One Second by How to be Second

Nathan and Mondo unpack the difference between healthy ambition and becoming a “black hole”, the kind of leader whose hunger for more eventually consumes everything around them. From Jungian wounds and leadership archetypes, to faith, surrender, AI, and the fear that drives people either to overperform or hold themselves back, they explore how different kinds of people move through the world. Along the way, they wrestle with speed, self-doubt, community, and why going together may be the only way to build something that doesn’t destroy the people inside it. 

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This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

In this takeover episode, Benjie Hughes and Anna Hammond revisit the partnership that built Backthird Entertainment, reflecting on the tension and harmony between visionary thinking and operational grounding. From whiteboards full of unfinished ideas to the satisfaction of making things happen, they unpack creativity, leadership, personality wiring, and the surprising freedom that comes from knowing exactly who you are, and who you’re not. 

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This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Nathan and Mondo reflect on their wildly different college journeys, from Nathan’s hyper-optimized, relationship-free sprint to a degree, to Mondo’s talent-driven, winding path through athletics and self-discovery. Along the way, they unpack missed opportunities, the tension between systems and connection, and how those lessons shape who they are as fathers. The conversation turns to identity and alignment. What it means to “rep” something, whether it’s a brand, a value, or a belief and why choosing what (and who) you stand for ultimately reveals what you’re building, rejecting, and passing on. 

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Nathan and Mondo unpack the people who quietly shaped them, from family to mentors who modeled calm in chaos and challenged how they think. Along the way, they explore what makes a real teacher (someone who changes your behavior), why patience can be a winning strategy in a world obsessed with speed, and how “going together” often comes too late. They wrestle with when to grow alone versus when to build with others, the tension between independence and support, and the discipline of being “on time” instead of rushing ahead. Ultimately, they land on a deeper anchor: learning to live for an “audience of one,” where trust, presence, and purpose mean you’re never truly alone.

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Nathan and Mondo dive into the ideas currently pulling their curiosity, from redefining skill and unpacking rejection, to seeing assessments and identity as mirrors rather than truths. As they wrestle with what’s indicative versus definitive, they explore how labels, roles, and even confidence often reflect internal states more than fixed reality. Along the way, Mondo opens up about shedding identities like “the Black Tech Guy” to simply become himself, while navigating new projections like being called “Rev.” 

Together, they also discuss what it means to go alone versus go together and ultimately land on both are necessary because solitude can sharpen clarity yet being surrounded by the right people can amplify growth. 

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Nathan and Mondo wrestle with the tension between showing up fully and simply showing up at all. Mondo reflects on needing a full tank to bring the energy, hope, and presence people expect from him, while Nathan explores the idea that sometimes showing up, even when you’re not at your best, is part of honoring commitments to others. 

They also discuss how blind spots in relationships can shape the way we work, lead, and connect. In the end, they discover that our greatest blind spots may be solved not by seeing everything ourselves, but by standing back-to-back with people wired differently who each bring their own piece to the puzzle.

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Mondo asks Nathan how he deals with rejection, and Nathan very quickly admits that his tendency is to avoid it at all costs. We all know that’s not possible, so what evolves is a conversation about Nathan tracking weekly rejections to retrain his fear, and Mondo reframing “no” as “not yet” through faith, patience, and persistence.

The episode moves into a deeper question: What is leadership, really? Is it authority? Power? Position? Or is it influence without title like the kind embodied by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., who led without formal power? Nathan challenges the modern confusion between authority and leadership, while Mondo reflects on becoming a “Mr. Miyagi” presence by guiding others toward peace in the present moment rather than chasing distant finish lines.

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Nathan and Mondo go head-to-head on money and what about their identities is uniquely theirs to own.

Nathan breaks down why money is the “blood” of a business—non-negotiable, life-giving, and dangerous to ignore. Mondo counters with his perspective, that money is a medium, not the mission. He’d rather make the bold bet and live with the story than play it safe and regret it later.

Then the conversation turns inward. What’s uniquely Nathan? Radical self-definition and the courage to stop redrawing his shape for every room. What’s uniquely Mondo? Surrender as a strategy and the belief that sometimes the winning move is putting the car in reverse and trusting a hidden path will open.

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Mondo and Nathan explore what actually restores them when energy is gone. Mondo finds his energy in fiction and cinema. Nathan retreats into solitude, systems, and story-driven games where progress is measurable. They unpack imagination, control, listening, and why the characters we admire quietly shape how we live, surrender, and show up for each other.

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy. 

Nathan and Mondo wrestle with money, equity, and the invisible contracts that form between Firsts and Seconds. They unpack the ideas of safety, risk tolerance, and why time horizons matter more than titles. The conversation widens into what truly drains energy from them: emotional labor, lost clarity, and seasons without purpose. Along the way, they explore hope, despair, and how Firsts and Seconds learn to dance together when the pressure is real.

If you want more like this, subscribe or find more on Howtobesecond.com

This is One Second, a conversation between two people with wildly different identities where we're exploring how we're different while embracing that we're better together. In our vernacular at How to be Second, I am a Second, and my co-host Armando Davison, is what we call a natural 1iC, or a Visionary. Enjoy.