Building Optimal
Episodes
#109: Innovators Series Featuring Cedar Build
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The team at Cedar Build is innovating architecture in Austin and beyond. With a focus on small multifamily infill sites, Cedar has developed deep expe...
#108: Innovators Series Featuring Austin Tunnell
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our inaugural Innovators Series episode, we visit with Oklahoma builder and developer, Austin Tunnel. Austin is Founder and CEO of Building Cu...
#107: How to go Bankrupt Building Spec Homes
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this mini-sode I *somewhat* disparage the real estate community, wannabe builder tech bros, and more. Hopefully you learn a few things to keep you ...
#106: Why Most Builders Fail
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've hesitated to put this episode out, because I generally try to take an optimistic, encouraging tone. But we can't get better until we accept ...
#105: Differentiate or Die
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At the most fundamental level, there are really only two strategies in business, and only one that works for small businesses. Most home builders get ...
#104: Building With In-House Labor, a Conversation With Joey Fentress
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joey Fentress is the founder and owner of Proform Builds, a Seattle-based luxury home builder. Joey recently expanded his operation into Aus...
#103: Bigger Wins With The "Hunting Antelope" Model
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A quick 7-minute episode to help you make more progress and find some big wins in your business. Credit to Tim Ferriss for his recent blog post&n...
#102: Must-Have AI Apps For Builders
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've been obsessed for over a year now with different AI apps that can help home builders. This is an extremely short episode on the best we've found...
#101: Lessons From Startup Builder, Joe Hodge
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the most inspiring episodes I've recorded. I have mentored Joe Hodge over the last few years as he set out on his dream to start his ow...
#100: Market and Lending Trends with Arixa Capital
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gossett & Co recently closed two construction loans with Arixa Capital, and sat down with executive Greg Hebner and his team during...
#99: Business Lessons from Charlie Munger (Part 4 - Final)
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the final installment of our series on Charlie Munger, an episode devoted to the memory of the late investor who recently passed away. In this...
#98: Business Lessons from Charlie Munger (Part 3)
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the third installment of our mini-series on Charlie Munger, we delve deeper into the wisdom of one of the greatest investors and thinkers of our ti...
#97: Business Lessons from Charlie Munger (Part 2)
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of our mini-series on Charlie Munger, one of the greatest investors of all time. He’s also one of the most profound thinkers of our era. This...
#96: Business Lessons from Charlie Munger (Part 1)
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Munger is one of the greatest investors of all time. He’s also one of the most profound thinkers of our era. This begins a multi-part series...
#95: A Wild WWII Story and a Case for Thinking Small
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is a departure from our regular programming - Jared shares a very short story from World War II, and how you can apply it as a problem-solving mo...
#94: Trey Farmer on Passive, Healthy, Grid-Resilient Homes
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trey Farmer is an architect with Forge Craft Architecturehere in Austin. We interviewed him previously on#63: Lessons From a Passive House Build....
#93: Lower Carbon Building and Social Equity Through Co-Ops with Jacob Deva Racusin
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's hard to spend a few minutes chatting with Jacob Deva Racusin without leaving inspired. He is the Director of Building Science and Sustainabi...
#92: Dan Kolbert, High-Performance Builder and Sustainability Advocate
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation we sit down with Dan Kolbert, co-author of Pretty Good House, and owner of Kolbert Building in Portland, Maine, to discuss high p...
#91: New Podcast Direction + State of the Market with Mark Sprague
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We have a new, slightly different (and hopefully upgraded) direction for Building Optimal, and are excited to share it with you in this episode.W...
#90: Financial Freedom with David Gerstel
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David Gerstel has written some of the top books available for construction professionals who want to build a better business. His latest book, Bu...
#89: Sub-Zero Wolf Supply Chain Update and New Innovations with Amy Kerr
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are visiting with Amy Kerr of Sub-Zero Wolf Cove to discuss supply chain updates and new innovations in their appliance lines. ...
#88: Wally Staples on Best Employee Compensation Practices
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Wally Staples is back. This time, we talk specifics of his employee compensation practices as well as some of his principles for being an "anti-f...
#87: Vik Szemerei on New Plumbing Trends and Technologies
05 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Vik Szemerei is the Vice President of Sales for luxury plumbing company, House of Rohl. They own brands such as Riobel, Victoria and Albert, and ...
#86: Now Open - Our Builder Accelerator
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jared shares some of the lessons from his home building journey, and announces the latest offering from Building Optimal...our Builder Accelerator, to...
#85: Zip System(R) Q&A and More with Mike Dye
17 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of misconceptions about Zip System.® Mike Dye, Senior Engineer at Huber Engineered Woods, joins us to dispel tho...
