open ourselves to connections through authenticity and curiosity, the world is our oyster. Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com Support the Podcast 

Woody is a world-renowned and sought-after photographer. He has worked with some of the world's biggest brands, like Dior and Corona Beer. His style of photography is unique, using a lot of negative space in his images. His pictures are often minimalistic in nature, having almost a surreal feel to them at times.  Woody started taking photos as a teenager and quickly discovered a passion for photography. Through personal discovery and maturation, he developed a unique style that sets him apart from many photographers. Woody is self-taught, and did not attend any academic institution for formal training.  This is something he accredits his unique style to. By allowing himself to make "mistakes", and by learning as he went, rather than sticking to specific guidelines they teach in school, he was able to "think outside the box" - and be more creative.  Woody and I discussed :  Why he spends so much time in Japan  What sparked his love for photography What it's like to work with big brands  Minimalism in his work, and life  The reality of shooting in the ocean  How he shot his most famous photo  How to be different/stand out  And much much more...  Woody's Instagram  My Take: A formal education, while great, is not always tailor-made for everyone. Not everyone fits in the same box or has to walk the same path as the rest. Creativity, passion, motivation, a "hustler's mentality" - these are things they cant teach you in school. If you have these traits - cultivate them - and don't let anyone box you into what traditional rhetoric may say, is "the right way".    Go to Free Lunch Coffee and type genuinely for 10% off  Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com Support The Podcast 

Austen is the co-founder and CEO of Lambda School. Austen was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and has been starting businesses since his teenage years. His latest company, Lambda, an online coding 'boot camp', is out to change the way we learn coding, or at least change the financial model of it. Paying nothing upfront to enroll, and then paying a % of your monthly salary, ONLY after you find a job in your field - is substantially better than the current college model that leaves you in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. This seems to be a no-brainer, for anyone interested in the field.  Austen and I covered - Where and how he was brought up How he raised over 100k through Kickstarter to fund his book The future of online learning  How Lambda School works  Does it pay off to be outspoken?  The future of remote work  And much more... My Take: Whenever you try to set new trends - you are going to find naysayers. Austen is not immune to this, even though Lambda's online coding boot camp is a game-changer for many. Some in the media have cherry-picked information, to misrepresent the full picture of Lambda.  I love risk-takers and game-changers; Austen, and Lambda, are definitely a fine representation of both. Austen's Twitter  Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com Support The Podcast 

Clive is a geoscientist and filmmaker. His primary research concerns magmatic and volcanic processes; volcanic hazards and volcano monitoring; and the long-range climatic and societal impacts of eruptions. I've always been interested in Volcanoes. They are not only beautiful, scary, and fascinating - but also play a crucial role in our history - and our future.  Clive has worked on documentaries with Werner Herzog, with whom he most recently released Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds. This fascinating film is focused on meteors and comets, and their influence on ancient religions, cultures, and the physical impacts they've had on Earth. Clive and I discussed The role volcanoes have in shaping society Underwater volcanoes The most active volcanoes, supervolcanos, and Yellowstone Werner Herzog and the documentaries he has been a part of What it's like sitting on top of a roaring volcano How he studies volcanoes  ..and much more. Enjoy The Episode! My Take: Having had the privilege myself, of sitting on top of an active volcano, I saw and realized how insignificant and small we really are. These craters filled with lava are so powerful - it's a truly sobering realization of our place in this world. It's great to have the opportunity to talk to someone who has such vast knowledge on this very interesting and important topic. Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com Support The Podcast 

