Episodes

From $2/Day Factory Worker To AI PioneerManuj Aggarwal went from making two dollars a day in a small Indian factory to building AI systems praised by President Obama and backed by the Gates Foundation. Today, he’s warning that a coming wave of AI will either be the greatest opportunity of our lives—or a tsunami that buries us. In this conversation, Manuj shares how he dropped out of college, got into drugs, and was forced to work in his father’s factory before discovering computers and ranking ...

His mom arrived in America with $4. His dad came with $10 and two shirts. Together they built a life — and passed down a philosophy that would eventually help their son lead a $1.3 billion exit. Sujey Edward grew up first-gen in PG County, Maryland watching his father run gas stations, tobacco farms, video stores, and a Peruvian chicken restaurant — all with one belief: "The math is the math." (The kanakku is the kanakku) Sujey took that mindset into tech, pivoted from chemistry to IT by spott...

Venture capitalist, founder, and author Jeff Burningham believes AI is a “judgment day for humanity” — and that the real differentiator now is wisdom, not intelligence. In this episode we talk success that feels empty, losing a governor’s race, meditation, psychedelics, and how to live “the new rules for a human life” in an age of smart machines. Jeff Burningham has built billion‑dollar companies, run for governor, and written a national bestselling book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becom...

What if fear isn't the problem — it's the answer? In this profound and wide-ranging conversation, therapist, combat vet advocate, and former river guide Richie Landward joins the show to explore one of the most misunderstood forces in human psychology: fear. Richie brings over two decades of experience working with homeless veterans, PTSD survivors, and wounded warriors, and what he shares will completely reframe how you think about anxiety, trauma, and what it means to heal. We open in the rap...

Join host Jeff Cluff as he sits down with geophysicist, volcanologist and host of the award winning Whimsical Wavelengths podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek for a deep dive into the hidden systems of our planet . From growing up in a tiny Canadian forestry town to conducting advanced PhD research on the slopes of Mauna Loa, Dr. Zurek shares his fascinating journey into the world of science. Viewer Warning: There is a discussion of medically assisted death in the episode. Begins at the 49 minute mark an...

My Mother Was Stabbed 32 Times: From the "SteelCity" to Microsoft Executive "I watched my mom get kidnapped while watching TheCosby Show." Andrew Nathan’s childhood in Newcastle, Australia, readslike a movie script—but it was his reality. Born to 19-year-old parents, Andrew grew up in the shadow of drug raids, biker gangs, and a traumatic event at age eight that would change his life forever. In this episode, Andrew reveals how he channeled that earlytrauma and anger into a high-performance car...

Jason Ellis is a CEO/Founder. He sold his companies Spring Mobile and Simply Mac to GameStop in 2019. He now leads Matter Brands (Gadget Guard, Ultrahuman) and 3Park Advisory. This interview with Jason Ellis is a masterclass in buildinga billion-dollar business through grit, "servant leadership," andstrategic discipline. From his humble beginnings in a South Dakota trailer park to orchestrating massive exits and M&A deals for GameStop, Jason shares the raw truth about what it takes to scale a co...

What if the future of labor isn’t about replacing humans with robots, but augmenting them with invisible tech? Arnaud Daurat joins us to reveal how 1.8-pound exoskeletons are saving the workforce from a lifetime of physical pain. Arnaud Daurat is a Mauritian-New Zealand entrepreneur and philanthropist who transitioned from a 25-year career in landscape engineering to leading the global movement in wearable robotics. As the founder of Exxovantage and Astelia Robotics, he champions "compassionate...

Don Winner is a former Military Intelligence Officer, Investigative Journalist for 48 Hours, Dateline, Nightline, Discovery Channel, the BBC and more. He's solved countless murders, studied thousands of NDEs (Near Death Experiences) and is on the Four Fs podcast to tell you the full story. To get you started, a little background: At 18 years old, Don Winner left small-town New York and stepped into the United States Air Force. What followed was a 20-year career in signals intelligence during th...

Stop chasing the "next big thing" and start mastering the systems that actually run the world. Join us as tech veteran Laudon Williams reveals how to measure organizational complexity and scale human expertise using AI. In this episode, host Jeff Cluff sits down with Laudon Williams, a visionary technologist whose career spans from Army Intelligence in Korea to building mission-critical systems at Microsoft and RSA. Laudon shares his unique journey, emphasizing the roles of discipline, systems ...

What does it take to walk away from security, status, and legacy — and start over again and again? In this bonus episode of the Four Fs Podcast, Bev McCoy shares her extraordinary journey from working in corporate law in Los Angeles to becoming a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain — where she met and married Olympic downhill skier Dennis “Pancho” McCoy, son of Mammoth founder Dave McCoy. Together, they made a bold decision: walk away from the mountain and build a cattle ranch from scratch in D...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Aparna Natarajan, a technology leader whose journey spans spiritual education in India, career risk-taking, burnout, meditation, and leadership in big tech. Raised in a spiritually rooted environment and educated at a monastery-based university in India, Aparna shares how early exposure to service, meditation, and global cultures quietly shaped her approach to leadership. From quitting a soul-draining job with no backup plan to navigating burnout, imposter s...

