Inside Octus: People in Focus” is a deep dive into the stories, challenges, and successes of the people shaping Octus. Hosted by Jenny Bain, this podcast brings authentic conversations with employees, leaders, and industry voices who drive innovation and culture at Octus. Expect transparency, real talk, and behind-the-scenes insights into what it takes to build a dynamic, fast-growing company. Join us each month as we uncover the personal and professional journeys that define Octus.
EP 03 | Colbert Cannon on Big Bets and the Life Around Them
Colbert Cannon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbert-cannon-a98b0286/) was born in Anchorage because his father wanted to fly a Cessna on skis into remote Alaskan villages (00:01:08). He got into finance because he watched the movie Wall Street and figured lawyers must be the ones doing the deals, then landed at Goldman Sachs (https://www.goldmansachs.com/) out of Harvard (https://www.harvard.edu/) in 1997 (00:04:50). He quit banking because a deal made him miss a friend's rehearsal dinner (00:09:35). He launched his own fund, wound it down, and landed at HPS Investment Partners (https://www.hpspartners.com/) on the strength of people he had trusted for decades (00:13:45). Then the whole firm merged into BlackRock (https://www.blackrock.com/), and now he says the most absurd sentence in his life: my parent company manages 14 trillion dollars (00:16:19).
That's the career. The rest is better. He cooks every meal in his house and runs Thanksgiving for 30 off a 15 minute Excel grid (00:28:08). He sits on the board of Edible Schoolyard NYC (https://www.edibleschoolyardnyc.org/) (00:30:26). He almost took a standing Monday night gig at a bar on Bleecker Street (00:32:31). He met his wife at 18 and now watches her run City Pickle (https://www.citypickle.com/), the business that put pickleball courts in Central Park (00:35:00).
He has spent 13 seasons asking other people these questions on The HPScast (https://www.hpspartners.com/insights/the-hpscast/) (00:23:03). Jenny Bain (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-bain/) asks him the one she asks every guest: what do you wish you had figured out sooner (00:38:33).
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Hosted by Jenny Bain (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-bain/)
Featuring: Colbert Cannon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbert-cannon-a98b0286/), Managing Director at HPS Investment Partners (https://www.hpspartners.com/)
Produced and edited by two time Emmy Award winning producer Tanya Hubbard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-hubbard/)
People You Should Know is presented by Octus and part of the Octus Podcast Network
(00:00) - Cold open and intro
(01:08) - Born in Alaska, raised in North Carolina
(04:50) - Harvard, the lawyer plan, and Goldman in 1997
(09:35) - Boston, Audax, and learning how businesses actually work
(11:42) - Glenview, launching Wingspan, and what running a fund teaches you
(13:45) - Joining HPS and the prescience of private credit
(16:19) - Inside the BlackRock merger and a $14 trillion parent
(19:43) - What the press gets right and wrong about private credit
(23:03) - Hosting a podcast and the Danny Meyer lesson
(28:08) - Cooking, Thanksgiving for 30, and Edible Schoolyard
(32:31) - Music, Bleecker Street, and City Pickle
(38:33) - What he wishes he'd figured out sooner
13 May 2026
EP 02 | Dr. Jonathan Fader on The Psychology of High Performers
Why do some incredibly talented people never make it, while others with average talent become unstoppable? Dr. Jonathan Fader, Co-Founder and Director of Performance Coaching at SHRPA, joins Jenny Bain on the latest People You Should Know. Fader traces his curiosity back to the 80s, sitting in zip-up pajamas listening to his mother reframe career stories for clients at the kitchen table (02:24). He walks through what he learned working with the Mets, the Giants, and the FDNY about why prospects fizzle and suspects outperform (05:13). He breaks down the "X Factor" trap where a leader's greatest strength becomes their Achilles heel (16:07), and gets specific on the five-minute-a-day skill that compounds into transformation (44:13). A conversation about adjustment, trust, and the practice of being present.
----more----Hosted by Jenny BainFeaturing: Dr. Jonathan Fader, Co-Founder and Director of Performance Coaching at Strata Performance.Produced and edited by two-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tanya Hubbard.People You Should Know is presented by Octus and part of the Octus Podcast Network.
6 May 2026
EP 01 | Molly Breen on Building a Career You Can't Plan
Molly Breen got her first finance job by inviting a room of bankers to a White Russian party during a D.C. snowstorm. The interview answers didn't land her the offer. The invitation did. Molly, Head of Capital Markets at Permira, joins Jenny Bain on the very first episode of People You Should Know, season two. She walks through the rotational program that taught her to learn fast (04:34), the senior woman who took one look at her and said "you belong on a syndicate desk" (05:59), and the cliff-jump from equity syndicate into leveraged finance that almost broke her (10:48). She also gets into raising the debt that helped acquire Octus, the boardroom seat she now holds, and why she still picks up calls at 3 a.m. (24:20). A first guest worth starting with.
