The Mulder Life Podcast

Hosted by Andy Mulder

Business Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

172

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

A live show featuring questions all about landscaping, equipment, business, and life. Join our live show weekly on Instagram @MulderOutdoors. Monday nights at 8:30 pm Central time to ask your questions or tune in here for the replay. Thanks for joining us

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60 recent

June 10, 20261 hr 10 min

Ep 172. Maximizing Profit Through Advanced Excavation Attachments

In this episode, Andy interviews Anthony LaFata, the co-owner of A&D Equipment and a veteran of the excavation industry. The discussion highlights how specialized attachments, such as screening and crushing buckets, can revolutionize landscaping and construction by increasing profitability and streamlining material management. LaFata shares his personal history as a second-generation excavator, illustrating the evolution of technology from manual tools to autonomous machinery and life-saving military applications. The guys emphasizes the importance of building community relationships and educating crews to ensure new equipment is utilized effectively on the job site. 🚨 Engcon Demo Day & Shop Open House 🚨 Saturday, July 25 RSVP here: https://mulderoutdoors.com/open-house-rsvp/ 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

June 3, 202655 min

Ep 171. Innovate, Illuminate, and Celebrate: Diving into Hardscaping and Community Events

Andy returns after Memorial Day with a recap of a rainy Engcon Demo Day trip to Bozeman/Belgrade, Montana, updates on his crews, and a first-time strip-lighting install under coping. He also previews the free July 25 Engcon Demo Day/Open House at Mulder Outdoors in Crown Point, Indiana, with sponsors, equipment, food, kids activities, giveaways, and RSVP perks at mulderoutdoors.com. Listener questions cover irrigation poly-pipe storage, landscape lighting brands, warranties, color-changing transformers, and an update on the new shop build, which is expected to be handed over in about two weeks. 🚨 Engcon Demo Day & Shop Open House 🚨 Saturday, July 25 RSVP here: https://mulderoutdoors.com/open-house-rsvp/ 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

May 20, 202651 min

Ep 170. Engcon Demo Day Unveiled: Behind the Scenes with Andy Mulder

Andy unveils details for a free Engcon Demo Day/Open House on July 25 in Crown Point, Indiana, including RSVP-only event T-shirts, equipment demos, family activities, food, and attending vendors. He shares how busy the season is, why he's prioritizing time and spending less effort on social media, and describes his daily routine, reliance on to-do lists, and staying focused on design and estimating rather than running equipment. Andy answers listener questions about charging for landscape designs, estimating the tons and loads of millings and other materials used on his property, sourcing free millings through local road projects, crew hours and Saturday work, and comments on the precision and complexity behind a current high-end hardscape project. 🚨 Engcon Demo Day & Shop Open House 🚨 Saturday, July 25 RSVP here: https://mulderoutdoors.com/open-house-rsvp/ 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

May 13, 202655 min

Ep 169. You're Invited: Mulder Outdoors' New Shop Grand Opening

Andy shares that business is extremely busy with estimating and design work while running two crews. He gives detailed updates on his new shop nearing completion (doors, railings, water softener, plumbing, painting timing, and upcoming concrete apron prep) and announces a public grand opening/open house with an Engcon demo day on July 25 from 9 AM–4 PM CST with free food, activities, and demo excavators, plus registration for free event T-shirts. He answers listener questions about choosing a 60x150 building size, discusses cautious project scheduling by giving ranges rather than firm dates, explains why he likes PaveTool hybrid edging over concrete edging, mentions buying a Vermeer vibratory plow, and notes an additional vehicle purchase to be revealed later. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

May 6, 202648 min

Ep 168. What I've Learned from Running Two Install Crews

Andy shares lessons from a month of operating two install crews plus a maintenance crew during the busiest spring of the company's 12 seasons. He explains that adding a second crew means he can't work hands-on in the field, spends far more time driving and managing projects, must stay two steps ahead with materials and communication, and needs the right people in the right roles to maintain quality. He answers audience questions about hiring experienced crew members with clean driving records, IQ saw blades, Deere vs. Kubota equipment and dealer support, running the business out of shipping containers for 10 years, and why he switched from Takeuchi to Kubota during COVID. He also discusses feeling overwhelmed by the volume of estimates and designs, and explains that if he started over he would still grow the company debt-free for long-term stability and family security. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

April 29, 20261 hr 3 min

Ep 167. Grow Without the Shop: What Shipping Containers Taught Me About Business

A shop can be a great asset, but it is not the thing that makes a landscape business successful. Andy breaks down how Mulder Outdoors operated for roughly a decade using shipping containers for storage, salt, tools, equipment, and yard organization while keeping overhead low and avoiding unnecessary debt. This episode traces the real progression from a small driveway setup to multiple containers, a stone parking lot, power, lighting, vents, shelves, locks, and a system that supported a growing landscape company. Andy shares what worked, what failed, and what he wishes he had done sooner. Covered in this episode: • How shipping containers helped Mulder Outdoors grow without a traditional shop • Why the first container was purchased for bulk salt storage • The difference between 10-foot, 20-foot, 40-foot, 45-foot, standard-height, and high-cube containers • What to inspect before buying a used container, especially doors, roof, and flooring • Why ventilation matters and how condensation can damage small engines • Lighting options, from extension-cord construction lights to battery-powered motion lights • Using magnets, E-Track, hooks, and shelving to organize tools and supplies • The value of container wheel kits for moving loaded containers around a property • Painting containers to clean up the look of a yard or property • Locks, security, and freeze-thaw issues around container doors For contractors trying to grow carefully, control costs, and make the most of the space they have, this conversation offers a practical look at building infrastructure one step at a time. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

