Brilliant Podcast

I’ve been married for 29 years, and I honestly thought I had it all figured out. Then I sat down with relationship scientist Paul Eastwick, author of Bonded by Evolution, and realized everything I knew about "the spark" was wrong. In this episode of the Brilliant Podcast, we’re tearing apart the science of how we connect. It turns out, that "alchemy" you’re looking for isn't something you find, it...

I used to think that meetings just naturally sucked. Then I read Your Best Meeting Ever by Rebecca Hinds and realized I was the one breaking them. In this episode of the Brilliant Podcast I sit down with Rebecca to figure out why we keep throwing junk on our calendars and calling it work. We are getting into the organizational psychology of why your quick syncs are actually killing your company gr...

In this episode of The Brilliant Podcast, host Tristan Ahumada talks with Toby Stuart, professor at UC Berkeley and author, about status dynamics and why anointment quietly shapes nearly every decision we make. They examine how social status, endorsements, social proof, and algorithms influence markets, media, startups, venture capital, and even scientific recognition. Using examples that span win...

If you think your high commission checks equal wealth, you’re adorable, and probably wrong. Most real estate agents are masters at making money and absolute disasters at keeping it. In this episode of the Brilliant Podcast, Tristan Ahumada sits down with Steph Wagner, author of Fly, to explain why your "leaning out" strategy is a financial train wreck waiting to happen. We are moving past the "pin...

Welcome back to the Brilliant Podcast, where we don’t just talk about the future—we accidentally bump into it while gaming. In this episode, Tristan Ahumada sits down with Bastian Bergman, Co-Founder & COO of Solsten and author of Press Play, to explain why gaming is no longer “interesting” or “experimental”, it’s unavoidable. If that makes you uncomfortable, good. Growth usually does. We talk...

So I sat down with Goldie Chan, yes, the green-haired legend of LinkedIn, to talk about introverts, fake extroverts, and why L.A. somehow demands you be “on” all the time, even when you’re just trying to buy a latte. If you’ve ever had a conversation with someone in L.A. who sounds like they’re auditioning… this episode is for you. Goldie showed up with her brand-new book, Personal Branding for In...

I sat down with Russ Laggan, yes, rhymes with Dragon, to talk about what it actually means to be followable in business and life. He’s not just the Chief Growth Officer at eXp Realty, he’s also a guy who forges metal, builds guitars, and has a refreshingly honest take on leadership and mindset. We get into why being followable starts with how you show up, how to stop overcomplicating connection, a...

What really makes someone a great leader? Spoiler: it’s not a fancy title or your ability to quote Simon Sinek. In this episode, I sit down with Margaret Andrews, Harvard educator and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others, to talk about why leadership starts with, you guessed it, you. We get real about emotional awareness, personal stories, and how your inner world quietly dictates your outer l...

This week, I'm discussing self-persuasion with Jay Heinrichs. We bridge Aristotle's teachings with contemporary challenges such as imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and small actions that really do sum to something big. You'll learn how hyperbole can be harnessed as motivation, how mood → mind → action → habit plays out in real life, and why what you say to yourself matters more than you realize.   I...

In this episode of BRILLIANT, I sit down with Martin Dubin, author of Blindspotting: How To See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader. Martin shares how our deepest blindspots, emotional, personal, and generational, often become the very things that shape our leadership if we’re brave enough to face them. We unpack how storytelling, reflection, and honest conversations can help us lead with purpose...

On this episode of BRILLIANT Podcast, I’m joined by Matthew Dicks, the author of Stories Sell, as we talk about how the power of storytelling can reshape how we connect with others—whether in business, relationships, or daily life. Matthew shares his techniques for transforming data into engaging stories, why vulnerability is crucial in connecting with audiences, and how to create emotional resona...

In this episode of BRILLIANT Podcast, I talk with Kass and Michael Lazerow, co-authors of Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success. We dive into the reality of entrepreneurship—how it feels, why it’s worth it, and how to stay sane in the process. From giving Gary Vee his first office space to selling Buddy Media to Salesforce for $754M, they’ve lived it all.   We...

In this episode of the BRILLIANT podcast, I sit down with linguist and award-winning author Anne Curzan to explore how language is changing in real time and what that means for how we communicate, connect, and lead.   Anne and I dig into everything from grammar correction on social media to the word “funner,” why kids are the real influencers of language, and how we can become more empathetic comm...

Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Terry Szuplat, former Special Assistant to the President and senior speechwriter for Barack Obama. He’s the author of Say It Well, a masterclass on writing and speaking with precision, empathy, and impact.   Terry opens up about the behind-the-scenes process of presidential speechwriting, including how moments like the Boston Marat...

Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I talk with LTC Scott Mann, a retired Green Beret and author of Nobody Is Coming to Save You. We dive deep into the emotional and social challenges we’re all facing today, and how to lead through them with intention.   Scott shares what it means to fight the real battle happening inside us and around us. We talked about storytelling as a healing t...