229: When Stress Speaks: Decoding the Body’s Language for Resilience with Matthew David Gardner
Release Date: 05/27/2025
239: The $1 Billion Public University Bet with Caroline Winnett
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Caroline Winnett, the Executive Director of Berkeley Skydeck, joins Sophie to share her extraordinary story of transforming UC Berkeley's startup accelerator into a global powerhouse. Caroline's unique journey from professional violinist to innovative entrepreneur sets the stage for an insightful exploration of Berkeley Skydeck's explosive growth, from its humble beginnings with just 50 applicants to attracting over 3,000 hopeful startups. We discuss the groundbreaking $90 million Berkeley Skydeck Fund, a revolutionary initiative that returns half of its profits to the university, merging the...
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238: Customer First, Capital Second: What International Startups Get Wrong About Fundraising with Alfredo Coppola
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Alfredo Coppola, Co-CEO of the US Market Access Center, shares his invaluable insights about the intricate landscape of Silicon Valley for international startup founders. Alfredo unravels the common misconceptions about the allure of easy venture capital and underscores the necessity for global entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in the Valley's dynamic environment. We dissect the rapidly evolving investment climate, spotlighted by innovations such as OpenAI, and explore the significant role immigrant founders play in the technology sector's success. Our conversation also touches on the urgent...
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237: Built to Stick: The Startup Making Gecko Tech Ready for Earth and Space
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Trailblazer in biomimicry, Dr. Capella Kerst, joins us to share her inspiring journey from Stanford mechanical engineering PhD student to founder of geCKo Materials, a company revolutionizing industries with its nature-inspired Dry Adhesive technology. Learn how Dr. Kerst's fascination with gecko feet led to a breakthrough that is not only impacting fields like space exploration and dentistry but is also redefining the future of industrial materials. Her story is a testament to innovation born from simplicity, starting from her mom's garage and quickly capturing the intrigue and support of...
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236: Fishing in Deeper Waters: U.S. Customer Acquisition by Design with Bill Kenney
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Unlock the secrets to successfully navigating the intricate U.S. market with insights from Bill Kenney, a visionary entrepreneur who runs his business from a sailboat. Discover how Bill guides B2B and B2G companies through the complexities of U.S. policies on foreign investment, manufacturing, supply chains, and tariffs. With a focus on customer and industry density, Bill offers invaluable advice on targeting specific geographic areas and industry verticals, promising listeners a strategic approach to thriving in the competitive U.S. landscape. Since 2012, Bill and his team at MEET have...
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235: Dreaming the Possible: Art, Technology, and the Diplomacy of Hope with Martin Rauchbauer
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Austrian diplomat Martin Rauchbauer takes center stage in our latest episode, sharing his journey as a pioneer in tech diplomacy. Rauchbauer's career, rooted in the rich diplomatic traditions of Austria, has led him to bridge the gap between diplomacy and the ever-evolving tech world. Through his initiative, Open Austria, Martin has established vital connections between Austria and the bustling innovation hub of Silicon Valley, addressing challenges from creative diaspora dynamics to complex geopolitical landscapes. Martin Rauchbauer is an Austrian-born senior diplomat and recognized expert in...
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234: Beyond the Pitch: Real Stories of Growth, Grit, and Game-Changing Deals with Krishna Mohan
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Krishna Mohan, an influential entrepreneur known for his work with Fortune 500 companies, joins Sophie for a compelling exploration of entrepreneurship and business transformation. Krishna shares his journey from a corporate career to becoming a serial entrepreneur, detailing the challenges small business owners face, such as marketing and people skill gaps. He delves into the importance of understanding a founder's vision in mergers and acquisitions and reveals the untapped potential found within personal aspects of business evaluations. Krishna Mohan is an Award-Winning Serial entrepreneur,...
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233: The High Cost of Holding It Together with Dr. Ardeshir Mehran
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Distinguished psychologist and trauma therapist Dr. Ardeshir Mehran joins us to unravel the complex layers of mental health, particularly how depression subtly manifests among high achievers. We expose the hidden struggles behind a successful facade, where loneliness and a life "on hold" are often overlooked indicators of emotional distress. Drawing from his expertise, Dr. Mehran highlights alarming statistics, such as the profound loneliness reported by 50% of US-based CEOs, and sheds light on how physical symptoms can be an expression of deeper emotional issues, particularly in high-pressure...
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232: Inside Global Class: Frameworks for Modern Market Expansion with Klaus Wehage
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Klaus Wehage, the visionary co-author of "Global Class," shares his fascinating journey from a young MTV enthusiast to a key player in global business expansion. With captivating tales from his early days in Vietnam with Carlsberg, Klaus discusses how those experiences shaped his profound understanding of market discovery, cultural nuances, and the complexities of international business. Transitioning to Silicon Valley, he became the "Silicon Valley Ambassador," revolutionizing the Silicon Valley Forum and guiding founders in global entrepreneurship. Klaus's story is a testament to the power...
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231: EB-2 NIW for Tech Founders: Is It Still Viable in 2025
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
In this episode, Sophie invites listeners to explore the intricacies of the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) green card and how it can bolster a tech career in 2025. She provides expert insights, aiming to equip ambitious tech founders with the knowledge to successfully navigate this self-petition pathway. She also emphasizes the significance of holding advanced degrees or possessing exceptional abilities. The episode dives into the critical three-prong analysis from the Dhanasar case, which requires demonstrating substantial merit, national importance, and the benefits of waiving job offer...
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230: Humanizing Sales in the Age of AI with Venki Pola
Sophie Alcorn Podcast
Venki Pola, co-founder and CTO of OneShot.ai, shares his incredible journey from a career at Salesforce to becoming an immigrant entrepreneur. After experiencing personal tragedy and navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system as an H-1B visa holder, Venki's story is one of resilience and determination. We explore the additional hurdles he faced while transferring his visa to his startup, managing responsibilities, and ensuring his status enabled him to chase his business dreams. His story is a testament to perseverance and the relentless pursuit of one's aspirations, against...
info_outlineFacing a severe digestive shutdown can feel like an insurmountable mountain, but for Matthew David Gardner, the journey to health was transformative. After years of searching for a solution through both traditional and alternative medicine, he found hope through Gloria, a practitioner who introduced him to a unique method of energy testing and personalized nutrition. Within just 30 days, Matthew experienced remarkable improvements, regaining strength and vitality. Join us as we unravel his story and explore the unconventional approaches that restored his health and reshaped his perspective on healing.
Matthew David helps high-performing executives decode their body’s signals to optimize health, sustain energy, and prevent burnout. His approach combines natural healing, individualized testing, and practical longevity to fuel resilience and high-level performance.
Having fully recovered from his health challenges, Matthew brings lived experience and precision strategies to transform clarity, vitality, and productivity.
Disclaimer: This episode is intended solely to explore the broader theme of being proactive about your health, staying informed, and finding the approaches that work best for you.
As high-performance individuals, it can be easy to overlook or deprioritize our health, but it's essential to stay aware and take ownership of our well-being. Always consult qualified medical professionals when making decisions about your health or treatment.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
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Matthew David Gardner's transformative journey from severe digestive shutdown to health recovery
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Personalized nutrition and energy testing methods introduced by practitioner Gloria
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Insights from German New Medicine: symptoms as part of the healing process
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The role of mindset in overcoming health challenges and fostering resilience
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Use of muscle testing and dousing rods for informed dietary choices
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Emotional roots of physical symptoms and their resolution
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