Thomas Flohr is a Swiss entrepreneur and visionary in private aviation, best known as the founder and chairman of VistaJet. After building a successful career in asset finance, he launched VistaJet in 2004 to redefine business aviation with a global fleet and a pioneering subscription model. Today, VistaJet serves leaders, innovators, and changemakers in over 180 countries, offering seamless travel without aircraft ownership.

A true disruptor, Flohr has combined Swiss precision with bold innovation to create one of the world's most influential aviation companies, while continuing to expand Vista Global's footprint across mobility and luxury services worldwide. In this episode of Grit Rising, Trent and Thomas discuss the importance of listening to the customer. Don't miss this episode full of lessons on how to build a massively successful company.

Ron Earley is a distinguished entrepreneur and sales expert celebrated for building multiple million-dollar companies and generating over $1.4 billion in revenue through ventures like Greywolfe Investing. Known as the "Salesgod," he has closed more than $40 million in high-ticket sales and distilled his winning sales strategies into the best-selling book Closer, a trusted guide for sales professionals worldwide. Beyond business, Ron earned the key to the city of Sarasota, Florida, for his courageous efforts delivering life-saving supplies during a devastating hurricane, showcasing his unwavering commitment to community and leadership under pressure.

In this episode of Grit Rising, Ron shares how he relentlessly optimizes for success, builds rapport in networking, and reveals key insights for achieving big goals. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

This special Father's Day edition of the Grit Rising podcast features Richard Bryson, whom Trent calls "the greatest salesman he has ever met." Richard is the president and founder of Bryson Financial Group, one of the nation's largest independent insurance brokerages. A former All-American athlete at CSULB, he is also a dedicated community leader and philanthropist. His numerous honors include the Junior Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and the National Boys and Girls Foundation Golden Boy Award. Bryson remains deeply connected to both his alma mater and the Long Beach community. Don't miss this heartfelt episode, as a father reflects on his life and the lessons he's learned and shared with his son.

Adam Nelson is a three-time Olympian and the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the shot put but that's not how the story began. He originally left Athens with a silver medal, only to be named the true gold medalist eight years later after the winner was disqualified for doping. His long-awaited medal ceremony? It happened at the Atlanta airport, next to a Burger King.

In this episode, Adam shares the remarkable journey behind that medal, how the silver shaped his drive for excellence, and what it meant to finally be recognized years after the moment had passed. Don't miss this unforgettable story about perseverance, purpose, and measuring success differently.

Jamie Elias has been a cornerstone of Trivest Partners for nearly 30 years, bringing deep expertise to every aspect of private equity. From sourcing investment opportunities and leading acquisitions to managing fundraising, portfolio oversight, and firm operations, Jamie has seen it all. As a member of the Investment Committee and a board member for numerous portfolio companies, his insights into business growth are invaluable.

In this episode of Grit Rising, Jamie pulls back the curtain on the private equity world, sharing what firms look for in entrepreneurs, how they operate after investing, and offering key insights into how the process works. If you've ever been curious about private equity and how it can shape your business, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

In this episode of Grit Rising, host Trent Bryson sits down with Paralympic legend Chris Waddell to discuss resilience, overcoming obstacles, and pushing limits. From winning 13 Paralympic medals to becoming the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro unassisted, Chris shares his journey of grit, determination and redefining success.

The first live recording of the Grit Rising podcast features Tom O'Leary and is proudly sponsored by Entrepreneur Magazine. Tom is the CEO and co-founder of Jet Zero, where he's leading the charge in revolutionizing aviation with a mission-driven mindset. Prior to this, Tom played a pivotal role at Tesla as an early senior executive, serving as Director of Sales and Marketing, and was instrumental in building the innovative market-facing infrastructure that helped the company become a trailblazer. With a career that spans multiple pioneering companies, including Autoweb.com, eBay Motors, and other industry disruptors, Tom has mastered the art of taking startups from their early stages to transformative success.

At Jet Zero, Tom and his team are tackling one of the most ambitious challenges in aviation—designing an ultra-efficient Blended Wing Body jet that promises to reshape the future of air travel. Partnering with the US Air Force, NASA, and the FAA, they're on track for an entry-into-service by 2030. The Jet Zero Blended Wing will be the biggest leap in commercial aircraft design since the start of the jet age, with 100% SAF compatibility and the capacity to eventually support zero-carbon hydrogen. It's a testament to Tom's unwavering grit and determination to push the boundaries of what's possible, aiming for a future where aviation is fully sustainable.

Tim Berry is the head of manufacturing and quality at Jet Zero. He previously worked at SpaceX on the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon and Starship rocket programs as well as Starlink. After decades of working with rockets, he transitioned to commercial aviation and Jet Zero's mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Keith Ferrazzi is a #1 NYT bestselling author, who wrote Never Eat Alone, Who's Got Your Back, Leading Without Authority, and his most recently published book Competing in the New World of Work. He's an entrepreneur, Founder & Chairman of Ferrazzi Greenlight and an executive team coach to some of the most prominent organizations in the world. He's a thought leader and frequent contributor at publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company.

Henry Cejudo tell us about his inspirational story on his journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist and transitioning to from wrestling to the UFC. He was known for being the youngest American Olympic gold medalist in wrestling history at the time, winning the 2008 Summer Olympics at age 21. After retiring from wrestling in 2012, he began fighting in MMA and made his UFC debut in December of 2014. He has gained over 15 wins throughout his MMA career including becoming a UFC Flyweight Champion and Bantamweight Champion.