Batya Ungar-Sargon is the Opinion Editor at the Forward. She has, in the past, written for other popular publications while always trying to stay true to her identity and ethics. She has been openly opinionated about her fellow media colleagues of how they cover certain topics.  One of her latest articles "A new intelligentsia is pushing back against wokeness" is a very necessary and brave piece to write, one that would probably not see the light of day in most publications. She is a firm believer in open discourse, civil debate, and listening to "the other side" instead of vilifying (which is the standard in news & politics).  Batya and I covered How she went from writing about wine to social & political commentary Cancel culture, woke politics and why is it becoming more prevalent Are we as polarized in real life as we are on Twitter? Is Trump or Biden better for the state of Israel and US Jews, and the difference between the two Antisemitism in 2020 The Trump Media Love/Hate Relationship  The political abyss jews find themselves in 2020 USA And much more... Enjoy The Episode! Batya's Twitter My Take: Open discourse is key to a thriving democracy. If we suppress those who think differently or shy away from conversations that make us feel uncomfortable, or fall in line with a certain narrative without questioning it, we are doomed. Civil discussions are the only way to come together and unite. Currently, Batya and others like her are pushing the envelope and challenging "woke" narratives put forth by politicians and some components of the media and the elites. We, as a collective, are lucky to have people like this around that are not afraid to express their views, even though it could, at times, affect their careers.  Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com

Matthew is an actor (Sopranos, City on a Hill, The West Wing, Scandal, Huge In France, Law & Order, and many more ), a podcast host, and now an author. His new book, 10,000 NOs: How to Overcome Rejection on the Way to Your YES, chronicles Matthew Del Negro’s tough journey from humble beginnings, through a sea of rejections, on the way to his eventual rise to become a recognizable face on some of history's most acclaimed television shows. Along the way, he learned hard lessons about perseverance, persistence, and resilience.  Matthew also hosts a podcast under the same name (10,000 NOs ). A creative impulse prompted him to start this podcast, which has resulted in a very successful show, where he talks to people from all walks of life. More than anything I appreciate Matthew's brutal honesty about his struggles, his achievements, and about the power of self-belief.  Matthew and I talked about his upbringing and journey to the point in his life when he decided he wanted to be an actor. We discussed the importance of hearing no, and learning from rejection, the mindset of getting into a character, his new book, his podcast, and so much more. We even go down a rabbit hole of cults and cults leaders.  This was an extremely fun conversation, and Matthew is a true inspiration. Enjoy the Episode! Matthew Del Negro  Matthew's Instagram  My Take: Rejection is an important part of growth; it molds us, strengthens us, and ultimately allows us to grow and improve. The important thing is realizing what we can learn/take away when someone's telling you NO. Was it them, or is it something I can improve on and become better at, on the path to my goals? Never let someone else's perception of you defeat you, as every closed door is an opportunity for another door to open.  Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com

Melissa is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Conservation Action Lab at UC Santa Cruz studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a designated emphasis in Coastal Science and policy. Her research focuses on assessing conservation strategies for marine megafauna. She is also a National Geographic Young Explorer, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, a Switzer Foundation Fellow, and a P.E.O. Scholar. Previously, she was a journalist covering science and the environment, wildlife crime, trafficking, and politics. Melissa was a fabulous guest to talk to about sustainable fisheries, our oceans, and Manta Rays. These topics could have severe implications if we do not handle them with sustainability in mind. Melissa loves to be out in the field, working with ocean megafauna - but also with fishing vessels to develop, innovate, and implement new solutions for sustainability.  Melissa and I discussed where she grew up, and how that influenced her love of wildlife. We talked about how big of a problem bycatch is, what we can do to minimize it, and how misunderstood the vast number of species of marine wildlife are. We also covered sustainable fishing practices, manta rays and devil rays, and what she learned from watching 540 hours of Survivor (yes, the show).  Enjoy The Episode! Melissa Cronin Melissa's Twitter  My Take: If you eat fish, which most of us do, you might want to check where you buy your fish, for sustainability purposes. If possible, you might even want to reduce your consumption. Our seas are currently overfished and overexploited, these are finite resources that will end if we keep taking out more than it can produce. We all have a duty to be a bit more responsible with our purchasing dollars. Luckily, Melissa is one of many dedicated scientists working on innovative solutions but also educating people through articles, podcasts, and outreach programs.  Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com

