In this episode of 5Q's, host Michael Greenberg (https://x.com/gentoftech) interviews Deuce Thevenow (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deucethevenow/), the co-founder of Recess, a platform that connects brands with community-based sampling and experiential marketing opportunities across a network of 200 million in audience reach. Think Airbnb, but for brand activations in WeWorks, F45s, college dorms, and apartment complexes. During the conversation, Deuce shares how he went from non-technical founder to spending 80% of his time in a code terminal, all without writing a single line of code.

The 5Q's

(03:15) What's the latest thing you've learned?

(05:59) What's a business bet you're making right now?

(10:15) What's one thing you think everone should know?

(12:20) Who are you grateful for right now?

(13:45) What's one challenge where, if I could help you, it would change your life?

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Connect with Michael Greenberg here;

https://x.com/gentoftech

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gentoftech/

https://www.3rdbrain.co/

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Connect with Deuce Thevenow here;

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deucethevenow/

In this episode of 5Q's, host Michael Greenberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gentoftech/) talks to Zander Barth (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanderbarth/), Director of Colophon New Media, a web development and marketing agency with 18 remote team members. His hiring philosophy flips conventional wisdom: personality and culture fit first, credentials last. His most recent hire had never touched a website backend but had spent two years teaching himself development by building random weekend projects. Zander also explains why intrinsic motivation and willingness to get your hands dirty matter more than experience, especially as AI reshapes what agency work looks like.

The 5 Q's:

(3:19) What's the latest thing you've learned?

(6:46) What's a business bet you're making right now?

(12:18) What's one thing you think everyone should know?

(14:33) Who are you grateful for at the moment?

(17:59) What's your biggest challenge right now?

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Connect with Michael Greenberg here;

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gentoftech/

https://www.3rdbrain.co/

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Connect with Zander Barth here;

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanderbarth/

https://www.cnmwebsite.com/

In this episode of 5Q's, host Michael Greenberg (https://x.com/gentoftech) interviews Rameel Sheikh (https://x.com/ramshe1000), discussing his journey from bootstrapped companies to creating a successful newsletter and his insights on content creation, distribution, and balancing work and personal life.

Rameel Sheikh is the former COO of Y Combinator company First Base, founder of The Bottleneck, a newsletter for CLOs, operational execs, and senior managers, and creator of Cornerstone, a vetted community of COOs, VPs, and heads of operations.

[00:00] Introduction and Rameel's background

[03:30] The Bottleneck newsletter

[05:45] Latest learning: Market running after the product

[08:30] Business bet: Content to SaaS or data information product

[11:15] Living in tier-one cities: blessing and curse

[14:30] Gratitude for family and reprioritizing life

[18:00] Challenges in balancing work, family, and health

[20:45] Wrapping up and contact information

[21:30] Discussion on project management vs. operations roles

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Connect with Michael Greenberg here;

https://x.com/gentoftech

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gentoftech/

https://www.3rdbrain.co/

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Connect with Rameel Sheikh here;

https://x.com/ramshe1000

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameel-sheikh/