Big Questions with Cal Fussman - podcast cover

Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Curiosity Mediawww.calfussman.com
As a bestselling author, speaker and one of the greatest interviewers of this generation, Cal Fussman has sat down with some of the world’s most influential individuals: Muhammad Ali, Mikhail Gorbachev, Serena Williams, Jeff Bezos, Jack Welch, John Wooden, Al Pacino and hundreds of others, digging deep into their hearts and delivering their wisdom to the rest of the world. Now, in Big Questions, Cal continues his journey. Uncovering the heart, head, and soul of his guests in thoughtful, deep and entertaining conversations.
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Episodes

Arjun Rai: Your Technology Coach

Cal is introduced to an app that pairs photos with new contacts, and immediately senses that the young founder of the company that built the app would be an ideal guide into the new landscape of technology. His name is Anjun Rai. His company is called​ ​HelloWoofy.com. If you’d like to know where tech is going, c’mon along. . . . You can see the visuals of some of Arjun’s tips by going to calfussman.com and clicking YouTube.

Apr 04, 202351 minSeason 4Ep. 14

Paul McCaffery: Your Bank Coach

Cal talks with a man who many people see as the ideal banking coach to understand the recent turmoil in the banking industry. Paul McCaffery is a Managing Director at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, where he has spent more than 20 years advising in the financial sector. He explains how a perfect storm can come together when government policies, banking decisions and the speed of technology enables depositors to move billions of dollars in a short amount of time. And how that storm that can pummel eve...

Mar 28, 202345 minSeason 4Ep. 13

The Grizzly Bear: Your Courage Coach

Cal tells the harrowing story of two college wrestlers who walked straight into a Grizzly bear near Yellowstone Park last year. Then asks: What would you do if you were in a similar situation?​​

Mar 21, 20238 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Casper ter Kuile: Your Ritual Coach

As technology connects us more and more, we tend to find ourselves more and more disconnected as humans. The numbers back this up. We’re working alone in remote locations. We’re seeing one another attacked on the internet over political beliefs. We’re spending less time with the people we love than we did years ago. Fifteen percent of males in America say they have no friends, and women who don’t know each other are meeting and walking on the streets of New York during weekends for some sense of...

Mar 14, 202335 minSeason 4Ep. 11

Phillip Stutts: Your Stem Cell Coach

Phillip Stutts, a political marketing guru who has helped engineer more than 1,500 election wins including three presidencies, had 650-million stem cells injected into his esophagus to combat Achalasia. This disorder destroys the nerves and muscles in the esophagus which normally push food down toward the stomach -- and makes it difficult to eat. Phillip’s experience gives us a look at the medical frontier at a time when stem cell treatments have reportedly cured HIV. His moonshot approach will ...

Mar 07, 202352 minSeason 4Ep. 10

Rick Sanchez: Your Job Pivot Coach

Everybody loves a great comeback story, and this is one of them. Rick came to Florida as a boy in a family of Cuban immigrants. His parents never made a salary of more than $11,000 a year. An elementary school teacher labeled Rick “retarded” because he couldn’t speak English. Rick went on to become one of CNN’s most viewed hosts in the early 2000s until some comments he made about the power structure of the networks sent him into an unemployable freefall. The situation was dire, but it led him i...

Feb 28, 202344 minSeason 4Ep. 9

Jeffrey Gitomer: Your Positive Sales Coach

Cal gets some lessons on positivity from the best-selling author on Yes!Attitude and couldn’t wait to pass them on. You’re guaranteed to be more positive after you listen to this one! Cal is a new man . . .

Feb 21, 202350 minSeason 4Ep. 8

Nick Leader: The Avoid Surgery Coach

It turns out that sometimes back pain doesn’t originate in the back – it’s from a connected area. But that connection can go un-diagnosed and surgery might be recommended for the back. Dynamic Health and Fitness rehabilitates injuries and limits pain through massage, stretching and workouts. Nick Leader explains the functional science approach and points us to a free app that assesses the stability of many of our body parts. Pass this podcast on to somebody you know with back pain, knee pain or ...

Feb 14, 202338 minSeason 4Ep. 7

Damon Darnall: Your Drone Coach

Damon Darnall, the president of Sky Eye Network, also known as The Drone Boss, tells Cal how drones will pop out of the ground like sprinkler systems to get medicine and blood to people who desperately need it, save the lives of utility repairmen, come to the rescue of people and pets in hurricanes, protect elephants and conserve thousands and thousands of gallons of water used at golf courses. This is just the beginning. Welcome to The Jetsons.

