Killer Growth

KillerGrowth
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The KillerGrowth Podcast is where founder Samuel McVay has real conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and creators about what it truly takes to grow. Each episode uncovers one practical insight to move a business forward while digging into the struggles behind the scenes—finding traction, navigating uncertainty, and adapting in a changing world. Genuine stories, honest lessons, and relatable perspectives for anyone building something that matters.

  1. 1d ago

    How a “Fake” Game Store Made $3 Million with Peter Kuhlman | Ep 86

    What happens when a “fake” business experiment accidentally becomes a multimillion-dollar company? In Episode 86 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Peter Kuhlman, founder of MinMax Games and owner/partner at DuPage Industries, to talk entrepreneurship, e-commerce, trading cards, collectibles, and the strange economics behind an industry built on scarcity, nostalgia, competition, and FOMO. Peter grew up around DuPage Industries, his family’s appliance-installation-parts business. During COVID, with DuPage performing well, Peter and his brother wanted to diversify and learn business-to-consumer marketing. Their idea was simple: open a “fake game store” and use it to learn. Then MinMax Games did more than $1 million in sales its first year and roughly $3 million the next. Peter explains how an e-commerce-first strategy helped MinMax grow, why the company doubled down on Flesh and Blood when competitors pulled back, and why investing directly in players, tournaments, and community became more valuable than traditional sponsorships. Then the conversation goes deep into the trading-card economy. Peter breaks down why opening packs combines elements of collectibles, investing, lotteries and FOMO; how influencers can move markets; whether cards should really be considered investments; and why he believes parts of the grading and resale ecosystem can artificially push prices higher. They also discuss high-end collectors, buyback mechanics, market manipulation, PSA and Beckett grading, and what happens when people put serious money into collectibles they may not fully understand. In this episode: • Turning a “fake” game store into a real business • $1M+ in first-year sales • Why e-commerce changed the game • Finding a niche with Flesh and Blood • Community-building vs. affiliate marketing • The psychology behind opening packs • Trading cards as investments • Influencers and collectible markets • Grading, resale fees and rising prices • When collectibles start looking like gambling • Why execution matters more than a powerful brand If you’re into entrepreneurship, e-commerce, Pokemon, Magic, Flesh and Blood—or simply fascinated by markets where cardboard can be worth thousands—this one gets wild fast. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  2. 5d ago

    The Data Center Debate: What Small Towns Need to Know with Sam & Tyler | Ep 85

    Who’s actually driving the massive growth in data centers? According to Sam McVay and Tyler Norris, the answer is simpler than you might think: all of us. In Episode 85 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Sam and Tyler revisit the data center conversation as their hometown of El Dorado, Kansas prepares to vote on a proposed 10-year prohibition on certain large data centers and battery energy storage systems. This isn’t their first conversation about the subject. But after months of research, conversations, community debate, and their involvement with El Dorado Forward, they wanted to explain where they stand, why they became involved, and what they believe communities should be asking before making long-term decisions about industrial development. They discuss why they view the issue through the lens of economic development rather than simply being “pro-data center,” why regulation and negotiation matter, and why they believe good and bad projects can exist within the same industry. The conversation also gets into water and electricity, Kansas data center policy, local infrastructure, tax incentives, NDAs, special-use permits, community trust, misinformation, and the fear people can feel when publicly taking a position on a controversial local issue. And they return to a fundamental point: Netflix, cloud storage, AI, streaming, smart homes, security cameras, and countless other services people use every day require physical infrastructure somewhere. In this episode: • Why data center demand is growing• Why Sam and Tyler became involved• Economic development in small communities• Water, power and infrastructure• Regulation vs. prohibition• Kansas data center incentives• Why development projects use NDAs• Data centers and consumer demand• Community trust and misinformation• Visiting a large data center in person• Disagreeing without demonizing your neighbors This is ultimately a conversation about more than data centers. It’s about how communities evaluate opportunity, manage risk, disagree constructively, and make decisions that can affect them for decades. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  3. Sep 27

