Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

Robin Arzón’s leap from lawyer to fitness powerhouse wasn’t just a career shift; it was a radical reinvention. After surviving a traumatic hostage situation, she turned to running as a way to heal, reclaim control, and push past limits. What began as a coping mechanism evolved into a mission: to complete ultra-marathons, build a global fitness brand, and inspire others as a lead instructor at Peloton. Even after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Robin refused to be defined by anything but her unstoppable drive. In this episode, Robin opens up to Ilana about how she transformed trauma into purpose, made a bold leap into fitness, and became a global force in wellness with Peloton. Robin Arzón is a fitness expert, former lawyer, author, and motivational speaker. She is best known as an instructor at Peloton, where she inspires millions with her high-energy cycling and strength classes. In this episode, Ilana and Robin will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (01:37) Surviving a Hostage Situation (05:47) Discovering Running as a Healing Tool (08:51) From Casual Runs to Ultra-Marathons (11:29) Transitioning from a Law Career to Fitness (13:19) Landing a Job at Peloton with a Cold Email (15:49) Living and Thriving with Type 1 Diabetes (18:34) Juggling a Career, Motherhood, and Life’s Demands (21:39) Pushing Past Her Limits at the StriveX Challenge (24:54) Building a Global Brand Through Consistency (28:18) Swagger Society and Upcoming Cookbook (31:47) Learning to Trust Life’s Redirections Robin Arzón is a fitness expert, former lawyer, author, and motivational speaker. She is best known for inspiring millions with her high-energy cycling and strength classes as an instructor at Peloton, where she is also the Vice President of Fitness Programming. Robin is also a New York Times bestselling author of Shut Up and Run and Strong Mama, sharing her personal stories and fitness philosophies. She advocates for mental and physical strength, promoting the power of movement and mindset to achieve personal transformation. Connect with Robin: Robin’s Website: https://www.robinarzon.com/  Robin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinnyc  Resources Mentioned: Robin’s Books: Shut Up and Run: How to Get Up, Lace Up, and Sweat with Swagger: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062445685  Eat to Hustle: 75 High-Protein Plant-Based Recipes (A Cookbook): https://www.amazon.com/dp/031659427X Robin’s Journal, Welcome, Hustler: An Empowerment Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454946342 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon

Russell Brunson failed more times in his early 20s than most founders do in a lifetime. From broken funnels to failed product launches, he turned every setback into a lesson, refining his craft while navigating near bankruptcy, legal threats, and even moments where he feared jail time. Those hard years became the foundation that ultimately led him to co-found ClickFunnels, one of the fastest-growing bootstrapped tech companies in the world. In this episode, Russell joins Ilana to share how he bounced back from his toughest moments, offering powerful lessons in resilience, leadership, and authentic relationships. Russell Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and digital marketing expert. He is widely recognized as the co-founder of ClickFunnels, a leading marketing software company that helps businesses worldwide boost conversions and drive sales. In this episode, Ilana and Russell will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:04) The Infomercial That Led Him to Entrepreneurship (05:52) The Influence of Wrestling on His Business Drive (08:18) College Days and the Potato Gun Venture (10:15) The Rollercoaster Journey to His First Million (14:48) Key Lessons from His Toughest Year (21:50) The Birth of ClickFunnels and Its Challenges (34:41) Gaining Lifelong Mentorship from Tony Robbins (37:55) Dream 100 Strategy: The Power of Relationships (43:08) Why Vulnerability Can Lead to Unlikely Success (47:14) Tips for Building a Winning Team (50:17) Turning Your Pain into an Asset Russell Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and digital marketing expert. He is widely recognized as the co-founder of ClickFunnels, a leading marketing software company that helps businesses worldwide boost conversions and drive sales. Over the past 19 years, he has built a community of over a million entrepreneurs and authored New York Times bestsellers, including DotCom Secrets and Expert Secrets.  Connect with Russell: Russell’s Website: www.russellbrunson.com  Russell’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/russellbrunson Russell’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/russellbrunson  Resources Mentioned: Russell’s YouTube: youtube.com/@russellbrunson The 12 Month Millionaire Droplets: Vincent James's Unmissable Revelations by Vincent James: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXJGPXNN  Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty: The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need by Harvey Mackay: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385485468  Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon

When Kevin Kelly dropped out of college in the 1970s, it was almost unheard of. Instead of following a traditional path, he chose a life driven by curiosity, freedom, and hands-on learning. That decision led him to hitchhike across Asia, document disappearing cultures, and eventually immerse himself in the early internet. Years later, he co-founded Wired, a magazine that soon became the voice of emerging technology and culture. In this episode, Kevin joins Ilana to share how Wired went from fighting for shelf space to redefining what a tech publication could be. He also explains his unique relationship with time, why he tracks the days he has left, and how creators today can thrive with just 1,000 true fans. Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and Senior Maverick at Wired, an award-winning magazine he co-founded in 1993. He is also a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review and the author of multiple bestselling books about the future of technology. In this episode, Ilana and Kevin will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:14) Choosing an Unconventional Path to Success (06:34) The Start of His Adventures in Asia (10:54) Getting into Writing and Publishing (14:17) Creating One of the First Hacker Conferences (20:18) The Grit Behind Wired Magazine’s Success (30:37) The Dot-Com Bust and Why Wired was Split (34:17) The Origin and Power of “1,000 True Fans” (41:18) How a Near-Death Experience Transformed Kevin (47:10) About His Latest Book,  Colors of Asia Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and co-founder of the award-winning Wired magazine, and a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review. He is the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, which champions long-term thinking, and the creator of the Cool Tools website, which has reviewed tools daily for over 20 years. Kevin is also the author of multiple bestselling books on the future of technology, and his latest book, Colors of Asia, captures the culture of all 35 Asian countries through vivid photography. Connect with Kevin: Kevin’s Website: https://kk.org  Kevin’s Twitter: https://x.com/kevin2kelly  Resources Mentioned: Kevin’s Book, Colors of Asia: A Visual Journey: https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Asia-Journey-Kevin-Kelly/dp/B0FGJ18PG5  Leaves of Grass: The Original 1855 Edition by Walt Whitman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1449505716  Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon

Jordan Ritter didn’t grow up surrounded by tech; he grew up on a farm, tinkering with computers in total isolation. But that early curiosity led him to co-found Napster, the file-sharing service that transformed music distribution. As millions of users flooded the platform, Jordan was instrumental in keeping it alive through sleepless nights and nonstop chaos. The success was massive, the failure was brutal, but the lessons shaped everything he did next. In this episode, Jordan reveals to Ilana the real story behind Napster, the personal sacrifices of innovation, and the mindset required to build something that leaves a legacy. Jordan Ritter is a serial entrepreneur, software architect, and angel investor, recognized for his work at Napster, the file-sharing service that reshaped music distribution and digital technology. Since then, he has launched and advised multiple startups in the tech industry. In this episode, Ilana and Jordan will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:08) Growing Up on a Farm and Discovering Tech (06:40) His Journey into Hacking and Computer Security (12:37) Joining Napster and Disrupting the Music Industry (17:55) Experiencing Napster’s Highs and Crushing Lows (32:20) Why Jordan Decided to Leave Napster (40:16) Reinventing and Building Companies with Value (46:03) The Importance of Culture in Startups (52:19) Navigating Interviews and Culture Alignment (55:18) The Challenges of Starting a Business (1:03:30) Lessons Learned and Giving Back Jordan Ritter is a serial entrepreneur, software architect, angel investor, and co-founder of Napster, where he helped scale the platform to 60 million users. A four-time founder, he has built 20+ large-scale commercial and open-source products across 12 languages, developing systems used by millions. At Cloudmark, Servio, and Augment AI, Jordan built intuitive, scalable, and reliable platforms, and he now advises CoPilotKit on product strategy. Connect with Jordan: Jordan’s  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordanritter  Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon

Ilana Golan has reinvented herself more times than most people switch job titles. From becoming one of the first women to train F-16 pilots in the Israeli Air Force, to engineering, to product, to Silicon Valley executive, to investor, to founder, she’s rebuilt her identity again and again in industries that weren’t built for people like her. In this episode of the Remarkable People podcast, Guy Kawasaki pulls back the curtain on what it really took for Ilana to leap across careers, break barriers, and build a system that helps thousands do the same. She breaks down the concept of reinvention and what it really takes to leap again and again. Ilana Golan is a former F-16 flight instructor turned Silicon Valley tech executive and investor. As the founder of Leap Academy and host of the LEAP Academy podcast, she teaches professionals how to fast-track opportunities, build portfolio careers, and unlock financial freedom. In this episode, Guy and Ilana will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:20) Breaking Barriers in the Israeli Air Force (06:07) What Reinvention Really Means Today (10:40) The Core Steps to Reinventing Your Career (12:59) Reinventing When Systems are Against You (15:16) Advice for Women on Breaking Glass Ceilings (19:58) The Core Signals That You Need Reinvention (21:52) Case Studies: Reinventing Public Figures (29:37) The Role of Timing in Reinvention (33:41) The Power of Building a Personal Brand Ilana Golan is a serial entrepreneur, board director, global keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy and host of the LEAP Academy podcast, she teaches professionals how to fast-track opportunities, build portfolio careers, and unlock financial freedom. Ilana has been recognized as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, a Top 40 Woman to Watch, and a CEO World Award winner. Under her leadership, LEAP Academy was named one of Inc. 500’s Fastest Growing Companies. Connect with Ilana:  Ilana’s Website: leapacademy.com  Ilana’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan  Resources Mentioned: Guy’s Podcast, Remarkable People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827  LEAP E97 with Guy Kawasaki: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasaki-the-tech-evangelist-who-built-apple/id1701718200?i=1000703853865  Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon