Born For The Trades: A Home Service Podcast

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"Born For The Trades: A Home Service Podcast" is a weekly podcast hosted by Mandeep Bhalla that aims to inspire and educate home services business owners. Each episode features successful industry leaders, like Tommy Mello, Ken Goodrich, and more, who share their stories and provide valuable insights into the home services industries. Through its focus on the successes of well-known business owners, "Born For The Trades" provides a unique perspective on the home services industry and offers valuable insights and advice for those looking to grow their businesses.

  1. From Stanford to Service Trucks: Why AI’s Brightest Minds Chose the Trades

    3D AGO

    From Stanford to Service Trucks: Why AI’s Brightest Minds Chose the Trades

    On this episode of Born For The Trades, Mandeep sits down with Kevin and Gabe, two Stanford-trained computer scientists who took an unexpected path. Instead of chasing flashy startups or big tech exits, they chose the home service industry, with a sharp focus on commercial contractors. It was not the obvious move. That is exactly why it matters. Kevin grew up around the trades, watching his uncle run a commercially focused construction company. The rhythms of job sites, bids, and long-term relationships were familiar. Gabe came from a deeply technical world with experience at Google and Autodesk and no direct background in the trades. Together, they formed a partnership that blends lived industry exposure with elite technical execution. Modern Edge was not born from a grand master plan. Kevin and Gabe describe how they “accidentally” began doing AI strategy consulting for construction and real estate firms. What started as curiosity quickly revealed a massive gap. Commercial contractors were underserved by modern marketing tools, especially in B2B environments where relationships, timing, and trust are everything. They saw an opportunity to bridge the educational gap and bring practical AI into an industry that is essential yet often overlooked by Silicon Valley. Bootstrapping was a deliberate choice. Instead of raising capital and chasing growth at all costs, they built for profitability from day one. Every decision had weight. Every feature had to matter. That discipline shaped their product and their mindset. They talk candidly about the pressure and clarity that comes from building without a safety net. One of the most compelling parts of the conversation centers on AI-driven email marketing for commercial contractors. In B2C, marketing is often high volume and transactional. In B2B, especially in the trades, it is nuanced and relationship-based. A single well-timed email can unlock a multi-year contract. AI allows contractors to personalize outreach, craft compelling subject lines, and stay top of mind without adding administrative burden. Kevin and Gabe share examples of intriguing subject lines that spark curiosity and drive opens, proving that small shifts in messaging can create outsized results. They also reflect on the advice that shaped them. The best advice was to focus on long-term thinking and to build something real. The worst was overly confident, absolute guidance not grounded in data or context. For Kevin, books that reshape perspective have played a key role in how he approaches business and resilience. By the end of the episode, one thing is clear. The trades are not behind. They are on the brink of transformation. Founders like Kevin and Gabe are not trying to disrupt contractors. They are equipping them. For commercial leaders who want to grow smarter, market better, and compete at a higher level, this conversation is one you will not want to miss. To connect with Kevin and Gabe or request a demo from Modern Edge, they invite listeners to reach out directly to www.modernedge.io and start the conversation. Support the show

    18 min
  2. The Missed Call Millionaire Problem

    MAR 4

    The Missed Call Millionaire Problem

    Live from EPIC 2026, Mandeep sits down with AJ Jain, Co-Founder and CEO of Broccoli AI, for a conversation that every contractor needs to hear. What starts as a discussion about artificial intelligence quickly turns into a wake-up call about missed calls, lost revenue, and the hidden gaps in most home service businesses. Contractors spend thousands generating leads through SEO and Google Ads. The phones ring. The opportunities are there. But what happens next often determines whether a company grows or stalls. AJ shares eye-opening data on how many calls go unanswered across the trades and just how much revenue is slipping through the cracks because teams cannot respond fast enough. The numbers are not small. For many shops, it is the difference between plateauing and scaling. Mandeep digs into the real issue. Marketing gets the phone to ring, but without speed and structure on the back end, the investment falls apart. AJ explains what typically happens when contractors invest heavily in lead generation but lack a strong follow-up system. Slow responses. Dropped inquiries. Competitors who answer first and win the job. In today’s market, speed is not a luxury. It is survival. The conversation shifts to integration and scalability. AJ breaks down how Broccoli AI connects with platforms like ServiceTitan and other CRMs, and why that connection matters. It is not about replacing people. It is about creating a seamless handoff from first contact to booked job. When AI works inside the existing tech stack, it strengthens it. The result is better tracking, cleaner data, and more predictable revenue. Skepticism around AI is real, especially in an industry built on relationships and trust. AJ addresses the concern head-on. Customers still want a real person. The difference is that they want responsiveness even more. AI is not about removing the human element. It is about making sure no opportunity is missed, and no customer feels left behind. One of the most compelling parts of the episode is the discussion around company size. Is AI only for the big players? AJ makes it clear that even a one-million-dollar shop can benefit. Then he paints the picture of the ideal tech stack for a three-million-dollar HVAC company today. Marketing, automation, CRM, and data are all aligned with one goal: turning every click into a booked job. Looking ahead, AJ shares where he sees AI taking the home service industry over the next three to five years. The changes are coming fast. The companies that adapt early will have a serious advantage. This episode is also made possible by our sponsors, Broccoli AI and Grow Reviews. Broccoli AI, at broccoli.com, provides AI voice agents that answer phones around the clock, book jobs, follow up on estimates, and dispatch technicians seamlessly. Grow Reviews, at growreviews.com, helps home service companies capture authentic video testimonials that build trust and drive more business. If you are serious about growth, this episode of Born For The Trades will challenge how you think about your systems, speed, and scalability. Support the show

