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  • Building a $150M Empire with Other People's Money: Andy McNeil's Private Equity Journey

    Building a $150M Empire with Other People's Money: Andy McNeil's Private Equity Journey
    2026/02/04

    Andy McNeil, chairman and former CEO of Denali Water Solutions, shares his remarkable journey from managing a turkey processing plant to building Terra Renewal into a $150 million company and eventually creating what's now nearly a billion-dollar enterprise.

    In this conversation, McNeil breaks down the mechanics of private equity - how entrepreneurs can leverage other people's money to accelerate growth, the risks involved, and the strategic partnerships that made it all possible.

    📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgGSpYhN6s

    🕐 CHAPTERS:

    • 0:00 - Introduction
    • 1:14 - Podcast Intro
    • 1:32 - Welcome & Andy's Resume
    • 3:17 - Owning a Restaurant
    • 4:38 - Atlanta to Arkansas
    • 5:50 - College at Auburn & Notre Dame
    • 8:00 - First Job at Cargill
    • 9:17 - Meeting His Wife
    • 10:26 - Terra Renewal Beginnings
    • 12:04 - Growing to $150M
    • 12:17 - Using Other People's Money
    • 13:01 - Oil & Gas Venture
    • 13:26 - 2009 Oil Collapse
    • 14:38 - How Private Equity Works
    • 17:17 - Starting Denali (2014)
    • 19:22 - Acquisition Strategy
    • 22:45 - Grocery Store Food Waste
    • 26:13 - Other Ventures: LRS & Ramco
    • 28:04 - Denali CEO & Scale
    • 30:08 - Giving Back to Community
    • 31:42 - Sludges & Crawford County
    • 33:02 - Giving Up Control
    • 34:50 - McLarty Capital Partners
    • 36:30 - Choosing Partners
    • 45:51 - Scaling & Leadership
    • 51:24 - Managing Risk & Anxiety
    • 53:06 - Lessons from Employee Theft
    • 56:53 - A Luck Story
    • 1:00:34 - Investment Philosophy
    • 1:01:07 - Future: Grid & Energy
    • 1:07:45 - Policy & Affordability
    • 1:22:32 - Book Recommendations
    • 1:28:04 - Advice for Entrepreneurs
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    1 時間 32 分
  • How One Risk Changed Everything: Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis’ Comeback Story

    How One Risk Changed Everything: Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis’ Comeback Story
    2025/11/27
    Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis isn't your typical success story. He didn't grow up fishing. He didn't have ions. What he had was a Zebco 33 Classic, a BMX bike, and a dream that started at age 8 on a California reservoir. Twenty years later, Fred has won 4 national tournaments, earned 8 gold medals, and built multiple fishing-focused businesses. But the path there? Far from smooth. - The 45-minute swim that almost ended his career — His boat sank mid-tournament with a teenager aboard. What happened next shows the power of preparation meeting crisis. - Driving to Wisconsin completely broke — Fred was so financially strapped he couldn't afford the next tournament entry fee. One conversation changed everything. - From comfort zone to strength zone — Why Fred says the key isn't getting comfortable, it's knowing what you're great at and leaning into it. - Building Frog Factory and Galilee Fishing — How Fred turned his signature technique into product lines and business partnerships. - 00:00 — Introduction - 05:12 — How Fred got into fishing (spoiler: no fishing background) - 08:00 — The tackle box that started it all - 15:22 — The boat sinking story - 33:46 — Driving to Wisconsin broke: "Everything was dark" - 34:50 — The one sentence that gave him hope - 67:34 — Galilee Fishing: the new venture - 68:07 — The Frog Factory story - 84:30 — Comfort zone vs. strength zone About Fred Roumbanis: - 20-year professional bass fisherman - 4 national tournament wins - 8 gold medals in international competition - Founder: Frog Factory, Galilee Fishing - Known as one of the top power-fishing specialists in the sport with Fred: - Website: fredroumbanis.com - Instagram: @fredroumbanis - Frog Factory: gsmoutdoors.com/brands/boom-boom-frogs - Galilee Fishing: gillfishing.com Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The Principled Entrepreneur 00:22 - Meet Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis 01:46 - How the Moores first met Fred and Julie 03:14 - Why Fred chose Arkansas (could live anywhere) 05:12 - The origin story: no fishing background 06:15 - Dad was a cable car conductor in San Francisco 07:30 - The tackle box that changed everything (age 8) 08:31 - First bass catch: adults applauded on the dock 09:22 - Career day: "I'm going to be a pro fisherman" 15:22 - THE BOAT SINKING: "We're going to have to swim" 16:08 - Swimming 45 minutes to save his co-angler 19:30 - Breaking into the pros 27:00 - First big wins and building momentum 33:46 - ROCK BOTTOM: Driving to Wisconsin completely broke 34:50 - The conversation that changed everything 38:00 - How he came back and won 45:00 - The power of muscle memory and playing to strengths 55:00 - Julie: the partner behind the scenes 01:07:34 - Galilee Fishing: the new venture (faith-based brand) 01:08:07 - Frog Factory: from signature technique to business 01:12:00 - What's next: the "Iron Man of bass fishing" goal 01:24:30 - Comfort zone vs. strength zone 01:25:15 - Closing thoughts
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    1 時間 25 分
  • He Lost His Brother in WWII. What Kept Him Going?

