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PODCAST

The Dr Decks Podcast

Welcome to The Dr Decks Podcast! Here you"ll find the Dr talking about all sorts of things related to outdoor deck building. You"ll also hear from some of the top deck builders around the nation and get insights into companies that the Dr deals with all the time.

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All Episodes

63:04

He Quit the Best Deck Company He'd Ever Worked For...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2026/02/16

Jeremy Wilkins woke up in a Baltimore jail cell on April 20th, 2004. He was 18 years old, and that morning changed everything.In this conversation, the man known online as Deck Master J shares the story he's kept private for over 20 years. You'll hear about the kid who was repairing computers with spare parts at age eight, building robots in middle school, and playing soccer year-round before depression and bad decisions nearly destroyed him.Jeremy explains how he cut off everyone he knew, moved to

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65:21

Home Depot Said It Would Be His Biggest Mistake. It...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2026/02/09

Mike Malkin spent 15 years installing doors for his parents' Home Depot contract; 35 stores, 15 crews, thousands of installations. In 2020, that all ended with a phone call. The corporate rep told him walking away would be the biggest mistake of his life. Instead, it became his best decision.In this conversation, Mike shares his journey from a skateboarding dropout to deck building business owner. You'll hear about skating with guys who became Olympians, dropping out in 11th grade before his dad

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63:22

He Biked Around Santa Monica with Tools in a Backpack...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2026/02/02

Robbin Havasi has only been in the United States for six years and the story of how he got here is unlike anything you've heard on this podcast. Born in Sweden to an Air Force family, Robin spent a decade working for Scandinavian Airlines before his construction side hustle took over. But here's the part that caught us off guard: Robin has made about 2,000 skydives, competed on the Swedish national skydiving team, and won a bronze medal at the Indoor Skydiving World Cup in Austin. In February 2020,

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64:00

Identical Twins Built a $2.5 Million Deck Company by...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2026/01/26

Andrew and Benjamin Schoonover are identical twins who built Twin Brothers Construction into a $2.5 million deck company before turning 26. Based in Minnesota's south metro, they've been hustling together since middle school; flipping limited Jordans on Facebook, buying and selling pickup trucks at 15, and finishing high school online in three months.This conversation goes deep into their journey from troubled kids to Timber Tech Platinum builders. Ben shares how he lost his Army Ranger contract to

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62:03

24-Year-Old Deck Builder Runs Two Crews in Quebec

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2026/01/19

Sam Royer is 24 years old, French Canadian, and about to lead his own deck building crew for the first time. In this conversation, he shares his journey from shy kid who struggled in school to confident team leader at his father's company, Pro Deck, near Montreal.Sam opens up about the learning difficulties that made him feel different from other students, choosing carpentry over becoming a mechanic, and how COVID stretched his trade school from 18 months to three years. You'll hear about building

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61:54

Building Decks in Hawaii Costs 2X More. Here's Why.

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2026/01/12

Chad Hillweh builds decks in one of the most challenging construction environments in America. Based on Oahu's windward side, his company Hawaii Deck Builders faces 8-month permit waits, materials that cost double the mainland price, and freight timelines that stretch 6-8 weeks for basic supplies.In this conversation, Chad shares his unlikely path from Vermont-born son of a Palestinian refugee to psychology graduate to licensed general contractor. You'll hear how his father's convenience store in

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61:46

50 Employees, Zero Profit: A Contractor's Wake-Up Call

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/12/22

Levi Tibbetts from TC Decks joins Dr Decks to share his remarkable journey from Mormon missionary in Brazil to building a million-dollar deck company in Utah. This conversation goes deep into the personal side of construction entrepreneurship.Levi opens up about his darkest days during the 2008 recession when he lost vehicles, equipment, and nearly everything he built. He shares how growing his framing company to 50 employees actually made less money than when he had six, the breaking point that

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61:36

Brazilian Marketing Expert Building Brands in the US...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/12/15

Meet Marcello Guimarães, whose path through Brazilian advertising's highest levels led him to become marketing director for GMX Group and the brands underneath that umbrella including Maximo Wood. In this first hour, Marcello shares his unconventional upbringing; growing up as the son of a video rental empire owner in Brazil, spending two years in Orlando learning English through immersion and Hot Wheels rewards, and watching his family go from penthouse to sleeping on office floors after

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64:04

Construction Talk with Steele Roberts | DDP #39

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/12/08

Meet Steele Roberts, whose name alone makes him unforgettable, but his story is what keeps you listening. Growing up in Eastern Washington's Tri-Cities with brothers named Stone and Sterling, Steel's mom knew exactly what she wanted when picking names for her sons. In this first hour, Steel shares his journey through Richland High School football (2017 state champions), his early days working demo on apartment complexes, and what it's like working for the family construction business. You'll hear

