School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Епизоди

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  Kim Perell | She Borrowed $10K From Grandma… Then Built a $235M Company 16.09.2026 39мин

  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-figure and billion-dollar outcomes.She also breaks down mentorship, founder resilience, building valuable relationships, increasing a company’s attractiveness to buyers, and why focus matters more than diversification in the early years.Kim closes with her philosophy on family, money, creativity, long-term thinking, and why no one becomes successful alone.Find Kim Perell here:Website: https://kimperell.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/ Check out Kim’s books: https://kimperell.com/books/Learn more about Juni: https://drinkjuni.com/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Eddie Maalouf | He Couldn’t Give Marketing Away For Free… Now His Agency Makes $18 Million/Year 09.09.2026 1ч 5мин

  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 sales systems, marketing strategies, hiring decisions, and organic content playbook that helped him scale from struggling to acquire clients to working with major brands including Yeezy. He also breaks down how he negotiated a restaurant business from a $1 million asking price to a $130,000 deal.Follow Eddie Maalouf:Instagram: instagram.com/eddiemaaloufBAD Marketing: badmarketing.comScoville Hot Chicken: scovillechicken.comHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Jhalesa Seymour | She Started With $67… Now Her Soap Company Makes $20 Million/Year 02.09.2026 38мин

  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 company in college with only $67 and became the first millionaire in her family by age 25.In this episode, Jhalesa shares how she created demand, built trust through organic marketing, survived a devastating 20,000-order fulfillment crisis, scaled with paid advertising, and learned to manage people and money through explosive growth.She also discusses faith, motherhood, competition, building the right circle, and her ambition to turn Salt.XO into a global billion-dollar company.Find Jhalesa Seymour here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhalesa.xo/Salt.XO: https://www.instagram.com/salt.xo/Website: https://www.saltxo.com/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Mike Wystrach | He Had $15 Left… 10 Years Later He Sold His Company For $1.5 Billion 26.08.2026 57мин

  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 and hypergrowth, and ultimately decided to sell the business. Mike also shares lessons on entrepreneurship, customer obsession, building great teams, wealth, failure, and what he is building today through Petfolk and Cutting Horse.Find Mike Wystrach here:Website: https://mikewystrach.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikewystrach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwystrach/ Check out Mike’s businesses: Petfolk: https://petfolk.com/ Cutting Horse: https://www.cuttinghorse.com/ Listen to The Advantage: https://mikewystrach.com/podcast/ https://mikewystrach.com/newsletter/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Jamie Salter | How He Built a $40B Brand Empire With Reebok, Champion & Forever 21 19.08.2026 1ч 8мин

  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 and the snowboard business to building one of the largest brand licensing companies in the world.He shares how Authentic evaluates acquisitions, what gives a struggling brand a “heartbeat,” why global expansion matters, and how licensing can unlock growth without owning every part of the supply chain.Jamie also talks about working alongside his four sons, partnering with major personal brands, the rise of creator-driven commerce, financial discipline, and why organization has been one of the biggest advantages of his career.Follow Jamie Salter:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiejsalter/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-salter-04a08933/Learn more about Authentic Brands Group:Website: https://corporate.authentic.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentic/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  George Heaton | How He Built Represent Into a $140M/Year Fashion Brand 12.08.2026 41мин

  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 also breaks down product strategy, international expansion, hiring, retail, pricing discipline and the importance of delayed gratification. A practical conversation about building a brand designed to outlive its founders.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  David Royce | From Door to Door Sales to 5 Companies Sold for Over $1 Billion 05.08.2026 49мин

  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 he survived early cash-flow crises, why training and culture became his competitive advantage, and why “boring” businesses continue to create extraordinary wealth.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Blake Johnson | He Had $7,000 Left… Then Sold His Companies for $1.1 Billion 29.07.2026 47мин

  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, controls customer acquisition costs, builds high-performing teams and creates businesses that strategic buyers and private equity firms want to acquire. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Dr. Jason Wersland | How a Terrible Motorcycle Accident Led to the Invention of Theragun 22.07.2026 1ч 13мин

  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 partnerships.In this episode, he explains how he found the right investor, protected the invention, built an entirely new product category and earned adoption from world-class athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo and Aaron Rodgers.The conversation explores invention, resilience, brand building, strategic partnerships and why consistency, persistence and delusion are often required to build something revolutionary.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  David Stout | He Started With a $400 Loan… Now His AI Company Is Worth $2.5 Billion 15.07.2026 1ч 7мин

  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 WebAI’s rise. He also discusses AI ownership, data centers, leadership, faith, recruiting elite talent, and the future of specialized artificial intelligence.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Mike Sherbakov | He Came To America With Nothing… Now He Funds $1 Billion Companies 06.07.2026 1ч 23мин

  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 entrepreneurship, early-stage investing, 100X returns, and building a 130-company portfolio. He also shares what he looks for in founders, why resilience matters, and how veteran leadership is shaping the future of American innovation.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  John Imah | He Sold 2 Tech Companies At 16… Now His AI Company Is Worth $1.5 Billion 27.06.2026 1ч 2мин

  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 for fashion, attracting elite talent, selling into major brands, overcoming bullying, losing his mother, and using faith, discipline, and execution to build a lasting company.Do you want more options, shorter, more intense, or more viral versions?Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Ronnen Harary | Meet The Billionaire Toymaker Who Turned 5,000 Toys Into $2 Billion 20.06.2026 1ч

  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, building Bakugan, creating Paw Patrol, scaling globally, learning from failure, and why your 20s are the best decade to bet on yourself.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Lynnwood Bibbens | He Sold Cutco Knives In College… Then Built A $2 Billion Empire 12.06.2026 55мин

  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, building real relationships, finding hidden value in ecosystems, and why distribution is more powerful than content alone.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Peter Tuchman | He Survived Every Stock Market Crash… Now He Trades $1 Billion/Day 06.06.2026 1ч 7мин

  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, Peter shares lessons on market crashes, greed, disciplined investing, retail traders, wealth building, and what it really takes to survive on Wall Street.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Greg LaVecchia | He Had a 2.5 GPA… Now He’s Got a $1 Billion Brand 30.05.2026 59мин

  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 fitness products, building with his wife, betting $1 million on Target distribution, influencer marketing, retail strategy, product failures, fatherhood, and the pressure of scaling a brand built from scratch.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Patrick Terry | It’s Never Too Late… He Started At 47 And Beat McDonald’s Out 21.05.2026 1ч 4мин

  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, employee loyalty, pricing with fairness, building customer love, and why showing up every day is still the ultimate business advantage.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Andy Frisella | He Made $58K In 10 Years… Now His Portfolio Is Worth $1B 13.05.2026 1ч 8мин

  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 behind discipline, how 75 Hard was created, why customer experience changed his business, and what it takes to build culture, standards, and long-term enterprise value.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Eric Spofford | He Was Addicted To Drugs... Now He's Sold A $115 Million Company 07.05.2026 1ч

  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 sellable company, private equity, hiring elite teams, relationship building, wealth after exit, and the mindset required to survive the hardest seasons in business.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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  Lucy Guo | How She Became The World's Youngest Self Made Woman Billionaire 01.05.2026 41мин

  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 helped build Scale AI into a company valued around $26 billion.In this episode, Lucy shares how she handled family pressure, why she believes founders must pivot quickly, how Scale AI found product-market fit, and what young entrepreneurs need to understand about AI, talent, risk, and proximity.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.