    He Lost His Brother in WWII. What Kept Him Going?
    2025/11/10
    At 18, Floyd Brantley learned his brother was killed on the USS Atlanta through a newspaper headline. The letters he'd mailed came back marked "ship sunk." What followed was a century of service, loss, love, and unshakeable faith that will move you to tears. - How Floyd survived the Great Depression working 3 jobs at age 12 while staying in school - The Christmas Day moment when an American sailor and a Japanese prisoner sang "Amazing Grace" together - Marriage wisdom from 60+ years: why Beth never argued, always encouraged, and never brought up settled issues - Why this 100-year-old WWII veteran says today's America is more divided than anything he's ever seen - The one thing a non-Christian told Floyd this country needs: a national revival - 00:00:00 - Introduction to Floyd Brantley, soon to be 100 years old - 00:01:30 - Growing up in Depression-era Texas - 00:03:30 - Parents' separation and working 3 jobs at age 12 - 00:06:47 - Learning of his brother's death on USS Atlanta - 00:13:41 - Becoming a Navy Corpsman with the First Marine Division - 00:19:48 - Caring for Japanese prisoners of war - 00:21:57 - The Christmas story: singing Amazing Grace with a Japanese prisoner - 00:28:40 - Meeting Beth Pearson at church before shipping out - 00:33:25 - Marriage secrets: communication, forgiveness, encouragement - 00:41:15 - "We're at war against the evil within our own hearts" - 00:46:40 - America's division today vs. WWII and Vietnam - 00:53:00 - Advice to young people: find your purpose and pursue it - 01:05:30 - Closing thoughts and birthday celebration plans Floyd Brantley is a WWII veteran who served as a Navy Corpsman with the First Division Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater, including action on Saipan. Born in 1925 in Texas, he survived the Great Depression, lost his brother in the war, and went on to build a life of service, faith, and family. He is celebrating his 100th birthday with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders among the guests. Caleb and Jody Moore host The Principled Entrepreneur, where they dive into real stories of grit, growth, failures, and victories - exploring what it really takes to build your business and life on purpose and principle. [Add social links, website, podcast platforms] Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction - Meeting 100-year-old WWII veteran Floyd Brantley 01:30 - Growing Up in Depression-Era Texas 03:30 - Parents Separate - Working 3 Jobs at Age 12 06:47 - "Ship Sunk" - Learning His Brother Died on USS Atlanta 09:11 - The Pain of Returned Letters 13:41 - Becoming a Navy Corpsman with the Marines 14:45 - "Why Me?" - Counseling Wounded Soldiers 19:48 - American Compassion for Japanese Prisoners 21:57 - Christmas Day: Singing Amazing Grace with the Enemy 26:50 - Christian Faith Crossing Enemy Lines 28:40 - Meeting Beth Pearson at Church 33:25 - 60 Years of Marriage: "Lord, Honey, We Need to Talk" 35:35 - "You Can Learn" - Encouraging Others 39:47 - Raising a Family in the 50s and 60s 41:15 - "We're At War Against Evil Within Our Hearts" 46:40 - America's Division - Worse Than Vietnam? 48:04 - What We've Lost: Honor, Responsibility, Patriotism 53:00 - Find Your Purpose and Pursue It 01:05:30 - Closing: 100th Birthday Celebration Plans
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    1 時間 7 分
  • From "Bubba Linux" to FEMA Director: A Serial Entrepreneur's Journey

