Brad Leavitt Podcast

Founded in 1977 by Sharon and Robert Woods, the firm pioneered the design-build concept with architectural design and construction being performed by the same team. In 2008 Sharon’s sons, Rob and Shane, joined the company and now serve as second-generation owners, while Sharon has remained with the company to oversee design. Listen in as Rob and Shane share the ins-and-outs of taking over and runn...

Dagan's interest in design and construction began at a young age when he assisted his father in designing and building their home in Solana Beach. After college Dagan worked in New York City as a set designer and builder for commercial photo shoots. He also designed and constructed several high-end storefront displays. When he returned to the West Coast, Dagan worked in Northern California doing c...

Listen in as Walt reflects on a childhood filled with abuse at the hands of his own father, a suicide attempt at age 13 that he believes was thwarted by a higher power, and an aunt that changed his life forever when she taught him what love truly looked like. Walt discusses the three big lessons he had to learn in order to heal from his trauma: speak your truth , acknowledge how you feel , and be...

Listen in as Lisa and Heather touch on their signature “turnkey” room designs, or spaces that they describe as “functional, comfortable, accessorized, and styled right down to the last beautiful detail.” They discuss how they vet and set expectations with clients while working through value engineering, as well as why they make it a point to do frequent site visits no matter where the home is bein...

Dave is involved in a number of ventures outside of construction, including serving as CEO of Main Street Ingredients (MSI), a manufacturer of ingredients for use in ice cream, frozen desserts, cheese, bakery items, nutritional beverages, and confections. He has also worked for Kraft Foods and is partnered with sports nutrition brands Soul & Science and Kill Cliff. Listen in as Dave and Brad go do...

With the rest of 2021 expected to remain a strong seller's market, Samantha and Jenny comment on how realtors can best represent buyers and sellers around these unique market conditions. The past year-and-a-half have introduced new challenges to real estate professionals across the country. Samantha and Jenny share how they are able to effectively communicate and set expectations with clients in a...

Build has since grown into a curated collection of the region's most talented and inspired tradespeople in the building industry. Listen in as Ted reflects on the history of Build Magazine and his foray into the construction industry. He talks about the publication’s accompanying podcast, Friends of Build Magazine , and how it has served as a valuable tool for Ted to build and nurture relationship...

In 2006, one of Caribou Creek’s handcrafted log homes was named winner of the 2006 “Log Home of the Year” from Log Home Design magazine. Listen in as David explains exactly what is meant by a “log home” or a “timber frame house’ and the unique processes that go into their construction. He speaks on the typical timeframe of a project and how he interacts and builds relationships with customers, con...

Listen in as Alisha gives her thoughts on educating and setting expectations with clients. She explains why embracing the role of interior designer as facilitator is more important today than at any other time due to changes in the industry brought on by the turbulent circumstances of the last year-and-a-half. She and Brad unpack the reality that “there’s nothing more expensive than a cheap bid.”...

Listen in as Mark shares his journey in breaking the cycle of generational poverty in his family and the series of events that inspired him to start his pool service company. He dives deep into his secrets to success in building a brand on social media, particularly on TikTok where he very quickly grew his following through organic content alone. (He mentions how he doubled his numbers from one mi...

Since early childhood, Tyler has been immersed in the trades, having been involved in the family construction business growing up. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Construction Management and decided to pursue a career as a craftsman carpenter. Today, Tyler works alongside his wife, Rachel, an interior designer by trade. Their projects have been featured in the Philadelphia Inq...

Today Brad speaks with professional MMA fighter Ryan Bader. He is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion, the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter. Listen in as Ryan dissects his success by reflecting on his path as an athlete, from football player to wrestler to the UFC and, finally, to Bellator. For Ryan, a solution-oriented mindset and the discip...

Today Brad speaks with Michael McCurdy, President of McCurdy Construction, LLC; Structures Cabinet & Design, LLC; and Noblessa Phoenix. An entrepreneur at heart, Michael shares why he decided to make the foray into the construction industry and why he specifically chose to start not one, but three businesses in Phoenix. Michael explains his rationale behind encouraging his team to own every win an...

