The Profile: The FTX founder’s life behind bars & Sam Altman’s executive coach
This edition of The Profile features Sam Bankman-Fried, Joe Hudson, Hannah Neeleman, and Alex Cooper.
Good morning, friends!
On the day of my college graduation, my dad gave me a letter.
In it, he recounted the story of when he, my mom, and I moved to the United States from Bulgaria. When we came 26 years ago, my dad was a 33-year-old with a master’s degree in chemical engineering and more than a decade of work experience.
But in the U.S, he was starting over.
In the letter, he wrote:
“I was working at Marriott, and the money I was making was not enough to cover the bills for the first few months we lived here. I begged my manager to give me extra shifts so we could pay rent. At that time, we literally had nothing. My dream was to be able to buy you something to make you happy, so you could see that the U.S. is a happy place.
“For better or worse, you remember everything we went through in those first few years, but please never forget that I’ve always loved you more than anything in the world.”
Along with the letter, he enclosed a check so I could buy something I wanted now that he couldn’t afford to buy me then.
I still think about that moment often. It reminds me that my life would look completely different if my parents hadn’t been willing to take an enormous risk, put their egos aside, and start over from scratch in a brand-new country.
Now, as I watch my husband with our kids, I think about how some of the most important things dads do are rarely noticed in the moment. The opportunities children have are often built on sacrifices they never see.
Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible dads out there!
— Polina
PROFILES.
— The FTX founder’s life behind bars [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— Sam Altman’s executive coach
— The entrepreneurs looking to cash in on peptides
— The creator fighting the ‘tradwife’ label
— The podcaster whose media empire is crumbling
THE PEOPLE.
The FTX founder’s life behind bars: Sam Bankman-Fried’s prison years have done little to change the way he sees himself. In this deeply reported profile, he comes across as the same hyper-rational, endlessly analytical figure who built FTX — still convinced he was misunderstood rather than fraudulent, still plotting a return, and still viewing life through a utilitarian lens that prioritizes outcomes over process. While fellow inmates often find him likable and eccentric, the question remains whether he is a visionary brought down by mistakes or a man whose belief in his own judgment led him to justify catastrophic risks with other people’s money. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
Sam Altman’s executive coach: Joe Hudson, the executive coach trusted by Sam Altman and leaders across Silicon Valley, believes the AI race will make human skills more valuable, not less. His core idea is that the most successful leaders are the ones who can navigate difficult emotions, build deep trust, and connect with others. As AI commoditizes knowledge, Hudson argues that wisdom, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence will become the ultimate competitive advantage. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
The entrepreneurs looking to cash in on peptides: The peptide boom is turning a niche black market into a multibillion-dollar industry. What began with bodybuilders and biohackers ordering experimental drugs from China has exploded into a mainstream wellness craze fueled by GLP-1s, longevity culture, and social media. Now, with the FDA considering legal pathways for some peptides, entrepreneurs, telehealth companies, compounding pharmacies, and investors are racing to cash in. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
The creator fighting the ‘tradwife’ label: Hannah Neeleman, the creator behind Ballerina Farm, says the internet has spent years trying to turn her into a symbol, but she just sees herself as a woman who loves babies, big dreams, and building businesses. In this candid interview, she defends her choices, embraces the chaos of raising nine children while growing a farm empire, and argues that women shouldn’t have to pick between ambition and family—they should be free to define success for themselves. (New York Magazine; alternate link)
The podcaster whose media empire is crumbling: Alex Cooper built Call Her Daddy into one of the most successful media brands of her generation by positioning herself as a champion of ambitious young women. But according to interviews with dozens of current and former employees, the culture inside her company, Unwell, often looked very different from the empowering image she projected publicly. The story explores allegations of high turnover, fear-driven management, and the outsized influence of Cooper’s husband and business partner. (Vanity Fair; alternate link)