April 22, 202645 min

Ep 166. Shop Progress, Hiring Moves, and Smarter Growth

Spring is moving fast, and so is the business. Andy shares what it looks like to lead through a packed season while balancing jobsite demands, team development, hiring decisions, client follow-up, and the ongoing build-out of the new shop. This solo conversation centers on the realities of running a growing landscaping company without losing sight of quality. Andy breaks down how he thinks about company culture, why careful growth matters more than fast growth, and what he is learning as the business reaches its busiest spring yet. Covered in this episode: • How Andy approaches company culture by leading from the front • Why small details shape customer experience more than big promises • What made a recent Saturday workday a strong example of team buy-in • How free lunches, gear, boots, and trust help with retention • A full update on the new shop, including cabinets, ceilings, HVAC, plumbing, appliances, and site work • How core team members were hired through referrals, networking, and Instagram • Why Andy has never had much success hiring through Indeed • What he looks for as he considers adding another team member • How he thinks through starting a second crew without hurting quality • His approach to following up on estimates without sounding pushy • Why he wants to grow at the speed of cash instead of forcing expansion • Early thoughts on future equipment and trailer investments There is also a practical look at the decision-making behind expansion. Andy talks through the tension of having strong leads, active design work, and more demand coming in while still wanting to protect craftsmanship, team morale, and long-term stability. It is a clear snapshot of what disciplined growth looks like in the middle of a busy season. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

April 15, 202657 min

Ep 165. Mowing, Mulching, Marketing, and Machine Talk

Andy hosts a live Q&A episode covering landscaping, equipment, and business updates, including progress on his new shop build (epoxy office floors, drop ceiling, plumbing/HVAC work, and delayed interior ceiling work) and the start of the season with spring cleanups, mulching, drainage, seeding, and the first mowing day. He discusses current crew structure, whether to hire for a dedicated second crew, and how crew size and skillsets affect efficiency. Andy compares the Kubota SVL97-3 to a demoed John Deere 333P, highlighting cab sealing, cameras, power, technology features, and control feel, and addresses why technology may or may not be necessary. He answers questions about office staffing, shipping container moisture/venting, spring marketing, Trimble rover/GPS workflow challenges, fuel surcharges, consultation and design fees, and balancing paperwork with field production. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

April 8, 202653 min

Ep 164. Maximizing Profits and Efficiency in the Landscaping Industry

Andy returns after missing two weeks due to illness and a family vacation to Utah. He shares how spring is ramping up at his landscaping business with strong leads, major projects (including a 400-ton natural stone pond job), and considers hiring while emphasizing trust in his crew. Andy gives a detailed shop build update (painted offices, upcoming epoxy floors, utilities and interior metal progress) and answers listener questions about whether he'd still build versus buy a shop, stressing the value of correct zoning for outdoor material storage. He explains why he transitioned from used to new trucks only when he could pay cash and stay debt-free, warns against buying for status, advises bidding jobs individually rather than per square/face foot, and notes personal health goals after losing 20 pounds. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%

April 1, 202658 min

Ep 163. Someone Else is Cheaper": How to Respond Without Losing Your Mind

In tis "Best of" episode, Andy provides an update on business operations and personal projects. He shares his strategy for pre-purchasing equipment like forklifts and floor scrubbers ahead of a new shop build to manage future financial strain. He also discusses contractual warranties, the importance of maintaining price integrity against cheaper competitors, and the value of reliable staffing for business growth. The episode concludes with a lighthearted segment about his new black swans, which he added to his property to manage pests and enhance the landscape. 👋 Connect with Andy 📸 Instagram: @mulderoutdoors 🛒 Shop Mulder Outdoors: mulderoutdoors.com/shop 🧰 Business Resources Save 10% on top resources with code: MULDERLIFEPODCAST 📘 How to Price My Job 🛒 Amazon Store 💥 Partner Discounts 🧱 Pave Tool — Use MULDEROUTDOORS50 to get $50 off a purchase of $500 or more 🔪 Blades Direct — Use MULDER20 to save $20 📏 Perma Paver Edging 🚧 SynkedUP - Landscape Business Management Software 👷 Brunt Workwear — Use MulderOutdoors10 to save $10 🍬 Albanese Candy — Official Candy of the Podcast 🛠️ Automatic Supply / Heritage Plus — Use MULDERLIFEPODCAST for 15% off (up to $1,500 — one per company) 🧱 Unilock 🎨 Dirty Graphix ⚙️ CMP Attachments 🚧 Engcon 🚜 A&D Equipment 📚 The Hardscape Academy 🪨 Amborn Stone — Call: 913-837-6729 💎 Latux Diamond Blades — Use code MULDER to save 20%