

Printavo PrintHustlers Podcast
Printavo
Discover amazing stories & lessons from fellow shop owners and industry leaders. Hosted by Bruce Ackerman and Steven Farag
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 20, 2025 • 14min
15 Brutal Business Truths That Changed How I Run Printavo (Rework by 37signals)
In this solo episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, Bruce shares 15 hard-hitting business lessons inspired by the book Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson (the founders of Basecamp/37signals).

Aug 13, 2025 • 49min
How This Print Shop Sold Its Presses and Got More Profitable
In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Watson of Good Ink and Michigan Awesome to talk about one of the boldest moves a shop can make — scaling down to grow smarter.

Aug 6, 2025 • 56min
From Merger to Mayhem: How a Print Shop Unmerged and Came Out Stronger| 918 Design Co.
What happens when a dream merger turns into a business nightmare? In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, Leeah Calvert of 918 Design Co. shares her incredible story of merging with another print shop — only to discover that their CFO wasn't telling the full story!

Jul 30, 2025 • 59min
Lee Stuart on Mental Health, Scaling Rogue Transfers, and Building a Dream Shop
In this episode of Behind the Signs, we’re joined once again by Lee Stuart — screen printer, content creator, and now the founder of Rogue Transfers. Lee opens up about the mental health struggles he’s faced while growing his business, how he’s building systems to run his shop without him, and why he changed his mind about Direct-to-Film printing.

Jul 23, 2025 • 59min
Printing for the Thunder Finals | How Oklahoma Shirt Co. Scaled With Heart
In this Print Hustlers Podcast episode, Justin Lawrence of Oklahoma Shirt Company reveals the human-first systems that helped grow his shop.
From humble beginnings printing in a hallway to running a massive operation, Justin shares how emotional intelligence, team empathy, and dialed-in systems were the real growth levers—not just marketing or machinery.

Jul 16, 2025 • 1h 15min
Barrel Maker Diving into Live Printing - How to, Scaling, and Lessons Learned with Justin Moore
In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Justin Moore of Barrel Maker Printing and LivePrinting.com. Justin shares the raw, behind-the-scenes journey of building a powerhouse print shop—including how live printing became a massive revenue stream, why Profit First has guided his daily financial habits for 8 years, and the reality of launching side projects like Second Chance Totes.

Jul 9, 2025 • 45min
DGI Apparel Shutdown: Lessons & Starting a Screen Print Shop for $10K
DGI Apparel—the “Expedia of blanks”—just got shut down. So what happened… and what does it mean for your shop?
In this solo Print Hustlers Podcast, Bruce and Steven break down the surprising shutdown of DGI Apparel, a software that allowed decorators to compare prices across major garment manufacturers. The platform had to close its doors—leaving shops with fewer sourcing tools and big questions about the future of tech in the industry.
Steven also shares a detailed, honest guide to starting a screen printing shop in 2025 with just $10,000—what gear to buy, what to avoid, and how to actually build momentum without overextending.

Jul 2, 2025 • 31min
What I Learned at ThreadX: Stoicism, Sustainability, and the Future of Printing
ThreadX just wrapped—and Steven’s back with a full recap of what went down.
Hosted at Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort, ThreadX 2025 brought together shop owners, CEOs, and thought leaders for an intimate and powerful weekend.

Jun 25, 2025 • 55min
Can EOS Fix Your Shop? How to Build Systems, Reduce Burnout, and Actually Grow
Is your screen printing shop running you… or are you running it?
In this episode, we sit down with Michael Richman, certified EOS implementer and Fabric.Ink coach, to talk about why so many shop owners feel stuck—and how the right systems can help them get unstuck. Michael shares lessons from building and selling a custom manufacturing business, the real-world application of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), and how to stop working in your business and start working on it.

Jun 18, 2025 • 59min
Why Calm Companies Win: Hard Truths from 16 Years in Print with Andy Rudman
What if the secret to business success isn’t hustle—but calm?
In Part 2 of our conversation with Andy Rudman of Shirt Kong, we dive deep into the emotional and practical evolution of running a shop for 16+ years. From legacy and burnout to customer service as marketing, Andy shares raw, honest lessons that every print shop owner needs to hear.
🎧 Topics Covered:
• What Andy wishes he knew on day one
• The power of “We’ll do better next time”
• Marketing budgets vs. customer experience
• Identity and burnout as a business owner
• The difference between sprinting and resting seasons
• Building a calmer company (and why it matters)
Whether you’re just starting or deep in the grind, this episode is a blueprint for building longevity in business—with less stress and more purpose.