Playbook HQ

Danny's story is kind of insane when you hear the whole thing. He dropped out of high school at 15, was selling baseball cards at 12, working full-time in internet companies at 18, started a restaurant at 24, built an e-commerce business in Hong Kong that got acquired by Groupon, then launched a life sciences company that did $800 million in revenue during COVID and listed on NASDAQ. Then a fr...

Carl's been in the fitness game for 28 years and honestly the story is wild. It started with a simple idea — what if you could just work your abs for 8 minutes a day? That video sold 2 million copies. Then came P90X, which kind of broke the internet before the internet was really a thing. Then Shakeology — a superfood shake he's personally had every single day for 18 years — that's qui...

Richard Mumby has launched Juul, built Bonobos, won two Tony Awards, and now he's creating an entirely new category in energy with Wip — a clean caffeine pouch that crossed 2.5 million units sold in its first year. On this episode, Richard breaks down how he identifies category-creation moments before the market catches up, why nearly 70% of Wip's customers have never used a pouch before,...

Over 80% of commercial coffee contains traces of mold and mycotoxins. The headaches, the stomach aches, the brain fog you blame on caffeine? It might be something else entirely. Caleb Sloop survived a rare stage 4 cancer diagnosis at age 2, competed in gymnastics for 14 years with one eye, and built Seek Coffee as a teenager after watching his mom suffer through chronic illness worsened by convent...

Tyler Smith built and sold SkySlope — the dominant real estate SaaS platform used in two-thirds of all North American transactions — then spent years investing in the longevity space before realizing the same gap kept showing up everywhere: great data, no action plan. When his own biological age test came back at 47 (at age 39), he went all in. Elite doctors. Deep lab work. Sleep optimization. Str...

Ryan Duey , co-founder of Plunge , joins the Playbook HQ to share the origin story of building the world’s #1 cold plunge — starting from a garage during COVID. We dive into: Why cold plunging creates an instant mental reset Nervous system regulation, hormesis, and “losing your breath” on purpose A powerful customer story that shows how deep these modalities can go Why Plunge built a high-heat sau...

Ultra founder Eric Drymer joins the Playbook HQ Podcast to talk about building a nicotine-free performance pouch brand in one of the fastest-growing categories in consumer goods. We cover: What Ultra is and why pouches beat drinks for on-demand focus How paraxanthine works — and why it’s cleaner than caffeine Selling 1M+ cans in six months and raising an $11M Series A Why 30% of Ultra users have n...

SISU Sauna founder Peter Nelson II joins the Playbook HQ Podcast to unpack the intersection of recovery, endurance, and entrepreneurship. From traditional sauna science and ultra running to scaling a physical product business and raising money for cancer patients, this episode is a masterclass in grit. Peter also shares his personal flow stack — the practices, gear, and recovery tools that keep hi...

Dr. Tyler Lesher is an NBA performance therapist redefining how rehab, recovery, and performance connect. In this episode, we explore his path through the NBA, the tools powering modern recovery, why rehab is just performance with constraints, and the habits he uses to stay sharp physically and mentally. If you care about longevity, elite recovery, and doing the basics at an elite level — this one...

Ultra-runner Robbie Balenger joins The Playbook to unpack his return to the Leadville 100, the evolution of his training, and how endurance creates flow on and off the trail. We talk recovery, sleep, sauna, clean fueling, and the mindset shifts that come from pushing long distances. Robbie also shares lessons from running across the U.S., building The Audacious Report, and stepping into fatherhood...

What does it take to win three 200-mile races in one season? For Kilian Korth , it took years of failure first. In this episode, Kilian breaks down the mental toughness behind ultra endurance, the DNFs that almost ended his career, and the mindset shift that finally unlocked a Triple Crown sweep at Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200, and Moab 240. We talk training philosophy, coaching athletes with real-life...

Nicotine has a brutal PR problem — and for good reason. Decades of tobacco use, vapes, and gas-station branding turned it into something athletes hide, not something they talk about. In this episode, Alec sits down with Jason Winn , former Texas Tech QB, Bonk Breaker founder, and now co-founder of Athletic Nicotine , a low-dose, slow-release, tobacco-free nicotine pouch built specifically for adul...

Serial founder Jacob Peters almost lost his life to Crohn’s disease and a broken, reactive healthcare system. Today, he’s the co-founder of Superpower , a prevention-first health platform using 100+ lab tests, AI diagnostics, and concierge care to help members catch problems early and optimize performance year-round. In this episode of The Playbook, Jacob and Alec break down: The hospital experien...

