HawkeTalk

What do you get when you combine an engineering career, a passion for adventure, and a lifelong dream of exploring the world? You get Harry Anderson, an entrepreneur who achieved feats few could even imagine. From flying solo around the world to becoming the first person to sail to all seven continents, Harry’s journey is a story of resilience, determination, and the endless pursuit of challenge.In this episode, I sit down with Harry Anderson to dive into his fascinating journey. From his childhood in the Midwest, where resilience was forged delivering newspapers in the cold Wyoming winters, to his leap from a conventional engineering career into entrepreneurial ventures, Harry shares the pivotal moments that shaped his life.Harry opens up about his adventurous spirit and how it led him to take a year off from his career to travel the world, where he hiked Mount Kilimanjaro, toured Africa, and lived in the south of France. His journey doesn’t stop there. Harry reveals the challenges and rewards of running a successful tech business, his transition into flying internationally, and the goal that drove him to sail solo to every continent, a feat no one else had accomplished.In this episode: (00:00) Introduction to Harry Anderson (05:10) A year of travel that changed everything (15:20) The thrill of flying and the challenges of long-distance flights (18:50) Making the leap from aviation to solo ocean sailing (22:10) The challenges of sailing to Antarctica and beyond (26:15) A world record: Flying solo to all seven continents (30:05) Flying over the North Pole and the uniqueness of solo aviation (34:00) Reflections on what it takes to achieve extraordinary goals (38:20) What's next for Harry: The Northwest Passage (41:00) Closing thoughts on pursuing passions and breaking boundariesAbout Our GuestHarry R. Anderson is a Ph.D. engineer/entrepreneur who has created businesses that develop software tools for designing and optimizing wireless networks.  With his flight to Antarctica in 2014, he became only the fifth person to fly solo to all seven continents. With the completion of his solo voyage to seven continents in January 2025, he became the first person in history to both fly and sail solo to all the continents.  Over five decades he has traveled to more than 100 countries, hitchhiked across Africa, worked on four continents, and lived in England and France.  Dr. Anderson is the author of Fixed Broadband Wireless System Design (John Wiley & Sons, 2003), Flying 7 Continents Solo (Phywave, 2015), and his upcoming book Sailing 7 Continents Solo (Phywave, 2025). He lives on Bainbridge Island in the Pacific NorthwestHarry Anderson's Social Media:Flying 7 Continents Solo - BookHarry Anderson - Website Hawke MediaHawke Media LinkedInHawke Media InstagramHawke Media WebsiteHawke Media TwitterHawke Media Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you get when you combine an engineering career, a passion for adventure, and a lifelong dream of exploring the world? You get Harry Anderson, an entrepreneur who achieved feats few could even imagine. From flying solo around the world to becoming the first person to sail to all seven continents, Harry’s journey is a story of resilience, determination, and the endless pursuit of challenge.In this episode, I sit down with Harry Anderson to dive into his fascinating journey. From his childhood in the Midwest, where resilience was forged delivering newspapers in the cold Wyoming winters, to his leap from a conventional engineering career into entrepreneurial ventures, Harry shares the pivotal moments that shaped his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever chased an idea so bold it took more than a decade to bring to life? That’s exactly what Josh Hoffman and Jordan Eubanks did with Lightheaded, the company bringing illuminated sports helmets to fans everywhere. Believe it or not, the spark for this glowing idea first lit up in a Hollywood bar.In this episode, I sit down with Josh and Jordan to uncover how a playful Christmas tree decorating contest sparked a product that would one day attract sports franchises, investors, and collectors. They share their early years in Hollywood, from acting auditions and late-night bartending shifts to the moment they realized this quirky idea could be something bigger.In this episode: (00:00) Facing VC resistance(10:48) Shark Tank experience(13:02) Struggles and setbacks(20:29) Facing initial challenges and investor hesitations(31:20) Finalizing supply chain and marketing strategies(36:28) Future vision and advice for entrepreneurs(41:46) Conclusion and final thoughtsHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/ About Our Guest Jordan Eubanks is an actor, producer, and creative entrepreneur from Kinston, NC, who found his love of performance portraying Danny Zuko, Conrad Birdie, and Oliver Twist. After one year on a baseball scholarship at Appalachian State, he moved to New York to pursue acting booking MTV’s Damage Control. He later relocated to Los Angeles, co-created and starred in 2 Dudes and a Dream and Dumbbells, produces indie films like Be Like Trees, founded Canvas Assassins, and developed LightHeaded, a company that illuminates sports memorabilia with patent-pending designs.Josh Hoffman is the co-founder and CEO of Lightheaded, a premium sports memorabilia company known for its illuminated team helmets. A native of Ohio, Josh began his career pursuing acting in Los Angeles before transitioning into development and fundraising roles with organizations such as the Red