CASE STUDIES

In this episode, Casey sits down with Daniel O’Donnal, co-founder of Saela Pest Control, for a deeply human conversation on leadership, identity, and what it means to build something meant to last. From bootstrapping a business from scratch to a nine-figure exit, Daniel reflects on 17 years of grit, partnership, and the belief that real success is measured by the lives you impact, not just the profits you earn.He shares lessons learned from his partners, Andrew and Blaine Richardson, and the moments that nearly broke them; going without paychecks, homes on the line, and the humility of starting over. But the heart of this episode is not the sale; it is the story behind it. Daniel opens up about faith, mentorship, and adoption, and how the calling to expand his family changed everything he thought he knew about love, leadership, and capacity.This conversation explores what happens after the win, how to reframe identity beyond achievement, and why the best leaders make others believe in themselves first. A powerful reflection for entrepreneurs seeking meaning beyond the scoreboard.00:00 | House fire and adoption: when life interrupts01:19 | Why Daniel originally said no to this interview02:35 | The early years of Saela and a 17-year timeline04:22 | Building for legacy, not for sale05:33 | Why they sold: timing, mission, and stewardship07:00 | Choosing the right buyer and honoring employees09:19 | The emotional cost of stepping away10:59 | Identity crisis after the exit13:01 | Casey’s own journey through leaving a company18:06 | Reframing self-worth and learning to slow down20:15 | Daniel’s upbringing in Mexico, Guatemala, and Texas21:17 | Mission to Brazil and meeting Andrew Richardson22:55 | The power of mentorship and certainty28:08 | One phone call that changed Daniel’s life forever32:08 | Leadership through belief: Andrew’s lasting impact35:12 | Parallel paths: Casey and Daniel’s early career struggles37:49 | Business as a spiritual game39:50 | The leadership question that shifts everything42:21 | Excellence, culture, and disproportionate rewards43:55 | Bootstrapping: no outside capital, all-in growth44:46 | Raising four kids while building a business46:40 | Why they adopted: a spiritual nudge and a leap of faith50:22 | Meeting the girls — and becoming a family of eight53:42 | Angie’s selfless act and the reality of adoption55:13 | The hardest year of their family’s life56:39 | Beauty through struggle: what people don’t see57:49 | Casey’s own adoption story and shared lessons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, Casey sits down with Ty Williams, a dynamic leader and an old friend who has significantly influenced his journey. This conversation explores the pivotal moments, career transitions, and the principles that have guided Ty through his impressive career.From the early days of door-to-door sales to leading successful teams, Ty shares invaluable insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of mentoring others. He recounts the challenges of transitioning between industries and companies, emphasizing the role of intuition and the power of making bold moves.Listeners will find inspiration in Ty’s philosophy of “traveling well,” a concept that encapsulates living authentically, contributing positively to every environment, and continuously growing both personally and professionally. Ty’s stories and reflections offer a blueprint for anyone looking to navigate their career and life with purpose and integrity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Doug Robinson; entrepreneur, operator, and founder of LGCY Power, for an unfiltered look at what it really means to bet everything on conviction. From a teenage lawn business to leading one of the fastest-growing solar companies in the country, Doug’s story is a masterclass in grit, humility, and relentless alignment.He opens up about the collapse of Atlas, what it’s like to hold the title but not the control, and how those failures forged his philosophy on leadership and ownership. Doug also unpacks his legal battle with Vivint Solar and Blackstone; the confidence it took to keep showing up when the odds were impossible, and how faith and forgiveness became central to his rebuild.This conversation is about more than entrepreneurship. It’s about integrity when things fall apart, rebuilding trust, and finding purpose through pressure. A raw, real playbook for any founder determined to endure the valley and come back sharper.Chapters00:00 | Old Friends, Shared History02:16 | Growing Up in Cache Valley05:22 | Early Leadership Lessons from Sports08:11 | The Lawn Business That Taught Ownership11:48 | How to Manage Up, Down & Sideways16:18 | Embracing Change: From Missions to Management20:19 | JUCO Dreams & The Last Days at Ricks College23:04 | Door-to-Door Beginnings with Atlas25:44 | Production-Based Recruiting: The Sales Secret28:30 | Why Sports & Missions Built Great Leaders30:13 | The Atlas Collapse & Shattered Trust33:29 | Fallout, Finger-Pointing & Feeling Betrayed37:20 | Picking Sides: Apex vs. Pinnacle41:20 | Rebuilding with LGCY After a Broken Partnership44:44 | When Paths Diverge — and Why That’s Okay46:48 | Leading LGCY: Pride, Pain, and the Lawsuit50:11 | Pitching Sunrun With Just Conviction52:15 | Winning Against Blackstone — And No One Cares53:43 | Why We Hold Grudges Too Long58:48 | The Call That Started Reconciliation01:02:49 | The Golf Game That Changed Everything01:04:15 | How Leadership (and Faith) Changes You01:05:27 | Solar in Crisis: $15M Lost, Lessons Gained01:06:56 | How to Survive When the Market Collapses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, Casey sits down with Brad Bonham, a renowned Utah entrepreneur. Brad opens up about his journey from humble beginnings to founding Walker Edison and the trials he faced along the way. He shares insights into his business philosophy, the importance of resilience, and the role faith played in his success.Brad discusses his significant achievements, such as scaling Walker Edison to a multi-billion dollar business and navigating it through economic challenges. He highlights pivotal moments like securing key partnerships and the innovative strategies that fueled his company’s growth.Get an intimate look at the man behind one of Utah’s leading businesses as Brad reveals his story of overcoming adversity. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and personal growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Casey sits down with Chris Crittenden, entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Sandbox, for a conversation on courage, innovation, and rethinking what education should be. From selling a startup to Walmart to leading at BYU and now building Sandbox into a movement across multiple universities, Chris shares why closing doors and going deep often leads to the greatest returns.He and Casey explore the flaws of traditional higher education, the trap of chasing prestige, and the power of learning by doing. Chris outlines how Sandbox is equipping students to launch real companies while reshaping themselves in the process. Their discussion dives into resilience, resourcefulness, and why the greatest opportunities often lie off the beaten path.This episode is both a critique of the old system and a vision for a new one, where students learn through building, failure is embraced as part of the process, and desire becomes the ultimate differentiator.What you'll learnHow traditional higher ed’s incentives produce shallow learning—and how changing the “soil” unlocks genuine growth. The launch of the Sandbox Fellowship: a 12-month, accredited master’s built around one job—build a company. The “neobank for universities” model: partnering with New Mexico Highlands University to innovate on top of accredited infrastructure. Why desire beats pedigree for founders, and how door-to-door grit translates into startup success. Chapters00:00 | Welcome & Chris’s background 00:16 | Walmart exit, BYU connection & early influences 06:30 | Resourcefulness as the core Sandbox skill07:14 | Growing up: farm roots, do-it-yourself mindset09:51 | BYU → Consulting: chasing “stamps” vs. depth 10:27 | McKinsey, prestige traps, and closing doors 16:05 | Leaving Duke’s PhD for a startup17:19 | Joining an unsexy company → billion-dollar outcome31:11 | Teaching at BYU: joy vs. the politics of change32:24 | Running the Rollins Center & building inside BYU 33:24 | Sandbox thesis: learn by doing, start real companies 35:58 | Early wins: teams into YC, model effects41:29 | Scaling beyond BYU: UVU story & lucky plane ride 43:02 | Six campuses: BYU, UVU, Utah State, Utah Tech, Boise State, Louisville 43:41 | The “neobank for higher ed” insight 45:27 | Announcing the Sandbox Fellowship (12-month MS, build a company) 46:42 | Why for-profit: hire the best, build the best experience 51:39 | Education as human transformation 53:36 | Sales, rejection, and D2D grit in startups 56:56 | Failure isn’t opposite of success—it’s part of it 59:55 | Fellowship launches today + how to apply 01:01:32 | Who gets in? One word: desire 01:03:46 | Scale: cohort sizes, no equity, partner funds 01:05:20 | Faith, purpose, and building for impact   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a highlight episode featuring the first 30 minutes of our conversation with Kim Clark. To hear the full hour-and-a-half discussion, search for “Kim Clark” on the Case Studies Podcast and listen to the complete episode.This week we sit down with Kim Clark, former Dean of Harvard Business School and President of BYU-Idaho, who has made remarkable contributions to education and business innovation. From his early influences and pivotal moments to his transformative roles, Kim shares his journey of leadership, values, and the power of education.Kim discusses his significant initiatives throughout his career, including the introduction of core values such as respect, integrity, and accountability at Harvard Business School, embedding them into the school's culture. As President of BYU-Idaho, he launched the BYU Pathway program, which has brought educational opportunities to students around the world.Listen as Kim shares his insights on building a culture of continuous improvement, empowering others, and the transformative power of education. Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores the essence of true leadership and the legacy of a life well-lived. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Casey sits down with entrepreneur and investor Matt Mathison to explore how truth, resilience, and purpose define what it really means to thrive. From Wall Street highs to a public collapse, Matt shares how radical transparency, discipline, and faith shaped his comeback and his creation of Allevio, a healthcare platform designed to “empower healing anywhere.”He unpacks the Thrive Playbook — a practical framework of market tailwinds, operational systems, and maniacal cashflow discipline — showing how great leaders and businesses thrive by aligning people, purpose, and profit. Matt’s story reveals that thriving isn’t about avoiding pain, but transforming it into clarity and action.For entrepreneurs and high performers, this episode delivers raw lessons on leadership, marriage, and mindset — from rebuilding after loss to creating daily rhythms that keep priorities straight. Through it all, Matt models how truth and love, in business and life, create the foundation for lasting success.Learn the three pillars of the Thrive Playbook and how to apply them in your company or personal growth journey.Hear the inside story of betting on a billion-dollar Chinese tech company, the short-seller attack that followed, and the courage to tell the truth when everything fell apart.See how Allevio scaled from a single idea to a multi-state platform serving patients and providers with purpose and precision.Take away relationship and marriage principles that anchor success — from forgiveness