The Hunt for Success is the premier conversation-driven podcast, delivering executive-level business insights for high-achieving entrepreneurs, founders, and executives who believe that true success must ultimately fund a life intentionally designed—a life of freedom, abundance, and purpose. Hosted by Dr. Sam McGough, the show cuts through generic business advice to provide exclusive access to the minds of top performers who are mastering both the boardroom and the backcountry.
This isn't just a business podcast; it’s an intellectual hunting ground blending business authority with lifestyle/outdoor stories, where strategy and passion intersect. Every immersive, campfire-style conversation is a deep dive into the journeys of successful operators and investors who have built wealth and aligned it with how they actually want to live.
The show is built on a clear, consistent framework designed to deliver high-impact content and actionable value every week.
We establish why the guest is worth hearing by examining their accomplishments, reputation, and the foundational principles, strategic choices, and valuable failures that led to their success. This is where listeners gain elite entrepreneurial insights, learning the repeatable success patterns and mental models that top performers use to create financial leverage without burnout. Dr. Sam McGough, as a systems-builder and healthcare executive, guides the conversation as an engaging storyteller with executive credibility, ensuring the takeaways are strategic and meticulously structured.
The Hunt for Success is dedicated to premium outdoor adventure lifestyle content and the role outdoor pursuits—such as high-end hunting, fishing, and adventure experiences—play in discipline, clarity, and leadership. Guests share their captivating stories, revealing how their passion for the outdoors reinforces their mindset, decision-making, and performance in business. The brand’s authentic storytelling comes to life, connecting elite business insights with a sophisticated, relatable lifestyle.
The podcast synthesizes how business mastery and lifestyle combine to create a "Designed Living" framework. It provides listeners with practical principles, repeatable habits, and tangible advice they can apply immediately. The goal is to move beyond the feeling of being stuck in "work mode" and provide clarity on how to build sustainable success while still living a high-quality, high-impact life.
Dr. Sam McGough is more than a host; he is an entrepreneur, executive, and operator who is actively connected to high-level founder and investor networks. His real-world business experience—as the Founder & CEO of Discovery Medical Center, a leader in national clinic platforms, and the creator of Aestus Mastermind—gives him the credibility and access to engage in natural, high-trust conversations with the most successful people. He embodies the brand's tone: a confident mentor with an adventurous spirit.
The Promise: Exclusive Access. Actionable Insights. Adventure-Driven Learning.
Hunt for Success is a high-impact content engine, designed to educate, entertain, and inspire. It is the premier media platform where elite entrepreneurs connect, share their journeys, and inspire others, ultimately serving as the connective tissue for a high-value network where excellence in business and lifestyle is the non-negotiable standard.
If you are building wealth and designing freedom, and you know that success should fund the life you want to live, then join the hunt. Success is earned. Freedom is designed. Create a life worth hunting for.
In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Hugh Hornsby, trades industry leader, business builder, speaker, and author of the upcoming book Blue Collar Smart.
The conversation explores resilience, leadership, business growth, and personal responsibility, shaped by Hugh’s journey through childhood epilepsy, major business setbacks, a stage four cancer diagnosis, and decades of helping companies and individuals unlock their potential.
Throughout the discussion, Hugh breaks down how focusing on people, sales systems, mentorship, and personal accountability helped him build and transform businesses. He also shares lessons learned from hunting, family traditions, networking, and surrounding yourself with the right people, while emphasizing the importance of becoming valuable to others and creating opportunities through service and relationships.
Key Takeaways
[Adversity Builds Strength]: Personal challenges can become the foundation for resilience, perspective, and long-term success.
[People Drive Performance]: Great businesses are built by identifying potential, developing talent, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
[Focus Creates Growth]: Applying the 80/20 principle and narrowing your attention to high-impact activities accelerates results.
[Relationships Open Doors]: Becoming important to the right people through value, service, and trust creates opportunities that money cannot buy.
