50 Chairs

He was cut 13 times, and still made the NFL. Most people quit long before that.In this episode of 50 Chairs, I sit down with former NFL fullback Jed Collins, whose journey is built on resilience, rejection, and relentless belief.This isn’t a highlight reel story. It’s about what happens before the success. When the chairs are still empty.We talk about:Building conviction when no one else sees itWhy greatness is lonelyThe mindset required to keep going through rejectionWhat the NFL teaches about pressure, identity, and disciplineHow Jed turned his journey into a mission around financial literacyJed also shares his framework for “being a pro”: confidence, trust, and adding value. Lessons that apply far beyond football.If you’re in the middle of building something and it’s not working yet… this one will hit.Because success isn’t instant. It’s built one chair at a time.@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

What does it actually take to stay in the game long enough to win?In this episode of 50 Chairs, Gary Hensley sits down with Alex Denning to explore the phase of building that most people never make it through. The part where nothing is working, no one is watching, and the outcome is still uncertain.From the discipline of Formula racing to competing at the highest levels with Lamborghini, Alex shares what it means to operate with conviction when there is no immediate signal.This conversation is about more than racing. It is about patience, belief, and the reality that success is often decided long before it is visible.If you are building something, this one is for you.https://50chairs.com/blog/8d40595f-9b46-4444-9bbf-c19908f915ef@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

What makes someone walk away from a “perfect” career?In this episode of 50 Chairs, Gary sits down with Becca Brown — Harvard graduate, Columbia MBA, and former Goldman Sachs professional, who made the leap into entrepreneurship to solve a problem most people would overlook.What started as a simple frustration turned into a real company, a Shark Tank deal, and a crash course in what it actually takes to build something from nothing.This conversation goes beyond the highlight reel.It’s about the tension, the doubt, and the conviction required to keep going when nothing is guaranteed.In this episode, we cover:• The moment Becca knew she had to leave Goldman Sachs• How small problems can become real businesses• What really happens behind the scenes of Shark Tank• Why authenticity is a founder’s greatest advantage• The importance of creating options, not chasing one outcomeThis is a story about seeing the empty chairs… and choosing to show up anyway.Link to playbook - https://50chairs.com/blog/cfbe8857-fbae-41b5-b559-ed5d52dc133c@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

What does it take to start a car company in today’s world?On this episode of 50 Chairs, Gary Hensley sits down with Mark Tapscott and Daniel Davey, two automotive leaders who helped shape the electric vehicle revolution inside companies like Tesla, Lucid, BYD, and Polestar.After years inside some of the world’s most influential EV companies, they made a bold decision: start their own.Their company, Longbow Motors, is on a mission to reinvent the lightweight electric sports car—built around driver experience, customer community, and a radically different approach to building vehicles.In this conversation, Gary, Mark, and Daniel explore:• Why the best founders see risk differently• What large companies often get wrong about listening to customers• The surprising lessons learned inside Tesla and the EV industry• Why community and storytelling matter as much as engineering• How co-founders survive the ups and downs of building something new• The mindset required to turn an idea into a real companyThey also dive into the origins of Longbow, the philosophy behind their 27 founding principles, and how they’re building a car company designed to last 100 years.This episode is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, conviction, and building something meaningful.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to go from working inside great companies to starting your own, this conversation is for you.@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

In this episode of 50 Chairs, Gary Hensley sits down with Chris Stott, CEO of Lone Star Lunar, to discuss what it takes to turn a once-radical idea, storing data on the moon, into operational reality.Chris shares how listening deeply to customer pain around data sovereignty and security led him to develop space-based and lunar data centers. He explains the legal, regulatory, and geopolitical frameworks that make off-planet data storage viable and why understanding the “rules of the game” before playing is critical.The conversation explores:Building credibility as a young founderAttracting world-class partners through visionWorking with regulators as strategic alliesThe legal architecture of space sovereigntyRaising a child to pursue purpose over prestigeWhy we are entering an era of technological abundanceThis episode is about vision, courage, and building for a future most people can’t yet see.@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

In Episode 3 of 50 Chairs, Gary Hensley sits down with Lisa Sutton Gunderson to unpack a career defined by ambition, discipline, and reinvention—from law and business bankruptcy to building and exiting a successful bakery brand, competing in pageantry with a high-performance strategy, and ultimately joining The Veteran Fund as a GP through relentless conviction and values alignment. Lisa shares how high standards shaped her confidence, why studying failure patterns is a shortcut to smarter entrepreneurship, and how partnering with strong operators has enabled her to scale across industries while staying grounded in purpose.@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

In this episode of 50 Chairs, host Gary Hensley engages with Ryan Micheletti and Mike Sherbakov from the Veteran Fund, exploring the journey of building a community for veterans through entrepreneurship. They discuss the importance of integrity, conviction, and relationship-building in the investment process, as well as memorable pitches and the future of innovation. The conversation emphasizes the significance of supporting veteran-led startups and the unique qualities that veterans bring to the entrepreneurial landscape.TakeawaysThe Veteran Fund is a culmination of decades of work.Building a community of veterans is essential for success.Investing is a people business, focusing on relationships.Integrity is crucial when pitching to investors.Conviction and passion are key to inspiring others.Memorable pitches often come from founders with deep conviction.The future of innovation relies on supporting veteran-led startups.Clear and simple communication is vital in pitches.Building a tribe of like-minded individuals enhances success.The journey of entrepreneurship is often non-linear and requires resilience.Sound bites"It's important to build a relationship.""It's a people business.""You have to be very clear and simple."Chapters00:00 The Genesis of the Veteran Fund02:58 Building a Community and Ecosystem06:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship08:52 Connecting the Dots: Military to Business11:57 The Unique Value of Veteran Leadership15:00 The Investor's Mindset17:54 Evaluating Founders and Startups20:56 The Role of Veterans in Innovation24:03 Navigating Challenges in the Tech Space27:04 Red Flags in Pitching29:49 The Long-Term Relationship Between Founders and Investors33:51 Navigating Rejection and Building Relationships36:10 The Importance of Consistency in Communication38:23 Identifying Key Traits in Founders40:06 The Intangible Qualities of Successful Founders42:20 The Role of Conviction in Entrepreneurship45:08 Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators48:05 Memorable Pitches and Their Impact50:58 The Power of Conviction in Founders54:20 Inspiring Future Generations Through Innovation56:34 Crafting the Perfect Pitch for Investors@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com

In this conversation, Tucker Hamilton shares his remarkable journey from being a test pilot to leading the Air Force's AI initiatives. He discusses the importance of teamwork, resilience, and the role of AI in national security. Tucker reflects on his experiences in high-stakes environments, the challenges of leadership, and the future implications of AI technology. He also introduces his upcoming book, which aims to inspire others to unlock their potential through discipline and resilience.TakeawaysTucker Hamilton's journey reflects the importance of perseverance and adaptability.AI is a critical component of modern national security strategies.Effective teamwork relies on trust, integrity, and open communication.Resilience is a collective effort, not a solo endeavor.The rapid advancement of AI technology poses both opportunities and challenges for society.Leadership in high-stakes environments requires a disciplined and methodical approach.Failure can lead to significant learning and innovation.Tucker's experiences highlight the need for continuous learning and improvement.The future of AI will dramatically reshape various industries and job markets.Tucker's upcoming book aims to inspire others to reach their full potential.@50chairs For the 50chairs Playbook from every episode go to www.50chairs.com