The Fire Time Podcast | Podcast on Podbay

The Fire Time Podcast

Tim Reed

Are you tired of presentations that are only half relevant to your business? Many speakers are not practitioners of their material, simply teachers—not so with The Fire Time Podcast. This podcast is for the hearth industry and by the hearth industry. Host Tim Reed has over a decade of experience in the hearth industry, making conversations with guests relevant and extremely practical. In Season One, Tim speaks with twelve hearth industry leaders and provides content relevant to any position, whether on the retail or manufacturing side. Hearth companies everywhere are lost because the landscape of business has changed dramatically in the last ten years. They are trying hard, but they just don’t know what to do. The Fire Time Podcast equips hearth companies to win by sharing ideas and innovation from the best minds in our industry. This podcast will give you the tools to move the needle in your company and win in the changing landscape. This podcast is the first of its kind—specific to the business that you work in every day and simple enough to teach you what’s needed to succeed. Do not miss out on The Fire Time Podcast, available for Apple and Droid devices or at www.itsfiretime.com/podcast. The simple and repeatable steps provided will empower you to grow the bottom line of your company and inspire the team that you lead. ABOUT: Tim Reed is the Retail Sales Leader at Fireside Home Solutions in the Pacific Northwest where he helps his team members make it so stupidly easy to buy from them that there is no excuse not to. Starting as individual salesperson in an empty warehouse, he has grown Fireside’s Retail division by millions (after cutting his marketing budget by 90%). Tim has been invited all over the country to teach companies how to market effectively to their customers and sell more than ever before. His YouTube videos, sales blog, and “Fire Time Podcast” have become a resource for the industry and are actively helping thousands of people rethink their paradigms so that they can grow their businesses in the changing landscape. Tim learned “just enough to be dangerous” about sales, marketing, web development, and leadership from years of playing guitar in a failing punk band—which he swears has uniquely qualified him for his job today. Now considered one of the most innovative minds and compelling communicators in the industry, Tim uses his platform to serve others, helping them create clear messages that are wildly compelling to their audiences. Tim lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Jessica, two children, Olivia and Luke, and his 90 pound Golden Retriever, Walter. He still plays guitar in a failing punk band. CONTACT: [email protected] | www.itsfiretime.com

Dan Bonar - Win Business Through Relationships and Trust

"We are the immovable number two. And it's okay being the immovable number two." In this episode, Tim sits down with Dan Bonner (Vice President of Residential Sales, ICC Chimney) to unpack how a privately owned chimney company turned restraint into its sharpest competitive edge. Dan's spent the last six years steering through a pandemic boom, a workforce that doubled, and tariffs that erased two weeks of work overnight. In this episode, Tim and Dan cover: - Why chimney *should* be a commodity—and how ICC deliberately makes theirs anything but by refusing to sell through hardware stores or big box. - The "boss versus leader" image Dan keeps in his head, and how he kept a frustrated team from walking out when every tariff solution got scrapped a day later. - Twenty-plus years of distributor relationships built entirely on handshakes—zero written contracts, anywhere in North America. Don't miss Dan's masterclass on the value wedge and the discipline of staying the "immovable number two"—a clear-eyed argument that constraints don't starve a business, they focus it, and that chasing every opportunity is how good companies die of indigestion. —— Links from this episode: Marketing Warfare: https://a.co/d/07Z9jdqN Fire Time Podcast Q&A Episode: http://itsfiretime.com/ask —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y3-1wAHxxbA Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

Jun 30

1 hr 2 min

Matt Bradley - Hiring and Inspiring Gen Z (Live from HPBExpo 2026)

"The most depressed, anxious, addicted, and self-destructive generation in American culture—we created this world." In this episode, Matt Bradley (Partnership Manager at WhyFire and Editor of The Fire Time Magazine) makes a provocative argument from his 2026 HPBExpo class: the reason you can't hire or inspire young workers isn't pay, schedules, or time off—it's a culture that's stripped them of meaning. He traces the problem back to Nietzsche and offers an ancient antidote. In this episode, Matt covers: - Why higher pay, flexible schedules, and more paid time off won't fix your hiring problem—and what young people actually crave instead. - The "fortitude formula"—moral purpose times sources of strength—and how Viktor Frankl found meaning in a concentration camp. - Concrete interview questions and shop-floor practices that work, including why you should drop the sarcasm and never assume Gen Z is lazy. Don't miss this one if you've ever caught yourself blaming "kids these days"—Matt argues that mindset is just an easy way to let yourself off the hook, and he hands you a practical playbook to mentor the most capable hires you've been overlooking. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Fireplace AI Visualizer http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nBRD5lY_m7k Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

Jun 23

1 hr 11 min

Dane Harman, Karen Harman-Smeltz, and Peter Parsons - Cultivating a Mindset of Innovation and Excellence

