In this episode, Casey sits down with Chris Crittenden, entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Sandbox, for a conversation on courage, innovation, and rethinking what education should be. From selling a startup to Walmart to leading at BYU and now building Sandbox into a movement across multiple universities, Chris shares why closing doors and going deep often leads to the greatest returns.

He and Casey explore the flaws of traditional higher education, the trap of chasing prestige, and the power of learning by doing. Chris outlines how Sandbox is equipping students to launch real companies while reshaping themselves in the process. Their discussion dives into resilience, resourcefulness, and why the greatest opportunities often lie off the beaten path.

This episode is both a critique of the old system and a vision for a new one, where students learn through building, failure is embraced as part of the process, and desire becomes the ultimate differentiator.

What you'll learn

• How traditional higher ed’s incentives produce shallow learning—and how changing the “soil” unlocks genuine growth. 
• The launch of the Sandbox Fellowship: a 12-month, accredited master’s built around one job—build a company. 
• The “neobank for universities” model: partnering with New Mexico Highlands University to innovate on top of accredited infrastructure. 
• Why desire beats pedigree for founders, and how door-to-door grit translates into startup success. 

Chapters

00:00 | Welcome & Chris’s background 

00:16 | Walmart exit, BYU connection & early influences 

06:30 | Resourcefulness as the core Sandbox skill

07:14 | Growing up: farm roots, do-it-yourself mindset

09:51 | BYU → Consulting: chasing “stamps” vs. depth 

10:27 | McKinsey, prestige traps, and closing doors 

16:05 | Leaving Duke’s PhD for a startup

17:19 | Joining an unsexy company → billion-dollar outcome

31:11 | Teaching at BYU: joy vs. the politics of change

32:24 | Running the Rollins Center & building inside BYU 

33:24 | Sandbox thesis: learn by doing, start real companies 

35:58 | Early wins: teams into YC, model effects

41:29 | Scaling beyond BYU: UVU story & lucky plane ride 

43:02 | Six campuses: BYU, UVU, Utah State, Utah Tech, Boise State, Louisville 

43:41 | The “neobank for higher ed” insight 

45:27 | Announcing the Sandbox Fellowship (12-month MS, build a company) 

46:42 | Why for-profit: hire the best, build the best experience 

51:39 | Education as human transformation 

53:36 | Sales, rejection, and D2D grit in startups 

56:56 | Failure isn’t opposite of success—it’s part of it 

59:55 | Fellowship launches today + how to apply 

01:01:32 | Who gets in? One word: desire 

01:03:46 | Scale: cohort sizes, no equity, partner funds 

01:05:20 | Faith, purpose, and building for impact  

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This is a highlight episode featuring the first 30 minutes of our conversation with Kim Clark. To hear the full hour-and-a-half discussion, search for “Kim Clark” on the Case Studies Podcast and listen to the complete episode.

This week we sit down with Kim Clark, former Dean of Harvard Business School and President of BYU-Idaho, who has made remarkable contributions to education and business innovation. From his early influences and pivotal moments to his transformative roles, Kim shares his journey of leadership, values, and the power of education.

Kim discusses his significant initiatives throughout his career, including the introduction of core values such as respect, integrity, and accountability at Harvard Business School, embedding them into the school's culture. As President of BYU-Idaho, he launched the BYU Pathway program, which has brought educational opportunities to students around the world.

Listen as Kim shares his insights on building a culture of continuous improvement, empowering others, and the transformative power of education. Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores the essence of true leadership and the legacy of a life well-lived.

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In this episode, Casey sits down with entrepreneur and investor Matt Mathison to explore how truth, resilience, and purpose define what it really means to thrive. From Wall Street highs to a public collapse, Matt shares how radical transparency, discipline, and faith shaped his comeback and his creation of Allevio, a healthcare platform designed to “empower healing anywhere.”

He unpacks the Thrive Playbook — a practical framework of market tailwinds, operational systems, and maniacal cashflow discipline — showing how great leaders and businesses thrive by aligning people, purpose, and profit. Matt’s story reveals that thriving isn’t about avoiding pain, but transforming it into clarity and action.

