Episodes

Julia Hartz, co-founder of Eventbrite, returns to The Advice Line to help three founders navigate critical business challenges. From balancing dual revenue streams to building print magazine audiences in a digital world, Hartz shares her hard-won wisdom on creating sustainable flywheels and community-driven growth. Her insights bridge the gap between startup idealism and operational reality.

Reed Hastings built Netflix by rejecting the comforting myth of workplace "family" in favor of radical candor and high performance. The company almost sold to Blockbuster in 2000, but its bet on streaming and willingness to let go of low performers created a culture that outlasted its giant competitor. This episode unpacks how Hastings learned to lead—and why his provocative philosophy transformed home entertainment.

Guy Raz hosts an advice line featuring Betterment founder Jon Stein, who helps three entrepreneurs navigate scaling challenges. Dan Criss of Heretic Yerba seeks focus among multiple growth paths, Mike Smith of MTS Woodworking debates taking on debt to expand his basement workshop, and Maggie MacDonald of Floofball weighs channel priorities for her soccer-themed dog toy line. Stein draws on his fintech experience to offer practical guidance on sequencing growth, pricing power, and strategic channel selection.

Two French sports executives left comfortable corporate jobs to create a running shoe that looked like a "clown shoe"—with an absurdly thick midsole. Runners mocked it until they tried it. The Hoka's plush cushioning reduced fatigue and made downhill running feel effortless. Despite 98% of retailers rejecting the design, word spread through ultrarunners. A partnership with Deckers Brands accelerated growth, transforming a $3 million startup into a $2 billion giant by making "maximalist" running mainstream.

Mark Cuban cuts through startup noise with unfiltered advice for five founders facing real growth barriers. Dan Janssen's Imperium Shaving needs to scale beyond niche without raising capital. Kristin Ruud's Northern Classics struggles to stand out in a crowded heritage market. Lucy Dana's One Trick Pony hit a content ceiling. Macy Schmitt's Girlyish Skincare faces fierce competition. Cuban delivers tactical, no-BS guidance on positioning, distribution, and brand storytelling. This episode delivers a masterclass in honest feedback—exactly what early-stage founders need to hear.

Kurt Listug and Bob Taylor built Taylor Guitars from a $3,700 shop into a global brand. Their success came from innovative guitar design, controlling the entire production process, and focusing on sound quality. They pushed the industry forward by adopting CNC technology early and leading the way in sustainable tonewood sourcing. The result: instruments that changed expectations for acoustic guitars.

Guy Raz brings Monica Nassif's decades of cleaning wisdom to the Advice Line, where Mrs. Meyers' plant-based philosophy meets real founder challenges. Monica Nassif built Mrs. Meyers on a simple belief: cleaning products shouldn't smell like chemicals. She shares how baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils became a cult brand by refusing to compromise on fragrance and ethics. Founders learn that authenticity isn't a marketing strategy—it's the only strategy that lasts.

Gymboree founder Joan Barnes reveals how building a children's retail empire came at a devastating personal cost. She shares the moment she recognized that her success was destroying her marriage and mental health, and the courageous decision to leave the company she built. This episode uncovers entrepreneurship's hidden toll and confronts the question: when does building something become the very thing that breaks you?

Warby Parker co-founder Neil Blumenthal joins host Brian DeMint for a no-holds-barred advice session. Three founders, Kimber Crandall of Pearl Pop, Neil Blumenthal himself, and Tanner McCraney of Cowboy Country Club, bring their toughest business challenges. From scaling production to brand positioning, Blumenthal cuts through the noise with hard-won lessons from building a billion-dollar brand. This is founder-to-founder advice at its most real.

Todd Carmichael and Jean-Philippe Iberti built La Colombe Coffee Roasters from a single Philadelphia location into a nationwide cult favorite by refusing to compromise on quality. Their story reveals how a friendship grounded in craft coffee, direct trade ethics, and deliberate scaling created a brand that loyalists genuinely love—not just another coffee chain.

Jack Conte of Patreon takes the hot seat for a rapid-fire Advice Line session, fielding questions from three founders at inflection points. Melissa Spitz needs to monetize her handwriting business without losing its personal touch. Rowena Scherer wrestles with scaling a travel-food brand that's straining her family dynamics. Zac Parsons weighs expansion against brand identity for Honeymoon Coffee Company. Each caller gets five minutes of Jack's direct, no-fluff advice on turning creative work into sustainable business.

Michael Dubin turned a warehouse of unwanted razors into a billion-dollar brand with a single viral video. The Dollar Shave Club founder combined eight years of marketing experience with improv comedy skills to create one of the most successful guerrilla marketing campaigns in modern history. His story reveals how humor, authenticity, and relentless focus on solving a simple customer frustration can disrupt even the most entrenched markets.