The Builders

Stephen Wilson Downey returns to The Builders to share what changed since his last visit and why he pivoted from building an AI WordPress maintenance plugin to doubling down on services at Speire. We talk through the hard lessons behind that shift—protecting the “core” business, the realities of cost/scale, and how clear communication and measurable ROI became the bedrock of growth and client retention.From there, we unpack GEO—Generative Engine Optimization—and why builders must evolve from “ranking pages” to “being the answer” as behavior shifts to AI Overviews, LLM search, and voice assistants. Stephen contrasts GEO with classic SEO, emphasizing research around real questions (not just keywords) and the need to show up where assistants actually pull answers.The episode gets tactical: orchestrate credible multi‑channel signals (site, YouTube with transcripts, Reddit/communities, maps/listings, and third‑party reviews), apply E‑E‑A‑T across everything, and keep content fresh so you’re consistently cited. We also hit PR/trade journals for authority, and Stephen’s simple playbook: map ICPs, cluster their questions, publish answer‑first content across channels, and maintain cadence.Key TakeawaysBe the answer, not just a result: Shift from chasing blue links to being the concise, credible answer assistants surface.Signals > single channel: Build consistent signals across website, YouTube (with transcripts), Reddit/communities, maps, listings, and reviews.E‑E‑A‑T everywhere: Show Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness in every artifact—owned content, PR, and third‑party sources.Freshness & cadence matter: Update often; assistants vary citations and reward up‑to‑date, active sources.Protect the core while experimenting: Keep your main value engine healthy; retention follows relationships + ROI.Simple GEO playbook: ICPs → question clusters → multi‑format, answer‑first content → broad distribution → iterate.

