The Builders

Matt Levenhagen

"The Builders" Podcast is designed for those that are 'building' stuff on the web. Whether that's building a business, an agency, building teams, building products, services.. or building websites.. if it's related to building something, it's fair game.

  1. قبل يومين

    Madi Wagoner – Scale Without Burnout: Leadership, Infrastructure, Fuel & Team Building

    In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Madi Wagoner, founder of Building Remote, to unpack her framework for helping entrepreneurs scale without burnout.  With over 14 years of experience in tech startups and consulting, Madi has guided more than 40 founders through the shift from solopreneur to CEO. Her LYFT framework — Leadership, Infrastructure, Fuel, and Team — provides a blueprint for building businesses that grow sustainably while giving leaders the freedom to step back from the grind. Together, Matt and Madi dive into: How to transition from “doing it all” to empowering your teamWhy structured hiring and candidate experience shape long-term cultureThe role of systems, communication cadences, and accountability in remote teamsStrategies to protect your time and avoid entrepreneurial burnoutReal-world lessons from leaders who learned to let go and scale smarter  Whether you’re leading a fully remote company or just looking to streamline your operations, this episode is packed with insights on building the foundations of a business that supports both growth and balance.

    ٥٦ من الدقائق

  2. ٢٥ أغسطس

    Jennifer Denny - Building Smarter with AI: ChatGPT Projects & Business Efficiency

    In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down once again with returning guest Jennifer Denny, founder of Elevated Marketing Solutions. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping not just marketing, but the way entire businesses operate day-to-day. Jennifer shares her hands-on approach to using ChatGPT projects and folders to streamline workflows, organize client deliverables, and eliminate overwhelm. From content creation to client communications, she demonstrates how AI can be a true partner in building smarter systems. But this isn’t just about marketing. Jennifer and Matt dive into broader applications—from automating HR communications to assigning tasks after client calls—showing how AI is becoming a backbone for overall business efficiency. At the heart of the conversation is a key theme: automation should enhance, not replace, the human touch. AI may handle the mundane, but creativity, strategy, and authentic connection remain essential to building lasting businesses. If you’re curious about how builders are putting AI to work in real business settings, this episode is packed with practical examples and forward-looking insights. Key Takeaways Organize with Purpose: ChatGPT projects and folders help segment workflows by client or function, reducing overwhelm and boosting efficiency. Content at Scale: AI can generate written content, email campaigns, and SEO insights quickly—giving marketers more time to focus on strategy. Beyond Marketing: From HR communications to client call notes, AI tools can streamline internal processes across an entire business. Balance Matters: Efficiency gains are powerful, but creativity and human connection remain irreplaceable in marketing and client engagement. The Builder’s Mindset: Embracing new technology means experimentation, adaptation, and finding the right equilibrium between humans and machines.

    ٥٢ من الدقائق

  3. ١٨ أغسطس

    Téa Phillips – Building MetaFlex: From Prototype to Market, Arthritis Relief & Beyond

    In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Téa Phillips, CEO of ATS and inventor of MetaFlex — the world’s first grip-strengthening compression glove. Téa shares her journey from engineering student to award-winning entrepreneur, driven by a personal mission to help her grandmother and others struggling with arthritis. From early prototypes to manufacturing hurdles, mentorship, and market challenges, her story is a blueprint for building with empathy, resilience, and innovation. Listeners will walk away with insights into the invention process, navigating real-world business roadblocks, and scaling a product that changes lives. Key Takeaways Engineering with empathy: Téa combined technical skills with compassion to design MetaFlex for arthritis patients — later expanding its use to carpal tunnel, Parkinson’s, and athletes.The power of mentorship: Surrounding herself with mentors and advisors across healthcare, sales, and business was critical to her success.Prototype to product: Market research, user feedback, and iteration ensured MetaFlex was not only effective but also comfortable and practical.Overcoming hurdles: From a year-long delay in finding the right manufacturer to navigating crushing tariffs, Téa shares how adaptability is key in building a business.Building beyond one idea: With a notebook “full of products,” Téa shows how inventors can continue creating while scaling their first breakthrough.  Tune in for a story that blends invention, perseverance, and the drive to build solutions that last.

