On this powerful episode of The Truth Hurts Show, Brian and Makan are joined by legendary founders Kass and Mike Lazerow, whose journey spans billion-dollar exits, devastating losses, and a mission to uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Together they built Buddy Media, sold to Salesforce for nearly $1B, and now lead a $400M venture fund investing in dreamers and doers. But behind the numbers is a story of family, resilience, and hard-won lessons from the trenches.

They talk trauma, teamwork, radical transparency, and why building a company is the “best kind of hell.” If you’re building anything — or rebuilding yourself — this episode will light a fire under you.

This is legacy leadership, startup war stories, and real talk for anyone chasing greatness.

Kass and Mike's Links:

Website: https://kassandmike.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassandmike

Follow US!

YouTube: @TruthHurtsShow

Brian's Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangoldphd

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briangoldphd

Makan's Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makan_mostafavi

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makanmostafavi

Timestamps:

0:00 Welcome Kass and Mike!

02:21 – The Journey of Buddy Media

04:40 – Early Ventures and Lessons Learned

11:48 – The Birth of Buddy Media

18:17 – Scaling and Success of Buddy Media

22:21 – Acquisition by Salesforce

28:48 – Family Dynamics and Personal Reflections

29:20 – Entrepreneurial Traits

30:15 – Balancing Family and Business

30:38 – Investing in Startups and Deal Flow

37:16 – Operational Strategies and Cheat Codes

44:39 – Focus and Prioritization in Business

50:32 – Humility and Giving Back

01:02:58 – The Value of Failure

01:03:10 – Hiring Cheat Codes: Athletes, Vets, and Moms

01:03:50 – The Importance of Team Sports

01:04:40 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship

01:07:15 – Generational Workforce Concerns

01:09:46 – The Role of Money and Family

01:10:29 – Meeting Maha and Building Relationships

01:22:17 – Advice for Entrepreneurs

01:28:45 – Where to Find Us

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