Podcast
The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership
Hosted by Graystoke Networks · EN
Jess Larsen interviews exciting people and uncommonly high achievers including Billionaires, Pro Athletes, Fortune 500 CEOs, Hollywood Actors like Danny Glover, New York Times Bestselling Authors, Tech Founders, Four-star Generals, World Class Musicians, Special Ops, VCs, Olympic Athletes, Non-Profit Leaders, Inventors and many more.
38episodes
Episodes
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Why do 75% of Exits Fail? | Michael Winn, Co-Founder & Partner at Chartered Wealth Partners
4d ago00:52:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Michael Winn of Chartered Wealth for the first installment in a new mini-series on one of the biggest questions founders face: why do so many exits fail? Michael breaks down the surprising statistic that 75% of founder exits are unsuccessful, and explains why selling a company is not just a transaction, but a deeply personal, financial, and strategic process. Michael shares the three areas every founder must align before an exit: business readiness, financial readiness, and personal readiness. While most owners focus on whether the business is valuable and transferable, Michael explains why the emotional side is often the most overlooked and the most dangerous, especially when founders lose their identity, purpose, and daily adrenaline after the wire hits. Jess and Michael also explore real client stories, including founders who walked away from $300M+ deals, struggled after $120M exits, or discovered that their “magic number” was not what they thought. The conversation dives into estate planning, wealth gap analysis, tax mitigation, spouse alignment, and the importance of preparing for life after the sale long before the deal closes. Whether you’re actively preparing to sell, years away from an exit, or building a business you may never sell, this episode is a practical and eye-opening guide to avoiding founder regret and creating an exit on your terms, not the buyer’s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ethereum Co-Founder's Sovereign AI Future | Anthony Di Iorio, CEO & Founder of Decentral
2w ago00:56:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Anthony Di Iorio, co-founder of Ethereum and one of the earliest builders in the crypto ecosystem, for a wide-ranging conversation on Bitcoin, Ethereum, AI, decentralization, and personal sovereignty. Anthony shares how he first discovered Bitcoin in 2012, bought in when it was under $10, and helped build the Toronto Bitcoin community where he eventually met Vitalik Buterin and became part of Ethereum’s founding story. The conversation moves beyond crypto into Anthony’s deeper mission: helping people regain control of their digital lives. He explains why Ethereum’s real breakthrough was not speculation, but utility, smart contracts, programmable systems, and the removal of unnecessary middlemen. Anthony also shares why he believes too much of today’s digital infrastructure depends on centralized platforms, cloud providers, and business models that extract value from users instead of empowering them. Jess and Anthony dive into his newest work around AI, cognitive sovereignty, and what it could mean for one person or a tiny team to accomplish what used to require hundreds of people. Anthony introduces the ideas behind As You Wish, his AI command platform built around “genies,” and Andiami, his effort to give people tools to run their own nodes, own their data, and reduce reliance on big tech infrastructure. This episode is a fascinating look at the next chapter of decentralization, where crypto, AI, personal computing, and human freedom all collide. If you care about the future of entrepreneurship, digital ownership, or staying in control of your own intelligence in an AI-driven world, this conversation is one to watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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$2.5B in Real Estate to Fulfillionaire | Thrive CEO JP Newman
3w ago01:02:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with JP Newman, CEO of Thrive FP and founder of Fulfillionaire, for a powerful conversation about success, money, meaning, and what happens after you finally achieve the life you thought would make you happy. JP shares his unconventional path from Sony Pictures and family entertainment to building a real estate platform with more than $2 billion in transactions, and how his early struggles shaped the way he thinks about leadership, risk, and responsibility. But the heart of this conversation goes far beyond real estate. JP opens up about what he calls “the net worth trap,” the shift from chasing money to fearing the loss of it, and why so many successful people still feel anxious, unfulfilled, or stuck after reaching major financial milestones. He explains the five dimensions of wealth behind Fulfillionaire, including prosperity, purpose, people, presence, and play, and why true wealth must support a life of meaning, connection, joy, and service. Jess and JP also explore philanthropy, faith, giving, and the responsibility that comes with managing other people’s money. JP shares the story behind Veritas Impact Partners, his nonprofit created to support residents in workforce housing communities with services like telemedicine, mental health support, financial education, and tutoring. This is a deeply human episode about redefining success, using money as a tool instead of a scoreboard, and building a life where wealth leads to freedom, generosity, and fulfillment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Raising $200M & Building AI for Drug Discovery | BenchSci Co-founder and CEO, Liran Belenzon
4w ago00:43:58Tap to summarizeMost people don’t realize how broken drug discovery really is. According to Liran Belenzon, companies can spend seven years and hundreds of millions of dollars on a drug candidate—only to see it fail in human trials. In this episode, Liran explains why biology is one of the most complex systems humans have ever tried to understand and how AI can help researchers uncover patterns humans miss. The discussion explores why even small improvements in success rates could completely reshape healthcare outcomes worldwide. This episode is a powerful glimpse into the future of science and medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why the Rich are Moving to the Cayman Islands? | Daniel Altneu & Co-hosted with Holly Parker
