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Going Beyond the Deal

Going Beyond the Deal

By: J. Michael Fischer Jr | DBD Investment Bank
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 Welcome to Going Beyond The Deal. The show for founders, business owners, and professionals who want to grow smarter, achieve bigger exits, and build a legacy that lasts. Your host is no other than, J. Michael Fischer Jr – connector, life-long student of personal growth, and Managing Director at DBD – a bespoke investment bank that helps businesses handle big financial moves. Each week, we look beyond the numbers and the deals to talk about what really drives success. You'll hear from entrepreneurs, strategists, and top performers about the mindset, habits, and decisions that help businesses — and people — keep moving forward. If you're getting ready to sell, raise capital, or just level up — you're in the right place.Copyright © 2025 DBD Partners LLC Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • 37 | John Sutton – How Wine Got Too Expensive (And Can It Come Back?)

    37 | John Sutton – How Wine Got Too Expensive (And Can It Come Back?)
    Mar 24 2026
    Are you struggling with stagnation, searching for an edge that lasts beyond the next big deal?This week, J. Michael Fisher Jr. sits down with John Sutton, CEO of The Wine Group, for an unfiltered look into one of America’s largest wine companies and the unexpected journey from White House staffer to industry leader. They explore how brands survive disruption, the critical lessons behind world-famous labels, and why kindness and guts are the hidden accelerators for career and business breakthroughs.If you’ve ever doubted your trajectory or wondered what it really takes to build scale and resilience, don’t miss this episode. The old playbook is broken. Discover the proven, exclusive strategies that help leaders avoid decline and ignite next-level growth now.Timestamped Highlights01:38 – How a law career, White House experience, and a single cold call changed everything04:26 – What happens when you get a front-row seat to history and the grit it takes to succeed06:27 – The unforgettable advice: “Be nice to everybody on the way up…”13:10 – The guts behind reaching out and landing a dream role at The Wine Group15:41 – The industry’s shocking truth: Why wine lost its “on-ramp” to the younger consumer18:31 – New marketing secrets: Turning a $15 bottle into a lifestyle and why the old story fails22:42 – How packaging, high-alcohol trends, and Gen Z preferences are rewriting the playbook26:30 – Spain’s curbside cafés, the power of $4 wine, and what American culture’s missing41:39 – Why being management-owned is a game-changer and the hidden risks facing public companiesMentioned ResourcesFranziaBenzigerGlen EllenConcannonDiageoLeon PanettaClinton White HouseBuzzballsChloePaso RoblesAbout the GuestJohn Sutton is the CEO of The Wine Group, a powerhouse in the wine industry, overseeing iconic brands like Franzia, Cupcake, and Benziger. With a uniquely varied background in law, government, and White House service, Sutton has led the business through strategic acquisitions, innovation, and the transformation of generational consumer habits. His blend of operational excellence and authentic leadership makes him an industry standout, teaching founders and executives how to thrive in turbulent markets.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteImportant LinksFeel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment BankGoing Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
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    47 mins
  • 36 | Ian Wishingrad – How to Love the Hustle: Lessons for Building Brands That Win

    36 | Ian Wishingrad – How to Love the Hustle: Lessons for Building Brands That Win
    Mar 17 2026
    What if the secret to lasting business growth isn’t the deal you close, but the people you connect with next?In this episode, J. Michael Fisher Jr. welcomes Ian Wishingrad, Three Wishes Cereal co-founder and CMO, master connector, and longtime ad strategist, for a revealing journey through the human side of building explosive brands. Discover why getting on the shelf is only the beginning, and how authentic relationships, polite persistence, and radical self-awareness drive the hardest-won victories in business and life.Ready to skip the pain of aimless networking and wasted investments? Listen now for exclusive, actionable mindsets you won’t find on any “how I built it” thread. The shelf is crowded, your window for breakout impact is now, and this episode gives you a proven edge other founders are still Googling for.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – The year-long hustle: How a “no” became a friendship with a Fortune 10 CMO[00:03:33] – The moment agency life wasn’t enough and the spark that launched Three Wishes[00:05:04] – A cereal idea ahead of its time: Real-life FOMO, big sacrifices, and getting on the shelf[00:08:13] – “Antiquing for people”: The winning (and weird) ingredient behind breakthrough connections[00:10:16] – Polite persistence decoded: How to keep doors opening when everyone else gives up[00:12:02] – Staying on the shelf: What retailers secretly care about and how Ian cracked the code[00:13:13] – Chasing the elusive marketing flywheel: Why smart teams still haven’t found THE answer[00:17:00] – Truth bomb: Why Ian will never run operations and the habit that makes him a better founderMentioned ResourcesThree Wishes CerealAdweek’s "I'm With the Brand"Stew Leonard’sWhole FoodsWegmansCatalina CrunchMagic SpoonFairlifeBonzaSieteAllbirdsWarby ParkerGrazaFishwifeDavid ProteinRXBARAbout the GuestIan Wishingrad is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Three Wishes, the fast-scaling better-for-you cereal brand disrupting breakfast aisles nationwide. Formerly the founder of the award-winning Big Eyed Wish ad agency, Ian is recognized for his high-EQ, relationship-powered approach to both brand-building and business growth. He’s hosted Adweek’s “I’m With the Brand” and is admired for his uncanny ability to turn even a “no” into a real connection.🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | XImportant LinksFeel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment BankGoing Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
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    22 mins
  • 35 | Confidentiality in a Sales Process

    35 | Confidentiality in a Sales Process
    Feb 17 2026

    Are you terrified that even considering selling your business could unleash chaos or expose your intentions to the wrong people?

    This episode is a must-listen for founders and owners who want to explore life-changing financial options, minus the drama. J. Michael Fisher Jr., trusted investment banker and Managing Director at DBD Partners, reveals the mindset and real-world structures behind true confidentiality in business sales, long before you commit to a deal.

    Learn why calm, disciplined processes protect not only your value, but your sanity and your relationships. Discover the crucial difference between brokers who push and advisors who empower, and uncover how to quietly test the waters without exposing what you’ve built.

    Tune in now. The biggest risks are the secrets you don’t control. Don’t wait to safeguard your legacy or your leverage. This episode off


    Timestamped Highlights

    [00:00] – The secret cost behind premature deal rumors… and why the best processes never feel rushed

    [00:01:29] – Founders’ hidden crossroads: What really triggers the decision to sell

    [00:02:12] – Why your biggest risk isn’t selling, but losing control of your own story

    [00:03:21] – How a single loose comment can upend everything you’ve built

    [00:03:52] – Exposing the “NDA myth”: Why paperwork is not real confidentiality

    [00:04:47] – Buyer temperament exposed: Why discretion matters more than a big offer

    [00:05:38] – Who should protect you—partner or pushy broker—and how to spot the difference

    [00:06:54] – Permission granted: Why holding back is powerful, and how you can explore quietly



    Important Links
    1. Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.
    2. Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.
    3. Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank



    Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
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