Dandapani on Life, the Universe, and Everything

Dandapani returns to the podcast this week. Dandapani is a Hindu priest, entrepreneur, and author. After earning an electrical engineering degree in Australia, he dropped everything to become a Hindu monk in Hawaii. After becoming a Hindu priest, Dandapani ventured into the world of entrepreneurship. Using his experience as a Hindu monk and priest, he has developed a mentorship program for entrepreneurs, helping them find deeper meaning and focus in their lives. In this episode, listen in as Dandapani talks about the importance of self-awareness, practicing focus, and living with intention.    Related Links: Dandapani’s Website: https://dandapani.org/ The Power of Unwavering Focus: https://dandapani.org/unwavering-focus-book/  

John Osher is a serial entrepreneur behind hundreds of consumer products, including the iconic SpinBrush, the “five dollar electric toothbrush,” which became the top-selling toothbrush in the U.S. in just fifteen months. After the massive success of SpinBrush, he then sold the company to Procter and Gamble in 2001 for the highest multiple in consumer product history. In addition to his business ventures, he is also a renowned producer, having successfully produced several Broadway shows such as Hairspray and The Jersey Boys. Known for his success in building and selling businesses to Fortune 500 companies, John shares insights into his incredible entrepreneurial journey. Link: John’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-osher-90782611

Marcus Lemonis is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and TV personality most known for The Profit and The Fixer. He is also the CEO of Camping World, Good Sam Enterprises, and Beyond Inc. In this episode, Marcus shares his entrepreneurial journey. From lessons learned to his thoughts on leadership, Marcus has had a successful career building businesses. Listen in for his practical advice and his inspirational story.   Links: Marcus’s Website: https://marcuslemonis.com/

Alex Goryachev is a Forbes-recognized innovation expert and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. In this episode, he shares his expertise on harnessing the power of AI to drive transformative change. With hands-on experience at top brands like Cisco, Dell, IBM, and Pfizer, Alex cuts through the hype and delivers authentic, actionable insights on overcoming AI resistance and sparking innovation.   Links: Alex’s Website: https://www.alexgoryachev.com/

Jeff De Cagna is an association contrarian, foresight practitioner, futurist, and keynote speaker. He’s the executive advisor for Foresight First LLC, a governing orientation that “prioritizes the future and challenges association and non-profit boards to question their orthodox beliefs.” As of August 26, 2025, ChatGPT, a popular generative AI-chatbot, has been out for 1000 days. In those 1000 days, the AI landscape has changed tremendously. While there have been positive developments as a result of the generative AI boom, Jeff and Dave take a closer look at how AI has impacted the world.   Links: MIT AI Risk Repository: https://airisk.mit.edu/ Foresight First: https://foresightfirst.io/ Empire of AI by Karen Hao: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743569

Conrad Anker is a world-famous author, rock climber, and mountaineer. Conrad was the team leader for The North Face climbing team for 26 years until 2018. Conrad has traveled all over the world and has faced some of the harshest conditions the planet has to offer. He climbed Mount Everest in 1999 as part of a search team, tasked with finding the body of George Mallory, who famously participated in the first three British Mount Everest Expeditions in the early 1920’s. In 2016, Conrad suffered a heart attack during an attempt at climbing Lunag Ri in the Himalayas. Though he retired from high altitude mountaineering after that incident, he still continues his work–writing about his experiences and philanthropy to make the outdoors a place that everyone can enjoy.   Links: Conrad’s Website: https://www.conradanker.com/ His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conrad_anker

Matt Bromley is a world-renowned big wave surfer and global speaker. Having traveled the world taking on some of the harshest waves the ocean has to offer, Matt shares his experiences to empower people to ride their “big waves.” Listen in as Matt and Dave catch up from their last episode in 2020. From being featured in the documentary “Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear” to a near-death experience while surfing in Mexico, Matt has plenty of new stories to tell.   Links: Matt’s Website: https://www.mattbromleysurf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbromleysurf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bromley-b8309928/  

Jeremy Poincenot is a highly accomplished keynote speaker and blind golf champion. After losing his eyesight at only 19 years old, Jeremy found his path limited and full of new challenges. However, Jeremy has demonstrated that through drive and determination, individuals can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and achieve great success. With three World Championships and nine National Championships on his resume, Jeremy has proved himself as someone who doesn’t shrink in the face of adversity. When he’s not playing golf, Jeremy works with organizations to help them achieve their greatest potential through collaborative solutions.   Links: Jeremy’s Website: https://www.jeremypoincenot.com/

Dot Stein is known as the “rock n’ roll masseuse.” She has tended to numerous well-known musical performers for nearly thirty years. Her client list includes notable acts such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Katy Perry, Eminem, and David Bowie. As her career grew, so did her company, Dr. Dot Therapy, which now employs over 900 people. Through Dr. Dot Therapy, they offer a myriad of services like yoga, spa services, acupuncture, chiropractic services, and more. She is also known for her trademarked “Bite Massage,” a massage technique where she bites the back of a client in order to improve blood circulation. Her nickname, Dr. Dot, was given to her by Frank Zappa in 1988. Her foray into the world of massages began when she was a teenager. Wanting to meet her musical heroes, she would offer massages to gain backstage access, without having to trade on sexual favors. “I chose massage rather than the groupie route,” she says. “I wanted to meet the people who wrote the lyrics to the music I loved so much.” Listen in as she shares her truly unique story.   Links: Dot’s Website: www.drdot.com

Shermin Kruse returns to the podcast today to discuss tips and tricks for public speaking. Shermin is a renowned negotiation consultant, law professor, author, and TEDx speaker. Having produced and scripted over 60 TEDx talks, she has a lot of experience under her belt. She is also the founder and executive producer of TEDxWrigleyville. Listen in as she shares insights on how to connect with your audience effectively.   Links: TEDxWrigleyville: https://tedxwrigleyville.com/ Shermin’s Website: https://www.sherminkruse.com/