Episodes

Guy Raz hosts a special Advice Line episode where six founders reveal how they weave AI into their businesses. From Modi Toys to Raising Cane's, these entrepreneurs share concrete examples of automation and analysis that freed them to focus on what humans do best. No hype, no buzzwords—just practical insights you can apply.

Breezy and Val Griffith turned a road-trip idea for ultrathin chocolate almonds into SkinnyDipped, a $100M brand in 25,000 stores. Their decade spanned home kitchen experiments, a converted chicken coop factory, and a make-or-break Target launch threatened by 40,000 pounds of rancid nuts. After hitting rock bottom in 2022 with negative margins and no funding, the mother-daughter team cut everything, reformulated, and clawed to profitability. Their story shows how founder-led product obsession, paired with ruthless financial discipline, can rescue a business from collapse.

Todd Graves of Raising Cane's joins fellow founders on David Burmeister's Advice Line to share hard-won lessons on scaling without losing soul. Three callers face growth dilemmas: Evan Sledge wrestles with scaling Whiskey Morning Coffee without sacrificing quality, Shane Lyons looks to expand Vesti while staying true to its mission, and Todd Graves reveals how Cane's built a billion-dollar chain by refusing to compromise on chicken, sauce, and culture. Each walks away with practical strategies for growing without selling out. This masterclass in disciplined expansion comes from a founder who turned one Baton Rouge chicken finger joint into 1,500+ locations.

Elan Lee turned a game of cat-themed Russian roulette into a cultural phenomenon. Exploding Kittens launched as a $10,000 Kickstarter and shattered records with $8.7 million in backing, proving that absurd concepts can scale when they tap into pure fun. The story reveals how a simple deck of cards, where you hope not to draw the exploding kitten, built a lasting brand through community-driven momentum and relentless iteration.

Bobby Trussell returns to Advice Line to help three founders navigate growth. Leif Gildersleeve wrestles with scaling Flying Fish Company beyond his Portland restaurant. Colleen King of Hala Gear debates marketing versus product expansion. And Amanda Horan of Line & Cleat seeks pre-seed capital strategies without a startup network. Trussell's core message: focus, prove your model, and let clarity guide every decision.

Danae Ringelmann and Slava Rubin defied 93 rejections to build Indiegogo, forever changing how ideas find funding. They proved that community belief, not venture capital, can launch movements. This episode unpacks how perseverance, platform design, and trusting creators rewired the economics of innovation. Their story reveals that when you remove gatekeepers, ordinary dreams become extraordinary businesses.

Guy Raz hosts an Advice Line episode featuring two seasoned founders giving real-time counsel to growing businesses. Jamie Siminoff, founder of Ring (sold to Amazon for $1B), advises Melita Cyril of Q for Quinn on scaling without losing brand soul. Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch shares hard-won lessons on supply chain transparency and premium positioning. Two founders. Two distinct challenges. Zero platitudes—just actionable advice from the trenches.

Sal Khan's journey from tutoring his cousins to founding Khan Academy shows how a simple need can transform global education. What began as YouTube videos for family evolved into a free learning platform used by millions daily. Khan Academy proves that quality education shouldn't depend on wealth or location—just curiosity and an internet connection.

Jane Wurwand, co-founder of Dermalogica, shares hard-won wisdom on building trusted brands through authentic customer education. On this Advice Line, she guides three early-stage founders from Chunky Vegan, Baby Booty, and Paradis Sport through scaling challenges with integrity. Her core insight: real connection beats marketing every time. Learn how to turn customer relationships into a legacy that outlives any product cycle.

Meridith Baer transformed the real estate industry by pioneering home staging as a essential selling tool. After restarting her career at 50, she built Meridith Baer Home into a powerhouse that helps properties sell faster and for higher prices. Her approach combines design psychology with strategic marketing, proving that age is no barrier to entrepreneurial success.

Bill Creelman of Spindrift hosts an Advice Line episode where he guides three founders through pressing business challenges. Jean-Pierre Parent of Soma Kombucha seeks advice on scaling production while maintaining quality, Josh Jancewicz of Donna's Pickle Beer navigates distribution expansion, and Zach Will of Kona Brand tackles brand differentiation in a crowded market. Bill draws from his experience building Spindrift into a leading beverage brand, offering practical insights on growth, branding, and operational resilience. This episode delivers actionable strategies for founders facing scaling and market positioning dilemmas.

Travis Rosbach turned a simple problem, keeping water cold, into a cultural phenomenon. As Hydro Flask's co-founder, he transformed the humble water bottle into a status symbol through relentless focus on quality, design, and community. This episode reveals how a surfer's obsession with the perfect chill became a billion-dollar brand that reshaped an entire industry.