The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

Imagine leaving a six‐figure Wall Street salary behind to chase a single, daring idea. In this episode, David Heacock shows you how he turned a basic product into a $250M empire. At 29, he left Wall Street to bet on air filters. That bet transformed into Filterbuy, now a $250 million direct-to-consumer manufacturer serving more than 7 million customers through a ruthlessly efficient operation. Today we talk about what actually matters when building a business, balancing obsession with family life, selling on Amazon, what he’d do differently if starting over, and the freight decision he calls his biggest mistake. Whether you’re starting a business, scaling one, or simply looking for insights on hiring, managing, or making bold decisions, David shares the lessons that helped him build his empire.

David Heacock is the founder and CEO of Filterbuy. Before revolutionizing the air filter industry, he traded options at Goldman Sachs from 2005-2012.

If you’re driven by bold decisions and value hard-won lessons, this conversation is your playbook. Don’t miss out on the insights that could redefine your own path to success.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Watch on YouTube: @tkppodcast

(00:02:56) David's Journey to Goldman Sachs
(00:06:07) Committing to Entrepreneurship
(00:07:35) The Power of Obsession
(00:10:08) The Decision to Expand Geographically
(00:12:55) Challenges in Building the First Plant
(00:18:58) Management Level Hiring
(00:22:41) Studying Operating Systems for Companies
(00:24:49) The Nuances of Hiring
(00:25:53) External Accountability
(00:29:37) Adapting Business Operating Systems
(00:30:13) The Role of a Chief of Staff
(00:31:03) Building Department-Specific Operating Models
(00:32:56) Articulating the Company's Mission and Values
(00:44:19) Understanding Marketing and Branding
(00:47:10) The Strategy Behind Intent-Based Marketing
(00:52:13) The Decision to Enter Retail
(00:57:26) Success in Retail and Customer Acquisition
(00:58:19) Diversifying Market Segments
(00:59:13) Competitive Advantage Over Other Brands
(01:01:07) The Logistics Aspect of the Business
(01:04:25) Defining Direct-to-Consumer Brands
(01:08:39) Technical Challenges and Overcoming Setbacks
(01:11:46) Core Personal Traits for Success
(01:16:37) The Power of Obsession Over Willpower
(01:17:46) Facing the Hardest Moments in Business
(01:26:36) The Decision to Enter the Freight Business
(01:30:48) Diversifying into the HVAC Service Business
(01:34:51) The Future of HVAC Service Business
(01:36:01) Personal Branding and Business Growth
(01:37:23) The Role of Marketing and Operations
(01:38:48) Contrasting Business Models: Private Equity
(01:43:00) The Importance of Mission and Vision
(01:47:12) Balancing Obsession and Family Life
(01:53:44) The Dangers of Lifestyle Creep and Maintaining Financial Stability
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So far with The Knowledge Project Podcast, we've focused on interviews. But I’ve learned as much from reading biographies as from interviewing amazing people. That’s why we’re starting 'Lessons from Outliers.' Every other week, we'll study an outlier who did remarkable work. From industrialists who reimagined commerce to the irreverent personalities who challenged the foundations of their fields, we'll explore what they did and how they did it. We can learn something from everyone.

We're starting Outliers with Timothy Eaton, a Canadian name that might not be familiar to many listeners today, but his innovations fundamentally changed retail and how we shop. This episode is about how he built that empire, the principles that drove its success, and the forces that eventually brought it all crashing down. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or trying to understand how great companies rise and fall, Timothy Eaton's story offers timeless lessons about innovation, trust, and the true price of success. You'll learn why even the mightiest empires can crumble when they forget the principles that built them and why success—no matter how massive—must be earned and re-earned daily.

