School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Kim Perell | She Borrowed $10K From Grandma… Then Built a $235M Company Sep 16, 2026 39:45 Kim Perell is a nine-time entrepreneur, angel investor in more than 100 companies, and the founder behind a business that grew from a $10,000 loan from her grandmother to a $235 million exit.In this episode, Kim shares how she built through uncertainty, what she looks for when investing in early-stage founders, and the lessons she learned scaling companies from their first million toward nine-figu

Eddie Maalouf | He Couldn’t Give Marketing Away For Free… Now His Agency Makes $18 Million/Year Sep 9, 2026 1:05:00 Eddie Maalouf is the founder and CEO of BAD Marketing, an agency generating roughly $18 million annually, and an entrepreneur behind multiple businesses including Scoville Hot Chicken.Before building his agency, Eddie became the top sales rep by volume at Lifetime Fitness and later helped generate an additional $1 million in profit for his family’s businesses.In this episode, Eddie explains the sa

Jhalesa Seymour | She Started With $67… Now Her Soap Company Makes $20 Million/Year Sep 2, 2026 38:37 Get the all-in-one business tool millionaires use to run and grow their companies. Start your free 30-day trial 👉: https://www.gohighlevel.com/schoolofhardknocks/?fp_ref=the-school-of-hard-knocks-llc20Jhalesa Seymour is the founder of Salt.XO, an eight-figure feminine hygiene brand generating more than $20 million annually, with one launch producing $1 million in just 30 minutes.She started the co

Mike Wystrach | He Had $15 Left… 10 Years Later He Sold His Company For $1.5 Billion Aug 26, 2026 57:10 Mike Wystrach is the founder of Freshly, the prepared-meal company acquired by Nestlé in 2020 in a deal valued at $1.5 billion. Before Freshly, Mike experienced business failure, lost his home, faced a $1 million judgment, and at 35 had just $15 in his bank account.In this episode, he explains how he rebuilt his mindset, scaled Freshly to more than 1 million meals per week, navigated fundraising a

Jamie Salter | How He Built a $40B Brand Empire With Reebok, Champion & Forever 21 Aug 19, 2026 1:08:06 Try Emergent for free: https://app.emergent.sh/?utm_shift=redirect&via=theschoolofhardknockspodcastJamie Salter is the founder and chairman of Authentic Brands Group, the global brand platform behind Reebok, Champion, Forever 21, Quiksilver and partnerships with names like Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham and Kevin Hart.In this episode, Jamie breaks down how he went from a childhood paper route

George Heaton | How He Built Represent Into a $140M/Year Fashion Brand Aug 12, 2026 41:49 George Heaton is the co-founder of Represent, the British fashion brand that has grown from a bedroom operation into a global business generating roughly $140 million in annual revenue. In this episode, George shares how he and his brother built the company from the ground up, navigated a multimillion-dollar trademark dispute, and scaled from approximately $8M to more than $100M in revenue. He als

David Royce | From Door to Door Sales to 5 Companies Sold for Over $1 Billion Aug 5, 2026 49:45 David Royce is an entrepreneur and sales leader who built and sold five pest control companies for more than $1 billion in combined value. Starting as a broke college student in door-to-door sales, he went on to create high-performance sales organizations, scalable operating systems, and recurring-revenue businesses across multiple markets.In this episode, David explains his RACK sales system, how

Blake Johnson | He Had $7,000 Left… Then Sold His Companies for $1.1 Billion Jul 29, 2026 47:16 Blake Johnson is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and sold five companies, including a $97 million exit and the sale of Byte for more than $1 billion. After nearly losing his first business during the 2008 financial crisis, he developed a disciplined framework for bootstrapping, scaling and positioning companies for acquisition. In this episode, Blake explains how he evaluates markets, contro

Dr. Jason Wersland | How a Terrible Motorcycle Accident Led to the Invention of Theragun Jul 22, 2026 1:13:21 Dr. Jason Wersland is the inventor of the Theragun and the founder of Therabody, the global wellness company that transformed percussive therapy and recovery.After a serious motorcycle accident left him in extreme pain, Jason created the first Theragun prototype from a modified power tool and spent years developing the product while facing financial pressure, family doubt and failed business partn

