The Next Next
The Next Next
Podcast Description
A podcast that chronicles one experienced founder's exploration into how AI is changing how startups get built and funded, as well as how we live and work more generally. Episodes are interview-style, guests come from a wide range of relevant backgrounds, and discussions are lively, informative, and sometimes amusing.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as AI innovations in entrepreneurship, shifts in work dynamics, and new business models. Examples include discussions on AI integration in software development with guests like Sahil Lavingia, and the intersection of AI and gaming featuring Kayla Comalli. The show addresses how AI influences venture capital and productivity.
Puck Academy is a show and newsletter exploring how hockey players grow — on and off the ice. Each week, we share conversations with coaches, players, and experts about the habits, mindset, and development process that lead to peak performance. Our mission is to help players and families make sense of the journey — what matters, what doesn’t, and how to navigate it all with purpose.
How It Works
🎙 The Podcast — Smart, practical conversations with the people shaping player development.
✉️ The Newsletter — Weekly highlights and reflections to help players and parents learn together.
Together, they form a growing library of ideas and stories for anyone serious about getting better — and helping others do the same.
Hosted by Jason Jacobs
Jason Jacobs is a lifelong builder, parent, and student of development — exploring how people and systems improve over time. Through Puck Academy, he’s combining a love of hockey with a passion for learning, growth, and making sense of how players reach their fullest form.
Host Jason Jacobs introduces Puck Academy and interviews Mel Ruzzi, head coach of Women’s Ice Hockey at Brown, known for defensive systems and program-building after roles at Princeton, Yale, Providence, Harvard, and Amherst, plus long involvement with USA Hockey. Ruzzi recounts growing up in Minnesota, starting organized hockey in eighth grade, playing high school at Burnsville, then captaining Providence College, and entering college coaching via a graduate assistant role at Amherst while earning a sport management master’s at UMass. They discuss how girls’ hockey pathways have expanded, the rise of academies and travel conflicting with school, and recruiting realities (Minnesota and Ontario as key pockets) amid shifting NCAA legislation, the portal, and emerging advisors. Ruzzi emphasizes passion, fun, and coaching “people,” teaching hockey IQ through film, and building a clear team identity balancing structure with offensive creativity; she hopes players spread talent beyond top programs and that the PWHL succeeds.
00:00 Show and Guest Intro
02:11 Why Womens Hockey Matters
03:05 Minnesota Roots and Late Start
04:16 Providence and Coaching Spark
05:11 Breaking Into Coaching
07:06 Why Not Hockey Earlier
08:19 Girls Pathway Then vs Now
11:50 Dad’s Coaching Philosophy
13:00 Compete Process and Practice
14:56 What Separates Top Players
16:48 Parents Pressure and Joy
23:06 Academics vs Travel Hockey
26:55 Girls Pathway Today
27:24 Eligibility Rules Shifting
28:55 Recruiting Hotbeds Explained
30:11 Academies Pulling Players
32:09 What Coaches Look For
34:08 Passion Over Scholarships
35:33 Agents Advisors And Cycles
36:29 Teaching IQ With Video
39:29 Building Team Identity
42:08 Structure Versus Creativity
44:18 Portal Rules And Fit
46:12 Finding Mentors As Coach
47:42 Future Of Womens Hockey
51:05 Keeping Youth Hockey Fun
53:15 Final Thanks And Signoff
Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Disclaimer
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