Behind the Rise

Spikeball started as a game people played in their backyards. Chris Ruder turned it into a global sports brand. Here's exactly how he did it.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Chris — founder of Spikeball — to get into the real story behind one of the most recognizable brands in recreational sports. We cover the moment Spikeball stopped being just a game and became a real business, the risky decisions that shaped the company, what Shark Tank actually changed, and what Chris would do differently if he were starting today.

No shortcuts. No highlight reel. Just the raw, unfiltered story of how a real brand gets built when there's no playbook.

If you're building something from scratch — this is the episode to study.

Harsha Gaddipati got into Y Combinator. Then he got to work.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Harsha — founder of Slashy (YC S25), a "Cursor for email" — to get into what it actually takes to build quickly while staying focused on the right problems. We talk about product thinking, moving fast without burning out, and what early-stage founders consistently get wrong about building software people actually use.

Harsha breaks down how clarity, iteration, and execution matter more than any idea alone — and what that looks like day to day when you're in the middle of building.

If you're shipping products and trying to move faster without losing direction — this is how it's actually done.

Anish Karthik hasn't waited for the perfect plan once in his life. That's exactly why he's built so much.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Anish — who has worked at Google, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and Kleiner Perkins — to get into what relentless building actually looks like in practice. We talk about experimentation, shipping imperfect work, and why momentum beats overthinking every single time.

We get into how builders actually learn, why curiosity and consistency compound over time, and what it looks like to keep starting things even when the path isn't clear.

If you're waiting for the right time to start — this episode will make you realize it already passed.

Most companies don't make it to year five. Ivan Gatewood built one that's lasted over twenty.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Ivan — Founder and CEO of i-MAGE — to get into what it actually takes to lead a company long after the excitement of starting it wears off. We talk about accountability, decision-making under pressure, building teams that last, and why longevity in business is earned through discipline and execution — not shortcuts.

Ivan has seen every stage of the business lifecycle. He knows exactly what separates companies that survive from those that don't.

If you're thinking about building something for the long haul — this is the perspective you need to hear.

Anyone can make chocolate. Daniel Berlin decided to make the world's best.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Daniel — co-founder of Dirty Gut — to get into what it actually takes to build a world-class product when you refuse to cut corners. We talk about the discipline behind the brand, why doing things differently is the hardest part of building something great, and how consistency and craft beat hype every single time.

Daniel breaks down the mindset that drives Dirty Gut — and why holding uncompromising standards is both the hardest and most important decision a founder can make.

If you're tempted to take the shortcut — this episode will make you think twice.

Gregg Russell has spent his career performing for children. He wouldn't trade it for anything.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Gregg to get into what it actually means to love what you do — not as a motivational phrase, but as a daily practice. We talk about consistency, showing up when it's not glamorous, and how genuine passion for your craft creates fulfillment that titles and status never will.

Gregg's career doesn't look like a typical success story. That's exactly what makes it one.

If you're chasing something that looks good on paper but doesn't feel right — this episode will make you stop and think.

There's no playbook for building something from scratch. Michael Wong figured that out fast.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Michael — Founder and CEO of DayBlink — to get into how founders learn to think differently under pressure. We cover decision-making, calculated risk, learning on the fly, and what it actually takes to lead a company when every day brings a problem you've never seen before.

We get into the mindset shifts that separate people who execute from people who just have ideas — and why making mistakes early is the fastest way to grow.

If you're building something and waiting until you feel ready — this episode will push you to move sooner.

Everyone's using AI. Almost nobody is being intentional about it.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Professor Lancie Affonso to dig into the question most people skip right past — not whether to use AI, but how and why.

We get into how AI is reshaping learning, work, and decision-making, and why being thoughtful about the technology you adopt matters more than just keeping up with it. Professor Affonso brings a grounded, no-hype perspective on responsibility and the long-term implications for students, creators, and entrepreneurs.

If you use AI every day but have never stopped to think about what it's actually doing to how you think — this episode is worth your full attention.

Most financial mistakes don't feel like mistakes when you make them. That's the problem.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Brian Phipps — Financial Services Advisor at Severn Wealth Management — to get into what young entrepreneurs consistently get wrong about money, the early decisions that quietly derail people before they ever realize it, and why building real wealth is less about big wins and more about what you do consistently over time.

Brian has seen it play out across every stage of life. He knows exactly where it goes wrong — and when.

If you're early in your career or building something from scratch — the time to think about this is now, not later.

Wins and losses are easy to measure. What Coach Pratt builds is harder to see — and it lasts a lifetime.

In this episode of Behind the Rise, I sit down with Coach Pratt — longtime basketball coach and mentor — to get into what real leadership actually looks like when you strip away the scoreboard.

We get into discipline, accountability, developing character over talent, and what it means to invest in people for the long haul. Coach Pratt has spent his career shaping young athletes not just for sports — but for life.

If you think leadership is about results — this episode will reframe everything.