How Success Happens

Jing Gao grew up in Sichuan, bounced through Canada, landed in Shanghai, and revolutionized the hot sauce aisle at Walmart. Her brand, Fly By Jing, went from a Kickstarter she was terrified to launch to a 10x business overnight thanks to a New York Times article she didn't even know she was being interviewed for. Along the way, she ran underground supper clubs, trained under one of China's top chefs, and made a convincing argument that chili crisp goes on vanilla ice cream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where do ideas come from? Michael Petry of Golden West Boots has a few thoughts on that and what to do if you get arrested in Vietnam with a suitcase full of one-of-a-kind Prada samples. In this well-heeled snack break, he shares what he's learned from working with some of the biggest names in fashion, like Ralph Lauren. And yes, there's a discount code https://goldenwestboots.com Code: ENT10 for 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do Cinnabon, Hooters, and AG1 have in common? Today's guest has been in the C-suite of all of them and somehow made it make sense. The head of AG1 sits down with Dan to talk about building brands that last and why she took a step down the corporate ladder to eventually rocket up it. Plus, she covers why trusting your team helps create viral moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan spoke to David Thurston, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Danger Jones, for a webinar he did for Entrepreneur+. Not about hair (obviously) but about why putting your face on your brand is the scariest and smartest thing you can do. Plus, Dan reads and responds to some listener comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morning Brew co-founder Alex Lieberman joins How Success Happens for a fun, fast-paced masterclass in going from side-hustle newsletter to full-blown media brand. Alex shares how he grew Morning Brew from a scrappy startup into a scaled business, the mindset shifts that allowed for greater growth, and the systems that kept the rocket ship steady. He and host Dan Bova dig into how to keep innovating, why expert support at every level is a superpower, and the practical steps you can take to unlock your next chapter of growth.With the business tax filing deadlines are approaching quickly, with many returns due March 16, 2026, understanding what has changed and acting on it with the right guidance may be one of the most practical decisions a solopreneur makes this year. Learn more about filing your taxes with Intuit TurboTax, visit https://turbotax.com/business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada, was brewing beer before craft beer was a thing. Back when your neighbors thought it was weird, not artisanal. Now he's built one of the most beloved beer brands in America, and he sits down with Dan to share what's kept Sierra Nevada alive and thriving while countless others have gone flat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaclyn Leibl-Cote is the third-gen CEO of Collette, a century-old travel company taking people around the world. Growing up in the family business sounds glamorous until you get absolutely roasted on a 360 review. Jaclyn shares what it actually took to become the leader people wanted to follow. Plus, Dan reads a listener's email! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Hardin has done some pretty dumb things for a pretty smart guy. His new book, Wired on Wall Street, is the wild, cringe-worthy, and ultimately inspiring story of how a hotshot trader convinced himself that insider trading was totally fine, right up until the FBI showed up to politely disagree. What happens next shapes the rest of his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan's not exactly a theater kid, so he sat down with two-time Tony-nominated lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland to find out what a Broadway producer actually does. Brian, who works with greats like Taraji P. Henson, Denzel Washington, and Jake Gyllenhaal, also gets into how he handles conflict between big personalities and why you'd better love the story you're trying to tell. His new show, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, opens at the Barrymore Theatre on April 25th, with previews starting March 30th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Gurley is a legendary venture capitalist who has backed companies like Uber, Zillow, and OpenTable. His new book, Runnin’ Down a Dream, is a user's manual for figuring out what you actually want and how to go get it. In this conversation, he shares some of his favorite takeaways from the book. Plus, Bill reveals the one skill he desperately wishes he had. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kerri Walsh Jennings is a five-time Olympian. The queen of beach volleyball has some seriously inspiring words for everyone, from the kids she coaches through her platform P1440 to the pros on her new Major League Volleyball franchise. Plus, she's bringing Hero Beach Volley to Montauk this summer, and Dan's fired up to jump in and get spiked in the face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Mould started out doing stand-up comedy at Oxford for fun, because apparently getting a degree there isn't hard enough. When he combined his love of physics with performing, he unlocked a whole new level of success. Now he's an author, occasional TV presenter, founder of a comedy festival, and host of the long-running Steve Mould YouTube channel with 3.5 million subscribers and 985 million views. He joins Dan to talk about turning a passion into a business without destroying your soul