Builders of Authority
Builders of Authority is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs looking to level up their game in all facets. With a focus on personal branding and growing your business, host Adam McChesney, brings on high level entrepreneurs who have experience growing companies through branding. You will learn tactics and strategies, not theories, from guests on the podcast while understanding what you need to do in order to reach new levels of success.
Episodes
223 episodes
Why Most Contractors Fail (And How to Break the Cycle) with Brandon Fuchs
Brandon Fuchs brings over 20 years of construction experience and $100 million in managed projects to this conversation. As the founder of the Elite Builder Society, he's on a mission to cut the contractor failure rate by tackling the root caus...
How This HVAC Owner Built a 5-Star Business From Scratch (With Zero Customers) | Jeremy Wolf
Most people use a pandemic as an excuse to wait. Jeremy Wolf used it to launch. In March 2020, with the world shutting down, he started Stay Cool Climate Control from scratch and turned it into one of the most recognized HVAC brands in St. Loui...
From Solo Contractor to $20M Goal: How to Scale a Deck Business in 2026
Most contractors stay stuck swinging a hammer for 90 hours a week because they never make the jump from operator to owner. Trant, a third-generation carpenter based in Nottingham, New Hampshire, almost did. Then his wife told him they were havi...
How to Quit Your W2 and Build a Business That Runs Without You (2026)
Quitting a stable paycheck to build something of your own is the hardest decision most future business owners ever make. In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, host Adam McChesney sits down with Michael Schieffer, a former commer...
How I Redesigned My Workspace to Do More in Less Time
After years of adding complexity, multiple agencies, multiple locations, a lawsuit — I'm done overcomplicating things.In this video I'm walking you through my new office setup at Adventure Unknown, why I made the move, and the exact way...
How This Contractor Built a Personal Brand That Sells for Him (400K Followers)
Most contractors think social media is a waste of time. John McDonald proved them wrong, with 400K followers on Facebook, 315K on Instagram, and a multi-million dollar business that grows because of his personal brand, not in spite of it.
How to Scale a Painting Business Past $1M in 2026 (Without Being on Every Job Site)
If your painting business can't run without you, you don't have a business. You have a job.Adam McChesney sits down with Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, to break down exactly how painting contractors go from overwhelmed...
The Serial Entrepreneur’s Playbook: From Junk Removal to AI Voice Agents
If your home service business is struggling with labor shortages, high turnover, or leads that go cold before your team can follow up, this episode is for you.Adam McChesney sits down with serial entrepreneur Chris Huddleston to break d...
How to Franchise Your Business and Multiply Your Success with Dr. Tom DuFore
Do you want to turn a successful local business into a national brand through franchising? In this episode, we break down the real-world process of "multiplying success" with Dr. Tom DuFore—from identifying if a business is "franch...
He Had Everything Most People Want: And Gave It All Up for Something Better
What does it actually take to walk away from a high-paying job… hit rock bottom… and rebuild multiple successful businesses?In this episode, we break down the real entrepreneurial journey of Marburger—from selling cars at 18 to building...
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How We Built a Two Million Dollar Agency With a Remote Team Across 7 Countries
In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sat down with our COO, Alejandra Donaire, to talk about what actually goes into building and scaling a digital marketing agency behind the scenes.We recorded this from Nicaragua, a...
The Mindset Shift That Took Him From Failing in High School to Running a Business
In this episode of the Builders of Authority podcast, I sit down with Colin McNeil, owner of the McNeil Insurance Group, for a deep and personal conversation about growth, accountability, and the realities of entrepreneurship. We take a trip do...
Deck Building 101: Building a Deck Company & Deck Training Empire
In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sit down with Clint Webb, owner of Web Decks and founder of the Deck Building 101 Facebook group, a community of more than 110,000 deck builders and contractors.Clint shares his st...
The Stress, Loneliness, and Sacrifices Nobody Warns You About as An Entrepreneur
In this solo episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I share some real thoughts on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the journey of building a business.If you’re a contractor or home service business owner working to grow your com...
Why Going Into Business With Family and Friends Isn’t Always a Mistake | Sam Chapman
In Episode 208, I’m joined by Sam Chapman to talk about building businesses with family and long time partners and what that actually looks like behind the scenes.Sam lives in Northern Virginia and has spent the last 10+ years growing co...
He Quit His Job During the Pandemic to Become a Realtor (Interview with Jaden Barr)
If you're building a business while trying to be a present leader, spouse, or parent, this episode is going to resonate with you. In this conversation, I sit down with Jaden Barr to talk about what really builds authority over time....
He Chose Family Over Fame… Then Built a Business (Interview with Joey YAK)
What if the breakthrough wasn’t fame… but discipline?Episode 206 is a powerful one.Joey YAK went from elite athlete to touring artist to walking away from it all. He chose family over fame, got sober, rebuilt his life, became a to...
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Helping Contractors Reach the Next Level in Life and Business with Chris Treese of Delta Consulting
What does it really take to grow an outdoor living contracting company the right way?In this episode, I sit down with Chris Treese, founder of Olympus Outdoors, to talk about leadership, systems, accountability, and what it means to buil...
From Childhood Dreams to the NHL— and Life After | Reed Low
Life doesn’t stop asking hard questions just because you’ve already “made it.”In this episode, I sit down with Reed Low to talk about what comes after the peak moment. We get into reinvention, discipline, and how the same mindset that dr...
This is what Serial Entrepreneurship ACTUALLY Looks Like | Jen Dempsey-Blakely
In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sit down with Jennifer Dempsey-Blakely to talk about building authority while running multiple businesses across hospitality, short-term rentals, and experiential brands.Jennifer is...
Building EPIK Brands: 1 Company, Multiple Divisions | Ashley Fitzgerald
In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sit down with Ashley Fitzgerald of Studio Epik to talk about building authority through branding, leadership, and systems.We break down why most business owners struggle with contro...
How a Full-Time Musician Reinvented Himself After COVID | Aaron Mansfield
Reinvention changes you if you let it.This conversation is a reminder that growth is rarely loud and almost never linear.I sat down with Aaron Mansfield to talk about rebuilding after disruption, redefining success, and staying di...
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The Truth Behind 200 Episodes: What It Really Takes to Build a Top Podcast
200 episodes later and the biggest lesson has nothing to do with downloads.This milestone episode goes deeper than a celebration. It’s a real look at what 200 episodes have required, what they’ve created, and why most people never get to...
How Professional Property Management Increases Short-Term Rental ROI | Jeffrey Lage
Most people think short term rentals are just about listings, bookings, and hoping for great reviews. The truth is, the right strategy, structure, and management can completely change how that investment performs.I sat down with Jeffrey ...
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How a Gym Owner Survived COVID and Built a Stronger Fitness Community | Corey Lewis
Building a business is easy compared to building one that actually lasts.In this episode, I sit down with Corey Lewis, CEO and Owner of Xtra Mile Fitness, to talk about leadership, resilience, and what it takes to grow through hard seaso...
