Gary Vaynerchuk on Building VeeFriends and Finding the Middle

Teaching emotional intelligence through characters, creativity, and connection

Gary Vaynerchuk has spent decades redefining what it means to lead with both vision and heart. In this energetic and insight-packed episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Gary—entrepreneur, cultural force, and creator of VeeFriends—to explore what happens when creativity, emotional intelligence, and business intersect in a way that actually matters.

At the center of our conversation is VeeFriends—Gary’s edutainment universe designed to teach emotional skills and character strengths through vivid, playful personalities like Patient Pig and Eager Eagle. These characters weren’t created just for fun—they were born out of his belief that the next generation deserves more than financial advice. They deserve the tools to thrive emotionally, mentally, and socially.

We also dive into his latest book, Meet Me in the Middle—a flipbook that’s as much for parents as it is for kids. It’s an invitation to embrace nuance, see from both sides, and choose empathy over assumption. As always, Gary blends big vision with grounded truth, reminding us that intention and kindness are not soft—they’re strategic.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

Listen ad free to a vibrant, heartfelt conversation with Gary Vee on character, creativity, and the courage to meet life where it matters most.