Episodes

  • Matt Bradley - Episode 320 - Matt Bradley - A Skeptic's Guide to AI

    Matt Bradley - Episode 320 - Matt Bradley - A Skeptic's Guide to AI
    Dec 16 2025
    "AI should do your laundry and dishes so you can do art and writing." This week, Tim sits down with Matt Bradley (Partnership Manager at WhyFire and editor of The Fire Time Magazine) to discuss the thoughtful use of AI in business—and the critical distinction between tools that enhance our humanity versus those that erode it. In this episode, Tim and Matt discuss: Why kale, cold showers, and AI all triggered the same stubborn response—and what changed Matt's mind about it Where AI can be used within every hearth business to save time and free up capacity for other things. What to understand about training AI to give you the results you need. How AI is turning us into "pancake people" who are wide but shallow—and what one activity actually prevents it Don't miss this conversation that balances practical AI application with philosophical warning about what we risk losing if we outsource our thinking to artificial intelligence. ------ Links from this episode: Is Google Making Us Stupid? Proust and the Squid The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/subscribe Read The Fire Time Magazine online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Grant Falco - Sales is a Race to 10 Points

    Grant Falco - Sales is a Race to 10 Points
    Dec 9 2025
    "Try to win the games that no one else realizes they're playing." This week , Tim dives into one of his favorite quotes with its proverbist, Grant Falco, President of Falcos Spokane. They explore everything from greeting customers, to effort towards finding answers, to how your parking lot looks, in order to win ten points and make the sale - because everything your business does is either gaining points or losing points. Tune in now to hear why the race to ten is not that hard if you understand the game and why you should do the small things the same way you do the big things. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/app⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Steve Marshman - Why Everyone Should be Planning for Retirement

    Steve Marshman - Why Everyone Should be Planning for Retirement
    Dec 2 2025
    "Money does not buy security. Money does not buy freedom. It does buy flexibility." This week , Tim sits down with Steve Marshman to talk about financial investing to create wealth future wealth. In a change of pace from podcast topics of sales, marketing, or leadership, they dive into thinking about the future, planning for retirement, and being wise. Tim and Steve discuss: Planning for the future when you are running a business and busy dealing with daily operations, problems, or responsibilities. Where to start and the Top Four Rules of Investing: 1) Diversify your investments. 2) Know your fees. 3) Have a "time horizon." 4) Emotion is your biggest enemy. How to think about market volatility, the pros/cons of a financial advisor, and index funds vs. actively managed funds. Happiness, being a successful investor over time, teaching others to invest, and teaching others to give. Don't miss this unique and practical episode to hear what you should be putting in place for yourself, or the people that work within your organization, to build wealth and create flexibility for the future. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/app⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Gary Yoder - Serve First, Win Second

    Gary Yoder - Serve First, Win Second
    Nov 25 2025
    "At the core - every interaction, every connection that we make, we try not to ever look at an order as just another dollar. It's an interaction with someone." In this episode, Tim is joined by Gary Yoder, President of Sales and CMO at Stoll Industries, to discuss generosity and their notoriously positive approach to business. In the heart of the season, they talk about the purpose of business and stewardship of our resources, in order to be generous to the people around us. Tim and Gary cover: Relationships being at the core of what you do and having your impression and impact be more than just dollars and cents. Making wise and sustainable decisions in how and what you give back to the community. How an approach of generosity inspires people, builds momentum, and fuels team member engagement. Challenges that come with having an approach of service and generosity. Check out Stoll at https://www.stollindustries.com and don't miss this episode to hear how harnessing generosity as a superpower supports your team, grows deep customer loyalty, and can be a force for good. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/app⁠⁠
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    57 mins
  • What's Best Next? Prioritizing the 4 Critical Tasks of a Salesperson

