The Atomic Construction Podcast

Ivory Impact
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

This is the Atomic Construction Podcast; the show where we break down what it really takes to build better projects, stronger teams, and a more respected construction industry. Hosted by Kevin Hohe…construction leader and lifelong learner. Every week, he sits down with people who are out there doing the work, like Kyle Nitchen, to talk honestly about the challenges, wins, and wild stories behind the job sites.  We cover everything from scaling businesses and navigating project costs… …to building strong leadership, creating community, and restoring real respect to the trades. So if you’re in the construction world or just want to hear what it takes to build something that lasts - you’re in the right place.

  1. 1d ago

    Construction Is Losing $360 Billion to ONE PROBLEM

    How to Stop Losing Money in Your Construction Business Every job turns into change orders, RFIs, and finger pointing. Not because people are bad at their jobs. Because nobody built a team in the first place. On this episode of the Atomic Construction Pod, I sit down with Jessica Belsky and Belma McCaffrey, cofounders of Proactive Conversations. We talk about why hard conversations need to happen every day on the job, why middle managers are the backbone of every company, and what it would take to build a project the Honest Builder way. Chapters: 0:00 The High Cost of Workplace Conflict 0:36 Meet the Founders of Proactive Conversations 2:32 Why We Are All Bad at Hard Conversations 5:04 Finding the Right Advocates in Construction 10:33 Why We Are Betting on the Trades 21:57 The Myth of the Construction Team Comment below: what’s one conversation on your job site that should’ve happened and didn’t? All Things "The Honest Builder" 🌐 https://thehonestbuilder.io/ Connect with Proactive Conversations:  🌐 https://www.proactiveconversations.com/ Want to be a guest on the Podcast?  Email stacy@ivoryimpact.com #construction #constructionpodcast #leadership #contractor #TheHonestBuilder

  2. Oct 12

    The Real Reason You're Struggling to Build a Team

    Leadership is getting your people where they need to be without them knowing you got them there. Jason Murphy gave Walgreens 17 years. At 38, they called him in and told him they didn’t need him anymore. Today he runs a lawn care company, a fencing company, and a Christmas light business. And he says he wishes they’d fired him on day one. Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Jason Murphy 00:57 From Corporate To Lawn Care 02:22 Cut Loose By Corporate 03:25 Should You Start A Business? 04:33 The Dark Side of Ownership 05:50 What Keeps Jason Going 06:30 Raising Kids Who Earn It 07:30 Leadership Starts with Empathy 08:49 The Legacy Question 10:40 Why You Need A Coach 12:06 Know Your Numbers 12:57 Inside The Honest Builder 16:02 Value First Pricing 18:16 Givers, Not Takers 20:49 How To Win Commercial Work 24:04 Lightning Round If you’re stuck in the golden handcuffs wondering if you should bet on yourself, watch this one. Connect with Jason ⤵️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-murphy-8ab25222b/?isSelfProfile=false ✉️jason@louisvillefenceworks.com All Things "The Honest Builder" 🌐https://thehonestbuilder.io/ Want to be a guest on the Podcast?  Email stacy@ivoryimpact.com

  3. Sep 26

    A Client Stopped Paying and the Whole Construction Company Got Fired in One Day with Cory Aspell

    When a construction client stops paying, the whole company can go down with it. On this episode of the Atomic Construction Podcast, former Air Force B1 crew chief Cory Aspell shares how one unpaid client led the owner of a utility scale solar startup to fire the entire company in one day. The VP, the project managers, the laborers. Everyone. Cory was the director of construction at that company. Today he leads the self perform group at Sante Group, building utility scale and community solar projects, while growing his own construction photography business on the side. We talk about construction leadership, how to build a crew that follows you from job to job, what leading from the front looks like on a jobsite, and why so many construction companies preach culture but never live it. If you run crews, manage projects, or own a construction business, this one hits close to home. Drop a comment: has a client ever stopped paying you? What did you do? Know a project manager or business development lead who needs real jobsite photos?   Connect with Cory 🖇️https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-aspell-0127901a7/ 🌐https://www.sante-group.com/about-us Chapters 00:00 Fired in one day / intro 00:42 From B1 crew chief to construction 01:40 Betting on a startup 02:00 When the client stopped paying 02:47 Starting over at Sante Group 03:39 The photo that started a business 09:45 Why his crew follows him into the fire 12:52 The plan to go all in on his side business 15:31 How his photography service works 18:49 What good leadership really means 20:08 Why most companies fake their culture 21:30 What the military got wrong 24:34 A Tribute to his Family #constructionpodcast #constructionleadership #contractors #constructionbusiness #solarconstruction

