Episodes

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I wrestle with one of the most difficult leadership disciplines to master: staying emotionally grounded when everything around you feels chaotic. We talk candidly about the emotional whiplash of entrepreneurship, how quickly even the best intentions and plans can get derailed by fires, and why reactivity quietly destroys momentum inside growing companies. Brandon shares his commitment to becoming a more stoic, stabilizing force for his team...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I have one of our most personal and vulnerable conversations to date. We step into a topic that’s often misunderstood, stigmatized, or avoided altogether - alternative medicine and the role psilocybin has played in my own mental, emotional, and relational health. I share my background growing up in a deeply religious environment, my initial skepticism, and the long road that led me to explore psilocybin in a clinical, intentional setting. We...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I dig into one of the most overlooked drivers of growth in service businesses: the client experience. Sparked by a frustrating real-world story, we unpack how even well-intentioned teams can slowly erode trust through poor communication, missed expectations, and a lack of follow-through - and why those failures compound over time. We talk candidly about how competition in restoration and home services is changing, why today’s customers are m...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I sit down for a raw, unfiltered look at the last 60 days - the travel, the pressure, the wins we haven’t slowed down to celebrate, and the realities of running two fast-moving companies at the same time. We talk about what it feels like when your business hits a streak of negative momentum, how long it takes to turn the ship, and why even small signs of stabilization matter more than you think. We get into the personal side, too - the exha...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I sit down with Claire Carreras, a musician, comedian, fashion entrepreneur, and now co-owner of 1-Tom Plumber Austin to unpack one of the most unexpected and compelling career journeys we’ve ever featured. Claire opens up about a childhood marked by constant relocation across multiple countries, how creativity and performance became her anchor, and how those early experiences shaped the grit and resourcefulness she now brings to building se...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, I sit down with Nilo Quiroz and John Villon to unpack their unlikely path from oil-and-gas engineers to running one of the fastest-growing PuroClean and 1-Tom Plumber operations in the country. We get into how early failures shaped their mindset, why putting ego aside became the key to their partnership, and how saying yes—long before they felt ready—helped them accelerate past the typical startup grind. From feeding thousands of hurricane responders t...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I sit down with Alejandro to unpack what ten years inside one of the toughest jiu jitsu cultures in the country can teach us about leadership, loyalty, and personal growth. We dig into how a broken season in his life led him to a mentor who changed everything, why the Daisy Fresh laundromat became a proving ground for world class competitors, and how the same principles that shape great fighters also shape great teams. Hope you enjoy Chris ...

In this episode of Head, Heart, and Boots, Brandon and I dive into what Netflix got right about radical candor and how restoration leaders can use it to build healthier, faster-growing teams. We pull insights from No Rules Rules, share how we’re applying those same principles inside FP Restoration, and talk about how fear of feedback quietly kills trust, growth, and leadership potential. hope you enjoy - Chris Why You Should Listen [00:03:40] How Netflix built a culture of radical candor and ...

I’ll be real. Finance used to feel like the boring side of business. But the deeper we’ve gone, the more I’ve realized the numbers tell the story. In this one, Chris and I sit down with Jim Emerich of Backbone CFO to talk about how to turn financial chaos into clarity, and clarity into growth. Jim breaks down what most owners get wrong about money, how to build incentive comp that actually pays, and why mastering cash flow is the key to scaling without stress. Thanks for Listening, Brandon Ke...

I’m Chris, and in this episode Brandon and I talk about what year-end planning really looks like when you stop chasing perfect dashboards and start leading with purpose. We unpack what worked for Floodlight this year, how we intentionally ran lean to leap ahead, and why your team’s buy-in depends on more than KPIs. What We Cover [00:01:12] Planning Q4 like an investor and how we turned red months into green growth [00:05:11] Why most leaders undervalue strategic planning and treat it like a ch...

In this episode, Brandon and I wrestle with a tough reality: what happens when disagreement turns into dehumanization, and free speech no longer feels safe? I share how one of my posts spiraled into thousands of views and heated comments, leaving me questioning how we’ve arrived at a place where words can provoke violence, and why leaders often stay silent. Brandon brings a veteran’s perspective on what’s at stake when we forget the sacrifice that secured our ability to speak freely. This isn’...

In this one, Chris and I talk fitness, sleep, supplements, and how to keep your body in the game while leading in the restoration industry. Late-night emergency calls, unpredictable schedules, and high-stress jobs can wreck your health if you don’t have a plan. We share how morning training, sleep tech, diet balance, and smart supplementation keep us sharp so we can show up strong for our teams and clients. We even dig into creatine for brain energy and the truth about TRT vs. enclomiphene. Tha...

Brandon and I get real about extreme ownership in leadership - not theory, but the daily behaviors that drive results. We cover how to move a struggling team member without micromanaging, why cadence beats intention, and how sales management tools like PDI and golden hours create momentum. If you lead in restoration, construction, or home services, this is your playbook for execution. WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN: [00:01:52] Extreme ownership - own outcomes, not just standards [00:04:44] Check-ins t...

