The Curious Builder

In this live episode of The Curious Builder podcast, Mark brings together his crew from Pella Windows, Huber & Zip, and Rockwool for a fun and lively chat at Mysa Hus. They dig into what makes this build stand out—think cozy vibes, wellness-driven design, and the power of working with partners you actually like. It's all about pushing home building forward with teamwork, quality materials, and a g...

In this Q&A episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark takes you inside one of the most talked-about custom homes in the country: Nick Schiffer's 45 White Oak. From hand-troweled plaster to 800-lb sliding doors and a $250K sculptural staircase, this tour is packed with "moments of delight" and mind-blowing craftsmanship. Hear how a retired plaster artisan came out of retirement for one last proj...

What does a recovering accountant, a fractional CFO, and a former would-be pararescue jumper have in common? It's all Alex Little of Little Financial. In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark and Alex dive into the silent profit killers hiding in your business, what the heck a 2% leak is, and why cash in the bank doesn't always mean profit. Alex drops gold on everything from project KP...

In this Q&A episode, Mark gives us the scoop on Sauna Camp 2.0, the buzz around the epic 45 White Oak build, and what's happening with his own Mysa Hus project. He opens up about leadership hiccups, the ups and downs of running a construction team, and why wellness and good vibes matter when building standout homes. If you're into behind-the-scenes stories, practical builder tips, and a few laughs...

In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark sits down with Ami Harari from L.A. Build Corp and gets real about what it's like to build homes (and a business) in Los Angeles. Ami shares his journey from the Israeli military to moving trucks to leading a top-notch construction company—and all the wild twists along the way. They swap stories about hustling through hard times, learning from m...

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 plan...

On this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark hangs out with Ali Awad from Awad Architects and they dive into Ali's journey—everything from running a design-build partnership for 25 years to the behind-the-scenes of working on tons of homes in Southwest Minneapolis. They swap stories about what makes partnerships work, why good client relationships matter, and even talk about bringing perso...

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 strategie...

In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark hangs out with Kali Sudbrook from Beachside Custom Gyms to talk all things home wellness and fitness spaces. They share Kali's wild leap from a cushy corporate job to designing killer custom gyms, and chat about how the wellness industry is exploding in homebuilding right now. If you're into building, designing, or just want your own awesome hom...

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 li...

How do you reinvent the world's most basic item—a T-shirt—and make pants that actually fight back against plumber's crack? In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark sits down with Alex Chou, co-founder of Harnish Workwear, to talk about premium workwear, design snags, field testing with framers, and why durability shouldn't mean looking like a walking sandbag. From sourcing Cordura to b...

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. Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpod...

In this out-of-the-box episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark sits down with Chief Todd Milburn of Edina to talk jobsite theft, neighborhood safety, and what builders and homeowners should really be thinking about when it comes to security. They dive into public safety tech (like license plate readers), the rise of crime-of-opportunity, and how the police force recruits like a modern busines...

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) sid...

In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark Williams sits down with Martin Davies O'Connor from Mill City Restoration for a lively chat about Martin's fascinating career path—from punk rock and Excel training to importing tequila from Mexico and ultimately running a successful commercial painting business in Minnesota. They dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, the challenge of cas...

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...

In this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, host Mark Williams chats with Jen Veralle and Sarah Whicher about the behind-the-scenes journey of launching the AIA Minnesota Homes by Architects tour, now celebrating its 18th year. They dive into how the tour started, what makes it unique, the challenges and successes they've experienced along the way, and how the event has fostered community, edu...

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 ca...

What do Nordstrom cosmetics and concrete pours have in common? Turns out, a lot. In this heart-filled episode, Mark sits down with Michelle VanVolkinburg—Baldwin General's head of marketing and HR—to talk about company growth, the power of people-first leadership, and how Baldwin scaled from a pickup truck in Oregon to multi-family towers in Washington. It's equal parts inspiring and tactical, wit...

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 ho...

What does it mean to design a yard that's not just pretty—but purposeful? Mark sits down with Jonathan Blaseg of PEBL Design to dig into the wild (and often overlooked) world of landscape architecture. From plant psychology and drainage drama to why "just put a tree there" won't cut it—this episode uncovers how smart outdoor design shapes how we live, feel, and even parent. Plus: the shocking trut...

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 advi...

On this episode of The Curious Builder Podcast, Mark Williams sits down with Aaron Tudisco of Ridge Design and Build to discuss how Aaron and his family create stunning spec homes in Sonoma, California. Aaron shares insights on their unique approach to creating standout, experience-driven homes and what it's like juggling the fun—and challenges—of running a family business. Support the show - http...

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 a...

In this episode of The Curious Builder, Mark Williams chats with Chris Montana from Du Nord Social Spirits about his journey from being a lawyer to running Minnesota's first micro-distillery. Chris opens up about the importance of work-life balance (especially after having two strokes!), why building a business with community and purpose matters, and how Du Nord's story and branding evolved. It's...