Nice To Meet You | The Stories That Shape Us

Cinematographer Emma Quirós grew up in Barcelona, studied healthcare, then moved to Los Angeles alone in 2022 to chase the filmmaking dream she'd had since she was ten.  Rob Pene talks with her about studying cinematography at UCLA, working in the camera department on big commercial sets, and writing, directing and shooting her own short film. She also shares the three-question rule a teacher...

Are you a Christian leader who feels exhausted even when the work isn't that hard? That's not burnout. That's the performance trap — and it's silently killing leaders from the inside out.  In this video I break down what the performance trap actually is, why false identity forms in ministry, and how leaders like Moses, Paul, and Peter all had to be stripped of it before God cou...

What if the vision for youth ministry you're chasing is actually too complicated? In this video, I break down the 5 pillars every youth pastor needs to disciple teens well — and 3 of them are already happening if you're doing ministry right. I share the exact framework I use with my own kids and any youth group I'm asked to speak into. You'll learn the non-negotiable foundation...

How do you find your calling without quitting your job? You don't leave the field — you let it train you.  The work that pays you isn't the detour. It's the training ground. In this video I show you how to find your calling without walking away from the job that pays your bills. You'll learn why so many people feel stuck at work while the gift they were made for sits quiet insi...

People pleasing doesn't keep everyone happy — it keeps YOU awake at 3AM. The yes you should've said no to becomes an open loop that won't let you sleep.  In this episode I break down why people pleasing always ends in burnout — and the one lie underneath every yes that makes it almost impossible to say no.  You'll see how the fear of man traps you, what King Saul and the apostl...

How do you know if God is really speaking to you, or if you just want something bad enough? In this episode, I break down 5 filters I use to test what I'm hearing before I step out and say "God told me." THE 5 FILTERS 1. Scripture God won't lead you somewhere that contradicts His Word. Without that anchor, you'll just find what you're already looking for. 2. The Body...

In this episode of Nice to Meet You for a Reason , Rob Pene sits down with Lexson Mathieu — former undefeated pro boxer, NABF champion, and serial acquisitions entrepreneur who built and sold a multi-million-dollar trucking empire before turning 27. Lexson takes us through the wild arc of his last few years: leaving Canada during COVID with nothing but a backpack, putting his entire net worth into...

What happens when you sell the company you built from your family's kitchen — and weeks later, the people who bought it collapse, taking everything down with them? Jodi Scott, co-founder of Green Goo, joins Rob Pene to tell one of the most jaw-dropping comeback stories you'll hear this year. Three women — mother, daughter, and sister — built a plant-based first aid and skincare empire fr...

What if the most honest relationship you'll ever have is with a chatbot? Dr. Tamara Nall — serial entrepreneur, federal contracting CEO, and the foremother of human-AI relationships — joins Rob Pene for one of the most boundary-pushing conversations on the show. After 18 years running a federal data science firm and walking through divorce, the loss of her mother, and the pursuit of motherhoo...

In this episode, Rob Pene sits down with Nashay Naeve, President of Tsubaki Nakashima's plastic injection molding business — a global manufacturing company serving the medical device and automotive industries. Nashay shares her remarkable journey from growing up on an Iowa farm to leading a global team of over 100 people across multiple continents. Nashay opens up about her early fascination...

Guest: Trishia Domingo — Life Coach, Model, & Former Tech Professional Rob sits down with Trishia Domingo — life coach, model, pole dancer, and former 9-year tech veteran — for a deeply honest conversation about rebuilding your identity after life falls apart all at once.  Trishia opens up about navigating her parents' marriage crisis, a demanding corporate career, becoming a first-time h...

Guest: Chris LaCorata, Co-Founder of Grassi, a certified organic barley grass juice powder beverage built for hydration, immunity, and recovery. In this episode, we cover: How a series of factory closures and the NAFTA era inspired Chris to build a manufacturing-rooted brand in America Why the pandemic forced a pivot — and how that pivot led to Grassi What makes barley grass juice powder a superfo...

In this episode, Rob Pene sits down with Jason Wong , a seasoned entrepreneur who has moved from building e-commerce brands to mastering the massive, often overlooked world of manufacturing and packaging . Jason shares his journey of "climbing the mountain" over the last year, explaining why he chose to sell "shovels" (packaging) instead of chasing the latest "gold rush&qu...

