The Pagel Uncensored Podcast

🧰 We’re Proud Jobber Ambassadors! Get a free 14-day trial + 20% off your first 6 months using our link: 👉 https://go.getjobber.com/pagelservices     Jake Bacon joins the podcast to share how he went from never welding before to owning a successful commercial welding shop with 9 employees. We talk about getting started in the trade, welding school, taking risks, building a business, and the lesso...

On this episode of Pagel Uncensored Podcast, we sit down with Benji Irvine — longtime OG fan, business owner, and the face behind The Diecast Den and Performance Lawn Care. Benji was also our Pagel Elite YouTube Membership January Thank You Gift recipient, and we were pumped to have him on the show. Benji keeps it real — no fluff, just honest perspective from someone grinding every day. * YouTube:...

Austin Gibson is the owner of Unique Auto Salvage, an automotive recycling business operating across Michigan — and parts of Ohio — buying, selling, and moving everything from catalytic converters to scrap vehicles. In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, Austin opens up about the real side of running a blue-collar business: downsizing from six employees to two, the constant struggle to find trustwor...

What do snow plows, broken computers, and military service all have in common? Tristan James joins the podcast to tell a story you don’t hear every day. From his days in the Army and surviving cancer, to running a computer repair shop with some truly unforgettable customers, Tristan walks us through how curiosity in a garage turned into Wisconsin Specialty Recycling — a top-level electronics recyc...

We’re proud Jobber Ambassadors! Run your service business smarter with Jobber — from quotes and scheduling to invoicing and payments. Use our link to get a free 14-day trial plus an exclusive 20% off your first 6 months: 👉 https://go.getjobber.com/pagelservices It took a minute — but once Kaleb locked in, everything changed. In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, Sally Rech, owner of Rech Family Fa...

Brady Vondra, owner of Vondra Ag Services, has spent over a decade building a farming business from the ground up — and at one point, watched it all burn down. In this raw and honest episode of Pagel Uncensored, Brady shares how losing everything forced him to rebuild smarter, tougher, and more committed than ever. From surviving a total loss to teaching the next generation about farming, this is...

In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with Josh Wells, owner of Wells And Son Outdoor Services, a Minnesota-based stump grinding and landscaping business built through decades of hands-on experience. Josh shares his journey through over 30 years in the landscaping industry, including the challenges of owning a business, balancing family life, and how his combat deployment shaped his wor...

In Episode 221 of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down for a raw conversation about what it really takes to grow a successful business without Google, without a website, and without relying on the internet at all. From word-of-mouth hustle to hands-on work, this episode dives into the challenges, surprises, and grit required to build something real in a digital world. Honest lessons, unexpected insights,...

Ever wondered why insurance costs so much — and what’s really behind those rising premiums? In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with Jaclyn Bevan, owner of Jaclyn Bevan Insurance Agency (State Farm) and Bacon Branch Beef, LLC, to cut through the noise. Jaclyn shares an honest take on the insurance world, small-town business, and what it’s like balancing work, family, and life on the f...

When the stress piled up, Paul Ledebuhr decided it was time to share the load. Now co-owner of Bluff Country Outdoor Services, Paul opens up about life in the lawn and landscape industry — from handling bad employees and burnout to rediscovering what matters most: teamwork, family, and the great outdoors. Follow Paul’s work here: 👉 Bluff Country Outdoor Services on Facebook: https://www.facebook....

From dropping out of high school to running a multi-award-winning tree and winter services company — Matt Wingate, owner of Lakes Area Tree Guys LLC, joins Kaleb for a raw conversation about what it really takes to build a business from the ground up. Based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Matt shares how he built a 5-star-rated company with zero advertising, a loyal crew, and a reputation that speaks f...

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Dowe and Scott Czaplinski, the duo behind K&S Driveway Guys LLC, based in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Since 2013, Kevin and Scott have been transforming driveways and sport courts across the Midwest — specializing in coloring, striping, and resurfacing for pickleball, tennis, basketball, hockey, four-square, and shuffleboard. They share how they went from ro...