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Hosted by Jenny Bain.Featuring Molly Breen, Head of Capital Markets, Permira.Produced and edited by two-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tanya Hubbard.People You Should Know is presented by Octus and part of the Octus Podcast Network. Find us at octus.com.
30 Dec 2025
07 | Tejs Broberg on Why Winning Isn’t the Point
Jenny Bain interviews Tejs Broberg, who discusses how his athletic background shaped his views on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of psychological safety, revealing insights on building purpose-driven teams.
9 Dec 2025
06 | Alix Brozman on Legacy, Loss, and the Life You Choose
In this episode of Inside Octus: People in Focus, Jenny Bain speaks with Alix Brozman about legacy, loss, and the choices that quietly shape a life.
Alix begins by reflecting on growing up alongside her identical twin in Northern Westchester and how independence, sports, and time spent alone in the woods shaped her early sense of self (01:15). She shares how her family navigated years of medical uncertainty when her sister became ill, and how that experience taught her resilience and self-reliance at a young age (04:45).
The conversation turns to Alix’s mother, a pioneering bankruptcy judge, and the moment Alix truly understood the scale of her mother’s impact after her passing (11:00). Alix reflects on mentorship, leadership, and the legacy her mother left behind, including the creation of Tina’s Wish and its mission to advance early detection for ovarian cancer (14:30).
Alix discusses her own path into restructuring law, why private practice ultimately wasn’t the life she wanted, and how she helped build Octus breaking news and legal editing function from the ground up (24:00). She explains what it means to lead behind the scenes, build durable systems, and support teams operating under constant pressure (28:30).
As she prepares for a new chapter as a parent, Alix shares candid reflections on ambition, boundaries, and choosing a life that balances meaningful work with presence at home (36:20). The episode closes with a look forward, including what Alix hopes to carry into parenthood and pass on to the next generation (42:00).
A thoughtful, deeply human conversation about becoming who you didn’t plan to be and choosing the life that’s truly yours.
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Host: Jenny BainGuest: Alix BrozmanProduced and Edited by: Tanya HubbardA Production of The Octus Podcast Network
27 Aug 2025
EP 5 | The Builder’s Mindset: Jack Keck on Product, People & Process
Host Jenny Bain interviews Jack Keck, Head of Application Development at Octus, exploring his unconventional path to tech leadership and the power of authentic, team-focused management.
6 Aug 2025
EP 04 | How John Erban Creates Culture Where People Thrive
Chief People Officer John Erban discusses how his life experiences shaped his empathetic leadership style and his approach to building a thriving workplace culture in this interview with Jenny Bain.
16 Jul 2025
EP 03 | Exploring Leadership, Justice, and Journalism with Jennifer Merritt
Jennifer Merritt, Octus’ Global Editorial Strategy Lead, discusses her journey from rural Florida to global media leadership, highlighting the importance of grit and determination, in an interview with Jenny Bain.
4 Jun 2025
EP 02 | Inside Kent Collier
Jenny Bain interviews Kent Collier about the personal weight of building Octus, his family legacy, and the importance of music, revealing a side of him rarely seen.
10 Mar 2025
EP 01 Welcome to Inside Octus Where People Shape the Story
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Inside Octus: People in Focus, where we dive deep into the stories, journeys, and experiences of the people who make Octus what it is today. Hosted by Jenny Bain, this series is all about transparency, culture, and growth both within the company and beyond.
In this first episode, Jenny sits down with Tanya Hubbard, the producer who helped bring this podcast to life. Together, they unpack their career journeys, the vision behind Inside Octus, and what it means to be part of a fast-growing, innovative company. From navigating career changes to fostering a culture of creativity and adaptability, this episode offers a candid look at what makes Octus unique.
Expect honest conversations, inside perspectives, and real talk about the wins, the challenges, and everything in between. Whether you’re part of the Octus team or just curious about how a company shapes its people-first culture, this episode is the perfect starting point.
Who has been a guest on Inside Octus: People in Focus
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tejs Broberg
Jack Keck
John Erban
Jennifer Merritt
Kent Collier
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 10 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
8
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Inside Octus: People in Focus
Who hosts Inside Octus: People in Focus?
Jenny Bain host the show. Published by Octus.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Inside Octus: People in Focus take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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