    The AI Arms Race Is Already Here with Heath Jeppson | Ep 84

    Heath Jeppson’s books: The Death of a BANANA Republic: https://a.co/d/06PUIKxh The Cloud Has Hit the Ground: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1QK3QTR What if the debate over data centers is really part of a much bigger story about AI, energy, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and America’s future? In Episode 84 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Sam sits down with Heath Jeppson, cybersecurity analyst and author of The Cloud Has Hit the Ground and The Death of a BANANA Republic. Heath’s career has taken him from the Marine Corps and industrial trades to FEMA disaster recovery, federal IT, industrial control systems, and cybersecurity work involving water, wastewater, power, and other critical infrastructure. That background eventually led him into the rapidly growing debate surrounding data centers. Heath explains why he believes the conversation shouldn’t simply be “for” or “against,” but should focus on how projects are built, how much water and power they use, how infrastructure is protected, and whether developers become genuine long-term community partners. They dig into America’s electrical grid, AI’s rapidly increasing computing demands, water and cooling technology, cybersecurity, community trust, and why Heath compares today’s AI competition to an arms race. PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED Chris Crosby / Compass Datacenters: https://www.compassdatacenters.com/author/ccrosby/ Congressional testimony: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/SM/SM21/20260121/118870/HHRG-119-SM21-Wstate-CrosbyC-20260121.pdf Kirk Offel / OVERWATCH: https://kirkoffel.com/media/ Congressional testimony: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/SM/SM21/20260121/118870/HHRG-119-SM21-Wstate-OffelK-20260121.pdf Mike Sarraille: https://weareoverwatch.com/team/mike-sarraille/ Nicole Perlroth: Black Hat keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C1UL5sO_ME To Catch a Thief: https://www.rubrik.com/lp/to-catch-a-thief-podcast Dr. Emma M. Stewart: Black Hat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffsrRKE5j9s DEF CON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=930l_omgN1w Bryson Bort: https://www.rsaconference.com/experts/bryson-bort Hack the Plant: https://www.rstreet.org/issues/hack-the-plant-podcast/ Heath Jeppson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-jeppson-cissp-362371163 Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  4. Sep 23

    From Two Garage Bays to a Thriving Auto Shop with Mike Dorrell | Ep 83

    What should you actually do when your vehicle reaches 100,000 miles — keep driving it or trade it before something expensive breaks? In Episode 83 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Mike Dorrell, founder and owner of Superior Auto Care, to talk about cars, entrepreneurship, customer service, and how dramatically the automotive industry has changed. Mike never planned on owning an auto repair shop. After working in aircraft and spending years with Safelite AutoGlass, he decided to take a risk and start his own business in 2015. Superior Auto Care began with just two bays, a tiny office, auto glass, and truck accessories. Then Mike’s dad — a mechanic for more than 50 years known as “Merlin the Magician” — retired and came to help three days a week. By the first week, he was already working Monday through Friday. Mechanical work took off, more technicians followed, and Superior eventually grew into the full-service operation it is today. Mike shares what he’s learned about scaling a service business, knowing when to expand, eliminating services that distract from what you do best, and why taking care of employees is critical to taking care of customers. Then they get into cars. Mike explains why modern vehicles are increasingly difficult to diagnose, which repairs can become nightmares, whether 100,000 miles should scare you, what brands he trusts, and why buying a different vehicle often just means buying a different set of problems. They also talk EVs, hybrids, expensive batteries, autonomous driving, and what the future could mean for independent repair shops. In this episode: • How Superior Auto Care started in 2015• Mike’s dad, “Merlin the Magician”• Knowing when to stop offering a service• Scaling without sacrificing customer service• Why modern cars are harder to diagnose• The truth about the 100,000-mile mark• Which vehicle brands Mike trusts• EVs, hybrids and battery replacement costs• Autonomous driving and the future of cars• Building a business around your community  If you own a vehicle, run a service business, or have ever wondered whether that repair bill means it’s finally time to trade your car, there’s plenty in this conversation for you. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  5. Sep 20

