Breaking Precedent

What if talent was never the real differentiator, but access was?Paige Hendrix Buckner, CEO of All Raise, joins Leah Solivan on Breaking Precedent for a conversation about who gets access to opportunity, who gets trusted with capital, and what it actually takes to change an entrenched system from the inside.Paige's path runs through education, public service, startups, venture capital, and now All Raise, where she is focused on increasing the power and influence of women and non-binary investors. She traces the throughline from her father's early lesson that relationships shape opportunity, to her years as a Teach For America educator, to her own experience as a founder trying to raise venture capital without understanding the rules of the game.What emerges is a clear argument about power: venture does not only reward talent. It rewards proximity, pattern matching, trust, and access. Paige and Leah unpack why representation is not enough if decision-making power does not move with it, why titles can obscure who actually controls capital, and why changing venture means changing the stories investors tell themselves about who gets to build the future.Key InsightsAccess can shape outcomes before talent ever gets seen.Relationships are not just networking; they are how people build trust, sponsorship, and opportunity.Teaching taught Paige to design with the person in mind, a lesson that later translated directly into startups and systems change.Venture capital is a black box for many founders because the rules are rarely made explicit.Representation is not the same as power. A title does not tell you who controls capital, leads deals, or wins board seats.Structural change requires focus, data, community trust, and the willingness to let go of work that no longer serves the mission.The future Paige is building is not just more women in venture, but more women and non-binary investors with real influence, capital, and gravity.Breaking precedent sometimes starts with an internal shift. For Paige, that meant allowing creativity to become part of her definition of success.Timestamps00:00 Access versus talent01:34 Welcome to Breaking Precedent01:48 Paige's early lesson about relationships03:36 Growing up in a family built on humor, support, and ambition05:57 Coach Who Changed Everything06:56 College Curiosity Path09:39 Teach For America Lessons12:27 Opportunity Gaps In Schools16:57 Portland Reset And Service19:35 Startup Weekend Spark20:56 Founder Gym And VC Basics21:39 Pitching Lessons And Narrative27:43 Underrepresented Founder Patterns28:41 Spotting Structural Bias29:01 Bias in Venture30:26 Network Over Talent32:07 Choosing to Change33:50 All Raise and 2 Percent35:09 Power Beyond Titles38:26 Big Firms vs New Funds42:15 Making Change Stick52:09 Vision for 203555:02 Redefining Success56:52 Creativity and ClosingAbout the GuestPaige Hendrix Buckner is the CEO of All Raise, a nonprofit working to accelerate the success of women and non-binary investors and founders in venture capital and technology. Her career spans education, public service, entrepreneurship, founder education, and venture ecosystem building. Before All Raise, Paige worked with Founder Gym, supporting underrepresented founders learning how to raise venture capital. Today, she leads All Raise's work to shift not only representation in venture, but real power, influence, and access to capital.Paige Hendrix Buckner on LinkedInAll RaiseResourcesAll RaisePaige Hendrix Buckner on LinkedInFounder GymTeach For AmericaUrban League of PortlandTaskRabbitFloodgateStitch FixSunrunForbes: All Raise CEO Paige Hendrix Buckner On Why Investors Should Bet On Women

What does it take to chase an impossible dream for sixteen years without becoming someone who cannot let it go?Dr. Eiman Jahangir has spent his adult life inside two systems that rarely sit beside each other: medicine and spaceflight. A cardiologist, professor, and commercial astronaut, he applied to NASA five times across sixteen years, was rejected each time, and finally flew with Blue Origin in August 2024 when commercial space cracked the door open.His first book, A Heart for Space, is now available for preorder. You can also preorder through Eiman’s author site and get a free first chapter.Eiman returns to Breaking Precedent for a follow-up conversation with Leah Solivan, with new updates from his time as an astronaut trainer at Blue Origin and the release of his first book, A Heart for Space.What emerges is not a story about luck or grit, but a clearer framework for pursuing seemingly impossible goals: be firm on the vision and flexible on the details, treat every rejection as feedback you can act on, and recognize that stability is both the platform that makes risk possible and the gravity that keeps most people from taking it. Eiman and Leah unpack the immigrant calculus of risk, the difference between persistence and delusion, why we are finally returning to the moon, how AI will reshape engineering and deep-space life, and what an astronaut does when the dream he organized his entire adult life around finally happens.Key Insights• Playing safe is rarely the conservative choice it pretends to be. For high-performers, it can be the slowest form of opportunity cost.• Vision and execution are different layers of a goal. The vision should be rigid; the path should be a draft you keep editing.• Markets create doors that institutions cannot. Commercial space made Eiman’s flight possible because NASA’s gatekeeping no longer defined the category.• Immigrant stability is double-edged. The same foundation that lets a person take a public risk also makes that risk feel disloyal to the people who built the foundation.• Persistence without feedback is delusion. Eiman kept applying because he kept evaluating why he was being passed over and adjusting what he could control.• Achieving the dream is not the end of the work. After the flight, the question becomes who else you can pull through the door behind you.• The most durable goals braid identity and craft. The book title is not a metaphor. He is a heart doctor with a literal heart for space.Timestamps00:00 Welcome back to Breaking Precedent01:00 When playing safe became the bigger risk03:00 Firm on the vision, flexible on the details04:30 What A Heart for Space actually means05:11 Pursuing space wholeheartedly06:30 Why we are finally going back to the moon08:00 How AI will accelerate space exploration10:30 Immigrant stability and the right to risk13:00 Telling your parents about your dream14:00 Persistence, stubbornness, or delusion15:00 The post-flight mission and Blue Origin chapter17:00 Where to preorder A Heart for SpaceAbout the GuestDr. Eiman Jahangir is a cardiologist, professor, and commercial astronaut. After applying to NASA five times across sixteen years, he flew to space with Blue Origin in August 2024 with the endorsement of the MoonDAO community. In 2025, he joined Blue Origin as an astronaut trainer, supporting research projects, payload work, and crew preparation. His first book, A Heart for Space, is a memoir and field guide for pursuing seemingly impossible goals and includes interviews with eight astronauts, including NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. He speaks internationally on persistence, leadership, and breaking precedent.Eiman’s WebsiteEiman’s LinkedInEiman’s InstagramResourcesA Heart for Space — Author site preorder, with free first chapterBlue OriginNASAMoonDAOProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirArtemis IIJessica MeirJared IsaacmanScott and Mark Kelly NASA Twins StudyLeah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with LeahWebsite: breakingprecedent.comInstagram: @leah_solivanX: @labunleashed

This is a replay of one of our most extraordinary conversations, recorded just before and immediately after Dr. Eiman Jahangir’s journey to space.What does it mean to pursue a dream so relentlessly that you’re willing to rewrite the path entirely?Dr. Eiman Jahangir didn’t become an astronaut through NASA. He applied multiple times, made it to the final rounds, and still didn’t get selected.So he found another way.In this episode, Leah sits down with Eiman, cardiologist, professor, and one of the few civilians in history to travel to space, just days before his Blue Origin launch, and again immediately after he returns.The result is something rare. A before-and-after look at a lifelong dream in motion.You hear the anticipation, the doubt, and the improbable chain of events that led him there, from repeated NASA rejections to Web3 communities, DAOs, and a literal lottery ticket to space. Then you hear what happens after, the physical experience, the emotional impact, and the shift in perspective that follows.This is not just a story about space travel. It is about persistence, identity, and what happens when you refuse to let the approved path define the outcome.Key Insights The dream doesn’t always change. The path often has to  Rejection is not always a signal to stop. Sometimes it is a signal to reroute  Systems are built to filter, not necessarily to find the most committed  The “overview effect” is real. It begins the moment you leave Earth  Extreme experiences amplify who you already are  Risk tolerance is often shaped by upbringing, not ambition  Decentralized systems are creating entirely new access pathways  Some of the most meaningful breakthroughs come from non-traditional routes Timestamps00:00 Introduction and why this story matters01:40 Growing up between war and possibility03:00 The origin of a lifelong obsession with space03:30 Applying to NASA and getting close multiple times05:20 Inside the astronaut selection process08:30 When rejection turns into fuel09:40 Discovering alternative paths to space10:30 NFTs, DAOs, and the unexpected opportunity12:00 The lottery that changed everything15:40 Getting the call. You’re going to space17:00 Preparing mentally for the mission18:30 Writing goodbye messages before launch21:00 Risk, family, and choosing to go anyway22:00 Breaking precedent vs maintaining stability24:20 Launch and liftoff25:30 Returning to Earth26:00 Training and preparation for the flight28:00 Emergency scenarios and safety protocols30:00 Zero gravity and what actually happens inside the capsule32:00 The reality of space vs expectations35:00 Crew dynamics and the “Blue Steel” team38:00 The emotional weight of liftoff41:00 Seeing Earth from space44:00 The darkness of space and the intensity of the sun46:00 The overview effect and perspective shift48:00 What the crew experienced differently50:00 Re-entry and physical forces52:00 Landing and returning to Earth53:00 Gratitude and emotional processing54:30 Would he do it again?About the GuestDr. Eiman Jahangir is a cardiologist, professor at Vanderbilt University, and one of the few civilians to travel to space. After applying multiple times to NASA and reaching the final rounds, he ultimately found a non-traditional path through decentralized communities and a lottery-based selection tied to a Blue Origin flight.He is also the author of A Heart for Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible, a memoir and practical guide that traces his journey from immigrant beginnings to spaceflight, offering a framework for pursuing ambitious goals despite rejection, uncertainty, and unconventional paths. ResourcesGet the book: A Heart for SpaceEiman's WebsiteSpace for HumanityMoondaoAbout the HostLeah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast exploring the stories of innovators who are pushing boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. She is a General Partner at Fuel Capital and the founder of TaskRabbit.Connect with LeahWebsite: breakingprecedent.com Instagram: @leah_solivan X: @labunleashed

What does it take to build institutions that scale without flattening the people inside them?Stacy Brown-Philpot has spent her career inside systems that shape markets, culture, and opportunity, from Goldman Sachs and Google to TaskRabbit, SoftBank, and now Cherry Rock Capital. In this conversation, she traces the throughline from her upbringing in Detroit to leading one of the defining companies of the gig economy and then stepping into venture as an investor focused on underinvested founders. What emerges is not a career retrospective but a leadership framework: resilience is built by doing hard things before you have language for them, trust must be designed into both culture and product, and capital still misreads too many founders by treating them as impact stories instead of return engines. Stacy and Leah unpack the painful TaskRabbit model shift that saved the company, the difference between scale and commoditization, and why the next generation of leaders should reject burnout as a badge of seriousness.Key Insights Resilience is not abstract. It is formed by repeated exposure to difficulty and learning you can survive it.  In rooms where you are underestimated, legitimacy comes less from approval and more from contribution.  Strong culture is not perks alone. It is shared rituals that create trust across teams.  Platform businesses built on human trust break when efficiency starts erasing uniqueness and accountability.  The harder strategic decision is often the one that preserves the company’s future, not the one that feels best in the moment.  The gap for underrepresented founders is not a pipeline problem. It is a market structure problem, especially at Series A.  Great investors do more than allocate capital. They provide candor, accountability, and operating judgment.  Leadership should not require self-destruction. Burnout is not proof of seriousness. Timestamps00:00 Welcome to Breaking Precedent01:44 Boardroom karaoke and Detroit energy03:29 Detroit Roots And Family05:42 Owning Your Seat08:49 Love Of Learning11:24 Choosing Wharton12:44 Goldman Vs Google Culture14:59 Resilience Meets Perspective17:03 Dont Shortchange Students19:36 Leadership Before CEO21:06 Scaling TaskRabbit Early Days23:03 Culture Building With Food25:53 Trust In The Gig Economy29:07 Rebuilding the Model30:10 London Launch Gamble31:11 Conviction Under Fire32:43 TaskRabbit 3.0 Vision35:09 IKEA Sale Vote38:59 Operator to Investor41:06 SoftBank Opportunity Fund45:10 Cherry Rock Strategy47:02 Investing With Values50:36 Backing Great Founders54:49 Leadership and Legacy56:53 Closing ReflectionsAbout the GuestStacy Brown-Philpot is a trailblazing tech executive and investor. Raised in Detroit, she earned degrees from The Wharton School and Stanford GSB before building her early career at Goldman Sachs and Google. She is best known for her leadership at the gig-economy pioneer TaskRabbit; joining initially as COO and later becoming CEO, she guided the company through a critical business model pivot and its ultimate acquisition by IKEA.Stacy's LinkedInCherryrock Capital WebsiteResourcesHomegoing by Yaa GyasiTaskRabbitSoftBank Opportunity FundLeah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @leah_solivanX: @labunleashed

