Why stories beat pitches, why showing up still matters, and what this series is about.

Eric Kasimov sits down with Mitch Long to kick off The Long Game. Mitch has been in the insurance business for over 30 years. He started with a pager and a roll of quarters. He built his book by showing up every Tuesday until people just started handing him the business. Now he's here to have conversations with business owners about how they got where they are — the real version, not the LinkedIn version.

What We Talk About:

• Criminal justice major to insurance salesman
• The 93-year-old woman and the bell story
• Why face-to-face still matters (and why it's not enough anymore)
• Pagers, Blackberries, and the quarantine pivot
• The buggy whip salesman problem
• NIL, college sports, and what it means to stay relevant

Chapters:

• 00:14 – What this show is and how conversations work
• 01:00 – Mitch's path into insurance
• 08:27 – Podcasting as a way to connect
• 13:00 – Old school meets new school
• 21:30 – Adjusting how you reach people
• 23:45 – Pagers, payphones, and quarters
• 26:00 – Blackberry, Gateway, and what happens when you don't evolve
• 28:00 – The buggy whip salesman
• 30:00 – Mitch's grandfather sold matches
• 31:30 – MC Hammer selling records out of his trunk
• 32:01 – NIL and financial literacy

Connect with Mitch Long

LinkedIn | KazInsurance

More from the KazSource Network

Ambient Influence in Content — KazCM
The Benefits and Issues of NIL — SportsEpreneur
Is College Still Worth It? — Entrepreneur Perspectives

About This Podcast and Series

The Long Game is a series under Entrepreneur Perspectives. Produced by QuietLoud Studios — a modern media network and a KazSource brand.

Get in touch with Eric Kasimov:
X | LinkedIn

Credits:
Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

The Truth About Admissions, Debt & AI’s Role in the Future of Higher Ed

College costs are soaring, mental health struggles are rising, and the path to success looks more uncertain than ever.

In this conversation, Eric Kasimov talks with Senan Khawaja, Co-founder and CEO of Kollegio, an AI-powered platform helping students and universities rethink the college admissions process.

They explore the question that so many students and parents are asking: Is college still worth it?

Together they unpack how higher education, entrepreneurship, and technology are colliding in real time.

What You’ll Hear

• Why student debt is becoming a startup killer for young professionals
• The mental health toll of college admissions — and what schools are missing
• The rise and fall of the “test optional” movement
• Why SATs and ACTs are making a comeback
• How grade inflation and participation trophies distorted the system
• What resilience really looks like in education and entrepreneurship
• How AI can democratize opportunity — not just automate it

About Senan

Senan Khawaja is the Co-founder and CEO of Kollegio, an AI startup rethinking college admissions and guidance. A Stanford grad, he’s focused on making higher education more accessible and data-driven. Learn more about kollegio.ai

About Entrepreneur Perspectives

Real conversations on business, creativity, and life—hosted by Eric Kasimov. Founder of KazSource.

More from the KazSource Network

About that Em-Dash That Everyone Now Seems to Hate — KazCM
21% of College Students Use Financial Aid to Bet on Sports — SportsEpreneur
AI Security and 15M in Series B Funding — Deep Sentinel interview

Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios — part of the KazSource network.

Get in touch with Eric Kasimov:
X | LinkedIn

Credits:
Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud

Bob Knakal is a legendary figure in New York commercial real estate, known for his data-driven territory model, massive deal volume, and unapologetically old-school work ethic. As the founder of Massey Knakal Realty Services (sold for $100M) and now Chairman at BKREA, Bob has shaped both the skyline of NYC and the next generation of real estate professionals.

In this episode, Bob shares how 40 years of fieldwork, 22 boxes of newsletters, and a pandemic walking tour of Manhattan became the foundation of his modern marketing machine. He talks about launching The Bob Knakal Show, staying true to core values while adapting to AI, and how being “out there” isn’t about ego—it’s about client outcomes.

You’ll hear Bob’s brutally honest take on what it takes to succeed in sales, why cold calling still matters, the power of content in real estate, and how office-to-residential conversions are reshaping the NYC market. This conversation is packed with timeless lessons on resilience, relevance, and why liking what you do still beats any business plan.

Main Topics:

• How Bob turned mistakes and cold calls into a $100M business sale
• Why content creation is the modern version of “pounding the pavement”
• The ROI of podcasting, newsletters, and putting yourself out there
• A deep dive on NYC’s office-to-residential conversion wave and 467M tax program
• What young professionals really need to learn (hint: not just Excel)
• Why Bob started his own show—and why your legacy matters
• Lessons in grit, luck, leadership, and working through adversity

Chapters With Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction and Early Career Insights
[00:00:43] Bob Knakal's Life-Changing Advice
[00:01:41] Writing the Book: Selling Buildings
[00:05:17] Reading, Learning, and Staying Sharp
[00:08:44] Is College Still Worth It?
[00:15:22] Market Presence and Content Creation
[00:19:46] Adapting to Change: Tech and Tactics
[00:25:30] The Relentless Work Ethic
[00:26:58] Finding Passion in Work
[00:27:36] Resilience Through Adversity
[00:30:43] Commercial Real Estate Market Changes
[00:34:26] Office to Residential Conversions
[00:39:35] Commitment to New York City
[00:42:46] The Map Room Success
[00:46:58] Launching The Bob Knakal Show
[00:50:24] Inspiring the Next Gen
[00:54:04] Wrap Up & Final Words

Bob Knakal

• Website
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Related Episodes:

• David Selinger on AI Security, $15M Series B, and the Deep Sentinel Mission | EP192
• Tastytrade: How a Trading & Media Empire Was Built by Giving Everything Away | Scott Sheridan CEO — EP189
• How AI Is Changing College Counseling and Admissions with Senan Khawaja, CEO of Kollegio | EP190

Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios — a modern media network and a KazSource brand.

Get in touch with Eric Kasimov:
X
LinkedIn

Credits:
Music by Jess & Ricky: SoundCloud