Builders, Budgets, and Beers

Hosted by Adaptive

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Builders, Budgets, and Beers Podcast is where the construction industry comes to talk about the financial side of building — the decisions, the mistakes, and the systems that separate profitable companies from the rest. From regional GCs and high-volume builders to construction accountants and industry tech leaders, our guests share what's actually working and what they wish they'd known sooner. Produced by the team at Adaptive, it's real talk on the financial operations behind growing, scaling, and running a complex construction business. One budget, one story, and one beer at a time.

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60 recent

June 10, 202652 min

Build A Business That Buys Back Time with Brad Stokes

Reece sits down with Brad Stokes of Highspire to talk about the shift from owner operator to strategic owner, and why top-line revenue alone does not mean a construction business is healthy.They get into real estate development, market timing, KPIs, org charts, gross profit tracking, and the systems that give owners more time to think clearly instead of constantly reacting. This episode is about building a tighter business first, so bigger opportunities do not break what you already built.https://www.highspire.comRegister for the webinar here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2517803406883/WN_i02wixcGTJSDljlo4uCRsQ#/registrationShow Notes:00:00 Show Intro01:40 Brad’s Wild Backstory04:39 Learning Real Estate08:58 What HighSpire Does12:08 Finding The Right Market16:47 Keep The Model Simple21:10 Revenue Versus Health27:14 Track The Right Work32:25 Buying Back Time38:57 The Owner’s Brain43:51 Choose Better Tools45:52 Strategic Owner ShiftFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

June 3, 202635 min

How Building Science Reduces Costly Callbacks with Sam Myers

Reece sits down with Sam Myers of Retrotech to talk about why comfort issues, humidity problems, and buckled floors often turn into expensive callbacks for builders. They cover how air tightness, HVAC design, ventilation, and testing all work together, and why code minimum is not always enough to protect the homeowner or the contractor.If you build homes and want fewer surprises after move-in, this conversation is a practical reminder that measuring the house matters.https://retrotec.comShow Notes:00:00 Show Intro00:47 Meet Sam Myers04:34 Who Retrotech Helps05:53 Building Or Mechanical?07:41 Why Code Falls Short10:05 Smarter Homeowners13:44 Commercial Testing Uses15:54 Missing Residential Commissioning19:25 Moisture Creates Costs23:40 Testing Prevents Callbacks25:34 Old Habits Pushback30:15 Where Builders Learn33:01 Building Science AnswersFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

May 27, 202651 min

How Contractors Can Adopt AI Agents Without Chaos with Ryan Rademann

Reece is joined by Ryan Rademann from Wipfli to talk about why contractors cannot treat technology, AI, and systems as random tools anymore. As builders grow, weak integrations, messy data, and outdated processes can quietly limit cash flow, reporting, and scale.They get into AI agents, cloud systems, process mapping, accounting workflows, and why the right tech stack has to support the way a construction business actually runs. This conversation is about using technology with intention so contractors can make better decisions, protect their team, and grow without creating more chaos.https://ryanrademann.comShow Notes:00:49 Show Intro05:04 Ryan’s Background07:25 Wipfli’s Tech Evolution11:12 Contractor Tech Adoption13:23 Systems And Handoffs18:38 Structured Data21:21 AI Agent Opportunity24:16 Contractor Pain Points28:44 Process Before AI34:13 Technology Company Mindset41:01 Scaling With Systems47:13 Robotics And AI50:03 Finding RyanFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

May 20, 202638 min

Your Tech Stack Needs To Start With Strategy with Dustin Stephens

Reece sits down with Dustin Stephens, CEO of Alliance Solutions Group, to talk about why contractors cannot treat AI like a shortcut around broken systems. As labor gets tighter and construction businesses get more complex, the companies that understand their tech stack, data, and back office will be in a better position to compete.Dustin shares what he is seeing across construction ERP, cloud accounting, project management, preconstruction, AP workflows, and AI adoption. The big takeaway: start with the business problem, understand the process, then use technology to make the work faster, clearer, and more human.https://www.alliancesg.comemail: dstephens@alliance-sg.comShow Notes:00:48 Meet Dustin02:23 Field To Tech06:21 Innovation Pressure09:20 Where Contractors Invest11:38 Building The Stack13:12 Cloud Resistance16:22 Operational Tools17:39 Where To Start21:36 Strategic Operations24:26 Back Office Triggers27:55 Faster Business Insight30:39 AI And Critical Thinking37:02 Contractor AdviceFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

May 13, 202641 min

How AI Speeds Up Profitable Bids with Deepti Yenireddy

Reece sits down with Deepti Yenireddy, founder and CEO of Boon AI, to talk about the real business case for AI in estimating: tighter bid timelines, thin margins, and why speed matters when builders are chasing more work. They get into how Boone handles preconstruction from plan review to takeoff, why specialized AI beats generic tools in construction, and why the best estimators are becoming better reviewers and decision-makers, not obsolete. If you want to understand where AI actually helps builders today and how to stay competitive without buying the hype, this episode gives you a practical place to start.https://www.getboon.aiShow Notes:00:45 Meet Deepti02:35 Physical World Data05:03 Boone Workflow07:37 GC vs Trades09:30 Data And Benchmarks14:27 Estimating Bottlenecks18:54 AI And Jobs28:54 Estimator Skill Shift31:42 Why Trust Lags35:47 AI Partners39:12 Keep LearningFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

