Guests

Be a Guest on Second Order

Second Order features founders, executives, and operators with a real story to tell about a decision that changed the trajectory of growth. If you have lived through an inflection point, a hard tradeoff, a meaningful pivot, or a moment where leadership judgment materially changed what happened next, you may be a strong fit for the show.

What makes a strong guest

The best guests can speak clearly about:

• a decision that materially changed growth
• a turning point in the business
• a tradeoff with real consequences
• a mistake that led to a meaningful lesson
• a moment when execution, leadership, or scale created pressure
• what became clear only after the decision played out

Strong guests do not need a perfect story. They need a real one.

Who should apply

Second Order is generally a fit for leaders who are close enough to the work to understand the stakes behind the decision, including:

• founders and co-founders
• CEOs and COOs
• operators and functional executives
• leaders responsible for growth-critical teams

Why join the show

Second Order is designed to create thoughtful, substantive conversations — not shallow promotional interviews. As a guest, you can:

• share a real story that shaped your company
• contribute useful insight to other leaders and operators
• reflect on a decision with depth and nuance
• participate in a conversation built around substance, not soundbites

What to expect

1. Submit the guest application.
2. We review for fit.
3. If there is alignment, we reach out to schedule.
4. We confirm the story angle and recording logistics.
5. We record the conversation remotely.

Not every application will be a fit, and that is intentional. The goal is to make sure each episode has a strong story, clear relevance, and real substance.