The RTO Show: "Let's talk Rent to Own"
The RTO Show Podcast is the podcast for the rent-to-own industry, hosted by Pete Shau, an industry insider with more than 20 years of experience in RTO operations, sales, leadership, marketing, and store growth. Each episode brings candid conversations, practical insights, and real stories from the people shaping the RTO community, including operators, vendors, association leaders, store teams, industry veterans, and innovators helping move rent-to-own forward. Pete’s conversations are built for seasoned veterans, newcomers, owners, managers, vendors, and anyone who wants to learn from the shared experiences, hard-earned lessons, and fresh perspectives inside the rent-to-own industry. From lead generation, lead management, customer behavior, store traffic, door swings, sales process, collections, training, recruitment, and leadership development to technology, CRM integration, mobile-first shopping, Google ranking, Facebook ads, video marketing, advocacy, APRO, TRIB Group, RTO World, LegCon, and the future of the rent-to-own business model, The RTO Show helps listeners understand what is really happening in RTO. If you work in RTO, serve the RTO industry, or want to better understand the people, challenges, trends, and opportunities behind rent-to-own, The RTO Show Podcast is your insider’s guide to the industry’s pulse. Join The RTO Newsletter: https://bit.ly/RTOPODnewsletter Learn More About Sponsorship: https://bit.ly/RTOPODsponsor
Episodes
What does the future of rent to own technology actually look like, and how can dealers stay competitive as AI, automation, and real time inventory systems reshape retail buying?
In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, host Pete Shau sits down with Michael Costa from AMPTAB to explore how digital infrastructure, integrated ordering systems, and omnichannel retail tools are changing the way rent to own businesses sour...
What happens when a first time LedgeCon attendee walks into Capitol Hill and discovers the true power of advocacy in the rent to own industry?
In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Lauren Talicska shares her experience attending APRO’s LedgeCon 2026 and explains why legislative advocacy, industry relationships, and storytelling matter more than ever in modern rent to own.
From changing public perception and educat...
What happens when the rent to own industry stops reacting and starts leading the conversation in Washington, D.C.?
In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Pete Shau sits down with Charles Smitherman and Amberlee Maya to break down why APRO’s LegCon 2026 became one of the most important advocacy events in recent rent to own history.
From legislative advocacy and consumer protection to virtual rent to own growth and i...
What separates a good tire shop from a high performing customer focused operation?
In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Pete Shau sits down with Jason Chui of RNR Tire Express to explore how leadership, hands on training, customer service, and operational systems are helping RIMS USA scale one of the fastest growing rent to own tire and wheel businesses in the country.
From ASE certifications and service manager ...
What does it mean to leave a legacy in the rent to own industry?
In this special tribute episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Pete Shau honors the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Ernie Lewallen, a respected RTO operator, APRO leader, industry advocate, and one of the driving forces behind the growth and preservation of the rent to own community.
This episode explores how leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and indu...
What does it take to build a lasting legacy in the rent to own industry?
In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Pete Shau sits down with David P. David of American Rental and Full-O-Pep to explore more than four decades of entrepreneurship, leadership, industry advocacy, and customer focused growth in the RTO business.
From building rental stores across multiple states to helping shape APRO, TRIB Group, state renta...
This Legend Series episode of The RTO Show features John Cleek Jr. of Cleek's RTO, reflecting on the life, leadership, and lasting industry impact of his father, John “Tiger” Cleek.
From the early days of a family appliance business to decades of service through state and national associations, this conversation highlights what it means to lead with conviction, integrity, and heart. John shares how his...
In this episode of The RTO Show, Pete Shau sits down with Kevin Silvers to trace a career built on relationships, adaptability, and a genuine love for people. Kevin shares stories from his early days around golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Michael Jordan, his transition into the jewelry business, his deep involvement in rent-to-own, and the path that led to King of Promotions. Along the way, he talks about traini...
A rent-to-own business doesn’t last 40 years by accident and it definitely doesn’t start with perfect funding. I’m joined by Mike Tissett to tell the story behind Daryl Tissett’s legacy, from a small-town Ohio beginning to a blueprint that helped shape the rent-to-own industry and a company built on trust, service, and steady growth. If you’ve ever wondered what really creates long-term customers in RTO, this conver...
