Episode 8 of The Nick Schlekeway Podcast features marketing director, podcast host, and Treasure Valley native Shane Larson.Before he was leading marketing teams and hosting The Game Time Guru, Shane was a kid in Meridian learning how to take a punch. Boxing started at fifteen and became the training ground for everything that came after.

Confidence under pressure. Emotional control when it counts. The discipline to keep moving forward after life lands a clean shot.But his story didn't start in marketing.Shane's path includes:

• Stepping into the boxing ring at fifteen and learning what combat sports expose about a person
• Going through a hard life change and rebuilding from ground zero, including a return to his parents' house
• Hosting The Game Time Guru Podcast since 2017, built on authentic human stories rather than sports commentary
• Spending six years at ClickFunnels learning rapid execution, resilience, and the operator mindset directly from Russell Brunson
• Watching Meridian transform from a small town into one of the fastest-growing cities in the country

In this episode, Shane breaks down what modern marketing actually requires in an AI-saturated world, why founder-generated content is the new moat for trust, and how story selling beats talking at an audience every time. He gets honest about the dark stretches, the power of community during a reset, and why isolating is the worst thing you can do when life knocks you down. He also shares why silence and self-reflection matter more than ever in a loud world, and the kind of leadership legacy he wants to leave behind.If you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or operator looking to understand how to build trust in a noisy market, how to come back from a reset, and how to lead with both grit and compassion, this conversation is required listening.#TreasureValley #BoiseIdaho #MeridianIdaho #ResilienceMindset #FounderGeneratedContent #StorySelling #MarketingPodcast #ClickFunnels #EntrepreneurMindset #nickschlekeway Topics CoveredShane Larson, The Game Time Guru, ClickFunnels, Russell Brunson, founder-generated content, story selling, marketing in the AI era, NotebookLM, resilience and reinvention, overcoming divorce, rebuilding after rock bottom, faith and community, boxing mindset, Meridian Idaho growth, Treasure Valley, leadership and legacy, Nick Schlekeway podcast

Episode 7 of The Nick Schlekeway Podcast features one of the most influential figures in Idaho real estate: Larry Leasure.Before Boise became one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Larry Leasure was quietly shaping its future.From assembling over 70 parcels of land to develop Boise Town Square Mall, to helping transform downtown with projects like The Grove Hotel, Hotel 43, and the hockey arena, his work didn’t just follow growth, it created it.But his story didn’t start in real estate.Larry’s path includes:- Touring as a professional jazz musician- Learning to fly aircraft as a teenager- Serving as Vice President of the College of Idaho- Transitioning into real estate in the 1970s and building some of Boise’s most iconic developmentsIn this episode, he breaks down what most people get wrong about real estate, why this is ultimately a people business, and how major developments actually come together behind the scenes.If you’re an agent, investor, or builder looking to understand how cities grow, and how to think bigger in your own career, this conversation is required listening.#BoiseRealEstate #TreasureValley #IdahoRealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #CommercialRealEstate #CityBuilding#RealEstateInvesting #BoiseIdaho #EntrepreneurMindset#NickSchlekewayTopics Covered:Boise real estate, Treasure Valley real estate, Idaho real estate market, real estate development, Larry Leasure Boise, Boise Town Square Mall history, downtown Boise development, real estate investing tips, commercial real estate, how cities grow, real estate podcast, Nick Schlekeway podcast, Boise Idaho growth

Most people think business growth starts with better strategy.It doesn’t. It starts with better leadership.In this episode of The Nick Schlekeway Podcast, I sit down with Kam Wheeler the President, Owner, and Chairman of American Construction Supply, to talk about what actually drives growth in business and in life.We get into the real work behind success: personal development, discipline, leadership, and the standards you hold when no one’s watching.Kam breaks down why your business will never outgrow you… and how the personality, habits, and standards of a leader shape the entire organization. We also talk about the truths around meritocracy, accountability (especially in family businesses), and why protecting culture is non-negotiable if you want to scale.This conversation isn’t just about business. It’s about life.We go deep on fatherhood, legacy, and the tension between building something meaningful professionally while still showing up at home. Kam shares how he thinks about giving his kids an “unfair advantage” not through handouts, but through exposure, standards, and work ethic.If you’re trying to grow, lead better, and build something that actually lasts… this one matters.Key Topics:• Why personal growth drives business growth• Leadership standards and building high-performing teams• Meritocracy vs. nepotism in business• The mindset of high performers (and why they hate losing)• Fatherhood, family, and building a legacy• How to stay consistent when the goal feels overwhelmingThe best time to start was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.Subscribe to The Nick Schlekeway Podcast for conversations with leaders, builders, and operators shaping business, communities, and culture.#NickSchlekeway #KamWheeler #Boise #IdahoRealEstate #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Development #TreasureValley #businesspodcast Keywords and Key Phrases:leadership development, business growth strategy, entrepreneurship mindset, Kam Wheeler, Nick Schlekeway podcast, American Construction Supply, high performance habits, personal development, discipline and consistency, leadership standards, company culture, meritocracy vs nepotism, scaling a business, executive leadership, growth mindset, stoicism, Ryan Holiday, James Clear habits, Jim Rohn philosophy, Tony Robbins motivation, fatherhood and business, legacy building, family and success, work life balance, mindset for success

