Avsnitt
-
Michael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult, one of the world's leading decision-intelligence companies. What began with just $30,000 of angel capital has grown into a company generating more than $100 million in annual revenue, serving many of the world's largest corporations, financial institutions, and governments.
In this episode of Forged in America, Michael sits down with Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, why most people shouldn't start a company, the future of AI-powered decision making, fundraising, political forecasting, and the lessons he's learned building a billion-dollar business over more than a decade:
"The right decision for most people is don't start the business."
"You have to have one or two co-founders. It is so exceedingly difficult to go that path alone."
"Data doesn't replace leadership."
"My biggest stress today is the same stress I had the day I started: Are we moving fast enough?"
"The success isn't raising the round. The success is what you do with the money."
Michael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult, a global decision-intelligence company that provides real-time data and insights to major corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Under his leadership, Morning Consult has become one of the most influential data platforms in the world, tracking consumer sentiment, brands, economic trends, and geopolitical developments across dozens of countries.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
In this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Rob Skinner, Founder and Managing Partner of IEQ Capital, a wealth management firm overseeing more than $50 billion in assets.
Rob has spent decades advising founders, entrepreneurs, and some of the most successful families in America. The conversation ranges from AI and SpaceX to wealth psychology, raising motivated children, and the biggest mistakes people make after a liquidity event.
Some quotes from Rob:
"Stock prices follow earnings."
"Concentration builds wealth. Diversification protects it."
"The game changes from offense to defense."
"If inheritance accelerates purpose instead of replacing purpose, it can be a tremendous force for good."
"You get one chance at being great."
Rob Skinner is the Founder and Managing Partner of IEQ Capital, one of the fastest-growing independent wealth management firms in the United States. Prior to founding IEQ, he co-founded Luminous Capital, which was later acquired by First Republic Bank. He has spent his career advising entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and multi-generational families on investing, wealth preservation, tax strategy, and family legacy.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
In this episode of Forged in America, Victor Ciardelli tells Ravin and Al didn't grow up looking like a future CEO.
He describes himself as an angry kid with a chip on his shoulder, a problem with authority, and an unshakable belief that he was destined for something bigger. That mindset helped him survive near-bankruptcy, the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID, and every challenge in between.
Today, Victor is the founder and CEO of Rate, the third-largest mortgage lender in America. Over the last five years alone, the company has funded more than $500 billion in mortgages while remaining privately held.
In this episode, Victor shares the mindset, mistakes, and principles that helped him build one of the largest financial services companies in the country.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
How does a kid with ADD, average grades, and an obsession with persistence build one of the world's most unique growth equity firms?
In Episode 40 of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Mitchell Green, founder of Lead Edge Capital, a $9B growth equity firm built on an unconventional idea: world-class entrepreneurs and executives can be more valuable than institutions.
Mitchell explains how cold calling 10,000 companies shaped his philosophy, why persistence beats intelligence, why AI may reward EQ more than IQ, and why America still remains the greatest place in the world to build something meaningful.
This episode explores entrepreneurship, AI, education, wealth inequality, persistence, investing, and what young people should do if they want to succeed in the next twenty years.
00:00 Introduction to Mitchell Green and Lead Edge Capital
Persistence may be the single most underrated competitive advantageAI will likely reward communication, sales, and EQ more than raw intellectBuilding networks creates enormous compounding advantagesEntrepreneurship remains one of the best paths to opportunityMany economic frustrations in America are real—but solutions are complicatedYou do not need the perfect background to build something extraordinary
03:15 Building a $9B firm with entrepreneurs instead of institutions
08:45 Why persistence became Lead Edge's superpower
14:10 The cold-calling lessons that shaped Mitchell's career
19:45 What young people should do if they want to get rich
22:00 Why trades, entrepreneurship, and sales skills matter more than ever
24:30 Why AI may make EQ more valuable than IQ
30:10 Wealth inequality, manufacturing, and why many Americans feel left behind
36:20 Politics, opportunity, and preserving the American dream
41:00 Lightning round: leverage, founder optimism, AI bubbles, and investing
47:30 Why reading still matters in an AI world
51:00 Cars, skiing, persistence, and living life fullyMitchell Green is the founder and managing partner of Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm with over $9 billion under management. Lead Edge has invested across software, internet, fintech, and consumer businesses using a unique network-driven investment model powered by hundreds of executives, founders, and operators.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
This week Ravin and Al tackle one of the most important—and uncomfortable—concepts shaping modern society: the idea of the Overton Window.
Why do certain topics suddenly become impossible to discuss? Why do cultural norms seem to shift overnight? And what happens when institutions stop rewarding curiosity and start rewarding conformity?
The conversation spans AI, economics, politics, media, culture, and technological disruption as Ravin and Al debate whether we are living through one of the fastest societal shifts in modern history.
Topics include:
• Why some AI leaders believe massive white-collar job destruction is coming—and why others think the future is far more optimistic
• The OpenAI math breakthrough and what happens when machines start solving problems humans cannot solve themselves
• Are companies genuinely replacing workers with AI—or simply blaming AI for overhiring?
• Why productivity explosions historically create more opportunity rather than less
• The rise of socialism, changing political coalitions, and whether America’s cultural center is moving
• Media incentives, institutional trust, and why some stories dominate headlines while others disappear
• The debate around “weaponized empathy” and whether good intentions can create bad outcomes
• Affirmative action, meritocracy, and why younger generations increasingly disagree on basic facts
• Why both hosts remain optimistic despite technological, political, and cultural volatilityDisclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
On this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with venture capitalist, author, and entrepreneur Michael Eisenberg for a wide-ranging conversation spanning venture capital, geopolitics, entrepreneurship, parenting, and the future of America and Israel.
