Born To Tint with The Miller Brothers

Hosted by The Miller Brothers

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135

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Born to Tint with The Miller Brothers. Our podcast is more than just a show – it's a platform for building relationships, sparking creativity, and propelling the tinting industry forward together. We're here to provide education that empowers not only ourselves but also the tint community – from the clients to fellow professionals in the trade. Tune in to discover the latest trends, techniques, and strategies that drive success in the tinting world, while also gaining valuable insights into personal and professional growth. But that's not all. We're dedicated to fostering a sense of community within the tinting industry. We believe in creating a collaborative space where enthusiasts, experts, and newcomers alike can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. So, whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, whether you're a family-owned business or simply passionate about the art of tinting, we welcome you to join our journey. Subscribe now and be a part of our community as we celebrate the world of tinting.

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June 10, 20261 hr 14 min

Inside Film Fest 2026 | Competition, Community & the Best in the Business

For our audio listeners — this one is extra special on YouTube! Head over to the Born to Tint Podcast YouTube channel to catch all the visuals from Film Fest 2026. As always, thank you for listening and for the continued support — it means everything. 🙏This week we're doing something a little different. Ricky Miller takes you along for the full Film Fest 2026 experience — the window tint and PPF conference and competition held in Duluth, Georgia. From arriving at the venue to the awards ceremony, this vlog captures the energy, the competition, the conversations, and the community that makes this industry special.Huge thanks to Solar Gard and TintWiz for sponsoring Ricky at this event — and a big shoutout to Autobahn for the support! Thank you to everyone involved in putting Film Fest together. Kash, Thomas, and the whole crew built something the industry needed.🎯 What You'll See in This Episode🏕️ Ricky and the team set up TintLab's first-ever vendor booth at a competition event🔧 Ricky competes across all four disciplines — Auto Singles, Auto Teams, Flat Glass, and PPF💼 Real business conversations on the vendor floor covering flat glass pricing, commercial film strategy, glass meters, and scaling your shop🎓 Ricky takes the main stage alongside some of the best in the industry to present the TintLab flat glass training program🔥 Head-to-head Heat Shrink Battles — Ricky draws Fernando in round one and breaks down the strategy in real time🤝 Non-stop networking with top installers, trainers, reps, and shop owners from across the country🏅 2026 Film Fest Winners🏆 Auto Singles🥇 Fernando Sainz | 🥈 Jeremy Swanson | 🥉 Joshua Reeves🏆 Auto Teams🥇 Elite Boys — Gerardo Barreto & Joshua Reeves🥈 Team Formula — Fernando Sainz & Gaby Adorno🥉 iTint — PJ White & Boni Bravo🏆 Flat Glass🥇 Fernando Sainz | 🥈 Johnny Blades | 🥉 Alexis Figueroa🏆 PPF🥇 Efrain Romero | 🥈 Gerardo Barreto | 🥉 Carlos Olazaba🏆 Gauntlet Winner (All 4 disciplines) — Fernando Sainz🔥 Heat Shrinks — Darnell Thomas💪 Reps Competition — Dustin HallCongratulations to every competitor and everyone who showed up and put in the work. Film Fest is the real deal — and we can't wait for the next one.Follow Film Fest on Instagram 👉 @wearefilmfest📲 Follow us on Instagram: @greenvalleywindowtint🔔 Subscribe, Like & Comment — Let us know what you thought of this one!00:00:00 – Welcome to Film Fest 202600:00:33 – Arriving in Atlanta & Heading to the Venue00:01:36 – Setting Up the TintLab Vendor Booth for the First Time00:03:09 – Picking Up the Competition Mercedes & Maseratis00:05:11 – Networking With the Solar Gard Rep on the Floor00:07:45 – Exterior Film, Commercial Flat Glass & Pricing Breakdown00:09:40 – Why You Have to Replace Yourself to Scale Your Business00:10:26 – Ricky's Pricing Formula — Material, Labor & Marketing Percentages00:12:19 – Smart Film, Decorative Film & Knowing What NOT to Take On00:15:00 – The Value of Partnering With the Right Manufacturer00:28:08 – Auto Singles Competition Kicks Off00:29:46 – Flat Glass Round 1 Begins00:30:08 – Using a Glass Meter to Become the Expert & Close More Jobs00:32:04 – Building Your Network in the Flat Glass Market00:33:41 – TintLab Program Breakdown — What's Included00:36:09 – The School Community, SOPs & Growing Installation Library00:45:41 – Ricky Introduced on the Main Stage With Top Industry Trainers00:46:34 – Ricky's Speech — Second Generation & Giving Back to the Industry00:50:52 – TintLab for Flat Glass — Landing $250K+ Commercial Jobs00:53:11 – Selling on Emotion — How to Connect With Every Customer00:54:33 – PPF Competition Finals | Strategy & Execution00:59:11 – Day 3 Flat Glass Finals — The Wood Curveball01:05:23 – Glass Meter Giveaway at the TintLab Booth01:06:09 – Heat Shrink Battles — Ricky vs. Fernando01:07:04 – Awards Ceremony | Full 2026 Film Fest Results

