The Open Concept with Brandon Smith

Manja Horper, author of Pass the Torch in the Trades and founder of a workforce development consultancy, joins Brandon for a raw conversation about the crisis quietly building inside the trades industry. From vanishing craftsmanship and broken apprenticeship models to leadership gaps and generational shifts, this episode tackles what's really at stake — and what owners, leaders, and young workers need to do right now before it's too late.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Recognize the three succession crises hitting trades businesses at the same time
• Understand why your leadership style may be driving the next generation away
• Build a company culture intentionally — before one builds itself without you
• Stop fishing from a shrinking talent pond and start building your own pipeline
• Use skill stacking and competency models to develop people faster on the job
• Understand why Gen Z isn't disloyal — and what they actually need to stay
• Know when to train, when to document, and how to buy back your time
• See why passing the torch isn't just about retirement — it's about legacy

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

✅ The Three Succession Crises in Trades✅ Culture by Default vs. Culture by Design✅ Generational Leadership Gaps✅ Skill Stacking & Competency Models✅ Building a Talent Pipeline Like a Sales Funnel✅ Women in the Trades — Challenges & Opportunities✅ Apprenticeship Programs & Government's Role✅ Knowledge Capture Before Retirement

👤 Featured Guest:Manny Horner — Workforce Development Consultant & Author | Pass the Torch in the Trades

Instagram: @manja_horner📖 Book: Pass the Torch — A Rallying Call to Rescue the Future of Trades🎧 Also available on Audible

🎙️ About The Open Concept:Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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Dr. Maureen “Dr. Mo” Gibbons, physician, entrepreneur, and founder of AMS Lifestyle Medicine joins Brandon to unpack the hidden forces driving performance, burnout, and behavior. From “phoenix energy” vs. “allowing” to the real biology behind habits and stress, this episode challenges the grind mentality and reframes what it actually takes to grow. If you’ve been stuck between pushing harder and feeling stuck, this conversation will shift how you think about energy, focus, and control.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Recognize when your “drive” is actually holding you back from the next level
• Shift from constant action to strategic “allowing” to unlock growth
• Focus your energy like a laser instead of burning out with chaos
• Break the cycle of overthinking and turn worry into real forward movement
• Understand how biology not just willpower drives habits and cravings
• Reframe failure and progress so you stop chasing finish lines and start valuing momentum
• Identify hidden patterns (like “creating drama”) that sabotage your success
• Take action in service of your peace—not just productivity

🔑 Key Topics Covered:✅ Phoenix Energy vs Allowing✅ Focus vs Chaos✅ Willpower Fatigue✅ Food, Addiction & Brain Chemistry✅ Worry as False Productivity✅ Zone of Genius vs Excellence

👤 Featured Guest:
Dr. Maureen Gibbons – Physician & Founder | AMS Lifestyle Medicine

Instagram: @drmoegibbons

🎙️ About The Open Concept:Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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In this episode, Brandon sits down with Lyndon Smith, founder of Expansive Edge, to break down how businesses can scale by capturing what actually makes them work. From tribal knowledge to AI-powered SOPs, Lyndon shares how to turn chaos into clarity through systems, ownership, and process design. If you’ve ever felt like your business depends too much on you (or a few key people), this episode shows you how to fix it.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Capture tribal knowledge before it walks out the door with key employees
• Build SOPs that reflect reality—not generic “best practices”
• Get true team buy-in by involving them in building systems
• Avoid the biggest mistake leaders make when setting standards
• Use AI to accelerate SOP creation—without sacrificing quality
• Create a single source of truth your team will actually use
• Design onboarding that makes new hires feel like they joined the A-team
• Remove yourself from the org chart to increase business value

🔑 Key Topics Covered:✅ Standard operating procedures (SOPs)✅ Tribal & institutional knowledge✅ AI in business operations✅ Leadership & delegation✅ Process mapping & systems✅ Team alignment & accountability

👤 Featured Guest:
Lyndon Smith – Founder | Expansive Edge

Instagram: @scale.with.lynson

For more info on Tech Firms :

https://invite.usewhale.io/Letsgo

https://start.trainual.com/Letsgo

🎙️ About The Open Concept:
Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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Live from the trade show floor, Brandon sits down with Barry Hartman to tackle real questions from trades and home service business owners across North America. From getting stuck at $700K to scaling past $1M, they break down what actually holds businesses back—and how to fix it. This episode is packed with practical advice on delegation, systems, sales, and building a business that doesn’t burn you out.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Break through the $500K–$1M plateau by letting go of control and building a real team
• Identify why your revenue is growing but your cash flow isn’t—and fix it fast
• Transition from small jobs to higher-ticket projects with confidence and strategy
• Build a roadmap to double your revenue without burning out or guessing
• Stabilize inconsistent monthly revenue with smarter service and client mix
• Use systems and SOPs to eliminate constant “firefighting” in your business
• Scale operations without adding chaos, overhead, or unnecessary stress
• Close more deals by mastering sales conversations—not competing on price

