Mike Maloney went from military service to building a successful career in the trades, and he breaks down what that discipline looks like on real jobsites.

We talk the skilled labor shortage, what apprentices are up against, and why trade careers are still misunderstood (plus the money is real if you do it right). If you’re a helper, apprentice, journeyman, or business owner, this one’s a straight playbook.

🚨 From contractor freedom to breaking barriers in roofing, Liv Mills shares her inspiring journey and insights in this episode.

Liv opens up about transitioning from journalism to the trades, carrying on her family’s roofing legacy, and the challenges and rewards of being self-employed. She highlights the importance of quality work, genuine client care, and treating every team member with respect.

Together with Tiago Furtado, Liv dives into the need for more women in the trades, the power of emotional intelligence in sales, and how the insurance and roofing industries are evolving. They discuss the value of collaboration between men and women, the rising significance of social media, and why vocational training is becoming a game changer compared to traditional education.

What You’ll Learn

✅ The freedom and challenges of being a contractor

✅ How family legacy shaped Liv’s roofing career

✅ The importance of quality and genuine care in roofing work

✅ Why emotional intelligence gives women an edge in sales ✅ The critical role of safety and healthy fear in roofing

✅ How collaboration between genders can improve the trades

✅ The commercial trades gap and lucrative opportunities for young people

✅ How social media and personal branding can grow your business

✅ The evolving insurance landscape and new career possibilities

🔥 This episode is perfect for anyone curious about trades careers, empowering women in skilled labor, or building a business with authenticity and care.

Sponsored by

🏗 FieldPulse — the all-in-one software helping contractors streamline operations and grow their teams effortlessly

🏝 Nordeste Living — offering premium lodging and authentic Azores experiences to reconnect with heritage and nature

👉 Follow Liv and The Build To Rise Podcast for real stories from tradespeople and entrepreneurs breaking the mold and building their futures.

🚨 From real estate pressure to dream vacations and life lessons, Cliff Ponte’s story is all about hustle, loyalty, and staying true to your values. In this episode, Cliff opens up about balancing late-night grind sessions, navigating the stress of big financial decisions, and dreaming about Portugal, Bali, and even running the Boston Red Sox.

He breaks down why loyalty and hard work matter more than shortcuts how to handle the pressure of guiding families through life’s biggest investments and what it really takes to build resilience as an entrepreneur. From favorite Portuguese dishes to celebrity dinner guests and wild sports stories, this conversation is packed with wisdom and motivation.

If you’ve ever searched for entrepreneur mindset real estate stories life lessons motivation or authentic business advice this episode brings the clarity, perspective and no-nonsense truth you need.

What You’ll Learn

✅ How Cliff balances hustle with staying loyal and true to his values

✅ Why the biggest investment decisions are also the most stressful and how he handles that pressure

✅ Lessons on discipline avoiding shortcuts and building resilience

✅ How personal growth plays a role in business success

✅ Real talk about ambition work ethic and making people who matter proud

🔥 This episode is for entrepreneurs, creators and anyone ready to stay disciplined and keep grinding no matter what.

Sponsored by

🏗 FieldPulse the contractor and service business software that streamlines scheduling estimates invoices and team operations so you can scale with less chaos.

(https://www.fieldpulse.com/features?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=Build+to+Rise/2+Legit)

🏝 Nordeste Living premium Azores experiences and boutique lodging in São Miguel’s Nordeste region helping Luso Americans reconnect with their Azorean heritage and explore the islands like a local

👉 Follow Cliff and The Build To Rise Podcast for real stories from entrepreneurs and creators building success with no shortcuts no excuses

🚨 From bouncing between trades to building a full time creative career, Niko’s journey is all about growth, grit, and learning the power of documenting the process. In this episode, Niko opens up about transitioning from hands on job site work to full time videography, the mistakes that taught him the most, and how working with BC Crane shaped his professional standards.

He breaks down why documenting the trades matters, how social media can transform a business, and why authenticity will always outperform perfection. From client relationships to content strategy to the freedom of creative work, this conversation is packed with lessons for anyone building a name in the trades or the media world.

If you’ve ever wondered how to start creating content, how to get your first clients or how to turn simple tools into a full time career this episode brings the clarity, direction and real world experience you need.

What You’ll Learn

✅ How Niko transitioned from the trades into full time videography

✅ Why documenting your work is the biggest growth shortcut for any business

✅ The role of consistency authenticity and simple tools in content creation

✅ How social media builds brand trust in the trades

✅ Lessons in professionalism and learning from mistakes

🔥 This episode is for creators, business owners and anyone ready to start showing their work instead of waiting for the perfect moment.

Sponsored by:

🏗 FieldPulse the all in one tool contractors and service businesses use to streamline operations manage teams and win more jobs

🏝 Nordeste Living premium lodging and experiences in São Miguel Azores offering peaceful stays and a deep connection to Azorean culture

👉 Follow Niko and The Build To Rise Podcast for more real stories from creators builders and entrepreneurs who are documenting the climb no shortcuts no excuses.