May 6, 202649 min

Why Contractors Need Better Accounting with Chris Murphy

Reece sits down with Chris Murphy of Breakaway CAAS to talk about why so many contractors struggle with bookkeeping, payroll, and job costing, and what better financial systems can unlock for a growing business. It matters because weak accounting processes do not just create messy books, they create bad decisions, wasted time, and unnecessary risk for builders.They go over the warning signs of broken back office workflows, why day to day tracking matters more than only thinking about taxes, and how construction specific tools can reduce duplicate work and clean up reporting. Chris also shares a brutal real world payroll example and explains what builders should look for if they know their current process is holding them back.https://www.breakawaycaas.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-j-murphy-cpa-498547123Show Notes:00:00 Show Intro00:44 Meet Chris02:59 Why Construction05:55 The Opportunity07:24 Wrong People16:24 Taxes Vs Tracking20:56 Discovery Questions22:26 Worst Payroll Process30:03 Best Software Stack46:49 Signs You Need Help47:56 Where To Find ChrisFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

April 29, 202646 min

How Builders Can Raise The Standard with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders

Reece sits down with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders to talk about the systems, pricing discipline, and process thinking it takes to build a company that is actually worth something. For builders, this matters because bad estimating, weak operations, and owner dependence can quietly kill profit long before the work dries up.They go over why the old three-bid mindset creates bad relationships, how Springdale qualifies clients and estimates more accurately, and what retained earnings and real financial visibility make possible. They also unpack the bigger play here: building repeatable systems, hiring the right people, and creating a business that can scale, sell, or survive without the owner pushing every button.https://springdalecharlotte.comShow Notes:00:00 Show Intro00:54 Meet Springdale02:09 Starting On Honeymoon05:09 Fixing The Bid Process08:49 Sell As Advisor10:07 Their Sales Process15:12 Pivoting Project Types17:03 Knowing Your Numbers21:16 Lessons And Grit26:12 Software For Builders33:48 Build To Exit37:27 Hiring The Right People40:29 Peers Over CompetitorsFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

April 22, 202644 min

Don’t Let Weak Process Stop Your Growth with Archibald McLellan

Reece sits down with Archibald McLellan of CBIS to talk about why weak process can quietly hold a construction business back long before the owner realizes it. For builders trying to grow without losing control, this episode gets into why better systems, cleaner numbers, and stronger communication matter more than ever.Arch shares the hard lesson of losing leverage on a project because the paperwork, documentation, and financial visibility were not where they needed to be. Reece and Arch also break down job costing, cash flow planning, transparent communication, and why knowing your numbers early is what keeps growth from turning into chaos.https://construction-integrators.comShow Notes:00:00 Show Intro00:42 Meet Arch04:05 From Marines To Construction08:05 Private Equity Lessons11:42 Proving His Value16:00 Starting CBIS18:21 Early Hard Lessons22:02 Why Pain Matters23:55 Strategic Partnerships34:50 Process Starts With Numbers41:17 Transparent Communication43:55 Closing ThoughtsFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

April 15, 202646 min

Build Wealth Before You Step Away with John Steiger

Reece sits down with John Steiger of Wealth Planning Resources to talk about a problem a lot of builders avoid until it gets urgent: how to build real wealth outside the business before it is time to step away. For owners thinking about succession, retirement, or simply getting their financial house in order, this conversation is a practical look at what needs to happen long before an exit is on the table.They cover grooming the next generation, why business development matters more than most owners realize, how phantom ownership can prepare future leaders, and why buying trucks just to save on taxes is not the same as building wealth. This episode will help builders think more clearly about profit, assets, succession, and what it takes to create options later. Check the links to connect with John and follow more Builders, Budgets, & Beers conversations.https://www.wprplanning.comemail: john@wprplanning.comShow Notes:00:42 Show Intro01:45 Meet John Steiger05:35 Why Exit Planning Matters07:32 Financial House First16:44 Build Assets Outside20:03 Start Planning Early22:14 Phantom Ownership Explained25:34 Teach Business Development29:36 Retirement Plans That Work37:24 Stop Buying Deductions41:15 Make Planning SimpleFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media

April 8, 202645 min

The AI Opportunity In Construction with Julie Adams

Reece sits down with Julie Adams of Sage to talk about how AI is changing the way builders manage jobs, data, and decision-making across the business. They get into why this matters right now as builders face labor shortages, pricing pressure, and a market that still has real opportunity for firms that can see their numbers clearly. This episode covers the economic headwinds hitting construction, where firms are actually investing in AI, and how better visibility across estimating, operations, and finance can lead to smarter moves. If you want a clearer picture of how technology can help your business run leaner and make better decisions, this one is worth the listen.https://www.sage.com/en-usShow Notes:00:00 Show Intro00:54 Meet Julie Adams02:15 State Of Construction03:53 AI Builds Demand06:01 Industry Headwinds09:25 Better Decisions Faster11:36 Why Builders Resist13:01 Mindset And Adoption20:18 Tech Provider Responsibility27:09 Where AI Lands31:14 Finance Gets Clearer35:32 End To End Visibility42:41 Final TakeawaysFind Our Hosts: Reece BarnesMatt CalvanoPodcast Produced By:Motif Media