The Contender’s Edge – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

The Contender’s Edge

SMARTBUILD Construction Solutions

Business

Technology

Frequency: 1 episode/16d. Total Eps: 16

The Contender’s Edge is a podcast for small to mid-sized construction companies that want to compete without playing the big company game. It breaks down how real builders use smart moves and technology to win work, protect margins, and stay in control. No theory, no buzzwords, just straight talk from people who’ve been in the field and know what it takes to level the field.

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Apple

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - management
30/08/2026
#79
🇨🇦 Canada - management
24/03/2026
#71

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartbuild-construction-solutions
4 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zulqernain-zulq-malik/
4 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinair007/
2 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

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RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 42%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

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Construction Hiring Is Changing: What Contractors Need to Know Before Their Next Hire

Episode 9

Saturday, March 7, 2026 • Duration 32:00

Hiring in construction has become a new challenge for contractors. The talent pool has shifted, expectations around office culture and hybrid work are changing, and many companies are struggling to attract and retain the right people.

In this episode of The Contender’s Edge Podcast, Zulq Malik, founder and CEO of SMARTBUILD sits down with construction recruiters Jim DiVizio and Tania Sarracini to talk about what construction companies should understand about hiring today.

They cover:

• How the construction job market changed after COVID

• Why some contractors struggle to attract strong candidates

• What employees are looking for in construction companies today

• The impact of hybrid work and salary shifts

• Hiring mistakes that slow down recruitment

• What contractors should improve in their hiring process

If you run a construction company, general contractor, or development firm, this conversation gives you a clear look at what’s happening in the talent market and how to approach hiring in today’s construction industry.

Tania Sarracini (Owner and Recruiting Partner) - LinkedIn

email: tania@bestrecruiting.ca

Best Recruiting

Jim DiVizio (Owner and Recruiting Partner) - LinkedIn

email: Jim@bestrecruiting.ca

#GeneralContractor #ConstructionIndustry #ConstructionCareers #SkilledTrades #HiringStrategy

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Stop Letting Bad Schedules and Risk Destroy Your Construction Profits

Episode 8

Friday, February 20, 2026 • Duration 22:45

Bad schedules. Poor documentation. Risk nobody priced right.

That’s how small and mid-size construction companies lose money.

In this episode of The Contender’s Edge Podcast, we sit down with Greg Holness (FTI Consulting), a Professional Engineer and attorney with 30+ years of experience helping clients manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve construction disputes involving delay, disruption, acceleration, and lost productivity.

He has developed, analyzed, and resolved claims on public and private projects of all sizes, and has drafted and negotiated hundreds of construction and design contracts, giving him deep insight into the terms that often drive disputes.

We break down unrealistic deadlines, schedule mistakes, estimating risk, and what general contractors and subcontractors must do to protect their margins. If you run a construction company and want fewer disputes and stronger project control, this episode is for you.

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Why Construction Teams Reject Software and How to Fix It

Episode 7

Thursday, February 5, 2026 • Duration 20:47

In this episode of the Contenders Edge Podcast, we sit down with Robert Sheesley, known as the Blue-Collar CIO, to break down why construction software fails and how adoption actually works in the field.

We talk about technology adoption in construction, why crews resist new tools, and what leaders must do to get buy-in from blue-collar teams. This episode covers change management, construction software rollout, field worker adoption, CIO strategy, and how GCs and construction companies can introduce technology without slowing down jobsites.

If you’re a general contractor, subcontractor, construction executive, or operations leader trying to improve tech adoption, productivity, and jobsite reporting, this episode delivers practical insight from someone who’s done it across multiple blue-collar industries.

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Overbilling in Construction, The Cash Flow Trap Most GCs Miss

Episode 6

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • Duration 20:54

Cash flow is where most construction companies get hurt, even when jobs look profitable. In this episode of Contenders Edge, we sit down with Bryce Wisan, a CPA who has spent 15+ years inside construction accounting, to break down overbilling, revenue vs cash, and why money in the bank is not always yours. If you’re a GC or subcontractor who wants fewer surprises, better job costing, and tighter control over cash, this episode will change how you think about the numbers.

Byce is a founder of Levvigo.com #1 remote ACCOUNTING solutions for contractors company

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While Others Stayed Invisible, This Contractor Built a Brand on Instagram

Episode 5

Friday, January 9, 2026 • Duration 17:23

In this episode of Contenders Edge, we sit down with Nick from Iron Shake Inc, who started working construction at 13 because he didn’t want to do chores. He shares how real jobsite experience, not shortcuts, shaped his career and how he built his construction company by showing the work on Instagram. We talk trades vs school, learning fundamentals early, and why a digital presence now decides who gets the call. If you run a GC or subcontracting business and want to grow without waiting years for referrals, this episode is worth your time.

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Field Experience vs Tech Thinking: Who Should Lead AI Adoption in Construction

Season 1 · Episode 1

Friday, December 19, 2025 • Duration 27:41

Tech keeps trying to “fix” construction without knowing the jobsite.

Episode 1 is a real back-and-forth between a 30-year General Contractor and an AI nerd, voice notes vs forms, structure vs “say it and go,” and what actually holds up on site.

We get into the stuff you deal with every day, half-finished reports, photo dumps with no labels, getting pulled away mid-task, and trying to remember details hours later.

If you build for a living, or run the people who do, press play.

smrtbld.com

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What 100+ Contractors Told Me About AI

Episode 19

Friday, August 21, 2026 • Duration 12:03

Is AI useful in construction today, or are contractors being pushed to adopt tools before they know what to do with them?

In this episode of The Contender’s Edge Podcast, SMARTBUILD Chief Customer Officer Vinay shares what he is hearing directly from general contractors, subcontractors, project managers, superintendents, architects, and engineers who are trying to figure out where AI fits into their work.

