The Vampire Squid

TVS – Reflections and a Pause

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I just got back from a wonderful trip to Japan and Taiwan, and I\'m extremely jetlagged—it\'s 5 AM in New York right now. Unfortunately, as the podcast episode title suggests, I\'m putting the podcast on an indefinite pause due to a mix of work, learning, and side projects (including crypto and blockchain) that I\'m diving into. Looking back on this incredible journey, I can’t believe the number of episodes and the reach the podcast has achieved. That feeling of impact—of creating something from scratch—is something I\'ve truly fallen in love with and hope to replicate in my career, opening my eyes to entrepreneurship. This isn’t the end, just the closing of a chapter, and I hope you’ll stay tuned for what I’m working on next! I’m also excited to share that I’m now working on: * www.fotolab.studio [\"https://www.fotolab.studio\"] - Self-portrait Studio in NYC and Houston * www.fotolabstudio.ai [\"https://www.fotolabstudio.ai\"] - AI headshot Generator for professional headshots * www.signsandmirrors.com [\"https://www.signsandmirrors.com\"] - A Frame Sign Company for Retail Businesses Please continue to email me and keep me updated on your successes and journey at alanliberkeley@gmail.com. With love, Alan

TVS 056 – Credit Score (Bethy Hardeman – Credit Karma)

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai [%5C] (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com [%5C] (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. This episode features Bethy Hardeman, Chief Consumer Advocate at Credit Karma. We discuss how credit scores are calculated, common myths about credit, how to improve a score quickly, and why having a solid credit profile matters for more than just credit cards.

TVS 055 – Poker and Investing

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai [\"http://www.fotolabstudio.ai\"] (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com [\"http://www.signsandmirrors.com\"] (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Today, I explore how poker strategies and mindset can overlap with investing and finance. I break down the basics of Texas Hold’em, talk about probability, decision-making under pressure, and why playing poker can sharpen your ability to manage risk in investments.

TVS 054 – Finance to Startups and Entrepreneurship (Head of Expa Labs – Eric Friedman)

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai [%5C] (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com [%5C] (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Eric Friedman, Head of Expa Labs, shares valuable insights on transitioning from a finance background to tech entrepreneurship. We discuss building startup skills, why startup culture isn’t for everyone, how non-technical people can add value, and Eric’s take on networking, imposter syndrome, and the 1%/9%/90% rule for content creation.

TVS 053 – Brian Wong (Founder of Kiip, 18 Year Old College Graduate)

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai [\"http://www.fotolabstudio.ai\"] (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com [\"http://www.signsandmirrors.com\"] (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Brian Wong, founder of Kiip and author of “The Cheat Code,” joins me to discuss entrepreneurship, how he graduated college at 18, pitching to investors like Kevin Rose, and how being young (and even “looking young”) can be an advantage. He also talks about discovering your superpower and building excitement around new ideas.