What happens when a gifted songwriter and Navy veteran decides to tackle the fintech world? In this episode, Cam and Otis sit down with Samoria Preston, founder of ThrillPay, to explore her fascinating journey from creating music to revolutionizing how people access financing for experiences and non-physical products.

"Music theory is basically math," Samoria explains, revealing the unexpected connection between her artistic background and her current work in financial technology. From discussing the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the music industry to sharing insights about building a fintech startup during the Ticketmaster controversy era, this conversation offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship.

What makes this episode particularly compelling is Samoria's ability to bridge both sides of her brain—the creative artist and the analytical businessperson. Whether you're an entrepreneur navigating industry disruption, someone interested in fintech innovation, or simply curious about how diverse experiences shape business vision, Samoria's story provides valuable lessons on staying authentic while building something new.

More About Sam:
Samoria Preston is a songwriter, Navy veteran, and the visionary founder behind ThrillPay, an innovative fintech company redefining how people access and experience financial technology. After serving as an Aviation Maintenance Technician and Plane Captain in the U.S. Navy, Samoria earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Liberty University, laying the groundwork for her entrepreneurial journey.

Her career began in the music industry, where she established herself as a professional songwriter, collaborating with a wide range of artists and producers to create digital music using technology that connects deeply with audiences around the world. This creative path sparked her fascination with the power of technology to transform industries and improve lives.

Motivated by a passion for innovation and community empowerment, Samoria launched ThrillPay. This cutting-edge app provides users with easy access to financing for a variety of purchases, including non-physical products and unique experiences. Through ThrillPay, she is dedicated to helping everyday people leverage their finances to create more meaningful and memorable moments.

Throughout her journey, Samoria has been driven by a desire to connect with others and make a positive impact. Whether writing songs, developing new business concepts, or fostering community, she is committed to authenticity, meaningful innovation, and inspiring others to pursue their own passions.


Chapter Times and Titles:

Introduction: The Artist Turned FinTech Founder [00:00 - 03:35]
Meet Samoria Preston and ThrillPay
From Navy veteran to songwriter to entrepreneur
The unexpected connection between music and numbers

"Music Theory Is Math" [03:35 - 15:10]
How music and technology intersect
Digital audio workstations and the tech side of creativity
Writing songs as personal communication

Authenticity in the Music Industry [15:10 - 19:06]
The challenge of staying authentic in a manufactured industry
Writing from personal experience and emotion
When superficial content overshadows meaningful art

The Pivot to FinTech [19:06 - 35:00]
The Ticketmaster era and industry disruption (2022)
Why the original concept didn't feel authentic
Finding the real problem to solve with ThrillPay

Building ThrillPay: Innovation Meets Community [35:00 - 45:00]
Redefining access to financing for experiences
Empowering everyday people through financial technology
The vision behind non-physical product financing

Lessons from Multiple Worlds [45:00 - 53:35]
Balancing creativity with business strategy
The importance of authenticity in entrepreneurship
Advice for asp

How do you scale fast without letting the business consume your life? In this episode, Cam and Otis sit down with Josh Davis—a 5x founder, turnaround expert, and one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40—who built one of the country’s fastest-growing logistics companies and sold it to a major North American transportation firm just three years after launch.

Josh gets real about the tradeoffs of rapid growth. Early on, “revenue will solve most problems” was the mantra—but he also shares what he’d do differently to avoid becoming the bottleneck, protect family time, and build teams that decide and act without him. He explains why exit planning isn’t just “sell the company,” how to think about life after a deal (“the PE email shuts off—and then what?”), And why true success is a business that serves your life.

You’ll learn:
-How to scale underperforming companies with clarity and operational excellence
-Practical ways to get out of the weeds and stop being the bottleneck
-Preparing for exit while keeping options open (you don’t have to sell to “exit”)
-People-first leadership that drives performance and culture

If you’re growing, turning around, or prepping a company for exit, this is a playbook you can actually use.

More About Josh:
Josh Davis is a 5x founder, business acquirer, and turnaround expert with multiple exits—including to a U.S. private equity–backed firm. Known for scaling underperforming companies fast, Josh blends grit, faith, and operational excellence to help founders grow with clarity and purpose. As Co-Founder and CEO, he built one of Canada’s fastest-growing logistics startups—scaling it from the ground up before it was acquired by one of North America’s largest transportation companies just three years after launch. Today, he runs JL Davis Enterprises alongside his wife Loretta, acquiring businesses and consulting founders on how to scale, build high-performance teams, and prepare for exit. Grounded in faith and family values, Josh brings a no-fluff, people-first approach to business. He’s been named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40—and believes true success means building a business that serves your life, not the other way around.

