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CASE STUDIES
Ty Nielson and Tim Miller: Resourcefulness, Risk, and the Power of Proximity
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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