Trades Unfiltered Podcast
From Field Work to Freedom
Stories Of Sweat And Steel Behind Service Business Success
You've Mastered Your Trade
Now You're Building A business With A Story Nobody Knows
The trades are full of operators who can work hard and deliver quality—but building a business that scales without you on the tools takes more than know-how. Trades Unfiltered is here to highlight those who've made the leap and to unpack what actually got them there.
We believe real success comes from clarity, leadership, and ownership—not luck or marketing tricks. These conversations offer both inspiration and instruction—real stories, and the mindsets that helped them level up.
Two Types Of Guests
Stories of Sweat & Steel Behind Service Business Success
1) The Business Owner
We interview business owners who’ve lived the real weight of building a trades company — the long weeks, the hiring pressure, the cashflow stress, and the leadership shifts it takes to scale beyond the tools.
Like Tommy, who started with almost no HVAC background, built for 8 years, hit a season where the company did ~$3.8M and still lost money, then cleaned up the books, raised standards, rebuilt the team, exited, and immediately started again in a new city.
2) The Industry Expert
We interview industry experts who’ve seen what actually wins long-term — trust, standards, training, and a homeowner experience that keeps clients for life (not just one job).
Like Huck, who came from retail into HVAC with a deeply personal “why” around indoor air quality, became a top national performer early on, and teaches a simple philosophy that scales: spend real time with the homeowner, involve them in the process, and be true, genuine, and sincere.
Who I Am
Ethan Tripodi — Real Conversations With Purpose.
"I take HVAC contractors behind the digital-marketing curtain and eliminate the guesswork of online growth."
As host of Trades Unfiletered, the best way to get to know me is to listen to the conversations yourself. Until then, here’s the quick version:
I work closely with HVAC and trades owners, so I’ve watched the pattern up close: some businesses take off, others stall for years. I’ve learned it’s rarely about tactics—it’s about the person leading the company.
I’m the kind of guy who wants the real version of the story: what it cost, what changed, and what finally clicked.
That’s why I created Trades Unfiltered—to give tradesmen a place to tell the full journey, not just the wins.
My style is straightforward: I ask direct questions that uncover the turning points, the decisions, and the lessons you only get from doing the work.
And honestly, I just enjoy good conversations about real work and real life. Whether you just hired your first tech or you’re about to break $50M, I want to hear what you’ve learned—and if you know someone with a story, I want to meet them.
“I give trades owners a place to tell the real story — and turn their hard-earned lessons into something that helps the next contractor level up.”