The Grit to Growth Podcast

What does it take to grow from small-town South Dakota roots to leading global projects and government contracts? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Dr. Rachel MK Headley, CEO of Rose Group International, to explore her path from geographer to entrepreneur, and how she helps organizations navigate their biggest transitions.
Rachel shares the story of leaving her longtime career in science to build a consulting firm in Spearfish, South Dakota. Together with her business partner, she now leads a team working across industries — from healthcare to technology — guiding organizations through growth, change, and high-stakes projects.
You’ll hear:
How Rachel turned uncertainty into opportunity by starting her own company
The challenges of entrepreneurship, from financial stress to balancing risk
Why having the right business partner can make or break a company’s success
What it takes to guide organizations through messy, high-pressure transitions
Rachel’s exciting next steps with federal contracting and long-term growth
 
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What if you could sell your business, real estate, or even Bitcoin — without getting crushed by capital gains taxes? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, to unpack how entrepreneurs, investors, and high-net-worth individuals can legally defer taxes, diversify wealth, and multiply freedom.
Brett explains how the Deferred Sales Trust works, shares a real-life Bitcoin case study, and reveals how his team helps clients build “mini family offices” for long-term success. He also opens up about his personal journey — from going broke during the 2008 crash and working nights at Cheesecake Factory, to building a thriving business that helps others unlock financial freedom.
If you’ve ever wondered how to sell at the right time, reinvest wisely, and build wealth that lasts, this conversation is packed with insights.
 
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How does someone go from milking cows to managing multi-million dollar real estate projects?
In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Owen Reimer, founder of Stone Shore Capital, to explore his two-decade journey from growing up on a dairy farm in rural Canada to building over $100 million in real estate development projects.
Owen opens up about the lessons he learned from early financial losses, the decision to pivot from raising capital to doing his own real estate developments, and how he and his partners now create scalable, community-rooted multifamily housing solutions.
Listeners will hear why Owen skipped single-family rentals, what he looks for in a good deal, and why trust, patience, and partnership are central to his business philosophy. He also shares insights into how small-town work ethic and strategic collaboration helped build the foundation of Stone Shore Capital’s success.
Key Takeaways:
The power of learning from failure (and why it’s a “tuition payment”)
How Owen transitioned from financial services to hands-on real estate development
Why building slowly and intentionally pays off long term
How Stone Shore Capital nurtures investor relationships before they ever ask for a dollar
What’s next: “The Wilson” project and a growing pipeline of multifamily developments
 
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Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Jon Brudvig, a leading biotech researcher specializing in lysosomal health — a cellular recycling system critical for treating rare diseases, improving longevity, and preserving health as we age.
Jon shares how he went from running a Sioux Falls coffee shop to earning a PhD in biology, pioneering drug development at Amicus Therapeutics, and educating the public on the science of healthy aging. You’ll hear:
How lysosomes impact aging, disease, and everyday health
Why exercise and even intentional rest can boost cellular performance
The balance between biotech innovation and real-life application
Jon’s advice for aspiring biotech professionals and future authors
Whether you’re curious about the next generation of therapies or looking for practical steps to live healthier longer, this episode blends cutting-edge science with down-to-earth advice.
 
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In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Chris Van Dusen—a seasoned operator, investor, and marketer—who has built and scaled brands from scratch, led three successful exits, and now serves as a Senior Partner at Salico Capital. Broadcasting from Huntington Beach, California, Chris shares how he went from “accidental entrepreneur” to leading strategic growth investments for top-tier clients.
Chris walks us through his journey from finance to founding a CBD brand, a craft distillery, and a beauty care company. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at scaling businesses quickly, the hard lessons learned during COVID, and what he looks for when evaluating operators and startups.
He also shares practical mindset advice for founders, including his powerful "buffalo vs. cow" metaphor and why discomfort is a daily training ground for success.
What You’ll Learn:
How to identify high-potential operators and ideas
Why discomfort is crucial for growth
How to scale a business without sacrificing brand
Lessons from rapid growth, leadership, and navigating uncertainty
Why jiu-jitsu helps prepare you for entrepreneurship
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Lisa Groon—veteran, healthcare leader, community advocate, and TEDx speaker—whose story embodies the power of following purpose over simply following a path.
Lisa shares her journey from a small town in South Dakota to 22 years in the South Dakota Army National Guard (as a musician, no less), and into a career in healthcare focused on quality improvement and patient experience. She opens up about the personal impact of her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how it led her to focus deeply on dementia care and advocacy—including her recent TED Talk, "Finding Dignity and Joy in Alzheimer’s Disease."
Levi and Lisa dive into:
The value of blending service, education, and leadership
Lessons from her time in the National Guard
Her deep involvement in nonprofit work and the Harrisburg School Board
Her advice for navigating public service and community involvement
How to approach networking and conferences with confidence
Her surprising guilty pleasures and what gardening taught her about herself
Lisa’s story is a testament to what it looks like to serve with joy, purpose, and grit—on and off the stage.
 
