Best Adam Schumacher Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 496 After the Deal: CK on Selling for $510M, Taking a Sabbatical, and Redefining Success 55:53

7h ago55:53

55:53

Chang Kim—friends call him CK—sold his company Tapas for more than $500 million and walked away without an earn-out. Instead of jumping into his next venture, he did something few founders have the nerve to do: he took a year off. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, CK opens up about what life looks like when work becomes a choice, not a requir…

1
Ep 495 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: Brent Beshore on the Private Equity Trap and Being Long-Term Greedy 56:12

7d ago56:12

56:12

Private equity firms are the most likely buyers for your business—and some do a fine job preserving what makes a company great. But many are financial engineers. They offer a generous multiple, then lever up the business, cut costs, and flip it within a few years. Longtime employees get let go. Culture erodes. You walk away with a check, but it can…

1
Ep 494 Exit Story: Building News Sets for TV Stars—and a Business Worth Millions 57:13

14d ago57:13

57:13

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Ep 493 Exit Story: Selling a 20-Person Agency for 5.5x EBITDA 44:34

21d ago44:34

44:34

Most stories we cover involve eye-popping multiples or headline-making exits. They’re fun—but not always realistic. Jeff DeGarmo’s story is different. No private equity windfall. No tech hockey stick. Just a well-run, 20-person service business built over 16 years and sold for a solid 5.5x EBITDA.By John Warrillow

1
Ep 492 Mastering the Deal: How Greg Alexander Got $162M for a 30-Person Firm—and What He’s Learned from Watching 50 Other Exits Up Close 58:39

28d ago58:39

58:39

Greg Alexander sold SBI, his 30-person consulting firm, for $162 million. Since then, he’s had a front-row seat to 50 other service firm exits through his peer group, Collective 54. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Greg breaks down what separates firms that sell from those that stall. This is a Mastering the Deal episode of Built to Sell Rad…

1
Ep 491 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: The Case for Unsexy 1:03:55

1M ago1:03:55

1:03:55

What makes someone want to buy an “unsexy” business? Jon Pole has acquired 19 traditional radio stations. On paper, it’s an industry many assume is in decline. But for an experienced buyer like Pole, these deals are less about media trends and more about community, cash flow, and culture.By John Warrillow

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Ep 490 Exit Story: How a Middleman Built and Sold a $19M Distribution Business 52:12

1M ago52:12

52:12

Sean McAuliffe didn’t invent anything. He was a distributor. If you lost your car keys and went to a locksmith to cut a new set, chances are your locksmith got the replacement key from Sean’s business. He bought cheap keys from Asia and sold them to locksmiths. Nothing fancy. Like so many businesses, Sean was a middleman. He'd never really thought …

1
Ep 489 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: Sequoya Borgman on How Independent Sponsors Buy Companies, Structure Deals, and Spot Pretenders 1:06:52

2M ago1:06:52

1:06:52

What do acquirers really want? Sequoya Borgman has acquired 19 companies and exited two. He’s raised capital on a deal-by-deal basis, working outside the traditional private equity model. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Borgman explains how “independent sponsors” operate—and why more wealthy individuals are now pooling money to buy lower mi…

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Ep 488 Exit Story: Garren Hilow on Selling for $190M, Taking Stock, and Missing His Earn-Out 59:23

2M ago59:23

59:23

When Garren Hilow helped start Abveris, he didn’t have much—just a background in sales, a co-founder with a Harvard PhD, and a stock option representing 16% of the company. Eight years later, he bought out his co-founder, bootstrapped the company with bank debt (collateralized by his house), and sold it in a stock deal that peaked at $190 million.…

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Ep 487 After the Deal: How the Ultra-Wealthy Invest After Selling Their Business 1:07:15

2M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

What would you do with $20 million? That’s the minimum amount required to join Tiger 21, the exclusive network where ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs learn how to preserve and grow their wealth. Michael Sonnenfeldt founded Tiger 21 after selling two companies and realizing that the skills that made him a successful entrepreneur didn’t translate i…

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Ep 486 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: The Harvard Playbook for Buying Your Business 1:00:55

