Rhizomes Podcast

Marcus Daniell started High Impact Athletes during his pro tennis career, connecting elite athletes to impactful charities.

We chatted about what it takes to perform at the highest levels and how lessons from tennis carry into other walks of life.

-Recorded in June '25

Sully was an accountant at Salesforce when he stepped into an improv class and discovered his passion for comedy. Today, he's a full-time comedian and content creator with hundreds of millions of views across platforms.I got to chat with him about his pivot, balancing a demanding job with a growing side project, and much more. Notably, it's the most I've laughed during a podcast episode. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Lisa Stedman-Falls pivoted from behavioral scientist to platform engineer.Her journey has included a PhD, research and clinical experience, and engineering roles spanning startups and larger companies.We explore why she switched into technology, how to market ourselves when making a big career shift, and the challenges of embracing a new identity when making big life changes.

Jamie Beaton is the CEO and Co-Founder of Crimson Education, a global education company valued at over $1 billion. Along the way, he’s also earned 10 degrees from top universities including Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and Yale.

But this conversation isn’t just about accolades.

We talk about what drives him, the sacrifices he’s made in pursuit of impact, and how he balances long-term thinking with the flexibility to adapt.

We also explore how AI is reshaping the future of education and what it means to build with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

Jeff Kofman is the CEO and Founder of Trint, an AI-powered transcription software company.

But before that, he spent over three decades as an Emmy-winning foreign and war correspondent for major news networks, reporting from more than 40 countries on some of the biggest events of our time.

What makes him such a great guest for the Rhizomes Podcast isn’t just where he’s been—it’s what he’s learned. His pivot from journalism to tech wasn’t just a career shift, it was a reinvention. 

In our conversation, we talk about resilience, empathy, the overlaps between journalism and entrepreneurship, and what it takes to make a huge life change.

I took a lot from this episode—hope you do too.

Anish Mitra went from Vice President at Goldman Sachs to standup comedian and content creator.

In this episode, we dive into how and why he made the leap and the valuable lessons he’s learned along the way.

If you’d like to support Rhizomes, please share this with a friend, leave a review and be sure to follow or subscribe on your platforms of choice!

What do product management and running a surfboard company have in common? Turns out, quite a bit.

David Dennis pivoted from public school teacher to climbing the ranks in technology, while building his own business and giving back to his community through philanthropy.

He’s also a TedX speaker who delivered the talk titled “Don’t Quit Your Day Job.”

In this episode, we discuss his journey and how it shaped his approach to careers and building a fulfilling life. If you enjoy it, please share with a friend or follow my channel. Thank you!

Note: we recorded this episode in March 2024.

Kelvin Beachum is an NFL player, philanthropist, and investor with a passion for the arts. He’s also a dad, a husband, and an influential member of his immediate and global community.

Richard Ni went from studying computer science at MIT to leading Human Resources at Scale AI, playing a key role in the startup’s growth from early-stage to one of the world’s top artificial intelligence companies. Early rejections and pivots helped him carve a unique path, which we explore in depth. We also talk about recruiting tips for nontraditional candidates, a topic Richard is uniquely positioned to discuss as a former nontraditional hire and as a recruiting and HR leader.

Alice Zheng completed medical school at the University of Michigan and a year of residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.