For entrepreneurs and high performers, this episode delivers raw lessons on leadership, marriage, and mindset — from rebuilding after loss to creating daily rhythms that keep priorities straight. Through it all, Matt models how truth and love, in business and life, create the foundation for lasting success.

• Learn the three pillars of the Thrive Playbook and how to apply them in your company or personal growth journey.
• Hear the inside story of betting on a billion-dollar Chinese tech company, the short-seller attack that followed, and the courage to tell the truth when everything fell apart.
• See how Allevio scaled from a single idea to a multi-state platform serving patients and providers with purpose and precision.
• Take away relationship and marriage principles that anchor success — from forgiveness and radical communication to shared faith and consistency.

Chapters

00:00 | Welcome & family update

02:07 | Joy in every season: choosing optimism

04:43 | The book that sparked a leadership framework

07:17 | From Wall Street to betting on China

08:23 | Muddy Waters short report & total collapse

13:31 | Redefining “thriving” through loss and truth

19:10 | Removing fear: thriving as forward motion

22:45 | Lessons from failure: transparency and trust

26:46 | Building leaders at every level

29:04 | Hard feedback and preserving relationships

32:10 | The call that sparked Allevio

34:53 | The Thrive Playbook (market, team, cashflow)

37:57 | Mission, vision, and values before scale

41:20 | Cash discipline and operational systems

44:29 | Consistency compounds: the long game

46:53 | Allevio by the numbers

48:36 | Vision: “Empower healing anywhere”

53:26 | Leadership redefined: get better, help others get better

59:05 | Marriage as a partnership through seasons

01:03:00 | Forgive and forget: family wisdom

01:04:26 | Radical communication at home

01:06:52 | Morning runs and connection rituals

01:08:07 | Faith as the cornerstone

01:11:16 | Closing reflections and gratitude

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In this week’s episode, Casey dives into an engaging conversation with Shima Baughman, a distinguished professor and criminal justice advocate. Shima shares her incredible journey from growing up in a war-torn Iran to arriving in the United States, her family’s escape from war and political imprisonment, and how those experiences shaped her passion for criminal justice reform and faith-based initiatives.

Shima opens up about her childhood during the Iranian Revolution and her family’s struggle. She delves into her academic and professional journey, including her impactful work in Africa and her mission to bring faith into the lives of inmates.

Join us as Shima discusses the power of forgiveness, the importance of community, and her vision for a criminal justice system rooted in faith and rehabilitation. This episode is a profound exploration of resilience, leadership, and the transformative power of faith.

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In this episode, Casey sits down with Ty Nielson and Tim Miller, the entrepreneurial duo behind Ninja Kids, for a candid masterclass on building creator-led experiences with heart, vision, and relentless execution. Fresh off a Tony Robbins immersion, they unpack how state, story, and strategy helped catalyze new habits and higher standards; and why the energy of an aligned community can flip limiting beliefs into bold action.

Ty and Tim trace their path from shaping the trampoline park industry to founding Ninja Kids; along the way they learned that it’s rarely a lack of resources, but a lack of resourcefulness that holds leaders back. Their time scaling hundreds of locations provided a front-row education in private equity, deal structure, and culture; lessons they’d later use to design on their own terms.

They also share the scrappy stories that shaped the brand’s creator partnership strategy; from pursuing real estate with nothing but conviction, to a chance introduction that led to the Ninja Kids collaboration and a new growth thesis. Expect takeaways on proximity as power, building wonder into product, modeling excellence, and leading so your people feel believed in.

00:00 | Opening & Intros: Ninja Kids leadership

00:41 | Tony Robbins: going “all in”

01:52 | Shared values & why Sandlot invested

03:58 | What a Tony event feels like (state → story → strategy)

06:47 | The 55° room, physiology, and energy

07:14 | Full-circle moment on Casey’s plane

10:08 | Community, permission to play big, and breakthroughs

11:00 | Proximity is power: the billionaire story

15:13 | Belonging, imposter syndrome, and belief

17:15 | Dreaming bigger: from $20M to $1B vision

17:46 | Shared values with investors & doing them proud

19:50 | Theme of the journey: people who believe in you

20:56 | Origins: missions in Russia & lifelong partnership

27:06 | What Russians taught them about trust and loyalty

29:29 | Ty’s childhood in post-USSR Russia (Pepsi → Coke!)

