Discover how these entrepreneurs achieved success in both business and life, hosted by Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA.
Each week, Alan Olsen invites accomplished individuals to share the secrets behind their success stories. Tune in and be inspired by real-world insights, life lessons, and practical tips you can use to pursue your own American Dream.
Meet Some of Our Guests
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 guests’ time, he’s able to give access to information and inspiration previously inaccessible to 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, overcome challenges, envision future opportunities, balance work and life, and so much more.
Topics from guests 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.
Recent American Dreams Episodes
Mike Andrews – Predictive Maintenance via Data Analytics
Transcript of Mike Andrews interview by Alan Olsen, Host of the American Dreams Show, “Predictive Maintenance via Data Analytics”: Alan: I’m with Mike Andrews. Today he’s the Founder and Managing Partner at Hawkstone Capital, and also serves as the CEO of Paper Airplane. Mike, welcome to today’s show. Mike Andrews: Thanks, Alan. Thank you for having…
Justin Donald – The Lifestyle Investor
Transcript of Justin Donald interview by Alan Olsen, Host of the American Dreams Show, “The Lifestyle Investor”: Alan: Hi, this is Alan Olsen and welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Justin Donald, welcome to today’s show. Justin Donald: Thanks, Alan Great, to be here excited to hang with you and talk with…
How Small Businesses Are Being Empowered with Big Data | Dan Forootan
“How Small Businesses are Being Empowered with Big Data”, Dan Forootan Transcript, Interview by Alan Olsen, Host of The American Dreams Show: Dan Forootan: I started my first company at 16 years old when I was in high school. I loved technology and Bill Gates was my idol. I started playing with stocks in eighth grade.…
State of Real Estate in The SF Bay Area: A Moment with Nancie Allen, Broker at Masterkey Real Estate Advantage
Transcript of Nancie Allen interview, “State of Real Estate in The SF Bay Area”: Alan Olsen: Can you walk us though your career path? Nancie Allen: I’m a born and bred Fremont resident. I moved here when I was 2 and I went to the public schools here. I still live about a mile…
Where the Future of Cryptocurrency is Headed? Miko Matsumura, Co-founder of Evercoin
Transcript: Alan Olsen: So Miko you are a cereal entrepreneur founder of crypto currency company; you have done a lot in your life but for the listeners, can you bring us a history of your timeline of what brought you up to where you are to day and what brought you to the crypto currency…
The Next Gen 911 | Vic A. Merjanian
Interview Transcript of: The Next Gen 911 | Vic A. Merjanian Alan Olsen: Can you share a little about your background with us? Vic A. Merjanian: Many years ago I was at UCSD as an undergrad and I found myself in situations with friends with family and we needed help. But there wasn’t really an…
How One Man’s Film Brought Peace to a War Torn Region | Kenneth Carlson
Transcript: Alan Olsen: Can you tell us a little about your background? Ken Carlson: I graduated from Brown University in 1986 and I played football there. I got offered scholarships around the country to play and I decided to go Ivy League and got a great education so it kind of started me off…
Art As An Investment | Jim Hedges
Interview Transcript For Jim Hedges, Art as an Investment, By Alan Olsen, Host of the American Dreams Show Alan Olsen: Welcome back. I’m here today with Jim hedges. Welcome. Jim Hedges: Thanks so much for having me. Alan Olsen: Jim, for the guests. Can you give us the background of what inspired you to do…
Trak Fertility: Helping Men Become Dads | Karen Drexler
Transcript: Alan Olsen: Can you tell us a little about your background? Karen Drexler: I’m an entrepreneur in the medical device segment. What really got me here was an illness in my family. When I was in high school, my father was diagnosed with diabetes and ended up passing away pretty quickly from complications of…
The Power of Investing With ESG | Peter Kellner