00:00 – Podcast Intro and Guest Introduction
01:50 – Childhood Epilepsy and Early Challenges
04:34 – Entering the Trades Industry
05:31 – Learning from Failure and Taking Ownership
10:46 – Building a Fraternity Through Inclusion
16:51 – People-First Leadership Principles
18:22 – Mentorship from the Napoleon Hill Foundation
20:06 – Hunting, Fishing, and Family Traditions
30:22 – Turning Around Struggling Companies
32:02 – The Power of Niche Focus and Be, Do, Have
38:36 – Hunting Bonds and Parenting Lessons
40:19 – Comedy, Cancer, and Healing Through Vulnerability
47:02 – AI, Private Equity, and Industry Changes
52:27 – Why Everything Is Sales
56:38 – Networking and Finding the Right Rooms
01:12:00 – Exit Planning for Trades Businesses
01:17:20 – Sales Systems and Scaling Lessons
01:31:17 – Wealth, Freedom, and Gratitude
Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with someone who's building more than a business, someone who's building a life worth living. It helps us grow the show and bring these honest conversations, practical insights, and life design strategies to more founders, operators, and builders pursuing both success and freedom. Have a great day.
Dr. Sam McGough
"Success should fund a life you actually want, not a self-created prison."
CONNECT with Dr. Sam McGough & Explore Hunt for Success
Discover conversations with founders, operators, and builders who have earned success and intentionally designed the freedom to enjoy it. Access real stories, practical lessons, and authentic perspectives on leadership, discipline, business growth, systems, and life by design.
Join a community of entrepreneurs and leaders committed to building businesses that create opportunity without sacrificing the life they're working for.
Hugh Hornsby is a trades industry leader, business strategist, speaker, and entrepreneur focused on helping companies grow through leadership, sales systems, and people development.
They are the author of the upcoming book Blue Collar Smart, which focuses on practical business wisdom, personal responsibility, and creating success through discipline, relationships, and execution.
Gregory DePriest: Pastor to Amazon Logistics Leader
Season 1 · Episode 14
Thursday, July 23, 2026 • Duration 53:11
In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Gregory DePriest, entrepreneur, Amazon logistics operator, former pastor, and leadership strategist.
The conversation explores personal reinvention, leadership, business growth, and the mindset required to continually evolve, shaped by Gregory’s journey from banking and finance to ministry leadership and eventually building a successful Amazon logistics company employing more than 200 people.
Throughout the discussion, Gregory breaks down the importance of knowing when to pivot, creating structure and accountability within organizations, and building success through relationships, strategy, and personal growth. He also shares how hunting, fishing, and outdoor pursuits mirror business by rewarding preparation, patience, discipline, and the pursuit itself rather than just the outcome.
Key Takeaways
[Reinvention Creates Opportunity]: Recognizing when it is time for a new chapter allows leaders to continue growing and expanding their impact.
[Strategy Gives Faith Direction]: Vision alone is not enough, successful outcomes require systems, planning, and execution.
[Culture Drives Performance]: Strong teams thrive when expectations, accountability, and rewards are clearly aligned.
[Choose Your Circle Carefully]: Growth accelerates when surrounded by people who provide trust, encouragement, and honest feedback.
00:00 – The Impossible to Fail Mindset
01:20 – Gregory’s Early Life and Career Journey
02:19 – From Banking to Pastoral Leadership
W2 Employee to 100-Pool Construction Empire with Ryan Seekatz
Season 1 · Episode 5
Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 36:51
Dr. Sam McGough interviews Ryan Seekatz, an Alaska native and entrepreneur who transitioned from years of W2 work on Alaska’s North Slope oil fields to running businesses, then pursuing business acquisitions that led him to buy a Florida pool construction company.
