Bill Gurley is a venture capitalist known for early investments in Uber, Grubhub, Zillow and many others. Gurley joins us to discuss "Running Down a Dream," his new book — which is full of career advice that is as surprising as it is useful.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Power of Mentorship: Why Bill feels a moral urge to share what he's learned with the world.

• The "Safe" Path Trap: Why the jobs your parents think are safe might actually be the most dangerous in the age of AI.

• The Peer Group Secret: Why sharing your best ideas with others actually makes you more successful than hoarding them.

• Finding Your Obsession: Why Bill looks for "fascination" rather than just "passion."

She's the mom of a child with a rare condition, and she wouldn't take "no" for an answer from doctors. He walked 500 miles for his granddaughter, who has the same condition. Together, they're helping a foundation develop a gene therapy treatment faster and cheaper than the big pharma giants.

Today, we speak with Nicole Johnson, founder of the FOXG1 Research Foundation, and Tom Horton, former CEO of American Airlines. Together, they are proving that a lean, parent-led organization can achieve breakthroughs usually reserved for billion-dollar pharmaceutical giants.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Startup Model for Science: How Nicole and Tom applied "lean startup" principles to fund a lab and launch a clinical trial.

• 500 Miles for a Cure: Tom Horton shares the lessons learned from his 500-mile walk carrying the names and prayers of children who cannot walk themselves.

• Defying the Odds: An update on Josie, the beautiful 14-year-old who inspired the movement.

• A Blueprint for Others: Why this breakthrough provides hope for thousands of other rare diseases left on the shelf.

Chapters & Timed Links:

• [04:22] The Diagnosis: Nicole recounts the moment she was told "there's nothing you can do" and why she refused to believe it.

• [10:15] Building the Lab: How the FOXG1 Research Foundation created a new model for gene therapy at a fraction of the usual cost.

• [18:40] The 500-Mile Journey: Tom Horton discusses his walk and the "Gianna effect" that drives his fundraising.

• [25:55] The Science of Hope: Why FOXG1 research holds the key to treating conditions like Autism and Alzheimer's.

• [33:10] Staring Down the Impossible: Nicole's advice for anyone told that their goal is unreachable.

My Sincere Thanks

Because of listeners like you, our show now ranks among the top 5% of most-downloaded podcasts by volume per month. Your support has helped take our little idea to celebrate generosity and good deeds, and turn it into one of the most listened-to podcasts available. Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates people who do good things for others.

Walter Martin spent decades making and playing music, most famously with the indie rock bands Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Walkmen. Recently, he's started a new crazy good turn, helping people like you and me rediscover the joy of music through his Walter Martin Radio Hour show and Substack.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How a single instrument (like the organ) can change how you hear a song.

• Why Walter chooses positivity over rock criticism.

• Moving past the "judgmental" years to love bands you once dismissed.

• The "Crazy Good Turn" of human-to-human music discovery.

Chapters & Timed Links:

[05:07] The Austin Kleon Connection: How two creators found each other through "the magic of the internet."

[07:29] From NYC to Upstate: The origin of The Walter Martin Radio Hour.

[10:16] The Classical Club: Why Walter is diving deep into Strauss and Stravinsky.

[12:07] The Organ Episode: Learning to hear the difference between a Hammond and a Farfisa.

[21:43] Breaking the "Teenage Rules": How Walter learned to love the Grateful Dead and Neil Young.

[23:52] Walter's Favorite new musician right now.

[28:57] Walter's Songs: Discussing "The Rat" and the autobiographical beauty of "The Soldier."

[31:33] Who's done a Crazy Good Turn for Walter?