🚨 From working at a pretzel factory to becoming a successful painting contractor and coach Aiden Smith shares his inspiring journey of hustle growth and adaptation in the trades. In this episode Aiden opens up about the ups and downs of building a business the importance of delegation and how content creation and social media helped him connect with customers and grow.

He dives into the impact of private equity on the trades why mindset and time management are game changers and how AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping operations. The hosts discuss ethics authenticity and the power of networking while sharing personal stories that highlight the real challenges and wins entrepreneurs face.

If you’re in the trades or an entrepreneur looking for practical insights on business systems growth and balancing life with work this episode is packed with valuable advice and relatable moments.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ Transitioning from a regular job to entrepreneurship ✅ The importance of delegation and building systems ✅ Using social media and content to grow your business ✅ How AI and virtual assistants can streamline operations ✅ Balancing mindset time management and business growth

🔥 This episode is for tradespeople entrepreneurs and anyone ready to build a sustainable business with integrity and humor.

Sponsored by:

🏗 FieldPulse — The all-in-one software for contractors and service businesses to manage operations schedule jobs and scale efficiently.

🏝 Nordeste Living — Premium lodging and cultural experiences in São Miguel Azores reconnecting Luso-Americans with their heritage.

👉 Follow Aiden Smith and The Build To Rise Podcast for more unfiltered stories and real talk from trades professionals business owners and creators who hustle hard and keep it real.

🚨 From a small-town hustle to building a multi-million dollar real estate and media empire, Jimmy Murray’s story is raw, real, and all about resilience. In this episode, Jimmy opens up about his early struggles, lessons from partnership breakdowns, and the mental shift that turned chaos into clarity.

He talks about the power of mentorship, how finding the right team changed his business forever, and why balancing ambition, faith, and family is the real measure of success. From leadership to loss, and from burnout to breakthroughs — this one hits home for anyone chasing growth without losing themselves in the process.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re all gas, no brakes — this episode is your roadmap to finding balance, building systems, and scaling without losing your soul.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ How to turn adversity into fuel for success ✅ Building sustainable business systems that actually work ✅ The importance of mentorship, faith, and personal accountability ✅ Why great partnerships thrive on trust and aligned vision ✅ Balancing business drive with family, values, and purpose

🔥 This episode is for the dreamers, the doers, and the entrepreneurs ready to stop faking it — and start building it.

Sponsored by:

🏗 FieldPulse — The all-in-one tool contractors and service businesses use to streamline operations, manage teams, and win more jobs.

🏝 Nordeste Living — Premium lodging and experiences in São Miguel, Azores, offering a peaceful escape and a deep connection to Azorean culture.

👉 Follow Jimmy Murray and The Build To Rise Podcast for more unfiltered stories from business owners, creators, and leaders who built their way up — no shortcuts, no excuses.

🚨 From a rocky childhood to building multi-million dollar home service businesses — Doug Mitchell’s story hits different this episode. He drops gems about mentorship, faith, family, and how he leaned into AI & systems to scale the grind.

What you’ll get:
✅ Turning childhood hardship into entrepreneurial drive
✅ Practical sales systems & strategy for tradesmen
✅ Power washing + home services growth you can jump into
✅ Balancing business ambitions with family and faith
✅ How community & mentorship shaped the man behind the business

🔥 This one’s for the trades, for the hustlers, and for anyone tired of feeling stuck.

📢 Sponsored by FieldPulse & Nordeste Living.
FieldPulse is the tool contractors need to run smoother operations and win more jobs.

Nordeste Living: Let us transport you to a magical place. High comfort, high-end lodging in the Nordeste region of São Miguel, Azores, offering tranquility and escape from the every day.

👉 Follow Doug Mitchell & The 2 Legit Podcast for more raw, real conversations.

This week on The 2 Legit Podcast we sit down with Alex “Joker” Medeiros, Foreman at Sagamore Plumbing & Heating.

We dig into:

• How he got his nickname “Joker” (hint: the story lives up to it 🤡)

• His early days staging HVAC jobs and grinding his way into the trades

• Stepping up as a foreman and leading crews in a no-BS environment

• Jobsite stories and lessons learned the hard way

• The powerful role of faith and spirituality in shaping his work and his life

• Advice for the next generation stepping into blue-collar industries

If you’ve been searching blue collar podcast, HVAC podcast, tradesman leadership, plumbing foreman, faith in work, or trades advice for young workers — this episode is built for you.

👉 Hit follow on Spotify, share it with your crew, and don’t miss a new episode every week.
🎙️ Full links + sponsors: https://linktr.ee/the2legitpodcast

Sponsored by:
🚛 FieldPulse — Contractor software for scheduling, estimates, invoicing & more. FieldPulse.com
🌊 Nordeste Living — Premium Azores lodging + heritage travel for Luso-Americans. NordesteLiving.com