Ryan describes the toll of long hitches away from family, the moment he decided to quit, and how he spent years searching for the right acquisition before launching a successful renovation branch while building about 100 pools per year in affluent East Coast Florida communities. The conversation also covers Ryan’s early hunting and fishing memories in Fairbanks, the challenges of big-game processing in Alaska, Sam’s perspective on sustained “grinding,” purpose, and creating family experiences, plus a discussion of private aviation and Ryan’s emphasis that mentorship has been a key driver of his progress.
01:08 Ryan Background
01:49 Pool Business Growth
02:31 Leaving W2 Life
05:51 Oil Rig Breaking Point
07:24 Alaska Hunting Roots
08:55 Florida Transition Grind
10:54 Work Life Discipline
14:45 Defining Success Freedom
17:41 Family Memories Hunting
18:35 Caribou Moose Plans
19:07 New Zealand Hunt Costs
19:36 Why New Zealand Is Easy
20:46 Red Stag Surprise
21:32 Lazy Hunter Confession
22:50 Alaska Moose Reality
24:11 Caribou Processing Tips
26:44 Planning Alaska Together
27:32 Private Planes For Hunts
The Land & Farm Niche: How Hunting Built an 800-Deal Real Estate with Lynn Jared
Season 1 · Episode 4
Thursday, April 30, 2026 • Duration 56:13
On the Hunt for Success podcast, host Sam interviews Cookeville, Tennessee, real estate broker and avid hunter Lynn Jared, who runs a brokerage founded in 2022 that grew from about 500 transactions in its first year to over 800 in 2025 and is currently pacing 57% ahead year over year, despite broader market concerns.
Lynn attributes the growth to a strong culture, daily morning huddles, hands-on training, tiered team leaders, and feedback-driven problem-solving to reduce fall-throughs from contract to close. He discusses common early-agent mistakes, especially underestimating the time and cash needed to survive the first few years, and explains how a profitable lead-gen team helps new agents.
Lynn connects business and hunting through relationships, shares land-and-farm expertise tied to hunting, recounts his two-year turkey grand slam highlight in South Dakota near Mount Rushmore, and closes with advice to “get out there,” follow the golden rule, and take new hunters afield.
00:42 Cookeville Real Estate Growth
01:57 Growing Up Hunting
03:00 Culture and Training Strategy
04:51 Morning Huddles and Deal Follow Through
07:09 New Agent Mistakes and Money Reality
09:36 Lead Gen Team Turnaround
11:44 Mentors and Car Business Lessons
14:14 Why Land and Farm Real Estate
16:12 Turkey Grand Slam Best Hunt
19:32 World Slam and Mexico Safety Talk
21:11 Marriage Tradeoffs and Hobby Balance
23:38 Purpose After Retirement and Dad Story
25:49 Farm Clients Hunting Success Stories
Building a Vertically Integrated Multifamily Empire
Season 1 · Episode 3
Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 47:36
On the Hunt for Success, Sam sits down with Eric Nordstrom of Iron Ridge Capital to discuss building a vertically integrated multifamily real estate business, navigating the 2008 crash, and why his team paused acquisitions during market uncertainty from 2022 to 2025.
Eric shares how strong property management and disciplined leadership helped them survive and scale, plus why today’s market offers fresh opportunities through lender foreclosures and distressed deals. Beyond business, they explore how hunting and fishing provide stress relief, family bonding, and lessons in discipline that apply directly to long-term success.
01:10 Eric’s Origin Story
02:30 First Deals and 2008 Crash
04:04 Pivot From Gyms to Real Estate
04:38 Raising Capital and Discipline
07:23 Surviving the Buying Hiatus
08:31 Leaving Washington for Texas
11:10 Building the Leadership Team
13:42 Why Deals Are Back
17:36 Buying From Lenders
21:52 Opportunity Window Ahead
23:57 Hunting as Stress Relief
25:33 How He Started Hunting
26:43 Camp Ponds and Early Starts
27:19 Learning to Hunt Together
28:34 First Buck Father Pride
29:12 Business Lessons from Hunting
31:00 Biggest Buck and Persistence
32:40 Screw Up Bell Culture
35:23 AI Proof Family Future
38:54 Tennessee Ranch Game Plan
How to Scale from a Private Practice to a Real Estate Empire with Dr. Jonathan Saigh
Season 1 · Episode 2
Thursday, April 16, 2026 • Duration 40:10
In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Sam McGough is joined by his business partner and friend, Dr. Jonathan Saigh. Jonathan shares his journey from the football fields of Michigan to the lean early years of chiropractic school, where a $1,500 bank account was the only thing standing between him and failure.
