PODCAST · society
Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life
by founding_up
At founding_up our goal is to engage with Gen Z about their anxieties, fears, and hopes for the future. We do this on our new podcast: “Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life,” where we tackle topics such as mental health, the challenges of higher education, and the crucial issues Gen Z faces today: from career decisions to personal identity. Our approach combines expert perspectives with real-life stories, featuring a mix of industry professionals, thought leaders, and genuine Gen Z voices.
Episodes
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Dr. Bobby Robbins on University Leadership, Innovation, and What Comes Next
In this special episode of Uncharted, we sit down with Dr. Bobby Robbins—physician, educator, and higher-education leader—to explore what modern university leadership requires in a rapidly changing world. Dr. Robbins is currently a Visiting Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution at…
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Part 3 of 3 • Takeaways Wealth Is Choice with Léonie Weerakoon
In Part 3, Léonie Weerakoon shares her clearest advice for the next generation: stay curious, ask questions, and give yourself permission to evolve. Léonie talks about building resilience inside real-life constraints, why authenticity is a long-term advantage, and how to think about career...
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Part 2 of 3 • Mentorship| Léonie Weerakoon, A Mentee of the World
Part 2 of 3 • Mentorship What if mentorship isn’t one person… but a lifetime of elders, cultures, mistakes, and questions? In Part 2, Léonie Weerakoon explains how her cultural upbringing and traditions from travels to storytelling shaped her view of learning, why most of her early “mentors” were...
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Part 1 of 3 • The Map | Reuniting Humanity, Nature, and Power with Léonie Weerakoon
Part 1 of 3 • The Map Léonie Weerakoon grew up between continents—and it shows in how she thinks, builds, and moves. In Part 1, Léonie shares her global upbringing (Austin, Vancouver, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, New York), her early creative roots in fashion and design, and the unexpected academic...
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Part 3 of 3 • The Takeaways | Risk, Belief & Creativity with Neal Tilley
Part 3 of 3 • The Takeaways. Neal closes the series with the lessons he wishes he’d known earlier: risk, belief, failure, translation, and keeping your creative spark alive. Co-hosts: Natalie Peyton Neumann & Dan Dillard.
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Part 2 of 3 • Mentorship | The Mentors Who Actually Shape You (And the Ones You Should Ignore) with Neal Tilley
Part 2 of 3 — Mentorship. Neal unpacks the mentors who shaped his path—from harsh early bosses to the advisors who helped him bet on himself and move across the world. Co-hosts: Natalie Peyton Neumann & Dan Dillard.
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Part 1 of 3 • The Map | From Dyslexia to Destiny with Neal Tilley
Part 1 of 3 — The Map. From dyslexic kid in Northeast England to engineer, comedian, and Cisco’s higher-ed “translator,” Neal Tilley shares the early twists that shaped everything that came next. Co-hosts: Natalie Peyton Neumann & Dan Dillard.
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Part 3 of 3 • The Takeaways — Playbooks & Pressure with Amber Gunst
Part 3 — The Takeaways with Amber Gunst Failing forward under scrutiny, the right kind of vulnerability in leadership, guiding teams through layoffs/furloughs with care, mental-health habits (walking meditation, therapy when it counts), favorite reads, and Amber’s 45/15 deep-work cadence. We…
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Part 2 of 3 • Mentorship That Works: Boards of Brains, Warm Intros, and Negotiation with Amber Gunst
Part 2 — Mentorship Advice is cheap; mentorship is earned. Amber breaks down how she built a “board of brains,” asks busy leaders for targeted help, and structures warm introductions so people actually respond. We also get into negotiation prep—including the gender dynamics no one explains—and…
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Part 1 of 3 • The Map — How Amber Gunst Went from Small Town Michigan to the C-Suite
Part 1 — The Map From small-town Michigan and first-gen college to sales with an English degree, Amber Gunst moves to Austin during a recession, builds networks at the Chamber, and—within 11 months—steps into interim CEO at the Austin Technology Council.We talk about:• Why English → sales…
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Fred Schmidt — From Cold War Poland to Video Games and Austin Icons
From Cold War Poland to Detroit factory floors, from teenage radio news to helping launch cable-TV greats and then building hit video games (Civilization, Origin/EA), Fred Schmidt’s path is anything but linear. Now an Austin entrepreneur behind Wild About Music, Austin Rocks, Toy Joy, and Yummy...
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Permission to Begin: Carly Brown on Mentorship, Mindset, and Freedom
From stage-loving six-year-old to event producer at 22, to new mom navigating metastatic thyroid cancer, to founder of Alchemy Juice and mentor to a 600-member business community—Carly Brown (@carlyloveskale) is a masterclass in courageous pivots. We cover: Mindset > mechanics: “Jump, then build...
