In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld is joined by 22-time bestselling author and entrepreneur Seth Godin for a conversation that cuts to the core of leadership, impact, and what founders often get wrong.

Seth reflects on his early days as an entrepreneur, the first time he met Brad, and what he’s learned since about ego, ambition, and the trap of "founder mode." Together, they explore why saying no is a gift, how systems shape behavior and the difference between building for metrics versus building for meaning.

They also dive into the long-term vision behind Techstars, the value of doing hard things for the right reasons, and how real leadership starts when the spotlight fades.

If you’ve ever felt pulled between doing what scales and doing what matters, this one’s for you.

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In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Ian Hathaway, co-author of The Startup Community Way, host of Outsider Inc., and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Far Out VC, to unpack what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems actually work.

They revisit the early days of their collaboration, from Ian’s initial cold email and time in Boulder, to writing the book that reframed how founders, cities, and networks build momentum. They dive into the theory of complex adaptive systems, the power of feedback loops, and why startup success is anything but linear. Along the way, they reflect on Boulder’s influence, COVID’s inflection point, and how Techstars shaped Ian’s investing philosophy.

Plus, Ian shares why he launched Outsider Inc., a podcast dedicated to founders breaking the mold, and how he’s helping push founder-friendly policies through the Center for American Entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C.

If you’ve ever wondered how movements grow, how policy intersects with startups, or how to support founders outside the usual hotspots, this conversation delivers.

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In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen and Brad Feld go deep with Lesa Mitchell on the 35-year evolution of the startup community movement. Recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, they reflect on the early days of entrepreneurship support—from the founding of EO and early angel networks to the ripple effects of the Kauffman Foundation.

Together, they explore the rise of startup ecosystems, the shift from gatekeepers to networks, and how placing founders at the center reshaped everything. Brad shares pivotal moments from Boston to Boulder, Lisa brings insider context from Kauffman’s legacy, and David reflects on how it all led to Techstars. It's a look back,—and a look forward,—at the movement that transformed how startups start.

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