Take a deep breath in through your nose.

Take a deep breath in through your nose.

Hold it.

Hold it.

Now, release slowly again, deep in helle hold release, repeating internally to yourself as you connect to my voice. I am deeply, deeply well. I I am deeply, deeply well. I am deeply well. I'm Debbie Brown and this is the Deeply Well Podcast. Welcome to Deeply Well. I'm Debbie Brown and this is your soft place to land on your journey. This is a podcast for those that are curious, that are creative, and that are ready to expand in their higher consciousness. This is where we heal, this is where we become. Welcome to the show. Today's jo soho then looking forward to this one. Our special guest today is a really amazing beam that has committed themselves to a path of service in a variety of ways. Aj Ralon is an investor and entrepreneur and a community builder. Prior to Slawson and Co. Aj was a founding partner at Queensbridge Venture Partners with a keen focus on brand building and storytelling. AJ's passion lies and identifying trends and engineering culturally aligned brands. A lifelong Angelino and graduate of UC Santa Barbara, AJ has established a business portfolio grounded in community. His most recent collaboration, Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen, has become a staple facilitating productivity and collaboration in diverse neighborhoods across Los Angeles. In twenty twelve, AJ founded hashtag lunch Bag, a grassroots movement that has fed one million plus hungry and unhoused people in one hundred and fifty cities around the globe. He went on to establish the Living Through Giving Foundation, a nonprofit platform empowering the creation of programs engaging diverse groups of people to contribute to various causes in their local communities. And everything that I just read doesn't even scratch the surface on who he is. Welcome to the show.

Now, release slowly again, deep in helle hold release, repeating internally to yourself as you connect to my voice. I am deeply, deeply well. I I am deeply, deeply well. I am deeply well. I'm Debbie Brown and this is the Deeply Well Podcast. Welcome to Deeply Well. I'm Debbie Brown and this is your soft place to land on your journey. This is a podcast for those that are curious, that are creative, and that are ready to expand in their higher consciousness. This is where we heal, this is where we become. Welcome to the show. Today's jo soho then looking forward to this one. Our special guest today is a really amazing beam that has committed themselves to a path of service in a variety of ways. Aj Ralon is an investor and entrepreneur and a community builder. Prior to Slawson and Co. Aj was a founding partner at Queensbridge Venture Partners with a keen focus on brand building and storytelling. AJ's passion lies and identifying trends and engineering culturally aligned brands. A lifelong Angelino and graduate of UC Santa Barbara, AJ has established a business portfolio grounded in community. His most recent collaboration, Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen, has become a staple facilitating productivity and collaboration in diverse neighborhoods across Los Angeles. In twenty twelve, AJ founded hashtag lunch Bag, a grassroots movement that has fed one million plus hungry and unhoused people in one hundred and fifty cities around the globe. He went on to establish the Living Through Giving Foundation, a nonprofit platform empowering the creation of programs engaging diverse groups of people to contribute to various causes in their local communities. And everything that I just read doesn't even scratch the surface on who he is. Welcome to the show.

AJ, thank you for having me.

AJ, thank you for having me.

Wow, you're my friend. I've known you for a really long time. I've always been incredibly impressed by and inspired by you. But I have to say reading out your bio for the very first time was wow, Wow, Wow. Where do I begin? It's really interesting, Aj, You you have created, You've built a lot, and so everything that I just read kind of puts you in a powerful position in a multitude of diverse industries. Like some of the things that I just listed right, like venture capitalist, right, working in tech, working in investment, working in finance, working in philanthropy, creating you know, some of the programs that you've created that give back to the world. And being a restauranteer, you know, building really powerful restaurant brands. Like we also didn't scratch as surface in La especially La natives and visitors will remember this, but like the parlor and you know, having different having the parlor in airports and having you know, your restaurant, Hilltop, which I'm a proud investor in having Hilltop expand the way that it has and really become. And for those that follow, like you know, the legend Issa Ray, you have seen her a part of this brand for the last few years and really seeing the immense impact that that has had in all the communities that it operates, and being this space, this hub of creativity and deliciousness and delight and revolution. You know, one of the things that I see that is the common line through all of the various ways you express your creativity is being of service. What is the philosophy of your life?

Wow, you're my friend. I've known you for a really long time. I've always been incredibly impressed by and inspired by you. But I have to say reading out your bio for the very first time was wow, Wow, Wow. Where do I begin? It's really interesting, Aj, You you have created, You've built a lot, and so everything that I just read kind of puts you in a powerful position in a multitude of diverse industries. Like some of the things that I just listed right, like venture capitalist, right, working in tech, working in investment, working in finance, working in philanthropy, creating you know, some of the programs that you've created that give back to the world. And being a restauranteer, you know, building really powerful restaurant brands. Like we also didn't scratch as surface in La especially La natives and visitors will remember this, but like the parlor and you know, having different having the parlor in airports and having you know, your restaurant, Hilltop, which I'm a proud investor in having Hilltop expand the way that it has and really become. And for those that follow, like you know, the legend Issa Ray, you have seen her a part of this brand for the last few years and really seeing the immense impact that that has had in all the communities that it operates, and being this space, this hub of creativity and deliciousness and delight and revolution. You know, one of the things that I see that is the common line through all of the various ways you express your creativity is being of service. What is the philosophy of your life?

Well, first off, thank you again, yeah, thank you for the incredible intro I think even hearing the bioh is something that you know, as we do the types of work that we do, it's easy to get lost in the day to day execution and management and you know, seeing all of the ideas through. So it's grateful to be in a space where not only am I doing it to hear and reminded of the work and you know, through somebody else's buttery voice, but also you know, have the ability to share and hopefully you know, contribute to what it is that you know that you're building that I'm also a very big fan of. But in terms of your question, in terms of what is my operating philosophy, I kind of boil everything down to this this phrase of you know, feeding people, you know whether and I wish I could say that this path has been a very extremely well thought out execution against some master plan that was almost certainly crystal clear from the outset and has been executed flawlessly and beautifully with very little, you know, with with the utmost confidence and very little self doubt. But yeah, the operating philosophy is I feed people and you know, connecting the dots going back, I guess the best decade and some change kind of stumbling on this realization that that service is really the reason why we're all here. So when I when I say feed people, and I think about these three different buckets that you've kind of, you know, perfectly encapsulated and laid out, it's you know, between you know, investing and philanthropy and hospitality and the restaurant business feeding people. You know, starting backwards with the hospitality business, we feed people as a business model. We provide quality product in an amazing environment that is conducive for connection and community, and we are feeding people in exchange. You know, it's the product and the good and the service that we provide in exchange for that value. On the philanthropic front, you know, we are we started off with this program that focuses on you know, as the obvious focuses around food insecurity and creating awareness around homelessness. So we're effectively feeding people that may not necessarily be able to feed themselves in that moment, and while even providing the people that are volunteering their time and their resources the opportunity to feed an inherent need that I believe and we believe we all have within each and every one of us, which is you know something that there's one hundred and seventy religions in common, they only really have one thing in common, which is, you know, love your neighbor and help them if they need help. And you know, so there's no real giver and receiver in that transaction. You know, we believe we provide people the opportunity to be of service and that way they're feeding their own humanity. And then lastly, through this you know, latest venture with Slawson and Co. I believe that you know, when our focus around this idea of economic inclusion and in providing opportunities for a wider variety of entrepreneurs that come from backgrounds that are just historically not given the look or had the opportunity to have their perspective represented in the products and the services that we all consume. We're we're in a position to be able to feed people capital and provide scaffolding and resources and expertise that we have access to to the entrepreneurs that we invest in to build you know, the next Google or Facebook or Uber or anything like that. But yeah, when I uh, when I lay up at night, you know, staring at the ceiling, wondering how the hell I got, you know, so lucky. But also you know, uh, the journey that we've been on to kind of get to this point and then obviously all of the goals that we've set for ourselves, the feeding people and being of service is kind of the core impaired of everything.

