Born To Tint with The Miller Brothers

Hosted by The Miller Brothers

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153

Latest episode

Oct 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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October 21, 202632 min

Window Tint’s Most Asked Questions with the Miller Brothers

This week Ricky and Josh Miller skip the guest and go rapid-fire through the questions customers ask every single day, across auto, residential, and commercial tint. 💰 PRICING & VALUE 💵 Why a quality tint job costs more, and why a roll of film can cost under $100 or $3,000 🏠 $5,000 in film vs. $106,000 in new windows: when retrofitting is the no-brainer 🔧 Why tint removal costs almost as much as an install (and why you should never DIY it) 🔥 PERFORMANCE & MYTHS ❄️ Is ceramic really worth it? 100% on cars. On flat glass, it’s often just a buzzword unless the glass meter says otherwise 🌑 Will film make your house look dark or like an office building? 🌙 Why “nighttime privacy” doesn’t exist with standard film, and the frosted and layering tricks that get you close 🛡️ Is safety film bulletproof? No, and why attachment systems make all the difference 🚗 Factory tint vs. real tint: why privacy glass alone won’t cool your car down 📅 WARRANTIES, BRANDS & ROI ⏳ How long film actually lasts on a car vs. a home, and what “lifetime warranty” really means 🏭 Solar Gard, 3M, Huper Optik: which brand is best, and why the installer matters more ⚡ How much tint can cut your power bill, plus the 4–6 year payback window Shopping for tint? This is your cheat sheet before you buy. Running a shop? These are the answers that close the deal. Got a question we didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments and we’ll answer it on a future episode. And keep an eye out for our security film break-in tests, coming soon. Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a business breakdown, myth bust, or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #WindowTint #BornToTint #TintLife #WindowFilm #CeramicTint #SecurityFilm #FlatGlass #AutoTint #TintShop #HomeImprovement

October 14, 20261 hr 20 min

The Insurance Policy Built For Window Tinters with Trevor Hayes

Your insurance company might be fighting you at the same time it's defending you. 😳 Ricky and Josh Miller sit down with Trevor Hayes of TintingInsurance.com, an insurance program built from the ground up for the window film industry. He's also the guy who got Green Valley covered after Farmers, State Farm and AAA all said no. If you install dark tint or sell security film, watch this one. In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, the guys cover: 🚫 Denied by Farmers, State Farm & AAA: why insurers keep dropping tint shops (and it's not because of claims) ⚖️ Illegal tint & lawsuits: why an insurer can call "knowingly installing it" negligence 📝 The illegal window tint endorsement: a signed waiver gets you unlimited defense plus a guaranteed $100K settlement 🕶️ Why ceramic has more customers choosing legal, and why 70 on the windshield helps you see better at night 🛡️ The truth about security film: it buys time. It is NOT "ballistic" or "bulletproof." 🔧 8 mil vs 14 mil: why filming both sides of the glass beats going thicker 🏠 Ricky breaks into his in-laws' house in 30 seconds, and the cheap Home Depot fix that stops it 🪨 The pharmacy that took a boulder for 30 minutes, and the film held 🚩 The red flags that separate good security film installers from bad ones 🎖️ "Be a hard target": Josh's Iraq convoy lesson applied to home security 📸 Why you should never post vacation pics until you're back home 🤝 How a signed disclosure protects you and helps you close the job 🏆 The industry's first security film insurance endorsement, born right here on Born to Tint If you run a tint shop, install flat glass or sell security film, this is the insurance conversation nobody else is having. Get a quote at TintingInsurance.com Follow Trevor and the team @tintinginsurance Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a business breakdown or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #BornToTint #WindowTint #TintingInsurance #SecurityFilm #WindowFilm #TintShop #FlatGlass #CeramicTint #Entrepreneurship #tintlife 00:00 — Intro: Trevor Hayes of TintingInsurance.com joins the show 05:16 — Denied by Farmers, State Farm & AAA: how Trevor saved Green Valley's coverage 10:26 — Illegal tint, "show car" waivers & how Vegas cops really see dark tint 12:04 — Ceramic changed the game: why customers go legal (and 70 on the windshield) 14:26 — The illegal tint endorsement: unlimited defense + a guaranteed $100K settlement 19:18 — Mission #2: building insurance for security film 22:15 — Josh's redo: a "ballistic" security film job gone wrong 28:07 — 8 mil vs 14 mil: why both sides of the glass beats thicker film 35:41 — Ricky breaks into his in-laws' house in 30 seconds 39:43 — The pharmacy hit with a boulder for 30 minutes 42:18 — Red flags: how to spot bad security film installers 51:19 — Be a hard target, and why you shouldn't post vacation pics until you're home 1:02:06 — How a signed disclosure helps you close the job 1:04:46 — Born on Born to Tint: the industry's first security film endorsement 1:18:38 — TintingInsurance.com: acquired, backed and all in on window film