2M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

A new generation of buyers trained in Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is looking for businesses like yours. Unlike private equity firms focused on roll-ups, ETA buyers are often searching for a single business to own and operate—making them a legitimate option for certain sellers.By John Warrillow

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Ep 485 After the Deal: The Psychology of Selling—Kill Criteria, Walkaway Mindset & Why “Telling Your Company’s Story” Often Drives Up Your Multiple 1:09:30

3M ago1:09:30

1:09:30

For the first time ever, we recorded a Built to Sell Radio episode in front of a live audience at the Value Builder Summit—a gathering of mission-driven advisors dedicated to helping founders level the playing field as they approach their exit. Rob Walling has started, built, and sold multiple companies. As an investor and conference organizer, he’…

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Ep 484 How to Know When It’s Time to Sell 1:10:04

3M ago1:10:04

1:10:04

Kristie Shifflette built a 13-location Orangetheory Fitness empire from scratch—bootstrapping a capital-hungry business, personally guaranteeing leases, and taking on risk most founders wouldn’t touch. In the end, it paid off for Kristie and in this episode, you’ll discover how to: Bootstrap a capital-intensive business without giving up control Re…

1
Ep 483 Exit Story: Frank Shultz on Escaping the 50/50 Trap and Buying Out a Partner 1:28:07

3M ago1:28:07

1:28:07

When Frank Shultz co-founded Infinite Blue, he and his partner split ownership 50/50. The business thrived, but their working relationship soured. Frank wanted to buy out his co-founder, but with a valuation in the eight figures, he faced a daunting question: where would he get the cash?By John Warrillow

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Ep 482 Exit Story: Bob Gilbreath — "The Adult Version of the Marshmallow Test" and How to Capitalize on an Earn-Out 1:17:00

3M ago1:17:00

1:17:00

An earn-out is a deal structure where part of the sale price is contingent on the business hitting future performance goals. For many owners, it feels like a gamble—where the payout is uncertain, and the risks are high. But Bob Gilbreath flipped the script. He navigated two complex earn-outs across two service businesses and turned both into massiv…

1
Economic Consequences of Europe’s New Geopolitical Situation, with Moritz Schularick 37:52

3M ago37:52

37:52

Join us on as we delve into the economic consequences of Europe's evolving geopolitical landscape with our guest Moritz Schularick, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Together, we tackle the pressing issues arising from an imperialistic Russia, uncertain US commitments, and China's strategic maneuvers. Tune in to understand the …

1
Is Germany’s Industrial Slowdown About to Spiral? 17:54

3M ago17:54

17:54

Germany's industrial powerhouse has long been the backbone of Europe’s economy. But after years of steady growth, manufacturing activity has been on a downward trajectory since 2018. Could this decline suddenly accelerate due to "cluster effects" and local economies of scale unraveling? In this episode, we dive into the forces shaping Germany’s ind…

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Ep 481 After the Deal: What 70 Founders Reveal About Generational Wealth, the Achievement Trap & the Happiness Illusion 1:02:50

4M ago1:02:50

1:02:50

Most founders focus all their energy on getting to an exit, but few stop to consider what comes next. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, John Rood shares what he learned after selling Next Step Test Prep to private equity—and why he decided to write Beyond the Exit.By John Warrillow

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Tariffs - What Do They Achieve? 21:28

4M ago21:28

21:28

We discuss the effects of tariffs on consumers and producers, drawing on evidence from the tariff war during the first Trump administration. The empirical evidence shows that import tariffs led to increases in domestic prices, reductions in import quantities and a reduction in product variety. This coupled with additional adverse effects on global …

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Ep 480 Exit Story: The $80M Deception—How Kevin Wagstaff Walked Away and Won 1:27:38

4M ago1:27:38

1:27:38

When Kevin Wagstaff and his brother bootstrapped Spectora, a SaaS platform for home inspectors, with just $2,500 each, they never expected to one day face an $80 million acquisition offer. Spectora transformed the home inspection industry by replacing outdated paper reports with a digital platform that streamlined workflows, saved inspectors time, …

