Behind the Toolbelt

Send us Fan Mail Life is too short to waste time with regret, shame, and guilt that keep us from taking action. The difference between a winner's and loser's mentality lies in taking responsibility versus making excuses for why things can't be done. • Winners understand that goals sometimes require intense dedication and hard work • Living in the past and making excuses like being t...

Send us Fan Mail Ty reflects on his 17-year entrepreneurial journey and shares profound insights about the evolution from survival-mode business operator to purpose-driven leader. His candid examination of what drives entrepreneurs reveals how serving others becomes the ultimate secret to sustainable success. • Four phases of the entrepreneurial journey: survival, status, freedom, and purpose • Th...

Send us Fan Mail Rachell Smith shares her journey from dealing with anorexia to becoming a personal trainer who helps others transform their relationship with fitness and nutrition through sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. • Balancing work as both a licensed vet technician and personal trainer • Overcoming misconceptions about fitness that lead to disordered eating • Understan...

Send us Fan Mail Effective leadership and strong company culture form the essential foundation for building a successful, enduring brand that resonates both within your organization and throughout the marketplace. • Leadership requires specific attributes: inspiring trust, communicating vision, making difficult decisions, and mastering delegation • Holding onto responsibilities too long rather tha...

Send us Fan Mail Marketing expert David Bruno discusses how building authentic relationships creates sustainable business growth through strategic networking, community engagement, and focusing on customer needs before sales goals. • David Bruno has hosted "Business Professionals of Harrisburg and Central PA" networking events for 9 years, growing to 7,000+ members • Companies can spread...

Send us Fan Mail In this Epsiode of Brick by Brick, I explore the four levels of motivation that drive entrepreneurs: survival, status, freedom, and purpose. My journey began with resentment that fueled early growth but nearly destroyed everything until I realized my true mission is positively impacting others' lives. • Business began from resentment which became a survival mechanism to suppo...

Send us Fan Mail Our host reflects on maintaining routine and emotional resilience while traveling for business, sharing practical strategies for staying grounded despite disruptions to normal patterns. Through personal examples from a recent trip, we explore how maintaining consistency in workouts, morning routines, and mindset helps manage stress and maintain productivity away from home. • Worki...

Send us Fan Mail Leadership demands more than making easy choices — it requires the courage to make decisions that might initially hurt those we care about most. In this candid Brick by Brick episode, Ty Cobb Backer explores the emotional terrain leaders face when change collides with human emotions. Ty explains how real leadership recognizes that resistance to change often masks deeper grief — gr...

Send us Fan Mail Leadership isn't just about steering a business toward profits, but creating ripples that extend beyond your immediate sphere of influence. Ty and Chris Markey explore how what they call "the ripple effect" can transform businesses, relationships, and communities. • The ripple effect in business touches more lives than we realize - from vendors to employees to clien...

Send us Fan Mail Host Ty Cobb-Backer welcomes his close friend Eric Oberembt to discuss Eric's newly published book "Shut The F*ck Up and Listen More" and the powerful philosophy of connection it contains. • Eric shares that while this is technically his third book, it's his first deeply personal work incorporating his own stories and perspectives • The book focuses on the TEAM...

Send us Fan Mail Ty Cobb-Backer shares his recent journey through a challenging mental "winter" season and how he's emerging with renewed clarity and purpose. • Mindset impacts everything from physical health to decision-making ability • The snowball effect of negativity happens gradually, not overnight • Physical pain can be directly connected to mental stress • Walking outdoors fo...

Send us Fan Mail Ty Cobb-Backer sits down with Woody Casey, owner of AJ's Dent, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, building trust, and creating industry connections that transcend traditional boundaries. • Woody shares his journey from college graduate to paintless dent repair business owner • How a chance invitation to a roofing convention created unexpected industry connectio...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to scale a roofing business beyond the daily grind? Brad Akers joins Ty Cobb-Backer for a refreshingly honest conversation about the entrepreneurial journey—not just the tactics and strategies, but the emotional and mental challenges that define success. Brad shares his unexpected path from selling shingles at SRS Distribution to helping roofing companies...

Send us Fan Mail Ty discusses the importance of legacy, leadership clarity, and leaving a positive impact on those around us. He shares personal stories that shaped his journey from a young carpenter with a ponytail to the leader of a thriving construction company. • Using clear communication to empower team members rather than just telling them to "figure it out" • The story of Pat, the...

Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to fin...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a corporate banker brings her financial expertise to the gutter guard industry? Karen Sager, President and CEO of Micro Mesh Gutter Guards, transformed from stay-at-home mom to industry innovator by asking one simple question whenever faced with limitations: "Why not?" Karen shares the fascinating journey of developing a revolutionary copper-infused mic...

Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to fin...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for an engaging discussion with Matt Fruge" a former roofing contractor turned CEO of Square Dash. Matt shares his journey, touching on the challenges faced in the roofing industry and the innovative solutions he has developed. • Matt's background: Transition from the Navy to roofing  • The establishment of Roofmark and lessons learned  • Identifying the vital...

Send us Fan Mail Celebrating five years and 269 episodes of Behind The ToolBelt is no small feat, and what better way to honor this journey than with our good friend, Stephen Spence? Our chat is filled with nostalgia and laughter as we exchange stories about the meaningful merchandise we've gifted each other over the years. Steven's cherished red t-shirt and that trusty Nike performance...

Send us Fan Mail Transform your approach to entrepreneurship and marketing as we bring you an enlightening episode featuring Aaron Thomas, our fractional CMO and a pivotal figure in the roofing and home services industry. You won't want to miss Aaron's fascinating journey from an unexpected encounter at RoofCon in Orlando to his recent roles as a dedicated father and husband. His story i...

Send us Fan Mail We explore the dynamic intersection of leadership, technology, and community at the SRC Summit, reflecting on five transformative years in business. With a focus on employee empowerment and the evolution of work culture, we discuss how collaboration and compassion are key to thriving in the roofing industry.  • Celebrating five years of insights and experiences  • Highlights from...

Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to fin...

Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to fin...

Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to fin...

Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to fin...