American Dreams Logo - light grey star
Alan Olsen Show Logo

TOTAL VIEWS:

Over 64 Million Views this Year (2024)!

Learn how these entrepreneurs found success in business and life, with Host, Alan Olsen CPA, MBA.

In his weekly show, Alan Olsen invites successful individuals to discuss their career path and share how they were able to find success. These guests share valuable life experiences we all can be inspired from.

Meet Some of Our Guests

Majority Governor NBA Golden State Warriors and VC
Actor, Comedian, SNL Alumni, and former US Marine
Co-Founder & CEO Ascend and father of modern internet
Past CEO & President of MSG, NY Knicks & Utah Jazz
Co-Founder Logitech – CEO, Noventi Ventures
Co-Founder, Interwest Partners – President SHV NA – SIEPR
MPA, past President AAW, syndicated columnist, and Speaker
CEO, Dryers Ice Cream-- Chairman of Safeway inc.
CEO of Ryzeo
Co-Founder LinkedIn
Chairman of the Board at Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds, Inc.
Co-Founder DCM – past Chairman NVCA – SIEPR & Hoover boards
Co-Founder General Resonance – past Dir. BCG – SVU President
CEO Co-Founder LuLaRoe – Speaker -
CEO & Chief Strategist, Quill Intelligence
NBA record holder, past All-Star & DPY – Founder – Author
Movie Producer, Castlerock/Columbia Pictures, Universal Studio
President TiE – General Partner Monta Vista Capital – VC
Managing Dir. Billionaire Foundation – Co-Founder SCCI - VC
Founder DFJ – Founder BizWorld - #52 top 100 Harvard Alumni

Available Streaming Options

GROCO Receives Recognition From Fremont Education Foundation

Key's to Life's Success

The American Dreams show was the brainchild of Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA. It was originally created to fill a specific need; often inexperienced entrepreneurs lacked basic information about raising capital and how to successfully start a business. Alan sincerely wanted to respond to the many requests from aspiring entrepreneurs asking for the information and introductions they needed. But he had to find a way to help in which his venture capital clients and friends would not mind. The American Dreams show became the solution, first as a radio show and now with YouTube videos as well. Always respectful of interview guest’s time, he’s able to give access to individuals information and inspiration previously inaccessible to the first-time entrepreneurs who need it most. They can listen to venture capitalists and successful business people explain first-hand, how they got to where they are, how to start a company, how to overcome challenges, how they see the future evolving, opportunities, work-life balance and so much more..

Topics from guest have included:

Creating purpose in life

Building a foundation for their life

Solving problems

Finding fulfillment through philanthropy and service

Becoming self-reliant

Enhancing effective leadership

Balancing family and work

American Dreams discusses many topics from some of the world's most successful individuals about their secrets to life's success.

Enjoy American Dreams?

Sign up for our newsletter to get the newest American Dreams Episodes

Recent American Dreams Episodes

Serial Success | Montgomery Kersten

Serial Success | Montgomery Kersten

Interview Transcript of: Serial Success | Montgomery Kersten Alan Welcome back. I’m here today with Monty Kersten money inside Silicon Valley, entrepreneur and money. I want to first start in to give me a timeline of your background, how you got to where you are today. Introduction to Montgomery Kersten, bio further down. Monty Well,…

Small Business Strategy | Steve Collins

Small Business Strategy | Steve Collins

Episode Transcript of: Small Business Strategy | Steve Collins Alan Welcome back. I have here today with me Steve Collins. He’s the founder and president of Marvel main. Steve, welcome to today’s show. Steve Thanks, Alan. Thanks for having me here today. Introduction of Steve Collins and his small business history, his bio can be…

Mechanics Bank CEO | Steve Buster

Mechanics Bank CEO | Steve Buster

Episode Transcript of: Mechanics Bank CEO | Steve Buster   Alan Welcome back. I’m here today with Steve Buster. Steve is an accomplished executive here in Silicon Valley where he spent several years as a CEO of a regional bank, and then went over to a life science company. And I’d like to talk about…

Performance Management | Justin Hyde

Performance Management | Justin Hyde

Episode Transcript of: Performance Management | Justin Hyde Alan Welcome back. I’m here today with Justin Hyde. He’s a founding partner at the Hyde Norton group, a company focused on performance management. Justin, welcome to today’s show. Justin Thanks, Alan, I appreciate you having me out. Alan So Justin, can you give me some background…

The Finanseer | Megan Lathrop

Money Habits | Megan Lathrop

  Episode Transcript of: Money Habits | Megan Lathrop Alan Welcome back. We’re here today with Megan Lathrop. She’s a money coach, certified financial planner, and also an author. Megan, welcome in today’s show. Thank you. So thinking, give us some of your background. How did you get to where you are today? Megan Sure,…

Cameron Carlson; Succession Planning | Cameron Carlson

Succession Planning | Cameron Carlson

Episode Transcript of: Succession Planning | Cameron Carlson Alan Welcome back. We have with us today, Cam Carlson. He is the president of Carlson Hammann, a consulting firm specializing in succession planning and exit strategies. Ken, welcome to today’s show. Cameron Thank you, Alan. It’s good to be here. Alan So give me some background…

Dick Buxton; Lessons of Life | Dick Buxton

Lessons of Life | Dick Buxton

Episode Transcript of: Lessons of Life | Dick Buxton Alan Welcome back. I’m sitting here today with Dick Buxton. Vic has a prolific career playing a role in helping several 1000s or hundreds of 1000s of over 1000 companies with the succession planning with the Aesop’s and he’s also prolific writer and has done much…