#10xyourteam #BusinessScaling #FounderLife #LeadershipDevelopment #ExitPlanning #PeopleFirstLeadership #OperationalExcellence #BuildToSell #EntrepreneurMindset #WorkLifeIntegration #HighPerformanceTeams


Chapter Times and Titles:

[00:00] From Grit to Growth: Josh’s 3‑Year Scale-to-Acquisition Story
Canada logistics startup journey: faith, family, and early tradeoffs

[05:30] Revenue Solves Problems… Until It Doesn’t
The early “just sell more” mindset and where it breaks

[12:10] Stop Being the Bottleneck
Getting out of the weeds; empowering decisions; building operators

[19:45] Balancing Life and Scale
What Josh would do differently to protect the family without slowing growth

[28:20] Turnarounds with a People-First Lens
Scaling underperformers fast; culture and high-performance teams

[36:05] Rethinking “Exit.”
Why exit ≠ sell; buying back time, optionality, and freedom

[41:30] After the Deal: Now What?
The day the PE email turns off, planning your next chapter on purpose

[49:15] Preparing to Be Bought, Not Sold
Clarity, metrics, and systems buyers actually value

[56:30] Final Lessons and How to Connect
Purpose-driven leadership: building a business that serves your life

Connect with Josh Davis here:
https://www.instagram.com/scalingwithjoshdavis/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scaling-with-josh-davis/
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7336101101240229891/
https://talentharbourgroup.com/
https://jldavisenterprises.com/

Join us for an insightful conversation with Amy Moore, the clinic director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Red Rock. In this episode, Cam and Otis explore Amy's dedication to supporting military families through trauma-informed care and her leadership in clinical programming.

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose," Amy shares, reflecting on her journey from a military family background to leading a clinic dedicated to veterans and their families. With expertise in cognitive processing therapy and EMDR, Amy discusses the unique challenges faced by service members and the importance of empathy and resilience in behavioral health.

Whether you're interested in mental health, leadership, or veteran support, Amy's insights offer valuable lessons on compassion and purposeful living.

Amy Moore is the clinic director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Red Rock in Colorado Springs. She is responsible for overseeing all clinical programming and operations. Amy is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with an M.A. in Counseling and Human Services. Amy completed her B.A. in Pastoral Care at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK.

Amy has experience providing therapy to people across the life span, from ages 5-75. She specializes in trauma-informed care and is trained in cognitive processing therapy and EMDR. Prior to coming on board with CVN, Amy was the manager of behavioral health case management for Colorado’s Medicaid contract. Amy was also previously a Clinical Supervisor for Diversus Behavioral Health at their Child and Family Outpatient Clinic.

Amy’s father is a retired Air Force member, and she has been fortunate enough to live across the world before her family settled in Colorado Springs, CO. She has lived in the Colorado Springs community for over 20 years and has seen the hardships that veterans, service members, and their families have had to face. She is so grateful and excited to be a part of this incredible mission to serve them. In her free time, Amy enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking, lifting weights at the gy,m and earning massive eye rolls at her terrible “dad jokes”. (Just ask her team!)

Her favorite quote is “Find out who you are and do it on purpose” – Dolly Parton

#10xyourteam #VeteranSupport #MilitaryFamilies #TraumaInformedCare #BehavioralHealth #MentalHealthLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ServingThoseWhoServe #ResilientLeaders #ClinicalLeadership #CompassionInAction


Chapter Times and Titles:

Introduction to Amy Moore and Her Mission [00:00 - 08:30]
Overview of Amy's background and role at the clinic
The mission of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic

Understanding Trauma-Informed Care [08:31 - 22:15]
Defining trauma-informed care in clinical settings
The role of EMDR and cognitive processing therapy

Leading a Clinical Team with Empathy [22:16 - 35:40]
Overseeing clinical programming and operations
The importance of team cohesion and support

Finding Identity and Purpose [35:41 - 48:20]
Applying Dolly Parton's wisdom to leadership
Balancing professional responsibilities with personal passions

Closing Thoughts and Key Takeaways [48:21 - End]
Supporting the mission of the Cohen Clinic
Final leadership insights and how to connect with Amy

Connect with Sean Garner
https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/