Beyond The Tools
Episodes
Krystal Hobbs: Why Human Connection Still Matters in a Digital World
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world full of ads and algorithms, real connection still wins. In this solo episode, Krystal Hobbs shares why human connection and community prese...
Stephanie Allen: Growing HVAC Success Through People, Purpose, and AI
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephanie Allen joins Krystal to talk about rebuilding trust, reconnecting with customers, and leading with heart during one of the hardest years her ...
Prestige Home Improvement: How a Sales Mindset Built a People-First HVAC Company
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a pandemic setback became an HVAC success story built on people. Louis and Travis share how strong culture and customer care turned Pr...
Al Fagundes: Learning to Lead Beyond The Tools
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Al Fagundes opens up about the lessons behind his 20-year journey in HVAC — from the early days in the field to building a team that shares his valu...
Brett Thornhill: The Power of ADHD in Leadership and Business Growth
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ADHD coach Brett Thornhill shares his journey from late diagnosis to self-acceptance — and how understanding your brain can unlock your potential in...
Jody Underhill: How Smart Recruiting Puts More Revenue on the Books
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jody Underhill of Talent On Tap joins Beyond the Tools to share how HVAC companies can transform the way they recruit. From building a steady talent p...
Encore: Aaron Gaynor’s Journey from Bankruptcy to $30 Million
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Gaynor shares how going bankrupt became the wake-up call that changed everything. In this encore episode of Beyond the Tools, he opens up about ...
Encore: Ellen Rohr and Why It’s Time to Think About Raising Your Prices
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen Rohr opens up about how she went from nearly sinking the family plumbing business to turning it into something truly profitable and fulfilling. ...
Encore: Drew Cameron on Today’s Changing Workforce and How to Create a Business by Design
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Drew Cameron shares how a major wake-up call led him to rethink everything, from how he worked to how he lived. In this encore episode, he reflects on...
Krystal Hobbs: Get Noticed with Video and Grow Your HVAC Company
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Krystal Hobbs shares how HVAC contractors can use video marketing to become the go-to company in their local market. From her own journey to a simple ...
Ryan Redding: The HVAC Marketing Mindset That Drives Real Growth
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Redding joins Beyond the Tools to talk about what really drives long-term growth in the trades. From branding to leadership to strategy, this epi...
Olga Bashkatova: The #1 Accounting Mistake That Kills HVAC Business Sales
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about selling your HVAC business someday? Olga Bashkatova shares what you need to know now before you’re ready to sell. From cleaning up yo...
Sandra Ansell: The Smart Way to Sell Your HVAC Business - And What Comes Next
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sandra Ansell joins Beyond the Tools to share her powerful story of growth, transition, and legacy in the HVAC industry. This episode dives into what ...
Ryan Sledge: Grow Faster with Playbooks and Scorecards
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
​​Ryan Sledge knows that while hard work matters, real growth in the trades comes from structure, standards, and strong teams. In this episode, he...
Laura Fudge: Turning Missed Calls Into Growth Opportunities
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Missed calls aren’t just missed opportunities—they’re lost revenue. In this episode of Beyond the Tools, Laura Fudge from Telelink shares how co...
Stephanie Postell: Redefining Success Beyond The Numbers
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take to grow a successful HVAC business? This episode explores leadership, planning, team building, and the mindset that drives re...
John Ellis: The Secret to Winning More Sales with IAQ and Menu Pricing
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, HVAC expert John Ellis shares how clear pricing, customer education, and IAQ solutions can help you close bigger jobs and gain homeow...
Erik Jensen: Working Smarter to Double Your Contracting Business
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Running a construction business comes with constant demands—but it doesn’t have to feel chaotic. Erik Jensen of Sprucehill Homes shares the system...
Tim Brown: How to Hook More Homeowners with a Personal Brand
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to make your marketing actually work for your home service business? In this episode, Hook Agency’s Tim Brown breaks down how ...
Krystal Hobbs: We’re Back, And Better Than Ever!
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back — and we’ve got some big updates.In this special relaunch episode of Beyond the Tools, Krystal Hobbs returns to the mic after taking ...
Robert Matheny: Implement These Key Strategies to Build a Thriving Business That Runs Without You
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Matheny, the co-founder of Reliability Home Services and Service Ninja, discusses the secrets to building a business that runs without you. With h...
Chris Crew: How To Keep Your Contracting Business On Top, Even When The Economy Is Down
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Chris Crew of Blue Collar Success Group offers strategies for maintaining a successful contracting business in a shifting market...
Tom Reber: How To Rise Above Your Limiting Beliefs and Achieve Greater Success
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tom shares some of the struggles that a lot of contractors are going through. Listen in to find out how you can simplify your busines...