in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is joined by the Warped Tour founder, Kevin Lyman, alongside the founder/President of FestForums, the leading B2B conference for the festival industry, Laurie Kirby. Kevin talks about his favorite memories from the tour and his time with the musicians. Along the way, he offers some punk rock lessons in marketing and matching the message to the audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Berkowitz was over late-night pizza. What he really wanted was a warm, just-baked cookie delivered to his door. Since he couldn’t get one, he built Insomnia Cookies in his dorm room. Berkowitz shares the simple, disciplined game plan that turned a craving into 350 late-night cookie-delivering stores worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz Tran, author of the forthcoming book AQ, knows that the one constant of life is change. She joins Dan to share practical ways to build real resilience and rethink how you handle the unexpected. Plus, Dan makes a surprising discovery...about himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bert Jacobs built Life Is Good with his brother, a beat-up van, and $78. He explains how positivity became a competitive advantage and why giving back was never optional. The Playmakers nonprofit grew alongside the brand and sits at the core of its “why.” Bert also shares his belief in capitalism and business as the only way to save the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music producer Jimmy Humilde is added another title to his résumé with his new film, Clika. Even as he becomes a true multi-hyphenate, he shares practical advice on managing nerves and staying grounded through gratitude. Plus an unconventional approach to meditation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up, Paul Rosolie thought all the great adventures were already taken. Until he traveled to the Amazon and realized just how much of the world is still waiting to be explored. His journey into the rainforest inspired him to co-found Junglekeepers, a nonprofit dedicated to saving the Amazon and, by extension, the rest of us. In this episode, Paul breaks down how a killer hook and a carefully structured story can get your brand message across. Turns out, wrestling anacondas is optional, but it definitely helps people pay attention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Milton, co-founder of Splash Sports, has made it easy for anyone to run a contest with friends or fans. But running the company itself is much harder. In this snack-size episode, Joel talks about building a business when the rules keep changing, how to avoid chasing shiny ideas, and why getting something out into the world matters more than getting it perfect. Plus, Dan responds to the comment section. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter how you measure it, Bert Kreischer is a success. And yet, the fear never really goes away. In this conversation, the stand-up comic, podcasting powerhouse and star of the new Netflix series Free Bert, talks about imposter syndrome and what actually drives his relentless work ethic. He shares his formula for telling a great story and explains why the most awkward celebrity interactions often make the best ones. Plus, Guy Fieri drops in to ask Bert a few questions of his own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 32, Alex Bussenger was at the top of his game and senior vice president at Bank of America. Then an aortic dissection nearly killed him. He survived, but recovery brought something he didn’t expect. A deep sense of loneliness. In this snack-size episode, Alex shares how that experience led him to create Heal Together, an app that connects people recovering from major health events with others who’ve been there. Because healing isn’t just physical and no one should have to do it alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cowboy Kent has cooked meals on the open range and gone head-to-head with Bobby Flay and beaten him. But his success didn’t stop in the kitchen. He’s built a thriving YouTube channel, a successful catering business, and written cookbooks. In this episode, Kent shares why faith and family aren’t just part of his story, but the foundation of everything he’s built. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sahand Dilmaghani is the founder and CEO of Terra Kaffe, who happens to make Dan’s current favorite coffee machine. Sahand recently joined Dan for a webinar, and this snack break serves up some of Dan’s favorite insights from that conversation. They talk about slowing down when things get chaotic, the best advice he’s gotten, and how knocking on doors with early prototypes helped turn an idea into a real business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to pull out your New Year's party horns. Instead of resolutions, Dan kicks off the year with a pep talk from Colin O’Brady, the first person to walk across Antarctica completely alone and unsupported. They talk about pushing past limits, facing fear, and what dragging a sled across the ice has to do with building something hard from scratch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Snack Break, Dan digs back into the archives for a conversation with Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe. They talk about purpose, and why having a “why” matters to his entrepreneurial journey. Plus, Mike tells an unforgettable story about poop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isaiah Chavous knows what sounds good. As the CEO of Noctal, he’s built a library of more than 200,000 human-made sound effects used in games, films, podcasts, and beyond. In this Snack Break, Isaiah talks about staying calm in high-stakes pitches, why rejection isn’t personal, and his best and worst moments of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Cassotis is the CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport. In this snack-size episode, she explains why airports are high-stakes problem-solving machines, how to make holiday travel less stressful, and what passengers almost always get wrong about who’s actually in charge. Plus why airports are the best places to work… just don’t call it a tarmac. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremiah Gardner likes to get deep. He’s an underwater cave diver who uses lessons learned beneath the surface to help leaders and businesses survive and thrive in uncertainty. In this episode, he shares his “Gold Line” framework for moving forward boldly without losing your way. Plus, why learning fast matters more than failing fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Bitzer and Damion Greiman, plus the always-on-point Amanda Zuckerman, join Dan to break down the comedy business from every angle. On the comedy side, they dig into what’s trending and why getting to “the funny” faster matters more than ever. On the business side, they share the hire that kept their company sane. Plus, what do you do when the comedy special cameras start rolling, and you’ve got a wildly weird crowd to contend with? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orchids. Infernos. Rin Tin Tin. What do these things have in common? They’ve all been the subject of books by Susan Orlean. In her new book Joyride, she pulls back the curtain on how she does it. Susan and Dan dig into how she decides which ideas are worth pursuing, how she pushes through the doubt, and why audiobooks might just be the purest way to experience a story. Plus, she shares the one writing habit she wishes she could ditch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve got “take actual time off” on your holiday to-do list but keep finding yourself sneaking in “just one more email,” this one’s for you. Just in time for the holidays, Dan revisits this chat with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, where they talk about why taking a break can be the best thing for the quality of your work. Plus, what’s the one thing he can beat his wife at? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turns out Jack Daniel’s isn’t just a whiskey company, it’s a family business. Master distiller Chris Fletcher stops by to share how he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps but he’s not the only one with a family tie on the team. He talks about legacy and what it means to serve a community that’s been working together for generations. Part of that is Operation Ride Home, a nonprofit that helps junior enlisted service members make it home for the holidays because Jack Daniel’s knows just how much family matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this snack break, Dan revisits his conversation with Tracy C Dyson (no relation to Sir James Dyson from the last episode). Tracy breaks down what it actually feels like to be launched off the planet and step into literal nothingness on a spacewalk. Plus, she also settles the debate once and for all: the Earth is extremely, unambiguously round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sir James Dyson can’t stand bad design. Instead of complaining, he channels that frustration into building machines that make the rest of us wonder, “Wait… why wasn’t it always done this way?” And he doesn’t stop at vacuums. From high-tech farming to championing the next generation of innovators, Dyson shares how relentless curiosity (and yes, 5,127 failed prototypes) can power a lifetime of breakthroughs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Levant, the CEO of Complex NTWRK media, drops in to talk about why “ignorance is rich,” how taking wild swings has shaped his entire career, and why real-life experiences beat a thousand Instagram likes any day. This quick burst of inspiration will get you hyped to go out there and try anything. Even if everyone’s telling you not to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabriel Weinberg knows a thing or two about taking big risks on big ideas. He’s the founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo, the privacy-first search engine taking on the giants. In this episode, he breaks down the frameworks that help him lead, how he makes tough calls, and where he finds the time to actually do all of it. Plus, he gives us his take on the real risks around AI and privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rafael Atijas, founder and CEO of Loog Guitars, joins to share how a grad school project turned into a global brand. He talks about learning manufacturing from scratch, mastering Kickstarter, and building a community of first-time rockstars. Plus, what he’s learned as a veteran of five successful Kickstarter campaigns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ElectroBOOM, the YouTuber who makes learning about electricity shockingly fun, joins us to break down how he built an enduring YouTube career. He gets real about the mistakes he's made, the comments that still sting, and what’s next on his entrepreneurial journey. Plus, he answers the question “Does it still hurt when you get shocked?