Best Searchfund Podcasts (2026)

1
Right to Win EP.3: Learning to Fly with Jordan Huibers and Alvin Wong - EP.275 41:38

Play Pause

23d ago41:38

41:38

Alex Bridgeman is joined by Alvin Wong and Jordan Huibers on Think Like an Owner, exploring their long-standing partnership, the focused search that led them to Advanced Aircrew Academy, and the lessons they've carried into running the company. They walk through the origins of their collaboration, how a shared passion for aviation shaped their sear…

1
What You Learn After 40 years of Leading Through Change with T.J. Coombs - EP.274 57:23

2M ago57:23

57:23

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, Alex Bridgeman sits down with T.J. Coombs, an experienced operator and turnaround expert with decades of leadership across industries including building products, manufacturing, and distribution. T.J. shares lessons from his 40-year career helping companies navigate transitions, execute turnarounds, and build…

1
Right to Win Series EP.2: Building Trust as Second-Time CEO with Dan Calano - EP. 273 1:11:55

2M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

In this second installment of the Right to Win series on Think Like an Owner, host Alex Bridgeman sits down with Dan Calano to unpack the lessons learned from his journey as a two-time search fund entrepreneur. Dan reflects on his first acquisition of Utility Cloud, navigating challenges like intellectual property disputes and customer concentratio…

1
Matt Risinger: The New Ways to Sell Building Supplies to Builders - EP.272 50:08

2M ago50:08

50:08

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, Alex Bridgeman sits down with homebuilder and content creator Matt Risinger to discuss how the builder-supplier relationship is evolving and how technology is reshaping the construction industry. Matt shares the story of founding Risinger Build and Build Show Network, detailing how content creation transforme…

1
Right to Win Series EP.1: Patience and Persistence with Kyle Baer - EP.271 52:27

3M ago52:27

52:27

In this episode, Alex Bridgeman sits down with Kyle Baer to reflect on his journey from Accruent to Datacor and now leading Crystal. Kyle shares the lessons he learned sourcing acquisitions, scaling a software business, and ultimately transitioning into his first CEO role. Their conversation highlights the importance of patience, building trust, an…

1
Lessons from a Decade of Growth and Acquisitions - Janelle Heuton - Co-Founder @ Heiton Partners - Ep.270 39:51

5M ago39:51

39:51

In this episode, Alex Bridgeman talks with Janelle Heuton about her decade-long journey helping transform a small GIS company into a scaled software business serving local governments nationwide. Janelle shares how she joined GIS Workshop by chance, quickly rose to COO, and partnered with CEO Joe Heieck to drive strategic change, including shifting…

1
From the PGA Tour to the Trades - John Peterson - Founder of Westoplex Garage - EP.269 58:32

6M ago58:32

58:32

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, host Alex Bridgeman sits down with John Peterson for a wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, adaptability, and building a service business from the ground up. John traces his path from professional golf—where he saw firsthand the parallels between sports and entrepreneurship—to flipping houses during…

1
Richard Emery - Building Private Jet Sales Teams [Replay] 56:47

7M ago56:47

56:47

Alex (@Aebridgeman) is joined by Richard Emery (@Richardemery2). In this episode, my guest is Richard Emery, who has held various notable positions in business aviation sales at brands like Canadair, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Hawker Beechcraft. Richard shares his experiences in different sales cultures, managing high-performing teams, and partici…

1
Evolving Dynamics of Engine Programs with Delray Dobbins - EP.268 58:31

8M ago58:31

58:31

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Delray Dobbins, Director of Sales at Engine Assurance Program (EAP), to dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential components of business aviation: jet engine maintenance programs. With a career spanning Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and now EAP, Delray brings a deep and practical pers…

1
Governance and Family Harmony in Business (From EP.267) 15:44

8M ago15:44

15:44

Watch the full episode with Dave Whorton here - https://youtu.be/KPcgK3lm-mwBy Alex Bridgeman

1
Building Evergreen Companies with Dave Whorton - EP.267 1:03:48

8M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Dave Whorton, founder of Tugboat Institute and author of Another Way, to explore a different path for entrepreneurs—one built on permanence, purpose, and long-term thinking. After an early career in venture capital and tech startups, Dave walked away from the high-growth, high-exit model to fo…

1
Henry Schuck - Creating Ambitious Teams at ZoomInfo - EP.266 [Replay] 45:03

8M ago45:03

45:03

My guest today is Henry Schuck, founder and CEO at ZoomInfo, one of the most successful data businesses in recent times with a market cap today around $12B. I've been looking forward to this podcast for a long time because Henry has proven to be an effective founder, acquirer, and public CEO capital allocator, which is a rare combination of skills …

1
How Flying in America Lost it's "shine" 11:44

8M ago11:44

11:44

From Episode 265 with Erika Armstrong. Watch the full video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Nc2vgTLhbYABy Alex Bridgeman

1
A Tour of Aviation Safety with Erika Armstrong - EP.265 56:37

9M ago56:37

56:37

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Erika Armstrong, a pilot, author, and aviation expert whose career has taken her from corporate jets to major airlines to the university classroom. Erika shares stories from her early days in aviation, from sleeping on crash pads with seven other pilots to flying charter flights into some of t…

1
AI Breakthroughs in the Distribution Sector (From Ep.264) 5:02

9M ago5:02

5:02

Watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/GTxWeRXap9QBy Alex Bridgeman

1
Katie Poehling Seymour - Inside a 5th Generation Distribution Giant - EP.264 1:00:34

9M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Kathryn Poehling Seymour, President and CEO of First Supply, a fifth-generation, family-owned distribution business with over 700 employees and 53 locations across the Midwest. We cover everything from leading a 128-year-old company through generational transition to building one of the larges…

1
Hill Hamrick on Relentless Prioritization (From Episode 263) 14:28

9M ago14:28

14:28

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/UTNl0xeSgZYBy Alex Bridgeman

1
Build Series EP.6: Relentless Prioritization with Hill Hamrick - EP.263 1:05:06

9M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Hill Hamrick, Co-CEO of Central Storage & Warehouse, to explore how he and his team run a complex, high-volume cold storage business that ships hundreds of millions of frozen food products across North America every year. We dive into how Hill and his co-CEO, Sam, transitioned from first-time …

1
Crazy Requests in Aircraft Interiors w/ Trey Bryson 8:05

10M ago8:05

8:05

From Episode 262 of Think Like an Owner. Watch the full episode here.By Alex Bridgeman

1
Running Commercial and Bizav MROs at Scale with Trey Bryson - EP.262 48:10

10M ago48:10

48:10

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Trey Bryson, an aviation industry veteran with deep experience across business aviation, commercial MRO, and aircraft completions. Trey shares how his career has spanned everything from customizing luxury VIP jets—including designing in-air hot tubs and modular gyms—to founding Jet Works, an i…

1
Integrating Jet Management and Maintenance at Davinci Jets with Eric Legvold and Trey Darr - EP.261 48:15

10M ago48:15

48:15

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Eric Legvold and Trey Darr of Davinci Jets to explore the business of private aviation management and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services. We dive into how Davinci Jets was built from the ground up, the evolution of private jet management, and why the company has remained profitab…

1
5X Airline Founder David Neeleman on Building Ambitious, Customer-Obsessed Airlines - EP.260 54:00

10M ago54:00

54:00

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with David Neeleman, one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in aviation history. With a track record that includes founding five airlines—Morris Air (sold to Southwest), WestJet, JetBlue, Azul, and now Breeze Airways—David has built transformative companies across three different countries and …

1
Talent Acquisition - From Interview to Close (From Ep.259) 17:26

10M ago17:26

17:26

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bmq6URHPLJ0By Alex Bridgeman

1
Build Series EP.5: The Role of Talent in High Performing Teams with Jake Dancyger and Cyrus Symoom - EP.259 1:03:25

11M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, we're tackling one of the most critical elements of scaling a business—building a world-class talent engine. Joining me are Jake Dancyger and Cyrus Symoom, co-CEOs of Clariti, who have spent the last five years growing their company from 20 employees to over 120. We break down the entire talent lifecycle, fro…

1
High Performing Sales Highlights from Ambitious CEOs and CROs - EP.258 54:32

11M ago54:32

54:32

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I'm diving into one of the most crucial aspects of scaling a business—building and optimizing high-performing sales teams. To bring you the best insights, I've pulled together wisdom from past conversations with some of the sharpest minds in the game, including Tim Strickland, Mahesh Rajasekharan, Michael Cos…

1
Team Management Principle & Balancing Payoffs 9:57

11M ago9:57

9:57

From Episode 257. Watcht the full episode here: https://youtu.be/x1utcQzmxjIBy Alex Bridgeman

1
Build Series EP.4: Identifying and Prioritizing Value Levers with Sam Hyde & Steuart Botchford - EP.257 1:00:25

11M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Ep.257: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Steuart Botchford (@Botchford) and Sam Hyde. In this episode, I sit down with Sam Hyde and Steuart Botchford to dive into their journey of acquiring and growing Northstar Fertility, a leading surrogacy and egg donation agency. Sam and Steuart share their insights from building and managing the business, incl…

