Bug Bux Podcast

In this high-energy episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Eric and Jake sit down with Matt Rogers, COO of Lizard, to break down how artificial intelligence is flipping the script on digital marketing. From old-school Yellow Pages nostalgia to the latest in AI-driven SEO, Matt walks us through the new marketing KPIs pest control owners should be tracking—and why "impressions" and "click-...

In this jam-packed episode of the Bug Bux podcast, Eric and Jake sit down with the legendary Dr. Jim Fredericks—board-certified entomologist and Senior VP of Public Affairs at the NPMA. From tick awareness and pest control PR to the difference between NPMA and PPMA, they dig into the resources that can help pest pros thrive. Jim shares insider info on NPMA Pro certification, PPMA Mainframe, and wh...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus dive into the art (and science) of door-to-door sales—sparked by a real-world question from Dan Christensen in the Facebook group. They unpack why some deals fall apart before the initial service, what it means to sell the right way, and how to train a sales team that closes with integrity. From retention rates to Jake’s pro...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Natura Pest Control's GM and intrapreneur extraordinaire, Aaron Davis. From unexpected beginnings to leading a powerhouse team, Aaron shares the real-world strategies behind building unity, developing leadership, and running tight, high-performing pest control operations. Plus, a hilarious discussion about Jack...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Basset and Jake Claus discuss powerful strategies every pest control company owner needs to know. From the roots of attrition to retention team strategies and subscription billing hacks, they unpack what keeps customers loyal and what sends them running. Whether you're a startup or scaling a large operation, you'll get actionable tips on impro...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric and Jake dive into the nitty-gritty of how weather impacts pest control—from rainy-day treatments in the Pacific Northwest to snow-driven rodent and vole activity. They share real-world strategies, smart technician tips, and creative product solutions for servicing in tough conditions, all while keeping it entertaining (yes, hot hail makes an appearance...

In this powerful episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Jess Reagan, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Paiv, to explore how cutting-edge AI technology is reshaping the world of field sales. From real-time coaching and gamification to territory management and CRM integration, Jess shares how Paiv empowers pest control companies to scale faster without...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus dive into the highlights of our very first Bug Bux Con! From a packed event with just six weeks of planning, to scorpion hunting after hours, the conference was a huge success. They share behind-the-scenes stories, unforgettable moments, and key insights from speakers like Lenny Grey, Brad Mortensen, Travis Bottoms and more....

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Natura Pest Control's GM and intrapreneur extraordinaire, Aaron Davis. From unexpected beginnings to leading a powerhouse team, Aaron shares the real-world strategies behind building unity, developing leadership, and running tight, high-performing pest control operations. Plus, a hilarious discussion about Jack...

In this insightful episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Nick Grisafe, a longtime industry expert from Syngenta, to discuss the industry’s biggest challenges and innovations. They dive into Integrated Pest Management (IPM), best practices for application, and why many professionals struggle to implement IPM effectively. Nick also shares exclusive insights...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Jared Ingalls, Vice President of Sales at Pest Management Supply. Jared shares insights from his 30+ years in the pest control industry, discussing everything from effective vendor relationships and product forecasting to the growing demand for rodent control and best practices for inventory management. Whether...

On todays episode of The Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with industry legend Eve Pappas, VP of Business Development & Growth at Hoffman’s Exterminating. With over 40 years in the pest control industry, Eve shares her journey from being one of the few women in the field to leading multimillion-dollar growth initiatives. From her passion for empowering women in pest...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus tackle a hot question from the Facebook group: How do you price and manage pest control services for a large property management company? They break down strategies for setting fair pricing, structuring service agreements, handling warranties, and ensuring profitability—while avoiding common pitfalls. If you’re looking to la...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus dive into the fascinating journey of Aaron Shishilla, CEO and founder of Wolfpack Advising. Aaron shares his unexpected career path—from working at Publix, to getting “Claused” by a coworker, to building a nationally recognized digital marketing agency specializing in pest control and home inspection businesses. Discover key...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus shake things up with a unique “This or That” debate—pest control style! With a little help from AI, they tackle industry questions like residential vs. commercial services, DIY pest control vs. professional treatment, contracts vs. one-time services, and more. They also dive into digital vs. local marketing, in-house technic...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Josh Zuniga to discuss Vult, his game-changing inside sales solution for pest control companies. From selling 1,500 door-to-door accounts in a single season to launching a scalable, high-performance sales engine, Josh shares his vision for helping pest control businesses grow faster and more efficiently, withou...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with industry leader Josh Shifman, owner of Sage Pest Control, to uncover his journey from selling alarms to dominating the pest control space. Josh shares insights on strategic market expansion, the power of community engagement, the role of AI and VR in the future of pest control, and how investing in people is th...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus tackle one of the most challenging aspects of running a pest control business: raising prices without losing customers. From maintaining profitability to navigating conversations with long-time clients, they share actionable strategies for communicating price adjustments, managing customer expectations, and dealing with unique cas...

Join hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus in this inspiring episode of the Bug Bux Podcast. Tune in as they sit down with Ben Riches, a 23-year-old high school dropout turned successful pest control entrepreneur. Discover how Ben built his business from scratch, growing it to $250,000 in revenue with nearly 300 recurring customers in just one year. From hustling door-to-door with a minivan full of pe...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Jake and Jana Claus dive into an inspiring journey with David Morgan, the founder of Biggest Bird Pest Control, as he shares how he transitioned from managing a bank to starting his own pest control company—all while honoring a heartfelt legacy. Hear his insights on balancing a full-time job, the challenges of starting a business, and how authenticity and re...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus discuss the intricacies of rodent control, offering practical advice for pest control professionals. From investigating rodent activity and pricing strategies to the science behind bait stations and the importance of PPE, this episode covers everything you need to know to create effective rodent management program. Whether you’re...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus dive deep into the intricacies of purchasing a pest control company. From real-life acquisition stories to tips for minimizing risk, they cover everything you need to know. Whether you’re scaling your pest control company or just exploring growth strategies, this episode offers actionable insights and practical advice you won’t wa...

Dive into this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, where hosts Eric Bassett and Jake Claus tackle the nuances of door-to-door sales. From the pros and cons of building an internal sales team to partnering with door-to-door marketing teams, they provide actionable insights and real-world examples. Learn about recruiting, managing, and compensating sales teams, as well as strategies for scaling your bus...

In this episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus sit down with Sam Taggart, the CEO of The D2D Experts and founder of D2DCon, as he shares invaluable insights on transforming door-to-door sales teams, achieving Golden Door success, and the future of pest control growth strategies. Learn how the top sales performers hit 1,000+ accounts, why hustle and mindset trump everything, an...

From genetically altered pests to researching worldwide solutions, Dr. Cassie Krejci now researches it all. Can she find the solutions that are not only effective and efficient but also safe for the planet and ecosystem? In this episode, we take a deep dive with Dr. Cassie the head of science and innovation at Rentokil.