What does a landscaping company have to do with an elementary school?

Everything.

In this episode, Shay and Zac sit down fresh off a visit to Northeast Elementary School in Pinetown, NC, where they represented Landscaping Unlimited, Inc., The Landscaping Podcast, Z Photography & Media, and had a conversation with students that most in this industry would never think to have.

And we must give a shoutout to the students of Northeast Elementary for kicking off this episode themselves; you'll hear THEIR voices right out the gate, and it really doesn't get better than that.

Shay and Zac talk about why showing up in the community matters, why the next generation deserves to see what a real career in the green industry looks like, and why landscaping is far more than mowing lawns...

It's design, it's business, it's craftsmanship, it's entrepreneurship, and somebody needs to say that out loud where the kids can hear it.

If you've ever believed that what you do with your hands is worth passing down, this episode is for you.

Everyone's talking about AI taking jobs; nobody's talking about the ones it can't touch.

In this solo episode, Zac breaks down why artificial intelligence isn't moving into the trades, the blue-collar workforce, or the green industry anytime soon.

He also explains why that matters more than most people realize, and while white-collar jobs are being automated and college degrees are losing their return on investment, the people who work with their hands are becoming more valuable by the day.

This one is for the career changer who's tired of staring at a screen.

It's for the young person who was told a four-year degree was the only path forward.

It's for anyone who's ever wondered if there's still a future in doing real, physical, skilled work outdoors.

Zac covers:

• Why AI can't replicate the skilled trades and what makes them automation-resistant
• The growing labor shortage in the green industry and what that means for pay and opportunity
• Why landscaping and the trades are legitimate, respectable career paths, not fallback options
• What it looks like to build a career in the green industry in 2026

🎙️ The Landscaping Podcast is hosted by Shay and Zac of Landscaping Unlimited, Inc. in Washington, NC.

Your backyard should be the most restorative place you own.

In this episode, Shay and Zac dig into the rise of outdoor wellness spaces and what it actually looks like to build one from the ground up.

Meditation gardens, living water features, cold plunges, saunas, red light therapy, they cover the science behind why these things work and how Landscaping Unlimited brings it all together into one cohesive, custom outdoor space.

Whether you've got a quarter acre or five, this episode will change how you think about your property.

The green industry runs on more than grass and good intentions; it runs on credentials.

In this episode, Shay and Zac break down the licenses they've used in the landscaping world, which are:

• NC Pesticide License
• NC Irrigation License
• NC Landscape Contractor's License
• And the one Shay just added to the wall, his NC General Contractor's License.

They talk about what each license actually means, why it separates serious operations from the guys with a truck and a prayer, and what Shay's GC license opens up for Landscaping Unlimited moving forward.

This isn't a "flex episode", it's a blueprint for what professional growth looks like in this industry.

If you're in the trades, thinking about getting licensed, or just want to know what you should be looking for when you hire a landscaping company, this episode is for you.

Talent isn't enough.

Zac Small goes solo this episode to talk about something nobody in the trades wants to admit: That there are talented people everywhere who are completely failing, and it has nothing to do with skill.

Zac breaks down the five reasons he sees talented people fall short, from the job site to the leadership seat. This one hits close to home for anyone who's ever watched someone with real ability self-destruct, or looked in the mirror and wondered why they haven't gone further.

The five reasons:

1. They can't find comfort being uncomfortable, and growth only lives outside of comfort
2. They don't set goals, and they don't pursue them; talent without direction is just potential gathering dust
3. They feel entitled, like success should be handed to them instead of earned
4. They have poor role models, and they don't even realize it's holding them back
5. They mistake difficulty for danger, and avoid every hard thing instead of attacking it

This is one of those episodes you'll want to share with someone on your crew, someone in your circle, or maybe just listen to yourself twice.

Shay will be back next week; today, Zac brought the challenge directly to you.

The Landscaping Podcast is powered by Landscaping Unlimited, Inc., based in Washington, NC. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more.

In this episode, we get honest about a hard truth...

Nobody is coming to save small towns.

In big cities, people often look to systems, programs, and government to solve problems; but in small town America, it has always been different.

Out here, people have to rely on their neighbors, their community, and each other.

This conversation is about small-town grit, responsibility, resilience, and pride. It is about what happens when people stop waiting for outside help and start showing up for the people around them. Because in places like ours, strength is not found in handouts; it is found in hard work, loyalty, and community.

If you care about small towns, real people, and the mindset it takes to keep a community alive, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, Shay breaks down a truth too many people learn too late: "If you do not take control of your time, your time will control you."

He talks about the importance of managing your schedule with intention so your job gets your best, your mind and body are not neglected, and the people you love are not left with the job's leftovers.

This episode is about priorities, discipline, and building a life that is in balance.

Shay speaks on making room for your responsibilities, your personal growth, and your loved ones, without using “busy” as an excuse.

If you have been feeling stretched thin, distracted, or like the days are running you instead of the other way around, this one will hit home.

In Episode 52 of The Landscaping Podcast, Shay and Zac are in the truck, catching up after a busy week and getting into a truth that needs to be said more often:

Most people have no idea how deep the green industry really is.

Too many people see landscaping as just mowing grass, spreading mulch, or moving dirt.

That mindset is shallow, and it’s wrong.

The green industry is filled with skill, education, strategy, client management, plant knowledge, equipment knowledge, problem-solving, design awareness, and real-world experience that most of the public never sees.

That’s a big part of why this podcast exists.

We’re not just here to talk shop; we’re here to raise awareness, pull back the curtain, and help people better understand the intelligence, professionalism, and depth behind this industry.

In this episode, we talk about the week, the work, the podcast's bigger mission, and why educating the public matters if this industry is ever going to get the respect it deserves.

If you work in landscaping, lawn care, hardscaping, irrigation, or any part of the green industry, this episode will hit home.

And if you’re outside the industry, this is one worth hearing.

In Episode 51 of 'The Landscaping Podcast', we’re bringing you the audio from Shay Brickhouse’s first public presentation in the green industry, delivered at the Turf Council of North Carolina meeting.

In this talk, Shay breaks down what it really means to build a people-first industry and why the companies that win long term are the ones that take care of their team and their clients better than anyone else.

This is a message about more than landscaping.

It’s about leadership, culture, trust, service, and why real growth starts with people, not just profit.

If you’re a landscaper, business owner, manager, or someone trying to build something that lasts, this episode will challenge the way you think about success in the green industry.

If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe, share it, and follow along for more conversations built for the landscaping world.

In this solo episode, Zac talks about something a lot of people never fully give themselves permission to do, be real...

Too many people are walking through life edited, filtered, watered down, and afraid to say what they actually think, feel, or believe. They stay quiet to keep the peace, shrink themselves to avoid judgment, and perform instead of live.

That is no way to live.

In this episode, Zac breaks down why authenticity matters, why your voice has to be used in a way that is true to you, and why freedom starts the moment you stop asking the world for permission to be yourself.

He also talks about a recent speech Shay gave, where he let people see the real him.

He spoke honestly, directly, and without hiding behind what sounded polished or safe. He gave himself the freedom to speak about people and situations in a way that was genuine to who he is, and that kind of honesty is powerful.

Because this truth does not just apply to business, leadership, or public speaking.

It applies to marriage.

It applies to parenting.

It applies to friendship.

It applies to your work.

It applies to the way you carry yourself in every room you walk into.

If you are tired of living half-hidden, tired of censoring yourself, and tired of feeling disconnected from your own voice, this episode is for you.

You do not need to become someone else, you need to give yourself the freedom to be heard, and the courage to be seen.