The Matt Balaker Podcast

Brian Swinehart took his small-town work ethic to Los Angeles. He carved out a niche as an actor and produced one of the most acclaimed and longest running standup comedy shows in Hollywood. After a couple older ladies chastised him while walking his dog, he returned back home to find purpose, love, and a new approach to show business. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT BRIAN SWINEHART As a professional c...

Warren Patterson moved across continents, climbed Mt. Kilmanjaro, and now serves as CEO of Summit Hosting. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT WARREN PATTERSON At the age of 13, Warren Patterson's family moved from South Africa to the US in search of greater opportunities. His college years at Clemson got interrupted by his desire to explore and climb Mt Kilimanjaro. His dream of working with animals b...

Richard Barrett has over two decades of experience as the night manager and Entertainment Director for Los Angeles' Comedy & Magic Club, one of the premier comedy clubs in the world. He also serves as the booker for one of southern California's newest comedy clubs, The Stand Up Comedy Club, and produces live shows for major corporations and festivals.

Joshua Robbins wrote hand-written letters to woo his wife. After a stint in the Air Force, he worked his way into the energy industry. Now his on the front lines of the transitioning energy industry. Hear his story. More About Joshua Robbins: Joshua Robbins has been consulting oil and gas companies on where to find their next energy deal (from $9,000 to billion-dollar deals) since 2014. He assists...

Chris Fried applied to the FBI. Now he’s a comedian. This former Conan O'Brien intern leveraged a Harvard degree to earn free drinks at the Comedy Cellar. Hear his story. www.patreon.com/krisfried

What is inflation? Why do we have it? What's bitcoin? Economist Larry White breaks it down. MORE ABOUT LARRY WHITE Larry White is a banking and money scholar who has taught at NYU and George Mason University. He has authored several books and edited numerous volumes on monetary theory and banking history. He has received the Adam Smith Award and is currently a senior scholar of the Cato Instit...

Pete Karabas had a steady career in real estate. But he took a different path. Find out why. More about Pete Karabas:Pete Karabas is a Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners, where he is responsible for origination, due diligence, and execution of investment opportunities in addition to developing strategic partnerships and fundraising initiatives for the firm. Pete is the Chairman of the Boa...

Barry Katz shares his insights on comedy's past, present, and future. Hear his story. More About Barry Katz: Barry Katz is an Emmy and Grammy nominated TV-film-record producer, talent manager, and podcast host. Katz is universally known for representing iconic artists like Louie Anderson, Ken Jeong, Andy Dick, Hasan Minhaj, and Mike Epps, giving the first quality stage time in New York City an...

Danielle Patterson exemplifies resourcefulness. She parlayed undiagnosed dyslexia and her father's job loss into a lifelong commitment to networking and learning. Balancing her love for family, art, and business, she is at the forefront of the family office industry. Hear her story. MORE ABOUT DANIELLE PATTERSON From an early age, I often heard people say, "Danielle, you have a real talen...

How can we live longer and healthier? James Payer has dedicated his career to finding out. Hear his story. James Peyer is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Cambrian Bio. He also holds multiple board and executive roles across Cambrian’s pipeline. He has spent his entire life dedicated to the mission of finding ways of preventing people from getting diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s ins...

Chad Wade vowed to never go bankrupt. A stint in the slammer didn't help his job prospects. So he took matters into his own hands. He launched his business at a flea market. Then he built his own own brick and mortar shop. Now he's an entrepreneur, consultant, and YouTuber. Hear his story. More about Chad Wade Chad is the CEO of UNS Wholesale and owns three retail smoke shops in Louisville...

Tiby Erdily didn't wait for his dream job to come to him, we went out and found it. This may have meant driving to schools he didn't attend, but he got the job. He was influenced by entrepreneurial parents, Top Gun, Pretty Woman, and San Antonio tacos. Hear his story. MORE ABOUT TIBY ERDILY At KEY Investment Partners, Tiby is responsible for structuring and leading investment opportunities...

