Founder's Journal - podcast cover

Founder's Journal

Alex Lieberman, the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, gives you an insider’s look into building businesses. Alex explores the founder’s journey, from the painful challenges of 0-to-1 to the powerful frameworks that help you scale to millions in revenue as well as the emotional rollercoaster that is present throughout.

Episodes

How to Build Your Second Brain (BONUS EPISODE)

Episode 20: In this special bonus episode of The Crazy Ones, host Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) is telling you everything you need to know about personal knowledge management. That’s right, Alex is breaking down and summarizing what he’s learned in a recent course he took called Building a Second Brain, all about knowledge management and how to make the most effective use of the information you consume. #TheCrazyOnes #Startups #Entrepreneur Watch The Crazy Ones here: https://www.youtube.com/...

Feb 02, 202321 minEp 20Transcript available on Metacast

Exclusive: Selling My Company & Making Life-Changing Money

Episode 19: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) are breaking down the recent sale of Jesse’s first business, Ampush. From building the company in the early days, to making the decision to sell, to the actual negotiations and the emotional aftermath, Jesse and Alex dig into all of it. #TheCrazyOnes #Startups #Entrepreneur Watch The Crazy Ones here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrazyOnesPod (00:46) - Intro (04:50) - How Tinuity came to acquire Jesse’s company, ...

Jan 31, 20231 hr 15 minEp 19Transcript available on Metacast

How to Run a Great Off-Site (BONUS EPISODE)

Episode 18: Today, host Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) is bringing you a special bonus episode addressing a frequently asked question—how do you run a great team off-site? Listen to hear Jesse break down the fundamentals of running an impactful off-site with your team—from effective preparation, to what types of strategy sessions to hold, to the best team-bonding exercises. (00:00) - Intro (00:29) - Why you run an off-site (01:24) - How to run an effective strategic off-site (05:14) - What makes for a g...

Jan 26, 20239 minTranscript available on Metacast

Jonathan Swanson on Building a Unicorn and Delegating 90% of Your Life

Episode 17: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) are joined by fellow startup entrepreneur Jonathan Swanson. Jonathan is the co-founder and chairman of Thumbtack—a massive technology leader building the modern home management platform. In this episode, Jonathan tells Alex and Jesse all about how he and his co-founders came up with the idea for Thumbtack, the turning points and oh-sh*t moments of growing the business, and his genius delegation tactics that sav...

Jan 24, 202353 minEp 17Transcript available on Metacast

How an Entrepreneur Turns Self-Hate into Love

Episode 16: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) discuss some of the highly self-critical beliefs Alex has been reflecting on as a founder, and how he’s learned to reframe them for himself. #TheCrazyOnes #Startups #Entrepreneur Listen to The Crazy Ones here: https://link.chtbl.com/OV4W93_W Subscribe to Morning Brew! Sign up for free today: https://bit.ly/morningbrewyt Follow The Brew! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morningbrew/ Twitter - https://twitte...

Jan 17, 202338 minTranscript available on Metacast

Our 2023 Predictions, from AI to the Creator Economy

Episode 15: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) are talking about their predictions in the business world for 2023—from generative AI, to content creation, what will happen with Twitter (of course), and so much more. Then, Alex gets Jesse’s advice on the launch plan of his new lawn game, The Plunge. And finally, we wrap the episode with a question around recurring meetings—do they ADD value to a business’s operations, or do they do the opposite? #TheCrazyOne...

Jan 10, 202355 minTranscript available on Metacast

Co-founders Austin Rief and Alex Lieberman on Building Morning Brew

Episode 14: To kick off the new year, host Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) is bringing you a very special episode of The Crazy Ones featuring Morning Brew Co-Founder and CEO Austin Rief (@Austin_Rief) and special guest Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom). In this conversation moderated by Sahil, Austin and Alex recount the early days of building Morning Brew, the scrappy ways they grew their subscriber base, and the biggest mistakes and lessons learned along the way. #TheCrazyOnes #Startups #Entrepreneu...

Jan 03, 20231 hrEp 14Transcript available on Metacast

Building a Multimillion Dollar Business…By Yourself

Episode 13: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) are talking solo-preneurship—aka running a business of one. What are the pros and cons of being a solo-preneur? And what types of businesses is solo-preneurship best suited for? Then, the team gets radically honest about how they spend their time each week—from self-care to deep work, Jesse, Alex, and Sophia break down how many hours per week they dedicate to work and play, and...