    ٥٨ من الدقائق

  4. ١١ أغسطس

    Hunter Jensen – Building, Tinkering, & Thriving on the Cutting Edge (Not the Bleeding Edge)

    In Episode 237 of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Hunter Jensen, CEO of Barefoot Solutions and founder of Barefoot Labs, for a deep dive into the mindset and methods of a modern builder. Hunter shares his journey from freelance developer to leading innovative AI solutions — all while keeping true to his philosophy of staying “cutting edge, not bleeding edge.”  This conversation explores the balance between curiosity and practicality, why tinkering is more than just a hobby, and how embracing change without chasing every shiny object can set you apart in the rapidly evolving tech world. Key Takeaways: Stay Curious, But Grounded – Innovation thrives when paired with a measured approach. Hunter’s philosophy keeps his team close to the edge of technology without unnecessary risk.Build What Fits – Custom, secure AI solutions are in high demand, especially among mid-market companies looking to boost productivity without sacrificing data privacy.The Builder’s Mindset – Tinkering, experimenting, and continually learning are the core habits that drive innovation and adaptability.Agentic AI is Coming – The future of AI will be integrated, autonomous, and operational at the heart of business systems.Listen to the Market – Deep conversations with customers can reveal opportunities, refine ideas, and ensure solutions truly meet business needs.  Whether you’re a tech entrepreneur, product builder, or just fascinated by the future of AI, this episode is packed with practical insights and big-picture thinking.

    ٤٩ من الدقائق

  5. ٤ أغسطس

    Carol Tice - Building Million-dollar Communities: Creating Financial Freedom & a Future Exit

    In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen converses with Carol Tice, a digital nomad and expert in developing thriving online communities. Delving into the intricacies of starting and growing paid communities, Carol shares her journey from freelance writer to the founder of a successful online business. She highlights the pivotal moments that led to her success, the innovative strategies she used to boost membership, and her transition towards guiding others in creating impactful online spaces. The conversation pivots around the evolving landscape of online communities, emphasizing their importance in today's business world. Carol discusses the benefits of paid communities, including creating stable income streams and engaging in meaningful work without an overemphasis on marketing. Driven by real experiences and examples, Carol explains the critical steps in building a community: from initial idea validation and audience building to leveraging existing networks and affiliate marketing. Her insights underscore the vitality of nurturing a community where passion translates into prolonged success. Key Takeaways: Simplicity in Tools: The choice of community platforms like Skool, which integrates essential functionalities seamlessly, can simplify the complexities associated with running an online community.Passion-Driven Engagement: Building a community around what you love creates sustainable growth and genuine engagement.Affiliate and Legacy Memberships: Leveraging affiliate programs and offering legacy low-cost memberships can drive retention and steady expansion.Diverse Community Ideas: Your community doesn’t have to match your day job—it can stem from personal interests or complementary passions.Transitioning Leadership: Structuring your community to eventually operate without you sets it up as a sellable, standalone business.

    ١ من الساعات

  6. ٢٨ يوليو

    The Builder’s Dilemma: Scale Big and Chase Growth or Be the Craftsman?

    In this solo episode of The Builders, Matt Levenhagen reflects on a pivotal moment in his business journey—one that many founders, creatives, and agency owners will relate to. After years of scaling a successful agency and managing a distributed team, Matt finds himself craving the simplicity and satisfaction of doing the work again—of coding, building, and being the craftsman. In a world that glorifies growth at all costs, this episode unpacks a dilemma many builders face: Do you keep scaling big, or do you get back to the craft that started it all? He shares what he’s rediscovered, how AI tools like Cursor have amplified his creative flow, and why being in the work can be the very thing that sets you apart. It’s raw, honest, and a powerful reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building. 💡 Key Takeaways: Scaling isn’t the only measure of success—joy and fulfillment matter.Sometimes stepping back into the work is the best way forward.AI can enhance craftsmanship, not replace it.Being a builder again can be your differentiator in a crowded market.Growth is personal. The right path is the one that aligns with what lights you up.