David Stout | He Started With a $400 Loan… Now His AI Company Is Worth $2.5 Billion Jul 15, 2026 1:07:02 David Stout is the founder of WebAI, an artificial intelligence company publicly valued at $2.5 billion. After growing up on a Michigan ranch, he launched a web services company in college that generated more than $750,000 annually before leaving school to pursue AI.In this episode, David explains how a $400 loan, repeated investor rejection, and a relentless focus on on-device intelligence shaped

Mike Sherbakov | He Came To America With Nothing… Now He Funds $1 Billion Companies Jul 6, 2026 1:23:16 Mike Sherbakov is a Russian-born immigrant, Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, angel investor, and co-founder of The Veteran Fund. After building and selling companies, Mike moved into venture capital and now helps back veteran-led startups across defense, AI, space, energy, robotics, and critical technology.In this episode, Mike breaks down his journey from poverty and military service to entrep

John Imah | He Sold 2 Tech Companies At 16… Now His AI Company Is Worth $1.5 Billion Jun 27, 2026 1:02:40 John Imah is the founder of SpreeAI, a fashion technology company valued at $1.5 billion, and the youngest millionaire in School of Hard Knocks history after selling two tech companies before age 16.In this episode, John shares his journey from growing up poor in an immigrant family to working at Samsung, Twitch, Meta, and Snapchat before returning to entrepreneurship.He breaks down building AI fo

Ronnen Harary | Meet The Billionaire Toymaker Who Turned 5,000 Toys Into $2 Billion Jun 20, 2026 1:00:32 Ronnen Harary is the co-founder of Spin Master, the global toy and entertainment company behind Paw Patrol, Bakugan, Air Hogs, Rubik’s Cube, and more. Starting with a handmade product called Earth Buddies, he helped build the company into a multi-billion-dollar business across toys, entertainment, and digital games.In this episode, Ronnen breaks down the early Kmart deal, passing on Beyblade, buil

Lynnwood Bibbens | He Sold Cutco Knives In College… Then Built A $2 Billion Empire Jun 12, 2026 55:25 Lynnwood Bibbens is the founder of ReachTV and an entrepreneur who has built billions of dollars in business across tech, media, retail, film finance, and distribution. In this episode, he breaks down how he went from selling knives in college to building major companies, creating new rights windows, and acquiring CNN Airport during the pandemic. Lynnwood shares his philosophy on serving customers

Peter Tuchman | He Survived Every Stock Market Crash… Now He Trades $1 Billion/Day Jun 6, 2026 1:07:56 Peter Tuchman, known globally as the “Einstein of Wall Street,” is the longest-standing trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and one of the most recognizable figures in finance. After starting as a $47-a-week runner in 1985, he built a decades-long career through Black Monday, the internet bubble, the 2008 financial crisis, Covid, and today’s AI-driven market boom. In this episode, P

Greg LaVecchia | He Had a 2.5 GPA… Now He’s Got a $1 Billion Brand May 30, 2026 59:30 Greg La Vecchia is the founder of Bloom, one of America’s fastest-growing supplement and energy drink brands, now sold across 70,000 retail doors. After bootstrapping the company to $180 million with no investors, mentors, or traditional playbook, Greg helped turn Bloom into a category-defining brand doing $23 million in weekly net sales.In this episode, Greg breaks down the early days of selling

Patrick Terry | It’s Never Too Late… He Started At 47 And Beat McDonald’s Out May 21, 2026 1:04:56 Patrick Terry is the co-founder of P. Terry’s, the Texas burger brand that grew from a 527-square-foot Austin stand into 38 locations and 1,800 employees.In this episode, Patrick shares how he built the company with his wife Kathy, competed directly against national fast food giants, protected the brand’s culture, and refused franchising or private equity to preserve quality.We discuss leadership,

Andy Frisella | He Made $58K In 10 Years… Now His Portfolio Is Worth $1B May 13, 2026 1:08:20 Andy Frisella is the founder of 1st Phorm, creator of 75 Hard, and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the fitness and personal development space. After making only $58,380 total across his first ten years in business, he built a vertically integrated supplement empire and a personal portfolio worth over $1 billion.In this episode, Andy shares the early years of struggle, the mindset behi

Eric Spofford | He Was Addicted To Drugs... Now He's Sold A $115 Million Company May 7, 2026 1:00:30 Eric Spofford is an entrepreneur, investor, and founder who overcame heroin addiction before building and selling his treatment business for $115 million. After dropping out of high school at 15 and getting sober with almost nothing, he launched his state’s first sober living house and scaled it into a major operation.In this episode, Eric breaks down addiction, entrepreneurship, building a sellab

Lucy Guo | How She Became The World's Youngest Self Made Woman Billionaire May 1, 2026 41:01 Go try Agent Opus and start making your own videos today! Get 600 free credits using our link: https://agent.opus.pro/home?special_credit=SOHK Lucy Guo is the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world and the co-founder of Scale AI, one of the most important infrastructure companies behind the artificial intelligence boom. After dropping out of college through the Thiel Fellowship, she he

RJ Jain | He Left India, Sold a Startup to Google, Now He’s Building a $200M Company Apr 23, 2026 46:28 Go try Agent Opus and start making your own videos today! Get 600 free credits using our link: https://agent.opus.pro/home?special_credit=SOHK RJ Jain is the founder of Price.com, an AI-powered shopping platform valued at around $200 million, and previously sold his last startup to Google for nine figures. In this episode, he shares his journey from growing up in India and studying in Michigan to

Richard Harpin | He Was $10K From Bankruptcy… Then Built a $4B Company Apr 15, 2026 33:55 Richard built HomeServe into a £4.1 billion global company operating in 10 countries, starting with just £50,000 and multiple early failures.In this episode, he breaks down the near-collapse moments, the pivot that changed everything, and the exact business model that scaled globally.He also shares his 9-step framework for building a billion-pound company, insights on bootstrapping vs. raising cap

Simon Squibb | He Was Homeless at 15… Now He’s Worth Hundreds of Millions Apr 8, 2026 1:11:46 Simon Squibb is a self-made entrepreneur worth hundreds of millions who has invested in over 80 companies. After becoming homeless at 15, he built his first business with just £200 and no formal education in business. In this episode, he shares the raw truth about failure, survival, and building from nothing. He breaks down why traditional education fails, why purpose matters more than money, and

Poppi Founders | How They Built Poppi Into A $500 Million A Year Soda Company In 4 Years (Then Sold For $2 Billion) Apr 2, 2026 56:32 Alison and Stephen Ellsworth, founders of Poppi, share how they went from early-stage struggles and personal health challenges to building and exiting a $2 billion beverage company. They discuss risking financial stability, validating their product through real customers, leveraging viral content for growth, and navigating the realities of scaling a business as a married couple. This episode explo

Bill Gurley | Legendary Investor on Missing Google, Backing Uber, and What Makes Billion-Dollar Founders Mar 26, 2026 57:16 Bill Gurley, legendary venture capitalist and early investor in Uber and Zillow, shares the principles behind identifying billion-dollar companies. He reflects on missing the Google opportunity, lessons from evaluating thousands of founders, and why execution consistently beats ideas. The conversation explores network effects, founder psychology, venture capital decision-making, and how young inve

John Caudwell | The British Billionaire Who Lost Everything… Then Built a $2B Empire Mar 20, 2026 52:32 John Caudwell, founder of Phones 4u, built a billion-pound empire from scratch and exited for £1.5 billion after two decades of relentless growth. Starting with monthly losses and facing near collapse after losing 95% of his supply, he rebuilt through sharp commercial instincts and strategic hiring.In this episode, he shares lessons on scaling to 10,000 employees, hiring elite talent, navigating r

Robert Croak | How the Sillybandz Founder Built a $100M Global Brand and Kept His Millions Mar 12, 2026 1:12:56 Robert Croak is the founder of Sillybandz, the global toy brand that exploded into one of the biggest product crazes of the 2010s, selling billions of units worldwide. In this episode he shares the story behind discovering the idea in China, scaling from 17 to over 3,000 employees, and building a brand that reached hundreds of thousands of retail stores. Croak also breaks down lessons on entrepren

Ben Pogue | He Took Over His Dad’s Company at 29… Now He Owns a $20M Private Jet Mar 4, 2026 52:32 Ben Pogue is the CEO of one of America’s fastest growing construction companies, generating over $1.5 billion in annual revenue. After unexpectedly taking over the business at age 29, he navigated personal hardship, public industry controversy, and massive leadership pressure. In this episode, Ben shares how culture, faith, and people-first leadership transformed his company into a powerhouse with

Forbes Riley | From Actress to the Pitch Queen, $2.5B in Sales, Media, and Modern Selling Feb 25, 2026 58:09 Forbes Riley is the “Pitch Queen,” known for selling over $2.5B in products across TV, infomercials, and live demonstrations, including 64,000 units in 24 hours and $1.2M in a day.In this episode, she breaks down the pitch structure that creates instant desire, third-party proof, urgency, and closes without over explaining.She also shares the personal adversity that shaped her obsession with commu

Vick Tipnes | From $78 in His Bank Account to Owning a Private Jet Feb 18, 2026 56:36 Vic Tipnes is a healthcare entrepreneur who built a dominant sleep testing company after starting with almost nothing. In this episode, he breaks down the low point of having $78 in his account, the long grind before the breakthrough, and the aggressive deal-making that helped him take market share fast. He also explains why service is a competitive weapon, why “money loves speed,” and how leaders

Myron Golden | You’re 60 Minutes Away From NEVER Being Broke Again! Feb 11, 2026 1:05:13 Myron Golden is a renowned business consultant and sales strategist known for turning content into cash flow through offers, authority, and value-based selling. In this episode, he breaks down why income follows value—not effort—why “time is money” is a trap, and how to use the law of averages to win in sales. He also shares his faith-based framework for decision-making, mentorship, and building a

Jim Keyes | Former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster on What Always Happens Before a Company Crash and How He Ran Multi Billion Dollar Busines Feb 6, 2026 53:19 Jim Keyes led some of the most iconic companies in the world, including serving as CEO of 7 Eleven during one of the most volatile periods in its history.He breaks down how growing up dirt poor shaped his leadership edge, why 7 Eleven’s bankruptcy nearly ended the company, and how seeing crisis as opportunity changed the trajectory of his career.We also cover what actually saves companies in free

Vic Keller | Sold 9 Companies Including 3 to Berkshire Hathaway on Building Durable Businesses, Partnerships, and Wealth Jan 29, 2026 59:20 Vic Keller founded 17 companies and exited 9 of them, including three sales to Berkshire Hathaway.He breaks down how growing up blue collar shaped his edge, why getting punched in the mouth early almost killed his first business, and how rebuilding instead of quitting changed everything.We also cover what real buyers look for, why cheap deals are not worth the pain, how to deleverage the founder,

Kirt Linington | He Came to America With $700… Then Sold for 9 Figures, Started Knocking On Doors At 42 & Made Millions Jan 23, 2026 1:08:34 Kirt Linington is a South Africa–born entrepreneur who came to the U.S. with $700, started door knocking at 42, and sold his roofing company in 2022 for a nine-figure exit.He breaks down how he built $62M in revenue while still working his corporate job, why sales must come before systems, and how to think about rejection as a skill—not a personality trait.We also cover what private equity looks f

Daniel Lubetzky | From a $24,000 Salary to Building a $5 Billion Company, The Billionaire Behind KIND Jan 16, 2026 1:08:56 Daniel Lubetzky is the founder of KIND and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in modern consumer brands. In this episode, we break down how he went from a $24,000 salary after Stanford Law School to building a $5 billion company, why long term thinking matters more than early wins, and how purpose driven capitalism can create both impact and scale. Daniel shares how embracing setbacks shape

Ari Rastegar | How Flipping Burgers Led to a $3,000 Deal That Built a Billion-Dollar Real Estate Empire Jan 10, 2026 1:09:47 Ari Rastegar is a real estate developer and investor behind some of the most ambitious projects reshaping major U.S. cities. In this episode, we break down how starting with just $3,000 turned into a multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio, why failure became his greatest advantage, and why most people misunderstand what it actually takes to build long term wealth. Ari explains why zoning, timi

Dr. De | Biohax CEO on Longevity, Burnout, Hidden Stressors, and Building Health for the Long Term Jan 2, 2026 1:10:05 Dr. De is the CEO of Biohax, a healthcare company focused on optimizing health, performance, and longevity for high performers. In this episode, we break down why burnout is normalized, why modern systems treat symptoms instead of building long-term health, and how hidden stressors quietly drain energy and performance over time. Dr. De shares his framework for reclaiming control over your biology

Dariush Soudhi | How a Violent Home Invasion Forced Him to Start Over From Nothing & Still Made Millions Again Dec 26, 2025 54:49 Dariush Soudhi is a serial entrepreneur who built — lost — and rebuilt multiple companies after a violent home invasion led to a heart attack, frozen accounts, and total collapse. Starting over in Dubai with just $750, he rebuilt from zero through door-to-door sales, ruthless self-accountability, and value-based pricing. Today, he runs a portfolio of businesses by solving real problems and chargin

Robert Kiyosaki | Rich Dad Poor Dad Author on Smart Debt, Cash Flow, Tax Free Wealth, and Rejecting Traditional Education Dec 17, 2025 41:45 In this episode of the School of Hard Knocks, we sit down with Robert Kiyosaki, legendary author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and real estate investor with over 15,000 rental properties. He shares how he went from Marine helicopter pilot and failed employee to building massive tax-free cash flow and global financial influence.Robert breaks down why he rejects traditional education, why “your house is not

Tommy Mello | From Garage Doors to a $300M/Year Empire, The Billionaire Who Got Rich From A Normal Job Dec 5, 2025 57:49 Tommy Mello, founder of A1 Garage Door, scaled his home-service company to more than $300M in annual revenue and over 1,100 employees. His journey spans two decades of failures, rebuilding, systemizing, and mastering leadership. In this episode, he breaks down talent acquisition, firing top performers, building an owner-mindset workforce, and the philosophy that helped him 10x EBITDA in under two

Ken McElroy | From Property Manager to $2B Real Estate Mogul, Cash Flow, Tax Strategy and True Freedom Nov 28, 2025 43:29 In this episode of the School of Hard Knocks Podcast, we sit down with Ken McEelroy, a real estate investor who manages over $2 billion in assets and runs a 300-person company in just 90 minutes a week. He shares how he went from property manager to owner, using distressed properties, billboards, and smart debt to build a massive portfolio. Ken breaks down tax strategies, passive income, hiring ch

Butch Hartman | The Untold Story of Nickelodeon’s Most Visionary Creator, How Was Fairly OddParents Show Created & How He Made Millions Nov 12, 2025 1:15:36 Butch Hartman — creator of The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, and more — reveals how he turned rejection into one of the most successful runs in Nickelodeon history. From his early days as an animator to running his own studio, Hartman shares the formula behind hit shows, building creative teams, learning business in Hollywood, and how faith shaped his success. A masterclass in creativity, pers

Neil Patel | Why Followers Don’t Pay the Bills, and How He Built Real Wealth Through Marketing Mastery Nov 5, 2025 1:20:12 Neil Patel became a millionaire at 17, lost it all by 20, and came back to build a 9-figure global marketing company. In this episode, he reveals the hard truths about fame, money, and the business of content — why followers don’t pay the bills, how AI will redefine marketing, and what it really takes to build lasting success in the new digital era.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for

Tony Cuccio | From $200 on Venice Beach to a $2 Billion Global Empire, Reinventing Beauty, Real Estate, and the Meaning of Success Oct 31, 2025 1:07:24 Tony Cuccio is a true American entrepreneur — a kid from Brooklyn who started with just $200 selling beauty products on Venice Beach and built a global empire worth over $2 billion in sales across 90 countries. Known as the man who revolutionized the nail industry, Tony invented gel nails and turned a small street business into one of the most recognizable beauty brands in the world. In this episo

Kendra Scott | From Single Mom & College Dropout to Billion-Dollar Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Fashion Icon Oct 24, 2025 56:03 Kendra Scott is a single mom and college dropout who built a billion-dollar brand from her bedroom. With only $500 and a dream, she turned handmade jewelry into one of the most successful fashion empires in America. In this episode, she shares how she went from failure and near bankruptcy to building a company rooted in family, fashion, and philanthropy. From shipping Nordstrom orders out of her k

Adley Kinsman | How She Went From Broke Creator to Running One of the Internet’s Biggest Media Machines Oct 15, 2025 1:19:17 Adley Kinsman is one of the most influential creators on the planet, generating over 1.3 billion views every month and proving that virality isn’t luck—it’s a formula. After going bankrupt and starting from scratch, she built an eight-figure media company and became the architect behind some of the internet’s most viral videos. In this episode, Adley reveals how she engineered her success, turned

