He Cold Called a Stranger 18 Years Ago and Now They Run a Venture Fund Together | Matt Ober

He Cold Called a Stranger 18 Years Ago and Now They Run a Venture Fund Together | Matt Ober

One cold call can change the direction of an entire career. Eighteen years ago, Matt Ober picked up the phone and called Howard Lindzon, the founder of Stocktwits. That professional introduction eventually became a friendship, an investing relationship, and a long-term partnership. Today, Matt and Howard help lead Social Leverage, an early stage venture capital firm known for investing in fintech, financial technology, vertical software, artificial intelligence, and promising startup founders. Matt joins Bridget Ann Stuart to share how relationships, curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to hear no helped shape his career in financial markets, hedge funds, data strategy, venture capital, and seed stage investing. Their discussion explores confirmation bias and the way our brains naturally search for information that supports what we already believe. Matt explains why founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders need people around them who will challenge their thinking, question their assumptions, and help them make stronger decisions. For young professionals building careers in finance, investing, startups, technology, or artificial intelligence, Matt's advice is clear. Learn the tools, become faster and more capable, attend events, build genuine relationships, ask for opportunities, and do not allow rejection to stop you. Episode Highlights • The cold call that changed Matt Ober's career • Building Social Leverage with Howard Lindzon • How confirmation bias affects major decisions • Why strong ideas need honest challenges • What seed investors look for in founders • Lessons from investing early in Robinhood • Using AI to improve speed and productivity • Why relationships still create the biggest opportunities About Matt Ober Matt Ober is a Managing Partner at Social Leverage, an early stage venture capital firm investing in financial technology, financial services, vertical software, vertical SaaS, artificial intelligence, and data-driven companies. Before joining Social Leverage, Matt served as Chief Data Scientist at Third Point, where he worked across data science, analytics, technology, risk, equity investing, credit investing, venture capital, and cryptocurrency. Matt previously led data strategy at WorldQuant and was involved in the development of WorldQuant Ventures. He began his career at Bloomberg, where he gained experience with financial markets, investment technology, financial data, and the Bloomberg Terminal. At Social Leverage, Matt works alongside Howard Lindzon, Tom Peterson, and Gary Benitt. The firm has invested in companies including Robinhood, eToro, Kustomer, Manscaped, Stocktwits, and beehiiv. Matt also writes about investing, technology, data, artificial intelligence, financial markets, startups, venture capital, and entrepreneurship through his newsletter at his website. Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obermattj X: https://x.com/obermattj Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialleveragellc ABOUT BRIDGET ANN STUART Bridget Ann Stuart is the host of The Inner Estate Podcast, a Realtor since 1998, and the CEO and Head Coach of Strategic Performance Coaching. Her work sits at the intersection of mindset, execution, leadership, business growth, and personal growth. Bridget brings real conversations to the table with entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, leaders, creators, coaches, authors, and high performers who are willing to talk about the inner work behind external results. Her mission is to help people think more deeply, act more intentionally, and build success that is aligned, sustainable, and real. CONNECT WITH BRIDGET Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBridgetStuart/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbridgetstuart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBridgetStuart\ Interested in Being a Guest on The Inner Estate Schedule a pre-podcast call with Bridget Ann Stuart https://calendly.com/bridgetstuart67/theinnerestatepodcast

