A Different Kind of Risk What does it look like to take a leap that most people would call risky… but you don’t see as risky at all? In this episode of Going Big!, Senator Rand Paul shares the deeply personal story behind his decision to run for the U.S. Senate — a decision that began not with a perfectly crafted political plan, but with a spontaneous conversation that briefly landed him in the doghouse at home. Instead of calculating odds and polling data, he saw something d

Reinventing the American University: How Michael Crow Built a Culture of Continuous Innovation What if the problem with higher education isn’t that it’s too ambitious—but that it hasn’t been ambitious enough? On this episode of Going Big! , host Kevin Gentry sits down with Michael Crow , the longtime president of Arizona State University , to explore one of the most significant institutional transformations in modern higher education. Over more than two decades, Crow has chal

From the Basketball Court to the Governor’s Mansion: A Story of Risk, Reinvention, and Purpose What does it look like to leave a successful business career and step into the political arena for the first time — and win? In this episode of Going Big!, Kevin Gentry sits down with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to unpack a journey that few could have predicted. Before he ever ran for office, Youngkin built a decades-long career in private equity, rising to become co-CEO of The

From Fearless Work to Lasting Impact: Gay Hart Gaines on Going Big Few lives illustrate the power of fearless commitment quite like Gay Hart Gaines. Across decades in public affairs, philanthropy, and historic preservation, Gaines has repeatedly stepped into moments that demanded courage, conviction, and an extraordinary work ethic. On this episode of the Going Big! podcast, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Gaines to explore how a life shaped by mentors, history, and an unwav

Why Going Big Today Often Looks Small, Uncomfortable, and Ambitious One of the most counterintuitive ideas to emerge from my recent conversation with Tyler Cowen is this: going big today often has very little to do with size. We’re living in a moment where a single person, a tiny team, or even one voice paired with the right tools can exert influence that once required massive institutions. A solo YouTuber can reach millions. A small research group using AI can outperform ent

From McDonald’s to the Dean’s Office: Scott Beaulier’s Vision for Higher Ed What does it look like to lead a business school with grit, urgency, and a deep understanding of opportunity? For Scott Beaulier, Dean of the University of Wyoming’s College of Business, it starts with remembering where you came from—and never forgetting who you serve. In this episode of Going Big! , host Kevin Gentry interviews one of higher education’s most entrepreneurial and unorthodox leaders.