Joe Lacob

Golden State Warriors Owner | Joe Lacob

  About Joe Lacob Lacob’s NBA and professional sports experience dates back over two decades, including a five-year tenure as a minority owner of the Boston Celtics, where he served on the basketball committee. He earned an NBA World Championship ring with the storied franchise before selling his minority stake and making an NBA record-setting…

Bill Evans; Young Entrepreneurs | Billy Evans

Young Entrepreneurs | Billy Evans

Young Entrepreneurs | Billy Evans As we continue to dive deeper into a changing world, young entrepreneurs are bringing ideas to the table to solve tomorrow’s problems. Listen as Alan discusses Billy Evan’s business plan and how this young man is staying ahead of the trend. Interview Transcript: Alan Welcome back. Well, we have here…

Ramesh Manian; Transitioning Industries as an Entrepreneur | Ramesh Manian

Transitioning Industries as an Entrepreneur | Ramesh Manian

Episode Transcript of: Transitioning Industries as an Entrepreneur | Ramesh Manian Alan Welcome back. I have here today with Ramesh Manian. And from the station cafe in San Carlos, Ramesh, you have an interesting background. I understand that you’re a mechanical engineer. And then you got a degree in software development. But how did you…

Jack Crawford

Strategic Planning for Life: A Moment with Jack Crawford of the Impact Venture Capital

Interview Transcript of: Strategic Planning for Life: A Moment with Jack Crawford of the Impact Venture Capital Jack Crawford: The fast-moving innovative area of technology was always fascinating to me and the idea of taking an idea and creating value in a short period of time was extremely interesting and so after being the founder…

Jennifer Lawrence; Luxury Lifestyle Logistics | Jennifer Laurence

Luxury Lifestyle Logistics | Jennifer Laurence

  About Jennifer Laurence Jennifer is the founder and President of Luxury Lifestyle Logistics. She is a consummate hospitality professional who has loved domesticity for as long as she can remember. Early in her college career, she discovered the world of professional home management and private service through an estate management internship and knew she…

Russell Hancock

The State of Silicon Valley | Russell Hancock

About Russell Hancock Russell Hancock is President & CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, a position he has held since 2003. In this role Dr. Hancock is best described variously: as a civic leader, community gatherer, institution builder, social entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for regionalism. Since taking the helm of Joint Venture he has quadrupled…

Keith Van Sickle

Learning to Live Abroad | Keith Van Sickle

  About Keith Van Sickle Keith grew up in Alameda, California, the son of public school teachers. He got his first taste of overseas life while spending a college term in England and later backpacked around the world for six months. Grateful for the scholarships that helped him pay for college, in 1987 he started…

Troy Downing

Becoming Part of the Solution | Troy Downing

About Troy Downing Troy is a strong supporter of smaller government, the 2nd Amendment, and economic prosperity for all through lower taxes. An avid outdoorsman and huntsman, Troy firmly believes that we need true political outsiders in Washington to stand up for Montana against the federal government whenever necessary. Troy started as a Research Scientist,…

Ray Dillon

Inspiring Others to Succeed | Ray Dillon

  About Ray Dillon Ray Dillon began his career as a process engineer working for the Zellerbach Corporation in Bogalusa, Louisiana. As Ray began his career the mill he was working at was just starting to modernize- an enviorment which Ray as a young engineer thrived in. He quickly rose through the ranks and eventually…

Greg van den Dries

RockTape: Go Stronger Longer | Greg van den Dries

About Greg van den Dries Greg van den Dries is the founder of RockTape, a company that produces kinesiology product to allow injured athletes to remain active. The company started in 2009 and has grown exponentially. Currently it has 13 international offices that service 60 different countries. RockTape is Greg’s 7th startup company. Prior to…

Becoming Part of the Solution | Troy Downing

The Man Who Pioneered the Knee Replacement | Dr. E. Marlowe Goble

  About Dr. E. Marlowe Goble Dr. Goble has over 30 years of experience as an orthopedic surgeon and has performed over 14,000 surgeries over the course of his career. innovator and entrepreneur. He has co-founded five companies, of which three have been acquired. He has brought a number of innovations from concept to the…

Melissa Nui

Parachut The Netflix of Camera Gear | Melissa Nui

  About Melissa Nui Melissa started her career working for the Seattle Seahawks in broadcast journalism. She ultimately decided to leave the industry and became a mother of three. In 2016 she and her husband Philip ventured out to start their own company, Parachut, a camera gear subscription service that has taken the industry by…

Steve Tessler; The Business of Banking

The Business of Banking | Steve Tessler

  About Steve Tessler Stephen Tessler, a resident of Oakland; has served as an Executive Vice President and Director of Sales of the Bank since 2007. Previously, Mr. Tessler served as a Manager of Business Development and Marketing for Diablo Valley Bank. Mr. Tessler has a degree from San Jose State & Golden Gate University.…

Are you ready to find out how we can help you succeed?

“My Path” is about Alan Olsen’s personal life experiences and his reflections from his highly rated Silicon Valley radio show and podcast, “American Dreams”. He discusses the people he interviewed, and the common values they all shared to create their own American Dream.

Written by Alan Olsen

Co-Written by Andrew Olsen