Cross and a national youth nonprofit. His background in relationship-building, fundraising, and strategic leadership helped guide Lightheaded through years of investor rejections, manufacturing challenges, and a full company rebuild.Lightheaded Social MediaLightHeaded LinkedInJordan EubanksJordan Eubanks on InstagramJordan Eubanks on LinkedInJosh HoffmanJosh Hoffman on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever chased an idea so bold it took more than a decade to bring to life? That’s exactly what Josh Hoffman and Jordan Eubanks did with Lightheaded, the company bringing illuminated sports helmets to fans everywhere. Believe it or not, the spark for this glowing idea first lit up in a Hollywood bar.In this episode, I sit down with Josh and Jordan to uncover how a playful Christmas tree decorating contest sparked a product that would one day attract sports franchises, investors, and collectors. They share their early years in Hollywood, from acting auditions and late-night bartending shifts to the moment they realized this quirky idea could be something bigger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to summit Mount Everest not once, but 19 times? In this episode of Hawke Talk, I sit down with Kenton Cool, one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers, to uncover his journey from a sickly child in London to summiting Mount Everest 19 times and guiding clients on some of the world’s most dangerous peaks.Kenton shares how his early years in Scouts gave him a love for the outdoors, why he worked construction jobs to fund his first expeditions, and the pivotal moment he realized he needed to turn climbing into a career. He takes us inside his first Everest expedition as a lead guide, the near-fatal accident that changed his perspective, and how he has since balanced guiding elite clients, tackling record-breaking climbs, and building a performance coaching company alongside his wife.We dive into the true cost of climbing Everest, the challenges of K2, and why community, whether with Sherpas on the mountain or leaders in business, has been the key to his success. Through it all, Kenton’s story is about resilience, finding your tribe, and chasing purpose no matter the odds.In this episode: (00:00) The power of community and belonging(07:00) Dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot(14:34) Working construction to fund expeditions(15:54) The realization he needed to monetize climbing(25:38) Transition into corporate speaking and performance coaching(29:05) Climbing Everest 19 times and holding the non-Sherpa record(32:00) Tackling K2 and reflections on the hardest climbs(34:10) The driving force behind his persistence: finding and protecting communityHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/ About Our Guest Kenton Cool is one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers, with 19 summits of Mount Everest and numerous first ascents across the Himalayas, Alps, and beyond. After overcoming a devastating climbing accident in his twenties, he went on to become a certified IFMGA mountain guide and built a career guiding high-net-worth clients on some of the toughest peaks on Earth.Known for his resilience and leadership, Kenton also co-founded a performance coaching company, sharing lessons from the mountains with global organizations. A passionate advocate for community and connection, he continues to inspire climbers and business leaders alike with his philosophy of perseverance, adaptability, and bold ambition.Kenton CoolKenton Cool WebsiteKenton Cool on InstagramKenton Cool on LinkedInKenton Cool YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to summit Mount Everest not once, but 19 times? In this episode of Hawke Talk, I sit down with Kenton Cool, one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers, to uncover his journey from a sickly child in London to summiting Mount Everest 19 times and guiding clients on some of the world’s most dangerous peaks.Kenton shares how his early years in Scouts gave him a love for the outdoors, why he worked construction jobs to fund his first expeditions, and the pivotal moment he realized he needed to turn climbing into a career. He takes us inside his first Everest expedition as a lead guide, the near-fatal accident that changed his perspective, and how he has since balanced guiding elite clients, tackling record-breaking climbs, and building a performance coaching company alongside his wife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of HawkeTalk, I sit down with Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerMedia, to uncover her journey from growing up in Nashville with a love for books and business dreams to leading global expansion for one of the most disruptive agencies in the world.Avery shares how her early internships at Live Nation and Morgan Stanley shaped her view of business, why taking risks opened unexpected doors, and how she went from Target’s corporate world to a seven-year career at Google. She reveals the pivotal moment she said “yes” to Gary Vaynerchuk and took the leap to launch Vayner’s Asia-Pacific office from scratch scaling it to 170 people and winning major clients across Singapore, Australia, and beyond.We dive into the challenges of building teams during COVID, the launch of Vayner3 during the Web3 wave, and why her latest role as CMO is her most fulfilling yet. Through it all, Avery’s story is about persistence, bold choices, and embracing opportunities before they’re obvious.Her advice? Don’t fear failure—take the leap, because