Exceptional Companies Podcast

What does it take to build something that lasts 120 years—and still feels worth coming back to? What if the key to generational success isn’t control, but letting go? In this episode, Jen Livsey shares how her family built a ranching legacy across five generations, why she believes in raising kids “worthy of empire,” and how faith, failure, and family shape her leadership. If you’re building a bus...

What if the key to scaling your business isn’t more hours… but more energy? Most entrepreneurs sprint like they’re in mile one of a marathon—until burnout catches them. In my latest conversation with Alan Briggs, we explored why the real currency of leadership is energy, not time, and how tools like the “to-don’t list,” sabbaticals, and scorecards at home can transform the way you lead. So here’s...

What if buying a business isn’t the shortcut you think it is? In this episode, I sat down with Will Fry of Main Shares to ask the hard questions: Who shouldn’t buy a business? Why do so many “dream deals” turn into five-year holes? And what does it really take to succeed on Main Street when the hype says it’s easy? We go deep on capital, culture fit, and the one thing you must know before signing...

What does it take to turn a hobby into an arena packed with 7,500 fans? How do you balance family when you’re on the road announcing 25 rodeos a year? And why does serving people—before profit—end up being the most powerful growth strategy of all? In this week’s episode, I sat down with my friend Jay Dial to uncover the story behind Triple J Rodeo, the lessons he learned from bull riding to busine...

What if the most meaningful thing you ever built wasn’t your business… but your neighbor’s yard? In this conversation with Jake Smith , we go from rabbits in 4H to closing mineral deals by private plane, to launching River Tree Resources, to a spur-of-the-moment decision that turned mowing one stranger’s lawn into a nonprofit serving dozens of families. How do you integrate faith, business, and se...

What if your business wasn’t really yours —but something you were only stewarding? That’s how Mike Casimiro runs Casco. He prays over every project, holds up a hat with “Legacy” stitched across the front, and defines success by the relationships that last long after the concrete sets. But here’s the question that stuck with me: Would you hire ahead of growth and risk letting people go… or wait unt...

What if the limits you think you have aren’t real—but just the edges of your untapped capacity? What if business wasn’t only about profit, but about leaving your city cleaner than you found it? In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Perkett , founder of COS Hauling, to explore how a former pastor turned junk removal into a mission for impact, integrity, and culture built on accountability. Could...

What if letting someone go was the kindest thing you could do for them? In my latest conversation with Trent Urban, CEO of WireNut Home Services, we unpack what real leadership looks like: the courage to have hard conversations, the discipline to step out of the trades and into vision, and why culture without accountability always fails. Would you fire someone if you knew it might actually change...

What if the biggest red flag in investing isn’t the numbers—but the silence that follows them? When Pat Zingarella left his W-2 job to chase something bigger, he didn’t expect a car accident, a fraud scandal, and a total reset. But what came next turned into a mission: to make the private investing world safer—one brutally honest review at a time. What he built is changing how LPs vet GPs. But the...

What if the thing holding your family back... is the system you haven’t built yet ? Christi Van Rite didn’t mean to become the go-to advisor for high-net-worth families—but when no one else could step up, she did. From a crisis call about payroll to helping families transition across generations, Christi has seen what works—and what breaks. What if legacy wasn’t about wealth, but structure ? What...

What if your biggest leadership breakthrough didn’t come from pain—but from peace? What if culture, not credentials, was the real key to scaling a construction company? Kyle Cockram grew up with a hammer in his hand and voices telling him not to follow in their footsteps. Today, he leads one of Colorado’s fastest-growing remodeling teams—and he’s doing it differently. What does it look like to bui...

What if one chaotic weekend could launch your entire career? What if the future of your city’s business scene depended on you showing up? Marcus Alvarado went from organizing a tiny event that exploded into 40,000 attendees… to building one of the most influential business podcasts in Colorado. But his real mission? Creating a city where entrepreneurs don’t just survive—they collide, connect, and...