    What's Best Next? Prioritizing the 4 Critical Tasks of a Salesperson
    Nov 18 2025
    "How do we make the most of the time that we have, realizing that there are so many things pulling at us for our focus and attention?" This week, Tim shares one of his courses from the 2025 Digital Fire Time Summit. In his course, Tim talks about: Managing the tension of the "whirlwind" and the wildly important work that has to get done. The axis scale of urgent vs. important and the four quadrants of work. "The Tim Rethlake Time Ratio" and the benefit of investing the time to understand a customer's problem and advise a solution. Prioritizing the 4 Critical Tasks of a Sales Person: 1.) Sit down with every customer and complete an Understanding Form. 2.) Write an estimate for every customer before they leave. 3.) Follow up with 15 customers each week. 4.) Send thank-you cards to your customers every month. Tune in now to experience this live class and learn how to have more capacity on the back end by being diligent on the front end. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/app⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Kenneth Walker - Showrooms Part 3

    Kenneth Walker - Showrooms Part 3
    Nov 11 2025
    "We're treating people the way we want to be treated." This week, Tim and Kenneth Walker pull a hat trick for a Part 3 of their discussion about the process of building a winning showroom. In this episode, Tim and Kenneth wrap up the showroom miniseries answering questions and talking about: What to think about in the early phases of building a showroom: finding a location, venting, staffing, hours, and knowing the difference between "retail" and "showroom." When and how to determine your product lines while considering your space, product positioning/placement, and variety balance before looking into models or manufacturer availability. How to maximize a small showroom by thinking about what your area supports, what kid of products you can comfortably sell, and where you can grow down the road. Items that should be on a Showroom Build Checklist and a Showroom Execution Checklist: 1. Weekly Traffic Counter, 2. Customer Understanding Form, 3. Showroom Basics List, 4. Easy Estimate Solution, and 5. Repeatable Sales Process. Finish this showroom episode trifecta to hear what should be in place when starting a showroom and how execute a plan with tools and confidence. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/app⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Sales Lessons from Pat Butson

    Sales Lessons from Pat Butson
    Nov 4 2025
    "Sales is a 30-minute love affair." This week, Tim shares lessons from Pat Butson, a hearth industry legend who became Tim's sales mentor in his retirement. With four decades of experience at Vermont Castings, Majestic, and Whitfield—plus a legendary handshake as a national arm wrestling champion—Pat combined fierce confidence with gentle compassion that made him unstoppable on the sales floor. In this episode, Tim shares Pat's wisdom through stories and practical lessons: The three-step sales hierarchy that changes everything: First sell yourself, second sell your company, third sell your product—in that exact order. The 30-minute love affair philosophy: Pat fell in love with every customer, giving everything of himself during their time together rather than treating them with jaded indifference. First person to talk loses: After sliding your quote across the table and stating the price, shut your mouth and let the customer respond—they'll reveal whether you have a sale or need to address objections. Don't miss this tribute episode honoring a sales master who proved that confidence without compassion means nothing, and that finding ways to give customers a win will always beat protecting margin on every transaction. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    54 mins
  • Mark Stoner & Kenneth Walker - Building a Winning Showroom (Part 2)

    Mark Stoner & Kenneth Walker - Building a Winning Showroom (Part 2)
    Oct 28 2025
    "Pick the story first, then go find the brands to fit it." This week, Kenneth Walker returns and is joined by podcast and industry veteran Mark Stoner, President of Ashbusters, to have a practical conversation about the process of building an actual showroom. In this episode, Tim, Mark, and Kenneth discuss: Product positioning in your showroom so that they tell a cohesive story and make it easier for customers to understand both what they are and how they can solve their particular problem. The Good/Better/Best display approach: Good - cost effective with a few basic options. Better - "Bang for the buck." Best - Premium look with the most design flexibility. Showroom elements, layout, and coming up with a plan/sticking to it; displays, digital design centers, music, and how to balance those things effectively. What are we doing with the opportunities that we have? Using foundational metrics to turn intentional marketing dollars into estimates and sales. The planned follow-up for showroom visits and "Explaining the Process" to customers, while maintaining the goal of getting into the home. Don't miss this follow-up to last week's episode to hear why applying the sales and marketing process to a showroom in a new way can make you a better service company. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/app⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 34 mins