The Deal Podcast
Welcome to a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to reveal the human and financial side of building enterprise value. Hosted by M&A advisor and executive producer Joshua Wilson, this is The Deal Podcast, brought to you by FA Mergers. We're your front-row seat to the strategies shaping today's lower- and middle-market, from the family-run business to the multi-million-dollar portfolio. Too often, the world of mergers and acquisitions is seen as a complex, numbers-driven game. We believe it's about the people behind the deals—the bold entrepreneurs, the savvy investors, and the dedicated teams who make it all possible. Each episode, we sit down with the real players in the M&A space: from private equity sponsors and family offices to strategic buyers, serial entrepreneurs, and commercial bankers. We’ll also hear from the crucial professional teams on the front lines, including CPAs, tax and corporate attorneys, and wealth advisors, to uncover the blueprints of success. Our conversations will delve into every facet of the deal lifecycle. We'll explore the art of acquisitions, the science of scaling through bolt-ons, the complexities of divestitures, and the long-term thinking required for portfolio optimization. This podcast is more than a stage for thought leaders; it's a collaborative hub for anyone looking to build, scale, or prepare for their next chapter. Whether you’re a business owner seeking a successful exit, an investor looking to grow your portfolio, or a professional advisor supporting clients on this journey, our content is designed to be both educational and actionable. Join us as we decode the deal, one conversation at a time. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and statements expressed by the guest are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Deal Podcast, its hosts, or affiliated organizations. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. As a trusted connector among founders, family offices, and investment platforms, Josh brings a relational, strategic lens to SPACs, IPOs, M&A, and private placements—blending insight, curiosity, and communication to spotlight the people and deals shaping the capital markets. The content of this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or compliance advice. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, employer, or organization. Listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel, compliance professionals, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations, including those enforced by the SEC, FINRA, and other regulatory bodies. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation, offer, or recommendation of any financial products, securities transactions, or legal services.
Episodes
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Josh Wilson and Jude David sit down with Paul George, consultant, speaker, and host of The Paul George Show, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, faith, business, and life after the exit.
Paul shares his personal mission framework, “Love God, serve others, and die with no regrets,” and explains how a lack of personal clarity often leads to broken businesses, burnout, and regret af...
On the show, we sit down with Lance Strother a coach, entrepreneur, inventor, man of faith, and lifelong developer of people. Lance is the kind of dealmaker who doesn’t just chase outcomes. He builds lives, teams, and cultures that last.
Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Lance shares how his journey through coaching, ministry, invention, and business shaped a philosophy that challenges how most leaders think about success. We...
What separates a good deal attorney from a great one? In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Joshua Wilson and Scott discuss the legal side of mergers and acquisitions with veteran corporate attorney Frank Slavich, who brings over 25 years of experience in corporate law, M&A, lending, and commercial real estate.
Frank unpacks the real role of an M&A attorney: not to kill deals, but to protect clients while keeping transa...
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Dan Daly shares his remarkable journey from selling cars on the wholesale lot to overseeing ultra-luxury brands like Bugatti and Bentley, and now leading a $50M international private equity fund focused on boutique hospitality properties.
Dan dives into:
- How competitive discipline (like training for an Ironman) shapes success in business
- Lessons from the car sales floor that translate directly ...
Inside a Real Deal Roundtable: Lessons from Thousands of M&A Transactions
In this exclusive episode of The Deal Podcast, the FA Mergers team, Jude David, Scott Shea, Chase Kenner, and host Joshua Wilson, sit down for a raw, behind the scenes conversation about what really happens when a mid market business goes to market.
Topics discussed:
- The biggest mistakes sellers make when approaching an exit
- Why waiting until you’re “read...
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Philip Boggia to unpack an unconventional investing journey that began in federal law enforcement and evolved into a full-time life as a limited partner investor.
Philip shares how a single conversation with a supervisor during a government shutdown led him to read Rich Dad Poor Dad, rethink assets and liabilities, and begin a decade-long transition away from a t...
What happens when a CPA discovers his greatest strength isn’t crunching numbers? In this powerful interview, Catalyst Bank CEO Joe Zanco reveals how a mop, a moment of humility, and a mindset of ownership shaped his rise through the banking world to leading a NASDAQ-listed bank.
Joe shares hard-earned lessons from 10+ M&A deals, the real reason banks sell, how employee ownership changes culture, and what most people get wrong ab...
