Episodios

  • Michelle Tam’s Culinary Revolution

    Michelle Tam’s Culinary Revolution
    Jul 16 2024
    Michelle Tam is the co-creator of the Saveur Award-winning food blog, Nom Nom Paleo. Together with her husband, Henry Fong, they’ve also produced a two-time Webby Award-winning cooking app, authored three New York Times bestselling cookbooks, have been nominated for a James Beard Award, and created a best-selling line of paleo spice blends. This week, Barrett talks with Michelle about her journey from pharmacist to pioneer in the Paleo community, and her transition to food and wellness. She discusses the creative process of developing cookbooks with her husband Henry Fong, their balanced approach to Paleo eating, and the foundational role of family in their business. Barrett and Michelle cover a wide range of topics including the importance of creative integrity, handling audience feedback, dealing with criticism, the impact of community, and the joys and challenges of running a food blog and app. Michelle also shares her insights on climate change, the importance of professional relationships, maintaining authenticity, and her undying passion for food which continues to drive her work and life. In this episode: [00:00] - Intro [02:43] - James Beard Award nomination [06:32] - Family and food philosophy [08:49] - The journey of Nom Nom Paleo [15:02] - Cultural reflections and family dynamics [27:45] - Career choices and immigrant influence [35:57] - Embracing playfulness in work and life [37:13] - Balancing passion and partnership [41:04] - The creative process behind cookbooks [48:21] - The impact of night shifts and discovering Paleo [52:23] - Food as medicine and personal growth [01:00:28] - Reflecting on success and personal standards [01:11:55] - Learning from trolls and thoughtful feedback [01:13:03] - Evaluating which opportunities to pursue [01:18:09] - Connecting with the food community [01:25:02] - Balancing life between two cities [01:30:45] - Designing the perfect kitchen [01:34:02] - Reflecting on personal and professional growth [01:36:57] - The importance of quality friendships [01:43:11] - The beautiful future Michelle is trying to create [01:44:38] - Who Michelle is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 49 m
  • Andrew Farah is Creating the Future of Workspaces

    Andrew Farah is Creating the Future of Workspaces
    Jul 9 2024
    Andrew Farah is co-founder and CEO of Density Inc., where he has spent the last 10 years building real-time radar technologies for measuring how people use buildings. The company works with many in the Fortune 500, manufactures its anonymous radar systems in the United States, and has raised $227m in venture capital. Andrew lives near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with his spouse, three daughters, and English Shepherd. This week, Barrett talks with Andrew about startup culture, building great teams, reading and contextualizing knowledge, and the essence of enthusiasm in leadership. They discuss the journey of personal and professional growth, the significance of humility in conflict, and the importance of feedback in establishing meaningful relationships and impactful businesses. In this episode: [00:00] - Intro [02:34] - "Skateboard Andrew" [07:47] - LLCs and their impact on global GDP [14:23] - Seriousness vs playfulness in Andrew's career [18:53] - The practicality of having multiple founders [22:05] - Density's three core values [26:49] - Building ambitious and humble teams [33:30] - Enthusiasm vs passion [52:30] - Reading in context [01:01:24] - How boards help you grow as a leader [01:08:07] - Building rapport with board members [01:12:34] - Evaluating and responding to feedback [01:17:41] - Handling negative feedback and the importance of conflict for growth [01:26:27] - How Andrew would design an office space starting from scratch [01:35:39] - How Density's success would change the world [01:36:52] - Who Andrew is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 42 m
  • Nathan Barry: Everything We Learned Growing ConvertKit to $40M (and What We'd Do Differently)

    Nathan Barry: Everything We Learned Growing ConvertKit to $40M (and What We'd Do Differently)
    Jun 18 2024
    Nathan Barry is the Founder and CEO of ConvertKit. In previous careers, Nathan has been a designer, author, and blogger. After learning the power of email marketing, he gave up a successful blogging career to go all-in on ConvertKit. Outside of work, Nathan spends his time playing soccer, woodworking, and chasing after his three boys. This week, Barrett and Nathan sit down for a candid conversation about the ups and downs of building a $40M company, and what they wish they had done differently. They also dive into their strategies for growing personal brands, the power of clear roles and communication in projects, building strong team relationships, creating a supportive yet high-performance company culture, and much more. In this episode: [00:00] - Intro [04:20] - Why Barrett left ConvertKit [15:18] - Building confidence as a leader [22:59] - "We should have fired more people" [37:57] - Creating a healthy feedback culture [44:13] - Strategies for better communication [58:14] - Designing comp and benefits [01:07:46] - What we nailed on the growth side (and what we could have done differently) [01:23:10] - Lessons learned from Barrett's departure [01:36:20] - Podcasting for the long haul [01:52:16] - On brand differentiation [01:55:52] - Who Nathan is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    2 h
  • A Quadrillion Humans in the Stars with Fil Aronshtein

