The Kitchen Table

Ken Baden
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A show about business, sales, goals, and the pursuit of personal greatness, all where business gets done. The Kitchen Table.

  1. How Smart Business Owners Use AI & Virtual Assistants to Buy Back Their Time | Andrew Hathaway

    5D AGO

    How Smart Business Owners Use AI & Virtual Assistants to Buy Back Their Time | Andrew Hathaway

    EPISODE NOTES Andrew Hathaway is Co-Founder of Freedom.AI and operates out of Cherry Creek, Denver — right in the heart of the private equity and M&A world. His three-part framework for business owners: Executive Assistants for time freedom → AI automation for operational efficiency → Life insurance strategies for financial freedom. The "Become Your Own Bank" concept: using a permanent life insurance policy's cash value to finance major business purchases (trucks, equipment, bonuses) while your money keeps compounding — effectively making one dollar work in two places. Why virtual assistants (VAs) from the Philippines remain a competitive advantage — Andrew says he'd never go back to hiring Americans for admin roles, given the cost difference and quality of talent. AI phone answering and overflow call handling is already working for home service companies — Andrew admits he was skeptical but is now a believer. Private equity is aggressively acquiring home service companies right now, including roofing, fire safety, HVAC, and plumbing. Andrew recommends always using an M&A advisory firm before engaging PE — going in alone can drop your multiple from 7-8x down to 4-5x. Ken shares Potomac Custom Remodeling's 2025 revenue goals ($20M minimum, shooting for $30M) and expansion into Delaware and Pennsylvania. Baden Consulting is pivoting to serve the roofing/retail roofing consulting niche with a community-based model after strong demand on social media. Andrew's closing legacy thought: beyond business, he wants to be remembered as someone who helped blue-collar entrepreneurs become spiritual leaders and positively impacted lives in the marketplace. TIMESTAMPS 0:18 – Welcome & Introduction 1:00 – Andrew's world: Private equity, M&A, and home services in Denver 3:00 – The fire safety industry and PE acquisition frenzy 5:00 – Andrew's business model: EAs, AI, and life insurance strategies 6:00 – The "Become Your Own Bank" concept with life insurance 10:00 – Virtual assistants vs. AI automation — what's still worth hiring a human for 13:00 – The private equity opportunity for home service owners 15:00 – Why you need an M&A advisor before talking to PE firms 18:00 – Ken's growth goals: Potomac Custom Remodeling's 2025 plan 20:00 – Staffing challenges in scaling a roofing company 23:00 – Baden Consulting and the roofing community pivot 26:00 – Andrew's 2025 business goals: targeting $10M per company 29:00 – How to contact Andrew Hathaway 31:00 – Andrew's legacy: faith, family, and marketplace leadership   🔗 Connect with Andrew Hathaway:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anhathaway/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theandrewhathaway/  Website: www.hathawaydashcompanies.com 🌐 The Kitchen Table Podcast: thekitchentablepodcast.net  🏢 Baden Consulting www.badenconsulting.net 🏢 Potomac Custom Remodeling: www.potomaccustomremodeling.com #BlueCollarBusiness #AIAutomation #HomeServicesBusiness #PrivateEquity #BusinessFreedom #TheKitchenTablePodcast

    33 min
  2. Brothers Beyond the Finish Line: Brent & Kyle Pease on Faith, Disability, and Iron Man

    MAY 8

    Brothers Beyond the Finish Line: Brent & Kyle Pease on Faith, Disability, and Iron Man

