The Maslow Peak Podcast

Yoga instructor Jamie Alcorn joins us to talk about what yoga is and what it isn’t, doing things outside your comfort zone, not confusing your work with your identity, making peace with your day job and how it finances your side hustle (and your life), how the value your activities bring to your life don’t have to be monetary, internal vs. external validation, loving yourself, and how it’s never to late to become who you want to be.

Software engineer Brandon sleeps in a box truck, but lives his life to the fullest and saves a ton of money in the process. He joins us to talk about a lifetime of making things work, the decision behind and triumphs and challenges of sleeping in a moving truck, creative problem solving, having the greatest party icebreaker ever, doing good, getting by with only what you need, taking steps towards a future where you actually get to do whatever you want, and how you don’t “live” in your house, you live your life and sleep where you pay to.

Visual Artist Becky Gouverneur joins us to talk about her journey from fashion photographer to art teacher to artist, the meticulous process of making photorealistic prints out of charcoal, working on a person’s portrait so long that you feel like you know them, roller skating, Dungeons & Dragons, betting on yourself, and choosing to move forward in the wake of a devastating tragedy.

Tarik Sykes (aka the streetwear legend DunkonDunks) from Billet Video Studios joins us to discuss his journey from making cabinets in Iowa to shooting celebrities, fashion, luxury real estate and more in New York City. We talk caps, sneakers, capturing quiet moments in the City That Never Sleeps, challenging yourself with new experiences, shooting Kevin Durant and Amber Rose, chasing your side hustle without blowing up your life (and making things hard for your family), and how if you feel stuck but never change your situation, your situation will never change.

Alex Mitchell and Len Kori from Thrill SF join us to talk about their journey from legendary cap collectors to respected cap designers. We pour one out for the Clink Room (RIP) and discuss the sickness that is cap collecting, design, and obsession, networking your way to doing something you’re passionate about, formative memories impacting the rest of your life (and your fashion choices), the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, and not being afraid of creating.

Philanthropist, social innovator, community builder, and world traveler Shawn Saleme from Burners Without Borders joins us to talk about being a global citizen, meeting people where they’re at, boom economics in Silicon Valley, misconceptions about Burning Man versus the actual experience, getting out of your comfort zone and expanding your worldview, and choosing to do what you can to help make a difference in someone’s life, whether in your community or across the globe.

Game Developer Monte Krol from Blizzard Entertainment joins us to talk about World of Warcraft, game development, realizing that someone out there has your dream job (which means you can too), virtual blood plagues studied by real world epidemiologists, turning down NASA, putting family first, surviving “crunch” with crunchy tacos, learning to be part of a team in order to accomplish goals bigger than yourself, and of course, “Leeeeeeroy Jeeeeeenkins!!!!”

Teacher of the Year Joe Schuster joins us to talk about the challenges of educating tomorrow’s leaders, balancing his self-described roles of mathematician, story-teller, entertainer, and baby-sitter, giving high school kids a reason to care about learning, turning this morning’s news into today’s lesson plan, that crap they call music these days, the very sobering realization that your chosen college major may not lead to a plethora of job opportunities, and trying your hardest to reach people in the way they’ll best receive it.

Illustration/entrepreneur team Brad & Krystal Woodard from Brave the Woods join us to talk about design and illustration, their awesome new venture Artists for Education, the “white whale” client that got away, the blessings of challenges of being married, working together, and raising kids all in the same house, having way too many ideas, weekend getaways, the outdoors, the importance of paying your taxes, and the freedom found in crafting the life you know you’re meant to live.

Attorney turned soapmaker Sarah Sherman joins us to talk about her company Psalm 51 Soap, the soapmaking process, the inevitable “Fight Club” comparisons, the reasons behind her decision to put her childhood dream on hold for her family, turning your hobby into a business, making sure your hobby-turned-business doesn’t poison your family or burn your house down, finding inspiration all around you, and staying true to your beliefs and yourself, even if it means missing out on an opportunity.