June 3, 20261 hr 8 min

Building Something From Nothing: A Solopreneur's Journey With Chloe King

This week Ricky sits down with Chloe King, a mechanical engineer turned solopreneur out of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the creator behind That Mirror — a modular, collapsible mirror system that can be configured in any size, from a 5x7 up to a floor-to-ceiling centerpiece. What started as a personal need for a statement mirror in her apartment turned into 50 requests in 18 days on Facebook Marketplace — and a business was born.In this episode, we cover:🪞 How Chloe's background in mechanical engineering became the foundation for building a real product💡 The origin story of That Mirror — from a 7.5ft one-piece prototype launched off a balcony to a sleek, panel-based modular system🚀 The mindset of a solopreneur: juggling product development, content creation, and sales all at once📱 Why organic + paid social media work together — and how to use geofencing to test your market📦 How a product that ships in panels can unlock a national market (not just local)💰 Pricing your product to cover labor, materials, AND a future sales position from day one🔄 The 5-lever business framework Ricky's mentor uses: offer, marketing, sales, operations, and finance🏆 Tint competitions, industry networking, and why sharing knowledge grows the whole pie👷 How Ricky learned to build a business that runs without him — and why that's the real goalWhether you're building a product from scratch, scaling a service business, or figuring out how to stop wearing every hat — this episode is packed with real talk and real strategy.🔔 Subscribe, drop a like, and leave us a comment below — we read every one!📲 Follow us on Instagram:👉 @greenvalleywindowtint👉 @that.mirror1:12 — How Chloe found the Born to Tint podcast through Leila & Alex Hormozi3:36 — Ricky & Josh's connection to the Hormozi world — and tinting Leila's condo6:07 — Why sharing knowledge in your industry grows everyone's business8:27 — The origin of That Mirror: from a personal apartment need to a modular system11:31 — How the panel system solves the biggest problem with large mirrors13:38 — Mechanical engineer to entrepreneur: bridging hard skills with creativity20:36 — Laid off from a chemistry lab and going all-in on the mirror business23:04 — Repetition over perfection: getting comfortable on camera and in business27:32 — Paid ads vs. organic content — and why you need both running together35:13 — How the French cleat system makes That Mirror installable anywhere43:35 — Gary Vee's geofencing advice and why Ricky still uses it today50:14 — How Green Valley launched an educational academy to scale beyond local markets56:44 — The 5-lever business framework: offer, marketing, sales, operations & finance