The conversation dives deep into the "Technician vs. Entrepreneur" mindset, exploring why most professionals struggle to scale because they can't let go of their "baby". Jonathan outlines his exact strategy for developing a high-level executive team through profit-sharing and trust, and how that freedom allowed him to pivot into becoming a full-time real estate professional. From vetting "Instagram gurus" to the "pay to play" philosophy of high-level masterminds, this episode is a blueprint for any professional looking to reclaim their time and build a legacy.
Key Takeaways:
[The Technician Trap]: Why the very skills that start your business can become the ceiling that stops its growth.
[The 80% Management Rule]: Learning to accept that a great team will do things differently than you—and why that's a requirement for scaling.
[Tax-Advantaged Prosperity]: The transition from chiropractor to "Real Estate Professional" and why it is one of the only tried-and-true wealth strategies in the tax code.
[Vetting Your Circle]: Why specialized education and high-level mentors are worth the investment as your "time bank" begins to shrink.
02:15 – The Business Seed: Lessons from a Dentist Uncle
04:30 – The Basement Years: 80-Hour Weeks and Financial Hardship
06:45 – Developing Managers: The Mental Shift of Letting Go
09:30 – Integrated Medicine: Melding Chiropractic and Western Care
Redneck Economics: Mining for Success and the Power of Radical Tenacity with Aaron Chapman
Season 1 · Episode 1
Monday, April 6, 2026 • Duration 52:31
In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Sam McGough sits down with Aaron Chapman, a veteran of the finance industry and a top 1% mortgage originator. Aaron’s journey is anything but traditional; he spent his early years branding cattle, working Wyoming oil fields, and breaking rock in the underground mines of New Mexico.
The conversation dives deep into Aaron’s "Redneck Economics" philosophy—a mindset built on personal responsibility, authenticity, and the resilience to survive life’s "ass-whoopins." Aaron recounts the harrowing moments of near-poverty that led to a life-changing meeting at a Red Lobster, and why he ultimately rejected corporate conformity to find success by staying true to his blue-collar roots. This episode is a masterclass in adapting to changing terrain and building a legacy that outlasts the hustle.
Key Takeaways
[The Beatin' Path]: Why the hardest experiences—from mining to financial collapse—are the most effective training grounds for high-level leadership.
[Authenticity as a Filter]: Why Aaron abandoned "dressing for success" to let his outward appearance match his blue-collar interior, and how that consistency builds ultimate trust.
[Unanswered Prayers]: Reframing life’s low points (like being rejected for a trucking job) as the essential pivots that lead to true opportunity.
[Generational Legacy]: The importance of building a "Family Trust" structure to instill discipline and accountability in the next generation.
03:00 – Blue-Collar Roots: Cattle Ranching, Oil Fields, and Heavy Equipment
07:30 – Life Underground: The Reality of Mining in New Mexico
09:30 – The Turning Point: Diaper Coupons and Floor Mat Change
Hospitality, Real Estate, and Wilderness with Jeramie Worley
Season 1 · Episode 13
Thursday, July 23, 2026 • Duration 59:50
In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Jeramie Worley, a real estate investor, hospitality entrepreneur, and co-owner of Lake Longbow.
The conversation explores executive recovery, outdoor hospitality, and legacy property development, shaped by Jeramie's experience in short-term rentals, real estate investing, and creating experiences that help leaders disconnect from stress and reconnect with what matters most.