What happens when the systems that define ownership are designed to exclude most people from participating?Austin Allison, founder of Pacaso and former co-founder of Dotloop, has spent his career inside one of the most entrenched and resistant industries: real estate. From growing up in a household where ownership was aspirational but constrained, to building and exiting a $100M+ proptech company, his perspective is shaped by both lived experience and system-level insight.This episode explores the structural barriers that make real estate slow to change, from incentive misalignment to regulatory friction and cultural inertia. It also examines what it actually takes to shift an industry where participants are independent, resistant to control, and deeply tied to legacy processes.At the center is a deeper tension: ownership as both a wealth-building engine and a gated system. Austin unpacks how Pacaso emerged from this tension, aiming to expand access without eroding value. The discussion moves beyond entrepreneurship into power, incentives, and the hidden mechanics that determine who gets to participate in wealth creation.References & Resources • Books: Switch by Chip and Dan Heath • Companies: Dotloop, Pacaso, Zillow, Keller Williams • Concepts: Network effects, change management, ownership as wealth creation, independent contractor incentives • Platforms: DocuSignShow Notes 00:00 Introduction to breaking precedent03:16 Ohio Roots and First Deal05:56 Ownership and Second Home Epiphany08:45 Ambition and Vulnerability12:50 Selling Homes at 18 Lessons16:34 Dotloop Breakthrough and Passion19:34 Changing Real Estate Adoption29:28 Zillow Exit and Picasso Calling32:40 Retirement Reality Check33:40 Eleven Month Problem Study35:01 Beating Timeshare Stigma36:35 Venn Diagram Conviction41:10 Second Home Magic43:32 Fixing Underuse And Hassle45:11 NetJets For Houses46:16 Housing Affordability Impact49:43 Reframing The Ownership Dream54:26 Policy Fixes For Mobility58:22 Ownership And ROELeah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

What does it take to build something meaningful when the system is designed for most efforts to fail?Rachel Sussman is a Broadway producer known for bringing socially driven, culturally relevant work to the stage, including the Tony Award winning musical Suffs and the play Liberation. Raised in a family immersed in the arts, she developed an early fascination with storytelling, eventually shifting from performance to producing after discovering the power of shaping creative work behind the scenes.This conversation explores producing as a systems discipline. Rachel breaks down Broadway as a high-risk startup model where only about 10 percent of shows recoup their investment. She shares how meaningful art is built at the intersection of storytelling, capital, and cultural timing, and why hope is not passive optimism but a strategic choice that requires action. The episode reveals how great producers do more than create shows. They design systems that influence how audiences think, feel, and engage with the world.Show Notes00:00 Welcome to Breaking Precedent!02:11 Books That Shaped Her03:53 Family Theater Roots07:05 Competitive Dance Years08:37 From Performer to Dramaturg11:05 NYU and Finding Producing13:03 Producer as Show CEO16:08 Broadway Risk and Recoup17:47 Suffs Origin Story22:16 History That Haunts24:25 Great American Bitch26:56 Truth Over Whitewash28:00 Ida B Wells Spotlight29:22 Breadcrumbs For Research31:18 Designing For Action33:16 Art Shapes Politics35:38 Clinton And Malala37:54 Liberation On Broadway40:29 Motherhood And Rights43:01 Hope Requires Action43:55 Broadway Money Pressures49:50 Audience As Participants51:48 Stories Still Missing52:50 Next Gen Engagement55:30 Beyond Female Labels56:44 Closing Reflections

What happens when the identity that defined your life suddenly ends?Ryan Nece grew up surrounded by greatness. As the son of NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, competition, discipline, and excellence were part of everyday life. But living in the shadow of one of football’s greatest players came with its own pressures. In this episode, Ryan shares how those early experiences shaped his perspective on leadership, resilience, and personal responsibility.After building his own career in the NFL, Nece faced a challenge that many athletes struggle with: redefining identity after the game ends. Drawing on lessons from his father, his upbringing, and a life-altering car accident at seventeen, Ryan developed the mindset he now calls the “Next Play.” Today he brings that philosophy into the world of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and mentoring athletes transitioning into life after sports. Show Notes00:00 Introduction03:12 Growing Up Ronnie Lott’s Son05:31 Embracing the Legacy08:27 Betting on Yourself Early09:24 Wisdom From Strong Women12:12 Kickball Leadership Lesson16:54 Serious Teen to Team Leader17:52 UCLA Setbacks and Breakthrough20:39 Car Crash Perspective Shift23:10 Calling Dad for Football Advice24:58 Next Play Mindset26:18 Processing Between Whistles27:15 Injuries And Mental Rehab29:59 Life After Football32:15 Building A Startup35:23 Founding Next Play38:03 Venture Reality Check42:00 Spotting Great Founders47:26 Next Play U Program49:46 Legacy Plus Sign51:12 Next Decade Vision53:16 Final Takeaways

How do you change the narrative when the system was never designed to include you?In this episode of Breaking Precedent, Soledad O'Brien joins the show to discuss her illustrious career in journalism, covering critical events from wars to hurricanes, and sharing the humorous contrast between her on-screen cooking segments and her real-life kitchen skills. O'Brien delves into her upbringing as the daughter of an interracial couple in a time when such marriages were illegal, shaping her perspective on education and resilience. Her journey from a production assistant to starting the Starfish Media Group highlights her commitment to centering authentic stories and challenging traditional narratives in media. The conversation covers the impact of storytelling in crises like Hurricane Katrina, the shifts needed in journalistic practices, and the importance of representation in media.Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning journalist, producer, and media entrepreneur known for centering truth, context, and underreported voices in American storytelling. A former CNN anchor and correspondent, she led groundbreaking documentary series including Black in America, Latino in America, and In America, reshaping how media covers race, policy, and power.Listeners can learn more about Soledad O’Brien at SoledadProductions and on Instagram @soledadobrien and LinkedIn @SoledadproductionResources:Matter of Fact with Soledad O’BrienShow Notes: 00:00 Welcome to Breaking Precedent + Introducing Soledad O’Brien01:38 Icebreaker: Myth and Mom Life03:17 Growing Up in the 60s06:17 Early Storytelling Instincts07:36 Dual Identity as a Reporting Superpower11:10 Outworking Everyone: First Jobs, Low Pay, and Learning Fast14:37 2005 (Katrina) and Re-Centering Crisis Coverage18:09 Why People Don’t Trust the News Anymore (Opinion, Clicks, AI)21:31 CNN ‘Black in America’ Clash24:43 How to Push Back on Leadership Without Losing the War25:58 Finding Your Voice: Standing Firm as You Rise27:07 Handling Disrespect on Assignment: ‘Get Out There and Kill It’30:10 Starting Starfish Media: Breaking the Gatekeeping of Stories33:21 Reinvention, Motherhood, and Building a Life You Want36:02 Work, Guilt, and Raising Awesome Teens (and Twentysomethings)39:38 Owning Your Schedule: From CNN Chaos to Horseback Riding & Ballroom41:31 Why Conflict-Driven News Wins: Cheap Panels, No Context44:13 A Better Future for News: Streamers, Deep Dives, and Expertise Over Opinion46:58 Docs as Policy Storytelling: Stand Your Ground, Roe, and Creative Structure48:59 Representation Matters: The Legacy She Hopes to Leave + Final Wrapd---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @leah_solivanX: @labunleashed

What would it take to make healthcare massively better?In this episode of Breaking Precedent, Leah Solivan sits down with Halle Tecco, founder of Rock Health, to unpack why the U.S. healthcare system remains so hard to change—and what it will actually take to fix it.Drawing from her upbringing in the Midwest, decades of experience across healthcare, investing, public health, and education, and her new book Massively Better Healthcare, Halle explains how incentives, power dynamics, and regulatory capture shape outcomes far more than technology alone. From Medicaid disparities and data misuse to venture capital timelines and the myth of “innovation solves everything,” she challenges founders and leaders to see healthcare as a system—not just a product opportunity.Together, Leah and Halle explore why healthcare resists scale, how evidence differs from proof of impact, and why founders must often become advocates—not just builders. Halle shares lessons from Rock Health, insights from teaching at Columbia and Harvard, and hard truths about incumbents, misaligned incentives, and what meaningful progress actually looks like.Halle Tecco is a healthcare investor, educator, and author focused on improving outcomes, access, and equity across the healthcare system. She is the founder of Rock Health, an early-stage venture firm supporting digital health startups, and the author of Massively Better Healthcare: The Innovator’s Guide to Tackling Healthcare’s Biggest Challenges. Her work spans investing, public health, teaching, and policy advocacy, with a mission to make healthcare meaningfully better for more people.Massively Better Healthcare (Book): https://www.halletecco.com/bookRock Health: https://rockhealth.comCost Plus Drugs (Mark Cuban): https://costplusdrugs.comEpic Systems (EHR): https://www.epic.comCleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.orgNational Academy of Medicine (Social Determinants of Health context): https://nam.eduCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): https://www.cms.govMenlo Ventures – AI in Healthcare Report: https://menlovc.com/perspective/ai-in-healthcare/Shownotes00:00 Welcome to Breaking Precedent02:10 Icebreaker: A Personal Moment That Changed Halle’s View on Healthcare06:30 Growing Up in the Midwest and Early Healthcare Experiences10:45 Fairness, Access, and Social Determinants of Health15:20 Questioning Systems from the Inside and Outside19:40 Founding Rock Health and Early Digital Health Investing24:10 Why Healthcare Resists Scale28:30 Data, AI, and the Future of Healthcare33:10 Incentives, Power, and Misalignment37:20 Writing Massively Better Healthcare41:00 What Needs to Change and What Innovators Can Do Next44:30 Final ThoughtsLeah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: leah_solivanX: @labunleashed

What happens when difference becomes a competitive advantage?In this episode of Breaking Precedent, Leah Solivan sits down with Samara Hernandez, founder of Chingona Ventures, to explore how identity, constraint, and culture can shape leadership in venture capital. From growing up in Mexico to building a venture fund in the United States, Samara reflects on how limited resources, discipline, and an early love of math forged resilience and clarity—and how being underestimated became a source of strength.Tracing her path from engineering at the University of Michigan to finance at Goldman Sachs, and ultimately to launching her own fund, Samara shares how she learned to turn difference into a competitive edge. Now a venture capitalist and engineer backing bold founders, she brings a philosophy of doing more with less—working to close access gaps, expand opportunity, and redefine leadership in an industry built on pattern-matching.Samara Hernandez is a venture capitalist and engineer focused on backing bold founders building the future. Born in Mexico and raised in Chicago, her career spans engineering, finance, and early-stage investing, shaped by a philosophy of doing more with less. Through Chingona Ventures, she works to close capital gaps and expand opportunity for underrepresented founders across the innovation economy.Learn more at chingonaventures.com, and follow Samara on Instagram @chingonaventures and LinkedIn.ResourcesNational Venture Capital Association (NVCA)Venture ForwardSAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Breaking Precedent!02:03 Icebreaker: Turning Differences into Superpowers03:43 Samara's Childhood and Education06:59 From Mexico to Chicago: A Family's Journey07:21 The Significance of Qana Ventures08:32 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage09:59 The Power of Community and Upbringing11:48 Discovering a Passion for Math13:30 Navigating Education as an Immigrant17:39 Choosing Engineering and University Life24:13 From Engineering to Wall Street26:08 Learning and Growing at Goldman Sachs30:39 The Intensity of Sales and Moving On31:12 Mentorship and Business School Journey32:18 Discovering Venture Capital by Accident34:13 First Steps in Venture Capital35:37 Building a Venture Firm from Scratch36:48 Challenges and Opportunities in Venture Capital40:31 Scaling Chingona Ventures44:44 The Power of Representation and Impact51:07 Investing in the New Majority57:01 Redefining Success in Venture Capital01:03:16 Final Thoughts and Advice for Founders---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: leah_solivanX: @labunleashed