1
Review of the ECB Meeting - January 2025 11:56

4M ago11:56

11:56

Join our discussion of the ECB's decisions and communication following its rate setting meeting on January 30, 2025 and learn about the outlook for Euro Area growth, inflation and interest rates.By Klaus Adam and Dirk Schumacher

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Ep 479 Exit Story: How to Attract a Fortune 500 Acquirer With Brock Weatherup 1:18:05

4M ago1:18:05

1:18:05

Selling your business to a Fortune 500 company is a dream for many founders. Strategic acquirers often pay the most because they can integrate your business into their larger ecosystem. It’s rare to pull off even once—Brock Weatherup has done it three times. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Brock reveals the strategies that helped him attrac…

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Getting Germany Back on Track - with Clemens Fuest (Ifo Institute) 38:27

4M ago38:27

38:27

In this episode, we welcome Clemens Fuest, President of Germany's Ifo Institute, for an in-depth discussion on economic challenges and the urgent reforms needed to get Germany back on track. We dissect (i) what’s behind Germany's economic underperformance compared to its Euro Area peers, (ii) whether the upcoming elections deliver a chance for econ…

1
Ep 478 After the Deal: When Can You Afford to Fly Private? with Preston Holland 1:21:01

4M ago1:21:01

1:21:01

That’s why we created the After the Deal series on Built to Sell Radio. This series explores life after selling a business—delving into the personal, financial, and emotional transitions that come when work becomes a choice, not a requirement. In this episode, we speak with Preston Holland, author of Private Jet Insider and an expert in private avi…

1
Ep 477 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: Lessons from Analyzing Thousands of Real-Life Transactions 54:11

4M ago54:11

54:11

This week on Built to Sell Radio, John Warrillow interviews Blake Hutchison, CEO of Flippa, the world’s largest marketplace for buying and selling digital businesses. With experience overseeing thousands of real transactions, Blake offers a unique window into the minds of today’s acquirers.By John Warrillow

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Ep 476 Exit Story: How Ben Landers Avoided an Earn-Out in His 8-Figure Sale of Blue Corona 1:11:25

5M ago1:11:25

1:11:25

Ben Landers built Blue Corona, an 8-figure digital marketing agency focused on home service businesses, into a data-driven powerhouse. When it came time to sell, Ben achieved something extraordinary: a clean exit with no earn-outs, a rare feat in the service business world where earn-outs are practically the norm.…

1
Ep 475 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: Adam Kerrigan on Selling His Service Business, Acquiring 16 More, and Moving From a 1X to a 15X Multiple 1:04:20

5M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

Adam Kerrigan started as the owner of a managed service provider (MSP) business, which he built and eventually sold. After his exit, he joined the acquiring company to lead its M&A group, where he completed 16 deals and helped build a private equity-backed organization. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Adam pulls back the curtain on how acqu…

1
Ep 474 2024 Year-End Special: The Insider’s Guide to Maximizing Your Exit 38:37

5M ago38:37

38:37

As we gear up for 2025, I wanted to highlight the top strategies covered this past year on Built to Sell Radio. These insights are designed to help you increase the value of your business and position yourself for a successful exit.

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Ep 473 Exit Story: How Grace & Stella Survived a $28M Setback to Sell for 5.8x EBITDA 55:15

5M ago55:15

55:15

Imagine personally guaranteeing millions in debt to fill a $28M order—only to have it yanked at the last minute. It nearly bankrupted founder Adi Gullia as well as Grace & Stella. Yet he overcame it all and sold at a 5.8x EBITDA multiple.

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The Role of Innovation for Society, with Prof. Dan Breznitz 50:50

5M ago50:50

50:50

Join us as we discuss with Dan Breznitz from the University of Toronto the difference between invention & innovation, the various stages of innovation and what different stages imply for the distribution of income across society. We also look at the role that innovation agencies and universities play in fostering innovation and how the divide betwe…

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Global Value Chains Under Pressure: What Future for Them? With Gabriel Felbermayr 38:31

6M ago38:31

38:31

Join us as we discuss with Professor Gabriel Felbermayr, President of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the forces reshaping the intricate web of global value chains. Geopolitical tensions, mounting tarrifs and regulatory crackdowns put pressure on global economic exchange and Gabriel shares his expert insights on what the future holds a…

