The Builders

Matt Levenhagen
  • 5.0 (10)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

"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. 23H AGO

    Tyler Dane – The Long Arc of Building: Focus, Feedback, and Finishing What Matters

    Most builders don’t fail because they lack skill or effort. They struggle because the lessons that matter most only reveal themselves over long stretches of time. In this episode, Tyler Dane joins the show to reflect on the winding path of building. From early career pivots and high-stress on-call roles to indie product experiments and hard-earned clarity, the conversation traces what it actually takes to build something that lasts. Rather than focusing on tactics or tools, this episode digs into the deeper patterns builders encounter. The temptation to chase too many ideas. The illusion of momentum without real feedback. The quiet cost of systems that create constant stress. Tyler shares how stepping away from firefighting roles and embracing focused, reflective practices helped him see where his energy truly belonged. At its core, this is a conversation about finishing what matters. About recognizing that meaningful work often spans decades, not quarters. Through journaling, honest reflection, and learning to narrow focus, builders can reclaim both progress and creative identity. This episode is for anyone who’s realized that the real work isn’t just shipping faster, but building a life and body of work they’ll still be proud of years down the road. Key Takeaways Building careers are rarely linear, and that’s often a strengthFocus matters more than raw output once you’ve learned the basicsEarly feedback prevents years of quiet misalignmentReflection helps solo builders avoid self-delusionSustainable work beats constant urgencyFinishing meaningful work is a long-game decision

    51 min

  2. FEB 2

    Robert Siciliano – Building a Human Firewall in a World That Trusts Too Easily

    In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with cybersecurity expert and security educator Robert Siciliano to unpack what it really means to build security in a world that defaults to trust. What begins as a conversation about cybersecurity quickly turns into a deeper exploration of human behavior, denial, and why most people only take security seriously after something goes wrong. Robert shares the personal experiences that shaped his career, from early encounters with physical danger to being hacked during the early days of online commerce. These moments forged a core belief that still guides his work today: security is personal first. Whether physical or digital, meaningful protection starts with awareness, responsibility, and habits built before a crisis. Together, Matt and Robert explore the concept of the human firewall. Not as a technical solution, but as a mindset shift. Rather than relying solely on tools, policies, or fear-based training, they focus on first principles and practical behaviors that turn individuals into active participants in their own security. The result is a grounded conversation about building security that actually sticks. Key Takeaways Most security failures are human problems, not technology problemsTrust-by-default thinking creates blind spots attackers exploitPeople often ignore risk until they experience consequencesSimple habits like password managers and 2FA go a long wayCredit freezes are one of the most underused security toolsReal security awareness is built through understanding, not fear

    47 min

  3. JAN 26

    Matt Levenhagen – Building Without Shortcuts: Why Doing the Work Creates Resilient Builders

    In this solo episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen reflects on what it really means to become a builder without shortcuts. Drawing from his early years as a self-taught artist in the pre-internet era, Matt explores how learning through books, libraries, and trial and error shaped more than just technical skill. It built patience, discipline, and the ability to stay in the work when progress wasn’t obvious. Matt then connects those early lessons to building his digital agency from the ground up. Without a day-one blueprint, he learned through experimentation, real clients, pricing mistakes, and constant iteration. Rather than discarding everything that didn’t work, he kept the “bricks” that held, slowly forming a foundation that could support growth, contraction, and rebuilding. The episode makes a thoughtful case against shortcuts in business, including buying outcomes without understanding how they were built. Matt argues that real resilience comes from lived experience, not borrowed tactics. For builders in the trenches, this conversation is a reminder that staying with the work is often what turns uncertainty into long-term strength. Key Takeaways: Shortcuts often outsource understanding instead of building it Blueprints can show outcomes, but they don’t create judgment Confusion and friction are part of how builders develop resilience Foundations are built by keeping what works and discarding what doesn’t Builders who do the work can adapt when things break or change Staying in the process turns you into someone who can carry what you build

    38 min

  4. JAN 19

    Lorraine Ball – Building Strategic Agency Teams Without Order Takers

    In this episode of The Builders, Matt reconnects with Lorraine Ball, nearly 200 episodes after her first appearance, for a deep conversation on what it really means to build effective teams inside agencies. Rather than focusing on hiring hacks or org charts, Lorraine walks through the foundational thinking that separates high-performing teams from groups that simply execute tasks. Drawing from her journey from corporate leadership to running a successful agency, Lorraine explains why many agencies unknowingly train their teams to be order takers. She shares how shifting teams toward strategic thinking starts with two deceptively simple questions: who is the customer’s customer, and what does winning actually look like in the next 12 months. Without those answers, even great work becomes generic. The conversation digs into the real mechanics of building teams that think holistically across ads, content, design, and web. Lorraine outlines how intentional coaching, small learning loops, and better internal communication transform not just the quality of output, but the confidence and ownership teams bring to client relationships. Key Takeaways High-performing teams are built by teaching people how to think, not just what to produceAgencies lose value when teams act as order takers instead of strategic partnersKnowing the customer’s customer changes every decision, from ads to UXMost clients can’t articulate success until you help them define itOne-off training fails; consistent, focused coaching sticksStrong teams are created through clarity, communication, and shared context

