The Fort - An Entrepreneurship Podcast Chris Powers
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- Business
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The Fort is an entrepreneurship podcast.
Here, we uncover the proven strategies, insights, and inspiring stories of today’s greatest leaders in the worlds of business, real estate, entrepreneurship, and investing. Each episode’s mission is to help you to level up your entrepreneurial game by hearing directly from the men and women in the arena. Chris is able to uniquely uncover things not commonly discussed because he is an entrepreneur himself. We not only cover business, but we also cover the personal side of entrepreneurship.
The Fort began in 2018 as a way for Chris to publicly explore the fascinating world of entrepreneurship. Since he was a child, he’s been characterized as obsessively curious about the world around him.
The Fort has now been downloaded over 2M times, across more than 50,000 unique listeners.
Each week features conversations with entrepreneurs, Founders, CEOs, and Executives from some of the leading companies in America. Past guests have represented companies such as JLL, Hillwood, S2 Capital, Chick Fil A, Morning Brew, Founders Podcast, Tiny Capital, Permanent Equity, Fort Capital, Matthews REIS, Bonobos, and ConvertKit.
🐦 Follow Chris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FortWorthChris
💡 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/
📹 Subscribe to The FORT on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FORTpod
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#343 - Yossi Levi - Founder @ CarDealershipGuy - Taking the Auto Industry By Storm
Car Dealership Guy is currently the fastest-growing automotive media brand in the U.S and has captivated audiences with its top-rated podcast, weekly newsletter, and viral social channels, boasting a combined 80+ million impressions per month.
On this episode, Chris and Yossi discuss:
Yossi’s early career that lead to CDG
How he grew the brand into a full-time business
What it takes to drive meaningful growth on social media
The state of the car industry in 2024
We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners.
https://www.thefortpod.com/survey
Links
Car Dealership Guy
The CDG Podcast
Car Dealership Guy on X
Yossi on X
Who The F*ck is Car Dealership Guy - Reveal Video
Topics
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:32) - Yossi’s early career and car industry insights
(00:12:39) - Buiding Gettacar
(00:26:51) - Building Car Dealership Guy
(00:32:24) - Content & growth inflection points
(00:41:07) - Deciding to make CDG a full-time business
(00:47:07) - The content flywheel
(00:51:54) - The value of Podcasts
(00:56:12) - What channels matter to you?
(01:03:46) - Yossi’s decision to make himself public
(01:10:47) - What is the big vision for CDG?
(01:15:51) - What does Apple dropping their vehicle project mean?
(01:19:57) - What’s captivating you right now in the industry?
Support our Sponsors
Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/
Chris on Social Media:
X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd
Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys
Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0
Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO
The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts -
#342 - Dean Macfarlan - Founding Partner @ Macfarlan Capital Partners - 10 Life Lessons
Dean Macfarlan is the founder of Macfarlan Capital Partners, a real estate investment sponsor based in Dallas, TX. He has 40 years of industry experience in the development, acquisition, repositioning, and sale of investment properties exceeding the $1.5 billion mark.
On this episode, Chris and Dean discuss:
Marriage philosophy
Life over living
Dean’s 10 Life Lessons
We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners.
https://www.thefortpod.com/survey
Links
Dean's 10 Life Lessons
Macfarlan Capital Partners
Topics
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:19) - Who is Dean?
(00:12:01) - Coming to Christ
(00:18:06) - Marriage
(00:29:54) - Life over Living
(00:38:19) - 10 Life Lessons
Support our Sponsors
Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I
Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/
Chris on Social Media:
X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd
Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys
Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0
Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO
The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts -
#341 - George Young - CEO @ Pegasus Resources - Stories From an Oil Legend
George Young is the CEO of Pegasus Resources, a mineral and royalty company based in Fort Worth, Texas, focused on the acquisition and management of properties primarily located in the Permian Basin. Pegasus is financially backed by a $600 million equity commitment from EnCap Investments L.P.
On this episode, Chris and George discuss:
George’s career in Oil and Minerals
The history of the Texas Oil Fields
Leadership stories and philosophies
We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners.
https://www.thefortpod.com/survey
Links
Pegasus Resources
Topics
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:23) - The Cook Ranch
(00:12:45) - The Young family’s entrance into the oil business
(00:18:40) - George’s early life & career
(00:40:24) - 10% Ted
(00:59:06) - Career stories
(01:22:52) - Getting into the mineral world
Support our Sponsors:
Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I
Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/
Chris on Social Media:
X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd
Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys
Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0
Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO
The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts -
#340 - Chris Hellgeth aka Gas Biz Guy - Owner @ Vi-Mac - Building a $100M Gasoline Empire
Chris, aka @Gas_biz, is the owner of Vi-Mac, Atlanta’s hometown gasoline transportation company, which services approximately 1000+ gas stations throughout the State of Georgia.
