Big Shot

Jeffrey Katzenberg was one of the youngest studio heads in Hollywood when he was named president of Paramount Pictures at just 31. Over the decades that followed, he would help shape modern animation and co-found DreamWorks alongside Steven Spielberg and David Geffen.
In this episode of Big Shot, Harley and David sit down with Jeffrey to explore the experiences that shaped his career and leadership approach. He reflects on lessons from his father, whose generosity left a lasting impression, and on a moment with Kirk Douglas that reinforced the idea that you have not truly learned how to live until you have learned how to give.
Jeffrey traces his path through Hollywood, from working with Barry Diller to helping lead Disney during a pivotal era for animation, and how being fired from Disney led him to build DreamWorks. 
Along the way, Jeffrey reflects on failure, success, and the mindset that has guided him through decades in Hollywood, and shares why he never rests on past success, keeping his eyes on what’s next.
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:40) Lessons from his father and Kirk Douglas
(12:01) Volunteering for NYC mayor John Lindsay
(12:40) Growing up with dyslexia
(16:44) The philosophy of exceeding expectations
(25:24) Jeffrey’s role in revitalizing Disney animation
(33:32) Storytelling lessons from Walt Disney
(37:16) Building DreamWorks as its own brand
(43:29) Getting fired from Disney and forming the Dreamworks team
(57:04) Movie studio economics 
(59:32) Venture capital vs. filmmaking 
(1:05:26) A story about Jeffrey’s father and the drive of Jewish parents
(1:09:29) Dealing with failure
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Where To Find Jeffrey Katzenberg:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-katzenberg-4b3b47123
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.katzenberg
• Website: https://www.wndrco.com 
Where To Find Big Shot: 
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bigshot.show/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigshotpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bigshotshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigshotshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• Harley Finkelstein: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/harleyf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• David Segal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tea_maverick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Production and Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co⁠

Lloyd Blankfein never chased a master plan. He focused on whatever was right in front of him, and those small decisions carried him from a Brooklyn housing project to leading Goldman Sachs through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
In this episode of Big Shot, Harley and David sit down with Lloyd to explore how that path unfolded. He talks about growing up in public housing and sharing a room with his grandmother, then suddenly finding himself at Harvard at 16, arriving in a suit because he had no idea what college culture looked like. He reflects on the dislocation of moving between the projects and the Ivy League and how he learned to navigate both worlds without ever feeling fully at home in either.
Lloyd traces his shift from law to commodities, what he absorbed inside J. Aron, and how a crisis inside Goldman in the 1980s reshaped the firm and opened unexpected doors. He also shares what it was like to lead Goldman Sachs through 2008, why Warren Buffett’s support mattered at a defining moment, and what it took to keep the firm intact while the global financial system was breaking apart.
It is a conversation about chance, focus, resilience, and the surprising places a life can go when you simply take the next step.
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(05:15) Lloyd’s early days
(07:05) How Lloyd graduated early 
(08:53) How Lloyd ended up at Harvard at 16 
(10:56) A glimpse at just how humble his beginnings truly were
(13:42) What it was like arriving at Harvard with no roadmap
(19:37) Why top public-university talent can match (and sometimes surpass) the Ivies
(20:27) What it was like moving between worlds 
(25:05) Why it took a long time to adjust to the burden of great wealth 
(27:11) What led Lloyd to law school
(28:48) Lloyd’s approach of thinking one step ahead
(30:35) Why Lloyd quit practicing law 
(35:16) Lloyd’s pivot to finance and initial rejection from Goldman Sachs
(41:00) The J. Aron role that pulled Lloyd into Goldman 
(49:30) Inside the meritocracy of Goldman Sachs 
(53:08) How Lloyd ended up making partner at Goldman Sachs unexpectedly
(1:02:30) Building trust across cultures 
(1:06:52) What changed after making partner 
(1:10:10) What sparked Lloyd’s retirement and renewed focus on learning
(1:14:42) How the 1994 crisis set the stage for Lloyd to become CEO
(1:22:00) Steering the firm through the 2008 financial crisis
(1:28:22) The deal with Warren Buffett 
(1:37:58) Risk-taking vs. risk management 
(1:39:04) How anxiety fuels Lloyd’s risk management style 
(1:42:00) Lloyd’s biggest accomplishment at Goldman Sachs 
(1:46:21) A case for self-acceptance
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Where To Find Lloyd Blankfein: 
• X: https://x.com/lloydblankfein
Where To Find Big Shot: 
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bigshot.show/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigshotpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bigshotshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigshotshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• Harley Finkelstein: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/harleyf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• David Segal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tea_maverick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Production and Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co⁠