and radical communication to shared faith and consistency.Chapters00:00 | Welcome & family update02:07 | Joy in every season: choosing optimism04:43 | The book that sparked a leadership framework07:17 | From Wall Street to betting on China08:23 | Muddy Waters short report & total collapse13:31 | Redefining “thriving” through loss and truth19:10 | Removing fear: thriving as forward motion22:45 | Lessons from failure: transparency and trust26:46 | Building leaders at every level29:04 | Hard feedback and preserving relationships32:10 | The call that sparked Allevio34:53 | The Thrive Playbook (market, team, cashflow)37:57 | Mission, vision, and values before scale41:20 | Cash discipline and operational systems44:29 | Consistency compounds: the long game46:53 | Allevio by the numbers48:36 | Vision: “Empower healing anywhere”53:26 | Leadership redefined: get better, help others get better59:05 | Marriage as a partnership through seasons01:03:00 | Forgive and forget: family wisdom01:04:26 | Radical communication at home01:06:52 | Morning runs and connection rituals01:08:07 | Faith as the cornerstone01:11:16 | Closing reflections and gratitude Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, Casey dives into an engaging conversation with Shima Baughman, a distinguished professor and criminal justice advocate. Shima shares her incredible journey from growing up in a war-torn Iran to arriving in the United States, her family’s escape from war and political imprisonment, and how those experiences shaped her passion for criminal justice reform and faith-based initiatives.Shima opens up about her childhood during the Iranian Revolution and her family’s struggle. She delves into her academic and professional journey, including her impactful work in Africa and her mission to bring faith into the lives of inmates.Join us as Shima discusses the power of forgiveness, the importance of community, and her vision for a criminal justice system rooted in faith and rehabilitation. This episode is a profound exploration of resilience, leadership, and the transformative power of faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Casey sits down with Ty Nielson and Tim Miller, the entrepreneurial duo behind Ninja Kids, for a candid masterclass on building creator-led experiences with heart, vision, and relentless execution. Fresh off a Tony Robbins immersion, they unpack how state, story, and strategy helped catalyze new habits and higher standards; and why the energy of an aligned community can flip limiting beliefs into bold action.Ty and Tim trace their path from shaping the trampoline park industry to founding Ninja Kids; along the way they learned that it’s rarely a lack of resources, but a lack of resourcefulness that holds leaders back. Their time scaling hundreds of locations provided a front-row education in private equity, deal structure, and culture; lessons they’d later use to design on their own terms.They also share the scrappy stories that shaped the brand’s creator partnership strategy; from pursuing real estate with nothing but conviction, to a chance introduction that led to the Ninja Kids collaboration and a new growth thesis. Expect takeaways on proximity as power, building wonder into product, modeling excellence, and leading so your people feel believed in.Chapters00:00 | Opening & Intros: Ninja Kids leadership00:41 | Tony Robbins: going “all in”01:52 | Shared values & why Sandlot invested03:58 | What a Tony event feels like (state → story → strategy)06:47 | The 55° room, physiology, and energy07:14 | Full-circle moment on Casey’s plane10:08 | Community, permission to play big, and breakthroughs11:00 | Proximity is power: the billionaire story15:13 | Belonging, imposter syndrome, and belief17:15 | Dreaming bigger: from $20M to $1B vision17:46 | Shared values with investors & doing them proud19:50 | Theme of the journey: people who believe in you20:56 | Origins: missions in Russia & lifelong partnership27:06 | What Russians taught them about trust and loyalty29:29 | Ty’s childhood in post-USSR Russia (Pepsi → Coke!)31:44 | The leap: from Schlumberger to “ringmaster” vision35:12 | Titles, vision, and chasing wonder36:20 | Modeling leaders; habits, gratitude, and wonderment41:08 | Designing for wonder: lighting, art, and moments45:46 | Scaling lessons: do your absolute best, be resourceful47:49 | It’s not resources; it’s resourcefulness54:14 | 300+ parks, private equity, and real-world MBA56:32 | Culture shock: when the magic dwindles58:21 | Fired → phone call → blessing → new chapter01:02:23 | Pattern recognition: rebrands vs. creators01:06:05 | Tesla saga to Chicago: conviction on wheels01:08:37 | Kindness compounds: the people who helped01:12:50 | Emergent strategy: buy tired parks, create energy01:14:01 | Non-competes, red tape, and 34-month realities01:16:35 | The Ninja Kids intro (thanks, Stevie from BYU)01:17:44 | First acquisition in Dallas & signing the PGs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special release episode of Case Studies, Casey dives into a powerful story of resilience and generosity, centered around Todd Pedersen and his journey from financial ruin to monumental success. We explore how Todd's unwavering belief in himself, fostered by mentors and loved ones, helped him navigate the darkest times. From losing everything during the 2007 financial crisis to building a billion-dollar empire, Todd's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of giving back.We'll hear about the pivotal moments that shaped his entrepreneurial path, the invaluable lessons learned from his father, and the importance of treating people like gold. Todd shares heartfelt anecdotes about his mission, starting businesses from scratch, and the vital support from his wife, Andy, throughout the journey. The episode concludes with a discussion on the significance of giving and how Todd's philosophy of spreading wealth has created a lasting legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.