In this episode of The Nick Schlekeway Podcast, Nick sits down with Tommy Ahlquist the founder and CEO of Ahlquist Development, former ER physician, entrepreneur, and former candidate for Idaho governor, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, resilience, and the responsibility of shaping a growing state.Tommy shares the unlikely path that took him from the emergency room to leading some of the most recognizable development projects in the Treasure Valley. From the Eighth & Main tower in downtown Boise to the massive 10 Mile development in Meridian, he explains what it actually takes to build cities, navigate public resistance to growth, and plan for the future of Idaho.The conversation also goes deeper than business.Tommy opens up about nearly losing everything during the 2008 financial crisis, when his first major project was on the brink of collapse while he was still working ER shifts. A last-minute partnership that saved the project changed the trajectory of his career and reshaped how he thinks about risk, trust, and perseverance.Nick and Tommy also discuss the emotional toll first responders carry, Tommy’s ongoing work supporting veterans and first responders through hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and the life-threatening heart condition that forced him to completely rethink his health, priorities, and approach to life.What emerges is a conversation about more than development or politics, it’s about resilience, service, and the kind of legacy you choose to build.Topics in this episode include:• The future of development and growth in the Treasure Valley• Why Idaho continues attracting talent and investment• The near-failure that almost ended Tommy’s career in 2008• Lessons from working as an ER physician• Supporting veterans and first responders through Summit Hyperbarics• Surviving a life-threatening heart condition and redefining health• Philanthropy and the mission behind Inspire Excellence• The Teens to Trades program and rebuilding respect for skilled trades• Family, gratitude, and the legacy Tommy hopes to leaveIf you care about leadership, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the future of Idaho, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Subscribe to The Nick Schlekeway Podcast for conversations with leaders, builders, and operators shaping business, communities, and culture.#NickSchlekeway #TommyAhlquist #Boise #IdahoRealEstate #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Development #TreasureValley #businesspodcast Topics Covered:Tommy Ahlquist, Nick Schlekeway podcast, Ahlquist Development, Boise Idaho development, Treasure Valley growth, Idaho real estate development, Eighth and Main tower Boise, Ten Mile Meridian development, ER doctor turned developer, entrepreneurship Idaho, leadership and resilience, 2008 financial crisis entrepreneur story, building cities and urban development, Idaho business leaders, Summit Hyperbarics, supporting veterans and first responders, Inspire Excellence foundation, Teens to Trades program, Boise business podcast, future of Idaho growth

Torry McAlvain is the third-generation president of McAlvain Construction, one of the largest commercial contractors in the Northwest, with nearly 400 employees and projects ranging from a $200M city infrastructure build to $140M in work at Micron. But this episode isn't really about the company... It's about what it costs to lead one.Torry lost his father in November 2024. At 39, that loss forced him to confront the real question every founder eventually has to answer: What are you actually building, and who are you building it for?Nick and Torry go deep on what it means to carry a family legacy without losing yourself in it, how Torry rebuilt his identity after seven years of sobriety, and why radical self-ownership is the only real antidote to a culture addicted to victimhood.This one hits differently.In this episode:• How Torry went from academic probation (twice) to Dean's honors and what changed• Working alongside his father as a business partner, not just a son• The mindset shift that sobriety forced on him• Why legacy isn't about money and what it actually is• Building a culture where people want to show upThis episode is about what grief forces you to see. It's about carrying a legacy you didn't ask for, rebuilding yourself when nobody's watching, and showing up anyway.If you've lost someone, started over, or ever asked yourself what you're really building and why, this one is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, loss, entrepreneurship, and what it actually costs to build something that lasts.📲 Share this with someone who's been through it and kept going.__Topics Covered:grief, loss, suicide loss, losing a parent, father suicide, coping with grief, grief and leadership, legacy, family legacy, third generation business, family business, generational wealth, construction company, commercial construction, Idaho business, Boise Idaho, sobriety, seven years sober, marijuana sobriety, addiction recovery, identity after addiction, radical self ownership, victim mentality, personal responsibility, resilience, overcoming adversity, mental health and leadership, founder mindset, entrepreneurship, building a business, scaling a company, company culture, leadership lessons, working with family, father son business, Boise State football, walk on athlete, academic probation, second chances, reinvention, self validation, internal validation, mindset shift, optimism, purpose driven leadership, what is legacy, what matters most, construction industry, Pacific Northwest business, business owner podcast, founder podcast, leadership podcast, entrepreneur interview, personal development, self ownership, grief and purpose, losing a parent to suicide, suicide awareness, mental health awareness, building something that lasts#grief #loss #suicideloss #losingaparent #fatherandson #familylegacy #legacy #generationalbusiness #familybusiness #thirdgeneration #construction #commercialconstruction #constructionindustry #idahobusiness #boiseidaho #boisestate #sobriety #sevenyearssober #addictionrecovery #soberlife #identityshift #radicalownership #selfownership #victimmentality #personalresponsibility #resilience #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #leadership #leadershiplessons #founderlife #entrepreneurship #founder #businessowner #companyculture #scalingabusiness #workingwithfamily #fathersonbusiness #walkon #athlete #secondchances #reinvention #mindset #mindsetshift #purposedrivenleadership #whatislegacy #personaldevelopment #selfvalidation #internalvalidation #optimism #buildingsomethingthatmatters #podcastinterview #founderpodcast #leadershippodcast #entrepreneurpodcast #thefounderexperience #nickschlekeway #TorryMcAlvain #McAlvainconstruction #amherstmadison