In this solo episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen shares a candid reflection on redefining success. After years of growth and managing a larger team, he faced the challenges of revenue flattening, downsizing, and recalibrating his vision. Instead of chasing an old 3–5M agency target, Matt reframes success around gratitude, retention, and daily delivery. He dives into the realities of agency life in 2024/25, from the difficulty of letting people go to the joy of jumping back into code. Matt now thinks of his business less as an “agency” and more as a studio—lean, focused, and happy. By choosing gratitude first and growth second, he’s building a baseline that feels like success today, while still leaving the door open for future opportunities.Key TakeawaysDefine your baseline. Decide what “enough” looks like and anchor to it.Gratitude first. Appreciate your contracts, relationships, and craft.Retention as strategy. Delight existing clients—quality is your moat.Adopt the studio mindset. Smaller core team, elastic talent when needed.Daily delivery matters. Measure success by what you ship each day.Growth is optional. Remove the stress of chasing constant scale.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Michael Kenny of Digital Gearbox to explore how businesses can thrive in a noisy, tech-driven world by leaning into timeless principles: ethics, relationships, and human value.Michael shares lessons from his diverse career—from hospitality and real estate to leading PPC campaigns at Digital Gearbox—and how those experiences shaped his people-first approach to marketing. Together, we dig into what it means to build a business that not only adapts to change but becomes truly irreplaceable to its clients.Key takeways:Why ethics are the cornerstone of long-term trust and resilienceHow to balance AI’s rise with the irreplaceable human touchWhy being “as useful as you possibly can” is the ultimate growth strategyHow relationships and empathy matter more than flashy tech or quick winsPractical ways to leverage referrals, case studies, and client networks for sustainable growth Michael’s perspective is a reminder that while tools and platforms will continue to evolve, the real edge lies in integrity, adaptability, and genuine connection.Whether you’re building an agency, running your own business, or simply navigating the AI buzz, this episode will leave you with clear, actionable principles for becoming indispensable to those you serve.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Madi Waggoner, founder of Building Remote, to unpack her framework for helping entrepreneurs scale without burnout. With over 14 years of experience in tech startups and consulting, Madi has guided more than 40 founders through the shift from solopreneur to CEO. Her LYFT framework — Leadership, Infrastructure, Fuel, and Team — provides a blueprint for building businesses that grow sustainably while giving leaders the freedom to step back from the grind.Together, Matt and Madi dive into:How to transition from “doing it all” to empowering your teamWhy structured hiring and candidate experience shape long-term cultureThe role of systems, communication cadences, and accountability in remote teamsStrategies to protect your time and avoid entrepreneurial burnoutReal-world lessons from leaders who learned to let go and scale smarter Whether you’re leading a fully remote company or just looking to streamline your operations, this episode is packed with insights on building the foundations of a business that supports both growth and balance.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen sits down once again with returning guest Jennifer Denny, founder of Elevated Marketing Solutions. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping not just marketing, but the way entire businesses operate day-to-day.Jennifer shares her hands-on approach to using ChatGPT projects and folders to streamline workflows, organize client deliverables, and eliminate overwhelm. From content creation to client communications, she demonstrates how AI can be a true partner in building smarter systems.But this isn’t just about marketing. Jennifer and Matt dive into broader applications—from automating HR communications to assigning tasks after client calls—showing how AI is becoming a backbone for overall business efficiency.At the heart of the conversation is a key theme: automation should enhance, not replace, the human touch. AI may handle the mundane, but creativity, strategy, and authentic connection remain essential to building lasting businesses.If you’re curious about how builders are putting AI to work in real business settings, this episode is packed with practical examples and forward-looking insights.Key TakeawaysOrganize with Purpose: ChatGPT projects and folders help segment workflows by client or function, reducing overwhelm and boosting efficiency.Content at Scale: AI can generate written content, email campaigns, and SEO insights quickly—giving marketers more time to focus on strategy.Beyond Marketing: From HR communications to client call notes, AI tools can streamline internal processes across an entire business.Balance Matters: Efficiency gains are powerful, but creativity and human connection remain irreplaceable in marketing and client engagement.The Builder’s Mindset: Embracing new technology means experimentation, adaptation, and finding the right equilibrium between humans and machines.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Téa Phillips, CEO of ATS and inventor of MetaFlex — the world’s first grip-strengthening compression glove.Téa shares her journey from engineering student to award-winning entrepreneur, driven by a personal mission to help her grandmother and others struggling with arthritis. From early prototypes to manufacturing hurdles, mentorship, and market challenges, her story is a blueprint for building with empathy, resilience, and innovation.Listeners will walk away with insights into the invention process, navigating real-world business roadblocks, and scaling a product that changes lives.Key TakeawaysEngineering with empathy: Téa combined technical skills with compassion to design MetaFlex for arthritis patients — later expanding its use to carpal tunnel, Parkinson’s, and athletes.The power of mentorship: Surrounding herself with mentors and advisors across healthcare, sales, and business was critical to her success.Prototype to product: Market research, user feedback, and iteration ensured MetaFlex was not only effective but also comfortable and practical.Overcoming hurdles: From a year-long delay in finding the right manufacturer to navigating crushing tariffs, Téa shares how adaptability is key in building a business.Building beyond one idea: With a notebook “full of products,” Téa shows how inventors can continue creating while scaling their first breakthrough. Tune in for a story that blends invention, perseverance, and the drive to build solutions that last.