What happens when culture becomes a form of leadership?In this episode of Breaking Precedent, Leah Solivan sits down with Derrick T. Jones, better known as D-Nice,  legendary DJ, photographer, and cultural connector, to explore how music, joy, and shared experience can shape communities and create belonging at scale. From his early days in hip-hop to the global phenomenon of Club Quarantine, D-Nice reflects on the responsibility artists carry, the power of gathering, and how creativity can serve as social infrastructure in fractured times.The conversation spans art, entrepreneurship, cultural stewardship, and what it means to hold space for people, not just entertain them.D-Nice is a world-renowned DJ, photographer, and cultural curator whose career spans decades at the intersection of music, art, and community. Rising to prominence as a pioneering hip-hop artist before becoming one of the most influential DJs of his generation, D-Nice is widely celebrated for creating Club Quarantine, a global virtual gathering that redefined connection during the COVID-19 pandemic.Through his work, D-Nice demonstrates how culture can be a unifying force — building bridges across industries, generations, and identities.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to Breaking Precedent!01:00 Introducing D Nice: A Multifaceted Innovator05:40 Early Life and Hip Hop Beginnings16:52 The Influence of Scott La Rock32:34 Stop the Violence: A Call to Action35:49 The World and Democracy37:17 Political Involvement and Personal Reflections39:02 The Birth of Club Quarantine40:53 The Evolution of Club Quarantine49:39 From Club Quarantine to Carnegie Hall53:12 Breaking Precedents in Entertainment01:03:35 The Role of AI and Technology in Creativity01:07:01 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsLeah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. She founded TaskRabbit in 2008 after beginning her career as an engineer at IBM.Connect with LeahWebsite: breakingprecedent.comInstagram: @leah_solivanX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, the host  Leah Solivan is joined by Lynn Jurich, co-founder and former CEO of Sunrun, to discuss her journey from growing up in Tacoma, Washington to leading one of the largest residential solar companies in the U.S. They explore the challenges and triumphs of scaling Sunrun, including innovative financing models and negotiating with utility companies. Jurich also shares personal insights on the impact of sports on resilience, the importance of strength training, and her foray into women's health through the establishment of the Female Longevity Institute. The conversation highlights Jurich's persistent optimism, innovative mindset, and commitment to transforming entrenched industries.Lynn Jurich is an entrepreneur, investor, and visionary leader who co-founded Sunrun, the nation’s leading residential solar and energy services company. Under her leadership, Sunrun grew from an idea pitched beside a county fair pumpkin stand to a publicly traded company with over a million customers, $2 billion in recurring revenue, and a $20 billion market cap. Named one of Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women,” Lynn has pioneered clean energy innovation by championing rooftop solar, distributed batteries, and consumer-driven energy independence.Listeners can learn more about Lynn Jurich at Sunrun.com and on LinkedIn .Resources:Berkshire Hathaway EnergyDOE – U.S. Department of EnergyLunar EnergyShow Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Breaking Precedent00:21 Meet Lynn Jurich: Solar Pioneer01:30 Personal Reflections and Icebreakers03:40 Lynn's Early Life and Competitive Spirit04:29 Lessons from Sports and Leadership07:59 The Journey to Stanford and Beyond10:41 The Birth of Sunrun and Solar as a Service13:02 Challenges and Triumphs in Solar Energy17:28 Navigating Financial Crises and Growth21:12 Breaking Energy Precedents and Future Vision25:25 Consumer Demand for Solar and Batteries25:56 Taking Sunrun Public with a Newborn28:07 Battling Utilities in Nevada29:43 Sunrun's Growth and Future Innovations31:54 Founding the Female Longevity Institute33:54 Challenges in Women's Health Research37:26 Precision Medicine for Women42:35 Breaking Precedents in Energy and Healthcare47:57 Advice for Breaking Through Entrenched Systems---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, the host, Leah Solivan interviews Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency medicine physician and political candidate. They discuss Dr. Fisher's career, including his experiences growing up on the South Side of Chicago, attending Dartmouth, and his work in emergency rooms. He shares insights from his book, 'The Emergency,' and how it reflects the systemic inequities in healthcare. Dr. Fisher also touches on his motivations for running for Congress, his vision for improving healthcare, and the importance of public service. Through personal anecdotes and policy discussions, the episode delves into the intersections of medicine, social justice, and political activism.Dr. Thomas Fisher is an emergency physician, author, and public servant dedicated to transforming America’s healthcare system from the inside out. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Thomas grew up in a community of working families and changemakers who showed him both the promise and the inequities of the world around him. The son of a physician and a social worker, he learned early that service isn’t just a calling—it’s a responsibility.Listeners can learn more about Dr. Thomas Fisher at ThomasFisherForCongress.com, Donate to his campaign at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/fisherlaunch1000 and follow him on LinkedIn @ThomasFisherMD.Resources:University of ChicagoCivil Rights Act of 1964Affordable Care Act (ACA)White House Fellows ProgramShow Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Breaking Precedent00:21 Meet Dr. Thomas Fisher01:17 Icebreaker: Superpowers04:22 Growing Up on the South Side of Chicago06:21 Influence of Parents and Education14:15 Journey to Dartmouth and Medical School20:28 Choosing Emergency Medicine23:23 Writing 'The Emergency'27:46 Patient's Decline and ICU Struggles28:58 Emotional Impact of Patient Loss30:03 COVID-19's Systemic Impact33:03 Challenges in the American Medical System38:46 Entrepreneurship and Healthcare Innovation42:23 Running for Congress: A New Chapter48:18 Vision for Healthcare and Public Safety53:48 Legacy and Inspiration---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In the second episode of the brand-new season of Breaking Precedent, Leah Solivan sits down once again with Olympic legend Nastia Liukin — and the conversation hits deeper than ever. They revisit their first encounter and trace the arc of Nastia’s extraordinary career, from the early days in the gym to the unforgiving expectations that come with being one of the world’s top athletes.Nastia opens up about what the pursuit of perfection really cost her, the pressures and politics behind gymnastics judging, and the emotional toll of constantly performing at an elite level. She and Leah dive into the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hard-earned wisdom that came from both.Beyond the medals, Nastia reflects on rebuilding her identity after competition, the ventures and creative projects that now drive her, and her commitment to guiding and inspiring the next generation of athletes.Nastia Liukin is an Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, and broadcaster who became one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world at just 18 years old. After retiring from competition, she transitioned her passion into building a brand, founding the annual Nastia Liukin Cup, and inspiring the next generation of athletes through mentorship and community. Today, she’s a sought-after speaker and role model, sharing lessons on resilience, identity, and redefining success beyond the podium.Learn more about Nastia Liukin at NastiaLiukin.com and on Instagram @NastiaLiukin.Resources:Marie Claire Power Trip (San Francisco event)USA GymnasticsShow Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Breaking Precedent00:05 Reminiscing Old Memories00:52 Icebreaker: Sacrifices and Reclaiming Life01:49 Balancing Career and Personal Life02:58 The Journey of Self-Discovery07:38 The Foundation of a Gymnastics Legacy10:40 Immigrant Beginnings and Family Sacrifices16:57 Overcoming Physical Challenges in Gymnastics19:43 Mental Strength and Focus25:53 Defining Success Beyond Gymnastics29:00 Breaking Age Narratives in Gymnastics34:30 Reflecting on Personal Struggles and Resilience35:36 The Defining Moment: 2012 Olympic Trials36:53 Lessons from Falling and Getting Back Up41:05 “We will never be defined by a salary, a title, a relationship, a company, or even a gold medal. Those are things we’ve done, not who we are.” 45:26 Navigating Subjectivity in Gymnastics53:00 Life After Gymnastics: Embracing Imperfection01:11:22 Inspiration and Future Aspirations---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

Kicking off a brand-new season and launching our first-ever video episode, Breaking Precedent returns with a powerful conversation between host Leah Solivan and Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar. Christina traces her journey from baking cookies with her grandmothers in Ohio to becoming one of the most influential pastry chefs and entrepreneurs in the country. Leah and Christina unpack their shared experiences as introverts navigating high-pressure environments, the mentors who shaped their paths, and the creative process behind Milk Bar’s iconic recipes like the Compost Cookie and Crack Pie. Christina opens up about building a business during the 2008 financial crisis, the role of constraints in driving creativity, and what it takes to scale a brand while protecting its soul and culture.Christina Tosi is a pastry chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Milk Bar, the beloved dessert brand known for its nostalgic yet innovative creations like Cereal Milk, Compost Cookies, and Milk Bar Pie. Raised in Ohio by generations of strong, creative women, Christina learned early the joy of making something out of nothing—a philosophy that would later define her career.Listeners can learn more about Christina Tosi at milkbarstore.com and on Instagram @christinatosi and @milkbarstore.MomofukuKitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer Crack Pie / Milk Bar PieCereal Milk Ice CreamShow Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Breaking Precedent01:00 First meeting and shared experiences02:00 Introversion and social challenges02:37 “Your destiny is impossible to miss by definition of it being your destiny.” — Christina Tosi03:00 Scorpio connection and business beginnings04:00 Swapping jobs and TaskRabbit07:30 Childhood and baking origins12:00 Family influence and career choices26:00 Culinary school and early career34:00 Starting a tradition: family meal desserts36:00 The birth of Crack Pie39:00 From simple recipes to Milk Bar45:00 Launching Milk Bar during a financial crisis52:00 Scaling Milk Bar: challenges and creativity57:00 Nostalgia and innovation in desserts---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

Season 2 of Breaking Precedent premieres November 13.This season, Leah Solivan returns with deeper conversations that cut to the core of resilience, leadership, and what it really means to stand for something. From Olympians and entrepreneurs to doctors and changemakers, each guest opens up about the battles that shaped them — and the precedents they had to break to move forward.These stories remind us that breaking precedent isn’t about being fearless — it’s about learning, serving, and choosing courage anyway.Hosted by Leah SolivanFollow and subscribe to catch the premiere November 13 wherever you listen to podcasts.--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

During our summer break, we revisit an episode about resilience, pivots, and transformation. Hear Pete Flint on startup survival, Aaron Holiday on breaking into venture capital, Julie Rice on building SoulCycle, Tamara on her ballet breakthrough, Matteo Franceschetti on sleep innovation, Beverly Parenti on coding in prison, and Windy Chien on creativity through daily practice. Each story reveals how uncertainty can become the catalyst for growth.Listen to the full episodes here:House Broken: Pete Flint on Disrupting Real Estate and Building TruliaListen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking the Bank: Aaron Holiday on 645 ventures' data-driven approach to sourcing deals and bringing the invisible to lifeListen here: Apple | Spotify Break A Sweat: Building Magic On and Off the Bike with Julie Rice of SoulCycleListen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Pointe: San Francisco Ballet’s Tamara Rojo with Her Bold Vision for a Vibrant FutureListen here: Apple | Spotify Take a Break: Matteo Franceschetti on Breaking Sleep Cycles and Turning Rest into a Competitive Advantage with Eight SleepListen here: Apple | Spotify Prison Break: The Last Mile's Chris and Beverly Share a Blueprint for Change, Born at San Quentin, Scaling NationwideListen here: Apple | Spotify Broken Records: Windy Chien on changing paths, tying stories into knots, and designing a new language of possibilitiesListen here: Apple | Spotify Pete FlintPete Flint is a serial entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Trulia, steering the company through its IPO and a multi-billion-dollar merger with Zillow. Today, he's a General Partner at NFX, investing in early-stage companies that leverage network effects and cutting-edge technologies.Listeners can learn more about Pete Flint at NFX, and on LinkedIn @PeteFlintAaron HolidayAaron Holiday is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 645 Ventures, a venture capital firm backing early-stage startups led by visionary, often underestimated founders. With a background that bridges entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and institutional investing, Aaron takes a high-conviction, hands-on approach to venture capital.Explore 645 Ventures Connect with Aaron Holiday on LinkedInJulie RiceJulie Rice is a serial entrepreneur and community-builder best known as the co-founder of SoulCycle and now Peoplehood, a platform for relational fitness and guided group conversation. Her work centers on designing experiences that build human connection at scale.Listeners can learn more about Julie Rice through LinkedIn @juliericeCheck out Julie’s latest venture Peoplehood, and learn more about Soulcycle   Tamara RojoTamara Rojo is a renowned ballerina and artistic director celebrated for her passion, discipline, and vision in the world of dance. Known for breaking traditional molds, Tamara believes that true achievement in the art form isn’t reserved for the most gifted—but for those who are most honest and disciplined with themselves. In this episode, she reflects on the sacrifices required to be “first” and the inspiration she draws from other art forms, powerful friendships, and exhibitions that remind her of the woman she aspires to be. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, artistry, and leading with heart.Learn more about Tamara Rojo and explore her work at San Francisco Ballet.Matteo FranceschettiMatteo Franceschetti is the Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, the sleep fitness company.Eight Sleep developed a proprietary technology which is redesigning sleep by developing cutting-edge AI and machine learning models to track bio signals during the night and optimizing body recovery and rest while asleep. The end goal of the Pod is to compress sleep and scan your body while asleep to monitor your health. Eight Sleep is currently used by pro athletes and top performers across multiple industries and was recognized as one of TIME’s “Best Inventions” in 2018 and 2019, was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” in 2018, and has raised over $150M in funding from leading investors, including Founders Fund, Softbank, Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Valor Equity Partners, General Catalyst, Naval Ravikant, and Patrick Collison.Discover your perfect sleep set up - Take QuizConnect with Matteo Franceschetti on X @m_franceschetti Beverly ParentiBeverly Parenti is a veteran tech entrepreneur and innovator who co-founded The Last Mile to empower incarcerated individuals, particularly women, with marketable skills. As the first-generation daughter of Holocaust survivors, Beverly's life has been profoundly shaped by her father's experiences during World War II. Her father's story of survival became a guiding light in her life, instilling in her the values of resourcefulness, resilience, and relentless perseverance.Learn more about The Last Mile at their website  Connect with Beverly Parenti on LinkedIn @BeverlyParenti and on X @thebev     Windy ChienWindy Chien is an artist best known for The Year of Knots, a daily practice in 2016 ...