    51 min

  5. JAN 12

    Rob Broadhead – How to Build Smarter Systems Without Getting Lost in AI Hype

    In this episode of The Builders, Matt reconnects with Rob Broadhead, founder of RB Consulting, to explore how businesses can make better technology decisions in an era dominated by AI hype, tool overload, and constant pressure to “keep up.” Rather than chasing shiny solutions, Rob makes the case for slowing down and clearly defining the problems technology is meant to solve. The conversation digs into a common pattern founders face today. Tools pile up, automations get layered on, and suddenly the business feels more complex instead of more efficient. Rob explains why technology should serve the business roadmap, not dictate it, and why speeding up broken processes only multiplies dysfunction. AI, he notes, amplifies intent. If the problem isn’t well understood, the output won’t be either. Matt and Rob also explore AI’s most overlooked value. Not automation alone, but its role as a thinking partner. Used well, AI becomes a sounding board that helps leaders uncover blind spots, test assumptions, and discover better questions to ask. The takeaway is refreshingly grounded. Builders do not need to implement everything at once. They need to start small, stay intentional, and let clarity lead the build. Key Takeaways Technology should fit the business, not force the business to adapt to tools AI accelerates outcomes, good or bad, depending on how well problems are defined Overwhelm often comes from chasing solutions without clarity Start with one meaningful use case instead of trying to “AI everything” AI is most powerful as a thinking partner, not just an automation engine Strong systems evolve through intention, not pressure or fear of being left behind

    53 min

  6. JAN 5

    Stephanie Sylvestre – From Diplomat to AI Founder: Building AI That Helps Humans Do Better

    Stephanie Sylvestre’s path to becoming CEO and co-founder of Avatar Buddy is anything but linear. Born and raised in Belize, Stephanie expected to return home after college and step into a defined future. When political change erased that path overnight, she was forced to adapt, relocate, and reimagine what building a life and career really meant. That adaptability led her into diplomacy as the youngest Honorary Consul of Belize in Miami, where she spent years navigating relationships, influence, and advocacy at a deeply human level. In parallel, an unexpected internship at Hewlett-Packard introduced her to technology through systems thinking, mentorship, and early software development. Rather than chasing hype, Stephanie learned how complex systems actually work, and where they fail the people relying on them. Those lessons carried forward into consulting, corporate IT, and eventually the founding of Avatar Buddy, a managed AI services company built around trust, safety, and human amplification. In this episode, Stephanie shares how a background rooted in diplomacy and quality-first thinking now shapes her approach to building AI systems that help humans do better at the work they already do. Key Takeaways Builder paths are rarely linear, and detours often create the strongest foundationsTrust and relationships drive real outcomes more than process aloneEarly mentorship shapes how builders think about systems for lifeQuality matters because real people live with the resultsAI works best when it amplifies humans instead of replacing themExperience outside of tech often produces better technology leaders

    51 min

  7. 12/29/2025

    Creating the Killer App for Your Business: The System Behind Your Unfair Advantage

    In this solo end-of-year episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen pulls back the curtain on what he’s been building behind the scenes and why it matters far beyond AI hype. After briefly reflecting on a challenging couple of years in his agency, Matt dives into the real work: designing and building a deeply personal, enterprise-level system that unifies personal insight, business data, and AI into a single command center. This isn’t about tools or dashboards. It’s about creating structure that reduces friction, preserves context, and enables better decisions. The episode explores how understanding your past, protecting your data, and eliminating constant context switching can become a powerful competitive advantage. From layered personal and business hubs to a daily command center and outreach workflows, Matt shares how building systems for yourself can quietly change how you think, work, and rebuild for what comes next. Key Takeaways The real “killer app” isn’t software you sell, it’s the system you build for yourselfFragmentation, not effort, is what drains momentum in modern businessesPersonal clarity and business clarity are deeply connectedSecurity and ownership are essential for honest thinking and reflectionA single command center can eliminate decision fatigue and context switchingBuilding custom systems creates leverage that off-the-shelf tools can’t match

    55 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    Damon Darnall – How the Drone Revolution Lowered Barriers and Unlocked Hundreds of New Businesses

    In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt welcomes back Damon Darnall to explore what happens when technology reaches a tipping point. While their first conversation focused on Damon’s background and the early days of drones, this discussion goes deeper into the drone revolution itself and how it dramatically lowered barriers to entry, unlocking hundreds of new business opportunities. Damon breaks down how drones evolved from complex, expert-only machines into accessible tools powered by sensors, automation, and onboard computing. That shift didn’t just make drones easier to fly. It changed who could participate, which business models became viable, and how real-world problems like inspections, safety, and data collection could be solved more efficiently. The conversation expands beyond drones into a broader lesson for builders. When technology removes friction, opportunity scales. Entire markets open up, new operators enter, and smart builders focus less on the novelty of the tool and more on creating repeatable, practical businesses around it. This episode offers a clear blueprint for recognizing those moments and building with intention when barriers fall. Key Takeaways The drone revolution lowered skill, cost, and complexity barriers, unlocking hundreds of new businesses“Easier to use” technology often leads to higher-value outcomes, not lower onesAutomation and AI enhance human judgment instead of replacing itSafer, faster workflows create stronger and more scalable business modelsSuccessful builders design systems that reduce friction for newcomersThe biggest opportunity is rarely the tool itself, but what it enables others to do

    57 min
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About

"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.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Levenhagen
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    264
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Matt Levenhagen
  • Show Website
    The Builders