  4. Sep 26

    Saving $2,000 on your policy can end your company with Chuck Mazzanti

    Chuck Mazzanti sells construction insurance and tells contractors to stop shopping it on price. His reason is simple. The two thousand dollars you save at renewal is the same two thousand that buys the coverage gap that kills you when you file a claim. If you run a construction company, your workers comp premium is not a fixed cost. Your experience mod controls it. Move that number from 0.99 to 1.01 and you can lose a contractor credit worth 30 percent. On a 100,000 dollar premium that is 30,000 dollars in one year, and in some states a mod over 1.0 can keep you from getting work at all. Chuck works at Christensen Group Insurance, a 100 percent employee owned agency with a heavy construction book. He sits on the CFMA membership committee and is stepping into a VP role with the Illinois ESOP Association. He also says he hates the product he sells, which is why this conversation is worth your time. ABOUT CHUCK Chuck Mazzanti is a founding member of The Honest Builder and a construction insurance advisor at Christensen Group Insurance, a 100 percent employee owned agency serving contractors nationally. He hosts the Construction ESOP Collective, a podcast about contractors who sold their companies to their own employees. CONNECT WITH CHUCK LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-mazzanti/ Christensen Group: https://www.christensengroup.com/team/chuck-mazzanti Construction ESOP Collective:https://www.constructionesopcollective.com/about ABOUT THE SHOW Atomic Construction is the podcast for people who actually build things. Kevin Hohe sits down with contractors, trade business owners, and the people running crews to talk about hiring, sales, culture, money, and ownership. The stuff nobody teaches you and most people learn the hard way. No guru advice. Nobody selling you a course. Hosted by Kevin Hohe, founder of Complete Fence and Ivory Impact. 🎙️Want to be a guest? Email stacy@ivoryimpact.com

  5. Sep 4

    Adam McChesney: The Marketing Nobody in the Trades Wants to Do

    In this episode, Kevin sits down with Adam of Builders of Authority, a St. Louis digital marketing agency with 44 employees and about 100 contracting clients across the country. Contractor marketing is where most home services businesses burn money they never get back. Adam built 200 lead generation websites, ranked them, rented the leads to trades businesses, then used one of those sites to start an auto glass company he sold in 2025. He has never replaced a windshield. We get into SEO for contractors, Google Business Profile, paid ads, and the uncomfortable truth about branding versus craftsmanship. Adam also walks through the free stuff every solo operator should be doing before spending a dollar on an agency. If you are under $500K a year, that section alone is worth the watch. Adam McChesney info: 🌐https://adammcchesney.com/ 🎙️https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-of-authority/id1610240971 ◆ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-mcchesney-b21b1256/ 📲https://facebook.com/adam.mcchesney.3 ✔️instagram.com/adamlmcchesney?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Complete Fence and everything else Kevin is building: 🎙️https://theatomicconstructionpodcast.buzzsprout.com 🌐https://ivoryimpact.com 📲https://www.instagram.com/khohe414/ If you are a contractor sitting on a phone that keeps ringing and going unanswered, or you are the guy who refuses to post, drop a comment and tell me which one you are. I read them and I answer them. 📩 Want to be a guest on the podcast? Email stacy@ivoryimpact.com

  6. Mar 2

    Entrepreneurs and Coaching with Darin Newbold

    Kevin talks to leadership coach and entrepreneur Darin Newbold about some of the best ways to help entrepreneurs who may be struggling to get to the next level! Darin's earlier appearance on the Better Questions podcast - https://betterquestionspod.buzzsprout.com/2569355/episodes/18436393-can-you-find-yourself-as-you-break-yourself-with-darin-newbold Darin's website - https://yourboldsolutions.com/ Atomic Construction website - https://www.ivoryimpact.com/atomic-construction Find the Atomic Construction Podcast on your favorite streaming site - https://linktr.ee/AtomicConstructionPod

  7. Feb 23

    Catching Up With Herb Sargent

    Kevin talks to industry legend Herb Sargent about a variety of topics, including AI, Millennials, and the legacy he hopes he's leaving! Herb's website - https://sargent.us Atomic Construction website - https://www.ivoryimpact.com/atomic-construction Find the Atomic Construction Podcast on your favorite streaming site - https://linktr.ee/AtomicConstructionPod

  8. Feb 16

    Navigating the Merchandise Maze with Jack Ziskind

    Kevin talks to entrepreneur Jack Ziskind about his journey from college student to the merchandise industry. Find out more about Jack's company - https://promoshopinc.com/ Atomic Construction website - https://www.ivoryimpact.com/atomic-construction Find the Atomic Construction Podcast on your favorite streaming site - https://linktr.ee/AtomicConstructionPod

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

This is the Atomic Construction Podcast; the show where we break down what it really takes to build better projects, stronger teams, and a more respected construction industry. Hosted by Kevin Hohe…construction leader and lifelong learner. Every week, he sits down with people who are out there doing the work, like Kyle Nitchen, to talk honestly about the challenges, wins, and wild stories behind the job sites.  We cover everything from scaling businesses and navigating project costs… …to building strong leadership, creating community, and restoring real respect to the trades. So if you’re in the construction world or just want to hear what it takes to build something that lasts - you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Ivory Impact
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Atomic Construction Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Atomic Construction Podcast

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