In Episode 237 of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Hunter Jensen, CEO of Barefoot Solutions and founder of Barefoot Labs, for a deep dive into the mindset and methods of a modern builder. Hunter shares his journey from freelance developer to leading innovative AI solutions — all while keeping true to his philosophy of staying “cutting edge, not bleeding edge.” This conversation explores the balance between curiosity and practicality, why tinkering is more than just a hobby, and how embracing change without chasing every shiny object can set you apart in the rapidly evolving tech world.Key Takeaways:Stay Curious, But Grounded – Innovation thrives when paired with a measured approach. Hunter’s philosophy keeps his team close to the edge of technology without unnecessary risk.Build What Fits – Custom, secure AI solutions are in high demand, especially among mid-market companies looking to boost productivity without sacrificing data privacy.The Builder’s Mindset – Tinkering, experimenting, and continually learning are the core habits that drive innovation and adaptability.Agentic AI is Coming – The future of AI will be integrated, autonomous, and operational at the heart of business systems.Listen to the Market – Deep conversations with customers can reveal opportunities, refine ideas, and ensure solutions truly meet business needs. Whether you’re a tech entrepreneur, product builder, or just fascinated by the future of AI, this episode is packed with practical insights and big-picture thinking.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, host Matt Levenhagen converses with Carol Tice, a digital nomad and expert in developing thriving online communities. Delving into the intricacies of starting and growing paid communities, Carol shares her journey from freelance writer to the founder of a successful online business. She highlights the pivotal moments that led to her success, the innovative strategies she used to boost membership, and her transition towards guiding others in creating impactful online spaces.The conversation pivots around the evolving landscape of online communities, emphasizing their importance in today's business world. Carol discusses the benefits of paid communities, including creating stable income streams and engaging in meaningful work without an overemphasis on marketing. Driven by real experiences and examples, Carol explains the critical steps in building a community: from initial idea validation and audience building to leveraging existing networks and affiliate marketing. Her insights underscore the vitality of nurturing a community where passion translates into prolonged success.Key Takeaways:Simplicity in Tools: The choice of community platforms like Skool, which integrates essential functionalities seamlessly, can simplify the complexities associated with running an online community.Passion-Driven Engagement: Building a community around what you love creates sustainable growth and genuine engagement.Affiliate and Legacy Memberships: Leveraging affiliate programs and offering legacy low-cost memberships can drive retention and steady expansion.Diverse Community Ideas: Your community doesn’t have to match your day job—it can stem from personal interests or complementary passions.Transitioning Leadership: Structuring your community to eventually operate without you sets it up as a sellable, standalone business.

In this solo episode of The Builders, Matt Levenhagen reflects on a pivotal moment in his business journey—one that many founders, creatives, and agency owners will relate to.After years of scaling a successful agency and managing a distributed team, Matt finds himself craving the simplicity and satisfaction of doing the work again—of coding, building, and being the craftsman. In a world that glorifies growth at all costs, this episode unpacks a dilemma many builders face: Do you keep scaling big, or do you get back to the craft that started it all?He shares what he’s rediscovered, how AI tools like Cursor have amplified his creative flow, and why being in the work can be the very thing that sets you apart. It’s raw, honest, and a powerful reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building.💡 Key Takeaways:Scaling isn’t the only measure of success—joy and fulfillment matter.Sometimes stepping back into the work is the best way forward.AI can enhance craftsmanship, not replace it.Being a builder again can be your differentiator in a crowded market.Growth is personal. The right path is the one that aligns with what lights you up.

In this episode of The Builders, Matt talks with Matthew White, CEO of PlatypusOS—a new kind of browser designed for the AI-powered future of work.Matthew shares how a simple frustration with too many tabs sparked the idea to build a smarter, more structured browser—one that integrates seamlessly with your tools and acts like an assistant, not just a gateway to the web.From the foundation of PlatypusOS to the rise of AI agents and cloud-based automation, Matthew outlines a bold vision: a world where AI becomes the operating system that runs your digital life.Whether you're building SaaS, streamlining your business, or just drowning in browser tabs, this episode is full of insights on how the way we work online is rapidly evolving.💡 Key Takeaways:PlatypusOS replaces browser chaos with structure. Built on Chromium, it integrates your most-used apps directly into a sidebar—no more tab overwhelm.AI is embedded, not bolted on. The browser acts like an assistant, helping users access and use tools without deep technical knowledge.Agents are the future. These no-code workflows allow automation across apps, replacing repetitive tasks and reducing the need for traditional SaaS.Headless, cloud-based browsing is coming. Faster performance, better sync, and added security will soon define the next-gen browser experience.Small businesses need AI they can trust. PlatypusOS prioritizes accessibility, data control, and real use cases over hype.AI isn’t just a tool—it’s your new team member. Matthew frames AI not as a replacement, but as a partner that can work alongside you.