We discuss:
The economics of the gas station business
Chris’ career: the rise, the fall, and the comeback
How to flip gas stations
Where gas stations stand in an EV world
We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners.
https://www.thefortpod.com/survey
Links:
Chris on X
'Fuel for Thought' Newsletter
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:01:54) - The family gas business and Chris’ early life
(00:08:41) - How is money made in gas stations?
(00:12:00) - The perfect site for a gas station
(00:14:13) - What is ‘great service’ in gas stations?
(00:17:13) - What are the anchor products in the shop?
(00:22:34) - Buying 25% of the family business
(00:24:33) - The economics of check cashing
(00:27:12) - Growing the business
(00:30:32) - Making mistakes
(00:41:13) - The light at the end of the tunnel
(00:50:20) - How do you flip a gas station?
(00:52:58) - Selling the business
(01:01:14) - Gas station crime
(01:03:51) - The trucking business
(01:05:48) - Management philosophies
(01:06:51) - Running a great trucking company
(01:09:14) - The gasoline supply chain
(01:10:09) - What do you see as disruptive to the gas station industry?
(01:15:15) - Environmental processes
(01:17:19) - The video poker industry
Support our Sponsors
Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/
Chris on Social Media:
X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd
Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys
Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0
Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO
The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts -
#339 - Simon Wagner - Founder @ Granite Oak - Compounding $1M to $250M in 10 years
Simon Wagner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Granite Oak, a private investment firm with over $250mm of assets across Real Estate and Venture Capital. His career spans more than 20 years of investing and entrepreneurship in financial markets and alternative investments.
On this episode, Chris and Simon discuss:
Working in mortgage-backed securities at Morgan Stanley in 2006
Developing his commercial mortgage thesis
The Irish real estate market
Planning & Entitlements
We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners.
https://www.thefortpod.com/survey
Links
Granite Oak
Simon on X
Topics
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:04:51) - Meeting Simon and his journey to the United States
(00:10:44) - Working in mortgaged-backed securities at Morgan Stanley in ’06
(00:24:35) - Forming the commercial mortgage thesis
(00:39:54) - Lending Lessons learned
(00:42:26) - Entering the Ireland market
(00:45:24) - Simon’s first deal
(00:56:25) - Irish vs. American loans
(00:57:13) - Simon’s portfolio today
(00:59:37) - Ireland’s influx of foreign capital and housing shortages
(01:07:21) - Fundraising
(01:13:53) - Planning and entitlements
Support our Sponsors:
RE Cost Seg: https://bit.ly/3oC7JcY
Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I
Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/
Chris on Social Media:
X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd
Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys
Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0
Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO
The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts -
#338 - Jamie Winship - Living Fearless
Jamie Winship has decades of experience bringing peaceful solutions to some of the world’s highest conflict areas.
After a distinguished career in law enforcement in the metro Washington D.C. area, Jamie earned an M.A. in English and developed a unique process of resolving inner conflict that results in the ability to lead and innovate from a position of authenticity and freedom. His unconventional efforts to bring about societal and racial reconciliation led him to Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, and back to the U.S.
We discuss:
How to discover your true identity
Separation and Connection world views
Jamie’s experiences working in the Middle East
Bringing terrorists to the US and converting them to Christianity
We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners.
https://www.thefortpod.com/survey
Links
Jamie's website
Living Fearless by Jamie Winship
Identity Exchange
Finding Hope in Depression
Topics
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:01:55) - Jamie’s background and upbringing
(00:05:49) - Being recruited into the CIA
(00:11:43) - What is identity?
(00:15:32) - How can I discover my true identity?
(00:27:32) - Separation vs. connection world views
(00:35:41) - Jamie’s experiences working in the Middle East
(00:52:55) - How to change the mentality of another person
(01:06:30) - Bringing Palestinian terrorists to a Christian men’s retreat
Support our Sponsors
Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/
Chris on Social Media:
X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd
Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys
Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0
Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO
The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts
Customer Reviews
Incredible
Woww the most recent Nick Huber episode had me choked up!! I loved hearing the dynamic of your friendship. The story with your baby getting lost 👀👀 holy smokes that needs to go on Twitter
A must-listen!
Can’t thank Chris enough for putting out such an amazing podcast! I’m consistently impressed by the engaging conversations, insightful content, and actionable ideas. 10/10 recommend!
Great stuff
Love this podcast. Very well done. I can’t say I listen EVERY week, but when I do I always leave feeling encouraged/inspired and learn something new that I can apply to my own CRE/Entrepreneurial journey! Keep up the great work 🎙️