Rhizomes Podcast

Marcus Daniell started High Impact Athletes during his pro tennis career, connecting elite athletes to impactful charities. We chatted about what it takes to perform at the highest levels and how lessons from tennis carry into other walks of life. -Recorded in June '25

Sully was an accountant at Salesforce when he stepped into an improv class and discovered his passion for comedy. Today, he's a full-time comedian and content creator with hundreds of millions of views across platforms. I got to chat with him about his pivot, balancing a demanding job with a growing side project, and much more. Notably, it's the most I've laughed during a podcast episo...

Lisa Stedman-Falls pivoted from behavioral scientist to platform engineer. Her journey has included a PhD, research and clinical experience, and engineering roles spanning startups and larger companies. We explore why she switched into technology, how to market ourselves when making a big career shift, and the challenges of embracing a new identity when making big life changes.

Jamie Beaton is the CEO and Co-Founder of Crimson Education, a global education company valued at over $1 billion. Along the way, he’s also earned 10 degrees from top universities including Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and Yale. But this conversation isn’t just about accolades. We talk about what drives him, the sacrifices he’s made in pursuit of impact, and how he balances long-term thinking with t...

Jeff Kofman is the CEO and Founder of Trint, an AI-powered transcription software company. But before that, he spent over three decades as an Emmy-winning foreign and war correspondent for major news networks, reporting from more than 40 countries on some of the biggest events of our time. What makes him such a great guest for the Rhizomes Podcast isn’t just where he’s been—it’s what he’s learned....

Anish Mitra went from Vice President at Goldman Sachs to standup comedian and content creator. In this episode, we dive into how and why he made the leap and the valuable lessons he’s learned along the way. If you’d like to support Rhizomes, please share this with a friend, leave a review and be sure to follow or subscribe on your platforms of choice!

What do product management and running a surfboard company have in common? Turns out, quite a bit. David Dennis pivoted from public school teacher to climbing the ranks in technology, while building his own business and giving back to his community through philanthropy. He’s also a TedX speaker who delivered the talk titled “Don’t Quit Your Day Job.” In this episode, we discuss his journey and how...

Kelvin Beachum is an NFL player, philanthropist, and investor with a passion for the arts. He’s also a dad, a husband, and an influential member of his immediate and global community. In this episode we discuss his path, passions, and purpose. We explore what primes athletes for success in business, what drives Kelvin to make an impact in combating world hunger and expanding access to education, a...

Richard Ni went from studying computer science at MIT to leading Human Resources at Scale AI, playing a key role in the startup’s growth from early-stage to one of the world’s top artificial intelligence companies. Early rejections and pivots helped him carve a unique path, which we explore in depth. We also talk about recruiting tips for nontraditional candidates, a topic Richard is uniquely posi...

Alice Zheng completed medical school at the University of Michigan and a year of residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. In the process she discovered a passion for business that led her to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School, work as a management consultant at McKinsey, and pivot into venture capital. Her career blends her medical and business interests as she leads investments in ear...

Julian Sarafian is a law firm founder, Harvard Law alum, ex-Big Law attorney, and mental health advocate with over 350K followers across socials. In this episode, we dive into his turning points, mental health journey, and how he balances entrepreneurship with wellness. Julian sets an incredible example of achieving greatness while taking care of ourselves. To learn more about Julian, visit https:...

After facing dozens of rejections from Google, Neil secured a career-changing job. Since then, he's authored a best-seller, taught at Wharton, and pivoted through various roles--all while raising a family. Our conversation explores: Neil's path from rejection to success Tips for career transitions Ways for hiring managers to identify nontraditional talent The impact of AI on careers For mo...

Seth Bae is a first generation American who immigrated from South Korea during high school. He turned his life around - from struggling in high school to winning awards in the Army, graduating from the Ivy League, and securing employment at his dream company Nike. We talk about Seth's decision not to be a victim, the importance of building genuine connections, and the challenges and triumphs o...

Jenny Williams studied English Literature at UC Berkeley, where she graduated in 2004. Since then, she’s worked in publishing, nonprofits in Africa, Europe, and the US, and big tech companies such as Google and Microsoft. Combining skills and interests in creativity, humanities, and technology, her recent experiences have involved writing professionally at the intersection of artificial intelligen...

An episode title cannot capture the breadth and impact of Loree's pursuits, which also include writing and performing a one-woman show and starting her own business, all while raising her kids and leading a fulfilling personal life. I found it inspiring to hear not only about her individual experiences, but also about her mindset, values, and advice for navigating change, breaking glass ceilin...

Ed’s remarkable journey has included 40 years of acting, directing, and starting up one of Rhode Island’s most successful theater companies. In his 60’s, he completed an Ivy League college education at Brown University, and is pursuing a masters degree at Harvard Divinity School on his way to becoming a Buddhist chaplain. In this episode, we discuss Ed’s upbringing, what he’s learned from going to...

In our first full episode, we learn about Andrew Nguyen’s journey from the US Army Ranger Regiment to Yale College and Harvard Medical School. Andrew and I discuss the values he inherited from his Vietnamese immigrant parents, the wisdom he acquired in his rigorous military service, and the difficulties and triumphs he experienced in his transition from military to civilian life. Through his exper...

Teaser episode introducing the podcast, myself, and our first few guests. Full, long-form interviews with these guests will follow. Stay tuned!