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Builders of Authority
Builders of Authority
Author: Adam McChesney
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© 2026 Builders of Authority
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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.
219 Episodes
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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 I've structured my environment to do better work in less time. I'll walk you through: 👉 Why I traded a 10-minute commute for a 30-minute one — and why it was still the right move 👉 How I structured one space to handle daily work, YouTube, and podcasting wit...
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. Adam McChesney sits down with John McDonald, founder of Fab Tech Solutions, to break down how a Navy vet who started with $4,000 in the bank built a massive personal brand and a thriving business — without ever chasing viral trends or following a content pl...
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 owner-operators to running a scalable business with a real leadership team and hitting $1M+ in revenue without being on every job site. Chris has coached painting contractors across North America since 2018, released 250 straight weeks of podcast episodes, a...
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 down how AI voice agents are replacing underperforming sales reps, cutting labor costs, and closing more jobs for home service businesses in 2026 and beyond. Chris has built and scaled companies across the warranty, junk removal, and home services industries ...
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 "franchiseable" to navigating the long-term sales cycles required to scale. This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when a founder decides to move from a visionary role into a coaching and training role to lead a franchise system. We talk about: * The Three Pil...
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 multiple income streams across real estate, automotive, martial arts, and investments. This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when everything falls apart—and what it takes to come back stronger. We talk about: • Leaving a stable career to prioritize freedom ...
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, and this conversation is a real look at what most people don’t see, the systems, the pressure, the leadership, and the day-to-day execution it takes to grow a business the right way. Alejandra shares her path from architecture to marketing, how she stepped in...
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 down memory lane, reflecting on our shared history playing sports in St. Louis and attending high school together. Colin opens up about a defining period during his sophomore year when he faced academic ineligibility and a significant identity crisis. He ...
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 story of getting laid off during the 2008 housing crisis, how that led him into deck building, and how a simple idea to create a better online community for builders turned into one of the largest groups in the industry. We talk about the evolution of the deck...
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 company: whether you’re in roofing, HVAC, plumbing, remodeling, or another trade, this is a conversation that will likely resonate with you. Building a business, leading a team, and continuing to push for growth comes with challenges that most peopl...
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 companies in the construction and insurance restoration space. After beginning his career in commercial real estate, he partnered with his brother to build Caseco into a general contracting company and later launched Merit Restorations, which now operates in mu...
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. We go beyond tactics and dive into identity, discipline, leadership, leverage, and community. Jaden is a St. Louis-based real estate business owner, former college quarterback at Truman State, and father of two. He left corporate during the pandemic to build...
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 top-performing sales leader, and eventually founded his own creative agency. This conversation goes beyond business tactics. It’s about identity, maturity, responsibility, and building something that actually lasts. If you’re a business owner trying to grow without l...
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 build a business that can operate without chaos. If you’re building patios, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, or full backyard projects, this conversation applies directly to you. Chris shares how he’s structured his outdoor remodeling business around discipline and ow...
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 drives elite performance can carry over into business, family, and leadership. Reed shares an honest perspective on pressure, purpose, and staying grounded when the spotlight fades. This conversation is about growth that lasts, responsibility that deepens over ...
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 a lifelong entrepreneur and Hazelwood Central graduate who built her education through hands-on experience, conventions, and continuous learning. With 30 years in management and merchandising at Marshalls, a decade running a commercial cleaning company, and ...
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 control, how processes actually create freedom, and why brand consistency matters more than chasing short term leads. Ashley shares lessons from scaling multiple brands, hiring the right team, and creating a client experience that drives referrals and long term gro...
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 disciplined when responsibility gets heavier. We talked about business, but we also talked about life. About building something stable without losing yourself in the process. About being intentional with growth and clear on who you’re building for. These are the conv...
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 experience the best part of podcasting… because they stop before the real impact ever begins. I share what this podcast has done for my life, my business, my network, and my voice, along with the discipline, consistency, and long-game mindset required to get...
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 Lage, to talk about how STR owners can think smarter, operate better, and create real returns while protecting their time and sanity. We get into strategy, accountability, performance, and what separates a stressful side project from a real wealth building as...






















