From building birdhouses as a kid in rural Ohio to selling a nine-figure real estate tech company to Zillow, Austin Allison talks about growing up with a carpenter father, hitting rock bottom at 16, and how chasing passion over money shaped everything from marathon running to reinventing second home ownership.
21 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Simon Rich - Humorist, Screenwriter, and Author of New Teeth
Humorist and screenwriter Simon Rich talks about growing up in New York, developing a "no reviews" philosophy, and how relentless daily writing shaped his career, from Harvard to Saturday Night Live to creating Man Seeking Woman
3 Aug 2021
Condoleezza Rice - Director of the Hoover Institution
We wrap the season with Dr. Condoleeza Rice (https://www.instagram.com/condoleezzarice/?hl=en)
Dr. Rice is among the most distinguished diplomats, political scientists and professors alive today. Born in the 1950’s in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Rice shares with us her upbringing under two extraordinary parents, how an intense focus on figure skating snapped her out of being a procrastinator, how the great classical musical composers taught her sublime melodies through the piano, but it was a long winded Protestant preacher who taught her how to improvise the notes when playing.
We speak about her wide ranging career in service of multiple U.S. Presidents, and alongside many famous foreign heads of state. She shares with us how she trained her mind to be a decision maker amidst complex circumstances, and she values most in leaders. We even touch on what new kinds of National Service could look like for the next generation of Americans.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
29 Jun 2021
John Chambers - Former Executive Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems
This week we're joined by former Executive Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems (https://www.cisco.com), John Chambers.
John is one of the most respected business leaders globally, and his list of accomplishments is staggering. In his first ten years leading Cisco, he made 10,000 employees millionaires, but John shares some incredible life stories and reveals what he believes the currency of leadership is. He also opens up and shares his challenges growing up with dyslexia and why old stigmas need to be smashed.
Follow John on Twitter (https://twitter.com/JohnTChambers)
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
18 May 2021
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss - Investors and Founders of Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are some of the most extraordinary individuals of the 21st century...They are investors, former Olympic rowers, and founders of Winklevoss Capital (https://winklevosscapital.com) and Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange (https://www.gemini.com).
Their athleticism is Olympian. Their IQ is off the charts. But you'll hear that it's their EQ (emotional quotient), which reveals a thoughtfulness and sensitivity that's one of the most revealing and intimate interviews Miles has done to date.
Books Mentioned
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748)
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
9 Mar 2021
David Rubenstein - Co Founder of The Carlyle Group
David Rubenstein has a list of accomplishments from building one of the most prestigious private equity firms, The Carlye Group (https://www.carlyle.com), to being the chairman of the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, The Smithsonian Institution, and The Council on Foreign Relations.
David shares how he wasn't a "big dreamer" growing up, how asking himself "What would his mother think?" helped guide himself, and discusses the pinnacles of private capital to the pillars of intellectual prestige.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
16 Feb 2021
Jeremy Zimmer - Co-Founder and CEO of United Talent Agency
Miles speaks with Jeremy Zimmer, co-founder and CEO of United Talent Agency (https://www.unitedtalent.com).
Jeremy speaks about the lessons he’s learned in the 40+ years in Hollywood. He shares what makes a great agent, the purpose of a celebrity, and how keeping commitments is the key to a life well-lived.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
2 Feb 2021
The Late Herb Kelleher - Founder of Southwest Airlines
Herb Kelleher was the Founder and CEO of Southwest Airlines (http://southwest.com) –– an extraordinary entrepreneur who was thought of as a modern day cowboy.
This interview is among the last he gave before passing in 2019. Publishing it now feels poignant, as this conversation is what led to creating Coffee with The Greats. Herb discusses his origins and the risks he took in creating the beloved Southwest Airlines.
So sit back, brew up a fresh cup of Bixby Coffee, and soak in these words of wisdom from the late Herb Kelleher.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
5 Jan 2021
Bob Pittman - Chairman & CEO of iHeartMedia
Miles and Richard sit down with media mogul and legendary entrepreneur Bob Pittman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-pittman), Chairman & CEO of iHeartMedia. (https://www.iheartmedia.com)
Bob was the CEO of MTV Networks and the cofounder and programmer who led the team that created MTV.
Pittman has also been a radio and TV programmer, marketer, investor and media entrepreneur who has had multiple careers in a number of consumer-focused industries.
