Best Brent Alexander Podcasts (2025)

1
Ep 500 After the Deal: Ben Leonard on Watching His $6M Business Fall Apart After the Exit 57:53

2d ago57:53

57:53

When Ben Leonard sold Beast Gear—a strength and conditioning equipment brand he built from his spare room into a business generating $6 million in revenue—he thought he’d made the deal of a lifetime. He got 80% of the proceeds up front, agreed to a small earn-out, and became the face of Thrasio, the acquirer. Then things started to go sideways.…

1
Trevor Ritland: The Golden Toad 34:01

2d ago34:01

34:01

I think you could probably go back and track the stages of grief, probably that is what I went through. But I think if you do it right, you end up at acceptance. And that's where I ended up. And that's not to say that I've fully accepted the idea that the golden toad is extinct. Personally, I do still hold out hope that it could still be out there …

1
441: Jillian Michaels—Keeping It (Very) Real 1:26:02

3d ago1:26:02

1:26:02

Jillian Michaels is a renowned fitness expert, television personality, podcaster, and bestselling author known most for her role on The Biggest Loser. She has built a global brand around health, wellness, and personal empowerment through fitness. Big thanks to our terrific sponsors ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe Post a job for FREE. K12.com/ROWE Find a tuit…

1
Ep 499 After the Deal: The Hidden Cost of Generational Wealth 49:54

10d ago49:54

49:54

You’ve built a valuable company. Maybe you’re even thinking about selling. But what happens after the wire hits? In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, Alex Bean, co-founder of Divvy, shares what it felt like to sell his company for $2.5 billion—and why the real challenges began after the deal closed. This conversation will help you think more str…

1
440: David Mamet—Whore That I Am 1:47:01

12d ago1:47:01

1:47:01

Arguably America’s greatest living playwright, David Mamet, drops by to discuss movies, theater, philosophy, and his new book, The Disenlightenment: Politics, Horror, and Entertainment, in which he offers sharp insights into American culture, politics, and the art of storytelling. WARNING: THIS EPISODE IS MARKED EXPLICIT as the language gets quite …

1
Micka on Influence - Bongani Chinkanda 33:05

13d ago33:05

33:05

Bongani Chinkanda shares his insights on elevating creativity in marketing by integrating influencers as strategic partners. He emphasizes the importance of aligning brand values with influencer narratives to create authentic and impactful campaigns. Bongani discusses how this collaboration can lead to innovative content that resonates with audienc…

1
Ep 498 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer: Understanding the Buyer Who Pays 100% at Close 47:41

17d ago47:41

47:41

Most acquirers want you to stick around. Roll equity. Hit targets. Train your replacement. But there’s a different kind of buyer out there. One who wires 100% of the money at closing—and lets you walk. Dan Mytels represents this type of buyer. Through his firm, Salt Creek, he’s acquired 100 businesses—most of them mature, profitable, niche companie…

1
Reuven Bank and Andrew Kim: When the Ocean Lost Its Stars 30:54

18d ago30:54

30:54

By Species Unite

1
439: Codie Sanchez Wants to Make You Financially Free 1:39:30

19d ago1:39:30

1:39:30

New York Times bestselling author Codie Sanchez has a background working in finance but gave up Wall Street for Main Street. She is a blue-collar entrepreneur and investor known for buying and growing “boring” cash-flow businesses like laundromats and car washes. She founded Contrarian Thinking to help others achieve financial freedom through uncon…

1
Delcianna Winders: The Beginning of the End of Animal Testing 40:08

23d ago40:08

40:08

“We don't actually know how many animals we're testing on in this country, because most of them are not protected by any laws. There's not even a requirement that you track their numbers.” – Delcianna Winders Today, I have the pleasure of sharing some genuinely promising news. For decades, the FDA and NIH have required or relied on animal testing a…