What if AI isn’t here to replace you, but to make you more human? In this episode, I sit down with Rob Thompson , a systems thinker and digital community builder, to unpack how AI can shrink decision-making cycles, free up your time, and amplify what makes your business uniquely human. We talk about building AI versions of yourself, why most people misuse automation, and how to lead in chaos inste...

What if you built a thriving business—only to realize you were playing the wrong game? Jonathan Hawkins thought he was done practicing law. But a startup detour, a gym-bench epiphany, and a flood of demand pulled him back in—with a new mission: scale a law firm in an industry built to resist it. How do you grow when your team can leave—and take your clients with them? What does it take to build en...

Everyone wants to buy a business. But no one’s talking about what it actually takes to succeed. What if the culture breaks before you even start? What if your dream deal is hiding a tax time bomb? And what if you’re not the leader your team needs—yet? In this no-BS breakdown, I’m sharing the real myths, the hidden landmines, and the hard truths about owning a business. Before you sign the LOI, ask...

What happens when the business you built… no longer needs you? Most entrepreneurs think selling is the finish line. But for many, it’s an identity crisis they never saw coming. In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Ikenberry to unpack the myths of passive ownership, the emotional weight of exiting, and why the most successful founders are the ones who prepare before they’re ready. Would your busi...

What if the job you’ve been chasing isn’t the problem—what if it’s the absence of purpose that’s leaving you empty? Otis McGregor went from Green Beret to wandering the “job desert,” only to find clarity in the most unexpected place: a high school rugby field. This conversation will make you rethink how you define success, leadership, and what truly fills your cup. What if you’re closer to your ca...

Ever wondered what truly makes a business sale more than numbers? What if the right buyer isn’t the highest bidder, but the person whose values align with yours? Curious how mapping your ideal buyer today can shape every decision, or why sweeping profit into a separate account might be the single best habit you adopt? Dive into my chat with Tato Corcoran and unlock six actionable steps to build a...

What if failure wasn’t the end, but the beginning? What if every setback, every mistake, was actually pushing you closer to success? Justin Skinner shares his unexpected journey from shattered baseball dreams to real estate triumphs, revealing the secret to turning failure into your greatest ally. Want to know how he did it? How he learned to embrace failure, trust his gut, and grow stronger with...

What if your business could run—and sell—without you? Most entrepreneurs say they want freedom, but their business depends entirely on them. The real secret? Building with enterprise value in mind from day one. In this episode, I break down the four pillars that make a company truly sellable—and share the hard lessons most owners learn too late. Are you building something that works because of you...

How do you choose between building wealth through real estate or scaling a business? What if the answer was doing both? In my latest conversation with Sam Primm and Lucas Walls , founders of Faster Freedom , we dive deep into the secrets of strategic debt, authentic entrepreneurship, and financial freedom. Can leveraging both paths unlock exceptional success?

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to live, not just to do? In a recent episode, I sat down with Mike Kitko —a leader who battled the weight of external success and internal emptiness—to explore how chasing dollars can steal your joy. What if you discovered that real fulfillment isn’t in the next promotion but in every precious "now"? Join us and challenge your beliefs: Are you living out...

Have you ever wondered how to transform daily chaos into strategic clarity? In my journey from hustling in the trenches to leading with purpose, I learned that true growth starts with letting go and embracing vulnerability. In a candid conversation with Tato Corcoran , we uncover the raw challenges of entrepreneurship and the art of delegation. Are you ready to elevate your game and build a legacy...

Have you ever wondered how to design your life so that every moment counts? In this episode of the Exceptional Companies Podcast, I explore blending work, family, and personal growth into one cohesive journey. What if you could offload your mental clutter and embrace imperfection to unlock true mastery? Join my conversation with Joseph Thompson as we reveal how stacking your daily actions can tran...

Ever wondered why real success takes forever? In this episode, I dig deep into the journey behind every win and setback. How do the challenges you face become the bricks of your foundation? What if building genuine relationships is more vital than chasing quick wins? Join me as I explore how embracing struggle, staying humble, and relentlessly learning can transform your path to an exceptional lif...