Behind the Rise

The Truth About Storytelling, Identity & Finding Your Voice — With Glynn Washington.

Most people think storytelling is about structure. But the stories people actually remember usually come from something deeper: identity, risk, truth, and perspective. I sat down with Glynn Washington, creator and host of Snap Judgment, to talk about what makes stories land — and why finding your voice matters more than copying what already works. We also got into: • The experiences that shaped how he sees the world • What keeps creative work relevant over time • The difference between telling a story and telling the truth • Moments where he questioned whether his perspective would resonate • What most people misunderstand about storytelling One thing that stood out: The strongest voices usually aren’t manufactured — they’re earned through experience. This conversation wasn’t just about podcasting. It was about understanding people. Full episode of Behind the Rise out now.

600 Wins, 30 Years, Zero Shortcuts | Mike Glick on Building Winners

Most people start. Very few last. Mike Glick has built winning basketball programs for over 30 years—earning more than 600 career wins along the way. In this episode of Behind the Rise, we go past the record and get into what actually creates sustained success. We talk about: * The standard he sets in every program * What most teams get wrong about winning * The reality of coaching for decades without burning out * What separates coachable players from just talented ones * What he saw early in Rudy Gay * How players have changed—and what still matters This is a conversation about discipline, leadership, and doing things the right way when no one's watching. If you're building anything—this applies.

Building a Startup in School: ClearingBay Co-Founders Michael Webb & Robert Snell on the Reality of Starting Early.

Michael Webb and Robert Snell aren't waiting to graduate. They're building right now. In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with the co-founders of ClearingBay — two technical founders balancing engineering, school, and the real-world pressure of building something from scratch at the same time. We get into how ClearingBay started, what the co-founder dynamic actually looks like day to day, why engineering and building a business are two completely different skills, and what people consistently get wrong about starting a company while still in school. No theory. No hindsight. Just two founders in the middle of it telling you exactly what it feels like. If you're thinking about building something before you graduate — this episode shows you what it actually looks like from the inside.

He Started a Business at 18 — Here’s What Went Wrong & What’s Next.

This is where it actually starts. In the first episode of Behind The Rise, I sit down with Seba, who started building his first business at 18. We break down what that really looked like—the early decisions, the risks he took, and what didn’t go as planned. This isn’t a polished success story. It’s the reality of starting from zero and figuring things out as you go. If you’re thinking about starting something yourself, this gives you a clear look at what the beginning actually feels like—and what comes next.

Inside the Telecom Boom: Jose Goldner on International Business, Mentorship & Building Companies That Last.

Jose Goldner was in the room during one of the most explosive periods in business history. He's spent the decades since helping founders avoid the mistakes he watched others make. In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Jose — international business advisor at Briggs Capital — to get into what the telecom boom of the 1990s actually looked like from the inside, how to tell the difference between real opportunity and hype, and what separates companies that last decades from those that disappear after the first wave. We get into international expansion, the most common mistakes early-stage founders make, and what genuine mentorship looks like — including Jose's work with founders like Jack Moran, who went on to build environmental company Ecological Improvements. If you want to learn from someone who has seen multiple business cycles up close — this is the perspective most founders never get access to.