Season 2

July 11, 2022

The Contracting Handbook: Greatest Hits of Season Two

Today, I highlight some of the comments from episodes that got a lot of feedback from the audience. Personally, I would never rank these pods. They are all hits on there own! Listen to these inspiring moments and bits of …

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May 16, 2022

Spencer Lewis of Insider Carpentry: Creating value and a business aro…

“Your core focus should be how do I create value and then leverage that value” Spencer Lewis is a method man. Whether its his YouTube tutorials or creating a business around his trade, he always checks the boxes to complete …

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May 9, 2022

Eric Ruggiero- Biophilic Build

“As humans I think we appreciate things more when we know it was crafted by another human being...by someone who cares and takes pride in their work” Eric Ruggiero grew up in the trades but early on he knew he …

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May 2, 2022

Ryan Smith: Are Skilled Trades Endangered?

If that quote doesn’t have your attention maybe the second picture will. It doesn’t matter which trade your in, Ryan Smith has an urgent message. That’s to teach. His passion for his craft, hand cut roofs, is only matched by …

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April 25, 2022

Casey Finan talks ADD and trade denigration

Casey Finan of Finan Craftsmanship is a restoration artist but he would never claim to be a contractor. On ADD…when he first heard of it he essentially looked down on it, like many, like it was an excuse. He now …

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April 25, 2022

Casey Finan talks blazing his own path, overcoming sickness

Casey Finan of Finan Craftsmanship is a restoration artist but he would never claim to be a contractor. On ADD…when he first heard of it he essentially looked down on it, like many, like it was an excuse. He now …

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April 18, 2022

Robin Pierson 1st year apprentice Plumber & Pipefitter

Today, you get to meet my friend Robin Pierson, The Plumber Formerly Known As HVAC Warrior Woman, if you don’t already know her, prepare to be charmed and disarmed. Robin story starts in the garage helping her grandfather on cars, …

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April 11, 2022

McClain Construction Group: The Contracting Handbook Master Class (P…

Drew McClain brings much experience to The Contracting Handbook this week. Coming up through the trades as an electrician and moved on to project supervision after the 2008 housing crash. He has built a long resume of incredible builds with …

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April 11, 2022

McClain Construction Group: The Contracting Handbook Master Class(Par…

Drew McClain brings much experience to The Contracting Handbook this week. Coming up through the trades as an electrician and moved on to project supervision after the 2008 housing crash. He has built a long resume of incredible builds with …

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April 4, 2022

Matt Blomquist and Mike Knoche discuss how to set up a home building …

What did you make in your shopclass? My next guest Matt Blomquist and his students build high performance homes in his shop class. In my talk with Matt, we talk about the guts of a home building shop class and …

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March 28, 2022

Schannon Yodice of That Tile Chick talks quitting a lucrative career …

I truly admire Schannon Yodice’s ability to communicate tiling advice, business advice, and encourage tradespeople across multiple platforms and, you know, operate a tiling business, simultaneously. So, I am fortunate to get her to talk to us. Schannon left her …

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March 21, 2022

Ella Star talks her start up "Plumberella"

This week, we meet up with Ella Star, owner and operator of “Plumberella”. She opened the doors of her plumbing business on March 7, yeah, that’s right, two weeks ago. She and I get into what it takes to run …

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March 14, 2022

Sasha Kassis- Nomadic Carpenter

Sasha Kassis calls it like she sees it. She works her tail off doing everything from forming to framing by hand in a remote area of British Columbia. Her partner is a mentor in the trades and best friend. She …

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March 7, 2022

Rachel Taylor: Talks client contractor relationship

IT DOESN’T matter what type of business you have, if you are in business for yourself, you need to listen to Rachel Taylor. Rachel is my guest during Women in Construction week and she is full of inspiration, business insight, …

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Feb. 28, 2022

Mike Morley of MGM Construction Bahamas

Mike Morley, owner and operator of MGM Construction and Maintenance, is all about growing his business “in due time”. He’s clearly among the best in Nassau and proudly shares his knowledge with the public with construction technique classes. He’s 31, …

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Feb. 21, 2022

Nick Lonsdale of Lonsdale Building Group: From tradesman to businessm…

We get right into award winning builder Nick Lonsdale's design build business structure to micromanaging, quickly shift to the mandatory 10 year warranty, and mental health. Stepping way from design. That’s the first 7 minutes! Yes, that his bulldog Boston …

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Feb. 14, 2022

Brek Goin: Co-founder of hammr

Brek Goin is the co-founder and CEO of the Hammr App. He was raised by a contractor and had the brain child to start an app that showcases and elevates the work of trades people. In this episode Mike and …

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Feb. 7, 2022

Mark Wille talks Building Science and talking face to face with clien…

Mark Wille is a passive house advocate and contractor. He's been involved in the residential building science scene for years, had a hand in starting the #BS Fridays podcast, and help developed the T-Stud. The conversation drops right into talking …

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Feb. 7, 2022

Mark Wille talks the importance of sharing information and burnout

Mark Wille and Mike Knoche talk about Mark's YouTube and Podcast shows, #BS and beers, and BS Fridays, briefly but turn the importance of sharing information with the building community. Why? Because people and potential clients want to work with …

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Jan. 31, 2022

Michael Anschel and Mike Knoche talk Alaska and World Travels

These guys both spent time on the Yukon River and traveling the world. It's ten minutes of banter that will clearly pave the way for more calls in the future to share adventures. THIS IS A BONUS EPISODE!

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Jan. 31, 2022

Michael Anschel defines success, knowing he had what it takes, estima…

In part 2 of the talk with Michael Anschel, Mike Knoche asks Michael to define success. The answer is unconventional. The pursuit of money draws a long dramatic pause from guest and host before Michael rescues the chat by talking …

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Jan. 31, 2022

Michael Anschel of OA Design+ Build talks client perception, are cont…

In this episode, Mike welcomes Michael Anschel of OA Design Build and they go deep right away. Do we tell our clients how good we are? Does it sound arrogant? How do we move past our insecurities as professionals? Then, …

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Jan. 24, 2022

Tim Sprague From Pound 4 Pound Construction "Make saw dust, build dre…

Tim Sprague has been running his concrete foundation and home framing business for three years. He's 29 years old and light years ahead of where host Mike Knoche was at this point in his career. Tim talks about breaking away …

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Jan. 17, 2022

Gena Hoyt of Big Dog Construction talks labor shortage and solutions

Today Mike Gena Hoyt, co-owner and co-founder of Big Dog Construction discuss the labor force shortage and what could help to change public perception of the trades and tradespeople to bring more young people to the table. Listen in to …

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