The Curious Builder

01:09:17

#166 | Casey Cloward | Raykon Construction | Lean...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/05/18

Casey Cloward doesn't build the most homes, doesn't chase the biggest numbers, and isn't trying to be the loudest guy in the room — and that exact philosophy has built Raykon Construction into one of Utah's most respected custom home firms. Mark and Casey dig into what it actually means to run a lean business on purpose, why Casey treats his five project managers like five in-house general contractors, and how building his own 11,200-square-foot home — after swearing it would only be 6,000 — turned

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31:42

Losers are Winners | Kyle Schlesser's Leap of Faith...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/05/14

Kyle Schlesser left a six-figure finance career, convinced his wife Katie to leave her executive marketing role, and launched Solid Ground Construction in 2019 with nothing but a leap of faith and a neighbor's porch swing job — and the next few years were exactly as humbling as that sounds. Mark and Kyle dig into the white-knuckle years of doing everything himself, the moment he nearly buried the company by refusing to ask for help, and why hiring for your greatest weakness is the hardest and most

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59:19

#165 | Scott Jaffa | Jaffa Group Design Build |...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/05/11

Scott Jaffa is a rare breed — an architect who's also a GC with an in-house interior design team — and the way he talks about money, value, and client relationships makes it immediately clear why his clients are willing to watch a $3 million remodel quietly become a $10 million one. Mark and Scott dig into why the farm-to-table model works better than assembling a team of strangers, how Scott used a Botox analogy to shut down a client's appliance markup complaint, and why believing in your own value

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33:06

Losers are Winners | Josh Ferri of Lakeside Decking...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/05/07

Josh Ferri of Lakeside Decking didn't set out to build decks — he started with a cabinet shop, pivoted when he realized where the real money was, and ended up running one of the most buttoned-up outdoor living companies in the Twin Cities. Mark and Josh dig into the hiring mistakes that come with growing too fast, why Josh tells every single client "I never want to see you again" with a straight face, and how a $750 design fee weeds out the tire kickers before they waste anyone's time. It's a

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01:10:42

#164 | Stephanie Dailey | Steven Dailey Construction...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/05/04

From rallying women across the country to build the nation's first all-female built house, to turning a social media following into 50% of her business leads, Stephanie Dailey has never done things the conventional way — and it shows. Mark and Stephanie get into the real stuff: the emotional weight of watching a parent's identity become intertwined with a business they built from nothing, why more women in construction changes everything, and how losing Ron Jensen at a Contractor Coalition Summit

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29:42

Inside the Big Wins | Cinda Pfeil on Empathy,...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/30

Cinda Pfeil doesn't separate her personal story from her professional one — and honestly, that might be exactly why her business works. In this Inside the Big Wins conversation, she and Mark dig into client relationships that span decades and multiple homes, a business partnership that taught her more than she expected, and how a childhood defined by resilience became the foundation for a career built on empathy. It's the kind of episode that makes you want to call your mentor, hug your best friend,

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01:10:30

#163 | Renee Bush | Tandem | Stop Reacting and Start...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/27

What does a design strategist, a former Studio McGee ops director, and a single mom entrepreneur all have in common? They're all Renee Bush, and she joined Mark for one of the most layered conversations the podcast has ever had. Mark and Renee dig into the strategy behind branding, why consistency builds trust faster than talent alone, and what it actually looks like to stop being the bottleneck in your own business. Fair warning: this one will make you want to redesign your entire client experience

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25:01

Losers are Winners | Losers are Winners: Cinda Pfeil...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/23

In 1999, a contractor told Cinda Pfeil — to her face — that becoming a builder wasn't going to work out for her, and the reason was exactly what you think it was. Mark sits down with the founder of Style Infused Living to dig into that defining moment, what she did with it, and why 26 years later she's still thinking about the electrician she met on a job site who brought it all rushing back. It's a conversation about patience, empathy, and what happens when you refuse to let someone else's ceiling

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01:13:08

#162 | Mike Weaver | Emser Tile | The Power of...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/20

Mike Weaver of Emser Tile isn't your average vendor — he's the guy who walks into a room and immediately starts thinking about how he can connect everyone in it to someone they haven't met yet. Mark and Mike dig into the power of partnerships, why you don't need years to build a deep business relationship, and how a single conversation with the right supplier could collapse months of cold outreach into one warm introduction. If you've ever wondered what it looks like when two people genuinely bet on

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26:35

Losers are Winners | Brad Leavitt on What Happens...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/16

Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction is back on the podcast, and this time he's serving up a fresh, still-stinging loss that proves even the best builders can forget their own rules. Mark and Brad dig into what happens when scope explodes, timelines collapse, and a superintendent has to get swapped out two weeks before a move-in that was never going to happen anyway. It's messy, it's honest, and it's the kind of conversation that might just save your next project — or at least make you feel better about