What if the secret to better performance, faster recovery, and better cognition wasn’t a supplement… but your brainwaves ? In this episode, Alec sits down with Tim Rosa , CEO of Somnee and former CMO of Fitbit , to unpack the neuroscience breakthrough built by UC Berkeley researchers including Dr. Matt Walker ( Why We Sleep ). Somnee uses lab-grade EEG plus a patented form of electrical neurostimu...

Alec sits down with Lori Oliver (CEO/co-founder, The Inactive Company ) to unpack sleep as a performance skill and the science-forward design behind the Inactivator —a mask that delivers true blackout and integrated temperature regulation without bulk. They discuss why the NFLPA equips players with the mask (including IR ), how to fix your light hygiene (morning sunlight, dim evenings, 30-minute n...

Alec sits down with Rico Rogers , founder of Box Altitude , to unpack how simulated-altitude sleep builds real-world performance. We dig into the mechanism (lower inspired oxygen → EPO → hemoglobin mass ↑), the protocols (blocks, maintenance, ~8 hrs/week), and the tech (Sleep Cloud, Training Cloud, full Bedroom installs with app control + SpO₂/HR logging). You’ll hear how top cyclists and pros pro...

In this episode of The Playbook Podcast , Alec Grawe sits down with Matt Wan , founder of Sett and former CEO of Momentous, to unpack the rise of “vice-wellness” and the science behind Ceretine™ — a first-of-its-kind nicotine alternative delivering clean focus without tobacco, microplastics, or harsh side effects. Matt breaks down how Ceretine™ works in the brain, why it may be less habit-forming...

Rob Gregg , founder and CEO of STAND+ , joins The Playbook Podcast to share how a former luxury shoe designer ended up creating the “slowest shoe in the world” — a recovery shoe built to dissipate impact instead of store it. From volunteering with nurses during the pandemic to seeing pro athletes adopt STAND+ in locker rooms, Rob’s story is about rethinking performance from the ground up. He also...

From the Pentagon’s private think tank on human performance to coaching elite executives,  Andrew Herr  has spent his career at the intersection of science, strategy, and human potential. Today, he’s the founder of  Flykitt  — the first product proven to eliminate jet lag. What started as a Word doc protocol of supplements and blue light glasses is now an AI-powered system trusted by pro and Olymp...

From LSU trainer to Head Athletic Trainer at Miami FC, Gabby Arancio has spent years on the frontlines of sports performance, helping athletes push their limits while staying healthy. She’s now the founder of Gameplan , an athlete-focused skincare brand inspired by her experience working with collegiate and professional athletes. Gabby shares how her years on the sidelines shaped her mission to so...

In this episode of the Playbook Podcast, Alec Grawe interviews Steve Michaelsen , CMO and co-founder of Leisure Hydration . They discuss the inception of Leisure Hydration, a lifestyle hydration drink aimed at a younger audience, and the challenges and triumphs of launching a beverage startup. Steve shares insights on market positioning, the importance of hydration, and his personal inspirations f...

In this episode, we dive deep with Andrés Preschel , founder of Know Your Physio , as he shares his journey from obsession with self-improvement to becoming a high-performance coach. Discover how he leveraged neuroplasticity, physiological intuition, and key performance metrics like VO2 max, HRV, and sleep efficiency to optimize his health and performance. Andres breaks down his Flow Stack, sharin...

Joe Rotondo , the CEO and co-founder of Smearcase , shares his journey of creating a healthier ice cream alternative using cottage cheese as a protein source. He discusses the challenges of entering the frozen food industry, the inspiration behind the brand, and his experiences with fitness events like Hyrox. Joe also reveals his daily rituals that keep him focused and shares his vision for the fu...

Chase Price shares his transformative fitness journey, starting from his early days in the gym to becoming a competitive ultra runner. He discusses the pivotal moment that led him to attempt a 100-mile race, the importance of having a coach, and the supportive community he has built through his coaching program. Chase reflects on the lessons learned from his experience at the Leadville 100, includ...

Join me for an exclusive interview with Coach Cummings , a world-renowned strength and conditioning coach whose expertise bridges athletic training, neuroscience, and behavioral psychology to redefine sports performance. With a degree in kinesiology from SDSU and certifications in strength training, rehabilitation, and brain training, Coach Cummings has worked with elite clients and organizations,...