Podcast Summary: "Going After What's Yours" w/ Kneeland Youngblood

Podcast: Money and Wealth with John Hope Bryant
Host: John Hope Bryant
Guest: Dr. Kneeland Youngblood
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Money and Wealth with John Hope Bryant features a deep-dive, hour-long interview with Dr. Kneeland Youngblood—a highly accomplished private equity investor, physician, and philanthropist. John and Kneeland unravel Youngblood’s remarkable journey from a modest, education-focused upbringing to building a billion-dollar private equity firm, discussing wealth-building, ownership, the importance of relationship capital, and why the Black community must embrace generational wealth. The conversation is candid, practical, and packed with inspiring life lessons and tangible financial guidance.

Main Topics & Key Points

1. Introduction to Kneeland Youngblood (03:09–10:07)

• Background: Dr. Youngblood is the founder of Pharos Capital and manages over $1 billion in assets, specializing in healthcare investments with impact in underserved communities.
• Character: John introduces Kneeland as "a decent, honest, brilliant leader who happens to have figured out money and finance… who happens to be Black" (04:21).
• Legacy: Youngblood’s impact goes beyond business—he holds board positions, presidential appointments, and embodies inclusive, “good” capitalism.

2. Youngblood’s Early Life and Influences (11:04–22:55)

• Family Ethos: Both parents graduated young; strong emphasis on education and work ethic despite limited financial means.
• Notable Quote:

  "Never let money get in the way of your success... You do what you have to do, and I promise you, we'll be there for you."
  — Kneeland Youngblood (12:46)

• First Insights on Opportunity: Time abroad as a teen revealed that, despite America’s flaws, it remained a land of opportunity—especially to immigrants, an insight that shaped his worldview.
• Education Journey: Princeton undergrad, focused on medicine and politics, ultimately became a physician after deliberate research and international exposure.

3. The Pivot: From Medicine to Private Equity (22:55–29:54)

• Medical Career: Spent 12 years as an emergency room physician, cherishing lives saved and the grounding influence of medicine.
• Moment of Clarity:

  "Having practiced medicine for 12 years… it’s given me, I think, a very good perspective on the things that are important in life."
  — Kneeland Youngblood (22:55)

• Discipline & Decision-Making: John points out Kneeland’s ability to focus and act without letting emotion interfere, which he notes is also key in wealth-building.
• Transitioning Careers: Exposed to the world of business through political fundraising, which revealed the difference between grassroots influence and true access—capital.

4. Breaking Into Private Equity and Early Barriers (29:54–47:30)

• First Barrier:

  "Women and people of color had been involved in grassroots politics... I didn’t see that as effective as people who had the capital."
  — Kneeland Youngblood (31:26)

• Youngblood raised money for notable politicians, learning the power of “the ask” (Bill Bradley’s advice: “if the president walks in the room, what’s your ask?”).
• He strategically sought board seats (e.g., Texas Teachers’ pension fund) to get close to large pools of capital and educate himself about “where wealth is created.”
• Mentorship: Proactively sought out mentors like Richard Rainwater, David Bonderman, and Michael Milken, and invested in relationship capital.
  • Memorable Moment: Traveling to meet these mentors on his own dime, underscoring self-investment and humility.
• Strategy: He deliberately avoided using his "doctor" title as a crutch and built credibility from scratch in finance.

5. Creative Path to Wealth: Using Relationship Capital (47:30–53:03)

• Board Positions = Perks: Pursued corporate board seats (e.g., American Airlines for free travel, Starwood Hotels for lodging)—practical ways to cut business costs as an entrepreneur.

  "If you ever see me on a private jet, I’m not paying for it..."
  — John Hope Bryant (51:33)

  • "I needed to be able to cut my expenses... travel is a big expense. I could, at a moment’s notice, get on a plane and not have to worry about the cost."
    — Kneeland Youngblood (52:00)

• Partnerships and networks were core to his ability to build a business and open new opportunities.