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Outlook on the Political Future in France, with Hadrien Camatte (Natixis) 16:57

6M ago16:57

16:57

In this episode, Dirk Schumacher sits down with Hadrien Camatte from Natixis to dive deep into the fallout of the Barnier government’s collapse. - Can President Macron cobble together a new government? - What were Marine Le Pen’s motivations for toppling Barnier, and what does it mean for France’s political future? - As parliamentary elections loom…

1
Ep 471 Exit Story: Kaelon Egan on Selling AccelaSchool to PowerSchool, Targeting Strategic Buyers, and Avoiding Earn-Outs 31:50

6M ago31:50

31:50

In this week’s episode of Built to Sell Radio, John Warrillow interviews Kaelon Egan, the founder of AccelaSchool, who successfully sold his company to PowerSchool—a giant in the K-12 education technology space. For most founders, the ultimate dream is to sell to a strategic acquirer: a well-funded, industry leader with deep pockets. Egan shares ex…

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Ep 470 After the Deal: James Ashford on the Aftermath of Selling a 12-Employee Company for 8 Figures 1:20:36

6M ago1:20:36

1:20:36

James Ashford built GoProposal with a clear goal: to sell. From designing the logo with potential acquirers in mind to rallying his team around the vision, James executed his plan with precision. The result? An eight-figure sale to Sage, a FTSE 100 company. But what happened after the deal? In this week’s Built to Sell Radio, part of our After the …

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Ep 469 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: The Private Equity Roll Up Playbook 1:10:55

6M ago1:10:55

1:10:55

If you’re a business owner, chances are buyers are considering your industry for a roll-up. From veterinary clinics to auto body shops, pharmacies to advertising agencies—you name the industry, there’s probably a private equity firm looking to roll it up. This week’s episode is part of our Inside the Mind of an Acquirer series, where we dive into t…

1
The Political Transition in Germany: Economic Challenges 21:00

7M ago21:00

21:00

Dive into the turbulent world of German politics as we unpack the dramatic collapse of the ruling coalition and what lies ahead in the upcoming elections. While disagreements over economic policies led to the coalition's downfall, the challenges remain unchanged: high corporate taxes, surging labor costs, and stifling bureaucratic inefficiencies. W…

1
Ep 468 The Hustler’s Guide to a Big Exit: How Shane Neman Conquered the Business of Partying 1:04:20

7M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

What does it take to turn nightlife into big business? Med school dropout Shane Neman cracked the code on the nightclub industry, transforming its back office into a finely tuned, revenue-generating machine. From pioneering one of the first SMS platforms for small businesses to setting up his companies for top-dollar exits, Shane shares the technic…

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Ep 467 From High School Dropout to $419M Exit: Mike Fata’s Journey with Manitoba Harvest 52:52

7M ago52:52

52:52

Few founders exemplify resilience like Mike Fata, co-founder of Manitoba Harvest. Growing up in a single-parent, low-income household, Fata dropped out of school in grade 10, struggled with health issues, and found himself weighing 300 pounds by age 18. A life-changing commitment to health led him to discover hemp as a nutritional powerhouse, spark…

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Will Euro Area Inflation Fall Below the ECB's Target? 19:23

7M ago19:23

19:23

In this episode, we explore the inflation outlook for the Euro Area, honing in on whether medium-term inflation could once again fall short of the ECB's target, as it did before the pandemic. While there’s little evidence in current data to suggest an imminent undershoot—thanks to robust wage growth, persistent service price inflation, and ample ro…

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Ep 466 Building a $35M Home Services Business, Overcoming Personal Tragedy, Private Equity ‘musical chairs’, and Securing a 10x EBITDA Exit with Carrie Kelsch 55:39

7M ago55:39

55:39

When Carrie Kelsch was encouraged to start a garage door business back in 2004, she had no experience in the industry. By 2022, her company, A Plus Garage Doors, was generating $35 million in revenue with 30% EBITDA margins. This week on Built to Sell Radio, host John Warrillow shares Carrie’s journey—from her first steps in the home services indus…

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Ep 465 Negotiation, Earn-Outs, and the Pitfalls of Stock Deals in His $4.6M Exit with Pete Neubig 50:47

