Good Business with Clay Vaughan

Clay Vaughan
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Good Business with Clay Vaughan is a podcast about building companies that actually matter. Not just ones that grow, but ones that last. Ones that honor God, care for people, and create real value in the world. Every week, Clay sits down with entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders who are walking that road in their own way. The conversations aren’t fluffy or surface-level. They get into the hard stuff—how to lead through chaos, how to build culture when it’s easier to cut corners, and how to keep purpose front and center when profit is shouting in your ear. It’s a show about the kind of business most people want to run but few actually figure out. You’ll hear wins and mistakes, stories and strategies, but more importantly—you’ll hear what it looks like to run a business that’s both good at what it does and good for the people it touches. If you want to grow, lead well, and make an impact that outlives you, this is your place.

  1. 4d ago

    From Switchfoot to Small Business: Why Every Career Move Matters

    Michael Summers’ career path has taken him from studying theater at Baylor to touring with Switchfoot, spending 13 years in ministry, joining his family’s generator business, and ultimately acquiring Alamo Glass, a 60-year-old Austin business. What might look like an unconventional career on paper has given Michael a unique perspective on leadership, relationships, family business, and entrepreneurship. In this episode of Good Business, Michael joins Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier to talk about navigating major career transitions, working alongside family, selling a multigenerational business, acquiring an established company, and leading an existing team through change. He also shares why communication is critical in family businesses, how he approaches preserving a company’s legacy while building something new, and why the customer experience is what truly differentiates a trade business. Schedule a marketing discovery call here: Good Agency Discovery Call #GoodBusiness #MichaelSummers #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #FamilyBusiness #SmallBusiness #BusinessAcquisition #Leadership Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    From Switchfoot to Small Business: Why Every Career Move Matters

  2. Sep 29

    Why Relationships Still Matter in Business | Dirk Davidek

    What happens when community stops being a business strategy and simply becomes part of how you live? In this episode of Good Business, Dirk Davidek shares how decades of investing in relationships, local organizations and the New Braunfels community have shaped both his life and business. Dirk discusses guerrilla marketing, networking without immediately trying to make a sale, supporting local nonprofits, protecting natural resources and why simply asking how you can help someone can create meaningful connections. The conversation also explores reputation, responsible growth in New Braunfels, knowing when to say no, building a business that can eventually operate without you and choosing experiences while you still have the opportunity to enjoy them. Schedule a marketing discovery call here #business #marketingpodcast #entrepreneurmindset #community #networking #smallbusiness #relationshipbuilding #leadership Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    Why Relationships Still Matter in Business | Dirk Davidek

  3. Sep 22

    Building a Business Without Letting It Become Everything | Shane O’Brien of Coldies

    How do you build an ambitious company without allowing it to take over your life? In this episode of Good Business, Shane O’Brien shares how his love of nitro cold brew turned into Coldies, a business bringing tech-enabled cold brew service to offices and apartment communities. Shane talks about moving from medical device sales into entrepreneurship, building a company with his brother, maintaining quality while scaling, and why Coldies does not have to become the biggest company in the world to be successful. The conversation also explores the pressure founders feel to keep up with others, working with family, setting boundaries between business and home, faith and stewardship, and Shane’s desire to build something meaningful while still being present for his wife and kids. Schedule a marketing discovery call here #business #marketingpodcast #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneurship #familybusiness #leadership #faithandbusiness #startups Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    Building a Business Without Letting It Become Everything | Shane O’Brien of Coldies

