Unfiltered Sessions

Hosted by Philip Sessions

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

336

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Unfiltered Sessions Podcast Raw. Real. Unfiltered. Building a business isn’t just about numbers and strategy—it’s about long hours, sacrifices, and the relentless pursuit of something bigger than yourself. Unfiltered Sessions is where we strip away the fluff and talk about what it really takes to scale a business, balance life, and delegate like a pro. From personal updates on the journey of growing my own business to candid conversations with entrepreneurs and industry experts, this podcast is about the real stories behind success—the struggles, the wins, and the lessons learned along the way. If you're a business owner trying to do it all, wondering how to scale without burning out, or just looking for honest conversations about life and entrepreneurship, you're in the right place. No filters. No sugarcoating. Just the truth about business, life, and the power of delegation.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 30, 202635 min

Empire vs. Kingdom: Redefining Success as a Christian Husband

In this episode, Philip Sessions sits down with Logan Ingram, a husband of 20 years, father of three, and entrepreneur with experience across psychiatric healthcare, manufacturing, and real estate. Logan shares the framework that has shaped his life: chasing "Kingdom" over "Empire," prioritizing eternal, legacy-driven stewardship over climbing the ladder for money's sake. The conversation covers: Why money is a tool, not the root of evil, and what changes when faith and family outrank it How Logan and his wife navigate financial risk-taking as a team, even with different risk tolerances The moment Logan realized he was the common denominator in his own struggles, and what he did about it Escapism, isolation, and why so many men quietly check out of leading their families The idea of "being it until you become it," and pursuing the man God made you capable of being Practical steps for young husbands: stop trying to change your spouse, focus on becoming the leader your home needs Why isolation is one of the enemy's most effective tools against men, and how to fight it with real community If you're a husband, father, or business owner trying to build something that outlasts you, this one will challenge how you think about success. Support the show

August 23, 202635 min

The Family Business Lesson That Changed How He Leads His Construction Company

Most construction business owners are building homes while their business quietly steals their family, their time, and their peace. Brent Esham shares the hard reset that changed how he leads his company, his marriage, and his future.Philip Sessions sits down with Brent Esham, owner of Esham Builders, for a candid conversation about what really happens when you take over a family construction business, raise a blended family, and try to build something bigger than a paycheck. Brent opens up about stepping into residential construction in 2018, taking full ownership in 2022, and the real-life pressure of growing a business while staying grounded as a husband, father of four, and Christian.You’ll discover: Why Brent’s definition of success shifted from “providing for my family” to “honoring God through the way I lead” How he built a business culture where prayer, shared values, and a clear mission shape the day-to-day The communication boundaries that protect his marriage, including a hard stop at the end of the workday and Sundays reserved for church and family How he empowers his team to make decisions without him so the business does not depend on his constant input We also break down the tension every owner feels between being available and being effective, why being “busy” is not the same as doing the right work, and how to stop carrying every decision on your own shoulders. Brent’s approach is a practical reminder that strong businesses are built on clarity, trust, and the discipline to focus on what actually matters.If you’re a contractor, trades business owner, or married entrepreneur trying to lead well without losing your home life in the process, this episode will hit close to home. Brent’s perspective is especially valuable if you’re wrestling with delegation, family balance, or how to live out your values in a very public, very practical business.Essential listening if you want to build a better business without becoming the bottleneck in your own life. Support the show