    17 min
  3. The Lifeblood of the Trades: CRM, AI, and the Future of Growth

    FEB 25

    The Lifeblood of the Trades: CRM, AI, and the Future of Growth

    On this episode of Born For The Trades, Mandeep sits down with Strick Tudor, a leader who has spent more than 25 years serving the trades and learning what truly drives a contractor’s success. From two decades at Enterprise Fleet Management helping contractors optimize their vehicles to leading revenue and partnerships in the world of trade technology, Strick has seen the industry from every angle. He is not just a tech executive. He is someone who understands the field, who has installed window units, cleared condenser lines, and spent time around family members who built their lives in the trades.  The conversation quickly moves beyond the buzzwords. Strick challenges the common belief that a CRM is simply a dispatching and scheduling tool. Instead, he calls it the lifeblood of a business. A true Field Service Management platform becomes the command center where workflows live, numbers tell the truth, and leaders gain visibility into the daily health of their company. Without it, contractors are guessing. With it, they can understand KPIs, identify training gaps, support their teams, and make confident decisions rooted in data.  As the leader of revenue and partnerships at Workiz, Strick explains what makes their platform different. Ease of use. Speed of onboarding. Fast time to value. An intuitive mobile app that technicians actually enjoy using. Embedded communications that capture conversations and turn them into insight. The goal is not complexity. It is clarity and growth.  Then the conversation turns to AI, and this is where things get exciting. AI inside the trades is not science fiction. It is already converting leads, analyzing calls, automating follow-up, and even answering the phone 24 hours a day through virtual AI agents. Missed calls become booked jobs. Data becomes direction. Smaller contractors suddenly have the tools to compete with major players. AI becomes the great equalizer.  Strick shares how contractors are seeing dramatic improvements in review ratings because customers are always being responded to. Some businesses are reclaiming up to 30 hours per week through automation. Others are uncovering hidden revenue by identifying upsell opportunities, aging equipment, and service plan gaps directly from call insights.  For sales managers, the metrics are clear. Speed to lead. Conversion rate. Average ticket value. Service plans that build a competitive moat. The best in class are responding within seconds, not hours. The difference between growth and stagnation often comes down to how quickly and intelligently a business reacts.  This episode is also made possible by our sponsors, Broccoli AI and Grow Reviews. Broccoli AI, at broccoli.com, provides AI voice agents that answer phones around the clock, book jobs, follow up on estimates, and dispatch technicians seamlessly. Grow Reviews, at growreviews.com, helps home service companies capture authentic video testimonials that build trust and drive more business. Mandeep and Strick close with a powerful reminder. Be genuinely curious. Spend time in the field. Sit with dispatchers. Ride along with technicians. The future of the trades will belong to leaders who combine technology with real-world understanding. This episode is not about replacing people. It is about empowering them. Support the show

    19 min
  4. Speed Wins Jobs: Why Follow-Up Is the Real Growth Engine in the Trades

    FEB 4

    Speed Wins Jobs: Why Follow-Up Is the Real Growth Engine in the Trades

    In this episode of Born For The Trades, host Mandeep sits down with Ryan Fenn, founder and CEO of CHIIRP, for a real, operator-first conversation about what actually drives growth in home service businesses, and why most owners are leaving money on the table without realizing it. Ryan didn’t build CHIIRP to chase shiny tech trends. He built it to solve a painfully common problem he saw over and over again: great contractors spending hard-earned money to generate leads, only to lose jobs because they were slow to respond or inconsistent with follow-up. In the trades, speed isn’t a luxury; it’s survival. Ryan breaks down what “fast enough” really means when it comes to speed-to-lead, and why even a few minutes can be the difference between a booked job and a lost opportunity. The conversation digs deep into what great follow-up actually looks like in the real world. Not theory, not fluff, but practical systems that work in busy, chaotic home-service businesses. Ryan shares why follow-up isn’t about sending more messages, but about sending the right messages at the right time, consistently, without relying on memory or motivation. Mandeep and Ryan also unpack what separates operators who scale from those who stay stuck year after year. The difference isn’t talent or hustle. It’s ownership, repeatable playbooks, and a willingness to build systems that remove friction from growth. Ryan explains how the latest CHIIRP AI tools are changing the day-to-day for owners by taking follow-up off their mental load while still keeping it personal, timely, and effective. You’ll also hear Ryan call out one follow-up mistake almost every contractor makes, and how fixing it alone can unlock immediate revenue. Finally, they tackle a question every owner wrestles with: if you want predictable growth, should you fix marketing first or follow up? Ryan’s answer may surprise you, and it could save you thousands in wasted ad spend. This episode is packed with practical frameworks, hard-earned insights, and no-BS advice for owners who want growth they can actually control. If you’re in the trades and tired of guessing where your next job is coming from, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Support the show

    45 min
  5. AI, AEO, and the Systems Contractors Can’t Ignore

    JAN 14

    AI, AEO, and the Systems Contractors Can’t Ignore

    In this episode of Born For The Trades, host Mandeep sits down with Ashlynn Rainaldi, Director of Client Success at Grow Nearby, for a conversation that goes far beyond surface-level marketing tactics. With nearly five years of hands-on experience helping home service businesses scale, Ashlynn brings a rare perspective, one rooted in real client relationships, operational clarity, and what actually drives long-term growth in the trades. Ashlynn shares how SEO has quietly but significantly evolved over the past couple of years, especially as AI reshapes how homeowners search for service providers. The discussion dives into the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), what it really means in practice, and why businesses that fail to adapt risk becoming invisible, even if they’re still “doing SEO.” As search behavior changes, Ashlynn explains how smart businesses are shifting their strategies to meet customers earlier, faster, and with more trust. But one of the most eye-opening parts of the conversation centers on what happens after the lead comes in. Ashlynn breaks down a hard truth many owners overlook: marketing often isn’t the problem; systems are. From missed calls and poor follow-up to weak CRM usage, she explains how breakdowns behind the scenes can make great marketing efforts appear ineffective. The phone ringing is only the beginning, and without the right processes in place, growth stalls quickly The episode also takes a deep look at Google Business Profiles and why they’re one of the most underestimated assets for local home service companies. Ashlynn explains how small inconsistencies, outdated information, or lack of activity can quietly erode trust and rankings, while companies that treat GBP as a living, breathing channel see outsized returns. Communication is another major theme throughout the episode. Ashlynn shares what strong, productive communication between a home service business and its marketing agency actually looks like, and how that relationship evolves to drive better results. She also touches on branding, challenging the idea that it’s “just a logo,” and revealing how weak branding can drag down performance across websites, ads, and local search without owners realizing why. Grounded, insightful, and refreshingly honest, this episode is a must-listen for home service owners who want to understand why growth feels harder than it should, and what really needs to change to unlock the next level. Support the show

    36 min
  6. AI Meets the Human Touch: The Future of Customer Experience in Home Services

    11/13/2025

    AI Meets the Human Touch: The Future of Customer Experience in Home Services

    The world of home services is changing fast, and today on Born For The Trades, host Mandeep sits down with someone who’s been shaping that change for years. Brigham Dickinson, President of Power Selling Pros and founder of the Power Certification Program, returns to the show to dive deep into one of the hottest topics transforming every industry right now: artificial intelligence. Since 2009, Brigham has helped contractors across the U.S., Canada, and Australia turn their call centers into customer-experience powerhouses with a bold guarantee that teams will book at least 85% of their calls. But what happens when AI enters the picture? Can technology truly deliver the same “Wow!” moment that Brigham has built his entire philosophy around? In this episode, Brigham and Mandeep explore the crossroads of automation and authenticity. Brigham shares his candid take on AI chatbots and voice assistants, and whether they can ever match the warmth and empathy of a human voice. He believes technology should enhance human connection, not replace it, and he offers a powerful framework for how contractors can use AI to support their teams rather than distance themselves from their customers.  Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest AI tools reshaping customer service, from smart call routing to emotion-recognition technology, and how these innovations can help home service businesses stay ahead of the curve. But Brigham doesn’t just focus on tools; he dives into mindset. He emphasizes accountability, excellence, and the idea that creating unforgettable experiences starts with genuine care for people. For Brigham, the key to future success isn’t choosing between humans and machines; it’s understanding how both can work together to create something even better. As he puts it, “AI can make us faster, but only empathy makes us memorable.” If you’re a contractor, business owner, or team leader wondering how to embrace AI without losing your human edge, this episode is a must-listen. You’ll walk away inspired to rethink your customer interactions, reimagine your call-handling process, and reignite that spark that keeps customers coming back again and again. Tune in to Born For The Trades and hear from one of the industry’s most passionate voices about what it really takes to deliver excellence in the age of AI because the future of home services isn’t just smart… It’s human. Support the show

