Reviews

I am a builder in Asheville NC. I listen to Mike on the way to jobsites almost everyday. He has a very honest and humble approach to his interviews. I love that he talks to contractors all over the world. Can't wait to see what 2023 will bring.

I predicted in January of 2021 that Mike Knoche would become the premier construction podcaster of our time. Words that were once merely foresight, and could've been perceived as pandering have been proven true again and again with each new episode. I join the voices of the other guests in celebrating the culture Mike has fostered inside our industry. We've needed a catalyst for change like Mike for a very long time, and I know everyone reading this agrees that we're all so glad to be a part of the worldwide construction tribe. Keep up the great work Mike. I love watching you WIN.

Between Mike and all his talented guests, something like 1000 years of experience has been distilled into the podcast so far. If you're interested in the business side of the trade world, there is a lot to learn from The Contracting Handbook.

I’ll tell you what, I’m burn out. Twenty seven years into this and I just don’t want OR DIDN’T WANT TO DO OT ANYMORE. I heard the interview with Michael Anschel way back and it was restorative, for lack of a better word. I forgot about it for a while until I was on vacation in Hawaii for Christmas. You could say I’ve been binge listening. I love it. I have some friends in the industry but it’s not like the podcast. Those relationships are more guarded. It’s part of why I’m burned out, and well, the clients. I wanted to keep listening so my wife and I listen to the one with Rachel Taylor together. Now she follows Rachel on instagram. Great show Mike! Hey, I did it! I wrote the damn review! You deserve it. Thanks!

This podcast is so cool. I found you last year because a friend said Krystal (paint chick) was on with you. I love her and now I’ve heard Barbie (!), Fiona, Niya, Janeen, and am listening through all the ladies!! I’ll get around to the men too (maybe 🫠🤥🤭) but I just want to say you’ve done a great job. I’m a 12 year welder and I just started into podcasts because of this one. Cheers!

By far the best construction podcast out there. Mike leads the conversation I’m a way that let’s the guest comfortably express their story. It’s refreshing to hear a construction pod that isn’t just dude energy. Plus, as a business owner, I love hearing how everyone runs their companies. I think Mike has shown us that we construction business owners have something in common, we all invent ourselves and we can always learn and improve. Thanks, dude.

I enjoy each one, i really enjoy the listen time. The guests always have meaningful content. I also feel engaged even though im just listening. Mike puts his effort into each episode & it shows. I look foward to each week. It makes the weekend extra knowing monday is another great listen. Thank You.

Mike this pod is great. Real contractors with real problems and solutions. The name is great too. Class is in session.

Refreshingly authentic conversations with guests you can connect with. I take away something from each and every episode that helps grow myself and my business

Love the podcast. Love hearing the insight of those pushing the limits of what we do and realizing they’re just hard working individuals and we all share the same struggles.

I’m a bit nervous starting a new construction business, but Mike has really, really made a difference in my attitude towards it. Yes it’ll be challenging, but with guidance like this- I just know I’ll make it through whatever comes my way! Thank you man, for an inspiring business podcast. You’re really making a difference out there!

Great podcast with great guests. This is what I've been looking for. The interviews and advice are outstanding.

if you looking for open and genuine podcast about the buildings trade then look no further. I have discovered over many great conversations many great tid pids of great knowledge and wisdom that goes beyond the trades. I am a carpenter and someday looking to run my own business and through this podcast I have gain great insights to how to run a business. Beyond on the business I have discovered great wisdom on many aspects of the trades and how to work more professional. And finally it has shown that we in trades we are not alone

Every episode is chocked full of unsurpassed knowledge. Mike and his guests give out so many golden nuggets of information. I wish that I had these knowledge bombs 20 years ago! It certainly would have rid my company of years of being stuck in the mud. I encourage everyone reading this to take a deep dive into every episode starting with the first. You won’t want to miss a single bit of the gracious wisdom that Mike and other contractors share. I promise you’ll be a better contractor/business owner as a result!

Mike Knoche is the consummate podcast host. He thoughtfully chooses guests who are genuinely interesting, who add value to the industry, and who are excited to share their story. It’s obvious that he takes the time to research and understand his guests so that he can shine a light on what makes them unique in the industry. Instead of just running through cookie cutter questions, his questions are tailored specifically to each guest which gives listeners a fresh take with every episode. He draws attention to different frames of mind, perspectives and ideas. By doing so, the pod doesn’t get repetitive or stale. On top of that, his intros are always expertly crafted to encapsulate the essence of each and every guest’s personality. I’ve learned so much already as a new remodeling contractor and business owner to give me the leg up, and to prepare me for a long lasting and successful career as a remodeler. The thing that makes the show so relatable to me personally, is hearing other successful folks in the trades talking openly about their struggles, it unifies us and helps to diminish stigma surrounding the industry. Whether it’s experiences with financial stability, emotional and mental well-being, physical health, or family and relationships, Mike jumps right in and asks the hard questions. He also asks the business and trade specific questions that we may be embarrassed to admit that we don’t know, whether we’ve been in the industry for one year, or 20. Through this podcast, Mike gets at the heart of what it means to be in this type of work- we are all builders, creators and artists. By collecting these stories, lessons learned, and knowledge, we can all help to elevate the field by staying on the cutting edge of building science, being transparent and ethical in our day to day, and we don’t have to choose between caring about the client’s project OR our mental and physical health, we can do BOTH. It is clear that goal of this podcast is to make the industry better. He wants the those in the trades to be more welcoming to newcomers and women, he urges us all to be curious about new methods, and to think critically about the way things have always been done. In this way, he is a catalyst for positive change within the industry and that ripple effect can be seen far and wide with his international guest list. I love this podcast!!

