Best Amon Focus Podcasts (2024)

1
Mental Health for Entrepreneurs [ETL Looks Back] 48:15

1d ago48:15

48:15

Maria Barrera uses her background as a mechanical engineer to focus on preventative mental health support for youth.By Stanford eCorner

1
New York Nico’s Guide to NYC: Hidden Gems for Locals, Must-Sees for Visitor 25:20

1d ago25:20

25:20

I recently sat down with New York Nico, also known as Nicolas Heller, who’s become a cultural icon for capturing the soul of New York City. His new book, New York Nico's Guide to NYC, goes beyond the typical tourist spots. It’s a heartfelt dedication to the people and small businesses that bring New York to life. Read the Feature Story: https://www…

1
Gabriel Parisi-Amon (Nebia Shower) - A Burnout Manifesto [ETL Looks Back] 53:24

6d ago53:24

53:24

Burnout is familiar to all entrepreneurs and takes its toll. Gabriel Parisi-Amon, founder of Nebia, which was acquired by Brondell, takes on the “perfect founder” myth and asks us to reconsider the system that inevitably leads to burnout. Parisi-Amon offers practical advice on priorities and perspectives for founders at any stage. Through examples …

1
Andy Dunn (Bonobos) - Mental Health for Entrepreneurs [ETL Looks Back] 50:18

17d ago50:18

50:18

Andy Dunn, founder of the menswear line Bonobos, speaks frankly about his own struggles with bipolar disorder and how his mental illness didn’t define him but rather helped him innovate and become the creative founder his company needed. He challenges the field to transform the stigma attached to mental illness to better recognize the strengths of …

1
The Long View: Stephen R. McFadden’s Lessons in Creativity and Resilience 34:10

23d ago34:10

34:10

I had a conversation with Stephen R. McFadden, a long-time friend and creative professional, about his 25+ year journey from Jackson, Mississippi to New York City. We explored the key principles that have guided his career—from producing videos on cruise ships to freelancing and working with brands like IFundWomen. Stephen shared valuable insights …

1
Standing His Ground: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Dan Rossi, New York’s Hot Dog King 1:06:21

23d ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Discover the inspiring story of Dan Rossi, New York’s Hot Dog King, as he navigates resilience, loss, and revival. A Vietnam War veteran and former hot dog empire builder, Rossi’s journey from the Bronx to The Met is a tale of grit and determination. Feature Story: https://www.newyorksaid.com/dan-rossi-new-york-hot-dog-king…

1
Richard Miller (Olin College) - More Innovation Through Education [ETL Looks Back] 53:47

25d ago53:47

53:47

Richard Miller was credited with reimagining undergraduate engineering education at Olin College, where he was the founding director. Miller challenged us to consider who we teach, what we teach, and how that teaching reaches students. He spoke about shifting the focus from showing up in class to learn, to learning 24/7; from learning in isolation …

1
Jennifer Carolan (Reach Capital) - Seeking the Full Potential of Education [ETL Looks Back] 57:11

29d ago57:11

57:11

Jennifer Carolan is Co-Founder and Partner at Reach Capital. In 2014, while with the NewSchools Venture Fund, Carolan spoke with Steve Blank about the emergence of EdTech products – before technology was widely used in classrooms and many students had access to their own devices. Pulling from her experience as a science teacher, Carolan shared insi…

1
Sal Khan (Khan Academy) - Education Reimagined [ETL Looks Back] 59:40

1M ago59:40

59:40

While the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders speaker series is on pause, we’re excited to bring you ETL Looks Back, a series of timely gems from our archives. We’re kicking off the school year with some talks on education, starting with Sal Khan, Founder and CEO of the world-renowned Khan Academy. When he visited ETL in 2014, Khan offered a blueprint …

1
ETL Looks Back Announcement - 10 4 24, 4.22 PM 1:15

1M ago1:15

1:15

The ETL series is currently taking a break, but don’t worry! We’ll keep your podcast feed flowing with a special ETL Looks Back series, highlighting some timely gems from our archives. They’ll be published right here in your regular ETL feed—there’s nothing you need to do. Be sure to stay subscribed for future announcements about the return of the …

1
Bianca Bahamondes: The Hidden Gem Hunter Behind Secret NYC 34:50

2M ago34:50

34:50

Executive Editor Bianca Bahamondes shares her early days navigating the city’s challenges to shaping a hyper-local guide followed by millions, Bianca reveals the best-kept secrets of the city that never sleeps. Show Notes: https://www.newyorksaid.com/bianca-bahamondes-the-hidden-gem-hunter-behind-secret-nyc…

1
Booth Dreams: Capturing The Heartbeat of Small Business at NY NOW 1:20:34

3M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

Join us for an inspiring journey through the vibrant world of American entrepreneurship as we sit down with nine remarkable small business owners at the NY NOW Summer Market. From the halls of the iconic Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, these creators share their passion, challenges, and insights into building successful brands. Listen as we expl…

