In about two months, I’ll turn 50.
It means I’ve been reflecting on important lessons I’ve learned about life (family, fulfillment, work, etc.) Over the next months, I’ll share some of those lessons here and also on my LinkedIn and Instagram accounts.
Normally, I post about—what else—entrepreneurship. Mainly stories about founders and the brands they built. But this past week, on Instagram, I shared some thoughts about my diet.
I’ve always been fairly health-conscious. Some of you may know that I love to cook. I’ve cooked dinner for my wife and children almost every night for the past 15 years (with the exception of nights when I’m on the road.)
It’s my daily ritual—almost like a form of meditation. When I chop and peel and grate and saute…the stresses of the day melt away.
But in recent years, I’ve noticed that my body just can’t process grains and sugar like it could when I was 30 or even 40! In the past, I’d rarely hesitate to join my kids and indulge in an In-N-Out burger or a fried chicken sandwich. Now, if tempted, I take a small bite.
For the past 18 months, I’ve stuck to a pretty simple list of foods. What I eat isn’t for everyone. In fact, some of the foods listed below cause irritation and/or bloating for some people.
But for me, this list has worked really well. I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my energy, sleep, and mood. In fact, I’m stronger and in better health as I approach 50 than when I was 25.
So while I am NOT a wellness influencer or a dietician or an expert on food…I am sharing this list because I think some of you might benefit from it as I have. My basic rule is to try and eat foods that reduce inflammation.
I monitor my blood sugar levels with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). I am not diabetic but I’ve been wearing a CGM for over a year to track my blood sugar. As many of you know, consistently high blood sugar is linked to inflammation and a whole host of chronic diseases. In many cases, these diseases are preventable AND reversible (like Type 2 diabetes)
Over the past year, I’ve watched my own average glucose levels fall to optimal levels. And I feel great. And it doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally tear into a croissant or a piece of baguette with salty butter—it just means I do it only when it’s worth my time, and in very small quantities.
So, without further ado, here is a list comprising about 90% of what I eat 95% of the time (and I’ve probably forgotten a few things…):
kale, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, cucumbers, lettuces and chicory, artichoke, raspberries, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin seeds, edamame, chia seeds, flax meal, hemp seeds, grass fed beef, turkey, turkey bacon, chicken, lamb, wild fish like salmon, petrale sole, pacific halibut, olive oil, salt, avocado oil, olive oil, cauliflower, mushrooms, brusells sprouts, a bit of strained whole milk yogurt, almonds, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, tinned tuna, sardines, anchovies, a bit of quinoa, lentils, raw sauerkraut, raw kimchi, almond butter, cashew butter, green onions, broccoli, a little bit of hard cheeses, blueberries, blackberries, olives, ceylon cinnamon, some tofu, coffee, fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, onions, carrots, bok choy.
You can also see this list I shared on Instagram below:
OK…I know this week’s introduction is a bit of a digression. And I hope it’s helpful (or at least interesting!)
Cheers
On the Podcasts This Week!
The Power of the Pivot and the Story of Groupon
A recurring theme in the stories I hear every week on How I Built This, is the importance of pivoting. Entrepreneurship is never a straight line, and more often than not, founders need to change course to survive.
In fact, your original idea will almost always change.
Once you put it out in the world and start getting real feedback, you realize: this needs to evolve. And if you aren’t willing to pivot or adapt, your business might not survive.
Take this week’s episode with Andrew Mason. Groupon didn’t start out as Groupon at all – it began as a website about taking collective action. Some of Andrew’s first users were clowns (literally!), and it was nothing like the business he envisioned.
But through lots of trial, error, and adaptation, Andrew noticed a small trend: people were using his platform to get group deals on purchases.
That’s when he pivoted—and after a series of changes, Groupon was born.
If Andrew had stuck to his original idea and refused to change, Groupon wouldn’t exist today.
In the early 2000s, Andrew left college to follow a passion for social change, launching a website called "The Point."
It was a platform aimed at mobilizing people to take collective action. But something unexpected happened—users started organizing for group buying instead. This led Andrew to pivot and create what we now know as Groupon.
Groupon took off fast… really fast. Within two years, Groupon hit $300 million in revenue, expanded into cities across the country, and became a behemoth in the daily deals space.
But, as Andrew will tell us, rapid growth comes with challenges.
Groupon faced intense competition, battled copycats, and turned down jaw-dropping offers. And when they finally went public in 2011 at a $12.5 billion valuation, it was the biggest IPO since Google at the time.
But this is where things took a turn. Andrew’s time at Groupon came to a tough end. He shares not only what went wrong… but also the lessons he learned along the way that helped him in his next venture – Descript!
Tune in to hear Andrew’s incredible story—from the wild days of Groupon’s rapid rise to the quieter but equally fascinating growth of Descript.
HIBT Advice Line: Building Your Wedge
This week on the Advice Line, Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit, joins us to help three founders who are building app-based services. Leah knows firsthand the challenges of being an early player in the digital economy and she’s the perfect founder to help our 3 callers.
First up, Kate: How can I reach my audience?
Kate is the founder of Poppy Notes, a mobile app that lets users send digital greeting cards, invites, and e-cards. Kate is struggling to find a strategy to cut through the noise on the App Store and social media. Our advice? Focus on what makes the app unique.
Next, Shahn: How can we effectively drive user acquisition?
Shahn and his wife created My Love Your Love, an app designed to help couples strengthen their relationships through clinically-backed tools. Shahn’s challenge has been slow user acquisition. In the tech world, products are either vitamins (nice-to-haves) or painkillers (necessities). How can Shahn make his app more of a painkiller?
Finally, Allen: How do we recruit early adopters for our platform?
Allen is the founder of Dynabuddy, an online streaming service that helps kids learn to play music through sequenced videos. With changing school dynamics, Allen needs to refine his product-market-fit strategy. We help Allen think beyond schools and find ambassadors who can help spread the word about his app!
Leah helps our callers think about how to focus and prioritize their work, especially in the early stages of scaling their businesses. Hear all this and more on the latest HIBT Advice Line!
If you would like to be featured on an upcoming episode, call and leave a 1-minute message at 1-800-433-1298 or send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com
Esperanza Spalding: The Essence of Creativity
Esperanza Spalding has a deep, almost spiritual connection to music. It’s not just something she does – it’s who she is.
As she shares in this episode, music has the power to reach into parts of our hearts and minds we didn’t even know existed. But she also expresses frustration with how music education has lost its way in the US, and she’s on a mission to bring music back into the fabric of our everyday lives.
You’ll be captivated by her story—her powerful love for music, her authenticity, and the lessons she’s learned about presence, love, and carving her own path in this world. Enjoy!
Watch it on YouTube:
Ryan Holiday: Turning Trials into Triumph
Ryan Holiday has become one of the most influential thinkers of his generation. But his journey didn’t start with ancient philosophy—it started in the fast-paced world of marketing.
In this episode, Ryan takes us through his remarkable shift from a marketing strategist to a modern-day philosopher. And he explains how the timeless principles of Stoicism helped him—and countless others—navigate the trials of life.
As you'll hear, his understanding of Stoic teachings has empowered leaders to approach obstacles with clarity and strength, turning adversity into opportunity.
Science Podcasts for Kids!
Moonwalking Through Space!
This week, we have five contestants fighting to earn a spot to be America’s next space astronaut! They take on grueling challenges – like scuba diving and reading tests – to see who will become the next, great astronaut!
Will Grandma G-Force fill out the right forms? Will Thomas Fingerling pass the height test? And who in the Wow will be our winner?
Tune in to find out on our latest episode of Wow in the World!
What’s a Beefalo?
This week’s theme is farm animals!
Who has more bones in their neck? A chicken or a giraffe?
What is a group of sheep called?
And what in the world is a beefalo!?
You’ll be singin’ E-I-E-I-Oh! on the latest episode of Two Whats?! and a Wow!
From the Archives!
TaskRabbit: Leah Solivan
Leah Solivan’s “aha” moment came on a cold, snowy night in Boston when her 100-pound yellow lab ran out of food. Faced with the inconvenience of a late-night trip, Leah wondered: Shouldn’t there be an easier way to get this done?
That simple question sparked the idea for TaskRabbit, an online service that matches users with “taskers” to run errands and complete chores. Leah left a stable job at IBM, taught herself to code, and recruited her first “taskers” from Craigslist.
With a blend of foresight and courage, she bet on the rise of mobile tech, location services, and social media to help build a service that was ahead of its time.
Discord: Jason Citron
Jason Citron's path to creating Discord was a journey of pivots and reinvention.
At just 13, he had a “holy crap” moment when he realized he could build his own video games. This would eventually lead him to build two companies, both of which stalled before finding their footing. But it was in these failures that Jason discovered a breakthrough: creating a space for gamers to connect.
Today, Discord has grown far beyond its gaming roots, with ~200 million monthly active users connecting with friends, building communities, and sharing experiences.
See you next time!
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