    A Quadrillion Humans in the Stars with Fil Aronshtein
    Jun 11 2024
    Fil Aronshtein’s journey is one of boundless curiosity, from his childhood dreams of becoming an inventor, architect, and astronaut, to his present-day mission of shaping the future of manufacturing. As the founder of Dirac, a company revolutionizing the manufacturing industry, he faced persistent rejection before finding his breakthrough. This week, Barrett talks with Fil about his vision for transforming manufacturing processes, and how that fits into a wider vision for a more expansive version of humanity. They dive into the intricacies of launching a new company and overcoming persistent rejection, as well as the larger implications of Fil’s work for industries such as aerospace and defense. They also discuss the importance of personal agency and the power of community, exploring how Fil’s early influences and passion for creating things fuels his vision for a more integrated and self-reliant future. In this episode: 00:00 - Intro 03:21 - Overcoming rejection 14:52 - Fil's transition to software 19:55 - Why Fil believes nothing is impossible 24:05 - Fil’s go-to-market strategy 25:58 - The problem Dirac is solving 30:22 - How manufacturing affects everyone 41:48 - Why preserving the ability to manufacture is so critical 49:14 - Emotional vs logical reactions to nuclear energy: empathy, education, and exposure 56:19 - Fil’s early interest in science and engineering 01:09:37 - Fil's role models and inspirations 01:15:51 - The compounding effect of community 01:27:30 - Fil's unbearably beautiful future 01:30:42 - Who Fil is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 33 m
  • Creating a Shared Humanity through Authentic Storytelling with Polina Pompliano

    Creating a Shared Humanity through Authentic Storytelling with Polina Pompliano
    Jun 4 2024
    Polina Marinova Pompliano is the author of “Hiden Genius” and the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she covered technology and venture capital. As the author and editor of Term Sheet, FORTUNE’s industry-leading dealmaking newsletter, Polina interviewed the industry’s most influential dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Schwarzman, Richard Branson, and more. This week, Barrett talks with Polina about her career as a storyteller, personal growth, and the sacrifices required to pursue one's passion. Polina reflects on immigrating to the US from Bulgaria, her career in journalism, and the influence of marriage and motherhood on her ambitions. Together, they discuss building the resilience required to handle life's challenges, the importance of humanizing stories, and the pursuit of meaningful work. In this episode: 00:00 - Intro 02:48 - What it’s like to publish a very personal book 05:43 - How Polina's book impacted her relationships 08:44 - Communication emotion in different languages 13:58 - How Polina’s early experiences have shaped her 23:00 - Polina’s fullest version of herself 25:42 - How becoming a parent changes you 31:24 - The transition from curator to profiler 39:31 - The value in sharing personal stories 49:42 - Polina’s and Barrett’s experiences at UGA 56:08 - Can ambitious people have successful relationships? 01:03:37 - How Polina and her husband remain humble and connected 01:10:26 - Why resilience is so important 01:21:08 - On dealing with grief 01:26:40 - When success becomes the obstacle 01:31:06 - Making the right career decisions 01:35:02 - Find something and become the best at it 01:39:01 - Polina’s advice to her younger self 01:41:19 - The future Polina is trying to create 01:43:25 - Who Polina is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 45 m
  • Matt Mullenweg Is Democratizing Publishing, Commerce, and Messaging