Comeback Failure: The Pattern Nobody Sees | Dr. Toby Brooks

As a performance scientist, athletic trainer, strength coach, professor, author, coach, podcast host, and first generation college student working on his sixth degree, Toby has studied high achievers across sports, business, leadership, the arts, and personal growth. Through his work with athletes and entrepreneurs, he began noticing a pattern. Some people recover from injury, failure, burnout, rejection, career setbacks, and life disruption with more clarity and strength. Others never fully return to who they were or who they could become. Dr. Toby Brooks joins The Inner Estate for a powerful look at the science of the comeback, comeback failure, high performance, growth mindset, cognitive dissonance, and the hidden patterns that determine whether someone rebuilds after failure or stays stuck in the wreckage. Bridget and Toby talk about what he calls a purpose storm, the moment when life goes haywire and the person you said you wanted to become no longer matches where you are. They explore why setbacks in business, sales, leadership, relationships, athletics, and personal life can create a what now moment, and how that moment can become the beginning of a true comeback. Toby shares why the comeback is not just about grit, discipline, or pushing harder. Real recovery requires awareness, alignment, rest, recovery, self reflection, better habits, and the ability to focus on what you can control. The discussion also covers growth mindset, fixed mindset, resilience, negative self talk, self sabotage, high achiever pressure, overtraining, burnout, complacency, contentment, and why always chasing the next win can rob people of joy. For anyone facing failure, burnout, business disappointment, career uncertainty, personal reinvention, or a season of rebuilding, this podcast offers a grounded reminder that falling apart does not have to be the end. Sometimes the storm that shakes everything loose can also become the storm that forms something stronger. Episode Highlights: * Science behind successful comebacks * Why some people fail to recover after setbacks * Understanding the "purpose storm" moment * Turning failure into a comeback opportunity * Importance of mindset: growth vs fixed * Role of cognitive dissonance in change * Beyond grit: need for rest, recovery, alignment * Managing burnout, pressure, and overtraining * Overcoming self-sabotage and negative self-talk * Focusing on controllables for real progress ABOUT GUEST Dr. Toby Brooks is a nationally recognized performance scientist, educator, and coach who studies how people perform, recover, and transform after adversity. He holds a PhD and multiple advanced degrees in fields related to human performance and education, is a certified athletic trainer (ATC) and certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), and serves as a university professor and researcher. With a background in athletic training, strength and conditioning, and higher education, he has worked with athletes, executives, and high performers across disciplines, while also pursuing his sixth degree as a first-generation college student. He is the creator of the Science of the Comeback framework, which explores why some individuals rebuild stronger after setbacks, and through his teaching, speaking, writing, and podcasting, he helps people navigate burnout, identity shifts, and major life transitions with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Connect with Dr. Toby Brooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtobybrooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtobybrooks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@undonepodcast About Bridget Ann Stuart Bridget Ann Stuart is the host of The Inner Estate Podcast, a Realtor since 1998, and the CEO and Head Coach of Strategic Performance Coaching. Her work sits at the intersection of mindset, execution, leadership, business growth, and personal growth. Bridget brings real conversations to the table with entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, leaders, creators, coaches, authors, and high performers who are willing to talk about the inner work behind external results. Her mission is to help people think more deeply, act more intentionally, and build success that is aligned, sustainable, and real. Connect With Bridget Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBridgetStuart/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbridgetstuart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBridgetStuart Interested in Being a Guest? Have a story, strategy, or perspective that can help entrepreneurs, leaders, and real estate professionals grow from the inside out? Schedule a podcast recording: https://calendly.com/bridgetstuart67/theinnerestatepodcast

Resilience Kept Her Standing Until One Camping Trip Started Her Evolution | Anne Grady

