2025 Recap: The Best of Multimedia
Take a look (or listen) to this year’s top episodes of GrowthTV and Middle Market Growth Conversations
2025 kicked off with a great deal of M&A optimism, but dealmakers quickly ran into roadblocks, including global tariffs and interest rates that remained elevated until late in the year.
Looking back at our most watched or most listened-to podcasts and videos of the past year, it’s clear that dealmakers were hungry for insights into what the future held, with all three of our top podcasts featuring economic outlook or analysis.
For our GrowthTV viewers, AI popped up again as a topic that’s retaining interest for investors, and insights for manufacturing CFOs drew plenty of eyeballs as well—but the top-performing GrowthTV episode of 2025 featured a collection of networking tips from DealMAX veterans, rounding out our best-of list with a return to the most basic building block of M&A: human connection.
Best of the Conversations Podcast
#3: Unpacking the One Big Beautiful Bill for the Middle Market
What changes does the One Big Beautiful Bill hold for middle-market businesses and the firms that invest in them? Michael Feuz, economist with ITR Economics, is back to talk through key provisions in the bill, what they mean for the middle market, and how businesses and investment firms should position themselves in response.
#2: The Economic Impact of Trump’s Policies
Initial pro-business sentiment following the election quieted a bit after the Trump administration issued a series of tariff announcements and retractions that roiled the stock market. With tariffs still on the table, Michael Feuz, an economist with ITR Economics, sits down with Middle Market Growth to discuss how Trump’s policies on trade, inflation, deregulation, immigration and more could impact the economy more broadly and dealmakers specifically.
#1: A 2025 Lending Outlook with WhiteHorse Capital
Stuart Aronson, executive managing director and CEO of WhiteHorse U.S., and Pankaj Gupta, president of WhiteHorse U.S. and global head of originations, are back with the podcast to discuss what’s next for lenders in the months ahead, how underwriting standards are developing, how portfolios will perform in 2025, and more.
The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.
The Best of GrowthTV
#3: The AI Agents That Will Shape PE
Can you expect an AI coworker in the next few years? Henry Lindemann, COO and co-founder of BlueFlame AI, sits down with GrowthTV to shed light on AI agents and the kind of dealmaking work they will take on in the near future.
#2: The Manufacturing CFO’s Guide to Growth
When it comes to driving growth, manufacturing CFOs and the PE teams they work with are learning that automation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Jennifer Finger, principal with Baker Tilly and the co-leader of their national CFO advisory practice, sits down with GrowthTV to discuss challenges in the manufacturing sector and how leaders can approach automation and other opportunities most effectively.
#1: How to Make Connections: Tips from Top Networkers
Ever wanted to ask top dealmakers and M&A pros for their tips on how to connect effectively? Look no further—we have a roundup of their best strategies here.