    Matt Mullenweg Is Democratizing Publishing, Commerce, and Messaging
    May 28 2024
    Matt Mullenweg is co-founder of the open-source publishing platform WordPress, which now powers over 40% of all sites on the web. He is the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, WPVIP, Day One, Texts, and Pocket Casts. Additionally, Matt runs Audrey Capital, an investment and research company. He has been recognized for his leadership by Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, Fortune, Fast Company, Wired, University Philosophical Society, and Vanity Fair. Matt is originally from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied jazz saxophone. In his spare time, Matt is an avid photographer. He currently splits his time between Houston and San Francisco. This week, Barrett and Matt dive into a range of topics, from the importance of making informed decisions as a leader to the impact of sabbaticals on personal well-being. Matt shares insights on hiring philosophy, the future of web development, and the significance of human-centered design. He also discusses vulnerability in leadership, his evolving perspectives on technology, including artificial intelligence and decentralized computing, and his commitment to open-source values. In this episode: 00:00 - Intro 02:24 - Matt’s trip to Antarctica and the importance of unplugging 07:51 - Matt’s “ABCs” 10:33 - Transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset 14:08 - How being a musician has shaped Matt’s view of the world 18:48 - The value of music as a metaphor for collaboration and synchronization in creative endeavors 26:45 - Why Matt is described as a “learn-it-all” 28:19 - AI and technological evolution 35:07 - Making smart bets on new technologies 40:00 - Why competition is good for you 45:37 - Pace layering and how to optimize for the right things 53:03 - What Matt learned from taking a three-month sabbatical 01:07:11 - Matt’s mission to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging 01:13:37 - Why security is critical in the age of social media 01:16:19 - The Automattic Creed 01:22:57 - Finding new ideas and testing vs implementation 01:26:37 - Four qualities Matt looks for when hiring 01:32:15 - Matt's unbearably beautiful future Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 39 m
  • Reinventing the Way We Build Homes and Communities with Matthew Marshall

    Reinventing the Way We Build Homes and Communities with Matthew Marshall
    May 21 2024
    Matthew Marshall is the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of New Story — a nonprofit pioneering solutions to end the global housing crisis. He serves on two nonprofit boards, CNU Atlanta and Citymakers Collective — a nonprofit teaching aspiring citymakers the holistic design principles of resilient, beautiful, and prosperous places. He holds a BBA from the University of Georgia and is a Y Combinator alumni, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper alumni, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 leader. This week, Barrett talks with Matthew about his experiences in countries like Haiti, Belize, Ghana, and Peru, and how that led to co-founding a nonprofit focused on the global housing crisis. They discuss New Story’s mission to provide real generational change, and their innovative approach to sustainable housing. They also explore the intricacies of creating a meaningful workplace culture, effective leadership, and how emotional health and authentic connection helps achieve organizational goals. In this episode: [00:00] - Intro [07:22] - The heart and “why” of New Story [12:30] - How Matthew and his co-founders decided what mission to pursue [17:34] - Working with purpose [28:40] - Building a culture of innovation and impact at New Story [50:30] - Practices and habits of a strong organizational culture [57:07] - The power of praise in an organization [59:53] - Defining organizational values and culture [01:03:18] - Building community through shared experiences [01:10:28] - Navigating difficult conversations with emotional intelligence [01:16:52] - Growing as a leader and the importance of voice [01:29:42] - Foundational habits for sustaining performance [01:34:59] - The significance of roots and community in personal and professional life Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 42 m
  • Scaling Startups, Reviving Nuclear Energy, and Solving Important Problems with Julia DeWahl

    Scaling Startups, Reviving Nuclear Energy, and Solving Important Problems with Julia DeWahl
    May 14 2024
    Julia DeWahl is a talented entrepreneur with a fascinating background in startups. Her roles at companies like Opendoor and SpaceX gave her a wealth of experience in growing companies and solving hard problems. She is currently the Co-Founder and President of Antares, which focuses on making and distributing small modular nuclear reactors. She is a passionate advocate for nuclear energy, which she talks about on her podcast, Age of Miracles. This week, Barrett talks with Julia about her diverse career trajectory, the nuances of transitioning between major roles, the challenges of shifting from software to hardware, and the exciting potential of nuclear energy. They also discuss leading organizations through massive growth, working with polarizing figures, how creative pursuits shape our careers, and the impact of family and friendship on work and life. In this episode: 00:00 - Intro 02:14 - Julia's experience traveling after college 08:49 - How Julia’s creative interests fit into her career path 19:25 - Julia's path into startups 25:33 - Choosing the right problems to work on 31:50 - How financial freedom impacts what projects we work on 43:19 - The transition from software to hardware 51:12 - How family and becoming a parent changes your work 01:08:24 - Joining SpaceX 01:14:32 - Leadership lessons from SpaceX, Elon Musk, and Gwynne Shotwell 01:25:58 - What pulled Julia into the world of nuclear energy 01:32:15 - Why writing in public and launching a podcast is a "Bat Signal" 01:37:03 - Learning more about nuclear 01:42:20 - Launching a nuclear energy startup 01:48:42 - Julia on who she is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 52 m