Well, first off, thank you again, yeah, thank you for the incredible intro I think even hearing the bioh is something that you know, as we do the types of work that we do, it's easy to get lost in the day to day execution and management and you know, seeing all of the ideas through. So it's grateful to be in a space where not only am I doing it to hear and reminded of the work and you know, through somebody else's buttery voice, but also you know, have the ability to share and hopefully you know, contribute to what it is that you know that you're building that I'm also a very big fan of. But in terms of your question, in terms of what is my operating philosophy, I kind of boil everything down to this this phrase of you know, feeding people, you know whether and I wish I could say that this path has been a very extremely well thought out execution against some master plan that was almost certainly crystal clear from the outset and has been executed flawlessly and beautifully with very little, you know, with with the utmost confidence and very little self doubt. But yeah, the operating philosophy is I feed people and you know, connecting the dots going back, I guess the best decade and some change kind of stumbling on this realization that that service is really the reason why we're all here. So when I when I say feed people, and I think about these three different buckets that you've kind of, you know, perfectly encapsulated and laid out, it's you know, between you know, investing and philanthropy and hospitality and the restaurant business feeding people. You know, starting backwards with the hospitality business, we feed people as a business model. We provide quality product in an amazing environment that is conducive for connection and community, and we are feeding people in exchange. You know, it's the product and the good and the service that we provide in exchange for that value. On the philanthropic front, you know, we are we started off with this program that focuses on you know, as the obvious focuses around food insecurity and creating awareness around homelessness. So we're effectively feeding people that may not necessarily be able to feed themselves in that moment, and while even providing the people that are volunteering their time and their resources the opportunity to feed an inherent need that I believe and we believe we all have within each and every one of us, which is you know something that there's one hundred and seventy religions in common, they only really have one thing in common, which is, you know, love your neighbor and help them if they need help. And you know, so there's no real giver and receiver in that transaction. You know, we believe we provide people the opportunity to be of service and that way they're feeding their own humanity. And then lastly, through this you know, latest venture with Slawson and Co. I believe that you know, when our focus around this idea of economic inclusion and in providing opportunities for a wider variety of entrepreneurs that come from backgrounds that are just historically not given the look or had the opportunity to have their perspective represented in the products and the services that we all consume. We're we're in a position to be able to feed people capital and provide scaffolding and resources and expertise that we have access to to the entrepreneurs that we invest in to build you know, the next Google or Facebook or Uber or anything like that. But yeah, when I uh, when I lay up at night, you know, staring at the ceiling, wondering how the hell I got, you know, so lucky. But also you know, uh, the journey that we've been on to kind of get to this point and then obviously all of the goals that we've set for ourselves, the feeding people and being of service is kind of the core impaired of everything.

Wow. Wow, I know I jumped out the gun with like the biggest question of the interview, right shocker. I was just like, well, let's start there, your life's philosophy. But you know, it's interesting, and my show is I always do my show probably a little more intimately maybe than most, And I like when I do have on the show people that I genuinely know in a deep way. I like to lean into that, right, because this is also any any quote unquote content that's created. I look at it as my living life legacy. You're living legacy, like this is a living history, a breathing kind of organism that is existing of who we are, what we stand for, you know, And when I think back to you, you're someone I've had the privilege of being friends with without dating us too far as we creep up that ladder, but you know we've had I've had the chance to be friends with you for over a decade, and I remember, and I don't know how the universe brought this together, but I remember sitting with you and we've lit we had previously. We're both from Los Angeles, but we had been living in different states for a vast majority of our friendships. So whenever you and I would get the chance to be in community, it would be maybe once a year I'd be in town. Okay, let's grab lunch or you know. And I was thinking, as I was thinking of you coming on this show before, I remember having lunch with you right before you launched everything you said on this list, like I remember being able to be a witness for those things and the way that God aligned our paths for me to be a witness and an audience to you sharing the passion behind what you were about to build right before you built it. So I remember that experience. I remember we got gelato right before you launched hashtag, and I remember you telling me about the experience that led you to that point and this breakthrough thought that came in about wanting to feed people. And this is even before we found ourselves really deepened in the crisis that we are in Los Angeles with all of the things happening with our own house community. And I remember you describing it to me and then you just started it, and like it instantly became this powerful, powerful movement then not just fed those in need of a nourishing meal, but feeding the actual soulent spirit of the hundreds of people that would show up as volunteers, and then watching that spread. And I remember at I was leaving in Houston at the time. I remember, you know, meeting someone saying, Oh, we got connected with this big movement called hashtag and we're going to do this thing. And I was like, my friend built that, like what you know, And then and then being able to say today on paper that you have positively affected the lives of well over a million people since you launched that, right, So that's one memory. Then I remember sitting with you and you hit me when I had just moved back to LA and You're like, meet me in Inglewood. I'll be here, and I was like, okay, So I get in the car, I meet you in Inglewood. We go and sit for lunch, and you pulled out a napkin and on the napkin you drew out the concept for Hilltop and you told me the vision, and you told me what you wanted people to feel. This is before there was any funding for it. And you're like, and actually walk with me down the street because this is where I think I want to do it. So we're just walking down the street and you point it out and I see it come to life through your voice. I see it come to life through that napkin, through your vision. And now to shoot forward several years later, and you have expanded monumentally. There are how many locations do you have now of Hilltop?

Wow. Wow, I know I jumped out the gun with like the biggest question of the interview, right shocker. I was just like, well, let's start there, your life's philosophy. But you know, it's interesting, and my show is I always do my show probably a little more intimately maybe than most, And I like when I do have on the show people that I genuinely know in a deep way. I like to lean into that, right, because this is also any any quote unquote content that's created. I look at it as my living life legacy. You're living legacy, like this is a living history, a breathing kind of organism that is existing of who we are, what we stand for, you know, And when I think back to you, you're someone I've had the privilege of being friends with without dating us too far as we creep up that ladder, but you know we've had I've had the chance to be friends with you for over a decade, and I remember, and I don't know how the universe brought this together, but I remember sitting with you and we've lit we had previously. We're both from Los Angeles, but we had been living in different states for a vast majority of our friendships. So whenever you and I would get the chance to be in community, it would be maybe once a year I'd be in town. Okay, let's grab lunch or you know. And I was thinking, as I was thinking of you coming on this show before, I remember having lunch with you right before you launched everything you said on this list, like I remember being able to be a witness for those things and the way that God aligned our paths for me to be a witness and an audience to you sharing the passion behind what you were about to build right before you built it. So I remember that experience. I remember we got gelato right before you launched hashtag, and I remember you telling me about the experience that led you to that point and this breakthrough thought that came in about wanting to feed people. And this is even before we found ourselves really deepened in the crisis that we are in Los Angeles with all of the things happening with our own house community. And I remember you describing it to me and then you just started it, and like it instantly became this powerful, powerful movement then not just fed those in need of a nourishing meal, but feeding the actual soulent spirit of the hundreds of people that would show up as volunteers, and then watching that spread. And I remember at I was leaving in Houston at the time. I remember, you know, meeting someone saying, Oh, we got connected with this big movement called hashtag and we're going to do this thing. And I was like, my friend built that, like what you know, And then and then being able to say today on paper that you have positively affected the lives of well over a million people since you launched that, right, So that's one memory. Then I remember sitting with you and you hit me when I had just moved back to LA and You're like, meet me in Inglewood. I'll be here, and I was like, okay, So I get in the car, I meet you in Inglewood. We go and sit for lunch, and you pulled out a napkin and on the napkin you drew out the concept for Hilltop and you told me the vision, and you told me what you wanted people to feel. This is before there was any funding for it. And you're like, and actually walk with me down the street because this is where I think I want to do it. So we're just walking down the street and you point it out and I see it come to life through your voice. I see it come to life through that napkin, through your vision. And now to shoot forward several years later, and you have expanded monumentally. There are how many locations do you have now of Hilltop?

