Real Life Superpowers

Real Life Superpowers
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In the Real Life Superpowers podcast (ranked top 10% of global podcasts), Ronen Menipaz and Noa Eshed feature conversations with people they identify as peak performers. The podcast covers their uncut, no-fluff version of their journey to the top, the challenges, pitfalls, and obstacles – the real-life version of the arc of the hero. The idea is to help the listeners bridge the gap in social media where successful entrepreneurs are put on a pedestal and seem to be surfing on a rainbow, ringing stock exchange bells, and living a distant dream. Real Life Superpowers is aimed to be a realistic reminder that there’s no such thing as an overnight success and that behind the scenes, every story is complex. The hope is to inspire the listeners to tap into their own superpowers and become the best version of themselves. Listeners can tune in from all around the world using podcast streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, and more.

  1. 4d ago

    E96 - Nadir Izrael (Co-founder and CTO of Armis)

    Nadir Izrael is the co-founder and CTO of Armis. What started as an idea between two Technion graduates became one of the biggest technology companies ever built in Israel. In 2026, Armis was acquired by ServiceNow in a deal reported at roughly $7.75 billion, making it the fourth-largest exit in Israeli history. But surprisingly, this conversation isn't about success. It's about responsibility and what entrepreneurship actually feels like once you're inside it. When does a startup become real? One of the first questions we ask Nadir is about milestones. What was the first benchmark? For him, a company becomes real when it stops being "a bunch of guys" imagining a future company. And becomes something other people are counting on. Investors. Employees. Customers. People trusting you with their money and their careers. That's when the game changes. "up until you're a real company that raised a little bit of money and starting to work like a real company... you're just a bunch of guys bunch of guys who are [I don't want to say] playing make believe but definitely you feel OKAY not to commit into it and really be at a place where now there's the accountability" And then comes the part that really stood out: "once you take on the responsibility for other people... now you're playing with other chips too" For Nadir, accountability is the thing that turns an idea into a company. The thing he didn't want to admit Before Armis, Nadir spent a year trying to build something outside cyber security. He wanted a mission. A cause. Something bigger. Then he had what he describes as a "come to Jesus moment." He asked himself what he actually wanted. And didn't love the answer. "it was actually really difficult to me to admit that it was winning" Not money. Not a higher cause. Winning. In the way an athlete wants to win. To test their limits. To compete. To see how good they can become. It wasn't the answer he expected. But it was the honest one. Later in the conversation, he expands on this idea in the context of money as a motivation for founders. While money matters - and he's not pretending otherwise - he believes the founders who make it furthest are usually driven by something deeper. The challenge. The process of building. The satisfaction of creating something that didn't exist before. Because entrepreneurship is simply too difficult if money is the only thing pulling you forward. There are easier ways to make money. Much easier. The lowest spot on the totem pole Entrepreneurship gets romanticized. Freedom. Flexibility. Being your own boss. Nadir sees it differently. "the notion of entrepreneurship is actually the lowest pole on the totem" Because eventually everything lands on you. The missed target. The bad hire. The customer issue. The mistake nobody saw coming. At some point there is nobody left to escalate to. Is this for everyone? Over the years, Nadir had multiple people tell him that they always wanted to become entrepreneurs. Then they watched his life and changed their minds. He laughs when he tells the story. But he also understands it. Because he knows what the journey demands. The pressure. The uncertainty. The responsibility. The fact that there are easier ways to make money.

    1h 2m

  2. May 1

    E95 - Lior Lamesh (Co-Founder and CEO of GK8)

