Killer Growth

About Killer Growth

The KillerGrowth Podcast is where founder Samuel McVay has real conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and creators about what it truly takes to grow. Each episode uncovers one practical insight to move a business forward while digging into the struggles behind the scenes—finding traction, navigating uncertainty, and adapting in a changing world. Genuine stories, honest lessons, and relatable perspectives for anyone building something that matters.

Publisher

KillerGrowth

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Dec 2025

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

91 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   He Lost Everything. Then Rebuilt His Life. With Reid Zeising | Ep 90

   What happens when you achieve the business victory you've been chasing—only to discover it was the beginning of losing everything? In Episode 90 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Reid Zeising, founder and CEO of GAIN Servicing, to talk about ambition, failure, rebuilding, and the lessons that completely changed his approach to business and life. Reid's career began in investment banking, where he worked on major financial transactions and developed a passion for complex deals. Eventually, that ambition led him to pursue a takeover of the restaurant chain Backyard Burgers. After a two-year battle, he succeeded in taking the company private in November 2007. But the victory didn't feel the way he'd imagined. Reid describes looking around the room after closing the deal and realizing that everyone there had been paid to attend. What should have been a defining moment of success became one of the loneliest days of his life. Then the financial crisis hit. The business struggled, Reid lost everything, and he was left with approximately $22 million in contingent liabilities that took five years to resolve. What followed was a personal transformation. Reid talks openly about confronting his ego, finding mentors, rebuilding his values, and learning that success doesn't have to come at someone else's expense. He eventually found a new opportunity helping people access funds and medical care while awaiting personal injury settlements. That opportunity grew into GAIN Servicing, a business built around financial solutions, technology, and relationships with healthcare providers and law firms. The conversation also explores the realities of scaling a company, building leadership teams, managing remote employees, preparing for growth, and making difficult decisions during the COVID shutdown. And through it all, Reid returns to one central lesson: success means more when you're helping other people succeed. In this episode: • From investment banking to entrepreneurship • The takeover of Backyard Burgers • Losing everything after the financial crisis • The $22 million financial aftermath • Ego, humility, and personal transformation • How mentorship helped Reid rebuild • The origins of GAIN Servicing • Financing medical care and legal settlements • Scaling a company through people and processes • Why leadership must evolve as companies grow • The challenges of remote work • How Reid's team navigated COVID • Finding purpose in helping others succeed If you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating a difficult chapter in your own entrepreneurial journey, Reid's story offers a powerful perspective on what success really means. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   53 Years in Business: The Story of Walter's Flowers with Harold Harmon | Ep 89

   What does it take to build a business that becomes part of a community for more than half a century? In Episode 89 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Harold Harmon, longtime owner of Walter's Flowers in El Dorado, Kansas, to talk about 53 years in business, the people who shaped his life, and the stories behind one of the community's most recognizable businesses. Harold's journey started long before he owned a flower shop. He shares how he arrived in El Dorado at 18, attended Butler Community College, worked in restaurants and funeral homes, and eventually found his way into the floral industry. But his story also includes a much more difficult chapter. Drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, Harold served in the infantry and experienced combat firsthand. He talks about losing fellow soldiers, being wounded, and what it was like returning home after the war. Back in Kansas, Harold and his wife Linda built their life around Walter's Flowers. Over the decades, the business grew, moved locations, expanded its offerings, and became known for much more than flower arrangements. Harold shares stories about elaborate weddings, decorating homes and businesses, holiday open houses, and the remarkable amount of work that happens behind the scenes in a flower shop. He also explains how flowers travel from growers around the world to a small-town florist, why holidays require careful planning, and how the business has changed over five decades. And through it all, one theme keeps coming back: people. From employees who have stayed for decades to customers whose weddings he decorated more than 40 years ago, Harold's story is a reminder that a business can become something much bigger than the products it sells. In this episode: • Harold's early years and move to El Dorado • Working in restaurants and funeral homes • His experiences serving in Vietnam • Building Walter's Flowers with Linda • How the business changed over 53 years • Moving into the downtown El Dorado location • Weddings, events, and elaborate floral designs • The logistics of fresh flowers • Why Valentine's Day is so demanding • Building lasting customer relationships • Lessons from decades of business ownership • What El Dorado has meant to Harold and his family If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or someone who appreciates the stories behind the businesses that make a community special, you'll enjoy getting to know Harold Harmon. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

3. 

   11 Oct 2026

   A Conversation with Ty Masterson | Ep 88

   What does a career in public service look like when you trace it back to childhood, family, and the challenges of running a business? In Episode 88 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Ty Masterson, president of the Kansas Senate and a candidate for governor, for a long-form conversation about his background, professional experiences, leadership, and issues facing Kansas. Samuel opens by explaining the purpose of the interview: to get beyond campaign messaging and learn more about the person, his experiences, and how he approaches decisions. Both gubernatorial candidates were invited to participate. This conversation is not an endorsement by KillerGrowth. Ty talks about growing up in Butler County, attending Kansas State University, starting a business, driving a trash truck, and eventually becoming a homebuilder. He also reflects on the financial impact of the 2008 housing crisis, his family, his faith, and how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership. The discussion then turns to civil disagreement, social media, the responsibilities of public officials, and several issues Ty identifies as priorities. Samuel asks questions about data centers, electricity costs, property taxes, education, teachers, agriculture, water, and the relationship between Kansas and the federal government. In this episode: • Growing up in Butler County • From trash truck driver to homebuilder • Lessons from the 2008 housing crash • Faith, family, and leadership • Political disagreement and social media • Data centers and local development • Property taxes and housing affordability • Education, literacy, and teacher input • Agriculture, water, and infrastructure • Working with federal leadership • Why Ty is running for governor This episode is an opportunity to hear one candidate explain his background and views in his own words. Statements about policy and outcomes reflect the guest’s positions and are not endorsements or independently verified findings. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

Who has been a guest on Killer Growth

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Peter Kuhlman
• Sam McVay
• Tyler Norris
• Heath Jeppson
• Mike Dorrell

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

23 ratings

Contact Killer Growth

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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