Podcast
Always Be Building
Hosted by Max Gagliardi · EN
The Always Be Building Podcast explores business, entrepreneurship, markets, and current events with insightful commentary and engaging conversations. Whether it's building a company, expanding your knowledge, or creating a better life, we’re all building something.
Hosted by entrepreneur Max Gagliardi—who has founded companies across Energy, Real Estate, Tech, Hospitality, and Media—the show brings unique perspectives on the forces shaping our world.
Originally launched as Talk Energy, the podcast ran for 160 episodes focused on the energy sector before evolving into Always Be Building. New episodes drop weekly.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#224: Sweaty Start Up - Nick Huber
Apr 29, 202501:01:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Nick Huber, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and the voice of "The Sweaty Startup." Nick built a multi-million-dollar self-storage empire and champions the power of "boring" businesses that deliver real profits. Today, Nick celebrates the launch of his book, The Sweaty Startup, a guide to building sustainable businesses by focusing on proven models over risky innovation.We explore his journey from launching small service companies to scaling major real estate ventures, his candid views on China, tariffs, and the realities of entrepreneurship in the digital age, plus his take on AI, innovation, and why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned veteran, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Hope you enjoy the show! https://sweatystartup.com/https://www.nickhuber.com/
Transcribe →#223: AI and the Future of Media - Kaz Bycko
Apr 15, 202500:56:20Tap to summarizeThis episode's guest is Kaz Bycko, a young entrepreneur out of OKC who I have known and worked with over the years. Kaz and his team recently launched Bubbl, an AI-powered platform that curates podcast content. He also co-founded Red Dirt Mining and serves as President of the Oklahoma Bitcoin Association. In this episode, we explore how Kaz is looking to revolutionize the Podcast industry and what Bubbl is doing to enhance podcast discovery. We chat about the evolution of podcasting platforms and how AI will change the way we consume media.I've recently been using Bubbl to listen to my favorite podcasts and discover new clips from other shows that when I don't have time to listen to the full episode. I love the direction these guys are taking the platform. If you are someone who enjoys consuming podcasts then check out the Bubbl link in the show notes below. Hope you enjoy the show!Kaz's Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kazbyckoBubbl: https://www.bubbl.fmTimestamps:0:00 – Intro2:03 – Guest Welcome & Background4:58 – Podcast Digests8:03 – Podcast Archive9:55 – Human Insights Over AI Summaries12:27 – Introducing Bubbl: Breaking media bubble limits31:26 – Air Chat: Naval’s Failed Platform40:00 – Emphasizing Podcasters’ Feedback Loop46:52 – Native App Strategy Using Next.js Technology
Transcribe →#222: The Ridge Wallet Story - Sean Frank
Feb 27, 202501:02:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Sean Frank, CEO of Ridge Wallet, the brand that redefined men’s accessories with its sleek, RFID-blocking wallets and everyday carry gear.Men’s fashion rarely prioritizes accessories, and wallets are something most guys replace once a decade—yet Ridge built a thriving business in a space where success seemed unlikely. We dive into the Ridge Wallet story, the state of e-commerce, the challenges of manufacturing in America, and why the Amazon seller model is crumbling.Sean keeps it real and drops a ton of knowledge. Don’t miss this one!Hope you enjoy the show!
Transcribe →#221: Building Luxury Cabins in the Woods - Jeff Burns
Feb 11, 202500:59:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we have my business partner in our real estate firm Jeff Burns. We start the conversation on how he made an incredible parlay early in his career that has been the foundation of everything we have built in real estate.We then touch on the journey, from starting out with an idea, to how it has evolved into a large scale company. We dive into the lessons learned and the challenges faced, from building our own cabins, to launching a ground up waterfront development, to building a social media following, to self-managing all of our properties. If you are interested in Short-Term Rental investing, land development, or property management, then this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy the show!Timestamps:00:00:00 - Precap00:02:06 - Guest Introduction 00:08:15 - How he built his company from scratch00:13:10 - Saturation on Listings00:15:45 - Challenges of Building a Cabin00:24:20 - Why did he switch to Self Management?00:35:57 - Developing a Resort00:53:41 - How we sold the Cabins00:58:32 - Conclusion
Transcribe →#220: The ESG Bubble Has Burst
Feb 7, 202500:09:52Tap to summarizeIs ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing dead? Once hailed as the future of finance, ESG is now facing a reckoning. From underperforming green investments and political backlash to corporate retreats and cultural pushback, the cracks in the system are undeniable. In this episode, we break down why ESG is crumbling—examining its financial failures, political rejection, and global contradictions. Listen to uncover the truth behind the rise and fall of ESG, and what it means for the future of corporate America.PSA below:This episode is the restart of the solocast direct message series from the early days of the podcast. I'll be trying to put these shorter form (~10 minute) episodes out weekly along with the normal interview style episodes.
