We welcome Brandon DesJarlais, a world-class athlete and the visionary founder of Beyond the Board. A Red Bull World Championship silver medalist and Hollywood stunt double for Vin Diesel, Brandon has transformed his professional longboarding career into a global movement. Since 2020, he has hosted over 300 events and mobilized hundreds of skaters worldwide, including his famous "Santa Run" involving over 500 skaters in full costume.

Recorded live during a walk through the iconic Venice Skatepark, this candid conversation explores Brandon’s unique approach to decision-making and his transition from a solo "badass" brand to a vulnerable, mission-driven leader. Together, Seb and Brandon pull back the curtain on the "pull vs. push" motivation of entrepreneurship, the visceral power of vision, and the courage required to conquer fear, whether bombing a hill or launching a new venture.

Topics Discussed:

• Decision-Making Without a Map
• The Power of Visceral Vision
• Push vs. Pull Motivation
• Hollywood Stunts and Persistent Value
• Transitioning Identities
• "Go Fast Alone, Go Far Together"
• Courage vs. Fear
• The Traveling Good Tour
• Speaking it into Existence
• Learning from Failure

Connect with Brandon on Instagram or brandondesjarlais.com

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome Ruben Rojas, a Los Angeles–based artist, muralist, and the visionary founder of the Live Through Love movement. From transforming public spaces with large-scale installations to building a multi-seven-figure creative business, Ruben has bridged the gap between fine art and global commercial platforms like BMW and the NFL.

In this powerful conversation, Seb and Ruben dive deep into the radical transformation of a man who walked away from a career in finance to impact a billion people through creativity. They explore the collapse of the "American Dream" during the 2008 financial crisis, the toxicity of the "starving artist" narrative, and how to maintain mental resilience when your self-worth is no longer tied to material success. This episode is a masterclass on viewing creativity as a discipline and choosing love as a leadership tool in an increasingly divisive world.

Topics Discussed:

• The Finance Exit
• The 2008 Subprime Meltdown
• Redefining the American Dream
• Killing the "Starving Artist" Myth
• Abundance vs. Scarcity
• Scaling Creativity
• Global Brand Collaborations
• Healing through Art
• The Mission for Impact
• Love as a Discipline
• The Trapped Artist

Connect with Ruben on Instagram or rubenrojas.com

Connect with Live Through Love on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com

We welcome James Merrill, the visionary founder of StokedPlastics and the inventor of the award-winning StokedPlastic® blend. He is also the driving force behind Opolis, a mission-driven eyewear brand that builds premium frames using upcycled water bottles pulled directly from the ocean.

Recorded live while walking on the street, this candid conversation pulls back the curtain on the "sweat and tears" reality of building a sustainable business from the ground up. Together, Seb and James explore the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges of raising capital, navigating long sales cycles with major retailers like Burton and REI, and the vital importance of mental resilience for conscious leaders.

Topics Discussed:

• The Reality of Startup Life
• Fundraising and Criticism
• The Opolis Mission
• Scaling Sustainability
• Mental Health and Letting Go
• Avoiding Burnout
• The Microplastics Crisis
• Fighting Greenwashing
• Purpose vs. Profit
• Innovating for the Mainstream
• Quantifiable Impact

Connect with James on Instagram

Connect with Opolis on Instagram

Connect with Stoked Plastic on Instagram

Connect with Sebastian on Instagram

SebastianNaum.com