On Site

Manja Horner: Passing the Torch Before It's Too Late

On the On Site Podcast, host Brandon interviews educator and HR/training professional Manja Horner, who just hit #1 bestseller status with her new book, "Pass the Torch," a rallying call about the trades labor crisis and the need for leaders and business owners to invest in apprentices and inexperienced workers. Horner shares where to buy the book (Amazon and other retailers), upcoming audiobook plans, and her social profiles, then discusses the book’s themes including retention, company culture, knowledge capture from retiring experts, and generational strengths and weaknesses. She also recounts her background growing up in Ontario around her father’s heritage restoration construction business, her path through music and corporate training into building a training/HR services company, and the visibility and mental-health challenges of publishing, including using EMDR therapy. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Intro * 00:14 Meet Manya Horner * 01:21 Pass the Torch Launch * 03:29 Trades Crisis Message * 04:23 Personal Torch Stories * 06:28 Imposter Syndrome Writing * 07:37 Family Legacy Culture * 13:41 Generations And Gen Z * 14:58 Her Journey Background * 15:20 Homeschool Music Roots * 16:53 Construction Family Business * 18:44 Corporate Training Career * 23:51 Knowledge Capture Mentorship * 25:48 Teaching Kids Content * 27:24 Audiobook Studio Recording * 28:11 Audiobook Recording Tips * 29:44 Launching Audible and Sales * 30:23 Learning to Self Celebrate * 34:50 Celebrating Wins and Kids * 38:37 Who the Book Serves * 40:06 How the Book Was Written * 43:16 EMDR and Visibility Fears * 48:33 Where to Find the Book * 50:01 Give Apprentices a Chance * 50:44 Wrap Up and Community Plug * 52:58 Elite Builder Society CTA Connect with Manja Horner: Website - http://www.passthetorchbook.com/ [http://www.passthetorchbook.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/manja_horner/ [https://www.instagram.com/manja_horner/] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Sam Alibabai: How to Stand Out When Every Contractor Looks the Same

Episode 48 of the On Site Podcast welcomes back Sam to share updates on Coronation Construction’s growth, including stepping back from hands-on work into admin, sales, and estimating, and investing in Google/Meta ads and higher-production content to increase visibility. Sam outlines current projects (bathrooms, basements, and a medical office build-out) and discusses gaining confidence by taking action on challenging details like a tiled arched shower entry. He explains his push toward new construction for better pay, focus, and a bigger “wow factor” to showcase skills in one home. They discuss business volatility in Ontario, differentiating from low-quality competitors through consistency and client experience, and Sam details Coronation’s process: fast follow-up, 48–72 hour estimates, in-person proposals, JobTread client portal updates, and strong jobsite protection and respect. Sam plugs Coronation Construction in London, Ontario and shares where to find the company online. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Cold Open * 00:15 Sam Returns Update * 00:59 Marketing Like Influencers * 02:56 Current Projects Pipeline * 03:41 Confidence Taking Action * 06:29 Why New Construction * 08:31 Dad Life Kids Talk * 12:14 Business Challenges Ontario * 15:44 Coronation Experience Process * 17:08 Fast Quote Turnaround * 17:40 JobTread Client Portal * 18:55 In Person Proposals * 19:23 Protecting The Home * 23:50 Why Quality Costs * 25:42 Drywaller Honda Civic Story * 28:21 Journey And Growth Mindset * 29:01 Where To Find Coronation * 29:49 Podcast Wrap Up Connect with Sam Alibabai: Website: https://www.coronationconstruction.com/ [https://www.coronationconstruction.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coronationconstruction [https://www.instagram.com/coronationconstruction] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Chris Mackey: The Marketing Shift Most Contractors Are Missing

