Today we’d like to introduce you to Karl Stedman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Karl. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Alaska, played basketball throughout college until I got two stress fractures on my back. That ruined my aspirations of playing professional overseas. I graduated college in ‘08. While broke, unemployed, no contacts, I talked a random individual in Starbucks into investing 100k with me. I turned it into more than 300k in seven months. Fast forward seven months, he gets diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer and passes away quickly.
I closed my business and moved down to LA to be mentored by Ryan Blair. Did that for nine months, working for free. I then moved to OC and started a couple of businesses, built them up and watched them fall. It was not fun, it was painful, difficult and I learned a ton. Wrote a book called “Persistaholic: You can’t lose if you don’t quit” around that time. After couch surfing, for a while, I moved to SD and started a hedge fund.
About five months ago my life got really wonky. I got an idea for an app, started to teach myself to code, built the beta version of the app. PSTV become a reality. We are building a network that delivers positive, uplifting news and content to the world. That’s what I am running now. We have a podcast, a video network coming. I am writing my second book and yeah it’s been a crazy journey. That is the extremely short version of it.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all, I’ve almost died, broken my back, been homeless, lost large amounts of money, been screwed multiple times, and am still here smiling and trying to make the world a better place. 🙂
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about PSTV – what should we know?
PSTV is dedicated to bringing positive, uplifting news and content to the world. We are surrounded by so much crap. Everywhere we look it seems like we are faced either-or choices on being for or against something. That isn’t how the world is, that is how mankind chooses to frame a lot of issues.
We simply are seeking a different choice. Take our podcast, for example, TVTY Cast, we bring one individual who have been through hell in one way or another and who have chose to change and improve and now are helping ours in their community. Jason Sisneros, Azim Khamisa, James Langley and more.
What I am proud of as a company is that we have accomplished so much in such a little time. PSTV wasn’t supposed to be a company. It was simply an idea that took on a life of its own. We’re real. We don’t sugar coat anything but look for the best in the world and individuals. We give people hope.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
That list is massive — my parents for shaping me both good and bad. They made me believe I could be anything and I am proving that right. Ryan Blair, my first real mentor. Greg Horowitt a Board Member of PSTV and an intellectual sparring partner.
Shanda Sempter who believed in me. Bill Keith, who I played basketball with in college and who has built an amazing business and family. Denis Gilmore who showed me what running a Fortune 500 company and having a great home life looks like. Gene Springfield who invested with a no-name unemployed bum who was down on his luck.
My grandma who gave me the honest, blunt feedback I needed. This list is long. They were instrumental in building my modality and lifting me up when I was about to fall. I would not be able to create like I can without any of them. They freed my mind from social constraints.
Contact Info:
- Address: 145 14 St San Diego, CA 92101
- Website: PSTV.xyz
- Phone: 619-890-6452
- Email: wizenedelder@pstv.xyz
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