We just open our fourth location and we have a fifth one that's going to be opening in a couple of weeks.

We just open our fourth location and we have a fifth one that's going to be opening in a couple of weeks.

Wow. And you know, you get to see powerful living legend voices like Asa Rays, Champing, Champing, this place. Also an investor in the business, and you know, shoot, you know you're seeing it featured on television. You're seeing when I go visit a Hilltop now and I just walk in as as a guest looking to order, and I see people coming to life within themselves as they're sitting in there, as they're eating this delicious food, but being in this spirit of creativity. I mean, I'm just like, Wow, my friend, you know, like this ability that you have because of this philosophy you've just described, this intention to serve and the way the universe conspires on your behalf with your vision to serve, not just like a small group, but like millions. You know, it's just it's just profound. And I hope you know that. I hope you know how you're being seen. I hope you know the effect that your life is having on so many people.

Wow. And you know, you get to see powerful living legend voices like Asa Rays, Champing, Champing, this place. Also an investor in the business, and you know, shoot, you know you're seeing it featured on television. You're seeing when I go visit a Hilltop now and I just walk in as as a guest looking to order, and I see people coming to life within themselves as they're sitting in there, as they're eating this delicious food, but being in this spirit of creativity. I mean, I'm just like, Wow, my friend, you know, like this ability that you have because of this philosophy you've just described, this intention to serve and the way the universe conspires on your behalf with your vision to serve, not just like a small group, but like millions. You know, it's just it's just profound. And I hope you know that. I hope you know how you're being seen. I hope you know the effect that your life is having on so many people.

Yeah, it's it's it's interesting because you know, all of these things do exist, and they exist in the way that you just just said. And when I when I kind of think back on you know that the two things that have thoughts that I just contemplate often some I stay pretty publicly on a regular basis. But if you can look at each individual and you can if you believe the statement that your lived experience is your competitive advantage and it's something that gives you a unique perspective, and then if you couple that with the idea that a lot of the things that we get to experience or products or services or nonprofits or whatever the it is, you know, I also have firm belief that a lot of the best things that exist in the world exists because whoever you know was a key driver of those you know, things existing. A lot of that comes from a lot of personal passion mixed with a lot of pain that people have kind of you know, experienced and channeled into their creations, into their experiences. And that's certainly something that that's true for me, and it's something that you know, something that I I consistently have to pinch myself with when I when I wake, when I think, when I truly sit down and take inventory of all of the ways that I get to spend my time, the people that I get to spend my time with, the conversations that we're having, the things that were willing into existence, the people that were enrolling into the journey present company included you know. Uh, I wish I could say I was like just swimming in gratitude. It's often, you know, lost because you're focused on I got to make it. I can't let people down. I got to execute. Why isn't this look? You know? But I think that you know, a lot of the things that that that I get to work on today exist and they can't. And a lot of the things that when you said you vividly remember the early stages of these things. These things were all born within a relatively short window, right whether it started the very first when we were able to successfully you know, purchase our first restaurant, to when I made my first angel investment that turned into you know, adventure, my first venture fund, to the moment that my my therapist required recommended that I go out to volunteer as a way to hope with some personal shit that I was going through, which led to the and a lot of them, quite frankly, were impulsive. You know, one of the there's a word that you always kind of label me with that is equally like humbling and makes me a little uncomfortable, is you and I and I appreciate it is you know, you refer to me as a wizard and a lot of those and I'm not saying that, but when I think about that word, and I think about like a lot of the things that exist in my life, including like my beautiful family, which when I think about everything that exists in my life, I look at it through the lens of giving. Has given me everything that I've got, and everything that I've done has almost been impulsive with is very little thought, which is not something that I would recommend anybody do when choosing a life partner or starting a family or starting a business. But from my journey specifically, it was I don't I can't really take credit for any of it, if that makes sense, And that's what's kind of channeled my belief in a higher purpose and a higher power, and it's honestly the main thing that kind of keeps me going, like day in and day out.

Yeah, it's it's it's interesting because you know, all of these things do exist, and they exist in the way that you just just said. And when I when I kind of think back on you know that the two things that have thoughts that I just contemplate often some I stay pretty publicly on a regular basis. But if you can look at each individual and you can if you believe the statement that your lived experience is your competitive advantage and it's something that gives you a unique perspective, and then if you couple that with the idea that a lot of the things that we get to experience or products or services or nonprofits or whatever the it is, you know, I also have firm belief that a lot of the best things that exist in the world exists because whoever you know was a key driver of those you know, things existing. A lot of that comes from a lot of personal passion mixed with a lot of pain that people have kind of you know, experienced and channeled into their creations, into their experiences. And that's certainly something that that's true for me, and it's something that you know, something that I I consistently have to pinch myself with when I when I wake, when I think, when I truly sit down and take inventory of all of the ways that I get to spend my time, the people that I get to spend my time with, the conversations that we're having, the things that were willing into existence, the people that were enrolling into the journey present company included you know. Uh, I wish I could say I was like just swimming in gratitude. It's often, you know, lost because you're focused on I got to make it. I can't let people down. I got to execute. Why isn't this look? You know? But I think that you know, a lot of the things that that that I get to work on today exist and they can't. And a lot of the things that when you said you vividly remember the early stages of these things. These things were all born within a relatively short window, right whether it started the very first when we were able to successfully you know, purchase our first restaurant, to when I made my first angel investment that turned into you know, adventure, my first venture fund, to the moment that my my therapist required recommended that I go out to volunteer as a way to hope with some personal shit that I was going through, which led to the and a lot of them, quite frankly, were impulsive. You know, one of the there's a word that you always kind of label me with that is equally like humbling and makes me a little uncomfortable, is you and I and I appreciate it is you know, you refer to me as a wizard and a lot of those and I'm not saying that, but when I think about that word, and I think about like a lot of the things that exist in my life, including like my beautiful family, which when I think about everything that exists in my life, I look at it through the lens of giving. Has given me everything that I've got, and everything that I've done has almost been impulsive with is very little thought, which is not something that I would recommend anybody do when choosing a life partner or starting a family or starting a business. But from my journey specifically, it was I don't I can't really take credit for any of it, if that makes sense, And that's what's kind of channeled my belief in a higher purpose and a higher power, and it's honestly the main thing that kind of keeps me going, like day in and day out.

Something that you that you just mentioned is, you know some of the ways that pain can fuel how has pain expanded you?

Something that you that you just mentioned is, you know some of the ways that pain can fuel how has pain expanded you?