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former pro baller turned sports management founder Donnie McGrath joins the show to talk about his jump from ball handling to closing $650 million in contracts. He shares the moment that made him hang up his sneakers, what it’s really like to go from player to agent, and how his definition of success has evolved along the way. Plus, a sneak peek at his company LIFT Sports Management’s next big play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of How Success Happens, the small business team behind Wood Expressions Games shares how a nearly 20-year partnership with Amazon transformed their tiny company into a booming board game business. Learn about their inspiring journey of growth, perseverance, and the fulfillment that comes with bringing joy to customers and creating jobs in their community. This episode marks the 25th anniversary of Amazon welcoming independent sellers to its store, a period during which these sellers have generated over $2.5 trillion in sales. Tune in for real-world strategies, actionable advice, and proven tactics that any entrepreneur can use to scale and build lasting success in Amazon’s store. To learn more about how Amazon supports independent sellers, visit sellingpartners.aboutamazon.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if getting fired isn’t the end? What if it’s the beginning? Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill join Dan to talk about their mission to take the shame out of the F word. In their new book All the Cool Girls Get Fired, they share stories from powerhouses like Oprah Winfrey and Carol Burnett about the times they got fired, what they learned, and how those pink slips turned into rocket fuel for their next big moves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Davis, serial entrepreneur and investor in Jomboy Media and Dave’s Hot Chicken, joins the show. On this episode, he breaks down how he finds products people actually want, why organic demand beats throwing money at marketing, and how to know when it’s time to cut your losses. He says having success is like a chance to eat more pie. Speaking of which, send Dan your favorite pie pick at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chef Andrew Zimmern swings by to talk about his new book The Blue Food Cookbook, and to make a very hungry Dan seriously regret skipping breakfast. Beyond drooling over recipes, they dive into sustainable seafood, Zimmern’s favorite cookbooks, and why social media is doing more harm than good to the food industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges adds one more stop to his first-ever U.S. tour and makes a pit stop with Dan (us?) on the How Success Happens podcast. He opens up about recovering from those nights when a joke dies a slow, painful death, shares how he tames pre-show nerves, and reveals why he keeps a tiny recording device tucked in his running shorts. (Yes, really.) Want to see Kevin live? Check out https://www.kevinbridges.co.uk/ for his latest tour dates before he sprints off to the next city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode takes on Substack from both sides of the keyboard, the company’s own success story and how creators are finding success on the platform. Hamish McKenzie, Substack’s co-founder and Chief Writing Officer (that’s what it says on his substack), joins the show to break down the intentional choices that made Substack such a writer’s haven and why he believes it’s still the best deal in town for creators. Then writer Casey Lewis pops in to share how she built her own thriving Substack community and the strategies any writer can use to boost their odds of success. Check out Dan's Substack here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Terry Crews may look like the toughest guy in the room, but as he tells it, real toughness has nothing to do with muscles or touchdowns. In this snack-sized rewind, Terry talks about auditing your life and asking the hard questions. He also shares what he’s learned about team building on and off the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal joins the show to celebrate the launch of his new Masterclass and share his approach to empowering teams and cultivating leadership at every level of an organization. He walks us through strategies for encouraging teams to take risks, even when failure carries serious consequences. But he admits that, despite a lifetime in the military, burpees are still the worst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan revisits his chat with dermatologist-turned-global-sensation Dr. Sandra Lee, better known as Dr. Pimple Popper. She shares how a simple blackhead video blew up the internet, and what it’s really like to build a business on pus and pimples (while still protecting her patients). Plus, she bursts some skin myth bubbles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) joins Dan to pull back the coffin lid on her 45-year reign as the queen of Halloween. She shares how The Groundlings and a one-off local TV gig turned into her pop culture empire, why embracing her alter ego became her greatest business decision, and how she spends Halloween. Elvira also talks about her new cookbook Elvira's Cookbook from Hell (spoiler: it includes Cheese Whiz and crushed potato chips), her autumnal gin, and her friendship with Pee-wee Herman. From reframing Hollywood typecasting to becoming a brand that defines a holiday, Elvira proves that success sometimes means leaning all the way into what makes you different—even if it’s spooky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode, Dan revisits his conversation with comedy legend Dan Aykroyd. From managing teams on movie sets to co-founding Crystal Head Vodka, Aykroyd shares what he’s learned about leadership, product design, and sales. Plus, as a lifelong risk-taker, he explains the proper way to eject from a fighter jet. A tip you definitely don’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices