The Deal Podcast

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 transactions moving. You’ll hear how he balances business logic with legal risks, the importance of choosing the right partners, and how emotional attachments can sa...

Duration: 00:36:34

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 businessLessons from the car sales floor that translate directly to dealmaking and turnaroundsHis experience scaling automotive dealerships from underperformers to global leadersThe mindset required to thrive in international investing and lifestyle-driven real estateHis upcoming Golden Visa Fund targeting high-growth opportunities...

Duration: 00:32:43

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 exitWhy waiting until you’re “ready to retire” can cost you millionsWhat buyers are really looking for and why momentum mattersThe myth of inflated valuations and the danger...

Duration: 00:39:31

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Phil Boggia joins Joshua Wilson for a compelling conversation on leaving the security of banking to build something new from scratch, Surcle, a venture-backed talent platform built for engineering and product teams.

Phil shares the unique lens he brought into startup life after years in private banking and capital markets. He opens up about the transition from banker to builder, what early-stage risk really feels like, and how Surcle is reshaping how technical talent is sourced globally.

This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the leap from corporate...

Duration: 00:41:54

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 about public company leadership.

If you’re in dealmaking, banking, or leadership, this episode is for you.

Key topics:

The...

Duration: 00:48:08

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 businessThe early days of Acadian Ambulance and a pivotal buyout decisionHow they use M&A to grow into new regions while preserving cultureThe power of ESOPs and what it means when medics are also owners10 core “ZP” (Zuschlag Principles) that guide leadership at AcadianThe ROI of handwritten notes, duck camps, and direct communicationWhere AI, drone tech, and pred...

Duration: 00:56:49

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 episode is essential for dealmakers, business owners, and attorneys who want more than boilerplate legalese, they want strategic clarity.

What You’ll Learn:

The un...

Duration: 00:44:58

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 infrastructureWhy large institutions like hospitals and universities should outsource energy managementWhat makes a deal truly “off balance sheet” and why that mattersHis partnership story with the Dallas Cowboys and the AT&T S...

Duration: 00:44:28

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, logging CRM calls, and training for the Boston Marathon all at once.

He shares why timing and persistence beat flashy tech tools, why door-to-door still works in...

Duration: 00:41:14

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 forced him to pivot from a lifelong dream of the NBA, just six hours before discovering a new calling.

If you’re a dealmaker, entrepreneur, athlete, or parent, Coll...

Duration: 00:58:46

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, recurring revenue, EOS, and a strong co-founder dynamic have fueled their growth.

What you’ll learn:

Why building a “business to sell” from day one matter...

Duration: 00:45:04

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 also a husband and father of six with a grounded identity rooted in faith and family.

Whether you’re an M&A lead, founder, operator, or adviso...

Duration: 00:47:57

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 down how sellers sabotage their own exits by getting emotional, managing for dollars instead of percentages, and waiting too long to prepare.

Whether you’re years aw...

Duration: 00:35:46

In this clip from The Deal Podcast, Ashley shares how her journey into entrepreneurship was fueled by faith, resourcefulness, and the power of community.

Though she stepped into a 10-year-old business, Ashley never took it for granted. She poured herself into learning, growing, and asking for help. From Instagram strategy podcasts to TikTok tips from a 20-something friend, her story is a masterclass in humble perseverance and using what’s around you to push forward.

Ashley’s message is clear: If God calls you to it, He’ll provide a way. But you still have to ask...

Duration: 00:01:56

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 led her to acquire Pink Salt Riot, a Christian brand she once purchased gifts from for her kids and how God made a way where there...

Duration: 01:06:40

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 how peace came not from certainty, but from trust.

This is a grounded and personal conversation for anyone who leads by faith and is seeking clar...

Duration: 00:00:54

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 and they’ve learned to respect and support each other’s styles.

This conversation is a reminder that whether you’re building a team, a marriage...

Duration: 00:01:34

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.

From honoring his grandfather’s legacy with Beacon Realty’s logo to navigating the highs and lows of running a business, Beau’s story reminds us that piv...

Duration: 00:01:12

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 at 3x EBITDA externally might be worth 6x+ internally depending on the buyer’s platform, synergies, and strategy.

This is a must-watch for anyone thinking about transitioning fr...

Duration: 00:02:27

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Joshua Wilson sits down with seasoned M&A operator, investment banker, and family office founder Jude David. Jude shares his full-circle journey, from corporate attorney to sell-side advisor to full-time buyer, offering unique insight into what it’s like sitting on every side of the deal table.

Jude breaks down the evolution of mid-market transactions, the real mindset shift from billing hours to building equity, and how to spot strategic arbitrage opportunities across industries. Whether you’re a founder exploring an exit, a buyer building through acquisition, or a dealmaker lear...

Duration: 00:37:32

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 de...

Duration: 00:01:52