In this episode, Blaise Zuschlag, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer of Acadian Companies, shares how a family-run ambulance service grew into a 5,000+ employee enterprise without losing its heart.
Blaise walks us through:
- His pivot from JPMorgan to joining the family business
- The early days of Acadian Ambulance and a pivotal buyout decision
- How they use M&A to grow into new regions while preserving culture
- The power of ESOP...
In this episode, we sit down with William Kellner, a former college basketball coach turned commercial litigator and M&A deal attorney.
Will brings a rare blend of courtroom experience, in-house legal strategy, and business-owner empathy. He shares the most overlooked threats in deal execution, what litigators know about deal structures gone wrong, and how his background in coaching shaped his approach to legal counsel.
This epis...
What if your infrastructure wasn’t just a cost center but a source of recurring revenue?
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, energy developer and fourth-generation entrepreneur Ken Bernhard breaks down how his firm is flipping the script on mechanical systems, turning legacy utility plants into modern revenue engines.
Ken shares:
- How his family legacy sparked a new model for financing and operating infrastructure
- Why large institu...
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Beau Bourque, President of Beacon Realty, breaks down exactly how he built a real estate deal pipeline from scratch using a laptop, an Excel sheet, and relentless drive.
Beau started his business by targeting mobile home parks, an overlooked, fragmented niche and used consistent outreach to create opportunity where others saw none. Now, he’s expanded into industrial real estate, knocking doors, l...
In this powerful episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with former LSU basketball star turned business leader Collis Temple III for a raw and inspiring conversation on navigating transitions, building legacy, and the mindset of championship leadership.
Collis opens up about his family’s legacy at LSU, how his father shaped his discipline from childhood, and the heartbreaking moment when a career-ending injury for...
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Roth and Hunter Thevis, co-founders of S1 Technology, to explore their rapid journey from startup to a thriving MSP (Managed Service Provider) with 45+ employees, operations in 30+ states, and a spot on the Inc. 5000 list.
From a lunch meeting that sparked their partnership to multiple acquisitions and a nationwide footprint, this conversation dives into how culture, recur...
In this episode, we sit down with Thomas Hooks, General Counsel, Chief of Staff at Stately, and City Councilman in Lafayette, Louisiana to explore how legal, strategy, and leadership intersect in M&A and beyond.
Thomas isn’t your average in-house attorney. With a background that spans industrial services, local politics, and private equity dealmaking, he brings a systems-thinking lens to every deal, team, and tension point. He’s...
In this episode, we sit down with Scott Shea, a sell-side advisor, former family business operator, and recovering professional poker player who brings a uniquely grounded perspective to helping owners navigate the sale of their company.
From growing up in an oilfield services family business to sitting across from buyers in private equity, Scott shares how poker taught him more about deals than business school ever could. He breaks...
In this special episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Joshua Wilson sits down with power couple Ashley David and Jude David, who are redefining what it means to chase dreams while keeping faith and family first.
In Part 1, Ashley shares her deeply personal journey from stay-at-home mom of six to unexpected CEO of a faith-based jewelry company. From infertility and loneliness to discernment and divine timing, Ashley opens up about what ...
In this episode, Ashley shares a powerful framework for discerning decisions in life and business one rooted in her faith.
Instead of always searching for the perfect “yes,” she learned to pay close attention to God’s “no.” When things feel blocked, off, or unsettled, it’s often divine redirection not failure. Ashley recalls a moment of praying through every possible objection before stepping into her next season of business, and ho...
In this heartfelt clip, Jude David shares how the keys to great teamwork, at home and in business, aren’t tactics or tools. They’re character traits.
Jude reflects on the dynamic between him and his wife Ashley, both entrepreneurs, and how understanding each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations has helped them thrive in work and in marriage. While she leads with enthusiasm and creativity, he brings structure and analysis a...
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Beau, founder of Beacon Realty, shares his journey from chasing dreams of Major League Baseball to building a business rooted in legacy and purpose.
Beau opens up about how the drive and discipline from athletics translated into entrepreneurship and how a small gesture from a family member (his grandfather’s old business card) became the daily reminder that sparked his own company.
...
In this clip from The Deal Podcast, Jude David explains why stepping away from the billable hour model into deal-based entrepreneurship changed everything and how understanding value from both sides of the table separates amateurs from serious operators.
Jude breaks down how valuation multiples work across the M&A landscape and how buying low and integrating wisely can lead to instant upside. He explains how one company valued a...
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