Greg Perlman | The Real Estate Billionaire Who Built a $2.5B Empire and Chose to Give 75% Of It Away Oct 9, 2025 1:01:51 Greg Perlman is one of America’s most successful and generous real estate investors. Founder of multiple ventures and one of the largest affordable housing portfolios in the U.S., he built a $2.5 billion empire with over 25,000 apartments nationwide. After decades of building wealth through Section 8 housing, he made a rare decision — to give away 75% of his fortune. In this episode, Greg shares h

Thomas Healy | World’s Youngest Billionaire on Dropping Out, Raising $700M, and Building an Empire Before 30 Oct 2, 2025 56:26 Tom Healy is the world’s youngest self-made billionaire — a Carnegie Mellon dropout who raised $700M, took his company public at 28, and even dethroned Kylie Jenner. From building startups in his dorm room to ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, his story is a masterclass in vision, risk-taking, and resilience. In this episode, Tom shares the wild swings of watching his net worth rise

John Morgan | The Billionaire Lawyer Who Took Down Disney & Coca-Cola Sep 25, 2025 1:16:54 John Morgan is one of America’s most feared lawyers—and for good reason. Founder of Morgan & Morgan, the largest personal injury firm in the U.S., he turned a family tragedy into a $2 billion empire. From taking down Disney after his brother’s accident to battling Coca-Cola, Big Pharma, and Fortune 500 giants, Morgan built a reputation as the lawyer corporations fear the most. In this episode,

Brent Franklin | Broke at 26, Sued, And Became a Multi-Millionaire. How To Turn Rock Bottom Into Power And Empires Sep 17, 2025 1:51:47 Brant is a ninth-grade dropout who went from sleeping in a garage and mowing lawns for $23 an hour to risking it all on oil wells, losing millions, getting sued, and still refusing to quit. That same obsession and grit turned his failures into fuel, and today he’s built multi-million-dollar companies in oil, real estate, and beyond, chasing a nine-figure future. In this raw and unfiltered conversa

Abdulla Kudrath | Broke Immigrant to Multi-Industry Mogul: How He Built 14 Businesses From Scratch Sep 11, 2025 58:36 Abdulla Kudrath went from broke immigrant to empire builder through sheer discipline, radical self-responsibility, and an unshakable mindset. From poverty to launching 14 companies across multiple industries, Abdulla has become a doctor, actor, world traveler, and founder of his own medical facilities. In this episode, he reveals how extreme ownership transformed his life, why excuses are deadly,

Joshua Crisp | $11.3M in a Day Without Finishing High School Aug 8, 2025 1:15:49 Joshua Crisp went from sleeping on an air mattress in his family’s one-bedroom apartment, working for $7.25 an hour, and eating ramen every day to making $11.3 million in a single day. With only a 9th grade education, no degree, no connections, he refused to settle for mediocrity. Through sacrifice, obsession, and an all‑in mindset, he turned bath bombs into a best‑selling product, built a digital

Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch Jul 30, 2025 41:02 Anne Mahlum risked it all. Her last $175,000, no investors, no backup plan, just pure belief. Before Solidcore, she was broke, alone, and leading a nonprofit for the homeless, fueled by the trauma of growing up with an addicted father. But she turned pain into purpose, and that purpose into a $90 million empire. Today, with a net worth of $110 million, Anne is living proof that excuses don’t build

John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back Jul 21, 2025 47:50 He was poor, went broke, and still made $90K on his first deal. By 28, John Devaney bought a brokerage firm and turned it into a money-printing machine: $5M in year one, $25M in year two, $45M in year three. At the peak, his firm was making $110M in pure profit. Then 2008 wiped him out. He lost over $200M… and came back swinging. In this episode, John breaks down how he rebuilt from zero, launched

Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire Jul 11, 2025 1:08:27 Alli Webb is one of the most unexpected and badass entrepreneurs in the beauty world. What started as a side hustle blowdrying hair for cheap quickly turned into a nationwide movement. With zero outside funding and a deep desire to feel alive again, she launched Drybar—a blowout-only salon that exploded across the U.S. and eventually sold for $255 million. In this raw and powerful episode, Alli op

Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules Jul 4, 2025 35:16 Eric Adams was beaten by police as a child so badly he peed blood for days. He grew up in fear of eviction, struggled with dyslexia, and felt invisible in a broken system. But instead of running from it, he joined the NYPD to change it from within. Today, he runs America’s largest city. In this raw conversation, Eric shares how trauma shaped his purpose, why he chose discipline over anger, and wha

Hugo Sanchez | Latino Entrepreneur on Making $250K/Month Washing T-Shirts, Getting Rejected, and Overcoming Success Jun 27, 2025 1:01:25 Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose Jun 21, 2025 1:17:18 Khalil Rafati is one of the most brutally honest and spiritually grounded entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear from. After surviving heroin addiction, homelessness, and years of childhood abuse, he made a pact with God to become rich and honor his dying mother. Through relentless work and spiritual transformation, he built SunLife Organics into a $34 million smoothie empire rooted in healing and purpose

Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality Jun 11, 2025 58:10 Edward Connors is one of the most powerful and unpredictable figures the fitness world has ever seen. Before reshaping the industry, he fought in the Vietnam War, where he claims to have killed over 600 enemy soldiers. It’s a dark chapter he rarely speaks about, but it forged the fearless mentality that would later redefine bodybuilding forever.After the war, Ed joined a raw, underground gym in Ve

Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How Jun 9, 2025 55:06 Karlton Dennis is one of the most strategic and unconventional entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. After walking away from a future in professional sports, he found himself broke, working odd jobs as a personal trainer and wine salesman. But everything changed when he discovered the world of tax strategy, and realized that the fastest way to build wealth isn’t just making money, it’s learning ho

Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire Jun 5, 2025 1:23:00 Edwin Arroyave is one of the most inspiring and resilient entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. Growing up in extreme poverty, Edwin slept in a windowless room infested with cockroaches and often went without food at the end of the month. By age 15, he became the head of his household, taking on adult responsibilities far beyond his years. Against all odds, Edwin built a massively successful busin

Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M Jun 2, 2025 1:05:54 Todd Johnson is one of the most inspiring and unshakable entrepreneurs you’ll ever come across. Raised in deep poverty and surviving off food stamps, Todd spent his childhood feeling hopeless, until a divine encounter at a pizza shop changed his life forever. That moment sparked an unbreakable faith and a mission to never be broke again. Starting with zero dollars, Todd went on to build a multi-mi

Michael Franzese | He Made $10 Million a Week in the Mafia...Now He's Found Redemption Apr 23, 2025 53:59 Michael Franzese is one of the most fascinating and legendary figures to ever walk away from the mob and live to tell the tale. As a former Capo for the Colombo crime family in New York, Michael was once making millions per week and was considered one of the most powerful mobsters of his time. Today, he’s a best-selling author, speaker, and mentor who has completely transformed his life and now de

Dean Graziosi | 9-Figure Entrepreneur & Investor on Overcoming Struggles, Finding Mentors, and Achieving Success Jul 3, 2024 51:13 Dean Graziosi is a multiple New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and investor. He has started or played a major role in over 14 successful companies that have changed lives all around the world. His mission for over 20 years has been to deliver self-education to those seeking transformation, fulfillment, and success outside the traditional education path. In this podcast Dean talks ab

Jeremy Miner | Founder & CEO of 7th Level - How Anyone Can Become Successful in Sales & How to Be a Master Communicator May 15, 2024 41:48 Jeremy Miner is the Founder and CEO of 7th Level. During his 17yr sales career, he was recognized in the direct selling industry as the #45th highest earning producer out of more than 108 million salespeople, selling ANYTHING worldwide - Jeremy's earnings as a commission-only sales rep were in the multiple 7-figures, every year. In this podcast Jeremy talks about how anyone can become successful i

Ryan Serhant | Luxury Real Estate Mogul & Influencer - How He Became the #1 Luxury Realtor in the World & Essential Keys to Success Apr 25, 2024 19:02 Ryan Serhant is the Founder and CEO of SERHANT a vertically-integrated mega brokerage comprising an in-house film studio, education arm, marketing division, and technology platform. He's also a bestselling author, producer, and star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York and Sell It Like Serhant. In this podcast Ryan talks about his journey into real estate, the key factors of his success and