October 7, 20261 hr 20 min

He Put His Whole Company On Credit Cards… And Didn't Tell His Wife with Clayton Tomasino

He put his entire company on his credit cards during the 2008 recession and didn't tell his wife. 🦂 Today, Clayton Tomasino is CEO of Scorpion Coatings & Window Tint, and he's building window tint tech nobody else in the industry has. Ricky and Josh Miller talk with Clayton about scaling a tint shop, pricing, closing deals, and where window film tech is headed. 🏚️ FROM ASBESTOS TO WINDOW FILM 🧒 Working asbestos removal sites at 12 years old 🛻 The Indiana barn where Scorpion's bed liner system was born 🔧 Why window tint beat PDR, headlight and windshield repair as a dealer add-on 💳 The 2008 recession, a stack of credit cards, and growing through it anyway 📱 THE TECH NOBODY ELSE HAS 📐 First look: Scorpion's patented LiDAR tech. Scan a window with an iPhone Pro and send the shape straight to your plotter 🤖 Training the AI on hundreds of cars: one guy, one iPhone, a whole weekend dodging car salesmen 🏢 What's next: scanning flat glass for instant measurements and on-the-spot quotes ✂️ Why you still learn to hand cut first, and the transformer fire that proved it 💰 PRICING THAT ACTUALLY PAYS 📊 Closing 80% of consultations? You're underpriced. How Green Valley more than doubled its prices 🧮 $10/sq ft vs $20/sq ft: half the film, half the labor, same revenue ❤️ Why every business dies of "heart failure": cash flow and the cash conversion cycle 📈 Running daily KPI dashboards through AI 📞 SELL SOLUTIONS, NOT FILM 🔬 No meter, no quote: why Green Valley won't price flat glass blind 🚫 Why ceramic film is often wasted money on coated dual-pane windows 🎯 Privacy or heat rejection? The question to ask before you name a single product ⚡ Not answering leads in under 5 minutes? You don't have a leads problem. You have a sales problem 👷 BUILDING A TEAM THAT DOESN'T NEED YOU 🎓 Training from zero vs. hiring "experienced" installers ⏱️ Green Valley's flag-hour commission system and the 2-hour, no-scrap test to earn it 💵 Pay yourself for every seat you sit in: installer, sales, admin 🌊 Training your competition: why a rising tide lifts all boats Whether you run a one-man tint shop or you're scaling past your first hires, this one is a masterclass on pricing, sales, and building a business that runs without you on every car. 🦂 Visit Scorpion at SEMA, Booth 54027 Follow Clayton and Scorpion on Instagram @scorpioncoatings Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a recap, business breakdown, or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #BornToTint #WindowTint #ScorpionCoatings #WindowFilm #TintShop #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #TintLife #FlatGlass #AutoTint

