Modern Craftsman

Business EN ↓ 582 episodes

The Modern Craftsman is a podcast for builders who think beyond the jobsite. Hosted by Nick Schiffer and Tyler Grace, this show explores what it takes to build a better business, a stronger team, and a more sustainable career in the trades. Each episode features real conversations about leadership, project management, client communication, team culture, mental resilience, and long-term success in construction. Whether you're a carpenter scaling your company, a remodeler refining your process, or a builder navigating burnout, you'll find insight, support, and hard-earned lessons from those who'...

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Modern Craftsman

Episodes

#106 The Tyler mentality 29.02.2020 1:10:23

John, Nick, and Tyler talk about current projects, the Tyler mentality, possible Modern Craftsman development project and much more. Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com

#105 Spencer Lewis quality trim carpenter 22.02.2020 2:04:26

Spencer Lewis the insider carpenter joins Nick and Tyler. Where to find our guest: @insider_carpentry on Instagram. youtube.com/insidercarpentry Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Desser...

#104 Speed of construction 13.02.2020 1:04:30

The guys talk about coffee (briefly), speed of construction, television, and Ellie the apprentice. No guest this week. Is there a topic you want to hear discussed on The Modern Craftsman? A guest you want to hear? Send all your thoughts to info@themoderncraftsman.org Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan...

#103 Company Culture with Anthony Vitale 07.02.2020 1:53:56

The guys deep dive into company culture and discuss the state of craftsmanship in 2020. Anthony Vitale owns and operates Probuilt Woodworking in Southeast Michigan. Where to find our guest: @probuiltwoodworking on Instagram. Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagr...

#102 Dog on the job site? 02.02.2020 2:15:05

Tune in for a unique Q&A style conversation between Nick and Tyler. They discuss company cars, subbing out vs doing your own finishing work, explosion-proof fans, waste removal, bringing your dog to work, and value engineering. Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Ins...

#101 Natural vs. Synthetic products 27.01.2020 1:31:12

They guys are at IBS 2020 and link up with Adam McCool and Mike Grace at the Royal Building Products booth. They talk about what's good and bad about working with synthetic building materials. The types of projects you should and shouldn't use synthetic products on and much more! This episode is sponsored by Royal Building Products, the largest exterior building materials company in the US. Focus...

#100 Schedule 17.01.2020 1:51:02

100 Episodes!! Thanks to all of you for tuning in and being a part of the conversation. The guys jump into schedule, what drives schedule, credit lines, pre-planning, and brief reminiscing of the road to 100 episodes. They also talk about their plans at IBS 2020. This episode was sponsored by: Upstate Merch @upstatemerch on Instagram www.upstatemerch.com Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @ns...

#99 Brek Goin the man behind Builders.of.insta 13.01.2020 1:35:56

Brek Goin the founder of Builders of Insta joins the guys as they prepare for IBS 2020. Brek talks about what drove him to start BOI, the reality of the labor shortage, how to connect at IBS, and much more. Where to find our Guest: builders.of.insta on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @her...

#98 Work-Life balance 06.01.2020 1:47:22

On the outside, it may look like the guys have it all figured out but internally the guys are struggling with life just as much as anyone else. The guys jump into the struggle work-life balance creates and how to find solutions. Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on In...

#97 Attracting, developing and maintaining youth talent 13.12.2019 1:10:49

Nick, Johhny, and Tyler sit down with moderator Tom Ellerbrook at the CCL Build on EXPO. The guys talk about attracting, developing, and maintaining youth talent with questions from a live audience of builders and contractors. Explaining their successes, failures and everything they've learned. Where to find our Moderator: @profinder12 on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilde...

#96 Project management with Christopher Quinn 05.12.2019 2:24:00

Christopher Quinn is a Partner at Apex Projects based in New Canaan, CT. Chris shares his past experience of working with a company for 13 years explaining why he stayed that long and why he left. The guys jump right into project management, finding ways to teach project management, and the struggles of ownership. Johnny and Tyler are back! Where to find our Guest: cmq_apexpps on Instagram apexpp...

#95 Finding joy with David West 01.12.2019 1:42:13

David West is the owner/photographer of Born Imagery based in the Boston area. He recently shot twilight shots of NS Builders and Vintage Builders projects. David was a remodeler for 20 years and for stress and mental health reasons found joy in photography and made that his business. Where to find our Guest: @bornimagery on Instagram bornimagery.com Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuil...

#94 Guillermo Castillo talks drywall in Hawaii 22.11.2019 2:20:36

Guillermo owns and operates C&S Drywall based on the island O'ahu. He talks about the housing market in Hawaii as a whole, what it takes to keep a full schedule in a unique market, a deep dive into drywall talk and much more! Where to find our Guest: @csdrywallhawaii on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram J...