I think, you know something my wife has said to me, who's you know, the polar opposite human and like we're the perfect people for each other. I hope I'm as good to her as she is to me. But it's like there's like the statute of limitation on like your childhood trauma, right, it's what you kind of choose to do with those experiences, the things that may have may have made you feel not worthy or unlovable or you know, in my case, you know, like there's only a matter of time before people find out who I really am and they're going to abandon me. These things that you know fester in our minds that you know might have been true at one point that used as a survival tactic that you know, I wish I could say everything that I've created came from a puer place of wanting it to exist for the world to enjoy. That's certainly a major part of it. But you know, if I'm if I'm being completely honest, a lot of it was a lot of these things were created a good chunk of my intention behind them in the earliest stages where needs for validation and like you know, and and and being able to have the ability or the types of friendships that I mean, we've seen each other through multiple iterations of each other. You were not this person that I sit in front of that I get to talk to on a daily basis that I get to learn from in your current form when I met, and vice versa. And to have the pleasure of having a front row seat to somebody's growth, to see how they consistently level up day in and day out and year in and year out is an absolute is an absolute joy, and it's inspiring for me. You know, when when you know, being honest and vulnerable and transparent and aware of what you know, what is all of the competition, com uh composition of the intention that goes into any given project, and being able to be honest with that with the people that I get to collaborate with, even though it might be uncomfortable, even though it might seem you know, it's it's a it's a liberating it's a liberating thought, and it's a liberating feeling. And when you know all of the things that you mentioned now they all make sense. Now there's almost like, you know, a friend of mine st credited to me the other days. You've kind of built this perfect flywheel for your life, and it's almost like these three buckets where you spend your time are seemingly could not be more different from each other. But the way that you know, we get to orchestrate or you know, speaking in the first person, I've been abled unfortunate enough, whether I intentionally did it or not, to orchestrate my life and where I get to spend my time. All of these things now holistically are tied at the hip and benefit from each other. And you know, whether you're comparing you know, selling a cup of coffee or providing somebody hungry with the meal, or cutting a million dollar investment into an early stage startup. It's all the same shit and it's all coming from the same place, and that's something that I get to be grateful for on a daily basis deeply.

I think, you know something my wife has said to me, who's you know, the polar opposite human and like we're the perfect people for each other. I hope I'm as good to her as she is to me. But it's like there's like the statute of limitation on like your childhood trauma, right, it's what you kind of choose to do with those experiences, the things that may have may have made you feel not worthy or unlovable or you know, in my case, you know, like there's only a matter of time before people find out who I really am and they're going to abandon me. These things that you know fester in our minds that you know might have been true at one point that used as a survival tactic that you know, I wish I could say everything that I've created came from a puer place of wanting it to exist for the world to enjoy. That's certainly a major part of it. But you know, if I'm if I'm being completely honest, a lot of it was a lot of these things were created a good chunk of my intention behind them in the earliest stages where needs for validation and like you know, and and and being able to have the ability or the types of friendships that I mean, we've seen each other through multiple iterations of each other. You were not this person that I sit in front of that I get to talk to on a daily basis that I get to learn from in your current form when I met, and vice versa. And to have the pleasure of having a front row seat to somebody's growth, to see how they consistently level up day in and day out and year in and year out is an absolute is an absolute joy, and it's inspiring for me. You know, when when you know, being honest and vulnerable and transparent and aware of what you know, what is all of the competition, com uh composition of the intention that goes into any given project, and being able to be honest with that with the people that I get to collaborate with, even though it might be uncomfortable, even though it might seem you know, it's it's a it's a liberating it's a liberating thought, and it's a liberating feeling. And when you know all of the things that you mentioned now they all make sense. Now there's almost like, you know, a friend of mine st credited to me the other days. You've kind of built this perfect flywheel for your life, and it's almost like these three buckets where you spend your time are seemingly could not be more different from each other. But the way that you know, we get to orchestrate or you know, speaking in the first person, I've been abled unfortunate enough, whether I intentionally did it or not, to orchestrate my life and where I get to spend my time. All of these things now holistically are tied at the hip and benefit from each other. And you know, whether you're comparing you know, selling a cup of coffee or providing somebody hungry with the meal, or cutting a million dollar investment into an early stage startup. It's all the same shit and it's all coming from the same place, and that's something that I get to be grateful for on a daily basis deeply.

Well, what's so interesting about what you said is that it illustrates so perfectly I think God's intention for how purpose is meant to move in our lives, right, And it's like it is anchoring into the value. It's anchoring into the greater philosophy that we come to based on our life experience and connecting those experiences with our skills with some of neat gifts a lot of blind trust, right, like a just kind of a tenacity of spirit. But then when you tap into that purpose, purpose is never one thing. It's a vehicle to everything. You know. Purpose, Having those three different and this is just some of it, y'all, but having those three different like buckets that I kind of activated at the top of this episode that we've been speaking to, you fit perfectly into all of them, even if all of them don't have to fit and make sense with one another, because the guiding piece is the purpose. It is the tapped in ability you've come to within yourself, mixed with vision, mixed with creativity and resilience, and then you serve in a multitude of capacities. How does that feel?

Well, what's so interesting about what you said is that it illustrates so perfectly I think God's intention for how purpose is meant to move in our lives, right, And it's like it is anchoring into the value. It's anchoring into the greater philosophy that we come to based on our life experience and connecting those experiences with our skills with some of neat gifts a lot of blind trust, right, like a just kind of a tenacity of spirit. But then when you tap into that purpose, purpose is never one thing. It's a vehicle to everything. You know. Purpose, Having those three different and this is just some of it, y'all, but having those three different like buckets that I kind of activated at the top of this episode that we've been speaking to, you fit perfectly into all of them, even if all of them don't have to fit and make sense with one another, because the guiding piece is the purpose. It is the tapped in ability you've come to within yourself, mixed with vision, mixed with creativity and resilience, and then you serve in a multitude of capacities. How does that feel?

Pretty good? That's great to hear, I mean, and the cool thing and I'd say, you know, everybody's we're all watching our own movie, and we're all more the same than we are different. And if you, you know, if you're a human being that cares about the contribution that you get to make to this world during your short time here, it's it's a it's a long journey and a painful journey, and one that you know you should always proceed with caution with because something you and I talk about like once you kind of have that realization that there's more out there, that there's a place that you can come from, that is coming you know, through this lens of like who you actually are versus who it is that you think other people want you to be and trying to fit into the mold. I think there's a significant percentage of the population that kind of falls into that bucket. But if you, if you, if you recognize that there are bigger opportunities for you, if you, if you recognize that you are worthy of those opportunities, and if you're and if you accept the fact that you know it's not going to be pretty and you decide to, you know, embark on that journey of knowing. Uh. The thing that sucks about knowing is once you know, you can't unknow and then you're in this kind of like purgatory vibe. You know. The thing that you and I were talking about the other day is, I think I've spent a lot of time accumulating a lot of knowledge, and you know, whether it's reading books or going to different like you know, whether it's of a pass and meditation retreat or something else. And it's like you're you're filling up your toolbox with all these tools, and sometimes you kind of conflate that with the wisdom of actually implementing those tools into every single thought that goes and that shit is painful, and you're you're you realize that it's also that purgatory is also like that part of the journey, right, And it's like, you know, being patient and wanting to get there, which is wherever there is or like the supreme state of enlightenment or success or the bag that you think that you deserve that you don't have yet, and all of the low frequency things that are pre programmed, and you from that pain that we talked about earlier that you're like, oh yeah, I'm still on learning that and then being patient with yourself. And now I'm going on a tangent. But I think I think at all and all that to say is like, you know, you take the time to like be patient with yourself. You know, don't shoot on yourself, don't shoot on other people if they're not on the same journey. Don't judge you know what I mean. It's just like one day at a time.

