What separates a good pest control technician from a great one? Continuous training, experience and a willingness to keep learning.

In Episode 77 of Pest Perspectives, Shaun Muller is joined by Culley Christensen and Foster Brusca from The Pest Posse, one of the pest management industry's long-standing video-based education and training platforms.

Culley and Foster share their journeys through the US pest control industry, from starting out as technicians with very different levels of training to building careers in management, commercial pest control, sales and ultimately creating The Pest Posse.

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The conversation explores why pest management training should never finish once you've gained your initial qualification.

Topics include:

• Why continuous pest control training matters
• How better training can reduce callbacks and customer complaints
• Why office staff and CSRs need pest management training too
• Building better company culture through education
• The gap between technical pest control training and sales training
• Relationship-based selling rather than simply trying to sell products
• Foster's journey from technician to highly successful commercial pest control sales
• Why experienced technicians still need to refresh their knowledge
• The importance of practical field experience alongside classroom learning
• Digital rodent monitoring and why technology should never replace proper inspection
• Differences between pest control training and licensing in the UK and United States
• CPD and keeping technicians informed as regulations and techniques change
• The increasing restrictions surrounding pest-control tools
• Glue boards, insect monitoring and the challenges restrictions can create for professional IPM

The episode also looks at the story behind The Pest Posse, why it moved towards its own video and training platform, and its mission to provide credible, practical pest management education that helps professionals learn, grow and succeed.

It develops into a wide-ranging and occasionally lively discussion about where the pest management industry is heading on both sides of the Atlantic.

Whether you're a technician, pest control business owner, manager, salesperson or office team member, there is plenty in this episode to think about.

🎙️ Pest Perspectives Podcast – Episode 77
🎤 Hosted by Shaun Muller
👥 Guests: Culley Christensen & Foster Brusca – The Pest Posse

Unpaid invoices can cause serious cash-flow problems for businesses of every size but when should you continue chasing payment yourself, and when is it time to bring in a professional?Joining Shaun Muller on Pest Perspectives EP 76 is Pete Beaumont, Managing Director of Beaumont Recoveries.

Debt Recovery Solutions | Beaumont Recoveries - Transforming DebtsPete brings decades of experience in debt recovery and understands the challenges businesses face when customers delay payment, ignore invoices or dispute money that is rightfully owed.During this conversation, Shaun and Pete discuss:• Why customers and businesses fail to pay• Common mistakes companies make when chasing unpaid invoices• When an overdue invoice should be passed to a debt-recovery specialist• How to remain professional without damaging customer relationships• The importance of clear contracts, payment terms and documentation• What happens when letters, telephone calls and payment plans fail• Legal action, County Court Judgments and High Court enforcement• The difference between ethical debt recovery and aggressive collection tactics• Difficult cases and lessons from Pete’s career• Practical steps small-business owners can take to protect their cash flowThis episode will be especially useful for pest-control companies, sole traders and small-business owners dealing with late payments, difficult customers or long-overdue invoices.

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In Episode 75 of the Pest Perspectives Podcast, Shaun Muller is joined by Mark Coltman, founder of Mindsafe Coaching and owner of Evolution Pest Control, for an honest conversation about mental health, workplace pressure and the realities of running a service-based business.

Mark shares his varied career journey, from testing defence equipment and working in sales to becoming a pest control technician, business owner, BBC contributor and workplace mental health trainer.

The episode explores how Mark’s experiences within the pest control industry, including poor management, toxic workplace cultures and the devastating impact of losing much of his business during the COVID-19 pandemic, led him to retrain in mental health awareness and establish Mindsafe Coaching.

Shaun and Mark discuss the difference between positive mental health, mental ill health and reaching a point of crisis. They also examine why businesses should not wait until an employee is severely struggling before offering support.

Mark explains the impact of presenteeism, where someone continues attending work but is no longer functioning at their normal level because of stress, anxiety or personal pressures. This can affect productivity, communication, decision-making and safety—particularly in industries where technicians are driving, working alone and handling professional pest-control products.

The conversation also covers:

• Recognising signs that somebody may be struggling
• Understanding workplace stress and pressure “spikes”
• The importance of recovery following stressful situations
• How poor management affects employee wellbeing
• Creating workplaces where people feel safe enough to speak openly
• Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health
• Supporting employees without attempting to diagnose them
• Putting process ahead of judgement
• Mental health first aid and appropriate signposting
• Workplace pressure risk assessments
• The business benefits of investing in employee wellbeing
• Why leadership and management support are essential for cultural change

Mark also shares stories from more than 30 years in pest control, including working for major national companies, appearing on BBC television, contributing to the Jeremy Vine programme and dealing with some unusual pest infestations along the way.

This is a practical, open and thought-provoking conversation for pest-control technicians, sole traders, managers and business owners who want to better understand workplace mental health and create healthier, safer and more productive working environments.

mind safe coaching link below

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https://powerednow.com/⁠⁠Pest Perspectives Podcast is a UK pest control podcast hosted by Shaun Muller of Oakham Pest Control Ltd. The show features practical conversations with pest control technicians, business owners, suppliers and industry experts, covering rodent control, drainage investigations, bee removal, bed bugs, wasps, commercial pest management, compliance, business growth and wider pest industry topics.Listen, watch and learn more at: ⁠⁠https://www.pestperspectivespodcast.co.uk⁠⁠