We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leo Kozsuch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Leo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Starting my podcast, “The Motive”, has been and continues to be a risk that has changed my life. As a Sophomore in High School, I was at a loss for what I truly wanted to do. Coming off of COVID as friendships shifted and activities became a part of the “normal” and unexciting routine, I was at a loss. As Freshman year came and went I was looking forward to reintegrating myself with everyone and everything that was in my life before COVID. I quickly realized this was not in the cards. Going into my sophomore year, the first couple of months were brutal between classes, shaky relationships, and everything else. During this time, I still had music which will always be a part of my life. Being a pianist of 12 years, I would go into my school’s practice room and play during a free period. After a few days, the people I surrounded myself with joined me. My friend Kyle who I knew from elementary school but was never that close with, was one of the only kids I knew in my lunch. Kyle would join me in the room along with other kids as I played piano. Music is a natural bond between everyone which is something I picked up from my Grandmom. After bonding over music and gathering around the piano for a break in the middle of the tough school day, the ideas would always flow. It was a total escape from the school day. One night I was up doing my nightly workout which was an area I always found peace in and allowed my mind to wander. During this workout, I would always listen to podcasts. At 1 in the morning, I was listening to a podcast and the idea popped into my head, “We can do a podcast”. My mindset was simple, If you don’t have anything you look forward to waking up for, theirs nothing left to lose. Go for it. I already had some of the gear to record music and figured all I needed was someone to host it with me. Without even processing my actions, I texted my friend Kyle asking “Would you be interested in starting a podcast with me?” This idea seemed so absurd at first, but as we discussed details the next day, we jumped right in. Within a few days, we split the start-up costs, utilized the equipment I already had due to my music background, and started planning our first episode.
The introductory episode was as expected: a little clunky, with lots of cuts, and plenty of laughter at ourselves. Fifty minutes later though, we solidified our first episode which was met with the approval and following of two hundred people. Seeing the number of followers steadily increase was both mind-blowing and empowering. Yet, it was not the social following that inspired us; we wanted to provide a platform for uninterrupted personal storytelling and conversation with people of all ages and backgrounds. Eventually, our isolated following expanded well beyond the walls of our high school and we started to connect with strangers throughout the Philadelphia area. For the next year, Kyle and I diligently worked with a mindset of consistency and commitment to ensure that a new episode aired every Wednesday. We scanned social media to connect with future guests, relied on peers to assess their interests, and used excitement as a compass for targeting our audience. We interviewed professional athletes, high-end business owners, social media celebrities, and musicians to diversify our podcast and engage our audience. Eventually, we saw the opportunity to use our platform to highlight local sports mimicking ESPN College GameDay. Although it felt like starting over in some regards, this new endeavor in conjunction with our every Wednesday episodes allowed us to air live in a professional manner. Having a live audience of nearly 1000 people permitted our voices to be associated with our faces, tripling our following after only two episodes. As I reflect on that random 1 am text message, I realize how allowing myself to be vulnerable and take risks transformed my life. With that being said, hard work and discipline are the backbone of taking risks. To focus on your goals, cutting out every outside distraction is key. Before the podcast, I struggled to find a passion that excited me. Every day life seemed mundane and I was simply going through the motions. However, when I found my voice and realized how providing a platform to share the unique stories of others brought people together, my everyday purpose changed. My mindset shifted to positive determination and every aspect of my life seemed more important.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As a podcast host and someone who loves to connect with the community, I strive for interaction. Our guests range from professional athletes and musicians to high-end business owners and media personalities. We have had the privilege of connecting with some of the biggest names in the Philadelphia area. Being around people and being social is something I greatly benefit from. Your network is KEY. Having a huge network of established figures in every aspect of life has proven time and time again to benefit me wherever I go. With that being said, self-discipline is essential to the success I’ve had so far. As someone who hosts, edits, and manages a podcast, you have to perform every single day. In the early days of the podcast, I learned how to put my head down and work. Doing things when you aren’t motivated or “don’t feel like it” is when the true passion begins to show. Countless late nights over the past 3 years have been spent alone, working. While many other of my peers may be out having their fun on Friday and Saturday nights, I know this is one distraction I have to cut out. I am extremely proud of where we have come from with a small idea that arose in October of 2022. Consistency has been KEY. Uploading an episode every Wednesday except for weeks off for Christmas/Easter has allowed us to never slow down and only look forward.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Meeting with people firsthand is the ultimate source of motivation. Being surrounded by other successful figures in life is one of the best things one can do. A fellow young entrepreneur and business owner, Logan Sarosi, is one of my closest friends. Getting together for dinner with him monthly is something that keeps me anchored and focused. Having another person as focused as you in their respective business allows a unique connection that not many our age seem to relate with. Surrounding myself with experience and wisdom is also one of the best things I try to push myself to do. As an avid member of the local high-end car community in the Philadelphia area, following the money and making connections with figures much older than me through high-end cars has been extremely eye-opening. In terms of books, David Goggins’s book “Can’t Hurt Me” was a powerful read. Figures such as Goggins and Jocko Wilkink have been reassuring sources of discipline in tough times. For everyone who’s watched a Goggins video, you know that if you don’t want to do something, you’re doing it after you watch that. While our backgrounds are different, separating from the pack and being able to put your head down and get to work is the universal key to prevailing in anything. Thanks to the book “Can’t Hurt Me”, I am running my first Half Marathon in less than two weeks. Running has been the ultimate discipline builder daily for the past year and a half. From September of 2023 to September of 2024 I did not miss a single day of running. Running was never about the physicality but the mentality for myself. Running every single day for a year straight allowed my mind to build in ways I didn’t know it could. After a run no matter how short or long it may be, my mind is fully reset. I’m focused, ready to go, and just generally in a better mood that allows me to defeat the task at hand. Knowing that we all won’t be here in 100 years gives me a source of confidence and a sense of relief to try new things, take risks, meet new people, be confident (even when you know you’re scared), and just do things that you think are awesome.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, getting to bring people together is the most rewarding part. From meeting new people on the street for interviews to getting to connect with awesome people in my studio, it never gets old. Getting to see the feedback on a video where so many people are featured having a great time is so rewarding and awesome to see. In the digital age, 1 on 1 conversation amongst younger adults have declined in our opinion. Getting together and sitting down 1 on 1 with a guest is extremely rewarding. Getting the privilege to have a platform where guests can share their personal stories with the local audience is an honor.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_motive_podcast/profilecard/?igsh=MXZzbmQ5aGJkZzlnZg==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-kozsuch-47605322b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/pmxnVneRrzE?si=e04spyEJ7xW8iHaV
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/1M6hIKxOl7chy5qlHbpgHJ?si=ShQhpiJnT2eKB2df-BW5Oghttps://www.instagram.com/leokozsuch/profilecard/?igsh=ZnAxZm5ic2U5b3Bx
Image Credits
For the ones of us in suits with kids arms around us is @c.reedpics
One of three of us with arms around each other outside is @lukerr.media