Throughout the discussion, Jeramie breaks down the vision behind Lake Longbow, an 80-acre Missouri retreat built around hunting, fishing, land stewardship, and meaningful relationships. He shares lessons from building and operating the property, overcoming development setbacks, creating premium guest experiences, and helping burned-out executives find clarity through time outdoors.
Key Takeaways
[Nature Creates Clarity]: Stepping away from daily pressures allows leaders to reconnect with purpose, relationships, and long-term vision.
[Launch Before Perfect]: Progress comes from taking action quickly, learning from real-world feedback, and improving as you go.
[Experiences Build Relationships]: Shared outdoor adventures create trust, vulnerability, and deeper personal connections.
[Legacy Requires Stewardship]: Building a meaningful property involves long-term commitment, patience, and care for the land.
00:00 – Podcast Intro and Guest Introduction
01:32 – Jeramie’s Airbnb Investing Journey
03:05 – Why Executives Need Time Outdoors
Purchasing and Developing Lake Longbow
Mastering Business and Real Estate with Chris Rood
Season 1 · Episode 12
Thursday, July 9, 2026 • Duration 26:14
In this episode of the Hunt for Success, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Chris Rood, a real estate investor, operator, and former blue-collar business owner.
The conversation explores a long-form wealth building philosophy shaped by Chris Rood’s journey from mobile oil change operations to scaling multiple automotive shops, then transitioning into real estate investing, development, and portfolio expansion across mobile home parks, short-term rentals, and land development.
Throughout the discussion, Chris breaks down his framework of fast, medium, and slow money, including how disciplined reinvestment, operational experience, and long-term thinking create durable wealth while avoiding over-leverage and short-term traps in real estate education.
Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with someone who's building more than a business, someone who's building a life worth living. It helps us grow the show and bring these honest conversations, practical insights, and life design strategies to more founders, operators, and builders pursuing both success and freedom. Have a great day.
Dr. Sam McGough
"Success should fund a life you actually want, not a self-created prison."
CONNECT with Dr. Sam McGough & Explore Hunt for Success
Discover conversations with founders, operators, and builders who have earned success and intentionally designed the freedom to enjoy it. Access real stories, practical lessons, and authentic perspectives on leadership, discipline, business growth, systems, and life by design.
Join a community of entrepreneurs and leaders committed to building businesses that create opportunity without sacrificing the life they're working for.
Building Wealth and Freedom with Chris Udall
Season 1 · Episode 11
Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Duration 56:40
In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Chris Udall, a venture capitalist and ecosystem builder working at the intersection of startups, capital formation, and regional innovation.
The conversation explores venture capital, founder development, and innovation ecosystem building, shaped by Chris’ experience creating educational pathways for refugees in Jordan, managing early-stage investment funds in Alabama, and supporting technology transfer initiatives tied to Huntsville’s engineering base.
Throughout the discussion, Chris breaks down how venture capital evaluates early-stage, high-risk, scalable startups, including how founder traits like grit, coachability, and adaptability often determine long-term outcomes more than initial ideas. He also connects these principles to hunting, drawing parallels between decision-making under pressure, preparation, resource allocation, and learning through failure.
Key Takeaways
[Grit Over Ideas]: Startup success is driven more by founder resilience and adaptability than the originality of the initial concept.
[Capital as Ecosystem Fuel]: Strategic funds can keep talent and intellectual property local while attracting outside investment.
[Pressure Decision-Making]: Both hunting and entrepreneurship require clear thinking under uncertainty and fatigue.
[Failure as Feedback]: Burnout, setbacks, and missed opportunities become critical inputs for better future decisions.
