Toolbox for the Trades

Toolbox for the Trades is a podcast where top service professionals share the tips, tricks, and tactics they use to succeed in their industry. This podcast is brought to you by ServiceTitan—the leading home and commercial field service software. Episodes will feature stories and strategies to help contractors grow and scale their service business. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Toolbox for the Trades is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 299 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Toolbox for the Trades, a business show with 299 episodes published.

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  Toolbox for the Trades

  Capturing the 80%: How SmartAC’s Gen-2 Targets Non-Membership Homeowners

  Sep 29, 202622 min

  We welcome back Josh Teekell, founder and CEO of Smart AC, to discuss their Gen-2 HVAC monitoring platform. Built to target the 80% of homeowners who reject traditional memberships, Gen 2 helps contractors drive rapid market expansion. Josh details how Gen 2 improves on their original model with a single sensor, 30-second setup, and non-Wi-Fi connectivity. He also shares insights on leveraging AI, leading teams through product shifts, and using low-cost entry points to convert one-off service calls into lifelong customers. Join us as we discuss: [2:54] What changed at Smart AC: Announcing the Gen-2 platform launch [13:03] Leveraging $5/month pricing to capture the non-membership homes [19:56] Homeowner survey results validating low-cost monitoring models. Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Check out the survey data here! You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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  Toolbox for the Trades

  Calling it Quits: The Real Cost of Family Business Ownership

  Sep 22, 202626 min

  Successful navigation around the complexities of family business ownership demands radical honesty and clear boundaries. Brittany Burgess , Senior Customer Advocacy Specialist at ServiceTitan , joins the show to share her candid experience starting and eventually closing a landscaping company with her husband. From the initial excitement of partnering with a spouse to the breaking point of operational chaos and equipment failure, Brittany discusses the emotional toll of trying to save a business for someone else's sake. She provides actionable advice for couples entering the trades together, emphasizing the importance of defined roles, strict boundaries between work and home, and maintaining a growth mindset even when a venture fails. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that success isn't always found in the bottom line, but often in the lessons learned through hardship. Join us as we discuss: [4:00] Early challenges that led to the breaking point of a couple-owned landscaping company [13:11] Dealing with the immediate fallout of shuttering a business and breaking the news to employees [19:34] Why correctly identifying roles and responsibilities is essential to a family business’s survival You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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  Toolbox for the Trades

  Healing the Hustle: A Guide to Confronting Burnout in the Trades

  Sep 15, 202641 min

  Burnout in the trades is often a silent killer, a slow decay that catches business owners off guard after years of relentless grinding. Nate Agentis , VP of Plumbing at BDR , joins the show to share his raw, personal journey through the pressures of inheriting a family plumbing business, navigating a tragic stage four cancer diagnosis in his family, and facing a mental health breaking point during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nate discusses the danger of tying your entire identity to business growth and introduces the “balance wheel” exercise to help contractors audit their personal lives. From the importance of finding a neutral third-party counselor to the power of small daily habits, Nate provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs to build a lasting legacy without sacrificing their health, family, or sanity. Join us as we discuss: [2:49] Why the grind mentality ultimately leads to burnout and regret [13:09] How bringing in a corporate outsider helped Nate 3X his family business [21:59] Leaning on others to help alleviate the pressures of business ownership [29:07] Why a healthy work culture starts with a healthy owner Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Get Shit Done! by Nate Agentis You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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  Toolbox for the Trades

  All Within My Hands: Metallica’s Mission to Close the Skilled Labor Gap in the Trades

  Sep 8, 202633 min

  Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy at All Within My Hands Foundation , joins the show to share how heavy metal icons Metallica are helping close the skilled labor gap across North America. Renee details the origin story of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, sparked by frontman James Hetfield’s passion for supporting blue-collar trades and hands-on workforce education. What began in 2019 as a $100,000 grant to 10 community colleges has exploded into a $19 million-plus investment spanning 93 schools and nearly 18,000 students. Renee discusses the transformative power of these scholarships, from breaking generational poverty cycles to encouraging women in male-dominated trades, and explains how organic corporate partnerships with brands like Wolverine, Carhartt, and ServiceTitan amplify the foundation's reach. Join us as we discuss: [1:52] How a love for music and nonprofit work led to helping Metallica advance the trades [9:43] Why the band decided to lean into workforce education and scholarship opportunities [13:06] School sponsorships and inspirational student success stories [21:18] ServiceTitan’s partnership and how you can help amplify the foundation’s cause Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Metallica Scholars Initiative You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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  Toolbox for the Trades

  Australian State of the Trades Report 2026: Operational Realities for Aussie Contractors

  Sep 1, 202636 min

  Adrian Fadini , founder of TradesFormation and one of Australia and New Zealand's top trade business coaches, returns to the podcast to dissect the key findings of the Australian State of the Trades Report for 2026. Surveying over 1,000 senior decision-makers across Australian trade businesses, the report highlights a critical shift: while demand remains steady and over 40% of businesses continue to grow revenue, contractors are redlining their capacity and turning their focus inward. Adrian breaks down why fixing business model root causes beats putting out operational fires, how to solve the surging 57% accounts receivable pain point by transitioning from hourly billing to upfront pricing, and why adopting AI requires a clear business vision rather than tactical chasing. Join us as we discuss: [1:57] Why cross-shadowing between departmental roles is critical to your business [7:31] Identifying blind spots and fixing your business model instead of patching symptoms [10:42] Achieving a holistic view of your operations and the number one pain point for Aussie contractors in 2026 [17:27] How a tailored Pricebook can save you from hidden costs and hourly vs flat rates [26:14] Why your business needs a clear vision before adopting AI tools and what NOT to do when managing rising fuel costs and interest rates Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Check out the Australian State of the Trades Report for 2026 here ! You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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