6. Key Life Lessons & Wealth Principles (57:24–68:45)

Relationship Capital

• Most Important Asset:

  “Relationships are clearly the reason why I’ve been... successful. It is... the ability to be able to connect with people... in your true self.”
  — Kneeland Youngblood (58:29)

• Authenticity, mutual respect, and giving as much as receiving in relationships are essential.
• Power & Leverage:

  "It’s important to have a carrot, but also... a stick. Serving on the board, being able to allocate resources... creates a respect that people in power understand."
  — Kneeland Youngblood (61:00)

Personal Advice

• “Listen more than you speak... check your ego... put in the work… keep great people in your life. Be about love.”
  — Kneeland Youngblood (65:12)

Wealth vs. Riches

• Wealth is not just about money, but freedom and the ability to impact others.

• “There are things that wealth cannot solve for... being thoughtful, respecting for what [money] can do and what it can't...”
  — Kneeland Youngblood (66:45, 67:54)

• Generational wealth—critical for community advancement and true equality.

7. The Lawsuit: Defending Family Legacy and Black Land Ownership (69:18–77:52)

• Background: Youngblood’s ancestors went from slavery to landowners, building a legacy post-Emancipation.
• Family nearly lost rightful claim to oil-rich land (147.5 acres) due to legal maneuvering and poor representation; fought through appeals and eventually won a significant victory in Texas courts.
• Impact: The case impacts 200+ family members and serves as a testament to using wealth for justice and uplifting future generations.

• "Having the financial wherewithal can make a tremendous difference in people’s lives… an opportunity to pay tribute to our forefathers and to pay forward the dividends..."
  — Kneeland Youngblood (75:08)

• Settlement tied to mineral rights valued at $900 million (77:49).

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Family Legacy and Opportunity:
  "My grandfather finished medical school in 1930. He went to medical school because his uncle… was an MD. This was in Texas… What I like to say is: I have no excuse." (11:38–12:09)

• On Wealth Creation:
  “You make money during the day, you build wealth in your sleep. This is a fundamental premise of financial literacy.” — John Hope Bryant (36:45)

• Mentors & Humility:
  "I ran up to [Richard Rainwater] and said, 'I want to be like you when I grow up.' ... He gave me confidence because I felt if this man is spending time with me, he saw something in me that maybe I didn’t even see in myself." (40:03–41:30)

• Advice to Youngblood’s 28-Year-Old Self:
  “Continue to be true to yourself… Seize opportunity when it presents itself… Listen more than you speak… Work hard… Be about love… You are tremendously influenced by the people you keep in your life.” (64:11–65:48)

• On Generational Wealth:
  “We have an obligation… to create multi-generational wealth. You have to provide capital… to build businesses, to take risk… That just comes with money, so we need to be about doing just that.” (67:54–68:45)

• On the Lawsuit:
  “It was an opportunity to… pay tribute to the legacy of our forefathers, but also to pay forward the dividends… to the 200-plus relatives I have who deserve this.” (75:08)

• Mic Drop Moment:
  “What are we talking about? — 900 million.” (77:49)

Major Takeaways

• Discipline and perspective (from medicine to money) are critical to wealth-building.
• Relationship capital—authenticity, giving, and credibility—can open doors that money cannot.
• Ownership is the real equalizer, especially for historically marginalized communities.
• Generational wealth is not just about having money; it’s about having options and the ability to right historic wrongs.
• Leverage and mentorship are essential—don't let ego block the learning process at any stage.
• Resilience and tenacity—whether in career pivots or legal battles—are key to protecting and advancing family legacy.

Suggested Listen Timestamps

• Intro and John’s Praise for Youngblood: 04:21–07:05
• Youngblood’s Family and Upbringing: 11:04–14:22
• Pivot Point from Medicine to Business: 20:53–29:54
• Getting Into Private Equity & Mentorships: 37:38–47:57
• Board Perks—Smart Entrepreneurship: 47:30–53:03
• Advice on Relationship Capital: 57:24–61:00
• Advice to 28-Year-Old Self & Definition of Wealth: 63:54–68:45
• Defending Family Land & Lawsuit Story: 69:18–77:52
• Reinforcement of Wealth as an Equalizer: 76:17–78:25

Final Thoughts & Tone

The episode is insightful, upbeat, and candid with occasional humor and real talk. Both John and Kneeland stress the power and responsibility of wealth: to change lives, to sustain legacies, and to serve community—while never losing sight of the importance of humility, discipline, and, above all, relationships.

Listen to this episode if you want a real masterclass on building wealth, overcoming barriers, and the difference between just earning money and transforming a legacy.