In this episode, Tom and Kyle sit down with Jim Keyes — former CEO of both 7-Eleven and Blockbuster — for a wide-ranging conversation that spans humble beginnings, corporate leadership, and his deep-rooted passion for education. Jim shares stories from his rural Massachusetts childhood, reflects on lessons from McDonald’s that shaped his business acumen, and unpacks why he believes "education is freedom." The episode explores his dramatic tenure at Blockbuster, the strategic near-misses with Google and Paramount, and why he's committed to revolutionizing public education with a tech-forward approach.

In This Episode

[00:02:22] From Poverty to Possibility
[00:05:18] Disruption as Opportunity
[00:08:47] Education is Freedom
[00:12:52] Lessons from the Golden Arches
[00:15:46] Sibling Perspectives & Luck vs. Grit
[00:19:00] Knowledge + Faith = Fearlessness
[00:26:07] From Sitgo to 7-Eleven
[00:35:38] The Japanese Influence
[00:40:04] Clean Stores = Community Pride
[00:47:13] From 7-Eleven to Blockbuster
[00:53:00] The Netflix Myth
[01:10:35] Fixing Public Education: The Next Moonshot

Guest and Mentioned Resources

Education is Freedom Foundation – https://www.educationisfreedom.org
Education is Freedom: The Future is in Your Hands - by Jim Keyes

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Editing and Support by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