Feb 07, 202329 minSeason 4Ep. 6

James Altucher Interviews Cal About Larry King

Cal wanted to remember Larry King on the second anniversary of his passing​ ​through an episode​ ​of Big Questions. The best way, he discovered, is through the​ ​interview James Altucher​ ​conducted with him about the special sauce that​ ​made Larry “The King.” Altucher’s episode made Cal smile, and will make you, too.

Jan 31, 20232 hr 17 minSeason 4Ep. 5

Jeremy Schneider: Your Money In 2023 Coach

Cal catches up with the man behind Personalfinanceclub.com during a time of inflation, cryptocurrency crashes, a looming recession and a congressional debt-ceiling fight to ask about the best ways to handle money right now. Jeremy’s strategies have never disappointed.

Jan 24, 202345 minSeason 4Ep. 4

Dan Martell: Your Buy Back Your Time Coach

Cal was curious about ways to get more out of his time when he heard about Dan Martell’s book: Buy Back Your Time. He was stunned by Dan’s amazing backstory, which makes the lessons he passes on even more meaningful. Dan coaches CEOs and company founders through SaaS Academy. Buckle your seatbelt for this episode, and get the most out of the 10- 80-10 rule.

Jan 17, 20231 hrSeason 4Ep. 3

Shawn Askinosie: Connect With Yourself Coach

Cal talks with the criminal defense attorney who never lost a case and then found the meaning of his life through creating a company that creates amazing chocolates. It’s also a company that is changing thousands of lives. This conversation, and Shawn’s Book, Meaningful Work, may make you connect with yourself in a new way.

Jan 10, 20231 hr 2 minSeason 4Ep. 2

Connecting With Pele

On the day of Pele’s burial, Cal goes to the archives for an interview he did with the man many consider to be the greatest soccer player of all time. This podcast gets to the essence of the Brazilian superstar who connected with almost everyone on the planet. Not only did Pele make everyone smile, he once halted a war. After three years of disconnection due to the pandemic, we need to connect now more than ever. Pele shows us how.

Jan 03, 202314 minSeason 4Ep. 1

Best Takeaways From Coaches 2022

Cal looks back at some of the best ideas from expert guests on Big Questions over the last year to live a healthier life – including how to sleep better, how to eat better, how to think better and how to move your body better. Follow this advice and you will have a healthy and happy 2023. Please pass it around to family and friends! And have a Happy New Year!

Dec 27, 202255 minSeason 3Ep. 25

Matt McBride: Reconnect With A Friend Coach

Cal asks you to reach out to an old friend you haven’t connected with in a while because something good is sure to happen. That was the case for Matt McBride who lost touch with his high school buddy, Jason. Then private investigators reached out to Matt to represent him in the settling of a substantial estate after the death of his father whom he barely knew. Turns out the private investigators connected Matt to his old buddy Jason – and that Jason had been living near Matt’s father and partyin...

Dec 20, 202222 minSeason 3Ep. 24

Jim Walesa: Your Robot For Christmas Coach

Every day, ten thousand people in America turn 65. Every 57 seconds, cognitive problems are diagnosed. And the worst part is forty thousand healthcare workers treating the elderly left the industry during the pandemic. For every 43 job openings to take care of the elderly, only one person is now available. The good news. Robots are on the way! Check this out!

Dec 13, 202228 minSeason 3Ep. 23

Joel Beasley: Difficulties Into Opportunities Coach

When Joel was eleven years old, he was struck on the street by a car driven by a woman who was looking at her cellphone. When Joel woke up, he saw a man chalk-marking his body on the pavement and he thought he was dead. He wasn’t. The emergency crew was leaving evidence for the police report. This was the first of a series of unfortunate events that turned out to be very fortunate because of the way Joel sees the world. He’s earned millions of dollars as an entrepreneur by finding the right oppo...

Dec 06, 202255 minSeason 3Ep. 22

Mark Wilhelmsson: Save A Choking Child Coach

Nearly every hour, an infant or young child chokes to death or dies in an unexpected accident. When Mark Wilhelmsson saw his two-year-old gasping for air while eating some fruit slices, it changed his life . . . and the lives of a lot of other parents. Mark’s son survived. And the information Mark accumulated can protect your family. Please pass this episode on to parents who are expecting children and who have little ones.

Nov 29, 202244 minSeason 3Ep. 21

The Father-Son Alzheimer’s Bike Trip Coach

The approach of Thanksgiving is the perfect time to hear about the 73-day, 4,200mile bike ride Kari Loya took with his 75-year-old father who was at the early stage of Alzheimer’s Disease. They rode along the TransAmerica Bike Trail from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. Their trip reminds us to get the most out of the time we have with those we love. Enjoy.