September 30, 20261 hr 30 min

Stop Overthinking Content, Just Pull Out Your Phone with Robert Condol

20+ years in media. His #1 advice for business owners in 2026? Pull out your phone and start recording. Robert Condol, owner of Creative Collective Media, sits down with Ricky and Josh Miller for a no-fluff masterclass on content that actually brings in customers. By the end, the three of them map out Green Valley's next big campaign live on air. Content That Converts 📱 Why Robert tells clients to shoot on their phones and skip the AI avatars 🍔 What the McDonald's CEO filming on his iPhone means for your business 🙈 Camera-shy? The faceless formats that still pop off for tint shops Playing the Long Game 👥 The 2,000 followers that kept his DMs full for 7 years 👀 Why 500 views isn't a failure: it's 500 people who heard your pitch 💡 "Turn on one light": master one channel before you add the next Pricing & Closing 💰 How a Hormozi workshop led Green Valley to double their prices. Their close rate went from 70–80% to about 40%, with the same revenue and half the labor 🙅 Closing every job you quote? You're underpriced ⚡ Reversible vs. irreversible decisions, and why you can change your price today AI & Getting Found 🤖 The new client who found Robert through ChatGPT ⚙️ Robert's AI auto-poster: drop files in Google Drive and it posts for you 🔍 The Instagram highlights search hack for local businesses Green Valley's Next Plays 🔨 A security film smash challenge: bare glass vs. film vs. properly anchored film 🏠 A MrBeast-style whole-house tint giveaway 🚨 "This Week in Break-Ins" and why security film content hits hardest in winter 🌡️ Thermal-camera proof of up to 91% heat rejection 🏢 The reveal: flat glass is now Green Valley's biggest revenue driver Whether you run a tint shop, a home service business, or any local brand trying to turn content into customers, this episode is the playbook. Follow Robert Condol on Instagram @robertcondol Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint. If you're thinking about tint or security film for your Las Vegas home or business, send us a DM. New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a business breakdown or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #BornToTint #WindowTint #ContentMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #LasVegasBusiness #SecurityFilm #FlatGlass #tintshop 00:00 — Cold open: "Turn on one light" 00:30 — Intro: Robert Condol of Creative Collective Media 03:15 — 20+ years in media: TV broadcast for Amazon, Disney, Fox and Netflix 05:08 — Phone vs. pro camera: when should you actually upgrade? 07:26 — The McDonald's CEO and why big brands are shooting on phones 09:39 — A big following vs. the right following 11:46 — "If you had $500 for marketing, what would you do?" 13:38 — Why a podcast alone isn't enough without in-person networking 15:24 — Cross-pollinating local networks: the Joe Rogan model 22:05 — Moving a 16-year team member into full-time media (2K to 10K followers) 23:33 — The client who found Robert through ChatGPT 27:12 — The Tinter Battles clip that hit 26 million views 33:00 — Faceless content for tinters who hate the camera 35:56 — "Turn on one light": double down on one channel, then expand 41:21 — Why 500 views isn't a failure 44:24 — 18,000 posts to 100K followers, plus Robert's "first post" test 49:49 — Robert's AI auto-poster workflow 50:18 — The Hormozi workshop: finding your real constraint and doubling prices 55:33 — Reversible vs. irreversible decisions 58:55 — Robert's next-hire pitch: an in-house phone content creator 1:08:50 — Lead magnets: a MrBeast-style whole-house tint giveaway 1:12:07 — The security film smash challenge 1:19:41 — The reveal: flat glass leads the revenue, plus a $170K commercial job 1:24:55 — Showing up to 91% heat rejection with a thermal camera 1:26:13 — "This Week in Break-Ins": using urgency to sell security film