  4. Sep 15

    Why CEOs Shouldn’t Have a To-Do List | Aaron Hayslip

    What if the most valuable thing in your company is not your product, your technology or even your team, but your time and attention as a founder? In this episode of Good Business, Aaron Hayslip shares his journey from earning $9 an hour at a Honda dealership to becoming a software engineer, building coding schools, working at Coinbase and eventually creating Freed Up. Aaron explains why CEOs should focus on decisions, people and opportunities instead of task lists, and how better systems and delegation can help founders become more effective without sacrificing their families or the rest of their lives. Clay Vaughan, Luke Frazier and Aaron also dig into the changing role of executive assistants, why delegation means giving someone responsibility instead of simply handing off tasks, and how AI is reshaping the way founders work. Aaron shares why he believes AI can execute tasks exceptionally well, but that ownership, context and responsibility still matter. Schedule a marketing discovery call here #business #marketingpodcast #entrepreneurmindset #leadership #delegation #AI #founders #productivity Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    Why CEOs Shouldn’t Have a To-Do List | Aaron Hayslip

  5. Sep 8

    Hard Makes You Better: Faith, Money and Financial Freedom | Tyler Hennessee

    What happens when following your calling means walking away from the career and identity you’ve built for more than 20 years? In this episode of Good Business, Tyler Hennessee shares his journey from decades in ministry to building a financial stewardship consultancy. Tyler opens up about leaving his role as a worship pastor, the loneliness and uncertainty that followed, and why he believes taking a step of faith before having complete clarity ultimately strengthened his faith, marriage, family and perspective on money. Clay Vaughan, Luke Frazier and Tyler also dig into what financial stewardship actually means, why Tyler challenges conventional thinking around mortgages, and the strategy he used to pay off the remaining 27 years of his own home loan in just three and a half years. They discuss scarcity versus abundance, investing in education, the importance of being teachable, and why Tyler believes hard seasons can shape us without believing that everything in life has to be hard. Schedule a marketing discovery call here #business #marketingpodcast #entrepreneurmindset #FaithAndBusiness #FinancialFreedom #FinancialStewardship #Entrepreneurship #Leadership Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    Hard Makes You Better: Faith, Money and Financial Freedom | Tyler Hennessee

  6. Sep 1

    From Selling Meat in a Parking Lot to America’s Fastest-Growing Meat Company | Ben Spell

    Ben Spell never planned to become an entrepreneur. With a background in church ministry and music, no agricultural experience, and no history of even grilling a steak, he says a calling from God led him to start what would eventually become Good Ranchers. What began with selling meat out of the back of a truck in a Waco parking lot grew into what Ben describes as the fastest-growing meat company in the U.S. over the past five years. In this episode of Good Business, Ben shares the unlikely origin story of Good Ranchers, the financial risks his family took to get the business off the ground, and the role faith has played throughout the journey. He also discusses the realities of the American meat industry, building a business around American-sourced meat, and the deeply personal challenges his family has faced along the way. Schedule a marketing discovery call here #business #marketingpodcast #entrepreneurmindset #GoodRanchers #entrepreneurship #faithandbusiness #businessgrowth #AmericanBusiness Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    From Selling Meat in a Parking Lot to America’s Fastest-Growing Meat Company | Ben Spell

  7. Jun 23

    How to Build a $300 Million Exit Twice | Bill Potter on Leadership, AI, and What Really Matters