It was great to Fiona’s take on custom work and you could hear the pride in her voice about repurposing older pieces! I loved the part about rehearsing the conversations and trying to relate it to something the customer will understand! And it’s definitely becoming a time where a firm no will save you from a lot of headaches! Great job y’all!!

Every time I listen to an episode, no matter the guest, I always take away a valuable nugget to use within my own business. I love hearing how each individual guest operates. You never know what new perspective could illuminate a solution to a problem you’ve been dealing with as a contractor. The content is informative rather than promotional and feels genuine and authentic - which seems rare nowadays. I look forward to listening every week.

Great podcast as always Mike! This was great and very informative for me, I’m a small guy doing remodeling and some estimates just make me scratch my head! Michael gave a lot of insight into how to cover the aspects of getting the estimate right and building a repartitionas a trustworthy company! I can’t wait for the live on Thursday!

As a tradesman and business owner I strive to always remain teachable and willing to learn. Resources like your podcast give me that opportunity. Thank me for supporting the industry and supplying us that opportunity to better ourselves and our trades.

Absolutely love Mikes podcasts! I’ve been listening from the start and every episode gets better. As a small business owner, the tips I’ve learned from people he’s interviewed have been insanely helpful. Not only did it push me to start my own business, but has helped me every step of the way to progress. Big thanks to Mike for the amount of work he puts into every episode!

I’m a finish carpenter. I’ve listened to Spencer Lewis and Tom Lawson interviews. They were both excellent! Your show is easy to listen to because you’re super real. Please keep them coming!!! Thanks for helping all of us trades.

We love the interaction with the guests & the creator. A wonderful listen each time. This podcast hits right to the point. You should download, you will love it.

Mike , this was awesome! Brandt did not disappoint! Great stories!

It’s good to hear Harvey’s thoughts on the issues we encounter daily!im glad to see him touch on the cutting the phone off at night and the weekends! It seems to be a time when everyone is thinking about their project and I’m trying not to think about a project! Great talk, great guy! And as always, way to get them talking mike!

One of the best so far! Tom is such a genuine and straight forward person I’ve had the privilege to meet on ig! You can hear the passion in his voice and see it in the details in his work! If you can’t get inspiration from watching and talking to Tom you might need to rethink your process! And mike you killed it again with an awesome interview! Thank y’all for taking the time to give advice, inspiration and direction!

Love the one on one long format. Mike is quite good as an interviewer.

Hey Mike Just read your post … I really can’t wait to hear these interviews Coming in for season 3 It’s so exciting I am really looking forward to the discussions on how not to run your business Reason being …. I’m 37 Working for my father Home builder/renovation! Been here all my life ,he still runs the company like it’s 1985 It drives me absolutely crazy . Yes I works but with today’s technology and the awareness surrounding workers rights and the importance of employees feeling valued and not just a “worker” I am just starting to take on more of the business side of the company as the word “retirement “ is being thrown around a lot lately.. He’s not retiring because he want to relax and enjoy life . He’s retiring because he’s tired of dealing with people !!! I am so ready to take the business over and involve our employees a little more and have some special days throughout the year to show them I appreciate them !!! The trades have so be much room to grow. We have been kept low on the totem pole in society But I relate that statement too.. The lowest on the pole must be the strongest.. and must hold everyone else up or the pole falls over ! You are doing a really good thing here !! Keep up the good work!!

👏You always have the best conversations and articles. Thanks for sharing.

I actually had an opportunity to converse with Mike. Off the bat, I can say he is a stand up professional. I wrote this down on my yellow legal pad (thanks Mike) just to make sure I can convey what I feel I NEED to. The advice and tips he provides in The Contractors Handbook are invaluable. Mike is generous enough to provide the best information some won’t share. The Contractors Handbook gives a great outline to stay on track and be successful. There are so many factors in this complicated industry. Mike Knoche brings forward all of the aspects that professionals can easily overlook. Interviews are well spoken, thought out, and to the point. Everybody IN this industry or contemplating joining this industry has to get real, get serious, and be professional. The contractors Handbook will help everyone who listens do just that. Mike and I touched on how stressful contracting can be. Accidents, deadlines, and a pile of office work WILL happen. In episodes 25 & 26, Mike interviews health coach Vinnie Vecchio. These episodes give you the basic ingredients to be fruitful. One has to be healthy and manage stress to be able to focus on your work. Doing so will minimize unforeseen circumstances. The fight or flight response is real, very real. Dealing with people in general, this response can escalate situations rapidly. Learn to deal with that response, and you will minimize exponentially compounding and undesired situations. Me listening to Mike’s solid information and my own hard lesson, I was able to comprehend this absolute fact. Mike, I wish you a happy and healthy life. I sincerely mean that. Thank you. - Craig SFC

I'm almost through the second season and have been really enjoying the content. Mike and his guests are knowledgeable, relevant, very helpful, relatable and fun to listen to! I've been in construction for about 13 years and am in my third year of running my own small business as a one man show. Can definitely relate to some of the struggles he talks about with wearing all the hats! Thanks Mike for creating a great podcast!