September 23, 20261 hr 6 min

Childhood Best Friends, Superbikes & the Price of Speed with Rich Findlay

Racing at 200 MPH, surviving brutal crashes, and building a motorsports event from a sketch on a cocktail napkin. 🏍️ This week on the Born to Tint Podcast, Ricky and Josh sit down with Josh's childhood best friend Rich Findlay, founder of Apex Assassins. He's bringing the top racers from across the West Coast to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Sin City Battle of Champions, October 17–18. 🏁 Life at 200 MPH 🔥 220 HP superbikes, and why Rich is still faster on his 2001 bikes ⚡ Hitting 160 MPH on a Vegas freeway on-ramp… in 4th gear 🧠 Why one track day teaches you more than five years on the street 🌍 The Isle of Man TT: the most dangerous race on earth 💔 Real Talk 🙏 Remembering Matt, the friend who changed how they see street bikes 🏥 Head injuries, helicopter rides, and coming back from a February crash 😷 The COVID call that almost ended Apex Assassins 💼 Business Lessons (Racing AND Tint) 📈 One-man shop vs. building a team that runs without you 🏢 Subbing out a 40-building security film job 🧾 The IRS audit that taught them to document every 1099 🤖 How AI built a 50-page state-by-state guide in 90 minutes 🐦 California's new bird strike film law, explained ❄️ How tint shrinks HVAC units and pays for itself 🎟️ Sin City Battle of Champions 📅 October 17–18 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway 🎫 $35/day or $50/weekend: bagger racing, food trucks, a beer garden, vendors, and a bounce house for the kids 📺 Streaming live on 951 Live 🤝 Sponsorship spots are still open. Email rich@apexassassins.com 👉 Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint 👉 Follow Apex Assassins on Instagram & Facebook #BornToTint #ApexAssassins #MotorcycleRacing #WindowTint #LasVegas #TrackDay #Superbike #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #tintshop 00:00 – Intro: Rich Finley & Apex Assassins 00:35 – The Battle of Champions: the West Coast's top racers 01:08 – Superbikes to 400s: 220 HP explained 01:40 – Why old-school bikes are still faster 02:21 – Why Rich gave up street riding 03:18 – Remembering Matt: a friend lost too soon 07:15 – Rider School House: why the track beats the street 08:19 – 160 MPH on a Vegas on-ramp 08:55 – Racing across the country and in South America 09:39 – Tint competitions go global 11:14 – One-man shop vs. scaling a team 13:03 – Subcontractors & the 40-building security film job 14:56 – Audited: how to document your 1099 subs 16:15 – AI builds a 50-page state-by-state guide 18:02 – California's bird strike film law 22:13 – Apex Assassins' origin & the COVID shutdown 28:41 – Event details, bagger racing & tickets 29:43 – Two-up rides: feel how late the pros brake 32:12 – The Isle of Man TT: the world's craziest race 35:39 – Passion project to full-time job: hidden costs 38:07 – Prize money: racing vs. tint competitions 42:33 – Shade coefficients, HVAC load calcs & tint ROI 55:39 – Sponsorships & the 951 Live stream 57:52 – Rich's February crash & comeback 59:41 – "Everything else is waiting": the racing community

