Q & A Episode 64 - Closing Out the Year With a Bang: The Builder’s Playbook for Success, Strategy, & Sanity
Mark’s back with a solo Q&A episode that hits all the good stuff—business strategy, team communication, self-leadership, and building wealth like you build a house: with a plan. He shares a behind-the-scenes look at the live Mysa Hus event, how he’s using Fridays for deep work, and why the “losers are winners” mindset still fuels everything. A short but mighty episode to kick your end-of-year planning into gear.
Q & A Episode 63 - From Imposter Syndrome to Profit: Alumni Share Real Lessons from the Contractor Coalition Summit
On this Q&A episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark Williams sits down with alumni from the Contractor Coalition Summit—Brad Robinson, Danielle and Michael Gutelli, and Jared Miller—to talk about how the summit totally changed the game for their businesses and personal lives. They swap stories about learning from top builders, building real friendships, leveling up with new business strategies like pre-construction agreements, and even discovering the magic of setting boundaries. If you’ve ever wondered if investing in industry events is worth it, their stories say “absolutely!”
Q & A Episode 62 - Unlocking Success: Lessons Learned at the Contractor Coalition Summit
In this Q&A episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark flies solo to share how the Contractor Coalition Summit has seriously leveled up his business game. He chats about everything from getting paid for pre-construction work and using AI, to building a powerful brand and connecting with awesome industry folks. If you're on the fence about going, Mark's stories and practical tips make it sound like this Summit is a total game-changer for builders looking to up their game!
Q & A Episode 61 - Losers are Winners Part 9: Burnout, Boundaries, & the Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything with Tyler Grace
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.
Q & A Episode 60 - Losers are Winners Part 8: From Massive Debt to Entrepreneurial Wisdom with Paul Krumrich
In this Q&A 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.
Q & A Episode 59 - Losers are Winners Part 7: How Admitting Failure Built a Million-Dollar Business with Mike Weaver
In this Q&A 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.
Q & A Episode 58 - From Sweeping Floors to Six Figures: How Young People Are Crushing It in the Trades
In this Q&A episode of The Curious Builder, Mark Williams talks about why we need more young people in the trades and how social media is actually making these careers look cool again. He shares why trade jobs are a great option—think good money, clear paths to grow, and that awesome feeling of building something real. Plus, he offers some down-to-earth advice on how business owners and schools can help get the next generation excited about jumping in.
Q & A Episode 57 - Losers Are Winners Part 6: The Cost of Hiring the Wrong Person with Adam Copenhaver
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.
Q & A Episode 56 - Culture, Failure, and Finding Your Why: The Top Quotes That Transformed My Business
In this episode, Mark gets real about the ups and downs of running a business, parenting, and life in general. He shares some of his go-to quotes, talks about why having a solid company culture matters way more than any fancy strategy, and opens up about learning from failure (and why you shouldn’t stress about being perfect). It's an insightful and down-to-earth episode packed with practical advice and a healthy dose of encouragement for anyone leading a team or building a business.
Q & A Episode 55 - Quotes to Lead By: Building Better Businesses and Lives, One Insight at a Time
In this episode, Mark Williams gets real about his go-to quotes and how they’ve helped him run a better business (and just live better, too). He talks about tackling problems together, not letting perfection trip you up, and why jumping in and taking action really matters. With plenty of relatable stories, Mark offers friendly advice for building better businesses—and lives—one small improvement at a time.
Q & A Episode 54 - Losers Are Winners Part 5: How a Million Dollar Home Almost Ruined Me & What I Learned From It
In this Q&A, Mark gets candid about a major setback during the 2008 recession, sharing how a failed spec home taught him some hard life and business lessons. Thanks to some wise words from his dad, he learned not to fear failure and how bouncing back can set you up for even bigger wins down the road. It’s a real and relatable listen for anyone dealing with ups and downs in their career!