    In this episode, we speak with Lior Lamesh - the founder and CEO of GK8, a cybersecurity infrastructure company. At 26, while serving in Israel’s Shin Bet, he helped break into what was considered the most secure crypto custody system in the world, and he did it in just 4 days(!). That moment started GK8. In 3 years, the company was protecting billions of dollars. It was also acquired - twice. This episode is about what happens when someone decides: “I’m going all in. Whatever it takes.” And then? actually does it. ״We didn't understand why people think it's a secure product״ He didn’t plan to build a company. A friend showed him and his now co-founder a crypto wallet that was supposed to be the most secure in the world. It didn’t make sense to them. So they bought it, tried to break it - and did. That was it. Where that “impossible is nothing” mindset comes from You can hear it immediately. He was raised this way. • A mother who didn’t accept 97 • A father who pushed competition • Years of professional football • Military units where mistakes get real At some point early on, effort became the only way he knew. Deciding to sell They were early. They were first-time founders. Things were working. Then COVID hit - and offers actually started rolling in. Lior and Shachar didn’t sell because they wanted out. They sold because they thought it would help them move faster. And as life happens..things didn’t go as planned… ..Then things broke Seven months later, the company that bought them filed for bankruptcy. There was no warning or heads up. Lior wakes up to messages and opens the news. That’s how he finds out. Now think about the position: • The company isn’t yours anymore • You don’t control the situation • But everyone still looks at you Employees. Customers.Partners. So what do you do? You do what you can control, meaning you just… keep going. The part most people don’t talk about He says this almost casually: You put EVERYTHING aside. Relationships, sleep..life. This probably says it all: “My girlfriend told me - you sleep more with your co-founder than with me.” So if you tell yourself success comes with no costs - think again. Nothing is easy. There’s always a cost. So what actually drives him? It’s not money. He’s very clear about that. It’s the feeling of hitting the goal you set, and the belief that: “If I want something enough, and are willing to pay the price - it will happen.” That belief shows up everywhere in his story. Where he is today No. He’s not slowing down. But something did shift. He is starting to be aware of the cost. Not sleeping enough, stress catching up So he’s trying - slowly - to build boundaries Even small things like: Staying one extra day when he travels, to actually see the place That says a lot. Why this conversation stays with you Because it’s uncomfortable. There’s no clean lesson here. No “do this and you’ll succeed.” There’s a real tension: The thing that makes you exceptional is also the thing that takes from you There’s no clear line for when it becomes too much. It’s in your hands.

    52 min

  3. Mar 1

    E94 - Eli Goodman (Co-founder & CEO of Datos)

    In this episode, we speak with Eli Goodman, co-founder and CEO of Datos, a clickstream intelligence company built for institutional and enterprise markets and acquired by Semrush. After more than two decades across the data ecosystem - including senior roles at Comscore and close work with Gartner - Eli founded Datos in 2020 with a clear focus on trustworthy, high-integrity data in a space shaped by regulation, risk, and long-term dependency. This is a conversation about responsibility, judgment earned over time, and building something that is meant to last. What We Dig Into: The Weight of Founding Eli describes entrepreneurship as constant vigilance. “It’s not that you’re sleeping three hours a night. It’s that you always have one eye open.” Founding, for him, is not about freedom. It is about responsibility. “If you’re not figuring it out, it’s not getting done.” People trust you with their livelihoods. If you care, that weight stays with you. Managing People vs Being Responsible for Survival Eli draws a clear distinction between leadership inside an established company and founding something from zero. “Every day you wake up and the first thing you think is: when are we out of money?” In a startup: • There is no institution behind you • No inherited structure • No one else to catch what you drop The company exists only if you keep it alive. “Milk Gate” - When Small Things Reveal Bigger Realities One of the most memorable moments in the episode comes from what Eli jokingly refers to as “Milk Gate”. Early in his career, he describes a company-wide meeting where leadership reprimanded the entire office for drinking too much free milk - milk that was meant for coffee, not cereal. “It didn’t really make sense why the general manager had to sit everyone down about milk.” At the time, it felt irrational. Easy to take personally. In hindsight, it became clear what it really signaled. The company was nearing a sale. Costs were under scrutiny. Every dollar suddenly mattered. “When something feels out of place, it usually is.” The lesson is not about milk. It is about learning to read context instead of ego. Small, insignificant-seeming moments often: • Reflect pressures leadership is not articulating • Signal structural changes before they are announced • Only make sense once you zoom out Learning Not to Personalize the Wrong Things Eli connects Milk Gate to another early-career moment - pitching an idea that leadership dismissed. At the time, it felt like rejection. Later, he understood it as disinvestment. The takeaway: • Not every “no” is about you • Sometimes it is about timing, incentives, or exit dynamics • Experience teaches you what to internalize and what to observe Why This Episode Matters This episode removes mythology from entrepreneurship. It replaces bravado with responsibility and hype with durability. It is especially relevant for founders building infrastructure, data, or long-term platforms. You’ll Walk Away With: • A grounded view of founder responsibility • A lens for interpreting small but meaningful business signals • Clarity on funding alignment and incentives • A practical people-management framework • A reminder that sales still start with humans • A long-term view of trust as strategy Measured. Honest. Earned over time. Enjoy your listen

    55 min

  4. Feb 1

    E93 - James Spiro (Journalist, editor, and independent creator of The Spiro Circle)