May 27, 20261 hr 34 min

The Real ROI of Importint Sauce with Richard Jackson

What happens when a dedicated window tinter from Santa Monica gets tired of dirty installs and decides to solve the problem himself? You get Importint Sauce — the industry-changing gel that's taken the tinting world by storm.In this episode, Ricky and Josh sit down with Richard Jackson, owner of Importint LA and creator of Importint Sauce, to break down the full story behind one of the most talked-about products in the tint industry right now.What we cover in this episode:🧪 The origin story — how Richard went from shop owner to product creator, spending months researching in "dark holes on Reddit" at 3:30am🧫 Why he started with hand sanitizer from a grocery store and what that $6.99 bottle taught him about adhesives💡 The core problem Importint Sauce was built to solve — water moves, but your slip solution shouldn't🏆 Competition talk — judging formats, bracket-style comps, and a dream "no-rules" tint event concept✂️ Plotter vs. hand-cut debate — why it's a dumb argument and what actually matters to the customer🌱 The $20 window that turned into $36,000 in work — the ultimate "plant the seed" business lesson💰 Pricing your time right — why DIYing your slip solution is like cooking your own food when you should be working📈 How to respond to leads in 60 seconds or less and why most shops are losing jobs before they even pick up the phone🪟 Real flat glass results — saving 20+ minutes per window, tighter cuts on French panes, and zero fingers/edges🚀 Where Importint Sauce is headed — 7 distributors in the US, expansion to Australia, Canada, and Europe in the worksWhether you're an installer, shop owner, or just love watching the tint industry evolve, this episode is packed with real talk, raw business wisdom, and proof that passion + persistence builds something worth buying.👉 Get your Importint Sauce at: www.importintla.com📲 Follow Richard: @importintsauce📲 Follow us on Instagram: @greenvalleywindowtint🔔 Subscribe, drop a like, and leave a comment — tell us: are YOU using Importint Sauce? Let's hear it below! 👇

May 20, 20261 hr 7 min

Why Your Content Isn't Working (And What to Do Instead) with Kate Sybilrud

What does it actually take to show up online in a way that's real — and actually works? In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, Ricky Miller sits down with Kate Sybilrud, Creative Director of Create With Kate, a private consultant who helps business owners understand themselves and show up authentically online. This one goes deep.Ricky and Kate cover the real story behind Green Valley Window Tint's content strategy — from resisting social media to posting 5-7 pieces a day and hitting a 17.3% click-through rate on paid ads. They break down why organic content isn't just "nice to have" — it's what makes your paid ads actually convert.🎯 They also get into what most business owners get wrong about content — talking AT your audience instead of making them feel seen. Kate shares how she repositions messaging so it resonates at a root level, not just a surface level.💼 Ricky opens up about the business mechanics behind Green Valley and Tint Lab — closing ratios, subcontracting strategy, building a premium price point, and why a properly priced job gives you the room to pay great installers and still protect your margins.🙏 And then the conversation gets personal. Ricky shares his faith journey — giving his life to Christ at Kingdom Summit — and gets real about a difficult season that included financial mistakes, family stress, and what it actually felt like to hit rock bottom and rebuild. It's raw, honest, and worth every minute.🎬 Whether you're a tinter, a trade business owner, or just someone building something real — this episode has something for you.Follow Kate on Instagram: @katesellscreatorFollow us on Instagram: @greenvalleywindowtint🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Born to Tint Podcast!