    EPISODE NOTES Brent and Kyle Pease are co-founders of the Kyle Pease Foundation, based in Atlanta, GA Kyle has cerebral palsy and competes in full Ironman triathlons alongside his brother Brent In an Ironman, Brent pulls Kyle through a 2.4-mile swim in a boat tied to his waist, pedals a three-wheeled bike with Kyle seated in front for 112 miles, and pushes Kyle in a chair for a 26.2-mile run They have completed 6 full Ironman events together The Kyle Pease Foundation helped 170 families find finish lines last year The brothers published a book in 2019 titled "Beyond the Finish" They are active public speakers with engagements in Richmond, Phoenix, Cincinnati (Council on Aging), and have spoken in Maui Host Ken Baden shares his own story of personal struggle, including addiction and recovery, connecting it to the episode's broader themes of resilience Brent's turning point included spending his last dollars on a bicycle Kyle's vision for the next 5 years: continuing to open doors for people with disabilities to reach their full potential Brent's 5-year vision: scale the Foundation to support 300+ families and help people see what's possible beyond the finish line Closing quote from Brent: "Inspire your own change through movement. Motivation follows action." TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Welcome & Introductions  01:50 — Who Are Brent & Kyle Pease? The Story of the Kyle Pease Foundation  03:00 — Building a Nonprofit from the Kitchen Table  03:55 — What It's Really Like to Do an Ironman with Cerebral Palsy  05:30 — The First Ironman: Losing the Wheelchair & a Moment That Said It All  06:20 — Will There Be Another Ironman? The Door Is Cracked Open  07:00 — Ken Opens Up: Recovery, Addiction, and Finding Redemption Through Movement  10:50 — The Mental Battle Inside an Ironman — How Kyle Keeps Brent Going  13:30 — The Business of Endurance: Parallels Between Racing and Entrepreneurship  14:40 — Kyle Explains Why He Chose Ironman — No Wheelchair Division, Just the Race  15:50 — Breaking Down the Ironman: What Brent Actually Does for 15 Hours  17:10 — The Brother Bond and Shared Sacrifice  17:45 — The Book: "Beyond the Finish" and How It Came to Be  21:30 — Their Public Speaking Work and What Audiences Can Expect  23:00 — Upcoming Events: Richmond, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Beyond  24:35 — Where Will They Be in 5 Years?  25:30 — The Foundation's Impact: 170 Families and What Comes Next  26:50 — Where to Find the Kyle Pease Foundation  27:00 — Final Wisdom: "Motivation Follows Action"

    29 min
  3. Buying, Building & Scaling Blue Collar Businesses | Ian McCarthy of Blue Claw Group

    APR 17

    Buying, Building & Scaling Blue Collar Businesses | Ian McCarthy of Blue Claw Group

    Guest: Ian McCarthy — President of Blue Claw Group LLC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-mccarthy-a08ab725/ Website: blueclawgroup.com | BidClout AI Estimating Tool (on homepage) YouTube: Ian Blue Claw McCarthy | Instagram: @blueclawgroup Host: Ken Baden — CEO/Owner of Baden Consulting and Potomac Custom Remodeling Website: badenconsulting.net | thekitchentablepodcast.net Companies Mentioned: Blue Claw Associates (landscaping & construction, Cape Cod/Nantucket/South Shore) Blue Water Pools (custom gunite pool company) Boston Tennis Court (pickleball, basketball & tennis court builder — 50-year-old acquisition) BidClout — Ian's AI-powered estimating software for landscapers Quick Calc — Ian's financial proposal/pricing app Goat Gang — landscape owner mastermind group Key Topics Discussed: Buying your first business vs. starting from scratch How Ian went $0 to $12M in 6.5 years across 3 companies Co-founding the National Basketball League of Canada AI in the blue collar trades: estimating, accounts payable, content creation "Know Your Numbers" workshop and why most contractors fly blind financially How to build referral pipelines through architects, builders, and designers Why brand trust and removing fear of risk wins higher-ticket clients Diversification vs. focus: the real debate for multi-business owners The robot/AI future of the trades and how to stay ahead     Timestamps 0:00 — Intro & Welcome: Ian McCarthy of Blue Claw Group  1:50 — Blue Claw's business overview: landscaping, pools & tennis/pickleball courts  4:10 — Ian's background: from CPA to buying a landscaping company for $25K  6:00 — The accidental acquisition: how Ian's first business deal happened  7:15 — Growing the landscaping company to nearly $4M in sales  7:45 — The unexpected pivot: buying a minor league basketball team (Kobe Bryant's father was coaching)  8:20 — Co-founding the National Basketball League of Canada  9:50 — Returning to the trades and launching Blue Claw Associates in 2018  11:25 — Zero to $12 million in 6.5 years across three companies  11:50 — How COVID became rocket fuel for Blue Claw's growth  15:00 — Watching the current market and how Ian is preparing for uncertainty  18:45 — Blue Claw's team: 75-80 employees, 35 trucks  19:30 — The consulting company: how "Know Your Numbers" was born  21:00 — Building referral pipelines through architects and designers (not lead services)  22:30 — The "Know Your Numbers" workshop and why the industry is underserved financially  25:00 — How AI is changing the blue collar space (operations, marketing, efficiency)  28:30 — AI search and why contractors need to start thinking about GEO (not just SEO)  30:45 — Ian's AI-powered future: rebuilding the office with AI tools  32:00 — The origin story of BidClout: from Spain trip inspiration to AI estimating software  34:00 — Pricing strategy: how to position as premium and remove client risk/fear  36:15 — Would Ian buy another business? What he'd look at next  39:30 — Focus vs. diversification: the real answer for multi-business owners  42:30 — The future of Blue Claw Group consulting and events  43:30 — Why many trade business owners fly blind on their numbers  47:00 — Where to find Ian, BidClout, and Blue Claw Group  50:00 — Closing thoughts & wrap-up

