Best Danny Bennett Podcasts (2025)

1
How Smart Buyers Create Alpha Without Cheap Debt 25:15

Play Pause

2d ago25:15

25:15

For the last 20 years, private equity followed a simple formula: buy with leverage, cut costs, rely on multiple expansion, exit at a higher valuation. That playbook worked incredibly well. But it no longer does. In this episode, I break down why the old private equity model is structurally broken - not just cyclically - and why a new model is emerg…

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Nedum Onuoha on puntitry, Pep, Cherki, Nunes, O'Reilly & much more 49:06

4d ago49:06

49:06

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Nedum Onuoha about punditry, Pep, Cherki, Nunes & O'Reilly …

1
//26// 2:50:01

5d ago2:50:01

2:50:01

//00:00//Coheed and Cambria's Vaxis - Act III: The Father of Make Believe [New Entities Edition] (2025)//On Koi Boyz assemble//On straight into THE LORE//On intimate Claudio//On Space Opera//On thumbs medium//On Dillon SMASHING the Nick Fell question//On King James Claudio//On Zakk Dickinson and Gold-Plated diapers//On more Andre flute//On best of …

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The Playbook for 50-200% Annual Company Growth 48:10

6d ago48:10

48:10

In this episode, I’m joined by John Seiffer - the person investors, company buyers and operators call when growth starts getting expensive, messy, or fragile. John has spent decades across manufacturing, software, restaurants, chemicals, and professional services, and he sees the same pattern over and over: founders are great at the product and the…

1
I didn't join PE to be an operator 9:25

9d ago9:25

9:25

The future of private equity talent is moving toward ownership. We explore why the traditional PE career path is breaking, why carry no longer delivers the upside it once promised, and why more professionals are choosing to build - not wait - for real equity. You will discover: 0:00 The Quiet Exodus Inside Private Equity 1:45 Carry That Never Mater…

1
Les "Chappy" Chapman on Balotelli, Kolorov & Horlock - Rodri injury & Pep's a genius! 51:10

10d ago51:10

51:10

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City physio Les "Chappy" Chapman about his time at the club and some of…

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There Is No Path — How Elite Investors Actually Build Their Lives, Careers, and Companies 15:46

13d ago15:46

15:46

In this episode, we break down a powerful idea from Jeffrey Walker, a private equity veteran who backed thousands of entrepreneurs and watched success and failure up close. His conclusion is uncomfortable but freeing: the people who win don’t follow a path, they create one. You’ll hear why talent is overrated, why “perfect careers” quietly fail, ho…

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How I Quit My 6-Figure Job and Bought 9 Companies 1:07:42

16d ago1:07:42

1:07:42

Today’s guest, David Dowda (Dowda Holdings), went from burned-out insurance salesman working 80-100 hour weeks to buying his first business doing just $30,000 a year - fully seller-financed. Ten years later, he owns nine companies across multiple industries - all acquired with zero outside equity and often minimal cash down. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 How he …

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Lee Crooks on Rayan Cherki, City's defence & much more 48:49

18d ago48:49

48:49

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Lee Croft about City's recent results, the form and quality…

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How These Firms Turn $5M-15M Companies Into 100x Returns 24:21

19d ago24:21

24:21

How these serial acquirers generate 20-40% annual returns for decades? They buy small, niche, profitable companies again and again. In this episode, we break down the strategy, the structure, and what private buyers can learn from the greatest acquisition machines on earth. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Why tiny acquisitions beat big deals 1:12 21x, 120x, 375x: …

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The LORIS STRADI story 11:03

20d ago11:03

11:03

Discovering golf proved to be only good medicine for Italy’s Loris Stradi after a serious car accident changed his life. It would take two months in the hospital and two years of rehabilitation before Loris could walk again. He would never forget his wife Gabriella's help. During his rehabilitation, passing a golf course on his way to the physical …

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From VC to Main Street: How AI Is Rewiring Service Businesses 51:35

22d ago51:35

51:35

In this episode, Cyrus Hessabi from Shore Capital Partners breaks down what it really looks like to build AI-enabled services, transition from VC to micro-cap private equity, and back searchers buying “boring” but powerful businesses. Cyrus has lived every chapter of the operator-investor journey: aerospace engineering, Salesforce sales, venture ca…

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Mike Sheron on Leverkusen defeat and Leeds win, physicality & his playing days 49:47

25d ago49:47

49:47

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Mike Sheron plus Mark and Tony from the Forever Blue squad …

1
How to Find 10x MOIC, 30%+ IRR Deals (Step-by-Step) 18:40

27d ago18:40

18:40

Most people in ETA quote the Stanford Search Fund Study, but almost no one looks at what investors actually earn. In this episode, we break down new Yale data from 1,192 investor-level outcomes and shows why access, not modeling, is the #1 driver of 10x MOIC, 30%+ IRR results. You’ll learn why your portfolio will never be “the index”, how a tiny % …

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20 Acquisitions, 500 Investors, Zero Fund (The Private Equity Strategy No One Is Talking About) 1:02:57

30d ago1:02:57

1:02:57

Sequoya Borgman has quietly built one of the most interesting retail-funded private equity machines in America. Since launching Borgman Capital in 2017, he’s acquired 20 companies across 8 platforms and raised deal-by-deal from 500+ individual investors instead of institutions. In this episode, we break down how he sources mostly off-market deals i…

51
Kit Symons: Refereeing at Newcastle, Conspiracy Theories, title race 47:33

1M ago47:33

47:33

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Kit Symons plus Andy and Harlan from the Forever Blue podca…

1
How I Retired at 30 as a Family Office Investor (Here Are the Investments I've Made) 1:00:49

1M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Akshay Ramachandran is a retired family office investor. In his last role, Akshay was the sole analyst at a New York-based single family office, reporting directly to the portfolio manager. Together they analyzed over 60 industries using a simple strategy: buy and hold great businesses run by great management teams. In this episode, he explains his…

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Buy 5 Companies as Fast as You Can (1-on-1 Advice From Fredrik Karlsson That Changed Everything) 11:30

1M ago11:30

11:30

There’s a holding company that almost no one talks about, yet it might be one of the most efficient compounding engines. RÖKO owns 29 niche, traditional businesses, runs 21% margins, generates 14.5% returns on capital and keeps acquiring new companies every quarter. And they do all of this with a headquarters team of just eight people. In this epis…

51
Rodney Marsh, Willie & Dan Donachie, on Allison v Guardiola, sports psychology etc 52:09

1M ago52:09

52:09

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City players Rodney Marsh and Willie Donachie about theit time together…

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Ian Rickwood on AI, Private Equity, Car Wash & Real Estate Investing | Henley Group 58:04

1M ago58:04

58:04

Ian Rickwood, Founder and CEO of Henley Group, has quietly deployed $4B+ across US and Europe, built and sold food chains, and is now rolling up US car washes using AI-driven site selection. We also dive into what great operator partners look like, how to handle bad deals, and what it’s really like to build a serious firm with your spouse and kids.…

1
How to Win Deals Over Private Equity (Even if They Pay 10-20% More) 24:18

1M ago24:18

24:18

One of the most underrated skills in business acquisitions. Beyond financial models and deal structures, many great acquisitions happen because buyers know how to connect with sellers on a human level. #BusinessAcquisitions #DueDiligence #MergersAndAcquisitions #HoldCoBuilders #ListeningSkills #DealMaking #EntrepreneurshipThroughAcquisition #Privat…

51
Keith Curle on Doku, how to stop Haaland and the brilliance of Manchester City 53:29

1M ago53:29

53:29

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Keith Curle plus Paul and James from the Forever Blue Squad…

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The Private Equity Bubble? | Inside a Private Equity Firm Built for What Comes Next 59:48

2M ago59:48

59:48

My guest today is Joel Mathew, Head of Originations at Woodson Equity. We discuss how his entrepreneurial path led him into private equity, Woodson’s “inch wide, mile deep” focus on diversified industrials and business services, and why they favor hands-on, control deals. Joel shares a live carve-out playbook, how he sources more than a 1,000 deals…

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The One System That Scaled from $3.5M to a 15-Company Portfolio (Sid Jashnani) 1:11:22

2M ago1:11:22

1:11:22

How Sid Jashnani scaled his firm into a portfolio of 15 companies and $77 million in revenue. If you’re an investor or builder, this is a masterclass in turning chaos into compounding cash flows. Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by CapitalPad, the marketplace that connects acquisition entrepreneurs with investors who want exposure to small-busin…

51
Ian Brightwell & former ref Scott Mathieson on Haaland, Anthony Taylor & much more 46:50

2M ago46:50

46:50

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Ian Brightwell and Former EFL referee and lifelong City fan…

1
7 Acquisitions Done — Buying Businesses on “Easy Mode” in 2025 (here’s why) 33:14

2M ago33:14

33:14

Buying a small business and raising the equity shouldn’t take a roadshow. In this episode, Donza Worden (ex–institutional PE, Clear Peak Capital) and Travis Jamison (multi-exit founder turned investor) break down how CapitalPad makes both sides easier: 1) curated deal flow for accredited investors; 2) and a streamlined path to capital for independe…

1
What went wrong for City at Villa? Memories of John Sainty. 53:15

2M ago53:15

53:15

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Kevin Reeves and two members of the Forever Blue podcast te…

1
How to Build a 7-Figure Company from Scratch (with Mac Lackey) 1:04:59

2M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

My guest today is Mac Lackey, an entrepreneur who has founded and sold six companies, each with 7-and 8-figure exits - including two back-to-back internet businesses during the dot-com boom. In this episode, Mac breaks down the exact mindset and playbook that helped him turn businesses into life-changing exits. He shares the story of advising one c…

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How Builders Build Wealth That Lasts (and Mistakes to Avoid) 13:15

2M ago13:15

13:15

You’ve spent years building something from nothing — finding deals, operating, and growing real value. But what happens after success? Once liquidity arrives, how do you protect your wealth, make it work for you, and ensure it endures for generations? In this episode, we explore the mindset and structure behind lasting wealth — the difference betwe…

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4 Portfolio Companies and The Gritty Playbook of Value Investing | Reggie Pryor Jr. 1:03:54

2M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

Value-driven investor and turnaround specialist Reggie Prior Jr. (Founder, Prior LLC) breaks down his simple but relentless playbook: buy what others overlook and rebuild it into a durable cash flow machine. We go from his first mentor (textile legend Jimmy Gibbs) to reading Graham & Dodd, using collateral to get started, and why he rarely sells, p…

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Jim Whitley & the team talk the amazing Haaland! 50:21

2M ago50:21

50:21

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City player Jim Whitley plus Adam & Andy from the Forever Blue squad di…

1
How They Turned $8 Million into $450 Million (by Following THIS #1 SIMPLE Habit) 13:25

2M ago13:25

13:25

The greatest builders in history share one habit that changed their fortunes. You’ll hear how a single paragraph led Munger to a $500 million investment, how Jeff Bezos started Amazon because of one statistic in an article, and how Elon Musk saw an opportunity through the absence of information. This episode is about building your mental warehouse …

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How to Build Proprietary Deal Flow? (15 Off-Market Acquisitions) 29:06

2M ago29:06

29:06

Peter Lang has done 22 acquisitions (mostly off-market). Grant spent a full day at his masterclass—and it was the most valuable single-day M&A professional development he has ever had. Most people share 101-level fluff; Peter was selective about who he let in the room, so he went straight to 202/303-level tactics: - a 128-question pre-LOI audit, - …

1
Joe Corrigan & Andy Morrison join Dublin Blues celebrating their 50th birthday 48:21

2M ago48:21

48:21

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian talks to former City players Joe Corrigan and Andy Morrison in Dublin at the Official S…

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Lessons from 100+ Acquisitions You Can Implement TODAY | Joe Liemandt 28:35

2M ago28:35

28:35

In this deep dive, we unpack the operating philosophy of Joe Liemandt - builder of Trilogy Software and ESW Capital, and now the force behind Alpha School - including lessons from 100+ acquisitions. Liemandt became a billionaire by buying sleepy software assets and turning them into cash machines, vanished from public view for years, then re-emerge…

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How We Bought 27+ Businesses and Built a $1 Billion HoldCo at 39 | Steve Carroll Interview 1:10:43

3M ago1:10:43

1:10:43

By PrivatEquityGuy

1
Dennis Tueart on Haaland, Doku, his proudest moment as a director & much more 44:34

3M ago44:34

44:34

By Ian Cheeseman

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How I Completed 12+ Acquisitions and Still Built a New Roll-Up 52:50

3M ago52:50

52:50

My guest today is Nick Hatchka, founder of Cub Investments, which has completed over a dozen acquisitions. Nick is now building a regional platform of generator dealers and service businesses in California alongside his operating partner, Dylan Ferguson. We discuss his journey: - to independent sponsorship, - lessons from 12+ acquisitions, - what m…

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How to Raise $450 Million at 31 with No Track Record (and Do 90+ Deals) | Urs Wietlisbach Research 25:44

