Leaders Across America With Steve Acorn

Young Entrepreneurs Across America
  • 4.8 (155)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome To The Leaders Across America Podcast. This show is dedicated to young driven individuals who truly want to choose a path of their life, step out of their comfort zone and create a better future for themselves and in the end, control their own destiny. Each week, we will be interviewing a graduate from our program. You will hear some amazing stories of how being part of the Young Entrepreneurs Program helped transformed them into who they are today. You can determine if you want to be like these individuals and you will understand what it will take to get there. Learn more: https://www.yeaainternship.com/

  1. 4d ago

    140 | JC Carr: The Discount That Was Actually A Six-Figure Markup

    What happens when a college kid turns a single Instagram post into a supercar business, then walks away to chase something that actually matters?   At 23, JC Carr has already built and sold an exotic car brokerage, run a toy drive that moves six figures in gifts, and stepped into a family business shipping a million pieces a day. Steve Acorn sits down with JC to trace how a Miami kid with a camera and a thousand followers became a serial builder.   They get into the 30-minute Instagram sale that started it all, the market that flipped from steep discounts to 100,000 dollars over sticker, the charity that fills a parking lot with Lamborghinis, and the choice to leave the flashy business behind.   Skip this one, and you miss the real lesson hiding under the supercars. Listen now.   Timestamped Highlights 05:21 – The 30-minute Instagram post that accidentally launched a business 06:03 – How the car market flipped from deep discounts to six figures over sticker 08:36 – The photography hobby that quietly built a six-figure following 12:30 – The wrapped Porsche that may have the highest mileage of its kind on earth 16:42 – The charity that started with one wrapped car and a children's hospital 17:47 – Why 150 supercars show up when JC posts a single thing online 18:33 – The 100,000-dollar toy haul and the feeling he could not explain 24:44 – Six employees to 3,500: the family business hiding behind the cars 26:14 – The one system that rewrote how the whole company runs   About the Guest JC Carr is a 23-year-old entrepreneur from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area and a University of Alabama graduate. He founded Whips Miami, an exotic car brokerage he built while in school, runs an annual toy drive that moved about 100,000 dollars in gifts this year, and now leads a service team at World Emblem, his family's decoration company and one of the largest patch producers in the world.   🔗 LinkedIn | Website   Resources & Links Mentioned Whips Miami World Emblem 1 of 1 Motorsports Boys and Girls Club Lamborghini Miami Lamborghini Broward Lean Manufacturing, University of Kentucky Lean Systems Program with Toyota Homestead Miami Speedway   Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  2. Sep 16

    139 | Noah Jones and Addison Oberhouse – From Nervous to Unstoppable: How Rookies Win Big | Part 2

    What happens when you hand two 19-year-olds a real business, then come back in September to see what they built? Steve Acorn welcomes Noah Jones and Addison Oberhouse back for the rare part two. Last time, their story ended on May 10th with everything still unknown. Now the season is done, and the numbers are real. They get into the highs and lows no classroom teaches. A shattered state record. A dog bite mid-marketing. Nine painters counting on one rookie for work every week. Late-night tears, brutal doubt, and the drive that carried them to the finish. Miss this one, and you miss the honest, unfiltered proof of what a single summer of ownership can do. Listen now.     Timestamped Highlights 05:00 – The real six-figure numbers two rookies put up in a single summer 07:36 – The all-time Michigan rookie record that just got shattered 10:09 – The one skill Addison says will change the rest of her life 16:30 – Bit by a dog mid-marketing, and back on doorsteps the next day 19:05 – Nine painters, nothing booked, and the pressure that drove a record 21:56 – The single trait that separates finishers from quitters 29:26 – The best part of the internship nobody bothers to advertise 36:34 – A 70-hour scraping job and the mindset that turned it around 48:18 – The audacious 2027 goal Noah was almost too scared to say     About the Guest Addison Oberhouse is a 19-year-old business management student at Bowling Green State University and a rookie branch manager with Young Entrepreneurs Across America. She ran a $117,000 business and profited a little over $21,000 in her first season, pushing through a dog bite and a mid-summer dry spell to finish strong. She now works part-time with the nonprofit Mission Increase. 🔗 LinkedIn Noah Jones is a 19-year-old branch manager with Young Entrepreneurs Across America and a biochemistry student at Michigan State. In his rookie year he ran a $203,000 business, profited more than $44,000, and broke the all-time Michigan rookie manager record. He plans to coach rookies and chase a $500,000 revenue goal in 2027. 🔗 LinkedIn     Resources & Links Mentioned Student Painters Eat That Frog! (Book) Mission Increase     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa         Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  3. Jun 17