    36 min

  7. 10/08/2025

    Door-to-Door Isn’t Dead: How Contractors Can Sell With Authority in 2025

    In this episode of Born For The Trades, Mandeep sits down with one of the most disruptive voices in sales today: Sam Wakefield. An international best-selling author, coach, and host of the Close It Now Podcast, Sam’s mission is to help contractors break out of the price-cutting spiral and start selling with confidence, authority, and real results.  Right out of the gate, Sam tackles a hot take that turns heads: door-to-door sales aren’t dead, they’re evolving. In fact, they're making a bold comeback. He explains how too many contractors rely entirely on digital leads and miss out on the power of real-world connections. The truth? The trades are about trust, and nothing builds it faster than showing up at the door, being human, and being helpful.  But don’t expect scripts and sleazy tactics here. Sam dives deep into his core belief that identity beats scripts every time. He explains what a “sales identity” really is, and why knowing who you are, and how you show up, will always outperform the perfect pitch. If you’ve ever felt like you're "faking it" during a sale, this part is a game-changer. One of the most practical segments? Sam’s take on the dreaded “three bids” objection. You’ll learn how to shift the narrative so you're not one of three; you’re the only choice that makes sense. Sam shares how contractors can move from competing on price to competing on value by reframing the way they educate and engage homeowners. He also shares real-world guerrilla marketing wins, including one story where a low-cost, boots-on-the-ground campaign outperformed a digital ad budget 10x its size. His philosophy is clear: don’t wait for leads. Create your own momentum. And he shows you exactly how to do it. For any contractor trapped in the "discount to win" mindset, Sam lays out a first step that’s simple, but not easy: stop chasing volume and start building authority. He shows how high-ticket sales aren’t about saying more; they’re about saying the right things, to the right people, with total clarity on value. Whether you’re a business owner, sales lead, or a technician trying to step into selling, this episode offers a fresh, no-fluff roadmap for turning shaky conversations into confident closes. This one’s for the contractors who are done racing to the bottom and ready to rise to the top. Support the show

    41 min
  8. From the Trenches to Tech: AJ Jain’s Mission to Revolutionize the Trades with AI

    09/24/2025

    From the Trenches to Tech: AJ Jain’s Mission to Revolutionize the Trades with AI

    From the back office of a plumbing shop to the frontline of AI innovation, AJ Jain’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Mandeep sits down with the mind behind Broccoli AI, a platform that was literally built shoulder-to-shoulder with contractors, not in a Silicon Valley boardroom. AJ shares how a 4-hour daily commute, a hands-on plumber named Marcel, and a relentless obsession with solving real problems led to an AI platform now transforming the way home service pros do business. But this isn't just another tech story; it’s a blueprint for innovation grounded in grit and empathy. AJ dives into the early days of Broccoli AI, when he realized contractors didn’t need bells and whistles; they needed time back, smoother operations, and real, practical help. You'll hear how a single conversation with a plumber sparked the creation of a tool now used to automate everything from scheduling to customer follow-ups. Mandeep challenges AJ on the skepticism many in the trades have toward artificial intelligence. AJ doesn't dodge the question. Instead, he shares exactly why this tech isn’t just for big companies, and how contractors are using it today in ways even he didn’t expect. From voice-powered job notes to instant customer responses, this isn’t AI for the future, it’s AI for right now/  We also get a raw look at the missteps and tough lessons AJ learned while entering a world where trust matters more than trends. He opens up about what it takes to earn the respect of tradespeople, and why solving for the human, not just the process, is Broccoli’s North Star. If you're a contractor wondering whether technology has a place in your growth story, this episode will leave you fired up. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, AJ offers one simple, powerful piece of advice that might just change how you think about your next move. Visit www.broccoli.com for more info! This is the kind of episode that makes you believe that the trades aren't just evolving, they're leading. Support the show

    32 min
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5
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9 Ratings

About

"Born For The Trades: A Home Service Podcast" is a weekly podcast hosted by Mandeep Bhalla that aims to inspire and educate home services business owners. Each episode features successful industry leaders, like Tommy Mello, Ken Goodrich, and more, who share their stories and provide valuable insights into the home services industries. Through its focus on the successes of well-known business owners, "Born For The Trades" provides a unique perspective on the home services industry and offers valuable insights and advice for those looking to grow their businesses.

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