September 16, 202658 min

The Hardest Year Built The Best Playbook with Tony Lee

Ricky and Josh Miller sit down with Las Vegas restaurateur Tony Lee — owner of Smash & Slice, former owner of Smoke & Fire, and part owner of Giddy Up, the breakfast burrito concept opening in October. Tony signed his first restaurant lease in December 2019 and opened straight into a shutdown, and that six-month crash course is exactly what built the playbook he's running today. This one goes deep on the stuff every small business owner is dealing with right now: influencer marketing before it was a budget line item, using AI to build systems instead of art, scaling a second location without losing consistency, and why Vegas locals still won't drive to the Strip. In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, the guys cover: 🍕 Opening a restaurant during COVID — and why Tony says it's the reason he's where he is now 📈 The influencer marketing playbook: why you say yes to every creator who wants to shoot your food ⭐ The Keith Lee 10/10 that sent Smash & Slice over the top — and what it taught Tony about betting early on people 🏪 Scaling to a second location: prepping everything at store #1 and the commissary plan for store #3 🤖 Where AI actually earns its keep — employee handbooks, sorting 300 resumes, and answering reviews without getting emotional 🎨 The one thing Tony refuses to use AI for (and why he still pays local artists) 🏆 How Green Valley used AI to design a championship decorative tint entry in 90 minutes flat 🔍 SEO is becoming AIO — why YouTube content is quietly the cheapest way to get named by ChatGPT and Gemini 🌯 Inside Giddy Up: housemade tortillas, premium steak, pasture-raised eggs, beef tallow tots, zero seed oils 💰 Real Vegas commercial rent numbers — $3–4/sq ft off-Strip vs $20–50 on it 🚗 Why paid parking is costing the Strip its local customers 🍗 What's next: gelato, fried chicken, the Arts District, and 4–5 Smash & Slice locations Whether you run a restaurant, a tint shop, or any local business trying to grow past one location, this is a straight-talk masterclass on marketing, systems, and building something people actually drive across town for. Follow Tony @fulltimetony and @fulltimeeats — and check out his restaurants @smashandsliceco and @eatgiddyup Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a business breakdown or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #BornToTint #SmashAndSlice #LasVegasFood #VegasEats #Entrepreneurship #RestaurantBusiness #SmallBusiness #BreakfastBurrito #WindowTint #TintShop 00:19 — Intro: Ricky and Josh welcome Tony Lee of Smash & Slice 04:22 — Smoke & Fire: signing a lease in December 2019 and opening into a shutdown 05:06 — Smash & Slice opens November 11, 2024 in the old Mount Palms space 06:36 — Why pizza and smash burgers? The Italian grandma dough story 09:34 — The marketing degree, and controlling the product from start to finish 10:36 — Keith Lee, a catered wedding, and the 10/10 that blew up Smash & Slice 13:54 — Scaling to location #2 without letting consistency slip 15:19 — The commissary plan: why location #3 is a 2,000 sq ft kitchen 17:37 — Using AI for employee handbooks, SOPs, and sorting 300 resumes 21:05 — The one thing Tony won't use AI for: artwork and local artists 22:17 — Josh breaks down how Green Valley AI-designed a championship tint entry 28:41 — Giddy Up revealed: the Darkmoon Coffee partnership and the October opening 31:55 — Housemade tortillas, wagyu steak, beef tallow tots, and no seed oils 36:45 — SEO vs AIO: why YouTube content is getting cited by Gemini and ChatGPT 52:05 — Real numbers: $3–4/sq ft off-Strip vs $20–50 on it 54:27 — Why paid parking is killing Strip traffic for Vegas locals

September 9, 20261 hr 21 min

ChatGPT Ads Are Here with Erik Pendleton

Ricky and Josh Miller sit down for the third time with Erik Pendleton, CEO of Rewired Technologies, and this one's a big one — Erik breaks down the biggest shift in SEO since Google launched, then drops a first-look announcement of Rewired's brand-new Ultimate AI Dealer Package. In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, the guys cover: 🤖 The shift from SEO to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) — why ranking #1 on Google doesn't matter if ChatGPT isn't naming you the answer 📈 Rewired's brand-new Ultimate AI Dealer Package: AEO, Gemini/Google Ads, and ChatGPT Ads explained layer by layer 🎯 Inside ChatGPT Ads — budget minimums, how it mirrors Google Ads Manager, and why it feels like the "$0.05 click" era all over again 💬 Josh's AI-powered consultation workflow — real-time notes, automatic CRM follow-ups, and even live German-to-English translation mid-sale 🧠 Erik's fantasy football story about turning a "boomer" landscaper buddy into an overnight AI power user 🔓 The scary side of AI — sandbox escapes, self-preservation experiments, and who's actually liable when AI goes rogue 🛰️ Elon Musk, Starlink's next-gen satellites, and why data and distribution might matter more than the AI itself 🏆 A quick hit on the road to Tinter Battles LA and Green Valley's hot start to the month Whether you run a tint shop, an auto shop, or any home service business, this episode is a masterclass on staying ahead of the AI curve before your competition does. Follow Erik Pendleton @rewiredep and Rewired Technologies @rewiredtechnologies Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a recap, business breakdown, or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #BornToTint #WindowTint #AIO #AnswerEngineOptimization #ChatGPTAds #SEO #TintShop #Entrepreneurship #RewiredTechnologies #WindowFilm