    138 | Sean Gregory - How Radical Ownership Built Leaders for Life

    What would you give to hear the untold truth from one of the very first student entrepreneurs who helped build a movement? In this exclusive, raw conversation, Steve Acorn sits down with Sean Gregory, an original Student Painter from 1987, to uncover the gritty, hilarious, and brutally honest stories that shaped the YEAA legacy. Together, they revisit sleepless launches, wild leaps of faith, and the make-or-break lessons still echoed across today's leadership ranks. This is not a highlight reel. It's the real story behind 40 years of "work hard, play hard" success and the relentless mindset that separates doers from dreamers. Miss this episode, and you risk overlooking the patterns that breed lasting leaders. Listen now for first-hand insights you won't find anywhere else, straight from the roots of YEAA and the heart of entrepreneurship.     Timestamped Highlights 00:30 – The wildest leap of faith in Student Painters history 02:55 – Why entrepreneurship still isn't taught in college (and how Sean hacked the system) 06:18 – The tools, grit, and chaos behind launching a business in '87 10:16 – "I've never felt so alive." The real rewards of radical ownership 13:43 – The eye-opening mistakes that nearly killed his profits 16:04 – Campfires, banquets, lifelong friends: The bonds that outlast the business 22:23 – The moment Sean realized he could out-earn his first 'real' job 35:08 – Brutally honest advice for every new leader in the arena right now     About the Guest Sean Gregory is a 30+ year veteran in residential real estate, executive producer of the Heart of Influence podcast, and one of YEAA's original Student Painters from 1987. With decades of sales, coaching, and entrepreneurial experience, he brings unmatched perspective on leadership and the long game of transformation. 🔗 LinkedIn   Resources & Links Mentioned Heart of Influence podcast Unblinded with Sean Callagy Sherwin-Williams GMC Gaucho     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa      Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  4. Jun 3

    137 | Noah Jones and Addison Oberhouse – From Nervous to Unstoppable: How Rookies Win Big | Part 1

    What happens when you hand the reins of a real business to college rookies, then ask them to build something big, with everything on the line? In this high-energy conversation, Steve interviews first-year interns Addison Oberhouse and Noah Jones as they open up about the surprising challenges and lessons from launching their own painting businesses with YEAA. They dive into what no classroom teaches: brutal doubt, real sales lost, friends laughing at "voicemails," and the relentless rollercoaster of managing a team for the first time. Listen now to discover the overlooked truth about college internships, how "trust the process" unlocks exponential wins, and why resilience—not a perfect spreadsheet—separates those who finish from those who bail. Miss this episode, and you risk staying stuck on the sidelines, while these rookies quietly sprint past you.     Timestamped Highlights 00:51 – The unexpected lesson college never prepared them for 02:04 – Why working hard here feels totally different (and way more rewarding) 06:08 – The rookie mindset shift: believing the "unreal" offer is real 10:42 – The 3-day "business bootcamp" that left their heads spinning 12:32 – How time management became their secret weapon 17:24 – The one thing they wish they asked their mentor sooner 25:06 – Losing $20,000 in sales and getting up again 32:06 – Pro-level time and relationship juggling, rookie edition     About the Guest Addison Oberhaus is a business management student at BGSU and a first-year Entrepreneurial Intern with YEAA, already producing standout results and managing her own team. 🔗 LinkedIn Noah Jones studies biochemistry at Michigan State and is in his inaugural summer with Student Painters, focusing on learning real-world business while overcoming setbacks with resilience. 🔗 LinkedIn   Resources & Links Mentioned Student Painters Eat That Frog! (Book) Sherwin-Williams MapMyRun (app) Aiden Licata's Podcast     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa      Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  5. May 20

