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School of Hard Knocks Podcast cover
School of Hard Knocks Podcast cover

School of Hard Knocks Podcast

School of Hard Knocks Podcast

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School of Hard Knocks Podcast cover
School of Hard Knocks Podcast cover

School of Hard Knocks Podcast

School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Subscribe

Description

Feauturing the Worlds Top Entrepreneurs and Creators

Brought to you by The School of Hard Knocks


Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

Feauturing the Worlds Top Entrepreneurs and Creators

Brought to you by The School of Hard Knocks


Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

23 episodes

  • Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch cover
    Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch cover
    Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch

    Anne Mahlum risked it all. Her last $175,000, no investors, no backup plan, just pure belief. Before Solidcore, she was broke, alone, and leading a nonprofit for the homeless, fueled by the trauma of growing up with an addicted father. But she turned pain into purpose, and that purpose into a $90 million empire. Today, with a net worth of $110 million, Anne is living proof that excuses don’t build legacies, courage does. In this episode, she opens up about betting on herself, building from zero, and the mindset it takes to win big. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    41min | Published on July 30, 2025

  • John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back cover
    John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back cover
    John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back

    He was poor, went broke, and still made $90K on his first deal. By 28, John Devaney bought a brokerage firm and turned it into a money-printing machine: $5M in year one, $25M in year two, $45M in year three. At the peak, his firm was making $110M in pure profit. Then 2008 wiped him out. He lost over $200M… and came back swinging. In this episode, John breaks down how he rebuilt from zero, launched a $200M fund, and pulled off 100%+ returns in the most brutal bond markets. Today, he’s not just killing it in finance, he’s producing films with a mission. This is what happens when you bet big, get crushed, and don’t quit. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    47min | Published on July 21, 2025

  • Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire cover
    Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire cover
    Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire

    Alli Webb is one of the most unexpected and badass entrepreneurs in the beauty world. What started as a side hustle blowdrying hair for cheap quickly turned into a nationwide movement. With zero outside funding and a deep desire to feel alive again, she launched Drybar—a blowout-only salon that exploded across the U.S. and eventually sold for $255 million. In this raw and powerful episode, Alli opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of building a brand with her ex-husband and brother, what it took to scale Drybar into a household name, and how entrepreneurship helped her find herself again. She also shares the vision behind her new venture, Messy, a product line that embraces imperfection and empowers women to own their real, unfiltered beauty. This is a story of reinvention, resilience, and building something that actually matters. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h08 | Published on July 11, 2025

  • Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules cover
    Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules cover
    Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules

    Eric Adams was beaten by police as a child so badly he peed blood for days. He grew up in fear of eviction, struggled with dyslexia, and felt invisible in a broken system. But instead of running from it, he joined the NYPD to change it from within. Today, he runs America’s largest city. In this raw conversation, Eric shares how trauma shaped his purpose, why he chose discipline over anger, and what it really takes to lead when the odds are stacked against you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    35min | Published on July 4, 2025

  • Hugo Sanchez | Latino Entrepreneur on Making $250K/Month Washing T-Shirts, Getting Rejected, and Overcoming Success cover
    Hugo Sanchez | Latino Entrepreneur on Making $250K/Month Washing T-Shirts, Getting Rejected, and Overcoming Success cover

    1h01 | Published on June 27, 2025

  • Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose cover
    Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose cover
    Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose

    Khalil Rafati is one of the most brutally honest and spiritually grounded entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear from. After surviving heroin addiction, homelessness, and years of childhood abuse, he made a pact with God to become rich and honor his dying mother. Through relentless work and spiritual transformation, he built SunLife Organics into a $34 million smoothie empire rooted in healing and purpose. In this podcast, Khalil opens up about his darkest moments, the faith that kept him going, and how he turned pain into a mission far greater than himself. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h17 | Published on June 21, 2025

  • Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality cover
    Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality cover
    Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality

    Edward Connors is one of the most powerful and unpredictable figures the fitness world has ever seen. Before reshaping the industry, he fought in the Vietnam War, where he claims to have killed over 600 enemy soldiers. It’s a dark chapter he rarely speaks about, but it forged the fearless mentality that would later redefine bodybuilding forever. After the war, Ed joined a raw, underground gym in Venice Beach—Gold’s Gym—and turned it into a global empire with over 500 franchises. He revolutionized fitness marketing, brought celebrity culture into the weight room, and made muscle mainstream. But Ed didn’t stop at business. He discovered and mentored future icons like John Cena, Randy Orton, and Jay Cutler, recognizing their greatness before anyone else. In this episode, we explore the wild story of a man shaped by war, driven by vision, and obsessed with building giants. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    58min | Published on June 11, 2025

  • Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How cover
    Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How cover
    Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How

