The Matt Balaker Podcast

Aaron Byzak is a mentor and body boarder. He’s received numerous accolades for his work in health care and advocacy, including 4 Emmys. He was on the San Diego Business Journal's 500 Most Influential list 3 times. And he’s an inductee to the Carlsbad High Hall of Fame.   MORE ABOUT AARON BYZAK Aaron Byzak joined Tri-City Medical Center as the Chief External Affairs Officer in May 2018. In thi...

Early in his career, Ron Diamond witnessed the effects of mass layoffs. It changed his attitude and motivated him to forge his own path.   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 equity,...

Michigan born author LA is one of the most prolific indie writers out there. He's written more than a dozen books including Between Heaven and Hell, Technically Magic, and The Rainbow’s End. Instead of waiting for someone to green light his projects, he did it on his own. Hear his story on the Matt Balaker Podcast.   https://linktr.ee/lamichaelsauthor @lamichaels1995

Zander Abrams is the Founder of the Cannabis Policy Forum where he analyzes cannabis politics, policy and regulation. He knows a great deal about the cannabis industry and the political shenanigans that hold it back. Hear his story.   Zander is focused on macro trends affecting the cannabis industry and draws on his experience in political campaigns, lobby organizations, and his background as...

Claire Smith, the founder of humane investment platform Beyond Investing, is a vegan and environmentalist with 33 years experience in finance and investment at top-tier banks and investment houses. She took her passion to the market and created a platform to invest in a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world.   Beyond Investing creates investment programs designed for animal advocates and clima...

Ashley Ray is the most famous bisexual solo polyamorous black queer comedian, actor, and writer currently based in Los Angeles. In 2021, she was featured in Bust for her “whip smart TV criticism.” And yes, she’s also famous for smoking pot. She worked at the Onion before creating her own platform on TV I Say.   In 2022, Ashley wrote on Adult Swim’s, ALABAMA JACKSON created by Donald Faison. A...

Pete A Turner  is a former Army combat spy--yes, this is true--with over 1000 missions in conflict zones in a variety of countries, like Bosnia, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan. His daily missions took him off-camp to find the people, information and secrets that enabled commanders to win. Ultimately, Pete succeeded because he learned to earn the trust of the most dangerous and evil people in the...

Comedian Pat House did that. He made his dream of becoming a comedian a reality. Some legends helped kickstart his career. Tune in to hear his story.   About Pat Pat House is a nationally touring comedian based out of Philadelphia.  For Pat, every day life seems to be a great source of material. Spending years bartending and interacting with strangers, he was constantly intrigued, a...

Sadly, Brad Stewart passed away on October 24, 2022 after a battle with cancer. Here's a replay of an interview we did with him before his diagnosis. We love you Brad. You made the world a kinder, funnier place.   Brad Stewart was a comic and actor who played the Hollywood game for years. Then he moved home to Nebraska to care for his ailing parents. What happened? His comedy career was...

Jordan Youkilis is Wells Scholar. He had a stable career in private equity. Then he dropped it to start a cannabis investment fund. What was he thinking? Listen and find out.   At KEY Investment Partners, Jordan is responsible for developing due diligence strategy, leading co-investment syndication processes, writing blog posts and driving proactive outreach for deal sourcing opportunities. J...

Adam Yenser wrote sketches in high school but wasn’t part of a clique. He hustled to turn a Conan O’Brien internship into a paying job. Eventually he wrote for Ellen and became an under represented member of the Writers Guild of America. Hear his story about working to make your dreams come true.   Adam Yenser is a comedian and Emmy Award-winning writer. For ten years he wrote for The Ellen D...

Tennessee-based author Matthew McConkey dealt with death, divorce, and depression. His marriage of nearly 20 years ended, his father passed away, and he confronted his own mental health issues. These hardships impacted his writing process but didn't crush his drive. Hear his story of persistence and resiliency. https://matthewmcconkeyindie.blogspot.com/?m=1 @McConkey78

Haytham Elgawly is a serial entrepreneur born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. He has no quit in him. He started out parking cars and throwing house parties before working in the corporate world. Soon he was styling Sean “Puffy” Combs and launching his own brands. Now he’s starting a new retail experience called Medusa is his home town. Haytham is also the founder of a non-profit organization; Chill...

Nick Hoff dreamed about a career as a standup comedian. So as a 9th grader, he posted it on his dream board. It came true. Hear his story.   Nick Hoff is a nationally touring stand-up comedian who has been on MTV, co-hosts a weekly show on SiriusXM, and hosts his own podcast.  His debut album “Baby Daddy” hit #1 on the iTunes comedy charts, and his new hour-long special “Front to Back” c...

Katherine Hill Ritchie planned on working as a physical therapist, but she fell in love with investing. She became a leader in venture capital, hedge funds, and family offices. Hear her story.

After MIT, Don Grede dedicated his career to legitimatizing the legal cannabis industry.

Max Rice is a millennial who can tie a tie. Now he shares how to run for Congress. He may be the next famed Jewish comedian turned politician not named Volodymyr Zelensky. Will his use his power to make hundreds of millions? If he could pass one law, what would it be? Listen to find out. https://www.maxriceforcongress.com/

John Papola started at MTV and quickly built a successful career as a producer. His famed economics rap video "Fear the Boom and Bust" became a viral hit. An entrepreneurial spirit motivated him to start his own company Emergent Order. His latest passion involves celebrating fatherhood. Hear his story. https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/

Carl Kozlowski is a surprise TikTok star. His nontraditional path involved undiagnosed autism and bipolar disorder. Things changed when we returned home to Arkansas. A WalMart job reignited his comedy career. Daily mass improved his life. Hear his story on the Matt Balaker Podcast.   http://www.carlkoz.com/

Corporate marketing wasn’t for Sarah Linden. So she took out a loan and bet big on herself. Hear her story.

Brad Stewart is a comic and actor who played the Hollywood game for years. Then he moved home to Nebraska to care for his ailing parents. What happened? His comedy career was reinvigorated. Hear his tale on the Matt Balaker Podcast.

Patrick Rea, founder of Canopy Boulder, has led 130 investments since 2015. He believes business can be the greatest agent of social change.   Hear his story about from college soccer player to leading cannabis investor.  Patrick joined Poseidon Garden Ventures as Managing Director.   https://twitter.com/patrickrea

Singer/songwriter Röckët Stähr spent 8 years animating Death of a Rockstar on his own, having never previously animated anything before in his life. The entire project took 13 years in all to complete.  Hear his rock 'n roll journey about meeting his idols, making his own path, and why he loves the music so much. https://deathofarockstar.com/

Sean Malone discusses economics in plain English and sounds off on the recent student debt forgiveness controversy.  Malone studied music performance and composition before working in various creative roles in the music and film industries.    He helped build the Foundation for Economic Education's versatile, world-class creative team from the ground up.   His on-going video es...

Paul Farahvar is the host of the successful podcast "Singles Only" and is a regular guest host on WGN Radio.  Hear his story about working as a lawyer then musician and comedian.   After becoming a regular at Chicago stand up clubs like Zanies, Comedy Bar and Laugh Factory, Farahvar was given the rare opportunity to host and produce his own weekly show called "Drink Date Laugh”, focusing...