00:00 – Podcast Intro and Guest Introduction
00:52 – Understanding Venture Capital in Practice
02:18 – Chris’ Unconventional Career Path
03:39 – Fundraising Success and Amazon Logistics Launch
05:54 – Why Reinvention Matters
10:26 – Moving to Austin and Starting Over
14:59 – Dreaming Bigger Than Fear
18:09 – Ignoring Opinions and Building Confidence
21:29 – Performance-Based Leadership
27:01 – Business Lessons Learned Through Hunting
30:28 – Creating Exceptional Experiences
33:44 – Customer Service Lessons from Luxury Brands
37:32 – Building the Right Tribe
40:39 – Trust, Relationships, and Safe Circles
45:50 – Favorite Hunts and Fishing Adventures
49:53 – Bucket List Experiences and Future Plans
Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with someone who's building more than a business, someone who's building a life worth living. It helps us grow the show and bring these honest conversations, practical insights, and life design strategies to more founders, operators, and builders pursuing both success and freedom. Have a great day.
Dr. Sam McGough
"Success should fund a life you actually want, not a self-created prison."
CONNECT with Dr. Sam McGough & Explore Hunt for Success
Discover conversations with founders, operators, and builders who have earned success and intentionally designed the freedom to enjoy it. Access real stories, practical lessons, and authentic perspectives on leadership, discipline, business growth, systems, and life by design.
Join a community of entrepreneurs and leaders committed to building businesses that create opportunity without sacrificing the life they're working for.
Gregory DePriest is an entrepreneur, Amazon logistics operator, leadership mentor, and former pastor with decades of experience leading organizations and teams.
They are recognized for successfully transitioning across multiple industries, including banking, ministry, fundraising, and logistics, while building high-performing teams and scalable operations.
Their background includes financial services, church leadership, nonprofit fundraising, and last-mile logistics management.
They are passionate about helping people embrace growth, develop strong leadership skills, and pursue opportunities without being limited by fear or the opinions of others.
Ryan Seekatz is an Alaska native, entrepreneur, and business owner who transitioned from years of W2 work on Alaska’s North Slope oil fields into entrepreneurship through business acquisitions. After leaving the demanding oilfield lifestyle, Ryan spent years searching for the right opportunity before acquiring a Florida-based pool construction company, where he now oversees a thriving business building and renovating pools across affluent East Coast communities. In this episode, he shares his journey from corporate grind to freedom, along with insights on mentorship, family, hunting roots in Alaska, and building a purpose-driven life.
Lynn Jared is a Cookeville, Tennessee, real estate broker and passionate hunter who founded a fast-growing brokerage in 2022. Known for his strong leadership, hands-on agent training, and expertise in land and farm real estate, Lynn shares how culture, mentorship, and discipline have driven his team’s success. In this episode, he also connects the lessons of business and hunting through relationships, resilience, and personal growth.
Guest Resources:
Website: https://www.letsgoreco.com/lynn-jared
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.jared/
41:46 Wedding Venue Hunt Combo
44:08 Discipline and Deal Resilience
About the Guest
Erik Nordstrom is the co-founder of Iron Ridge Capital, a Texas-based real estate investment firm specializing in multifamily acquisitions, property management, and value-add investing. With nearly 20 years of experience navigating multiple market cycles, Erik is known for his disciplined investment approach and strong track record of delivering consistent returns. Outside of business, he is passionate about hunting, fishing, and sharing the outdoors with his family.
Guest Resources:
Website: https://www.ironridge-capital.com/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ironridge-capital-llc/
12:15 – Real Estate Strategy: Moving from Technician to Investor
14:50 – Vetting Mentors: Identifying "Gurus" vs. Actual Producers
16:00 – Final Thoughts: Defining Success Beyond the Bank Account
About the Guest:
Dr. Jonathan Saigh is a multifaceted entrepreneur, chiropractor, and high-level real estate professional. A former University of Michigan football player who played under the legendary Lloyd Carr, Jonathan transitioned from being a "technician" in his own clinic to an owner who manages managers.