Pretty good? That's great to hear, I mean, and the cool thing and I'd say, you know, everybody's we're all watching our own movie, and we're all more the same than we are different. And if you, you know, if you're a human being that cares about the contribution that you get to make to this world during your short time here, it's it's a it's a long journey and a painful journey, and one that you know you should always proceed with caution with because something you and I talk about like once you kind of have that realization that there's more out there, that there's a place that you can come from, that is coming you know, through this lens of like who you actually are versus who it is that you think other people want you to be and trying to fit into the mold. I think there's a significant percentage of the population that kind of falls into that bucket. But if you, if you, if you recognize that there are bigger opportunities for you, if you, if you recognize that you are worthy of those opportunities, and if you're and if you accept the fact that you know it's not going to be pretty and you decide to, you know, embark on that journey of knowing. Uh. The thing that sucks about knowing is once you know, you can't unknow and then you're in this kind of like purgatory vibe. You know. The thing that you and I were talking about the other day is, I think I've spent a lot of time accumulating a lot of knowledge, and you know, whether it's reading books or going to different like you know, whether it's of a pass and meditation retreat or something else. And it's like you're you're filling up your toolbox with all these tools, and sometimes you kind of conflate that with the wisdom of actually implementing those tools into every single thought that goes and that shit is painful, and you're you're you realize that it's also that purgatory is also like that part of the journey, right, And it's like, you know, being patient and wanting to get there, which is wherever there is or like the supreme state of enlightenment or success or the bag that you think that you deserve that you don't have yet, and all of the low frequency things that are pre programmed, and you from that pain that we talked about earlier that you're like, oh yeah, I'm still on learning that and then being patient with yourself. And now I'm going on a tangent. But I think I think at all and all that to say is like, you know, you take the time to like be patient with yourself. You know, don't shoot on yourself, don't shoot on other people if they're not on the same journey. Don't judge you know what I mean. It's just like one day at a time.

Can I tell you the visual display that was happening for me inside as you were saying that, please, it's it's And this is something I well, you know, this is something I probably speak about every day, but I definitely speak about it on this show. It's like taking the elevator down from your head into your heart right like there. Sometimes we can get so focused on you know what we are collectively calling the healing journey right now, We can get so focused on the acquiring of tools, tools, and then we want to put them in this nice, neat toolbox, and we're all walking around carrying a box of tools all day, right Like we decide to instead hit get rid of the chip on our shoulder, but carry a massive toolbox on our shoulder that we're not opening. So we have all of this intellectualized information. We have all of this knowledge, and we don't allow it to become wisdom that emips from us because we're not choosing to actually open the box and take out the tools and hold them and use them in real time, you know. And that's the piece that significantly changes everything. It goes from the oh yeah, yeah, I know that. Oh yeah, I read a book like that. Oh yeah yeah, because that theory says this and da da da, and it actually becomes a thing that you're not talking about because you're living, breathing it. It's pouring out of your cells and your pores and you know. And that's the that's the part I wish for everyone to have the immense pleasure and freedom to come into. That's the part that shifts it all. And it takes time, and it takes concerted effort, it takes real practice. You know that. That's the deeper layer of the experience of healing. It's okay, I have the knowledge, but now let me also live it, which brings up a lot of things, because then you get triggered as you're trying to live it, and you have to meet those triggers with an immense amount of care and self compassion, an immense amount of disarming of tenderness, you know.

Can I tell you the visual display that was happening for me inside as you were saying that, please, it's it's And this is something I well, you know, this is something I probably speak about every day, but I definitely speak about it on this show. It's like taking the elevator down from your head into your heart right like there. Sometimes we can get so focused on you know what we are collectively calling the healing journey right now, We can get so focused on the acquiring of tools, tools, and then we want to put them in this nice, neat toolbox, and we're all walking around carrying a box of tools all day, right Like we decide to instead hit get rid of the chip on our shoulder, but carry a massive toolbox on our shoulder that we're not opening. So we have all of this intellectualized information. We have all of this knowledge, and we don't allow it to become wisdom that emips from us because we're not choosing to actually open the box and take out the tools and hold them and use them in real time, you know. And that's the piece that significantly changes everything. It goes from the oh yeah, yeah, I know that. Oh yeah, I read a book like that. Oh yeah yeah, because that theory says this and da da da, and it actually becomes a thing that you're not talking about because you're living, breathing it. It's pouring out of your cells and your pores and you know. And that's the that's the part I wish for everyone to have the immense pleasure and freedom to come into. That's the part that shifts it all. And it takes time, and it takes concerted effort, it takes real practice. You know that. That's the deeper layer of the experience of healing. It's okay, I have the knowledge, but now let me also live it, which brings up a lot of things, because then you get triggered as you're trying to live it, and you have to meet those triggers with an immense amount of care and self compassion, an immense amount of disarming of tenderness, you know.

Yeah, and it can certainly get frustrating, right if you're not. I'd say, you know, another thing that we have in common is we have you know, young we're parents to young children. Yeah, and among these lots and you know, again, if you choose to go down this of you know, for me, I made a commitment early on when my daughter was born that you know, whatever my generational shit is stops with me, which is a completely other added weight that you kind of put on your plate. But that's probably the most important one because you are able to kind of like look back and recognize no well intentioned you know, our parents only knew what it was that they that they knew, and they got that from their parents and so on and so forth, And is amazing.

Yeah, and it can certainly get frustrating, right if you're not. I'd say, you know, another thing that we have in common is we have you know, young we're parents to young children. Yeah, and among these lots and you know, again, if you choose to go down this of you know, for me, I made a commitment early on when my daughter was born that you know, whatever my generational shit is stops with me, which is a completely other added weight that you kind of put on your plate. But that's probably the most important one because you are able to kind of like look back and recognize no well intentioned you know, our parents only knew what it was that they that they knew, and they got that from their parents and so on and so forth, And is amazing.

The vital influence. We can't we can't not speak to the fact that even our parents doing our best, they are still at the mercy of what the collective consciousness of what society is allowing for any and all.

The vital influence. We can't we can't not speak to the fact that even our parents doing our best, they are still at the mercy of what the collective consciousness of what society is allowing for any and all.

Of us and what's beautiful. I think about our generation and you know, maybe I live in a bubble, but it feels like and maybe I'm just more blessed than others because I've you know, created a sense of authentic purpose and everything that I do that's kind of filtered out the people that aren't asking the question that we ask. But you know, to be able to raise a young child and we all know that when they get to a certain age, they have a lot of questions and it really forces you to kick the tires on your understanding of like basic and there's nothing more humbling than have to than having to explain something that you thought you knew, you know, whether you know whatever it might be. It could be something very specific and objective to something that's more philosophical, but either way, they're going to ask you until they get an answer, and we get to check our what we truly understand or what we thought we understood, and how we want to reframe that information at the earliest stages for our children to have to frame their worldview to make sure that they're you know, you know, learning how to learning thing concepts like gratitude or being present two things that I am not. Those not my default setting, right, those are two like I am not wherever I am. I am not there the majority of the time, and the only thing that I have is I'm aware of that. So I get to go through that super meta process of like analyzing my thoughts, thoughts and realizing you know where I'm where, you know. So that's a whole other thing. But I think the the ability to to choose to go down that path of parenting in order to you know, at the very least incrementally save your your offspring some of the ship that you had to go through while not holding it against your parents, Yeah, because in them doing the best that they could have done given the tools that they had.

