The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health.Join us in this episode of The Founder Spirit as we explore inspiring journeys from Sofia de Meyer, Founder of Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hote...
Jan 26, 2024•28 min•Ep. 26
In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we talk to Desh Deshpande, a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. An Indian emigrant best known for founding Cascade Communications and Sycamore Networks and a pioneering figure in the early days of the Internet, Desh emphasizes the importance of building a winning startup culture and reflects on the challenges and lessons learned along the way.Recognizing the wealth gap created by entrepreneurship, he co-founded the Deshpande Foundation with his wife to...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 25
The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health.In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we delved into the stories of the exceptional Barney Swan, a sustainability advocate and Founder...
Dec 15, 2023•26 min•Ep. 24
In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we meet Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi-American women's rights activist making significant strides in humanitarian work and accelerating women-led initiatives for climate actions at Daughters for Earth. Growing up during the Iran-Iraq War, Zainab stresses the importance of recognizing women's experiences during times of conflict and highlights her mother's influence in nurturing her feminist beliefs.Zainab's discusses her passion for aiding women in founding Women ...
Dec 01, 2023•43 min•Ep. 23
The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health.In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we talk to Meagan Fallone, an award-winning social entrepreneur, Founder of Step Up Advisers and...
Nov 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we talk to Ahmad Joudeh, a dancer and choreographer who overcame immense obstacles. His life story is a true testament to the power of art and the human spirit.Born in Syria as a stateless refugee, he faced opposition from family and received death threats for pursuing his passion as a ballet dancer. With help from the Dutch National Ballet, he moved to Amsterdam, founded the Dance or Die Foundation and fulfilled his dream. Ahmad shares how dance helped him...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 21
Bill Shufelt, Founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing Company, left his job as a hedge fund trader to pursue a more meaningful venture with positive societal impact, even when no one in the industry saw the market potential. In this episode of The Founder Spirit podcast, Bill shares his enthusiasm of brewing fulfillment in revolutionizing the non-alcoholic beer segment and his journey of building a health-conscious brand.A former hedge fund trader and college athlete, Bill stopped drinking a decade ...
Oct 21, 2023•57 min•Ep. 20
In a world where many chase perfection and accumulate material possessions, "less is more" shows how inner peace can make the world better, reminding us that real riches are inside us.In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Venerable Monk Burin, the Executive Director of the global NGO The Middle Way Meditation Institute, discusses his journey of becoming a monk and how he realized that financial success does not guarantee happiness. He highlights the importance of inner peace and a simple life. ...
Oct 07, 2023•48 min•Ep. 19
We all believe in something greater than ourselves, and with that belief, we are able to overcome obstacles, no matter how hard life gets sometimes.In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Professor Elaine Pagels, a historian of religion at Princeton University and a Trustee of the Aspen Institute, discusses the significance of the Gnostic Gospels. These ancient texts (nearly 2000 years old), believed to be the secret teachings of Jesus, were discovered in 1945 buried in the deep desert of Upper E...
Sep 16, 2023•41 min•Ep. 17
After over two decades of working in entrepreneurship and finance, our host, Jennifer Wu, found herself in an utterly different line of work than she had previously imagined. In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we explore her personal journey in launching this podcast. Though her initial experience was filled with much doubt and fear, she managed to overcome these challenges by ignoring the negative self-talk and shifting her focus to the journey itself. By creating a platform that amplifies ...
Jul 28, 2023•20 min•Ep. 16
The climate crisis and its impact on rising sea levels pose significant threats to coastal communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure worldwide. To raise awareness about this pressing issue, climate art has emerged as a powerful way to engage audiences, provoke dialogue, and inspire collective action. In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we feature Sarah Cameron Sunde, an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of art and activism. Sarah is best known for masterminding 36.5 / A D...
Jul 14, 2023•49 min•Ep. 14
With deep conviction that etiquette is an essential aspect of life, Sara Jane Ho is an accomplished entrepreneur and etiquette expert who calls herself a microcultural anthropologist. Sara is the star of her Emmy-nominated reality makeover show on Netflix, “Mind Your Manners”, a fascinating series that portrays etiquette as the utmost form of wellness, a way to promote genuine and healthy individual growth. Sara also announces her new venture, Antevorta Laboratories, a women's wellness brand for...
Jun 29, 2023•52 min•Ep. 15
Given today’s tough economic environment, many startups are now struggling to survive after having raised record amounts of capital. In this episode of The Founder Spirit Podcast, we'll take a deep dive into Coach Leighroy's story as an elite triathlete turned tech founder and startup coach, and uncover how he leverages his athletic background to assist entrepreneurs in achieving their goals. At Hillspeed Group, a coaching platform for early-stage technology, Coach treats founders like athletes ...
Jun 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 13
Every year we generate over 2 billion tons of waste, most of which ends up either in landfills or being burned, resulting in disastrous consequences on our planet. While these facts are alarming, have you ever paused to wonder what is the root cause of waste? And how can someone build a profitable business based on something so repulsive? In this episode of The Founder Spirit Podcast, Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle, shares his entrepreneurial journey as a Princeton dropout and the impo...
