Modern Craftsman
Modern Craftsman
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've lived it.
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've lived it.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 11, 2019 • 2h 28min
#92 Happiness with Peter Jonak owner of Spire Builders
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 Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings. projecthealingwaters.org Where to find our Guest: @spirebuilders on Instagram spirebuilders.com 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: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Nov 1, 2019 • 2h 14min
#91 Contractor Tim Holton joins (not Tim Horton)
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 & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Oct 27, 2019 • 1h 53min
#90 Andy Moore talks hiring talent
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 @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Oct 21, 2019 • 2h 7min
#89 Authenticity with Clay Chapman
"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 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
Oct 13, 2019 • 2h 12min
#88 HVAC guy Ryan Anderson joins
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 @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com + Special performance by Tyler Grace
Oct 6, 2019 • 1h 27min
#87 Building science geek Jake Bruton joins
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 Instagram John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Sep 26, 2019 • 2h 18min
#86 Laborer to owner Michael Walsh joins
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 @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Sep 22, 2019 • 2h 8min
#85 Belt on contractor Jamie Verdura
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 Instagram 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: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Sep 12, 2019 • 2h 12min
#84 Project manager Maxx Heerlein joins
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 Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov nategusakov.com
Sep 8, 2019 • 1h 46min
#83 Diesel Tech Toby Grace joins the guys
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 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
