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Reviving Giants

Reviving Giants

By: Reviving Giants
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 What does it take to rescue a company from the brink of collapse? In Reviving Giants, veteran turnaround expert Drew Mcmanigle takes you behind the closed doors of boardrooms and courtrooms to find out.© 2025 All rights reserved. "Reviving Giants" podcast, content, title, and logo owned by Macco. Unauthorized use prohibited. Contact: rg@speakerboxmedia.com. Respect our creativity. Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Rock N Roll Judge: Former Chief Judge of Southern TX Talks Law’s Spirit, Evolution & Future

    Rock N Roll Judge: Former Chief Judge of Southern TX Talks Law’s Spirit, Evolution & Future
    Jan 8 2026
    They call him the Rock and Roll Judge; a man who could go from a courtroom to a concert stage without missing a beat. He's run marathons, played tuba, directed Broadway musicals, and reshaped how bankruptcy law is practiced in America— but Judge Richard Schmidt is known above all else for his deep respect for people and having a courtroom that ran like a symphony. In today’s episode, the retired Chief Judge of the Southern District of Texas discusses the evolution of Chapter 11, the human side of financial collapse, and the “rock and roll” spirit behind the bench. Key Insights & Timestamps: [00:00] Podcast begins [02:18] Broadway & the Bench: Serving as a judge while engaging in the community arts [06:00] Commander to Chief: Using air force leadership experience in the courtroom [17:12] Big Cost to Go Broke: Evolution of bankruptcy law into a high-cost game [28:06] Lessons Learned: Cases that tackled law & language barriers for Judge Schmidt [33:37] Advice for Law’s Next Generation: Managing the high stakes of bankruptcy law today Guest Spotlight: Judge Richard Schmidt Judge Richard Schmidt is a retired federal judge in Corpus Christi, TX, with 28 years of exemplary service on the Southern District of Texas bench. As a bankruptcy fiduciary, consultant, mediator, and arbitrator, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to assist bankruptcy cases across the United States. Key Takeaways: From the Big Stage to the Court Room: When Judge Schmidt became the first bankruptcy judge in Corpus Christi, he was new to the community and sought many ways to get involved outside of the court room, including tapping into his past experience in musicals and symphonies. I think the public is entitled to know their judge,” Schmidt says of his time in Christi, “To the extent that you can be involved in things that are not judging, then you get to know the community.” Complex Cases & Chapter 11: The first complex case filed in Judge Schmidt’s courtroom was Greyhound, and he learned quickly about the importance of multiple hearings, lawyers on call, and fast decision making. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made right in a hurry, and they need a judge that can handle a complex case,” Schmidt explains when discussing the Greyhound case. “Not all judges are meant for complex cases, so I started developing a system.” Navigating High Stakes Cases: Advice for today’s lawyers and judges hits home for Judge Schmidt, whose daughter currently practices bankruptcy law and has sought his wisdom in the past with high profile cases. “For most judges, the rules are very important,” Schmidt says of practicing bankruptcy law. “I think you need to know the judge, his staff or her staff, and the clerk of the court.” Resources Mentioned: Judgerss.com Connect with Judge Richard Schmidt: Judgerss.com/contact/ Produced by Speakerbox Media.
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    37 mins
  • No Guts, No Glory: Doug Brickley on the High-Stakes World of Turnarounds

    No Guts, No Glory: Doug Brickley on the High-Stakes World of Turnarounds
    Dec 4 2025
    Restructuring a company is not a 9-to-5 job, it's more like working in an emergency room. What does it really look like when the phone rings at 5pm on a Friday night? 20-year advisory firm veteran Douglas Brickley, the current Managing Director at Stout, has been in the trenches. In today’s episode, Doug isn’t afraid to talk shop about what he’s learned, where things can go wrong, and why restructuring might be headed in a new direction. Key Insights & Timestamps: [00:00] Podcast begins [01:15] What Is a Restructuring Professional? Diverse skillsets & dynamic understanding [08:41] How Do You Manage a Crisis? The 24/7 job of a restructuring position [19:35] What About Private Equity? Liquidation costs & a lack of fixing businesses [31:50] Why Do These Companies Get In Trouble? Outsider perspectives on the industry [39:55] Who Stands Out? Personal experiences, lessons learned & victories made Guest Spotlight: Douglas Brickley Douglas Brickley is the Managing Director at Stout, a global advisory firm specializing in corporate finance. He held previous similar roles at The Claro Group, Jefferies, KPMG, and LECG. Key Takeaways: Finance or Operations? When it comes to background, Doug believes that a strong restructuring professional doesn’t have to have one type of background. “I think there's not one right background and one right path,” Doug explains. “I think that you need to supplement your core competencies with other areas. I need to make sure with my finance background, I have people on my team that are good at operations.” 9-to-5 or 24/7? Restructuring professionals are no stranger to a 5pm panicked phone call or a weekend crisis.” I think technology has been a little liberating in dealing with those crisis calls,” Doug acknowledges. “But it is usually a scramble. It’s almost impossible to have absolute boundaries in our business.” Management or Business Model? Outsiders to the industry always want to know how companies get to such a dire state of financial restructuring, but there’s never just one answer. “Overly aggressive lenders and private equity firms that want to leverage a business up doesn't help,” Doug clarifies. “If you are over-leveraged and there's any kind of hiccup in the business or the market, that’s very difficult to recover from.” Resources Mentioned: Stout | stout.com Connect with Douglas Brickley: LinkedIn For More Information: Produced by Speakerbox Media. [Insert Additional Links] Call to Action: If you want the unfiltered truth behind corporate collapse — and the lessons hidden in the fine print of Chapter 11 — hit follow on Reviving Giants. Share this episode with a colleague in finance, law, or operations, and join the conversation on where bankruptcy law is headed next.
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    48 mins
  • Reviving Giants Trailer

    Reviving Giants Trailer
    Nov 6 2025
    What does it take to rescue a company from the brink of collapse? Hosted by veteran turnaround expert Drew McManigle, Reviving Giants takes listeners behind closed doors of boardrooms, courtrooms, and crisis meetings where business survival hangs in the balance. Each episode dives into real stories of billion-dollar bankruptcies, high-stakes turnarounds, and the leaders who fought to pull companies back from the edge. With over three decades of experience guiding distressed businesses through complex recoveries, Drew brings an insider’s perspective to the strategy, pressure, and human decisions that define the art of the comeback. From oil and gas to retail, tech, and healthcare, Reviving Giants explores what happens when the numbers stop working—and what it takes to bring them back to life. No company is too big to fall—but some are built to rise again. A podcast from MACCO Restructuring Group.
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    1 min
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