What’s up, friends! This week Brandon and I are coming to you from our brand-new HHB studio: vaulted ceilings, windows to the world, and a backdrop so good it deserves a tattoo. And for our first show in this space, we went big. We sat down with David Gonzalez and Mark Mushlitz from K4K Construction, guys who are pioneering 3D printed concrete homes. Yes, literally printing houses. This isn’t sci-fi anymore. It’s happening now, and it has massive implications for construction, restoration, and...

AI isn’t just hype, it’s already changing how service companies capture leads, close deals, and keep customers happy. In this episode, Chris and Brandon dive into the most practical, boots-on-the-ground conversation we’ve ever had about AI for the trades. Our guest, Nick D’Urbano, CRO and co-founder of Distance, brings a wild career path, from Deloitte M&A to running growth for Victoria’s Secret overseas, to his mission of helping restoration, plumbing, and HVAC companies stop letting revenue s...

If you're mid-career and wondering why the grind feels heavier, or you're trying to make peace with a shift in your role - this one’s for you. I finally understood what was really happening in my brain. That realization gave me clarity, and confidence. [00:05:27] Crystallized vs. fluid intelligence: Once you know which one you’re operating from, you stop competing with 25-year-olds. [00:07:02] The “definition of done” lens changed how I lead younger, faster thinkers, and freed up my bandwidth...

Ever wonder what it really takes to build an M&A machine inside the restoration world? This week, we sit down with Jeff Moore, the guy leading the charge at ATI Restoration, to get into the weeds on what he’s learned after buying 40+ companies in five short years. We dig into: Why culture eats EBITDA for breakfast 44:00 The million-dollar HR screwup that still makes Jeff cringe 08:25 Why earnouts suck (his words, not ours) 10:55 How misjudging people can cost you a hell of a lot more than m...

In this episode, we get into the weeds with David Obert and Aaron Brunko to figure out what’s actually driving the dip in claim volume, and what it means for us on the ground. Spoiler: It’s not just the weather. We break down six key contributors, from deductible creep to increased competition, and dig into how AI, estimating, and people power are reshaping the game. Check it out: [00:08:00] Why claim volume feels low, and what the data really says [00:14:00] The impact of at-home workforces a...

Some people build their businesses one fire at a time. Sadiq Isu builds with the end in mind, and it shows. Brandon and I sat down with Sadiq to talk about what it looks like to lead with clarity. He’s an immigrant who bought, built, and sold restoration companies, and did it on purpose. No scramble, no guesswork. Just steady, strategic growth with people and legacy at the core. This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when you trade short-term wins for long-term impact. Why You Should Listen: [...

The Father, the Builder, the Balance - This one's personal. Chris and I sat down to talk about the real stuff behind building a business, being husbands, dads, friends—while staying ambitious. If you're in that tension too, you'll feel seen in this one. Why You Should Listen: [04:47] Building can cost more than you think, especially at home. [06:10] Chris opens up about losing his dad and the emotional wreckage that followed. [16:32] What does it mean to live like a Renaissance man? [35:57]...

Look—most of us in this industry have lived through tough stretches. When claim volume dries up or margins get squeezed, the gut reaction is to cut, freeze, survive. But Brandon and I are asking a better question: What if this slowdown is the wake-up call your business needed? This conversation is all about what to do now and how to build a company that thrives tomorrow. We're not peddling theory—we’re sharing the stuff we’ve seen work, and what we’re doing ourselves. Why you should listen: [0...

Brandon here. Look — I get it. Financial episodes don’t usually light people’s hair on fire. But this one? This one’s different. Chris and I sat down with Jim Emerich and Melissa Zinni from Backbone CFO — and I walked away with real answers to questions I’ve been wrestling with in my own business. This convo was way more than spreadsheets and P&Ls. We got into the real mindset traps that keep us stuck — and the strategic moves that can unlock margin and cash flow. Why you should listen: (34:4...

Hey friends, Brandon here. This one hit different. Chris and I sat down with Holden Looper, CEO of Blue Shield Environmental and second-gen leader in the Southeast Restoration family. Still in his 20s, Holden’s already building something of his own — with a foundation of grit, integrity, and values that run deep in his family’s business. We talked legacy, leadership, and how to do family business in a way that actually works. If you're navigating the generational handoff or raising kids in the ...

Hey friends this is Chris. In this episode, Brandon and I dive into the unique internal culture of 1Tom Plumber alongside guests Leah Hanlon (one of the OGs from Icon Restoration) and Alvaro Leal (Rocky's right-hand man). This isn’t just a recap of a Discovery Day or another 1Tom Plumber promo—it's a transparent look behind the curtain at how intentional culture creation drives growth, team loyalty, and operational excellence. There's a lot of real talk about leadership, trust, "failing forward,...