(01:55) Introduction
(05:04) The Vision
(06:16) Timothy’s Early Years
(09:28) The System
(12:17) The Innovation Engine
(14:18) The Scale Game
(18:08) The Platform Play
(19:32) The Leadership Philosophy
(20:48) The Succession
(22:21) Retail as Entertainment
(23:14) The Western Expansion
(25:12) Building the National Network
(26:05) Creating the Corporate Family
(26:43) The Pinnacle of Power
(27:43) The Inherited Crown
(28:33) The Comfortable Plateau
(31:33) The Weight of Tradition
(33:12) The Profit Paradox
(34:02) The Identity Crisis
(34:51) The Final Chapter

This podcast is for information purposes only and draws primarily from two excellent books: ‘The Eatons: The Rise and Fall of Canada's Royal Family’ by Rod McQueen which chronicles the Eaton family history and the company’s journey from beginning to end, and ‘Timothy Eaton and the Rise of His Department Store’ by Joy L. Santiuk, which focuses on the founder’s life. If this story captured your interest, we highly recommend both books for their thorough documentation of what became a Canadian institution for over a century.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode will transform how you think about style, aspiration, and the art of knowing what people want before they know it themselves. From working in department stores to advising Steve Jobs on Apple’s retail strategy when it didn’t have retail at all, Drexler’s career traces the evolution of American retail itself: from local shops to mall dominance, from catalog to digital, from mass market to personalization. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a retail enthusiast, or someone looking to build a brand that stands the test of time, Mickey shares invaluable insights on what separates truly successful brands from the rest.

Mickey Drexler is the chairman of Alex Mill. Before that, he was the CEO of J. Crew and sat on the Board of Directors of Apple. He founded Old Navy and Madewell, and served as the CEO of Gap from 1983–2002.

Learn why gaining real-world insights—and not just reports or data—is crucial to staying ahead of the competition.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Watch on YouTube: @tkppodcast

(02:16) How Mickey Drexler became Mickey Drexler
(07:04) Lessons from redefining Gap
(12:47) Merchant, defined
(15:17) How Drexler evaluates stores
(19:20) Lessons from running Gap
(21:19) On Old Navy
(27:26) On Steve Jobs and Working with Apple
(33:00) Re-making J. Crew
(37:00) Drexler's superpower
(43:40) Current-day retailers who are great
(45:10) How Drexler got "Madewell"
(47:15) What makes something a classic look?
(50:20) On success

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alfred Lin shares strategies for navigating startup challenges, building resilient teams, and creating long-lasting value. Lin explores lessons from companies like Zappos, Airbnb, DoorDash, and Amazon, offering actionable insights on topics like hiring for potential, managing crises, and fostering innovative cultures. Learn how first-principles thinking, customer focus, and disciplined growth can transform challenges into opportunities, even in the face of unprecedented disruptions.
Lin is a partner at Sequoia Capital. He represents Sequoia on boards like Airbnb and DoorDash. From January 2005 to December 2010, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Zappos. He has a Bachelors in Applied Mathematics from Harvard and a Masters in Statistics from Stanford.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

(00:00) Intro
(03:20) Personal Journey: From Taiwan to Entrepreneur
(04:51) School Days: Lessons in Creativity and Discipline
(06:21) Infinite Games: Shaping Life's Philosophy
(08:12) Core Values and Life Principles
(10:09) Work-Life Balance and Family Insights
(12:13) Inputs vs Outputs: Daily Routines and Priorities
(13:56) First Order Issues: Problem Solving in Business
(18:46) Early Career: From LinkExchange to Zappos
(44:01) Facing the 9/11 Crisis
(44:24) Building a Profitable Company
(44:50) Creative Financing Strategies
(45:55) Customer Service Focus
(48:53) Handling High Return Rates
(53:31) Zappos' Unique Culture
(55:47) Holacracy Management System
(56:53) Maintaining Growth and Culture
(58:37) Avoiding Complacency
(01:10:21) Crucible Moments
(01:13:28) First Principles Thinking
(01:14:17) Navigating the Pandemic
(01:27:37) The Essence of Company Values
(01:28:04) Pros and Cons of Remote Work
(01:29:52) Building Company Culture in a Hybrid World
(01:33:11) Investment Strategies in Changing Markets
(01:37:37) The AI Revolution and Its Future
(02:01:56) Balancing Standardization and Customization
(02:04:44) Working Backwards vs. Forwards
(02:10:53) Defining Success: The Importance of Process