    In this episode, we speak with James Spiro, a journalist and editor who spent years inside Israel’s tech ecosystem, including as a senior journalist and editor at CTech by Calcalist, where he wrote roughly 1,800 stories and conducted around 350 video interviews. In recent years, James moved beyond legacy media and built The Spiro Circle - an independent publication and podcast focused on long-form, trust-based conversations, often collaborating with Forbes Israel. This conversation is about independence, credibility, and what it takes to build real media value in a noisy ecosystem. What We Dig Into: The Courage to “Jump Off the Cliff” James speaks openly about how scary it is to go independent. “It’s scary... you jump off the cliff, and then you see what happens.” What made it possible: • Becoming a father • Living through the war • A feeling that even “safe” stability can be dangerous “Comfort is really appealing and actually quite dangerous.” Parenthood as a Confidence Engine James explains that learning how to be a parent reminded him what daily growth feels like. “For the first time in a long time, I was learning every day.” He ties that experience to confidence in other areas. “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly - Then All at Once” James describes how big changes often land. “Some things... happen slowly and then all at once.” It is not a single leap. It is an accumulation of readiness. The Biggest Opportunity in Media Right Now James names a very specific shift. The new PR and media skill is not the sound bite. It is long-form presence. “The emphasis is not to build a sound bite response for television, but it’s to hone the skills to sit down and talk for 40 minutes, 50 minutes for a podcast like this.” He extends it beyond business: • Politicians • Presidents • Unfiltered, unedited conversations becoming expected “We’re not going back... the public expects... to sit down and talk.” Truth, Reputation, and the New Risks The conversation goes deep into the modern trust crisis. Key ideas discussed: • Iterative journalism and compounding misinformation • Audience capture through subscription incentives • Echo chambers created by monetization models • AI and LLMs amplifying corrupted inputs James frames reputation as the long-term defense. “I’m not entitled to an audience. I have to work for my audience.” Where Media Is Evolving James believes media will become: • More fragmented • More democratized • Less institution-led • More individual-led “Individuals will be breaking stories... and traditional media outlets won’t be gatekeepers.” Childhood Pattern - Curiosity, People, and Stories Why This Episode Matters: This episode is a reality check for anyone building a voice, a platform, or a career path that relies on trust. It explores: • How credibility is built without institutions • Why long-form is becoming the new power format • How truth competes with incentives • What independence demands emotionally and practically You’ll Walk Away With: • A clearer understanding of the shift from institutions to individual credibility • A practical view of why long-form media is rising • A grounded look at what it really takes to go independent • A sharper lens on trust, reputation, and misinformation • A reminder that consistency compounds when you enjoy the craft • A simple framing of “success” as resonance, not vanity metrics Measured, thoughtful, and highly relevant to anyone building in public. Enjoy your listen.

    52 min

  5. Jan 1

    E92 - Avichay Nissenbaum (Founding partner, lool Ventures)

    In this episode we speak with Avichay Nissenbaum. A serial entrepreneur turned investor, and the founding partner of lool Ventures. He built and sold two startups - SmarTeam (acquired by Dassault Systèmes) and Yedda (acquired by AOL) - before dedicating his career to backing founders. Lool Ventures has invested over $200M and helped shape some of Israel’s standout companies, including Beewise, NoTraffic, and Eleos Health. This conversation goes deep into the psychology of decision making, the emotional reality of investing, and the mindset that helps founders and investors navigate uncertainty. What We Dig Into: Pattern Recognition as a Superpower Avichay explains why VC is about seeing patterns long before they become obvious. He shares how reviewing 400–800 startups a year sharpens intuition, and why “sensor-tuning” is one of the most important skills an investor develops. He believes founders are often the ones who intuitively sense the future first. The AI Shift: Native vs. AI-Resilient Companies Avichay breaks down a framework every founder should understand: • AI Native - companies born on AI-first architecture. • AI Resilient - deep-tech companies that won’t get erased by the next Gemini or GPT feature drop. He calls AI “the biggest shift of wealth of our generation,” and explains why resilience matters more than hype. What Makes a Founder Fundable He is blunt about what truly matters: • Tenacity • Resilience • Skin in the game • Hunger • Ability to execute under pressure He calls this the capacity to survive a “roller coaster on steroids.” He also explains why lool Ventures loves bootstrappers and founders who have already built a minimal product before fundraising. The Emotional Reality of Investing One of the most insightful parts of the discussion. Avichay describes the difficulty of shifting from builder to observer. He talks about: • Seeing founders drive straight into a wall • Knowing the solution but not owning the steering wheel • Balancing heart and logic • Acting as an advisor, not a commander His analogy: “It’s like sitting next to the driver and you can’t touch the wheel.” The Role of Naivety Avichay argues that naivety is often a hidden advantage. It creates the space for original thinking, passion, and courage - the ingredients behind unconventional breakthroughs. His Entrepreneurial Beginnings We go back to the moment he left a stable career to build something new. At 25, with no entrepreneurial experience, he pitched a radical product vision to his CEO, was turned down, and decided to do it himself. He shares how: • Most early feedback was “no.” • The first yes arrived only after many rejections. • Passion and discomfort worked together to pull him forward. His clarity is powerful: “You don’t know. But something burns inside you.” 🎧 Why This Episode Matters This episode is a blueprint for founders, operators, and anyone navigating uncertainty. You’ll walk away with: • A clearer lens for evaluating opportunities • A mental model for understanding AI-era resilience • A deeper understanding of what investors really look for • Tools to stay grounded during the inevitable ups and downs • A rare, honest window into the psychology of early-stage investing It’s packed with wisdom. It’s grounded. And it’s one of those episodes that lingers. Enjoy your listen

