The Scaling Podcast With Aaron Harper

Aaron Harper sits down with Empower CEO Scott Zide to explore how the company scaled from its early roots to over $1.5 billion in systemwide franchise sales. Scott shares his journey from being a 23-year-old franchisee to leading one of the largest multi-brand platforms in the industry. They break down Empower's approach to incubating vs. acquiring, what makes great franchisees, and why staying true to entrepreneurial values matters at scale. This is a deep look at the future of franchising platforms, brand building, and unit economics done right. 00:00 – Intro: From Franchisee to CEO 03:13 – Founding Mosquito Squad & Building Early Brands 06:21 – How Empower Formed Through Merger 09:43 – What Empower Looks for in Acquisitions 15:44 – How to Incubate a Brand the Right Way 23:58 – Scaling Commercial vs. Residential 35:04 – Empower's $1.5B Growth 43:50 – Getting Franchisees to Follow the Model 53:40 – Empower's Philosophy on Brand Life Cycles 59:15 – Closing Thoughts on Leadership & Growth

When life completely falls apart, what do you do next? In this powerful episode, Aaron Harper sits down with Brad Smith to talk about the accident that ended his thriving fitness business — and how he rebuilt his life, mindset, and mission from scratch. They cover the lessons hidden in loss, the importance of multiple income streams, and what it really takes to find purpose again when everything changes overnight. Whether you're an entrepreneur, athlete, or just someone trying to navigate a hard season, this conversation will remind you that resilience isn't about bouncing back — it's about building better. 00:00:00 – Opening & introductions Aaron introduces Brad, sets the tone for a conversation on resilience, rebuilding, and life pivots. 00:05:20 – The accident and everything changing overnight Brad shares the story of the car accident that derailed his fitness business and forced a complete reset. 00:15:30 – Navigating physical and emotional recovery Discussion on dealing with chronic pain, loss of purpose, and the identity crisis that comes after success collapses. 00:26:40 – Rebuilding from the ground up How Brad and his wife approached recovery by focusing on mindset, small wins, and redefining success. 00:37:50 – The business lessons hidden in loss Brad reflects on the dangers of single-income dependence and what diversification really means for entrepreneurs. 00:48:20 – Visibility, storytelling, and building trust Aaron and Brad talk about showing up publicly, using vulnerability to connect, and the business power of authenticity. 00:59:10 – Creating momentum again Brad explains how consistency and purpose gradually replaced burnout, leading to long-term stability. 01:10:15 – Lessons on leadership and legacy A look at how setbacks reshape leadership values — empathy, communication, and resilience through example. 01:17:30 – Closing reflections Aaron wraps the conversation by summarizing the key takeaways: rebuild, stay visible, and move forward with purpose.

What does it take to walk away from a safe, successful career and bet everything on yourself? In this episode, Navin joins Aaron to talk about his leap from medicine into entrepreneurship—and the lessons learned along the way. They dive into what it really means to build a business that runs without you, how to scale responsibly, and why content is the most underrated driver of growth today. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to trade comfort for conviction, this conversation will hit home. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome & intro: from doctor to entrepreneur 04:15 — The moment Navin knew he had to make a change 06:45 — Leaving a 12-year medical career for the unknown 10:18 — The bridge years: working while building a company 14:03 — Why every business should outgrow its founder 18:59 — Early angel investing and storytelling as a magnet 22:10 — Balancing risk and fulfillment during the transition 25:55 — How to build teams that can operate without you 29:11 — Investing, exits, and lessons from early ventures 31:08 — Playing the long game: patience in pre-seed investing 35:40 — Smart money vs. dumb money in startup funding 38:42 — Scaling philosophy: investing in people, not institutions 43:10 — How personal purpose drives entrepreneurial success 47:59 — Raising capital through relationships and mentorship 50:34 — Lessons from franchising and operational scale 51:25 — Using content to represent and grow your business 55:42 — The responsibility of being a founder 01:01:25 — Why consistent content builds trust and opportunity 01:04:10 — Closing thoughts: redefining what success looks like