Whether you’re looking to increase your income, start a side business, or completely transform your financial future, Codie Sanchez will break down exactly what separates those who successfully build wealth from those who stay stuck. This conversation is packed with immediately actionable insights covering the biggest myths around money, the difference between acquiring and keeping money, the rich versus broke mindset and how it changes everything, non obvious lessons on negotiating, and more. Plus, we talk about the single most important thing to know about building financial freedom—and it’s not what you think it is.

After spending nearly two decades on Wall Street, Codie Sanchez struck out on her own and has been buying and investing in businesses since 2012. She now runs a holding company of small and medium-sized businesses. Her unique focus is on “boring businesses” like laundromats and lawn care services. Sanchez is also the author of Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth in Ordinary Businesses.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast
(00:00) Intro
(02:48) Codie Sanchez's Journey to Business Acquisition
(04:21) Understanding the Language of Money
(07:06) The Importance of Financial Freedom
(16:12) Learning and Earning in Your 20s
(17:32) The Power of Proximity and Mentorship
(28:37) The Role of Effort and Determination in Success
(39:45) Lessons from Business Failures
(44:22) Mastering Business Focus and Layering
(46:31) Misconceptions About Money
(48:21) Saving vs. Earning: A Financial Perspective
(51:57) The Rich vs. Broke Mindset
(53:24) Allies vs. Friends in Success
(01:09:04) The Importance of Reputation
(01:20:41) Negotiation and Sales Skills
(01:23:40) The Art of Door Knocking
(01:25:07) Defining Good and Bad Businesses
(01:26:26) Identifying Business Problems
(01:27:57) Hiring the Right People
(01:42:57) Traits of High Performers
(01:46:42) Balancing Work and Personal Life
(01:57:37) Investing as a W2 Employee

The Knowledge Project closes 2024 with a look back at some of the best conversations of the year. Featuring interviews from some of our most downloaded episodes ever, this collection of conversations offers a variety of insights into finances and investing, improving your communication, marketing and positioning, business frameworks, health and nutrition, and how to beat death.

This conversation features segments from finance expert and writer Morgan Housel, non-verbal psychologist Blake Eastman, marketing and positioning expert April Dunford, blueberry billionaire John Bragg, parenting extraordinaire Becky Kennedy, a billion dollar CEO Brad Jacobs, nutrition guru Rhonda Patrick, and the guy who is beating death, Bryan Johnson.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

00:00 - Intro
02:12 - Transform your finances (Morgan Housel)
12:10 - Transform your communication (Blake Eastman)
22:04 - Transform how you sell yourself (April Dunford)
33:01 - Transform your business philosophy (John Bragg)
44:31 - Transform your emotions and attitude (Becky Kennedy)
57:45 - Transform your business tactics (Brad Jacobs)
01:07:28 - Transform your nutrition (Dr. Rhonda Patrick)
01:18:06 - Transform your lifespan (Bryan Johnson)

In this episode, Charlie Hoehn explains the secrets behind why some books are unforgettable, and others no one seems to remember. He shares his journey of helping authors transform their ideas into best-selling books and provides actionable advice on structuring, writing, and marketing a book. You'll learn how to craft titles that make people want to read your book, design compelling covers that stand out on the shelves, and use certain strategies to engage readers effectively depending on the ideas you communicate. Hoehn also shares the psychology behind book promotion, how to leverage feedback, and the dynamics of traditional versus self-publishing. Whether tackling a novel or email, this episode will transform how you write and communicate.
Charlie Hoehn is the founder of Author.Inc and a 3-time New York Times bestselling editor. He's the mind behind some of the influential books from Tim Ferriss, Ramit Sethi, Codie Sanchez, and Noah Kagan. Charlie's expertise has helped sell over 10 million books.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast
(00:00) Intro
(03:04) Helping Authors Succeed
(03:38) Writing for a Specific Audience
(07:14) The Importance of Real Feedback
(10:18) Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
(20:50) The Economics of Self-Publishing
(24:42) The Art of Book Cover Design
(30:29) Crafting a Compelling Title
(36:42) The Importance of Book Structure
(47:22) Editing: The Final Touch
(51:35) Book Sales Percentiles
(52:32) The Harsh Reality of Book Sales
(54:20) The Emotional Impact of Writing
(55:12) Dealing with Compliments and Criticism
(58:24) The Quest for Bestseller Lists
(1:00:04) The Complexities of Hitting the New York Times List
(1:12:25) Leveraging AI in Writing
(1:20:21) Effective Marketing Strategies for Authors
(1:28:14) Creating Evergreen Content
(1:35:30) The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
(1:40:54) Final Thoughts