Resilience can keep you standing when life goes sideways, but adaptability determines how you grow from it. In this episode of The Inner Estate Podcast, Anne Grady joins Bridget Ann Stuart to explore resilience, adaptability, emotional regulation, burnout, and intentional living. Anne shares how raising her son through severe mental illness and navigating her own health crisis reshaped her understanding of what it truly means to be strong. Anne's journey reveals that surviving is not the same as evolving. From a life defined by achievement and constant productivity to one rooted in alignment and presence, she explains how a simple, uncomfortable camping trip sparked a deeper transformation. Together, Bridget and Anne discuss why high achievers struggle to rest, how emotional regulation impacts leadership and decision-making, and why managing attention is more powerful than managing time. For entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, coaches, CEOs, founders, leaders, caregivers, parents, high achievers, and anyone experiencing burnout or uncertainty, Anne brings a powerful reminder. You do not have to completely rebuild your life overnight to begin living differently. The question is not whether you are resilient. The question is whether you are willing to grow forward. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Why resilience is no longer enough • How Anne navigated raising a son with severe mental illness and autism • What Anne learned after a tumor caused facial paralysis • Why a reluctant camping trip changed the direction of her life • How personal labels can become cages • How digital overload affects attention and stress • How to practice gratitude without denying hardship • The power of asking what is right right now • How small habits create meaningful personal growth • How to regulate the nervous system through breathing • Why high achievers struggle to separate identity from work • How to define success beyond money, titles, and recognition • How to stop postponing joy until retirement • Why learning something new can reshape the brain • How to treat life like an experiment BOOKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED EvolvAbility: Growing Forward When Life Goes Sideways by Anne Grady The 5 Second Rule and the 5 4 3 2 1 method by Mel Robbins Visit EvolvAbility.com to access Anne's Adaptability Index and learn more about strengthening resilience, adaptability, and emotional regulation. ABOUT ANNE GRADY Anne Grady is an author, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and expert in resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, leadership, and organizational communication. For more than 25 years, Anne has worked with executives, leadership teams, companies, and organizations to help people navigate change, manage stress, strengthen communication, and perform more effectively during uncertainty. Her newest book, EvolvAbility: Growing Forward When Life Goes Sideways, combines neuroscience, psychology, personal experience, and practical strategies for strengthening adaptability. Her work is deeply informed by raising a son with severe mental illness, autism, learning disabilities, and developmental delays, recovering from a serious health crisis, and redefining success in her own life. CONNECT WITH ANNE GRADY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneGradyGroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegradygroup/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AnneGradyGroup ABOUT BRIDGET ANN STUART Bridget Ann Stuart is the host of The Inner Estate Podcast, a Realtor since 1998, and the CEO and Head Coach of Strategic Performance Coaching. Her work sits at the intersection of mindset, execution, leadership, business growth, and personal growth. Bridget brings real conversations to the table with entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, leaders, creators, coaches, authors, and high performers who are willing to talk about the inner work behind external results. Her mission is to help people think more deeply, act more intentionally, and build success that is aligned, sustainable, and real. CONNECT WITH BRIDGET Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBridgetStuart/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbridgetstuart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBridgetStuart\ INTERESTED IN BEING A GUEST? Have a story, strategy, or perspective that can help entrepreneurs, leaders, and real estate professionals grow from the inside out? Schedule a podcast recording with Bridget Ann Stuart here. https://calendly.com/bridgetstuart67/theinnerestatepodcast

He Raised 69 Million Dollars Proving We All Belong to the Same House | Rodney Bullard

A business cannot fully thrive in a community that is struggling, and a community cannot thrive without businesses willing to invest in its people. Rodney Bullard joins Bridget to explore community investment, corporate social responsibility, economic mobility, workforce development, and the role businesses play in creating opportunity. They discuss why companies must move beyond surface-level engagement and instead build real relationships that support education, employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term community growth. Rodney Bullard is the CEO of The Same House, a public benefit corporation focused on advancing economic mobility by connecting corporations, nonprofits, and local communities. He previously founded the Chick-fil-A Foundation and led the company's corporate social responsibility efforts, and his career includes service as a United States Air Force JAG officer, Assistant United States Attorney, legislative counsel at the Pentagon, and White House Fellow. Through initiatives like the Beloved Benefit, Rodney and his team have raised more than $69 million to support organizations serving Atlanta communities. If you are CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, corporate leaders, nonprofit leaders, and anyone committed to creating meaningful impact where they live and work. Rodney shares practical insight on how to lead with purpose, invest in people, and recognize that real change starts with everyday actions. His message is clear: when communities thrive, businesses thrive—and each of us has a role to play. Episode Highlights • How the Beloved Benefit raised more than $69 million • Why John Lewis inspired the name The Same House • How strong communities support successful businesses • Why community investment is a form of leadership • How businesses can create economic mobility • Why companies should treat communities as stakeholders • Why listening should come before designing community solutions • Why online awareness cannot replace real involvement • How to make a difference within the three feet around you • Why ordinary people already possess the traits of a hero Books and Resources Mentioned Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out By Rodney D. Bullard The Same House Community Circle The Beloved Benefit Hands On Atlanta Dr. Gregory C. Ellison II Podcast About Rodney Bullard Rodney Bullard is the CEO of The Same House, a public benefit corporation advancing economic mobility through business engagement, community partnerships, education, employment, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and neighborhood investment. Before launching The Same House, Rodney founded the Chick-fil-A Foundation and led Chick-fil-A's corporate social responsibility work. His leadership began with place-based investment on Atlanta's Westside and expanded into community initiatives across the company. Rodney's public service career includes serving as a United States Air Force JAG officer, Assistant United States Attorney, legislative counsel at the Pentagon, and White House Fellow assigned to NASA. He is the author of Heroes Wanted, Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out, which challenges people to recognize their ability to serve, lead, create opportunity, and make a meaningful difference for others. Connect With Rodney Bullard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneybullardatl/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRodneyBullard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodney.bullard/?hl=en About Bridget Ann Stuart Bridget Ann Stuart is the host of The Inner Estate Podcast, a Realtor since 1998, and the CEO and Head Coach of Strategic Performance Coaching. Her work sits at the intersection of mindset, execution, leadership, business growth, and personal growth. Bridget brings real conversations to the table with entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, leaders, creators, coaches, authors, and high performers who are willing to talk about the inner work behind external results. Her mission is to help people think more deeply, act more intentionally, and build success that is aligned, sustainable, and real. Connect With Bridget Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBridgetStuart/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbridgetstuart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBridgetStuart Interested in Being a Guest? Have a story, strategy, or perspective that can help entrepreneurs, leaders, and real estate professionals grow from the inside out? Schedule a podcast recording with Bridget Ann Stuart here: https://calendly.com/bridgetstuart67/theinnerestatepodcast

