On the show, we sit down with Lance Strother a coach, entrepreneur, inventor, man of faith, and lifelong developer of people. Lance is the kind of dealmaker who doesn’t just chase outcomes. He builds lives, teams, and cultures that last.

Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Lance shares how his journey through coaching, ministry, invention, and business shaped a philosophy that challenges how most leaders think about success. We explore why having “many irons in the fire” is not a flaw when it’s rooted in a clear mission, and how authenticity becomes one of the strongest forms of insurance for a fulfilled life.

This conversation goes deep into themes leaders rarely talk about openly:

• Why love can be a serious business strategy with real teeth
• How humility and truth drive real growth in the boardroom
• What inventing, failing, and finding the right business partner actually teaches you
• Why asking boldly and early changes the trajectory of your career
• How loss, faith, and service shape resilient leaders and dealmakers

Lance also shares the story behind building and launching a nationally recognized sports training product, what he learned about partnerships, and why integrity matters more than ROI alone.

If you lead people, build companies, or wrestle with balancing ambition, faith, and responsibility, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

Connect with Lance on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-strother-8360243b/

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 sabotage a sale.

From succession planning to the infamous “Texas Shootout” clause, this is a must-listen for dealmakers, founders, and brokers looking to close clean deals. Frank also shares insights on how AI is (and isn’t) currently impacting legal practices.

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 business
• Lessons from the car sales floor that translate directly to dealmaking and turnarounds
• His experience scaling automotive dealerships from underperformers to global leaders
• The mindset required to thrive in international investing and lifestyle-driven real estate
• His upcoming Golden Visa Fund targeting high-growth opportunities in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Japan

This is a masterclass in execution, customer experience, and the power of betting on yourself.

Connect with the Guest:

Dan Daly: LinkedIn

Connect with the Hosts & The Deal Podcast:

Joshua Wilson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@thedealpodcast

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 exit
• Why waiting until you’re “ready to retire” can cost you millions
• What buyers are really looking for and why momentum matters
• The myth of inflated valuations and the danger of unrealistic expectations
• How independent sponsors often retrade deals and why it happens
• When FA Mergers turns down a sell-side engagement
• The truth about upfront fees and what to demand from your advisor

Whether you’re an owner, operator, or investor, this episode is packed with tactical wisdom from people who live in the trenches of dealmaking every day.

Connect with the team

• Jude David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/
• Scott Shea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-shea-0514b2a4/
• Chase Kenner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasekenner/
• Joshua Wilson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

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 comfort to entrepreneurial chaos.

What You’ll Learn:
• How Phil transitioned from private banking to tech startup
• The mindset shift required to go from capital allocator to operator
• Why Surcle is betting on deep tech + expert talent as the future of work
• Lessons learned from managing risk both personal and financial
• The reality of going from spreadsheets and structure to chaos and clarity
• What to look for when building or backing early-stage startups

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-boggia-38a284278/

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 “mutual-to-stock conversion” process explained
• Why giving away 8% of your company to employees might be the best thing you ever do
• How to go from employee mindset to ownership mindset
• Joe’s take on AI, crypto, and the future of community banks
• Why most private banks are acquired and what to look for in a seller
• The ONE thing all successful deals require (spoiler: it’s not the numbers)

Joe’s career arc proves one thing: when you give your best, no matter the task, someone is always watching.

Guest Info:

Joe Zanco: LinkedIn

Location: Lafayette, Louisiana

Connect with the Hosts & The Deal Podcast:

Joshua Wilson – LinkedIn

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast

Website – https://www.thedealpodcast.com

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 business
• The early days of Acadian Ambulance and a pivotal buyout decision
• How they use M&A to grow into new regions while preserving culture
• The power of ESOPs and what it means when medics are also owners
• 10 core “ZP” (Zuschlag Principles) that guide leadership at Acadian
• The ROI of handwritten notes, duck camps, and direct communication
• Where AI, drone tech, and predictive models fit into emergency services

Whether you’re in operations, legacy leadership, healthcare, or private equity, this is a masterclass in long-term thinking, boots on the ground innovation, and family-rooted execution.

Connect with the Guest:

Blaise Zuschlag: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acadianambulance/posts/

Connect with the Hosts & The Deal Podcast:

Joshua Wilson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast

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 unexpected deal pitfalls litigators see that others miss
• How to protect sellers from unserious buyers
• Why early legal involvement leads to smoother exits
• Red flags in contract language and buyer behavior
• What it takes to build trust across the negotiating table

Whether you’re prepping your business for a future sale or actively evaluating offers, this conversation will help you avoid self inflicted wounds and structure deals that hold up under pressure.

Guest Info:

Founder, Kellner Law Firm

William Kellner: LinkedIn

Location: Lafayette, Louisiana

Connect with the Hosts & The Deal Podcast:

Joshua Wilson – LinkedIn

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast

Website – https://www.thedealpodcast.com