    After building and selling Message Broadcast in a deal worth nearly $300 million, Bill Potter thought he might retire. Instead, he started over. In this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier welcome back Bill Potter to discuss what happened after his nine-figure exit, why he chose to lead DataCapable, and what he's learned about leadership, talent, AI, purpose, and legacy. Bill shares why successful entrepreneurs don't stop creating, how he rebuilt one of the fastest-growing software companies in the utility industry, and why the greatest reward in business isn't money—it's the people whose lives you impact along the way. From artificial intelligence and utility infrastructure to nonprofit work and servant leadership, this conversation is filled with wisdom from someone who has spent decades building companies and helping others do the same. If you're a founder, executive, entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to build a life that matters, this episode is for you. In this episode: • Why Bill returned to building after a $300 million exit  • How DataCapable is transforming the utility industry  • Why AI won't replace wisdom and judgment  • The importance of making it easy to do business with you  • Building a world-class management team  • Why hiring mistakes cost time more than money  • Lessons learned from a mountain of mistakes  • How nonprofit work made Bill a better leader  • Why leadership is stewardship, not position  • The importance of beginning with the end in mind  • Creating wealth versus creating a legacy  • What defines good business Quote from the Episode "Leadership is not about position or title. It is about stewardship." About Bill Potter Bill Potter is the former CEO of Message Broadcast, which was acquired in a deal valued at nearly $300 million. Today, he serves as CEO of DataCapable, where he is leading the development of next-generation software solutions for utilities across North America. Bill is also deeply involved in philanthropic work supporting vulnerable children through Olive Crest. Subscribe for more conversations with founders and leaders who are using business as a force for good. Watch Bill's previous Good Business episode: https://youtu.be/vg3msbBDCuM #GoodBusiness #BillPotter #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #AI #DataCapable #BusinessPodcast #ServantLeadership #FounderStory #BusinessGrowth #UtilityIndustry #Legacy #CompanyCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #ArtificialIntelligence Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    How to Build a $300 Million Exit Twice | Bill Potter on Leadership, AI, and What Really Matters

  8. Jun 16

    Building a Solar Company in Oil Country

    In this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier sit down with Power Ray founders Jarel Ray and Nefi LeBaron to discuss entrepreneurship, culture, leadership, and why they believe the future of energy will require entirely new ways of thinking. From humble beginnings in Mexico to building one of the fastest-growing utility-scale solar companies in Texas, Jarel and Nefi share how hard work, faith, and a commitment to people have fueled their vision of creating a billion-dollar company built on purpose. In this episode: • Why Jarel believes major power outages could be coming to Texas • The future of decentralized energy and community power systems • Building a solar company in the heart of oil country • Growing from 30 employees to hundreds in record time • Scaling culture in a high-growth business • Why integrity sometimes means walking away from money • Lessons from growing up with very little in Mexico • The role of faith, purpose, and service in leadership • Why business should be about more than profit • What defines a truly good business Jarel and Nefi's story is a powerful reminder that great businesses are built by great people—and that success is ultimately about serving others. If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, leader, or someone who believes business can be a force for good, this conversation is for you. Key Moments:  00:00 Why Texas Could Face Major Power Outages 05:09 Meet Power Ray 08:08 Scaling From 30 to Hundreds of Employees 13:16 Building Solar in Oil Country 18:38 Where Drive and Ambition Come From 24:13 Empowering People Through Business 29:44 Growing Up in Mexico 41:20 Wrestling Crocodiles and Childhood Adventures 46:43 How Power Ray Was Founded 55:04 Is Texas Headed Toward Another Grid Crisis? 1:00:57 The Future of Energy 1:12:04 Why Core Values Matter 1:22:53 Building a Billion-Dollar Company 1:24:28 What Defines Good Business? Subscribe to Good Business for more conversations with founders and leaders who are using business as a force for good. #GoodBusiness #PowerRay #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #TexasEnergy #SolarEnergy #BusinessPodcast #CompanyCulture #SmallBusiness #FounderStory Support the show This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

    Building a Solar Company in Oil Country
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Good Business with Clay Vaughan is a podcast about building companies that actually matter. Not just ones that grow, but ones that last. Ones that honor God, care for people, and create real value in the world. Every week, Clay sits down with entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders who are walking that road in their own way. The conversations aren’t fluffy or surface-level. They get into the hard stuff—how to lead through chaos, how to build culture when it’s easier to cut corners, and how to keep purpose front and center when profit is shouting in your ear. It’s a show about the kind of business most people want to run but few actually figure out. You’ll hear wins and mistakes, stories and strategies, but more importantly—you’ll hear what it looks like to run a business that’s both good at what it does and good for the people it touches. If you want to grow, lead well, and make an impact that outlives you, this is your place.

Information

  • Creator
    Clay Vaughan
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Good Business with Clay Vaughan
  • Show Website
    Good Business with Clay Vaughan

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