Is the legal profession ready for the AI revolution? In this episode, we sit down with Eric Vogeler, a seasoned attorney and entrepreneur, to pull back the curtain on how high-stakes legal deals actually work. From using ChatGPT for due diligence in multi-million dollar transactions to the "superpower" of issue spotting, Eric shares the insider secrets that every business owner and professional needs to know. We dive deep into: AI & Legal Tech: How tools like large language models are uncoveri...

Short Description: In this episode, former D1 Basketball Player and West Point Graduate Mike Canty shares his journey from West Point and Army service to becoming the founder of ARC, breaking down how military leadership, discipline, and decision-making translate into entrepreneurship and innovation. Full Description: In this episode, Mike Canty shares an in-depth look at his journey from West Point and Army service to becoming a startup founder building mission-critical defense technology. Thi...

In this episode, Lorin Jeppsen shares an unfiltered conversation about identity, leadership, discipline, and what it really means to live authentically. From being adopted and growing up in Utah, to flying B-52s in the U.S. Air Force, to transitioning into leadership consulting and personal development work, Lorin reflects on the moments that shaped who he is today. This conversation explores the long road from military structure to self-led growth — including lessons from aviation, special war...

In this deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation, Jeff sits down with Joshua Kahn to explore identity, trauma, purpose, and what it really means to grow when life refuses to follow a straight line. Joshua’s story is shaped by movement — across states, countries, careers, and inner landscapes. Born in Texas, raised on a farm outside Atlanta, and educated through an unconventional mix of experiential learning and global travel, Joshua’s life has been anything but traditional. From spending his...

In this conversation, CEO and Founder (Snow Magazine, Snow Tequila, and The Snow Society) Barb Sanders shares her journey from aspiring ski instructor to successful entrepreneur, highlighting her passion for skiing and the community it fosters. She discusses her experiences teaching skiing, the creation of Snow Magazine, and her ventures into tequila and writing a book. Throughout the conversation, Barb emphasizes the importance of perseverance, relationships, and believing in oneself, while als...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Desai Link to explore an unconventional career journey— how he walked away from a career in law to work in a warehouse driving a forklift. From studying law and history to working fly-in fly-out roles on some of the largest mining and energy projects in the world. Des shares how leaving the legal profession led him to a career in health and safety, the realities of FIFO life in Western Australia, and what it’s really like working on remote sites with thousan...

From a $1.25 subway arrest in New York City to graduating from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, Himani Naresh’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and navigating life across cultures. Himani Naresh: Tech & Nonprofit Executive | M&A | Strategy Born in India, raised in the UK and New Jersey, and now rooted in Seattle, Himani brings humor, vulnerability, and hard‑earned wisdom to this conversation. She shares what it was like being the only woman on her...

In this powerful episode of the Four Fs Podcast, filmmaker and storyteller Elijah Donnelly shares an extraordinary journey shaped by resilience, reinvention, and the courage to start over when life doesn’t go as planned. Raised between Nashville, Tennessee and rural Alabama, Elijah opens up about childhood neglect, finding belonging through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a two‑year mission in Argentina, and discovering filmmaking through an unexpected spark — a br...

Join Linda Grizely, CFP® and financial educator, as she shares practical strategies to transform your relationship with money. From her journey into personal finance to her signature “Me Money” method and permission‑based budgeting, Linda explains how to reduce guilt, level the playing field in relationships, and make confident financial choices. We cover everything from charitable giving and donor‑advised funds to understanding financial advisor types, the value of the CFP® certification, and ...

Senior VP at Truist Bank Michelle Foley (Truist Cloud Center of Excellence) joins the Four Fs Podcast for an Authentic Conversation about career pivots (pre‑med → IT → 18 years at Microsoft), frontline support and incident response (DART), practical cybersecurity habits, and the humble power of showing up. What you’ll hear (quick bullets) Real Microsoft support stories: Windows 2000 surge support, mass‑reimage prevention, and product supportability wins Boots‑on‑the‑ground incident res...

What happens when a near-death experience reshapes your perspective on leadership and life? Join us in this riveting episode of the Four Fs Podcast as host Jeff engages in an authentic conversation with Rich Kaplan, a former Microsoft executive whose remarkable journey includes pivotal moments like the launch of Windows 95 and the monumental Y2K compliance initiatives. Rich’s insights on leadership challenge the notion that charisma is the key to success; instead, he emphasizes the critical impo...

Have you ever wondered how the art of negotiation can transform your career and personal life? Join host Jeff Cluff on the latest episode of the Four Fs Podcast, where he engages in an authentic conversation with Professor Stacey Lee, a renowned law and ethics expert from Johns Hopkins University. Together, they unpack the psychological intricacies of negotiation, revealing how preparation and empathy can serve as your greatest strategic advantages in both business and personal realms. Stacey’s...