Side Hustle Squad

Recorded live at Lawntrepreneur Academy Live, Mike sits down with Agustin Zarate, owner of Central Washington Landscaping out of Yakima County, Washington. Agustin is the definition of a true hustler—working full time at a metal manufacturing company while simultaneously running two businesses: a growing lawn care company and a private security firm.  🔗 Important Links & Resources 🎙  Side Hustle...

Today, we're catching up with Aaron Strunk of Strunk Lawn Care out of Marion, Illinois. Aaron has been on the show before, and this episode is all about checking in on how things have been going since we last talked. We dive into what's new in his business, the lessons he's learned along the way, and how his approach to lawn care and entrepreneurship has evolved. Aaron shares practical insights, f...

On this episode of The Side Hustle Squad Podcast, Mike sits down with his financial coach, John Pajak, to talk all things Relay. They break down how Relay helps business owners stay organized by categorizing accounts, simplifying cash flow, and creating clarity around finances. If you're tired of messy accounts and guessing where your money is going, this episode is a must-listen for building bett...

At LAL 2025, Lamont Hairston stepped in and took over the Side Hustle Squad Podcast—and absolutely delivered. In this special episode, Lamont hosts an all-star panel of lawn care and green-industry entrepreneurs for a real, unfiltered check-in. They break down how their businesses are performing, what's actually working right now, and how the energy of a live event like LAL impacts mindset, moment...

We catch up with Paul Lacinski from Bitchin' Lawns at Lawntrepreneur Academy Live 2025. Paul shares what's new in his business, lessons he's learned since the last time we talked, and what events like LAL mean for growth, mindset, and community in the green industry. 🔗 Important Links & Resources 🎙  Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast 🌱  Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coa...

Recorded live at Lawntrepreneur Academy Live, Mike and Larry sit down with John Pajak to talk all things business and what it really takes to build a successful lawn care business. 🔗 Important Links & Resources 🎙  Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast 🌱  Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization 💻  Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com 📋  Get Jobber...

On this episode, Larry catches up with Marcus Tate from Seeds Lawn Care in South Carolina. They talk about first meeting Marcus and his wife at the LCR Summit in Atlanta, then reconnecting at Equip 2025 to see how things are going and how his business has grown since then. Marcus shares updates on Seeds Lawn Care, his goals moving forward, and a few funny stories.  🔗 Important Links & Resources 🎙...

In this episode, Mr. Producer steps out from behind the scenes and reveals his secret life as a lawn care business owner — or at least pretends to be one. As a satirical twist, Mr. Producer goes undercover as a struggling lawn care operator, poking fun at some of the most common inefficiencies in the industry: relying on push mowers when you shouldn't, wasting time on jobs, ignoring better equipme...

Recorded live at Equip Expo, Patrick Susino sits down with Larry Delli Santi, co-host of The Side Hustle Squad Podcast and co-founder of Coastal Fertilization & Weed Control, for a rare role reversal — Larry in the guest seat. Larry opens up about his journey in the green industry, what it takes to scale a service business while staying grounded, and the mindset shifts required to grow as a leader...

In this episode of The Side Hustle Squad Podcast, Larry catches up with Cornell Mack live at Equip Expo following his powerful morning show appearance. Cornell shares  how preparation, confidence, and consistency have shaped his growth as a leader and communicator.  🔗 Important Links & Resources 🎙  Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast 🌱  Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coas...

On this episode of Side Hustle Squad, Larry Delli Santi sits down with Danny of All That Grass Lawn Care founder Danny. shares how they connected, why Danny's story resonated, and what makes this conversation more than a business chat — it's about grit, vision, and turning a dream into a reality. Whether you've got your own side hustle, are thinking about launching one, or just love an underdog su...

Shakeem Brookens returns to the Side Hustle Squad Podcast for another powerful conversation — this time catching up with Larry live on the mic. Since his last appearance, Shakeem has been busy, leveling up his business, dialing in his processes, and finding new ways to grow both personally and professionally. In this episode, Larry checks in on what's changed, what's working, and what lessons Shak...

Larry sits down with the boys from the Green Side Up Podcast live at Equip 2025 for a high-energy catch-up on their season, their growth, and what's new in their world. From equipment they're excited about, to the behind-the-scenes of content creation, to where they see the industry heading, this episode is packed with laughs, stories, and real-deal takeaways. Whether you're a long-time listener o...