🔑 Key Topics Covered:✅ Scaling from $500K to $1M+✅ Delegation & leadership mindset✅ Sales strategy & conversion✅ Job size & profitability✅ Systems & SOPs in operations✅ Hiring, training & team building

👤 Featured Guest:
Barry Hartman – Entrepreneur | 505-Junk & BOLT Accelerator

Instagram: @505junk

🎙️ About The Open Concept:
Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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Construction expert Bradley Novakowski joins Brandon to pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of home renovations. With over a decade in the trenches and hundreds of projects under his belt, Brad brings a "scientist's" precision to the common headaches every homeowner faces. From the "wild west" of contractor quotes to the brutal reality of permitting in cities like Surrey, this episode is a masterclass in navigating the renovation process without losing your mind or your budget.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Vetting for Mastery: How to spot a "reputable" contractor versus an experienced one by using the 6-month reference rule.
• The "Low-Ball" Trap: Why a $20,000 price spread in quotes is a red flag and how to identify missing information before you sign.
• Communication Matrix: Why the cadence of updates is more important than the hammer and nails for project success.
• The Permitting Reality Check: Navigating the "bumpy ride" of different municipal planning departments and how it dictates your start date.
• Phase Sequencing: How to decide between a kitchen, bathroom, or basement reno when you can't do it all at once.
• The Contingency Truth: Moving past Google's advice to understand "concealed variables" like floor leveling and rot repair.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

✅ Finding a contractor you can actually trust

✅ Deciphering wildly different renovation quotes

✅ Realistic budgeting vs. "The Google Answer"

✅ Permitting timelines and municipal hurdles

✅ Living on a hot plate: The logistics of phased renos

✅ Fixed-price contracts vs. legitimate extras

👤 Featured Guest: Bradley Novakowski – Project Lead & Renovation Specialist | New Vision Projects

Linked-In : Brad Novakowski

🎙️ About The Open Concept: Your go-to podcast for breaking down the unnecessary walls and barriers that stand in the way of greatness in the construction and renovation industry.

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Luke Schnacker, a leader in the off-road and overlanding space, to talk about building a business during chaos and the leadership lessons hidden inside failure. From Portland’s shifting business climate to scaling Ironman 4x4 during the COVID surge, Luke shares how disciplined systems, calm leadership, and learning from bad examples shaped his approach. The conversation dives into growth under pressure, identity-driven products, and why leaders must stay steady when the “fires” start.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Recognize the leadership mistakes that quietly drive businesses and cities into decline

• Turn past “bad boss” experiences into a blueprint for better leadership

• Scale a company rapidly without losing control of systems or culture

• Use direct-to-consumer strategy to unlock explosive growth opportunities

• Teach customers to become confident DIY users of your product

• Apply EOS scorecards and clear vision to cut through operational noise

• Stay calm in high-pressure moments so your team doesn’t panic

• Identify which problems need immediate action—and which ones can wait

🔑 Key Topics Covered:✅ Portland’s changing business climate✅ The Ironman 4x4 overlanding market✅ Direct-to-consumer growth strategy✅ Implementing EOS and Traction systems✅ Scaling during the COVID boom✅ Leadership psychology under pressure

👤 Featured Guest:
Luke Schnacker – Leader | Ironman 4x4 North America

Instagram: @iroman4x4america

🎙️ About The Open Concept:Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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Angela Brown is the Executive Publisher of SLUG Magazine (Salt Lake Underground) and the founder of Craft Lake City, a nonprofit elevating Utah’s creative culture. In this episode, she shares how a life-changing decision to stay in Salt Lake City transformed both her career and the local arts scene. From building a 37-year independent media brand to creating a thriving creative economy, Angela explains how community, creativity, and adaptability—especially with emerging technology like AI—can shape lasting impact.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Discover how committing to your community can unlock opportunities bigger than chasing the “next big city.”

• Learn how independent media builds trust and influence in ways large corporate media often can’t.

• Understand how to lead and manage creative teams without killing creativity.

• See how serving others can guide major life decisions with clarity and purpose.

• Learn practical ways to cultivate gratitude as a leadership habit that shapes culture.

• Discover how to build a creative economy that empowers local artists and entrepreneurs.

• Understand why embracing technology—including AI—can strengthen creative industries rather than replace them.

• Learn how long-term commitment (10+ years) is often the real key to meaningful impact.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:✅ Independent media and local journalism✅ Building creative communities✅ Leadership in creative organizations✅ Entrepreneurship and long-term vision✅ Gratitude and mindset practices✅ The future of AI in creative work

👤 Featured Guest:
Angela Brown – Executive Publisher | SLUG Magazine & Founder | Craft Lake City

Instagram: @therealangela I @slugmag I @craftlakecity

🎙️ About The Open Concept:
Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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JP Rinylo (a "recovering corporate athlete" and high-performance coach) joins Brandon from a snowy New Jersey to break down why true fitness isn’t about a wedding date—it’s about preparing for life’s heaviest lifts. This episode gets real about the "leap and the net will appear" philosophy: navigating career pivots, the grit of the CrossFit Open, and the "machine mode" required to lead a family through a cancer diagnosis. You’ll hear how to stop over-engineering your start, embrace non-conformity, and build a "net" out of your own past resilience.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Stop the "Gear" Trap: Why you don't need the perfect shoes, flooring, or website to start moving toward a goal.

