Adam Neumann, co-founder and former CEO of WeWork, sits down for an extensive conversation about his journey from Israeli kibbutz life to building one of the world's fastest-growing companies, through its spectacular rise and fall, to his current venture Flow with Andreessen Horowitz.

The discussion covers Neumann's childhood moving 13 times across different communities, his formative years in a kibbutz where everyone earned equally and shared resources, and his early struggles learning English in Indiana where he could only order 'peanut butter and jelly' for two months.

Neumann details his spiritual awakening through Kabbalah study with his wife Rebecca, the meteoric growth of WeWork from a single Brooklyn building to a global phenomenon doing two buildings per day, and the pivotal moment when Masa Son's $4.4 billion investment offer shifted the company from mission-driven to growth-obsessed.

The conversation explores the dramatic collapse of WeWork's IPO attempt, Neumann's forced resignation and personal financial crisis, the litigation battle with SoftBank, and his ultimate vindication when the promised settlement money arrived 30 minutes before his sixth child's birth, as referenced in The Alchemist regarding how the universe provides at the perfect moment.

From Kibbutz Community to American Entrepreneurship

Neumann moved 13 times as a child, always gravitating toward 'uncool kids' with the goal of making them cool before moving to the next destination.

The kibbutz provided his first sense of safety - a community where everyone had different jobs but earned the same money and had access to equal resources, living in 450 square feet total.

Learning English in Indiana, Neumann could only say 'peanut butter and jelly' for two months until he finally had the courage to order a hot dog.

After September 11th, Neumann and his sister threw a rooftop party for their building neighbors, changing the energy and inspiring his vision for community-building in America.

Rebecca's Influence and Spiritual Awakening

Rebecca challenged Neumann on their first dates, pointing out he talked big but was clearly broke, arriving by bicycle instead of taxi.

She told him 'the man I'm going to be with is going to have a spiritual practice' and suggested he explore Kabbalah as the mysticism of Judaism.

The first Kabbalah lesson taught 'pause, what a wonder' instead of knee-jerk reactions - a technique that immediately improved his business relationships.

As The Alchemist describes with beginner's luck, Neumann's first attempt at spiritual practice worked beautifully, creating hunger for deeper study.

WeWork's Meteoric Rise and Masa Son's Billions

WeWork filled its first floor 92% within five business days using just five Craigslist ads, proving the concept immediately.

By 2016, WeWork was generating $450 million in revenue growing to $900 million, valued at $16 billion across multiple continents.

Masa Son walked into WeWork and said 'It smells like a factory of dreams' - the moment Neumann realized he'd met someone who thought bigger than him.

In a 28-minute car ride, Son offered $4.4 billion investment across multiple markets, transforming a planned $300 million raise into a massive global expansion.

The company grew from one building in year one to two buildings per day by year nine, operating across 130 cities, 50 countries, and five continents.

The IPO Disaster and Personal Financial Crisis

When Masa's $20 billion acquisition fell through due to Japanese market changes, WeWork pivoted to an IPO strategy that quickly unraveled.

The head banker told Neumann 'you're going to have to step down' and promised protection, but called his $435 million debt nine minutes after resignation.

Rebecca's response to potential bankruptcy: 'You know, my mom's house in upstate New York... we could move there with five kids... I find you much sexier broke than I do with money.'

Neumann's spiritual teacher called during the crisis, saying 'Belief is measured when everything goes wrong and you can look up to the heavens and say this will work out for the best.'

SoftBank Settlement and Moses's Birth

After a year of litigation, Rebecca insisted on going to court rather than accepting delayed payments, telling lawyers 'there's only one way to deal with a bully.'

The ultimatum was delivered: money in the bank by 8:30 AM before Rebecca's 9 AM C-section, or they'd see SoftBank in court.

Marcelo called four hours later to apologize and promise payment, saying 'You guys were 10 years ahead of your time.'

The money hit their account at 4:30 AM, and their sixth son Moses was born at 9 AM on Rebecca's birthday.

Flow: Rethinking Community and Technology

Mark Andreessen called Neumann after WeWork's collapse, saying 'You're at that stage where you believe what other people are saying about you and forgot what actually happened.'

Andreessen Horowitz invested $350 million in cash to match Neumann's $350 million in real estate equity, creating perfect alignment between partners.

Flow's CTO Scott, hired from WhatsApp, is rebuilding real estate technology from scratch because current systems don't put residents first.

The company spends more money on technology than real estate, creating flexible architecture that can adapt to Neumann's evolving vision.

Flow's Miami building fills at five times market speed through community programming like farmer's markets, yoga classes, and resident ambassadors hosting events.

Spiritual Practice and the Quiet Revolution

Keeping Shabbat for 10 years became Neumann's most transformative practice - 24 hours weekly disconnected from technology, work, and external world.

The biggest channeling of ideas happens Saturday mornings at 8 AM during Shabbat, though they don't write them down until after.

Neumann observes a 'quiet revolution' where young people are increasingly interested in church, Bible sales are rising, and spiritual openness is growing.

'We all have something that we're slaves to... We all have an Egypt. We all need to leave that Egypt and face our Red Sea with courage to walk in so far that we drown.'