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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

Send a text

Tintin Smith, YouTuber, former Head of YouTube for Ali Abdaal, and founder of the $100K YouTuber Academy, joins Personable to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable business on YouTube, from audience quality and monetisation to systems, consistency, and long-term thinking.

In this episode, Tintin explains how he transitioned from consulting into the creator economy, what he learned working inside one of the world’s most successful educational YouTube businesses, and why most creators misunderstand how money is actually made online. He shares insights on audience understanding, email lists, courses, and why a small, focused audience can outperform millions of passive subscribers.

This is an essential listen for anyone trying to understand content creation as a serious business, the future of online education, and how creators should think beyond views and virality.

He discusses:
◽️ How he became Head of YouTube for Ali Abdaal
◽️ Why audience quality matters more than follower count
◽️ The real business model behind educational YouTube
◽️ Courses, coaching, and owning your monetisation
◽️ Systems, consistency, and sustainable content creation
◽️ The future of YouTube in an AI-driven world

00:00 Introduction and context for the episode
01:40 Tintin’s background and early career path
03:40 Discovering Ali Abdaal and starting YouTube
06:20 Quitting consulting and career uncertainty
09:10 Joining Ali Abdaal’s team
11:30 Growing from writer to Head of YouTube
14:20 Transparency, money, and online education
17:00 Why YouTube is modern-day Hollywood
20:10 Education vs entertainment on YouTube
23:10 AI and the future of content platforms
26:40 Careers in YouTube gaining legitimacy
30:10 Is YouTube a real business
33:00 Inside Ali Abdaal’s business model
36:20 Sponsorships vs owned products
39:40 Email lists and monetisation strategy
43:10 Part-Time YouTuber Academy explained
46:40 Audience understanding over algorithms
50:00 3 million subscribers vs 3,000 dentists
54:10 Why follower count does not equal revenue
58:30 Pricing based on transformation
1:02:30 Final reflections and key takeaways

Tintin Smith
◽️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tintinsmith
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tintin-smith-9b4720174

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 us a text

Lia Forcina, Partner and Portfolio Manager at LGR Capital, joins Personable to unpack what is really driving global markets in 2025 and beyond, from geopolitics and government spending to gold, energy, and shifting capital flows.

In this episode, Lia explains why markets began the year pricing a Goldilocks scenario, how geopolitical tensions are quietly reshaping risk premiums, and why governments, not markets, now dictate where capital moves. She shares her views on gold, inflation risk, Europe versus the US, and how investors should cut through noise by following policy, not headlines.

This is an essential listen for anyone trying to understand macro markets in an era of political shock, fragmented alliances, and policy-driven investing.

She discusses:
◽️ Why markets priced Goldilocks and what changed
◽️ How geopolitics and energy are reshaping risk premiums
◽️ Why gold continues to surge
◽️ Governments as the real drivers of capital allocation
◽️ How investors should position for 2025–2026

00:00 Why markets entered the year pricing Goldilocks
03:40 Geopolitics, Venezuela, Iran, and global power shifts
11:50 Gold, energy security, and inflation signals
17:30 Europe, Germany, and defense as a structural trade
23:40 Capital flows, Treasuries, and reserve currency risks
30:10 Banks, deregulation, and financial innovation
37:00 What markets are not pricing yet
43:30 Retail investors, prediction markets, and risk-taking
50:20 Private credit, illiquidity, and systemic risks
56:30 AI, hiring, and the future of hedge funds
1:03:00 The key questions investors should be asking in 2026
1:08:30 Final takeaways: follow the money, ignore the noise

Lia Forcina
◽️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-forcina-17352459

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 us a text

Keith Gill, Chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee and Sun Belt Conference Commissioner, joins Personable for a candid discussion on how March Madness is decided and what happens when those decisions ignite national controversy.

In this episode, Keith addresses the backlash surrounding UNC’s inclusion in the tournament and explains how the committee manages conflicts of interest, contingency votes, and public scrutiny. He offers rare insight into why bubble decisions are so polarising, why algorithms cannot replace human judgment, and how leadership changes when decisions affect institutions, careers, and lives.

The conversation also explores the broader forces reshaping college sports, including NIL, conference realignment, expansion, AI, and the growing tension between professionalism and education.

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in governance, leadership, and high-stakes decision making under pressure.

He discusses:
◽️ How March Madness selection decisions are made
◽️ The UNC controversy and its wider implications
◽️ Managing conflicts of interest and maintaining integrity
◽️ Why bubble teams drive outrage every year
◽️ Data vs judgment in selection decisions
◽️ NIL and the economics of college athletics
◽️ Expansion, access, and structural trade-offs
◽️ Leadership under extreme scrutiny

00:00 Why Selection Sunday creates pressure unlike any other day
02:30 The UNC selection decision and the reaction that followed
07:10 How conflicts of interest are handled inside the committee
12:40 Bubble teams, contingency votes, and why outrage is inevitable
18:30 Why a computer still cannot pick March Madness
24:50 NIL and how the economics of college sports are changing
33:10 Expansion debates and whether 68 teams is the right number
41:30 Conference realignment and the Sun Belt’s strategic approach
49:20 Where AI adds value and where human judgment still matters
56:40 Leadership, accountability, and staying grounded under scrutiny

Keith Gill:
◽️ Website: https://sunbeltsports.org/staff-directory/keith-gill/43

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 us a text

Stephen Shih joins Personable for a wide ranging conversation on consulting, academia, AI, leadership development, ethics, and preparing the next generation of executives for an increasingly complex world.

Stephen is the Associate Dean at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a former Bain partner, and former Executive Vice President of Learning and Development. He has lived and worked across Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, advising senior executives, building leadership pipelines, and now shaping one of Asia’s leading MBA programs.

He discusses:
◽️ What consultants really do and why perspective matters more than jargon
◽️ Leaving Bain for academia and returning twice
◽️ AI, automation, and the future of junior consulting roles
◽️ Why future professionals must think like executives earlier in their careers
◽️ The skills that matter most in an AI driven world

00:00 Stephen’s background and transition from Bain to academia
02:15 Consulting across Asia and leadership development
04:30 What consultants actually do
07:05 Perspective, judgment, and choosing the right mountain to climb
09:15 AI, consulting, and junior talent pipelines
12:15 Preparing for jobs that do not yet exist
13:30 Skills, mindsets, and executive thinking in the AI era
17:50 MBA education and developing future leaders
19:55 Differentiating HKUST and building a global class
23:30 Ethics, values, and responsible leadership
26:55 Making ethical decisions when no one is watching
28:25 Hong Kong, China, and a multipolar world
31:15 Listening, communication, and asking better questions
34:25 Admissions, individuality, and holistic evaluation
38:40 Discipline, values, and professional standards
41:10 Rankings, numbers, and misleading metrics
43:25 Traits of the most successful students
45:05 Networks, trust, and long term relationships
48:10 One key takeaway for listeners

Stephen Shih:

◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenshih/

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 us a text

Ismail Radwan returns to Personable for a wide ranging conversation on global economics, jobs, AI, geopolitics, and the future of growth.

Ismail is a Lead Economist at the World Bank focusing on the GCC and the broader MENAP region. He previously served as Senior Director for Economics and Investment Strategy at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and spent over two decades at the World Bank.

In this episode, Ismail explains why jobs are the single most powerful tool for eradicating poverty, how AI is likely to reshape work without replacing entire economies, and why entrepreneurship matters more than individual projects. He also shares candid views on market cycles, speculative bubbles, youth unemployment, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and how countries balance values, development, and geopolitics.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in economics, policy, investing, global development, and how decisions made today will shape the next generation.

He discusses:
◽️ Why jobs are the foundation of prosperity and social stability
◽️ How the World Bank gathers data in fragile and conflict affected countries
◽️ AI, productivity, and why this cycle feels similar to past bubbles
◽️ What Saudi Arabia and the GCC are getting right with diversification
◽️ Entrepreneurship as the true driver of long term economic value
◽️ Youth unemployment, education gaps, and private sector readiness
◽️ Why markets detach from reality and how individuals should prepare
◽️ The role of values, communication, and dialogue in development

00:00 Introduction and Ismail’s background
01:40 Returning to the World Bank and MENAP focus
04:30 Why jobs matter more than any single policy
07:00 Data challenges in fragile states
11:00 AI, automation, and the future of work
18:50 Market cycles, bubbles, and historical parallels
26:00 Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s transformation
31:00 Security, governance, and social stability
36:00 Entrepreneurship and economic ecosystems
42:30 GCC investment priorities and diversification
49:00 Youth unemployment and education reform
53:40 Personal finance, markets, and risk management
59:30 One key takeaway for listeners

Ismail Radwan:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ismail-radwan2021/

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