Side Hustle Squad Podcast – Episode 316

Live from PodHouse at CONEXPO: Industry Insights with Pajak, Triplett & Larry!
Host: Mike Garvey
Guests: Larry Delisanti, John Pajac, Eric Triplett (“The Pond Digger”), and Naylor Taliaferro
Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This special live episode comes from “PodHouse,” a content creator collective house at CONEXPO in Las Vegas—the continent’s biggest construction trade show, held every three years. Host Mike Garvey, joined by industry peers Larry Delisanti, John Pajac, Eric Triplett, and (briefly) Naylor Taliaferro, reflect on their content creation journey at the show, including strategies for maximizing industry events, collaborative podcasting, and ideas for raising the bar on professional presence and group synergy within the green and construction industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The PodHouse Concept and Content Creation Synergy

• What is PodHouse?
  • A dedicated house rented for content creators and podcasters to work collaboratively, optimize time, and build community while attending industry shows.
  • “We just decided to create a space where we could come together as a team of content creators, multiple podcasts, multiple podcasters.” (Eric Triplett, 01:38)
• Purpose:
  • To document the event journey in real time instead of losing ideas and energy once everyone gets back home.
  • “Let’s document the journey so we don’t go home and get busy and... not document it.” (Eric Triplett, 02:08)

2. Navigating CONEXPO: Scale, Planning & Content Strategy

• Scale of the Event:
  • “We’re at Con Expo, which is the absolute largest trade show in North America. It happens every three years… You need to have a plan.” (Larry Delisanti, 03:56 | Naylor Taliaferro, 04:11)
  • Comparison to Equip Expo: CONEXPO is “probably eight Equips or more.” (John Pajac, 04:26)
• Approach:
  • Day one: Explore and digest.
  • Day two: Strategically select booths and set a content plan.
  • “We plotted it out pretty well and we executed pretty quick today.” (Eric Triplett, 03:52)
• Types of Vendors & Cross-Industry Relevance:
  • Exposure to a wide range of equipment and gear, especially innovative safety equipment (hard hats/helmets anticipated as OSHA standards).

3. Experimenting with In-Booth Podcasting

• Impromptu Mobile Podcasts:
  • For the first time, the crew conducted podcasts directly at vendor booths—bringing a portable, unscripted energy.
  • “We have kind of the recipe to go to these little in booth... do an in booth podcast with a brand.” (John Pajac, 06:54 & 07:12)
• Growing Buzz & Audience Engagement:
  • Wearing standout “PodHouse” gear sparked curiosity from show attendees and vendors alike.
  • “Three people said something today... Just think the people that don’t say anything—30 were thinking it, minimum.” (Eric Triplett, 06:08)

4. Content Creation as a Live Attraction

• Drawing Interest at Booths:
  • Live, mobile podcasting became its own mini-attraction, drawing crowds and vendors.
  • “By the time we were done, there was a group of people standing around watching us.” (Eric Triplett, 07:22)
  • “I watch people listen to the conversation... They were like getting the—‘Oh, what is, what’s going on here?’” (John Pajac, 07:40)
• Vendors Became More Engaged:
  • “People open up to us a lot quicker... They’re not afraid to talk.” (Eric Triplett, 14:28)

5. Reflection on Collaboration and Group Energy

• Synergy of the PodHouse:
  • Shared meals, communal working, and impromptu brainstorming created unique content and strengthened team connection.
  • “There’s synergy here... You know, when we’re all together, a lot of fun things happen.” (Larry Delisanti, 11:14)
• Contrast to the Lonely Hotel-room Podcast:
  • “Now, we’re all here. Do whatever you want. And now, we’re also gaining more content. We’re not losing all that content that we were losing at dinner, out at dinner.” (John Pajac, 10:13)

6. Evolving Production Quality & Ideas for the Future

• Technical Evolution:
  • Discussed using better cameras, remote-controlled lighting, and tactical production gear.
  • “You need a camera... like Naylor’s camera... and make it look like, ‘What’s going on?’” (Naylor Taliaferro, 08:54)
• Packing for Mobility and Scale:
  • Backpacks and battery-powered gear replacing bulky, hard-to-transport setups.
  • “It’s all backpack stuff. Right. So I can see us rolling, you know, each of us with our full gear like this, and even having a couple of camera people.” (Eric Triplett, 18:20)
• Professionalism & Planning for Future Expos/Events:
  • Vision for Pod Row at events—multi-stage, visible, with scheduled interviews and live audience.
  • “Podro could almost... just be like a dual stage. And like, then they’re just rotating in and out.” (Eric Triplett, 23:01)
• Potential to Drive Booth Traffic and Brand Opportunities:
  • “That’s when they go like, ‘Hey, you really made an impact on our booth. Can you come and be with us next year?...’” (Eric Triplett, 20:15)
  • “You’re providing so much value... Jobber’s just going to be like, ‘Oh, we’re not paying you enough.’” (Eric Triplett, 20:51)

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On PodHouse spirit:
  “Let’s document the journey so we don’t go home and get busy and... not document it.” (Eric Triplett, 02:08)

• On future group podcasting:
  “We have kind of the recipe to go to these little in booth... do an in booth podcast with a brand.” (John Pajac, 06:54)

• Crowd reaction:
  “By the time we were done, there was a group of people standing around watching us.” (Eric Triplett, 07:22)

• On collaboration and synergy:
  “There’s synergy here... a lot of fun things happen that might not happen when it’s just one of us.” (Larry Delisanti, 11:14)

8. Looking Forward: Vision for Community & Content Impact

• Elevating Industry Exposure:
  • “I think we can build on that... create more buzz, create more group, you know, it’s like, what are these... what are these sweatshirts? These are cool.” (John Pajac, 11:58)
• Live Show Possibilities:
  • “There’s a live Pod Row show happening all day long.” (Eric Triplett, 24:50)
  • The dream: podcaster stages drawing in crowds and driving attendees to both brands and content creators’ live sessions throughout oversized events.
  • “If we set this up, we’re out on the sales floor and we’re driving people to the booths and... driving people back to the show.” (Eric Triplett, 25:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:38: What is PodHouse? The collaborative house for content creators.
• 03:56: Size and strategy of CONEXPO; need for planning.
• 05:10: Industry trends—new helmet safety standards.
• 06:54 - 08:53: The team’s first experiment with in-booth podcasts and spontaneous group synergy.
• 10:13: The value of communal living and content synergy at PodHouse.
• 14:28: Vendors opening up on camera; the power of bringing spontaneity and fun.
• 18:20: Shift to mobile, lightweight equipment for content creators.
• 20:15 - 25:18: Vision for Pod Row—live, scheduled podcasts, professional setups, and future event opportunities.

Final Thoughts

This episode captures the energy and innovation happening behind the scenes as a new wave of industry content creators rethink how they cover massive trade shows. From technical setups to team chemistry to business development opportunities, listeners are treated to a lively, real-world case study in collaborative entrepreneurship and brand building in the green and construction industries.

“We’re just figuring it out. And that’s the power of... why we did PodHouse.”
(Eric Triplett, 22:43)

For anyone striving to build their brand, find their community, or maximize the hustle at industry events—this episode delivers the roadmap and the inspiration.