Ryan Holiday unpacks the subtle and not-so-subtle messages life sends us—and what happens when we ignore them. From mismatched tattoos and injured ankles, Ryan reflects on the lessons he’s learned about preparation, awareness, and humility. Using examples ranging from personal missteps to famous entrepreneurial gambles, this episode is a deep dive into the art of learning from experience, knowing when to listen, and the cost of stubbornness. Plus, Holiday revisits his roots to discuss how Stoic principles can guide you in navigating feedback, balancing ambition with self-awareness, and understanding the fine line between determination and delusion.
Holiday is a New York Times bestselling author. He has written over 10 books, covering both the fundamentals of Stoicism as well as key elements of modern-day marketing and media. His most recent release is Right Thing, Right Now. Holiday has been a guest on the podcast twice before.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast
(00:00) Intro
(02:20) When to Ignore Advice
(04:49) The Importance of Reflection and Journaling
(07:26) Balancing Emotions and Stoic Practices
(24:34) Misconceptions and Historical Context of Stoicism
(29:53) The Pursuit of Excellence and Its Trade-offs
(40:58) The Power of Saying No and Opportunity Costs
(49:09) The Role of Anger and Emotional Control
(52:58) Defining Self-Discipline
(53:43) The Essence of Self-Discipline
(54:29) Balancing Discipline and Life
(55:09) Consistency and Overcoming Setbacks
(56:09) The Struggle with Compulsive Tendencies
(58:33) Navigating Competition and Personal Goals
(01:01:22) Cultivating Discipline Through Physical Practice
(01:02:15) Instilling Discipline in Children
(01:04:22) Understanding Character and Virtue
(01:23:32) The Impact of Modern Technology on Writing
(01:35:04) Defining Success and Managing Expectations

Adam Karr outlines his personal framework for finding success in both life and business. He shares insights into how to hire the best CEOs (even if you have just ten minutes to talk with them) and what CEOs he avoids talking to, the simple ideas Karr takes seriously, the correlation between people's writing and their performance, and more. This episode is packed with practical wisdom on how to succeed as an investor and business person.
Adam Karr is the President and Portfolio Manager at Orbis Investments. Prior to Orbis, Karr was a partner at Palladium Equity and a financial analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette.

(00:00) Intro
(02:44) Investing Strategies and Market Games
(04:08) Adapting and Evolving Investment Styles
(05:20) The Importance of Obsession and Environment
(06:29) Aligning with Long-Term Investment Goals
(07:11) Identifying and Evaluating Obsessed CEOs
(08:13) The Role of Culture in Investment Decisions
(08:54) Building Long-Term Positions and Overcoming Short-Term Pressures
(12:21) The Blueprint for Success
(15:24) Learning from Role Models and Mentors
(21:25) The Power of Writing and Decision Analytics
(29:11) The Magic in the Last 5% of Investment Research
(35:25) Understanding Roll-Ups: Success Factors and Challenges
(36:01) Applying Knowledge for an Unfair Advantage
(37:42) Learning from Feedback and Case Studies
(40:47) The Importance of Independent Thinking
(43:06) Lessons from Industry Leaders
(49:32) The Will to Practice and Time Management
(56:44) Positioning for Success and Resilience
(01:08:59) Defining Success and Helping Others