August 16, 202635 min

Contractors wonder why AI fails, but the real problem is simpler

Most contractors are trying to bolt AI onto broken systems and wondering why nothing works. Philip Sessions and Nick Peret break down why the real advantage comes from building a solid foundation first - then using AI, SOPs, and automation to make great teams faster, more profitable, and a whole lot less stressed. Philip Sessions, host of Unfiltered Sessions , brings the contractor perspective and the real-world pain points that owners feel every day - estimates that take too long, teams that need structure, and the constant pull between business growth and family life. Nick Peret, founder of Better Boss, brings the AI and systems lens, showing why process mapping, cost codes, estimate templates, and repeatable workflows have to come before any "AI-first" dream. You'll discover why so many software implementations fail, why contractors waste hours chasing shiny tools before fixing their operations, and how to turn a one-off winning workflow into a reusable skill inside your business. Nick also shares the mindset shift that helped him go from grinding nonstop to building a company that can support his wife, his son, and a more flexible life. We break down the power of niching down, why being the best at one thing makes hiring, onboarding, and marketing dramatically easier, and how delegation actually creates more freedom instead of more chaos. They also get real about entrepreneurship at home - the pressure, the sacrifice, the seasons of burnout, and the importance of staying even-keeled so your energy doesn't drain the whole team. If you're a contractor, a business owner, or anyone trying to build a company that doesn't consume your entire life, this conversation is a reminder that growth isn't about doing everything. It's about doing the right things in the right order - and getting better at them until you become the obvious choice. Perfect for contractors, founders, and operators who want sharper systems, smarter AI use, and more time back with their families. Support the show

August 9, 202648 min

Chad Hamlin On Marriage, Success, and Tough Times

Most business owners think scaling means working harder. Chad Hamlin says that belief nearly kept him trapped in the weeds for a decade. In this conversation, he breaks down the mindset shift, systems, and family rhythms that finally let him start building a business that serves his life instead of consuming it. Philip Sessions sits down with Chad Hamlin of the Hamlin Group, a luxury design-build firm in Atlanta, to unpack the man behind the business. Chad shares how a career in architecture, a recession-era pivot, and a hard reset after getting laid off pushed him into entrepreneurship - and why the real turning point came years later, when he realized he had to stop doing everything himself. You’ll discover: Why "scaling" is not about longer hours, but about building processes that can run without you The mistake he made trusting the wrong parts of the business to other people How JobTread and the JobTread community helped him go from operator to business owner Why core values, mission, and vision became the filter for hiring, firing, and client decisions How he and his wife built a workable marriage-business rhythm without forcing each other into the same role Chad also opens up about raising five women in his household, watching his daughters head into college, and the surprising way fatherhood shapes leadership. From teenage girls to late-night estimates, he connects the dots between home life and business life in a way every married founder will understand. If you’re a contractor, trades business owner, or any entrepreneur who feels like the business can’t function without you, this episode will hit home. It’s a practical, honest look at how to create more freedom without sacrificing quality, family, or your reputation. Support the show

June 3, 20263 min

If You Need 5 Minutes to Find a File… Your Construction Business Is Already Leaking Money

Be honest if a client asked you for a signed sub agreement right now, could you find it in under 30 seconds? In this episode, we expose a silent but expensive problem inside most contractor operations: chaotic, unstructured file management. From “final_final_v3” documents to buried permits and scattered job photos, most JobTread systems slowly turn into digital junk drawers and it’s costing you time, credibility, and control. We break down what a properly structured job file system actually looks like in the real world, and why organizing your documentation into six simple, repeatable folders can completely change how your business runs. Contracts, permits, plans, photos, and invoices all with a clear home so nothing gets lost, delayed, or forgotten. You’ll also learn why file structure isn’t just about staying organized—it’s the foundation that allows you to delegate work, bring in help, and scale without everything running through you. If you’ve ever scrambled to find a document while a client is waiting on the phone, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. Tune in now and learn how to turn chaos into a system your entire business can actually run on. Support the show

May 27, 20263 min

If You Can’t Answer These 5 Questions… Your Construction Business Is Flying Blind