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Dwayne Goetzel: From Superhero Dreams to Trademark Law
Natalie Peyton Neumann sits down with Dwayne Goetzel—attorney, father, creative thinker, and someone who’s navigated career choices without a roadmap. They talk about growing up in Kerrville, the unexpected moment in Germany that pushed him toward law, and how hard truths early in his career…
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Running From Nothing, Toward Everything: The Shawn Livingston Story
Join Natalie Peyton Neumann as she dives deep with Shawn Livingston, former Airman turned I Am Redemption podcast host. From childhood dreams of WWE wrestling to a heartbreaking car accident, disillusioned military service, heroin addiction, prison, and 4 felonies—Shawn unveils every low point.…
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From Cheap Trick to 1,500 Episodes — Johnny Goudie on Mentorship, Music, and Making It Your Way
What if your whole life changed in a single night? For Johnny Goudie, it happened at a Cheap Trick concert at age 13 — and he never looked back. In this episode, Johnny shares how he turned heartbreak, hustle, and a love for melody into a decades-long career in music and podcasting. With raw...
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From Hedge Funds to Helping 5 Million Kids Read — Ashish Gupta on Purposeful Pivots
What do you do when you’ve made it… but still feel the pull to do something that matters more? Ashish Gupta spent 20 years in finance — investment banking, hedge funds, venture — before pivoting into social impact and edtech. Now, he’s helping millions of children learn to read in both English &...
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From Sailboats to Startups — Why Curiosity Is the Real Career Strategy with Matt McDonnell
What do you do when you don’t know what you want to be? If you’re Matt McDonnell, you grab a duffel bag, live on sailboats, study law, launch startups, and raise capital — all while chasing curiosity instead of credentials.Matt’s journey is anything but linear. From backpacking in the Adirondacks...
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Building, Failing, Winning — The Real Startup Journey with Holly Tachovsky
In this episode, we sit down with Holly Tachovsky, a serial entrepreneur who built and sold multiple tech companies, including BuildFax. Holly shares how early rejections, survival-mode decisions, and unexpected insights (like the billion-dollar secret behind “roof age”) helped shape her success....
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Forget Traditional School: How Samantha Jansky Is Raising the Next Generation of Leaders
In this episode, we talk with Samantha Jansky—co-founder and Head of School at Ascent Academy —about building a new kind of education. Samantha shares how her own mentorship journey shaped her work today, from studying political science to launching a learner-driven school where kids create...
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Jump Before You’re Ready: Jeff Davidson on Risk, Resilience, and Building Your Own Path
Season 4 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life launches with Jeff Davidson—entrepreneur, mentor, and Co-Founder of Camp Gladiator, one of the fastest-growing fitness companies in the U.S., built after Jeff’s wife Ally competed on NBC’s American Gladiators.Jeff shares the early wins, the tough…
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Gathering of Friends: Why Purpose-Driven People Win with Andrew Tull
In our Season 3 finale, we sit down with Andrew Tull—tech entrepreneur, connector, and passionate mentor—for a conversation about aligning your life with purpose. From founding global ventures to curating intimate “gatherings of friends,” Andrew shares why giving back, listening deeply, and...
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David Christie on Mentors, Mirror Neurons & the Power of Story
David Christie joins the Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life crew to explore the deep connection between storytelling and human growth. From listening to John Maxwell tapes as a teenager to becoming a mentor and speaker himself, David shares how his journey was shaped by intentional mentors…
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Mentors, Media & Mojo: How Paige Velasquez Budde Helps Leaders Show Up Online
In Episode 10, Dan, Natalie and Gloria sit down with Paige Velasquez Budde—CEO of Zilker Media—for an honest, insightful conversation about modern leadership, the power of mentorship, and why your digital first impression matters more than ever. From her early days as a touring teen musician to...
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Purpose, Profit, and the Power of Mentorship — JP Newman on Building with Heart
In Episode 9, Dan, Natalie and Gloria are joined by JP Newman, CEO of Thrive FP and host of Investing on Purpose. JP brings a refreshing take on entrepreneurship, mentorship, and what it means to build with intention. From hustling as a kid in LA to navigating a whirlwind career in Hollywood—and...
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From Engineering to Entrepreneurship—Matthew Thomas on Scaling Success
In Episode 8, Dan and Natalie sit down with Matthew Thomas, a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and mentor who helps early-stage companies scale through Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and peer-to-peer mentorship. Matthew shares his journey from a small-town Oklahoma kid with a dream of attending...