"I can't sell Harman because there's a dealer too close to me, but I'd donate a kidney and my firstborn to get it." In this episode, Tim sits down with Dane Harman, Karen Harman-Smeltz, and Peter Parsons to trace how a burn pot rooted in anthracite coal became the backbone of one of the hearth industry's most beloved pellet stoves—and what it takes to keep innovating decades later. Dane built Harman Stoves into a legend, Karen carried its values forward, and Peter built a pellet market from almost nothing on an island ninety miles out in the Atlantic. In this episode, Tim, Dane, Karen, and Peter cover: - Why Dane's 1991 Pellet Pro feeder still works today—and how a coal-pushing block evolved into a laser-cut slide plate that runs entirely on temperature. - The real difference between a private company's "right" decision and a public one's—and why a profitable model can still get killed to protect a stock price. - Whether tightening EPA regulations actually force better stoves or just strip the fun out of innovation—and where diminishing returns turn good intentions into expensive ones. Don't miss the moment Dane explains why deciding—truly deciding—pulls a whole team behind you, because this conversation about fire, family, and pressure-fueled innovation will change how you think about building anything worth keeping. —— Links from this episode: Big Enough: Building a Business that Scales with Your Lifestyle https://a.co/d/0e8WRuD7 Fire Time Podcast Q&A Episode http://itsfiretime.com/ask —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nXru0bLymCQ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

Jun 16

1 hr 26 min

Kyle Titsworth - Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You're Young

"Core values allow us to lead to a standard—without those core values, things can slip." In this episode, Tim speaks with Kyle Titsworth (General Manager and Partner, The Fireplace Showcase) about transitioning from manager to owner in a family business. Kyle shares insights from his journey taking over partial ownership while serving on the Northeast HPBA board, leading a team where most employees have decades more experience than he does. In this episode, Tim and Kyle cover: • Why setting core values becomes crucial when you're a young leader managing seasoned veterans—and how it prevents business standards from becoming "wishy-washy" • The power of simplifying customer choice through strategic showroom design—like Kyle's "remodel wall" that presents just three fireplace replacement options instead of overwhelming customers • How weekly sales meetings and forcing salespeople to track their own metrics transforms behavior better than any manager-generated report ever could Don't miss Kyle's take on why manufacturers need to stop speaking in industry jargon and start organizing around customer situations—because nobody walks into a showroom asking for a "zero clearance fireplace." —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Website: https://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rZ4lSOzYNAs Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

Jun 9

1 hr

Tim Reed - How to Create Marketing Messaging

"It can never be too long, it can only be too boring." In this episode, Tim shares a class he taught in Denver, Colorado at AES Dealer Days, where he explores why most marketing messages in the fireplace industry fail—and reveals a simple framework that can triple your leads without spending a penny. Drawing from real examples of businesses that position themselves as heroes instead of their customers, Tim shows how to craft messages that actually resonate. In this episode, Tim covers: • The three deadly sins of marketing—making your business the hero, cramming too many things into one message, and focusing on products instead of customer problems • The PEACE framework for creating sound bites that cut through noise and make prospects turn their heads—from articulating problems better than customers can to showing genuine empathy • Why "family owned for 50 years" belongs in tiny print, not your headline—and how companies waste tens of thousands on beautiful websites that break fundamental messaging rules Don't miss Tim's breakdown of real fireplace company websites that demonstrate these principles in action—plus the exact tagline changes that could transform your lead generation overnight. —— Links from this episode: Whyfire Website: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k5mqmLpLZe0 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

Jun 2

1 hr 2 min

April Sunshine Hawkins - Clear Mind, Clear Messaging: Why Great Marketing Starts on the Inside

"I've been looking for this kind of clarity in my life." In this episode, Tim talks with April Sunshine Hawkins (Former Co-Host of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast and Storybrand Private Workshop Instructor) about why most marketing fails and how to craft messages that actually resonate. April brings deep expertise from teaching the StoryBrand framework worldwide, plus insights on the internal blocks that sabotage even the smartest business owners. In this episode, Tim and April cover: • Why cognitive load kills your marketing—and how speaking in insider jargon instantly loses your audience • The PEACE framework that transforms confusing websites into customer magnets in five simple steps • How fear and ego create marketing that serves the business instead of the customer—and what self-awareness has to do with better sales Don't miss April's breakdown of why "people like us do things like this" means you should stop trying to appeal to everyone and start speaking directly to your ideal customer—because a message for everyone is a message for no one. —— Links from this episode: Q&A Episode: http://itsfiretime.com/ask —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z_2bFUzpx4w Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

