OTSS Podcast

BluePrint Engines CEO Norris Marshall on “Only The Strong Survive” BluePrint Engines CEO Norris Marshall is an amazing example of a true American entrepreneurial success story. Born in rural Nebraska, Marshall spent much of his youth working on the farm. However, he began working in a small-town repair shop in his teenage years. It was there that he discovered his love of working on engines. Event...

The Roadster Shop’s Josh Henning, Jeremy Gerber and Phil Gerber on “Only The Strong Survive” Josh Henning, Jeremy Gerber and Phil Gerber are the team behind Roadster Shop and the “Oil & Whiskey” podcast. Now known as one of the premier manufacturers of high-end chassis for hot rods, muscle cars, trucks and customs, the road to the top wasn’t an easy one. Both Jeremy and Phil started working in the...

Todd Taylor is one of the lucky people who have turned their passion into a successful business. After growing up in the Midwest, he eventually moved to Colorado for a new job. To explore the beauty of his new locale and the Rocky Mountains, Taylor wisely bought a Jeep. However, like many newbies, he quickly found himself in over his head and driving in terrain beyond his skillset on a local trail...

Melanie Hellwig White is the CEO of Hellwig Suspension Products. Founded in 1946 by her great-grandfather and grandfather, the duo went door to door selling helper springs to improve the ride and handling of heavily loaded cars. After making a sale, the father-and-son team installed the new springs in the customer’s driveway. From those humble origins, Hellwig Suspension Products has become one of...

Terry L. Karges of the Petersen Automotive Museum on “Only The Strong Survive” On this episode of “Only The Strong Survive,” host Dan Kahn talks with Terry L. Karges. As the executive director of the famed Petersen Automotive Museum, Karges has played a central role in its transformation. Since joining the museum 13 years ago, he has helped quadruple ticket sales and tripled staff size. Going beyo...

Brendan Ballou Discusses Private Equity on “Only The Strong Survive” In the second part of our two-part series on private equity, “Only The Strong Survive” host Dan Kahn talks to Brendan Ballou. The author of “Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America,” Ballou is a federal prosecutor who served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. Before tha...

Alex Rawlings on Only The Strong Survive In this first episode of a two-part “Only The Strong Survive” series, host Dan Kahn talks with Alex Rawlings about private equity. As the host of “The Private Equity Podcast,” Rawlings is an expert voice deeply entrenched in the subject. He is also the founder and managing partner of Raw Selection, a U.K.-based executive recruitment firm that finds C-suite...

Brian Gilman of Warriors & Quiet Waters on “Only The Strong Survive” A former Marine Colonel, Brian Gilman has a 27-year history in the U.S. military, including two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gilman originally joined the Marines out of college with the intent of only being in the military for four years but quickly found purpose in serving his country. Eventually, Gilman became the Chief of St...

Tim Herbel is not your average entrepreneur, and Not Your Average Joe is not your average business. The always energetic and enthusiastic Herbel started Not Your Average Joe as a coffee shop that employs students and adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Unemployment among adults with special needs is a staggering 77.5%, and Herbel made Not Your Average Joe’s mission t...

Phillip Griot of Griot’s Motors on “Only The Strong Survive” Phillip Griot’s life and work both revolve around a passion for cars inherited from his father, Richard. As a child, Phillip got tossed into the family’s Chevy Suburban for long road trips with his dad at the helm. On those cross-country journeys, Phillip began to appreciate the many idiosyncrasies of early cars and their bonding power....

CEO of Good Boy Vodka Alex Pratt on “Only The Strong Survive” Alex Pratt's first foray into the workforce started in the family business. He was the third generation of Pratts involved in Pratt Industries, a manufacturer of trailers for both heavy-duty and lighter utility applications. Eventually, the family business was sold to a private equity group, and Alex stayed on to run the sales departmen...

Juro Kusnir fell in love with Alaska after spending a summer working at a fish processing plant during a school work exchange program. Everything about the 49th state was completely different from his native Slovakia, and he was captivated by its natural beauty, people and wildlife. Juro would return to Alaska multiple times to continue working at the fish processing plant and to explore its rugge...

On this episode of “Only The Strong Survive,” Kahn Media President & CEO Dan Kahn talks to Azam Rangoonwala. As the CEO of P1 Offshore, Azam’s first experience with the powerboat racing sanctioning body came through his father, who ran the organization. While Azam studied engineering in college, his father wisely suggested that Azam start racing boats. The shrewd move was a long-term plan for Azam...

Loren Feldman of 21 Hats on “Only the Strong Survive” On this episode of “Only the Strong Survive,” host Dan Kahn speaks with Loren Feldman. For those unfamiliar with the name, Feldman is the person behind the popular “21 Hats” podcast that focuses on entrepreneurs and business owners. He has successfully turned the podcast into a much larger platform with a daily newsletter that correlates and sh...

EarthCruiser CEO Lance Gillies wanted to travel deeper and further into his home country of Australia in more comfort than a typical overland vehicle could provide. With few options available, Lance decided to create his own overlanding platform. The capabilities of it would go far beyond the typical Hilux or Land Cruiser equipped with a rooftop tent and other accoutrements. Instead, Lance envisio...

JessR1des and ActuallyItsAxel Talk About Being Content Creators on “Only the Strong Survive”In this episode of “Only the Strong Survive,” Kahn Media President & CEO Dan Kahn talks with two motorcycle influencers and content creators who come from different worlds. Jessica is well known in the sportbike community as JessR1des on TikTok and Instagram, with almost 2 million followers on both platform...

A self-described Formula 1 nerd, Sean Kelly serves as the head statistician for one of the highest-profile motorsports organizations in the world. He researches and discovers the many statistics and data that Formula 1 uses in its live coverage during its globe-trotting 24-race season. Beyond his voice, Kelly has also become a familiar face to many F1 fans as a host of its broadcasts. He is also t...

In this episode of the “Only the Strong Survive” podcast, host Dan Kahn talks to Hemmings Senior Vice President of Media Matt Boice. An industry veteran, Boice has had an interesting trajectory over his decades-long career. In 2005, he worked at Source Interlink negotiating the placement of magazines, periodicals and other items in newsstand checkout displays. Eventually, the company began to dive...

Growing up in the center of Southern Californian car culture, Larry Chen was exposed to everything automotive from an early age. Like many kids in the region, he dreamed of owning and racing exotic cars. Eventually, those dreams started to come true on a smaller scale as Larry raced what he could, taking his camera along to document his experiences. The decision to also act as a photographer at th...

The Rise of D2C with Ted Wentz IIIOn this episode of the “Only the Strong Survive” podcast, host Dan Kahn explores alternatives to traditional retail and wholesale models and the future of direct-to-consumer sales with Quadratec CEO Ted Wentz III. Founded in 1990 by Ted’s father, Quadratec is one of the largest Jeep parts and accessories retailers in the world. Originally started as a direct mail...

Today we have Serial Entrepreneur Evan Currid on the show. He is the Founder and President of HitchFire and previously Tepui Outdoors, the leader in roof top tents, before being acquired by Thule. Inspired by adventure, road trips, food, and his love of outdoors, Hitchfire was created as a solution to needing a quality kitchen set up on the go. Dan and Evan talk Product Development, Lifestyle Entr...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.otsspodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.otsspodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.otsspodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.otsspodcast.com