31:44 | The leap: from Schlumberger to “ringmaster” vision

35:12 | Titles, vision, and chasing wonder

36:20 | Modeling leaders; habits, gratitude, and wonderment

41:08 | Designing for wonder: lighting, art, and moments

45:46 | Scaling lessons: do your absolute best, be resourceful

47:49 | It’s not resources; it’s resourcefulness

54:14 | 300+ parks, private equity, and real-world MBA

56:32 | Culture shock: when the magic dwindles

58:21 | Fired → phone call → blessing → new chapter

01:02:23 | Pattern recognition: rebrands vs. creators

01:06:05 | Tesla saga to Chicago: conviction on wheels

01:08:37 | Kindness compounds: the people who helped

01:12:50 | Emergent strategy: buy tired parks, create energy

01:14:01 | Non-competes, red tape, and 34-month realities

01:16:35 | The Ninja Kids intro (thanks, Stevie from BYU)

01:17:44 | First acquisition in Dallas & signing the PGs

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In this special release episode of Case Studies, Casey dives into a powerful story of resilience and generosity, centered around Todd Pedersen and his journey from financial ruin to monumental success. We explore how Todd's unwavering belief in himself, fostered by mentors and loved ones, helped him navigate the darkest times. From losing everything during the 2007 financial crisis to building a billion-dollar empire, Todd's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of giving back.

We'll hear about the pivotal moments that shaped his entrepreneurial path, the invaluable lessons learned from his father, and the importance of treating people like gold. Todd shares heartfelt anecdotes about his mission, starting businesses from scratch, and the vital support from his wife, Andy, throughout the journey. The episode concludes with a discussion on the significance of giving and how Todd's philosophy of spreading wealth has created a lasting legacy.

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In this episode, Casey explores the true power of compounding — how time, trust, and disciplined habits create outcomes far greater than the sum of their parts. He shares how two decades of relationship equity, balance sheet building, and pattern recognition came together in a real estate transaction that turned an empty Class A office into a 12 year cash-flowing asset while unlocking $25M in equity.

He reframes compounding beyond money into skills, reputation, and momentum. Drawing on Tony Robbins’ framework of recognizing, utilizing, and creating patterns, Casey shows how consistent daily inputs set the stage for exponential results when opportunity arises.

For high performers, he offers a practical system: a morning routine of cold plunge, sauna, prayer, breathwork, and 100 daily burpees, followed by three focusing questions — Who am I, What are my biggest opportunities, and What fires me up. The lesson is clear: small, intentional actions compound into extraordinary advantages over time.

• Learn how to expand compounding beyond finance into habits, reputation, and opportunity design. 
• See the real estate case study step-by-step: buying a $42M building for $15M, securing a long-term tenant, financing in a brutal office market, and returning 100% of investor principal in nine months. 
• Steal Casey’s daily system (cold plunge, sauna, prayer/meditation, breathwork, 100 burpees, and three focusing questions) to build compounding advantages in your own life. 
• Apply Tony Robbins’ pattern recognition/utilization/creation and Gladwell’s 10,000 hours to accelerate mastery. 

• 00:00 | Why compounding changes everything 
• 00:39 | Einstein’s “eighth wonder” & mental blind spots 
• 01:37 | Buffett’s late-stage wealth and time in market 
• 02:39 | Patterns: recognize, use, then create 
• 03:28 | 10,000 hours = compounding expertise 
• 03:59 | Case study setup: the Vivint building 
• 05:23 | From $42M REIT sale to vacant office 
• 06:12 | Buy at $15M, appraise at $40M with lease 
• 06:50 | One signature, $25M in equity 
• 09:05 | Financing an office deal in a tough market 
• 10:49 | Balance-sheet compounding & closing terms 
• 12:00 | Returning 100% of investor principal in 9 months 
• 13:19 | Tax strategy: cost segregation bonus 
• 14:58 | Daily habits that compound results 
• 16:07 | Priming: gratitude, love, and vivid goals 
• 17:34 | Three questions: Who am I? Opportunities? What fires me up? 
• 20:16 | Viktor Frankl, vision, and a compelling future 
• 22:33 | 100 daily burpees & stacking wins 
• 23:33 | The 1% rule: tiny actions → exponential returns  

