Entertainment

How love and loss led to songwriter Brandon Calano’s prolific transformation and the launch of Becoming Young

Published

5 years ago

April 13, 2020

The world takes us on a lot of twists and turns, and throughout our days, we will inevitably face a myriad of highs and lows. A life well-lived sees its fair share of love but is often marred by loss. The important part is how we carry on after we pick ourselves up from our tribulations. Life can be trial by fire, and singer-songwriter Brandon Calano knows how to see the beauty through it all.

Brandon Calano, better known as by his stage name, Becoming Young, is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter known for his inspiring songs and deep lyrics. Brandon isn’t afraid to show a side of himself through his music by writing about relationships and romantic trials. “Love is a part of life, and it isn’t easy to come by,” states Brandon. “But when we find it—and we allow ourselves to be vulnerable by ‘letting in’—we open ourselves to something powerful.”

Originally from Boulder, CO, Brandon always knew music was his passion. Writing and performing came naturally to him, and crowds have loved his music for its raw honesty and relatable stories. “You can’t be afraid to be yourself and tell your story. People are interested in what you’ve been through and how you’ve overcome the hard stuff. It’s all about connecting through a song,” explains Brandon.

Brandon isn’t afraid to bare all when it comes to emotion. A painful breakup brought him to a pivotal point in his life. “It was the end of a serious relationship that made me see things differently. I was suddenly living my life through a new lens,” says Brandon. “It marked a turning point for me where I shed self-doubt and let go of my insecurities.” This breakup would inspire Brandon to move to Nashville and chase his music career.

“Life is messy, I write songs about it,” states Brandon. That attitude is what makes his music even more appealing. Real-life friction and the fear of emotional connection are the inspiration behind his single “Trippin’,” and he takes this approach with every song he writes. When it comes to Brandon’s music, think light pop, dark lyrics, and deep stories. Memorable as he is inspiring, Brandon continues to climb to the top of the music scene with his tales of triumph and transformation.

Entertainment

Going Public: The Groundbreaking Series Transforming How Americans Invest

Published

1 month ago

May 16, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

In a media landscape saturated with reality TV and startup showcases, Going Public stands apart, not just as a show but as a movement. Now in its third season, the interactive series invites viewers to do more than just watch entrepreneurs chase success. It gives them the tools and the opportunity to invest in startups in real time, democratizing access to early-stage funding and reshaping how ordinary Americans engage with entrepreneurship and wealth-building.

Launched by Todd M. Goldberg, a former MedTech executive who hit a frustrating wall while preparing his company for a Nasdaq IPO, Going Public was born from a moment of personal disillusionment.

“When I brought a list of interested friends and colleagues to the Chairman of the Board,” Goldberg recalls, “he explained that all the IPO shares were reserved for institutional investors. That was my epiphany. I just knew that was wrong. Regular people should have a chance to invest in IPOs, but it needed to go even further.”

That insight became the foundation for Going Public, a hybrid of entrepreneurial storytelling and financial access that offers retail investors a seat at the table usually reserved for venture capitalists and insiders. The show brings audiences inside the capital-raising journey of startups, often before they go public, and leverages a powerful innovation: its “Click-to-Invest” feature.

“The bottom line with Click-to-Invest is that it’s seamless,” says Goldberg. “Viewers can go from watching the show to literally clicking a button. It feels more like a Shopify or Amazon checkout than a traditional investment process.”

This accessibility is central to the show’s mission: to educate, inspire, and empower everyday people to participate in early-stage investing. Unlike financial news channels that target seasoned traders, Going Public merges entertainment with financial literacy, using real startup stories to highlight the risks, rewards, and realities of entrepreneurship. It’s financial content with emotional stakes, real people, and tangible outcomes.

Season 3 reflects how far the show has come and where it’s going. With more celebrity involvement, including gaming icon Ninja backing the cashew milk startup Nutcase, and a strategic partnership with the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Going Public has widened its reach while deepening its cultural relevance.

“How do you make this mainstream?” Goldberg says. “The concept was The Apprentice meets Shark Tank meets IPO, but with a twist. Viewers aren’t just spectators, they’re stakeholders.”

The show’s selection of featured companies is another defining element. Startups are chosen not just for their growth potential but also for their mission, relatability, and cultural resonance. In Season 3, that includes everything from disruptive wellness brands to tech-enabled platforms, each paired with guidance from top-tier venture capitalists and Silicon Valley mentors.

This season also introduces a livestream finale, a format innovation designed to create a real-time, high-stakes environment where viewers can watch, decide, and invest together. It adds urgency and community to the investing experience, aligning with the show’s values of transparency and participation.

One of the most surprising and meaningful outcomes has been the personal stories from viewers who never imagined themselves as investors. “We’ve heard from teachers, nurses, and even students who said this was their first time investing and they felt confident doing it because the show made it accessible,” Goldberg shares. “It’s not just about money, it’s about empowerment.”

Looking ahead, Goldberg and his team have ambitious plans. They aim to expand the format to new platforms, explore international adaptations, and build out educational tools so viewers not only invest but understand what they’re investing in. The goal isn’t just more participation. It’s smarter participation.

In a world where capital often feels distant, technical, and exclusionary, Going Public brings the financial journey down to earth and into the hands of the people. It’s not just a show. It’s a redefinition of how business stories are told and how wealth can be created and shared.