Rhydon Atzenhoffer (@hvac_rhyno) grew up in a family HVAC business, started working in the trade as a kid, and has spent more than 20 years building a career that has taken him from job sites and warehouses to sales, leadership, distribution, and one of the top podcasts in the industry.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What it was like growing up in a family HVAC business

• Why HVAC offers far more opportunities than most people realize

• How sales, distribution, manufacturing, and leadership all connect back to the trade

• Why mentorship, curiosity, and continuous learning matter more than ever

If you're an HVAC tech, trade school student, business owner, or someone exploring a future in the trades, this episode is a reminder that HVAC can take you a lot further than most people think.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUp
Follow us on Instagram: @fieldmind_app

Follow Rhydon's podcast: @hvac_rhyno // @hvac.rnd

Everett Lippel (@soiwasinthishouse) has spent 17 years in HVAC and home services, working in sales, operations, ownership, consulting, training, and podcasting.

He’s seen the trade from almost every angle, and his biggest lesson is simple: fixing the unit matters, but knowing how to handle the person in front of you matters just as much.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Everett went from 0-for-11 on his first sales calls to building a career in HVAC

• How to talk about big repairs or replacements without sounding like you’re just trying to sell something
• Why newer techs need mentors, tools, training, and post-call conversations to get better fast

If you’re an HVAC tech trying to get sharper on calls, make customers trust you faster, and stop feeling weird when money comes up, this episode is worth the listen.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUp
Follow us on Instagram: @Fieldmind_app

Bobby Armstrong (Blue Collar Code) started working in the trades at 13 years old sweeping floors in his dad’s auto body shop. Since then, he’s done everything from welding buses and fixing reefer trailers to residential installs, commercial HVAC, service management, and building one of the biggest blue collar audiences online. In this episode, you’ll hear:

-How Bobby went from addiction to rebuilding his life through HVAC
-Why he says younger techs have a “golden ticket” in today’s trade industry
-What makes work actually fun again after 25 years in the field

Plus: old-school mentors, MacGyver HVAC moments, why office life drove him crazy, and the mindset that helped him stay in the trade this long.

If you’re a younger tech trying to level up, or a seasoned guy who still loves the work, this episode will hit home.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUpFollow us on Instagram: @Fieldmind_app

Zach Karre, owner of A Plus Heating & A/C, went from learning the trade to owning the company, and he did it by asking the right questions, finding the right people, and diving headfirst into everything he didn't know. In this episode, you'll hear:

• How seller financing makes buying a business possible without a bank
• The real cost of buying a used van (it's not what you think)

• The 3 things you need to understand before going out on your own

If you've ever thought about making the jump from technician to owner, this is the episode you didn't know you needed.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUpFollow us on Instagram: @Fieldmind_app

Dominic Furnback walked away from the union, got laid off at 25, and decided to build something of his own.

Today he's the CEO of Elite Service Group and one of the youngest company owners making noise in the HVAC industry, and he's doing it by betting on attitude over experience and building a crew that shows up like family.

In this episode, you'll hear:

-Why the union culture wasn't built for guys with something to prove

-Why Dominic hires green techs over seasoned ones every single time

-What it really takes to go from tech to business owner in your 20s

If you've ever thought about making the jump from tech to owner, this one's for you.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUpFollow us on Instagram: @Fieldmind_app

Rich Ortega is a third-generation tradesman who turned 20 years of fixing commercial kitchen equipment, refrigeration, and foodservice HVAC into something bigger, his own company, On The Rock Services, built on the radical idea that doing things right and treating people well is actually a competitive advantage.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why the guys who latch every door and replace every screw always end up trusted with the big stuff
• How private equity is quietly changing the trades, and what it means for techs and customers
• How to know which employer will actually invest in you
  

If you've ever felt like there has to be a better way to do this, this one's for you.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUpFollow us on Instagram: @Fieldmind_app

Ty Smith (@Icemaster_ty) is a licensed journeyman and commercial refrigeration specialist based in Canada with 15 years in the trade.

He's kept grocery stores running, managed million-dollar product saves, and built one of the most respected reputations in the refrigeration community.

In this episode, you'll hear:

-Why commercial refrigeration is one of the highest-pressure gigs in the trades, and why Ty thrives on it-The "fix it or f*ck it" mentality that actually builds great techs-Why the most in-demand guys in the trade can always write their own ticket

Whether you're new to the trade, mid-career, or running a shop, Ty tells it straight.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUp

Shawn (@hvac_animation) is a seasoned HVAC veteran in Canada who's spent three decades mastering the craft, raising the next generation of tradespeople, and proving that the best relationships in this business are built one coffee order at a time.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The flooding incident that taught him the most important lesson of his career
• Why knowing your customer's coffee order matters more than you think
• How the trades will humble you, shape you, and keep you learning for life

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to build a career you're truly proud of, this one's for you.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUp

Andrew (@hvac_disciple) is a Gen Z HVAC tech in Florida who's proving that age is just a number when you've got the obsession to back it up. He went from doubting himself in trade school to training his own helpers, and inspiring thousands online along the way.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The moment he almost quit in his first week (and why he didn't)
• How to earn respect when everyone in the room is twice your age
• Why the toughest days make you question everything—and the best days remind you why you chose this

If you've ever felt like you don't belong, or wondered if you made the right call choosing the trades, this one's for you.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUp

Tim De Stasio (@timdestasiohvac) has spent over 25 years mastering HVAC, from service tech and installer to designer, business owner, and instructor.

He's seen critical systems in hospitals, built his own company, and now consults on the comfort and air quality problems that plague homes across coastal North Carolina.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The carbon monoxide mistake that sent workers home with headaches, and the lesson that changed everything
• Why some senior techs might gatekeep (and how to learn anyway)
• Whether AI should be on the job site, and how to use it without looking like a rookie

Whether you're an apprentice dealing with gatekeepers, a business owner wondering about AI, or just someone who wants to understand why your house won't stay comfortable, Tim breaks down the science, the shortcuts, and the stuff that really matters.

Follow us on TikTok: @RyanTradesUp