Levelheads

Jeff Sweenor of Sweenor Builders

This week we have Jeff Sweenor, founder and owner of Sweenor Builders in Rhode Island. We get into a bunch of topics like cycling, growing a company, This Old House and how Jeff bought a masonry company because he coulndt afford to lose them to another builders job for 6 months! Check it out!
 
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.#LevelheadsPodcast #CustomHomeBuilders #ConstructionLife #NoFluff #BuilderTalk #HomeBuilders #ContractorProblems
 
Special thanks to our podcast sponsors @andersen_windows & @purezawood
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Hosts:Zane EllisJamie Verdura Mike Conneely

Jim "The Swede" Lundquist

This episode features Jim Lundquist, known as "the Swede," a trim carpenter, inventor, and self-described "happy-go-lucky guy" and "monkey wrench". Jim shares insights from his 40-plus-year construction career, which started in Seattle before moving to Arizona, navigating periods like the Great Recession which led him to work with a cabinet company importing from China for seven years. Now 60, he works as a lead carpenter and tackles diverse tasks on job sites. He discusses his unique perspective on aging in the trades and an exit strategy, considering a transition to a handyman role due to increasing demand and income potential. A highlight is his patent-pending invention, "the Swede," a multi-tool combining a scribe, magnet stud finder, and margin tool, which he sells and manufactures in the USA using 3D printing. Jim also touches on his past as a rock musician, balancing touring with construction work, and humorously credits turmeric with pepper for alleviating his hip pain

These April Fools

Hosted by Zane Ellis, Jamie Verdura, and Mike Conneely, The Levelheads is the podcast for custom home builders who are sick of the BS. Zane’s had more knee surgeries than he has patience for business coaches, Jamie’s allergic to fluff, and Mike’s got no time for clunky construction management software that doesn’t get the job done. Together, they tackle the real challenges of building high-end custom homes—without pretending there’s a one-size-fits-all solution. If you’re tired of being pitched “the next big thing” and just want straight talk from guys who actually build, you’re in the right place.

John Hourihan - " Here's JohhnyH"

We caught a whoppa. You gotta listen. Our longest podcast yet.
Johnny bears all. He's a stud in our industry who faced a ton of challenges. We talk it out.
 
Special thanks to our podcast sponsor @andersen_windows
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Hosts:Zane EllisJamie Verdura Mike Conneely
 
 
#answerquestions#levelheadspodcast #customhomes #Designbuild #buildingscience #luxurybuilder #craftsman #newconstruction #remodels #renovations   #architect #architecture #custombuilder #homebuilder #deconstruction #finehomebuilding #podcast #builderpodcast

Lisa McNealy - Miss USA

This week we have Lisa McNealy a commercial broker in Knoxville TN that also operated in Scottsdale AZ. We talk about selling businesses, cadavers, basketball, and more. We get into how Lisa thrives in a male dominated industry and how her strong personality is an asset when competing with the "good ol' boys" in the business. We also find out how she got the title Miss USA. Listen in!

Bryan James - Liberty Homes

This week the Levelheads welcome Bryan James from Liberty Homes this week. Bryan has an interesting story of how he came into the home building business. The path was definitely not typical and  not free from road blocks. He also tells us how his company narrowly escaped going out of business after signing 26 contracts to build 26 new homes. Great episode.
ALSO listen in to here a special announcement about the Levelheads at this years International Builders Show
 
 
Special thanks to our podcast sponsor @andersen_windows
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Hosts:Zane EllisJamie Verdura Mike Conneely
 
 
#answerquestions#levelheadspodcast #customhomes #Designbuild #buildingscience #luxurybuilder #craftsman #newconstruction #remodels #renovations   #architect #architecture #custombuilder #homebuilder #deconstruction #finehomebuilding #podcast #builderpodcast

Nick Sandifer

For the first podcast in 2025 Jamie, Zane & Mike welcome Nick Sandifer from Sandifer Design Build. Nick is based in Jacksonville Florida and speaks about how his business has grown from small renovations to multi-million dollar custom home projects. Some great insight from Nick on thus episode and he also gets personal. He tells the Levelheads how the relationship with his father in the family business went through a rough point which ultimately led Nick to establish Sandifer Design Build. Very relatable story. Listen in.
Special thanks to our podcast sponsor @andersen_windows•Hosts:
Zane Ellis
Jamie Verdura 
Mike Conneely 
#answerquestions
#levelheadspodcast #customhomes #Designbuild #buildingscience #luxurybuilder #craftsman #newconstruction #remodels #renovations   #architect #architecture #custombuilder #homebuilder #deconstruction #finehomebuilding #podcast #builderpodcast

Matt from Monetti Custom Homes - Round 2

This week and our final podcast of 2024 we have Matt Krsyzkowski from Monetti Custom Homes. This is matts 2nd time on the podcast and we get heavy into BuilderTrend discussions. He tells us how he has taken the lead in at MCH for implementing BuilderTrend into their systems & processes. Listen in for the great tips Monetti Custom Homes has come up with to make BT work for them. Great stuff.
 
 
 
Special thanks to our podcast sponsor @andersen_windows
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Hosts:Zane EllisJamie Verdura Mike Conneely
 
 
#answerquestions#levelheadspodcast #customhomes #Designbuild #buildingscience #luxurybuilder #craftsman #newconstruction #remodels #renovations   #architect #architecture #custombuilder #homebuilder #deconstruction #finehomebuilding #podcast #builderpodcast

Spencer Lewis - Round 2

We've got Spencer Lewis back on the podcast this week. Our first repeat guest on The Levelheads Podcast and were super excited to have the best trim carpentry teacher on the internet. Spencers generosity with his knowledge, tricks tips is second to none. We talk shop. We talk about how Spencer doesn't need a pat on the back to know he's done a good job. We talk about some of the specialty work that Spencer post on his youtube page. So much packed into this episode!
 
 
 
Special thanks to our podcast sponsor @andersen_windows
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Hosts:Zane EllisJamie Verdura Mike Conneely
 
 
#answerquestions#levelheadspodcast #customhomes #Designbuild #buildingscience #luxurybuilder #craftsman #newconstruction #remodels #renovations   #architect #architecture #custombuilder #homebuilder #deconstruction #finehomebuilding #podcast #builderpodcast

Austin Katje - Veldhouse Companies

This episode the Levelheads welcome Austin Katje who is director of operations at Veldhouse Companies. The boys get into Zane's injury and why he misses the last podcast. They also discuss Austin's position in Veldhouse, the projects they are building including multi-family projects. Also discuss estimating and growing our businesses. Zane also has some crazy this or thats!