Trade Talk: The Podcast of Contractors Connect

When Angela Rissi came to America from Brazil 36 years ago with little more than a suitcase and a dream, she never imagined she would one day own a thriving countertop business on the Emerald Coast. In this inspiring episode of Trade Talk , Angela shares her remarkable journey of perseverance, reinvention, and faith. From overcoming language barriers and raising two sons as a single mother to laun...

In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Mike Miller , President and General Manager of the Residential Roofing Division at Specialty Roofers , to discuss his journey from growing up in a roofing family to helping build one of the region's most respected roofing companies. Mike shares how Hurricane Ivan brought him to Northwest Florida, the lessons he's learned from...

What does it take to build a successful business, lead great people, and create lasting impact in your community? In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Tony Carder , founder of TruNorth Pest Control , entrepreneur, mentor, and business coach. Tony shares the story behind launching TruNorth after helping build and sell one of the largest pest control companies in the count...

What does it really take to sell a business successfully—and why do so many deals fall apart before closing? In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Tipp Spradlin , co-owner of First Choice Business Brokers of Northwest Florida , to talk about exit strategies, business valuations, and the biggest mistakes owners make when preparing to sell. After nearly 30 years in the Air...

What if the homes we build are impacting our health more than we realize? In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Bekah Wagner of Corcoran Reverie to explore the growing movement of wellness-focused construction and development. As a WELL Accredited Professional, Bekah shares how healthier building practices, smarter material choices, and intentional design can improve the...

In this episode of Trade Talk , the full Beespoke Consulting team—Sarah, Erin, Lindsay, and Kelly—recaps their first experience attending the International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando. Six weeks after the event, they sit down to break down what stood out, what surprised them, and what they’ll do differently next time. From massive, high-production booths to meaningful conversations with brands...

In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Steve Smith , Founder and CRO of Live Oak Fiber , to talk about the infrastructure that’s quietly powering today’s construction industry— connectivity . From launching with a “PowerPoint and Excel deck” to serving tens of thousands of customers across the Southeast, Steve shares the story behind building a fiber network from the groun...

If your business has a graveyard of unused apps and software subscriptions… you’re not alone. In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Kaela Hargis of Maverick Ops to unpack why technology keeps failing trades businesses—and why the problem isn’t the tools. Kaela shares how a lack of structure, unclear processes, and poor delegation are the real culprits behind inefficiency,...

In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah White and Lindsay Lord sit down with Bob and Jessica from Savi Flooring & Tile to talk about one of the most important—yet often underestimated—design decisions in any home: flooring . From hardwood and tile to outdoor pavers and turf, the materials beneath our feet shape the entire look and feel of a space. Bob shares how Savi works closely with builders...

What happens when a “she shed” turns into a full-blown filmed renovation? In this episode of Trade Talk , we flip the script as Erin moves from co-host to guest to break down the pilot episode of Mini Reno , Contractors Connect’s new renovation series. Joined by Stephanie Wisdom, General Contractor and co-owner of Exterior Jacks, the group walks through how a simple need for office space evolved i...

Taxes are changing again — and if you’re a contractor who tends to push tax planning to the back burner, this episode is for you. In the Season 2 premiere of Trade Talk , hosts Sarah and Lindsay sit down with local CPA Rebecca Kelly of Testu & Taylor to break down what construction businesses need to know heading into 2026. From accelerated depreciation and accounting methods to QBI, meals ded...

In the pilot episode of Mini Renos, host Erin Bakker is joined by Kenny Nicholson of Builders FirstSource to transform an open dining room into a fully enclosed private home office. This renovation is led by Stephanie Wisdom, General Contractor and owner of Exterior Jacks, who walks through the framing, planning, and execution required to turn an underutilized space into a functional work environm...

In this New Year’s special, the Bees—Sarah, Erin, Lindsay, and Kelly—kick off 2026 with a high-energy conversation on why January is the most underrated month for marketing in the building industry. They share how businesses can tap into the “fresh start” mindset homeowners and clients naturally feel this time of year, turning it into momentum and measurable growth. The episode covers universal ye...

In this episode of Trade Talk, Sarah and Lindsay sit down with Dennis Candelora of Builders FirstSource to unpack one of the fastest-growing shifts in construction: digital tools . Dennis breaks down how platforms like MyBLDR are helping builders streamline communication, reduce waste, and save time — all while improving collaboration between teams and clients. From real-time access to quotes and...

In this festive Trade Talk special, the entire Beespoke crew—Sarah, Erin, Lindsay, and Kelly—breaks down holiday gifting made simple for builders, contractors, vendors, and small business owners. From client appreciation to employee celebrations to year-end marketing, the Bees share practical, thoughtful, field-tested ideas you can use right away. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Client Gifting: How...

​​In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Erin are joined by Neil Twa , entrepreneur, author, and host of the High Voltage Business Builders podcast—a top 5% globally ranked show. Neil is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings , where he helps business owners launch, scale, and sell brands through strategic systems and smart growth. With more than 17 years of experience and over $10 mil...

In this episode of Trade Talk , hosts Sarah White and Erin Bakker sit down with April Harrison , an environmental consultant with more than 20 years of stormwater management and compliance experience. April breaks down what builders need to know about the Clean Water Act , NPDES permits , and the real-world consequences of overlooking stormwater regulations. From fines and shutdowns to prevention...

In this episode of Trade Talk , hosts Sarah White and Lindsay Lord sit down with Jodi Peterman, founder of Elizabeth Erin Designs, a nationally recognized interior design firm known for its “livable luxury” approach. Jodi opens up about her journey from burnout to breakthrough—sharing how personal healing became the foundation for stronger leadership, clearer boundaries, and a thriving design busi...

In this episode of Trade Talk , hosts Sarah White and Lindsay Lord sit down with Cyndie Williams, Executive Director of the Carpenter Contractor Trust, an organization representing more than 40,000 carpenters and contractors across the Eastern Atlantic States. Cyndie started her career with tools in hand and worked her way up to become the first woman to lead the Trust. She’s now a powerful advoca...

In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah White and Lindsay Lord sit down with Ariel Mastbrook, founder of Limitless Lioness, a company that helps builders and remodelers streamline operations, reduce chaos, and reclaim time for what matters most. Ariel shares how her experience working inside design-build firms led her to launch a business dedicated to helping contractors build smarter systems — not...

In this episode of Trade Talk , hosts Sarah White and Lindsay Lord sit down with Michelle Nicholson and Jonathan Brown of Wheelhouse Consulting and Engineering — a firm that’s redefining the design-to-build process for builders and homeowners alike. From feasibility studies to “live design” sessions that turn ideas into construction-ready plans in a single meeting, Wheelhouse is helping builders s...

In this episode of Trade Talk , Sarah White and Lindsay Lord share the story of Steve Daher , founder and president of Daher Contracting . From his childhood in Lebanon to building a thriving business along Florida’s Emerald Coast, Steve’s journey is one of hard work, faith, and resilience. He opens up about growing up as the youngest of twelve in a country torn by civil war, immigrating to the U....

On this special episode of Trade Talk , Sarah and Erin celebrate International Podcast Day by looking back at some of their favorite highlights from the first 18 episodes. From insights on membership growth to powerful leadership lessons, this recap captures the conversations that have shaped Trade Talk so far. You’ll also hear Voices from the Booth, featuring clips from Contractors Connect meetup...

In this episode of Trade Talk , we sit down with Dustin Terry of Clear Harbor Wealth Management to explore what it really takes to protect what you’ve built. From exit planning and legacy conversations to creating a personal financial freedom fund, Dustin explains the steps every entrepreneur should take to safeguard their family and future. He shares eye-opening statistics—like why 50% of busines...

In Episode 17 of Trade Talk , Sarah White and Erin Bakker sit down with Dustin Terry, founder of Clear Harbor Wealth Management and author of Founder’s Fortune: How Entrepreneurs Build Wealth, Freedom, and a Lasting Impact. Contractors are experts at building homes, leading crews, and growing businesses—but many overlook how to protect their assets and plan for the future What You’ll Learn in This...