The Curious Builder

Latest Episodes:

#161 | Laura Brophy | Laura Brophy Interiors | 10 People, Zero Drama: How Laura Brophy Built the Team Every Entrepreneur Wants Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Laura Brophy didn't exactly take the traditional path to running a 10-person interior design firm in Newport Beach — sports medicine, upholstery shops, Dolce & Gabbana, and Restoration Hardware were all pit stops along the way. Mark sits down with Laura to dig into how she built a drama-free team, learned to stop being the bottleneck in her own business, and why her husband Rob is the spreadsheet to her vision board. They also go deep on wellness-driven design — saunas, cold plunges, bathtub comebacks, and why your home might be the most underutilized wellness tool you own.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

The host of the Curious Builder Podcast is Mark D. Williams, the founder of Mark D. Williams Custom Homes Inc. They are an award-winning Twin Cities-based home builder, creating quality custom homes and remodels — one-of-a-kind dream homes of all styles and scopes. Whether you're looking to reimagine your current space or start fresh with a new construction, we build homes that reflect how you live your everyday life.

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://brophyinteriors.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabrophyinteriors/

Where to find the Host: Website - https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com/ Podcast Website - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/markdwilliams_customhomes/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MarkDWilliamsCustomHomesInc/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-williams-968a3420/ Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/markdwilliamscustomhomes/mark-d-williams-custom-homes-inc

Losers are Winners | The Mistake That Almost Tanked a $1M+ Project Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Twenty-two years in the business and Mark still managed to remind himself why taking the low bid is basically a trap with a bow on it. In this solo Losers are Winners episode, he pulls back the curtain on a framing nightmare — missed milestones, disappearing crew members, bounced checks, and one very uncomfortable site meeting — and how it all came to a head with his first-ever mid-project subcontractor firing. The real plot twist? The client ended up trusting him more because of it, not less.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

#160 | Live at Sauna Camp with Erin Ayala, Alex Larson, Alex Neist, & Ryan Rivard | Hot Takes Only: Wellness, Grit, & the Daily Grind Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

What do climbing Everest, finishing a 200-mile gravel race on a single speed, getting on Joe Rogan, and raising kids who actually want to hang out with you have in common? They all showed up in this live Sauna Camp panel, and the conversation did not disappoint. Mark sat down with Erin Ayala, Alex Larson, Alex Neist, and Ryan Rivard to dig into wellness, resilience, and why the boring daily grind is actually the whole game. This episode hits different when you're already sweating.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

Where to find the Guest: Sauna Camp Website: https://www.curiousbuilder.com/saunacamp Erin Ayala Website: https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/ Alex Larson Website: https://alexlarsonnutrition.com/nutrition-services Alex Neist Website: https://hostagetape.com/ Ryan Rivard Website: https://www.theryanrivard.com/

Q & A | Kids Corner | Mark Explains Building to His Toughest Audience Yet Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

What happens when Mark hands the mic to his kids? A surprisingly honest, hilarious, and insightful Q&A episode on how builders get clients, what happens when projects go sideways, and why firing someone can wreck your whole week. From tree fort permit drama to client communication and custom home timelines, this one is equal parts kids corner, business therapy, and classic Curious Builder fun.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

#159 | Nathan Marsala | The Bison Group | Nathan Marsala on the Big Lie Behind "Luxury" Home Building Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Nathan Marsala brings the heat in this episode with a refreshing take on craftsmanship, business systems, family priorities, and why not everything labeled "luxury" actually is. The conversation moves from pre-construction and project leadership to wellness, journaling, and cutting back the noise so the important stuff can get louder. It's equal parts builder talk, life audit, and a reminder that sometimes the smartest move is deleting a few things and grabbing a better pen.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://www.bisongroupinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bisongrouput/

Losers are Winners | The Job From Hell with Nick Schiffer - Failures, Red Flags, & Hard Lessons Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Nick Schiffer brings the heat in this Losers are Winners episode, sharing the messy behind-the-scenes stories that rarely make it to Instagram. From takeover projects gone wild to contracts that nearly cost big, this episode shows how failure can become the best business coach in the room. It is sharp, funny, painfully relatable, and loaded with takeaways for builders who want fewer surprises and stronger systems.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://www.nickschiffer.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsbuilders/

#158 | Andrew Legge | Havelock Wool | Andrew Legge Is Turning Wool into a Building Science Powerhouse Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

Mark sits down with Andrew Legge of Havelock Wool for a conversation that starts with sheep and ends in the walls of a healthier home. Andrew shares how a New Zealand idea turned into a fast-growing insulation company in the U.S., why builders are slow to change, and what makes wool such a powerhouse for sound, air quality, and performance. It is smart, surprising, a little crunchy in the best way, and proof that sometimes the best building product has been standing in a pasture the whole time.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://havelockwool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havelock_wool/

Losers are Winners | Karissa Dunham on Failure, Family, & Finding Your Rhythm Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

In this Losers Are Winners episode, Karissa Dunham opens up about the messy middle of running a business, raising a blended family of seven kids, and learning that "balance" might just be a moving target with a bad attitude. She talks about failure, leadership, fitness, golf, and why making memories with family matters just as much as making the next deal happen. It is a fun, thoughtful reminder that success is not just about working harder, but about being present when it counts.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://suncontrolmn.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suncontrolmn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunControlMinnesota LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissa-dunham-1894a3140/

#157 | Tyler Farrell | Killowen Construction | From Builder to Leader: Tyler Farrell on Scaling Smart Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

Tyler Farrell of Killowen Construction gets real about what it actually takes to scale a high-end construction company without losing your mind, your margins, or your people. This episode of The Curious Builder dives into budget meetings, team building, hard client conversations, and the moment Tyler stopped apologizing for expensive work. It is equal parts business therapy, builder truth serum, and reminder that great companies are built by humans, not just job sites and spreadsheets.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://killowenco.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killowenconstruction/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killowenco/

Losers are Winners | How Sterling Lock Survived 7 Marathons in 7 Days Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

What does it take to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents? A little insanity, a lot of discipline, and probably more anti-inflammatories than anyone wants to admit. In this Losers are Winners episode, Sterling Lock shares the highs, the breakdowns, the brutal physical setbacks, and the mindset that carried him through one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. It's equal parts inspiring, intense, and a great reminder that leadership starts with how you handle pain when nobody's coming to save you.

Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop

See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/

Sauna Camp Website: https://www.saunacamps.com/

Where to find the Guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterling-lock-chief-financial-officer/