    From "Bubba Linux" to FEMA Director: A Serial Entrepreneur's Journey
    2025/11/04
    What if the traits that made school difficult could become your greatest business advantage? John Weathersby, a self-described "serial entrepreneur" with dyslexia and ADHD, has built tech companies, advised the military on open source software, led the National Graphene Association, and now serves as a Federal Disaster Recovery Officer at FEMA. His secret? He's a "conduit of people" who s dots others can't see. - Why entrepreneurship might be a "mental disorder" (in the best way) and how to embrace your unconventional thinking - How to build teams by finding the "shiny spot" in everyone and leveraging their unique talents - The art of bringing powerful people together - from Intel and IBM executives to Navy CTOs - Why nonprofits can be incredibly profitable and how to think about them differently - How entrepreneurial thinking transformed FEMA's disaster response operations - The power of learning more from failures than successes - and how to rebound every time - 00:00 — Introduction to John Weathersby and his unique path - 03:14 — How dyslexia and ADHD shaped his entrepreneurial mindset - 04:14 — "You can find a shiny spot on just about anybody" - 12:00 — Getting Intel, Red Hat, IBM, and Oracle in the same room - 12:48 — The "Bubba Linux" story: Mississippi meets Silicon Valley - 21:23 — How entrepreneurial efficiency thinking works in government - 22:30 — The backstory: From retirement to FEMA - 26:20 — Becoming FEMA's philanthropy advisor - 27:01 — Yellowstone floods deployment experience - 44:14 — True leadership: "A football team is not made of quarterbacks" - 1:04:45 — Learning more from failures than successes - 1:29:11 — The failed pitch that taught him about listening - 1:30:33 — "I'm going to get up one more time than you knock me down" John Weathersby is a Federal Disaster Recovery Officer at FEMA with over 5 years of service, responding to major disasters including the Yellowstone floods. Before FEMA, he was a serial entrepreneur with experience in open source technology, where he earned the nickname "Bubba Linux" while working with the U.S. Navy at Stennis Space Center. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Graphene Association and has extensive experience building trade associations and ing corporate leaders with government opportunities. Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. About the Podcast: The Principled Entrepreneur with Caleb and Jodie Moore dives into real stories of grit, growth, failures, and victories. Every conversation explores what it really takes to build your business and your life on purpose and principle. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - Welcome to The Principled Entrepreneur 01:24 - Meet John Weathersby, FEMA Director & Serial Entrepreneur 03:14 - "Entrepreneurship is a Mental Disorder" - Embracing Dyslexia 04:14 - Finding the Shiny Spot in Everyone 04:50 - Building Teams: "If It's Just You, Single Point of Failure" 12:00 - Bringing Intel, IBM, Red Hat & Oracle to Washington 12:48 - The "Bubba Linux" Story at Navy Stennis Space Center 21:23 - Entrepreneurial Efficiency in Government 22:30 - How FEMA Called: The Retirement That Wasn't 26:20 - Becoming FEMA's Philanthropy Advisor 27:01 - Yellowstone Floods: First Major Deployment 44:14 - Leadership Lesson: Football Teams Aren't All Quarterbacks 45:02 - Self-Assessment: "Are We Doing This Right?" 01:04:45 - Learning More From Failures Than Successes 01:05:11 - When Things Fall Apart: Don't Beat Yourself Up 01:29:11 - The Failed Pitch Story: Know Your Worth 01:30:03 - "What Do We Learn From That?" 01:30:33 - John Wayne Philosophy: Getting Up One More Time 01:31:07 - Closing & Arkansas vs Ole Miss Football Banter
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    1 時間 31 分
  • 99% of Farms Won't Do This. Here's Why They Did.