On episode 47 of the Onsite Podcast, Brandon welcomes returning guest Chris Mackey from Blue Collar Marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency focused on trades, now grown to about 18–19 people. They discuss how contractors can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini, emphasizing choosing what fits a workflow and noting Gemini’s integration with Google Workspace. Chris explains that AI can speed up agency work but doesn’t replace the nuance needed to build performance-focused, Google-friendly contractor websites that deliver outcomes, not just visuals. They cover shifts in search behavior and the importance of making sites crawlable for AI (including adding an LLM.txt file). Chris also outlines current ad trends: Google for intent-driven leads and Meta for awareness, where recent changes make ad success more dependent on high-quality creative volume than targeting. Brandon promotes Blue Collar Marketing audits and the Elite Builders Society membership at EBSworks.com for $49/month. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Welcome Intro * 00:15 Chris Returns Update * 01:19 Blue Collar Marketing Growth * 02:47 Chuck In A Truck Bit * 04:21 Working Together Tools * 06:16 AI Stack For Contractors * 06:56 Choosing Models Workflow * 11:50 AI Websites Value Debate * 14:48 Outcomes Over Commodities * 18:12 Adapting Or Getting Kodakd * 19:14 AI In Schools Controversy * 20:33 School Tools Debate * 21:59 Marketing Trends Now * 23:44 AI Search Website Setup * 27:49 Find Blue Collar Marketing * 28:36 Website Walkthrough * 30:02 Paid Ads Google vs Meta * 32:50 Meta Andromeda Creative Shift * 35:53 Tech Overwhelm Future Sales * 39:47 Final Advice and Wrap Connect with Chris Mackey: Website - https://bluecollarmarketing.ca/ [https://bluecollarmarketing.ca/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluecollarmarketing.ca/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluecollarmarketing.ca/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmarketingcanada [https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmarketingcanada] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Sean Whalen: Why Men Need to Sit at the Same Table

The Onsite podcast hosts entrepreneur and Lions Not Sheep founder Sean Whalen, who discusses loving life as a father, grandfather, and business owner while navigating an unexpected divorce. Whalen shares his construction and real estate background, including completing over 3,700 flips across 13 states, and his current focus on building a barndominium ranch on 500 acres, emphasizing his passion for creation and learning skills like welding. He explains how he curates social media as a “university” for self-education and advocates a blunt, personal-responsibility approach for men struggling with distractions or addictions, especially fathers. Whalen outlines his new $27/month Lions Not Sheep Brotherhood, aiming to unite 1–3 million men via a private app and monthly town halls to coordinate civic and cultural action, while the host also promotes the Elite Builder Society coaching group. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Kickoff * 00:16 Meet Sean Whalen * 01:24 Proud Dad Hockey Talk * 02:52 Life Update Divorce Ranch * 04:14 Barndominium Build Details * 06:19 Construction Roots Flipping * 08:16 Welding And Creating * 11:25 Mentors And Learning Online * 14:35 Recalibrating Social Media * 15:38 Tough Love Motivation * 18:21 AI As Leverage * 18:51 Fatherhood And Legacy * 20:09 Change Yourself First * 21:35 Building The Brotherhood * 23:58 One Table One Pride * 27:23 Revolution By Numbers * 32:37 Canada Crime Reality Check * 36:47 How To Join And Wrap Up Connect with Sean Whalen: Website - https://lionsnotsheepbrotherhood.com/ [https://lionsnotsheepbrotherhood.com/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/swhalen/ [https://www.facebook.com/swhalen/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/seanwwhalen [https://www.instagram.com/seanwwhalen] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Sean Naylor: Three Generations of Drywall and One Game-Changing Product

The Onsite Podcast host interviews Ontario drywall finisher Sean Naylor of The Mudder’s Touch Ltd, a third-generation drywaller with 27 years’ experience who also makes content for tool and product brands. The main discussion centers on Mud Pro, a mineral-based drywall mud additive invented in the U.S. that Sean says allows wet-on-wet applications through multiple coats, delivers about 50% less shrinkage, can be reactivated with water for polishing, and can reduce sanding for level 5 finishing while drying similarly to traditional mud but curing harder. Sean explains how it can cut scheduling inefficiencies by enabling taping through additional coats in one sitting, and he offers samples and demos via his website and social channels. He also mentions Mud Pro’s Optimal product (paint-ready without priming), Comy Trowels, CanAm Tools, and encourages networking and joining the Elite Builders Society community. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Welcome * 00:19 Meet Sean Naylor * 01:50 Three Generation Drywall Life * 02:37 Music And Studio Side * 03:06 Family And Trade Legacy * 06:13 Branding And Sponsors * 06:26 Mud Pro Additive Intro * 08:32 How It Works Wet On Wet * 10:23 Where To Get Samples * 12:30 Pricing And Packaging * 13:23 Why Drywall Takes So Long * 14:53 Dry Time Strength And Reactivation * 16:27 Second Coat Results * 17:47 Scheduling Jobs Faster * 19:45 Pricing The Additive * 20:44 Efficiency Not Robots * 21:21 More Drywall Products * 23:42 Find Sean Online * 24:39 Sean Family Life * 27:33 Networking And Mindset * 31:38 Join The Community * 33:07 Final Wrap And Share Connect with Sean Naylor: Website - https://www.themudderstouchltd.org/home [https://www.themudderstouchltd.org/home] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheMuddersTouchltd [https://www.facebook.com/TheMuddersTouchltd] Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/themudderstouchltd/ [https://www.instagram.com/themudderstouchltd/] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/