Before OPI, nail color was just another product on the shelf. Suzi Weiss-Fischmann gave it personality and built a global brand in the process.
Suzi believed nail color could be personal, playful, and expressive. She pushed the entire industry forward with smarter formulas, bold branding, and shade names that became pop culture, from “I’m Not Really a Waitress” to “Lincoln Park After Dark.” In just six years after its founding, OPI became the number one professional nail brand in America.
In this episode of Big Shot, Harley and David sit down with Suzi to explore the instincts that fueled that rise. She talks about welcoming competition, using storytelling to make an emotional connection with customers, and expanding from salons into Walmart without losing trust or quality. Suzi also shares how her Jewish upbringing influenced her approach to business, from the drive that comes from starting with very little to the values of community and responsibility that guided every big decision.
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:23) Growing up in communist Hungary with two Holocaust-survivor parents
(05:54) How honoring faith brought Suzi’s mom back to Auschwitz
(07:32) Why Suzi’s family fled Hungary 
(12:40) Suzi’s family’s transitional time in Israel 
(15:50) Where Suzi’s work ethic came from 
(18:53) Suzi’s adolescence in New York
(23:27) Suzi’s move to Los Angeles 
(24:52) How a dental-supply store ended up experimenting with acrylic nails
(29:37) OPI’s first trade show 
(32:36) Why competition is good
(33:58) How Starbucks inspired Suzi to personalize nail polish 
(36:44) Why OPI named polishes after food and places and how the naming process worked
(42:46) The time Suzi presented to Barbara Broccoli 
(45:27) The perks and bonuses OPI gave to their employees
(48:19) How OPI fixed its lipstick mistake
(52:43) How success affected Suzi
(55:04) Entering Walmart and growing beyond the professional market
(58:15) How Suzi’s divorce impacted the family business 
(1:01:33) The emotional impact of selling OPI
(1:10:47) The Jewish work ethic
(1:14:25) How to raise resilient, hardworking children
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Where to find Suzi Weiss-Fischmann: 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stladyofcolors
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stladyofcolors
• Website: https://1stladyofcolors.com
Where To Find Big Shot: 
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bigshot.show/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigshotpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bigshotshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigshotshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• Harley Finkelstein: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/harleyf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• David Segal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tea_maverick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Production and Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co⁠

Every dealmaker in Hollywood has a story. Michael Ovitz has all of them.
From Ghostbusters to Goodfellas, he packaged the films, brokered the talent, and rewrote the rules of power. What started as a rebellion inside William Morris became a $2 billion empire called CAA, and a playbook Silicon Valley still follows.
In this episode of Big Shot, Harley and David sit down with Michael Ovitz, the legendary founder of Creative Artists Agency and the man who redefined power in Hollywood.
From a working-class childhood to representing the world's biggest stars, Michael’s story is one of obsession, reinvention, and relentless ambition. He helped shape more than 300 films, including Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters, Tootsie, Stand by Me, and Goodfellas, while transforming how deals, talent, and ideas move through the entertainment industry.
This episode is brought to you by Firebelly Tea. Use code bigshot15 for 15% off your order https://www.firebellytea.com/
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:39) Michael’s early years 
(02:53) How Jewish mothers blend boundless belief with practical ambition
(06:15) Michael’s advice to a failed businessman
(15:44) How Marc Andreessen pulled Michael into Silicon Valley
(21:00) How early anti-semitism made Eisner’s betrayal cut deeper
(25:37) The Yahoo deal Eisner blocked 
(30:25) The story behind the Jurassic Park pitch and Spielberg’s involvement
(34:11) The hit-to-miss ratio in Hollywood, and how Michael’s movies were almost always hits
(36:15) How stagnation at William Morris drove Michael to build something new
(43:58) Lessons from William Morris’s shortcomings that shaped CAA’s DNA
(48:25) How Michael signed every member of Saturday Night Live 
(50:45) The story of Michael’s first client and first big stars
(59:55) The story behind Janklow and Nesbit and what Michael likes about Silicon Valley
(1:02:28) Michael’s true talent 
(1:06:40) How Michael and Andy Grove envisioned streaming before Hollywood was ready
(1:10:20) The ripple effects of streaming across entertainment
(1:17:02) Michael’s thesis about the success of Jews and Catholics
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Where To Find Big Shot: 
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bigshot.show/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigshotpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bigshotshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigshotshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• Harley Finkelstein: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/harleyf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• David Segal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tea_maverick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Production and Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co⁠