During our summer break, we’re revisiting a powerful episode about inherited resilience and the courage to transform beyond expectations. Host Leah Solivan explores the deeply personal stories of seven trailblazers—including Alejandra Campoverdi, Dr. Eiman Jahangir, Anne Miura-Ko, Andy Dunn, Bianca Gates, and Kevin Caldwell—who’ve navigated barriers and redefined their identities along the way. From rising to the White House from welfare, becoming an astronaut after fleeing war-torn Tehran, to embracing cultural legacies once hidden, each voice reveals how strength can be both passed down and self-forged. These stories illuminate the struggle and triumph of breaking cycles, honoring the past while forging new paths forward.Listen to the full episodes here:Breaking the Narrative: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles  Listen here: Apple | Spotify  Breaking Orbit: Newly minted Astronaut, Dr. Eiman Jahangir, on the future of space travel  Listen here: Apple | Spotify  Breaking Tradition: Co-Founding Partner of Floodgate, Ann Miura-Ko, on innovations in Venture Capital — Ann Miura-Ko  Listen here: Apple | Spotify The Breakdown: Andy Dunn on Building Bonobos, Battling Bipolar, and Baking Pie — Andy Dunn  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Split Sole: How Bianca Gates built Birdies and broke the mold in footwear  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Bad: Kevin Caldwell and Ossium Health is banking on bone marrow for curing cancers and transforming regenerative careListen here: Apple | Spotify Alejandra CampoverdiAlejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.Listeners can learn more about Alejandra at her website, and on IG @acampoverdi   Eiman JahangirEiman Jahangir is a cardiologist, researcher, and NASA astronaut selected in 2021 as part of the Artemis generation of explorers. Born in Tehran during the Iran–Iraq War, Eiman immigrated to the United States at the age of four and grew up near the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama — an experience that sparked his lifelong passion for space exploration. Before joining NASA, he served as a cardiologist and faculty member at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he specialized in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.Listeners can learn more about Eiman on his IG @drejahangirAnn Miura-KoAnn Miura-Ko is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Floodgate, an early-stage venture capital firm known for backing iconic startups at their inception, including Lyft, Refinery29, and Twitch. Often described as one of Silicon Valley’s most respected investors, Ann is a self-proclaimed "precedent breaker"—someone who thrives in ambiguity and seeks out founders who challenge conventional wisdom.Listeners can learn more about Ann at her website and on X.Andy DunnAndy Dunn is an entrepreneur, author, and investor best known as the co-founder of Bonobos, the pioneering menswear brand that redefined modern retail. He is also the author of Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind, a candid memoir about his journey with mental health while building a high-growth company. Dunn has become a leading voice in destigmatizing conversations around bipolar disorder and neurodiversity in business and beyond.Listeners can learn more about Andy on his IG @dunnBianca GatesBianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women.Learn more about Bianca Gates on her website, on IG @biancagatesKevin CaldwellKevin Caldwell, CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health, has built Ossium from a small startup into a clinical-stage bioengineering company.  Kevin set the company’s mission to improve human health through bioengineering and designed its platform-based model for cellular therapeutics development.  Kevin has led the company’s successful pursuit, negotiation, and execution of more than 50 business relationships, including 5 successful fundraisings and dozens of supply partnerships, clinical partnerships, and commercial contracts with biopharmaceutical companies.Listeners can learn more about Kevin Caldwell at Ossium HealthResources:UalaSan Francisco BalletBirdies (Company)Show Notes: (00:00) Introduction to Breaking Precedent(00:30) Costume Changes with Alejandra Campoverdi(01:30) Rockets and Roots with Eiman Jahangir(02:30) The DNA of Defiance with Ann Miura-Ko(03:30) Inheritance of Fire with Andy Dunn(05:00) From the Head of the Table with Bianca Gates(06:30) Legacy in the Lab with Kevin Caldwell(07:30) “We carry resilience in our bones, and we're here to reshape what ...

During our summer break, we're revisiting a moving episode that celebrates Latino and Spanish-speaking leaders who are redefining identity, power, and belonging. Host Leah Solivan, a Puerto Rican founder and investor, shares the invisible tension of being “not Latina enough” and “not American enough”—a feeling echoed by many first-generation voices in this episode. You'll hear from Bianca Gates, co-founder of Birdies, on confidence and being underestimated; Alejandra Campoverdi, author of First Gen, on the emotional weight of being the “first and only”; and Bismarck Lepe, who went from the migrant fields to building global tech companies. These stories explore the complexity of cultural identity, the quiet strength in navigating multiple worlds, and the pride that comes from breaking cycles and setting new precedents. From Silicon Valley to the stage, this episode honors the resilience and vision of Latino leaders shaping the future.Listen to the full episodes here:Split Sole: How Bianca Gates built Birdies and broke the mold in footwear  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Rompiendo Precedente: Bismarck Lepe on Breaking Barriers from the Fields to Google to Founding Mi Salud Health  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Pointe: San Francisco Ballet’s Tamara Rojo with Her Bold Vision for a Vibrant Future  Listen here: Apple | SpotifyBreaking the Narrative: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles  Listen here: Apple | Spotify  Bianca GatesBianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women.Learn more about Bianca Gates on her website, on IG @biancagatesBismarck LepeBismarck Lepe, founder and Executive Chairman of Wizeline, is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor. As an early Google employee, he left to start Ooyala, an online video platform that sold for $400 million to Telstra in 2014. Passionate about economic growth and education, he has helped transform Guadalajara into a thriving tech hub through Wizeline Academy and StartupGDL, generating over 1,500 jobs and attracting significant investment. Under his leadership, Wizeline expanded to seven countries, with talent spanning 15 nations. For over a decade, he has been a key force in fostering Mexico-Silicon Valley collaboration in technology and entrepreneurship.Learn more about Bismarck Lepe on LinkedIn @BismarckLepeTamara RojoTamara Rojo is a renowned ballerina and artistic director celebrated for her passion, discipline, and vision in the world of dance. Known for breaking traditional molds, Tamara believes that true achievement in the art form isn’t reserved for the most gifted—but for those who are most honest and disciplined with themselves. In this episode, she reflects on the sacrifices required to be “first” and the inspiration she draws from other art forms, powerful friendships, and exhibitions that remind her of the woman she aspires to be. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, artistry, and leading with heart.Learn more about Tamara Rojo and explore her work at San Francisco Ballet.Alejandra CampoverdiAlejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.Listeners can learn more about Alejandra at her website, and on IG @acampoverdi   Resources:Carmen (Re-staging by Tamara Rojo)Orbital ReflectorMarcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” (Urinal)Show Notes: (00:00) Introduction to Breaking Precedent(00:30) Secret Strengths and Hidden Identities(02:30) Assimilation, Belonging, and Cultural Tension(04:00) Underestimated but Relentless(05:00) Alejandra Campoverdi: First Gen and the Weight of Being First(05:45) "Your life is not to sacrifice yourself at the altar of other people's dreams for you. To make everyone's sacrifices worth it is not the purpose of your life." - Alejandra Campoveri(09:00) Bismarck Lepe: Breaking Tech and Cultural Barriers(13:00) Tamara Rojo: Outsider to Ballet Trailblazer---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

During our summer break, we’re revisiting powerful conversations about breaking precedent. In this episode, we spotlight the work of three groundbreaking artists—Tamara Rojo, Windy Chien, and Trevor Paglen—whose visions challenge the status quo in art and culture. Rojo, a principal ballerina and director of the San Francisco Ballet, is rewriting ballet’s narratives to reflect more inclusive stories. Chien, who transitioned from the music industry to knot-tying art, uses her intricate creations to challenge perceptions of women’s work in fine art. Paglen, known for revealing hidden surveillance systems, uses his art to ask profound questions about visibility and ownership in the modern world.Together, their stories show how beauty and disruption are often intertwined, offering bold new ways to understand power, labor, and identity.Listen to the full episodes here:Breaking Pointe: San Francisco Ballet’s Tamara Rojo with Her Bold Vision for a Vibrant Future Listen here: Apple | Spotify Broken Records: Windy Chien on changing paths, tying stories into knots, and designing a new language of possibilities Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Cover: Trevor Paglen with a bold artistic approach to challenging societal thinking and setting new precedentsListen here: Apple | Spotify Tamara RojoTamara Rojo is a renowned ballerina and artistic director celebrated for her passion, discipline, and vision in the world of dance. Known for breaking traditional molds, Tamara believes that true achievement in the art form isn’t reserved for the most gifted—but for those who are most honest and disciplined with themselves. In this episode, she reflects on the sacrifices required to be “first” and the inspiration she draws from other art forms, powerful friendships, and exhibitions that remind her of the woman she aspires to be. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, artistry, and leading with heart.Learn more about Tamara Rojo and explore her work at San Francisco Ballet.Windy ChienWindy Chien is an artist best known for The Year of Knots, a daily practice in 2016 where she learned a new knot each day, culminating in a striking installation of 366 knots. A former Apple music executive turned full-time artist, Windy’s work sits at the intersection of craft, design, and personal ritual. Her artistic process emphasizes discipline, flow state, and transformation—both of material and self. In this episode, she reflects on how teaching herself to tie knots became a journey of self-definition, ultimately claiming the title of “artist” through consistent creative labor.Explore Windy’s work and learn more about The Year of Knots.Trevor PaglenTrevor Paglen is an artist and geographer known for pushing the boundaries of visibility, ownership, and space. His most iconic work—Orbital Reflector—was launched into space to challenge the concept of property and claim-free public art. Trevor’s work is a rainbow disruption, offering profound commentary from the artistic edge of precedent-breaking.Learn about Orbital Reflector and explore Trevor's work here: https://www.paglen.com/.Resources:Carmen (Re-staging by Tamara Rojo)Orbital ReflectorMarcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” (Urinal)Show Notes: (00:00) – Introduction to Breaking Precedent(01:00) –  Challenging traditional gender roles and narrative endings in dance(02:10) –  How repetition turned into philosophy and large-scale art(03:50) –  How generative AI and new tools shift cultural perception(04:23) – "Art is different than a lot of fields… it's people making stuff up… responding to the cultural, technological, and visual environment of the moment."(06:00) –  The essence of breaking precedent---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

During our summer break, we’re revisiting powerful conversations about breaking precedent. In this episode, host Leah Solivan explores the courage, vision, and persistence it takes to be the first—to make a crack in the system and let the light in. You’ll hear from artists, innovators, and leaders including Eric Ryan, Windy Chien, Tamara Rojo, Alejandra Campoverdi, and Aaron Holiday as they share their unique journeys, the sacrifices of being first, and the inspiration that keeps them moving forward.Their stories reveal what it truly means to challenge expectations, redefine success, and create space where none existed before.Listen to the full episodes here:Breaking Dawn: How Eric Ryan of Method, Olly, Welly, transforms boring products into billion dollar brands  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Broken Records: Windy Chien on changing paths, tying stories into knots, and designing a new language of possibilities  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Pointe: San Francisco Ballet’s Tamara Rojo with Her Bold Vision for a Vibrant Future  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking the Narrative: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking the Bank: Aaron Holiday on 645 ventures' data-driven approach to sourcing deals and bringing the invisible to life  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Resources:Legally Blonde on IMDbde Young Museum Official SiteNotes: (00:00) – Introduction to Breaking Precedent(00:30) – The Power of Vision: Seeing Change Before It Happens(01:00) – Unique Journeys: The Knot Metaphor and Personal Stories(01:30) – The Role of Art and Creativity in Society(03:00) – Sacrifices and Scars: The Cost of Being First(05:30) – Inspiration from Family, Friends, and Art(07:00) – “They didn’t break precedent to be admired. They broke it to make something better.”---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