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Crafting Stories, Building Brands, and Living with Passion with Darlene Fiske
In Episode 7, Dan and Natalie sit down with Darlene Fiske, a PR and communications expert who helps luxury hospitality and wellness brands shape their stories and connect with audiences. As the founder of The Fiske Group and Swell, the Agency, Darlene has spent years mastering the art of...
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Add Value, Show Competence, Ask for What You Want: JP Singh on Success & Mentorship
In Episode 6, Dan and Natalie sit down with JP Singh, an attorney, entrepreneur, and former neuroscience researcher, to talk about mentorship, career strategy, and how to create your own opportunities. From working with renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman to launching his own practice, JP…
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Mentorship & Magic: Laura Masters & Savannah Ringard’s Uncharted Journeys
Join us for Episode 5 of Uncharted as we sit down with mother-daughter duo Laura Masters and Savannah Ringard for a powerful conversation on mentorship, personal growth, and forging your own path in life. Savannah shares her journey of stepping away from traditional education to travel the world,...
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From Forts to Factories: Building the Future with Marcus Metzger
In founding_up's Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life Season 3, Episode 4, Dan, Natalie, and Leon sit down with Marcus Metzger, Executive Director of HICAM and lifelong “maker.” From building forts and coding websites as a kid to running a 15,000-square-foot creative incubator in NYC, Marcus shares…
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Embracing “Productive Failure” with Tim Donohue
Season 3, Episode 3, with Tim Donohue—Through candid stories about failure, resilience, and mentorship, Tim highlights the importance of building a strong foundation of values like teamwork, discipline, and respect. He encourages young listeners to embrace failure as a learning opportunity and to...
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Designing for Impact: Rick Archer’s Purpose Driven Architecture
In this inspiring episode of Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life, we sit down with Rick Archer, co-founder of Overland Partners and a pioneer in designing spaces that transform lives. Rick shares his amazing journey—from his early love for art and architecture to pivotal moments of self-discovery…
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Building an Executive Search Empire with Jeremy Jenson
In this powerful kickoff to Season 3, we sit down with Jeremy Jenson, founder and CEO of Encore Search Partners a nationally renowned executive search firm. Jeremy shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to leading a multi-million-dollar business. Along the way, he reflects on the...
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From Midwest to Major Player: Hilarious Hour with Mike Millard
In the Season 2 finale of Uncharted with Mike Millard, we sit down with Mike Millard—venture capitalist, mentor, and founder of Pitch-A-Kid—to explore the art of navigating challenges, embracing failure, and creating meaningful impact. Mike shares his journey from corporate strategy to venture...
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Shaping SXSW: A Conversation with Hugh Forrest
In this episode of Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life, we sit down with Hugh Forrest, Co-President and Chief Programming Officer of South by Southwest (SXSW), to explore his remarkable journey in shaping one of the world's most iconic festivals. From SXSW's grassroots beginnings in Austin to its...
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Ann Kelley, Ph.D. author of, “Secure Relating: Holding your Own in an Insecure World”
Join us for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Ann Kelley, PhD psychologist, author, educator, and co-host of the acclaimed, Therapist Uncensored podcast. In this episode, Ann shares her journey from reluctant beginnings in psychology to becoming a thought leader in attachment and secure...
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Crafting Success with Founder of Pinthouse Pizza | Craft Brewpub, Ned Lavelle
Welcome back to Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life. Each episode we dive into the journeys, mindsets, and experiences of industry trailblazers, game-changers, and out-of-the-box thinkers. Ned Lavelle, co-founder of Pinthouse Pizza is our guest this episode. Ned is a powerhouse entrepreneur with a...
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Jennifer Hill on Elevating Consciousness and Embracing Purpose
Content Warning: This episode includes discussions about mental health and references suicide and/or self-harm. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional or calling a helpline: 988 Suicide and Crisis...
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Scott Thomas on Career Pivots and Thriving Through Change
In Season 2 Episode 7, hosts Dan Dillard, Natalie Peyton and Dr. Leon Vanstone chat with Scott Thomas, entrepreneur and marketing agency co-owner, about his winding career path. From early ambitions to current ventures in the private equity world, Scott offers valuable lessons on career pivots,...