Forty-four years ago, Mike Strong opened a rent-to-own store in Hutchinson, Kansas with a pickup, good credit, and a willingness to outwork the problem. Today, Mike’s Rent To Own has grown into 14 locations, and I got to sit down with Mike and his kids to hear the full family story, the rough edges included. We talk about the leap from an Army medic during the Vietnam era to corporate life at Chrysler, and why entre...
What if a $10-a-week TV could spark a company built on trust? We sit down with industry legend Gary to unpack how Showplace grew from a two-paragraph agreement on a legal pad to a respected rent-to-own brand known for clear buyouts, smart growth, and customer-first service. From early days of index cards and recipe boxes to Ideal, HiTouch, and VersaRent, Gary explains the systems and mindsets that kept operations ni...
A legend’s journey rarely starts with a grand plan. Trooper Earl just needed a job, stumbled into ColorTyme, and within two years was opening stores, learning fast, and confronting the realities of scale without modern systems. That sprint led to 16 locations, a gutsy bank-backed buyout, and a pivotal moment when financing partners pulled back. Instead of folding, he reset—and that’s where the real story begins.
Paul Adamson from Clover joins Pete Shau to explain what “certified refurbished” really means—and why it matters for rent-to-own dealers. They break down how returned products move through the reverse supply chain, what Clover’s testing and grading process looks like, where the biggest savings typically show up, and how the new partnership with L2 is designed to simplify ordering and support. They also cover smart p...
What does it take to go from a delivery truck to the corner office without losing the human touch that built the business? We sit down with Michael Bennett, CEO of Buddy’s Home Furnishings and three-time APRO president, to unpack the playbook he’s refined across Rent-A-Center, Rentway, and Aaron’s: start with people, sharpen systems, and win the last mile with speed and service.
Michael shares how a childho...
What happens when an industry’s past isn’t properly recorded online? It gets rewritten by shallow links, old studies, and algorithms that don’t know better. We sat down with APRO CEO Charles Smitherman and WoW Brands CEO/CTO Ryan Krass to share why we built a definitive, 400-page history of rent-to-own—and why publishing it widely is essential for policy makers, journalists, customers, and the AI systems shaping tom...
What does it take to turn a scattered, misunderstood trade into a recognized industry with real rules, clear disclosures, and political staying power? We sit down with Ed Wynn, APRO’s longtime legal counsel, to trace rent-to-own’s rise from yellow-pages meetups to model legislation and major wins in statehouses across the country. Ed walks us through the early federal gambit that sailed through the Senate but died i...
A budget shortfall, a hostile hearing, and a tax threat big enough to sink an industry—this conversation with APRO legend Bill Keese reveals how Rent-To-Own survived and matured. We open with Bill’s unlikely path from state legislator to executive director and move straight into the fiscal triage that rebuilt APRO’s foundation: cutting costs, rethinking staff, and—crucially—resetting dues so the largest chains paid ...
A chance glance at a rent-to-own storefront changed everything. We sit down with industry legend Bill French to unpack five decades of progress: from selling RCA TVs to shaping vendor programs, joining APRO’s earliest meetings, and helping O’Rourke scale into a top RTO supplier. Bill walks us through the early hurdles—manufacturers confused about ownership, banks wary of the model, and warranty battles that forced c...
Strong teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built by leaders who put people first and still demand performance. We sit down with regional leader Sean Knupp to unpack the playbook behind consistent growth in rent-to-own: GMs who operate like owners, rolling P&Ls that drive clear choices, and a culture that treats customers and employees like family. Sean shares how early work ethic and years of union leadership...
A small, scrappy industry took on courts, Congress, and headlines—and won. Chris Korst, longtime Rent-A-Center executive and counsel, joins us to unpack how rent-to-own went from “wild west” storefronts to a regulated, transparent option for millions of consumers who need flexibility without credit.
We retrace the late-80s strategy that changed everything: build balanced model legislation, center the right ...
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