Kyle Schlesser left a six-figure finance career, convinced his wife Katie to leave her executive marketing role, and launched Solid Ground Construction in 2019 with nothing but a leap of faith and a neighbor's porch swing job — and the next few years were exactly as humbling as that sounds. Mark and Kyle dig into the white-knuckle years of doing everything himself, the moment he nearly buried the company by refusing to ask for help, and why hiring for your greatest weakness is the hardest and most valuable thing a business owner can do. It's raw, it's real, and it's the kind of conversation that makes you want to text your spouse and say sorry.

Josh Ferri of Lakeside Decking didn't set out to build decks — he started with a cabinet shop, pivoted when he realized where the real money was, and ended up running one of the most buttoned-up outdoor living companies in the Twin Cities. Mark and Josh dig into the hiring mistakes that come with growing too fast, why Josh tells every single client "I never want to see you again" with a straight face, and how a $750 design fee weeds out the tire kickers before they waste anyone's time. It's a masterclass in running a tight ship in a very crowded trade.

In 1999, a contractor told Cinda Pfeil — to her face — that becoming a builder wasn't going to work out for her, and the reason was exactly what you think it was. Mark sits down with the founder of Style Infused Living to dig into that defining moment, what she did with it, and why 26 years later she's still thinking about the electrician she met on a job site who brought it all rushing back. It's a conversation about patience, empathy, and what happens when you refuse to let someone else's ceiling become your floor.

Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction is back on the podcast, and this time he's serving up a fresh, still-stinging loss that proves even the best builders can forget their own rules. Mark and Brad dig into what happens when scope explodes, timelines collapse, and a superintendent has to get swapped out two weeks before a move-in that was never going to happen anyway. It's messy, it's honest, and it's the kind of conversation that might just save your next project — or at least make you feel better about your last one.

Twenty-two years in the business and Mark still managed to remind himself why taking the low bid is basically a trap with a bow on it. In this solo Losers are Winners episode, he pulls back the curtain on a framing nightmare — missed milestones, disappearing crew members, bounced checks, and one very uncomfortable site meeting — and how it all came to a head with his first-ever mid-project subcontractor firing. The real plot twist? The client ended up trusting him more because of it, not less.

Nick Schiffer brings the heat in this Losers are Winners episode, sharing the messy behind-the-scenes stories that rarely make it to Instagram. From takeover projects gone wild to contracts that nearly cost big, this episode shows how failure can become the best business coach in the room. It is sharp, funny, painfully relatable, and loaded with takeaways for builders who want fewer surprises and stronger systems.

In this Losers Are Winners episode, Karissa Dunham opens up about the messy middle of running a business, raising a blended family of seven kids, and learning that “balance” might just be a moving target with a bad attitude. She talks about failure, leadership, fitness, golf, and why making memories with family matters just as much as making the next deal happen. It is a fun, thoughtful reminder that success is not just about working harder, but about being present when it counts.

What does it take to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents? A little insanity, a lot of discipline, and probably more anti-inflammatories than anyone wants to admit. In this Losers are Winners episode, Sterling Lock shares the highs, the breakdowns, the brutal physical setbacks, and the mindset that carried him through one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. It’s equal parts inspiring, intense, and a great reminder that leadership starts with how you handle pain when nobody’s coming to save you.

This episode is all about client communication—what works, what blows up, and what should make a builder pause. Mark talks with Tim Rascher about how he spots “orange flags” earlier (especially when clients want budget and value-engineering talks behind closed doors). It’s a quick, witty listen that’ll make builders rethink boundaries, expectations, and how to keep the whole team rowing in the same direction.

In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark and Trapper Roderick dig into what’s changing fast in high-performance, wellness-forward homes. They connect the dots between building science and real-life health: cleaner air, better water, smarter ventilation, and materials that don’t make your body quietly revolt. They also get into the fun stuff—saunas, cold plunges, steam showers, and gyms with the best views in the house (because misery loves a basement…until it doesn’t). Come for the wellness trends, stay for the mechanical-room truth bombs and the accidental dad-joke chaos.

