Rephonic
Artwork for The Curious Builder

The Curious Builder

Mark Williams
Entrepreneurship
Building Industry
Construction Industry
Wellness
Architecture
Contractor Coalition
Client Relationships
Construction
Mysa Hus
Minnesota
Custom Home Building
Contractor Coalition Summit
Interior Design
Mental Health
Branding
Sustainability
Leadership
Women In Construction
Energy Efficiency
Client Engagement

The Curious Builder is a podcast that gives a voice to Minnesota building industry professionals, providing them a platform to tell their stories about starting and growing their businesses, highlighting challenges and wins, and revealing insights listeners may apply to their own businesses and experiences.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes309Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessCareers

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Curious Builder

Latest Episodes

Wilson Harwood has thought about nothing but soundproofing for six years, and Mark gave him a full hour to prove it. They cover why the quietest room in the world makes people fall over, how a perfectly square tile shower becomes an acoustic disaster... more

YouTube

Losers are Winners is back with Adam McChesney, who signed away equity in his business for what sounded like a great deal and ended up in an eight month legal battle instead. Mark and Adam talk about the self confidence gap that almost sank him, why ... more

Lauren Riddei's body basically staged an intervention on her career, and the fallout turned her into one of the sharpest voices in healthy home design working today. She and Mark talk biomimicry, why your front door should act like a filter, and why ... more

YouTube

Mark brought Gabe back to Mysa Hus one more time to talk about the thing that actually makes a house feel like a home, and it is not the granite. They dig into why cracked plaster is a compliment, why Gabe writes hidden notes inside the walls he buil... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Modern Craftsman
Modern CraftsmanModern Craftsman
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
The Fine Homebuilding PodcastFine Homebuilding Magazine
Real Estate Rookie
Real Estate RookieBiggerPockets

Recent Guests

John Brenard
Founder of Southview Timberland Investments
Southview Timberland Investments
Episode: #179 | John Brenard | Southview Timberland Investments | John Brenard on Why a Board Game About Sheep & Wood Explains Lumber
Tanner Konrady
Fourth Generation Builder, Konrady and Son Construction
Konrady and Son Construction
Episode: #178 | Tanner Konrady | Konrady and Son Construction | The Trim Joint That Taught Tanner Konrady How to Lead
Gabe Norcross
Owner of Norcross Builders, speaker on mental health and entrepreneurship
Norcross Builders
Episode: #177 | Gabe Norcross | Norcross Builders | Depression, Construction, & Deciding You Are Worth Saving
Ashley Ortiz
Owner of Bella Vista Painting and Drywall
Bella Vista Painting and Drywall
Episode: Losers are Winners | Ashley Ortiz vs. the Client From Hell
Louise Whirly
Filmmaker, storyteller
Whirlygig Productions
Episode: #176 | Louise Woehrle | Whirlygig Productions | Fear, Vision, and Why Your Story Is Worth Telling
Chad Guillory
Guest discussing growth and failing fast in construction
CARD Companies
Episode: Losers are Winners | Chad Guillory's Secret to Failing Fast and Winning Bigger
Etinosa Agbonlahor
Behavioral economist and founder of Decision Alpha
Decision Alpha
Episode: #175 | Etinosa Agbonlahor | Decision Alpha | Stop Underpricing Your Work: Etinosa Agbonlahor on Money Conversations Nobody Wants to Have
Reina Smyth
Founder/CEO of Span (as introduced on the show)
Span
Episode: Losers are Winners | Building Smarter Homes One Circuit at a Time with Reina Smyth
Don Forsman
Don Forsman, a veteran Minnesota builder and mentor figure in the local industry
Welch Forsman Associates
Episode: #174 | Don Forsman | Welch Forsman Associates | Don Forsman on Why Precision Beats Perfection Every Single Time

Host

Mark Williams
Host of The Curious Builder; long-running builder, business educator, and community advocate in the Minnesota construction/design scene

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • Entrepreneur and Heart

    The Curious Builder is labeled as an entrepreneurial podcast, but that is just at the surface. Mark has a talent for bringing out the heart and soul of his guests and really getting to the truth of why builders and entrepreneurs in general do what they do. I definitely would recommend this show to builders but really any creative business owner who is balancing business, family, and the delicate dance that life is.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dubson WH
    United States19 days ago
  • Great Podcast

    This podcast is very educational for other builders who want to find a healthy outlet for all aspects of their business and mental health. We’re not in this alone!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kristen Dawson
    United States10 months ago
  • Great for entrepreneurs

    This is a great podcast for both builders and entrepreneurs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SteveTankersley
    United States10 months ago
  • All things for Building in great depth

    Mark and his guests do an amazing job of diving into topics that are both geared for beginners and experts in the building industry. From running a business, to building science, to design, to being a good husband or wife, the topics are intriguing and thought provoking. Every episode has a golden nugget of advice, and is WELL worth listening to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beginners and experts welcome!
    United Statesa year ago
  • Real world Info

    Mark does a great job interviewing and asking important questions to other real builders, designers and vendors that help the industry and shine light on areas rarely discussed. Areas such as healthy financials, marketing, sales and systems. As a fellow custom home builder/remodeler I appreciate hearing these discussions from industry professionals around the country. He is authentic and will share his struggles with his own business as we all have, which for me builds trust and authenticity ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D-Ross14
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Community-focused and practical with real-world takeaways.
The host digs deep and keeps interviews energetic and informative.
Guests are varied but consistently helpful for builders and designers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#177 | Gabe Norcross | Norcross Builders | Depression, Construction, & Deciding You Are Worth Saving
Q: What advice would you give to other builders facing burnout or mental health challenges?
Seek professional help, build a village of supportive people, set clear boundaries, and remember that asking for help is a strength. Sharing your story can illuminate a path for others and create a culture where mental health is openly discussed and supported.
#177 | Gabe Norcross | Norcross Builders | Depression, Construction, & Deciding You Are Worth Saving
Q: How did the Contractor Coalition experience influence your path forward?
The open mic night exposed the depth of vulnerability in the industry and created a network of support that helped me reframe my life and business, ultimately guiding me toward launching The Curious Builder and focusing on sustainable practices and mental health awareness.
#177 | Gabe Norcross | Norcross Builders | Depression, Construction, & Deciding You Are Worth Saving
Q: What led you to share your story in such a public setting?
I felt a responsibility to tell the truth because there are so many contractors and tradespeople who hide their struggles. By opening up, I hoped to help others feel less alone and to spark meaningful conversations that could prevent similar crises in the industry.
Losers are Winners | Ashley Ortiz vs. the Client From Hell
Q: What was the most surprising or instructive moment from dealing with this client?
The most instructive moment was realizing how quickly a project can derail when verbal promises replace written agreements; once we started documenting every change and getting sign-offs, we could protect the team and gain clarity on what the client actually wanted.
Inside the Big Wins | Kyle Schlesser's 3 Daily Non-Negotiables That Keep It All Together
Q: What are your three non-negotiables for the day and how do you implement them?
Kyle describes writing three non-negotiables each morning, splitting between business and personal tasks, and ensuring they're completed with intention and discipline.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Curious Builder

What is The Curious Builder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, founder-focused show that centers on builders, designers, and construction firms navigating the realities of starting, scaling, and operating in the built environment. Episodes consistently explore entrepreneurship, leadership, project management, design-build dynamics, branding, and client communications, often through candid lessons learned from fast-growth phases, partnerships, and mentorship. Noteworthy is the emphasis on community-building, collaboration across trades, and real-world tactics like pre-construction processes, pricing strategies, and time-management that listeners can apply directly to their businesses.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Curious Builder?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Curious Builder. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Curious Builder and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Curious Builder get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Curious Builder, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Curious Builder?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Curious Builder, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Curious Builder have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Curious Builder has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Curious Builder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Curious Builder:

1. Modern Craftsman
2. The Build Show Podcast
3. Brad Leavitt Podcast
4. The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
5. Real Estate Rookie

How many episodes of The Curious Builder are there?

The Curious Builder launched 4 years ago and published 309 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Curious Builder?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Curious Builder?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Curious Builder from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Curious Builder?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Curious Builder. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Curious Builder?

Recent guests on The Curious Builder include:

1. John Brenard
2. Tanner Konrady
3. Gabe Norcross
4. Ashley Ortiz
5. Louise Whirly
6. Chad Guillory
7. Etinosa Agbonlahor
8. Reina Smyth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days