May 13, 20261 hr 14 min

The Customer Experience Is the Product with Giuliano Raso

From Food Truck to Food Empire — What It Really Takes to Build a BrandIn this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, Ricky Miller sits down with Giuliano Raso, owner of 303 In the Cut — one of the most talked-about food truck operations in the country. What started as a $100K dream built on three jobs, six-day work weeks, and a green chili burrito recipe has grown into a multi-location Las Vegas institution with serious expansion plans.In this episode:🌮 How Giuliano saved $100K working three jobs to fund his food truck dream — with zero business credit and zero culinary school🎯 Why he spent two years perfecting every recipe before opening — including round-the-clock tiramisu production📱 The real ROI of social media and how short-form content builds trust before you ever make a sale💰 Why Giuliano doesn't make decisions based on money — and why that philosophy is actually making him more of it🤝 The power of radical accountability — including why he gives out his personal number and why his mentor says it's a competitive advantage🏗️ The brutal truth about scaling: managing people differently, trusting your managers, and removing yourself as the bottleneck🧠 How both Giuliano and Ricky built premium brands in their respective industries by delivering more value than they charge for🪟 How 303 and Green Valley Window Tint both use the same playbook — educate the customer, build trust through content, and charge what you're worth👨‍👩‍👧 Running a family business: the Miller family's 40+ year tinting legacy and how all three siblings ended up in the company🏆 Competing in window tint competitions and what it taught Ricky about standards, craft, and community🍰 The $16.50 cheesecake, the 1-star reviews about price, and why Giuliano wouldn't change a thingWhether you're in the trades, food, or any service business — this episode is a masterclass in brand-building, customer experience, and relentless consistency.📍 Find 303 In the Cut in Las Vegas and follow their journey:All platforms 👉 @303inthecut📲 Follow us on Instagram: @greenvalleywindowtint🔔 Subscribe for more real talk on business, tinting, and building something that lasts.00:01:03 — The Raso family origin story: dad starts tinting in 1983 California00:02:22 — Giuliano discovers window tint competitions and what they taught him00:04:04 — How all three siblings ended up running the family business together00:06:32 — How Ricky got into the food industry and the green chili burrito origin story00:08:20 — Working 3 jobs, saving $100K, and taking the leap on a food truck00:09:01 — How Giuliano self-taught every recipe before opening — including a round-the-clock tiramisu operation00:12:15 — "Too dumb to realize how hard it's going to be" — the mindset that makes entrepreneurs jump00:36:47 — The moment Giuliano almost couldn't make payroll and what it forced him to change00:38:51 — How content changed Green Valley's pricing from $7–$10/sq ft to $18–$25/sq ft00:44:34 — Why Giuliano cuts ties with vendors who don't share his values (even when it costs him thousands)00:47:40 — Radical accountability: why he gives out his personal number and turns 1-star reviews into loyal customers00:58:18 — Learning to let go: delegating to managers and stopping yourself from being the bottleneck01:03:29 — The handwritten letter to In-N-Out's founder and the mentorship that followed

May 6, 20261 hr 18 min

Real Talk on AI for Small Business with Gabby Casey

This week on the Born to Tint Podcast, Ricky and Josh Miller sit down with childhood friend Gabby Casey, owner of Cactus Pine Agency, for one of the most wide-ranging and real conversations they've had on the show. Gabby brings her perspective as an independent insurance agent navigating the same business challenges that tint shop owners face every day — and the parallels are eye-opening.Here's what we get into:🤖 How Gabby uses AI (ChatGPT & Claude) to streamline emails, marketing campaigns, and client communication — and why she keeps going back to the same AI chat because it knows her🧠 The difference between ChatGPT and Claude for business use — and why the AI tool you choose actually matters depending on what you're trying to accomplish📊 How the Miller Brothers used AI to build a fully custom business dashboard overnight — breaking down COGs, margins, film types, and even 12-month revenue projections from repeat customers📞 The "7 touch" rule in sales — why most salespeople quit too early and how AI-powered follow-up sequences can close that gap🔁 Why 56–60% of Green Valley's business comes from referrals — and how to use technology to scale the human connection that drives that loyalty📋 AI for insurance agents: automating call notes, drafts, CRM updates, and follow-up emails so you can spend more time where it counts — on the phone with your client⚖️ The human element vs. automation — people buy from people, and losing that is losing your edge📱 Social media, AI addiction, and setting healthy boundaries — for you and your kids🎓 Teaching the next generation to use AI as a tool, not a crutch — and why experience still beats instant answers🛸 Wrapping up with some fun conspiracy talk — moon landings, ocean mysteries, and what's really going on out thereWhether you're a tint shop owner, a small business operator, or just someone trying to figure out how to actually use AI in your day-to-day — this episode is for you.📲 Follow us on Instagram: @greenvalleywindowtint🎙️ Follow Gabby: @gabbycasey3 | @cactuspine.agency🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Born to Tint Podcast!

April 29, 20261 hr 27 min

Growing Up Around Window Tint with Cody Tecklenburg

This week on the Born to Tint Podcast, Ricky and Josh Miller sit down with Cody Tecklenburg — 2nd generation tinter and future owner of Tecks Window Tint out of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Cody grew up running around his dad's shop, slipping on plastic as a kid, and eventually made the decision to leave college life behind and come home to build something real. In this episode, we get into what it actually looks like to step into a family business, grow it, and carve out your own lane in the industry.In this episode we cover:🔨 Growing Up in the Industry — Cody shares what it was like being raised around the shop, starting at 17 cleaning windows for a year and a half before ever touching film, and why that foundation matters🎓 Leaving College for the Shop — How Cody went from managing a bar to answering his dad's call to come home and get serious about the family business🔄 2nd Gen Mindset — The unique challenge of inheriting a 40+ year brand vs. building from scratch, and how Cody is creating his own lane with graphics, commercial work, and new verticals🏢 Flat Glass vs. Auto Tint — Why Cody has gone deep into commercial and flat glass work, the endurance required, and how the revenue math on flat glass absolutely crushes the car-only model⚠️ The Safety Film Problem in Texas — Cody exposes the massive issue of botched safety film installs on Texas schools and how he's re-educating clients on what proper installation actually looks like🤝 Contractor Relationships & Glass Shop Partnerships — How getting in with glass companies and subcontracting has been the engine behind consistent work for Tecks Window Tint💰 Pricing Strategy & Closing High-End Clients — The conversation around raising prices, leading with value, using before-and-after photos to close deals, and why the right customer will always pay a premium for peace of mind🪟 Exterior Film & Evolving Glass Technology — Why triple silver and low-e glass is showing up everywhere, and why exterior film is becoming the future of the flat glass world🧴 Tools & Products Changing the Game — ImportTack, Ten Buster backpacks, and what new products are actually moving the needle for working installersFollow Cody on Instagram: @teckswindowtint & @cody.tecklenburgFollow us on Instagram: @greenvalleywindowtint🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week — and if you're in the window tint industry or love entrepreneurship content, hit that like button and share this with someone building their own thing.1:09 — 2nd gen mindset: creating a new branch vs. inheriting an established brand3:10 — Cody's story: starting at 17, cleaning windows for a year and a half before touching film4:33 — Leaving college: 3 schools, managing a bar, and dad's call to come home5:15 — Why going back to the family business was the best decision of his life6:17 — What it takes to get fast and efficient — repetition and real endurance8:39 — Flat glass vs. auto tint: different skill sets, different challenges22:19 — The safety film problem in Texas: botched installs and reeducating clients29:38 — Building contractor relationships and partnering with glass shops42:07 — Exterior film installs: flexibility, scheduling, and why Cody wants to expand there46:18 — How customers are reacting to film darkness and using before/after photos to close51:57 — Pricing strategy: raising rates, leading with value, and winning high-end clients1:16:25 — Flat glass revenue math vs. auto: why the numbers don't lie1:20:19 — Game-changing products: ImportTack, Ten Buster backpacks, and what's actually worth using

April 22, 20261 hr 50 min

The Future of Skilled Trades, Gen Z Workers & AI with Brock Holyoak

🎙️ What happens when a custom home builder and two window tint entrepreneurs — all connected through Ryan Pineda — sit down together? You get one of the most wide-ranging, real-talk conversations we've ever had on the pod.This week, Ricky and Josh sit down with Brock Holyoak, a Utah-based home builder operating in Cedar City and Mesquite, Nevada, building semi-custom spec homes on a 90–95 day production timeline and scaling toward full subdivision development.🔥 In this episode we cover:🏠 Why firing the wrong customer is one of the best business moves you can make⚡ How Brock builds semi-custom spec homes in 90–95 days — and what the big builders get wrong📊 The difference between building for people vs. building for numbers👨‍👦 How Brock is structuring his business to hand it off to his son incrementally💼 How the Miller Brothers transitioned Green Valley Window Tint from a mom-and-pop shop into a scalable operation🎯 Why they stopped chasing every job and started focusing on commercial and architectural tint📱 How content and podcasting is closing deals before customers even call — including leads coming in directly from ChatGPT🔨 Why skilled trades may be the most AI-proof careers of the next 20 years👷 The real talk on Gen Z in the workforce — what's working, what isn't, and how to train the right people🧠 Hiring from the ground up vs. bringing in veterans — and which actually works better💰 Tax strategy for small business owners: rolling profit into assets instead of paying it out🚛 Vehicle fleet management and the leasing vs. buying debate for work trucks🌐 The future of AI, robotics, and whether human craftsmanship becomes a premium product🎤 Brock's upcoming podcast "Brews and Bullshit" — filmed in the Utah mountains🙌 Whether you're in construction, tinting, or just trying to build something that lasts — this episode is loaded with real-world strategy and unfiltered conversation.📲 Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint📲 Follow Brock on Instagram @brockholyoak🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode of the Born to Tint Podcast!