1
Ep 497 Exit Story: How $1M in Profit Changed Doug Lowenthal’s Life Forever 1:06:18

24d ago1:06:18

1:06:18

When Doug Lowenthal discovered that $1 million in EBITDA was the minimum threshold acquirers looked for in his industry, he had a goal. Then he learned that managed service providers—businesses that offer outsourced IT support—were trading for 6–8× EBITDA. That’s when he realized he was building something truly valuable. But getting there required …

1
Micka on Inflluene - Thato Mokhou 29:00

28d ago29:00

29:00

In this Episode on MIcka on Influence - I chat to Thato Mokhou, she is the Senior Social Media Strategist for MTN South Africa. We diving into how brands and executives can build influence online—without needing a million followers. How AI is revolutionizing influencer partnerships and content creation, making it more authentic and engaging. Learn …

1
Ep 496 After the Deal: CK on Selling for $510M, Taking a Sabbatical, and Redefining Success 55:53

1M 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
Jeff Kerr: Our First Amendment Right to Receive Communications (from Monkeys) 30:14

1M ago30:14

30:14

"It is a scientific fact that these macaques, like all other primates, including humans, are communicating. They communicate in much the same way we do - facial expressions, vocalizations, body postures, those kinds of things." - Jeff Kerr Jeff Kerr is PETA foundations Chief Legal Officer. I asked him to come on the show to talk about one of PETA’s…

1
438: Jan Jekielek—The Terrible Truth About China 1:29:21

1M ago1:29:21

1:29:21

Jan Jekielek is a senior editor with The Epoch Times and host of “American Thought Leaders.” He has extensively covered the issue of forced organ harvesting in China, particularly concerning Falun Gong practitioners. It is estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 organs annually have been involuntarily extracted from political prisoners in China. Jan’s inv…

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

1M 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
Isabella La Rocca Gonzalez: Censored Landscapes 31:41

1M ago31:41

31:41

"The one that really surprised me was the organic humane Certified Egg Farm. I thought Humane Certified would at least mean that I would see some chickens running around somewhere, but it looked exactly the [00:00:30] same as any other egg facility. They were just big warehouses. You don't see a chicken anywhere in sight. And then I learned, of cou…

1
437: Neal McDonough—Clear the Mechanism 1:30:50

1M ago1:30:50

1:30:50

437: Neal McDonough—Clear the Mechanism The perennial character actor villain turned leading man drops by to talk about the first film where he finally gets to kiss the girl at the end, The Last Rodeo—and that girl is played by his wife, Ruvé. Coincidence? Not a chance. That’s the only way Neal would do it. Neal also discusses how he secured a retu…

1
Micka on Influence - Murray Legg 21:23

1M ago21:23

21:23

In this conversation, Micka Alexander and Murray Legg explore the dynamic world of influencing media and marketing, particularly focusing on the growth of the creative economy in Africa. They discuss the importance of storytelling, the creator triangle of content, community, and commerce, and the barriers creators face in achieving financial indepe…

1
John Kinder: World War Zoos 42:33

1M ago42:33

42:33

John Kinder is the director of American studies and a professor of history at Oklahoma State University. And he is an author. His most recent book is called World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age. John’s book tells a story most of us have never heard: what happened to the world’s zoos—and the animals in…

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

1M ago57:13

57:13

1
436: Garry Ridge—Any Dumbass Can Do It 1:08:09

2M ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Once named one of Inc. magazine’s 10 most admired CEOs, Garry led WD-40 for 25 years. At that time, his leadership and positive corporate culture grew WD-40 into one of the world's most recognized and well-loved brands. In this episode, Garry discusses how he achieved this and why he detailed it in his book, Any Dumbass Can Do It. Many thanks to ou…

1
Ep 493 Exit Story: Selling a 20-Person Agency for 5.5x EBITDA 44:34

2M 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
435: Josh Smith & Bayard Winthrop—Shut Up and Make It! 1:32:44