    99% of Farms Won't Do This. Here's Why They Did.
    2025/10/16
    While Arkansas farm bankruptcies in Q1 2025 exceeded all of 2024 combined, the Ralston Family Farm is thriving. How? They rejected the conventional playbook and joined the 1% of farms that sell directly to consumers. - Why 99% of farms are trapped in the co-op commodity system (and how to escape) - The 5-tier regenerative farming certification that Whole Foods demanded - How a $400K combine became a $800K combine - and what that means for farm survival - The "farm-to-fork" model that landed Blue Apron and 820+ retail stores - Why entrepreneurial risk-taking is a family trait that gets passed down - How an 8-acre solar array transformed their operation economics s: - Robin Ralston - Matriarch of Ralston Family Farms, 10th generation in agriculture, oversees business operations - Ashley Enis - Robin's daughter, quality assurance and certification specialist, balances teaching with farm operations About Ralston Family Farms: Based in Arkansas, Ralston Family Farms is one of the few certified regenerative rice operations in the United States. They operate a complete farm-to-fork model with their own mill, selling directly to consumers, retailers (820+ stores), and food service partners like Whole Foods, Blue Apron, Ben Keith, and Cisco. - Website: RalstonFamilyFarms.com - Available at Whole Foods, Amazon, and 820+ retail locations nationwide Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction - Meet the Ralston Family 01:51 - Origin Story: 10 Generations of Agriculture 02:46 - Starting the Farm in the 1990s 07:13 - Blue Apron Partnership (2016) and BRC Certification 08:22 - Ashley's Role: Never Driven a Tractor 08:32 - The Entrepreneurial Mindset Passed Down 13:44 - Kids Watching Parents Struggle 14:07 - Corporate Competition for Farmland 15:18 - Farm Bankruptcy Crisis in Arkansas 16:14 - "Your Profit is in Your Inputs" 20:45 - Farm-to-Fork: The 1% Business Model 21:19 - The Whole Foods Challenge: Get Certified 22:10 - Regenified Certification and Gabe Brown 23:08 - 5 Tiers of Regenerative Farming 28:43 - Sales Channels: Online, Retail, Food Service 29:46 - 820+ Stores Nationwide 30:00 - Employee Count and Operations 34:29 - Learning Curve of Regenerative Farming 35:07 - 8-Acre Solar Array and Sustainability 01:00:00 - Giving Back: Arkansas Food Bank Donations 01:03:35 - Faith, Risk, and Not Living in Fear 01:05:01 - The 1% Way of Doing Business
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    1 時間 6 分
  • Interview with Logan Duvall, When His Son Got Cancer, He Changed How America Eats and Lives

    Interview with Logan Duvall, When His Son Got Cancer, He Changed How America Eats and Lives
    2025/10/06
    When Logan Duvall's 5-year-old son Lander was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, he asked the oncologist a simple question: "What should I feed him?" The answer - "It doesn't matter" - set him on a mission that would transform his family's farmers market into a 132,000-subscriber health education movement. - How to focus on what you can control during a crisis - The "lattice work of mental models" for ing knowledge across disciplines - Why "stacking" beats "scaling" in building a mission-driven business - How teaching accelerates your own learning - The truth about nutrition that mainstream medicine often ignores - Practical first steps for taking control of your family's health - 00:00 — Introduction to Logan Duvall and Sowing Prosperity - 03:08 — Logan's early career: pipelines, EMS, and real estate - 08:38 — Taking over the family farmers market after grandfather's passing - 09:54 — The devastating diagnosis: Lander's stage 4 cancer at age 5 - 12:00 — "What can I control?" - The mindset that changed everything - 15:01 — How cancer transformed his passion for the market - 16:37 — Why teaching is the best way to learn - 18:21 — Responding to critics: "You're not a doctor" - 25:02 — The power of sharing your story publicly - 26:11 — Logan's "superpower": the lattice work of mental models - 37:10 — Why we're never outside anymore and how it affects health - 53:59 — Stacking vs. scaling: building a mission-driven business - 01:12:26 — RFK and the health awakening movement - 01:12:46 — First steps to taking control of your health Logan Duvall is the founder of Sowing Prosperity, a YouTube channel with 132,000+ subscribers focused on health, nutrition, and self-reliance. He operates Mimi and McGee, a thriving farmers market in Arkansas that includes a bakery and artisan production. After his son's cancer diagnosis, Logan dedicated himself to researching nutrition and sharing his findings to help others. with Logan: - YouTube: Sowing Prosperity - Farmers Market: Mimi and McGee (Atkins, Arkansas) About the Podcast: The Principled Entrepreneur podcast features in-depth conversations with business owners who live by their principles. Hosted by Caleb and Jody, each episode explores the stories, struggles, and lessons behind building businesses with integrity. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - Meet Logan Duvall - YouTube sensation and farmers market owner 02:11 - The long friendship between Logan and the hosts 03:08 - Logan's early career: petroleum, EMS, and working 96-hour shifts 03:55 - How EMS gave insight into healthcare crises 08:34 - Taking over Mimi and McGee after grandfather's cancer battle 09:52 - The devastating news: Lander's stage 4 cancer diagnosis at age 5 10:27 - "What's going through your mind?" - Processing the unthinkable 12:00 - The research begins: ordering every cancer book available 13:06 - "What do I feed him?" - The oncologist's shocking response 14:17 - Understanding nutrition as the first layer of control 15:01 - How cancer transformed perspective on business and success 16:37 - Teaching as learning: sharing knowledge publicly 17:37 - Logan's passion for cancer research and education 18:21 - Responding to critics about qualifications 25:02 - The impact: success stories from followers 26:11 - The "lattice work of mental models" - Logan's superpower 37:10 - Why modern life diss us from nature 38:48 - Ancient evidence: diseases of kings vs. workers 53:59 - Stacking vs. scaling: a different approach to business growth 01:07:07 - First steps to taking control of your health 01:13:44 - Closing thoughts and gratitude
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    1 時間 14 分
  • Randy Zuk: 3 Traits That Separate Elite CEOs