Today Brad speaks with Christopher Anderson, Founder and CEO at Ledge Lounger. The Houston-based company offers a line of in-water furniture built to withstand harsh pool chemicals, outdoor elements, and up to 16,000 hours of direct, overhead sunlight. Ledge Lounger has enjoyed four consecutive years on Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America and three years on Houston Busin...

Dash reflects back on a childhood in Hawaii filled with turmoil and uncertainty, from being abandoned by his own parents literally without a name, to growing up around fight clubs and never having a home he could call his own. He then describes the turning point in his life when he was adopted by the Wong family. Down the road, Dash was inspired to join the Navy and, later, the SEALS. He talks abo...

Stephanie speaks on her unconventional journey into the construction industry and how she came to innovate the space through The House That SHE Built project. Listen in as Stephanie shares how she made the transition from architecture, to the film industry, to construction and the skills that she carried over into each succeeding field; what it’s like to work alongside her dad in a small-scale con...

Kimberly looks back on a career spanning over three decades, reflecting on how she discovered a love for travel when she entered her LAX for the first time as a child, and how she later volunteered to intern for free at a local travel agency as a college student just to be able to get her feet wet in the industry as soon as possible. Listen in as Kimberly shares the advantages of having a travel a...

Today Brad speaks with Jennifer Glynn, co-founder, alongside Barbara LaVigna, of Space10 Interiors, an award-winning residential and small commercial interior design firm based in San Francisco. Having previously worked in the corporate event planning and marketing world for 15 years, she recalls her fateful decision to take an interior design course—initially just to fill in her spare time—and be...

Today Brad speaks with Jeff Echols. Jeff is on a mission to change the way you do business by helping you transform from a service provider to a trusted advisor. He's the President and Chief Strategy Officer of echoEngagement, the Director of Brand Strategy at EntreArchitect, and the Host of the Build Your Brand podcast and the daily live-stream show, Context & Clarity LIVE. Jeff works with archit...

Previously, John was an executive at TerraGo, a venture-backed software company specializing in SaaS and PaaS mobile applications. He also led business development at Eurasia Group, a predictive analytics startup providing global risk information products to subscribers. John was a founding member of Control Risks GS, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Control Risks and the fastest growing business...

Heather is also a project manager at Amstar Construction Services, a service-disabled veteran-owned general contracting firm specializing in government and agency projects. Prior to her current role at Tankersley Construction, Heather managed complex electrical projects for some of the largest electrical contractors in the United States. Her prior project experience includes new student housing at...

Becki’s projects have been featured in several publications including Good Housekeeping, Luxe Magazine, Wall Street Journal and Architectural Digest. She has worked with other prestigious designers such as Amber Fillerup Clark.  Recently, Becki launched a lighting collection with Hudson Valley Lighting, signature home scents with Pura and a furniture and accessories collection in Home Goods retail...

Lauren herself has been recognized internationally and has been accepted into top design groups, including Leaders Of Design Council and the International Design Society (IDS). Listen in as Lauren discusses why she prefers referred clients over all others, how she was able to scale her business relatively quickly in the mid-2000s by embracing transparency in how she presented her services, and why...

Listen in as Charlie discusses how his strong faith in God led him to become a “soldier” in the media with a goal to bring light to an industry rife with conflict and controversy. He laments how mainstream media is contributing heavily to the divisiveness currently plaguing America, and why he believes authenticity and a willingness to talk to folks on both sides of the aisle is the key to true, r...

Today Brad speaks with Timothy Rethlake, Vice President of Trade Marketing & Sales Training at Hearth & Home Technologies, the world's leading producer and installer of hearth products. Its product line includes a full array of gas, electric, and wood burning fireplaces, inserts, stoves, mantels, and more. Listen in as Timothy discusses why high-integrity sales are essential to the lifeblood of an...