    ١ س ٤ د

  7. ٢١ يوليو

    Matthew White – They Built an AI Browser… Moving Toward AI Becoming the Operating System

    In this episode of The Builders, Matt talks with Matthew White, CEO of PlatypusOS—a new kind of browser designed for the AI-powered future of work. Matthew shares how a simple frustration with too many tabs sparked the idea to build a smarter, more structured browser—one that integrates seamlessly with your tools and acts like an assistant, not just a gateway to the web. From the foundation of PlatypusOS to the rise of AI agents and cloud-based automation, Matthew outlines a bold vision: a world where AI becomes the operating system that runs your digital life. Whether you're building SaaS, streamlining your business, or just drowning in browser tabs, this episode is full of insights on how the way we work online is rapidly evolving. 💡 Key Takeaways: PlatypusOS replaces browser chaos with structure. Built on Chromium, it integrates your most-used apps directly into a sidebar—no more tab overwhelm. AI is embedded, not bolted on. The browser acts like an assistant, helping users access and use tools without deep technical knowledge. Agents are the future. These no-code workflows allow automation across apps, replacing repetitive tasks and reducing the need for traditional SaaS. Headless, cloud-based browsing is coming. Faster performance, better sync, and added security will soon define the next-gen browser experience. Small businesses need AI they can trust. PlatypusOS prioritizes accessibility, data control, and real use cases over hype. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s your new team member. Matthew frames AI not as a replacement, but as a partner that can work alongside you.

    ٥٢ من الدقائق

  8. ١٤ يوليو

    Matthew Stafford – Building Revenue-Optimized Customer Journeys That Convert

    In this episode, Matthew Stafford shares his evolution from physical labor to digital growth—unpacking how he built an agency that helps e-commerce brands grow by focusing on revenue per visitor, not just flashy CRO tactics. He breaks down what “revenue optimization” really means, why traffic alone isn’t the answer, and how AI is giving builders a superpowered edge. This is a must-listen for anyone serious about scaling an online business, building smarter systems, or turning browsers into buyers. 🔑 Key Takeaways Start with the Customer Journey: Revenue optimization begins the moment a visitor lands on your site. Every step—from homepage to checkout—should have one clear purpose.It’s Not About More Traffic: Stafford emphasizes that most e-commerce sites are leaking money due to poor UX and unclear messaging. Fixing that beats buying more visitors.Hierarchy of Focus Wins: Understanding the primary action on each page (e.g. filter, narrow, add to cart) is essential to guiding users toward conversion.Data + AI = Scalable Insights: Stafford shares how his team uses AI to analyze reviews, behavioral data, and analytics at scale—unlocking insights no human could spot manually.You Don’t Need Perfection to Start: Stafford reminds builders that action beats over-planning. Test. Learn. Improve. That’s how scalable systems are built.The Right Clients Make the Difference: BGS looks for businesses doing $100–200k/month who are ready to invest in growth—not beginners or discount hunters.

    ٤٣ من الدقائق
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"The Builders" Podcast is designed for those that are 'building' stuff on the web. Whether that's building a business, an agency, building teams, building products, services.. or building websites.. if it's related to building something, it's fair game.

المعلومات

  • صناع العمل
    Matt Levenhagen
  • سنوات النشاط
    ٢٠٢٠ - ٢٠٢٥
  • الحلقات
    ٢٤١
  • التقييم
    ملائم
  • حقوق النشر
    © Matt Levenhagen
  • موقع البرنامج على الويب
    The Builders