2M ago1:32:44

1:32:44

Amid the tariff wars, Mike sits down with two men whose businesses are NOT affected by foreign supply chains. Josh is a master bladesmith and founder of the Montana Knife Company, and Bayard is founder and CEO of American Giant. Both men are uniquely positioned to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of making products entirely in the United States. B…

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

2M 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
Richard (Kudo) Couto: The Hidden Horror Behind a Billion-Dollar Brand 42:18

2M ago42:18

42:18

“I used to be the largest dairy consumer on the planet. I used to eat so much dairy and meat. The more that I looked into the dairy industry, the more that I saw that it was the singular, most inhumane industry on the planet, that we've all been lied to, including myself, for years. I always believed that the picture on the milk carton, the cow sta…

1
434: Sarah Yourgrau—People You Should Know 1:30:51

2M ago1:30:51

1:30:51

You may know Sarah as the on-camera producer from Facebook’s Returning the Favor with Mike Rowe. She is also a two-time Emmy-winning storyteller, social anthropologist, founder and CEO of Common Ground Studios, and the absolute cheeriest person you’ll ever meet! Sarah talks with Mike about their new show, People You Should Know, which will premiere…

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

2M 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

1
Meredith Blanchard: We’ve Cured Cancer in Mice for Decades 54:41

2M ago54:41

54:41

“There's a drug called vioxx that was found to be safe and effective in animal trials, so they moved it on to preclinical trials in humans. Once on the market, that drug caused 88,000 people to have heart attacks and killed 38,000 people.” Meredith Blanchard We have some big news at Species Unite. In January and February, our team traveled to Bainb…

1
433: Coffee with Mom—That Toy Really Sucks 1:07:44

2M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Peggy Rowe, a.k.a. Mike’s three-time NYT bestselling mom, is back for a check-in. In this episode you’ll hear about the horrors of hoarding, books you’ll never read, dancin’ chicken, crab pickin’, and a Mother’s Day story about a toy that really sucks! Big thanks to our terrific sponsors AuraFrames.com/Mike Use code: Mike to get $35 off their best-…

1
Ep 490 Exit Story: How a Middleman Built and Sold a $19M Distribution Business 52:12

2M 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
Rob Read: When the Ocean Bleeds 48:55

2M ago48:55

48:55

“One year, we actually offered the Faroe Islanders One million pounds to stop the hunts. 1 million pounds, which would go to promoting whale and dolphin tourism to the islands and marine conservation education to Faroese kids in schools. And the Faroese response to our offer was the most emphatic no you've ever had in your life. They actually held …

1
432: Gene Simmons—The Sun Never Sets on Planet Cool 1:15:54

2M ago1:15:54

1:15:54

The multilingual, bass-thumping, capitalist dives into what made him fall in love with America, his unforgettable first job involving prosthetic testes, and the etymology of the word a**hole. It’s a free-wheeling discussion from Moses to Superman and everything in between. Shout out to our great sponsors ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe to try ZipIntro for FR…

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

3M 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…

1
Andrew Stein: Living with Lions 46:39

3M ago46:39

46:39

“If we march into that village and we start trying to persecute people for using poison, something that's very illegal, nobody's going to talk to us. We're not going to find out where the poison came from. We're not going to be able to shut anything down. We should take the approach that people are using poison because they're desperate, because th…

1
431: David Bahnsen—Poor Smart and Desperate 1:16:52

3M ago1:16:52

1:16:52

David Bahnsen is the founder, managing partner, and chief investment officer of The Bahnsen Group, which manages over seven billion dollars in assets. He’s also a podcaster, author, and Christian intellectual. His book, Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, is simpatico with Mike’s S.W.E.A.T. pledge. Big thanks to our awesome sponsors American-G…

1
Ep 488 Exit Story: Garren Hilow on Selling for $190M, Taking Stock, and Missing His Earn-Out 59:23

3M 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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