Behind the Toolbelt

Ty Backer
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Behind the ToolBelt is a live, raw, and uncut podcast that brings real, unfiltered conversations about business, leadership, and the entrepreneurial mindset. Hosted by Ty Cobb Backer, CEO of TC Backer Construction, this live show features  leaders, innovators, and experts sharing their experiences, strategies, and insights. From building successful companies to overcoming professional and personal challenges, each episode offers valuable perspectives for entrepreneurs and business owners and leaders looking to grow, and make an impact.

  1. 5h ago

    Stop Buying Three Tools To Fix One Problem

    Send us Fan Mail Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  2. Oct 14

    Who Are You Competing Against When Nobody Is Watching

    Send us Fan Mail One competitor post can make a great leader question everything and that’s exactly why we’re talking about competition, focus, and the decisions we make when our emotions spike. We’ve both felt it: you see a new truck, a new location, a wave of five-star reviews, and suddenly you start rewriting your plan in your head. Nothing in your business changed in that moment, but your attention did, and attention is where strategy either stays disciplined or falls apart. We unpack why competition can absolutely make you better, but only when you respond the right way. When you’re secure in your values and clear on your vision, a strong competitor becomes a mirror that exposes where your systems, communication, and customer experience can improve. When you’re unsure, competition turns into a magnet that pulls you into price cuts, copycat messaging, overpromises, and short-term “wins” that weaken your brand tomorrow. The real competition isn’t the company across town, it’s the gap between what you say you deliver and what customers actually experience. We also dig into a simple framework to keep your head straight: competitors belong in the rearview mirror, not the driver’s seat. Study the marketplace on purpose, then lead from your mission. And if you want a moat that’s hard to duplicate, focus on the trifecta that builds durable trust in any home service business: repeat customers, referrals, and reviews, backed by a real process instead of hope. If this sparks something for you, subscribe to the show, share it with a leader who needs the reminder, and leave a review so more contractors can find it. What’s your biggest distraction right now: competition, comparison, or complacency? Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  3. Oct 12

    Growth Starts When You Stop Quitting

    Send us Fan Mail We hit record live from the South Central Construction Expo in York, Pennsylvania, and the setting fits the message: growth happens when you show up. Between the expo floor, the people, and the energy, we get into what really moves a trades business forward, not just more work, but stronger relationships, better processes, and a team that keeps getting better together. If you care about construction leadership, roofing business growth, or building a culture that lasts, this one is built for you.  We talk through adversity in a way that’s real, not motivational poster talk. Most people don’t fail because they aren’t talented they fail because they quit when the sting hits. We unpack why resistance is part of the deal, how we’ve handled everything from market chaos to labor pressure, and why we try to ask a better question when something goes sideways: why is this happening for us? We also share a fresh example of a deal that didn’t come through, what we learned, and why “planting seeds” can still be a win even when the outcome isn’t immediate.  The conversation shifts into the day-to-day habits that protect culture and mental clarity. We cover seasons of leadership, how distractions can pull you off the rails, and small resets that make a big difference, like a quiet commute with no tech, a better Monday mindset, and taking a few minutes in the driveway before you walk in the door so you don’t poison the mood at home. If you’re local, we also shout out the York Builders Association and why membership can bring real perks and community.  If this helped you, subscribe, share it with someone in the trades, and leave a review so more builders and leaders can find the show. Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  4. Sep 30

    If Your Company Vanished Tomorrow Would Anyone Care

    Send us Fan Mail If you run a business long enough, you eventually face a question that cuts through revenue, growth, and the daily grind: what do we owe the community that believed in us first? We take that head-on with a raw look at stewardship, responsibility, and what it means to use the platform of a company for something bigger than transactions. The goal isn’t to guilt anyone into giving. It’s to think clearly about how local business leadership can create real community impact. We talk about why “we’ll give back when we’re bigger” is a trap, and how generosity has to be part of your identity long before you feel ready. We also get practical about business giving back without writing huge checks: volunteering time, mobilizing employees, using equipment and vehicles, sharing expertise, lending space, promoting causes, and creating opportunity through jobs, training, and mentorship. That’s corporate social responsibility that actually fits small businesses, contractors, and trade companies. Then we step into the gray area that makes a lot of owners uncomfortable: the difference between community involvement and marketing. We unpack intention, storytelling, and why it matters who the hero is when you share what you’re doing. We also make the case for picking just a few causes and showing up consistently, because trust is built over time, not with one-off posts. Stick around for the closing challenge: if your company disappeared tomorrow, would the community notice anything besides losing another vendor? Listen, share this with a leader who needs it, and if it hits home, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what you’re going to do first. Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  5. Sep 23

