The Fire Time Podcast

While we prepare Season 16 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Peter Parsons titled, "Let’s Rethink Efficiency in the Hearth Industry" (released in the ⁠October 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠). ------ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Ti...

While we prepare Season 16 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to his article "Starting Well - How Putting First Things First Drives Meaningful Results" (released in the February 2024 issue of The Fire Time Magazine). ------ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Ti...

While we prepare Season 16 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to Clay Dennis' article "168 Hours: Reclaiming Balance Between Work and Family" (released in the November 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine). ------ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazin...

Tim wraps up Season 15 of the Fire Time Podcast with the holiday tradition of a Question and Answer episode where he reviews submissions from listeners and responds to a wide range of topics from this season of the podcast. Questions include: What should the average margin be on fireplaces and stoves and how to do the math when pricing a job? "The ability from deep through comes from reading." Doe...

"AI should do your laundry and dishes so you can do art and writing." This week, Tim sits down with Matt Bradley (Partnership Manager at WhyFire and editor of The Fire Time Magazine) to discuss the thoughtful use of AI in business—and the critical distinction between tools that enhance our humanity versus those that erode it. In this episode, Tim and Matt discuss: Why kale, cold showers, and AI al...

"Try to win the games that no one else realizes they're playing." This week , Tim dives into one of his favorite quotes with its proverbist, Grant Falco, President of Falcos Spokane. They explore everything from greeting customers, to effort towards finding answers, to how your parking lot looks, in order to win ten points and make the sale - because everything your business does is either gaining...

"Money does not buy security. Money does not buy freedom. It does buy flexibility." This week , Tim sits down with Steve Marshman to talk about financial investing to create wealth future wealth. In a change of pace from podcast topics of sales, marketing, or leadership, they dive into thinking about the future, planning for retirement, and being wise. Tim and Steve discuss: Planning for the futur...

"At the core - every interaction, every connection that we make, we try not to ever look at an order as just another dollar. It's an interaction with someone." In this episode, Tim is joined by Gary Yoder, President of Sales and CMO at Stoll Industries, to discuss generosity and their notoriously positive approach to business. In the heart of the season, they talk about the purpose of business and...

"How do we make the most of the time that we have, realizing that there are so many things pulling at us for our focus and attention?" This week, Tim shares one of his courses from the 2025 Digital Fire Time Summit. In his course, Tim talks about: Managing the tension of the "whirlwind" and the wildly important work that has to get done. The axis scale of urgent vs. important and the four quadrant...

"We're treating people the way we want to be treated." This week, Tim and Kenneth Walker pull a hat trick for a Part 3 of their discussion about the process of building a winning showroom. In this episode, Tim and Kenneth wrap up the showroom miniseries answering questions and talking about: What to think about in the early phases of building a showroom: finding a location, venting, staffing, hour...

"Sales is a 30-minute love affair." This week, Tim shares lessons from Pat Butson, a hearth industry legend who became Tim's sales mentor in his retirement. With four decades of experience at Vermont Castings, Majestic, and Whitfield—plus a legendary handshake as a national arm wrestling champion—Pat combined fierce confidence with gentle compassion that made him unstoppable on the sales floor. In...

"Pick the story first, then go find the brands to fit it." This week, Kenneth Walker returns and is joined by podcast and industry veteran Mark Stoner, President of Ashbusters, to have a practical conversation about the process of building an actual showroom. In this episode, Tim, Mark, and Kenneth discuss: Product positioning in your showroom so that they tell a cohesive story and make it easier...

"The purpose of your showroom is to sell the in-home visit." This week, Tim welcomes Kenneth Walker, independent sales rep for Fire Walker Sales covering nine states, to break down the five principles every winning fireplace showroom needs. Kenneth has seen hundreds of showrooms—from thriving retail operations to struggling chimney service companies trying to break into retail—and shares exactly w...

"The work starts when you make the sale." This week, Tim does a deep-dive into the intricacies of sales with his friend Seth Fultz, Regional Sales Manages at Bridgewell Resources, who talks about his experience wearing multiple hats within his role - from inventory management and in/outbound logistics, to truck driver manager and even amateur psychologist. In this episode, Tim and Seth cover: Sell...

"Service isn't a necessary evil—it's your most valuable relationship builder." This week, Tim welcomes Bart Ogden, owner of Home Safe Hearth & Chimney in Wichita, Kansas, to discuss how service work can be the foundation of a thriving hearth business. Starting as a chimney sweep in 1979 in a town of 600 people, Bart built his company on a simple principle: if someone calls needing help, we're goin...

"The customer bought the experience, not just the fireplace." This week, Tim welcomes Nate Lammers, (Midwest Sales Representative for Kozy Heat), and Adam Spencer, a homeowner who recently completed a major fireplace remodel. After Nate discovered his neighbor Adam had purchased a fireplace from a local dealer, he realized Adam's buying experience validated everything they teach about the sales pr...

"A mentor or a coach is someone that you can discuss your innermost fears with." In this episode, Tim welcome Jerry Isenhour, President of the CVC Success Group, back to the podcast to talk about intentional mentorship and learning in the current landscape of the industry. Tim and Jerry cover: How to approach mentoring relationships while endeavoring to learn and grow, yourself. Seeking guidance a...

"Customers need more than what you want to sell them." This week, Tim has a long-awaited conversation with his sister-In-law Kristin Ratzlaff, a global team leader at a software as a service (SaaS) company, with decades of experience, who travels the world doing high-level sales. After years of discussing everything from business and sales to fear and opportunity, they finally sits down with Krist...

In the second episode of Season 15, Tim sits down with "Montana" Dave Anderson from AES to follow up on last week's conversation with Clay Dennis about how intentional small dollar sales can lead to big time growth in your business. Tim and Dave Discuss: Dealers and manufactures feeling sales pressure in the coming season, years after the post-pandemic boom. Listening well to customer's problems i...

"Decide what you stand for and what you won't stand for." Tim debuts Season 15 with podcast veteran and Fire Time Magazine author, Clay Dennis, to talk about his book, "Building Better Businesses: 10 Effective Steps to Building Impactful Businesses That Last." In this episode, Tim and Clay discuss: How impactful businesses are more than dollars and cents, but rather the success of the people they...

While we prepare for Season 15 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Zack Estes titled, "Exceptions Create Chaos, Standards Create Clarity" (released in the ⁠⁠May 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠)⁠. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome...

While we prepare for Season 15 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Daniel Hammer titled, "Building a Business With Purpose, Mission, and Values" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠June 2024 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get acce...

While we prepare for Season 15 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Claude AI titled, "The Chatbot's Perspective" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠July 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠⁠)⁠. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:...

While we prepare for Season 15 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Clay Dennis titled, "Beyond the Sale" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠February 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfi...

While we prepare for Season 15 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Kenneth Walker titled, "The Forgotten Team Member" (released in the ⁠⁠January 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠)⁠. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠http...