In this episode, Mike and Larry hit pause on all the EQUIP Expo and Lawntrepreneur Academy Live content to bring you a timely deep-dive into one of the most overlooked parts of the lawn care game: proper winterization and storage. We break down why winterizing your equipment isn't just maintenance — it's money in the bank. From engines to handhelds to your Permagreens, we walk through how to prote...

Recorded live from Pod Row at Equip Expo, Mike sits down with Brian Middleton from Permagreen for an inside look at one of the most trusted spreader-sprayer systems in the green industry. Brian breaks down what makes Permagreen machines so efficient, consistent, and profitable for lawn care operators — from design philosophy to real-world performance. They dig into productivity tips, application s...

Live from Pod Row at EQUIP, Larry sits down with David Bratton of Mallard Island Lawn Service for a long-overdue catch-up on his 2025 season. David breaks down what went right, what he learned, and how his business evolved over the past year. From growth pains to smart adjustments, equipment wins to unexpected challenges, this episode is all about the real-life highs and lows of running a lawn-car...

Recorded live from Pod Row at Equip Expo, Mike sits down with Moly Milosovic, Director of Brand Marketing & Communications at Jobber , for a deep dive into what's new and what's next for one of the biggest platforms in the home-service industry. Moly shares updates on Jobber's latest innovations, upcoming features, and how the brand continues to support business owners in the field. From there, th...

Live from the Pod-Row at Equip Expo, this powerhouse panel brings together Mike Garvey, Perry Phillips, Ben Neyman, and Lamont Hairston for an unfiltered breakdown of everything happening at the biggest event in the green-industry world. From standout innovations to hard-earned lessons, from networking wins to behind-the-scenes stories, the crew dives deep into what mattered most this year. Whethe...

In this first episode of our brand-new Train Wreck Series, Mike sits down with Perry Phillips from Yellow Dog Lawn Care , a man who's faced one of the toughest years imaginable. From a devastating house fire to business setbacks and personal challenges, Perry opens up about how he kept moving forward when everything seemed to fall apart. This conversation is all about grit, perspective, and the po...

We're back at Equip Expo, and today's guest is none other than Todd Zimmerman from Kress — and let's just say, he didn't come empty-handed. Todd sat down with us to talk about the next chapter of Kress innovation, what's driving the brand's explosive momentum, and why this year's reveal could change the game for pros everywhere. We can't say much here… you'll have to listen to find out what the bu...

We're back with John and Kaden from Grant & Sons — and this time, it's all about the glow-up. These guys have had a huge year in business and on social media. Their Instagram has exploded with viral leaf cleanup videos that have taken the green industry by storm. We catch up about what's changed since our last chat, how they're handling the new attention, and what it's like balancing real-life wor...

We're live from the Rehlko booth at Equip Expo with special guest Allen LeMere from LaMere Landscaping in Lakeville, Massachusetts! Allen shares how he's growing his business, balancing the grind, and leveling up year after year. Of course, it wouldn't be a Side Hustle Squad episode without some laughs — Larry and Allen go back and forth roasting each other about their height while dropping real b...

In this episode of The Side Hustle Squad Podcast, Mike and Larry sit down with Quinn Derby, Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Rehlko , to dive deep into their latest innovations — the Command Pro 888 and Command Pro 999 engines. Quinn shares how these new powerhouses are redefining performance, durability, and design, while also giving us an inside look at Rehlko's rebranding journey and the...

In this episode, Mike and Larry recap an incredible week fresh off the LCR Media Summit — sharing their biggest takeaways, lessons learned, and favorite moments from Naylor Taliaferro's powerhouse event. Then, they shift gears and head straight to Pod Row to prep for the EQUIP Expo, talking expectations, goals, and the energy leading into the biggest week in the industry. Tune in for laughs, insig...

If you had to start your business all over again with just $10,000 and no clients, what would you do first? In this episode, Mike breaks down exactly how he'd rebuild his lawn care and service business from the ground up. From choosing equipment and marketing strategies to building relationships and setting prices, this episode is all about clarity, efficiency, and smart spending. Whether you're n...