    136 | Blake Winkley – Simple Hacks That Guarantee You Stand Out Fast

    What does it take to launch a truly standout career while your peers are just getting started? In this galvanizing episode, Steve Acorn sits down with private equity rising star Blake Winkley to unravel how student leaders can leapfrog the status quo by stacking bold experiences and embracing brutal discomfort.  From hustling side gigs in high school to running a six-figure business as a college sophomore, Blake Winkley reveals the mindset shifts and tactical moves that turned relentless rejection into career rocket fuel. Don't settle for an average trajectory. Listen now to discover why your "story" matters more than ever, what hiring managers are secretly looking for, and how the way you handle this summer could radically change your life. You'll miss out on proven, exclusive frameworks you won't hear anywhere else if you let this episode slip by.     Timestamped Highlights 00:42 – The unexpected truth behind private equity's allure 04:03 – Why missing the "ideal" internship was the best thing that happened 07:00 – The strategic move that turned rejection into opportunity 12:03 – The inside story that made hiring managers say "yes" 16:08 – Unlocking the hidden ecosystem of million-dollar deals 20:19 – Fresh eyes, real impact, and how to outgrow your comfort zone 27:23 – Why brutal honesty and relentless discomfort are career multipliers 41:43 – Crushing imposter syndrome and trusting the process for success     About the Guest Blake Winkley is a Capital Raising Associate at KKR, one of the world's largest private equity firms. With a track record spanning institutional sales on Wall Street to unlocking high-value real estate funds, Blake's career showcases what's possible when student entrepreneurs apply relentless grit, strategic networking, and the right leadership mindset. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website   Resources & Links Mentioned VanEck Noria Capital Book: "Eat That Frog" Philadelphia 76ers "Trust the Process"     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa      Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  6. May 5

    135 | Brooke Fausey and Celeste Valencia – How Two Students Built an Amazing $650K Business

    What's the real difference between feeling like an impostor and building a life that stands out from your peers? In this high-voltage episode, Steve sits down with Celeste Valencia and Brooke Fausey, two unstoppable student leaders who turned setbacks into six-figure stories (and counting). If you think business success is only for business majors, think again. Hear unfiltered truths about failing forward, breaking brutal comfort zones, and building teams when you'd rather hide. This conversation uncovers proven, practical secrets for anyone ready to crush fear, own their results, and accelerate into leadership even before graduation. Miss this, and you could spend the summer playing small. Listen now for exclusive, hard-earned knowledge you can't find in the classroom and join an elite group writing their own future.     Timestamped Highlights 00:08 – The career-defining mindset shift every new leader must hear 04:05 – From LinkedIn to $100K: Brooke's unlikely leap and the mistake that made her 06:38 – How a criminal justice major shattered limits with a six-figure business 10:43 – The two rookie mistakes that nearly sabotaged Celeste's summer 13:58 – Why over-recruiting isn't optional (and how to bulletproof your team) 18:02 – The brutal truth about sales pipelines and the anxiety no one warns you about 26:24 – Owning it: The secret mental switch top earners use every day 35:35 – Leadership vs Boss: The tiny actions that change everything for your team     About the Guest Celeste Valencia is a Senior Executive at Young Entrepreneurs Across America (YEAA) and a senior at Grand Valley State University, where she majors in Criminal Justice with minors in Arabic and Psychology. Known for her rapid growth from rookie manager to leading a $350,000 branch and coaching the next generation of student leaders, Celeste is passionate about resilience, transformative leadership, and servant management. 🔗 LinkedIn Brooke Fausey is currently a General Manager for the Michigan division at Young Entrepreneurs Across America (YEAA), after graduating from Grand Valley State University. Brooke skyrocketed from running a $104,000 branch to coaching a team of managers with combined sales topping $540,000. She is respected for her commitment to mentorship, time management mastery, and her outstanding track record in leadership development. 🔗 LinkedIn   Resources & Links Mentioned Student Painters Sherwin Williams Servant Leadership Grand Valley State University Eat That Frog!     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa      Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  7. Apr 22

    134 | Ryan Shepherd – Inside the Mind of a Champion: Proven, Unexpected Tactics Student Leaders Really Use