7M ago50:47

50:47

Pete Neubig started his entrepreneurial journey buying $35,000 houses with small down payments. After amassing 60 homes, he realized there was more money in managing properties for others. Pete shifted focus to building a property management company, handling maintenance and rent collection for over 1,000 homes, and eventually sold the business for…

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Fiscal Consolidation in Europe: How to Achieve It? With Roel Beetsma (University of Amsterdam) 36:33

7M ago36:33

36:33

Join us this week as we tackle a pressing issue facing the Euro Area: fiscal consolidation. With debt-to-GDP ratios near historic highs in many economies, reducing deficits is critical—but not without risks to economic growth. Our special guest, Roel Beetsma, Professor of Macroeconomics at the University of Amsterdam, offers his insights on questio…

1
Ep 464 Built to Flip: How to Buy, Build, and Sell a Business with Jim Lindstrom 56:33

7M ago56:33

56:33

In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Jim Lindstrom discusses how he acquired BuzzWord, a company specializing in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. Lindstrom explains how he built a killer culture by transforming contractors into full-time employees and incentivizing them with a two-part profit-sharing scheme focused on cash …

1
Ep 463 How Luke Peters Turned a Used Bar Fridge into an $80M Acquisition Target 59:56

8M ago59:56

59:56

Luke Peters started off by reselling everyday appliances like bar fridges online. Eventually he built a brand and shifted to selling his products on big e-commerce retailers. Peters grew NewAir to $80 million in revenue before selling it for a lifechanging windfall in 2022.By John Warrillow

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The Future of Europe's Auto Industry, with Valentin Mory (Natixis) 24:35

8M ago24:35

24:35

Join us to dive into the challenges and transitions facing Europe’s car industry. Together with Valentin Mory, mobility expert from Natixis, we explore the shifting landscape of electric vehicles (EVs), China's lead in battery technology, and the future of internal combustion engines. Will Europe keep pace with China’s rapid electrification? Can ca…

1
Ep 462 Matt Ebert on Selling Control to Private Equity and Expanding Crash Champions to 645 Locations 57:11

8M ago57:11

57:11

Matt Ebert’s path to founding Crash Champions didn’t start with a grand plan—it began with a car wreck. At 16, he found himself needing to fix his own car, sparking an unexpected passion that led to building one of the largest collision repair companies in the United States.By John Warrillow

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Europe's Growth and Productivity Slowdown Since 2009 23:52

8M ago23:52

23:52

Have you ever wondered why Europe's economic growth seems stuck in slow motion? Join us as we explore the mystery of Europe's lagging economic growth. We break down the complex factors at play from sluggish investment to slow productivity growth, discuss the struggle to keep pace with the US tech boom, and Europe's shortcomings in fostering innovat…

1
Ep 461 Aaron Levenstadt on Narrowing Your Focus to Broaden Your Appeal, Building an Advisory Board, and the Rule of 20 for a Successful Exit 50:03

8M ago50:03

50:03

Aaron Levenstadt built Pedestal Search into a business worth selling by mastering one thing: SEO. While clients tempted him to offer other services, Aaron knew the real value lay in doing one thing better than anyone else. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Aaron shares how focusing on one service helped him stand out in a crowded market and a…

1
New Insights into the Gains from International Trade, with Andrei Levchenko (University of Michigan) 38:38

8M ago38:38

38:38

Join Dirk Schumacher and Klaus Adam on "The Week That Was in Europe" as they welcome Professor Andrei Levchenko, a leading expert on international trade, to discuss new insights into the gains from international trade, the benefits & drawbacks of tariffs + export subsidies, and international technology transfer. Tune in to "The Week That Was in Eur…

1
Ep 460 How Jessica DeLuca Sold Cult Beauty for £275M and Created 29 Millionaires 1:16:49

8M ago1:16:49

1:16:49

Jessica DeLuca co-founded Cult Beauty in 2008, creating one of the UK’s leading online beauty retailers. In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Jessica reveals the path that led her to selling the business for £275 million to The Hut Group (THG). DeLuca’s background in tech shaped the business, with her love for data and precision leading to a met…

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