How do you go from cutting patterns with rulers and French curves to becoming the compression wear choice of NBA stars, NFL pros, and top Pickleball players?

In this episode, Alec sits down with Jonathan Oe, founder of Leorêver, to unpack the decades-long story behind one of sports' most trusted performance brands—handcrafted from scratch with paper, scissors, and relentless intention.

Jonathan opens up about the failures that nearly ended his business, the meditation practice that transformed his mindset, and why he believes elegance and excellence should never be separated. From creating custom-fit tights for Brandon Ingram to redefining recovery for athletes like Andre Daescu and Caitlin Christian, this episode is a masterclass in craftsmanship, resilience, and leading with heart.

Whether you're building a brand, pushing your limits as an athlete, or turning adversity into purpose—this one's going to stick with you.

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro: The man behind Leorêver
01:43 – From CPA to compression wear: Jonathan's unlikely origin story
04:05 – Designing gear that helps athletes feel stronger
06:24 – Brandon Ingram, thigh width, and custom builds for NBA players
09:12 – "Balanced compression" vs. tightness: why most gear is wrong
12:32 – Building confidence through design: a life-changing story
16:09 – The 2008 collapse: nearly losing everything
18:25 – From failure to factory: the long road to trust
21:40 – Zen meditation in Kyoto and becoming "180 degrees different"
24:28 – Anger as sacred fuel: channeling pain into performance
26:46 – Leorêver enters pickleball: Megan Fudge, refs, and recovery
29:44 – Loud shirts, deep strategy: the design philosophy
32:40 – Why Leorêver will never go retail
34:59 – Elegance, expansion, and doing it the hard way
36:48 – Final reflections: legacy, energy, and building slow

#Entrepreneurship #Athletics #PerformanceWear #BusinessStory #Mindset #Craftsmanship #NBA #Pickleball #StartupJourney