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Rick Schonberg, Head of Prime at Coinbase and former executive at Goldman Sachs, State Street, LCH, and Tagomi, joins Personable to unpack how crypto becomes institutional, what trust really means in modern finance, and why careers rarely follow a straight line.

In this episode, Rick reflects on graduating into a recession with no job, being fired twice, and how serendipity shaped a career spanning traditional finance, clearing houses, and digital assets. From institutional custody and regulation to stablecoins, trust, and the future of money, this conversation cuts through crypto hype and focuses on how financial systems actually evolve.

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in finance, crypto, careers, institutional trust, and navigating long-term success in volatile industries.

He discusses:
◽️ Graduating into a tough job market and building a career without a linear plan
◽️ Why early “unimpressive” jobs can be the most valuable
◽️ From Goldman Sachs to Coinbase and what drove the transition into crypto
◽️ Institutional custody, regulation, and why trust is the real asset
◽️ Stablecoins, payments, and how crypto reshapes the financial system
◽️ Lessons from being fired, taking risks, and sustaining long-term careers

00:00 Introduction and Rick Schonberg background
02:30 Graduating into recession and early career lessons
07:45 Getting fired, serendipity, and career pivots
14:20 From traditional finance to crypto
20:45 Institutional custody and trust at Coinbase
27:10 Regulation, bad actors, and building credibility
34:50 Stablecoins and the future of payments
41:30 Careers, success, and rejecting influencer mythology
47:55 The future of finance and crypto adoption
54:10 Final advice for graduates and long-term thinking

Rick Schonberg:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickschonberg/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/harveybsmith_
◽️ Newsletter: https://personable.substack.com/
◽️ Website: https://www.personable.media/

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ Fundraising: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org/donate

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Footnote:
Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, now holds over $100 billion in T-bills. According to data from the Treasury Department, it ranks as the 18th-largest overall holder of US debt, above the UAE ($85 billion).

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Nick Jenkins, founder of Moonpig and former Dragon’s Den investor, joins Personable to unpack the darkest moments behind building Moonpig, how close the business came to failure, and what it really takes to keep going after a major exit.

In this episode, Nick reflects on his early career trading commodities in post Soviet Russia, the unlikely origins of Moonpig, and the period when even his own investors warned him to stop putting money into the business. From personalization as a competitive moat to the realities of organic growth, fundraising pressure, and selling a company, this conversation cuts through startup mythology and focuses on what actually sustains a business over decades.

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, surviving near failure, building real businesses, and finding purpose after success.

He discusses:
◽️ The early years in post Soviet Russia and lessons from trading
◽️ How Moonpig was born and the period it nearly failed
◽️ Why personalization and organic growth built a defensible business
◽️ Lessons from Dragon’s Den and common founder mistakes
◽️ Selling Moonpig for £120M and finding purpose after the exit

00:00 Introduction and Nick Jenkins background
02:16 Studying Russian and early career in Russia
08:45 Trading, culture, and competitive advantage
13:54 Choosing entrepreneurship over traditional careers
17:09 Organic growth vs venture capital
23:59 Lessons from Dragon’s Den investing
29:25 Distribution, media, and owning the customer
39:49 The origins of Moonpig and near failure
42:49 Selling Moonpig and finding purpose after exit
45:24 Final advice on entrepreneurship as a career

Nick Jenkins:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-jenkins1/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/harveybsmith_
◽️ Newsletter: https://personable.substack.com/
◽️ Website: https://www.personable.media/

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ Fundraising: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org/donate

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Support the show

Send a text

Robert Karas, Chief Investment Officer at Bank Gutmann with over 30 years of investing experience, joins Personable to unpack why investors panic, how emotions quietly destroy returns, and what long term success in markets actually requires.

In this episode, Robert shares lessons from living through bubbles, crashes, and severe drawdowns, explaining why investor behavior matters more than intelligence or strategy. From confirmation bias and media noise to portfolio construction and discipline, this conversation focuses on the psychological side of investing that determines outcomes over decades.

This is an essential listen for anyone trying to understand investor psychology, market fear, and how to stay rational during periods of uncertainty.

He discusses:
◽️ Why investors panic and sell at the worst moments
◽️ How emotions and confirmation bias destroy returns
◽️ Lessons from bubbles, crashes, and major drawdowns
◽️ Long term investing vs short term speculation
◽️ Position sizing, discipline, and staying invested

00:00 Introduction and Robert Karas background
01:47 How Robert first got into investing
04:58 The danger of get rich quick mindsets
08:36 Early losses and learning the hard way
12:14 Long term compounding vs short term trading
16:52 Investor psychology and emotional decision making
21:09 Media noise, headlines, and confirmation bias
26:03 Technology, AI, and investing skepticism
31:41 Portfolio construction and position sizing
37:18 Concentration risk and drawdowns
43:07 Why investors sell at the worst moments
49:26 Managing fear during market crashes
55:42 Advice for young investors and careers
1:01:08 Listening, learning, and long term thinking
1:06:37 Legacy, reflection, and final takeaways

Robert Karas:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkaras/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/harveybsmith_
◽️ Newsletter: https://personable.substack.com/
◽️ Website: https://www.personable.media/

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ Fundraising: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org/donate

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Support the show