    Betting On Yourself Starts With Raising Your Hand

    Send us Fan Mail “Bet on yourself” sounds bold, but most people hear it and think it only counts if you quit your job and start a company. We don’t buy that. Ty Cobb Backer breaks down what it looks like in real life for team members, technicians, salespeople, foremen, and managers: raising your hand for responsibility, volunteering to lead, speaking up when it would be easier to stay quiet, and building skills before anyone gives you permission. That’s where career growth in the trades actually happens.  We also get honest about the gap between belief and readiness. Confidence matters, but it doesn’t replace preparation. We talk through the daily actions that turn “I want more” into “I’m ready for more” training, reading, asking questions, taking feedback, improving communication, and owning mistakes. You’ll hear why the fastest-growing people stay confident enough to try and humble enough to learn, and how calculated risk beats waiting for perfect certainty every time.  Then we flip it to leadership development from the other side. If we want people to take ownership, we have to create an environment where they can grow without getting punished for every misstep or having the work taken back the moment it’s done differently. We also name the biggest obstacles that stop people cold: fear of failure, financial risk, self-doubt, and the false comfort of “security.”  If you’re ready to move from thinking about the next step to taking it, press play, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and subscribe. If you got value, leave a review and tell us what you’d pursue if you were willing to bet on yourself. Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  6. Sep 16

    The Courage To Be Bored

    Send us Fan Mail Your calendar is packed, your phone is buzzing, and somehow you still feel scattered. We’re asking a blunt question that hits leaders and high performers right in the chest: when did we become so afraid to be bored? Because if you can’t stand 15 quiet minutes without reaching for a screen, that’s not just a habit, it’s a signal. We talk about the reflex to fill every gap with podcasts, music, email, and doom scrolling, and what that constant stimulation does to focus, presence, and relationships. We also get honest about the deeper reason silence feels uncomfortable: when the noise stops, the real questions get louder. Am I happy? Am I leading my team well? Am I avoiding a decision or a conversation I know I need to have? For entrepreneurs, contractors, and anyone trying to build a business and a life, stillness isn’t laziness, it’s a leadership skill. You’ll hear a practical challenge you can try this week: 15 minutes of no input. No phone, no audio, no TV, no computer, no book, and no pressure to produce. Just enough space for reflection, better decisions, and the kind of creativity you can’t force when you’re trapped in constant notifications. If you’ve been looking for a simple reset for attention and mental clarity, start here. Subscribe, share this with someone who never disconnects, and leave a review with your poll answer: A, B, C, or D? Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  7. Sep 9

    How A Golf Outing Funds Roofers In Recovery

    Send us Fan Mail A golf tournament doesn’t fix addiction, but it can do something powerful: pull an industry into the open and put real money behind real help. I’m joined by my brother and friend Stephen Spence from Project Map It, the founder of Swing for Recovery, a golf outing that raises funds for Roofers in Recovery while building awareness for alcohol and drug addiction in the roofing and construction world. We talk about why this year carries extra weight as we honor Mike Ippolitti’s story, and we’re honest about the parts people don’t like to say out loud. Addiction is a disease that thrives in secrecy, and recovery only works when someone truly wants it. We share how these events create a safer path to support, why there’s no place for stigma on a crew, and how a company culture can become a true safe haven where people can ask for help without fear. Then we zoom out to what modern leadership looks like in contracting. Roofing is changing fast, and marketing, technology, and search visibility now matter as much as field execution. We get into how AI is already starting to book appointments, why local SEO and customer experience are becoming non-negotiable, and what it means to run a professional roofing business in the new era. If you care about mental health in construction, workplace culture, Roofers in Recovery, or the future of contractor marketing, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone in the trades, and leave a review so more people find the message. Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

  8. Sep 2

    Are You Protecting The Mission Or Your Pride

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to break trust as a leader isn’t changing your mind. It’s watching something fail in plain sight and defending it anyway. Today we get brutally practical about the thin line between persistence and stubbornness, and why that line is usually drawn by ego, fear, and quiet pride not by logic. We walk through how hard decisions really work when you’re leading a business, a team, or a family: you make a call without perfect information, you commit, and then you verify. We talk KPIs and “what success looks like” before you launch a new hire, system, role, or strategy so you’re not stuck arguing with feelings later. We also unpack why leaders resist new information, how curiosity beats blame, and the difference between a bad decision and a good decision executed poorly (because those require completely different fixes). Then we get into the part most people skip: how to communicate a pivot without looking unstable. Ownership, clarity, and purpose beat long apologies. We also share the warning signs that you’ve crossed into stubbornness, plus the questions that cut through embarrassment and get you back to reality fast. If you’re wrestling with a decision right now, hit play, share this with a leader who needs it, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. After you listen, drop a review and tell us: what’s the hardest part of changing a decision you already made? Behind The ToolBelt has merged with the TC Backer YouTube Channel. Everything BTTB and TCB is now in one place. Go to the channel and subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj7GjAGEsAjOXEYKhh6FLQ/ Follow us on the TC Backer Facebook page as well as instagram https://www.facebook.com/tcbackerconstruction https://www.instagram.com/tcbacker/ Check out our podcast website to find your favorite app to listen to the Behind The ToolBelt episodes streaming now! https://podcast.behindthetoolbelt.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Behind the ToolBelt is a live, raw, and uncut podcast that brings real, unfiltered conversations about business, leadership, and the entrepreneurial mindset. Hosted by Ty Cobb Backer, CEO of TC Backer Construction, this live show features  leaders, innovators, and experts sharing their experiences, strategies, and insights. From building successful companies to overcoming professional and personal challenges, each episode offers valuable perspectives for entrepreneurs and business owners and leaders looking to grow, and make an impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Ty Backer
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    165
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Behind the Toolbelt
  • Show Website
    Behind the Toolbelt