In this episode of The Threshold, Matt, Brent, and Rich dig into what it means to live well without getting lost in the grind. Rich shares his shift from chasing a big, complicated business to building a “tiny epic business” that supports a big, simple life. Brent reflects on the soul-filling joy of watching the sunrise in the Karoo, the power of shared experiences, and why the best moments often cost nothing.

They explore the idea of being a “reluctant adult” — making deliberate choices to hold on to playfulness, belly laughs, and long-form time with friends in a short-form world. Along the way, they unpack the difference between ritual friends and adventure friends, why fewer but deeper relationships matter, and how live, in-person moments are becoming more valuable than ever.

It’s part philosophy, part storytelling, and part gentle reminder that success isn’t just about money or growth — it’s about designing a life you don’t want to escape from.

In this episode, Matt, Brent, and Rich dig into what really makes customers stay and why most companies get it completely wrong. Rich goes off on how customer experience is not about service scripts or clever features, but about creating emotional memories that anchor people to your brand. He breaks down why nostalgia works, how people remember how it felt, and what it means to build trust before someone even becomes a customer. Brent challenges the idea of customer-first by asking whether companies even understand their customers’ inner world, and Matt brings it back to the disconnect between intent and execution, especially in fast-scaling environments. The result is a layered, honest conversation about brand, memory, experience, and the moments that actually matter.

In this episode, Matt, Brent, and Rich unpack the real fear behind the rise of AI. It is not just about job loss or productivity. It is about identity. What happens when machines start doing the work we once tied our value to? What are we without the grind, without output, without being needed? From creative anxiety to performance panic, the guys explore how AI is not just changing how we work, but forcing us to confront who we are without it.