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62:25

30 Years in Lumber: Chad Frehley's Path to Pacific...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/11/17

Meet Chad Furley, whose 30-year journey through lumber, windows, packaging, and engineered wood products led him to become Pacific Wood Tech's outdoor living specialist. In this first hour, Chad shares his path starting with a paper route at age 8 in Nebraska, running cross country in high school, and attending trade school where 98% job placement was guaranteed, not something you get with a four-year degree. You'll hear about his time managing 40 employees at Menards, selling Pella windows to

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64:12

The Bodybuilder Who Became a Deck Industry Leader...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/11/10

Meet Lainie Slevin, whose 25-year journey through the decking industry has taken her through manufacturing, distribution, and now territory sales for Decks and Docks. Lainie shares her unconventional path growing up taking city buses to school in Queens, moving to Lake Hopatcong where water sports became her passion, and eventually finding her way into the construction industry through a job selling contractor leads. You'll hear about her early days at Trex when composite decking was plagued with

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66:12

Building Million-Dollar Docks on Tennessee Rivers...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/11/03

Meet Jason Varney of Docks And Decks, whose journey through the construction trades led him to a unique specialty: building custom boat docks on Tennessee's waterways. Jason shares his path through framing carpentry in upstate New York, surviving the 2008 recession with eight employees, and discovering his niche in the specialized world of marine construction.You'll hear about his childhood building tree forts and flying RC airplanes, leaving college to pursue framing full-time, and the pivotal

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63:10

Third Generation Contractor Finds His Niche (Clint...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/10/27

Meet Clint Holsing, a third-generation contractor whose path through the construction industry took him from framing and siding to becoming one of the top Aero Barrier dealers in the United States. Clint shares his unconventional upbringing, moving 11 times before age 15 as his builder father sold the family home repeatedly, always living in show-ready houses that felt like museums.You'll hear about his early passion for dirt bikes, his brief stint learning welding in Arizona, and the pivotal moment

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64:54

He Built a Deck Empire While Living in a Camper

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/10/20

Meet Chris Breen, whose journey from living in a camper at a storage facility to running Legacy Decks and the Legacy Decks Academy is one of the most inspiring stories in the deck building industry. In this episode, Chris opens up about his unconventional path - from growing up in Michigan with a firefighter/builder/racecar driver dad, to his quarter midget racing childhood, to eventually finding himself living in a camper with his family after returning from missionary work.You'll hear about his

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63:06

How Two Immigrants Built LA's Biggest Deck Company |...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/10/13

Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of LA Decks, a company that transformed dreams into reality. Discover how founders Noah and Victor navigated their path from Israel to Los Angeles, overcoming challenges and building a successful business in the decking industry. This episode explores their personal stories, the hurdles they faced, and the determination that fueled their success. Tune in to learn about their unique approach to business and the lessons they've learned along the way.

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60:51

The Roof Slayer Story: Building a National Roof...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/10/06

Meet Ryan Smith, better known as "Roof Slayer" on social media, whose journey from building childhood tree forts to running a nationwide roof cutting business is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode, Ryan shares his 30-year evolution in the trades, from his early days as a framing carpenter in upstate New York to developing a unique business model that ships pre-cut roof systems across America.You'll hear about his unconventional path through the trades, including leaving college to pursue

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64:08

Andrea's Passion for Adventure and Outdure | DDP #31

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Join us as we dive into the world of outdoor innovation with Andrea, a key player at Outdure. Discover how Andrea's passion for adventure and her unique insights have shaped her journey in the outdoor living industry. From the challenges of transitioning from a professional wakeboarding career to making a significant impact at Outdure, Andrea shares her experiences and the innovative solutions that Outdure brings to the market.

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63:47

From Streets To Success: Damani's Path to Diamondback...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/09/22

In this week's episode of the DDP, Diamondback Damani shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings to becoming a key figure at Diamondback. Through candid conversations with Calvin, Damani opens up about his experiences growing up as a military brat, his passion for soccer, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. Listeners will be inspired by Damani's resilience and determination as he navigates challenges, learns from mentors, and ultimately finds his calling in the trades industry

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61:55

Island Life and Lessons: Mike Young's Story| DDP #29

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/09/15

Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Mike Young, a dedicated entrepreneur who transitioned from the bustling life in Utah to the serene landscapes of Kauai. Discover how Mike built his construction business from the ground up, navigated the challenges of island life, and embraced his rich family heritage. This episode is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of community. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with personal anecdotes and valuable insights.

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62:04

Trade Show Secrets from StrongTie's Event Marketing...

The Dr Decks Podcast ·

2025/09/08

Meet Frankie Emerson, StrongTie's event marketing powerhouse who took an unconventional path from the cheerleading sidelines to the trade show floor. In this engaging conversation, Frankie reveals how her background in cheerleading actually prepared her for the high-energy world of event marketing and relationship building.You'll discover the strategies behind StrongTie's commanding presence at major industry trade shows, learn how to build meaningful connections in crowded exhibition halls, and get

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47 results

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