Bug Bux Podcast

In this episode of The Bug Bux Podcast, host Allan Draper sits down with Isabelle Lucero, Technical Sales and Compliance Manager at JT Eaton, to unpack one of the industry’s most pressing topics, the evolving landscape of pesticide and rodenticide regulations. Isabelle, who holds a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Kentucky, shares insights on how new EPA and state-level restric...

In this solo episode, Allan Draper dives deep into one of the most misunderstood parts of entrepreneurship — sacrifice. Drawing from his own early experiences building Proof Pest Control and lessons from his upcoming book, Allan challenges the idea that sacrifice means loss. He explains why true sacrifice only happens when we trade something of greater value for something lesser, and how entrepren...

In this episode, Allan Draper sits down with Davin, the 21-year-old owner of Redline Pest Control, a fast-growing, family-owned company out of Arizona. Davin shares how his early experiences in solar and carwash sales fueled his passion for entrepreneurship — and how he turned those lessons into a thriving pest control business. From running services out of the back of his Audi to building a trust...

Join your host, Allan Draper , and the guys on the final night in the Real Pest World house in Orlando . With the "The Real Pest World Orlando" officially wrapped, the crew is both tired and motivated as they share their closing thoughts, highlights, and the powerful connections they've solidified. This episode isn't just a recap; it's a look ahead. They dive deep into the...

In this episode, Allan Draper hosts a special edition of The Bug Bux Podcast —recorded live from The Real Pest World House in Orlando during PestWorld 2025. Joined by 15 pest control owners representing over $100 million in combined revenue, all coming together under one roof to collaborate—not compete. The group opens up about why they created the Real Pest World experience, the shift from secrec...

In this episode, Allan Draper sits down with Taylor Olson, CEO and co-founder of Applause, the employee engagement and performance platform designed specifically for home service companies. Taylor, who many in the industry know as the co-founder of Slingshot, shares his journey of building solutions that bridge the gap between technician performance, customer experience, and company growth. Togeth...

This episode kicks off something totally new for the Bug Bux community. Allan is joined by Travis Bottoms and Tyler Sublette from Nice Pest Company to talk about their plans for Pest World — where they’ll be staying in a house packed with pest control pros and vendors, Big Brother–style. They share what they’re most excited for, why events like Pest World matter so much for building relationships...

Hiring is tough. Retaining great technicians? Even tougher. The pest control industry is facing one of its biggest challenges yet: keeping good employees from walking out the door. In this episode, Allan is joined by Erik Osborne and Anthony Eshaghi from Journey Health to talk about a game-changing strategy that most PCOs overlook when it comes to employee retention. Spoiler: it’s not higher pay,...

Allan is joined by his business partner, Mat Rogers, for a powerful deep dive into what Mat calls the second digital marketing renaissance. They break down how AI is completely changing the way pest control companies are found online, why websites built before 2025 are already out of date, and what PCOs can do right now to stay ahead of the curve. Mat shares the story of a brand-new client who lau...

In this episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Allan Draper sits down with Chad Louk , founder of Prodigy Pest Solutions in Florida. Chad launched his company in 2018 at just 21 years old, starting as a one-man operation and scaling it into three thriving branches with a fourth on the way . Chad shares his journey from grinding it out on the doors to leading a PCT 100 company and why he believes ethica...

In this episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Allan welcomes Seth Fenn, the founder of Cura Pest Control and a third-generation pest professional with deep roots in the industry. After starting his career in pest control, Seth stepped away to gain valuable experience in the construction and finance sectors. Those years gave him a unique skill set and perspective that he later brought back into pest co...

In this episode, Allan sits down with Lenny Gray , a pioneer in door-to-door (D2D) pest control. Lenny sold nearly 500 accounts in his first summer with Orkin, later founded Mountain West Pest Control (Rove) before its acquisition by Terminix, and has trained thousands of sales reps nationwide. He’s also the author of Door-to-Door Millionaire , the go-to playbook for ethical D2D selling. Together,...