    Randy Zuk: 3 Traits That Separate Elite CEOs
    2025/09/21
    Randy Zuk has seen hundreds of CEOs walk through the Arkansas State Chamber. After decades of observation, he's identified the 3 traits that separate those who build lasting success from those who don't. , we sit down with the President of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce to unpack what elite business leaders do differently. From Steve Jobs' 80% signal focus to Elon Musk's legendary 100% signal mindset, Randy breaks down the specific characteristics that correlate with entrepreneurial success. - The "signal vs noise" framework and why top CEOs filter distractions ruthlessly - Why data-driven decision making separates sustainable businesses from flash-in-the-pan ventures - How empathy (understanding what motivates people) drives real business outcomes - The role of integrity and trust in building companies that last - Why Arkansas is now #1 in GDP growth and what's attracting major businesses Key Insights: - Steve Jobs was 80% signal, Elon Musk is 100% signal - zero noise - Successful entrepreneur traits have "always been rare and will always be rare" - Empathy isn't about sympathy - it's about understanding what motivates each person - Trust and integrity: "If you're not good for what you say, they won't march into firestorms with you" About Randy Zuk: Randy Zuk is the President of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, where he has worked with hundreds of business owners and Fortune 500 executives. He brings decades of experience observing what separates successful entrepreneurs from those who struggle. - Arkansas State Chamber: arkansasstatechamber.com - Principled Entrepreneur Podcast: [Website/Social Links] Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction - Setting the Stage 01:32 - Meet Randy Zuk, Arkansas State Chamber President 02:17 - Randy's Career Journey: From Insurance to Chamber Leadership 08:45 - Why Arkansas is Attracting Businesses (Lifestyle + Business) 09:47 - Arkansas Economic Growth: #1 Fastest Growing GDP 17:56 - Low Cost of Living: Arkansas's Competitive Advantage 18:45 - Homegrown Entrepreneurship Opportunities 19:00 - Phoenix Innovation & Manufacturing Success Stories 27:00 - How Big Corporations Choose Arkansas 29:03 - Traits of Successful Business Leaders 29:27 - Signal vs Noise: The Framework Top CEOs Use 29:51 - Steve Jobs (80% Signal) vs Elon Musk (100% Signal) 31:21 - The Three Key Traits: Focus, Data-Driven, Empathy 31:46 - Defining Empathy in Business Leadership 33:01 - Trust & Integrity: The Foundation of Success 39:35 - Walmart's Stock Splits: A Case Study in Growth 39:58 - Character Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs 53:43 - The SWEAT Pledge by Mike Rowe 54:52 - Closing Thoughts & Takeaways
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    55 分
  • Is Airbnb right for you? | 2025 Housing Update | Are we strapped by fear!

    Is Airbnb right for you? | 2025 Housing Update | Are we strapped by fear!
    2025/07/29
    Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Topic Overview: Airbnbs, Market Update, Fear Discussion 00:45 - Our Airbnb Journey: Two Cabins on Petit Jean Mountain 01:35 - Why We Chose Short-Term Rentals Over Long-Term 02:30 - Buying During COVID: Our Biggest Fear 03:15 - Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting 06:26 - The Hospitality Mindset: Surprise and Delight 07:45 - Crazy Guest Story: The "Gas Leak" Phone Call 11:30 - Managing Maintenance and Expenses 17:00 - Is Airbnb Still Worth It in 2025? 19:21 - Short-Term vs Long-Term: The Real Numbers 20:28 - Why Airbnb Should NOT Be Your First Investment 22:57 - 2025 Housing Market Update Begins 23:14 - Inventory Levels: Back to Pre-COVID Numbers 24:30 - Why Buyers Are Hesitant Right Now 29:34 - The Psychology of Making Offers 39:40 - Book Discussion: Living Without Fear 40:01 - Fear-Based Decision Making in Today's Market 42:58 - The Snake Story: Fear vs Reality 44:54 - Breaking Free from the "What If" Mindset 50:42 - Don't Believe the Lies: Final Thoughts 51:33 - Closing and Birthday Wishes
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    52 分