Trailblazers by Erica Wenger

In this episode, we sit down with Sara Foster and Phil Schwarz, co-founders of Oversubscribed Ventures, alongside GP Erin Foster. We discuss how celebrity, media, and traditional venture capital are coming together to build a different model for investing in consumer companies.

Sara brings a background in entertainment, brand building, and consumer influence, while Phil brings decades of experience across technology, marketing, and venture capital, including serving as CMO of Tinder and Partner at Corazon Capital. Together, they break down why they started Oversubscribed Ventures, how they evaluate and support companies, and why millions of followers no longer guarantee that a product will sell.

We also discuss how AI could change the value of college degrees and entry-level jobs, what founders should expect from celebrity investors, how reputation travels through venture capital, and why they see major opportunities in consumer products and women’s health.

If you're interested in venture capital, entrepreneurship, consumer investing, celebrity brands, AI, startups, or the creator economy, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-1&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

*beehiiv has a major announcement coming July 16 - can't say more, but you won't want to miss it. RSVP here: https://www.beehiiv.com/summer-release-2026

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers. Check out the episode show notes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/8dccb81c-ac02-48e1-afb3-b6a7d8ff9160-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 6:04 - Does a College Degree Still Matter?
• 9:24 - How Failure Led Sara to Bumble
• 12:05 - Why Authenticity Builds a Stronger Audience
• 19:00 - How Sara & Phil Started Working Together
• 22:14 - From Celebrity Partnerships to Startup Investing
• 27:30 - Why Celebrity Endorsements Are Failing
• 29:02 - Building Oversubscribed Ventures
• 35:08 - How They Choose and Support Their Investments
• 41:38 - Reputation, Founders & Managing Other People’s Money
• 45:57 - The Reality of Being Famous on Social Media
• 51:06 - Why They’re Betting on Women’s Health & Consumer Products

In this episode, we sit down with David Haber, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and former founder of Bond Street, to discuss what separates exceptional founders from everyone else.

David breaks down why the best founders study those who came before them, how to stand out in crowded markets, what makes an “N of 1” company, and the biggest mistakes founders make when hiring. We also discuss building and selling Bond Street, New York vs. Silicon Valley, and how AI is changing what it takes to build a successful company.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, startups, venture capital, founder advice, hiring, AI, or building a successful company, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-18&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Check out the episode shownotes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/18b4e05d-a30c-4192-85f7-f5db17f34f4f-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 06:22 - Why VCs Become Founders and Founders Become VCs
• 08:34 - Building a Venture Firm vs. Running a Fund
• 14:36 - How Andreessen Horowitz Operates Differently
• 15:44 - Why David Joined Andreessen Horowitz and Built Its NYC Office
• 19:53 - What the Best Investment Firms Do Differently
• 26:57 - Why Venture Firms Are Becoming Media Companies
• 28:49 - New York vs. Silicon Valley for Building Startups
• 33:00 - Does Domain Expertise Still Matter in the Age of AI?
• 41:19 - What Makes a Founder Stand Out?
• 43:24 - How to Win in a Crowded Market
• 44:48 - Why David Looks for “N of 1” Companies
• 46:44 - How David Became an Early Investor in Plaid
• 51:48 - David’s Secret Biochemistry Background
• 56:37 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Clavier, founder of Uncork Capital and one of the early pioneers of seed-stage venture capital.

Jeff shares what he has learned from more than two decades of investing in startups, from raising some of the earliest institutional seed funds to backing companies like Postmates and Fitbit. We get into the realities of raising a venture fund, what LPs look for in emerging managers, why DPI and returning actual capital matter more than paper markups, and how secondaries can create liquidity for investors. Jeff also breaks down his approach to deep tech and hardware investing, the opportunity he missed with Uber, and how he planned the transition of Uncork to its next generation of leadership.

If you're interested in venture capital, raising a VC fund, seed investing, emerging managers, LP fundraising, startup investing, fund economics, DPI, secondaries, or building a long-term career in venture, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-17&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Checkout the episode shownotes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/cd9f769d-33de-4ef8-abe9-57baa929cc4f-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 03:05 - The Fundraise That Took Jeff Nearly Two Years
• 08:38 - How Jeff Launched One of the First Seed Funds
• 13:26 - Why DPI Matters More Than Paper Markups
• 23:28 - What LPs Actually Want From Emerging Managers
• 26:26 - How to Build a Venture Firm That Outlives You
• 30:45 - Life Outside Venture Capital
• 36:46 - Why Jeff Is Betting on Deep Tech and Hardware
• 43:08 - Why Jeff Passed on Investing in Uber
• 47:45 - How Jeff Led the Seed Round for Postmates
• 51:09 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, to break down the business behind one of the most recognizable brands in travel and credit card rewards.

Brian shares how The Points Guy actually makes money, why affiliate marketing became such a powerful business model, and how he built trust with an audience that credit card companies wanted to reach. We also discuss his decision to sell the company for $28 million, the advantages of bootstrapping instead of raising venture capital, using media and SEO to grow a brand, and how his experience building TPG shaped the way he now approaches angel investing. Later, Brian shares practical strategies for maximizing credit card points, finding award availability, and booking business and first-class flights for significantly less.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, affiliate marketing, online businesses, credit card rewards, travel hacking, angel investing, SEO, or building a valuable audience, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-1&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

beehiiv: www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-16&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers. Checkout the episode shownotes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/dad0c1f2-3590-415e-b2ee-13a7aee11e95-008umkv4

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

04:58 - How Céline Dion Inspired Brian to Quit His Job

08:18 - From a $50 Side Hustle to The Points Guy

11:06 - How a NYT Backlink Generated $120K in One Day

12:22 - Selling The Points Guy for $28 Million With No VC Funding

15:59 - How Credit Card Affiliate Revenue Really Works

17:51 - How Media Training Generated Millions in Free Exposure

22:45 - Evolving The Points Guy for the AI Era

28:49 - How Brian Kelly Became an Angel Investor

35:35 - Why Brian Won’t Invest in Celebrity Beverage Brands

40:24 - What Brian Looks for in Great Founders

43:32 - The Last-Minute Flight Hack That Can Save You Thousands

46:19 - Saving $5,000+ on Lufthansa First Class

51:31 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Natalie Fratto, an investor, writer, and new media entrepreneur known for translating complex ideas across technology, venture capital, and culture to a growing online audience.

We discuss why most content fails, how the power law drives viral growth, why Natalie doesn't consider herself a traditional content creator, and how deep tech found a massive audience on social media. We also get into the difference between thought leadership and hot takes, using AI without outsourcing your thinking, why human-made content could become more valuable in the AI era, and what companies like Red Bull and Stripe understand about building brands beyond their products.

If you're interested in venture capital, technology, AI, content creation, social media, personal branding, audience growth, or how media and creativity are changing in the AI era, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-15&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Check out the episode show notes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/22214880-1126-4ade-b61d-4e55e4ef7ef6-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 05:19 - The Dunning-Kruger Effect
• 11:30 - What Makes or Breaks a Venture Fund
• 12:17 - Why Natalie Doesn't Call Herself a Content Creator
• 15:00 - How Deep Tech Content Went Viral
• 17:50 - Building a Brand Bigger Than Your Product
• 21:04 - Why Human-Made Content Will Matter More
• 24:38 - Thought Leadership vs. Hot Takes
• 27:00 - How to Use AI Without Outsourcing Your Thinking
• 40:48 - What Happens When Scarcity Disappears?
• 43:07 - The Childhood That Shaped How Natalie Thinks
• 48:46 - Why You Can't Predict What Will Go Viral
• 51:17 - Why You Need to Own Your Audience
• 52:36 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Nirav Tolia, co-founder and CEO of Nextdoor and a longtime Silicon Valley entrepreneur who previously co-founded Epinions, which became Shopping.com.

We discuss the lonely reality of being a CEO, building and rebuilding companies through failure, why Nirav returned to Nextdoor after years away, navigating fear and self-doubt as a leader, and how established technology companies can adapt in the age of AI. We also get into his time on Shark Tank, working alongside Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary, and what stepping away from Silicon Valley taught him about business and life.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, startups, leadership, Silicon Valley, AI, Shark Tank, building companies, or understanding what it's really like to lead a business through its hardest moments, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-14&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Check out the episode show notes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/55838edb-522f-4468-a139-fad215bab7ca-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:17 - The Hardest Part of Being a CEO
• 04:46 - The Lonely Reality of Being a CEO
• 09:10 - Building Your Personal Board of Directors
• 10:26 - Why Nirav Returned to Nextdoor
• 13:45 - Building a Tech Company in the Age of AI
• 15:38 - Fear, Failure and Self-Doubt
• 21:18 - What Silicon Valley CEOs Don't Talk About
• 22:48 - Inside Nirav's Monthly CEO Dinners
• 31:04 - Why Nirav Moved His Family to Italy
• 36:38 - Living in Italy When COVID Hit
• 38:09 - Stepping Away From Silicon Valley
• 41:44 - Rebuilding Nextdoor
• 46:53 - Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank
• 51:37 - Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary and Entrepreneurship
• 55:34 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Jack Raines, investor at Slow Ventures and author of Young Money, a book about navigating the career, money, and life decisions that define your 20s.

We discuss how to avoid wasting your 20s, why you should spend more money while you're young, how to balance ambition with adventure, how to know when you're on the wrong career path, and why building a personal brand without real substance can become a career liability.

If you're interested in careers, money, investing, entrepreneurship, venture capital, personal branding, AI, or making better decisions in your 20s, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-13&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Check out the episode's show notes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/5d11c7d5-3a1a-4c00-bbfa-aa06845fd977-008umkv4

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:04 - The Reality of Writing a Book
• 05:19 - Why Jack Wrote Young Money
• 09:13 - Why You Should Spend More in Your 20s
• 13:33 - Ambition vs. Adventure
• 17:14 - How to Know You're on the Wrong Career Path
• 20:00 - How a LinkedIn Joke Landed Jack a Book Deal
• 25:48 - Why Humor Matters in Venture Capital
• 30:04 - How Slow Ventures Thinks About Personal Brands
• 33:58 - When Personal Branding Goes Too Far
• 40:37 - Why Jack Is Bullish on Legal AI
• 46:49 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Nadya Okamoto, serial entrepreneur and creator who founded PERIOD at 16, went on to build period care brand August, and is now Co-Founder and CMO of social app Pie.

We discuss why every founder should become a creator, how building an audience can become a competitive advantage, why posting more can outperform perfect content, the unglamorous reality of building a startup, and why the next generation of companies will need to compete for attention.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, startups, content creation, social media, marketing, personal branding, or understanding how attention can become a business advantage, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-12&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Check out the episode show notes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/744dba26-26b1-4095-aee4-3d54531745fb-008umkv4

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:11 - When Your Personal Life Becomes Content
• 03:29 - Why Nadya Posts So Much Content
• 06:35 - How Social Media Algorithms Have Changed
• 08:30 - The Cost of Building in Public
• 10:33 - Founder vs. Content Creator
• 13:56 - What Is a Social Entrepreneur?
• 18:58 - Building Pie With Andy Dunn
• 21:27 - The Myth of the “Celebrity CEO”
• 23:48 - Why Traditional Marketing Is Too Slow
• 26:06 - How Nadya Is Everywhere Online
• 33:52 - Mental Health in Entrepreneurship
• 36:58 - Building and Scaling August
• 38:00 - Turning a Running Club Into a Business
• 41:21 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Marshall Sandman, founder and Managing Partner of Animal Capital, a seed-stage venture firm whose first fund backed four unicorns and ranked in the top 1% of its vintage.

We discuss how Marshall built a venture firm backed by some of the world's most recognizable celebrities and entrepreneurs, the reality of raising a fund in a down market, why most founders should bootstrap instead of raising venture capital, what separates venture capitalists from asset managers, and why he believes today's AI market is overhyped.

If you're interested in venture capital, startups, fundraising, investing, AI, or understanding how top-performing venture firms are built, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-11&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers. Check out the episode shownotes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/dff2aba0-4c29-498b-a4e0-2afd6b66c6e1-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.trailblazerspod.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.trailblazerspod.com

📲 Follow on TikTok: https://tiktok.trailblazerspod.com

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.trailblazerspod.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.trailblazerspod.com

🐘 Learn more about Park Rangers Capital: https://parkrangerscap.com

Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:43 - Balancing Name Drops With Execution

01:40 - The Hardest Part of Marshall's Journey

06:02 - The Reality of Fundraising

09:56 - Raising a Fund in a Down Market

14:18 - Building the Animal Capital Team

15:36 - How Animal Capital Works With Celebrities

27:08 - How Marshall Built His Celebrity Network

35:26 - Celebrity Influence Beyond Social Media

40:49 - The Future of Content and Emerging VC Firms

46:06 - Venture Capitalists vs. Asset Managers

49:00 - What's Next for Animal Capital

55:40 - Trailblazer Trade-Offs

In this episode, we sit down with Polina Pompliano, founder of The Profile and author of Hidden Genius, where she studies the lives, habits, and minds of exceptional people.

We discuss what drives some of the world's most successful people, how putting yourself out there creates unexpected opportunities, why flaws and insecurities can become an advantage, the role of vulnerability in storytelling, and how to use AI without letting it think for you.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, media, AI, storytelling, personal growth, or understanding what makes exceptional people different, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Sydecar, HEX, Wispr Flow, Granola, Beehiiv, Kalshi

Sydecar: https://sydecar.io/partners/trailblazers

beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/splash?utm_campaign=trailblazers-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=trailblazers&utm_term=podcast-1&stripe_campaign_code=TRAILBLAZERS30 (or use code “trailblazers30” for 30% OFF)

*beehiiv has a major announcement coming July 16 - can't say more, but you won't want to miss it. RSVP here: https://www.beehiiv.com/summer-release-2026

Granola: http://granola.ai/trailblazers

*Granola is the official notetaker of Trailblazers! Check out the episode show notes here: https://notes.granola.ai/t/ed6c5333-9e78-42fe-850f-8910c833df7b-00b881l8

Kalshi: http://Kalshi.com/r/trailblazers

Wispr Flow: https://ref.wisprflow.ai/trailblazers

HEX: http://hex.ai/trailblazers

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Trailblazers is your favorite tech + VC podcast, hosted by Erica Wenger (GP at Park Rangers Capital). Each week we sit down with founders, operators, and investors who’ve found conventional success in unconventional ways. New episodes every Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

1:40 - The Hardest Part Of Her Journey

7:07 - Transitioning To Substack Full-Time

13:52 - The Art of Profiling Polarizing People

23:06 - The Role of Vulnerability and Content Serendipity

43:52 - The Intersection of Media and Generative AI

50:01 - Personal Vulnerability: A Twin Pregnancy Story

1:01:29 - Trailblazer Trade-offs