Divot

Before becoming a global spiritual leader, Neil L. Andersen was a farm boy learning discipline, responsibility, and faith long before the world ever knew his name. For Derek Andersen, this isn’t just another interview, it’s a conversation with his father.
In this conversation, he shares his journey from building a successful business to serving worldwide as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, traveling across 50+ countries, and speaking to millions about faith, resilience, and purpose.
He explains how faith is built like a muscle, why humility is the foundation of real strength, and how serving others creates a deeper sense of fulfillment than success alone. He also shares lessons on leadership, discipline, and making decisions that align with what truly matters.
The episode goes deeper into identity, forgiveness, and meaning, why achievement won’t fix how you feel inside, how to navigate suffering, and what people realize actually matters at the end of life.
Follow Neil - Instagram: https://x.com/AndersenNeilL
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Episode Partners:
Google for Startups
Everything you need to build and scale AI agents, from tools to expert guidance: https://g.co/startupagentguide
Timestamps:
01:14 — The Burden Everyone Carries in Life
02:23 — The Real Game of Life: Good vs Evil
08:23 — Growing Up on a Farm
09:31 — The Experience That Expanded His World
11:21 — From Self to Service
12:40 — Why Helping Others Creates Meaning
16:48 — Faith Is a Muscle
23:41 — How to Rebuild Faith When You’ve Lost It
27:19 — Why Humility Is the Source of Real Strength
30:22 — Speaking About Faith in a Modern World
32:54 — What Happens After Death
40:01 — The Danger of Ego and Recognition
45:08 — The Call That Changed His Life
53:04 — Becoming an Apostle
57:13 — His Core Responsibility
01:03:20 — The Hardest Part: Helping People in Pain
01:14:00 — Forgiveness: Why You’re Never Too Far Gone
01:18:13 — The One Idea He Would Teach the World
01:19:08 — How He Measures a Good Life
Follow Divot:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg
Hashtags:
#faith #faithjourney #forgiveness #purpose #meaningoflife #lifelessons #personalgrowth #selfimprovement #mindset #humility #service #familyvalues #fatherandson #spiritualgrowth #resilience #leadership #divotpodcast

Brian Santiago is the Athletic Director at BYU, one of the most respected leaders in college sports. Over nearly three decades inside BYU athletics, he rose from the coaching staff to Athletic Director, helping lead one of the most competitive and values-driven programs in the country into the Big 12 and national relevance.
But his journey wasn’t just about winning. From losing control as a young competitor to learning how to channel intensity, Brian shares the defining moments that shaped his leadership. From showing up for athletes in their hardest moments to building meaningful relationships across the world, this conversation reveals what it actually takes to lead at the highest level.
This episode goes deeper into belief, identity, and what winning really means. Brian breaks down why we are all born to win, why most people never reach their potential, and how to develop a competitive edge without losing yourself. It’s a powerful reminder that success without character is empty, and that the real game is who you become.
Follow Brian - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bsant25
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Episode Partners:
Google for Startups
Everything you need to build and scale AI agents, from tools to expert guidance: https://g.co/startupagentguide
Timestamps:
00:01:31 — Jimmer Fredette & What Real Greatness Looks Like
00:04:04 — 163 Shots, Almost No Misses (Inside Elite Competitors)
00:06:18 — Why Great Leaders Always Show Up for Their People
00:10:14 — The Power of Relationships (This Changes Everything)
00:12:34 — Why Most People Stop Seeing Others
00:19:57 — The Jacket Story (Real Leadership in Action)
00:25:12 — Turning an Enemy Into a Fan (The “Snake” Story)
00:27:53 — Why BYU Is “One of One” (Faith, Discipline & Focus)
00:31:05 — Why Top Athletes Choose Purpose Over Money
00:41:27 — We Were Born to Win (The Core Philosophy)
00:42:25 — The Lesson That Changed His Life (Control vs Intensity)
00:46:40 — “I Didn’t Come Here to Watch” (Winner Mentality)
00:59:27 — Find a Way. Never Let Up. (Final Message)
Follow Divot:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg
Hashtags:
#leadership #highperformance #mindsetshift #personaldevelopment #winningmindset #successprinciples #businessstrategy #divotpodcast

