School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Bill Gurley, legendary venture capitalist and early backer of Uber and Zillow, shares field-tested views on spotting network effects and why execution beats ideas. He reflects on passing on Google, what traits make founders scale, where to place your bets in crowded markets, and how young investors can build an edge.

John Caudwell, British entrepreneur and philanthropist who built Phones 4u and now backs youth charities. He recounts starting from losses, mastering commercial instinct and arbitrage. He talks about hiring elite talent, surviving supplier crises, scaling operations on thin margins, and channeling wealth into measurable charity work.

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 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 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.

Vic Tipnes, a healthcare entrepreneur who scaled a dominant home sleep testing company from almost nothing. He recounts hitting $78 in the bank and choosing to double down. He explains aggressive deal-making, using service as a competitive weapon, rapid hiring after rival failures, scaling culture through personal branding, and how a private jet changed opportunity and standards.

Myron Golden, a sales strategist who turns content into cash and trains entrepreneurs, shares bold takes on value over effort. He explains how proximity creates opportunity. He breaks down offers that replace time-for-money, using the law of averages in sales, faith-guided decision making, and turning media and mentorship into profitable authority.

Jim Keyes, former CEO who led 7‑Eleven and Blockbuster, draws on turnaround and global expansion experience. He recounts how crisis propelled his career and why fear collapses companies. He discusses cultural literacy for international growth, the CEO’s 45,000‑foot view, people as the top asset, earning equity, and cutting toxic culture to save a business.

Vic Keller, serial entrepreneur who founded 17 companies and sold nine, including three to Berkshire Hathaway. He recounts blue-collar lessons that forged his edge. Topics include building durable, service-first businesses; choosing the right partners and hiring for character; deleveraging founders so companies survive; and when to walk from lowball offers.

Kirt Linington, a South Africa–born entrepreneur who built a national roofing platform and sold it for a nine-figure exit. He discusses starting with $700, door-knocking sales before systems, scaling to $62M while working a corporate job, handling rejection as a skill, preparing for private equity, and integrating acquisitions into one national platform.