School of Hard Knocks Podcast
Business & Finance
About
Feauturing the Worlds Top Entrepreneurs and Creators Brought to you by The School of Hard Knocks Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Episodes
- Eric Spofford | He Was Addicted To Drugs... Now He's Sold A $115 Million Company
Eric Spofford discusses his experiences with addiction and entrepreneurship, detailing how he built and sold a treatment business for $115 million. He shares insights on scaling a company, private equity, and leading elite teams.
- Lucy Guo | How She Became The World's Youngest Self Made Woman Billionaire
Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI and one of the youngest self-made female billionaires, shares her journey and insights on building a successful AI company in this episode. She discusses handling family pressure, the importance of quick pi…
- RJ Jain | He Left India, Sold a Startup to Google, Now He’s Building a $200M Company
RJ Jain, founder of Price.com, shares his journey of building and exiting companies, including selling a startup to Google. He discusses startup risks, fundraising, distribution, and the impact of AI on execution.
- Richard Harpin | He Was $10K From Bankruptcy… Then Built a $4B Company
Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, discusses his path from near bankruptcy to creating a £4.1 billion global company. He shares insights on his business model, scaling strategies, and a 9-step framework for building a successful company.
- Simon Squibb | He Was Homeless at 15… Now He’s Worth Hundreds of Millions
Entrepreneur Simon Squibb discusses his journey from being homeless at 15 to building a business empire. He shares his perspectives on failure, traditional education, and the importance of purpose in achieving success.
- Poppi Founders | How They Built Poppi Into A $500 Million A Year Soda Company In 4 Years (Then Sold For $2 Billion)
Poppi founders Alison and Stephen Ellsworth discuss their journey of building and exiting a beverage company valued at $2 billion. They cover topics including product validation, viral growth strategies, scaling a business, and entrepreneu…
- Bill Gurley | Legendary Investor on Missing Google, Backing Uber, and What Makes Billion-Dollar Founders
Legendary venture capitalist Bill Gurley discusses his investment philosophy, including his experiences with companies like Uber and Zillow. The conversation covers his reflections on missing out on Google, the importance of execution over…
- John Caudwell | The British Billionaire Who Lost Everything… Then Built a $2B Empire
John Caudwell, the founder of Phones 4u, discusses scaling his business, overcoming financial obstacles, and the importance of hiring elite talent. He also reflects on his path to building a billion-pound empire, his approach to philanthro…
- Robert Croak | How the Sillybandz Founder Built a $100M Global Brand and Kept His Millions
Sillybandz founder Robert Croak discusses building his global toy brand, scaling his workforce, and the lessons he learned regarding entrepreneurship, venture investing, and product-market fit.
- Ben Pogue | He Took Over His Dad’s Company at 29… Now He Owns a $20M Private Jet
Ben Pogue, CEO of a major construction company, discusses his experience taking over the business at age 29. He shares insights on leadership, scaling a company, and managing professional and personal challenges.
- Forbes Riley | From Actress to the Pitch Queen, $2.5B in Sales, Media, and Modern Selling
Forbes Riley, known as the "Pitch Queen," discusses her career selling $2.5 billion in products and shares her strategies for effective pitching and communication. She provides insights on pitch structure, building confidence, and communic…
- Vick Tipnes | From $78 in His Bank Account to Owning a Private Jet
Healthcare entrepreneur Vick Tipnes joins the School of Hard Knocks Podcast to discuss his journey from having $78 in his bank account to building a successful sleep testing company. He shares insights on business growth, deal-making, lead…
- Myron Golden | You’re 60 Minutes Away From NEVER Being Broke Again!
Business consultant and sales strategist Myron Golden discusses the relationship between value and income, the law of averages in sales, and his personal faith-based framework for life and decision-making on the School of Hard Knocks Podca…
- 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
Jim Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, discusses how his upbringing influenced his leadership and shares strategies for navigating business crises. He explains how to identify company collapse indicators, the impact of fear on…
- Vic Keller | Sold 9 Companies Including 3 to Berkshire Hathaway on Building Durable Businesses, Partnerships, and Wealth
Vic Keller, founder of 17 companies, discusses building durable businesses and his experience selling three companies to Berkshire Hathaway. He shares insights on business growth, managing exits, deleveraging founders, and sustaining succe…
- Kirt Linington | He Came to America With $700… Then Sold for 9 Figures, Started Knocking On Doors At 42 & Made Millions
Entrepreneur Kirt Linington discusses building a roofing company to a nine-figure exit, balancing business growth with a corporate career, and the role of sales and discipline. The episode also covers insights into private equity and maxim…
- Daniel Lubetzky | From a $24,000 Salary to Building a $5 Billion Company, The Billionaire Behind KIND
KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky discusses his journey from a low-salary start to building a multi-billion dollar company. He shares his perspective on the importance of long-term thinking, purpose-driven capitalism, and building businesses wi…
- Ari Rastegar | How Flipping Burgers Led to a $3,000 Deal That Built a Billion-Dollar Real Estate Empire
Real estate developer Ari Rastegar discusses his path to building a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, starting from an initial $3,000 investment. He shares insights on property development, the importance of long-term vision, and his philoso…
- Dr. De | Biohax CEO on Longevity, Burnout, Hidden Stressors, and Building Health for the Long Term
Biohax CEO Dr. De joins the School of Hard Knocks Podcast to discuss strategies for optimizing longevity, managing hidden stressors, and addressing burnout in high performers. They explore the importance of building long-term health and th…
- Dariush Soudhi | How a Violent Home Invasion Forced Him to Start Over From Nothing & Still Made Millions Again
Serial entrepreneur Dariush Soudhi shares his journey of rebuilding his life and businesses after a violent home invasion and personal collapse. He discusses his recovery, the importance of self-accountability in business, and his approach…
- Robert Kiyosaki | Rich Dad Poor Dad Author on Smart Debt, Cash Flow, Tax Free Wealth, and Rejecting Traditional Education
Robert Kiyosaki discusses his journey from being a Marine pilot to a real estate investor and author. He shares his perspectives on financial concepts such as cash flow, smart debt, tax-free wealth, and the limitations of traditional educa…
- Tommy Mello | From Garage Doors to a $300M/Year Empire, The Billionaire Who Got Rich From A Normal Job
Tommy Mello, founder of A1 Garage Door, details his entrepreneurial path, scaling his business to over $300M in annual revenue. The episode covers talent acquisition, leadership, and strategies for organizational growth.
- Ken McElroy | From Property Manager to $2B Real Estate Mogul, Cash Flow, Tax Strategy and True Freedom
Ken McElroy, a real estate investor managing over $2 billion in assets, shares his journey from property manager to mogul on the School of Hard Knocks Podcast. He discusses strategies involving distressed properties, debt, tax efficiency,…
- Butch Hartman | The Untold Story of Nickelodeon’s Most Visionary Creator, How Was Fairly OddParents Show Created & How He Made Millions
Butch Hartman, creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom, discusses his journey from rejection to success at Nickelodeon. He shares insights on building creative teams, business in Hollywood, and the role of faith in his career.
- Neil Patel | Why Followers Don’t Pay the Bills, and How He Built Real Wealth Through Marketing Mastery
Neil Patel discusses his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the difference between online fame and financial success. He covers how AI is changing marketing and shares insights on building a sustainable business in the digital age.
- Tony Cuccio | From $200 on Venice Beach to a $2 Billion Global Empire, Reinventing Beauty, Real Estate, and the Meaning of Success
Tony Cuccio, a Brooklyn native, transformed a $200 street business on Venice Beach into a $2 billion global empire, revolutionizing the beauty industry with his invention of gel nails. He shares his journey of overcoming failure, avoiding…
- Kendra Scott | From Single Mom & College Dropout to Billion-Dollar Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Fashion Icon
Kendra Scott, a single mom and college dropout, built a billion-dollar fashion empire from her bedroom with $500. She discusses overcoming failure and bankruptcy to create a brand focused on family, fashion, and philanthropy.
- Adley Kinsman | How She Went From Broke Creator to Running One of the Internet’s Biggest Media Machines
Adley Kinsman shares her journey from bankruptcy to building an eight-figure media company, generating over 1.3 billion monthly views. She explains how she engineered virality and created a system for creators to achieve online success.
- Greg Perlman | The Real Estate Billionaire Who Built a $2.5B Empire and Chose to Give 75% Of It Away
Greg Perlman, a successful real estate investor who founded ventures and built a $2.5 billion empire with over 25,000 apartments, discusses turning government programs into opportunities and his choice to donate 75% of his fortune. He shar…
- Thomas Healy | World’s Youngest Billionaire on Dropping Out, Raising $700M, and Building an Empire Before 30
Tom Healy, the world's youngest self-made billionaire, discusses dropping out of college, raising $700 million, and taking his company public. He shares insights on navigating market volatility, pivoting during industry collapse, and build…
- John Morgan | The Billionaire Lawyer Who Took Down Disney & Coca-Cola
John Morgan, founder of the largest US personal injury firm, Morgan & Morgan, built a $2 billion empire after a family tragedy. He shares his strategies for nationwide scaling, extensive advertising, and fighting against major corporations.
- Brent Franklin | Broke at 26, Sued, And Became a Multi-Millionaire. How To Turn Rock Bottom Into Power And Empires
Brent Franklin shares his journey from a ninth-grade dropout sleeping in a garage to becoming a multi-millionaire. Despite losing millions and facing lawsuits, his grit and obsession fueled his success in oil and real estate, demonstrating…
- Abdulla Kudrath | Broke Immigrant to Multi-Industry Mogul: How He Built 14 Businesses From Scratch
Abdulla Kudrath shares his journey from a broke immigrant to a multi-industry mogul, founding 14 companies through discipline and radical self-responsibility. He discusses how extreme ownership and a shift in mindset turned his struggles i…
- Joshua Crisp | $11.3M in a Day Without Finishing High School
Joshua Crisp shares his journey from poverty and minimum wage to earning $11.3 million in one day. Despite having only a 9th-grade education and no connections, he built a successful business and became a mentor, turning his difficult past…
- Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch
Anne Mahlum, founder of Solidcore, discusses building her $110 million business from the ground up. She details risking her last $175,000 without investors, fueled by overcoming childhood trauma.
- John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back
John Devaney shares his journey of losing over $200 million in 2008, rebuilding his wealth through real estate and finance, and achieving over 100% returns in bond markets. He has since moved into producing mission-driven films.
- Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire
Alli Webb, founder of Drybar, discusses her journey from a small side hustle to a $255 million sale. She shares insights on entrepreneurship, reinvention, and her new venture, Messy.
- Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules
NYC Mayor Eric Adams discusses his childhood experiences with police brutality and poverty, and how these challenges fueled his purpose. He explains his choice to join the NYPD to enact change from within and shares insights on leadership…
- Hugo Sanchez | Latino Entrepreneur on Making $250K/Month Washing T-Shirts, Getting Rejected, and Overcoming Success
Hugo Sanchez discusses his journey as a Latino entrepreneur, detailing how he achieved $250,000 in monthly revenue from a t-shirt business. The episode covers his experiences with rejection and navigating the challenges of success.
- Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose
Khalil Rafati recounts his recovery from addiction and homelessness, detailing how he built the $34 million SunLife Organics smoothie company through spiritual transformation and a commitment to purpose.
- Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality
Edward Connors shares his experiences fighting in the Vietnam War, where he claims to have killed over 600 soldiers, and how that shaped his mindset. He then discusses building the Gold's Gym franchise into a global brand and mentoring fut…
- Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How
Karlton Dennis shares his journey from broke to a multi-million dollar empire by leveraging unconventional tax strategies. He explains how to legally pay zero taxes and build wealth by focusing on keeping money, not just earning it.
- Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire
Edwin Arroyave shares his inspiring journey from sleeping with cockroaches in poverty to becoming a CEO with a $40 million business. He discusses the sacrifices, turning points, and strategies that enabled him to overcome hardship and buil…
- Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M
Todd Johnson shares his journey from poverty and living on food stamps to becoming a multi-millionaire entrepreneur. He discusses the pivotal moment that changed his life, his faith-driven mission, and the mindset principles that led to hi…
- Michael Franzese | He Made $10 Million a Week in the Mafia...Now He's Found Redemption
Michael Franzese, a former Colombo crime family Capo who once earned millions weekly, discusses his life in organized crime, his prison experience, and his subsequent transformation into an author and speaker focused on leadership and rede…
- Dean Graziosi | 9-Figure Entrepreneur & Investor on Overcoming Struggles, Finding Mentors, and Achieving Success
Dean Graziosi, a best-selling author and investor, discusses the importance of mentorship, overcoming struggles, and achieving success. He shares insights from his experience with multiple successful companies and his mission to provide se…
- Jeremy Miner | Founder & CEO of 7th Level - How Anyone Can Become Successful in Sales & How to Be a Master Communicator
Jeremy Miner, Founder and CEO of 7th Level, shares insights on achieving sales success and becoming a master communicator. He discusses the psychology of buying based on his extensive experience as a top-earning, commission-only sales repr…
- Ryan Serhant | Luxury Real Estate Mogul & Influencer - How He Became the #1 Luxury Realtor in the World & Essential Keys to Success
This episode features Ryan Serhant, CEO of SERHANT, discussing his real estate career. Serhant shares insights into his journey, success factors, and beginnings on Million Dollar Listing New York.
- Chris Watters | CEO of Watters International Realty - Going From $0 to $10M+/Yr & Doing 9 Figures in Revenue in Real Estate
Chris Watters, CEO of Watters International Realty, shares his entrepreneurial path, detailing his transition from early ventures like lawn mowing and hospitality to building a real estate company with over 9 figures in annual revenue.
- Todd Nepola | Founder of Current Capital Group - On Building a $100M+ Real Estate Empire & How to Start Investing in Commercial Real Estate
Todd Nepola, founder and CEO of Current Capital Group, shares his experience transitioning from stockbroking to commercial real estate investing, eventually building a portfolio exceeding $100 million. He outlines a framework for starting…