E98: From Spotify to Soulmates - Brandon Dawkins’ Dating Coach Revolution

Join us as Brandon Dawkins, a former Spotify product manager turned NYC dating coach, shares his unexpected journey from corporate life to founding Beyond Nice, a coaching service revolutionizing love for nice guys. With a CPA background, a passion for community, and a fresh take on dating, Brandon delivers a story brimming with humor, hustle, and heart. In this episode, Brandon unpacks his pivot from layoffs in December 2023 to launching Beyond Nice, helping singles dodge the friend zone and find confidence. He spills on quirky first dates—like Taylor’s cargo-shorts fiasco turned taco triumph—and his own path from shy athlete to dating guru. Whether you’re into love hacks, career shifts, or entrepreneurial grit, Brandon’s tale offers raw insights and big laughs. 🔑 KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM SPOTIFY TO BEYOND NICE Brandon Dawkins traces his leap from product management at Spotify to founding Beyond Nice, a dating coaching service born after a life-changing layoff in December 2023. DATING MEETS CREATIVITY Learn how Brandon’s “spin the wheel” happy hour hack—picking random Upper West Side spots like Jake’s Dilemma—turns dates into fun, pressure-free adventures. FIRST DATE FLASHBACKS Discover Taylor’s sweaty, keto-confused first date with his now-wife, Brandon’s raincoat-to-romance meet-cute, and a wild $8K first-date flop in a tasty icebreaker. CORPORATE TO COACH INSANITY Brandon reveals his post-layoff soul-searching—traveling New Zealand to Korea—showing the grit that fuels his mission to help nice guys shine. AI-POWERED BIZ HACK Taylor shares Replit, an AI tool that built a competitor-tracking form in an hour, proving tech’s role in his entrepreneurial toolkit. GUIDANCE FOR LOVE SEEKERS Brandon advises clients to warm up like athletes—think music or goofy smiles—to switch from work mode to date mode and own their vibe. RESOURCES & LINKS Learn More About Beyond Nice: beyond-nice.com Connect with Brandon Dawkins on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-dawkins Podcast Website: foundersecretspod.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @foundersecretspod TikTok: @foundersecrets Twitter: @founder_secrets LinkedIn: Founder Secrets Podcast 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/4h59tyer Spotify: tinyurl.com/4wjb26v8 ⚡ SPONSORED BY DASH Simplify your success with Dash! From CRM management to social media, bookkeeping, and more, Dash provides top tier remote talent solutions so you can focus on growing your business. Learn more: hirewithdash.com 🔔 DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE! Enjoyed this episode? LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring conversations with world-changing founders.