Dec 27, 202245 minTranscript available on Metacast

We Give Away 7 Profitable Side Hustle Ideas for 2023

Episode 12: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) brainstorm some brilliant ideas for making extra $$ in the new year, as well as how to come up with your own side hustle concepts. Then, the team gets deep with a discussion on year-end reflection and how they set goals and intentions for the coming year. And finally, we wrap with a fascinating Startup AMA addressing when and how to approach buying a domain. #TheCrazyOnes #Star...

Dec 20, 202249 minEp 12Transcript available on Metacast

Why Airlines Are Banks, How to Annual Plan for Your Business & The Biggest Myths About Founders

Episode 11: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) are talking about the brilliance behind airline rewards programs, and other genius ways that businesses have found to get extra cash out of their partners and customers. Then, the team talks end-of-year planning for your business and how to determine which goals and metrics to work towards in the new year. And finally, the team answers a Startup AMA question addressing the bigg...

Dec 13, 202246 minEp 11Transcript available on Metacast

The Genius of Spotify Wrapped and How to Copy It, and How to Sell Your Business for 9 Figures

Episode 10: The team is back together again! Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) discuss the marketing brilliance of Spotify Wrapped and all that makes it a mega success, as well as how other companies can try to replicate it. Then, the team dives into selling your business—when, how, and why to do it, what the process is ACTUALLY like, and their biggest takeaways from their own experiences. And finally, we wrap with a game ...

Dec 06, 202255 minEp 10Transcript available on Metacast

How the Founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK Built His $700M Empire

Episode 8: Today, host Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) is solo again for another special episode of The Crazy Ones, this time featuring founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK and 02E Brands, Brian Scudamore (@BrianScudamore). Brian bought a used truck and started 1-800-GOT-JUNK in 1989 as a college dropout. Today, 1-800-GOT-JUNK makes $600 million in revenue, and Brian has also created the parent company 02E Brands which brings in an addition $100 million with its other businesses. Listen to hear B...

Nov 29, 202246 minEp 9Transcript available on Metacast

How Codie Sanchez Built a $50 Million Portfolio of Boring Businesses, and the #1 Skill to Learn in a Recession

Episode 8: Today, host Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) is flying solo for a very special episode of The Crazy Ones featuring founder and private equity investor Codie Sanchez (@codie_sanchez). Codie has made millions from buying boring businesses (think laundromats, carwashes, and AirBnBs), and has also amassed an audience of over 3 million followers with her media company, Contrarian Thinking. Listen to hear Codie tell Alex about how to determine which boring businesses are actually worth inv...

Nov 22, 20221 hrEp 8Transcript available on Metacast

What You Need to Know Before Raising Capital, and The Billion-Dollar Media Company You’ve Never Heard of

Episode 7: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) recount the wild story of how the digital media company Red Ventures bootstrapped its way to becoming a business with an $11 billion valuation. Then, the crew dives into fundraising—when to do it, how to set your goals, and their best advice for how to raise most successfully. And finally, the crew answers a Startup AMA question around how find the most attractive benefits packa...

Nov 15, 202247 minEp 7Transcript available on Metacast

What Generative AI Means for Startups and Are Executive Coaches Worth It?

Episode 6: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) break down the hype behind Generative AI—what is it, how it’s being used right now, and how to think about it as a business builder. Then, the team discusses their personal experiences with using executive coaches and why it is or isn’t worth the money. And finally, we finish the episode with a game of Product Hunt Roulette, where the team picks their favorite new companies feat...

Nov 08, 202252 minEp 6Transcript available on Metacast

Can Elon Turn the Twitter Ship Around?

Episode 5: EMERGENCY POD – Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) had to spontaneously hop on the mic to talk about Elon’s $44 Billion takeover of the world’s most topical social app, Twitter, and the steps he’s already taken to monetize the company. Then, the crew plays “what would you do as Elon Musk” and give their own ideas into how to turn the Twitter ship around. #TheCrazyOnes #Startups #Entrepreneur Listen to The Crazy O...

Nov 03, 202230 minEp 5Transcript available on Metacast

How Did Mr. Beast Build a $1.5 BILLION Empire, the 5 Ways to Brainstorm Business Ideas and How to Hire FAQ

Episode 4: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) breakdown MrBeast’s $1.5 billion valuation and exactly what factors have allowed MrBeast to be so successful. Then, the team shares their strategies for coming up with ideas for new businesses, and Alex shares his most recent startup pitches. And finally, for Startup AMA we answer a listener question about the best and worst hiring practices. #TheCrazyOnes #Startups #Entrepreneu...