Aaron Salow: Overcoming the Skilled Trade Shortage and Building Technician Trust
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you struggling to retain top-performing technicians and improve customer satisfaction?In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Salow, the CEO and f...
Stephanie Howlett: How to Attract and Retain a Diverse Workforce
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace cannot be understated, and on this episode, we have a guest with a vast wealth of ...
Marc Mason: Secrets of Growing a $10 Million Home Service Company
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Catch Marc Mason of RCL Mechanical in this episode of Beyond the Tools as he discusses a growth mindset and managing employees that get your business ...
Trey McWilliams: How To Empower Your Technicians And Reduce Callbacks
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Trey McWilliams on proactively supporting your technicians and innovating the training process to reduce callbacks and p...
Charlie Felker: Outsource Your Admin To Focus On Your Zone Of Genius
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is all about how outsourcing back-office work can significantly help your business. We learned from Charlie Felker of Free2Grow how ...
Lawrence Castillo: Attracting and Keeping Talent for Home Services
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you struggle with finding and keeping the right team members, this episode is for you. Lawrence Castillo of Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditi...
Gabriel Pinchev: Leveraging Technology to Deliver a Seamless Customer Experience
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gabriel Pinchev joins us today to discuss how you can leverage technology in your home service business to be more effective and profitable. He highli...
Gus Vassilopoulos: Boost Your Reputation and Sales With Extended Warranties
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss the benefits of offering extended service agreements and how you can implement them successfully with our guest, Gus Vassi...
Nathalie Brooks: Growth Lessons And Empowering Women in HVAC
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Nathalie shares the growth journey of Brooks Heating & Air and her non-profit association, Women in HVACR Canada.For the full sho...
Paul Redman: Future-Proof Your HVAC Business with Online Sales
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Paul navigates the online sales scenario for the HVAC industry and how contractors can prepare and better serve the modern customer.F...
Josh Kelly: Build Up Your Business With Ease
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in to the latest episode of Beyond the Tools and learn how to grow your business consistently from Josh Kelly of Clover Marketing and Consulting....
Branding Your Business to Stand Out with Dan Antonelli
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sat down with Dan Antonelli of KickCharge Creative on the importance of branding and its impact on the growth of your home service...
Drew Cameron: Today’s Changing Workforce and How to Create a Business by Design
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this new episode of Beyond the Tools, learn and be inspired by Drew Cameron’s story of surviving a heart attack, and how he considers it as a wak...
Steven Knight: Using the Franchise Model to Scale
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Catch Steven Knight of Mosaic Home Services Ltd. in this episode of Beyond the Tools as he discusses the things you should know about sustainable scal...
Angie Snow: Finding Balance When Running a Business With Your Spouse
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to balance your relationships and business life with Angie Snow, Director of Marketing at Western Heating & Air and Principal Industry A...
Krystal Hobbs: Get More Job Applicants with Social Media
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Having a difficult time recruiting the right applicants for your job openings? Perhaps it's time to take advantage of social media.Join Krystal Hobbs ...
Tony Fraser-Jones: What Sets Winners Apart From the Rest
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to this episode of Beyond the Tools to learn from Tony Fraser-Jones, a trades business coach from Profitable Tradie, about the winning mindset ...
Ellen Rohr: Why It’s Time to Think About Raising Your Prices
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen Rohr, The Business Makeover Expert, extensively shares how she turned a sinking business into a profitable one by knowing the practical pieces b...
Don Gulevich: How To Build a Family Value Driven Company
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Don Gulevich talks about how he started Coastal Heat Pumps, family values as a factor in business growth, and how they changed lives in a remote commu...
Jason Brady: A Data Driven Approach to Business Growth
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Brady shows us the importance of being numbers-driven in business, how to keep employees happy, and fighting labor shortages in the trades indus...
Jennifer Reynolds: Energize Your Business With Personal Branding
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jennifer Reynolds shares how she incorporates personal branding along with infusing fun and energy into her business. She shares her ...
Denise Goodyear: Why Identifying Your Target Audience is Key for Effective Marketing
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to this episode of Beyond The Tools with today’s guest Denise Goodyear, to discover all about what it takes to find the target audience for y...
Krystal Hobbs: Reach More People With Text Message Marketing
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Krystal shows us why text messaging is such an underrated tool that businesses should take more advantage of. She explains how textin...
Arin Darcan: Building Better Bridges Between Clients and Leads
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Arin Darcan sits down with us to talk about the process of successful lead follow-ups, what an ideal appointment setter is, how to make better calls w...
5 Common Pitfalls for Contractors Looking to Grow
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Krystal teaches us about the five common pitfalls that business owners fall into. These include excessive self-effort, the lack of st...
Megan Bedford: A Contemporary Approach to Sustaining Skilled Trade Careers
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we have a guest who is passionate about inspiring kids to pursue skilled trades. Megan Bedford shares her modern approach to inspirin...
How to Master Your Craft and Become Unstoppable With Mike Claudio
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mike explains how specializing in one niche, having personal branding as a top priority, inspecting past solutions, and more can reva...
Crystal Williams: Why Contractors Should Care About Marketing
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Crystal talks about her different marketing strategies, the importance of branding across all channels of your business, finding your...
Mandeep Bhalla: How To Boost Awareness, Leads and Sales With Google
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to this episode of Beyond the Tools to hear a rundown on how to use Google to optimize your business with Mandeep Bhalla, the CEO of Grow Nearb...
Aaron Gaynor: From Bankruptcy to $30 Million
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Aaron as he talks about how being resilient helped him reinvent himself after bankruptcy, the growth of his new business...
Jim Piccione: Starting an HVAC Business Mid-Pandemic
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Jim who talks about his journey into the HVAC business, the hurdles he’s currently facing during the pandemic, the fut...
Greg Hussey: Is Your Business Growing or Shrinking?
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Three years ago, Greg expanded the business into a second geographic market and couldn’t be happier with his decision. In this episode of Beyond The...
Chad Peterman: Is There Really A Labor Shortage?
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Chad who talks about the specifics of how they attract and retain employees. Tune in to listen to his controversial take...
HVAC Jess: Growing an Instagram Community in the Trade Industry
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Jessica Bannister (HVAC Jess) who talks about building an online community for women in trade. She challenges the stereo...
Lesa Lacey: Build Your Community, Build Your Team, Build Your Business
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Lesa Lacey who talks about the industry's labour shortage and giving back to the community. She also talks about how the...
Bob Deeks: Building a Sustainable Future for Your Business
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we hear from Bob Deeks who talks about sustainability in the building industry, the risk of relying on referrals, and how he attracts...
3 Keys to a Winning Mindset
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you create a winning mindset for your business, particularly around your marketing? Are you bringing the right mindset into your relationship w...
Curtis Mercer: Standing Out For The Right Reasons
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a contractor, how do you stand out in your local marketplace?In a crowded industry, competing on price or quality of work will only go so far. The ...
The Rusty Van Effect - Why a Positive Online Impression is Vital
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does your online presence say about your business?The impression you give to prospective customers on social media is just as important as the on...
Jess Chapman: Scale Up Your Business by Attracting the Right People
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s show, we interview Jess Chapman of ethree Consulting who shares with us her distilled wisdom on hiring and retaining the right people wit...
Managing the Unexpected - Losing a Team Member
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Worried about attrition and the ripple effect that losing a key team member can have on your small business? Losing a key team member is always diffic...
Krista Pippy: Attract Local Leads with Compelling Social Media Content
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can home contractors leverage social media to scale and grow their business?In today’s show, Krystal talks to Krista Pippy, Part Owner and Direc...
How to Supercharge Your Marketing Efforts Using Automated Lead Follow Up
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you doing all your lead follow-up manually? Manually following up on leads is exhausting. But for your business to thrive, you must be available t...
Patience In Advertising
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The biggest mistake that marketers make is that they give up too early. In today’s show, Krystal shares how patience and persistence helped her set ...
Google vs. Facebook – Which is the Best Advertising Platform for Your Business?
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you have primarily relied on word-of-mouth marketing and have shied away from running paid ads till now, you are missing a massive opportunity to t...
Secrets to Stop Competing on Price
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you sick of competing on price? Do you feel like you’re only attracting tire kickers? It can be frustrating to keep having to drop your price to...
Stop Selling Espresso & Candy
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s short but powerful solo, you will get some great tips on how to scale up your business to another level.Drawing from her recent interview...
Ryan Peyton: How to Attract Clients and Build a Successful Business with Home Renovation Contractor
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s show, Krystal interviews Ryan Peyton, owner of Property Projects Limited. Property Projects provides complete turnkey renovation projects...
Moving Away From the “Feast and Famine” Cycle In Business
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most entrepreneurs are unable to scale their business beyond a point. Sure – you can achieve moderate success by working as a solo entrepreneur and ...
Mary Jane Copps: Next Level Lead Generation and Conversion Strategies to Grow Your Business
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you are just working “in your business” as opposed to working “on your business,” you are probably not devoting enough of your energy on sa...
Lauren Mills: How To Use Digital Marketing To Sell Homes
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s show, Krystal interviews Lauren Mills, Marketing and Sales Manager, New Victorian Homes.Originally from England, Lauren got her BA in Bro...
Welcome To Beyond The Tools
20 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you struggling to scale your business to the next level? Are you desperate to build a dream team so that you can unplug every once-in-a-while and ...