The Grit to Growth Podcast

How do you know if you're investing with the right real estate operator? In this episode, Levi sits down with Pat Zingarella, founder of Invest Clearly, to discuss one of the biggest challenges passive investors face: evaluating the people behind the deals. After transitioning from corporate America into real estate investing, Pat built Invest Clearly to bring greater transparency to private real...

What would you do if the company you trusted for your financial security suddenly disappeared? In this episode, Levi sits down with John Casmon, marketing partner at Casmon Capital Group, multifamily investor, podcast host, and coach who has helped acquire more than $150 million in apartment investments while teaching busy professionals how to build wealth through real estate. What You'll Hear: Jo...

What separates great leaders from average ones? And how do the best companies consistently find executives who drive growth, culture, and long-term success? In this episode, Levi sits down with Kip Knippel, President and CEO of Kip Search, one of the nation's premier executive search firms specializing in C-suite and senior leadership recruiting. Through his work with private equity firms, venture...

What happens when someone spends 30 years inside the healthcare system… and realizes the system itself is broken? In this episode, Sarah Johnson joins Levi to share her journey from longtime registered nurse to founder of Growth and Gratitude Coaching. After decades on the frontlines, Sarah saw a major shift in healthcare—from human connection and trust to a system driven by checkboxes, efficiency...

What does it actually look like to grow a family business from a small shop into a multi-million dollar operation—and then step away from it? In this episode, Matt Erfman joins Levi to share the full journey behind Dakota Land Manufacturing, a company that started as a small, family-run operation and grew into a regional manufacturing leader with over 150 employees. From working in the shop as a t...

What separates content that gets ignored from content that actually drives results? Jeff Pickett believes the answer is simple, but often overlooked: stop talking about yourself and start telling better stories. In this episode, Jeff joins Levi to break down how he built Forefront Studios, a video strategy company focused on helping businesses grow through intentional storytelling. With a backgrou...

What does it look like to carve out a completely unique niche inside healthcare? Dr. Jill Kruse found her answer at the intersection of medicine and aviation. In this episode, Jill joins Levi to share how she built Flight Time Medical, a specialized practice focused on aviation physicals and pilot care. With over 20 years of experience as a physician, she combines her medical background with her o...

What happens when you get tired of fixing the same problem over and over again? Loren Heesch turned that frustration into a business. In this episode, Loren joins Levi to share how decades working in plastic manufacturing led him to spot a costly, overlooked issue: cheap, failure-prone components that constantly shut down production lines. Instead of accepting it, he decided to build something bet...

What does it take to help people navigate their hardest moments and come out stronger on the other side? Kristal Steeves has built a career doing exactly that. In this episode, Kristal joins Levi to share her journey from decades in Denver working with homeless populations and child welfare systems to launching her own private practice in South Dakota. As a mental and behavioral health clinician,...

What does it look like to build a career that blends business leadership with meaningful, life-changing work? Jason Schoolmeester has taken a path through agriculture, staffing, and corporate HR before landing in a role that brings it all together. In this episode, Jason joins Levi to share his journey from growing up on a farm near the Minnesota–South Dakota border to becoming Chief Human Resourc...

What does it take to move from hands-on clinical work into leadership within a healthcare system? Tom Johnson has built his career across pharmacy, education, and healthcare operations, offering a unique perspective on that transition. In this episode, Tom joins Levi to share his journey from growing up on a dairy farm in Brainerd, Minnesota, to becoming Vice President of Diagnostic and Therapeuti...

What systems keep emergency services and local governments running behind the scenes, and what happens when they fail? Eric Nyhaug works in public safety technology, supporting the software that many cities and agencies rely on every day. In this episode, Eric joins Levi to share his journey from growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to building a career across healthcare and technology. After...

What does food security really mean, and why does it matter beyond agriculture? Jeff Lochner has spent his life working in farming, ranching, and agricultural finance, giving him a unique perspective on that question. In this episode, Jeff joins Levi to share his journey as a fourth-generation farmer and rancher in eastern South Dakota. After graduating from South Dakota State, Jeff began his care...

What role do airports play in the growth of a community, and why are they often overlooked in conversations about economic development? Kent Penney has spent his career working in aviation and local government, helping answer that question. In this episode, Kent joins Levi to share his journey from growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to pursuing a career in public administration. After earnin...

What role do physician associates play in today’s healthcare system, especially in rural communities? Echo Kopplin has built her career helping people better understand that answer. In this episode, Echo joins Levi to share her journey from growing up on a ranch in rural Nebraska to becoming a physician associate and advocate for healthcare education. Now based in Spearfish, South Dakota, she focu...

What does it take to build a career in medicine while staying deeply connected to your community? Dr. Dennis Miller has spent decades doing exactly that. In this episode, Dr. Miller joins Levi to share his journey from growing up in Northern Ontario to becoming a co-owner of Siouxland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he has spent years performing complex surg...

What does it take to fund real estate deals when traditional banks say no? Kevin Amolsch has spent decades answering that question. In this episode, Kevin joins Levi to share how his journey from the military led him into real estate investing and eventually into founding Pine Financial Group, a private lending company that helps real estate investors secure the capital they need to close deals an...

What happens when your outer presence finally aligns with your inner potential? Sheila Anderson has made it her mission to help professionals answer that question. In this episode, Sheila sits down with Levi to share how her creative upbringing, modeling background, and personal transformation led to a powerful branding business for executives and entrepreneurs. What You'll Hear: Sheila shares how...

What if the success you're chasing isn’t the success you actually need? In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Alan Lazaros, the founder of Next Level University, for a deep, unfiltered conversation about what it really means to live a fulfilled life. From losing his father at an early age, rising through adversity, hitting career highs—and then crashing head-on into a life-altering wake-up...

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn—and the pressure is at its peak? In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Brett Waltner, a seasoned attorney and partner at Myers Billion, to talk about high-stakes decision-making and emotional resilience in legal crises. Brett shares insights from his early career as a prosecutor to his current role helping clients navigate everything from crim...

In this heartfelt and practical episode, Levi sits down with Robert and Kay Lee Fukui, co-founders of i61 and creators of the “Thriving in Tandem” framework. Drawing on personal stories and years of professional experience, the Fukuis share why business success shouldn't come at the cost of your most important relationships. From managing cattle ranches and church congregations to corporate market...

In this inspiring episode, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Sanaa Abourezk, owner of a beloved Mediterranean restaurant in Sioux Falls. From her roots in Damascus to launching a business in South Dakota, Sanaa shares how food became her bridge to culture, community, and change. They discuss her path from agricultural engineering to launching a restaurant against the odds, her philosophy on eating...

In this enlightening episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Dr. Jennifer Schriever to explore what sustainable weight care really looks like. With over two decades in family medicine and a board certification in obesity medicine, Dr. Schriever brings a unique and compassionate approach to a deeply misunderstood topic. She shares her journey into obesity medicine, t...

What does it really take to build a sustainable workforce for the future? In this episode, Levi Te Slaa welcomes Denise Guzzetta, Vice President of Talent and Workforce at the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, for a compelling look into the programs, strategies, and partnerships driving long-term workforce success in South Dakota. Denise shares her journey from finance and corporate leadership t...

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa talks with Jon Sanders—a pastor, coach, firefighter, and serial entrepreneur—about what it means to serve people through business while staying true to your calling. Jon shares his powerful journey from a full-time firefighter to a multi-business owner, including the founding of Entree Pastors, an initiative that helps pastors build...