1
Immortalizing the Lower East Side with a Yearbook 1:10:50

4M ago1:10:50

1:10:50

Tune in for a special episode featuring Destiny Mata, the visionary behind the Lower East Side Yearbook. In this episode, Destiny shares the inspiring journey of creating a multimedia archive that celebrates the vibrant spirit and enduring legacy of New York's Lower East Side. Discover how poetry, graffiti, fashion, and oral histories come together…

1
Alexandra Zatarain (Eight Sleep) - Getting to Product-Market Fit 49:28

5M ago49:28

49:28

Alexandra Zatarain is the co-founder and VP of brand and marketing of Eight Sleep, the world’s first sleep fitness company. A marketer and brand-builder, Zatarain has built the Eight Sleep brand and scaled the company’s revenue from $0 to current state. Eight Sleep was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2018 and was recognized…

1
Maria Barrera (Clayful) - Mental Health Tech, Mentally Healthy Startups 48:15

6M ago48:15

48:15

Maria Barrera, a Stanford-educated engineer, is the founder and CEO of Clayful, a platform dedicated to providing essential mental health support for the TikTok generation. Today, Barrera’s company creates accessible resources for K-12 students and has already made a profound impact on thousands of students nationwide. In this conversation with Sta…

1
David Allemann (On) - Exploration in Sports Technology 48:21

6M ago48:21

48:21

David Allemann co-leads the Swiss sports company On, one of the fastest-growing global sports brands. He puts a special focus on product, design, marketing, and the direct-to-consumer business of On. Previously, Allemann worked at the intersection of business and creativity at McKinsey & Company, as managing director of the advertising agency Young…

1
Ali Ghodsi (Databricks) - Lessons from a Large Founding Team 46:09

6M ago46:09

46:09

Ali Ghodsi is the CEO and co-founder of Databricks, a leader in data and AI. He pioneered the data intelligence platform built on a lakehouse architecture, revolutionizing analytics and AI for global organizations. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as the VP of engineering and product management. In this conversation with Stanford adjunct lecturer R…

1
Margo Georgiadis (Flagship Pioneering and Montai Health) - Deep Tech Innovation 49:35

6M ago49:35

49:35

Margo Georgiadis is a CEO-partner at Flagship Pioneering and co-founder and CEO of Montai Health, an AI platform company enabling the predictable discovery of breakthrough small molecule medicines to treat and preempt chronic disease. In these roles, Georgiadis brings extensive expertise in technological innovation and high-performance business tra…

1
Sam Altman (OpenAI) - The Possibilities of AI 45:43

7M ago45:43

45:43

Sam Altman is the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, the AI research and deployment company behind ChatGPT and DALL-E. Altman was president of the early-stage startup accelerator Y Combinator from 2014 to 2019. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab with the mission to build general-purpose artificial intelligence that benefits all hu…

1
Qasar Younis (Applied Intuition) - Radically Pragmatic Insights 44:54

7M ago44:54

44:54

Qasar Younis is the co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition, which creates software solutions to help automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, and companies in the trucking, construction, and agriculture industries transition to next-generation vehicles. Before founding Applied Intuition, Younis was a partner and COO of Y Combinator. In this conversation with…

1
Grit, Grind, and Carats: The Peter Feliciano Story 1:10:31

7M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

Peter Feliciano, a man whose journey from Far Rockaway to the upper echelons of the fine jewelry industry embodies the spirit of New York City. From his early days navigating racial tensions and forging alliances on the streets to his transformative experience in the United States Marine Corps, Feliciano's story is one of grit, adaptability, and un…

1
Sharon Prince (Grace Farms Foundation) - Designing From Values 50:01

7M ago50:01

50:01

Sharon Prince is the CEO and founder of Grace Farms Foundation, a new kind of boundary-defying public space in New Canaan, Connecticut, that has become widely known as a global humanitarian and cultural center. Grace Farms is the platform for the Foundation and its interdisciplinary humanitarian mission to pursue peace through nature, arts, justice…

1
Crafting Crowns: René Mantilla and the Art of Luxury Chapeaux 1:06:11

7M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

René Mantilla, a New York-based luxury hat designer whose handcrafted fedoras have become a symbol of the city's effortless style and a favorite among celebrities. From his humble beginnings in Ecuador to his breakthrough moment at Nordstrom, Mantilla's story is one of unwavering faith, tireless dedication to his craft, and an unshakeable belief in…

1
Geometry, Color, and Innovation: The Captivating World of Jan Kaláb's Art 30:56

7M ago30:56

30:56

Jan Kaláb, born in 1978 in Czechoslovakia, has emerged as one of the most prominent contemporary artists of his generation. From his roots in Prague's graffiti scene to his current international success, Kaláb's artistic journey is a testament to his unrelenting passion, innovation, and ability to push boundaries. This article explores Kaláb's earl…

1
Balancing Impact with Market Opportunity - Bedy Yang (500 Global) 50:45

8M ago50:45

50:45

Join Bedy Yang, managing partner at 500 Global, as she dives into the world of evaluating and investing in startups in the climate and sustainability space. Here what she has to say about the scalability of ideas, the credibility of founders, and the importance of measuring impact. Hosted by Mike Lepech, professor of civil and environmental enginee…

