School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Vic Keller founded 17 companies and exited 9 of them, including three sales to Berkshire Hathaway.
He breaks down how growing up blue collar shaped his edge, why getting punched in the mouth early almost killed his first business, and how rebuilding instead of quitting changed everything.
We also cover what real buyers look for, why cheap deals are not worth the pain, how to deleverage the founder, and the hidden cost of exits when selling the business means losing relationships too.
This episode is a blueprint for building companies that survive bad weather and outlast the founder.

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Kirt Linington is a South Africa–born entrepreneur who came to the U.S. with $700, started door knocking at 42, and sold his roofing company in 2022 for a nine-figure exit.
He breaks down how he built $62M in revenue while still working his corporate job, why sales must come before systems, and how to think about rejection as a skill—not a personality trait.
We also cover what private equity looks for, how to maximize enterprise value, and why personal discipline shows up in business outcomes.

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Daniel Lubetzky is the founder of KIND and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in modern consumer brands. In this episode, we break down how he went from a $24,000 salary after Stanford Law School to building a $5 billion company, why long term thinking matters more than early wins, and how purpose driven capitalism can create both impact and scale. Daniel shares how embracing setbacks shaped his approach to business, why most people misunderstand wealth creation, and what it really takes to build something that lasts without chasing hype. We also talk about discipline, values, and the role of hard work in a world obsessed with shortcuts. Because real wealth isn’t a paycheck. It’s building something meaningful that compounds over time.

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Ari Rastegar is a real estate developer and investor behind some of the most ambitious projects reshaping major U.S. cities. In this episode, we break down how starting with just $3,000 turned into a multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio, why failure became his greatest advantage, and why most people misunderstand what it actually takes to build long term wealth. Ari explains why zoning, timing, and anticipation matter more than chasing “safe” deals, and why a billion-dollar valuation doesn’t mean cash in the bank. He also shares the story of writing himself a $1 billion check at 23 and carrying it for 15 years as a reminder of what he was building toward. Because real wealth isn’t reacting to the present. It’s having the patience to build the future before everyone else sees it.

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Dr. De is the CEO of Biohax, a healthcare company focused on optimizing health, performance, and longevity for high performers. In this episode, we break down why burnout is normalized, why modern systems treat symptoms instead of building long-term health, and how hidden stressors quietly drain energy and performance over time. Dr. De shares his framework for reclaiming control over your biology through discipline, awareness, and long-term thinking. I also open up about my own health journey and why longevity has become a non-negotiable as I build for the future. Because real wealth isn’t money. It’s energy, clarity, and time to enjoy what you build.

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