Of us and what's beautiful. I think about our generation and you know, maybe I live in a bubble, but it feels like and maybe I'm just more blessed than others because I've you know, created a sense of authentic purpose and everything that I do that's kind of filtered out the people that aren't asking the question that we ask. But you know, to be able to raise a young child and we all know that when they get to a certain age, they have a lot of questions and it really forces you to kick the tires on your understanding of like basic and there's nothing more humbling than have to than having to explain something that you thought you knew, you know, whether you know whatever it might be. It could be something very specific and objective to something that's more philosophical, but either way, they're going to ask you until they get an answer, and we get to check our what we truly understand or what we thought we understood, and how we want to reframe that information at the earliest stages for our children to have to frame their worldview to make sure that they're you know, you know, learning how to learning thing concepts like gratitude or being present two things that I am not. Those not my default setting, right, those are two like I am not wherever I am. I am not there the majority of the time, and the only thing that I have is I'm aware of that. So I get to go through that super meta process of like analyzing my thoughts, thoughts and realizing you know where I'm where, you know. So that's a whole other thing. But I think the the ability to to choose to go down that path of parenting in order to you know, at the very least incrementally save your your offspring some of the ship that you had to go through while not holding it against your parents, Yeah, because in them doing the best that they could have done given the tools that they had.

So yeah, holding whatever you want to hold against, but yeah, creating space inside so that you're alleviated for whatever internal suffering may be present. You know, Hm, on this winding road that this pathway I'm seeing in front of me right now, where I would love to start is tell me a little bit more about Slawson and Co.

So yeah, holding whatever you want to hold against, but yeah, creating space inside so that you're alleviated for whatever internal suffering may be present. You know, Hm, on this winding road that this pathway I'm seeing in front of me right now, where I would love to start is tell me a little bit more about Slawson and Co.

Sure So, Slawson and Co. High Level is a early stage venture capital firm. It's rooted in this idea of economic conclusion started by myself and my good friend of over twenty years, Austin Austin Clements. Both of us grew up, you know, in South Los Angeles, you know, spends a lot of time together in our high school years, stayed in touch, both of us completely separate paths. He is a lot more direct and intentional into this world of venture capital, and then both of us growing up where we grew up and often kind of congregating at various like life events for friends and family members, always kind of catching up in that specific lane, but then also independently doing sharing our philanthropic work and supporting you know, I shared some of mine. His was more, you know, specifically focused on the tech in the venture capital community here in Los Angeles and challenging people to think more inclusively and to implement practices and throw through primarily through his role being the founding chair of a program called Pledge LA, which was partnered with the Annabrog Foundation here in LA. But you know, it was something that we had always whenever we would get together. They always thought about this massive opportunity to invest in entrepreneurs that didn't necessarily fit the Silicon Valley moat that didn't go to Stanford or a Caucasian mail. The majority of this money, at think eighty percent of it at least goes to white men in six geographies. So the thesis that we would constantly kick the tires on was that innovation exists outside of this demographic and these geographies, and we built we believe that with our experiencing, our experiences working at the you know, starting a firm like Queensbridge Venture Partners some incredible close friends that are still close friends to this day, to his experience working at a firm like ten one ten which is an extremely successful Los Angeles based firm, and kind of combining the things that we cared about to formulate something. And we've been able to get some incredible investors involved behind what we do, you know, from some of the founders of the largest tech companies over the last two decades, to luminary investors that have been you know, first institutional checks into products and services that a lot of us interact with on a daily basis and and kind of entrusting us to kind of become that bridge between the institutional knowledge that has fueled the innovation that this country was built on over the last call it fifty to one hundred years. But then being authentically connected to the communities that we want to unearth this next generation of like Mark Zuckerberg's if you Will from and provide them with the same opportunity. You know, you can't catch what you can't see. And I think that we're building a brand in the market that is built on trust, authentic connections to the people both on the institutional side that want to help but might not socially be connected to the communities that they want to impact, and being authentically connected to the streets that we came from.

Sure So, Slawson and Co. High Level is a early stage venture capital firm. It's rooted in this idea of economic conclusion started by myself and my good friend of over twenty years, Austin Austin Clements. Both of us grew up, you know, in South Los Angeles, you know, spends a lot of time together in our high school years, stayed in touch, both of us completely separate paths. He is a lot more direct and intentional into this world of venture capital, and then both of us growing up where we grew up and often kind of congregating at various like life events for friends and family members, always kind of catching up in that specific lane, but then also independently doing sharing our philanthropic work and supporting you know, I shared some of mine. His was more, you know, specifically focused on the tech in the venture capital community here in Los Angeles and challenging people to think more inclusively and to implement practices and throw through primarily through his role being the founding chair of a program called Pledge LA, which was partnered with the Annabrog Foundation here in LA. But you know, it was something that we had always whenever we would get together. They always thought about this massive opportunity to invest in entrepreneurs that didn't necessarily fit the Silicon Valley moat that didn't go to Stanford or a Caucasian mail. The majority of this money, at think eighty percent of it at least goes to white men in six geographies. So the thesis that we would constantly kick the tires on was that innovation exists outside of this demographic and these geographies, and we built we believe that with our experiencing, our experiences working at the you know, starting a firm like Queensbridge Venture Partners some incredible close friends that are still close friends to this day, to his experience working at a firm like ten one ten which is an extremely successful Los Angeles based firm, and kind of combining the things that we cared about to formulate something. And we've been able to get some incredible investors involved behind what we do, you know, from some of the founders of the largest tech companies over the last two decades, to luminary investors that have been you know, first institutional checks into products and services that a lot of us interact with on a daily basis and and kind of entrusting us to kind of become that bridge between the institutional knowledge that has fueled the innovation that this country was built on over the last call it fifty to one hundred years. But then being authentically connected to the communities that we want to unearth this next generation of like Mark Zuckerberg's if you Will from and provide them with the same opportunity. You know, you can't catch what you can't see. And I think that we're building a brand in the market that is built on trust, authentic connections to the people both on the institutional side that want to help but might not socially be connected to the communities that they want to impact, and being authentically connected to the streets that we came from.

I mean, damn yeah, it's pretty tight. Wow. I had the chance to spend time with some really incredible companies that you're invested in this past summer. Shout out to Austin.

I mean, damn yeah, it's pretty tight. Wow. I had the chance to spend time with some really incredible companies that you're invested in this past summer. Shout out to Austin.

What up.

What up.

You guys had a slosson and cost summer camp. So you took over this really gorgeous property in the forest, and I came up and I led some meditations and we frolicked in the forest. That was one very lovely Like I think everyone, just as adults, we need to make more time for like interesting field trips like that, to just like go be together with trees, you know.

You guys had a slosson and cost summer camp. So you took over this really gorgeous property in the forest, and I came up and I led some meditations and we frolicked in the forest. That was one very lovely Like I think everyone, just as adults, we need to make more time for like interesting field trips like that, to just like go be together with trees, you know.

Yeah, that was a really cool experience. I mean that was really born where our firm is only you know, we started in January of twenty twenty one, so we haven't in the grand scheme of things, we haven't been around that long, but you know, we've we have an incredible team, and you know, we're still very much in the experimental phase where we have ideas that of things that we think might be cool ways to bring our communities together and have some sort of like a culture clash or something that's not necessarily like you know, the norm. And you know, the idea for creating us Loss in Summer Camp was kind of rooted in this idea of, like we started our firm like still very much in the pandemic. Everything was very virtual, and the bulk of the relationships that we had started, you know, both with the limited partners that invested and trusted us with their capital to be stewards of their capital, to find these founders and these companies that we're backing. You know, we just didn't have the opportunity to spend much time in person, and I think as we kind of went down, you know the path of building these relationships and you know, we position ourselves somewhere between a coach and a cheerleader for the founders that we back, and you know, you're on these these zooms all day long. There might be like that random like three or four minute zoom, I mean the time left at the end where you're just like, so, how are you? Like what's going on? And then you'll hear steros stories like oh, well, I'm getting a divorce or my child won't talk to me or explain some sort of loss or some just shit that you had no idea that they were going through, which, by the way, is everybody. And you know you're also reflecting. You know a lot of these conversations we're getting off the phone were like that person is dope, Like I very reaffirmed the decision to partner with them over this long journey to build these big companies, and you know they're exceptionally good at these things, and you start to in aggregate. You know, to date, we have thirty two companies in our portfolio, and that's thirty two you know, sets of founders. I think it's somewhere like up to like fifty people that are actually in charge of what, you know, what they're building and you really you you know, maybe it's not something you see in finance often, but you we take a very holistic approach to the human It's like, well, if you're going through some shit in your personal life, that's going to affect what you're doing in your professional life and how you're showing up as a leader and how you're executing against your plan. So it's not completely altruistic, but we and we do have we do care about, you know, the but it's from a strategic standpoint. It's like, well, what if we you know, created something in like a summer camp format that we're all familiar with. It kind of takes us back to our childhood. What if we rooted it in this idea of self care and wellness and disconnecting from the daily grind of you know, startup life. And you know, who do we know that is really dope that already does shit like this, which is you know, clearly the best person on the planet is Debbie Brown and and you know, how can we convince her and her awesome partner in crime to come kick it with us for a weekend and like, you know, reconnect with ourselves so fast forward we were able to do that we're extremely grateful, you know, to have you there and to kind of like a set the tone. But I think one of the I would say unintended consequences that we were kind of hoping. What happened is that folks would just organically connect with each other, yeah, and build a community of dope people that were all at similar stages of their startup life, but all had very different lived experiences that led them just to build whatever product or service that they were looking to build and change the game with, but also very specific things that they were good at that other people could use help with, and then build this organic community which we are. We could not be more proud of the quality of human We're reminded about the quality of the humans. We fact reminded about the things that they're building that exist in the world that have massive economic opportunity, but you know, impact the human narrative in a more positive and equitable wave. And by the way, we don't see that as charity or you know, an impact orientation that implies some sort of concessionary return. We think that this is the next wave of generating tens of hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth for the people that we back for the people that they employ at the earliest stage, because if they're successful, there's a lot you know, as we've seen over the last ten to fifteen years, there's a lot of people that have become very wealthy that percentage of the you know, through the innovation, primarily through the development of these new technology companies. But if you actually look under the hood of who gets to participate in that wealth, it's not representative of the wider society. So when we go back to why we exist, it's to you know, have that perspective represented in the market, and then hopefully we can create a standard moving forward where other people view this as a massive opportunity the way that we do and you know, want to follow suit.

Yeah, that was a really cool experience. I mean that was really born where our firm is only you know, we started in January of twenty twenty one, so we haven't in the grand scheme of things, we haven't been around that long, but you know, we've we have an incredible team, and you know, we're still very much in the experimental phase where we have ideas that of things that we think might be cool ways to bring our communities together and have some sort of like a culture clash or something that's not necessarily like you know, the norm. And you know, the idea for creating us Loss in Summer Camp was kind of rooted in this idea of, like we started our firm like still very much in the pandemic. Everything was very virtual, and the bulk of the relationships that we had started, you know, both with the limited partners that invested and trusted us with their capital to be stewards of their capital, to find these founders and these companies that we're backing. You know, we just didn't have the opportunity to spend much time in person, and I think as we kind of went down, you know the path of building these relationships and you know, we position ourselves somewhere between a coach and a cheerleader for the founders that we back, and you know, you're on these these zooms all day long. There might be like that random like three or four minute zoom, I mean the time left at the end where you're just like, so, how are you? Like what's going on? And then you'll hear steros stories like oh, well, I'm getting a divorce or my child won't talk to me or explain some sort of loss or some just shit that you had no idea that they were going through, which, by the way, is everybody. And you know you're also reflecting. You know a lot of these conversations we're getting off the phone were like that person is dope, Like I very reaffirmed the decision to partner with them over this long journey to build these big companies, and you know they're exceptionally good at these things, and you start to in aggregate. You know, to date, we have thirty two companies in our portfolio, and that's thirty two you know, sets of founders. I think it's somewhere like up to like fifty people that are actually in charge of what, you know, what they're building and you really you you know, maybe it's not something you see in finance often, but you we take a very holistic approach to the human It's like, well, if you're going through some shit in your personal life, that's going to affect what you're doing in your professional life and how you're showing up as a leader and how you're executing against your plan. So it's not completely altruistic, but we and we do have we do care about, you know, the but it's from a strategic standpoint. It's like, well, what if we you know, created something in like a summer camp format that we're all familiar with. It kind of takes us back to our childhood. What if we rooted it in this idea of self care and wellness and disconnecting from the daily grind of you know, startup life. And you know, who do we know that is really dope that already does shit like this, which is you know, clearly the best person on the planet is Debbie Brown and and you know, how can we convince her and her awesome partner in crime to come kick it with us for a weekend and like, you know, reconnect with ourselves so fast forward we were able to do that we're extremely grateful, you know, to have you there and to kind of like a set the tone. But I think one of the I would say unintended consequences that we were kind of hoping. What happened is that folks would just organically connect with each other, yeah, and build a community of dope people that were all at similar stages of their startup life, but all had very different lived experiences that led them just to build whatever product or service that they were looking to build and change the game with, but also very specific things that they were good at that other people could use help with, and then build this organic community which we are. We could not be more proud of the quality of human We're reminded about the quality of the humans. We fact reminded about the things that they're building that exist in the world that have massive economic opportunity, but you know, impact the human narrative in a more positive and equitable wave. And by the way, we don't see that as charity or you know, an impact orientation that implies some sort of concessionary return. We think that this is the next wave of generating tens of hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth for the people that we back for the people that they employ at the earliest stage, because if they're successful, there's a lot you know, as we've seen over the last ten to fifteen years, there's a lot of people that have become very wealthy that percentage of the you know, through the innovation, primarily through the development of these new technology companies. But if you actually look under the hood of who gets to participate in that wealth, it's not representative of the wider society. So when we go back to why we exist, it's to you know, have that perspective represented in the market, and then hopefully we can create a standard moving forward where other people view this as a massive opportunity the way that we do and you know, want to follow suit.

One of my favorite things before I move us into space, I'm very excited about one of my favorite things when I when I came up further retreat, I think, where were we We were in like near Yosemity.

One of my favorite things before I move us into space, I'm very excited about one of my favorite things when I when I came up further retreat, I think, where were we We were in like near Yosemity.

You're in red like the Scott's Valley, which was like in the Redwood Force.