#84: Eric Spence, CEO of RAM Windows
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
RAM Windows has emerged as one of the leading window manufacturers in the State of Texas and beyond. We use their modern-design, aluminum windows on m...
#83: Issues and Trends Around Construction Innovation with Brian Potter
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Potter is the author of Construction Physics, the best blog on construction news and innovation that I've found. "Why It's Hard to Innovate...
#82: Hiring, Firing, and Retaining with Luke Mezger
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of my favorite conversations to date with Luke Mezger, a top builder from Austin, Texas. Luke is Owner of Mezger Homes, a superb lead...
#81: Austin Miller Explains Building in the Remote Arctic
12 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Austin Miller is an Australian carpenter and builder who moved to Canada six years ago to build in the remote Arctic. In this episode we are expl...
#80: Learning Skills Online with Gabe Jewell
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gabe Jewell is CEO of MT Copeland, a new online education platform to learn the building and construction trades. We need more affordable, accessible ...
#79: Should You Pre-Sell Your Homes?
16 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pre-selling your homes under construction isn’t all rainbows and kittens, as many veterans know. Check out this short episode to learn the pros, con...
#78: A Simple, Profitable Change Order System
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A messy or worse, non-existent, change order system can sink a home builder. What should be a source of profits is often a place of loss and chaos. We...
#77: 12 Crucial Client Conversations for A Successful Build
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The success of every project is built upon meeting, or better, exceeding expectations. So it stands to reason that one of your many jobs as a builder ...
#76: How to Prioritize, Create Big Wins, and Free up Your Time
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most builders I know are overworked and underpaid. Today's short episode covers a framework I like to use called The Eisenhower Matrix. It is a simple...
#75: Four Client Red Flags to Avoid
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Working with a difficult or exhausting client can make life miserable and put your company in danger. After working with hundreds of clients I've iden...
#74: Builder Kyle Diamond on BuilderTrend, Pre-Con Systems, and More
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Diamond is partner of New Dimension Construction, in Millbrook, New York. The family-owned business has operated for more than 30 years...
#73: Insurance FAQ with Treacy Duerfeldt
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Treacy, of NWC Alliance, returns to answer some FAQ from our community about insurance and third party warranties. Sit back, enjoy a nice co...
#72: L.A. Builder Jason Pietruszka Shares His Story and Advice
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably seen Jason Pietruszka on Instagram or YouTube. He shares some great content on social media, but his day job is owner of JJP Construct...
#71: Rising Lumber Costs with Senior Wood Products Economist Dustin Jalbert
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're getting *hammered* on lumber prices, well so is the rest of America. What's happening and when will it get better? Lumber economist, Dustin ...
#70: 8 Tips to Combat Soaring Costs
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a reading of an article we just published on the Building Optimal blog. If you prefer the written word, check it out here: https://buildingopt...
#69: Transparency and Self-Sustaining Companies with Michael Anschel
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Anschel is owner of Otogawa-Anschel, a design-build firm out of Minnesota. Michael frequently lectures on topics in the industry and also...
#68: Ensuring Profitability and Employees First with Wally Staples
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of my favorite episodes to date. Wally Staples, a builder from Maine, has always made a profit over his 28 years in business. He has ...
#67: The Perfect Wall Assembly with Dan Edelman
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Edelman with Rockwool joins us to share his perfect wall assembly and discuss a few new innovations and changes in the building science space. Enj...
#66: Employee Benefit Tips with Lauren Allen and Elisa Thornton
24 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If employee benefits make your head spin, you aren't alone. Luckily, we have Lauren Allen and Elisa Thornton on today's episode to help you out. They ...
#65: Arguments for Cost-Plus
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Earl and Paul Sanneman, both previous guests, share the reasons why they like cost-plus contracts. As a fixed-price builder myself, I wan...
#64: Digital marketing tips with Spencer Powell
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most builders would get an F on our digital marketing, but it's an area that can exponentially grow your business if you develop the right strategy. I...
#63: Lessons from a Passive Home Build
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What are some of the top systems you can install in your project to move it closer to a passive house? Trey Farmer has a few answers for us. In this e...
#62: Value Buckets for Better Deal Structuring
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I've been using a framework I call "Value Buckets" to structure my deals. It's nothing more than a mental system I created to help me optimize my...
#61: Matt Risinger and the Business of Building
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Risinger is, in many circles, now a household name. His YouTube channel has 700,000 at the time of publication. While many people know him for hi...
#60: The Apps I Use in my Company
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jared walks you through the apps and other virtual tools he uses to build and manage his business. Enjoy!
#59: A Powerful Punch List System
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bryan Kaplan is an international consultant for builders and the construction industry. Over his 21-year career in the industry, he has been an owner,...
#58: A Builder’s Path to Financial Freedom with David Gerstel
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Gerstel returns to share his ideas on how builders can achieve financial freedom. David is a best-selling author of several construction books, ...
#57: Show Host Jared Gossett Shares His Story
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Building Optimal Director of Marketing, José Luis Guerra, puts me in the hot seat to talk about my company and my experience in the industry. I need ...
#56: Financial Stimulus Options for Builders with Sheri Allshouse
04 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you are hearing a lot of conflicting and confusing info about how the stimulus package affects builders, well, I am too. That’s why I called Sher...
#55: Coronavirus Strategies with Risk Expert, Treacy Duerfeldt
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tracy Duerfeldt is back for a second episode with us to talk Coronavirus and a few strategies to cope with it not just from a business and risk manage...
#54: Your Wages AREN'T Your Profits!
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you aren’t separating your wages from your profits, you’re losing money and fooling yourself along the way. This was a conversation I began wit...
#53: Brand Building, Connecting with Architects, and More with Byron Brooks
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We are talking with fellow custom home builder, Byron Brooks, of Brookwright Developments on today’s episode. Byron does an excellent job creating a...
#52: Common Lawsuits and How to Avoid Them with Don Shelton
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While we love this business, it has its ugly sides. There’s no “disputing" the legal dangers of home building (dad joke). Large sums of money are ...
#51: Accounting Ask Me Anything With Sheri Allshouse
02 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We are covering our listener accounting and tax questions in today’s AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode with Sheri Allshouse. Sheri, a repeat guest, is a...
#50: Building Your Sales Team with Sean McDonald
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is it better to work with Realtors or internal sales staff? How much should you pay? How can you build a high performing sales team? We have your answ...
#49: How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market with Carol Morgan
19 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what you can do to build your brand and better stand out as a builder? Our guest, Carol Morgan, has the answer. Or to be precise, five ans...
#48: An Intro to ROCKWOOL Insulation
09 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
ROCKWOOL insulation is picking up steam as a go-to insulation in many parts of the country. With it’s thermal performance, durability, and effect on...
#47: Selling Your Why
26 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David Lupberger of remodelforce.com is back ONE MORE TIME to show us how to win more clients and build a remarkable brand by selling our “...
#46: New Revenue Stream AND Clients For Life
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David Lupberger of remodelforce.com returns for an eye-opening episode on how to grow your business, diversify your income, AND create clients fo...
#45: New Homes or Remodels? What Makes More?
01 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Speaker, author, and owner of remodelforce.com, David Lupberger, joins us to discuss the different margins in new homes vs remodels as well as the ben...
#44: What’s New in Smart Homes with David LaMere
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Curious what's new in the smart home space? Dave LaMere indulges us. Dave is the owner of Smart Homz, with locations in both Ramsey and Beac...
#43: Smarter Selections with Kirsten Danielle
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kirsten Danielle is the owner of award-winning Alma Homes in Minnesota. In addition to being a talented builder, Kirsten has a strong brand in the ind...
#42: Up Your Building Science Game with Christine Williamson
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christine Williamson is one of the top minds in the field of building science. She travels the continent consulting for architects and developers and ...
#41: Ultra-Luxury Developer, Joanna Lily Wong
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ultra-luxury home developer, Joanna Lily Wong, discusses her journey, her $15 million spec home, and her ideas for better design and marketing. Joanna...
#40: Consistent Cash Flow With Even Flow Production
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s a short, nine-minute episode on how to manage your project pipeline to keep cash coming in faster than it’s going out. Cash is the source o...
#39: Top Liability Insurance Problems with Treacy Duerfeldt
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Liability insurance is one of the most complicated aspects of your business. Unfortunately, poor or deficient coverage is much more common than we kno...
#38: How to Justify Your Fee to Clients
14 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Who hasn’t had a client try to negotiate their fee down? Spend a short amount of time in this business, and it’s going to happen. Here’s what I’...
#37: Tips for Stronger Contractor Relationships with Adam Conley
28 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Conley understands the dynamic between builders and contractors in a hot market. He wrote a post on social media that originally caught my attent...
#36: Talking Bad Advice and the Economy with Shawn Van Dyke
07 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a mini-episode, the final of three with business coach and construction consultant, Shawn Van Dyke. Shawn is a national speaker and author...
#35: Getting Paid for Pre-Con Work with Shawn Van Dyke
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second of three episodes with business coach and construction consultant, Shawn Van Dyke. Shawn is a national speaker and author of Pro...
#34: Attracting Top Talent with Shawn Van Dyke
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn Van Dyke is a business coach and consultant to the construction industry. He travels the county speaking, and he even has authored a book, Profi...
#33: Happy Client Hack: No Soup For You
12 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s an admittedly idiotic name for the episode that we couldn’t resist, in honor of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi, an appropriate flag bearer fo...
#32: Happy Client Hack: Zero Cost Change Orders
05 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is a reading of our recent article published in our Building Optimal Journal. You can read it HERE.
#31: Happy Client Hack: Client Contingency
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is a reading of our recent article published in our Building Optimal Journal. You can read it HERE.
#30: Raising Money Through Syndications and Funds with Joel Block
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Block is a long-time venture capitalist and hedge fund manager who is one of the foremost authorities on creating real estate funds and syndicati...
#29: Tiny Home Builder, Bob Clarizio
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation with tiny home builder, Bob Clarizio, ranges from hilarious to enlightening. Bob, of Bantam Built Homes, takes us on his journey int...
#28: Managing Margins and Aligning Your Team with Vicki Suiter
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’re talking to Vicki Suiter, President and CEO of Suiter Business Builders about everything from interviewing and hiring best practices to managin...
#27: The Healthy Home Movement with Caroline Blazovsky
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Healthy homes are by no means a new concept, but as of recent they have entered more of the mainstream conversation as the “green” movemen...
#26: Your Financial Check Up with Sheri Allshouse
19 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sheri Allshouse is back to share a few commonly overlooked financial accounts that could be costing you money. Sheri is a CPA with an expertise in hom...
#25: Going Viral on Social Media with Bob Clarizio
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bob Clarizio, founder of Bantam Built Tiny Homes, has built a substantial audience across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Bob has eight steps to goi...
#24: Building More Affordably with Fernando Pagés
05 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Fernando Pagés Ruiz is a builder, developer, and author of the popular book, Building an Affordable House. He has a deep knowledge of how to save mo...
#23: The Right Way to do Customer Deposits
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many people get this deceptively simple practice wrong, but it’s an easy fix. In this episode, Jared reads a recent article he wrote for our new...
#22: Ace Your Prospect Calls with Kyle Hunt
29 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Kyle Hunt shares a few pointers on how to make the “best” first impress...
#21: Forging Stronger Subcontractor Relationships with David Gerstel
19 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you thought we were going to let David Gerstel off the hook with a paltry two-episode series, well think again. He’s back with some tips to i...
#20: In-House Crews & Employee-Centered Companies with David Gerstel
13 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David Gerstel is back to talk about the decision between hiring in-house crews or subcontractors. We also discuss the advantages of employee-centered ...
#19: Bidding, Estimating, and Achieving Financial Freedom with David Gerstel
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David Gerstel joins us to talking bidding, estimating, and achieving financial freedom as a builder. David is a best-selling author of several constru...
#18: How to Raise Money for Your Projects (Part 3) – Behind the Scenes
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is the third episode in a mini-series exploring how to raise money for your projects. In this episode, we explore the logistics and other conside...
#17: Using Security Cameras for Better Project Management
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to enter the wonderful, magical world of…security cameras. Our guest, Nate Carty, explains a simple, affordable system to help with thef...
#16: How to Raise Money for Your Projects (Part 2) – Tips to Raise Money and Structure Deals
24 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second episode in a mini-series exploring how to raise money for your projects. In this episode, Jared offers tips on how to raise money a...
#15: Peter Yost Returns – Upgrading Your Assemblies, Benefits of 2×6 on 24, and the Best WRB’s
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Yost, one of our most popular interviews to date, returns for a short episode on more great high performance construction tips! Peter is a build...
#14: How to Raise Money for Your Projects (Part 1) – Dangers, Dead-Ends, and Pitfalls
21 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first episode (19 minutes) in a mini-series exploring how to raise money for your projects. In this heavily opinionated, rant-laden (yet v...
#13: Short Episode, Nathan Owen on Subcontractor Back Office Best Practices and Preventing Billing Fraud
09 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nathan Owen, CPA, is an expert is accounting for contractors. In this episode he discusses best practices for subcontractors’ back offices as well a...
#12: James Rudnicki, Attorney to Builders on Contracts, Warranties, and Lien Waivers
19 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
James Rudnicki is a Texas attorney specializing in home building. He actually *wrote* the contracts for the Texas Association of Builders. Bottom line...
#11: Paul Sanneman on Getting Business from Architects
02 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Sanneman is a consultant to builders and remodelers through his firm, Dream Business Coaching. He has coached hundreds of businesses over his mor...
#10: David Wright on Resolving Conflict, Winning More Clients, and Building Influence
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David Wright is an expert in conflict resolution, salesmanship, and building influence. He is the CEO of Dale Carnegie of Austin and Houston. Dale Car...