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.
35episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Raising $200M & Building AI for Drug Discovery | BenchSci Co-founder and CEO, Liran Belenzon
5d 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
2w ago00:48:36Tap 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
3w ago00:49:42Tap 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
4w ago01:02:43Tap 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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How to Grow Licensing Revenue to $1.5B/yr | Tailscale CEO, Avery Pennarun
Apr 900:48:43Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to go from startup to category leader? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show: Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Avery Pennarun, CEO of Tailscale, to break down the real mechanics behind product-market fit, scaling to a billion-dollar company, and becoming the default choice in your industry. Avery shares hard-earned lessons from building Tailscale into one of the most respected infrastructure companies in tech—used by thousands of teams worldwide. From why most founders think about markets the wrong way, to how focusing on a tiny niche can unlock massive growth, this conversation is a masterclass in strategy, execution, and discipline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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What New Things is Jim Mellon investing in? | Investor, Jim Mellon
Apr 200:43:09Tap to summarizeWe’re revisiting one of our most fascinating conversations on The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership. In this throwback episode, Jess sits down with billionaire investor, entrepreneur, and futurist Jim Mellon to explore the ideas shaping the future of business, technology, and human life itself. From his early days witnessing the rise of Silicon Valley alongside figures like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, to building a global investment career across emerging markets, Jim shares the mindset that has allowed him to navigate decades of constant change. He reflects on missed opportunities, the importance of curiosity, and why adaptability is no longer optional in today’s world. The conversation goes far beyond traditional investing. Jim dives into his work in longevity science, the future of food production, and the transformative potential of quantum computing and fusion energy. He also shares candid advice on how to think about risk, avoid hype cycles, and identify real opportunities in emerging industries. This episode is a deep look into how long-term thinkers approach innovation, uncertainty, and the future. If you’re interested in where the world is heading and how to position yourself ahead of it, this is a conversation worth revisiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sold Kinkos to Fedex | Co-Founder of GameStop & Author, Gary Kusin
Mar 2600:56:35Tap to summarizeThis episode is a masterclass in leadership, scale, and hard-earned business wisdom. Jess sits down with Gary Kusin—founder of GameStop (formerly Babbage’s), former CEO of Kinko’s, and a leader behind one of the most impressive turnarounds in retail history—to unpack the lessons that shaped his career. Gary shares the real story behind taking Kinko’s from negative EBITDA to a $2.4B acquisition by FedEx, what it was like working directly with Fred Smith, and the leadership principles he developed through decades of building and advising companies. This conversation goes far beyond business tactics—it dives into accountability, culture, and what it truly takes to build teams that win. From raising capital to making tough calls as a CEO, Gary breaks down the difference between theory and reality in leadership. If you’re a founder, operator, or aspiring leader, this episode will challenge how you think about performance, people, and long-term success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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