Jun 02, 2023•52 min•Ep. 12
Consumerism and profitability are often prioritized over sustainability and ethical practices. It's refreshing to see entrepreneurs who are committed to making a positive impact on the planet. Tristan Lecomte, a serial social entrepreneur and pioneer in supply chain sustainability and climate change, is leading the way toward a more renewable future. Recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine, he shares his insights and adventures from selling Fair Trade p...
May 20, 2023•54 min•Ep. 11
In today's complex and multi-dimensional world, success can seem elusive and unattainable. However, there are individuals who have managed to achieve remarkable success in multiple domains, defying the odds and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. In this episode of Founder Spirit, we are delighted to bring you the story of one such individual - Masha Gordon., who at the age of 42, became the fastest woman to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam in just 7 months and 19 days, ascending to...
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 10
Some people say that biotechnology is similar to speculative oil drilling for PhDs. We are joined today by Amit Munshi, a serial entrepreneur and a turnaround expert with over 30 years of remarkable experience in biotech. From founding Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (sold to Allergan for $2.1 billion) to leading a successful turnaround at Arena Pharmaceuticals (sold to Pfizer for $6.7 billion), Amit truly knows what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in this industry. In today's episode, he sh...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 9
We reveal, elevate & celebrate the best of humanity. We Are All Human celebrates our differences, it is because of them, not despite them, that we are strong. Joining us today is Claudia Romo Edelman, a social entrepreneur, an advocate, and a catalyst for social change. She is a global mobilization expert, as well as a leader of inclusion, focused on unifying the U.S. Hispanic community and promoting sustainability and purpose-driven activities. She is the founder of We Are All Human Foundat...
Mar 31, 2023•53 min•Ep. 8
We live in a volatile, complex world. It's easy to get stuck in our daily routines, and even easier to never start something or give up when things don’t go as planned. For one man, however, taking the road less traveled has been a journey of self-discovery and limitless creativity. Joining us in this episode is Mike Ang, a serial entrepreneur in the lifestyle and entertainment industry. Trained as a civil engineer, Mike never gave up pursuing his dreams in music, creative writing and entertainm...
Mar 17, 2023•54 min•Ep. 7
Art is creativity, art is expression. How can art heal people and uplift communities in crisis? In this episode of The Founder Spirit Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Max Frieder, a public artist, a humanitarian, and Co-Founder of Artolution, a global non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen communities experiencing crisis through collaborative art-making. Max shares remarkable stories from his work across traumatized communities experiencing crisis, navigating Artolution in refugee camps, ...
Feb 24, 2023•59 min•Ep. 6
There's a saying, a lot of baby steps, small steps, eventually get you to your destination. In this episode of The Founder Spirit Podcast, we talked to Gabi Schenkel, the “Swiss Ultra Princess”, who did the unimaginable. At the age of 42, she is the first Swiss woman to row solo across the Atlantic, a trip which took her 75 days and over 5,000 kilometers (~3,000 miles), making her the 17th woman in the world to ever finish an ocean crossing alone. She has written a book about her borderline expe...
Feb 08, 2023•57 min•Ep. 5
What is the sacred feminine? And why is the feminine worth less than the masculine? In this episode, we explored the intersection of gender and environment with Nicole Schwab, founder of EDGE Certified Foundation, a business certification standard for gender equality in the workplace. Nicole also shares with us some earth-centered wisdom from her book “The Heart of the Labyrinth”, as well as her hope and optimism on the restoration generation, as she currently leads 1t.org, a platform for the tr...
Jan 15, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 4
There are many reasons to start and build a successful startup. But there is one thing you need to do that will set you apart from your competition: adopt the Player’s mindset. Why? Players learn to champion their ideas, push beyond the barrier of comfort and learn from their losses. In this episode of The Founder Spirit podcast, we are joined by Nathan J. Anderson, who is the CEO of Scantrust, an enterprise software scale-up that he founded in early 2014. In his early twenties, the Vermont nati...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 3
This podcast is dedicated to sharing the personal stories and experiences of exceptional individuals from all over the world and a variety of backgrounds to provide valuable insights and life lessons through authentic conversations with those who are not afraid to dream big and take a step back to reflect before pushing forward with their mission. It is my greatest hope that it will inspire you to pursue your true passion, live more authentically, and become better versions of yourselves. If you...
Dec 30, 2022•16 min•Ep. 1
Even though starting a nonprofit organization is difficult, it forces you to consider your larger life or business goals beyond revenue and profits. It is a tool that enables you to concentrate on the big picture and establish long-term goals and objectives that have the potential to change the lives of hundreds, thousands, or perhaps millions of people. In today’s episode of The Founder Spirit podcast, we are joined by Heather Ibrahim Leathers. She is the Founder and President of the Global Fun...
Nov 29, 2022•56 min•Ep. 2