Miles and Richard chat with Bob about his early life, career, and how his life as a minister's son shaped his work ethic.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
15 Dec 2020
Mike Milken - Philanthropist, Financier and Chairman of the Milken Institute
Miles and Richard chat with philanthropist and financier Mike Milken.
Mike shares how he transformed the world of finance and what he learned from it.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com/).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
8 Dec 2020
Bob Iger - Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company
We sit down with Bob Iger, Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Corporation.
Bob has been employed within the same company for 46 years. First at ABC television, rising the ranks within their sports, before eventually making his way to Disney, where he became CEO in 2005. Bob has built on Disney's rich history of storytelling innovation with the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox . He also created an ambitious direct to consumer strategy that leveraged to Disney's unparalleled creative content across new platforms like Disney+ and ESPN+.
We chat about his early career, how he helped evolve Disney to what it is today and what wisdom he wants to impart to the next generation.
**
This episode is sponsored by Bixby Coffee Roasters (https://bixbycoffee.com).
Hosted by Miles Fisher (https://linktr.ee/milesfisher)
**
10 Sept 2020
Season One Wrap with Richard W. Fisher
As we wrap our first season, we decided to turn the mic on Richard W. Fisher (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_W._Fisher), Mile's father. Richard has an incredibly inspiring story and led a distinguished career in the public and private sectors.
This eye-opening episode is followed by Richard and Miles answering a few listener questions about life, and the constant exploration to better ourselves through the stories of others.
**
Coffee with the Greats is produced by Blamo Media (https://www.blamomedia.co/)
12 Aug 2020
Roger Staubach - NFL Hall of Famer
Roger Staubach (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Staubach) is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in American football, but his path to success was anything but usual. After winning the Heisman Trophy playing for the Naval Academy, Staubach served five years in the United States Navy before starting with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie at age 27.
And yet, football is just part of his story. After hanging up his cleats, he went on to found the Staubach Company in 1977. He rolled up his sleeves and started helping tenants find office, retail and industrial space. Roger survived the booms and busts of the Texas economy, building the firm to over 50 offices in North America. In 2008, his namesake company merged with JLS, and today, that company employs over 91 thousand people.
Roger Staubach chats about meeting his wife in the 4th grade, getting a day job during the NFL offseason, and how he built one of the greatest commercial real estate businesses in America.
** Want your questions answered in an upcoming episode? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to coffee@withthegreats.com (mailto:coffee@withthegreats.com).
**
Coffee with the Greats is produced by Blamo Media (https://www.blamomedia.co/)
29 Jul 2020
Randall Stephenson - Executive Chairman of AT&T
Randall Stephenson joins to discuss emotional quotient, the value of diversity, and how uprooting his family to Mexico served as the catalyst to becoming CEO of the world’s largest telecommunications company, AT&T.
** Coffee with the Greats is produced by Blamo Media (https://www.blamomedia.co/)
22 Jul 2020
Ajay Banga - CEO of Mastercard
In this second episode, we talk to Ajay Banga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajaypal_Singh_Banga) about his family history growing up in India, what he learned from his parents’ struggles, and how he gambled a promising career at Nestle to go down a path that led him to becoming the CEO of one of the largest financial corporations in the world, Mastercard.
** Coffee with the Greats is produced by Blamo Media (https://www.blamomedia.co)
15 Jul 2020
Jamie Dimon - Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase
Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon chats about growing up in Queens, what he learned from Abe Lincoln, and how he went from losing his job to becoming one of the top bankers in the world.
** Coffee with the Greats is produced by Blamo Media (https://www.blamomedia.co)
23 Jun 2020
Introducing Coffee with The Greats
What does it mean to be great, and how do we get there?
Join host, Miles Fisher as he sits down with some of the most accomplished and notable people to unpack and understand this age-old question.
Coming July 15th
Inside a recent episode
Simon Rich - Humorist, Screenwriter, and Author of New Teeth
Published 21 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Bizarre. A shelf. Yeah, right. Esoteric types of mold, you know, diagrammed chemically. It's just kind of a general interest encyclopedia. You flip through it, you see, okay, you know, Herod the Great. Flip to another page and you get, you know, Jack Nicholson. You flip to another page and you get Kansas City. And I just go through this book and flip through it randomly and just try to come up with ideas. And that's truly- So that has been the kind of wellspring since you started this whole path professionally. It has been that book. Yeah, since I was 18. […]
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