In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark sits down with Luciano Patiño of Elliano Design to talk about failure… and how it turned out to be the best gift of his career. From walking away from a business he co-founded to building his design firm with a true CEO mindset, this one is packed with real talk. We dive into business coaching, identity, collaboration, and the power of asking for help. If you’ve ever wondered whether your “loss” is actually setting you up for a bigger win, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Mark Williams sits down with David Werschay from Werschay Homes to swap stories about the ups and downs of running a building business. They talk about tricky clients, learning the hard way through mistakes, and how "loser" moments can actually end up being big wins in disguise. It's full of laughs, real-life lessons, and a reminder that failing forward is just part of the journey.

In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark sits down with Trapper Roderick—a fifth-generation builder with a past life in custom suits (yes, really). They dig into lessons from Trapper’s first business (spoiler: he sold suits to NFL coaches), the power of partnerships, and why giving up control might just be the best business move you make. From equity missteps to $10M deals falling apart, this episode is a masterclass in learning the hard way—and coming out better for it.

In this Loser are Winners episode, Mark takes us through his funny and surprisingly eventful quest to get a fancy Toto bidet toilet installed at home—trust us, it’s way more complicated (and entertaining) than you’d think! He chats about family debates, high-tech bathroom features, and some wellness-focused home upgrades coming to his Mysa Hus project. If you’ve ever battled over a home improvement project with your family or just love a good laugh about everyday life, this one’s for you!

In this Losers are Winners episode of The Curious Builder, Mark keeps it real about how builders can actually keep more of the money they earn—mainly by understanding the difference between markup and margin (spoiler: he wishes he’d known sooner!). He shares honest stories about lessons learned, why it's so important to know your numbers, and how sticking to your value can lead to happier clients and better builds. It’s a super practical, down-to-earth chat packed with advice for anyone wanting to run a smarter, more profitable building business.

In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast - Losers Are Winners, Alyssa Abbott of Olive and Vine Socials joins Mark to talk through the real challenges of building a business you love while raising kids. We talk about everything from from hiring mistakes to breakthrough systems and finally building a team that works. Alyssa shares how loosing her “unicorn” VA was the best (and most stressful) thing that happened this year and why structure and trust matter more than sparkle. It’s the open and honest pep talk every entrepreneur needs. Enjoy!

Builder. Dad. Almost burnout casualty. Tyler Grace joins Mark for a raw conversation on why “doing what you love” can still land you in the ER. They dive into stress, ego, profitability, and how Tyler finally drew a line between life and business. Come for the honesty, stay for the dad jokes—and leave with a better plan for your own business sanity.

In this Losers are Winners episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark Williams sits down with Paul Krumrich for a super honest chat about the rollercoaster of being an entrepreneur. Paul opens up about his own big mistakes, like taking on risky debt and being maybe a little too honest with his team during rough times. They both talk about why willpower matters more than skills, the funny (and not so funny) side of failure, and how learning from flops is actually the key to winning in business.

In this episode, Mark sits down with his friend Mike Weaver for a really honest chat about learning from mistakes—both at work and in life. Mike opens up about a big blunder early in his career that taught him why being upfront with clients matters so much, and he also shares his incredible journey losing 170 pounds (seriously impressive!). It’s a fun, down-to-earth conversation with plenty of laughs, hard-earned wisdom, and tips for turning your biggest fails into wins.

Hiring mistakes, financial setbacks, and communication misfires—yep, Adam’s got the receipts. In this candid conversation. Mark talks with Adam Copenhaver of CopeGrand Homes about hiring wins, hiring woes, and what happens when your culture isn’t strong enough to catch a bad fit. From cultural index tests to writing painful checks, Adam opens up about what it takes to build a resilient team—and how building with your twin brother might just be the ultimate hack.