MAKE COOL SH*T

Zane Keyes is the owner of Keycuts Barbershop on Church Street in Montclair, NJ. He grew up in Montclair, went to Rutgers, got his cosmetology license, and came back to plant his flag in the heart of his hometown.

In this episode, Drew and Zane talk about what it really takes to build a service business from scratch, why he chose to sit in the first chair instead of hiding in the back, and how he built a team where everyone can cut every type of hair. They get into the hiring struggles every business owner faces, why respect has to be the foundation of any team, and how the service industry lost its way after Covid.

Zane also shares the moment he stopped holding onto lies and anger, why he tells every new hire exactly what to expect from day one, and how three of his barbers have become six figure earners under his roof.

This conversation is for anyone building a service business or trying to figure out how to lead a team that actually gives a damn.
For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us:
Instagram → @wemakecoolshit
TikTok → @wemakecoolshit
YouTube → @wemakecoolshit
LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio
Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien

Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at [email protected].
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adil Malik is a partner at Origin Partners, an infrastructure advisory platform at the intersection of deal flow, capital, and energy. Before that, he ran his own solar company for five years, traveled to 17 countries with his wife, and said yes to opportunities before he fully understood them.

In this episode, Drew and Adil talk about how a random networking dinner led to partnerships with David Meltzer, Alex Machuca, and a pivot into the data center world. They break down what data centers actually are, why AI is creating the biggest infrastructure boom in history, and how the cloud isn't invisible. It's a warehouse full of supercomputers in the middle of Oklahoma.

They also get into the mindset of saying yes and figuring it out after, why most networking events are bullshit, and the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. From feeling like a fraud to closing a deal and feeling like the man.

This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand where business is going and how to position yourself in the right rooms.
For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us:
Instagram → @wemakecoolshit
TikTok → @wemakecoolshit
YouTube → @wemakecoolshit
LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio
Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien

Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at [email protected].
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Oltmans is the founder of Core Lacrosse Events, a youth lacrosse company built on one principle: do right by the kids, every single time. After years working inside the industry, Sam saw how politics and profit were pushing out the players who deserved to be seen. He left to build something transparent.

In this episode, Drew and Sam talk about what it really means to run events the right way, why the lacrosse showcase world has a credibility problem, and how building a real brand overnight changed the value of his company before he made a single sale. Sam also breaks down why branding is the only cheat code for new business owners who have the knowledge but not the time.

This conversation is for anyone building something in youth sports, or any founder who wants to understand the difference between ROI and real value.
For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us:
Instagram → @wemakecoolshit
TikTok → @wemakecoolshit
YouTube → @wemakecoolshit
LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio
Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien

Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at [email protected].
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Diodore is the founder of Oak Bishop, a premium men’s skincare line built on quality ingredients, standout design, and a refusal to blend in with the boring black and white packaging that dominates the industry.

In this episode, Drew and Anthony talk about what it really takes to build a business while working a full time job. They get into rock bottom moments, the discipline required to wake up at 3:50am every day, why most side hustles never become real businesses, and how surviving as a touring musician prepared him for entrepreneurship. Anthony also shares his journey from sleeping in a candle warehouse in Manhattan to launching a skincare brand that actually helps people.

This conversation is for anyone who knows they’re meant for something more but hasn’t figured out how to make the leap yet.
For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us:
Instagram → @wemakecoolshit
TikTok → @wemakecoolshit
YouTube → @wemakecoolshit
LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio
Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien

Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at [email protected].
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Genea Barnes is the founder of Be The Wolf, a coaching and mentoring practice built on nearly two decades of personal transformation and hard-earned clarity. Her work centers on helping entrepreneurs heal from trauma so they can make decisions from freedom, not fear.

In this episode, Drew and Genea talk about what it really looks like to build a business when you’re operating from unprocessed emotions. They get into trauma, decision-making, why most business owners are stuck in prevention mode instead of creation mode, and how the invisible cages we build for ourselves dictate everything from our pricing to our client relationships.

This conversation is exactly what Make Cool Sh*t is about. It’s about long-term thinking, clarity, and understanding that real business growth is built through self-awareness, not just spreadsheets. If you’re a founder, creative, or operator trying to scale without burning out, this episode will hit home.
For more from Make Cool Sh*t, follow us:
Instagram → @wemakecoolshit
TikTok → @wemakecoolshit
YouTube → @wemakecoolshit
LinkedIn → Make Cool Sh*t Studio
Drew O’Brien → @drewobrien

Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at [email protected].
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.