His Police Career Ended Overnight: Now He's a Voice Heard by 48 Million | John Jay Wiley

What happens when the career you believed would define your life ends in a single day? John J. "Jay" Wiley was serving as a Baltimore Police Sergeant when line of duty injuries forced him into medical retirement. The loss affected his health, income, identity, and sense of direction. Today, Jay is the host of the nationally syndicated Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast. His work reaches 148 affiliate AM and FM radio stations across the United States, broadcasting to markets with a combined population of approximately 48 million. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How line of duty injuries ended Jay's police career The identity loss that can follow forced retirement Why Jay moved into sales after leaving law enforcement The communication and listening skills police officers bring into business Beginning a radio broadcasting career at age 44 Building confidence behind a microphone Launching the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in 2017 Turning a podcast into a nationally syndicated radio program Why career reinvention is possible at any age Learning social media and technology later in life The difference between consistent work and chasing viral success Creating content that continues reaching people for years Why hiring the right person can shorten the learning curve The importance of knowing your role when speaking or performing Making the work about the people you serve Jay's Excellence in Media Award The shared love of music, radio, and vinyl between Jay and Bridget Why everybody has a story worth telling ABOUT GUEST John J. "Jay" Wiley is a retired Baltimore Police Sergeant, nationally syndicated radio host, podcaster, interviewer, and media professional. After line of duty injuries forced him into medical retirement, Jay rebuilt his career through sales and radio broadcasting. He has worked in radio for more than 20 years and launched the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in 2017. The program features law enforcement stories, true crime, trauma recovery, first responder experiences, crime survivor interviews, and accounts of resilience after violence, loss, and life changing events. Jay was honored with an Excellence in Media Award from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Website: https://www.LetRadio.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawEnforcementTalkRadioShow America Supports Law Enforcement: https://www.facebook.com/AMERICASUPPORTSLAWENFORCEMENT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjwiley/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letradioshowpodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LawEnforcementTalkRadioShowand Podcast Network: https://bleav.com/shows/law-enforcement-talk-true-crime-and-trauma-stories/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/letradio/ Medium: https://medium.com/@letradioshow Blog: https://lawenforcementtalkradio.blogspot.com/ X: https://x.com/letradioshowpo1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lawenforcementtalk.bsky.social Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@LawEnforcementTalkRadioShow Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@LETRadioShow IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34788101/ ABOUT BRIDGET ANN STUART Bridget Ann Stuart is a REALTOR®, Executive Strategic Performance Coach, and host of The Inner Estate. With nearly three decades of experience in real estate, sales, leadership, and coaching, Bridget helps professionals strengthen their performance, build consistency, and create meaningful results in their businesses and lives. The Inner Estate features honest stories about identity, resilience, leadership, personal growth, career reinvention, and the experiences that shape who we become. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealbridgetstuart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbridgetstuart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealbridgetstuart [https://www.youtube.com/@therealbridgetstuart] Have a meaningful story, valuable experience, or message that belongs on The Inner Estate? Schedule a guest conversation here: https://calendly.com/bridgetstuart67/theinnerestatepodcast DISCLAIMER: This program includes personal discussion of line of duty injuries, trauma, career loss, mental health struggles, and suicidal thoughts. Viewer and listener discretion is advised. The experiences and opinions shared are personal and are provided for informational purposes only. Nothing shared should be considered medical, legal, financial, or mental health advice. Anyone experiencing a mental health emergency should seek immediate support from qualified local professionals or emergency services.