Nov 01, 202235 minEp 4Transcript available on Metacast

How to & How NOT to do Layoffs, the Tax Tip to save you MILLIONS and is the Gas App Going to Solve Bullying?

Episode 3: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) get into the MADNESS of the Gas app - a new social networking platform that has surpassed Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for daily downloads. Then, they get into how to & how NOT to conduct a layoff, whether it’s for one person or a company-wide one. And finally, the trio gets real about the secrets of QSBS and how understanding it can save you MILLIONS. 00:01 - Cold Open: Jesse ...

Oct 25, 202245 minEp 3Transcript available on Metacast

How Spirit Halloween Makes $600M in 2 Months, The Journey of a CEO & Is a Recession Coming?

Episode 2: Today, hosts Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji) kick off with a discussion of Jamie Dimon’s recent economic predictions and how a possible recession will impact startup founders. Then, we jump into the aspects of Spirit Halloween’s business model that have helped it become wildly successful, the team’s own experience of going from founder to CEO, and finally, for Startup AMA we answer a listener question about how to pay your...

Oct 18, 202242 minEp 2Transcript available on Metacast

How Liquid Death got a $700 Million Valuation, Making Your Pitch Deck Undeniable & The Hidden Truth of Being a Tech Entrepreneur

Episode 1: Welcome to the FIRST EPISODE of The Crazy Ones, hosted by fellow friends, founders, and builders, Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista), Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso), and Jesse Pujji (@jspujji). Today, we talk about the rise and the insane $700M evaluation of Liquid Death, then we get into how to make your pitch deck UNDENIABLE to investors, and finally the truths that you need to know as a tech entrepreneur. 1:03 - Liquid Death’s $700M Valuation 8:15 - Sophia Amoruso on Nasty Gal, her...

Oct 11, 202244 minEp 1Transcript available on Metacast

Introducing The Crazy Ones

Announcing the launch of Morning Brew's newest podcast, The Crazy Ones! Hosts Alex Lieberman, Sophia Amoruso, and Jesse Pujji, will be delivering the sharpest insights and unfiltered opinions about the issues affecting founders today, and the information you need to know to build a better business. Episodes release every Tuesday, starting October 11th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 04, 20221 minTranscript available on Metacast

The Future of Founder’s Journal

After more than 300 episodes, Founder’s Journal is taking a little hiatus. We are making some changes to level the show up to create the best possible podcast for business builders. There are really exciting things in the works and I cannot wait to share it with you all. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad ...

Jun 27, 202255 secTranscript available on Metacast

The Power of Leverage (Classic)

In this classic episode, I break down the different types of leverage you need to understand to make smart career decisions. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 202210 minEp 375Transcript available on Metacast

Considering The Unexpected (Classic)

This week’s miniseries theme is Mental Models. In this episode, I break down why every great entrepreneur, investor, or employee must learn how to become a great second order thinker. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 20229 minEp 374Transcript available on Metacast

Solving Problems and Making Better Decisions (Classic)

In this classic episode, I talk about why it is essential to understand the mental model known as Inversion Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 202210 minEp 373Transcript available on Metacast

Mimetic Theory & Decision Making (Classic)

In this classic episode, I talk about why it is essential to understand mimetic theory and how it impacts the choices you make every single day. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 202213 minEp 372Transcript available on Metacast

The Right Way to Take Time Off

In this classic episode, I'm discussing the steps you should take to properly set yourself up at work before taking time off. As mentioned in the episode, check out two of my previous episodes, How to Unplug From Work and How To Get Your Shit Together, for more helpful tools related to PTO. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn...

Jun 15, 202213 minEp 371Transcript available on Metacast

How to Overcome Builder's Block (Classic)

In this classic episode, I talk about a concept that I call Builder’s Block, what I do to remedy it, and why I think Builder’s Block is a good thing. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 202215 minEp 370Transcript available on Metacast

The Evolution of an Entrepreneur (Classic)

In this classic episode I talk about the skills an entrepreneur must adapt over the life of their business. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 10, 202213 minEp 369Transcript available on Metacast

How Entrepreneurs Think (Classic)

In this classic episode, I’m talking about the mental toolkit of successful entrepreneurs. If you're interested in learning more about thinking independently, check out my previous episode, Think for Yourself. Check out full episode transcripts at https://foundersjournal.morningbrew.com to learn more, and if you have any ideas for our show, email me at alex@morningbrew.com or my DMs are open @businessbarista. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 08, 202218 minEp 368Transcript available on Metacast