The biggest takeaway is simple: AI is only as good as the context and data you give it.

Vinay breaks down the difference between basic AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and NotebookLM, and AI that is connected directly to your construction systems and project data.

He also covers practical use cases contractors can start with today, including daily reports, RFIs, spec searches, project emails, voice notes, document review, and repetitive admin work.

You’ll also hear:

Why two people can use the same AI tool and get completely different results
Why AI hallucinations happen
How contractors can reduce bad outputs
What construction companies should know about privacy and sensitive project data
Why structured project data matters
The difference between Level 1 and Level 2 AI use
How to start small without feeling behind
What leaders should do to build AI adoption inside their company

If you’re a construction founder, owner, general contractor, subcontractor, project manager, superintendent, engineer, architect, or operations leader trying to make sense of AI, this episode gives you a practical starting point.

Follow The Contender’s Edge Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more conversations on construction leadership, construction management, AI, technology, project delivery, and growing stronger construction companies.

SMARTBUILD website: https://smrtbld.com/

The Real Reason Construction Software Fails: It's Not the Tech

Episode 18

Monday, July 27, 2026 • Duration 27:53

Learn why so many construction technology rollouts fail, and what general contractors, subcontractors, and construction leaders can do to make AI work in the field.

In this episode of The Contender's Edge Podcast, host Angelina Tadros sits down with John Lehmann, former President of Poole Anderson Construction, former Senior Vice President of Operations, and founder of the Construction Leadership Network (CLN).

With decades of experience leading construction companies, John shares why AI adoption isn't only a technology challenge. It's a leadership challenge. From field crews to executive teams, he explains what separates companies that successfully adopt new technology from those that waste money on software that never gets used.

You'll learn:

Why construction companies struggle to adopt new technology
The biggest mistakes contractors make when rolling out construction software
How CEOs and founders should build an AI and technology strategy
Why leadership determines whether technology succeeds or fails
How to get buy-in from project managers, superintendents, and field crews
The hidden cost of underusing project management software
Why many contractors only use a fraction of the tools they already own
How AI can reduce rework, improve communication, and keep teams working from the latest drawings
Why trust matters when selecting construction technology vendors
What general contractors and subcontractors should look for before investing in AI
How training, culture, and accountability drive successful implementation
Why the next generation of construction leaders will need digital skills alongside construction experience

If you're a construction CEO, founder, owner, operations manager, project executive, superintendent, project manager, estimator, or subcontractor looking to grow your business, improve productivity, reduce risk, and prepare for the future of construction, this episode is for you.

Why Construction Companies Are Falling Behind on AI and Technology

Episode 17

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 16:04

Construction is still running on paper, spreadsheets, phone calls, and information buried across job sites.

In this episode of The Contender’s Edge Podcast, host Zulq sits down with Nick from Iron Shake Inc. to discuss the future of construction, skilled trades, AI, field technology, workforce training, and what construction company owners need to prepare for now.

Nick shares his path through the trades, why construction remains one of the strongest career choices for young workers, and how field experience builds skills that cannot be learned from a computer screen.

The conversation also covers:

• Why skilled trades can offer strong earning power without years of student debt • What high school students should know before choosing college or construction • Why hands-on training still matters in the age of AI • How sleep and personal pressures affect fitness for duty • Why older construction teams accept technology at home but resist it at work

• How AI could help crews find drawings, specifications, and site information • Why contractors are hiring app developers and AI specialists • How wearable technology could change service work and field reporting • What CEOs, founders, general contractors, and subcontractors should prepare for • Why the next generation of construction workers will need trade skills and digital knowledge

This episode is for construction CEOs, founders, general contractors, subcontractors, skilled tradespeople, project managers, superintendents, safety leaders, and young workers considering a career in construction.

Follow The Contender’s Edge Podcast for practical conversations on construction leadership, construction business growth, skilled trades, jobsite technology, AI in construction, field operations, safety, and workforce development.

Connect with Nick and Iron Shake Inc. on Instagram: @IronShakeInc

Website: https://ironshakeinc.com/

How to Build a Construction Company That Doesn’t Need You

Episode 16

Monday, July 13, 2026 • Duration 32:28

What separates construction companies that keep growing from the ones that hit a ceiling?

It usually isn't better equipment, bigger projects, or more experience. It's leadership.

In this episode of The Contender's Edge, host Zulq sits down with Zoe Dryden, a leadership coach and culture specialist from New Zealand, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing construction business owners: growing beyond founder-led leadership.

They explore why many construction founders unintentionally become the bottleneck in their own company, how to build leaders who can confidently run projects and departments, and what it takes to create a culture that people want to be part of.

If you're a general contractor, subcontractor, construction business owner, project manager, superintendent, operations manager, or construction executive, this conversation is packed with practical leadership lessons you can apply immediately.

In this episode:

Why founder-led construction companies often hit a growth ceiling
Leadership mistakes that slow down construction businesses
How to build leaders who don't rely on the owner for every decision
Transitioning from founder-led leadership to a scalable business
Emotional intelligence on construction projects
Holding people accountable without micromanaging
Building trust with field crews and project managers
Developing future leaders inside your construction company
Creating a construction culture that attracts and retains great people
Preparing your business for long-term growth and succession

Growing a construction company isn't about doing more yourself. It's about building people who can lead alongside you.

Watch now for practical insights that will help you build stronger leaders, stronger teams, and a stronger construction business.

Subscribe for more episodes covering construction leadership, construction management, project management, general contractors, subcontractors, company culture, construction business growth, AI in construction, estimating, contracts, and real-world advice from industry leaders.