Brad sits down with Sam Cruz, founder of Cruz Built, to talk about what happens when growth starts pulling you away from the work you actually enjoy. Sam shares why he is simplifying the company, returning to an owner-operator model, and choosing fewer projects so he can stay closer to clients, trades, and the details that define his work. They also get into building science, learning in the field, technology, and why the right business does not have to be the biggest one.
Sep 27
57 min
Brad sits down with Melissa Baran, founder and creative director of Haven, to talk about building a business around community, connection, and continuous growth. Melissa shares how Haven began with editorial content while always being built around a larger vision, eventually growing into an intimate education community centered on deeper relationships, shared learning, and in-person experiences.
They get into feedback, pricing and profitability, authentic marketing, investing in yourself, and the confidence that comes from learning alongside other business owners. The conversation is a look at how the right community can help people evolve their businesses, define success on their own terms, and move from asking “Can I do this?” to “How do I make this happen?”
Sep 20
1 hr 3 min
Brad sits down with Christie Fleming, owner and principal designer of Lennon Nora Interiors, to talk about how her background in occupational therapy reshaped the way she thinks about residential design.
From builder designer collaboration and client relationships to aging in place and universal design, Christie explains how thoughtful decisions around layout, materials, hardware, thresholds, lighting, and furniture can make a home easier to live in without sacrificing luxury. The conversation is a reminder that a truly custom home should serve the people living in it today and as their needs change over time.
Sep 13
1 hr
Brad sits down with Noah Bergland, co-founder of Neon Lion Media, for a conversation about what it takes to build forward after starting over. Noah shares how aggressive marketing, consistent visibility, sales training, and stronger systems have helped him grow businesses across roofing and residential construction.
But the bigger story is how Noah rebuilt his life after addiction and seven years in federal prison. He opens up about sobriety, rebuilding relationships, making amends, confronting his past, and why he now chooses to use that story rather than hide from it.
Sep 6
1 hr 3 min
Brad sits down with Daniel Fessler, founder of Compound Concrete, to talk about how difficult work, challenging projects, and the obstacles that come with entrepreneurship can shape the way you lead, serve clients, and build a business.
Daniel shares how a side project making concrete countertops grew organically into a specialty business, and why relationships, client education, problem solving, and knowing when to say no have shaped the company along the way. They also explore rammed earth, building a strong team, mentoring others, and learning to see the opportunity hidden inside the challenge.
Aug 30
1 hr
Brad sits down with Zach Patton, COO of Black Wolf Build, to talk about what it takes to grow a construction company without letting growth outrun the systems behind it. Zach shares how clear roles, EOS, weekly meetings, after-action reports, one-on-ones, and a culture of continuous improvement have helped their team turn lessons from each project into better processes for the next.
They also get into client expectations, decision-making, protecting quality on spec homes, and why building a stronger company often comes down to getting a little better every time something goes wrong.
Aug 23
1 hr 5 min
Brad sits down with Mike Pinkey, managing partner at ProGuard Building, for a conversation about career reinvention, leadership, and redefining what it means to succeed.
Mike shares how he went from the golf industry into construction, built credibility by listening and staying consistent, and learned how easily values can erode through small compromises. They also discuss the isolation that can come with leadership, the importance of reaching out to people, and why ambition does not have to come at the expense of relationships, integrity, or peace.
Aug 16
1 hr
Brad sits down with Maria Ford, president of commercial and industrial sales at Stanley Black & Decker, at the DeWalt Innovation Center to discuss how the company is helping shape the future of the trades.
Maria shares how DeWalt develops tools with productivity, safety, and profitability in mind, and how battery technology, robotics, AI, and prefabrication are changing the way work gets done. They also discuss DeWalt’s $60 million Grow the Trades commitment, Maria’s 28-year career with Stanley Black & Decker, and why consistently showing up remains one of the simplest ways to stand out as a leader.
Aug 9
56 min
Brad sits down with Nathan Wheeler, founder of a full-service financial services brokerage and a leader within the Abundant Man Project, to explore how identity shapes the direction of your life, leadership, and business.
Nathan shares lessons from Ranger School, his difficult transition out of the military, and the habits that helped him rebuild his life and career. They also discuss choosing opportunities that align with who you want to become, separating productivity from busyness, protecting wealth outside the business, and planning for an eventual exit.
Aug 2
59 min
Brad sits down with Gabe Norcross of Norcross Builders to talk about what happens when the business you built begins taking more than it gives back. Gabe shares how burnout, a financially devastating project, and the words of his young son pushed him to leave California, rebuild in Louisville, and create a smaller company around his family and mental health. They explore the discipline of turning down the wrong work, building systems that protect both profit and peace, and using honest conversations to confront the mental health crisis in construction.
Jul 26
59 min
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