Chris Watters | CEO of Watters International Realty - Going From $0 to $10M+/Yr & Doing 9 Figures in Revenue in Real Estate Jan 31, 2024 1:08:20 Chris Watters is the Founder and CEO of Watters International Realty, a real estate company that does over 9 figures a year in revenue. Chris first got into entrepreneurship at a young age where he started out mowing lawns during college, after this period Chris pursued multiple entrepreneurial ventures ranging from the bar/hospitality to real estate. In this podcast Chris takes us through his jou

Todd Nepola | Founder of Current Capital Group - On Building a $100M+ Real Estate Empire & How to Start Investing in Commercial Real Estate Jan 3, 2024 51:41 Todd Nepola is the CEO and Founder of Current Capital Group, a commercial real estate investing and property management company. Todd started out as a stockbroker in the 90's and at the age of 25 he invested everything he owned into his first commercial real estate property. After Todd acquired his first property he was hooked and went on to buy hundreds of millions worth of commercial real estate

James Keyes | Former CEO of 7-Eleven & Blockbuster - On Truth Behind Blockbuster's Collapse, Operating as a CEO, & Priceless Business Advice Dec 27, 2023 1:18:58 James Keyes served as the Global President and CEO of 7-Eleven from 2000-2005 as well as Chairman and CEO of Blockbuster from 2007-2011. This podcast is a true example of an American success story where James came from humble beginnings but through sheer hard work and perseverance he was able to create a name for himself and work his way up the corporate ladder and become CEO of two Fortune 500 co

Josh "Snow" Elizetxe | Founder & CEO of Snow - On Selling a Company at 17, Building a 9-Figure Brand, and the Skills Needed to Be Successful Dec 22, 2023 1:27:55 Josh Snow is the founder and CEO of one of the fastest growing teeth whitening and oral care brands, Snow. They do over 9 figures a year in revenue and are in multiple retail chains such as Nordstrom Rack and CVS. Josh has an inspirational story of coming from humble beginnings where he was riding the city bus to finding his passion in entrepreneurship at an early age, selling his first company at

Andy Elliott | World's Fastest Growing Sales Trainer - On Sales Training, Discipline, Leadership & Entrepreneurship Dec 15, 2023 1:37:15 Andy Elliott is the founder and CEO of the fastest-growing sales and leadership training company in the world, The Elliott Group. Training over 600,000 professionals and 11,000+ companies across the globe, Andy is revolutionizing how salespeople influence, persuade, overcome objections, negotiate, close, market, and brand. Before starting The Elliott Group, Andy broke the record in the US for the

Onyi Odunukwe | Founder, CEO of Glo Tanning - On Building a National Franchise Brand, Entrepreneurship, & How to Delegate Dec 6, 2023 1:16:06 Onyi Odunukwe is a commercial real estate developer and investor as well as the Founder and CEO of a rapidly growing tanning salon company called "Glo" which has 75+ locations. He breaks down how he got into entrepreneurship, how he scaled his business around from a struggling tanning salon into a national chain, tips for new entrepreneurs and more. This podcast is full of gems on how anyone can g

Paul Hedrick | Founder of Tecovas - How He Left His Corporate Job to Start a 9-Figure Boot Brand Nov 29, 2023 55:59 Paul Hedrick is the founder of the famous western boot brand "Tecovas." He takes us all the way back to the early stages of Tecovas, explaining how the business got started, why he decided to become an entrepreneur, how he scaled the business, and the various obstacles he had to overcome along the way. Tecovas was the first cowboy boot company to adopt a direct-to-consumer model by selling online.

Justin Waller | Influencer & Serial Entrepreneur - On Business, Moving out of Your Home Town, Dating, and the Power of Focus Nov 22, 2023 1:10:27 Justin Waller is a successful serial entrepreneur and influencer with over 1 Million followers across social media. He often discusses entrepreneurship, fitness, motivation, self improvement, dating, and men's mental health in his content. In this podcast, Justin walks us through how he started and scaled his construction business, why everyone should move out of their hometown, why you should mas

Renji Bijoy | Founder, CEO of Immersed - The Most Used VR Company in the World Nov 15, 2023 1:04:12 Renji Bijoy is the founder and CEO of the most used virtual reality app on the planet "Immersed". Renji walks us through his tech journey where he came out of college making $360k as a 23 year old to becoming a tech star and eventually being the first non-gaming app on Oculus. This is the story of Renji Bijoy and his journey as a tech founder. Subscribe and stay tuned for more podcasts coming soon

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