    Karlton Dennis is one of the most strategic and unconventional entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. After walking away from a future in professional sports, he found himself broke, working odd jobs as a personal trainer and wine salesman. But everything changed when he discovered the world of tax strategy, and realized that the fastest way to build wealth isn’t just making money, it’s learning how to keep it. Today, Karlton runs one of the top tax firms in the country and legally pays zero dollars in taxes. He’s now a powerhouse CEO, mentor, and educator teaching people how to escape the tax trap and take control of their financial future. In this podcast, Karlton breaks down how he went from struggling to secure rent to building a multi-million dollar empire, and shares the exact systems that helped him, and can help you, win the money game for good. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    55min | Published on June 9, 2025

  • Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire cover
    Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire cover
    Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire

    Edwin Arroyave is one of the most inspiring and resilient entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. Growing up in extreme poverty, Edwin slept in a windowless room infested with cockroaches and often went without food at the end of the month. By age 15, he became the head of his household, taking on adult responsibilities far beyond his years. Against all odds, Edwin built a massively successful business, reaching $40 million in revenue in a single year. Today, he’s a thriving CEO, mentor, and speaker who shares powerful lessons on perseverance, mindset, and scaling with purpose. In this podcast, Edwin opens up about the painful sacrifices he made to survive, the turning points that changed his life forever, and the strategies that helped him turn hardship into a multi-million dollar empire. His story is a powerful reminder that no matter how bad it gets, your past does not define your future. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h23 | Published on June 5, 2025

  • Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M cover
    Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M cover
    Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M

    Todd Johnson is one of the most inspiring and unshakable entrepreneurs you’ll ever come across. Raised in deep poverty and surviving off food stamps, Todd spent his childhood feeling hopeless, until a divine encounter at a pizza shop changed his life forever. That moment sparked an unbreakable faith and a mission to never be broke again. Starting with zero dollars, Todd went on to build a multi-million dollar empire spanning real estate, construction, supplements and more. Today, he’s a thriving serial entrepreneur, mentor and a living testament to what faith, focus and grit can achieve. In this podcast, Todd shares the story behind his rise from rock bottom, the turning point that gave him purpose and the mindset principles that fueled his journey to the top, lessons that will challenge and inspire anyone chasing growth, purpose and long-term success. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h05 | Published on June 2, 2025

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Description

Feauturing the Worlds Top Entrepreneurs and Creators

Brought to you by The School of Hard Knocks


Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

Feauturing the Worlds Top Entrepreneurs and Creators

Brought to you by The School of Hard Knocks


Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

23 episodes

  • Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch cover
    Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch cover
    Anne Mahlum | $110M Founder on Betting It All, Turning Trauma Into Power, and Building Solidcore from Scratch

    Anne Mahlum risked it all. Her last $175,000, no investors, no backup plan, just pure belief. Before Solidcore, she was broke, alone, and leading a nonprofit for the homeless, fueled by the trauma of growing up with an addicted father. But she turned pain into purpose, and that purpose into a $90 million empire. Today, with a net worth of $110 million, Anne is living proof that excuses don’t build legacies, courage does. In this episode, she opens up about betting on herself, building from zero, and the mindset it takes to win big. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    41min | Published on July 30, 2025

  • John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back cover
    John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back cover
    John Devaney | He Lost $200 Million in 2008...Then Made It All Back

    He was poor, went broke, and still made $90K on his first deal. By 28, John Devaney bought a brokerage firm and turned it into a money-printing machine: $5M in year one, $25M in year two, $45M in year three. At the peak, his firm was making $110M in pure profit. Then 2008 wiped him out. He lost over $200M… and came back swinging. In this episode, John breaks down how he rebuilt from zero, launched a $200M fund, and pulled off 100%+ returns in the most brutal bond markets. Today, he’s not just killing it in finance, he’s producing films with a mission. This is what happens when you bet big, get crushed, and don’t quit. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    47min | Published on July 21, 2025

  • Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire cover
    Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire cover
    Alli Webb | Drybar Founder Who Started From $0 and Sold for $255M on Reinvention, Grit, and Building a Beauty Empire

    Alli Webb is one of the most unexpected and badass entrepreneurs in the beauty world. What started as a side hustle blowdrying hair for cheap quickly turned into a nationwide movement. With zero outside funding and a deep desire to feel alive again, she launched Drybar—a blowout-only salon that exploded across the U.S. and eventually sold for $255 million. In this raw and powerful episode, Alli opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of building a brand with her ex-husband and brother, what it took to scale Drybar into a household name, and how entrepreneurship helped her find herself again. She also shares the vision behind her new venture, Messy, a product line that embraces imperfection and empowers women to own their real, unfiltered beauty. This is a story of reinvention, resilience, and building something that actually matters. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h08 | Published on July 11, 2025

  • Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules cover
    Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules cover
    Eric Adams | Beaten by Cops as a Kid, Now Mayor of NYC - On Using Pain as Fuel to Rise, Lead, and Rewrite the Rules

