Forged in America

Poker legend Phil Hellmuth shares his poker, life and political musings with Ravin and Al. The state of the Democratic and Republican parties are discussed, along with handicapping both sides from JB Pritzker to Ted Cruz.

The destructive power of ego and narcissism is discussed, with Phil sharing vulnerable stories about his personal journey and business ventures. The runaway success of the All-In Pod is discussed, with Phil sharin...

Ravin and Al welcome Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of CrowdStrike and cybersecurity expert, to discuss geopolitics, US-China relations, the Iran conflict, and the future of technology and defense.

The values of strategic deterrence, supply chain resilience, and the implications of AI advancements are debated. From the implications of low-quality chips in AI development to the political landscape, this episode offers a comprehensiv...

Alex Krys shares his inspirational journey with Ravin and Al from touring with the Rolling Stones, to managing Evander Holyfield, to doing over $10B in Real Estate.

The impact of serendipity and grit are themes of this episode, showing how it is impossible to predict where seemingly random connections will lead. You just can't give up.

Alex also opines on the state of Argentina and Milei - to his undying passion for the USA and o...

Jeff Aronin shares his origin journey with Ravin and Al of becoming passionate about biotech after one of his epilepsy drugs stopped a little girl from an unnecessary surgery.

His path to creating many multi-billion dollar drugs is analyzed, as well as the problems with FDA approvals and risk/reward of biotech. Also the future of medicine with potential solutions for cancer and many other conditions. The amazing future of AI and dru...

Sam Yagan shares his inspiring origin story with Al and Ravin, from founding SparkNotes as a senior at Harvard to selling it for 50M just 9 months later. His 8-year journey at OKCupid culminating with a sale to Match Group/IAC is discussed, with the runaway success af Tinder. At peak, the market cap of his company was 50B.

Sam also shares his thoughts on immigration, the venture market, and spotting the next big thing - even when it...

ALPHA SCHOOL's Mackenzie Price joins Ravin and Al to discuss the future of education, and how their unique school uses AI to teach K-12 tudents. Kids work with screens and guides for 2 hours, and then transition to projects in the afternoon to foment financial literacy, public speaking, and grit.

They also discuss the broken model in modern America for education, and how AI might help the underserved in the USA. Mackenzie shares...

Jackie Reses shares her inspiring story with Ravin and Al, from attending boarding school at age 14 to get away from an unstable home to starting businesses at the University of Pennsylvania. From Goldman Sachs to sitting on the Alibaba board, to starting a bank at Square to finally creating Lead Bank.

She is candid about dealing with impostor syndrome, and the challenges of being an alpha woman who still struggles to be heard b...

Brent Beshore of Permanent Equity shares his unique approach to investing with Ravin and Al, including using no debt, 30 year holdtime, and eschewing the traditional 2/20 PE fund structure. He emphasizes the flexibility that his approach has given him to make long term discussions.

The conversation then turns into Brent's deep Christian faith, as he shares his journey from existential dread and nihilism to finding meaning in life an...

In this episode, investor Steven Taslitz takes Ravin and Al through key deals in his storied career including Black Rifle Coffee, Sylvan Learning, and School of Rock, and discovering Navy SEAL Jocko Willink.

He emphasizes the value of the human relationships that are formed under pressure, whether on a competitive sports team or as co-founders.

Steven discusses why he never wanted to raise a typical 2 and 20 PE fund, and how he ...

Al and Ravin reflect on why they continue doing this podcast, and the lessons gleaned from the stellar roster of guests thus far.

They discuss the value of learning to communicate in the "YouTube Era" using podcasting, and how sharing public opinions changes your thinking in interesting and unexpected ways.

The value of reading, and lifelong learning is emphasized. As always, a few war stories about painful deals are shared.

Disclaime...

Tony Davis shares his origin story with Ravin and Al, from being fired at age 33 to building the worlds largest dedicated healthcare private equity fund LINDEN PARTNERS. He shares the key to being a stellar fundraiser, along with the biggest challenges he faced.

The American healthcare system is discussed in depth, from high quality to bad incentives to insurance fraud. RFK's polarizing policies are discussed.

Also the value of s...

Sam Nazarian shares his journey with Al and Ravin from immigrant roots to building a global hospitality empire. He discusses the importance of brand building, ecosystem creation, and navigating the challenges of the nightlife and hotel industries.

He discusses his ventures in luxury hotels, restaurants, and his latest focus on longevity and healthcare, offering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Also, he discusses Iran, ...

Tom Gimbel joins Al and Ravin to converse and debate the current job market, and the impact of AI on employment. Political dynamics, particularly regarding military actions in Iran and Venezuela, are discussed, alongside the implications for the future of the Middle East.

They explore the complexities of political corruption, healthcare fraud, and the challenges faced by moderate Democrats. The conversation also touches on immigrat...

In this engaging conversation, Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi sit down with Ali Hamed, founder and CEO of Traville Capital Management. They explore Ali's unique journey from aspiring baseball player to successful entrepreneur, discussing the importance of networking, building credibility, and the evolution of his investment firm.

Ali shares insights on navigating the private credit landscape and the interplay between venture capital...

Rylan Hamilton, the founder of BLUE WATER AUTONOMY, shares his gritty story with Ravin and Al. Rylan started off in the Navy, then went to Harvard Business School, and founded 6 River Systems which he sold to Shopify for $450M. He went on to raise $65M for Blue Water Autonomy with Google Ventures as the lead. The episode drills into the future of war, the effort to curb spending, the use of AI in the military, and how the military ...

Lior Div, who raised over $1B in founding Cybereason and 7AI, shares his insights with Ravin and Al on the intersection of cybersecurity and AI, emphasizing the importance of innovation in the face of evolving cyber threats.

He discusses his background in the elite 8200 unit of the IDF and how it has shaped his entrepreneurial journey in the tech industry. The discussion also highlights Israel's unique position as a leader in cyber...

In E16, Ravin and Al interview Edward Woodford, founder and CEO of ZeroHash, discussing his journey from the UK to the US, the founding of ZeroHash, and the evolution of the crypto landscape.

Edward shares insights on the importance of stablecoins, the infrastructure behind crypto transactions, and the future of digital assets. He emphasizes the need for usability in the crypto space and the potential for stablecoins to revolutioni...

Ravin and Al discuss the current state of the economy, exploring conflicting narratives around inflation, affordability, and consumer behavior. They reflect on insights gained from recent guests on their podcast and consider the impact of AI on future economic opportunities.

They discuss perceptions of grift and favoritism in politics, the impact of populism on economic prosperity, and the complexities of racism and accountability ...

Al and Ravin speak with Don Edwards, founder and chairman of FlexPoint, about his journey from being a college athlete at the University of Illinois to a renowned career in private equity.

They discuss the challenges along the way, including the importance of networking, the transition from investment banking to private equity, and the role of philanthropy in shaping one's identity.

Don shares insights on the competitive nature of ...