Nov 22, 202259 minSeason 3Ep. 20

Glenn Livingston: Never Binge Again Coach

Cal speaks with Glenn Livingston, the author of the best-seller about concrete steps to avoid overeating. This episode comes at the perfect time. Cal often finds himself reaching for more and more during the sumptuous holiday season. Glenn’s tactics enabled him to lose 90 pounds and still eat pleasurably. Get more out of your holiday season this year by eating a little less. You’ll also be able to get Glenn’s book free over the internet

Nov 15, 202241 minSeason 3Ep. 19

Matt Bromley: Surfing Fear And Purpose Coach

Cal looks to discover if there is anything in our ordinary lives that mirrors the fear and purpose Matt Bromley feels when he surfs 50-foot waves. Cal arrives at an unexpected place that shows him how he can have much impact.

Nov 08, 202249 minSeason 3Ep. 19

Sev MacLaughlin: Your ​Early Detection Health Coach

Not long ago, Sev MacLaughlin was working as a waiter in a polyester tuxedo. Listen to how the death of his father sent him on a mission to develop artificial intelligence that can predict illness in advance of modern medicine. Kidney disease. Diabetes. Cardiovascular disease. The predictions of DeLorean AI have twice been validated by third-party labs. And now the company is working on early identification and solutions for mental health issues. The story of Sev’s mission will inspire anyone wh...

Nov 01, 202235 minSeason 3Ep. 18

Michael Ockrim: Getting America In Shape Coach

After losing 30 pounds through a slow and methodical change in diet and portion size, Cal sets off to follow the same strategy with exercise. Basic body movements at the start that don’t call for lifting stacks of weight or exercise to exhaustion. With more than 70 percent of Americans overweight or obese and not moving, this may be the only feasible start toward solving the problem. The movements Michael Ockrim of Mighty Oak Athletic passes on are as easy as lifting a can of beans. But with ste...

Oct 25, 202240 minSeason 3Ep. 18

Devin Burke: Your Sleep Coach

Cal gets some tips from a man whose life is dedicated to helping people get a good night’s sleep. Whatever age or sleeping situation you’re in, Devin has probably studied it. And he has many solutions. After listening to this episode, you’ll definitely sleep better.

Oct 18, 202247 minSeason 3Ep. 17

Darin Olien: Your Superfoods Coach

Cal talks with the man who evolved from drinking a six-pack of Coca Cola every day as a boy to the author of Superlife: the 5 Simple Fixes that will make you healthy, fit and eternally awesome. Darin is also the co-host of the television show Down to Earth with Zac Efron, where the two go adventuring around the world to find healthy and sustainable ways to live. You may eat a little differently after listening to this conversation.

Oct 11, 202259 minSeason 3Ep. 16

Dr. Jay Wellons: Your Neurosurgeon Coach

Listen to some amazing surgery stories this week about what it’s like to operate on a child’s brain from Dr. Jay Wellons, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Jay is a gifted writer as well, as anybody who’s read All That Moves Us can attest. Once the harrowing stories are told, Cal asks the neurosurgeon how he stays healthy amid the persistent tension. It’s a question that probably applies to everybody ...

Oct 04, 202257 minSeason 3Ep. 15

Dr. James Bianco: New Cancer Treatment Coach

Morphogenesis has an immunotherapy treatment that has worked in five out of five clinical trials on skin cancer and it’s nasty cousin, Merkel Cell cancer. The company’s CEO, Dr. James Bianco, says that the treatment may work against any cancer. But he doesn’t want anyone calling it The Cancer Vaccine. Cal gets some insight into the potential breakthrough, and the leaps we’re making in the fight against cancer. If you know someone who’s been touched by cancer, check this episode out. That means e...

Sep 27, 202251 minSeason 3Ep. 14

Rich Palarea: Transparency: In Healthcare Coach

​​Rich Palarea’s introduction on Twitter reads: “I won’t sleep until I fix $ waste in healthcare.” Cal listens to the story of how Rich became CEO of Kermit, a company that uses technological transparency to reduce costs on surgical implants for hospitals. The conversation reveals how little we know about what goes on behind the scenes in some operating rooms. It also gives us hope that applying transparency across all aspects of healthcare will make life better for everyone.

Sep 20, 202250 minSeason 3Ep. 13

Serena, Gorbachev And The Hugs

Cal takes a moment to pause and reflect on moments he had with two icons who said farewell recently in very different ways. Tennis great Serena Williams ended one of the most impactful careers in the history of any sport at the U.S. Open and the man who lifted The Iron Curtain, Mikhail Gorbachev, took his final breath at the age of 91. Cal tells two stories that showcase the origin of their influence. They both revolve around hugs. We should all take note.

Sep 13, 202219 minSeason 3Ep. 12
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