The Long View

Jesse Marble
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The Long View with Jesse Marble is a podcast for builders and founders. The ones who know the game is fast but isn't won in a quarter. Every episode, I sit down with founders, investors, athletes, authors, operators, leaders who've been through it, the sleepless stretches, the bets that looked stupid until they didn't, the unsexy work that compounds when nobody's watching. We talk about conviction, survival, and what it actually looks like to build something that lasts. No hacks. No highlight reels. Guards down.

Episodes

  1. Oct 28

    Episode 9: Pro Tennis Prodigy, Now VC Investor - CiCi Bellis

    Imagine being a teenage prodigy, and then deciding to quit. That's exactly what Cici Bellis decided to do when she was a tennis pro playing some of the best in the world. There are always deeper reasons for everything, so tune in to my real conversation with CiCi on the mental game it takes to carry all the responsibility on your own shoulders, both in the sport of tennis and in founding her own venture firm. CiCi is a former professional tennis player turned venture capitalist. She went on to reach a career-high ranking of World No. 35 with many accolades in the sport before calling it quits. She's now the founder and managing partner of Cartan Capital, a women-led venture firm backing sports and health tech companies, which closed its first $10 million fund. In this episode we discuss: How imposter syndrome really just shows your drive and hunger The value of being a SME but also being able to ""dumb it down"" Her preference for founder qualities and characteristics Proactivity being the be all end all trait for a team member Checking your ego at the door Enjoy! Timestamps below: 2:03 - Athlete-to-investor journey 4:17 - Individual vs. team sport 5:36 - Imposter syndrome 8:25 - What impresses investors 10:22 - Spotting yes men 12:38 - When to quit 14:51 - From pro to beginner 16:20 - Processing failure 18:19 - Downsides of an athlete's mindset 20:34 - Priorities 22:28 - Daily routines 24:27 - Advice to founders 26:30 - Contrarian views 27:53 - Bullish and bearish 30:02 - How to connect and pitch 32:17 - Wrap-up Follow CiCi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cici-bellis-750926182/

  2. Oct 12

    Episode 8: The Right Time to Leap: Founders, Family, and Fire in the Belly

    Imagine going 173 days without any revenue while managing a daily operating expense of $100,000 - and surviving to pull through such a time. Chris Carneal did just this with his company, Booster, generating over a billion dollars for schools without ever taking a dollar of outside money. Chris and his wife, Lyndie, started Booster together back in 2002, while they were still students at Samford University. Today the company has grown to more than 900 employees serving thousands of schools nationwide, and Chris has channeled what he's learned into his book, *The Virtue-Driven Business*, built around six virtues: gratitude, wisdom, care, courage, grit, and celebration. He and Lyndie have been married 24 years with four kids. In this episode we discuss: Surviving 173 days with zero revenue and $100K a day in costs during COVID The right moment to leap into a full-time venture, and the real average founder age Choosing your path by the fire in your belly, not the spreadsheet Resetting what work life balance really means Managing your expectations as an optimistic entrepreneur and leader Weighing virtues against values as a leader Enjoy! Timestamps: 01:52 Introduction and Overview of Booster 04:09 Motivating Students and Fundraising Strategies 06:05 The Early Days of Booster and Entrepreneurial Journey 08:53 Balancing Impact and Profit in Business 10:54 When to Make the Leap into Entrepreneurship 13:37 Family Dynamics and Entrepreneurial Life 15:29 Integrating Work and Family Life 19:22 Morning Routines and Productivity Tips 20:56 Leading with Strengths 25:52 Navigating the COVID Crisis 32:28 Virtues vs. Values 38:11 Optimism and Purpose in Entrepreneurship Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-carneal-98599711/

  3. Sep 9

    Episode 7: What Elite Athletics Didn't Teach Joey Cheek About Startups

    Joey Cheek is the EVP of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, where he runs the city's startup accelerators and incubators after a decade building technology for Fortune 100 companies. He's also a three-time Olympic speed skating medalist, winning gold and silver in Turin and bronze in Salt Lake City. Joey talks about how his background in athletics shaped, and initially hurt, how he approached building his own startups. In this episode we discuss: Why his Olympic training almost sank his first startup The fear that actually drives most athletes, and most founders Why "bias for action" beats perfectionism every time Rebuilding Greensboro into an unlikely aerospace and manufacturing hub Whether the world has too many startups or not nearly enough His bullish case for a cheaper, more deflationary future Enjoy! Timestamps: 01:55 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:15 Joey's Olympic Background and Current Role 04:49 Greensboro's Economic Transformation 07:54 Building Startups in Greensboro 10:52 Lessons from Olympic Training for Startups 13:55 The Challenges of Perfectionism in Entrepreneurship 16:45 The Reality Behind Success Stories 19:10 Training and Structure in Athletics vs. Startups 22:02 The Differences Between Individual and Team Sports in Entrepreneurship 23:59 The Importance of Feedback in Entrepreneurship 25:09 Bias for Action: The Key to Entrepreneurial Success 26:27 Nature vs. Nurture in Entrepreneurial Traits 27:11 The Startup Landscape: Quantity vs. Quality 29:51 The Role of Venture Capitalists in Startup Success 32:31 The Timing of Entrepreneurship: When to Start 34:41 Debunking Common Founder Advice 40:05 Future Trends: Bullish and Bearish Predictions Follow Joey on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-cheek-60333726/

  4. Aug 27

    Episode 6: Why Losing Your Culture Means You're Losing the Business

    Welcome to The Long View — a podcast for the builders and doers. Today's guest is Kevin Bailey. Kevin spent over three decades building some of the most iconic brands in action sports and footwear, starting at Nike in the early 1990s before spending more than a decade in brand leadership at Vans. He rejoined VF Corporation in 2020, eventually rising to Global Brand President of Vans and later Chief Transformation Officer for the whole VF portfolio, before stepping away in 2024. Today he's the founder and managing director of Shadow Advisors, where he works directly with founders on brand and culture, and he sits on the advisory board here at Wildwood Ventures. Kevin argues that losing your culture is often the first sign you're about to lose your business model. He explains why origin stories still matter years into a brand's life, and why leaders have to stay adaptive as the culture around them shifts. He shares hard rules for what to do — and not do — when you inherit a brand that's already built, starting with the discipline of listening. We also get into the mistake he saw firsthand at Vans: treating skateboarding as an activity instead of a way of life, and what that cost the brand. And he lays out the traits he now looks for in founders, drawn from his own experience advising them through culture crises of their own. Please enjoy this conversation with Kevin Bailey, Founder and Managing Director of Shadow Advisors — who, in an age obsessed with AI, says he's bullish on the analogue world. Find Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevindbailey/ Chapters 01:22 Kevin Bailey's Origin Story 06:07 The Importance of Company Culture 10:15 Stewarding Brand Culture at Vans 17:37 Advising Startups on Brand Development 21:52 Self-Diagnosing Company Culture 25:30 Patterns in Early Stage Founders 26:21 The Essentials of Founding: Grit and Perseverance 29:16 Trust and Team Dynamics in Startups 32:01 Overcoming Hindrances: Focus and Communication 38:41 Burnout and Mental Health: A Founder's Dilemma 44:22 The Future of Connection: Embracing the Analog World

  5. Aug 11

    Episode 5: Dot-Com to AI: Hype Cycles, Humility, and Building for the Long Run

    Welcome to The Long View — a podcast for the builders and doers. Today's guest is William Hsu, co-founder and managing partner of Mucker Capital. William's path to venture capital wasn't a straight line. At 22, he founded Buildpoint, only to be pushed out by his own board. He moved into the corporate world next, an unexpected chapter that taught him how to operate at a high level and, crucially, how to build relationships. One of those relationships was with his future Mucker Capital co-founder. From there, William built Mucker from $1 million in assets under management into one of the more recognized early-stage firms backing founders outside the traditional Silicon Valley mold. In this conversation, William draws on the dot-com boom and bust to make sense of today's AI moment. He argues the current AI hype is three times the size of 1999's, and just as capable of getting ahead of itself. He shares the ironies of fundraising then and now. He explains why patient capital matters more than ever. And he makes the case that building something customers love at a premium price is still the only durable path to success. We also get into his hardest career moment, what it taught him about humility and resilience, and how he thinks about culture and leadership as someone who still identifies more as an entrepreneur than an investor. Please enjoy this conversation with Will Hsu, current founder of Mucker Capital — an investor who will answer almost every cold email he gets. In fact, 25% of his portfolio came from cold outreach. Find William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-hsu-032273/ Chapters 02:03 The Dot-Com Bubble and Its Lessons 03:57 Fundraising Dynamics: Then and Now 05:34 The Silicon Valley vs. LA Dynamic 08:11 Navigating the AI Hype Cycle 11:20 The Journey of Build Point: A Cautionary Tale 14:04 The Importance of Experience in Entrepreneurship 16:51 The Transition from Entrepreneur to Investor 18:50 Building a Strong Company Culture 26:53 Cultivating a Positive Company Culture 29:22 Decisiveness and Speed in Decision-Making 30:57 The Importance of Grit and Resilience 35:32 Lessons from Mucker Fund One 40:13 Preparing the Next Generation for AI 42:59 Contrarian Views on SaaS and Applications

  6. Jul 29

    Episode 4: The American Dream Runs on Startups

    Donna Harris is the Founder and CEO of Builders + Backers, the world's first AI-powered venture studio helping entrepreneurs everywhere turn ideas into real companies. Over her career as a six-time entrepreneur and top-ranked seed-stage investor, she co-founded 1776 in Washington, DC, served as Managing Director of the Startup America Partnership, and is now General Partner of 1776 Ventures — giving her a front-row seat to what actually separates thriving startup ecosystems from ones that stall out. In this episode we discuss: What's actually broken in the startup ecosystemThe truth about alternative funding options beyond venture capitalHow AI is reshaping the future of venture buildingWhy so much "startup success" is an illusionLessons from Tulsa on what makes an ecosystem workWhy human judgment is the one thing AI can't replace Find Donna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharrisindc/ Enjoy! Timestamps:0:00 Intro04:24 Building the Startup Ecosystem in D.C.07:22 Reflections on Startup Success and Challenges09:58 Navigating Alternative Funding Options19:25 The Role of AI in Shaping the Future of Startups22:27 Evaluating Venture Building Models25:08 The Reality of Startup Growth and Expectations31:06 The Illusion of Startup Success33:17 The Reality of Entrepreneurship35:42 Rethinking Economic Development38:34 Successful Ecosystems: Lessons from Tulsa41:07 Myths in Entrepreneurship44:00 Leveraging AI Tools for Startups48:36 The Human Element in an AI World

  7. Jul 9

    Episode 3: Why Bad Culture Is a Startup Killer with Ron Schneidermann

    Welcome to The Long View, a podcast for the builders and doers. Today's guest is just that. Ron Schneidermann was the CEO of AllTrails, largely considered one of the top outdoor / adventure platforms in the world. I used it this weekend to hike a 14er with my family. He took it from six people and half a million in ARR to over 100 million registered users worldwide and an exit, which he talks about. Before that, Ron wrote the business plan for Liftopia in the early 2000's using books he bought at Barnes & Noble. Ron talks about what the unglamorous version of startups actually looks like: self-funding, brutal prioritization, and the hardest questions a CEO has to ask themselves. He has hot takes on co-founders, on when NOT to raise money, on culture as the only real competitive moat, and on why, in an age where building anything is trivially easy, human taste and judgment are the last defensible thing we have. Now he's CEO of Acley, an AI-powered standardized-test prep platform, where the same philosophy he's carried through every chapter is running the show. Ron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schneidermann/

  8. Jun 24

    Episode 2: From Nike to VC with Melanie Strong

    Most venture capitalists have a tech or finance background but Mel Strong took a non-traditional route into the industry, from teaching first grade in West Philly to working at Nike, and ultimately becoming a pioneering VC. In this episode, she shares her unlikely journey, the lessons learned from building iconic brands, and how her diverse experiences shape her approach to investing today. You'll discover how Mel’s unconventional path, teaching, journalism, and global corporate stints, gives her a unique perspective on founder resilience, market opportunities, and leadership authenticity. We break down her approach to mentorship, the art of cold outreach, and maintaining grace in high-stakes environments. Perfect for founders, investors, and anyone curious about how extraordinary careers are built from unexpected beginnings. Check out Melanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-strong/

  9. May 21

    Episode 1: From the App Store to the Outdoors with Robin Thurston

    In this episode, entrepreneur and outdoor industry leader Robin Thurston shares the lessons behind building, scaling, selling, and reviving category-defining companies. From the rise of MapMyRide and its acquisition by Under Armour to leading the future of Outside, Robin breaks down the realities of startup timing, resilience through growth cycles, and the power of vision-driven leadership. The conversation explores storytelling, risk-taking, AI-driven innovation, outdoor community building through Outside Days, and where the next wave of fitness and outdoor tech opportunities is emerging.  The Long View with Jesse Marble is a podcast for builders and founders. The ones who know the game is fast but isn't won in a quarter. Every episode, I sit down with founders, investors, athletes, authors, operators, leaders who've been through it, the sleepless stretches, the bets that looked stupid until they didn't, the unsexy work that compounds when nobody's watching. We talk about conviction, survival, and what it actually looks like to build something that lasts. No hacks. No highlight reels. Guards down.  Check out Robin Thurston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinthurston/

  • 9 Episodes

About

The Long View with Jesse Marble is a podcast for builders and founders. The ones who know the game is fast but isn't won in a quarter. Every episode, I sit down with founders, investors, athletes, authors, operators, leaders who've been through it, the sleepless stretches, the bets that looked stupid until they didn't, the unsexy work that compounds when nobody's watching. We talk about conviction, survival, and what it actually looks like to build something that lasts. No hacks. No highlight reels. Guards down.

Information

  • Creator
    Jesse Marble
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jesse Marble
  • Show Website
    The Long View