May 2100:48:36Tap to summarizeIn this special co-hosted episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess Larsen is joined by top Compass broker Holly Parker for a fascinating conversation with Cayman Islands attorney Daniel Altneu of Bedell Cristin. Together, they unpack why the Cayman Islands has become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, entrepreneurs, and global investors. Daniel breaks down the realities behind Cayman residency, offshore structuring, wealth migration, tax strategy, and succession planning — while separating fact from Hollywood fiction about the islands. The discussion explores why affluent families from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Dubai, and beyond are increasingly relocating assets, businesses, and even future generations to Cayman for lifestyle, privacy, safety, and long-term financial planning. Jess and Holly also dive into the cultural transformation happening in Cayman: world-class dining, luxury real estate, understated wealth, elite healthcare, international schools, and a growing reputation as a discreet alternative to places like Monaco, Dubai, and St. Barts. Along the way, they discuss family office trends, crypto migration, global mobility, co-ownership luxury properties, and what the future of wealth movement may look like in a rapidly changing world. Whether you’re curious about international residency, wealth preservation, offshore law, or simply why so many influential people are quietly choosing Cayman, this episode offers an insider look at one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs for global wealth and lifestyle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Building $300M Dream Homes for Billionaires | Grant Bowen, Founder & CEO of Peak Projects
May 1400:49:42Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to build a $100M–$300M+ home—and work with some of the wealthiest people in the world? In this episode, Grant Bowen, founder of Peak Projects, breaks down the hidden world behind ultra-luxury residential development. From managing complex projects to acting as a trusted advisor, Grant shares how his firm became one of the leaders in the space. But this conversation goes far beyond real estate. Grant reveals what it’s actually like working with ultra-high-net-worth clients—and how the reality is often very different from the stereotypes. He also dives into trust, relationships, and why transactional thinking fails at the highest levels. If you’re building a business, raising capital, or serving elite clients, this episode is packed with lessons you won’t hear anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Deep Questions with a Navy Seal | Retired Navy SEAL, Diego Ugalde
May 701:02:43Tap to summarizeFormer Navy SEAL Diego Ugalde returns to The Jess Larsen Show for one of our most thought-provoking conversations yet. In this throwback episode, Diego opens up about the journey behind his book Leading From the Deep and the lessons he learned from BUD/S training, combat deployments, leadership, trauma, and healing. Jess and Diego explore the realities of mental toughness, what elite performance actually feels like under pressure, and why so many high achievers unknowingly run on fear, shame, and self-judgment. Diego shares powerful stories from his SEAL career, including combat medicine experiences in Iraq, the mindset required to survive BUD/S, and the evolution of his leadership philosophy through psychedelics and consciousness work. The conversation shifts into something deeper: identity, ego, purpose, and the idea that “love can be the gasoline” behind performance instead of fear. What follows is an honest, philosophical, and deeply human discussion about success, suffering, healing, and what it really means to lead yourself and others. This is more than a conversation about Navy SEALs or psychedelics. It’s a conversation about becoming whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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NVIDIA, Taiwan and The Future of AI | Founder and CEO of GMI Cloud, Alex Yeh
Apr 3001:06:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Innovation & Leadership, Jess Larsen sits down with Alex Yeh, founder of GMI Cloud, to explore the rise of AI infrastructure and the idea of a new “AI internet.” Alex explains how this next wave of computing is fundamentally different—where information is generated on demand rather than stored—and how his company is building the systems that power it.Alex shares his journey from fintech founder and crypto investor to building large-scale data centers across the U.S. after China’s sudden crypto crackdown. His story highlights persistence, rapid learning, and the willingness to take on challenges far outside his expertise to create opportunity.The conversation dives into GMI Cloud’s mission to make AI accessible to anyone, enabling faster innovation and even the possibility of a billion-dollar company run by a single individual. Alex also outlines how AI will transform organizations by automating communication and dramatically increasing productivity.Whether you’re a founder, investor, or operator, this episode offers practical insights on scaling, hiring top talent, and preparing for an AI-driven future. Learn more at GMI Cloud Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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$8B Success Story to AI Pioneer | Founder, President & CEO of Jivox, Diaz Nesamoney
Apr 2301:10:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with serial entrepreneur Diaz Nesamoney to explore the evolution of data, AI, and the future of commerce. Diaz shares his journey from growing up across multiple countries to co-founding Informatica—one of the early enterprise software giants that rode the wave of the internet boom—and the hard-earned lessons that came from building and scaling billion-dollar companies. He dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, from near financial collapse in the early days to the importance of persistence, customer feedback, and strategic pivots. The conversation then shifts to Diaz’s latest venture, DaVinci Commerce, where he’s betting on the convergence of AI and first-party data to fundamentally reshape how consumers discover and buy products. He explains how conversational AI platforms are replacing traditional search, why personalized advertising is becoming dramatically more effective, and how brands can build a presence inside emerging AI ecosystems. Along the way, Diaz offers practical insights on fundraising, product-market fit, partnerships, and timing the market—along with candid reflections on curiosity, adaptability, and what it really takes to build enduring companies. This episode is a deep dive into the next era of commerce—and a masterclass in entrepreneurial thinking from someone who’s lived it multiple times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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AI evolution in Supply Chains | BlueYonder CEO, Duncan Angove
Apr 1600:40:21Tap to summarizeWhat if the software running the world’s supply chains could predict the future 10 billion times a day? In this throwback episode of The Jess Larsen Show: Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Duncan Angove, CEO of Blue Yonder, the company powering supply chains for many of the world’s largest brands. From orchestrating fleets of trucks and warehouses to leveraging AI for real-time decision-making, Duncan breaks down how modern supply chains actually work—and why they’re one of the most complex systems ever built. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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