1
Cory Bengtzen on Customer Journeys and Aircraft Management in Private Aviation 8:30

11M ago8:30

8:30

From Ep.256 with Corgy Bengtzen. Get the full episode here.By Alex Bridgeman

1
The Economics of Flying Private - Cory Bengtzen - Ep. 256 44:27

12M ago44:27

44:27

Ep.256: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Cory Bengtzen (@Cory-Bengtzen). In this episode, I sit down with Cory Bengtzen, founder and CEO of SkyShare, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from the auto industry to building a vertically integrated private aviation business. Cory shares how his passion for aviation inspired him to leave the car busi…

1
Savneet Singh on Equity Comp and Incentives 11:18

12M ago11:18

11:18

From Ep. 255 with Savneet Singh. Get the full episode here.By Alex Bridgeman

1
Savneet Singh - Urgency and Culture - EP.255 56:16

12M ago56:16

56:16

Ep.255: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Savneet Singh (@SavneetS). In this episode, I sit down with Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology, to explore the interplay between urgency, culture, and leadership in building a successful public company. We discuss how Savneet has embedded a sense of urgency as a core value at PAR and how it drives decision…

1
Internal Communication Best Practices & Aligning Leadership Teams - Tim Wade 8:06

12M ago8:06

8:06

From Ep.254 of Think Like an Owner. Listen to the full episode here.By Alex Bridgeman

1
Tim Wade - Ensuring Safety at FlexJet - EP.254 40:06

12M ago40:06

40:06

Ep.254: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Tim Wade (@Twade889). In this interview, we dive deep into safety in the aviation industry with Tim, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at FlexJet. We discuss the current safety landscape, Tim's role, and the importance of a Safety Management System (SMS). The conversation highlights the transit…

1
M&A Highlights from Ambitious CEOs - EP.253 1:10:25

1y ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Welcome to a special holiday episode of Think Like an Owner! For this unique experiment, we've compiled highlights, concepts, and invaluable ideas from some of our most popular episodes, creating a "mega episode" filled with wisdom from multiple accomplished guests. The focus? M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions)—a topic that captivated our audience thro…

1
Savneet Singh - Leading a Public Turnaround at PAR Technology - Ep.252 [Replay] 47:35

1y ago47:35

47:35

Ep.252: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Savneet Singh (@SavneetS). My guest today is Savneet Signh, CEO of PAR Technology, a billion-dollar market cap publicly traded point of sale software business serving the restaurant industry. I've been following Savneet's career since college when he went on Invest Like the Best talking about acquiring softw…

1
Richard Emery - Building Private Jet Sales Teams - EP.251 58:16

1y ago58:16

58:16

Ep.251: Alex (@Aebridgeman) is joined by Richard Emery (@Richardemery2). In this episode, my guest is Richard Emery, who has held various notable positions in business aviation sales at brands like Canadair, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Hawker Beechcraft. Richard shares his experiences in different sales cultures, managing high-performing teams, and…

1
Craig Fuller - Acquiring Flying Magazine and Building a Media Playbook - Ep.250 [Replay] 58:16

1y ago58:16

58:16

My guest on this episode is Craig Fuller. Craig is the founder of FreightWaves, a data and media business focused on freight and supply chains. FreightWaves is a VC backed company with $19 million in revenue with editorial content, a data product, job board, video content, and multiple podcasts. Prior to FreightWaves, Craig had no background in med…

1
Craig Picken - Recruiting Top Aerospace Execs - EP.249 45:27

1y ago45:27

45:27

My guest on this episode is Craig Picken, an executive recruiter for C-suite executives in the aviation industry. We discuss key trends in aviation recruiting, top firms' strategies to attract and retain talent, and how small companies can have recruiting advantages over larger competitors. We also touch on the importance of having an external-faci…

1
Build Series EP.3: Profitable Growth with Kush Das - EP.248 52:01

1y ago52:01

52:01

My guest for this third episode in our Build Series is Kush Das, CEO of Ennoble Care, to talk about profitable growth. Or as he calls it, sustainable growth; something that goes to the heart of his mission to serve patients with the best possible care alongside a disciplined and motivated team. Kush and I discuss how they measure return on investme…