Be honest if I asked you right now which job is most profitable, how much cash is tied up in unpaid invoices, or whether your revenue is up or down this month… could you answer instantly? In this episode, we expose a problem most contractors don’t realize they have until it starts costing them real money: running a business without a real dashboard. If you’re relying on memory, clicking through jobs, or waiting until month-end reports, you’re not actually managing your business—you’re reacting to it. We break down what the default setup in systems like JobTread actually shows you (and why it’s not enough), and what a properly built dashboard should tell you every single morning in under two minutes. From job profitability and overdue invoices to revenue trends and active task risk, this episode shows you exactly what to surface so nothing slips through the cracks. You’ll also hear how contractors quietly lose track of tens of thousands in unpaid invoices—and how the right visibility prevents it from happening in the first place. If you’ve ever felt like you’re busy but not fully in control, this episode will hit home. Tune in now and learn how to finally see your business clearly before it costs you again. Support the show

May 20, 20264 min

The “He Said, She Said” Mistake That’s Costing Contractors Thousands

You finish the work… send the invoice… and suddenly the client says, “Wait, what is this for?” In this episode, we break down a painfully common (and expensive) scenario contractors face when there’s no clear record of what actually happened on the job site. Change orders get approved, work gets done, but weeks later, you’re stuck relying on memory to justify an invoice and that’s a losing game more often than not. We dive into how the absence of daily logs creates confusion, damages trust, and forces you into situations where you either argue with the client or quietly eat the cost. More importantly, you’ll discover how a simple habit, just a few minutes a day, can completely protect your business. From documenting change orders with photos to creating a clear timeline of work completed, daily logs turn chaos into clarity. You’ll also learn the unexpected upside: fewer client check-in calls and a built-in stream of content to showcase your work. If you’re running multiple jobs, managing subs, and not on-site every day, this episode is essential. Listen now and start protecting every job, every invoice, and every dollar you’ve earned. Support the show

May 13, 20263 min

The Hidden Chaos Costing You Thousands: Fix Your Cost Catalog Before It’s Too Late

Your estimates might look solid… but what if they’re built on broken data? In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked (and quietly dangerous) problems inside your system: a messy, unmanaged cost catalog. If you’ve ever duplicated items, used vague cost codes, or just kept adding without cleaning things up, you could be introducing inconsistencies into every estimate you send, without even realizing it. We walk through what actually happens when your catalog spirals out of control, how it leads to inaccurate bids and useless job cost reports, and why so many contractors only notice the problem after their margins take a hit. More importantly, you’ll learn what a clean, structured catalog really looks like, how it gives you clarity on every phase of a job, and how it becomes the foundation for smarter, more profitable decisions over time. If your numbers have ever felt “off” but you couldn’t explain why, this episode will connect the dots. Don’t let hidden chaos dictate your profits. Tune in now and take back control of your data. Support the show

May 6, 20263 min

The 10-Minute Mistake That’s Silently Killing Your Projects

What if the biggest bottleneck in your construction business isn’t your team… but you? In this episode, we uncover a hidden habit that’s quietly draining hours from your week, delaying projects, and slowing down your cash flow, all without you realizing it. If you’re manually approving every estimate, change order, and invoice, you might be the very thing holding your operation back. We break down what this “approval trap” actually costs you in a real workweek, why it creates constant friction across your jobs, and how a simple shift to automated workflows can unlock faster decisions, smoother projects, and more time to focus on what actually matters. This isn’t about stepping away from your business, it’s about removing yourself from the parts that don’t need you. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly busy but not moving forward, this episode will hit close to home. Tune in and discover the one fix that can transform how your entire system runs. Support the show

April 29, 202611 min

TOP 5 Mistakes Construction Companies Make When Setting Up JobTread (And How To Fix Them)

Most construction companies don’t fail because of bad projects—they fail because their systems are broken. In this episode, I break down the five most common mistakes contractors make when implementing JobTread and how to fix them. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why workflow planning is critical before software setup How poor job costing can silently destroy profits The importance of team training and clear roles How to simplify automations without creating chaos Why regular system reviews are essential for growth If you’re implementing JobTread or struggling to get your construction projects organized, this episode gives actionable steps to make your business predictable and profitable. Support the show