On this weekly update of Trades Talk, Justin White records from the Sierra Nevada mountains with a fresh snowfall and dives into one of the boldest culture experiments K&D has ever run. From AI agents and stock market corrections to leadership transparency and employee buy in, this weekly update covers a lot of ground.

Justin breaks down why speed is becoming a competitive advantage, how agentic AI is changing the game, and why he believes hiring opportunities may shrink over the next three years. Then he shares the headline moment: offering his team $15,000 to leave the company.

In this episode, we cover:

• The rise of agentic AI, OpenClaw, and autonomous workflows doing real work

• Why Justin sees the current tech pullback as a potential buying opportunity

• The importance of speed in decision-making, onboarding, and exiting

• How K&D runs monthly EBITDA transparency town halls

• Why Justin offered $15,000 to anyone on his team willing to quit

This update challenges leaders to think differently about loyalty, hiring, optimization, and conviction. If you are building a company for the next decade, not the last one, this one will push you to think bigger.

This week on Trades Talk, Justin White sits down with Chris Angelo, CEO of Stay Green Inc. , to unpack the real story behind building one of California’s most respected landscape companies. From family roots in 1970 to multi branch commercial scale, this episode dives deep into disciplined growth, leadership transition, and what it truly takes to build something that lasts.

Chris shares how Stay Green evolved from residential beginnings into a commercial powerhouse, how he navigated taking over from his father, and why culture alignment is the hidden force behind sustainable expansion in a consolidating industry.

In this episode, we cover:

• The origin story of Stay Green and the shift from residential to commercial dominance

• How disciplined pricing and operational efficiency protect margins during growth

• Lessons from acquisitions, branch expansion, and scaling across California

• The impact of private equity on the landscape industry and staying competitive as a family run company

• Why culture, values, and behavior alignment are the real trade secret behind long term success

This conversation is a masterclass in steady, strategic growth. If you are thinking about scaling, succession, acquisitions, or protecting your culture while expanding, this one is worth your time.

On this Weekly Update of on Trades Talk, Justin White delivers straight from his backyard studio, reflecting on a near tragedy, a leadership wake up call, and a powerful question every operator needs to answer right now.

After a helicopter crash during a mastermind heli trip in Canada where every person walked away safely, Justin unpacks what it truly means to be calm under pressure. From witnessing real time heroism to confronting his own moments of frustration back at work, this episode becomes a raw reflection on standards, ownership, and leadership under stress.

In this episode, we cover:

• The helicopter incident in Canada and what true composure under pressure looks like

• Why most anger and frustration as a leader traces back to standards you failed to uphold

• The difference between grace and excuses in high performance cultures

• The leadership superpower of asking better questions and sitting in silence

• The question that changes everything: What are you waiting for?

• Why waiting for comfort, certainty, or more data is often just fear in disguise

• How making small bets and owning outcomes accelerates growth

This Weekly Update is about clarity, courage, and decisive leadership. If you know there’s a move you’ve been delaying, this episode will push you to stop waiting and start moving.