Opt Out Life

Recorded on location in France, Dana sips wine with Norwegian rockstar and restauranteur Frederick Sorea. People often think that musicians are rolling in cash and fame. But most of them somewhere in between. And that’s good news for creatives who want the “opt out” approach to life. Frederick’s story is proof that you can build a band just like you can build a business, and have THAT provide a nice living, opportunity for travel, and an outlet for your creativity. You can end up mildly...

In a world where we are glued to our screens, is there a better word to snap you out of your trance than “Aloha”? It’s a word that means all things good, as we learn from guest Kahana Kalama. Kahana owns a lifestyle brand called Aloha Beach Club. He grew up surfing, and then later toured as a pro surfer. But he was always more interested in how the business behind surfing, and surf brands, worked. Today, he is a successful “Opt Outer” who mixes family time with his business ventures,...

We're on location at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, with Riley Brown. And we have a confession to make. You don’t have to leave your job to opt out! This episode shows exactly how someone can opt in and opt out all at the same time. There are plenty of people who feel in control of their lifestyle - who travel, do meaningful work, and live a life they enjoy day-in-day out, well before retirement - who are, gasp, “opted in”. Our guest will show you exactly how this can play out. He’s in...

How do you take your coffee? Do you like it black? With cream? Slow roasted? Or with sugar? Let us pour you a hot cup as you sit back for today’s story. Our guest is Chuck Patton, founder of an award winning local coffee roaster named Bird Rock Coffee. Chuck didn’t know he would end up an award winning coffee roaster. He didn’t expect to take a major career shift away from being a teacher and head down the entrepreneurial path. Would you believe he opened his coffee roaster right across...

This episode’s guest - Jack Haldrup - had a somber realization at a young age. One day, Jack was on a plane, returning home from a project for that job. His mind raced. That thought came back again. He wasn’t fulfilled in his work. So he made a promise. Jack decided right then and there, in a cramped airplane seat, to come up with business idea before getting off his flight. And he came up with just one idea: men’s soap. We talk through his story to hear about how he launched a company off...

This is the story of Ariel White. She is a creative hustler who has found the perfect balance of work and serenity in the hills of Topanga Canyon. We talk through her story, surrounded by the art and photography of her husband, who is himself a successful creative entrepreneur. Ariel’s business is called MyLittleYoni.com. What’s a ‘Yoni’? Here, it’s a characterized version of a vagina, in the form of stuffed dolls that are handcrafted in Bali. This isn’t some obscure fetish. Ariel is on an...

George Esquivel makes shoes. That may not sound remarkable. But, it is. It is remarkable because he makes shoes in the U.S., where everything seems to have been outsourced. It is remarkable because of where his story begins. From driving a delivery truck, to the highest realms of the fashion industry, Esquivel has gained fans and clients that include musicians, models, and Hollywood’s elite. How did George pull this off? Grit, audacity, and the gracious advice of people you’ve probably...

This on-location episode is the story of Todd Wente, a former 9-5’er who is living proof that a person with a job and a career can transform into an opted-out master of their own domain, who lives anywhere they choose. Even if that choice is a tiny Swedish town. Todd didn’t launch a venture funded company, sell a business, or get a big payout. He’s a regular joe, whose living the opt out life abroad. A lot of people dream of writing a book. Well, Todd did it, and he’s built a new career as...

In 1997, a young businessman got a wild idea. He and his partner would strike up a business deal with the King of Western Samoa. The plan? To use the tiny island country’s rights to the “.ws” domain extension to create a new “website” alternative for the world to use. Incredibly, that young businessman (our guest, Alan Ezeir) pulled it off, and built a very profitable lifestyle business that made everyone involved a lot of money. We caught up with Alan to learn about how he’s hustled...

Dana Robinson is a co-host of this podcast, author of the book Opt Out, and the real life version of "the most interesting man in the world". His life story includes stints as a pastor, a lawn boy, an attorney, a property manager, a published author, and a full-blooded entrepreneur who’s seen inside the stories of businesses as varied as you can imagine. High end fashion? Wine barrels? Christian audiobooks? As you’ll hear, we’re only scratching the surface of the man, the myth and the...