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

In this episode, John Mackey takes us from the inception of SaferWay—the precursor to Whole Foods—to building one of the most successful natural food empires in the United States. He shares how a life-altering experience shifted his consciousness about food and health, leading him to pioneer the organic food movement. Learn about the delicate balance between staying true to personal ideals and adapting to market realities, as Mackey discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of listening to customers, and the resilience needed to overcome crises, like the flood that nearly destroyed his first store. This conversation is packed with lessons on visionary leadership, the tension between idealism and business growth, and the power of staying committed to a mission.
In this episode, John Mackey takes us from the inception of SaferWay—the precursor to Whole Foods—to building one of the most successful natural food empires in the United States. He shares how a life-altering experience shifted his consciousness about food and health, leading him to pioneer the organic food movement. Learn about the delicate balance between staying true to personal ideals and adapting to market realities, as Mackey discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of listening to customers, and the resilience needed to overcome crises, like the flood that nearly destroyed his first store. This conversation is packed with lessons on visionary leadership, the tension between idealism and business growth, and the power of staying committed to a mission.

John Mackey is the co-founder of Whole Foods Market, where he was the CEO of the company from 1980 to 2022. He is the author of the bestselling book, Conscious Capitalism.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

OUTWAY CEO Rob Fraser discusses the mindset required to excel in elite sports and business. He shares how his personal mission fueled his resilience through injuries and setbacks in cycling, and how this same perseverance has driven him in entrepreneurship. He delves into the lessons he has learned from failure, underscores the importance of long-term thinking, and explains how competitive sports taught him crucial skills—preparation, endurance, and performing under pressure—that he applies daily to build his business.

Rob Fraser is the Founder and CEO of OUTWAY and Custom Lab. He is a five time Team Canada cyclist.

OUTWAY makes the world’s best socks. The TKP community can get 30% off using the code SHANE at checkout. https://outway.com/

Newsletter
The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/

Upgrade
If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Follow Shane:
Twitter: https://x.com/ShaneAParrish
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/

Follow Rob:
Twitter: https://x.com/robbfraser

Sponsors:
Somewhere.com https://www.somewhere.com/
Overlap: https://www.joinoverlap.com/

John Bragg, founder of Oxford Frozen Foods and Eastlink (the largest privately held telecommunications company in North America), shares his journey from growing up in a small village to becoming one of North America’s largest wild blueberry producers and leading a major telecommunications company.

He discusses his early entrepreneurial ventures, why he got into the blueberry business in the first place, and how he pivoted when things didn’t go quite as planned.

Bragg emphasizes key business principles like long-term thinking, efficiency, and maintaining a low-cost mindset. He also reflects on the importance of cultivating strong teams and staying humble despite his success.

John Bragg is the Chairman, President, and co-CEO of Oxford Frozen Foods, a food manufacturing company he founded in 1968. The company operates the largest fruit farm in the world, with over 12,000 acres of wild blueberries. In the 1970s, he started a cable TV company that became North America’s largest privately held telecommunications company. He did all of this from a town of around one thousand people.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Follow me
Twitter: https://x.com/ShaneAParrish
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/

Sponsors:
Overlap: https://www.joinoverlap.com/

In this episode, Erin Wade discusses her journey from being a practicing lawyer to making mac and cheese...as a business. Wade shares how surfing became a personal escape while managing a busy life as a CEO and mother, and how she applied lessons from her career to build a restaurant known for its strong workplace culture. She introduces the concept of open book management, which empowers employees by involving them in the company's financials and decisions, leading to higher engagement and performance.Erin also highlights her innovative approach to tackling sexual harassment in the workplace with the “color code of conduct,” a system now used globally in the restaurant industry. She reflects on the power of titles in shaping both external perception and self-identity, and the importance of managing for impact rather than intent. The conversation is packed with insights on leadership, culture-building, and how to create work environments where employees feel valued and empowered.Erin Wade is a chef, author, and entrepreneur. She is the Founder and CEO of Homeroom, a restaurant in Oakland, California, known in equal parts for its unique workplace culture and incredible macaroni and cheese. She has a degree in public policy from Princeton University and a law degree from UC Berkeley.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

