Bug Bux Podcast

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...

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...