American Dreams with Alan Olsen

Conversations on business, purpose, leadership, and life.

American Dreams brings together founders, investors, operators, and public voices to share what they have learned about building companies, navigating challenges, and living with purpose.

Alan Olsen

Keys to Life's Success

The story behind American Dreams.

The American Dreams show was the brainchild of Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA. It was originally created to fill a specific need: aspiring entrepreneurs often lacked basic information about raising capital and how to successfully start a business. Alan wanted to respond to the many requests for information and introductions in a way that respected the time and trust of his venture capital clients and friends.

American Dreams became the solution, first as a radio show and now with YouTube videos as well. By making remarkable guests accessible through long-form conversations, the show gives first-time entrepreneurs direct access to information and inspiration that once felt out of reach. Viewers can hear venture capitalists and accomplished business leaders explain, in their own words, how they built their companies, overcame challenges, envisioned future opportunities, and balanced work and life.

Topics from guests have included:

  • Creating purpose in life
  • Building a foundation for life
  • Solving problems
  • Finding fulfillment through philanthropy and service
  • Becoming self-reliant
  • Enhancing effective leadership
  • Balancing family and work

American Dreams discusses many topics with some of the world's most successful individuals as they share their secrets to life's success.

My Path: Living the Life You Deserve book cover

My Path: Living the Life You Deserve

A book inspired by years of American Dreams conversations.

After more than a decade of interviewing some of the most interesting and successful business and thought leaders in the world, Alan Olsen published My Path: Living the Life You Deserve, the first book drawn from selected American Dreams conversations.

My Path brings together Alan Olsen's personal life experiences and his reflections on the common values many guests shared as they created their own American Dream. It is available in paperback and Kindle editions.

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Latest interviews

Catch up on the latest American Dreams conversations.

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Resilience, Reinvention, and Starting Over

After Everything Fell Apart, She Rebuilt Her Life—Twice Angélica Fuentes’ story is one of reinvention, resilience, and starting over after loss. After rising to…

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The Discipline of Backing What Lasts

Tracy McWilliams on Founders, Innovation, and Investing The modern business world has a habit of falling in love too early. A promising concept or…

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Redefining Legacy Through Connection

In an era defined by competition—between markets, nations, and even generations—Lily Yanchun Li offers a different thesis: connection, not competition, is the true engine…

Explore the full archive for more conversations with founders, investors, entertainers, leaders, and public voices.

Browse the full interview archive