In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, Kaleb sits down with Roger Krantz, the founder and former owner of West End Salvage in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Roger’s story is one of grit, vision, and small-town determination — building a thriving business from nothing and turning it into a legacy for generations to come. From humble beginnings and one life-changing car to building a company that became a comm...

In this episode, we sit down with Darren Peters, owner of Peters’ Patio & Landscape in SE Minnesota. With 22 years in the landscape industry and 15 years running his own company, Darren has seen it all — from employee frustrations to equipment mishaps (yes, even pallet forks getting destroyed). What makes Darren stand out? Even after 15 years of ownership, he’s still out in the field, working...

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Bauer, the man behind Paragon Excavation and Land Clearing—a one-man band who runs his business exactly the way he wants to. An OG fan since the early days, Nick shares how he walked away from seven years as a diesel mechanic, hopped in a skid steer, and built his own excavation and land clearing company with no regrets. We cover it all: * Running a business...

This time we sit down with Stuart Owens who’s been building his own channel while grinding through real-life challenges. From the pressures of managing a crew, to finding purpose through sobriety, to chasing big dreams beyond his day job, Stuart opens up with honesty and grit. If you’re looking for straight talk, personal growth lessons, and inspiration from someone who’s been in the trenches — yo...

In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with Dalton Campbell — an OG fan, community supporter, and hardworking entrepreneur who runs two businesses: ✅ Buzz Lawn Care & Snow Removal – keeping properties clean and clear year-round. ✅ Buzz Impressions – a warehouse and printing company serving local businesses. Dalton shares his journey of growing both companies, what it’s like balanci...

In today’s episode, Rich Hume, owner of NE Acreage Group INC. in Leominster, MA, shares some of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard from a business owner. Rich built his commercial maintenance and parking lot sweeping company from the ground up, but the road hasn’t been easy — or ordinary. Along the way, he’s faced situations most entrepreneurs could never imagine, including: * A stolen car smash...

Meet Dan Mason, a man who was born with a rare condition called prune belly syndrome — a disorder that affects the abdominal muscles and urinary system, often making everyday life a struggle from the start. But Dan’s story isn’t about what he can’t do — it’s about what he’s built in spite of it. From running his own small engine repair business to working hard for a landscape company, Dan proves t...

On this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with a man who quite literally sleeps, eats, and breathes fencing. With a family-owned business spanning 40 years — and he’s only 36 himself — fencing isn’t just a job, it’s an obsession. From building posts to building a legacy, he shares what it’s like to grow up in the fence world, the challenges and triumphs of running a family trade business, a...

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Bazor, owner and operator of Bazor Sons Concrete out of Renton, Washington. Steve shares how he built his concrete business, why “Concrete = Big Business”, and how his company stands out by offering an unmatched 10-year warranty on all their work. We also talk about his journey from being the winner of Giveaway #12 to hauling home a brand-new Lamar dump trai...

In Episode 207, Pink Salt Started It All…, we sit down with Gary Gomoll, the owner of Winnebago Lawn & Snow out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Gary’s entrepreneurial journey began in the most unexpected way — selling pink salt out of his garage. Today, his business has grown to include two thriving locations, serving the community with top-notch lawn and snow services. We dive into his start-up story,...

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Clayton Rajek, owner of Elite Hardscapes LLC out of Cadet, Wisconsin, for a candid conversation about what it really means to take control of your future. Clayton shares how leaving behind the hotel stays and duffle-bag lifestyle led him to build a business not just for himself—but for his family. Tired of seeing the same faces every day and fed up...

In this raw and revealing episode, we sit down with Nicolas Reetz, founder of All Seasons Services based in Clinton Township, Michigan. Nicolas opens up about the struggles, setbacks, and pivotal moments that shaped his path from hitting rock bottom to building a respected business empire in the landscaping and snow removal industry. With unfiltered honesty, he shares what it took to rebuild his l...

In this episode, we sit down with the unstoppable Jeni Oyen-Reed, a dynamic entrepreneur who wears multiple hats with ease. Based in Lancaster, Wisconsin, Jeni is not only the owner of Alternative Recycling, a local business redefining how rural communities handle waste and sustainability, but she also thrives as a real estate agent, helping clients navigate the housing market with insight and car...