During our summer break, we’re revisiting powerful conversations from Season One of Breaking Precedent. In this episode, host Leah Sullivan explores the many forms of disruptive change—framed as sunrises, tides, and rainbows. Leah is joined by a range of precedent-breakers across disciplines, including Eric Ryan, who reimagined consumer goods; Pete Flynn, who rides the waves of market shifts; and Justice Steven Breyer, who reflects on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the case that overturned Roe v. Wade. We also hear from Patrick Brown, founder of Impossible Foods, and Kara Golden, who challenged the beverage industry with Hint Water. The episode concludes with artist Trevor Paglen, whose work uncovers hidden systems and challenges perception.Listen to the full episodes here:Breaking Dawn: How Eric Ryan of Method, Olly, Welly, transforms boring products into billion dollar brands      Listen here: Apple | Spotify House Broken: Pete Flint on Disrupting Real Estate and Building Trulia— Pete Flint      Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Precedent: Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on what is precedent?      Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking the Food Chain: Pat Brown’s Mission to Transform the Meat Industry with Impossible Foods      Listen here: Apple | Spotify A Water Break: The Undaunted Journey of Kara Goldin and Hint      Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Cover: Trevor Paglen with a bold artistic approach to challenging societal thinking and setting new precedents      Listen here: Apple | Spotify Resources:Method ProductsImpossible FoodsHint WaterTruliaShow Notes: (00:00) – Introduction to Breaking Precedent(00:30) – Sunrise Breakers: Predicting and Shaping Trends(05:00) – Tide Breakers: Returning to Forgotten Truths(07:30) – Rainbow Breakers: Defying Expectations(10:30) – Conclusion: What Kind of Breaker Are You?(14:00) – “We not only created a product…We set a new precedent in the industry.”---Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

During our summer break, we’re revisiting powerful conversations from Season One of Breaking Precedent. In this episode, host Leah Solivan explores the paradox of venture capital—a system designed to fund innovation but resistant to change. Featuring Ann Miura-Ko of Floodgate, Pete Flint of NFX, and Aaron Holiday of 645 Ventures, this episode exposes the subtle forces that shape who gets funded, whose ideas are considered “viable,” and what it really takes to break into the inner circle of VC. From early Lyft experiments to navigating legality and bias, these precedent breakers challenge the notion that disruption ends with the product—sometimes, you have to disrupt the system itself.Ann Miura-Ko is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Floodgate, an early-stage venture capital firm known for backing iconic startups at their inception, including Lyft, Refinery29, and Twitch. Often described as one of Silicon Valley’s most respected investors, Ann is a self-proclaimed "precedent breaker"—someone who thrives in ambiguity and seeks out founders who challenge conventional wisdom.Explore Floodgate: https://www.floodgate.comConnect with Ann Miura-Ko on X: https://x.com/annimaniacPete Flint is a General Partner at NFX and the Founder of Trulia, one of the most successful real estate platforms in the U.S., which IPO'd and later merged with Zillow in a multi-billion-dollar deal. Now a leading venture capitalist, Pete channels his experience as a founder into mentoring startups with world-changing potential..Learn more about NFX: https://www.nfx.comConnect with Pete Flint on X: https://x.com/pflintAaron Holiday is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 645 Ventures, a venture capital firm backing early-stage startups led by visionary, often underestimated founders. With a background that bridges entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and institutional investing, Aaron takes a high-conviction, hands-on approach to venture capital.Explore 645 Ventures: https://645ventures.comConnect with Aaron Holiday on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronholidayListen to the full episodes here:Breaking Tradition: Co-Founding Partner of Floodgate, Ann Miura-Ko, on innovations in Venture Capital — Ann Miura-Ko  Listen here: Apple | Spotify House Broken: Pete Flint on Disrupting Real Estate and Building Trulia— Pete FlintListen here: Apple | Spotify Venture Capital: Aaron Holiday on 645 ventures' data-driven approach to sourcing deals and bringing the invisible to life — Aaron HolidayListen here: Apple | Spotify Resources:TaskRabbitLyft (originally Zimride)UberTruliaShow Notes: (00:00) Introduction to venture capital's paradox(00:30) Inside the pitch room: personal experiences(01:30) Breaking precedents: Ann Marico's story(02:00) The Zimride to Lyft transformation(06:00) Challenges and innovations in venture capital(07:00) Aaron Holiday: redefining access and experimentation(11:00) The future of venture capital: diversity and resilience(11:50) "Venture has a branding problem." — Pete Flint, founder of Trulia(14:30) Conclusion: reframing venture capital--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

The Precedent Spectrum: From Law to ArtDuring our summer break, we’re revisiting powerful conversations from Season One of Breaking Precedent, in this episode host Leah Sullivan explores how precedent shapes everything from law to art. Leah starts with Justice Steven Breyer discussing the landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, which broke the 'separate but equal' precedent. The episode also features Bismarck Lepe, founder of MiSalud Health, who revolutionized healthcare access for the Hispanic community, and Kara Golden, who disrupted the beverage industry with Hint Water. Other notable guests include Eric Ryan, who transformed the consumer products market; Ann Miura-Ko, a venture capitalist with a keen eye for 'super thinkers'; and Shiza Shahid, co-founder of the Malala Fund. The episode concludes with artist Trevor Paglen, who redefines art by pushing its boundaries. Each guest’s journey illustrates how breaking precedent, though risky, can lead to significant societal advancements.Listen to the full original episodes here:Breaking Precedent: Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on what is precedent? — Justice Stephen Breyer  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Tradition: Co-Founding Partner of Floodgate, Ann Miura-Ko, on innovations in Venture Capital — Ann Miura-Ko  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Piercing the Veil: Shiza Shahid on co-founding the $1B Malala Fund to transforming kitchenware with Our Place — Shiza Shahid  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Dawn: How Eric Ryan of Method, Olly, Welly, transforms boring products into billion dollar brands — Eric Ryan  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Breaking Cover: Trevor Paglen with a bold artistic approach to challenging societal thinking and setting new precedents — Trevor Paglen  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Rompiendo Precedente: Bismarck Lepe on Breaking Barriers from the Fields to Google to Founding Mi Salud Health — Bismarck Lepe  Listen here: Apple | Spotify A Water Break: The Undaunted Journey of Kara Goldin and Hint — Kara Goldin  Listen here: Apple | Spotify Show Notes:(00:00) Introduction: The Power of Precedent(01:00) The Legal Bedrock: Precedent in Law(04:30) Healthcare Innovation: Breaking Barriers with MiSalud(08:30) Entrepreneurial Grit: The Story of Hint Water(13:00) Revolutionizing Industries: Method, Ollie, and Welle(15:30) Empowering Change: Shiza Shahid and the Malala Fund(18:30) Art and Innovation: Challenging the Status Quo(21:00) Conclusion: The Impact of Breaking Precedent--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: https://www.breakingprecedent.com/  Instagram: @labunleashed - https://www.instagram.com/labunleashed/ X: @labunleashed - https://twitter.com/labunleashed?lang=en 

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Julie Rice, co-founder of SoulCycle and Peoplehood, to discuss how she helped redefine not just boutique fitness, but the modern experience of community. Julie shares how her background in theater and talent management laid the foundation for one of the most iconic wellness brands in the world. Together, they unpack the emotional blueprint behind SoulCycle’s five-part class design, the revolutionary decision to prioritize instructors as full-time talent, and the power of scaling human magic. With Peoplehood, Julie is channeling her obsession with connection into relational health designing group experiences that teach how to actively listen, support, and feel seen.Guest Bio and Links:Julie Rice is a serial entrepreneur and community-builder best known as the co-founder of SoulCycle and now Peoplehood, a platform for relational fitness and guided group conversation. Her work centers on designing experiences that build human connection at scale.Listeners can learn more about Julie Rice through LinkedIn @juliericeCheck out Julie’s latest venture Peoplehood, and learn more about Soulcycle   Show Notes: (0:00) Leah announces fall 2025 launch of Breaking Precedent!(4:30) Leah welcomes founder of Soulcycle, Julie Rice  (5:00) How precedent breaking shows up for Julie(6:00) The intentionality behind building a fitness community  (8:00) Love of theatre and connecting a stage to Soulcycle(14:00) Meeting Elizabeth, Julies business partner(16:00) The napkin math that started Soulcycle(20:00) Opening the Bridge Hamptons studio(20:45) “ It was always supposed to be something that helped you feel empowered, that made you feel like you could be more than you thought you could, that made you feel good in your body, that allowed you to want to communicate differently with support other people.” - J.R(23:00) What sets Soulcycle apart from other fitness classes and gorups(28:30) Scaling Soulcycle out of cultivating human experience(31:00) The number one most important investment - the instructors (32:30) The culture of ‘yes’ as a business principle (36:00)  ”There is a simplicity in knowing people. That is really the biggest gift that people want.” - J.R (36:30) Why they never franchised SoulCycle(37:30) Partnering with Equinox - the pros and the tradeoffs(42:00) Julies’ emotional transition out of Soulcycle (44:00) Introducing Peoplehood - realtional health (47:00) The art of active listening(48:00) SoulCycle and Peoplehood - Are they a sunrise, tide, or rainbow --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives deep into the life-altering journey of Sarah Hoover, author of 'The Motherload.' Sarah discusses how her rage and postpartum depression propelled her to write a raw and honest memoir that challenges societal norms about motherhood. Leah and Sarah unpack topics such as postpartum trauma, the inadequacies of the medical system, and the unique challenges faced by working mothers. Sarah’s story doesn’t just break precedent, it dismantles the silence around maternal mental health and invites us to question the rigid norms we've long accepted.Guest Bio and Links:Sarah Hoover is an art historian, writer, and former director at Gagosian Gallery whose work centers around the cultural intersections of womanhood, art, and maternal identity. Her debut book The Mother Load dismantles the myths of motherhood through raw honesty and wit. She lives with her husband and two kids in Manhattan.Listeners can learn more about Sarah Hoover on her website, and on IG @sarahhoovSarah’s book - The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of MotherhoodShow Notes: (0:00) Intro(2:00) Leah introduces guest, Sarah Hoover to Breaking Precedent(2:30) Icebreaker - child yelp reviews(5:00) Sarah’s roots - ballet, art, and indiana (7:30) Connecting over ballet (13:00) “ I have a very standard birth, but I found it violating and scary and terrifying, and it left me really broken. When my son was born after 19 hours of labor, I felt so assaulted by what I had been through in that delivery room.”(15:00) Turning rage into purose(20:00) Cultural conditioning and the female burden(24:30) Failures of modern medicine and the edinburgh scale(31:30) Sarah’s acknowledged the need to seek help(32:00) Another layer of stress - entrusting a nanny to help parent(33:00) Medical history of maternal care(35:30) Trauma-informed care - what needs to change(39:00) AI medical care becoming preferred over human medical care?(40:00) Leah shares her surrogacy experience and seeing birth from the other side(43:00) What writing has taught Sarah(50:45) Question:  What's one piece of parenting advice you think is bullshit?(53:00) Breaking precedents - you can’t have it all (at once)--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti, co-founders of The Last Mile, a groundbreaking prison education program that’s transforming lives behind bars through coding, entrepreneurship, and purpose. From venture capital success stories in Silicon Valley to walking the yards of San Quentin and Indiana State Prisons, Chris and Beverly share their radical journey into social innovation. They explore how tech education is breaking generational cycles of incarceration, lowering recidivism rates, and redefining second chances. Chris and Beverly share some deeply moving stories of transformation, including a woman who declined early release to finish the program, and a man who was once cellmates with his father.Guest Bio and Links:Chris Redlitz is a venture capitalist and former endurance athlete who co-founded The Last Mile after a pivotal visit to San Quentin prison. With a background in growing companies like Reebok and launching digital ventures, he now channels his entrepreneurial experience into transforming prison education.Beverly Parenti is a veteran tech entrepreneur and innovator who co-founded The Last Mile to empower incarcerated individuals, particularly women, with marketable skills. As the first-generation daughter of Holocaust survivors, Beverly's life has been profoundly shaped by her father's experiences during World War II. Her father's story of survival became a guiding light in her life, instilling in her the values of resourcefulness, resilience, and relentless perseverance.Learn more about The Last Mile at their website  Connect with Chris Redlitz on LinkedIn @ChrisRedlitz, and on X @ChrisRedlitz Connect with Beverly Parenti on LinkedIn @BeverlyParenti and on X @thebev     Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(1:45) Leah introduces guests, Chris and Beverly to Breaking Precident  (2:10) Icebreaker - moments that changed everything(4:30) Beverly's journey - from retail to PayPal(7:00) Chris’s journey from sailing to Silicon Valley(10:00) The birth of The Last Mile(15:00)  ”What my father taught me was to be resourceful, to be resilient and relentless. and to this day, those three Rs are not only part of my mo, but also things that I teach others.” - Beverly Parenti(21:30) First steps - building trust in San Quentin(26:00) The business case for prison reform(28:00) Impact and success - reducing recidivism(31:30) Expansion and new programs(35:00) Culture shift - from infractions to aspirations(38:00) Rigorous application process(43:00) Stories of transformation - Billie and Darnell(44:30) Generational change through scholarships(46:30) Scaling and adapting the program nationwide(52:00) Social enterprises and equity for graduates(56:00) What they’ve unlearned(1:00:00) Reflections and tuture goals--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Matteo Franceschetti, the visionary founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, to explore how sleep is becoming the most critical, and most overlooked dimension of human performance. From growing up in an Italian town to revolutionizing sleep technology in Silicon Valley, Matteo shares a remarkable journey of grit, ambition, and innovation. He opens up about the transformation from competitive athlete to tech entrepreneur, and why he believes the future of sleep lies in compression, personalization, and AI-driven health scans. The two dive into topics like sleep fitness, temperature regulation, global expansion, and even how sleep training parallels child development.Guest Bio and Links:Matteo Franceschetti is the Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, the sleep fitness company.Eight Sleep developed a proprietary technology which is redesigning sleep by developing cutting-edge AI and machine learning models to track bio signals during the night and optimizing body recovery and rest while asleep. The end goal of the Pod is to compress sleep and scan your body while asleep to monitor your health. Eight Sleep is currently used by pro athletes and top performers across multiple industries and was recognized as one of TIME’s “Best Inventions” in 2018 and 2019, was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” in 2018, and has raised over $150M in funding from leading investors, including Founders Fund, Softbank, Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Valor Equity Partners, General Catalyst, Naval Ravikant, and Patrick Collison.Discover your perfect sleep set up - Take QuizConnect with Matteo Franceschetti on X @m_franceschetti  Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(1:30) Leah introduces guest, Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, Matteo Franceschetti(2:00) Q: If you could sleep anywhere in the world, where would it be? (3:00) Matteo’s early life and career as lawyer(9:00) The Birth of Eight Sleep(10:30) Innovations in sleep technology (13:30) Redefining sleep as performance(16:30) Full-body scanning - the future of preventative health(19:00) Contrasts between italian and Silicon Valley cultures(26:00) The discipline of survival in hardware(30:00) Jet lag strategies and biohacking sleep(33:30) Early challenges in manufacturing(37:00) Sleep’s role in the health tech movement(40:00) Eight sleep's operating principles and startup discipline(40:30) “ I always push the team to think in terms of hours.”(42:30) Closing thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives deep with Founder of Trulia, Pete Flint. Pete opens up about his early days studying physics at Oxford and how his curiosity eventually led him into the fast-paced world of startups. He talks about his experience at lastminute.com, one of the UK’s hottest tech companies at the time, and what it was like navigating through the chaos of the dot-com crash and the aftermath of 9/11. After moving to Silicon Valley to attend Stanford, Pete shares the story behind the lightbulb moment that sparked Trulia—and how he broke into one of the most tightly regulated industries in the U.S. Now a partner at NFX, Pete reflects on what he's seeing in the next wave of startups, especially around AI, and how the rules of building and scaling companies are changing in real time.Guest Bio and Links:Pete Flint is a serial entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Trulia, steering the company through its IPO and a multi-billion-dollar merger with Zillow. Today, he's a General Partner at NFX, investing in early-stage companies that leverage network effects and cutting-edge technologies.Listeners can learn more about Pete Flint at NFX, and on LinkedIn @PeteFlintTrulia Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:00) Leah introduces guest and founder of Trulia, Pete Flint(2:30) Pete gives a brief background of himself (5:00) Pete's childhood and early influences(9:30) How studying physics shaped Pete's thinking(12:00) Internships, London startups, and lastminute.com(17:30) Dot-com crash lessons(20:30) Transition to Silicon Valley and Stanford(24:40) The birth of Trulia(26:30) Launching during a market collapse(38:00) The role of technology in disrupting industries(42:00) The Zillow merger(44:00) Becoming an Investor(47:30) The future of startups and venture capital--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives deep with Dr. Patrick Brown, the founder of Impossible Foods, who left a celebrated career in science to take on one of the most urgent issues of our time - animal agriculture. Together, they discuss how a plant-based alternative could dismantle an outdated, destructive food system and catalyze planetary restoration. Brown shares the origin story behind Impossible Foods, recounting his bold pivot from Stanford professor to food-tech pioneer. He unpacks the global environmental costs of livestock farming and oGuest Bio and Links:Patrick Brown is a biochemist, former Stanford professor, and founder of Impossible Foods, a company revolutionizing the way meat is made by eliminating animals from the equation. Through science, sustainability, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship, he is working to replace the global animal agriculture system by 2035.Listeners can learn more about Patrick Brown on his website, on LinkedIn @PatrickBrown, and on Stanford Profiles  Resources:Impossible Foods Origins Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(2:30) Leah introduces guest and founder of Impossible Foods, Patrick Brown(3:30) How Patrick challenged the status quo(4:30)  ”Impossible Foods has been called a game changer, a disruptor, it's even been called a threat by the traditional meat industry.”(7:30) Early life and growing up with a father in the CIA(12:30) Patricks early career life(19:30) Patrick takes a sabbatical that sparked a revolution (24:00) ”The basic problem is not that people love meat. It's that we're using the wrong technology to produce it.”(26:30) Reversing climate damage through food system reform(32:30) Mission over market - a scientist's radical path(37:00) Launching a meat revolution - Impossible Foods(39:00) Winning over chefs - Dave Chang and strategic launch(44:30) Declining Google’s buyout(45:30) Barriers to scale - cost, regulation, and disinformation(51:30) The 2035 vision - what it will take to succeed(53:00) Final thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Selina Tobaccowala, a pioneering tech entrepreneur whose journey began with co-founding Evite and scaling SurveyMonkey to new heights. Selina shares how her childhood fascination with computers, combined with an insatiable drive for problem-solving, led her to break boundaries in Silicon Valley. From navigating the dot-com bubble to her latest venture, HomeBoost, she reveals the principles that have guided her success, including her father’s three essential questions for career decisions. Leah and Selina explore the intersection of technology and impact, the challenges of raising venture capital as a female founder, and how AI is transforming residential energy efficiency.Guest Bio and Links:Selina Tobaccowala is a tech entrepreneur and innovator who co-founded Evite, served as President and CTO of SurveyMonkey, and is now revolutionizing home energy efficiency with her latest company, HomeBoost. Selina has a deep passion for using technology to solve real-world problems and she has built and led companies that have transformed industries.Listeners can connect with Selina Tobaccowala on her IG @sootleHomeBoostSurveyMonkeyEvite Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:00) Leah introduces guest and entrepreneur, Selina Tobaccowala(4:30) “ I think it's like different between how you might perceive yourself versus how others might perceive you.”(6:00) Selina’s early life and childhood inspirations (7:30) Discovering computer science (9:00) The accidental basketball captain(11:45) Choosing Stanford for college (16:00) The birth of Evite(22:00) Navigating rapid growth, venture capital, and the reality of selling a startup(28:30) Evite's unconventional sale(30:30) Joining SurveyMonkey(35:00) Lessons from SurveyMonkey(37:30)  ”There's always this culture act like an owner, but if people don't feel empowered to take that risk, you can't act like an owner.  And so you have to balance those things together.”(39:45) New project: HomeBoost(46:00) The simplicity and future of home energy(51:00) Advice for non-traditional founders--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Bismarck Lepe, a serial entrepreneur who has shattered conventions at every stage of his life. From growing up as the child of Mexican migrant workers to becoming a Stanford graduate and an early Google employee, Bismarck shares his incredible journey of resilience, innovation, and leadership. He discusses his early entrepreneurial ventures, the lessons learned at Google, and the groundbreaking work of his companies, including Ooyala, WiseLine, and MiSalud. With profound expertise in business, technology, and seizing opportunity, Bismarck provides an inspiring perspective on how vision and perseverance can transform industries.Guest Bio and Links:Bismarck Lepe, founder and Executive Chairman of Wizeline, is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor. As an early Google employee, he left to start Ooyala, an online video platform that sold for $400 million to Telstra in 2014. Passionate about economic growth and education, he has helped transform Guadalajara into a thriving tech hub through Wizeline Academy and StartupGDL, generating over 1,500 jobs and attracting significant investment. Under his leadership, Wizeline expanded to seven countries, with talent spanning 15 nations. For over a decade, he has been a key force in fostering Mexico-Silicon Valley collaboration in technology and entrepreneurship.Listeners can learn more about Bismarck Lepe on LinkedIn @BismarckLepeWizeLine in the Press MiSalud Health - Designed For Spanish-First Teams on the MoveShow Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:45) Leah introduces Bismarck Lepe, (4:00) Bismarck’s early life and background (8:30) Educational journey and parental sacrifices(10:15) Starting roots in Southern California and Mexico(14:00) Learning English through Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers(17:00) Cultural identity & navigating assimilation (23:30) Path to Stanford University and a life-changing conversation(30:30) Joining Google and the Acquisition of YouTube (35:00) Founding Ooyala(35:30) Early failures and lessons learned(41:00) The 2008 financial crisis and its impact(46:00) WizeLine - building tech talent in Mexico(51:15)  ”Talent is evenly distributed around the world. It's just opportunity and experience that isn't.”