Toolbox for the Trades

Burnout in the trades is often a silent killer, a slow decay that catches business owners off guard after years of relentless grinding. Nate Agentis, VP of Plumbing at BDR, joins the show to share his raw, personal journey through the pressures of inheriting a family plumbing business, navigating a tragic stage four cancer diagnosis in his family, and facing a mental health breaking point during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nate discusses the danger of tying your entire identity to business growth and introduces the “balance wheel” exercise to help contractors audit their personal lives. From the importance of finding a neutral third-party counselor to the power of small daily habits, Nate provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs to build a lasting legacy without sacrificing their health, family, or sanity.Join us as we discuss: [2:49] Why the grind mentality ultimately leads to burnout and regret[13:09] How bringing in a corporate outsider helped Nate 3X his family business[21:59] Leaning on others to help alleviate the pressures of business ownership[29:07] Why a healthy work culture starts with a healthy ownerCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Get Shit Done! by Nate AgentisYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy at All Within My Hands Foundation, joins the show to share how heavy metal icons Metallica are helping close the skilled labor gap across North America. Renee details the origin story of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, sparked by frontman James Hetfield’s passion for supporting blue-collar trades and hands-on workforce education. What began in 2019 as a $100,000 grant to 10 community colleges has exploded into a $19 million-plus investment spanning 93 schools and nearly 18,000 students. Renee discusses the transformative power of these scholarships, from breaking generational poverty cycles to encouraging women in male-dominated trades, and explains how organic corporate partnerships with brands like Wolverine, Carhartt, and ServiceTitan amplify the foundation's reach.Join us as we discuss: [1:52] How a love for music and nonprofit work led to helping Metallica advance the trades[9:43] Why the band decided to lean into workforce education and scholarship opportunities[13:06] School sponsorships and inspirational student success stories[21:18] ServiceTitan’s partnership and how you can help amplify the foundation’s causeCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Metallica Scholars InitiativeYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Adrian Fadini, founder of TradesFormation and one of Australia and New Zealand's top trade business coaches, returns to the podcast to dissect the key findings of the Australian State of the Trades Report for 2026. Surveying over 1,000 senior decision-makers across Australian trade businesses, the report highlights a critical shift: while demand remains steady and over 40% of businesses continue to grow revenue, contractors are redlining their capacity and turning their focus inward. Adrian breaks down why fixing business model root causes beats putting out operational fires, how to solve the surging 57% accounts receivable pain point by transitioning from hourly billing to upfront pricing, and why adopting AI requires a clear business vision rather than tactical chasing.Join us as we discuss: [1:57] Why cross-shadowing between departmental roles is critical to your business[7:31] Identifying blind spots and fixing your business model instead of patching symptoms[10:42] Achieving a holistic view of your operations and the number one pain point for Aussie contractors in 2026[17:27] How a tailored Pricebook can save you from hidden costs and hourly vs flat rates[26:14] Why your business needs a clear vision before adopting AI tools and what NOT to do when managing rising fuel costs and interest ratesCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Check out the Australian State of the Trades Report for 2026 here!You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Leila Rookstook, Senior Industry Advisor, and Evan Smith, Group Product Manager at ServiceTitan, join host Amanda Salvatore to unpack the transformation of the commercial trades from reactive maintenance to predictive service. Drawing from Leila’s four-generation trade legacy and Evan’s expertise in enterprise AI, the pair outlines how a central shared data foundation bridges sales and operations to prevent equipment failures before they happen. They break down the three structural layers of predictive service: serial-level equipment history, make/model statistical context, and physical IoT sensor connectivity. They also share how tools like Atlas empower technicians to deliver speed, precision, and proactive solutions in the field.Join us as we discuss: [6:22] The trades’ evolution from reactive to predictive service and what that looks like in practice[13:27] How ServiceTitan is helping move the industry closer to predictive services through as shared data foundation[19:45] Confronting existing data gaps that prevent contractors from utilizing true predictive analytics[25:07] Why the future of the trades will focus on uptime as a service over repairYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ryan Nelson, Senior Operations Manager of Integration at Visterra Landscape Group, joins the show to unpack how landscape businesses can scale by choosing simplicity over complex configuration. Drawing from a unique career path that spans construction, field management, branch operations, software implementation, and corporate leadership, Ryan shares the harsh realities of software adoption. He outlines why over-engineering estimating kits and tracking every micro-cost causes teams to fail, advocating instead for streamlined metrics and a realistic three-year timeline for total system mastery. Additionally, Ryan addresses the pervasive management training gap in the trades, giving actionable advice on shadow programs, asking “annoying” questions, and maintaining a grounded perspective on emerging technologies like autonomous mowers and AI.Join us as we discuss: [3:23] Why adapting to new software never truly stops after implementation[10:44] Keeping software setups simple versus over-engineering your operations[17:05] Why manager training is one of the trades’ biggest opportunity gapsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:AspireYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.