World Class

Chris Vasquez

We are all born with heroic potential... The question is, how do you execute on it? Hosted by tech investor & entrepreneur Chris Vasquez, World Class is a personal development show on a mission to humanize greatness and equip builders with insights to achieve extraordinary success in business & life.

  1. 08/07/2025

    Brandon Novak: Addiction, Fame, Rock Bottom & Finding God

    A Story of Redemption: From Jackass Star to Recovery Advocate | World Class Podcast with Brandon Novak In this powerful episode of the World Class Podcast, Chris Vasquez sits down with Brandon Novak, a man whose life story is a testament to the power of transformation. Known for his wild days as a professional skateboarder and a fan favorite on MTV's "Jackass" and "Viva La Bam", Brandon’s life was also defined by a deep struggle with addiction. This conversation goes beyond the stunts and fame to reveal the raw, honest truth behind his journey. Brandon opens up about what it was like to go from being homeless, eating out of trash cans, to becoming a TV star—and the internal conflict he faced, knowing that his success was temporary. We explore the painful reality of addiction, the moment he realized he had two choices: get sober or die, and how he used that realization to change his life. This episode isn't just about addiction; it's about the universal human struggle with vices and avoidance. Brandon shares the profound wisdom he gained on his path to becoming a bestselling author and recovery advocate. He discusses the critical work of rebuilding oneself, the importance of aligning actions with words, and the magic found in facing the things we've been avoiding. If you’ve ever felt like your success was temporary or that you were running from your own truth, this conversation with Brandon Novak will inspire you to stop talking and start walking. Chapters: 00:00 | Mentality Creates Reality: An Introduction to Brandon Novak 00:17 | From Homeless to Hollywood: The Unseen Struggles of Fame 00:35 | The Two Choices: Sobriety or Death 00:53 | Our Universal Vices: What We're All Avoiding 01:03 | Finding the Magic in the Work We Avoid 01:10 | Rebuilding Yourself: The Power of Walking the Walk

    55 min
  2. 04/17/2025

    I Left My Billion Dollar Startup to Build my Dream | Andrew D'Souza - Founder of Clearco & Boardy AI

    In this powerful episode of the World Class Podcast, Chris Vasquez sits down with Andrew D’Souza, the co-founder and former CEO of Clearco, one of the most successful fintech startups of the last decade, valued at over $2 billion. After scaling Clearco to massive heights and transforming how startups access capital, Andrew made the bold decision to step away from the company he built — not to retire, but to chase a new dream. Andrew opens up about the emotional and mental toll of running a hyper-growth startup, the identity crisis that often comes with success, and the deeply personal journey of walking away from a billion-dollar company to pursue something even more aligned with his values and purpose. Today, he’s building Boardy AI — an entirely new kind of product — and redefining what it means to be a founder. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • Why Andrew left a $2B company at the height of its success • The hidden emotional cost of startup success and how to navigate burnout • How to rediscover your purpose when your identity is tied to your business • The future of AI, entrepreneurship, and building for fulfillment over fame • What Andrew is building next with Boardy AI and why it matters This is not your typical founder success story — it’s a rare and honest conversation about ambition, purpose, mental health, and reinvention at the highest level. Whether you’re building a business, transitioning to a new chapter in life, or seeking deeper meaning in your work, this episode will resonate on a human level.

    1h 17m
  3. 03/20/2025

    Co-Founder of Square - How we beat Amazon & built a $50 Billion + Company | Jim McKelvey