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01:03:09

#161 | Laura Brophy | Laura Brophy Interiors | 10...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/13

Laura Brophy didn't exactly take the traditional path to running a 10-person interior design firm in Newport Beach — sports medicine, upholstery shops, Dolce & Gabbana, and Restoration Hardware were all pit stops along the way. Mark sits down with Laura to dig into how she built a drama-free team, learned to stop being the bottleneck in her own business, and why her husband Rob is the spreadsheet to her vision board. They also go deep on wellness-driven design — saunas, cold plunges, bathtub

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20:49

Losers are Winners | The Mistake That Almost Tanked a...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/09

Twenty-two years in the business and Mark still managed to remind himself why taking the low bid is basically a trap with a bow on it. In this solo Losers are Winners episode, he pulls back the curtain on a framing nightmare — missed milestones, disappearing crew members, bounced checks, and one very uncomfortable site meeting — and how it all came to a head with his first-ever mid-project subcontractor firing. The real plot twist? The client ended up trusting him more because of it, not less

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01:05:49

#160 | Live at Sauna Camp with Erin Ayala, Alex...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/06

What do climbing Everest, finishing a 200-mile gravel race on a single speed, getting on Joe Rogan, and raising kids who actually want to hang out with you have in common? They all showed up in this live Sauna Camp panel, and the conversation did not disappoint. Mark sat down with Erin Ayala, Alex Larson, Alex Neist, and Ryan Rivard to dig into wellness, resilience, and why the boring daily grind is actually the whole game. This episode hits different when you're already sweating. Support the show -

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24:08

Q & A | Kids Corner | Mark Explains Building to His...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/04/02

What happens when Mark hands the mic to his kids? A surprisingly honest, hilarious, and insightful Q&A episode on how builders get clients, what happens when projects go sideways, and why firing someone can wreck your whole week. From tree fort permit drama to client communication and custom home timelines, this one is equal parts kids corner, business therapy, and classic Curious Builder fun. Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop See our upcoming live events -

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01:13:43

#159 | Nathan Marsala | The Bison Group | Nathan...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/03/30

Nathan Marsala brings the heat in this episode with a refreshing take on craftsmanship, business systems, family priorities, and why not everything labeled "luxury" actually is. The conversation moves from pre-construction and project leadership to wellness, journaling, and cutting back the noise so the important stuff can get louder. It's equal parts builder talk, life audit, and a reminder that sometimes the smartest move is deleting a few things and grabbing a better pen. Support the show -

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32:34

Losers are Winners | The Job From Hell with Nick...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/03/26

Nick Schiffer brings the heat in this Losers are Winners episode, sharing the messy behind-the-scenes stories that rarely make it to Instagram. From takeover projects gone wild to contracts that nearly cost big, this episode shows how failure can become the best business coach in the room. It is sharp, funny, painfully relatable, and loaded with takeaways for builders who want fewer surprises and stronger systems. Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop See our upcoming live

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01:01:47

#158 | Andrew Legge | Havelock Wool | Andrew Legge Is...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/03/23

Mark sits down with Andrew Legge of Havelock Wool for a conversation that starts with sheep and ends in the walls of a healthier home. Andrew shares how a New Zealand idea turned into a fast-growing insulation company in the U.S., why builders are slow to change, and what makes wool such a powerhouse for sound, air quality, and performance. It is smart, surprising, a little crunchy in the best way, and proof that sometimes the best building product has been standing in a pasture the whole time

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25:49

Losers are Winners | Karissa Dunham on Failure,...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/03/19

In this Losers Are Winners episode, Karissa Dunham opens up about the messy middle of running a business, raising a blended family of seven kids, and learning that "balance" might just be a moving target with a bad attitude. She talks about failure, leadership, fitness, golf, and why making memories with family matters just as much as making the next deal happen. It is a fun, thoughtful reminder that success is not just about working harder, but about being present when it counts. Support the show -

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01:07:50

#157 | Tyler Farrell | Killowen Construction | From...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/03/16

Tyler Farrell of Killowen Construction gets real about what it actually takes to scale a high-end construction company without losing your mind, your margins, or your people. This episode of The Curious Builder dives into budget meetings, team building, hard client conversations, and the moment Tyler stopped apologizing for expensive work. It is equal parts business therapy, builder truth serum, and reminder that great companies are built by humans, not just job sites and spreadsheets. Support the

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45:10

Losers are Winners | How Sterling Lock Survived 7...

The Curious Builder ·

2026/03/12

What does it take to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents? A little insanity, a lot of discipline, and probably more anti-inflammatories than anyone wants to admit. In this Losers are Winners episode, Sterling Lock shares the highs, the breakdowns, the brutal physical setbacks, and the mindset that carried him through one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. It's equal parts inspiring, intense, and a great reminder that leadership starts with how you handle pain when

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