April 15, 202655 min

A 34-Year Window Tint Veteran Tells All with Craig Pengelly

He's been tinting since the early 90s, he's competed at the highest level, and he's still out there doing it his way. Craig Pengelly, a 34+ year veteran of the window tint industry out of Vancouver, Canada, is back on the Born to Tint Podcast for his second appearance, and this one does not disappoint.Ricky and Josh sit down with Craig fresh off SEMA's Tint-Off competition for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it's really like to have a career in this industry, the good, the bad, and the expensive lessons in between.What We Cover in This Episode:🏆 A full breakdown of the WFCT Tint-Off — the new format, the three-pane challenge, reduced time limits, and why Ricky is locked in to compete next year💰 Real talk on pricing — what Craig charges per square foot in Vancouver, what lowballers are doing in his market, and why doubling your price might be the best business move you haven't made yet📈 How Green Valley Window Tint more than doubled their square foot pricing in two years — and still kept a strong close rate🤝 Building long-term contractor relationships and why volume jobs have a different pricing formula🔧 Shop vs. no shop — why Craig let his physical location go and how keeping overhead low gives you ultimate flexibility🇨🇦 The Canadian market reality — currency exchange, pricing pressure, and tinting just 10 minutes from the U.S. border🚗 Old school vs. new school installs — soaking windshields in the 90s vs. the delicate fabrics and electronics of modern cars⚠️ Shop liability and costly mistakes — hybrid battery blunders, stained roller shades, burned door panels, and the one lesson Craig will never forget🌐 How the WFCT and other competition have built a priceless global network, and why that community pays off for years🎓 Why being transparent with customers when something goes wrong always wins in the long runWhether you're a solo operator, a shop owner, or someone who's been tinting for decades, this episode is full of wisdom, war stories, and real-world strategy you can take straight to the shop.📲 Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint📲 Follow him on Instagram @craig.pengelly

April 8, 20261 hr 2 min

From Stay-at-Home Mom to $1.7M in Sales with Janie Sandberg

What does a franchise flooring business have in common with a window tint shop? A whole lot more than you'd think. In this episode, Josh Miller sits down with Janie Sandberg, co-owner of Floor Coverings International's Henderson, Nevada location, for a candid conversation about building a service business the right way.About Janie & Floor Coverings International:🏢 Co-owns the Henderson, NV location of Floor Coverings International 🏆 Went from stay-at-home mom with zero industry experience to winning Rookie of the Year in their first full year📈 Grew revenue 92% in 2025💰 Personally closed $1.7 million in sales last yearWhat We Cover in This Episode:🤝 How they built a white-glove, start-to-finish customer experience that turns buyers into raving fans🔄 The handoff system from sales to install that keeps customers informed and stress-free⚡ Why delivering a price on the spot gives you a massive edge over the competition📞 How following up consistently wins business that other companies leave on the table🤖 Using CRM automation and AI tools like NotebookLM to streamline operations and scale smarter🔗 Building referral and affiliate partner programs that bring in pre-sold customers🎯 Why knowing who your real customer is matters more than trying to win on price🔥 How to respond to problems fast — and why it's one of the best marketing moves you can make❤️ The three core values that drive their team culture: Love, Always Add Value, Outstanding ExperienceWhether you're in window tint, flooring, or any trade service business, this episode is packed with real-world strategy for anyone looking to scale without losing the personal touch that keeps customers coming back — and sending their friends.📲 Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint📲 Follow them on instagram @floorcoveringshenderson