    50 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    E91 - Ilan Peleg (Co-founder and CEO of Lightrun)

    In this episode, we speak with Ilan Peleg, co-founder and CEO of Lightrun Some founders jump in fast. Ilan Peleg plays the long game. Before launching Lightrun, Ilan had already built deep roots in cybersecurity and engineering leadership. A former national middle-distance champion, he was trained to move with speed - but only when the moment is right. Lightrun, the startup he co-founded with Leonid Blouvshtein, is now backed by Accel and Insight Partners with $70M raised, and is redefining how developers debug in production environments. But behind the company’s technical edge is a methodical, thoughtful story of timing, discipline, and trust. In this conversation, we explore: The startup lifecycle, broken down by phase. Ilan outlines the specific goals-and dangers-of each chapter: Years 0–2: Product-market fit. “You may come up with an amazing product… but is it delightful enough that people and organizations truly love it?” Years 2-4: Go-to-market fit. “You’ve proven value, now can you sell it repeatedly?” Years 4–6: Scaling. “This is where it gets really hard-it demands consistency, leadership maturity, and real operational backbone.” Why founders must resist the urge to scale too soon. Each stage brings its own pressures, and Ilan shares why timing is a competitive advantage few talk about. Vision vs. credibility: how to pitch like a founder who knows both. “Some investors want you to pitch a $100B story or they’ll say you’re not crazy enough. But you can’t just sell the dream-you need believable milestones.” The power of deep domain expertise. Ilan and his co-founder Leonid weren’t startup tourists-they deliberately delayed founding Lightrun until they’d spent years gaining firsthand experience with the problem space. “Once we came up with an idea in the domain we lived by, things moved magnitudes faster.” They moved fast because they’d waited to move. A co-founder story rooted in long-term alignment. Their partnership wasn’t born in a hackathon. It was built over years of shared conversations and career moves with the goal of someday launching something together. “Leonid wasn’t optimizing for salary-he was optimizing for being better skilled for what we’d eventually build.” Why good ideas come with a clock. “If the opportunity’s big enough, others will feel it too. You don’t have unlimited time to act.” How mentorship and networks compound growth. Ilan reflects on the exponential value of getting the right advice-and surrounding yourself with people who’ve failed and succeeded. It’s what helps turn lessons into leverage. Why founders must imagine more than just their company-they must imagine the market. “It’s not only about what you’re building-it’s how the market will evolve by the time you get there.” This episode is for anyone who’s still getting ready-who’s learning, building experience, and wondering when it’s their time to start. Listen in if you want to see what preparation really looks like-and what happens when long-game thinking meets the right idea.

    43 min

  7. 11/01/2025

    E90 - Yossi Barishev (Cybersecurity rising star, stealth co-founder CEO)