September 2, 202647 min

Winning Decorative at WFCT 2026: Show Recap

Recorded minutes after the WFCT awards ceremony wrapped, Ricky and Josh Miller sit down for a raw, emotional recap of one of the biggest weekends in Green Valley history. The team took home the championship in Decorative, Ricky cracked the Auto finals for the first time in 14 years and 11 competitions, and by the end of the episode Ricky drops a bombshell: he's hanging up his belt and stepping into the judge's chair. In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, Ricky and Josh cover: -Winning Decorative as a team with Jordon and Raul — and how a lighting mistake turned into their best look yet -The AI-powered design process: turning a podcast transcript into an AI "designer" that interviewed them and generated the mockup -Why AI makes people who already know their craft more valuable, not replaced -The behind-the-scenes chaos nobody saw: 9 hours of printing, a corrected cutting mistake, and a mid-competition call about a dead car battery -Weekend highlights — Peterson's repeat win, Fernando's double podium, the Genesis boys sweeping 1st and 2nd. -Ricky's emotional, faith-filled reflection on 14 years of competing and the moment he knew he was done -The official announcement: Ricky is retiring from competing and moving to the judge's side -Top Dealer Award, a Hall of Fame luncheon, and honoring Eric Davis and Chris Brooks -The pricing conversation Ricky had with five different shop owners this weekend — and his offer to prove it works -A brutal architecture challenge courtesy of judge Sean G, and a rule change conversation for flat glass -Ricky's clean, confident run to the Auto finals — and closing thank-yous to family, faith, and the Green Valley crew If you're in the window tint industry, competing on the circuit, or just want the real, unfiltered story of what a championship weekend actually looks like behind the scenes, this one is packed with emotion, business advice, and a major announcement from Ricky. Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a recap, business breakdown, or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #WFCT #WindowTint #BornToTint #TintLife #WindowFilm #TintShop #Entrepreneurship #AutoTint #FlatGlass #DecorativeFilm

August 26, 20261 hr 21 min

From Union Plumber to Tint Shop Owner With Shannon Lau

This week Ricky and Josh sit down with Shannon of Rise Above Window Tinting Specialists — a mobile tint shop that made the jump from Hawaii to the ninth island (Las Vegas). Shannon's path into the trade wasn't a straight line: he spent decades as a union plumber before a friend and pastor on Kauai — the man who became his mentor — trained him from the ground up in window film. From there it was a move to Hilo, a family loss, and eventually a fresh start in Vegas, where Shannon and his wife launched Rise Above in February 2022. In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, the Miller Brothers and Shannon cover: -Shannon's journey from union plumber to window tint specialist, and the Hawaii mentor who trained him from scratch -The move from Kauai to Hilo to Las Vegas — and the family reasons behind it -Why Rise Above runs 100% mobile, and how they keep mobile installs shop-quality clean (drop cloths, dedicated peel boards, garage-only rule) -Landing the National Indoor RV Centers account -How training your competition can actually grow your business, not shrink it -Tinting as a real trade and a usable skill — and how competitions like -Tinter Battles have exploded the industry's reach -Ricky breaking down how Green Valley built TintLab, their flat glass academy, and why they price at $20–$25/sq ft -The truth about HOA objections — and the money-back guarantee that makes them a non-issue -Exterior film technology, heat rejection breakthroughs, and where the industry is headed with dual-glazed glass -Why competitions are really about the network, not the trophy — and Ricky's advice to always be a student If you're in the window tint industry, thinking about starting a mobile tint business, or want the real story on scaling a flat glass academy, this conversation is loaded with insight from two different paths to the same result. Follow Rise Above Window Tinting on Instagram @riseabovetint Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a business breakdown or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #WindowTint #BornToTint #TintLife #WindowFilm #TintShop #MobileTinting #Entrepreneurship #FlatGlass #AutoTint #RiseAboveTint 00:00 — Intro: Welcoming Shannon of Rise Above Window Tinting 00:34 — Why loyalty to film brands only goes as far as solving the customer's problem 05:55 — Gift exchange, Hawaiian style, and the story behind Ricky's rare hat 08:07 — Shannon's origin story: from union plumber to window tint 10:38 — The move from Kauai to Hilo to Las Vegas, and losing his father-in-law 13:12 — Working for a local shop before launching Rise Above in Feb 2022 13:43 — 100% mobile: how Rise Above keeps installs shop-clean on the road 17:19 — Landing the National Indoor RV Centers account (and a $1.1M RV) 22:20 — Training installers who go on to open their own shops 27:31 — Tinting as a real trade, and how competitions exploded the industry's reach 39:14 — Ricky breaks down building the Ten Lab flat glass academy and $20-25/sq ft pricing 44:46 — Educating homeowners: the "burnt blinds" problem nobody talks about 51:39 — Exterior film technology and where heat rejection is headed 58:26 — Handling HOA objections with a money-back guarantee 1:12:50 — Inside the Ten Lab Academy: 3-day workshop, $10K, subcontractor lessons 1:19:08 — Why competitions are really about the network, not the trophy