(00:00) Intro
(02:30) Wade's surfing obsession
(04:42) Defeating overthinking
(05:00) Wade's background in food
(06:40) Wade's law detour
(10:20) On being fired
(12:40) Early mistakes and freedom
(20:00) Employee-centric companies
(32:30) Homeroom Hard Times
(34:40) How Wade's law background helped (and hurt)
(42:40) The Color Code of Conduct
(49:30) Why Wade sold Homeroom (and how she felt)
(55:58) Impact vs. Intent
(59:00) Why titles are important
(01:04:00) On success

Shane Parrish sits down with Matthew Dicks, a renowned storyteller, author, and teacher, to explore the nuanced art of storytelling. They go deep into the techniques that turn mediocre stories into masterful ones.

You’ll learn what makes a story truly resonate with an audience, how to identify and highlight the pivotal moments that create emotional impact, the architecture of compelling stories, how to structure narratives for maximum engagement and how to use techniques like suspense, stakes, and humor to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. This conversation covers broad frameworks, like how to structure a great story—and the granular details, like when you should talk quietly to refocus the audience.

Matthew Dicks is novelist, storyteller, columnist, playwright, blogger, and teacher. He’s published fiction and non-fiction books, the latter of which include: Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling and Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life.

(00:00:00 Intro
(00:03:28) What makes a good story
(00:06:57) Stories vs anecdotes
(00:08:29) A Story: The Spoon of Power
(00:17:42) The art of story architecture
(00:21:28) Create compelling stories
(00:36:30) Common mistakes & how to fix them
(00:55:01) Strategic listening
(01:03:32) Can you lie in stories?
(01:05:10) 'And' stories vs. 'but / therefore' stories
(01:10:05) Finding engaging stories in everyday life
(01:20:05) Structuring a story
(01:24:00) Storytelling for an unforgettable brand
(01:31:20) Learn confidence
(01:38:40) Writing vs telling a story
(01:51:53) Teach kids to love writing
(01:55:15) Define success

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
--
Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.
--
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast
--
Sponsor: Overlap https://www.joinoverlap.com/ - Listen to podcasts like never before.

What if people aren’t buying your product or service because their idea of what it does is wrong?
In this episode, Shane asks April Dunford to reveal all her secrets about what makes good and bad product positioning, how a startup should differ in its communications from a big company, and the difference between B2B and B2C positioning. Dunford also shares how a startup can better identify pain points their customers face, how to write the best sales page copy, and the best way to objectively evaluate a product’s positioning.
If you’re an executive at a company, this episode will make you reflect on your current marketing and sales pipelines and ask, “Are we doing this right?” If you’re a designer, engineer, or marketer at a company, this episode will teach you the secrets to selling a product that will help get you promoted and earn trust within your organization.

Dunford spent the first 25 years of her career as a startup executive running marketing, product, and sales teams positioning products acquired by companies like IBM and Siebel Systems. Since then, she’s worked with over 200 companies as a consultant, developing a system to better position technology products and companies. She studied Engineering at the University of Waterloo and is most recently the author of Sales Pitch.

Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Newsletter - I share timeless insights and ideas you can use at work and home. Join over 600k others every Sunday and subscribe to Brain Food. Try it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
My Book! Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results is out now - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/clear/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/
(00:00) Intro
(02:07) Positioning, explained
(16:47) Why is positioning important?
(20:40) B2B vs. B2C positioning
(29:03) When re-positioning a product failed
(32:31) How to identify customer's pain points
(34:35) How to position a product on a sales page
(38:06) How technology has changed positioning
(41:40) How to evaluate product positioning
(45:43) Who's in charge of positioning at a company?
(50:27) On storytelling
(56:35) Should a company have a point of view on the market?
(1:00:21) Dealing with gatekeepers in B2B marketing
(1:03:02) Mistakes people make with positioning
(1:05:21) What schools get wrong about marketing
(1:08:59) Secrets of B2B decision-making
(1:11:18) On success