 
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What happens when a former global corporate leader trades the boardroom for the laundromat? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Jon Schemmel, the man some call the "Midwest Laundromat King." Jon shares how he went from buying his first laundromat in 2020 to building a 22-store portfolio across three states—and why every acquisition feels like uncovering a new mystery.
Jon opens up about the realities of running a laundromat business, the power of strong banking relationships, and the unexpected opportunities that come from saying yes to the right conversations—even if they happen over a blackjack table in Deadwood.
Beyond laundromats, Jon dives into his other ventures in real estate, land flipping, investing, and business consulting. This episode is packed with insights for anyone considering entrepreneurship, multi-stream income, or scaling a small business into something much more.
What You'll Learn:
How Jon scaled from one laundromat to 22 locations
The behind-the-scenes realities of running a 7-day-a-week operation
Why relationships (not just business plans) are the key to funding and growth
How side hustles and investments complement his main business
His “Red Belt” mindset for constant improvement
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when a physician swaps scrubs for startups? In this episode, Levi sits down with Dr. Adam Finzen, a former clinician who now leads business development at WRS Health. Adam shares the pivotal moment during the pandemic that made him question the traditional path of medicine and what ultimately led him to transition into the health tech world.
We explore:
What inspired Adam to shift from practicing medicine to driving innovation in health tech
The challenges of selling to clinicians from a business development perspective
Why communication and connection are still his most valuable skills—even outside the clinic
His passion for Godzilla, books, and working from home as a dad of two
Insights on burnout, passive income, and redefining success for healthcare professionals
Whether you’re a clinician thinking about change, a startup leader working with medical clients, or just curious about Adam’s journey—you’ll take away powerful lessons about courage, pivoting careers, and building long-term impact.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.
 

In this episode, Levi Te Slaa welcomes Roger Pedersen, co-founder of East River Contracting, for an inspiring deep-dive into what it really takes to build a successful construction business from the ground up. Roger shares his early roots growing up in a family-run resort, the humble beginnings of East River with roofing jobs, and how a leap of faith—and a bit of grit—led to unexpected growth.
Roger talks about his journey from broadcast journalism into construction, the learning curves of starting a concrete division without a clear roadmap, and how partnerships and personalities have shaped the success of their business. He also opens up about the value of risk-taking, the importance of family, and what he's learned about structure—both in work and at home.
Key Takeaways:
The value of growing up around hard work and small business
How East River Contracting evolved from roofing to commercial framing and concrete
The upside of taking action before overanalyzing
Why balancing family and business matters more than ever
Lessons in risk, growth, and finding your own entrepreneurial path
 
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From a farm kid in New Holland, South Dakota, to a multi-business owner making bold moves across the country, Robbie Veurink’s story is all about grit, growth, and getting your hands dirty—literally. In this episode, Robbie shares his journey from working for the City of Sioux Falls to founding three successful businesses. He opens up about knocking on doors to get his first clients, launching a construction manufacturing facility during COVID, and even battling for his life during a life-threatening illness. This conversation is packed with real talk, inspiration, and insight into what it takes to balance work you love with people you enjoy being around.
What You'll Learn:
How Robbie transitioned from government work to launching his own engineering firm.
The grind of building trust and a client base from scratch.
How he mixes office strategy with hands-on, in-the-field labor.
The inside story of starting Black Tie Components, a high-tech truss and wall panel plant.
Lessons from surviving a near-death health crisis and how it reshaped his business and life philosophy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.