The Pick Now Podcast with Jeff Munn

Jeff Munn
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Pick Now, a podcast about the choices that shape us and the fears that hold us back. Each week, host Jeff Munn sits down with bold entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders who've already built something extraordinary and are now standing on the edge of what's next. Together, they explore the make-or-break moments that defined their paths: the leaps that worked, the failures that became turning points, and the lessons that changed everything. Then, Jeff brings it into the present — guiding guests through the real-time decisions and fears they're navigating right now. You'll get a front-row seat to the process of clarity, courage, and transformation in action. If you've ever faced that moment when fear meets possibility and you know it's time to Pick Now, this is your space.

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    When the Script Stops Working with Marc Cabrera | #12

    This week, Jeff sits down with Marc Cabrera to unpack a career journey that spans Wall Street, burnout, entrepreneurship, and ultimately, a more intentional way of living and working. They explore the hidden tradeoffs of traditional success, the generational shift in how people think about careers, and why many high achievers feel stuck even after they've "made it."  This conversation is about more than career pivots. It's about redefining success, questioning inherited scripts, and learning how to make decisions that actually support the life you want to live. Connect with Marc: LinkedIn: Marc Cabrera

    1h 6m

  2. JAN 30

    One-Way Ticket to Building Something Real with Zach Smith | #11

    What started as a one-way ticket to Oaxaca turned into a global business built on trust, curiosity, and human connection.   This week, Jeff sits down with Zach Smith, founder of Anywhere, to unpack how a passion for immersive travel evolved into a purpose-driven company operating across more than 25 countries.   Jeff and Zach explore what it really means to build something slowly and intentionally, why authenticity beats scale-for-scale's-sake, and how patience, trust, and values-based decisions have guided Zach through nearly two decades of entrepreneurship.  Connect with Zach: Website: anywhere.com LinkedIn: Zachary B. Smith

    1h 2m

  3. JAN 23

    Building When Everything's at Risk with Ashok Subramanian | #10

    Ashok Subramanian shares the real story behind leaving McKinsey, building Liazon from nothing, nearly running out of payroll multiple times, and ultimately selling the company in a lightning-fast acquisition that changed everything. Along the way, he reveals how founders misjudge risk, why most "great ideas" are actually wrong, and what it really takes to build something that lasts inside a broken healthcare system. In this episode, Jeff Munn and Ashok unpack: Why the scariest part of entrepreneurship isn't failing — it's succeeding How Liazon pivoted from a dead-end pilot into a billion-dollar acquisition What founders get wrong about exits, risk, and building inside big companies Whether you're starting your first company or scaling your fifth, this conversation will challenge how you think about risk, leadership, and what it means to truly build something. The stakes only go up — but so does what you're capable of.     Guest: Ashok Subramanian 🔗 Centivo: centivo.com Host: Jeff Munn 🎙 Pick Now Podcast 🔗 LinkedIn: jeffmunn

    1h 2m

  4. JAN 16

    Get Out of Your Own Way: A Live Coaching Conversation with Michael Pickel | #9

    What if the biggest thing holding your business back… is you? This week, Jeff sits down with Michael Pickel for a candid coaching conversation about leadership, control, and learning to get out of your own way. Michael reflects on overthinking decisions, being too hard on himself, and how unintentionally holding on too tightly can limit a team's growth. Together, they unpack the difference between expectations and agreements, why control and growth can't coexist, and how real leadership often means creating space—for your team and for yourself.

    1h 4m

  5. JAN 2

    Why Not Me? with Norm Volsky | #8

    What if the only thing standing between you and the opportunity of a lifetime is the belief that you belong there? Norm Volsky shares how a career in recruiting turned into an entrepreneurial engine—helping scale category-defining healthcare companies like Livongo and Hinge Health, and eventually launching his own investment platform. Along the way, Norm reveals how conviction, timing, and relentless value creation compound into outsized impact. In this episode, you'll learn: Why progress isn't linear—and why that's a good thing How betting on people early can change everything The mindset shift that turns "Why me?" into momentum If you've ever felt on the edge of something bigger, this conversation might be the push you need.

    1h 2m

  6. 12/19/2025

    The Risk of Playing It Safe with Matt Kuta | #7

    What if the biggest career risk isn't starting a company—but never betting on yourself? Matt Kuta shares why most people wildly overestimate the danger of entrepreneurship while ignoring the hidden instability of corporate life. Drawing from his journey as a fighter pilot, private equity investor, and founder who took a defense and space company public, Matt reframes risk, failure, and what it really means to live without regret. In this conversation, Jeff and Matt explore why clarity beats comfort, how public failure is less dangerous than people think, and why building something uncertain can actually be the safest move of all. Key takeaways include: Why staying at a "secure" company may be riskier than starting a business How entrepreneurs often have more clarity and control than corporate employees Why fear of public failure keeps talented people from ever starting If you've ever felt stuck choosing safety over purpose—or wondered what future you might regret—this episode will challenge how you think about risk, courage, and career decisions.