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This week we’re diving into the life of Dave Jensen, whose path from a celebrated athlete to a business leader is woven with trials and triumphs. We explore deep into the challenges that shaped him, from the rigorous training fields of his youth to the high-pressure arenas of Wall Street. Dave’s story is a compelling narrative of perseverance, underscored by the influential mentors and the unyielding support of family that guided him through each chapter of his life.

In this intimate exploration, listeners will discover the invaluable lessons learned from both victories and setbacks. We discuss how resilience, hard work, and community support are integral to overcoming obstacles and achieving success. Join us as Dave shares his insights on the transformative power of embracing life’s challenges and the unexpected journeys that lead to personal and professional growth. This podcast is not just a recount of achievements but a deeper look at the enduring impact of life’s lessons and the strength found in resilience.

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John Taylor, billionaire-minded entrepreneur and Co-founder of Grit Marketing, went from knocking doors in college to building one of the fastest-growing sales organizations in America. Now, he reveals the leadership habits, mindset shifts, and business principles that shaped his rise—and how you can apply them to your own journey.

In this episode, John Taylor shares:

• The leadership routine that keeps him disciplined and focused
• How Grit Marketing evolved from door-to-door sales into a platform company
• The psychological shift that separates top sales reps from true leaders
• Why skipping the “boring” financial skills could cost you millions
• How marriage, family, and faith keep him grounded while scaling businesses
• The mindset that turns setbacks into opportunities for growth

John Taylor’s story is about more than sales—it’s about building belief, leading with humility, and creating success that lasts. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or rep in the field, his lessons will change the way you think about business, discipline, and life.”

00:00 | Opening & why this conversation

01:18 | Partnership, boardroom lessons & belief from mentors

01:54 | Todd Pedersen’s influence and the evolving Grit team 

03:04 | Early valuation, vision, and “bottom of the mountain” mindset

04:22 | Roots, family of 11, first door-to-door reps

09:08 | BYU finance, pest control, and learning to lead

12:21 | Competition, identity, and the power of belief

15:32 | From top rep to VP: building organizations that scale

16:52 | 2020 uncertainty, honoring deals, and character under pressure

18:16 | Essential business, resilience, and keeping promises

24:02 | Founding Grit (2020): from sales partner to platform

26:59 | Habits & rituals: Sunday planning, cold plunge, breathwork 

30:05 | Emily: marriage, values, and building a life that works

33:30 | Don’t skip steps: hard skills (finance/accounting) compound

35:39 | Sharpe ratio thinking: time, trade-offs, and priorities

36:30 | Golf, relationships, and playing the right game

41:57 | Purpose, presence, and leading with love

43:28 | Modeling authenticity: inspiring people to be better

51:46 | Faith, hope, NICU lessons, and “life happening for us” 

58:21 | Close: the best is yet to come

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In this deeply engaging episode, we journey through the life of Chad Lewis - whose path from being an overlooked high school athlete to a professional football star embodies the essence of an underdog victory. Chad shares his exhilarating tales of resilience and unexpected success, revealing how moments of inspiration led him from performing a pivotal standing backflip to secure a scholarship to walking on at BYU against all odds. His candid stories extend from heartfelt chats on long hikes to the intense pressures of professional football.

Listeners will gain insights into Chad’s personal struggles, the impact of his faith on his career decisions, and the influential people who believed in him when few others did. Alongside his reflections are tales of personal growth and pivotal life decisions that not only shaped his career but also his character. This episode not only celebrates Chad’s athletic prowess but also his profound humanity and the enduring belief that determination and faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

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