He built a highly successful integrated medical group in southeast Wisconsin that bridges the gap between conservative chiropractic care and traditional Western medicine. Today, he is a qualified real estate professional focusing on residential and commercial property strategies that offer massive tax advantages and community impact.
Guest Resource:
Professional Website: https://advancedcarespecialists.com/
12:30 – The Red Lobster Meeting: Entering the Mortgage Industry
20:00 – Defining Redneck Economics: Responsibility and Grit
35:00 – Authenticity vs. Conformity in the Finance World
About the Guest:
Aaron Chapman is a veteran of the finance industry and a top 1% mortgage originator in the United States, currently ranked #14 out of over 300,000 originators nationwide. Before conquering the world of investment lending as an EVP at SecurityNational Mortgage Company, Aaron spent years in the "trenches" of heavy industry—working Wyoming oil fields, branding cattle, and laboring in the underground mines of New Mexico.
He is the author of Redneckonomics, a philosophy that champions personal responsibility, raw authenticity, and the "Producer" mindset over a culture of victimhood.
Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with someone who's building more than a business, someone who's building a life worth living. It helps us grow the show and bring these honest conversations, practical insights, and life design strategies to more founders, operators, and builders pursuing both success and freedom. Have a great day.
Dr. Sam McGough
"Success should fund a life you actually want, not a self-created prison."
CONNECT with Dr. Sam McGough & Explore Hunt for Success
Discover conversations with founders, operators, and builders who have earned success and intentionally designed the freedom to enjoy it. Access real stories, practical lessons, and authentic perspectives on leadership, discipline, business growth, systems, and life by design.
Join a community of entrepreneurs and leaders committed to building businesses that create opportunity without sacrificing the life they're working for.
Jeramie Worley is a real estate investor, hospitality operator, and co-owner of Lake Longbow, a private outdoor retreat focused on executive renewal and outdoor experiences.
They are recognized for their early adoption of short-term rental investing and for helping guests create meaningful experiences through hospitality and land stewardship.
Their background includes real estate investing, vacation rental operations, outdoor recreation, and retreat development.
They are the author of an early Airbnb investing book and continue to focus on helping entrepreneurs and leaders create freedom through strategic real estate and hospitality ventures.
Chris Rood is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and former multi-location automotive business owner. He is recognized for building and scaling multiple operational businesses before transitioning into real estate investing and development.
His background includes hands-on experience in service-based trades, business acquisition, and large-scale property investment strategies including mobile home parks and land development.
14:05 – Parallels Between Hunting and Entrepreneurship
18:42 – Why Startups Fail Early
23:43 – Lessons from an Elk Hunt
32:03 – What VCs Look for in Founders
36:28 – Risk, Burnout, and Decision Pressure
42:57 – Community, Networking, and Ecosystem Growth
50:16 – International Hunting and Expansion Goals
Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with someone who's building more than a business, someone who's building a life worth living. It helps us grow the show and bring these honest conversations, practical insights, and life design strategies to more founders, operators, and builders pursuing both success and freedom. Have a great day.
Dr. Sam McGough
"Success should fund a life you actually want, not a self-created prison."
CONNECT with Dr. Sam McGough & Explore Hunt for Success
Discover conversations with founders, operators, and builders who have earned success and intentionally designed the freedom to enjoy it. Access real stories, practical lessons, and authentic perspectives on leadership, discipline, business growth, systems, and life by design.
Join a community of entrepreneurs and leaders committed to building businesses that create opportunity without sacrificing the life they're working for.
Chris is a venture capitalist and innovation ecosystem leader focused on early-stage startup growth and regional capital development.
They are recognized for building and managing investment initiatives that support high-potential founders and strengthen local innovation pipelines in Alabama.
Their background includes experience in education initiatives for refugees, venture funding, and technology transfer programs connected to Huntsville’s engineering ecosystem.
They are focused on expanding access to capital and strengthening founder success through structured investment and support systems.
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