    1h 7m

  7. 12/12/2025

    Design Your Life, Don't Drift Through It with Mo Bunnell | #6

    In this episode, Jeff sits down with someone who's been in the trenches, taken big swings, gotten knocked flat, and gotten back up again — Mo Bunnell, founder and CEO of Bunnell Idea Group and bestselling author of The Snowball System and Give to Grow. Mo's story isn't a straight line. It's a series of pivots, experiments, wrong turns, bold moves, and moments when he had to trust himself enough to take the next step. Jeff and Mo talk about the quiet fear that comes with stepping out on your own, the 100-day cash crisis that pushed him to rebuild from scratch, and the principles that guided him from actuarial spreadsheets to training more than 60,000 people around the world.   Connect with Mo: Website: bunnellideagroup.com LinkedIn: Mo Bunnell Books: Amazon YouTube: @MoBunnell1

    1h 14m

  8. 12/05/2025

    The Founder Who Burned It Down to Build It Right with Eric Elwer | #5

    This week, Jeff talks with Eric Elwer, founder of Stepping Stone, about what happens when the feeling of being unsettled becomes impossible to ignore. Eric shares how a dark season, a moment of unexpected clarity, and a simple notebook sketch led him from a successful corporate career into the uncertainty—and purpose—of entrepreneurship.   He opens up about rebuilding a product from scratch, learning to make hard decisions fast, and the role faith and intuition played in reshaping his life. What emerges is not a story about technology, but about alignment, courage, and becoming the version of yourself you didn't know existed.   If you've been waiting for the "right" moment to begin, this conversation is an invitation: Start before you're ready. The path appears when you choose it. Connect with Eric: Website: mysteppingstone.ai LinkedIn: Eric Elwer Email: eric@mysteppingstone.ai

    53 min

  9. 11/28/2025

    From Bootstrapped to Boardroom | #4

    What if the biggest win in your career comes from saying no? In this episode, Jeff sits down with entrepreneur and investor Michael McAllister — founder of The CE Shop, a bootstrapped startup that grew into a national leader in professional licensing education and ultimately exited in a nine-figure private equity recap. Michael shares how he went from selling dictation equipment door-to-door to scaling a tech-enabled education platform, and the surprising moment he walked away from a massive acquisition deal because it didn't align with his values. Michael opens up about the deeper why behind his drive: growing up around scarcity, learning to innovate under pressure, and discovering that entrepreneurship is as much a spiritual journey as a strategic one. We explore: How crisis moments can force your most important innovations Why gut instinct is a business tool, not just a feeling What it takes to build (and protect) a people-first culture How to choose the right private equity partner — not just the highest bidder This conversation is a reminder that the real reward isn't just the exit — it's who you become along the way. Listen in and get inspired to bet on yourself. Connect with Michael McAllister: The CE Shop: https://www.theceshop.com Connect with Jeff Munn: LinkedIn: jeffmunn The Pick Now: jmunn.com

    1h 3m

  10. 11/21/2025

    Mastering Fear, Failure & Identity with Hans Kaspersetz | #3

    Some leaders chase success. Others build it quietly, brick by brick, through discipline, pain, curiosity, and an unwillingness to settle. In this episode, Jeff sits down with serial entrepreneur and explorer Hans Kaspersetz, whose life has been shaped by adversity, near-death cave dives, 14 failed startups, and a belief that the universe doesn't bring us this far just to let us fall. Hans reveals how coding before he could read led him into entrepreneurship, why meditation and fear inventories became survival tools, and how pushing limits helps him redefine purpose.    Connect with Jeff: https://linktr.ee/jeffmunn   Learn More About Hans: Website: oralucent.com Code MUNN20 for 20% off your order LinkedIn: Hans Kaspersetz About Our Guest: Hans Kaspersetz is the CEO of Oralucent, a groundbreaking oral care company pioneering the use of red and blue light therapy to improve gum health, whiten teeth, and support systemic wellness.   A seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and a track record of building a $100M enterprise, Hans has spent more than 20 years at the intersection of health technology, consumer wellness, and marketing innovation. Outside the boardroom, Hans is an avid cave explorer and ultramarathon runner, channeling the same curiosity and endurance that drive his business ventures. Hans is an early stage investor with more than a dozen companies in his portfolio and multiple advisory roles that focus on operations and scaling.   Having endured his own oral health and health challenges, Hans is passionate about the science of oral light therapy, its emerging synergistic links to the biohacking and longevity landscape, and why your mouth may be the new frontier of whole-body health.

    1h 12m

  11. 11/14/2025

    The Prison of Proving | #2

    What if the freedom you've been chasing has been within you all along? In this solo episode, host Jeff Munn explores why so many founders and entrepreneurs sacrifice their well-being in pursuit of "freedom" — and how that very pursuit keeps them trapped. Drawing from personal experience and years of coaching high-performing leaders, Jeff breaks down the difference between freedom from (escaping fear and inadequacy) and freedom to (creating from wholeness and awareness). Key themes: The hidden cost of chasing success and validation The illusion of "freedom" as an external reward Discovering unconditioned awareness — the ultimate inner freedom This is a must-listen for anyone ready to stop grinding for someday and start living free now.   Connect with Jeff: https://linktr.ee/jeffmunn

    19 min

  12. 11/14/2025

    The Power of Pick Now | #1

    Welcome to Pick Now, a space for founders, leaders, and creators who are ready to stop waiting for the right time. Every great journey begins with one decision. For Jeff Munn, that decision was to stop chasing what looked right and start choosing what felt true. This episode sets the stage for what's to come: honest conversations about the moments that define us and the choices that move us forward. Let's get started.   Connect with Jeff: https://linktr.ee/jeffmunn

    16 min
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Pick Now, a podcast about the choices that shape us and the fears that hold us back. Each week, host Jeff Munn sits down with bold entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders who've already built something extraordinary and are now standing on the edge of what's next. Together, they explore the make-or-break moments that defined their paths: the leaps that worked, the failures that became turning points, and the lessons that changed everything. Then, Jeff brings it into the present — guiding guests through the real-time decisions and fears they're navigating right now. You'll get a front-row seat to the process of clarity, courage, and transformation in action. If you've ever faced that moment when fear meets possibility and you know it's time to Pick Now, this is your space.

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