Listen to Build
Why Traditional Networking Events Are a Massive Waste of Time
If you've ever felt drained, exhausted, or frustrated by traditional networking events, you aren't alone. In this episode, Davide Cannarozzi explains why showing up to a random event without a clear s...
Why Everyone Secretly Hates "Networkers"
Have you ever been to an event where the person you're talking to is just looking past you for their next "lead"? In this episode, Charles Lee breaks down why treating human connection like a transactional sales funnel will ultimately hold you back. We explore how genuine business flows naturally from authentic relationships, why you need to stop asking boring questions like "what do you do?", and how to cultivate deep curiosity about others.
![Stop Wasting Money on Big AI Models (Do This Instead)](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 400 300"%3E%3Crect fill="%23f3f4f6" width="400" height="300"/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Stop Wasting Money on Big AI Models (Do This Instead)
Are your AI inference costs starting to eat into your startup's budget? In this episode, I sit down with Rob May to discuss the impending shift in the AI industry: moving from massive, expensive frontier models to optimized, task-specific workflows. Rob explains why using a massive model for a simple task is like paying an astrophysicist to balance your checkbook, and how routing requests to smaller models can significantly cut down on your token spend.
The Secret ADHD Advantage Nobody Talks About
Does having ADHD make you a better entrepreneur? Transformation artist and former actress Helen Millar believes her neurodivergence is actually her greatest superpower. In this episode, Helen reveals why the ADHD brain's high risk tolerance and elite pattern recognition give founders a massive edge in business. We explore how to trust your deepest intuition, why playing small is the most dangerous thing you can do, and why having the wrong support system is worse than having none at all.
How One Mentor Taught Me To Make $15,000,000
For the 300th episode, the podcast officially rebrands to focus on business networking. Sean brings on his very first mentor, Meir Simhi. Years ago in China, Meir helped Sean realize his true value in networking, which eventually led to generating $15 million in crypto fundraising sales. In this episode, Meir breaks down his new "Product Theory" and why asking "what to sell" is the wrong question. They deconstruct a new business idea and explore the true definition of a market.
Why "Self-Improvement" is Ruining You (And What to Do Instead)
Are you obsessed with self-improvement? Mental performance coach and former Wall Street hedge fund manager Evan Marks argues that constantly trying to "fix" yourself actually takes you further away from who you really are. In this episode, Evan explains why he completely rejects "positive psychology" in favor of "opportunistic reality". He trains high-achievers to treat their negative emotions as data and be ready for chaos like a "jaguar in the brush".
Why VCs Really Reject Your Startup (The 'No Conviction' Truth)
What does it actually mean when a venture capitalist says they 'don't have conviction' in your startup? Vaughn Crowe, an investor at nvp Capital, explains why VCs struggle to give founders honest feedback and what that dreaded rejection phrase really translates to. In this interview, Vaughn reveals how he sniffs out scammers versus real entrepreneurs by evaluating their true desire to build a big business. We discuss why having a massive advisory board at the pre-seed stage can be a major red flag, and whether founders should take a salary from their funding or bootstrap completely. Plus, he explains why leading your first VC meeting with a pitch deck is a fatal flaw and what you should do instead.
Why Your Social Media Content Isn't Getting Subscribers
Are you getting thousands of views on your YouTube Shorts but struggling to turn them into loyal subscribers or paying clients? Ben Pines, who helped scale Elementor from $0 to $100M ARR, explains exactly why your social media strategy is falling flat and how to fix it. In this live 'workshop' style episode, Ben and Sean deconstruct Sean's own content strategy — why AI has killed generic SEO content, why short-form video often leads to 'empty views,' and the secret to transitioning from a generic content creator to a highly paid trusted advisor.
The 150-Year Vision for Humanity
What will human civilization look like in 150 years? Abdo John Hajj, partner at Type One Ventures, believes we are at the beginning of a deep tech supercycle that will transition humanity into a 'Type 1 Civilization'—one that harnesses the full energy of its host star and becomes truly interplanetary.
Stop Hiring Advisors Who Want a Retainer (The Equity Playbook)
Why do most startups waste thousands of dollars on advisors who deliver zero results? Ron Levin, a partner at Alumni Ventures, explains why you should never pay a retainer to an advisor and how to structure equity-based deals that actually align incentives.
What Listeners Say
Join thousands of founders who trust We Live to Build for real, unfiltered insights.
I just listened to the interview with Jeffrey Klubeck, and it was fantastic! Sean does an incredible job of engaging the audience and keeping the conversation flowing. Jeffrey's insights on integrity and accountability are not only thought-provoking but also essential for anyone looking to grow personally and professionally. Highly recommended!!
I had the pleasure of joining Sean on an episode and this guy is just so much fun. He has a great audience and knows exactly what they are looking for. I have spoken with him several times since the podcast and his passion for all of this is so impressive. Listen in!
We Live to Build creates space for deep, thoughtful discussions that go way beyond surface-level tactics. I loved being able to dig into topics like CRO, AI, simplicity in business, and even personal transformation. Sean asks great questions and gives room for the kind of insight that actually makes you stop and think. If you're serious about building a better business and becoming a better version of yourself, this is absolutely worth your time.
I've known Sean for a few years, and he's a really great man who's helped me tremendously. I love listening to his podcast because I get to know more about him and his businesses, and the guests businesses are really fascinating too!
Sean is an excellent host! His passion to bring entrepreneurs together shines through his work. We truly are #strongertogether and shows like this help foster connection.
Ready to Apply What You've Learned?
These founder stories are full of actionable insights. Take the next step and put them into practice with our proven framework and services.
Network Before You Need It
6 Lessons That Earned me $15M and Created $100M+ in Value for My Network.
Get Free Ebook300 Lessons Book
300 actionable lessons distilled from 300 interviews with successful founders.
Buy NowEnjoying the podcast?
A review on Apple Podcasts takes 30 seconds and helps other founders discover the show.
Leave a Review →