    In this episode we speak with Yossi Barishev - one of the most watched founders in cybersecurity today. He’s led security operations and innovation at Sygnia and Fireblocks, advised Fortune 500s, and now, he’s building a stealth-mode venture focused on rethinking identity and trust in the age of AI. He’s been recognized by outlets like Business Insider, NYTech Media, and NewsBlaze as a leader shaping the future of cybersecurity. This episode is about uncertainty, self-trust, and building the internal tools to lead through volatility. In this conversation, we explore: The trap of seeking external validation. Early on, Yossi found himself chasing reassurance from more experienced founders - until he realized that the same validation could shake him when things got hard. “If you trust this external validation too much, whenever some negative signal comes in, it shakes you.” Learning to trust your internal compass. With time, his confidence shifted inward “There’s literally zero way to predict what the hell this journey throws at you… I just believed in my ability to be able to deal with it.” The power of throwing yourself into deep water His biggest moments of growth came when everything was uncertain - and the only path was forward. “The times where I usually flourish the most - it’s when my back is against the wall.” Introducing chaos - on your own terms. Rather than waiting for life to disrupt him, Yossi learned to lean into difficult, high-stakes situations. “If you’re able to introduce chaos in a controlled manner, it teaches you a lot more.” Becoming the Swiss Army knife. Yossi chose adaptability over specialization, learning how to show up confidently in any scenario. “Honestly- just throw me in the Bronx with no cash and no clothes. I’ll work it out.” Comparing yourself to others - and what to do with that. He reflects honestly on the emotional weight of watching peers raise money and start companies first. “What did they have that I lack?” Using doubt as fuel. Naysayers weren’t discouragement - they were motivation. “Even if I don't have the answers right now, I believe in my ability to find them… I was like, I’m going to show you that you’re wrong.” How he thinks about advice and mentorship. Advice, he says, is always a mix of data and subjective perspective - and the most useful mentors are those who’ve failed often. “Every single advisor I have is someone who made more mistakes than right decisions.” This episode is for anyone navigating self-doubt, forging a nonlinear path, or learning to lead without a blueprint. 🎧 Listen in- and share it with someone learning to trust themselves in uncertain waters.

    48 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    E89 - Andres Richter (CEO of EMET Group)

    In this episode, we speak with Andres Richter, CEO of EMET Group, a Tel Aviv–listed services giant with 1,700 employees worldwide. Andres isn’t your typical corporate leader. A turnaround and M&A expert, he stepped into his role in October 2023-just as war broke out-and has already led three successful acquisitions. Previously, as CEO of Priority, he quadrupled the company’s revenues and workforce. Beyond the boardroom, he’s a former IDF special forces officer, an ultramarathon runner, a volunteer in elite-reserve units, and a mentor for at-risk youth. He thrives on challenges-whether in business, endurance sports, or life itself. “I'm a challenge guy. I live from project to project. I get somewhat bored if I do not have an impossible project in front of me.” This episode is about leadership, resilience, and the discipline of making bold visions real. In this conversation, we explore: • Leading through others, not being a solo expert. “I'm not the best technician, I'm not the best marketing guy, I'm not the best sales guy. I'm one of the best managers in terms of putting the strategy, making a certain level of plans, and making sure that the entire team works.” • The necessity of change. “I think that people, companies, and organizations in general have to keep changing. And those who don’t change stay behind.” • Sports as a metaphor for business. “There are people who can stand up from a couch and do a marathon. I'm not like this. I'm not the fastest, I'm not the thinnest, I'm not the youngest… But if you have a plan, and sufficient time, everything is doable.” • Failing without fear. “The older I get, I'm less worried about failing, because I know I could fail. I have failed. It's not that I’ve been 100% successful. So maybe with experience, I’m less afraid of failing, but I do plan to make sure that the impossible is possible.” • Breaking down the impossible into steps. “If I understand how to move from one to 100, (not from one to 1000 - that’s impossible to imagine) - but if I can imagine how to get from one to 100 in a few steps, I know I’ll be able to move from 100 to 2000.” • Finding joy in progress. “I really enjoy looking back and saying, ‘Listen, I started here, look where I am.’ Those are moments of joy for me.” This episode is for anyone who’s ever faced overwhelming challenges and wondered how to move forward. It’s for leaders who want to harness resilience, adapt through change, and build teams that thrive under pressure. 🎧 Listen in - and share it with someone who’s ready to turn the impossible into possible.

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

In the Real Life Superpowers podcast (ranked top 10% of global podcasts), Ronen Menipaz and Noa Eshed feature conversations with people they identify as peak performers. The podcast covers their uncut, no-fluff version of their journey to the top, the challenges, pitfalls, and obstacles – the real-life version of the arc of the hero. The idea is to help the listeners bridge the gap in social media where successful entrepreneurs are put on a pedestal and seem to be surfing on a rainbow, ringing stock exchange bells, and living a distant dream. Real Life Superpowers is aimed to be a realistic reminder that there’s no such thing as an overnight success and that behind the scenes, every story is complex. The hope is to inspire the listeners to tap into their own superpowers and become the best version of themselves. Listeners can tune in from all around the world using podcast streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Real Life Superpowers
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Real Life Superpowers