    51 min
  4. Zero Construction Experience to Eight Figures: How Jason Nemes Built Summit Solutions

    APR 3

    Zero Construction Experience to Eight Figures: How Jason Nemes Built Summit Solutions

    Ken Baden and Jason Nemes first connected at the Blue Collar Ballers event in February of last year, and this episode is the payoff of several scheduling attempts that almost didn't happen. It's worth the wait. Jason's background is anything but conventional for a roofing CEO. He spent years building a 4,500-person downline in the health and wellness network marketing space, and still draws a six-figure annual residual from that work today. When a friend called him to start a roofing company, Jason flew to Oklahoma to learn the basics — door knocking, inspections, filing claims — and dove in headfirst. His first official company, Summit Solutions Roofing and Construction, launched at the end of June 2024 after a business partnership dissolved over equity disagreements. He's candid about the split, the half-million-dollar back-door he experienced from a rep he trusted, and how those hard lessons reshaped the way he moves in business today. Jason talks about the DFW market — one of the most saturated roofing markets in the country with roughly 8,000 companies — and how he managed to cut through by staying true to who he is on social media, paying people on time, and building a culture where team members feel seen, valued, and enrolled in the vision. Ken and Jason also get into the business side of growth: insurance vs. retail revenue, multi-state licensing in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and soon Florida and Arizona, goals of $20-30 million this year, the EBITDA benchmarks that make a PE exit viable, and what a real private equity deal looks like for a roofing company in today's market. The conversation closes on a personal and powerful note — Jason's recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and how the same intensity and discipline that nearly cost him everything is now the fuel behind one of the fastest-growing roofing startups in Texas. Follow Jason: Instagram & TikTok: @TattedPrez Facebook: Jason Nemes Company Page: Summit Solutions Roofing and Construction Follow Ken & the show: 🌐 thekitchentablepodcast.net 🌐 badenconsulting.net

    43 min
  5. No Lead Left Behind: How Jesse Spiegel Is Systematizing Roofing with AI

    MAR 6

    No Lead Left Behind: How Jesse Spiegel Is Systematizing Roofing with AI

    Guest: Jesse Spiegel is the founder of NexLev Logic (nexlevlogic.com), an AI automation platform built exclusively for the roofing industry. With years of experience as a top-producing roofing sales rep — including $3.8M in a single storm season — Jesse turned his firsthand frustrations into a full suite of tools that help roofing companies communicate better, close more, and scale without the chaos. He currently manages roofing projects in both Colorado and Florida while growing NexLev Logic. Host: Ken Baden is the CEO and owner of Baden Consulting and Potomac Custom Remodeling. His podcast, The Kitchen Table Podcast, is where real business conversations happen in the trades and beyond. Topics covered in this episode: Jesse's origin story in roofing and his $3.8M Hurricane Irma experience Why great sales without great systems leads to broken promises How AI unlocked the ability to scale what Jesse was doing manually The 6 core modules of NexLev Logic's platform Speed-to-lead: why every second counts after a new inquiry comes in No Lead Left Behind: automated follow-up that runs forever until you get a yes or a no Subcontractor communication with built-in photo collection and Venmo incentives Real-time homeowner updates to reduce friction and build loyalty AI note-takers on sales pitches that analyze objections and send reps coaching tips Automated review capture that follows up persistently until the customer responds Ken's strategy: tighten operations before scaling to new markets The insurance restoration to retail roofing shift happening nationwide Why door knocking is still the greatest sales skill in the business

    37 min
  6. More Than a Body: The Faith-Based Fitness Brand Redefining Women's Apparel with Maryori Jones

    FEB 20

    More Than a Body: The Faith-Based Fitness Brand Redefining Women's Apparel with Maryori Jones

    Guest: Maryori Jones | Founder, Ave Sportwear  Host: Ken Baden | CEO/Owner, Baden Consulting & Potomac Custom Remodeling  Podcast: The Kitchen Table Podcast | thekitchentablepodcast.net Key Takeaways: Ave stands for Agua Viva Empire — a faith-first brand for women of all body types The brand was born from Maryori's postpartum experience and the loss of identity many mothers face after childbirth She grew up between Honduras and Mexico and was selling fruit to help her family at age 6 — entrepreneurship has always been in her DNA Ave is strictly women's athletic apparel, designed to serve all body types and life stages She is also building a hair product line alongside Ave Sportwear Maryori and her husband (active military) are relocating to the Chicago area soon — Ave will continue to grow online Social media comparison is a real issue for women — Ave is a counter-cultural brand encouraging women to love themselves from the inside out First-generation immigrants often carry a stronger hunger and appreciation for opportunity in America Both Ken and Maryori connect over rebuilding their lives and how hitting rock bottom removes the fear of failure Resources Mentioned: Ave Sportwear: avesportwear.us State & Liberty (men's athletic-fit clothing, mentioned by Ken) Good Vibes Only (another clothing brand in the TKT circle)