Transcribe →#219: Born to Build - Adam Rossi
Jan 13, 202501:08:06Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Adam Rossi, who built and sold a successful cybersecurity software company serving federal agencies. Adam shares his journey from structural engineer to tech entrepreneur, offering key insights on starting and scaling a business.We discuss his strategic approach to entrepreneurship - working for two years to gain experience before launching his venture, living frugally while his wife's income provided stability, and evolving his company from a one-person engineering software business to a 250-person organization developing sophisticated government tools.Adam candidly discusses the challenges of scaling, his post-exit experience, and how he's approached subsequent ventures with a focus on better work-life balance. He shares practical wisdom on how to get started in entrepreneurship, managing risk, and why young founders may have advantages in terms of energy and flexibility.The conversation also covers his current projects, including his popular off-grid cabin builds and his perspective on Bitcoin as a tool for financial independence. Adam's story offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and those navigating business ownership's challenges.Hope you enjoy the show!Timestamps:00:00:00 - Precap00:02:06 - Introduction and Background00:03:49 - Entrepreneurial Journey and Advice00:07:04 - The Risk and Reward of Entrepreneurship00:12:49 - Dealing with Uncertainty and Loneliness00:15:37 - Negative Feedback and Entrepreneurship00:18:47 - The Evolution of a Business Idea00:20:18 - The Early Days and Challenges00:22:02 - First Major Project and Pivot00:30:23 - Growth and Evolution of the Company00:34:58 - Decision to Sell the Company00:38:13 - Life After Selling the Company00:40:20 - Transitioning from Retirement to New Ventures00:42:25 - Investing and Entrepreneurship00:45:55 - Interest in Bitcoin00:48:29 - The Struggles of Overthinking00:53:15 - The Appeal of Off-Grid Living
Transcribe →#218: 2025 Oil & Gas Market Outlook - Dan Pickering
Dec 23, 202400:59:54Tap to summarizeThis episode's guest is Dan Pickering, the well known energy sector analyst and investor currently serving as the chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners. Dan has had a track record of successful entrepreneurship ventures throughout his career, notably co-founding Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. before launching PEP. He's a regular guest on mainstream media outlets providing insights into oil and gas markets, investment strategies, and the evolving energy transition.This episode we dive into the future of the oil and gas industry. We discuss the 2025 outlook, investment opportunities, market trends, and the impact of the energy transition on traditional energy sectors. It's always great to get insights from one of the leading voices in energy finance and capital markets. Hope you enjoy the show!Timestamps:00:00:00- Precap00:01:17 - Introduction and Background00:03:06 - Impact of Geopolitical Events on Oil Market00:06:11 - Impact of the Trump Administration on the Oil Market00:07:50 - OPEC's Role in Oil Market00:16:19 - Gas Market Outlook00:18:54 - Impact of Lower Oil Prices on Gas Market00:21:02 - Introduction and LNG Discussion00:27:06 - Energy Transition and Decarbonization00:28:27 - Investment in Energy Transition00:36:15 - Power Business and Nuclear Energy00:40:06 - Pickering Energy Partners00:41:49 - Opportunities in Traditional Energy00:44:44 - Future Opportunities00:50:47 - Entrepreneurship Journey
Transcribe →#217: Luminus Capital - Karl Graham
Nov 26, 202401:02:03Tap to summarizeThis episode's guest is Karl Graham, co-founder and principal at Luminus Capital, an investment firm specializing in self-storage and industrial real estate. Karl is also a small business entrepreneur that has founded various start-ups.This episode we discuss Karl's journey from a geologist in the oil and gas industry to building a thriving real estate business. We talk about his strategies for identifying value-added opportunities and his data-driven investment approach. Episode flow: - Transitioning from geology to real estate - Self-storage investments - Future Opportunities in Real Estate- Operational leverage and market trends- SMB Build vs Buy- Partnerships and creating long-term valueConnect with Karl Graham: - Luminus Capital Website: https://luminuscapital.com) - Karl's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Karl_LuminusHope you Enjoy the show!Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:52 - Karl's Background and Journey into Real Estate00:03:43 - Transition from Oil and Gas to Real Estate00:07:24 - Challenges and Opportunities in Starting a Real Estate Business00:13:13 - Utilizing Global Talent and Sacrifices in Starting a Business00:16:45 - Strategy for Self Storage00:20:12 - Capital and Risk in Business00:23:14 - Advantages of Real Estate Investment00:26:01 - Debt Management in Business00:33:13 - Future Plans in Real Estate00:35:29 - Exploration and Expansion in Business00:40:46 - Initial Business Ventures00:43:54 - Challenges with Google Business Profiles00:46:43 - Reflections on Business Failure00:48:11 - Starting a Business vs Buying a Business00:51:31 - Starting a Fencing Business00:55:52 - Marketing Strategies for Fencing Business
Transcribe →#216: Car Market Madness - John Ross
Nov 4, 202401:03:21Tap to summarizeThis episode's guest is John Ross from WatchJRGO— the popular YouTube channel where JR blogs his life and tackles multiple projects like fixing old cars and remodeling his AirBnb. We talk about the car market, the car flipping business, some of his craziest projects, EV trends, Tesla and its brutal pricing changes that have left thousands of people underwater on their car loans. John shares real stories about the highs and the lows of being a full time content creator and where his future passions might take him. I always enjoy talking to creators that have made a business out of their content and John is one of the best out there.Hope you enjoy the show!John's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WatchJRGoTimestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:02 - John's Background00:04:53 - The Shift in Skillsets00:06:57 - The Popularity of Car Content00:07:30 - Going Full Time on YouTube00:09:02 - Balancing Different Content00:10:01 - The Pressure of Daily Content00:12:33 - Growing Up with Tech00:13:21 - The Shift in Tech00:19:13 - Personal Car Collection00:21:00 - Current car market00:23:43 - Car Prices00:26:49 - Emission Regulations00:29:56 - EV Cars00:31:37 - Fuel Efficiency00:39:01 - EV Brands00:43:13 - Tesla's depreciation00:47:35 - Managing Airbnb properties00:53:04 - Future plans01:01:54 - Discussion on Energy and Industrial Controls01:02:33 - Conclusion
Transcribe →#215: $10 Billion in Transactions: A Masterclass on Building a Brokerage - Chris Atherton
Oct 14, 202400:59:14Tap to summarizeThis episode's guest is Chris Atherton. Chris is the CEO of EnergyNet, a leading online platform for oil and gas asset transactions. The company has brokered over $10 billion in deals since it was founded in 1999. This year EnergyNet has also launched separate marketplaces for real estate, alternative energy, and other real assets under the Efficient Markets platform. In this episode, Chris shares his 25+ years of experience in the energy industry, discusses trends shaping the future of oil and gas, and dives deep into the role of technology in asset acquisition and divestiture. We cover the current oil and gas M&A market and the trends that Chris is seeing in 2024. We then pivot to discuss the rebrand to "Efficient Markets" and the new opportunities the company is chasing. Whether you're an energy professional or run a brokerage business in another industry, this episode gives some incredible insight into what it takes to get deals done at scale. Hope you enjoy the show!Efficient Markets: https://www.efficientmarkets.comTimestamps:00:00:00 - Precap00:01:22 - Chris’ Background00:01:31 - EnergyNet's Business Model00:09:32 - Challenges in Building EnergyNet00:14:15 - Impact of Public Market on Valuations00:19:27 - Ideal Market Conditions00:21:29 - The Role of Relationships and Deal Size00:23:12 - The Importance of Experience and Understanding Sellers00:26:54 - The Role of Standardization and Technology00:27:42 - The Impact of Technology on Targeting Buyers00:35:57 - The Launch of Efficient Markets00:38:44 - Expanding into Other Resources00:41:53 - Comparing Business Models00:42:26 - Working with Government Entities00:50:52 - Diversification and Growth00:52:11 - Unique Deal Stories00:56:12 - Networking in the Industry
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