1
Jim Derry - "Culture is the lowest level of behavior you'll tolerate" - EP.247 54:40

1y ago54:40

54:40

My guest on this podcast episode is Jim Derry, the CEO of Field Fastener, a $180 million fastener business based in the Midwest with a unique vendor-managed inventory system. We discuss two main topics: culture and maintaining a multi-generational family business. Jim shares insights on creating a measurable, data-driven culture where talented peop…

1
Integrating MSP and Cyber at Worklyn Partners - EP.246 45:29

1y ago45:29

45:29

Episode 246: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Johnny Lieberman (@JohnnyLieberman) and Zack Miller (@ZackMiller). In this episode I am joined by Johnny Lieberman and Zack Miller, co-founders of Worklyn Partners, about their approach to integrating cybersecurity and IT services for middle-market companies. We discuss their multi-acquisition strategy …

1
Jim Lindstrom - Lessons from Being a 3x CEO - EP.245 1:05:00

1y ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Ep.245: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by James Lindstrom (@James-Lindstrom). The episode features Jim Lindstrom, a seasoned CEO with experience in leading companies like IES, Providence Service Corp and Verdian. The discussion covers his experiences with accelerating company growth, executing turnarounds, managing balance sheets, and strategic valu…

1
Collin Hathaway - Big Ambition, Dogged Simplicity - EP.244 1:07:26

1y ago1:07:26

1:07:26

Ep.244: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Collin Hathaway (@CollinHathaway). I'm excited to welcome Collin Hathaway back for his third appearance on the podcast. Collin has a wealth of experience in the home services industry and company operations, and today we dive into his recent exit from Flint Group, which he sold to General Atlantic. We get in…

1
Build Series EP.2: Upleveling as CEO with Rob Southern and James Bergeron - EP.243 1:07:38

1+ y ago1:07:38

1:07:38

In this second episode of the Build Series, I speak to Rob Southern and James Bergeron about their experiences and strategies for upleveling as CEOs. We discuss their journeys in acquiring and running companies, the importance of executive coaching, and actionable habits and practices that contribute to continuous personal and professional growth. …

1
Steve Swinney - Scaling Kodiak Building Partners - EP.242 37:50

1+ y ago37:50

37:50

Ep.242: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Steve Swinney (@steveswinney). My guest today is Steve Swinney, founder and CEO of Kodiak Building Partners. The company, which started in 2011 with the acquisition of Barton Supply in Denver, has grown to 45+ acquisitions and $3 billion in sales by 2024. We cover Steve's extensive experience in building pro…

1
Ed Manfre - Leadership is an Inside Job - EP.241 1:06:08

1+ y ago1:06:08

1:06:08

Ep.241: Alex (@Aebrigeman) is joined by Ed Manfre (@emanfre). My guest today is Ed Manfre, a business leader, executive coach, and co-author of Lead Through Anything alongside recent guest Dustin Seale. He has two decades of experience helping CEOs and C-Suite leaders align themselves and their companies for success. He's served leadership roles at…

1
Build Series EP.1: Sarah Rowell on Utilizing Your Board - EP.240 1:06:03

1+ y ago1:06:03

1:06:03

Ep.240: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Sarah Rowell (@sarahrowell). This is the first episode in our new series called the Build Series, in partnership with Pacific Lake Partners and Trilogy Search Partners. Over the six Build Series episodes, we will explore how CEOs can accelerate their company's growth trajectory, as well as their own professi…

1
Heritage Holding's Alex de Pfyffer & Ross Porter - EP.239 54:01

1+ y ago54:01

54:01

This is my second episode hosting Alex De Pfyffer and Ross Porter, founders of Heritage Holding, on the podcast. A lot has happened since their first episode in late 2022. They've built 7 platforms through 25 acquisitions and recently raised a committed fund for the next five platforms. They've done excellent sourcing, but I also admire their abili…

1
Jeff Homer - Music Schools and Consolidation Tactics - EP.238 1:03:48

1+ y ago1:03:48

1:03:48

My guest today is Jeff Homer, who's pursued one of the most interesting consolidation theses I've ever heard, music schools and more recently dance studios through his company, Ensemble Performing Arts. And his pace is incredible, acquiring essentially a school per month for five years, totaling 70 acquisitions and integrations. The number of reps …

1
Justin Watt - The Case for Automations, AI, Software - EP.237 58:34

1+ y ago58:34

58:34

My guest today is Justin Watt, co-founder of Switchboard, which helps businesses with automation and AI tools to become more effective and efficient companies. He's the smartest person I know when it comes to automation, and I've been really excited to record this episode with him laying out his philosophy for tools and how to approach streamlining…