August 19, 20261 hr 7 min

Inside Tinter Battles LA | Recap Podcast

Ricky just won Singles Flat Glass at Tinter Battles LA — and this episode was recorded live in the van on the drive home, minutes after it happened. Ricky and Josh Miller break down everything that went down at one of the biggest window tint competitions in the industry: Ricky's championship run and run to the heat gun finals, and watching their own trained installers — Diego and Armando — both fight their way into the flat glass finals. In this episode of the Born to Tint Podcast, the Miller Brothers cover: -Ricky's Singles Flat Glass championship win and the nerve-wracking 3-way tie-off that decided the last finals spot -Diego and Armando making the finals after being trained by Ricky and Josh — and why that hit harder than winning -Ricky's heat gun battle run, beating Sean G twice before getting knocked out -The surprise curveball rule that let competitors pull gaskets — and why it separates the pros from everyone else -Why squeegee technique and water extraction are still the #1 thing that separates a champion window from a rookie mistake -Why a film handler saves you real money and cuts down on wasted film and contamination -Advice Ricky gave a 17-year-old competing in his very first tint competition -The question everyone's asking Ricky: does the reigning champ retire the belt, or keep defending it? -What's next for the Miller Brothers — San Antonio in two weeks and a possible Miami showdown If you're in the window tint industry, run a tint shop, or you're chasing your own competition circuit, this one is packed with real talk on technique, mindset, and what it actually takes to build a team that shows up and wins. Follow us on Instagram @greenvalleywindowtint New episodes of the Born to Tint Podcast drop every week — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a recap, business breakdown, or shop-floor story from Ricky and Josh Miller. #TinterBattles #WindowTint #TintLife #BornToTint #WindowFilm #TintShop #Entrepreneurship #PPF #AutoTint #FlatGlass 00:00 — Intro: Recapping Tinter Battles LA live from the road 01:12 — Favorite moments from the weekend 02:03 — The 3-way tie-off for the last finals spot 03:04 — Armando's incredible first-round window 04:02 — Josh's heat gun run to the championship 6:18 — Carlos's invite-only Ten Ways dinner 10:55 — The chalk-cleaning curveball challenge 12:32 — Why Brian & Tim are still the guys to beat 15:10 — Dry glue chunk almost ruins the finals window 16:12 — Sponsor shoutouts 20:21 — Auto PPF battle against Delon 23:09 — Beating Sean G twice in heat shrink 39:07 — The surprise no-gaskets rule 52:02 — Advice for a 17-year-old first-time competitor 59:07 — Retire the belt or keep competing?