• The "Be, Do, Have" Model: Shifting from wanting the results to being the person who does the work.

• Embrace Non-Conformity: How to push past the fear of "getting kicked out of the box" by peers or family.

• Build the Plane on the Way Down: Why starting messy (like an unedited podcast) is better than never starting at all.

• Develop "Machine Mode": How to tap into a higher gear of focus when life throws an unexpected crisis your way.

• The Long Game of Fitness: Why 17 years of consistency beats a 3-month "shred" every single time.

• Leverage Dark Energy: Using the toughest moments of your life as the foundation for your greatest confidence.

  
  

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

✅ The CrossFit & Jiu-Jitsu Connection: Community, ego, and the "cult" stereotype.✅ Entrepreneurial Leaps: Leaving a secure career to find alignment and happiness.✅ Resilience Through Crisis: Navigating a spouse’s health battle while raising a young family.✅ The "Net" Philosophy: Trusting your experience and a higher power when taking risks.✅ Overcoming Perfectionism: Moving past the need to "optimize" before taking the first step.✅ Modern Information Overload: Comparing the "DVD era" of learning to today’s AI-driven world.

👤 Featured Guest:

JP Rinylo – High-Performance Coach & Entrepreneur (CrossFit Veteran)

Focus: Helping leaders bridge the gap between physical discipline and business excellence.

Instagram: @jprinylo

🎙️ About The Open Concept:

Your go-to podcast for breaking down unnecessary walls and barriers that stand in the way of greatness. We bridge the gap between trade-industry grit and executive-level strategy.

📱 Connect With Us:

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👍 Like if this conversation on resilience resonated with you.

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Entrepreneur and festival producer Billie-Jo Aasen joins Brandon to unpack the real story behind building global music festivals—and using that platform for good. From growing up in small-town BC to producing major events across Canada and Abu Dhabi, Billie-Jo shares the grit, risk, and resilience behind her success. This episode dives deep into mentorship, bold action, mental health advocacy, and how small businesses can create massive impact through initiatives like the Lifted Foundation.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Take the first step before you feel ready and build momentum through action.

• Turn bold asks into real opportunities by being specific and showing you’ve done the work.

• Develop thick skin as an entrepreneur and ignore critics who’ve never stepped in the arena.

• Build powerful mentorship relationships that accelerate your growth.

• Lead with small-town values while scaling big, high-risk ventures.

• Navigate high-stakes business models like festivals that require resilience and risk tolerance.

• Use your platform as a megaphone for good and create real community impact.

• Transform personal hardship into purpose-driven leadership.

  
  

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

✅ Festival production and risk management

✅ Mentorship and entrepreneurial growth

✅ Small-town leadership values

✅ Building strategic relationships

✅ Mental health advocacy

✅ The Lifted Foundation mission

👤 Featured Guest:
Billie-Jo Aasen – Festival Producer & Founder | The Festival Company

Instagram: @billiejoaasen

@liftedorganization

✅ To Donate for the Tumblr Ridge Relief Cause:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/lifting-tumbler-ridge 

🎙️ About The Open Concept:Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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Architect and author Talor (Taylor) Stewart, founder of Conscious Home Design in Vermont, joins Brandon to unpack how the built environment quietly shapes our habits, health, and happiness. This episode reframes home design as more than “style”—it’s about creating spaces that reduce friction, support relationships, and help you live in flow. You’ll hear practical ways to apply this thinking even if you rent or don’t plan a major renovation.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Design your home to support your goals so willpower isn’t doing all the heavy lifting.

• Avoid decision fatigue in renovations by using a clear framework before construction starts.

• Translate personal values into real spaces that actually fit the way you live (not just what looks good online).

• Create dedicated zones that trigger the right mindset—focus, rest, creativity, connection—on autopilot.

• Build better relationships at home by shaping spaces that encourage giving, receiving, and reciprocity.

• Stop chasing “shiny object” inspiration and make choices that tie back to what matters most.

• Use small, low-cost changes in any home to elevate how you feel and function day-to-day.

• Make your home an asset—not an obstacle course for the life you’re trying to build.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

✅ Mind-body-environment connection

✅ Values-based home design

✅ Decision fatigue in construction

✅ Dedicated space and habit formation

✅ Maslow’s hierarchy applied to housing

✅ Relationship-centered living spaces

👤 Featured Guest:
Talor (Taylor) Stewart – Architect | Founder, Conscious Home Design

Instagram: @conscioushomedesign

🎙️ About The Open Concept:Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.

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