In this conversation, Aaron Harper and Rand Larsen explore the realities of entrepreneurship, franchising, and community building. They discuss lessons from Scale Path, the challenges of retention, creative marketing approaches, and the importance of solving problems in business with clarity and honesty. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 04:19 – Franchising, entrepreneurship, and lessons learned 18:46 – Building trust and peer group communities 34:44 – Identifying business constraints and solving problems 50:04 – Creative experiments: entrepreneur caricature card game 54:32 – Vision, goals, and the role of retention 54:54 – Rand Larsen: Building trust and retention in entrepreneur communities 56:25 – Rand Larsen: Breaking through the noise in business growth 57:23 – LinkedIn vs Twitter: what really works for engagement 01:14:17 – Rand Larsen: The hard truth about struggle in business 01:15:44 – Real-world example: solving CRM and customer account challenges 01:20:00 – Long-term value of content and storytelling 01:25:00 – Closing thoughts on scaling and future direction

What makes the best leaders stand out? Adam Mendler, host of 30 Minute Mentors and a speaker who has interviewed thousands of top CEOs, athletes, and public figures, shares the core lessons of leadership, authenticity, and personal growth. In this episode of the Scaling Podcast, Aaron and Adam dive into leadership traits, entrepreneurial advice, and the importance of being a lifelong learner. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 0:42 – Adam's background and path into leadership 4:08 – Why authenticity matters in leadership 5:53 – Great leaders as listeners and lifelong learners 7:28 – Adam's lessons from college and early career 14:32 – Mistakes, pivots, and resilience in business 19:38 – Building a culture and staying adaptable 30:06 – Speaking, storytelling, and connecting with audiences 37:24 – Adam's advice for entrepreneurs 42:30 – Key takeaway on success and leadership

What does it take to get a business off the ground when everything is stacked against you? Ryan Hanley has lived it — from launching a company right before COVID to stepping in as a "wartime CEO" to help startups break through chaos and find focus. In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Aaron Harper and Ryan unpack the lessons every founder, entrepreneur, and leader needs: why focus matters more than perfection, how ADHD shaped Ryan's leadership, and why content and personal branding are no longer optional in today's world. 💡 If you've ever felt stretched thin, chasing too many ideas, or stuck trying to find clarity — this conversation is for you. 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Aaron introduces Ryan Hanley 2:15 – What it means to be a "wartime CEO" 9:47 – Why technical founders often struggle with leadership 10:23 – Focus vs. perfection: the real startup killer 11:20 – Where most startups die in their journey 19:29 – Ryan's ADHD story and its impact on leadership 20:50 – Launching an insurance business days before COVID 30:00 – Lessons from crisis: clarity, systems, and self-management 51:40 – Leading with resonance: content and personal branding 53:36 – The survivor bias in startup advice 1:00:00 – Authenticity in the age of AI-generated content 1:03:49 – Ryan's PEAK framework for recalibration 1:05:15 – Aaron's $3.2M case study: content as a sales engine 1:11:18 – Why content acts as your silent salesperson 1:14:00 – Closing takeaways: focus, systems, and leadership clarity

Scarlett shares her journey from Deloitte and L'Oréal to launching multiple startups, including her latest venture Pretty Tasty. This conversation dives deep into the realities of fundraising, choosing the right investors, and why patient capital often beats private equity timelines. Entrepreneurs will hear tactical lessons on scaling, risk, and building businesses that last. Intro & premise — 00:00:00:00–00:00:31:00 Founder & company intro (Pretty Tasty) — 00:00:31:02–00:01:06:18 Career background: Deloitte → Philip Morris → L'Oréal → AllSaints → FreshDirect — 00:01:06:20–00:03:01:19 First startups: egg freezing clinic → Sugar Break (venture-backed) & lessons — 00:03:01:21–00:03:57:21 Capital philosophy: family office backing, investor belief, flexibility vs. PE timelines — 00:03:57:23–00:05:26:21 Beverage model realities: capital intensity, scarce acquirers, ops co-founders — 00:05:26:21–00:07:22:21 Play to strengths + fundraising approach (strategic raises, no pressure to VC ladder) — 00:07:22:23–00:09:06:17 Product thesis & origin: collagen iced tea, authenticity, food-as-medicine roots — 00:09:06:17–00:10:47:11 Formulation & launch: zero sugar, stevia tuning, Expo West, 'Best New Beverage' — 00:10:47:13–00:12:55:14 Distribution mechanics: 2 major distributors, buyer sell-in, stocking dynamics — 00:13:21:06–00:14:40:14 Retail rollouts & door count (CVS, Sprouts, West Coast, NYC; ~2,000 doors) — 00:14:40:14–00:16:03:02 Founder-led sales & relationships (store tours, end caps, signage, sampling) — 00:16:03:02–00:17:11:08 Scale path vs. Poppy; margins reality; iterate fast on-market — 00:17:34:22–00:20:12:18 Packaging & messaging iteration (readability, flavor color, 'daily collagen', 10g protein) — 00:19:40:03–00:22:12:18 Marketing & education: social, local influencers, retail activations, Sephora demos — 00:23:58:15–00:26:32:08 DTC vs. retail models: AG1, Starbucks placement, Costco for awareness; when to add big influencers — 00:26:32:08–00:30:12:09 Operator lessons: 'fail fast'; in-person sampling beats surveys — 00:32:30:15–00:34:38:21 Scaling life: systems at home, childcare help, energy tradeoffs — 00:39:56:08–00:41:13:11 Support network, rest habits, cooking & crafts, meditation — 00:41:13:11–00:44:24:22 Team plan: shared resources now → build in-house marketing/community — 00:44:24:22–00:45:20:09 Exit route & timeframe (sell to strategic; 5–10 years) — 00:45:43:04–00:46:31:20 Hiring a CEO; resource allocation as top CEO trait; founder identity shift — 00:46:31:22–00:57:30:13 Franchising & international: Middle East/LATAM partners; legal complexity; negotiation & cultural fit — 00:59:27:20–01:05:13:17 Closing founder advice: it's hard/lonely; know your 'why'; grit; swing big — 01:05:57:20–01:07:29:09 Outro & where to find — 01:07:29:11–01:07:52:11

