Episodes
The Mikey G podcast goes beyond the pitch. Browse founder stories by person, turning point, and the questions that surface.
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Find guests by the topics, challenges, and ideas that interest you.
Chooses from your current results. A different guest each time, when available.
Editorial starting points from the published archive, independent of the filters above.
Personal turning points that explain the work that followed.
Alfredo describes immigration, a public mental-health crisis, and the patient work of rebuilding purpose and identity.
Open episodeConversations about what machines change and where human judgment still matters.
Igor explores explainability, multiple-model consensus, and governance at the boundary between machine speed and human judgment.
Open episodeReinvention after a plan, role, or identity stops working.
After a public crisis and professional losses, Alfredo rebuilt through therapy, reflection, and the practice of character strengths.
Open episodeCreative work shaped by taste, pressure, failure, and a clearer direction.
Film school, agency work, COVID, and industry strikes changed Sway’s plans. AI filmmaking helped him find a clearer direction with Absrrd.
Open episode39 conversations
Co-founder of Augmented Imagination and award-winning brand designer
Jonny Ashcroft traces how loss, mentors, music, and design shaped his creative work. With Mikey G, he examines the difference between being a designer and a founder, his search for focus, and why Augmented Imagination keeps an artist in the AI loop.
President and Executive Director, The AI Collective
AJ Green's athletic path ended after a weightlifting injury. In this archival conversation, he tells MikeyG how he redirected that drive toward AI and community building.
Sean Naderi doesn't romanticize entrepreneurship. Running a company can mean long hours, absolute chaos and waking up every day with nobody nearby to tell you what to do. His path to Aventus runs through growing up between countries, finance, Amazon, startup attempts that didn't work and a nihilistic stretch at university that forced him to rethink what mattered.
Chris looks back on 15 years inside agency life and the choices that pushed him to build an AI-native creative company.
A creator journey that starts with a microphone at age 4 and moves through failure, identity, and a new kind of filmmaking.
What up folks! Liviu Arsene grew up in northern Romania, less than 100 miles from the Ukraine border, with parents who didn't speak a word of English. Today he's spent two decades in cybersecurity, has more thoughts on AI than most people in San Francisco, and just announced he wants to get his pilot's license.
Justin Cram's founder story starts with a parody post that went viral and ended with real clients like the George Romero Foundation and Spotify. After 20 years in advertising and a nervous breakdown, this entrepreneur posted a fake agency launch on LinkedIn to make two friends laugh.
In this episode, discover powerful founder stories through Austin's journey from a lower middle-class upbringing to pioneering authentic leadership in Web3. Austin challenges traditional extractive patterns, showcasing a founder mindset focused on community impact and innovative AI-driven creative studios.
In this insightful episode, Shannon Smith, former Microsoft and entrepreneur, shares her founder story and reveals how authentic leadership can transform sales success for founders and entrepreneurs. Drawing from her extensive research on the neuroscience of trust and rejection, she explains why mastering your mindset is crucial for thriving in today’s competitive landscape.
Dive into this authentic founder story with Dru, whose journey exemplifies the founder mindset and authentic leadership in the emerging Web3 space. From growing up in split-family poverty eating mac and brown gravy to navigating the challenges of losing $5. 6 million, Dru's resilience shines through.
Brian grew up in suburban Maryland obsessed with Math and Science and learning that cold 6 AM swim practices taught grit more than competition ever could. After MIT's collaborative culture shock and a brief stint as a bond trader at Morgan Stanley, he spent years in high-frequency trading before co-founding Glider.
Anton was born in Belarus right after the Soviet Union collapsed, spending summers in Germany learning adaptability while navigating between two drastically different cultures and educational systems. His journey took him from acting on Belarusian national TV to Harvard Business School to Duolingo, where he learned that 400 simultaneous experiments matter more than grand visions.
Nick grew up watching his trumpet-playing mom get ostracized at 19 in Louisianna and experiences that taught him "you can't be happy when" after watching his grandmother die the day her dream house was finished. His journey included fashion industry exploitation, forex trading, building Web3 projects, and living full-time in an RV with his wife and toddler.
In this episode, I sat down with Michal, founder of Onchain AG, academic professor, bass player, and book author. This conversation hit far deeper than Web3. From his parents teaching him that attention is the true currency of love, to his discovery that passion only matters when it creates impact for others, Michal shares lessons that resonate far beyond business.
In this episode, we dive into Karn’s path from a creative childhood in Mumbai to building Rage Effect, India’s first AAA cross-play shooter. Karn opens up about resilience, creativity, and how surrounding himself with the “greats” shaped his mindset.
Saushank, angel investor in Polygon and MemeLand and founder of PitchPilot, joins Mikey G for a raw and thoughtful conversation about childhood, ambition, and identity in a world shaped by pressure and performance. Together, they unpack the impact of boarding school, participation trophies, and how creativity thrives even in rigid systems.
What does it take to stay human while building in Web3?Join MikeyG and Starlordy as they dive deep into AI, authenticity, and the harsh truths of being a founder in this evolving digital frontier.
What does it mean to grow up in constant motion? From diplomat parents and African warzones to losing himself in college and finding peace through “The Power of Now,” JB's story isn’t about success - it’s about survival, identity, and grace. His resilience has lead to building one of the strongest gaming communities in Web3. This one’s raw, unfiltered, and filled with the kind of truth that only comes from chaos.