    26 min
  7. ICE Raids, Insurance Wars, and the Retail Revolution: A Roofing State of the Union with your host Ken Baden

    FEB 13

    ICE Raids, Insurance Wars, and the Retail Revolution: A Roofing State of the Union with your host Ken Baden

    EPISODE NOTESHost: Ken Baden — CEO & President, Potomac Custom Remodeling and Baden Consulting Format: Solo episode, no guest Runtime: Approx. 21 minutes People & Companies Mentioned: Dmitry Lipinskiy — Roofing Insights (hosted Ken on his podcast and radio show in Minnesota)Chris Simberman — industry contact discussing business pivotsNetwork shoutouts: John Cena, Chris Jericho, Adam Vidzeme, Brandon J., Todd Price, John McCainbridge, Adam Champagne, Tony Flahom, Kurt LindemannKey Topics: ICE enforcement & the Hispanic labor workforce — staffing, costs, and project timelinesCredit score landscape — 64% of Americans have a FICO above 700 (live ChatGPT lookup done on air)National roofing market dropped ~19% in 2025UPPA law — what it means for contractors working insurance claimsInsurance drop letters — companies requiring roof replacement within 30 days or canceling policiesRetail vs. insurance restoration — pros, cons, and why diversification is criticalWhat a working retail sales system looks like (lead gen, setter-closer model, 30–35% close rate)Super Bowl local ad spot secured a week before the game2026 mindset — down markets create market share opportunitiesBaden Consulting is currently accepting a limited number of clients per quarter. Reach out to Ken directly for availability or referrals to vetted industry consultants.

    22 min

  8. FEB 6

    The 78-Year-Old Engineer Who Cracked the Code to Financial Freedom with Ron Kmetovicz

    Guest Information: Name: Ron KmetoviczBook: Ghost Money: The Pathway to Financial IndependenceWebsite: https://ghostmoneythebook.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-k-34218017/Background: Retired engineer, 20 years in Silicon Valley, consulting practice ownerCurrent Location: Reno-Lake Tahoe areaAge: 78 (still actively skiing, mountain biking, hiking)Key Concepts Discussed: Ghost Money StrategySeparate investment account from 401(k)/retirement fundsFocus on long-term compound growthBuilt to outlast inflationStarted early for maximum effectWhy Traditional Advice Falls Short401(k)s have limitations and restrictionsInflation erodes purchasing power over timeTraditional retirement planning may not provide true independenceNeed for additional wealth-building strategiesRon's Background & CredibilityPennsylvania farm boy upbringingPenn State engineering degree20 years in Silicon Valley with top talent and equipmentStarted consulting practice and multiple businessesSuccessfully mentored children and grandchildren through financial developmentBook OriginsWritten at age 78 as legacy document for great-grandchildrenBased on real experience mentoring family membersSimple, accessible approach to complex topicNot profit-driven—focused on helping youthInvestment PhilosophyAvoid gambling mentality (crypto, day trading, meme coins)Focus on steady, proven growth strategiesUnderstand the difference between investing and speculationStart early, stay consistentLife Philosophy: "Live Where You Play"Integrate work and lifestyle choicesReduce commuting and unnecessary travelBuild life around activities you loveFinancial independence enables lifestyle freedomActionable Takeaways: Start a separate "Ghost Money" investment account todayMake consistent contributions, no matter how smallFocus on long-term growth over quick winsUnderstand inflation's real impact on your purchasing powerAvoid the allure of day trading and crypto gamblingRead "Ghost Money" for the complete strategyConsider where you live vs. where you want to playResources Mentioned: Ghost Money: The Pathway to Financial Independence (book)Website: ghostmoneythebook.comAvailable on Amazon (search for Ron Kmetovicz to find the correct book)The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod (referenced by Ken)Warning for Book Buyers: There are other fiction books titled "Ghost Money" - make sure you're getting Ron Kmetovicz's book (spelled K-M-E-T-O-V-I-C-Z). Easiest way is to go directly to ghostmoneythebook.com.

    39 min
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4.9
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About

A show about business, sales, goals, and the pursuit of personal greatness, all where business gets done. The Kitchen Table.

Information

  • Creator
    Ken Baden
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 The Kitchen Table Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Kitchen Table