Q & A Episode 53 - Losers Are Winners Part 4: Boundaries, Burnout, & Big Decisions with Nathan Marsala
Ever bitten off more than you could build? Nathan Marsala has. In this candid convo, Mark and Nathan unpack the cost of chasing the wrong projects, the lessons hidden in late-night site visits, and how Nathan’s dashboard (and daughter) helped him recalibrate. It’s one of those real, raw chats that hits hard—especially if you’re building a business and a family at the same time.
Q & A Episode 52 - Losers Are Winners Part 3: Finding Success Through Setbacks with Caleb MacDonald
Lets turn some big loses into some big wins. In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark and Caleb MacDonald swap stories about their early business blunders—from failed snowboard sales to endless house cleaning gigs—and how those moments shaped them into better builders. Caleb gets real about learning from those flops, staying patient, and why having solid contracts (and good people around you) makes all the difference.
Q & A Episode 51 - Losers Are Winners Part 2: When to Walk Away & Trust Your Gut with Allyson Case
Sometimes “just get through it” is the worst advice ever. In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark sits down with Allyson Case of Integro Builders to unpack what happens when you ignore your gut, protect the wrong people, and stick with a project that should’ve ended ages ago. From bad architects to bad breakups (and the clients caught in the middle), it’s a brutally honest peek at how one of Chicago’s top builders learned when to call it — and why consistency is kinder than favors.
Q & A Episode 50 - Losers Are Winners Part 1: Hiring, Firing & Keeping the Right People with Katie Kath
Welcome to Fail Club, where losers really are winners—eventually. Mark kicks off this new series with designer and builder Katie Kath to swap war stories about team culture fails, the cost of ignoring your gut, and the power of doing the scary stuff anyway. It’s unfiltered, funny, and surprisingly motivating for any builder, remodeler, or business owner who’s learned the hard way that perfection is a myth—and sometimes, a lawsuit is just tuition for the next level.
Q & A Episode 49 - “Happy Trails and Dr. Death” What Happens If Your Builder Dies?
What happens to your business if you die tomorrow? In true Curious Builder fashion, Mark D. Williams turns a grim question into an insightful, funny, and oddly empowering Q&A episode. From picking a successor to gifting handyman budgets to clients, Mark outlines his personal 10-step plan to protect his team, his clients—and yes, even posthumously prank his followers. It’s morbid. It’s useful. It’s very on-brand.
Q & A Episode 48 - From Scroll to Sale: Building a Smarter Funnel
What’s the point of a beautiful website or an aesthetic Instagram if no one takes the next step? In this episode, Mark and Alyssa explore the full sales funnel—from awareness to action—and how blogging, Pinterest, and email marketing each play a role. Plus: the hourglass sales strategy you didn’t know you needed.
Q & A Episode 47 - Part 2: Profits, Purpose & Positive Tornadoes: A Q&A with Mark
Mark’s back with a quote-fueled episode series that covers everything from why your best clients are often the most profitable, to how slow seasons can set the stage for big growth. Plus, he explores how overachievers thrive, why goals matter, and what business builders can learn from training for a race.
Q & A Episode 46 - “Dad, Why Do You Build Houses?” A Father’s Day Q&A with Mark & May Williams
What happens when your nine-year-old becomes the podcast host? In this special Father’s Day Q&A, Mark’s daughter May takes the mic to ask the big questions about business, building, and freedom. It’s sweet, insightful, and unexpectedly hilarious—from chucking lumber out windows as a kid to explaining why relationships matter in custom home building. A fun, heart-forward listen for curious entrepreneurs and parents alike.
Q & A Episode 45 - Part 1: Profits, Purpose & Positive Tornadoes: A Q&A with Mark
Mark’s back with a quote-fueled episode series that covers everything from why your best clients are often the most profitable, to how slow seasons can set the stage for big growth. Plus, he explores how overachievers thrive, why goals matter, and what business builders can learn from training for a race.