School of Hard Knocks Podcast

Robert Croak is the founder of Sillybandz, the global toy brand that exploded into one of the biggest product crazes of the 2010s, selling billions of units worldwide. In this episode he shares the story behind discovering the idea in China, scaling from 17 to over 3,000 employees, and building a brand that reached hundreds of thousands of retail stores. Croak also breaks down lessons on entrepreneurship, venture investing, product-market fit, and the wealth habits that separate successful founders from the rest. This conversation dives deep into execution, failure, and building businesses that scale globally.

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Ben Pogue is the CEO of one of America’s fastest growing construction companies, generating over $1.5 billion in annual revenue. After unexpectedly taking over the business at age 29, he navigated personal hardship, public industry controversy, and massive leadership pressure. In this episode, Ben shares how culture, faith, and people-first leadership transformed his company into a powerhouse with industry-leading client retention. The conversation explores crisis leadership, scaling teams, building billion-dollar companies, and the mindset required to endure the hardest seasons of entrepreneurship.

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Forbes Riley is the “Pitch Queen,” known for selling over $2.5B in products across TV, infomercials, and live demonstrations, including 64,000 units in 24 hours and $1.2M in a day.
In this episode, she breaks down the pitch structure that creates instant desire, third-party proof, urgency, and closes without over explaining.
She also shares the personal adversity that shaped her obsession with communication, confidence, and legacy.
A tactical masterclass on getting “yes” faster without sounding like a salesperson.

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Vic Tipnes is a healthcare entrepreneur who built a dominant sleep testing company after starting with almost nothing. In this episode, he breaks down the low point of having $78 in his account, the long grind before the breakthrough, and the aggressive deal-making that helped him take market share fast. He also explains why service is a competitive weapon, why “money loves speed,” and how leadership and purpose attract top talent.

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Myron Golden is a renowned business consultant and sales strategist known for turning content into cash flow through offers, authority, and value-based selling. In this episode, he breaks down why income follows value—not effort—why “time is money” is a trap, and how to use the law of averages to win in sales. He also shares his faith-based framework for decision-making, mentorship, and building a fulfilled life through creation, connection, and contribution.

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