In this episode of Big Shot, Harley and David sit down with Stephen Ross—real estate titan, Miami Dolphins owner, and the visionary behind Hudson Yards, CityPlace, and more—for a rare look inside his extraordinary life.
From growing up in a two-family house in Detroit to transforming New York’s Hudson Yards and Miami’s CityPlace, Stephen’s story is deeply shaped by the Jewish entrepreneurial legacy. Inspired by his grandfather, a Russian immigrant who built the largest independent oil refinery in the Midwest, and his uncle Max Fisher, a renowned businessman and philanthropist, Stephen saw early what was possible through grit, vision, and belief.
He shares how getting fired set him on the path to starting his own business, why he’s now building infrastructure in Palm Beach County to create South Florida’s next “Silicon Valley,” and the stories behind owning the Miami Dolphins and bringing Formula 1 racing to Miami.
We discuss the following: 
• How his grandfather built the largest independent oil refinery in the Midwest
• Why getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to him
• Why he believes New York is still the best place to start anything
• Why he held onto CityPlace through years of losses—and how it finally paid off
• His $1.5B asset sale before the 2008 crash
• The infrastructure he’s bringing to Palm Beach County to build a new “Silicon Valley”
• Why he sold 1.5 billion worth of assets before the financial crisis of 2008
• The story behind purchasing the Miami Dolphins
• Why he turned down a $10B offer for the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and F1
• How daily school drop-offs helped Stephen build a lasting bond with his daughters
• His perspective on Jewish excellence in entrepreneurship and philanthropy
• His advice for young entrepreneurs 
• And much more!
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:47) Stephen’s childhood in Detroit 
(05:15) Lessons and inspiration from his grandfather and uncle 
(17:00) Stephen’s rocky start in Florida and struggles in school
(22:35) How Stephen got into the University of Michigan and became a good student 
(27:13) How getting fired sparked his first business
(34:40) Early business goals and the fundraising hurdles that led to bootstrapping
(41:10) Stephen’s diversification strategy 
(44:01) How Stephen found great people to work with 
(47:30) What Stephen loves about the real estate business 
(49:12) Why the 90s market wasn’t ready for CityPlace 
(54:12) The story behind Hudson Yards and the Olympic stadium that fell through 
(57:50) Why Stephen says his latest project will be the most impactful 
(1:04:15) How to maintain momentum while building large projects 
(1:08:32) What it was like buying the Miami Dolphins 
(1:17:05) Why he brought F1 to Miami 
(1:19:25) Stephen’s philanthropy and why giving back is important
(1:23:40) What drives Jewish excellence in business and giving
(1:26:00) How he built and maintained a relationship with his daughters
(1:34:00) How he survived a tough time in the 90s 
(1:35:37) AI's impact on the future
(1:37:10) Advice for young entrepreneurs and how he values relationships
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Where To Find Big Shot: 
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bigshot.show/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigshotpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bigshotshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigshotshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  
• Harley Finkelstein: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/harleyf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• David Segal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tea_maverick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Production and Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co⁠