You're in red like the Scott's Valley, which was like in the Redwood Force.

Yes, we were in a redwood forest. It was glorious. I love listen, find me in a forest. One of the things that I loved is. I remember on the first day we came down for dinner and it was like the introduction, and you know, I just kind of planted myself with everyone, right, So I was sitting down at a table and everyone was trying to work and eat while we were in the center of a forest, right, Like everyone was just so connected to still the grind, which is, to your point, a big part of why you wanted to take everyone out to the forest. So I remember the first conversation at dinner was just Okay, who.

Yes, we were in a redwood forest. It was glorious. I love listen, find me in a forest. One of the things that I loved is. I remember on the first day we came down for dinner and it was like the introduction, and you know, I just kind of planted myself with everyone, right, So I was sitting down at a table and everyone was trying to work and eat while we were in the center of a forest, right, Like everyone was just so connected to still the grind, which is, to your point, a big part of why you wanted to take everyone out to the forest. So I remember the first conversation at dinner was just Okay, who.

Are you, what do you do?

Are you, what do you do?

How do you do it?

How do you do it?

This what I do?

This what I do?

Like everyone dove immediately into their elevator pitch, and then I sat there and I was I think I was making people a little uncomfortable because I was like, oh, hi, yeah, I'm just existing, you know, what's going on. And then by our last day there, you know, seeing the real deep magic of what you know, remembering that you're a person too, outside of what you're currently contributing, how you're currently serving, or ways that you're currently trying to scale. Like watching that remembrance come over everyone as they are building some of the most incredible companies you know and executing massive visions, but then seeing that conversation come back into being one that was more so led, and watching people open up at the tables and talk about their family and really just talk about what brought them pleasure. You know, seeing people run out to the hot top parties at night, and you know, then taking walks in silence during the day, and it just for me as a teacher, it was just very It was so beautiful to watch that begin to pour over people. Because to your point, what's the point of any of it if you can't be a whole person. What's the point of all the cash, the accolades, that, any of it if you don't feel good about who and what you are inside, if you're not able to slow down enough to be present with your experience and real time. You know, a lot of people i think right now, have been especially you know with social media and with us being and some of the more hustle culture that we're coming out of, especially for the last decade, this hustle entrepreneurial culture where it was kind of like I'm an entrepreneur, you're a nine to five, or we're at war, like we're judging each other. There were this it was just It's been fascinating to watch. But coming into the space where what does any of it mean? What does any of it mean if you're not connecting to the experience of being a spirit and human form? You know, that's the point. So you recently had this very cool experience and I'm talking about it because you posted it on your Instagram, So share as much as you feel comfortable with. But yeah, this really awesome experience to have dinner and be in community with. I mean, what are the descriptives of this being that has changed the course of human history? With Barack Obama, with our forever president Barack Obama, and you had quite an interesting backstory to this as well that kind of made it not just an exceptional moment, but also a full circle moment. What was that experience like with you?

Like everyone dove immediately into their elevator pitch, and then I sat there and I was I think I was making people a little uncomfortable because I was like, oh, hi, yeah, I'm just existing, you know, what's going on. And then by our last day there, you know, seeing the real deep magic of what you know, remembering that you're a person too, outside of what you're currently contributing, how you're currently serving, or ways that you're currently trying to scale. Like watching that remembrance come over everyone as they are building some of the most incredible companies you know and executing massive visions, but then seeing that conversation come back into being one that was more so led, and watching people open up at the tables and talk about their family and really just talk about what brought them pleasure. You know, seeing people run out to the hot top parties at night, and you know, then taking walks in silence during the day, and it just for me as a teacher, it was just very It was so beautiful to watch that begin to pour over people. Because to your point, what's the point of any of it if you can't be a whole person. What's the point of all the cash, the accolades, that, any of it if you don't feel good about who and what you are inside, if you're not able to slow down enough to be present with your experience and real time. You know, a lot of people i think right now, have been especially you know with social media and with us being and some of the more hustle culture that we're coming out of, especially for the last decade, this hustle entrepreneurial culture where it was kind of like I'm an entrepreneur, you're a nine to five, or we're at war, like we're judging each other. There were this it was just It's been fascinating to watch. But coming into the space where what does any of it mean? What does any of it mean if you're not connecting to the experience of being a spirit and human form? You know, that's the point. So you recently had this very cool experience and I'm talking about it because you posted it on your Instagram, So share as much as you feel comfortable with. But yeah, this really awesome experience to have dinner and be in community with. I mean, what are the descriptives of this being that has changed the course of human history? With Barack Obama, with our forever president Barack Obama, and you had quite an interesting backstory to this as well that kind of made it not just an exceptional moment, but also a full circle moment. What was that experience like with you?

Yeah, it was, you know. Obviously the work that we're doing was Slawston and Co. I mentioned we had some really incredible like day one advisors in one of those. One of those is a man named Ron Conway, who's like a legendary Silicon Valley figure, early investor in like some of the biggest companies of the past, you know, three decades plus, and someone who is incredibly just legendary in every aspect, not just as an investor, but as a human and as a connector. And you know, he was hosting a founder summit up in San Francisco and was going to be interviewing you know, President Obama as this kind of keynote chat, and we've offered us an opportunity to to to meet with him for a short period of time, but privately alongside Valerie Jarrett, who was a Day one advisor, who you know, we've had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few months, and more so through the lens of learning about the work that they're doing with with the Obama Foundation and sharing the work that we're doing. It's lost in New co you know, uh, you know, philanthropic a lot of ways on that side, and more for profit on our side, but nevertheless rooted in a lot of the same values. And you know, the purpose was really just to you know, to share and to listen on on both sides. So if nothing else, it was just another signal of validation that we're on the right path and we're building you know, and obviously have the aulmost respect for what uh that team Valerie and President Obama and that entire administration and even beyond the time in the White House has done for the world, both tactically through programs and policies, but also just through the representation and the intention and the fact that you can demonstrate such a cool and charismatic style of leadership, you.

Yeah, it was, you know. Obviously the work that we're doing was Slawston and Co. I mentioned we had some really incredible like day one advisors in one of those. One of those is a man named Ron Conway, who's like a legendary Silicon Valley figure, early investor in like some of the biggest companies of the past, you know, three decades plus, and someone who is incredibly just legendary in every aspect, not just as an investor, but as a human and as a connector. And you know, he was hosting a founder summit up in San Francisco and was going to be interviewing you know, President Obama as this kind of keynote chat, and we've offered us an opportunity to to to meet with him for a short period of time, but privately alongside Valerie Jarrett, who was a Day one advisor, who you know, we've had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few months, and more so through the lens of learning about the work that they're doing with with the Obama Foundation and sharing the work that we're doing. It's lost in New co you know, uh, you know, philanthropic a lot of ways on that side, and more for profit on our side, but nevertheless rooted in a lot of the same values. And you know, the purpose was really just to you know, to share and to listen on on both sides. So if nothing else, it was just another signal of validation that we're on the right path and we're building you know, and obviously have the aulmost respect for what uh that team Valerie and President Obama and that entire administration and even beyond the time in the White House has done for the world, both tactically through programs and policies, but also just through the representation and the intention and the fact that you can demonstrate such a cool and charismatic style of leadership, you.

Know, deeply well someone with a lot of output, someone that has also shared that there was you know, quite the climb to this life right internally and externally, quite the digging, quite the climb. How do you connect to joy and pleasure in this moment.