(53:30) Founding MiSalud - revolutionizing healthcare access(1:04:30) Changing perceptions of Mexico & Latinx talent(1:06:30) ”Here we were, as a brand, we were a vehicle to change the perception of Mexicans. People weren't talking about soccer players or tequila or mariachi, they were talking about intellectual property that Mexicans were building.”--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Jes Wolfe, CEO of Rebel Girls, adventurer, and precedent-breaker. Jes shares her experience summiting Mount Aconcagua, one of the tallest mountains in the world, and how she found the strength to keep going after facing an unexpected tragedy on the climb. Jes then discusses the birth of Rebel Girls, and the importance of sharing real-life stories of strong women and how early biases in media, education, and parenting contribute to the confidence gap in girls. Jes shares Rebel Girls’ ambitious mission to reach 100 million girls, the launch of Rebel Girls Sport, an ESPN-style platform designed to engage young fans in women’s sports, and the one major societal norm she would change if she could.Guest Bio and Links:Jes Wolfe is the CEO of Rebel Girls, a global storytelling company on a mission to inspire and empower young girls. A lifelong adventurer and leader, Jes has a background in finance, international business, and entrepreneurship. Before joining Rebel Girls, she held roles at Morgan Stanley, the World Bank, and various startups, bringing a wealth of experience in scaling purpose-driven companies. An avid mountaineer, Jes recently summited Mount Aconcagua, demonstrating her philosophy of resilience and ambition. Under her leadership, Rebel Girls continues to break barriers, reaching millions of girls worldwide with stories of fearless women and redefining representation in children’s media.Listeners can learn more about Jes Wolfe on her website, and on LinkedIn @JesWolfeShow Notes: (0:00) Intro (2:45) Leah introduces Jes Wolfe, adventurer, dog mom, and CEO of Rebel Girls (5:00) Climbing Mount Aconcagua(7:15) Jes shares a personal tragedy while on Mount Aconcagua (8:30)  ”It started out as a journey for me and it ended up as a thing for him.”(10:00) The physical and mental challenges of summiting(13:55)  ”To be successful to do this is you have to break everything down into the smallest parts.”(15:00) A little background into Jes’s adventurous childhood (18:00) From finance to finding purpose(26:00) The next chapter - Rebel Girls(27:30) Empowering girls through storytelling(31:00) How Rebel Girls is rewriting history and inspiring a new generation(35:00) Norms that still need to be challenged(37:30)  ”94 percent of parents say that their kids were inspired because of our storytelling and 86 percent said that their daughter's confidence increased because of our storytelling. And to me, that's the ultimate measure of success is, are we achieving what we're setting out to do, which is to help raise a generation of girls that are going to go forth and be awesome and believe in themselves.”(40:30) Expanding Rebel Girls' impact(42:30) Future goals and inspirations(46:00) Rebel Girls Sport(51:00) Closing thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water, to talk about her journey from AOL exec to beverage industry disruptor. Kara shares how her father’s influence, a knack for asking the right questions, and a fearless approach to problem-solving led her to create an entirely new category in drinks. She also opens up about learning from visionaries like Jeff Bezos, balancing entrepreneurship with family, and refusing to compromise on product integrity—despite having no industry experience.Guest Bio and Links:Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., the pioneering brand behind unsweetened flavored water. Before launching Hint in 2005, she was a Vice President at AOL, where she helped grow its e-commerce business to over $1 billion. She is the author of the bestselling book Undaunted and has been recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs.Listeners can learn more about Kara Goldin at her website, on LinkedIn @karagoldin, on IG @karagoldinKara’s Book: Undaunted  Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(3:00) Leah introduces guest, Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water(5:00) Early life for Kara(10:00) Creating Hint - a new beverage category(13:00) Lessons from Dad(19:30) Challenges in retail and distribution(24:00) Joining CNN and meeting Ted Turner (26:30) Making the move to San Francisco(37:00) Building the AOL marketplace(39:30)  ”Sometimes it's better to look outside of your industry for the answers that you need, especially if you're trying to up your own game.”(41:30) Meeting Jeff Bezos in Amazon’s early days(47:30) From AOL to family life - new beginnings(48:00) The birth of Hint Water(56:30) Challenges and innovations in extending shelf life(1:04:30) “ It just takes somebody who is curious, who's a little crazy and who's willing to try.”(1:07:00) The family influence with Hint (1:11:15) Final thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Tamara Rojo, a trailblazing ballerina, choreographer, and artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet. Tamara shares her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in Madrid to becoming one of the most celebrated dancers of her generation. Leah and Tamara touch on Tamara’s innovative approach to leadership, redefining classic stories like Carmen, and the importance of accessibility and diversity in the arts.Guest Bio and Links:Tamara Rojo is one of the most celebrated ballerinas of her generation. Born in Montreal and raised in Madrid, Tamara broke barriers as an outsider in the ballet world, becoming the first female Artistic Director of the English National Ballet and, more recently, the San Francisco Ballet. Known for her emotional depth, technical brilliance, and innovative leadership, she continues to push the art form forward by commissioning bold new works and amplifying diverse voices in ballet.Listeners can learn more about Tamara at her website, and on IG @rojotamaraShow Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:30) Leah introduces guest, Spanish ballet dancer, Tamara Rojo (4:30) Tamara on growing up in Madrid(13:00) Tamara’s initial thoughts on ballet(19:00) Joining the Scottish Ballet and classical training(20:30) The evolution and influence of ballet(27:30) The emotional connection in ballet performance(28:00)  ”You need to be a master of your craft because you can only lose yourself in the emotion of the character if you're not worried about whether or not you can finish your pirouette.”(30:45) Overcoming dance limitations(32:30) Reimagining Carmen(36:00) Creating 'Mere Mortals'(47:00) Vision for San Fransisco ballet(54:00) Supporting dancers' well-being--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos, author, and advocate for mental health. They discuss Andy's groundbreaking work in retail with Bonobos, his personal experience navigating mental health challenges, and his latest venture, Pi Social, aimed at fostering in-person connections. Andy opens up about the influence of growing up in a multicultural household, the impact of his bipolar disorder diagnosis, and how he turned what many see as a weakness into a powerful aspect of his identity.Guest Bio and Links:Andy Dunn is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of Bonobos Inc. Dunn served as CEO for eleven years after co-founding the Bonobos brand in 2007. In June 2017, Walmart announced purchasing the Bonobos brand for $310 million in cash.Learn more about Andy Dunn at his website, on IG @dunn Andy’s Book: Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My MindShow Notes: (0:00) Intro(2:30) Leah introduces guest, Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos (3:30) Andy discusses growing up in a multicultural household(6:00) Realizing the power in differences during college(11:00) Transition from pre-med to business (15:00) The Stanford experience and meeting Brian(17:30) Challenges and successes of building Bonobos(19:00) The digital brand revolution(24:00) The innovation of Bonobos' guide shops without inventory(30:00) Mental health advocacy and writing Burn Rate(35:00) Substance use and misdiagnosis(36:00) Burying the bipolar diagnosis(37:00) Repressed memories and mental health(38:00) Depression and starting Bonobos(39:30) Second episode and higher stakes(46:00) Cultural differences in mental health(52:00)  ”Strengths have shadows.”(56:00) Founding Pi and platonic friendships(1:04:00) Challenging societal norms(1:06:00) Finding empathy in political norms(1:10:00) Closing thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks to Windy Chien, a former tech professional turned celebrated artist renowned for her intricate knots and innovative art installations. Wendy shares her journey of creative reinvention, drawing insights from her project 'The Year of Knots,' and delves into her background, influences, and the transition from tech to tactile art. She emphasizes the universal language of knots, the role of discipline, and the beauty of day-to-day creativity. The episode explores how Wendy's non-traditional path led her to collaborations with major institutions and a unique approach to art that honors tradition while breaking new ground.Guest Bio and Links:Artist Windy Chien is best known for her 2016 work, The Year of Knots, in which she learned a new knot every day for a year. Her work ranges in size from a knot that can fit in the palm of a child's hand to room-sized installations that are sought after by private collectors. Following long careers at Apple and as the owner of legendary music shop Aquarius Records, she launched her studio in 2015. Select clients include the National Geographic Society, the De Young Museum, the San Francisco MOMA, Nobu Hotels, Google, and the Kering Group, and her work has been covered by Wired, The New York Times, and Martha Stewart. Windy’s book about her work was published by Abrams in 2019. Listeners can learn more about Windy Chien at her website and on IG @windychienResources:The Year of Knots by Windy ChienExhibitions  CollaborationsWindy's Install at Leah'sShow Notes: (0:00) Intro(3:00) Leah introduces guest, Windy Chien, Artist and Innovator(3:30) The journey of knot making(4:00) Windy's early life and influences(6:00) The impact of her military upbringing(7:30) Creativity and cultural heritage(11:30) Embracing the outsider perspective(16:00) Changing circumstances and sitting with uncertainty(21:00) ”The thing that makes a knot a knot is intentionality. That's what separates it from a tangle, right? It was tied in a certain way to do a certain thing. And knots occur in every occupation, every culture around the world for centuries.”(23:30) From filmmaking to music(29:30) Transition to Apple and tech innovations(32:00) The impact of recognition and amplification(32:30) Revolutionary apps and TaskRabbit's role(33:00) A creative epiphany at Apple(35:00) Exploring new creative avenues(36:00) Discovering fiber art and woodworking(40:00) The Year of Knots and Its impact(43:00) Large-scale installations and their influence(51:00) Collaborations across mediums(56:00) Advice for aspiring artists(58:00) Final reflections and inspirations--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Kevin Caldwell, founder and CEO of Ossium Health. From blending astrophysics, economics, and law, Kevin's unconventional journey to biotech is as inspiring as it is innovative. Kevin shares his groundbreaking work in making stem cell therapies more accessible, the future of preventative medicine, and the immense impact Ossium could have on treating blood cancers and beyond. Kevin shares his vision for a healthier world, leveraging cutting-edge science to save lives and improve health spans.Guest Bio and Links:As CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health, Kevin Caldwell has built Ossium from a small startup into a clinical-stage bioengineering company.  Kevin set the company’s mission to improve human health through bioengineering and designed its platform-based model for cellular therapeutics development.  Kevin has led the company’s successful pursuit, negotiation, and execution of more than 50 business relationships, including 5 successful fundraisings and dozens of supply partnerships, clinical partnerships, and commercial contracts with biopharmaceutical companies.Listeners can learn more about Kevin Caldwell at Ossium HealthShow Notes: (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Kevin Caldwell, founder and CEO of Ossium Health(4:00) Kevin's unconventional journey(5:00) Childhood curiosity and influences(13:00) MIT and the love for science(16:30) From physics to law(23:00) Time at Bridgewater(25:00) The role of cross-disciplinary thinking in Kevin’s career(33:30) “Our healthcare system was very reactive, like first they would get sick, and then we would take them to see a doctor who would retroactively diagnose them and prescribe an intervention that usually did reduce their suffering but didn't really improve their health.”(34:00) The economics in healthcare (36:30) Meeting the co-founder and starting Ossium(39:00) The vision and technology behind Ossium(49:00) The future of preventative medicine and stem cell banking(53:00) The first successful transplant using Ossium's technology(56:30) The role of venture investors (1:03:00) Final thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Bianca Gates, founder and CEO of Birdies, about her entrepreneurial journey. Bianca shares her upbringing as the daughter of Latin American immigrants, her early aspirations to be a career woman, and her inspiring career trajectory from pharmaceutical and media sales to her dream job at Facebook. Bianca discusses the creation of Birdies, a brand of stylish and comfortable 'social slippers,' and how she leveraged her sales know-how and experiences at Facebook to turn Birdies into the beloved footwear brand it is today. Guest Bio and Links:Bianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women.Listeners can learn more about Bianca Gates on her website, on IG @biancagatesShow Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Bianca Gates, CEO of Birdies Footwear (2:00) The struggle for the perfect shoe(3:45) Setting a new precedent in footwear(6:00) Growing up Latina in America(9:30) “I tell people sometimes when you're in a weak moment or you're feeling isolated or that you don't belong, I think sometimes it was like the best lessons that you can do something positive with it later in life.”(15:00) Pursuing independence and career aspirations(20:30) Landing a sales gig at Johnson and Johnson(24:30) Proving sales potential at Univision (29:00) Pitching Hyundai Kia(32:30) Finding love and moving west back home(36:30) Gaining inspiration from Sheryl Sandberg (38:00) The determination to join Facebook(42:30) Taking the leap and joining Facebook(45:00) The Birth of Birdies(48:30) “Be bold and also done is better than perfect.”(51:00) The early days of launching Birdies(54:00) Navigating the retail landscape(57:00) Leaving Facebook to focus on Birdies (1:01:00) Finetuning the niche with Birdies until it worked--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Trevor Paglen, an artist, researcher, and adventurer. Trevor shares the hidden layers of our world through art, from covert military installations to undersea internet cables. His work, featured in renowned institutions like the Pace Art Gallery and the Smithsonian Institute, spans photographing submerged cables to launching art into space. They discuss the intersection of art and AI, its societal implications, and how technological advancements redefine visual culture. Paglen's innovative approach challenges precedents and reshapes our understanding of the world and the unseen forces influencing it.Guest Bio and Links:Trevor Paglen is an acclaimed artist, photographer, and geographer whose work explores surveillance, secrecy, and technology themes. His unique practice merges art with investigative journalism, creating works that question societal norms and unveil unseen structures in modern society. Paglen’s work has been showcased at the Pace Gallery, the Smithsonian Institute, and even launched into orbit.Listeners can learn more about at his website, on IG @trevorpaglenResources:Law: Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on what is precedent?Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:20) Leah introduces guest, Trevor Paglen: Artist, Researcher, and Adventurer to Breaking Precedent (5:00) The role of precedent in Art(7:45) Three different pockets of precedence (11:00) The intersection of Art and AI(16:30) The PsyOps project at Pace Gallery(18:00) The influence of military upbringing(22:30) Paglen recounts early military experiences that created curiosity (27:00) Surveillance Art - making the invisible visible(32:30) The evolution of data collection and AI(35:00) The impact of training data on AI systems(39:00) Experimental Geography and Scholarship(40:30) Trevor describes his artistic goal as “understanding how to see the world.”(44:45) Art in Space - The Last Pictures project(49:30) Ethical considerations in creating for the future(56:30) Art’s potential to challenge societal norms--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Aaron Holliday, Founder and Managing Director of 645 Ventures, a venture fund with an unprecedented model and a mission to bring the invisible to life. Aaron shares his inspiring journey from growing up in New Orleans to building a data-driven sourcing model that uncovers promising startups and founders at the earliest stages. With over half a billion dollars under management and a 10-year anniversary, 645 Ventures has truly broken the mold.Guest Bio and Links:Aaron is the co-founder and Managing Partner at 645 Ventures. He oversees the firm’s investing approach, strategy, investor relations, and governance. Since founding 645 Ventures in 2014, Aaron has worked closely with portfolio company founders to strengthen, grow, and scale businesses. Aaron led 645 Ventures early-stage investments in several breakout successes, including Goldbelly, Iterable, FiscalNote, Squire, Resident/Nectar Sleep, FLY Labs (acquired by Google), Source3 (acquired by Facebook), and several other category-defining companies. In 2021, Aaron made the Midas Brink List of VC investor up-and-comers to watch for his involvement and investments in startup companies that have scaled to hundreds of millions in revenues and unicorn status.Listeners can learn more about Aaron Holiday on X @aholidayiii Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:20) Leah introduces guest, Aaron Holiday, Founder of 645 Ventures to Breaking Precedent(3:30) Aaron's early life and inspirations(6:30) Early college days - math to computer science (12:00) The Hustleman - entrepreneurial spirit(14:15) Authorship: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles(17:00) Experience at Goldman Sachs(23:30) Discovering Venture Capital at business school(31:30) Internship at Blip.tv(35:30) Building Cornell Tech(40:00) The birth of 645 Ventures(46:00) Challenges and successes of 645 Ventures(55:30) “You bring the invisible to life.”(57:30) The physics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem(1:01:00) Reflections and difficulties on the Venture capital industry--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Eric Ryan, a transformational entrepreneur known for reimagining mundane product categories into billion-dollar brands. They dive into Eric’s playbook, exploring how he uses design to capture shifts in consumer behavior. Eric shares his journey from childhood influences to starting Method Soap, Ollie Vitamins, Welly Bandages, and Cast Jewelry, detailing his emphasis on people, culture, and differentiation through design.Guest Bio and Links:Eric Ryan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and father. Eric is the driving force behind numerous successful brands, including Method Soap, Olly Vitamins, Welly Bandages, and Cast Jewelry. Known for reinvigorating overlooked product categories, Eric has built companies that focus on innovative design, consumer trends, and collaborative team culture.Listeners can learn more about at website, on IG @ericthomasryan and X @ericthomasryanResources:Method Products - Method's got your back with irresistible, mood-boosting products that make you feel good inside and out.Welly Bandages - Bandages that seal, protect and get you back in the game with a bit of style.Olly Vitamins - Olly, also known as Olly Nutrition and Olly Public Benefit, is an American company and brand of vitamin supplements and other products.Cast Jewelry - Shop Cast, a place to discover wonder-filled fine jewelry. Explore our curation of unexpected collections and find your perfect piece.Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:20) Leah introduces guest, Eric Ryan to Breaking Precedent(1:00) Meet Eric Ryan - the entrepreneurial journey(4:30) Eric shares childhood memories that shaped his entrepreneurial spirit(6:45) “I tried hard in school, but, and I was a solid, you know, C plus B minus student. But I think it was that work ethic that really taught me. And there was areas I did excel. When you get out of those stupid scantron tests.”(9:00) The ice rink story - a glimpse into young Eric’s creative thinking(13:45) “Ideas are easy, execution is the hard part.”(14:25) The birth of Method(18:15) Designing Method with 90K(22:30) Scaling up with Target(26:00) Olly Vitamins - applying lessons from Method to a new category(30:00) Eric’s design vision and design process (35:45) The birth of Welly Bandages (38:30) When to know when to walk away from a project (41:40) The birth of Cast Jewlery (47:00) Eric’s jewelry on HBO’s White Lotus - a TV moment for Cast(50:00) Launching Tandy(51:30) Reflections on entrepreneurship and legacy(54:30) Conclusion and final thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by a Pakistani-born social activist, angel investor, and co-founder of the Malala Fund. Shiza shares her journey from organizing relief efforts in Pakistan to co-founding a billion-dollar nonprofit for girls’ education. She discusses her work with Malala Yousafzai, breaking barriers in the venture capital space, and building OurPlace, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware brand rooted in inclusivity and purpose. Shiza reflects on her upbringing, challenges she’s faced, and her passion for empowering marginalized communities worldwide.Guest Bio and Links:Shiza Shahid is a Pakistani-born social activist, angel investor, and entrepreneur who has pushed the boundaries in every aspect of her life. She co-founded the Malala Fund, a multi-billion dollar global nonprofit focused on ensuring girls have access to 12 years of free education. She also launched her own Now Ventures, investing in purpose-driven startups, and is the co-founder of OurPlace, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware and home goods brand known for its focus on creating multifunctional, aesthetically pleasing, and inclusive kitchen products. Listeners can learn more about Shiza Shahia at IG @shiza and on X @shizaResources: Malala FundOurPlaceHe Named Me MalalaShow Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:25) Leah introduces guest, Shiza Shahid to Breaking Precedent (2:45) Breaking precedents - Shiza's journey(4:30) Growing up in Pakistan - education and family influence(7:20) Parental support and benevolent neglect(9:30) Protesting for Rule of Law(12:00) The importance of protests for youth(17:00) Journey to Stanford University(20:00) College experience and loneliness(23:00) Meeting Malala and organizing the summer camp(28:45) Malala’s shooting and recovery (37:00) Transition to entrepreneurship - NOW Ventures(40:00) Purpose-Driven startups(43:00) OurPlace - a brand for inclusive cooking(48:30) The Traditionware Collection(53:00) Ending questions and closing thoughts --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives into the extraordinary journey of Alejandra Campoverdi, an award-winning author and trailblazer who has navigated the complexities of social mobility and the emotional toll of being a first-generation achiever. Alejandra's memoir, "First Gen," offers a poignant and relatable account of what it means to be a trailblazer, resonating with readers across various demographics. Alejandra shares her experiences with vulnerability and empathy, highlighting the dual rejection faced by first-generation achievers, her role in the Obama White House, and her non-profit : The First Gen Fund. Guest Bio and Links:Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.Listeners can learn more about Alejandra at her website, and on IG @acampoverdi  Resources:Alejandra’s book: First GenFirst Gen Scholarship Fund   Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:30) Leah introduces guest, Alejandra Campoverdi (2:00) Happy Book Birthday to First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi(4:30) The inspiration behind first gen (9:30) Leah reads a snippet from First Gen(11:30) Supporting the next generation and balancing personal and professional life(15:45) The pain of losing friendships(17:30) The emotional toll of being a first gen(20:30) Invisible inheritances and emotional imprints(22:15) How Alejandra found the courage to break cycles(25:00) The immigrant story and risk-taking(27:15) Joining the Obama campaign (30:35) “I’d rather fail than have regret.”(33:45) The concept of "blindfolded cliff jumping" in taking risks(39:45) The impact of Angela Bassett's words(44:00) The importance of self protection(52:00) The White House - embodying the entire experience (56:45) Benefits of long term mentorship and support(59:00) The easter eggs in Alejandra's book(1:03:30) Alejandra - Precedent breaker, setter or maintainer (1:05:35) “It is a special soul that is born into a family line to change the direction. To change the cycles, to break the cycles, to set a precedent, to break a precedent.”(1:07:00) Hopes for the nex generation(1:09:30 First Gen Scholarship Fund--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Dr. Eiman Jahangir, a cardiologist, associate professor at Vanderbilt University, and newly minted astronaut. Together, they discuss Dr. Eiman’s childhood dream turned reality of shuttling to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. Dr. Eiman shares the trials of his astronaut applications, his unexpected journey through the world of NFTs and cryptocurrency, and the sheer emotion of achieving a lifelong dream.Guest Bio and Links:Dr. Eiman Jahangir, MD, is a cardiologist with extensive training and experience in research investigation and clinical patient care. He has a special interest in hypertension and cardiac oncology. Dr. Eiman became the first commercial physician from Nashville to fly into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard.Eiman's WebsiteSpace for HumanityMoondaoShow Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Dr. Eiman Jahangir to Breaking Precedent (2:25) Dr. Eiman’s childhood space dreams(4:00) Applying to NASA(10:00) Web3 and NFT’s(11:00) Winning a seat on Blue Origin through Moondow(22:00) Precedent breaker or maintainer(24:30) Post-flight interview with Dr. Eiman(25:25) NASA’s launch preparation and training (29:00) The launch (38:00) Emotional and physical experience of liftoff(42:00) “You have become the actualized version of the person you dreamt of 20 years ago.”(45:30) Zero Gravity - The profound impact of seeing Earth from space(49:00) First impression of space(51:00) Reflections on returning to Earth and the landing process(52:30) Post flight reflections (55:30) Future of space travel and predictions(1:04:30) “We aren't too far away from moon bases and suborbital space stations.” --- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by a successful venture capitalist and co-founder of Floodgate, Ann Miura-Ko. Leah and Ann dive into the world of technology, what Ann seeks in founding teams, thoughts on the challenges with the Venture Capital industry, and Ann’s perspective on the opportunities AI presents for mass cognition. Drawing from her upbringing in a Japanese immigrant family and experiences in Silicon Valley, Ann dives deep into her journey of embracing her individuality and pushing boundaries in both her personal life and her professional career.Guest Bio and Links:Ann Miura-Ko is a co-founding partner at Floodgate, a seed-stage venture capital firm with notable investments in companies including Lyft, Twitter, Twitch, and Okta. Known for her inception stage investments that range from marketplaces to highly technical companies, Ms. Miura-Ko's investments have earned her repeat appearances on the Forbes Midas List and The New York Times list of top twenty venture capitalists worldwide.Listeners can learn more about at her website, on IG @amiura and X @annimaniacShow Notes: (0:00) Intro  (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Ann Miura-Ko(3:00) Growing up: family and cultural influences(5:00) Breaking with tradition - Ann’s mother’s influence on her independence(7:30) The legacy of precedent breaking women(10:00) Ann’s experience on the debate team(13:30) “Sometime’s in order to win you have to go in for the kill.”(15:00) Transition to Venture Capital(17:15) The unconventional interview(22:30) The origin of TaskRabbit and early-stage investment(25:00) The personal side of fundraising (28:30) Shaping the future of work(31:30) Investing in Zimride (35:00) Lyft breaking legal precedents (37:45) Factors and philosophies that go into investing (43:30) The future of self-driving enterprises(50:00) The ownership model of Venture Capital  (53:30) The value of listening to your gut(54:30) Precedents yet to be broken(56:00) “Sometimes I think as we criticize things. We need to first learn how to love them.”(58:30) Closing thoughts - reflections on success and happiness(1:02:00) To stay inspired and informed, be sure to like, follow, and subscribe to Breaking Precedent for more insightful conversations with trailblazers like Ann Miura-Ko--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives into the world of law with retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. From the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education to the recent Dobbs decision, Justice Breyer shares his thoughts on the significance of precedent as a cornerstone of societal stability. He also explores how the concept of precedent differs in business and technology, where breaking precedent can drive innovation and progress. On a personal note, Justice Breyer discusses his approach to raising his children and grandchildren, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and traditions within the family.Guest BioJustice Stephen Breyer served on the Supreme Court for 40 years and has been part of deciding landmark cases that have shaped our society. He is known for his pragmatic approach to interpreting the Constitution and his ability to build consensus among his colleagues.Books/Resources:We DissentReading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism Google vs. Oracle case opinionShow Notes: (0:00) Intro(0:30) Leah introduces guest, retired Supreme Court Justice, Stephen Breyer(2:00) Intro to precedent and law(2:40) “The word precedent is best translated, I think, as let sleeping dogs lie. The thing was decided, it was decided. And don't go back into it unless you absolutely have to.”(4:30) How often the Supreme Court breaks precedent(5:50) The significance of Brown v. Board of Education in overturning Plessy v. Ferguson(8:00) The enforcement of Brown v. Board of Education(12:00) Reflections of the little rock nine in 1957(15:45) Economic changes and legal precedent(19:00) Dobbs - a recent case breaking precedent(21:30) Writing a Dissent - the process and importance(26:00) The current perception and climent of the world(26:30) A pragmatic approach to interpreting the constitution (34:00) Breyer discusses the importance of diversity in hiring clerks and its long-term impact(41:00) The Constitution and modern challenges(45:30) Family traditions, values, and closing thoughts--- Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah Solivan has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.Connect with Leah:Website: breakingprecedent.com/ Instagram: @labunleashedX: @labunleashed

Welcome to Breaking Precedent, the podcast that dives deep into the stories of trailblazers, innovators, and game-changers who are redefining societal precedents. Join us as we sit down with extraordinary individuals who are pushing the boundaries of social norms, challenging precedents, and setting new ones in their fields. Each episode features in-depth interviews that reveal the motivations, struggles, and triumphs of these pioneers, offering listeners a front-row seat to the groundbreaking ideas and actions that are reshaping our world. Whether it’s in technology, art, social justice, or beyond, Breaking Precedent is your source of inspiration for understanding how precedents are broken and new paths are forged. Tune in to discover how today’s leaders are breaking barriers, challenging old models, and making new precedents for the future.