Tina Roth-Eisenberg is one of the most influential community builders in the world, founder of Creative Mornings (25,000+ people, 70+ countries), and the creator behind multiple iconic products like Tattly, TeuxDeux, and CreativeMornings’ global movement. Often called the Michael Jordan of community, she has spent nearly two decades building brands, products, and spaces that bring people together at scale.
Before all of that, she felt completely alone after moving to New York. That experience led her to create a simple, free gathering that turned into a global movement. In this conversation with Derek Andersen, she breaks down why most communities fail, why generosity beats monetization, and how the best communities become self-sustaining.
This episode goes deeper into identity, success, and what actually matters. Tina explains why success won’t fulfill you, how to move from your head to your heart, and why community is ultimately how we heal in a world that has become transactional.
Follow Tina - X (Twitter): https://x.com/swissmiss
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Episode Partners:
Google for Startups
Everything you need to build and scale AI agents, from tools to expert guidance: https://g.co/startupagentguide
Timestamps:
04:32 — Why Creativity Dies When Life Feels Too Comfortable
06:36 — The Loneliness That Sparked Creative Mornings
07:49 — The Simple Idea That Built a 25,000+ Global Community
09:10 — When You Know an Idea Has Real Momentum (Google + Mailchimp)
11:11 — The Feeling of Real Community (Why People Come Back)
13:53 — Community Is How We Heal
15:17 — Generosity vs Monetization (Why Most Communities Fail)
17:48 — What Makes a Community Actually Work (Values + Trust)
18:54 — Why People Crave Community More Than Ever
25:15 — The Journey From Head to Heart
35:17 — The Book That Changed How She Builds Community
36:11 — The Hardest Lesson: You Can’t Escape Yourself
37:04 — The Limiting Belief That Holds Most People Back
41:02 — Redefining Success: Peace Over Achievement
Follow Divot:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg
Hashtags:
#communitybuilding #creativemornings #leadershipmindset #personaldevelopment #founderjourney #businessstrategy #networking #divotpodcast

Before leading a $4B company, Adam Edmunds spent years trying to prove he was good enough. From cold emailing CEOs as a student to building his first company, his journey started with uncertainty and a relentless need for validation.
In this conversation with Derek Andersen, Adam shares how he became CEO of Entrata, a platform powering over 20,000 apartment communities worldwide, raising $700M+ and reaching a $4B+ valuation. He breaks down what it really takes to scale a company at that level.
Adam explains why relationships are the most valuable currency in business, how great leaders recruit over years, not weeks, and why reputation determines the ceiling of your success. He also shares hard lessons on hiring, culture, and long-term thinking.
The episode goes deeper into identity, failure, and self-worth, why success doesn’t fix how you feel about yourself, and how learning to stop seeking external validation changed everything about how he leads and lives.
Follow Adam - X (Twitter): https://x.com/adamedmunds
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Episode Partners:
Google for Startups
Everything you need to build and scale AI agents, from tools to expert guidance: g.co/startupagentguide
Pulley
Manage your cap table with intuitive tools built to help founders make informed decisions without breaking stride: https://tinyurl.com/PulleyPartner
Timestamps:
03:52 — The Power of Starting Before You’re Ready
07:41 — Cold Emails That Changed His Life Forever
12:58 — Building His First Company From Scratch
18:36 — Inside a $4B Company (Entrata Breakdown)
24:11 — How Great CEOs Think About Hiring Talent
30:27 — Why Relationships Are the Ultimate Business Asset
36:48 — Leadership, Culture, and Scaling Teams
43:55 — The Hidden Cost of Success and Achievement
50:12 — Why Success Doesn’t Fix Your Self-Worth
56:34 — Redefining Identity Beyond Business
1:01:22 — What Actually Matters at the End
Follow Divot:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg
Hashtags:
#ceomindset #startupgrowth #scalingbusiness #founderjourney #leadershipskills #buildinginpublic #entrepreneurmindset #businessstrategy #personalgrowth #divotpodcast

Before building Crumbl, Jason McGowan was a tech founder focused on virality, creating products used by over 120 million people. He then made a bold move: leaving tech to start a simple cookie business.
In this conversation with Derek Andersen, Jason shares how Crumbl grew from one chocolate chip cookie into a $1B+ franchise with 1,000+ locations across the U.S. He explains how product-market fit, A/B testing, and viral growth turned a simple idea into a national brand.
Jason breaks down why product matters more than marketing, how customer obsession drives growth, and how Crumbl built a viral experience through sharing, weekly drops, and community feedback.
The episode also explores leadership, success, and why money doesn’t create lasting happiness. Jason reflects on family, purpose, and what truly matters after building a billion-dollar company.
Follow Jason - X (Twitter): https://x.com/jasonmcgowan
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Episode Partners:
Pulley
Manage your cap table with intuitive tools built to help founders make informed decisions without breaking stride. https://tinyurl.com/PulleyPartner
Timestamps:
04:32 — Building the Perfect Cookie With A/B Testing
07:18 — The Bubblegum Cookie Failure (Hard Lesson)
08:54 — The Simple Idea Behind Crumbl’s Viral Growth
17:58 — Owning the Customer (Lessons from Facebook)
20:03 — How Crumbl Accidentally Became a Franchise
22:43 — Why Product Matters More Than Marketing
26:18 — Reading Reddit as CEO (Customer Obsession)
30:34 — Scaling Crumbl Nationwide
34:16 — Weekly Drops: The Genius Behind the Menu
44:48 — Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness (Real Talk)
46:25 — Family, Purpose, and What Actually Matters
54:53 — The Truth About Success and Fulfillment
59:26 — Just Get Started (Final Advice)
Follow Divot:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg
Hashtags:
#NegotiationSkills #Stanford #BusinessNegotiation #Persuasion #Leadership #Startups #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #DealMaking #DivotPodcast