May 26

1 hr 4 min

Robert Schnell - The Customer is the Hero

"The customer doesn't want to hear your story—they want to hear how you can solve their problem." In this episode, Tim sits down with Robert Schnell (Principal, Arctic Sales) fresh from a StoryBrand marketing intensive in Nashville to unpack the messaging frameworks that actually drive sales. Robert brings eight years of experience applying these principles in the complex lighting industry, offering concrete insights for fireplace retailers ready to transform their marketing approach. In this episode, Tim and Robert cover: • Why making your customer the hero—not your company—is the foundation of all effective marketing and how this simple shift changes everything • The critical importance of owning your customer's problem by articulating it more clearly than they can, because clarity about the problem creates clarity about the solution • How persistent follow-up systems (think 104 touchpoints, not just three) keep you top of mind when customers finally experience their problem again Don't miss their breakdown of why most marketing fails before it starts and the specific tactics—from mini-books to quarterly service reminders—that turn lukewarm prospects into loyal customers who see you as the obvious choice. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Pro: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9O30LMu2vDs Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

May 19

1 hr 1 min

The 2026 HPBExpo Opening Session

"This is the conversation for you if you've been trying to think about how we ease the tension between retailers, distributors, and manufacturers." In this episode, Tim shares exclusive content from the HPB Expo opening session in New Orleans, featuring insights that were too important to wait for the regular podcast schedule. The session brought together industry leaders to tackle the biggest questions facing hearth, patio, and barbecue professionals today. This session includes: • Jill McClure and why the HPBA is fighting to protect an industry that provides better living to millions of customers by providing you with intentional spaces so you can build the right relationships to grow your business • Jessica Voss-Kehl and how AI will fundamentally change how hearth and patio businesses operate—from customer service to inventory management • Tim Reed moderates a panel discussion with industry leaders Dave Rettinger, Deb Hannig, and Zack Fisher - Making the Shift: How Our Industry Stays Relevant in the Years to Come • The specific roles retailers, distributors, and manufacturers must play to reduce industry tension and create mutual value Don't miss this rare behind-the-scenes look at where industry leaders think the hearth and patio world is headed—and what you need to do now to stay viable in the years ahead. —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U3v6SxkXC9w Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

May 12

1 hr 16 min

Dane Harman & Karen Harman-Smeltz - Build to a Standard—Not a Price (Live from the 2026 HPBExpo)

"It was my feeder and burn pot, they decided to make their own burn pot and change the design. That's where things didn't work very well for very long..." In this episode, Tim sits down with Dane Harman (founder of Harman Stoves) and his daughter Karen Harman-Smeltz for a rare father-daughter conversation about building one of America's most respected hearth companies from a basement workshop in rural Pennsylvania. From cutting stove parts with Gloria's cutting board as a template to pioneering the pellet technology that powers today's industry, this is the untold story of grit, innovation, and the $40 electric bill that changed everything. In this episode, Tim, Dane, and Karen cover: • How a shocking electric bill jump from $40 to $100 sparked the idea to build their first wood stove—using a cutting board, T-square, and acetylene torch in the basement • The evolution from welding corners by hand on the floor to precision laser cutting that's accurate to ten thousandths of an inch • How coal stoker technology accidentally birthed the pellet pro feeder system—plus the Vermont Castings partnership that launched Harman into the big leagues Don't miss this intimate look inside the mind of a true industry pioneer who went from three employees in a 40x80 building to revolutionizing an entire industry—all while never losing sight of the principle that you build to a standard, not a price. —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pAb7YMvWWyQ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

May 5

41 min

Chris Schroeter - Your Market Is Bigger Than You Think (Live from the 2026 HPBExpo)

"Leadership is a game of trust at the end of the day. If you cannot trust people doing what they do best and better than ourselves can do, you're not going to move forward." In this episode, Tim sits down with Chris Schroeder (CEO, Napoleon Products) to explore how a family business evolved from a garage startup into a global empire—and what it takes to lead at that scale. Chris shares candid insights about transitioning from hands-on R&D work to trusting teams across continents, the brutal facts every leader must confront, and why curiosity beats ego every time. In this episode, Tim and Chris cover: • Why dealers who ignore electric fireplaces are missing massive wallet-share opportunities—and how the automotive industry's upselling playbook applies to hearth retail • The counterintuitive truth about market saturation—how adding more dealers in a market can increase sales for existing stores by raising category awareness • How Napoleon's CEO invested years reshaping his own personality to become the leader his global company needed, moving from "chip on my shoulder" to radical trust Don't miss Chris's framework for working on the business instead of in it, his take on why brutal self-honesty drives growth, and the simple question that reveals whether you're the limiting factor in your own success. —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7WBEFmztFSUPodcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2⁠⁠Read The Fire Time Magazine: ⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: ⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe⁠⁠Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: ⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/join⁠

Apr 28

59 min