School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Greg LaVecchia | He Had a 2.5 GPA… Now He’s Got a $1 Billion Brand 30.05.2026 59dk

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.

Patrick Terry | It’s Never Too Late… He Started At 47 And Beat McDonald’s Out 21.05.2026 1sa 4dk

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.

Andy Frisella | He Made $58K In 10 Years… Now His Portfolio Is Worth $1B 13.05.2026 1sa 8dk

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.

Eric Spofford | He Was Addicted To Drugs... Now He's Sold A $115 Million Company 07.05.2026 1sa

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.

Lucy Guo | How She Became The World's Youngest Self Made Woman Billionaire 01.05.2026 41dk

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.

RJ Jain | He Left India, Sold a Startup to Google, Now He’s Building a $200M Company 23.04.2026 46dk

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 building and exiting a company, then starting again as a solo founder. He breaks down the reality of startup risk, fundraising, distribution, consumer tech, and how AI is changing execution. This conversation is a sharp look at resilience, ambition, and what it takes to build at scale.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Richard Harpin | He Was $10K From Bankruptcy… Then Built a $4B Company 15.04.2026 33dk

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 capital, and why copying proven ideas beats chasing originality.A masterclass in scaling, resilience, and strategic execution.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Simon Squibb | He Was Homeless at 15… Now He’s Worth Hundreds of Millions 08.04.2026 1sa 11dk

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 what it really takes to succeed. This is a conversation about ownership, resilience, and creating your own path.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Poppi Founders | How They Built Poppi Into A $500 Million A Year Soda Company In 4 Years (Then Sold For $2 Billion) 02.04.2026 56dk

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 explores entrepreneurship, brand building, leadership, and the mindset required to sustain long-term success.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Bill Gurley | Legendary Investor on Missing Google, Backing Uber, and What Makes Billion-Dollar Founders 26.03.2026 57dk

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 investors can build an edge in emerging industries.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

John Caudwell | The British Billionaire Who Lost Everything… Then Built a $2B Empire 20.03.2026 52dk

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 ruthless suppliers, and building wealth on thin margins. He also discusses philanthropy, legacy, and why success ultimately goes beyond money.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Robert Croak | How the Sillybandz Founder Built a $100M Global Brand and Kept His Millions 12.03.2026 1sa 12dk

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 entrepreneurship, venture investing, product-market fit, and the wealth habits that separate successful founders from the rest. This conversation dives deep into execution, failure, and building businesses that scale globally.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ben Pogue | He Took Over His Dad’s Company at 29… Now He Owns a $20M Private Jet 04.03.2026 52dk

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 industry-leading client retention. The conversation explores crisis leadership, scaling teams, building billion-dollar companies, and the mindset required to endure the hardest seasons of entrepreneurship.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Forbes Riley | From Actress to the Pitch Queen, $2.5B in Sales, Media, and Modern Selling 25.02.2026 58dk

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 communication, confidence, and legacy.A tactical masterclass on getting “yes” faster without sounding like a salesperson.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Vick Tipnes | From $78 in His Bank Account to Owning a Private Jet 18.02.2026 56dk

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 leadership and purpose attract top talent.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Myron Golden | You’re 60 Minutes Away From NEVER Being Broke Again! 11.02.2026 1sa 5dk

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 fulfilled life through creation, connection, and contribution.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 06.02.2026 53dk

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 fall, why fear kills more businesses than bad strategy, how equity creates real wealth, and the leadership decisions most CEOs avoid when the stakes are highest.This episode is a blueprint for navigating collapse, leading at scale, and building a career that turns chaos into opportunity.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Vic Keller | Sold 9 Companies Including 3 to Berkshire Hathaway on Building Durable Businesses, Partnerships, and Wealth 29.01.2026 59dk

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, and the hidden cost of exits when selling the business means losing relationships too.This episode is a blueprint for building companies that survive bad weather and outlast the founder.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Kirt Linington | He Came to America With $700… Then Sold for 9 Figures, Started Knocking On Doors At 42 & Made Millions 23.01.2026 1sa 8dk

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 for, how to maximize enterprise value, and why personal discipline shows up in business outcomes.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Daniel Lubetzky | From a $24,000 Salary to Building a $5 Billion Company, The Billionaire Behind KIND 16.01.2026 1sa 8dk

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 shaped his approach to business, why most people misunderstand wealth creation, and what it really takes to build something that lasts without chasing hype. We also talk about discipline, values, and the role of hard work in a world obsessed with shortcuts. Because real wealth isn’t a paycheck. It’s building something meaningful that compounds over time.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.