On the On Site Podcast, host Brandon interviews educator and HR/training professional Manja Horner, who just hit #1 bestseller status with her new book, "Pass the Torch," a rallying call about the trades labor crisis and the need for leaders and business owners to invest in apprentices and inexperienced workers. Horner shares where to buy the book (Amazon and other retailers), upcoming audiobook plans, and her social profiles, then discusses the book’s themes including retention, company culture, knowledge capture from retiring experts, and generational strengths and weaknesses. She also recounts her background growing up in Ontario around her father’s heritage restoration construction business, her path through music and corporate training into building a training/HR services company, and the visibility and mental-health challenges of publishing, including using EMDR therapy.

Chapters

• 00:00 Podcast Intro
• 00:14 Meet Manya Horner
• 01:21 Pass the Torch Launch
• 03:29 Trades Crisis Message
• 04:23 Personal Torch Stories
• 06:28 Imposter Syndrome Writing
• 07:37 Family Legacy Culture
• 13:41 Generations And Gen Z
• 14:58 Her Journey Background
• 15:20 Homeschool Music Roots
• 16:53 Construction Family Business
• 18:44 Corporate Training Career
• 23:51 Knowledge Capture Mentorship
• 25:48 Teaching Kids Content
• 27:24 Audiobook Studio Recording
• 28:11 Audiobook Recording Tips
• 29:44 Launching Audible and Sales
• 30:23 Learning to Self Celebrate
• 34:50 Celebrating Wins and Kids
• 38:37 Who the Book Serves
• 40:06 How the Book Was Written
• 43:16 EMDR and Visibility Fears
• 48:33 Where to Find the Book
• 50:01 Give Apprentices a Chance
• 50:44 Wrap Up and Community Plug
• 52:58 Elite Builder Society CTA

Connect with Manja Horner:
Website - http://www.passthetorchbook.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/manja_horner/

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Episode 48 of the On Site Podcast welcomes back Sam to share updates on Coronation Construction’s growth, including stepping back from hands-on work into admin, sales, and estimating, and investing in Google/Meta ads and higher-production content to increase visibility. Sam outlines current projects (bathrooms, basements, and a medical office build-out) and discusses gaining confidence by taking action on challenging details like a tiled arched shower entry. He explains his push toward new construction for better pay, focus, and a bigger “wow factor” to showcase skills in one home. They discuss business volatility in Ontario, differentiating from low-quality competitors through consistency and client experience, and Sam details Coronation’s process: fast follow-up, 48–72 hour estimates, in-person proposals, JobTread client portal updates, and strong jobsite protection and respect. Sam plugs Coronation Construction in London, Ontario and shares where to find the company online.

Chapters

• 00:00 Podcast Cold Open
• 00:15 Sam Returns Update
• 00:59 Marketing Like Influencers
• 02:56 Current Projects Pipeline
• 03:41 Confidence Taking Action
• 06:29 Why New Construction
• 08:31 Dad Life Kids Talk
• 12:14 Business Challenges Ontario
• 15:44 Coronation Experience Process
• 17:08 Fast Quote Turnaround
• 17:40 JobTread Client Portal
• 18:55 In Person Proposals
• 19:23 Protecting The Home
• 23:50 Why Quality Costs
• 25:42 Drywaller Honda Civic Story
• 28:21 Journey And Growth Mindset
• 29:01 Where To Find Coronation
• 29:49 Podcast Wrap Up

Connect with Sam Alibabai:

Website: https://www.coronationconstruction.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coronationconstruction

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

On episode 47 of the Onsite Podcast, Brandon welcomes returning guest Chris Mackey from Blue Collar Marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency focused on trades, now grown to about 18–19 people. They discuss how contractors can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini, emphasizing choosing what fits a workflow and noting Gemini’s integration with Google Workspace. Chris explains that AI can speed up agency work but doesn’t replace the nuance needed to build performance-focused, Google-friendly contractor websites that deliver outcomes, not just visuals. They cover shifts in search behavior and the importance of making sites crawlable for AI (including adding an LLM.txt file). Chris also outlines current ad trends: Google for intent-driven leads and Meta for awareness, where recent changes make ad success more dependent on high-quality creative volume than targeting. Brandon promotes Blue Collar Marketing audits and the Elite Builders Society membership at EBSworks.com for $49/month.

Chapters

• 00:00 Podcast Welcome Intro
• 00:15 Chris Returns Update
• 01:19 Blue Collar Marketing Growth
• 02:47 Chuck In A Truck Bit
• 04:21 Working Together Tools
• 06:16 AI Stack For Contractors
• 06:56 Choosing Models Workflow
• 11:50 AI Websites Value Debate
• 14:48 Outcomes Over Commodities
• 18:12 Adapting Or Getting Kodakd
• 19:14 AI In Schools Controversy
• 20:33 School Tools Debate
• 21:59 Marketing Trends Now
• 23:44 AI Search Website Setup
• 27:49 Find Blue Collar Marketing
• 28:36 Website Walkthrough
• 30:02 Paid Ads Google vs Meta
• 32:50 Meta Andromeda Creative Shift
• 35:53 Tech Overwhelm Future Sales
• 39:47 Final Advice and Wrap

Connect with Chris Mackey:
Website - https://bluecollarmarketing.ca/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluecollarmarketing.ca/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmarketingcanada

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/