Jay Oliveira is a martial artist (holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), a minimalist,  a plant-based athlete, and an overall cool guy.  He carries a 'less is more' approach to most of the things that he does.  Jay advocates for a back to basics approach to food and our lives in general. He touts the benefits of a plant-based diet, explaining that his inflammation disappeared shortly after he went plant-based. He also saw improvement in his cardio and recovery. Coming from the world of Wall Street (Jay still does dip his toes into the market, being a 'stock speculator'), he takes a simplified approach and attitude into everything he does.  Jay and I discussed how he got into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, how long he has been doing it, and the varied benefits of the sport and martial arts. We also chatted about personal growth and how we should spend more on experiences and less on material items. We covered some MMA and chatted about veganism and its benefits.  Enjoy The Episode!  Jay's Instagram   My Take: You're never too old to start learning martial arts. You're also never too old to change/simplify your diet or lifestyle habits. The first step is that you just have to want it. The second step is actually doing it.  Simplify your life, because we really don't need a lot to be happy. Don't buy things you don't need, eat fewer unhealthy foods, and keep yourself moving.  Get out, train, eat some veggies, spend money on an experience you're passionate about rather than material goods. You'll find these steps will lead to you feeling better both mentally & physically.   Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com

Konstantin Kisin is a Russian-British comedian, podcaster, writer, and social commentator. In 2018 he refused to sign a university “behavioral agreement form” which banned jokes about religion and atheism and insisted that all humor must be “respectful and kind”. Safe to say, this made headlines everywhere.  Konstantin and I had a conversation about the current landscape of comedy in the age of cancel culture, and how the suppression of speech is a chief issue for comedians at many venues. We also discussed the difference between the US and the UK in terms of history, culture, and free speech laws. We covered what role Twitter and the media play in the current social division that is spreading like wildfire - and if it's fair for trans athletes to compete against biological women.  These are all very important topics to discuss. For a democracy to thrive, we need to be able to have genuine conversations on all topics without being scared of the repercussions.  We need to stay focused on the content and topics at hand. If we don't talk about things that make us uncomfortable, we will never be able to move forward on issues in a healthy fashion.  I hope you enjoy this episode.  Konstantin Kisin  My Take: Many of us have become so afraid to offend, or be offended, we forgot that conversation, and open communication, between all groups is the only way forward. If we kowtow to anyone without really analyzing, thinking things through, and letting the best ideas float to the surface - we ultimately will lose as a society. We all want the same thing - an equal, prosperous society for all. We just disagree on how to get there, and this is why communication via these platforms is pertinent.   Comments, requests, sponsorships, or questions, please reach out - roybntz@gmail.com

Jason is a running coach, podcast host, and author. He hosts a very popular podcast - The Strength Running Podcast - and also has coaching programs that are designed to truly help runners achieve maximum results.  Jason really wants to help runners prevent the mistakes he has made in the past. After finishing the 2008 New York Marathon in 2 hours and 44 minutes, he developed a severe ITB injury and was sidelined for six months. That injury transformed his thoughts on what it means to be running healthy, and the power of working to prevent injury to the body. This led Jason to gain a whole new perspective and running philosophy - he's only had one injury since 2009.  Jason and I discussed ultramarathons and their mental versus physical aspects of them. We also chatted about marathons, how to run effectively based on your level, the best surfaces to run on, some great beginner tips, and much more. To runners and non-runners (or yet-to-be runners) alike - I hope you enjoy this podcast!  Jason Fitzgerald My Take: Not everyone loves running, however, if you keep at it you can really achieve progress - both mentally and physically. I am working on becoming a better runner myself, and though I usually run on pavement, my preference is trail running. It's a more complete experience for me. If you want to improve your endurance or technique - listen to the podcast, as Jason gives great tips.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook