MAKE COOL SH*T

Drew O'Brien
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Make Cool Sh*t is a podcast about creativity, ideas, and the people behind them. Hosted by Drew O’Brien, it dives into what it really takes to build something from scratch, exploring the wins, the losses, and everything in between. Each episode uncovers the inspiration, authenticity, and process behind making things that matter through real conversations with creatives, founders, and mavericks doing it their way. No fluff. No guru talk. Just stories, laughs, and how cool sh*t actually gets made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Zane Keyes - Respect Is The Base Of Everything

    MAR 23

    Zane Keyes - Respect Is The Base Of Everything

    Zane Keyes is the owner of Keycuts Barbershop on Church Street in Montclair, NJ. He grew up in Montclair, went to Rutgers, got his cosmetology license, and came back to plant his flag in the heart of his hometown. In this episode, Drew and Zane talk about what it really takes to build a service business from scratch, why he chose to sit in the first chair instead of hiding in the back, and how he built a team where everyone can cut every type of hair. They get into the hiring struggles every business owner faces, why respect has to be the foundation of any team, and how the service industry lost its way after Covid. Zane also shares the moment he stopped holding onto lies and anger, why he tells every new hire exactly what to expect from day one, and how three of his barbers have become six figure earners under his roof. This conversation is for anyone building a service business or trying to figure out how to lead a team that actually gives a damn. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  2. Adil Malik - Say Yes, Figure It Out After

    MAR 16

    Adil Malik - Say Yes, Figure It Out After

    Adil Malik is a partner at Origin Partners, an infrastructure advisory platform at the intersection of deal flow, capital, and energy. Before that, he ran his own solar company for five years, traveled to 17 countries with his wife, and said yes to opportunities before he fully understood them. In this episode, Drew and Adil talk about how a random networking dinner led to partnerships with David Meltzer, Alex Machuca, and a pivot into the data center world. They break down what data centers actually are, why AI is creating the biggest infrastructure boom in history, and how the cloud isn't invisible. It's a warehouse full of supercomputers in the middle of Oklahoma. They also get into the mindset of saying yes and figuring it out after, why most networking events are b******t, and the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. From feeling like a fraud to closing a deal and feeling like the man. This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand where business is going and how to position yourself in the right rooms. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  3. Sam Oltmans - The Only Cheat Code in Business

    MAR 9

    Sam Oltmans - The Only Cheat Code in Business

    Sam Oltmans is the founder of Core Lacrosse Events, a youth lacrosse company built on one principle: do right by the kids, every single time. After years working inside the industry, Sam saw how politics and profit were pushing out the players who deserved to be seen. He left to build something transparent. In this episode, Drew and Sam talk about what it really means to run events the right way, why the lacrosse showcase world has a credibility problem, and how building a real brand overnight changed the value of his company before he made a single sale. Sam also breaks down why branding is the only cheat code for new business owners who have the knowledge but not the time. This conversation is for anyone building something in youth sports, or any founder who wants to understand the difference between ROI and real value. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  4. Anthony Diodore - Vision Over Comfort

    FEB 12

    Anthony Diodore - Vision Over Comfort

    Anthony Diodore is the founder of Oak Bishop, a premium men’s skincare line built on quality ingredients, standout design, and a refusal to blend in with the boring black and white packaging that dominates the industry. In this episode, Drew and Anthony talk about what it really takes to build a business while working a full time job. They get into rock bottom moments, the discipline required to wake up at 3:50am every day, why most side hustles never become real businesses, and how surviving as a touring musician prepared him for entrepreneurship. Anthony also shares his journey from sleeping in a candle warehouse in Manhattan to launching a skincare brand that actually helps people. This conversation is for anyone who knows they’re meant for something more but hasn’t figured out how to make the leap yet. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
  5. Genea Barnes - Decisions from Freedom, Not Fear