    In this episode of the World Class Podcast, Chris Vasquez sits down with Jim McKelvey, the co-founder of Square (now Block), to discuss how he and Jack Dorsey built a $50 billion+ company that revolutionized digital payments. Jim shares the inside story of how Square took on—and ultimately beat—Amazon, the challenges they faced in scaling the company, and the innovation mindset required to disrupt an industry. Jim is not only a successful entrepreneur but also an inventor, artist, and author of The Innovation Stack, where he breaks down the principles behind creating groundbreaking businesses. In this conversation, he reveals the key lessons he learned from building Square, the strategies that helped them outmaneuver one of the biggest companies in the world, and how entrepreneurs can apply these insights to their own businesses. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • The untold story of how Square defeated Amazon and survived an all-out attack • The power of The Innovation Stack and how to create a business that can’t be copied • Jim’s entrepreneurial journey and the mindset behind building billion-dollar companies • The biggest challenges in scaling a fintech giant and how Square overcame them • The future of digital payments, entrepreneurship, and innovation This episode is packed with invaluable lessons from one of the greatest business minds of our time. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an innovator, or just someone fascinated by stories of resilience and disruption, you won’t want to miss this conversation with Jim McKelvey.

    52 min
  4. 03/13/2025

    Building a Fantasy Sports Empire | Adam Wexler founder of PrizePicks

    In this episode of the World Class Podcast, Chris Vasquez sits down with Adam Wexler, the visionary Founder and Chairman of PrizePicks, one of the fastest-growing daily fantasy sports platforms in the world. Adam shares his journey of building PrizePicks from an idea into a market-leading company, navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, and scaling a business in one of the most competitive industries. Adam dives deep into the mindset required to build and sustain a high-growth company, revealing key lessons on leadership, resilience, and innovation. He also shares the behind-the-scenes story of how PrizePicks disrupted the fantasy sports space, how to create a product that keeps customers coming back, and what it takes to be a successful founder in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • The story behind PrizePicks and how Adam turned an idea into a thriving business • The biggest challenges of scaling a company and how to overcome them • How to create a winning culture and build a strong team • The mindset and habits of successful entrepreneurs • Lessons in product innovation and customer retention • The future of daily fantasy sports and PrizePicks’ next big moves Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a sports fan, or someone looking for insights on building a world-class company, this episode is packed with valuable lessons from one of the most dynamic leaders in the game. Tune in now to learn how Adam Wexler built PrizePicks into a powerhouse and what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of startups!

    51 min
  5. 11/15/2024

    CEO of Blockchain.com on The Future of Crypto and How Everything is About to Change | Peter Smith

    In today’s episode, we sit down with Peter Smith, the visionary CEO and co-founder of Blockchain.com, one of the world’s largest and most trusted cryptocurrency platforms. As a pioneer in the crypto space, Peter has seen firsthand how blockchain technology has transformed finance and reshaped how we think about money, security, and freedom. In this in-depth conversation, we explore Peter’s unique perspective on the future of cryptocurrency and what’s coming next as the industry matures. Peter shares insights on how he scaled Blockchain.com into a billion-dollar platform, the biggest challenges facing crypto today, and how the global financial landscape is on the brink of revolutionary change. We also delve into Peter’s take on regulation, decentralization, and the massive potential of Web3. If you’re interested in understanding the future of money, investing in blockchain, or learning how the crypto industry will impact everything from banking to everyday life, you won’t want to miss this episode. Tune in to gain valuable insights from one of crypto’s top leaders on how to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead! Peter Smith is co-founder and CEO of Blockchain.com — a Bitcoin block explorer service and cryptocurrency wallet provider. Peter Smith was born and raised in England and, before founding Blockchain, had been living, studying and working in the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe. Peter Smith’s Bitcoin involvement started with co-founding the startup Blockchain with Nicolas Cary in 2011. Under the leadership of Peter Smith, the Blockchain company has become a leader in the cryptocurrency and distributed ledger technology market. For some time, he was an active investor in the crypto industry. Peter has been featured in popular magazines, and he is frequently invited as an expert and speaker at various related conferences.

    58 min
5
out of 5
193 Ratings

About

We are all born with heroic potential... The question is, how do you execute on it? Hosted by tech investor & entrepreneur Chris Vasquez, World Class is a personal development show on a mission to humanize greatness and equip builders with insights to achieve extraordinary success in business & life.