Michael shares his remarkable path from growing up in New York to moving to Israel and building Aleph into one of the country’s leading venture firms with over 1B in AUM. He explains why he believes traditional venture capital may be entering a period of major disruption, why liquidity has changed the game, and how the rise of giant funds and AI spending could reshape the industry permanently.
The conversation expands far beyond venture. Michael discusses why America and Israel have historically produced outsized numbers of entrepreneurs, introducing his concept of “agency at scale” — the idea that societies thrive when individuals are taught responsibility and encouraged to solve problems rather than wait for institutions to act.
Ravin and Al also explore patriotism, immigration, education, parenting, national service, and why Michael believes modern society risks losing some of the grit that built previous generations.
The episode closes with a lightning round on AI, Elon Musk, robotics, Mars, and advice for young people entering adulthood.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
Jenny Just and Matt Hulsizer built Peak6 from a $1.5 million trading bet in 1997 into a multi-billion-dollar fintech empire spanning trading, clearing, insurance, venture investing, esports, and AI. But this episode goes far beyond markets and money. It’s a masterclass in probabilistic thinking, founder psychology, marriage under pressure, and adapting during technological disruption.
Jenny and Matt explain to Ravin and Al how a visit to Wendy’s inspired the operational architecture behind Peak6’s trading systems, why they believe AI is the greatest opportunity of our era, and how “working yourself out of a job” became a core cultural principle inside their companies. They discuss the evolution from floor trading to AI-driven markets, how poker shaped their decision-making frameworks, and why self-awareness—not certainty—has been their biggest edge as investors and operators.
The discussion also dives into how they evaluate founders, what they learned from wins like Robinhood and CoreWeave, mistakes they made deploying capital outside their circle of competence, and how they navigate disagreements while running a business together as husband and wife. Along the way, they share candid insights on raising children around wealth, why they nearly took Peak6 public, what they think about today’s political and economic environment, and why they remain aggressively optimistic about the future despite widespread fear surrounding AI and markets.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
On this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein tackle politics and culture using this lens: the conflict between “kind lies” and “unkind truths.”
The conversation spans the economy, AI, tariffs, immigration, media bias, socialism, crime, race, education, and the coming midterms. They debate whether America’s institutions, media, and political parties are increasingly rewarding comforting narratives over difficult realities — and what that means for the future of the country.
They discuss why markets continue to surge despite predictions of collapse, the manufacturing revival underway in America, the growing divide between progressive and conservative worldviews, and the rise of socialism inside the Democratic Party.
The episode also explores topics ranging from the Spirit Airlines collapse and California politics to voter ID laws, mental health trends among young Americans, and why capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any system in history.
Throughout the discussion, the hosts argue that resilience, personal responsibility, free enterprise, and honest debate — even when uncomfortable — remain essential to the long-term success of both America and the next generation.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
In this episode, David Blumberg shares his wisdom about agentic AI, venture capital, and being politically discriminated not for sexual orientation in SF, but for being a conservative.
The power of America, and capititalism is discussed along with breakthroughs in medical science and productivity due to artificial intelligence.
Peter Thiel, Jordan Peterson, and many other luminaries are also discussed along with the power of religion and the Bible.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
This episode features El Salvador's cabinet members, Peter Dumas and Maria Luisa Hayem, discussing the country's remarkable transformation under President Bukele with Ravin and Al.
Topics include crime reduction, economic reforms, Bitcoin adoption, and regional geopolitics. The entire geopolitical situation is discussed, and how wokism is seeping into many other major countries. The philosophy of getting crime "99 percent versus 100 percent right" is debated.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
Dave Ripley, co-CEO of Kraken joins Ravin and Al to discuss all things crypto. From BTC to ETH to SOL to Coinbase and beyond, Dave believes that adoption of digital assets is at an all time high. He believes we will see 10M/bitcoin at some point in the future (mirroring Michael Saylor from MSTR), and is highly opimistic about the stablecoin adoption rate.
He shares the pain of the 2022 crypto winter, and how that experience girded him for the current dip we have seen in the markets.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 sharing inside stories of the power of podcasting, and the difficulty of adjusting to fame. From Tiger Woods to A-Rod to Michael Jordan, Phil's legendary social network is revealed in it's glory and hilarity, and his status as a superconnector without peer.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 comprehensive look at critical issues shaping our world.
Dmitri also shares the vision behind founding Crowdstrike (CRWD), the $100B cybersecurity juggernaut.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 our capitalistic system which is the envy of the world.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 drugs is talked about.
The Iran war and the 2028 presidential race is discussed in depth.
Parenting, values, and work ethic strategies are also shared.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 doesn't sound like it in the VC world. The value of elite colleges is debated, and also how to maintain harmony in business partnerships.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 her journey founding Alpha School after growing frustrated, and securing $1B from entrpreneur Joe Liemandt.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 by "the country club." Jackie discusses how she builds team and culture, and the playbook to closing the best names in Silicon Valley as investors. Jackie also discusses her brother, who is Chief of Staff to VP Vance.
She closes with thoughts on parenting, and stories of her successful children.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 and happiness through faith. His previous struggles with pornography and alcohol are laid bare as he recounts the power of love and belief, and why he considers himself "the Forrest Gump of PE."
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
-
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 has had success after success in a myriad of industries and through 150+ deals.
The value of "straight talk" is discussed, and knowing what level of wealth you want to accumulate is.
Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
- Visa fler