    Are you hungry to stand out, lead, and create the kind of transformation that pays off for life? Wondering why some student entrepreneurs seem to win big while others plateau or burn out? On this electrifying episode, Steve Acorn sits down with legendary Student Painters GM Ryan Shepherd, an architect behind hundreds of success stories and recognized as one of the top minds in the industry. They break down the entire YEAA internship experience, revealing not just what to do, but how to do it smarter, turning grueling work into unstoppable growth and outsized rewards. Tune in for practical, rarely shared insights on personal mastery, building powerhouse teams, and squeezing life-changing value out of every step, plus learn the insider secrets that separate the profitable leaders from the overwhelmed.  Don't wait to hear this: miss it, and you risk falling into the same pitfalls holding back your true potential. Listen now and grab the blueprint top performers don't want you to see.     Timestamped Highlights 00:00 – "You're going to work really hard but probably pretty stupid at first" (and how to fix that) 07:47 – The uncommon time hack that propelled Ryan's early career 10:43 – Pressure washing fails, wild stories, and what it really means to learn as you go 12:11 – Why the Quality Control Checklist will save your sanity (and profit) 14:34 – The #1 rookie mistake even elite interns make every year 17:00 – How to "suck less" by delegating time-suckers and building your painter pipeline 24:14 – Turning "our business" into a winning team—best crew incentives revealed 30:06 – Why coasting in phase four will cost you the BIGGEST payday     About the Guest Ryan Shepherd is a veteran General Manager and lead mentor for Student Painters at Young Entrepreneurs Across America. Known for his fifteen-year track record developing top-tier student leaders and a relentless dedication to game-changing mentorship, Ryan has shaped the careers of hundreds of driven undergrads and personally built systems that power the best-of-the-best results in the industry. His coaching is legendary for a reason, and it's all focused on future-proofing your success. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website   Resources & Links Mentioned University of Dayton Scott Snyder Quality Control Checklist Google Docs Kings Island Amusement Park Indeed Facebook Instagram Snapchat Hello Neighbor flyers Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa      Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  8. Apr 8

    133 | Sherv Sadr – Astonishing Growth: From Grassroots to 220 Clients Strong

    What would you do if your dreams, your crew, and your confidence vanished in a single afternoon? If you're building a business, career, or even your sense of self, the fear of failure and the pressure to deliver can feel overwhelming. In this exhilarating reunion, Steve Acorn welcomes back YEAA alum Sherv Sadr, whose journey from devastated rookie to thriving financial entrepreneur and biotech founder is packed with raw lessons and electrifying energy. Sherv reveals how surviving his darkest hour and learning to choose action over comfort unlocked exponential business and personal growth. If you're tired of hoping and ready for proven, exclusive strategies to conquer adversity, reclaim your confidence, and scale your future, press play now. Every moment you wait is a moment lost. Don't miss the hard-won wisdom in this episode that you simply won't find anywhere else.     Timestamped Highlights 00:14 – Why Sherv's first episode became one of YEAA's all-time most listened-to downloads 01:43 – From door-knocking to financial planning: The business principles that work anywhere 06:38 – Founding a biotech company after a friend's life-altering brain cancer battle 10:09 – Cold calls, rejection, and wild pivots: The gut-punches no one warns you about 16:18 – Grit when you want to quit: The untold story of Sherv's "grass moment" 24:33 – Scalable business growth: Investments, not costs, and building a winning team 31:03 – The Student Painters alumni effect: Why one summer can change your life and your future hires 50:09 – 75 Hard, discipline as a perishable skill, and what it really means for future leaders     About the Guest Sherv Sadr is a financial entrepreneur, business owner, and proven resilience architect. Since his transformative years with YEAA and Student Painters, he has scaled a thriving financial planning practice serving over 220 households, mentored future leaders, and co-founded a biotech startup with a mission to revolutionize traumatic brain injury recovery. Sherv is known for his radical candor, story-driven leadership, and commitment to giving back through mentorship and alumni networks. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website   Resources & Links Mentioned 75 Hard (created by Andy Frisella) Alex Hormozi Aaron Griffin Luke Snyder Traumatic Brain Injury research and biotech entrepreneurship     Important Links Gain real-world business experience, build leadership skills, and create a foundation for future success: YEAA Website Watch our case study: Leaders Across America Find more success stories here: Our Alumni Connect with Steve: LinkedIn: Steve Acorn Instagram: @steveacornyeaa      Leaders Across America is an original podcast brought to you by Steve Acorn. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

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Welcome To The Leaders Across America Podcast. This show is dedicated to young driven individuals who truly want to choose a path of their life, step out of their comfort zone and create a better future for themselves and in the end, control their own destiny. Each week, we will be interviewing a graduate from our program. You will hear some amazing stories of how being part of the Young Entrepreneurs Program helped transformed them into who they are today. You can determine if you want to be like these individuals and you will understand what it will take to get there. Learn more: https://www.yeaainternship.com/

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