Episodes

Joe Zanco, CEO of Catalyst Bank, on leading a NASDAQ-listed bank through mutual-to-stock conversion — employee ownership, why most private banks are acquired, and what successful deals require.

Blaise Zuschlag of Acadian Companies on scaling a family business through acquisitions — from family-run ambulance service to 5,000+ employees, ESOP ownership, and preserving culture through M&A.

William Kellner on protecting sellers from unserious buyers — the deal pitfalls litigators see that everyone else misses, red flags in contract language, and the value of early legal counsel.

Ken Bernhard on off balance sheet infrastructure financing — turning central utility plants into recurring revenue, the AT&T Stadium retrofit, and energy as a service for institutions.

Beau Bourque of Beacon Realty on building a commercial real estate pipeline from scratch — mobile home parks, the 90-day prospecting plan, and why door knocking still wins.

Collis Temple III on the athlete to business owner transition — going from LSU basketball and a career-ending injury to running a utility company built on championship leadership.

Jeremy Roth and Hunter Harrison of S1 Technology on scaling an MSP through acquisitions — recurring revenue, EOS, and growing a 45+ employee Inc. 5000 platform across 30+ states.

Thomas Hooks of Stately on what general counsel does in M&A — being the unpopular truth-teller, scale vs. capabilities acquisitions, and operator-minded legal strategy.

Scott Shea on the psychology of selling your business — how poker shapes negotiation, why sellers sabotage their own exits, and how to create real buyer competition.

Ashley and Jude David on faith family and entrepreneurship — acquiring Pink Salt Riot, raising six kids, and navigating life as married dealmakers building businesses together.

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...

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...

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 navigati...

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...

Jude David on mid-market M&A arbitrage explained — bolt-on growth, valuation multiples, and structuring competitive sale processes for founders and buyers alike.

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'...