Imagine your doorbell rings. You walk over, open the door, and standing right in front of you is William Shatner and those two Property Brothers from HGTV. And a film crew. Sound crazy? Our guest today made that story come true for a Star Trek and HGTV superfan, through his most recent venture, Guru Global. His name is Gabe Douek. When he’s not steering the ship of GuruHub.TV with his partners, he’s following his peculiar love of all things travel - from airlines and airports, to big...

Relationships are hard. Business is hard. Going against the grain to get what you truly want is hard. This episode is the story of a woman whose had her fair share of hard things happen. But, she has emerged on the other side as the owner of a growing business, with employees who are treated like family, and a business partner who is family, in the form of her husband, Michael. Her name is Laura Maly. She’s a woman entrepreneur about town in San Diego, owner of the Wonderist Agency, and...

We love to travel. It's a big reason we've decided to live the Opt Out Life. In summer 2018, your hosts Dana and Nate are taking several trips across the globe. In this episode, we take a break from our typical format to detail our travels to places like Iceland, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, the South of France, Lake Como, Santorini, Sweden, London, Montana, and more. We open with a tribute to the late, great Anthony Bourdain, who passed away shortly after we recorded the episode. Like so many...

It started with used books. Then new books. Then toys. And games. And foods. And soaps. And beauty products. And yes, even Justin Bieber pillow cases. Our guest is Ryan Mulvany. He’s a self-proclaimed Amazonoholic, or as we’re calling him, the “Amazon Whisperer”. Joking aside, Ryan has been selling products on Amazon for nearly 10 years, from his garage to the C-suite of his own 8 figure business. That business (Quiverr) grew into San Diego’s 3rd fastest growing company, and Amazon...

Starting a business can be scary. But what if you and your hot business idea could walk into an office, but it wasn’t like any office you’d ever been to before. The lights are soft. It smells like lavender. You notice a little zen music playing in the background. And someone says, “welcome to Hera Hub”. This episode's guest is the creator of that unique world, and her name is Felena Hanson. She was a pioneer in the world of coworking spaces, founding the female-focused Hera Hub in 2011....

What’s the biggest expense most people face when they want to travel? The answer is the cost of your flight. Whether you’re a single nomad ready to backpack Europe or Southeast Asia, or a family of 5 trying to do more than take another boring trip to Florida, travel plans live and die by booking your flights. You want them cheap. You want a deal. And you have to lock them down before you can start fantasizing about all the fun that lies ahead. Our guest is Brian Kidwell. Officially,...

David Garland has been cashing in on his personality since his early 20’s. He’s got the gift of gab and the looks of talk show host, a huge online following to the tune of 100,000 email subscribers, and a true lifestyle business that’s landed his company on the Inc 500 with over $3 million in revenue . . . and 4 employees. We sat down with David on a hot and happening afternoon, poolside in a private cabana at the Vdara hotel in Las Vegas. The atmosphere is casual - you’ll hear music,...

Do you know those people on Instagram or Facebook that always seem to post manicured photos from a mountain top or a beautiful beach? If you’re like us, it all seems a little suspicious. Do they ever work? Did they cash out? What am I doing wrong with my life? Today’s guest is actually living that life, and frankly, we’re a little envious. His name is Cameron Olthuis, and he’s a Hall of Famer when it comes to living the opt out life. Cameron is the founder of a kids-only apparel company...

In 2014, friends Leslie DeSimone and Miri Bescansa bought $50 in materials to create a few pieces of surf-inspired, handmade jewelry. On a whim Leslie took what they’d made and dropped it on the checkout counter at the surf shop where she worked. The jewelry was an instant hit with customers. Leslie excitedly called Miri and told her that they might be onto something. Less than 4 years later, these two are the proud owners of Salty Cali, with a line of jewelry being sold in over 150 shops...

We sat with Jon Roleder one morning on the lawn of his Napa Valley home with mimosas in hand, as noisy trucks from Beringer’s historic estate carried supplies between wineries. Today, Jon is knee deep in the wine business and living his own version of the Opt Out Life. But the story of how he got here is fascinating. Jon was the church janitor at age 12, and in his 20’s started a janitorial business that grew to $500,000 per year. He later developed an expertise in manufacturing, which...