Kass and Mike Lazerow sold their company for nearly $1 billion—and felt completely numb. In this episode of The Messy Parts, they share the brutal reality behind entrepreneurial success: kids struggling, health failing, friendships lost. Together with Maryam, they explore what radical transparency actually looks like when you strip away the corporate mask. It's a conversation about the hidden costs of achievement, the messiness of working with your spouse, and why showing your failures might be the most powerful leadership tool you have.Guests: Kass and Mike Lazerow -- Entrepreneurs, Investors, Authorshttps://kassandmike.com/Follow Kass and Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassandmike and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kassandmike/ Topics Covered:Personal stories of failure, discomfort, and growthThe hidden cost of successWorking with your life partnerThe parenting paradoxWhat "radical transparency" actually looks like in practiceThe emotional and cultural risk of telling the full truthCreating a work culture where "messy" is normalizedWhy leaders are still afraid of vulnerabilityThe power of being honest before the outcome is clearHow storytelling can be a leadership tool—not just a communications tacticThe difference between transparency and oversharingWhen to hold back (and how to do it without losing trust)Mentioned:Kass & Mike’s book, Shoveling $h!t: A Love StoryMark Benioff (Salesforce CEO) Gary Vaynerchuk Phish (band) eToroNorthwestern University Buddy Media Golf.comFurther Reading:Radical Candor by Kim ScottThe Power of Vulnerability – TED Talk by Brené BrownPsychological Safety in Teams – Google’s Project Aristotle – Research on why speaking up matters at work.The Tell by Amy GriffinArticles about Cambridge AnalyticaDying for Sex documentarySend us a textEmail us: [email protected] To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

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