Interview Transcript of: The Power of Investing With ESG | Peter Kellner Alan Olsen: Can you tell us a little about your background? Peter Kellner: I got out of college in the early 90’s with a real passion for sustainability. I went to Budapest, Hungary on a scholarship. My family is actually from Budapest and…
Maynard Webb, Author of “Dear Founder: Letters of Advice for Anyone Who Leads, Manages, Or Wants to Start a Business”
Transcript: Alan Olsen: Can you tell us a little about your background? Maynard Webb: I majored in criminal justice in college and was going to go on to law school. I got hired by IBM my senior year as a co-op student and a security guard, and then I was hired permanently by them and shipped from…
Service Through Public Health | Dr. Jacob Eapen
Transcript: Alan Olsen: Can you share a little about your background? Dr. Jacob Eapen: I was born and brought up in India in a southern part of Indian, a state called Kerala. Did my undergraduate, Doctorate and did my post graduation there and moved to Africa where I was a consultant pediatrician for a…
Holding the Sun, Poems of Inspiration from the Travels of DeAnna Morgan
Interview transcript for the American Dreams Show “Holding the Sun, Poems of Inspiration from the Travels of DeAnna Morgan”: Alan Olsen: Your husband, Randal Morgan, has a documentary film degree out of Stanford, how did get involved in helping with documentaries and what role was that? DeAnna Morgan: I always was in the background with…
The Man Behind Morganstar Media | Randall Morgan
Interview transcript of Randall Morgan for the American Dreams Show, “The Man Behind Morganstar Media”: Alan Olsen: Can you tell us about your background and how you ended up working with Jane Goodall? Randall Morgan: I was a graduate student at Stanford, and had just finished my masters in documentary film, in walks Jane…
Restoring the California Dream | Lenny Mendonca
Interview transcript of Lenny Mendonca for the American Dreams Show, “Restoring the California Dream”: Alan Olsen: Can you share a little about your background? Lenny Mendonca: I went from growing up on a dairy farm in Turlock California milking cows to Harvard where I majored in economics and government. From there I went…
California, Who’s Really Running the Government? | David Crane
Interview transcript of David Crane, “California, Who’s Really Running the Government?”, by Alan Olsen, Host of the American Dreams Show: Alan Olsen: Can you share a little about your background? David Crane: I was born and raised in Denver and graduated from public high school out there. I graduated from the University of Michigan…
How Hiring An Esquire Is Revolutionizing Hiring For Contract Attorneys | Julia Shapiro
Interview transcript of Julia Shapiro, “How Hiring an Esquire is Revolutionizing Hiring for Contract Attorneys”, by Alan Olsen, Host of the American Dreams Show: Alan Olsen: Can you share a little about your background? Julia Shapiro: I was and am an attorney and I practiced at a large commercial litigation firm. I went pretty…
Allen Miner – SunBridge Group
Interview transcript of Allen Miner, SunBridge, by Alan Olsen, Host of the American Dreams Show: Alan Olsen: Welcome back and visiting here today with Allen Miner. He’s the CEO and founder of the Sunbridge group. Welcome to today’s show. Allen Miner: Great to be here. Alan Olsen: So Alan for the listeners, can you…
2X Wealth Group: Investment Management Catered to Women | Lori Zager
“2X Wealth Group: Investment Management Catered to Women”, Lori Zager Transcript, Interview by Alan Olsen, Host of The American Dreams Show: Alan Olsen: Welcome back. I’m here today with Lori Zager. She is the co founder of the 2X Wealth Group which is a subsidiary of Ingalls & Snyder. Lori, welcome to today’s show. …
John Hoffmire
Transcript of John Hoffmire: Alan Olsen: One of the areas that you’ve been involved with is impact investing, what is impact investing? John Hoffmire: Well, impact investing can be defined as a number of different ways. I’m going to define it in the broadest possible way, where investments of almost all types make an…
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“My Path” chronicles Alan Olsen’s personal journey and the transformative insights he’s gained from his acclaimed American Dreams show. Discover inspiring stories, practical advice, and the core values that empower entrepreneurs to achieve their American Dream.
Written by Alan Olsen
Co-Written by Andrew Olsen