Beyond the Business Podcast

Eric Perry

The people. The struggles. The stories behind success. This show goes past the highlight reel and into the real life of entrepreneurship. Through four segments - Power Partners, Owners Unfiltered, Couples in Business, and The Employee Perspective - we share honest conversations about leadership, growth, marriage, culture, and what it truly takes to build something meaningful.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 19 | Owner's Unfiltered: Ryan LaRue | Friendship Over Competition, Leadership, Family, and the Real Cost of Growth

    What happens when two roofing company owners who compete in the same market sit down as friends and have an unfiltered conversation about business, leadership, family, and life? In Episode 19 of Beyond the Business: The People, The Struggles, and The Stories Behind Success, Eric Perry is joined by Ryan LaRue, owner of Real Roofing. Ryan has built Real Roofing into a growing multi-state roofing company while earning a reputation for strong leadership, craftsmanship, and customer service. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, helping shape and strengthen the roofing industry across Arizona. This isn't your typical business podcast. Ryan and Eric pull back the curtain on what it's really like to build and scale a company. They discuss the highs that everyone sees, the setbacks that nobody talks about, and the difficult decisions that come with leading people, serving customers, and carrying the responsibility of an entire organization. They dive into:• Building a culture people want to be part of• Navigating difficult employee and customer relationships• The reality of leadership when the pressure is on• Growing a successful business without losing sight of your marriage and family• The lessons learned through failures, losses, and victories• What they hope their children and the people around them will remember long after business is over This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and packed with real experiences from two business owners who understand that success isn't measured only by revenue, but by the impact you leave on your team, your family, and your community. No scripts. No filters. No fluff. Just two friends, two competitors, and one authentic conversation about what it truly takes to build something that lasts.

  2. Jul 13

    Beyond the Business Episode 18 | Couples in Business with Mike and Ann Schude | Building Businesses, Family, and a Lasting Marriage

    What does it really take to build multiple successful businesses without sacrificing your marriage or your family? In Episode 18 of Beyond the Business, our Couples in Business series continues as Cierra and Eric Perry sit down with Mike and Ann Schude, founders of Instasold and the creators of the incredibly popular Go Gilbert community. For more than 30 years, Mike and Ann have built a life together centered around entrepreneurship, leadership, and serving others while creating businesses that have made a lasting impact throughout the East Valley. Today, they lead Instasold and have grown Go Gilbert into one of Arizona's most engaged community platforms, connecting thousands of local residents and small businesses. This conversation is packed with real stories, plenty of laughs, and honest conversations about what it takes to build a thriving marriage while running multiple businesses together. We dive into raising a family as entrepreneurs, building high-performing teams, navigating disagreements as business partners, continually investing in personal growth, and creating a culture where the people around you can grow and succeed alongside you. Whether you're married, own a business, lead a team, or simply want to strengthen your relationships while pursuing success, this episode is full of practical wisdom, encouragement, and relatable moments you won't want to miss. 🎙 In this episode we discuss:• Building multiple successful businesses together• Balancing entrepreneurship, marriage, and family life• Growing leaders and developing great teams• The importance of continuous personal growth• Leading with purpose and serving your community• Lessons learned from more than 30 years of marriage and business• The highs, the challenges, and the moments that shaped their journey If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from the conversation.

  3. Jun 29

    Episode 16: Couples in Business | Building a Business, Marriage & Legacy with Jazlyn of Arizona Pristine Roofing

    In this Couples in Business episode of Beyond the Business, Eric and Cierra Perry sit down with Jazlyn, owner and qualifying party of Arizona Pristine Roofing, to have an honest conversation about what it's really like to build a business alongside your spouse. Although Arizona Pristine Roofing and Eco Roofing Solutions are competitors, this episode proves that competition doesn't have to stand in the way of friendship, collaboration, or making the roofing industry better. As fellow members of the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association (ARCA), we share why supporting one another ultimately strengthens the entire industry. We dive into how Jazlyn and her husband built their company from the ground up, the challenges of balancing marriage, family, and entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned through failures, setbacks, and the constant pursuit of growth. We also discuss leadership, company culture, investing in people, and why one of the greatest rewards in business isn't just growing revenue, it's watching your team members grow personally, professionally, and financially as they achieve goals they never thought possible. Whether you're in business with your spouse, lead a team, or simply want to hear an authentic conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and building something that lasts, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways and plenty of laughs along the way.

