Life Done Different

What if donating to charity meant that you could win the experience of your dreams; like flying around the world to party with your favorite band, a role in a blockbuster movie, or having lunch 1-on-1 with your idol? Would you be more inclined to give to a good cause and would charities raise more money?

Matt Pohlson (@mattpohlson) set out to find answers to those questions when he co-founded Omaze.com, an online platform offering donors the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences when they contribute to a charity. After five years, hundreds of campaigns, and millions of dollars raised, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!"

I caught up with Matt today and got to hear what the past 5 years have been like and more. We talk about his transition from politics, to Hollywood and then entrepreneurship. We discuss the power of storytelling and the role it's played throughout Matt's life. Matt shares his thoughts on when to persevere and when to quit and gives us a look into the sacrifices required when becoming a founder. It's a solid reality check for anyone considering entrepreneurship.

In parting, I ask Matt about his hopes for the future to which he responded beautifully, "That I continue to live without fear and to love…and when it's all said and done, I can look back and say that I used my gifts to the greatest degree possible."

Love it or hate it, house music has become one of the most popular genres of our time. But it wasn't always like that. This music was once deeply underground. Even the name, house music, is a nod to the illegal warehouse parties it was once played at. So how did we go from there to the festivals and multi-billion dollar industry that we see today?

I'm joined today by Wyatt Jenkins. Wyatt was not only firsthand witness to the evolution of electronic music, he played a key part - starting as a DJ in 90's and early 2000's, and then as a founding member of Beatport.com - the electronic music marketplace that helped propel house music to mainstream status.

Wyatt takes us back to what it was like to be a DJ in the early days of EDM. We talk about the relationship between technology and music, what raving culture was like in the 90's, why following your passion is bad advice, the pitfalls of the party lifestyle and what it feels like to build a successful business only to be fired from the same company.

This was a raw and wide ranging conversation, and I learned a ton, so I hope you enjoy this episode with Wyatt Jenkins.

At age 14, Laura Dekker set sail on a solo journey from the Netherlands. A year and a half later, she became the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe.

Her tale is incredible, but perhaps the most astonishing part is that it almost didn't happen. Laura originally planned to embark on her trip at age 13, but when Dutch authorities got wind of her plans, the Child Welfare Office stepped in and barred her journey. For nearly a year, Laura and her family were entangled in court battles before Laura finally won the right to make her voyage.

In this episode, Laura shares the story of her trip with us, what she learned along the way as well as her thoughts on some of the larger issues such as the rights of individuals vs. the perceptions of society and how to balance experience with safety when it comes to parenting.

There's a rule in Las Vegas - the house always wins. It turns out that rule can be broken, and Blade shows us how.

We talk about Blade's transition to becoming a professional gambler, the preparation that was required, including creating an alternate persona, and the capital necessary for the endeavor.

Blade shares the highs and lows - like what it feels like to lose $90,000 in a four hours. We also discuss the viability of gambling as a long term career and his advice for anyone interested in taking up card counting and advantage play.

Jay Shafer (@fourlightshouse) is best known as the pioneer of the tiny house movement. He's the author of the Small House Book and the founder of Four Lights Tiny House Company. His work has been featured on Oprah, The New York Times, The New Yorker and beyond.

Jay and I discuss his early influences, the role art plays in his design, what constitutes good design and how he wouldn't have started living in tiny houses if it weren't illegal. This leads us to touch upon the social and political aspects of tiny houses in our communities, as well as Jay's latest project - Tiny Houses for Humanity.

Cayley Coulbourn (@caylesc) has spent the last ten years of her life at sea. From teaching diving in Thailand, to sailing in the British Virgin Islands, to chartering yachts up the coast of New England, she's done it all.

We talk about how she got her start in the dive industry, how she was able to build her skills and certifications for free by trading work at dive shops, what daily life is like in the dive hot spots of the world, as well as what adjustments one needs to make when living on a boat.

Cayley also shares her philosophy for preserving unique experiences by setting defined endpoints so be on the lookout for that around 43:30.

For show notes, links and more info, visit http://www.lifedonedifferent.com