What’s the secret to turning nostalgia and creativity into Web3 innovation?Join MikeyG and Ford, creator of Frankie the Frog, as they explore how a love for animation and gaming fueled a journey from a small village to leading a vibrant Web3 brand.
Daila’s journey spans cultures, and multiple industries - but her mission has always been the same: help people feel seen. In this episode, she breaks down why clarity matters more than aesthetics and how real brand work starts with deep self-awareness. A powerful story about boundaries, identity, and building spaces where people truly belong.
What happens when a gamer raised in fashion turns Web3 founder?In this episode, Korky breaks down how ChainZoku fuses anime, gaming, and street culture into a brand-first, lore-rich universe.A deep dive into community intimacy, creative instincts, and building IP from the heart.
Mustayaki of @FinalBosu_ shares how trauma, anime, and late-night sketching led him to find purpose through art-and how flow state fuels everything.From childhood struggles to Web3 storytelling, this one hits different.
What does it look like to live your ikigai through gaming?MikeyG sits down with Kevin from Project O to explore his path from childhood passion to a 30-year career in game design-culminating in a mission to bring authenticity and execution to Web3.
What fuels the underdog mentality in Web3?MikeyG sits down with Daniel-founder of Underdog-to unpack the power of soft skills, creativity, and grit in building through chaos.
What does it take to build a Web3 company at 18? Join Mikey G and Ilan, founder of Mana, as they unpack lessons on ambition, balance, and building community in the fast-moving world of Web3 gaming. 🎧 Listen now for a raw and inspiring story of purpose, failure, and finding your lane.
What’s the secret to long-term success in startups, Web3, and AI? Kevin Henrikson shares hard-earned lessons from Silicon Valley, why most people won’t steal your ideas, and how resilience beats raw talent every time. Listen now for insights that could change your approach to work and life.
How do resilience and authenticity shape the journey of a Web3 founder? In this episode, Rebecca Liao, CEO & Co-Founder of Saga, shares her unconventional path-from politics and law to building in blockchain-and the lessons learned on leadership, partnerships, and navigating a male-dominated industry. Tune in for a raw, insightful conversation on what it really takes to succeed in Web3.
What does it take to build a thriving creative career and community in Web3? Join MikeyG andChris from Good Vibes Club as they dive into thegrit, passion, and creativity behind high-end digital art, the lessons from working with top-tier brands, and the mission to spread positive vibes in Web3. Listen now and get inspired tochase your passion.
What does it take to navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in Web3? Join MikeyG as he dives deep with Kilay, founder of DSTRCT, to explore his wild journey-from building businesses in sports, music, and consumer goods to his passion for decentralization and community-driven ecosystems. A raw and inspiring conversation about failure, resilience, and why human connection is at the heart of Web3.
What’s the real key to success? For Fred from Spredict, it’s all about authenticity, deep human connections, and building with purpose. Join MikeyG as they dive into Fred’s journey-from learning the impact of play from an early age to trying to redefine the sports betting industry for the better with Web3.
How does an introverted dreamer transform into a Web3 innovator? Join MikeyG and Dan a.k.a. Sadboy as they delve into his personal story of rebellion, resilience, and creative entrepreneurship-unpacking the lessons that shaped his path to success.
How do childhood challenges, relentless creativity, and the evolving cannabis culture intersect in Web3? Join MikeyG as he dives deep with Filip, the visionary behind Cannasapiens, exploring the grit of production life, the flow state of passion, and the groundbreaking potential of Web3 communities.
Join MikeyG and Lauris for an unfiltered conversation about DeFi Summer, building in bear markets, and the relentless pursuit of innovation. From navigating million-dollar wins (and losses) to the mindset of creating lasting impact, this episode dives into the heart of what makes Web3 founders tick.
Visualizing Success, Building Empires, and Changing Gaming Forever with Tim In this episode we dive deep with Tim-a tech industry leader turned Web3 gaming innovator. Tim shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in South Africa to leading a $2 billion tech sales organization, creating a Web3 gaming studio, and redefining ownership in gaming.
Chris D dives into his journey from his early days filming skateboarding videos to building a creative presence in Web3. He talks about his passion for storytelling through video, sharing how he’s successfully transitioned from brick-and-mortar businesses to digital ventures.
Generative artist creating Bitcoin Ordinals
Lemonhaze shares a compelling story of evolution from traditional art and competitive sports to digital creativity and entrepreneurship within the Web3 space. Through personal stories, he highlights the influential people, life experiences, and moments of self-discovery that led him to Bitcoin Ordinals and generative art.
Next up, Episode 3! We expand on Thrilld Labs, the future and wrap up with lessons learned. Navigating Web3 Complexity: Alexandra discusses the intricacies of the Web3 ecosystem and how Thrild Labs seeks to simplify and support builders in navigating the space. She highlights the need for user-friendly tools and resources to make Web3 more accessible to newcomers and seasoned builders alike.
Had an insane conversation with @leonabboud_ founder of unfungible.xyz, diving into his journey from shy, introverted kid to building a powerhouse Web3 brand. Leon’s story is a journey in sacrifice, passion, and skill stacking. Don’t miss this one-it’s packed with insights for anyone building in Web3. Here are the episode breakdowns and timestamps: 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 1
In this episode of The MikeyG Podcast Experience, we sit down with Ruben, a driven entrepreneur who's seen success in build his own ventures and investing in new one as well. After an injury cut his professional football dreams short, Ruben channeled his competitive spirit into gaming, eventually becoming a leader in the esports and Web3 space.