    From a College Walk-On to the PGA Tour with Patrick Adler | Ep 82

    What does it actually take to chase the dream of becoming a PGA Tour golfer? In Episode 82 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with professional golfer Patrick Adler to talk about the long, uncertain, and sometimes brutal road toward playing golf at the highest level. Patrick grew up outside Chicago and didn’t become serious about golf until he was around 11 or 12, when watching Rory McIlroy inspired him to start playing competitively. He was never the most highly recruited junior golfer. Instead, a coach took a chance on him and Patrick walked onto the golf team at Marquette University. For years, he hovered around the edge of the starting lineup. But while other students were sleeping, Patrick and a small group of teammates were getting up at 5:00 or 5:30 in the morning to practice. Eventually, the work started paying off. Patrick won the South of Ireland Amateur, won twice during his senior season, turned professional, and began navigating the complicated world of Q School, mini tours, Monday qualifiers, and PGA Tour status. Then came one of the wildest stretches of his career. After opening a tournament with a 65, Patrick followed it with a 77. Frustrated by his results, he drove away crying and wondering what he was doing with his career. Days later, he won a Monday qualifier and earned his first PGA Tour start at the John Deere Classic. Patrick shares what it felt like teeing off around PGA Tour players, hearing the crowds following Jordan Spieth, handling nerves, dealing with failure, and continuing to believe he belongs at that level. In this episode: • Going from an overlooked junior golfer to Marquette• Practicing at 5 AM to gain an edge• Winning the South of Ireland Amateur• How professional golf and Q School actually work• Monday qualifying for the John Deere Classic• Handling nerves in his first PGA Tour start• Going from a 77 and tears to the PGA Tour days later• Staying motivated through professional golf’s lows• Why Patrick believes his game can reach the highest level• What separates PGA Tour players from everyone else• Why improving your “bad golf” matters• Patrick’s advice for recreational golfers• Balancing professional golf with music and creativity Patrick is still in the middle of the story. He’s chasing tour status, traveling, competing, improving, and betting on himself — which makes this a fascinating chance to hear from an athlete before we know how the story ends. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  6. Sep 15

    I Asked ChatGPT If AI Could Wipe Out Humanity | Ep 81

    What happens when you stop prompting ChatGPT to do something — and start interviewing it? In Episode 81 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with an unusual guest: ChatGPT. Instead of asking it to write an email, analyze data, or solve a problem, Samuel asks ChatGPT questions about itself: how it works, why it can sound so human, what people misunderstand about AI, when its answers should be trusted, and what happens when it confidently gets something wrong. Then the conversation gets considerably more serious. Samuel asks about AI safety, incidents involving AI systems bypassing safeguards, and warnings from researchers who believe advanced AI could pose catastrophic — potentially even existential — risks to humanity. ChatGPT explains why a specific percentage shouldn’t be treated as settled fact, but also argues that the potential consequences are serious enough to warrant independent testing, enforceable safeguards, and meaningful human oversight. They also dig into one of the biggest frustrations people have with AI: its tendency to sound confident even when the evidence doesn’t support the answer. ChatGPT explains how prompts can steer an answer, why it can become overly agreeable, what decisions should never be handed completely to AI, and one surprisingly useful question users can ask: “What assumptions are you making right now?” Samuel even asks ChatGPT to become more sarcastic halfway through the interview — which goes about as you’d expect. Finally, they turn to data centers and how big technology companies should work with smaller communities considering major infrastructure projects. In this episode: • How ChatGPT actually works • Why AI can seem self-aware • Why ChatGPT’s tone can change • When you should and shouldn’t trust AI • Why ChatGPT can confidently give a wrong answer • AI safety and catastrophic-risk concerns • Decisions that should always remain human • How prompting can unintentionally steer an answer • The question ChatGPT wishes people asked more often • Making ChatGPT sarcastic • AI accountability and human oversight • Data centers, communities, and big tech • Which AI Samuel should interview next   This is the first in an experiment: Samuel plans to ask multiple major AI models the same questions, then compare their answers to see where they agree, where they differ, and how each handles trust, safety, evidence, and accountability. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  7. Sep 9

