S14 E8 Caroline Hirsch, The Visionary Who Built a New York Comedy Empire

Caroline Hirsch, the legendary founder of Carolines on Broadway and the New York Comedy Festival, has spent four decades shaping the world of stand-up comedy. In this episode, she shares how she turned a small cabaret into the most influential comedy club in America, and how strategic instincts, resilience, and love for the art form built an empire. From discovering future stars to navigating Times Square’s rebirth, Hirsch reveals the business principles and bold decisions that made her one of entertainment’s great visionaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really mean to live a “rich” life? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis talks with Morgan Housel, bestselling author of The Psychology of Money and The Art of Spending Money. Morgan shares a deeply personal and counterintuitive perspective on wealth, exploring not only what money can do, but, more importantly, what it can’t. He reflects on why the drivers of true happiness (love, health, sleep, admiration) aren’t for sale, and why chasing status can leave us unfulfilled. Instead, Morgan offers practical insights into the “art” of spending: how to avoid expectations debt, how to tell utility from status, and why happiness is best defined as what you have minus what you want. From parenting lessons about money to the hidden risks of financial FOMO, Morgan challenges the conventional wisdom of wealth. This episode will change the way you think about money, happiness, and the choices that shape a meaningful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis welcomes Gregg Renfrew, the visionary founder behind BeautyCounter and now Counter, for an honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and reinvention. Gregg shares how a deep concern for health and the environment led her to pioneer the clean beauty movement, building one of the most trusted brands in the industry. But after selling BeautyCounter to The Carlyle Group at a $1 billion valuation, she faced a painful collapse that forced her to rebuild—personally and professionally. Now, with Counter, Gregg is redefining what “clean” means, focusing on performance, integrity, and community. She discusses how she learned to navigate failure, reframe success, and reclaim her company through grit and empathy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, resilience, and the power of starting over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest solution to climate change is the one we fear the most? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Isabelle Boemeke—known online as Isodope—a climate influencer and creative technologist who has become one of the most visible advocates for nuclear energy. Isabelle shares her unconventional journey from fashion model to climate activist, why the public perception of nuclear energy is so misaligned with reality, and how her futuristic persona, Isodope, helps communicate complex data in a way that sparks curiosity. She reframes the history of nuclear incidents, breaks down the myths that fuel our fears, and paints a compelling vision of a future powered by safe, abundant, and clean energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really makes a team successful? Is it star power, charisma, sheer talent, or something else entirely? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis talks with behavioral scientist and author Jon Levy about his groundbreaking work on leadership and team intelligence. Levy challenges conventional wisdom by debunking the “alpha leader” myth, tracing its roots back to a misinterpretation of wolf behavior, and exposing how toxic individualism can undermine entire organizations. Levy also introduces the idea of “glue players”—individuals who may not have standout stats but dramatically elevate everyone else’s performance. From the pitfalls of too much talent to the benefits of “bursty communication,” this episode reframes how we should think about leadership and teamwork. If you’ve ever led a team or been part of one, you’ll want to hear these unconventional rules for unlocking collective genius.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the bottles in your pantry could tell the story of your heritage and your health? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Katina Mountanos, founder of Kosterina, to explore what it takes to move from corporate finance and retail roles into leading a mission-driven wellness brand. Raised between Greece and the U.S., Katina’s passion for early-harvest, high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil began in her childhood in Southern Greece, where she tasted first-press oils full of flavor and health. Disappointed by what she found in the states, she committed to bringing that “real stuff” to American tables. She reveals the behind-the-scenes challenges in quality control, packaging, and marketing in the saturated olive oil and wellness space. She also shares her strategy for balancing direct-to-consumer education and major retail partnerships like Whole Foods and Target. Whether you’re into health, food, lifestyle brands, or entrepreneurship, this episode offers insights on purpose, pivoting, and bringing heritage into every bottle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would make you leave a thriving Wall Street career to start something completely new? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis speaks with Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo and one of the most influential voices in clean beauty. After seven years at Goldman Sachs, Nancy walked away to build a brand rooted in authenticity and passion. She shares the personal loss that sparked her entrepreneurial journey, how she carved out a unique niche with Briogeo, and what she learned about leadership and letting go of control. Today, after a successful exit, Nancy is focused on mentorship and philanthropy through the Makers Mindset accelerator and the DreamMakers Founders Grant. A must-listen on resilience, innovation, and leading with purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the cure for deadly diseases is already sitting on a pharmacy shelf? Dr. David Fajgenbaum, a physician, scientist, and co-founder of Every Cure, nearly died five times from Castleman disease before finding an existing drug that saved his life. Now in remission, he’s leading a global mission to unlock hidden uses for thousands of forgotten medicines with the help of AI. In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, David shares his incredible patient-to-scientist journey, the breakthroughs Every Cure is driving, and what it means to turn hope into action, whether in medicine, business, or life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you stuck believing you must pick just one path? Cathy Heller, host of Abundant Ever After and best-selling author, returns to FOMO Sapiens to break that illusion wide open. In this episode, Cathy shares how embracing a multi-hyphenate identity, from music to real estate to coaching, unlocked more freedom, creativity, and abundance than she ever imagined. She reveals her surprising discovery that she’s an introvert who needs sacred alone time to fuel big ideas, plus the rituals she uses to stay in flow. Patrick and Cathy explore how creativity, not perfection, is your real unfair advantage, why every career “detour” secretly prepares you for the next leap, and how generative AI can free you to do more of what only humans can: build community, nurture connections, and live with true equanimity. If you’re ready to be messy, follow your breadcrumbs, and multiply your impact, this conversation is your permission slip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur who doesn’t fit the “tech bro” stereotype? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School and author of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, to debunk the myth that success requires venture capital and billion-dollar valuations. Lori reveals seven real-world paths to value creation, from the bootstrapper and social entrepreneur to the intrapreneur and acquirer, and explains why relatable role models are the key to unlocking more innovation. She also shares how embracing an extroverted, empathetic leadership style transformed her own career, and why today’s entrepreneurs are just as driven by impact as they are by profit. If you want to chart your own course without chasing someone else’s unicorn dream, this conversation is your roadmap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices