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The Curious Builder

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

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 weeklyEpisodes303Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessCareers

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Artwork for The Curious Builder

Latest Episodes

Tanner Konrady swore he'd never be a builder, then one Christmas break with a hammer changed his mind for good. Now he runs a 26 person company in coastal North Carolina, building healthy homes and a property services business, all while handing his ... more

Gabe Norcross came back from Contractor Coalition, fired a bad client, set up an investment account, and hired a bookkeeper, all before the next coalition. He and Mark talk through the quiet financial discipline that finally started working, why most... more

Gabe Norcross built other people's dreams while quietly drowning in his own, and for eight months he told nobody. He and Mark talk through the project that cost him everything, the photo he took of himself on a beach that he still pulls up when he ne... more

YouTube

Ashley Ortiz joined the podcast with a client story so fresh the paint was still wet, and somehow it only got worse from there. She and Mark swap war stories about nightmare clients, whether specifying coat counts in your contract actually protects y... more

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Recent Guests

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
Josh Frei
Leader at Symmetry Saunas; former firefighter
Symmetry Saunas
Episode: Losers are Winners | Josh Frei Fought Fires for 17 Years Then Started One
Billy Beson
Iconic Minnesota interior designer discussed
Billy Beson Company
Episode: #173 | Billy Beson | Billy Beson Company | Billy Beson on Bowling Alleys, Billionaires, & Building for 100 Years

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
  • 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 States9 months ago
  • Great for entrepreneurs

    This is a great podcast for both builders and entrepreneurs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SteveTankersley
    United States9 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
  • Informative and entertaining

    Mark not only selects guests that have something to offer his listeners, but he is very thoughtful and deliberate about the questions he asks. The show is engaging and informative; not only for builders and contractors but also for those who are interested in business. Mark is a fantastic podcast host!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Curious Lawyer
    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.

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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

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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?

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How many listeners does The Curious Builder get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Curious Builder?

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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. Brad Leavitt Podcast
3. The Build Show Podcast
4. A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
5. The Interior Collective

How many episodes of The Curious Builder are there?

The Curious Builder launched 4 years ago and published 303 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?

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What guests have appeared on The Curious Builder?

Recent guests on The Curious Builder include:

1. Gabe Norcross
2. Ashley Ortiz
3. Louise Whirly
4. Chad Guillory
5. Etinosa Agbonlahor
6. Reina Smyth
7. Don Forsman
8. Josh Frei

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.

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