Podcast Summary

Podcast: Making It with Jon Davids

Episode 240: I Ask Scaramucci All My Burning Questions | Money, Aliens, Politics, and more.
Date: January 13, 2026
Guest: Anthony Scaramucci (Founder of SkyBridge Capital, ex-White House Communications Director)

Episode Overview

In this rapid-fire episode, Jon Davids sits down for a ten-minute blitz Q&A with Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci. With time tight, Jon covers as much ground as possible, discussing Scaramucci’s career highs and lows, business grit, personal beliefs (aliens included), political stories, and some practical wisdom. The tone is brisk but warm and candid, with Scaramucci displaying his trademark wit and openness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Scaramucci’s Biggest Day: Wins & Losses

• Q: What’s the most money you ever made in a day?
  A (Scaramucci): “Made a million. But I've also lost a million. So yeah, it's great on the way up, it's really terrible on the way down.” (02:11)

Career Journey & Business Perspective

• Started at SkyBridge Capital:

  • After Harvard Law and a stint at Goldman Sachs, left to create SkyBridge.
  • “Don’t confuse brains with a bull market. Remember, timing is everything. If I had started SkyBridge in 2008 during the global financial crisis, it probably wouldn't exist.” (03:01)

• Competition:

  • “Money management, we have a ton of competitors, but... smart money managers only compete with themselves.” (03:16)

• Standing Out:

  • “With my looks and my charm.” (03:28)

Highs & Lows: Professional Lessons

• Rock Bottom:

  • “The global financial crisis. ...down about 40% at the bottom... felt like we were going to go out of business. So a lot of things had to break our way, which they did.” (03:35)

• Best Decision:

  • “Buying the Citibank alternative asset management business from Citibank during that crisis way back in 2010.” (03:51)

• Biggest Miss:

  • “I said no to Uber …they came in to see me at a $50 million valuation. I could have made several hundred million dollars in that. I didn't understand it, so I said no.” (04:37)

• Have You Been Fired?:

  • Twice—once from Goldman Sachs (rehired later), and the “high profile” White House public firing. (04:49)

• Trouble Paying Bills:

  • “No, thank God. But you know what? I'm a hustler. I've been working since I was 11… always lived below my means. ...If you can't afford the price of the ticket, don't go to the movies.” (05:08)

Beliefs & Mindset

• Something you believe today that seemed crazy 10 years ago?

  • “We’re not alone.” (05:37)
  • “I think there’s more than ample evidence that we've got… unidentified objects that are moving faster than our technology…” (05:40)

• Have you lost sleep over business?

  • “Yes.” (06:02)

• How do you keep going?

  • “General simple mindedness… You got to get up in the morning and believe you're going to make it… human mind… is sort of like a Swiss army knife…” (06:05)

Political & Personal Anecdotes

• On Barack Obama:

  • “I think he’s a likable guy... probably missed the mark politically in terms of where the country needed to go during his presidency… But I like Barack Obama. I think he did a generally good job as president.” (06:43)
  • Harvard Law School connection, funny story:
    • At a fundraiser, Scaramucci joked about pretending to know Obama for a donation.
    • Obama replied: “If you double the amount of the check, we’ll take it right back to Hawaii.”
    • “He has probably the best smile in American politics since Jack Kennedy.” (07:06)
    • “I've been to more Barack Obama Christmas parties at the White House than Donald Trump Christmas parties.” (08:15)

• Donald Trump:

  • No longer gets invited to Trump parties. (08:18)

Reputation & Self-Perception

• Biggest misunderstanding:
  • People stereotype him (“Jersey Shore cast member, Tony Soprano on the Potomac”).
  • “What other people think of you is none of your business. So just go and enjoy your life.” (08:21)

Wealth, Upbringing, & Mindset

• Born rich?

  • “Yes, I was born rich. I just wasn't born monetarily rich… blessed with a good family and a decent IQ.” (09:40)

• Advice to those who think they can’t make money without being born into it:

  • “Well, you’re probably right. …if you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. So stop that and change your mindset and start thinking you can do something. And then you will also be right.” (10:00)

Lightning Round: Personal Touches & Fun

• Luckiest event:

  • “Meeting my wife, my wife Deirdre has been a real source of inspiration and help to me.” (10:22)

• If you quit today, what’s next?

  • “Probably go to a baseball game… I want to go to 30 different ballparks and see a three game series in every park.” (10:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mindset and adaptation:

  “The human mind is a wonderfully adaptive mechanism. It's sort of like a Swiss army knife. You’ll pull the right tools out at the right time, but you got to have that mindset.”
  —Anthony Scaramucci (06:05)

• On missing Uber:

  “I said no to Uber…could have made several hundred million dollars in that. I didn't understand it, so I said no to it.”
  —Anthony Scaramucci (04:37)

• About public perception:

  "…People want to two dimensionalize people… Sometimes they forget that I went to Harvard or…authored a few books… They can get it wrong about me all day. I honestly don’t care. …What other people think of you is none of your business. So just go and enjoy your life."
  —Anthony Scaramucci (08:21)

• On mindset and wealth:

  "If you think you can or you can't, you're right. So stop that and change your mindset and start thinking you can do something. And then you will also be right."
  —Anthony Scaramucci quoting Henry Ford (10:00)

• Obama fundraiser story:

  "Senator Obama…we didn’t really know each other in law school, but I got a big check here and I want to be able to drop your name and tell all my friends… Are you okay with that? And he didn’t miss a beat. He looked at me, said, ‘If you double the amount of the check, we’ll take it right back to Hawaii.’ And he had that big smile… He won me over.”
  —Anthony Scaramucci (07:06)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:11 | Biggest gain (and loss) in a day | | 02:18 | What does Scaramucci do? Introduction | | 03:01 | Starting SkyBridge and the importance of timing | | 03:35 | Professional rock bottom during financial crisis | | 03:51 | Best business decision | | 04:37 | Biggest money-losing mistake (passing on Uber investment) | | 04:49 | Getting fired, including the White House | | 05:08 | Lessons on living below your means | | 05:37 | Belief in extraterrestrial life | | 06:05 | Mindset and adapting in business | | 06:43 | Barack Obama anecdote and political reflections | | 08:21 | Stereotypes and what people get wrong about Scaramucci | | 09:40 | Reflection on being "born rich" | | 10:00 | Advice on mindset to wealth | | 10:22 | Luckiest thing: meeting his wife | | 10:35 | Dream of seeing baseball in every MLB park |

Tone & Takeaways

Scaramucci comes across as affable, candid, and quick-witted—unafraid to celebrate wins, own mistakes, or take jabs at himself. His advice centers around resilience, mindset, and adaptability. The episode is engaging, peppered with humor and real talk, perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, or anyone looking for an authentic perspective on success, failure, and bouncing back.

Recommended for:
Listeners interested in business, investing, political stories, and the irrepressible personality of Anthony Scaramucci. Even if you’ve never tuned in before, this episode delivers a dense package of advice and entertainment in under 11 minutes.