How Success Happens

Latest Episodes:

Snack Break: Comedy’s 800 Pound Gorilla Dec 14, 2025

Show notes

Ryan Bitzer and Damion Greiman, plus the always-on-point Amanda Zuckerman, join Dan to break down the comedy business from every angle. On the comedy side, they dig into what’s trending and why getting to “the funny” faster matters more than ever. On the business side, they share the hire that kept their company sane. Plus, what do you do when the comedy special cameras start rolling, and you’ve got a wildly weird crowd to contend with?

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Susan Orlean on How to Actually Finish Your Book Dec 10, 2025

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Orchids. Infernos. Rin Tin Tin. What do these things have in common? They’ve all been the subject of books by Susan Orlean. In her new book Joyride, she pulls back the curtain on how she does it. Susan and Dan dig into how she decides which ideas are worth pursuing, how she pushes through the doubt, and why audiobooks might just be the purest way to experience a story. Plus, she shares the one writing habit she wishes she could ditch.

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Snack Break: Alexis Ohanian Dec 07, 2025

Show notes

If you’ve got “take actual time off” on your holiday to-do list but keep finding yourself sneaking in “just one more email,” this one’s for you. Just in time for the holidays, Dan revisits this chat with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, where they talk about why taking a break can be the best thing for the quality of your work. Plus, what’s the one thing he can beat his wife at?

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Jack Daniel's is a Family Affair Dec 03, 2025

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Turns out Jack Daniel’s isn’t just a whiskey company, it’s a family business. Master distiller Chris Fletcher stops by to share how he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps but he’s not the only one with a family tie on the team. He talks about legacy and what it means to serve a community that’s been working together for generations. Part of that is Operation Ride Home, a nonprofit that helps junior enlisted service members make it home for the holidays because Jack Daniel’s knows just how much family matters.

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Snack Break: Astronaut Ice Cream with Tracy C. Dyson Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

In this snack break, Dan revisits his conversation with Tracy C Dyson (no relation to Sir James Dyson from the last episode). Tracy breaks down what it actually feels like to be launched off the planet and step into literal nothingness on a spacewalk. Plus, she also settles the debate once and for all: the Earth is extremely, unambiguously round.

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James Dyson Found Success on his 5,128 Try Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Sir James Dyson can’t stand bad design. Instead of complaining, he channels that frustration into building machines that make the rest of us wonder, “Wait… why wasn’t it always done this way?” And he doesn’t stop at vacuums. From high-tech farming to championing the next generation of innovators, Dyson shares how relentless curiosity (and yes, 5,127 failed prototypes) can power a lifetime of breakthroughs.

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Snack Break: Complex NTWRK Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

Aaron Levant, the CEO of Complex NTWRK media, drops in to talk about why “ignorance is rich,” how taking wild swings has shaped his entire career, and why real-life experiences beat a thousand Instagram likes any day. This quick burst of inspiration will get you hyped to go out there and try anything. Even if everyone’s telling you not to.

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DuckDuckGo Founder Explains Privacy Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Gabriel Weinberg knows a thing or two about taking big risks on big ideas. He’s the founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo, the privacy-first search engine taking on the giants. In this episode, he breaks down the frameworks that help him lead, how he makes tough calls, and where he finds the time to actually do all of it. Plus, he gives us his take on the real risks around AI and privacy.

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Snack Break: Loog Guitars Nov 16, 2025

Show notes

Rafael Atijas, founder and CEO of Loog Guitars, joins to share how a grad school project turned into a global brand. He talks about learning manufacturing from scratch, mastering Kickstarter, and building a community of first-time rockstars. Plus, what he’s learned as a veteran of five successful Kickstarter campaigns.

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ElectroBOOM on Finding Explosive Success on YouTube Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

ElectroBOOM, the YouTuber who makes learning about electricity shockingly fun, joins us to break down how he built an enduring YouTube career. He gets real about the mistakes he's made, the comments that still sting, and what’s next on his entrepreneurial journey. Plus, he answers the question “Does it still hurt when you get shocked?”

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