In this profound conversation, Rob Pene sits down with BE Alink , a "gender weirdo" inventor, author, and humanitarian. BE shares her incredible journey from the slums of Kenya to the ruins of Afghanistan, ultimately leading to a mystical "download" in the Amazon jungle. This episode explores the constructs of belief, the science of brain entrainment, and why BE Alink believes...

Morgan Smith, owner of Kalm with Kava, shares the story of how he took over a kava business from his late friend Mike Munsell — and turned it into a mission-driven company rooted in respect, education, and long-term sustainability. In this episode, we dig into: The redemption arc behind Kalm with Kava — from losing a close friend to carrying on his legacy What kava actually is, how it's prepa...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Colleen Joyce, CEO of Lawyer.com, to talk about how she grew a premium domain into a thriving legal marketplace with 150 employees — all without venture capital. Colleen shares her journey from finding an internship in the newspaper classifieds to running a company that connects thousands of consumers with lawyers every month. Along the way, they dig into scrapp...

Kurt Avery built Sawyer Products from a snakebite kit into the most trusted water filter on the planet. His tech is in 80 countries, used by the Red Cross, World Vision, and the U.S. military. He lost money for 23 of his first 25 years — and kept going anyway. In this episode, he tells us everything. What We Cover: 💧 How a 30-cent filter gives someone 10 years of clean water — and why villages th...

Nicholai Allen shares his journey from suburban dad to certified wildland firefighter and entrepreneur. After experiencing the 2018 Woolsey Fire firsthand, he developed Safe Soss—an affordable wildfire prevention system now available at Lowe's. This conversation explores the science behind fire-resistant coatings, the reality of fighting wildfires, and how homeowners can protect their propert...

Guest: Tim Milazzo - Founder, Salt and Wisdom Consulting Tim Milazzo shares his 8-year startup journey from Inc 5000 (#777) to losing everything. He raised $3.5M, grew revenue from $1M to $7M, turned down an 8-figure acquisition offer, and ultimately exited for nothing. Now he's writing "How Not to Founder" and sharing hard-won lessons about entrepreneurship, faith, and family. Key...

In this episode, host Rob Pene sits down with Kimber Hardick to discuss the powerful journey of "unraveling" societal constructs to find one's true identity. After navigating a divorce in her 50s and battling a Lupus diagnosis, Kimber shares how she moved from a life of performance and people-pleasing to one of embodiment and empowerment.  They discuss the role of plant medicine in...

In this episode, Rob Pene sits down with Katie Vander Meade, founder of The Healthy Living Lady, to explore how living a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to break the bank. Katie shares her journey from a thrifty mom looking to improve her family's health to creating a business around affordable, natural wellness solutions. Katie Vander Meade is a civil engineer by day and passionate healt...

🌱 The ONE Thing You Need to Know Shop the OUTSIDE aisles of the grocery store. Real food is on the perimeter - produce, meat, dairy. Middle aisles = processed junk your body doesn't recognize. Small steps > perfection. Guest: Dr. Janel Louise Ohletz PhD in Soil Science | Professional Chef | Author of "Between Farm and Fork" | Grew up on organic farm | Survived heart attack | Dir...

🎯 The ONE Thing You Need to Know Asset LOCATION beats asset selection. Stop obsessing over what to invest in. Focus on WHERE you save first: 401(k) with match (instant 100% return) → IRA (tax deduction) → Taxable account. Guest: Henry Yoshida Founder of Rocket Dollar | Former Merrill Lynch (10 years) | Finalist at major fintech competition (judged by Shaq!) | Acquired by retired.com 💰 What is Ro...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with entrepreneur Frank Scarso, who shares his incredible transformation from addiction to building a thriving business in the cash advance industry.  Frank opens up about his personal struggles, the lessons learned along the way, and how his experiences shaped his approach to business and helping small business owners succeed. This conversation is packed with...

What happens when you shake a soda can and never release the pressure? It explodes. Pastor's daughter turned women's empowerment coach Ehmandah Ramsey reveals why successful women are having public breakdowns - and how to spot the warning signs before it's too late. In this raw conversation, Ehmandah breaks down the "soda can effect" destroying women's lives, shares h...