Michael Zuber thought financial freedom would be the finish line. At 45, with 170+ rental units, he had it all—except purpose. In this episode, Aaron and Michael unpack the transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the surprising challenges of "making it," and the disciplines that sustain both health and business success. Whether you're an entrepreneur scaling up, or someone chasing financial independence, Michael's story is a reminder: freedom is only the beginning.

In this episode, Aaron Harper sits down with Andrew — a longtime friend and business leader — to talk about 20 years of friendship, the realities of raising capital, and what it really takes to build something meaningful. We cover stories from college dorm rooms to navigating sharks in the world of venture capital. Whether you're interested in franchising, entrepreneurship, or just a real conversation about growth, this episode has it all. 00:00 - 00:01:17 | Introduction Aaron introduces Andrew, their 20-year friendship, and Andrew's role as an advisor in Rolling Suds. 00:01:17 - 00:08:39 | College Days & Dorm Room Stories Meeting at 18, clashing as roommates, transferring to UCSB, living in Isla Vista, and balancing work with nonstop parties. 00:08:39 - 00:12:07 | Building a Lasting Friendship Why their bond has lasted: differences that complement each other, honesty, and growing through different life stages. 00:12:07 - 00:15:54 | Early Signs of Leadership Aaron's ability to rally people, the Santa Barbara Digital Film Festival, and lessons from executing big visions young. 00:15:54 - 00:20:47 | Reconnecting After Hard Times The fallout during Aaron's darker years, rebuilding their friendship in 2018, meeting Sarah, and opening a new chapter of life. 00:20:47 - 00:25:12 | From Employee to Entrepreneur Aaron's shift from top franchise salesperson to pursuing his own business, influenced partly by Alex Hormozi. 00:25:12 - 00:34:20 | Raising Capital & Taking the Leap Losing his job, burning the boats, and navigating sharks in the water while raising money. 00:34:20 - 00:40:06 | Learning Fast & Building Support Systems Crash course in deal structures, protecting ownership, and leaning on trusted advisors. 00:40:06 - 00:44:50 | The Value of Honest Feedback Why Andrew chose not to invest or join as co-founder, instead offering outside perspective. 00:44:50 - 00:49:42 | Scaling Rolling Suds Aaron's leadership, startup culture vs franchising, and loneliness in entrepreneurship. 00:49:42 - 00:54:10 | Friendship & Family in Business How honesty, trust, and shared values shape both family life and business growth. 00:54:10 - End | Lessons Learned & The Road Ahead Reflections on 20 years of friendship, building something bigger than yourself, and what's next.

Shaina Denny, founder of Dog Drop, shares her journey in creating a tech-enabled dog daycare that thrives on convenience and community. She discusses the key challenges in scaling a franchise, emphasizing the importance of in-house technology and strong franchisor–franchisee partnerships. Shaina offers insights into member acquisition through multifamily partnerships and explains her unique fundraising approach. She also highlights the value of authenticity in marketing and the necessity of a measured growth plan to ensure lasting success.