Good People, Cool Things

Whether you're a fan of brainteasers, puzzles, or board games — or all three — this episode is right up your alley. Austin-based company Project Genius makes brainteasers and puzzles designed to get your mind stimulated. The company is also women-owned and an active member of the Austin Autism Council. One of those owners is Brandi Pinsker, who founded the company and serves as CEO.

Brandi shares how she got into this world, what the creation process is like, and how to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces for everyone.

Patrick Grimes is the founder and CEO of InvestOnMainStreet.com, a private equity firm that provides tax-shielded and inflation-hedged passive investments in alternative investments.

What does that mean? Well, since 2007 — which, you may remember, was right before a massive housing crash — Patrick has purchased distressed real estate assets, renovating and stabilizing them for long-term cash flow.

He’s raised over $50 million to acquire a portfolio worth more than $600 million, including about 5,000 units in multifamily apartment communities in emerging markets across Texas and the southeastern United States. And because diversification is always important, Patrick also has an energy portfolio that includes 100+ natural gas and oil wells in 5+ locations across 5 states.

We’re talking all about how Patrick got into this world, what he’s learned along the way, and busting some of the myths about real estate investing.

Did you enjoy this episode? I'd love it if you left a review on whatever platform you're listening! You rock.

When you were in school, you probably did some kind of project or report on a family member. Chances are you didn't uncover something like my guest.

Pepper Anne is a true crime writer, and the author of The Notorious Texas Swindler about Bob Leach, a cattle rustler turned con man and the mastermind behind the Grayson County Five, a group of fugitives who escaped from the Grayson County Jail in Sherman, Texas. Concurrently, Bob was also rustling cattle from unsuspecting ranchers and hosting a party ranch with his then-wife.

Bob is Pepper Anne’s cousin. She’s spent over a decade working on this story, piecing together interviews and insights from family members, victims, law enforcement officials, private investigators, and more. And she’s dealt with some unique threats along the way.

We’re talking all about how she discovered her cousin’s history, what it’s been like writing this story, and how she kept track of all the madness—because there is a LOT of chaos to unpack here.

This episode is presented by Firebreathing Kittens. Check 'em out here!

We've got plenty of good guests in store for the latest season, but I'm ridin' solo for the first episode back!

I just spent a month traversing around Europe, and I've told everyone within earshot that they should go have a European adventure of their own. Since you are, in fact, within earshot, you're getting a sneak peek at my itinerary.

Enjoy walking through the fabulous sights and sounds. Let me know where your next trip is taking you!

Here's the statue of King Wenceslas I mention in the section about Prague. What a spectacle! And here are more quirky Prague statues.

Payal and Kajal Vitha left their jobs in tech to follow their hearts and start their own jewelry business. Their goal? To make Sonu Company the premier engagement ring destination for this generation.

We're talking about their appearance on Indian Matchmaker, what it's like working with family, and tips for keeping your ring sparkling.

Have you ever done something you didn't want to do — and it turned out to be an incredible decision?

Holly Curby is no stranger to finding inspiration in all kinds of people and places, but she never expected to be an entrepreneur or write a book. Now, she's done both and is thriving.

We're talking about her unexpected business growth and her book journey, from writing to a deeply personal cover. Plus, her top tools and how you can find a mentor who's right for you.

Learn more about Holly at hollycurby.com.

Mike Fata was raised by a poor single mother, dropped out of school as a teenager, lost more than 100 pounds, and started a business in the hemp food space. A few years ago, he sold that business for nearly half a billion dollars.

Mike will be the first to tell you that his journey isn't the "typical" one, but it's a great reminder that success comes in all different shapes and forms. Now, Mike works with entrepreneurs across a variety of industries, helping them grow their businesses while offering advice and resources. His goal? To empower people to structure their best day ever and enjoy life as an entrepreneur.

His new book, Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur, looks at his story and shares how you too can have your best day ever — whatever that looks like for you.

Pick up a copy of Grow here.

You may have noticed we’re in the middle of March, which means it’s time for the greatest time of the sports year — March Madness.

It can seem daunting to fill out a bracket, particularly if you haven’t watched a lick of basketball all year. But there’s good news: It’s equally as difficult to fill out a bracket even if you have watched many basketball games.

Luckily, Chris Hayes and I are here to help you fill out your bracket. We share some actual basketball data, but more importantly, we break down schools based on mascots, hairstyles, and much more.

People are often surprised to learn that I host multiple podcasts. Perhaps my self-promotion skills need a bit of work…in any case, I am, in fact, a multi-podcast connoisseur. My other current show is called Sports R Dumb; each episode dives into a silly element of sports.

It may seem like there’s not a ton of crossover between a sports-centric show and a show about building a brand. But Good People, Cool Things has always been about education, too. I want you to walk away from any given episode having learned at least one new thing (and hopefully smiling once or twice along the way).

So, in the spirit of education, today’s episode is a feature of Sports R Dumb. Learn all about the very silly ways professional athletes — and every day, normal people — can be fined.

If you enjoy Sports R Dumb, feel free to listen to additional episodes here or follow the show on Instagram.