Rich Williams is a Best Damn Comic. He's dealt with orphanhood, suicide, and bringer shows. He's many things but not a victim. Hear his story.

Amy Rubenstein is the CEO at Clear Investment Group and Partner at Windy City RE, both real estate investment firms that have owned and sold over a half billion dollars of properties since 2005. She is originally from Chicago and graduated from Brandeis University, Cum Laude. She has been working in real estate for the past 20 years and holds a real estate licenses in the states of California and...

Named one of the “25 Angel Investors in New York You Need to Know” by AlleyWatch in 2014, Jeff has been a venture investor for ten years, an angel investor for eight years. Jeff is CEO of Arcview Ventures, the manager of The Arcview Collective Fund, the first member-managed fund in cannabis. He also serves as Chairman of the Evaluation Committee and Treasurer of the ARC Angel Fund. Jeff has been a...

Robin Lauber is a serial angel investor and entrepreneur, having co-founded his family office and private investment firm Infinitas Capital, the real estate company GreySky Properties Holding AG, and two VC funds with Korify Capital and Prediction Capital, among other entrepreneurial endeavours. He looks back on over 10 years of VC and Real Estate investing as well as incubating, building, and sca...

Loren DeFalco cured himself of epileptic seizures through a regime of CBD and cannabinoids Loren’s Story In 2008, I had a massive seizure at the airport while waiting curbside for my ride home after a business trip. I woke up in an ambulance and had no idea where I was or where I had come from. It was quite scary. I went to a neurologist who ran tests on me. I was told that I had a “seizure disord...

Brendon Mulvihill is a serial try-er. He's always exploring a new hobby, venture, or taco stand. He created the Quarter Pound Cookie. Hear his story. https://quarterpoundcookies.myshopify.com/

Patrick Frank's curiosity motivated his interest in sea squirts and science. After earning a PhD in physical science, Frank became a chemist at Stanford University. Hear his story about analyzing climate models and scrutinizing ideas where others are afraid. MORE ABOUT DR. PATRICK FRANK Patrick Frank is a physical methods experimental chemist. BS, MS, San Francisco State University; PhD, Stanf...

Ed Steinfeld lived in Vegas before mass commercialization. His boxing skills helped launch Oscar De Hoya's career. A scary incident with a stalker changed his life. Now he's a radio and comedy stalwart. Hear his story.

Smoke Wallin is a beverage expert, Eagle Scout, proud father, and a seriel risk taker. Hear his story about building businesses, strengthening resilience, and combatting homelessness. MORE ABOUT SMOKE Smoke is an accomplished leader and international business builder focused on M&A in the CPG, cannabis, health & wellness, food & beverage, distribution, hospitality & technology indu...

Ron Diamond witnessed the effects of mass layoffs. He's become a leading voice in the family office sphere. Hear his insights on the future of family offices. Longtime investor and entrepreneur Ronald Diamond is the Founder and Chairman of Diamond Wealth. He represents over 100 Family Offices ranging in size from $250 million and $30 billion. Diamond Wealth invests in private markets (private...

Cory Riojas is a skateboarder, martial artist, comedian who has developed his own path in the standup world while being a loving father. Hear his story. https://www.facebook.com/Everlovingcomedy/

Jason "JP" Leonard is a comedy festival veteran, a columnist, producer, and founder of Lafayette Comedy. More about Jason Leonard: He is the founder of Lafayette Comedy and has written comedy columns for The Laugh Button, The Daily Advertiser, and The Times of Acadiana. He has performed at the following comedy festivals: Hell Yes Fest! (New Orleans, LA 2014, 2015, 2017) Scruffy City Come...

Tom Riehl is a cook, producer, and comedian. Learn how his passions have helped make Orange County, CA funnier and better fed. MORE ABOUT TOM RIEHL Tom has been performing stand-up since the early nineties. He performs at private and corporate events as well as The Improv, The Ice House, and The Comedy Store to name a few. Through the years Tom has worked with a variety of performers including com...