Automation Unplugged Podcast

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**Automation Unplugged Podcast**

Since its launch on Facebook Live in 2017, Automation Unplugged has become the leading podcast for AV and custom integration professionals. Now pre-recorded and produced in both audio and video formats, episodes are released across our website, social media, and all major streaming platforms. Our content spans engaging interviews with industry leaders, in-depth discussions with One Firefly’s marketing experts, and insightful education on marketing & business growth strategies. From industry trends and business development to marketing, hiring, and beyond, Automation Unplugged delivers the knowledge and perspectives you need to stay ahead in the ever-evolving technology landscape.

Latest Episodes:

#375: Lighting for Life: Helping Homeowners Understand the Impact of Lighting on Health and Aging Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

We cover:

How lighting impacts wellness, visual comfort, safety, and aging in place — and how dealers can confidently introduce these conversations with homeowners
Practical conversation starters that help shift discussions away from products and specifications toward lifestyle, comfort, and real-world customer experiences
How AI can help integrators analyze customer conversations, uncover common questions and buying motivations, and transform those insights into more effective websites, marketing campaigns, and educational content

Visit the episode page on our website to get the audio recording and video of the original webinar. Now let's tune in and discover how thoughtful lighting conversations can help you create better homes and better marketing. Let’s get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au375

#374: Henri Beaudoin on Building a Luxury Integration Firm the Engineered Way Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Henri and I discussed:

Why smaller projects have slowed down while high-end luxury work has held steady
How keeping inventory in a 10,000 square foot warehouse kept Elite building through COVID supply delays
And His rule of never promising a client anything his team hasn't tested and engineered first

Whether you're running a luxury integration firm or building toward one, Henri's approach to engineering, people, and client trust is worth hearing. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Henri Beaudoin. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au374

#373: Ian Williams on Putting AI to Work Across an Integration Business Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Ian and I discussed:

The weekly business dashboard he built in Claude Cowork that lands in his inbox at 6:00 a.m. every Monday, covering KPIs, cash flow, backlog, and a 13-week forecast.
Where AI shows up across his team, from technicians dictating daily project updates in Basecamp to project managers recording every walkthrough and QC.
And Why his most effective prompt starts with "I don't know how to do this. Can you please help me?"

Whether you're still writing the occasional email in ChatGPT or already building automations across your business, there's something here you can put to work this week. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Ian Williams. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au373

#372: Curtis LeMaster on the Training Gap and the Future of the Smart Home Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Curtis and I discussed:

Why he believes overselling and overpromising is the industry's most damaging habit, and what it looks like from a technician's side of the business
His take on CEDIA Expo this year, including the training gap he keeps running into when he brings new hires to the show
And Why customers have started asking for less control instead of more, and why he thinks that's the industry's own fault

Whether you're running a two-person shop or a team of fifty, Curtis brings the kind of perspective you only get from staying in the game long enough to see the cycles repeat. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Curtis LeMaster. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au372

#371: Patrick Martinez on Building Sales Certainty in Your Business Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Patrick and I discussed:

The five sales roles every business has, and why an owner trying to cover all five statistically caps out between $1.5 and $2.5 million
His sales certainty framework and the three things that get in the way
And why fewer than 5% of technology contractors have a sales playbook that is actually written down, and how AI has changed the way those playbooks get built

Whether you are the owner still closing every deal yourself or you are building out a sales team and trying to get everyone selling the same way, there is something here you can put to work this quarter. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Patrick Martinez. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au371

#370: Own the Night: How Integrators Can Go to Market with Landscape Lighting Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

We cover:

Why landscape lighting is a natural extension of the custom integration business — and how dealers can add it without competing with builders or electricians
Practical design, installation, and sales strategies, including recurring maintenance opportunities, partnering with landscapers, and positioning yourself early in the construction process
Marketing tactics to help dealers build awareness, educate homeowners, and generate new opportunities through websites, email, social media, SEO, and AI search
Visit the episode page on our website to get the audio recording and video of the original webinar. Now let's tune in and explore how landscape lighting can help you create unforgettable outdoor experiences while growing your business. Let’s get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au370

#369: Kayla Steinberg on Turning Events Into Your Best Business Development Tool Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Kayla and I discussed:

The three Ps of event planning: planning, process, and promotion, and why most events fail on the first one
How to set a real, measurable goal for an event before you touch a single logistics detail
And why an omni-channel promotion strategy, not one email and a social post, is what actually fills the room

Whether you're gearing up for Control4's C4Yourself event this October or planning your own customer or trade partner event, this conversation will change how you think about the investment. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Kayla Steinberg. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au369

#368: Jason Barth on Turning AI From Cheap Hacks Into Real Company Standards Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Jason and I discussed:

Why AI felt like a pile of cheap hacks for a year, and what finally made it meaningful
Building the foundation first: a common language document, a company taxonomy, and an org chart his AI tools can actually use
How Premier structures its Claude workspaces around the project life cycle, from marketing through customer service
The install-to-service handoff that now produces a personalized client letter and full warranty documentation in about 30 seconds

Whether you have been putting AI off or you're already deep in it and looking for a model that scales past you to your whole team, Jason lays out how he got his company aligned and what he would tell you to do first. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Jason Barth. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au368

#367: Brian Perreault on 35 Years of Change, Growth, and Building Barrett's for What's Next Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Brian and I discussed:

Why Barrett's built a separate small projects team, and how those smaller jobs still fuel cash flow and client loyalty.
Their approach to educational events, from an AI workshop to a new lighting lab built for specifiers.
What's next for the industry, from video walls to energy storage to the wellness trend that never quite took off.

Whether you're figuring out how to serve both your legacy clients and your biggest projects, or you're looking for new ways to build relationships with the design community, you're going to get a lot out of this one. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Brian. Let's get started!

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au367

#366: The AI Gold Rush Is Coming for Your Workforce Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

SHOW NOTES

We cover:

How the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers is creating unprecedented demand for skilled labor across the country
The five pillars of workforce resilience, including employer branding, candidate experience, career development, culture, and proactive workforce planning
Practical strategies to help integrators attract, hire, and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive labor market

Visit the episode page on our website to get the audio recording and video of the original webinar. Now let’s tune in and explore how AI is reshaping the hiring landscape — and what your business can do today to stay ahead of the competition.

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit the podcast page on our website at onefirefly.com/au366

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