if you don’t ask, you don’t get.In this episode: (00:00) Overcoming fear of failure and taking risks(07:36) Learning what you don’t want(10:57) First job at Target and early lessons in retail and supply chain(17:45) Moving from Google to VaynerMedia(22:06) Launching Vayner’s Asia-Pacific office in Singapore(23:39) Scaling through crisis during COVID and international growth(26:30) Transition into Web3 with Vayner3 and bold brand partnerships(27:44) Becoming CMO of VaynerMedia and building the agency brand(30:04) Avery’s biggest advice: people have short memories just go for itHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/ About Our Guest Avery Akkineni is the Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerMedia, where she leads global brand strategy and innovation. Before joining Vayner, she spent over seven years at Google, helping shape its ad and media platforms. In 2019, she spearheaded Vayner’s expansion into Asia-Pacific, growing the Singapore office from zero to 170 employees and winning major clients like Disney+, P&G, and Subway.A pioneer in emerging tech, Avery went on to launch Vayner3, guiding Fortune 500 companies into Web3, and now drives VaynerMedia’s own brand growth as CMO. Known for her risk-taking spirit, global perspective, and passion for storytelling, Avery is redefining what it means to be a modern marketing leader.Avery Akkineni Avery Akkineni WebsiteAvery Akkineni on InstagramAvery Akkineni on LinkedInVaynear Media Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of HawkeTalk, I sit down with Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerMedia, to uncover her journey from growing up in Nashville with a love for books and business dreams to leading global expansion for one of the most disruptive agencies in the world.Avery shares how her early internships at Live Nation and Morgan Stanley shaped her view of business, why taking risks opened unexpected doors, and how she went from Target’s corporate world to a seven-year career at Google. She reveals the pivotal moment she said “yes” to Gary Vaynerchuk and took the leap to launch Vayner’s Asia-Pacific office from scratch scaling it to 170 people and winning major clients across Singapore, Australia, and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hawke Talk, I sit down with legendary waterman Laird Hamilton to dive into his extraordinary life story from being pushed into waves at age two in Hawaii to pioneering the biggest breakthroughs in surfing history.Laird opens up about growing up on some of the most dangerous beaches in the world, the influence of his single mother and stepfather, and the relentless drive that kept him chasing the ocean day after day. He shares the behind-the-scenes of breaking barriers in big-wave surfing from inventing tow-in surfing to riding Tahiti’s “Millennium Wave” that redefined what was possible.We explore the evolution of his career beyond traditional surfing: windsurfing, hydrofoiling, modeling, and entrepreneurship, all while holding true to his philosophy that persistence, curiosity, and loving what you do are the keys to a life well-lived.Through near-death wipeouts, industry skepticism, and reinventing equipment to keep up with nature’s power, Laird’s story is a testament to relentless pursuit, faith in the unknown, and never letting your memories outgrow your dreams.In this episode: (00:00) The best advice: be relentless and love the pursuit(04:30) Riding waves by age two and shaping his first custom board at six(10:05) Obsession with the ocean and ditching school to surf(21:45) Breaking barriers with tow-in surfing and the Millennium Wave in Tahiti(28:17) Facing near-death wipeouts and rescues at sea(31:40) Transitioning into hydrofoiling and riding a 10-minute wave on his 60th birthday(36:25) Why curiosity and openness fuel the next frontier of ocean exploration(40:15) Laird’s advice: be relentless and love the workHawke Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/https://twitter.com/hawkemediahttps://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/ About Our Guest Laird Hamilton is a world-renowned big-wave surfer, innovator, and pioneer of modern-day surfing. Born in San Francisco and raised on Hawaii’s North Shore, he grew up on the world’s heaviest waves and went on to redefine the boundaries of ocean sports.Credited with inventing tow-in surfing, advancing hydrofoiling, and tackling some of the largest waves ever ridden, Laird has built a career on pushing limits and embracing fear as fuel. Beyond the ocean, he has modeled, acted, and co-founded companies like Laird Superfood, bringing his passion for health and performance to a global audience.For Laird, surfing is more than a sport; it’s a lifelong pursuit of flow, innovation, and respect for the ocean.Laird HamiltonLaird Hamilton WebsiteLaird Hamilton on InstagramLaird Hamilton on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hawke Talk, I sit down with legendary waterman Laird Hamilton to dive into his extraordinary life story from being pushed into waves at age two in Hawaii to pioneering the biggest breakthroughs in surfing history.Laird opens up about growing up on some of the most dangerous beaches in the world, the influence of his single mother and stepfather, and the relentless drive that kept him chasing the ocean day after day. He shares the behind-the-scenes of breaking barriers in big-wave surfing from inventing tow-in surfing to riding Tahiti’s “Millennium Wave” that redefined what was possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.