    Can Social Media Be Good for You? with Jason Toevs | Ep 80

    What if social media was designed to make your life better instead of simply keeping you scrolling? In Episode 80 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Jason Toevs, CTO of Up, to talk about entrepreneurship, technology, algorithms, and an ambitious question: can we build a healthier version of social media? Jason’s path to Up started long before social media. A lifelong tinkerer with a mathematics background, he began experimenting with computers and programming in school before launching his first web design company while still in college. That started a winding entrepreneurial journey through web development, distributed teams, video analytics, automated captions, SaaS, crypto, gaming, startups, accelerators, pivots, and failed companies — all of which eventually prepared him for what he’s building today. At Up, Jason and the team are developing Scroll Happy, a short-form content platform built around a fundamentally different incentive system. Instead of asking how an algorithm can keep someone on the platform longer, they’re asking what happens if you optimize around uplifting content, creators, and healthier consumption. That leads Samuel and Jason into a much bigger conversation about the algorithms shaping what we see every day. Jason explains what can happen when a brand-new social account begins learning about a young user, why engagement-driven algorithms can amplify unhealthy content, and how hyper-personalized feeds may be changing not only what we consume — but what we have in common with one another. They also dig into the difficult business questions behind building an alternative. How do you monetize without recreating the same incentives? Who decides what “good” content is? Can users have more control over their algorithm? And can creators still get a fair shot without chasing outrage, controversy, or whatever generates the most engagement? In this episode: • Jason’s early experiments with programming • Starting a web company in college • Building and managing distributed teams • Video analytics, automated captions and SaaS • Lessons from startup pivots and failures • Building a crypto-based game • How Jason became CTO of Up • The mission behind Scroll Happy • How engagement algorithms shape behavior • Social media’s impact on young people • Creating healthier incentives for creators • Monetizing without maximizing screen time • Giving users more control over algorithms • The danger of hyper-personalized feeds • Building technology around a mission If you’ve ever wondered why your feed shows you what it does — or whether social media could be designed differently — this conversation offers a fascinating look at what it takes to build an alternative from the ground up. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

  8. Sep 6

    How a College Project Became a SaaS Business with Steven Werner | Ep 79

    In Episode 79 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Steven Werner, co-founder and CEO of Lawn Buddy, to talk about building a software company, raising capital, finding product-market fit, and the lessons that come from nearly a decade of startup life. Steven grew up in Wyoming, joined the Marine Corps after high school, deployed to Afghanistan, and eventually landed in Wichita — where Lawn Buddy began as a college entrepreneurship project inspired by his own frustration trying to hire someone for lawn care. The original idea was essentially Uber for lawn care: connect homeowners with contractors and facilitate the transaction. But Steven and his team eventually realized they were solving the wrong problem. The real opportunity was helping lawn and landscape business owners run their companies. That pivot turned Lawn Buddy into an industry-specific software platform handling scheduling, estimates, equipment, invoicing, payments, AutoPay, and more. Steven breaks down the economics behind a SaaS company, how Lawn Buddy monetizes payments while keeping subscriptions affordable, why influencer marketing became one of their most effective acquisition channels, and the challenge of retention in a highly seasonal industry. They also dig into AI and vibe coding. Steven believes today’s tools give non-technical founders incredible power to build software — but warns that generating code and operating a real software company are two very different things. And then they get into fundraising. After raising significant outside capital himself, Steven explains why founders should be able to answer two questions before taking someone else’s money: Why? And for what? In this episode: • Going from the Marine Corps to entrepreneurship • How Lawn Buddy started as a college project • Why Steven left college to pursue the business • Pivoting from a marketplace to SaaS • Finding the customer with the biggest problem • How Lawn Buddy makes money on payments • Influencer marketing vs. traditional advertising • Customer retention in seasonal businesses • AI and vibe coding for non-technical founders • Why founders still need technical expertise • The real cost of customer acquisition • When raising capital actually makes sense • Why money can hide problems instead of fixing them • Using partnerships to lower acquisition costs • Building a business around customer lifetime value If you’re building a startup, considering raising money, or trying to figure out how to turn a product into a sustainable business, Steven’s decade of lessons is worth hearing. Learn more at https://killergrowth.com

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The KillerGrowth Podcast is where founder Samuel McVay has real conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and creators about what it truly takes to grow. Each episode uncovers one practical insight to move a business forward while digging into the struggles behind the scenes—finding traction, navigating uncertainty, and adapting in a changing world. Genuine stories, honest lessons, and relatable perspectives for anyone building something that matters.

Information

  • Creator
    KillerGrowth
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © KillerGrowth
  • Show Website
    Killer Growth

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