    Eric Adams was beaten by police as a child so badly he peed blood for days. He grew up in fear of eviction, struggled with dyslexia, and felt invisible in a broken system. But instead of running from it, he joined the NYPD to change it from within. Today, he runs America’s largest city. In this raw conversation, Eric shares how trauma shaped his purpose, why he chose discipline over anger, and what it really takes to lead when the odds are stacked against you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    35min | Published on July 4, 2025

  • Hugo Sanchez | Latino Entrepreneur on Making $250K/Month Washing T-Shirts, Getting Rejected, and Overcoming Success cover
    Hugo Sanchez | Latino Entrepreneur on Making $250K/Month Washing T-Shirts, Getting Rejected, and Overcoming Success cover

    1h01 | Published on June 27, 2025

  • Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose cover
    Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose cover
    Khalil Rafati | From a Homeless Crackhead.. To a Multi-Millionaire on Addiction, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Turning Pain Into Purpose

    Khalil Rafati is one of the most brutally honest and spiritually grounded entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear from. After surviving heroin addiction, homelessness, and years of childhood abuse, he made a pact with God to become rich and honor his dying mother. Through relentless work and spiritual transformation, he built SunLife Organics into a $34 million smoothie empire rooted in healing and purpose. In this podcast, Khalil opens up about his darkest moments, the faith that kept him going, and how he turned pain into a mission far greater than himself. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h17 | Published on June 21, 2025

  • Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality cover
    Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality cover
    Edward Connors | He Killed 600 Men in Vietnam & Built Gold's Gym Empire, on Turning Pain into Power and Dreams into Reality

    Edward Connors is one of the most powerful and unpredictable figures the fitness world has ever seen. Before reshaping the industry, he fought in the Vietnam War, where he claims to have killed over 600 enemy soldiers. It’s a dark chapter he rarely speaks about, but it forged the fearless mentality that would later redefine bodybuilding forever. After the war, Ed joined a raw, underground gym in Venice Beach—Gold’s Gym—and turned it into a global empire with over 500 franchises. He revolutionized fitness marketing, brought celebrity culture into the weight room, and made muscle mainstream. But Ed didn’t stop at business. He discovered and mentored future icons like John Cena, Randy Orton, and Jay Cutler, recognizing their greatness before anyone else. In this episode, we explore the wild story of a man shaped by war, driven by vision, and obsessed with building giants. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    58min | Published on June 11, 2025

  • Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How cover
    Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How cover
    Karlton Dennis | Makes $10M/Year , Pays Nothing in Taxes, and Teaches You How

    Karlton Dennis is one of the most strategic and unconventional entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. After walking away from a future in professional sports, he found himself broke, working odd jobs as a personal trainer and wine salesman. But everything changed when he discovered the world of tax strategy, and realized that the fastest way to build wealth isn’t just making money, it’s learning how to keep it. Today, Karlton runs one of the top tax firms in the country and legally pays zero dollars in taxes. He’s now a powerhouse CEO, mentor, and educator teaching people how to escape the tax trap and take control of their financial future. In this podcast, Karlton breaks down how he went from struggling to secure rent to building a multi-million dollar empire, and shares the exact systems that helped him, and can help you, win the money game for good. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    55min | Published on June 9, 2025

  • Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire cover
    Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire cover
    Edwin Arroyave | From Sleeping with Roaches to $40M: How He Beat the Odds, Found Mentors, and Built an Empire

    Edwin Arroyave is one of the most inspiring and resilient entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. Growing up in extreme poverty, Edwin slept in a windowless room infested with cockroaches and often went without food at the end of the month. By age 15, he became the head of his household, taking on adult responsibilities far beyond his years. Against all odds, Edwin built a massively successful business, reaching $40 million in revenue in a single year. Today, he’s a thriving CEO, mentor, and speaker who shares powerful lessons on perseverance, mindset, and scaling with purpose. In this podcast, Edwin opens up about the painful sacrifices he made to survive, the turning points that changed his life forever, and the strategies that helped him turn hardship into a multi-million dollar empire. His story is a powerful reminder that no matter how bad it gets, your past does not define your future. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h23 | Published on June 5, 2025

  • Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M cover
    Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M cover
    Todd Johnson | He Lived on Food Stamps… Now He’s Worth $100M

    Todd Johnson is one of the most inspiring and unshakable entrepreneurs you’ll ever come across. Raised in deep poverty and surviving off food stamps, Todd spent his childhood feeling hopeless, until a divine encounter at a pizza shop changed his life forever. That moment sparked an unbreakable faith and a mission to never be broke again. Starting with zero dollars, Todd went on to build a multi-million dollar empire spanning real estate, construction, supplements and more. Today, he’s a thriving serial entrepreneur, mentor and a living testament to what faith, focus and grit can achieve. In this podcast, Todd shares the story behind his rise from rock bottom, the turning point that gave him purpose and the mindset principles that fueled his journey to the top, lessons that will challenge and inspire anyone chasing growth, purpose and long-term success. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h05 | Published on June 2, 2025

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