  4. Jun 22

    Episode 15 | Owners Unfiltered: Built, Not Given with Ricardo Herrera of TPG Paints & Stains

    Success leaves clues, and Ricardo Herrera started looking for them long before he ever owned a business. In Episode 15 of Owners Unfiltered, Eric Perry sits down with Ricardo Herrera, owner of TPG Paints & Stains, to discuss his journey from an ambitious high school student consuming books, podcasts, and personal development content to becoming the owner of one of Arizona's most respected painting and staining companies. Ricardo shares how he knew at a young age that entrepreneurship was the path he wanted to pursue and how he built his business through hands-on experience, learning from mistakes, embracing failure, and remaining consistent when others would have quit. Without shortcuts or overnight success, Ricardo developed his company one lesson, one customer, and one opportunity at a time. Throughout the conversation, Ricardo discusses the importance of personal development, discipline, health, and fitness, and how investing in himself has directly contributed to his success as a business owner. He also opens up about the challenges of scaling a company, earning trust in a competitive industry, and building a reputation that customers and referral partners can depend on. This episode is packed with valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone looking to build something meaningful through hard work, consistency, and a commitment to continual growth. Topics include:• Starting a business at a young age• Learning through failures and setbacks• Building a reputation through consistency• Personal development and entrepreneurial growth• Health, fitness, and discipline as business tools• Scaling a service-based business• Creating long-term success without shortcuts If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a successful business from the ground up, this conversation with Ricardo delivers an honest look at the mindset, discipline, and persistence required to make it happen.

  5. Jun 8

    Episode 13 - Building an Empire: Cameron Bawden on Scaling, Exits & Leadership

    Episode 13: Owners Unfiltered with Cameron Bawden What does it really take to build companies that scale, create opportunities for others, and eventually become valuable enough to sell? In this episode of Beyond the Business, Eric Perry sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and business builder Cameron Bawden for an unfiltered conversation about the lessons he's learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey. From building multiple successful businesses and navigating exits to developing teams and creating cultures that thrive, Cameron shares the principles that have helped shape his success. We dive into the importance of systems and processes, why accountability is critical for growth, and how having the right people in the right seats can completely transform an organization. Cameron also shares why investing in your team, creating clear growth opportunities, and aligning incentives with company success can unlock the full potential of both your business and your people. Beyond business, this conversation explores leadership, personal development, mindset, and the hard-earned lessons that come from years of building, scaling, and learning from both successes and failures. Whether you're a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or leader looking to take your organization to the next level, this episode is packed with valuable insights on growth, accountability, culture, and becoming the leader your business needs you to be. Beyond the Business: The People, The Struggles, and The Stories Behind Success.

  6. Jun 1

    Episode 12 | Owners Unfiltered: From Cartels, Gangs & Prison to Purpose - The Julio "JC" Almanza Story

    Some stories inspire you. Others completely change the way you look at life. In Episode 12 of Owners Unfiltered, I sit down with one of my closest friends, Julio “JC” Almanza, founder of Wrong to Strong, creator of transformative prison programs including SuperMax, Wonder Woman, and Officer Resilience, and co-owner of Biltmore Soundscape Studios, the very place where we record this podcast. JC's story is unlike anything you've ever heard. From childhood trauma, gang life on the streets of Chicago, cartel involvement, and nearly two decades spent in both Mexican and U.S. prisons, JC had every reason to become another statistic. Instead, he chose a different path. We dive deep into his journey from violence, addiction, and incarceration to becoming a mentor, speaker, entrepreneur, husband, and leader who now helps thousands of people transform their lives through the lessons he learned the hard way. We talk about:• Growing up surrounded by gangs, crime, and trauma• Surviving prison in both Mexico and the United States• The mental and emotional demons he still battles today• His resistance to faith and the moment everything changed• Finding God and rebuilding his life from the ground up• The strict routines, discipline, and habits that keep him focused• How fitness became a tool for healing and transformation• Why he dedicates his life to helping others break destructive cycles JC's story is proof that your past does not determine your future. No matter where you've been, what you've done, or what has been done to you, there is always a path forward. This isn't just a conversation about business. It's a conversation about redemption, resilience, faith, and the power of choosing purpose over excuses. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one.

About

The people. The struggles. The stories behind success. This show goes past the highlight reel and into the real life of entrepreneurship. Through four segments - Power Partners, Owners Unfiltered, Couples in Business, and The Employee Perspective - we share honest conversations about leadership, growth, marriage, culture, and what it truly takes to build something meaningful.