1
Daniela Amodei (Anthropic) - ‘Helpful, Honest, Harmless’ AI 50:42

8M ago50:42

50:42

Daniela Amodei is president and co-founder of Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. Amodei manages the senior leadership team, leveraging her people and management experience to further the company’s goal of building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. In this conversation with Stanford adjunct lecturer Emily Ma, Amodei talks…

1
Data-Driven Investing in Climate Startups - Sailesh Ramakrishnan (Rocketship VC) 41:57

8M ago41:57

41:57

Venture capitalist Sailesh Ramakrishnan, co-founder and managing partner at Rocketship VC, delves into the data-driven approach of Rocketship VC in identifying and investing in climate and sustainability startups. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions in the realm of AI, venture capital, and sustainable innovation. Hos…

1
Clara Shih (Salesforce AI) - What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship 47:00

8M ago47:00

47:00

Clara Shih is CEO of Salesforce AI, the world’s most trusted enterprise AI for customer relationship management. A digital pioneer, Shih has been named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, TIME’s Most Influential People in AI, and the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. She is a member of the Starbucks board of directors and…

1
AI and Product Management for Climate Solutions - Juliet Rothenberg (Google) 39:06

8M ago39:06

39:06

Juliet Rothenberg, lead product manager for Google's climate AI initiatives, shares how AI is revolutionizing climate solutions, from optimizing traffic lights to providing flood forecasting alerts for 80 countries. She also discusses the role of a product manager when the planet is one of your key stakeholders. Hosted by Mike Lepech, professor of …

1
Shiza Shahid (Our Place) - A Meaningful Entrepreneurial Path 42:53

9M ago42:53

42:53

Shiza Shahid is the co-founder and co-CEO of Our Place, a mission-driven startup reimagining kitchenware for the modern, multiethnic, global kitchen. Prior to Our Place, Shahid also co-founded the Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. She led the organization as founding CEO, advocating for the rights of all girls to attend school. …

1
Law, Policy, and Climate Tech - Dan Dorosin (Fenwick & West) 42:53

9M ago42:53

42:53

Dan Dorosin, a partner at the law firm Fenwick & West, Discusses the unique legal and policy challenges faced by climate and sustainability startups, from navigating the intricacies of the Inflation Reduction Act to addressing funding complexities influenced by changing legislation. Gain insights into startup financing, law and policy implications,…

1
Kimberli Gant, Art Curator for the Brooklyn Museum, Unlocks "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys" 27:03

9M ago27:03

27:03

During a recent conversation, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kimberli Gant, an art curator at the Brooklyn Museum. She is known for her innovative approach to curating contemporary art exhibitions. Gant's style involves going beyond just the aesthetics of art and focuses on how it reflects our time's culture, history, and human connections. He…

1
Innovation, Investing, and Planetary Health - Arvind Gupta (Mayfield) 46:56

9M ago46:56

46:56

Arvind Gupta was a genetic engineering major-turned-trader, became a design director at IDEO, founded the startup developer IndieBio, and is now a partner at Mayfield focused on human and planetary health. His mission is to invest in science-based companies that could change history. Learn what he thinks are the unique dynamics of venture capital f…

1
Ernestine Fu (Brave Capital) - Taking Action for Startup Success 48:08

9M ago48:08

48:08

Ernestine Fu is managing general partner of venture capital firm Brave Capital. Over the past decade, Fu has worked across the startup ecosystem, including negotiating merger and acquisition agreements, organizing SPVs for later-stage companies, angel investing in and advising companies that have since been acquired, and advising banks on venture d…

1
Transformative Climate Leadership in Business - Patrick Flynn 40:52

9M ago40:52

40:52

Patrick Flynn, a leader in climate action, discusses the essentials of transformative climate leadership in organizations, drawing on his seven years as head of global sustainability for Salesforce as well as extensive experience advising organizations. He shares how big companies can leverage their purchasing power, the need for bold action, and w…

1
"I Can Do Better Than Nothing" - Inside the Mind of Bill Adler 44:29

9M ago44:29

44:29

In this episode, Amon Focus engages with Bill Adler, a pivotal figure in hip hop, to explore his transition from a music journalist to Def Jam's first publicist and his significant contributions to preserving hip hop culture. Adler's insights reveal a deep passion for the genre, highlighting his work on a seminal photo book and donations to institu…

1
Tech, Food, and a More Sustainable Future - Emily Ma (Google) 51:17

9M ago51:17

51:17

Our first episode features Emily Ma, head of special projects in sustainability, real estate, and workplace services at Google. Delve into Emily's journey as an intrapreneur focusing on sustainability within Google's internal operations, particularly in the realm of food systems. Learn about the unique opportunities and obstacles she’s encountered …

1
Bonus: ETL’s Emily Ma on Move Fast and Fix the Planet 51:51

9M ago51:51

51:51

ETL is off this week, but in its place, we’re pleased to share the first episode of a new podcast from Stanford eCorner and STVP called Move Fast and Fix the Planet. It’s about climate and sustainability entrepreneurship, and this episode features ETL host Emily Ma, head of special projects in sustainability, real estate, and workplace services at …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Amon Focus Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide