Innovation with Mark Peter Davis

Hosted by Interplay

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152

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Innovation with Mark Peter Davis, a podcast dedicated to innovation, truth, and education. Through fireside chats with entrepreneurs, industry leading executives, and creative minded business folk, I'll highlight the society altering transformations that are happening all around us while providing crucial entrepreneurial advice. Pickup tips from founders who sold their company for hundreds of millions of dollars. Discover how everyday materials and goods are being reinvented by science. Learn about the current state of space exploration and the space industry from the CEO of a rocket company. Join him on this expedition to learn about the innovations that are changing our world and the way we exist. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Medium.

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60 recent

June 4, 202624 min

Overlooked No More: How Smalls Is Building The Brand Cats Deserve

Cats are 40% of the pet market, but are somehow still chronically overlooked. Every innovation goes to dogs first. Even your vet's office is built for dogs first. Matt Michaelson, cofounder and CEO of Smalls, and his team have built an incredible cat-first brand precisely because of that blind spot.In this episode, I sit down with Matt to break down:• Why the cat industry is structurally underinvested (which includes VCs simply saying "I don't really like cats")• What "human-grade" actually means for pet food — and the sustainability trade-offs nobody talks about• Ingredient splitting: the regulatory hack that lets pet brands disguise what's actually in the bag• "Wrestling in the mud": a feedback culture where every hire is expected to disagree• Founders Pledge, and why committing 5% early changes the giving conversation laterBig thanks to Matt for coming on the pod and sharing the playbook behind Smalls.⏱️ Chapter Markers:00:00 — Why cats keep getting overlooked01:05 — What is Smalls? Cat-first brand, human-grade nutrition02:09 — What "human-grade" actually means (and the sustainability trade-off)04:26 — Health impact: allergies, ingredient splitting, and the regulatory hack06:31 — Why Matt chose cats: the market psychology nobody's pricing in07:20 — Why every VC and pet brand defaults to dogs first09:21 — From growth marketing to founder: building demand in a commoditized stack11:48 — Emerging channels worth watching (and why DTC is just a channel, not a model)13:17 — AI-native orgs: how the team uses AI without becoming a tech company16:01 — Human-supervised AI teams and what entry-level jobs look like now17:26 — "Wrestling in the mud": the air-grievances feedback culture19:39 — Founders Pledge: committing 5% early changes the whole conversation21:05 — Ingredient transparency: percentages on the label, fixing the labeling game23:32 — MPD's closing thoughts on the cat opportunityLinks:Matt Michaelson: LinkedIn Smalls: Website, LinkedIn, X Interplay: Website, LinkedIn, XMPD: LinkedIn, X

May 21, 202627 min

Building Companies From Scratch: Inside Interplay’s Studio

Venture studios are quietly becoming one of the most effective models for company creation, but most people still don't understand what happens inside one.For this podcast episode I sat down with Andy Bilinsky, Partner at Interplay leading our Studio, to break down exactly how we build companies from the ground up. During our conversation, we covered:What a venture studio actually is and how it differs from traditional VCWhy do we research industries deeply before ever writing a business planThe role of operating partners as true co-foundersWhy second- and third-time founders are choosing to build with a studio instead of going soloHow Interplay went from 3 new companies in Q4 2025 to targeting 10+ in 2026Big thanks to Andy for pulling back the curtain on how we build. We’re grateful to have him here at Interplay.⏱️ Chapter Markers: 00:00 Introduction to Andy Bilinsky 01:15 Andy's Entrepreneurial Background03:30 Early Career: Hyper-Growth at Haute Look05:45 BeachMint, Science Incubator & Chirp Ads08:00 Launching Lensable From Scratch09:30 Why Andy Joined Interplay13:00 What Is a Venture Studio?15:30 Interplay's Thesis-Driven Approach18:00 The Role of Operating Partners20:30 What Makes a Great Studio CEO24:00 Why Successful Founders Don't Go Solo27:30 The Value of a Firm as Co-Founder30:00 Administrative Support & De-Risking33:00 Distributed Teams & Geographic Flexibility35:00 Studio Growth: From 3 Companies to 10+Links:Andy Blinsky: LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

March 12, 202645 min

The Rise of Private Credit: How $1T in Capital Is Reshaping Finance

Private credit has exploded into a trillion-dollar asset class, but most people outside finance still don’t understand how it works.I sat down with Ivan Zinn, founder of Atalaya Capital Management and now part of Blue Owl Capital, to unpack the real mechanics behind the private credit market. Few people have a clearer view of how capital flows through the economy.During our chat we unpack:What private credit actually isWhy banks pulled back after the Global Financial CrisisHow private lenders stepped in to finance everything from consumer loans to equipment, infrastructure, and fintech platformsWhere entrepreneurs could build meaningful companies by modernizing the infrastructure behind asset management.Big thanks to Ivan for sharing such a thoughtful and practical perspective on the evolving capital markets ecosystem.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 Introduction to Ivan Zinn01:40 What Private Credit Actually Is03:05 Asset-Based Lending Explained04:36 Why Banks Don’t Make These Loans08:11 How Private Credit Filled the Financing Gap09:19 Ivan’s Journey into Credit Investing11:49 Why Scale Matters in Private Credit16:32 Is There Still Room for Small Credit Managers?18:35 The Rise of Fintech-Driven Lending Models19:29 Biggest Mistakes New Credit Managers Make24:46 What CEOs Get Wrong When Raising Debt29:08 Aligning Expectations Between Lenders and Founders31:16 Why Private Credit Is Still Technologically Behind35:30 Massive Opportunities for Fintech Builders40:06 Selling Atalaya Capital Management to Blue Owl42:30 Should Asset Managers Go Public?44:58 Final Advice for Fintech EntrepreneursLinks:Ivan Zinn: LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

February 26, 202633 min

Defying Gravity: A Lookback At 2025 & Deep Dive Into The Macro Forces Shaping 2026

Is the global economy stronger than it looks or more fragile beneath the surface? If you’re trying to reconcile booming markets with rising geopolitical risk, this week’s episode brings an important perspective.I sat down with Chris Zhang, Partner & CIO of Ascend Interplay, to break down the real forces shaping 2026:How AI is shifting from a narrative to a measurable economic impactWhy labor markets may determine where we go nextGlobal structural shifts that are underway - from escalating Middle East tensions to the rise of protectionism - and what they imply for supply chains, inflation dynamics, and U.S. debt sustainability.Big thanks to Chris for a thoughtful, data-driven discussion.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome & Why 2025 Defied Gravity02:00 – Global GDP Surprise & Market Performance03:30 – The Structural Bull Market in Gold & Silver07:45 – When Would Gold Actually Fall?10:00 – 2026 Outlook: Cautiously Constructive11:45 – AI’s Real Impact on Productivity & Labor14:30 – Middle East Conflict & Oil Markets17:15 – Are Trade Wars Really Over?19:30 – Structural Protectionism & Supply Chains22:00 – The Americas Strategy & Regional Integration26:30 – U.S. Debt: Is There a Real Solution?29:45 – The Fed, Growth & Kevin Warsh’s Role32:45 – Final Takeaways for 2026Links:Chris Zhang: LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

February 12, 202629 min

Saving Healthcare: How Meroka Is Empowering Doctors To Stay Independent

Why is U.S. healthcare so broken? If you're not sure why it’s so expensive or dysfunctional, this week’s podcast may illuminate the answers for you.I sat down with Alex Barrett, Cofounder & CEO of Meroka, who's tackling one of the root problems:Consolidation that strips doctors of autonomyMisaligned incentives across the systemOutdated models that sacrifice care for throughput70% of doctors now work for big systems but Alex is charting a new path by giving independent practices scale, liquidity, and ownership without the need to sell out.Special thanks to Alex for joining the pod - this is one of the smartest takes I’ve heard on how to fix healthcare from the inside.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro01:20 – What is Meroka?03:30 – Why Independence Matters in Healthcare05:30 – The Trade-Off Between Scale & Patient Experience07:20 – Breaking Down Reimbursement Rates10:30 – Why Scale Has Meant Consolidation—Until Now14:50 – How Independent Practices Survive17:00 – The Myth That Doctors Are Bad at Business20:30 – Meroka’s Employee Ownership Model23:50 – Comparing to Private Equity Models26:00 – The Future of Healthcare as a Real Market28:30 – Final Thoughts & GratitudeLinks:Alex Barrett: LinkedInMeroka: Website, LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

January 29, 202631 min

The Power of Suggestion: Inside the Psychology of High-Stakes Selling

This conversation blew me away. I sat down with Lydia Fenet, an auctioneer who’s raised over a billion dollars, and what started as a chat about charity auctions quickly turned into one of the most insightful masterclasses on sales, persuasion, and audience psychology I’ve ever heard.Lydia isn’t just good on stage, she’s world-class at reading people, building trust instantly, and closing with confidence. What’s wild is how much of what she does applies directly to startup life: pitching investors, closing enterprise deals, selling your vision.If you’re a founder, operator, or anyone in business, this episode is packed with tactics that’ll shift how you think about selling anything to anyone.⏱ Chapter Markers00:00 – Intro: Why Auctioneering Matters To Entrepreneurs01:15 – Lydia’s Unconventional Path Into Auctioneering04:00 – The High-Stakes World Of Charity Auctions06:15 – Launching The First Auctioneer Talent Agency08:00 – What Makes A Great Charity Auctioneer?11:00 – Sales Psychology On Stage13:45 – Audience Dynamics And Identifying Your “Auction Foil”17:30 – Anchoring Luxury With Impact: Values-Based Selling20:00 – The Power Of The Underbidder22:00 – Auction Tactics That Apply To Enterprise Sales25:00 – Selling With Empathy, Not A Script27:30 – The Power Of Suggestion And Painting The Picture31:00 – Closing Thoughts & Key TakeawaysLinks:Lyndia Fenet: Website, LinkedInBook (Written by Lyndia Fenet): The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You: Command an Audience and Sell Your Way to SuccessBook (Written by Lyndia Fenet): Claim Your Confidence: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You WantInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

January 15, 202639 min

The Gold Standard for Seed VC: Inside Primary

Brad Svrluga has been a mentor and a close friend of mine for years. Watching him build Primary - one of the most respected firms in the industry - has been a masterclass in itself, so sitting down with him for this episode was a highlight I've been looking forward to and a great way to kick off the year.We went deep on an often overlooked topic in VC: How do you actually scale a firm's infrastructure?Whether you're a GP or a founder, Brad’s perspective on building a modern, institutional-grade firm is unmatched.⏱ Chapter Markers00:00 – Intro & Brad's Background01:00 – What Primary Ventures Does Differently03:20 – Incubation and Building Companies from Scratch05:00 – Why Founders Pick Primary07:00 – Inside the Operational Support Team09:00 – Is There a Downside to Scaling a VC Firm?10:30 – Culture and Structure at Primary12:15 – Aligning Operational Teams with MOIC Goals14:00 – Ben & Brad: cofounder Dynamics17:30 – Why Brad Became a VC21:00 – The Challenge of Scaling Venture Itself24:00 – The Downfall of Venture Networks26:00 – Scaling with Specialized Partners30:00 – Rebranding and Starting Primary31:30 – Advice for Emerging VCs: Sourcing, Picking, and LPs38:50 – Wrap-Up and ReflectionsLinks:Brad Svrluga: LinkedInPrimary: Website, LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

December 16, 202557 min

2026 Predictions Episode

Our 2026 predictions are in. From IPOs to AI to robots - check out what we think is actually coming in 2026.To wrap up 2025, I regroup with Mike and Phuong for our annual end-of-year episode, where we look back at last year's predictions (they passed with flying colors) and set our sights on what’s ahead.Here’s a sneak peek at some of the topics covered:✅ AI’s real impact on blue and white collar jobs.📈 The slow thaw of the IPO market.💸 The maturing of venture capital into a robust capital market ecosystem.🤖 Why humanoid robots might finally enter the chat.🚀 How seed-stage startups have fundamentally changed - and what will make or break them next year.If you're a founder, investor, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, this one’s packed with insight.🎧 Listen & let us know what YOU think is coming in 2026? Drop your predictions in the comments. 👇⏱ Chapter Markers00:00 – Intro: 2025 Recap & Predictions for 202601:00 – Michael’s 2025 Prediction Scorecard: AI, Jobs & Valuations06:30 – IPO Market Outlook & The Tale of Two Venture Markets12:00 – AI Foundational Models vs. Application Layer16:45 – 2026 Exit Landscape & The Rise of Secondaries21:00 – Will Big Tech Pull Back from the Application Layer?25:00 – AI Enterprise Adoption & Salesforce’s Big Bet28:00 – The Robotics Curve: Consumer vs. Construction Use Cases33:00 – Phuong’s 2025 Prediction Debrief: Tariffs & CX38:00 – AI at Home? Why Consumers Aren’t Adopting (Yet)41:00 – How Seed-Stage Startups Have Changed in 202546:00 – Labor Mismatch & The Talent Problem in AI Startups49:00 – Who Wins in 2026: Full Workflow Automation52:00 – Who Loses: Commoditized Content, Support & Legal Tools55:00 – The Real Risk: Obsolescence & Distribution Moats57:00 – Wrap Up & 2026 OutlookLinks:Book: AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World OrderBook: The Lean StartupBook: The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Art of DisruptionInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, TwitterMichael Rogers: LinkedIn, TwitterPhuong Ireland: LinkedIn, Twitter

November 19, 202546 min

ROI Driven Philanthropy with Mark Gerson

What if you approached philanthropy like a startup? The results might shock you and completely rewire how you think about giving.I sit down with Mark Gerson, Cofounder of GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) and Cofounder and Chair of 3i Members, to dive deep into how you can treat generosity like a capital allocation decision. We unpack a framework for ROI-driven giving that prioritizes measurable impact over emotional check-writing.Whether you give already or you’re just starting to think about it, this is a practical, purpose-driven guide to doing the most good in a faster and smarter waySpecial thanks to Mark for joining me on the pod and for all the amazing work he does.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Introduction to Mark Gerson & GLG Origins02:45 – The Accidental Start of a $650M Business06:00 – Lessons in Entrepreneurship from GLG’s Growth08:50 – Why Business Advice is Often Useless09:30 – The Life-Saving Problem in Global Emergency Response11:00 – United Hatzalah: Crowdsourcing First Response in Israel13:30 – Politics, Union Challenges & US Expansion15:00 – How an Orange Jacket Saves Lives16:45 – ROI-Driven Philanthropy: Measuring Cost per Life Saved18:30 – African Mission Healthcare: Saving Lives with $350 C-Sections21:00 – Partnering with Christian Missionary Doctors25:00 – Effective Philanthropy vs. Emotional or Prestige Giving29:00 – The True Definition of Charity & ROI vs. Emotion32:30 – When and How Much Should You Give?36:00 – Why Giving Never Makes You Poor37:45 – Books, Content & Torah as Self-Help40:00 – 3i: A Crowdsourced Investment + Community Platform43:00 – How Business & Charity Reinforce Each OtherLinksMark Gerson 3i Members, United Hatzalah of Israel, African Mission Healthcare, GLG, Twitter, LinkedInBooks: God Was Right: How Modern Social Science Proves the Torah Is True, The Telling: How Judaism’s Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of LifeMPD: LinkedIn, TwitterInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter

October 23, 202530 min

Building Ethical Businesses and Raising Conscious Leaders

Beneath the surface of many everyday products lies a complex web of ethical dilemmas. In this powerful conversation, entrepreneur and investor Ryan Ansin peels back the curtain on global supply chains and the moral questions behind them. From chocolate and diamonds to blockchain transparency, he shares what ethical manufacturing really entails and how even simple choices carry weight. The episode also explores how to raise grounded children, the role of impact investing, and why major corporations must evolve for real change to happen. This discussion challenges the idea you to think about ethics, offering a roadmap for aligning values with action across business, family, and capital.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Introduction: Meet Ryan Ansin01:00 – Defining Ethical Manufacturing03:20 – Chocolate & Child Labor: A Case Study06:00 – Diamonds, Supply Chains & Transparency09:00 – Who Really Drives Change: Startups or Giants?12:00 – Consumers vs. Regulators: What Sparks Reform?14:00 – Blockchain & The Future of Supply Chain Tracking15:00 – Ryan's Journey into Social Entrepreneurship18:00 – Family Legacy & Ethical Business Foundations24:00 – Is Ethical Living a Privilege or a Choice?26:00 – Grandfather Wisdom: Helping the Helpers30:00 – Giraffes, Accountability & Courage in Business31:00 – Wealth, Responsibility & Raising Grounded Kids37:00 – Teaching Grit Through Friction & Curiosity40:00 – Final Thoughts: Aligning Impact with ActionLinksInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterBook: Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You ThinkMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

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