In this inspiring and candid episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, host Allan Draper sits down with Skye LaJaunie, CEO of LaJaunie’s Pest Control and founder of the Eagles Nest Mastermind, to explore the deeper side of entrepreneurship in the pest control industry. Skye opens up about her journey from humble beginnings to running a thriving pest control business, and the mindset shifts that helped her...

When Alan Framer started his pest control company 16 years ago, he faced the same uncertainty and challenges every new business owner experiences. But he had something many don’t, a seasoned guide. Ray Johnson, former owner of Johnson Pest Control and past President of the NPMA, agreed to mentor him. Alan traveled to Tennessee to work alongside Ray for two full days, soaking in decades of hard-ear...

What would you do if you only had $5,000 to start your pest control company? In this special roundtable episode, Allan Draper is joined by industry pros Paul Alley, Kyle Weaver, and Bill Kellough to break down exactly how they'd launch from scratch, no fluff, just real experience. From licensing, insurance, and budgeting to guerrilla marketing, social media strategies, and answering your phon...

In this powerful solo episode, Allan Draper dives deep into one of the most important decisions a business owner will ever make, who to hire first when starting or scaling a pest control company. Allan breaks down the first five hires he recommends for building a company that doesn’t just survive, but thrives without you. He starts with why your first technician should be someone you can see growi...

Don’t miss Allan’s take on the most compelling reason to hire a VA, spoiler alert: it’s not just about saving money.  In this episode, Allan sits down with Seth Watson of Focus Virtual Assistants to dig into one of the most overlooked ways to strengthen your pest control company; hiring the right people. They discuss the realities of finding, hiring, and retaining top-tier talent, and why virtual...

Are you just another pest control company, or are you building a brand that stands out? In this episode, Allan Draper sits down with Andrew Peluso, founder of Pesty Marketing, to talk about what really separates high-growth PCOs from the rest. From targeting the right audience to dialing in your messaging and actually backing it up, this conversation is packed with practical advice for PCOs ready...

In this special solo episode, Allan Draper brings a timely dose of motivation, strategy, and tough love for pest control business owners. Recorded on the 4th of July from rainy Idaho, Allan reflects on three key topics every PCO should hear: A Lesson in Clarity: Allan clears up a recent podcast comment on organic products and shares a crucial lesson about sticking to your service model and avoidin...

Don't miss the part where Allan admits: "I didn’t think I’d be crying during this episode." It’s raw, it’s inspiring, and it’s... Nice. In this heartfelt and high-energy episode, host Allan Draper sits down with Travis Bottoms — 13-year industry vet and co-founder of Nice Pest Company — to explore how authenticity, humor, and heart are transforming what it means to run a pest contro...

In this powerhouse episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Allan sits down with Lee Barrett, President of NISUS Corporation and former CFL running back, to talk about what really makes a company thrive; ts people. From building strong internal culture to empowering team members with creativity and autonomy, Lee shares the leadership philosophies that have made NISUS one of the most respected names in th...

In this info-packed episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Allan sits down with Toni Simei of Arkion to dig into the world of natural pest control. From what really makes a product “organic” to how Arkion is changing the game with their unique formulations, Toni shares what pest control pros need to know about mosquito and tick control in 2025. They also dive into the language that could get you fined by...

In this episode, Allan Draper, entrepreneur and founder of Bug Bux, shares the origin story of Bug Bux and what’s on the horizon. He dives into the dynamics of partnerships in the home services space, discussing the challenges, opportunities, and keys to building strong, mutually beneficial business relationships.

What do you get when you combine a firefighter, a small-town mayor, and a first-time pest control business owner? You get Matt Alexander—a man who's literally putting out fires on and off the job. In this high-energy episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast , Eric and Jake sit down with Matt to talk about his whirlwind first year as the founder of Aero Pest Management. From walking away from an embez...

In this wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast , Eric and Jake sit down with the “mad scientist of Syngenta” herself, Lisa Eppler. From studying parasitic wasps in Germany to field-testing herbicides for the Swiss EPA (no, she’s not actually a spy… or is she?), Lisa takes us through her unique journey into the world of pest control. She dishes on: What it&a...