    FEB 3

    Genea Barnes - Decisions from Freedom, Not Fear

    Genea Barnes is the founder of Be The Wolf, a coaching and mentoring practice built on nearly two decades of personal transformation and hard-earned clarity. Her work centers on helping entrepreneurs heal from trauma so they can make decisions from freedom, not fear. In this episode, Drew and Genea talk about what it really looks like to build a business when you’re operating from unprocessed emotions. They get into trauma, decision-making, why most business owners are stuck in prevention mode instead of creation mode, and how the invisible cages we build for ourselves dictate everything from our pricing to our client relationships. This conversation is exactly what Make Cool Sh*t is about. It’s about long-term thinking, clarity, and understanding that real business growth is built through self-awareness, not just spreadsheets. If you’re a founder, creative, or operator trying to scale without burning out, this episode will hit home. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  6. Darren Magarro - Leadership Without Ego

    JAN 16

    Darren Magarro - Leadership Without Ego

    Darren Magarro is the founder of DSM, an independent agency built through nearly two decades of growth, hard lessons, and real relationships. His work centers on leadership, trust, and building teams that last beyond any single phase of a business. In this episode, Drew and Darren talk about what it looks like to grow up as a leader. They get into mentorship, imposter syndrome, learning when to step back, and why building the right relationships matters more than control or ego. Darren opens up about the realities of running a business through different seasons of life, becoming a parent, and learning how to lead people with patience, humility, and perspective. This conversation is exactly what Make Cool Sh*t is about. It is about long-term thinking, accountability, and understanding that real leadership is built through trust, not authority. If you are a founder, creative, or operator navigating growth, responsibility, and change, this episode will resonate. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 7m
  7. Mike Ham - Documenting Local Culture

    JAN 5

    Mike Ham - Documenting Local Culture

    Mike Ham is a New Jersey–based storyteller and the creator of Local Originals, a project dedicated to documenting the people and places that still mean something. His work focuses on real conversations captured on location, in the spaces where culture is actually built. In this episode, Drew and Mike talk about why the best stories do not happen in studios, the importance of showing up where real life happens, and what it means to preserve culture through conversation. Mike shares his approach to storytelling, building trust with the people he interviews, and why authenticity always matters more than polish. This conversation is exactly what Make Cool Sh*t is about. It is about paying attention, respecting the work, and creating space for voices that often go unheard. If you are a creator, founder, or anyone who cares about culture, community, and meaningful storytelling, this episode will resonate. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  8. Alexandra Cimino - Why Community Beats Virality

    12/29/2025

    Alexandra Cimino - Why Community Beats Virality

    Alexandra Cimino is the founder of SōlMedia, a social media agency built around community, integrity, and long-term growth. Her work focuses on helping brands build real relationships online without chasing trends, virality, or empty metrics. In this episode, Drew and Alexandra unpack what it actually takes to build a sustainable business in the social media space. They talk about consistency over hype, why community always outperforms exposure, and the difference between being visible and being trusted. Alexandra opens up about scaling responsibly, saying no to the wrong clients, and building a business rooted in integrity rather than quick wins. This conversation is exactly what Make Cool Sh*t is about. It is about playing the long game. It is about doing work that aligns with your values, building relationships that last, and understanding that real growth comes from showing up consistently, not selling your soul for attention. If you are a founder, creative, or operator navigating growth in a noisy digital world, this episode will resonate. For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us: Instagram → @wemakecoolshit TikTok → @wemakecoolshit YouTube → @wemakecoolshit LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at contact@wemakecoolshit.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
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About

Make Cool Sh*t is a podcast about creativity, ideas, and the people behind them. Hosted by Drew O’Brien, it dives into what it really takes to build something from scratch, exploring the wins, the losses, and everything in between. Each episode uncovers the inspiration, authenticity, and process behind making things that matter through real conversations with creatives, founders, and mavericks doing it their way. No fluff. No guru talk. Just stories, laughs, and how cool sh*t actually gets made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Drew O'Brien
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Drew O'Brien
  • Show Website
    MAKE COOL SH*T