#93 Brent Hull talks craftsmanship 17.11.2019 2:06:07

Brent Hull from Hull Millwork and Hull Homes joins the guys to talk about preserving homes, the hierarchy of moulding, when did the master-builder die, tipping the scales back to craftsmanship and much more. A must-listen for the romantics! This episode is sponsored by: Cape Cod Lumber is hosting the Build On Expo December 12th in Randolph, MA. Be sure to register for free at the link below. A ful...

#92 Happiness with Peter Jonak owner of Spire Builders 11.11.2019 2:28:17

Peter Jonak joins the guys to share his story and dives into responsibility, mental health, lifestyle, culture, and happiness for his employees. He had a lot of relatable information to share. Enjoy! We also have an additional guest Joe Cresta. He is the Regional Coordinator - New England for Project Healing Waters. Joe joined the guys to share what they're all about. Project Healing Waters Fly F...

#91 Contractor Tim Holton joins (not Tim Horton) 01.11.2019 2:14:11

Tim Holton is a belt on owner of James K. Holton Inc. which specializes in residential construction based in Cochranville, PA. Tim talks about working with the Amish, training young talent, and sharing knowledge. Where to find our Guest: jkholton.com Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh &...

#90 Andy Moore talks hiring talent 27.10.2019 1:53:10

This week we have Andy Moore, Owner of Modern Oak construction out of Virginia. Andy opens up about a recent struggle that hit his growing 5-year-old business. John talks about exit interviews, which everyone will want to start implementing immediately. Where to find our Guest: @modern_oak on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGH...

#89 Authenticity with Clay Chapman 21.10.2019 2:06:53

"A structural masonry revival fusing classical practices with modern tech to create affordable, multi-century lifecycle alternatives to disposable building." Clay Chapman joins the guys to talk about what history has taught us about building homes, and the traditional approach to building and architecture. Where to find our Guest: @1000yearhouse on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schif...

#88 HVAC guy Ryan Anderson joins 13.10.2019 2:12:02

Ryan Anderson owns and operates Native Air Conditioning in West Palm Florida. Ryan talks about his mission to strengthen the relationship between HVAC subcontractors and general contractors, geeks out with Tyler and tells some hard truths. Where to find our Guest: @native_air_conditioning on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHo...

#87 Building science geek Jake Bruton joins 06.10.2019 1:26:48

Jake Bruton owns and operates Aarow Building based in Columbia Missouri. They're custom home builders and remodelers. Jake tells his story and geeks out on building science with Nick and Johnny. Where to find our Guest: Jake Bruton @jake.bruton on Instagram Aarow Building on YouTube Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instag...

#86 Laborer to owner Michael Walsh joins 26.09.2019 2:18:13

Michael Walsh at 33 years old bought Wolcott Builders based in Rhinebeck, NY. He started as a laborer for Wolcott when he was a teenager and now in addition to owning the company he is also a project manager. Tune in! Where to find our Guest: www.wolcottbuilders.com Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @...

#85 Belt on contractor Jamie Verdura 22.09.2019 2:08:23

Jamie Verdura owns Verdura construction with his wife and they build high-end custom homes in the Bay Area. Jamie explains an Instagram story he posted questioning what contractors are actually doing to keep craft alive. He talks about hiring young workers, working with the bags on, running the company with his wife and much more. Where to find our Guest: Jamie Verdura @verduraconstruction on Ins...

#84 Project manager Maxx Heerlein joins 12.09.2019 2:12:07

Maxx Heerlein is a project manager for high-end builder Kirby Perkins in Newport, RI. Maxx talks about what it's like to be a project manager, how he got into the industry, and his little side hustle. Where to find our Guest: Maxx Heerlein @mbhdesignbuild on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourih...

#83 Diesel Tech Toby Grace joins the guys 08.09.2019 1:45:34

Toby Grace, Tyler's better looking younger brother brings an outside perspective to the guys. He talks about the challenges he faces being a diesel repair tech, the limitations of growth in the auto repair industry, and the parallels to the construction industry. Where to find our Guest: Toby Grace @toptechtoby on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouT...

#82 Apprentice Alex Melendez joins the guys 29.08.2019 2:02:09

Alex Melendez is a 25-year-old breaking into the construction business in LA. He's 4 years in, hungry to learn and working towards becoming a licensed carpenter. Alex talks about what lead him to the construction industry. Where to find our Guest: Alex Melendez @am_builder on Instagram Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on In...