From The Ground Up Show

From The Ground Up Show with Erick Loden

From The Ground Up Show is where the next generation of free-thinking leaders come to be inspired. Host Erick Loden sits down with the men and women who’ve built success with their hands, their hustle, and their heart — from tradespeople and entrepreneurs to self-starters and service members we sit down with those who have rejected the traditional career path and chosen to blaze their own path. Through raw, honest conversations and real listener questions, we uncover the lessons, mindset, and grit it takes to build something that lasts - from the ground up. 

  1. Ken Dickson - Building What Lasts: Leadership Lessons from the Construction Industry

    3D AGO

    Ken Dickson - Building What Lasts: Leadership Lessons from the Construction Industry

    What does it really take to build something that lasts? In this episode of From the Ground Up, Erick sits down with construction leader Ken Dickson for an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and doing the hard work when no one is watching. Ken shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the construction industry—why execution matters more than sales, how strong teams carry companies through uncertainty, and what separates contractors who survive from those who don’t. This episode is a reminder that real success isn’t built overnight—it’s built through discipline, people, and perseverance. Perfect for contractors, entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders who want practical insight and motivation to keep pushing forward, even when the work gets tough. Topics include: construction leadership, business growth, team building, risk management, and long-term success. 🎧 Build smarter. Lead better. Keep going.   #ConstructionLeadership  #BusinessBuilders  #ContractorLife  #EntrepreneurMindset  #BuildingSuccess  #LeadershipLessons #FounderStories   Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 https://x.com/FTGUshow   Watch the video show on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/FESIzu8q9vo   Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com   Guest Links: https://amw-inc.com/

    1h 46m
  2. Merv Zook - The Last Man Standing: Faith, Family, and finding God’s path in the Trades

    FEB 10

    Merv Zook - The Last Man Standing: Faith, Family, and finding God’s path in the Trades

    What does it really take to earn your place—and keep it? In this episode of From The Ground Up Show, we explore leadership, responsibility, and the kind of work ethic that’s built under pressure, not hype. This conversation digs into what it means to create real value, become indispensable, and carry the weight that comes with building something bigger than yourself. We talk about leadership when there are no shortcuts: being responsible for other people’s livelihoods, pushing forward when confidence runs out, and trusting discipline and faith when the path isn’t clear. This episode goes beyond hustle culture to examine the long game—why consistency beats intensity, why resilience matters more than motivation, and why true success often looks like endurance. If you’re building a business, leading a team, or laying the foundation for a long-term legacy, this episode is a reminder that meaningful success is earned daily—from the ground up.  #FromTheGroundUpShow  #BusinessPodcast #LeadershipPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #BuildDontHype #LongTermThinking #EarnedNotGiven Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 https://x.com/FTGUshow   Watch the video show on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/YJ5Rs16akK0    Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com   Guest Links: https://niceelectricco.com/

    57 min
  3. Brian Gottlieb – from $3000 start-up to $1 Billion in Sales – scaling the right way

    FEB 3

    Brian Gottlieb – from $3000 start-up to $1 Billion in Sales – scaling the right way

    What does it actually take to scale a business to $1,000,000,000 in sales in just 12 years—and sustain it? In this episode of From the Ground Up, we sit down with Brian for a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation about rapid growth, disciplined leadership, and the systems required to operate at the highest levels of business. Brian shares how he built and lead a company that reached nine figures—and then ten—without chasing hype or shortcuts. This episode dives into what really drives scalable success: building the right teams, understanding marketing at scale, creating accountability, and staying focused on long-term value instead of short-term wins. Brian also talks about how his perspective evolved over time, why mentorship and developing people became central to his mission, and what separates businesses that grow fast from those that grow right. If you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or business owner who wants insight from someone who’s actually operated at the billion-dollar level—not just talked about it—this episode delivers. Real experience. Real numbers. Real leadership. Press play and hear what it takes to build from the ground up—at scale. #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ScalingABusiness #BusinessGrowth #BillionDollarBusiness #FromTheGroundUp Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 https://x.com/FTGUshow   Watch the video show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DWkcJrRAvTM     Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com   Guest Links: https://briangottlieb.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Hammer-Approach-Leadership-Performance/dp/B0DGLZ7B4B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36DIUGZJZMMX2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DSK2lpjypxRLSS518TGXPP9MMyLly2C0F3e3idlc9UQnWQOQJWrizF1PmwSh7hakyaDlETNFTTi2gXWMGS6Yb3IziqJ1ArDFFGZgDUeYFwyU1KATOa3xDb4VgrX_zgaWvETccxRHQVaq704dEzX1slAC5_s9VzFQNxR_a0yjBtL4eo5xT2yMdZNzQVWHbmYRxifZqPpyHuflA1IufWbNzjBZwcYgEA96uif4YJ5HybI.1SnN3LB7I6LJTZaDJHzl5sQ56UUdSMWVEFUwqEMZSf4&dib_tag=se&keywords=beyond+the+hammer&qid=1769200068&sprefix=beyond+the+hammer%2Caps%2C299&sr=8-1

    1h 48m
  4. JAN 20

    Brie Reis – From Addiction to Executive Leadership – A woman of color in the trades

    In this episode of From the Ground Up Show, Erick Loden sits down with Brie Reese, COO of Elite Roofing, Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and a nationally respected coach in the roofing and construction industry. Brie shares her powerful journey from addiction and personal struggle to executive leadership, detailing how recovery, discipline, and radical personal accountability shaped her approach to business and life. From overcoming substance abuse to helping scale one of Denver’s fastest-growing roofing companies, Brie offers a raw and honest look at what it really takes to rebuild—personally and professionally. This conversation goes deep into leadership development, operational scaling, company culture, and the mindset required to lead teams while maintaining integrity, family balance, and long-term vision. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, contractor, or leader navigating growth and adversity, this episode delivers practical insights and hard-earned wisdom from someone who has lived it.   Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 https://x.com/FTGUshow   Watch the video show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Di3tKOPyXFk   Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com   Guest Links: https://elite-roofs.com/ https://www.theroofingacademy.com/ #FromTheGroundUpShow #BusinessPodcast #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Construction #AddictionRecovery #PersonalGrowth

    1h 25m
  5. Mike Riddle - Losing it All and Building it Back

    JAN 13

    Mike Riddle - Losing it All and Building it Back

    In this episode of From The Ground Up, Mike Riddle shares the unfiltered story of giving up his teaching career to start and construction company only to watch his construction business unravel during a market crash, navigating bankruptcy, and making the difficult decision to start over from scratch. Mike walks through the hard lessons learned, the mental toll of rebuilding after failure, and what it really takes to regain momentum when experience is the only thing you have left. This conversation dives into resilience, risk, humility, and the long road back—offering practical insight for entrepreneurs, builders, and anyone who’s had to rebuild their life or business when the odds were stacked against them. If you’ve ever faced loss, uncertainty, or the fear of starting over, this episode is proof that success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about how you rebuild from it. #Entreprenuer #Construction #FromTheGroundUpShow #Bankrupt #SelfEmployed Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 https://x.com/FTGUshow   Watch the video show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C4ea8HnaBQ0   Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com   Guest Links: https://riddleconstruction.co/

    1h 30m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

From The Ground Up Show is where the next generation of free-thinking leaders come to be inspired. Host Erick Loden sits down with the men and women who’ve built success with their hands, their hustle, and their heart — from tradespeople and entrepreneurs to self-starters and service members we sit down with those who have rejected the traditional career path and chosen to blaze their own path. Through raw, honest conversations and real listener questions, we uncover the lessons, mindset, and grit it takes to build something that lasts - from the ground up.