Brian Halligan, co-founder and former CEO of HubSpot, discusses the journey of leading a company from the startup phase to IPO. Halligan shares his personal and professional experiences, including a snowmobiling accident that altered his life trajectory, the importance of company culture, the nuances of hiring the right people, and the complications involved in running a growing organization.
This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and anyone interested in the intersection of personal growth and professional success.
Brian Halligan is currently a Senior Advisor at Sequoia Capital. In 2006, he co-founded HubSpot and served as its CEO until 2021. He is also a senior lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

(00:00) Intro
(02:36) Halligan's life-changing snowmobile accident
(09:38) Shane's life-changing medical mystery
(14:38) The different phases a CEO goes through while growing companies
(20:44) Lessons learned from Steve Jobs
(23:18) How to hire and fire people (and when)
(27:55) The problems with "Best Practices" in business
(31:11) The most underrated public CEOs (and why Jerry Garcia from The Grateful Dead is on this list)
(43:38) The history and future of inbound marketing
(51:08) On decision making
(55:18) On work-life balance
(58:28) On success

Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠
Newsletter - I share timeless insights and ideas you can use at work and home. Join over 600k others every Sunday and subscribe to Brain Food. Try it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠
My Book! Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results is out now - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/clear/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠
Join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/

Few episodes in The Knowledge Project’s nine-year history have impacted people’s relationships and lives more than when Esther Perel shared her infinite wisdom for the first time in 2019.
Shane and Esther discuss how the stories you tell yourself shape how you see the world (and what to do about that), the important conversations to have at the beginning of a relationship, the most common arguments couples have and how to prevent them, what to say to a partner if the relationship isn’t working out, the relationship between desire, love, and pleasure, and so much more. Plus, the conversation starts out on an interesting note: Esther Perel shares stories about her parents surviving the Holocaust and how their experiences shaped her childhood and continue to shape her life today.

(00:00) Intro(02:38) Coming back to life after the war(08:09) The myth of stability(11:30) The power of reflections(19:48) Important conversations for early relationships(24:20) Can values change in relationships?(27:20) Being secure in a relationship(30:40) Better conversations with your partner(33:00) What's behind every criticism(36:52) Too much honesty(39:37) What happens if I don't love my partner(47:12) Why does good sex fade in relationships?(50:59) Love vs. desire(55:38) How to have difficult conversations with your partner(01:05:13) Conscious uncoupling

Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos⁠⁠⁠
Newsletter - I share timeless insights and ideas you can use at work and home. Join over 600k others every Sunday and subscribe to Brain Food. Try it: ⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠
My Book! Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results is out now - ⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/clear/⁠⁠⁠
Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠
Join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/

Shane Parrish and Maya Shankar dive into the complexities of identity and personal transformation. They explore how significant life changes can reshape one's sense of self and explain how to navigate these transitions. Maya shares her personal stories and tips on making proactive choices and keeping a flexible, layered sense of self. They also discuss the psychological and philosophical aspects of identity, offering practical advice on goal-setting and personal growth.Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. Shankar was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Oxford and a B.A from Yale.
(00:00) Intro
(02:40) Shankar's "almost unbelievable" story of getting into Julliard
(05:30) Why Shankar studied identity
(11:38) What is identity?
(14:52) Using your identity to accomplish your goals
(18:00) Using anti-identities to accomplish your goals
(18:51) What to do when your identity is "attacked"
(26:30) How to re-establish trust in institutions
(32:30) Use identity to start a positive habit
(35:35) How to debunk myths with stories and facts
(37:18) How does how we frame our goals help (or prevent) us from accomplishing them
(43:11) The one motivational technique Shankar uses every day
(45:15) On success

Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos⁠⁠
Newsletter - I share timeless insights and ideas you can use at work and home. Join over 600k others every Sunday and subscribe to Brain Food. Try it: ⁠⁠https://fs.blog/newsletter/⁠⁠
My Book! Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results is out now - ⁠⁠https://fs.blog/clear/⁠⁠
Follow me: ⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠
Join our membership: ⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/

It's surprising how often we give our kids orders: "Do this!" "Don't do that!" But if we want to raise resilient and independent kids, is this the right approach? Michaeleen Doucleff argues there's a better way, and in this conversation, she explains why and shares practical strategies for solving the parenting "crisis" in the modern world.
In this conversation, Doucleff reveals four parenting principles that will help foster resilience and independence in your kids while protecting and enhancing their emotional well-being. Shane and Doucleff discuss her observations on how different cultures approach parenting and how their practices can help alleviate the burdens we place on ourselves and our children. We also explore the role of technology and its impact on our parenting and our children's development and maturity.Michaeleen Doucleff is the author of Hunt, Gather, Parent. Her work has taken her all over the world to explore, observe, and learn from the parenting practices of various cultures. She is also a correspondent for NPR's Science Desk.
(00:00) Intro
(04:12) How (and why) we've lost our way as parents
(08:02) The rise of the nuclear family
(13:46) TEAM Parenting: T
(17:20) TEAM Parenting: E
(23:01) Why you don't need to praise your child
(26:12) TEAM Parenting: A
(36:42) TEAM Parenting: M
(38:34) "Kids do not need to be entertained"
(39:12) Technology, parenting, and transmitting values
(1:02:59) Resources parents can use to educate kids about technology
(1:04:50) How you can use the environment to give kids autonomy
(1:09:56) Success and parenting

Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos⁠
Newsletter - I share timeless insights and ideas you can use at work and home. Join over 600k others every Sunday and subscribe to Brain Food. Try it: ⁠https://fs.blog/newsletter/⁠
My Book! Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results is out now - ⁠https://fs.blog/clear/⁠
Follow me: ⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠
Join our membership: ⁠https://fs.blog/membership/

Succeeding in both life and business is very difficult. The skills needed to scale a company often clash with those required to cultivate a thriving home life. Yet, Brent Beshore seems to have cracked the code—or at least he's actively working on it. In this conversation, he spills his secrets on excelling in both arenas.
This episode is split into two parts: the first 45 minutes covers life and how to be a better person. Brent opens up about the evolution of his marriage, physical health, and inner life.
The rest of the episode focuses on business. Shane and Beshore discuss private equity, how to hire (and when to fire) CEOs, incentives, why debt isn’t a good thing in an unpredictable world, stewardship versus ownership, and why personality tests are so important for a functional organization.After beginning his career as an entrepreneur, Brent Beshore founded Permanent Equity in 2007 and leads the firm as CEO. He works with investors and operators to evaluate new investment opportunities.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos
Newsletter - I share timeless insights and ideas you can use at work and home. Join over 600k others every Sunday and subscribe to Brain Food. Try it: https://fs.blog/newsletter/
My Book! Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results is out now - https://fs.blog/clear/
Follow me: https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish
Join our membership: https://fs.blog/membership/
Sponsors:
Shopify: Making commerce better for everyone. https://www.shopify.com/shane
Protekt: Simple solutions to support healthy routines. Enter the code "Knowledge" at checkout to receive 30% off your order. https://protekt.com/knowledge

(00:00) Intro
(05:08) Why Brent examined his life
(09:44) How Brent "fixed" his relationships
(20:04) How helping hurts
(32:13) How Brent was subtly controlling relationships
(40:36) Why Brent stopped drinking (mostly)
(50:29) How to run a business with love yet competitively
(01:00:34) Win-win relationships
(01:05:34) On debt
(01:19:28) On incentives
(01:29:08) How to hire and fire CEOs
(01:34:18) What most people miss about hiring
(01:44:19) Brent's playbook for taking over a company
(01:51:20) On projections
(01:55:52) Revisiting investments
(01:58:44) How "hands-off" is Brent?
(02:08:34) Where people go wrong in private equity
(02:14:07) On success