He Had a PhD and Still Thought He Was Worthless ft. Dr. David Leitner of Rhydlwood

Dr. David Leitner, known as Dr. D, has worn many hats. IDF special operations soldier, direct PhD graduate, eight-year academic director at Bar-Ilan University, strategy advisor who has pulled founders back from the edge of collapse, and now, founder of Rhydlwood, a business hub for founders who are tired of figuring it out alone.

Dr. D. was injured during the Second Intifada while serving as a sniper in Maglan, one of the IDF's elite special operations units. His injuries led to a severe nerve disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, one of the worst known pain syndromes on the face of the planet. It is also known as the "suicide disease".

But across the two decades that followed, Dr. D wasn't just pushing through. He was paying attention. To what strategy actually looks like under pressure. To what leadership costs when the stakes are real. To what it takes to keep building when your energy is finite, and the world doesn't slow down for you. He took everything he was living, learning, and using with his clients and turned it into something more.

That became Rhydlwood, a business hub where founders and small team leaders work through real business strategy together, with expert moderators, practical frameworks, and people in the same situation who actually understand.

Hear all about Rhydlwood and Dr. D's journey in this week's episode hosted by Yoel Israel.

---

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable

Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed

X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech

LinkedIn: / israel-tech

Facebook: / israeltech48

Instagram: / israeltech48

TikTok: / israeltech48

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R...

Follow Yoel on your fav social media:

Instagram: / yoeltisrael

LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael

X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael

Facebook: / yoeltisrael

Follow Dr. D:

Instagram: / dr.d.leitner

LinkedIn: / drdleitner

X [Twitter]: / DrDLeitner

Facebook: / Dr.D.Leitner

Follow Rhydlwood:

LinkedIn: / rhydl

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(105)

Why Israel Recognized Somaliland, and What Comes Next ft Ahmed Abdlahi

In December 2025, Israel recognized Somaliland, a Muslim democracy in the Horn of Africa that has governed itself since 1991. For many Israelis, it was the first time they had heard of the country.Ahm...

3 Nov 43min

The Jewish Mother Effect Driving Israeli Tech ft Tom Granot

Tom Granot started writing code when he was 12. Today he barely writes it at all. He spends his time helping deep tech founders figure out how to sell what their engineers built, and making YouTube vi...

22 Okt 52min

How Israel Became a Mobile Gaming Powerhouse ft. Dan Bouzaglo of Snooze

Some of the most profitable mobile games in the world were built in Israel, but the industry behind them is rarely mentioned when people talk about Israeli tech.Dan Bouzaglo, Founder & CEO of Snooze, ...

13 Okt 41min

Don't Be a Nebach: How to Actually Network in Tech ft. Helena Baker of English Speaking Networking

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Eat before you go. Leave the backpack at home. Keep conversations to about seven minutes.Helena Baker, Founder of the English Speaking Network, has spent years running n...

28 Sep 44min

Israeli Work Culture Looks Like Chaos. It Works. ft. Paul Gladstone

What happens to your team when the manager disappears for a week?Paul Gladstone believes the answer reveals a great deal about the manager, the systems they have built, and the culture they have creat...

16 Sep 49min

Israel Uses AI To Predict Terrorists ft. Kira Radinsky

AI can identify a patient at risk or even predict a terrorist attack, but a prediction only matters if someone acts on it.Kira Radinsky, Co-Founder and CTO of Diagnostic Robotics, joins Yoel Israel to...

8 Sep 31min

He Wrote the First Check in Cursor ft. Michael Fertik of Verdict Capital

Most venture investors wait for traction. Michael Fertik invests before the company is incorporated, before there is a product, and sometimes before the category has a name.Michael, Managing Director ...

31 Aug 58min

Is Israeli Directness Killing Your Startup? ft. Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear

Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear Training helps founders, CEOs, and executives communicate more effectively in meetings, interviews, and presentations.In this episode of IsraelTech, Helen joins Yoel ...

24 Aug 41min