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Mastering Connections: Marc Nathan on Mentorship, Networking, and AI's Future
In this insightful episode of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life, hosts Natalie Peyton, Dr. Leon Vanstone, and Dan Dillard welcome Marc Nathan, a renowned "super connector" and business development expert. Marc shares his journey from aspiring architect to a key player in Austin’s startup…
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The Power of Community in a Digital World with Gregg Alvarez
In this episode of founding_up’s: Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life hosts Dan Dillard, Natalie Peyton, and Dr. Leon Vanstone sit down with entrepreneur and advisor Gregg Alvarez to explore the uncharted waters of entrepreneurship, mentorship, and personal growth. Greg shares insights from his...
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Turning Challenges into Change: SaulPaul’s Resilience and Impact
It’s Season 2 Episode 4! In this inspiring episode of founding _up’s Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life, we sit down with SaulPaul, a three-time Grammy-nominated artist, entrepreneur, and founder of the SaulPaul Foundation. SaulPaul opens up about his incredible transformation from a troubled…
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Unleashing Gen Z's Potential in the Generational Workforce with Luke Goetting
In Season 2 Episode 3 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life hosts Dan Dillard, Dr. Leon Vanstone, and Natalie Peyton are joined by Luke Goetting, a dynamic mentor and creative agency owner, to explore the evolving elements of the modern workforce. With Gen Z rapidly becoming a significant part of…
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Tim Hines on Turning Setbacks into Success: From Starting Over to The Power of a Starter Mindset
In Season 2 episode 2 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life, hosts Dan Dillard, Natalie Peyton and Dr. Leon Vanstone discuss the unpredictable paths that shape our careers and lives. Tim Hines, a global keynote speaker, marketer, and author, shares his story of resilience and reinvention. After…
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High-Flying Ambitions: Mike Giordano on Mentorship, Private Jets, and Navigating Success
We’re back! It’s season 2 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life and co-hosts Natalie Peyton, Dan Dillard and Dr. Leon Vanstone welcome special guest, Mike Giordano, a seasoned entrepreneur in the private aviation industry. This episode takes listeners on a journey through Mike's career, from his...
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Leveling Up: Inside the Gaming Industry with Donald Harris
In the highly anticipated Season 1 finale of Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life, the crew wraps up an incredible season with a bang, featuring special guest Donald Harris, a gaming industry veteran and the founder of ATX Game Makers. This episode gets into the heart of mentorship, the importance…
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Risk Taking in Entrepreneurship with Jeremy Sweet
In this episode of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life, we sit down with Jeremy Sweet, a successful CPA, business owner, and mentor, to explore his unique journey. From an uncertain start in college to becoming the founder of his own CPA firm, Jeremy shares how he pivoted from a career in sports to...
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Holly Deshields on the Power of Lobbying and Political Passion
In this episode of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life, we sit down with Holly Deshields, Director of Consulting at McGuire Woods Consulting and a seasoned lobbyist with a deep-rooted passion for politics. From her early days of organizing election polls in the fourth grade to her current role in...
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From Court Dreams to Capitol Influence – Kwame Walker's Journey
In Episode 9 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life, co-hosts Dan Dillard, Dr. Leon Vanstone and Natalie sit down with Kwame Walker, a lobbyist and lawyer from McGrath Woods Consulting. Kwame shares his unique path from aspiring basketball player to influential lobbyist, shedding light on the...
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Building Teams and Tackling Challenges with Joseph Kopser, Military Veteran and Tech Entrepreneur
On episode 8 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life, co-hosts Dan Dillard, Dr. Leon Vanstone and Natalie Peyton sit down with Joseph Kopser, a distinguished leader, mentor, and entrepreneur with an incredible journey from 20 years in the military to the helm of successful startups. Joseph is also a...
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From Classroom to Capitol: Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm on Education, Politics, and Community
Welcome to Episode 7 of Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life with Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm. In this episode, co-hosts Dan Dillard, Natalie Peyton, and Dr. Leon Vanstone sit down with Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, the Executive Vice Chancellor of Operations and Public Affairs for Austin Community College...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
At founding_up our goal is to engage with Gen Z about their anxieties, fears, and hopes for the future. We do this on our new podcast: “Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life,” where we tackle topics such as mental health, the challenges of higher education, and the crucial issues Gen Z faces today: from career decisions to personal identity. Our approach combines expert perspectives with real-life stories, featuring a mix of industry professionals, thought leaders, and genuine Gen Z voices.
HOSTED BY
founding_up
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life have?
Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life currently has 57 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life about?
At founding_up our goal is to engage with Gen Z about their anxieties, fears, and hopes for the future. We do this on our new podcast: “Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life,” where we tackle topics such as mental health, the challenges of higher education, and the crucial issues Gen Z faces today: from...
How often does Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life release new episodes?
Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life has 57 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life?
You can listen to Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life?
Uncharted Your Sidekick for Life is created and hosted by founding_up.
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