Builders of Authority

If your painting business can't run without you, you don't have a business. You have a job.

Adam McChesney sits down with Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, to break down exactly how painting contractors go from overwhelmed owner-operators to running a scalable business with a real leadership team and hitting $1M+ in revenue without being on every job site.
Chris has coached painting contractors...

If your home service business is struggling with labor shortages, high turnover, or leads that go cold before your team can follow up, this episode is for you.

Adam McChesney sits down with serial entrepreneur Chris Huddleston to break down how AI voice agents are replacing underperforming sales reps, cutting labor costs, and closing more jobs for home service businesses in 2026 and beyond.

Chris has built and sca...

Do you want to turn a successful local business into a national brand through franchising? 

In this episode, we break down the real-world process of "multiplying success" with Dr. Tom DuFore—from identifying if a business is "franchiseable" to navigating the long-term sales cycles required to scale. This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when a founder decides to move from a visionary role into a coaching...

What does it actually take to walk away from a high-paying job… hit rock bottom… and rebuild multiple successful businesses?

In this episode, we break down the real entrepreneurial journey of Marburger—from selling cars at 18 to building multiple income streams across real estate, automotive, martial arts, and investments.

This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when everything falls apart—and what it takes to come b...

In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sat down with our COO, Alejandra Donaire, to talk about what actually goes into building and scaling a digital marketing agency behind the scenes.

We recorded this from Nicaragua, and this conversation is a real look at what most people don’t see, the systems, the pressure, the leadership, and the day-to-day execution it takes to grow a business the right way.

In this episode of the Builders of Authority podcast, I sit down with Colin McNeil, owner of the McNeil Insurance Group, for a deep and personal conversation about growth, accountability, and the realities of entrepreneurship. We take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on our shared history playing sports in St. Louis and attending high school together.

Colin opens up about a defining period during his sophomore year when he faced ...

In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sit down with Clint Webb, owner of Web Decks and founder of the Deck Building 101 Facebook group, a community of more than 110,000 deck builders and contractors.

Clint shares his story of getting laid off during the 2008 housing crisis, how that led him into deck building, and how a simple idea to create a better online community for builders turned into one of the la...

In this solo episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I share some real thoughts on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the journey of building a business.

If you’re a contractor or home service business owner working to grow your company: whether you’re in roofing, HVAC, plumbing, remodeling, or another trade,  this is a conversation that will likely resonate with you. 

Building a business, leading a team, and...

In Episode 208, I’m joined by Sam Chapman to talk about building businesses with family and long time partners and what that actually looks like behind the scenes.

Sam lives in Northern Virginia and has spent the last 10+ years growing companies in the construction and insurance restoration space. After beginning his career in commercial real estate, he partnered with his brother to build Caseco into a general contracting company an...

If you're building a business while trying to be a present leader, spouse, or parent, this episode is going to resonate with you. 

In this conversation, I sit down with Jaden Barr to talk about what really builds authority over time. We go beyond tactics and dive into identity, discipline, leadership, leverage, and community.

Jaden is a St. Louis-based real estate business owner, former college quarterback at Truman State, and f...

What if the breakthrough wasn’t fame… but discipline?

Episode 206 is a powerful one.

Joey YAK went from elite athlete to touring artist to walking away from it all. He chose family over fame, got sober, rebuilt his life, became a top-performing sales leader, and eventually founded his own creative agency.

This conversation goes beyond business tactics. It’s about identity, maturity, responsibility, and building something that actually...

What does it really take to grow an outdoor living contracting company the right way?

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Treese, founder of Olympus Outdoors, to talk about leadership, systems, accountability, and what it means to build a business that can operate without chaos. If you’re building patios, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, or full backyard projects, this conversation applies directly to you.

Chris shares how he’s structu...

Life doesn’t stop asking hard questions just because you’ve already “made it.”

In this episode, I sit down with Reed Low to talk about what comes after the peak moment. We get into reinvention, discipline, and how the same mindset that drives elite performance can carry over into business, family, and leadership. Reed shares an honest perspective on pressure, purpose, and staying grounded when the spotlight fades.

This conversation i...

In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sit down with Jennifer Dempsey-Blakely to talk about building authority while running multiple businesses across hospitality, short-term rentals, and experiential brands.

Jennifer is a lifelong entrepreneur and Hazelwood Central graduate who built her education through hands-on experience, conventions, and continuous learning. With 30 years in management and merchandising at Ma...

In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sit down with Ashley Fitzgerald of Studio Epik to talk about building authority through branding, leadership, and systems.

We break down why most business owners struggle with control, how processes actually create freedom, and why brand consistency matters more than chasing short term leads. Ashley shares lessons from scaling multiple brands, hiring the right team, and creatin...

Reinvention changes you if you let it.

This conversation is a reminder that growth is rarely loud and almost never linear.

I sat down with Aaron Mansfield to talk about rebuilding after disruption, redefining success, and staying disciplined when responsibility gets heavier.

We talked about business, but we also talked about life. About building something stable without losing yourself in the process. About being intentional with grow...

200 episodes later and the biggest lesson has nothing to do with downloads.

This milestone episode goes deeper than a celebration. It’s a real look at what 200 episodes have required, what they’ve created, and why most people never get to experience the best part of podcasting… because they stop before the real impact ever begins.

I share what this podcast has done for my life, my business, my network, and my voice, along with the di...

Most people think short term rentals are just about listings, bookings, and hoping for great reviews. The truth is, the right strategy, structure, and management can completely change how that investment performs.

I sat down with Jeffrey Lage, to talk about how STR owners can think smarter, operate better, and create real returns while protecting their time and sanity. We get into strategy, accountability, performance, and what sepa...

Building a business is easy compared to building one that actually lasts.

In this episode, I sit down with Corey Lewis, CEO and Owner of Xtra Mile Fitness, to talk about leadership, resilience, and what it takes to grow through hard seasons without losing your values. We unpack what it means to build a business around people, culture, and long-term thinking instead of quick wins.

Corey founded Xtra Mile Fitness in 2012 with a simple ...