3M ago25:44

25:44

Imagine being in your early 30s, launching a private equity fund, and raising $450 million for your first fund. (No track record. No rich father or uncle.) Urs Wietlisbach, one of the three co-founders, led client relationships and fundraising, pushed proactive deal sourcing and thematic research, and kept the team focused on pensioners as the ulti…

1
Journalist Simon Mullock talks about City coverage, Doku & Guardiola with Forever Blue squad. 48:44

3M ago48:44

48:44

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian is joined by journalist Simon Mullock, who was sports editor for Sunday Mirror and is n…

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9 Figure Exit How I Built and Sold to Private Equity (Alexis Sikorsky Interview) 1:18:45

3M ago1:18:45

1:18:45

My guest today is Alexis Sikorsky. An entrepreneur who bootstrapped, scaled, and ultimately sold a company in a 9-figure exit. Sponsors This episode is brought to you by CapitalPad — a marketplace that connects acquisition entrepreneurs who need capital with investors who want exposure to small-business deals. Standardized terms, governance, and di…

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He Bought 4 Small Businesses with ZERO Finance Experience (Nikolai Dimitrov Interview) 40:42

3M ago40:42

40:42

Nikolai Dimitrov went from pro football to building Unity Investment Partnership, where he buys small, reliable, everyday businesses, paying 3–4× cash flow with seller-aligned structures, and has closed 4 acquisitions so far. We cover his rocky start (including a Facebook group against him), four acquisitions, why “terms more important than price,”…

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Uwe Rosler joins the debate on injuries, draw at Arsenal and managing players 50:12

3M ago50:12

50:12

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian is joined by former Manchester City player Uwe Rosler plus Tony & James, a qualified Ph…

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I Raised $11.7M To Back 13 Self-Funded Searchers | Grant Hensel Interview 51:14

3M ago51:14

51:14

Grant Hensel has started 10 companies (7 failed, 2 sold, 1 scaled), bought a business his wife now operates, and then got obsessed with backing self-funded searchers. He’s the founder of Entrepreneurial Capital, raising ~$11M to invest in “cockroach” SMBs at 3–5x earnings alongside gritty owner-operators. If you’re buying or backing boring, profita…

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60+ Search Fund Investments: What Industries Excite Him The Most TODAY 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

A deep-dive on the operator-first path to buying a small business. Told through the lessons of investor-turned-operator Tim Ludwig (60+ portfolio companies; now co-runs Majority Search). Learn how search funds actually work, which industries to invest in, which searchers to back, why EQ beats IQ in a first-time CEO, and the exact playbook from LOI …

1
Paul Lake reflections on the derby, Ricky Hatton, Phil Foden, Haaland etc 50:16

3M ago50:16

50:16

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian is joined by former Manchester City player Paul Lake plus Toby & Stephen from the Forev…

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How I Left PE, Bought 2 SaaS Businesses (Raising a Fund Next?) | Donza Worden Interview 37:28

3M ago37:28

37:28

Former institutional investor Donza Worden (co-founder, Clear Peak Capital) breaks down why many private equity pros aren’t truly investors—and what he’s doing differently as an independent sponsor who closed two platforms in year one (IT services & vertical SaaS). Sponsored by CapitalPad—deal flow for serious investors. Built by world-class engine…

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This 70/30 Model Leads to Highest Returns 6:24

4M ago6:24

6:24

I spoke with an operator who sold his own company - then turned around and bought eight more. His playbook is specific, bank-friendly, and built for growth. In this episode, I’m unpacking the lessons from those deals: 00:00 Intro: From exit to 8 acquisitions 00:26 Portfolio averagE: 4.7x paid; $4.1M EBITDA 00:52 Structure banks love: 70% now, 30% l…

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How I Bought 7 Businesses and Built a $34M Holding Company | Doug Lepisto Interview 51:51

4M ago51:51

51:51

Co-invest in curated SMB acquisitions led by proven searchers and independent sponsors. Get a full deal room with financials, tax returns, sponsor profiles, and value-creation plans. No management fees; CapitalPad participates only after investors get their capital back and profits are earned. Operators under LOI can also use CapitalPad to fill equ…

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Man City's start to the season, Donnarumma, hopes for the season 1:02:11

4M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Ian Cheeseman was the BBC's Manchester City correspondent for nearly 25 years and has been a fan all of his life. Here he hosts his weekly podcast, Forever Blue, where all things Man City are discussed. Sponsored by Counting King, experts in business finance.Ian is joined by members of the Forever Blue squad to assess the start to the season and lo…