What does it take to lead at the highest level of college athletics?In this episode, Nick sits down with Jeremiah Dickey, Athletic Director at Boise State University; a blue-collar kid from El Paso, Texas who built his career through discipline, humility, and relentless work ethic.Jeremiah shares his journey from growing up watching his father work two jobs… to setting written goals to become one of the youngest Athletic Directors in the country. Along the way, he learned that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about standards, service, and uncomfortable conversations.This conversation goes far beyond sports.Key Moments and Topics Covered:• The real meaning of “No one cares, work harder”• Why your identity must be bigger than your job• God, family, and career, in that order• Why he rejects the idea of “work-life balance”• Building a culture where players must truly “want to be a Bronco”• The transfer portal: wins, challenges, and timing pressures• The difference between Power Four programs and Boise State• Leadership through accountability and servant mindset• Why growth always lives in the uncomfortableJeremiah also opens up about:– Traveling over 3 months last year as AD– Prioritizing family during the holidays– Choosing administration over coaching to create long-term stability– Volunteering for fundraising experience after his day job to move up fasterThis episode is about standards. It’s about earning your success and it’s about leading in a way that lasts.If you care about culture, leadership, discipline, and legacy, this one is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, real estate, and building durable success.📲 Share this with someone who values standards over shortcuts.

In this episode, we explore leadership, public service, governance, and urban development through a conversation with Dirk Kempthorne, former Mayor of Boise, Governor of Idaho, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of the Interior under President George W. Bush.

Dirk Kempthorne has served at nearly every level of government, and in this conversation he shares the leadership principles, decision-making frameworks, and personal values that guided him through decades of public service.

From stopping the demolition of downtown Boise to navigating high-stakes negotiations in Washington, this episode breaks down what real leadership looks like when the pressure is high and the stakes are real.

This conversation goes beyond politics. It’s about accountability, integrity, mentorship, civic responsibility, and the long-term impact of thoughtful leadership. Dirk reflects on the family influences that shaped him, the mentors who guided his path, and the moments where answering the call to serve required difficult, unpopular decisions.

Key Topics Covered

• Leadership lessons from local and national government

• Running for Mayor of Boise at 34 and rebuilding the city’s future

• Urban development, downtown redevelopment, and long-term city planning

• How relationships and trust drive effective governance

• Navigating federal politics with integrity and principle

• Mentorship, family values, and service-based leadership

• Decision-making under pressure and legacy leadership

• Lessons from leaders like Bob Dole and Winston Moore

Whether you care about leadership, public service, government, city development, or building something that lasts, this episode offers timeless insights from one of Idaho’s most influential leaders.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, service, governance, and impact.

Topics

leadership, public service, government, governance, urban development, city planning, political leadership, civic leadership, mentorship, accountability, decision-making, legacy leadership, Idaho politics, Boise redevelopment, Secretary of the Interior, U.S. government, public policy

In this episode, we break down leadership, discipline, decision-making, and the real cost of excellence with Matt Bauscher, focusing on what high performance actually demands when outcomes matter.

This is an unfiltered conversation about standards, responsibility, and the long-term thinking required to lead at a high level. We explore why excellence has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with discipline, consistency, and the standards you’re willing to enforce when no one is watching.

We talk about the unseen pressure that comes with leadership, the difference between chasing success and earning trust, and why most people say they want excellence while quietly avoiding the work it requires.

This episode isn’t motivational. It’s practical. It’s about decision-making, accountability, and building the kind of discipline that compounds over time, in business, real estate, and leadership.

Key Topics Covered

• Leadership and accountability when results matter

• Discipline and standards behind high performance

• Decision-making under pressure

• Excellence as a system, not a personality trait

• Why talent matters less than consistency

• Earning trust versus chasing outcomes

• Operator mindset and long-term thinking

• Leadership principles in business and real estate

If you’re a builder, operator, leader, or someone focused on long-term execution and better decision-making, this conversation will challenge how you think about excellence.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, business strategy, real estate, economics, and personal responsibility.

Topics

leadership, business leadership, discipline, decision-making, excellence, high performance, personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, operator mindset, real estate leadership, long-term thinking, leadership standards, building trust, accountability

Hosted by entrepreneur, real estate broker, speaker, and coach Nick Schlekeway, the show explores leadership, identity, and the pursuit of excellence without shortcuts. Centered on truth, wisdom, calling, and abundance, this podcast is for entrepreneurs, leaders, athletes, and anyone committed to the climb.