Episodes

  • #172 | Mark Stankey & Matthew Byers | PLAAD | Design NEVER EVERs: Good Design Outlasts Trends
    Jun 29 2026

    PLAAD's Mark Stankey and Matthew Byers join Mark for a deep dive into what actually makes a home authentic, and it turns out the answer has a lot more to do with composition than cost. They talk through never evers like windows to nowhere, soffit returns gone wrong, and why a quiet, well composed exterior beats a gable smashed mansion every time. Stick around for the courtyard story that proves the best design lessons sometimes come straight from the client.

    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://www.plaadoffice.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plaadoffice/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plaadoffice

    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

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Losers are Winners | Alyssa Abbott & Mary Clark on Why AI Can't Touch Real Storytelling
    Jun 25 2026

    Two social media experts walk into Mysa Hus, and what comes out is a refreshingly honest take on the wins, the flops, and the algorithm mysteries nobody can fully explain. Alyssa Abbott from Olive and Vine Socials and Mary Clark from Pella swap stories about overworked carousels that flopped, lazy Saturday posts that crushed it, and why chasing every trending audio clip is a great way to end up in murky water. They also tackle the AI elephant in the room, and spoiler, authenticity wins every single time.

    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/

    Where to find the Guest:
    Alyssa Abbott
    Website: https://oliveandvinesocials.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliveandvinesocials/
    Mary Clark
    Website: https://www.pella.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-clark-9b45b2119/

    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

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    21 mins
  • #171 | Taylor Hall O'Brien | Architectural Photographer | Taylor Hall O'Brien Makes AI Nervous and Homes Look Incredible
    Jun 22 2026

    Forget renderings, Taylor Hall O'Brien is making the case for real light, real rooms, and real collaboration in an industry that AI is circling like a hawk. He and Mark talk through the art of consistent storytelling across a photo gallery, how Taylor built relationships with top editors one Instagram follow at a time, and why being easy to work with matters more than being the most talented person in the room. It's part photography lesson, part business strategy session, and part really lovely conversation over Diet Coke at sunrise.

    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: http://taylorhallobrien.com/
    Instagram: http://instagram.com/taylorhallobrien

    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

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Losers are Winners | Anthony Janckila on 20 Years of Floors, Fires, & Friendship
    Jun 18 2026

    Twenty years, 30 employees, and one very real fire that nearly took out a parquet floor a month before a major photo shoot. Anthony Janckila and Mark trade stories about clients going dark, why the GC ends up responsible for literally everything whether they get paid for it or not, and the kind of loyalty that shows up at a funeral instead of just sending flowers. This one's got heart, a little chaos, and a genuinely great pitch for a Curious Builder retirement home.

    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/

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

    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

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • #170 | Mark D. Williams | Enough Is Enough: What Two Books Taught Mark About Time and Money
    Jun 15 2026

    Six months into the Smile Tour, Mark parks himself inside Mysa Hus with a heavily highlighted copies of Buy Back Your Time and Psychology of Money, and he has a lot of thoughts about money, time, and why your inbox should not be your boss. He hits the big ideas from both Dan Martell and Morgan Housel, connects them to real moments from his career, and reminds everyone that a $10 million company was not built on $10 tasks. Consider this your permission slip to hire help, go to bed at 8:30, and stop letting your calendar run your life.

    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 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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Losers are Winners | Hans Frees Lost the Spec Home, the Savings, and His Dignity. Then Rebuilt.
    Jun 11 2026

    Hans Frees of Outdoor Escapes has been in business 25 years, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy, lost money on a spec home during the 2008 crash, and came out the other side with better relationships, a better location, and a much healthier respect for staying in his lane. He and Mark swap war stories about building spec homes they probably shouldn't have, losing sleep over unpaid subcontractors, and why the small-town bank that bet on them at rock bottom is still their bank today. It's 32 minutes of hard-won wisdom from someone who learned most of it the expensive way.

    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/

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

    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

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • #169 | Mark D. Williams & Mysa Hus | Mark Built His Soul Into a House: The Story Behind Mysa Hus
    Jun 8 2026

    Documentary filmmaker Jude Charles came to Minnesota to flip the script and road map the emotional soul of Mysa Hus, and what started as a brand conversation turned into the deepest dive yet into why Mark built the thing in the first place. Jude's "but why does that matter to you" energy draws out stories about childhood cabins, slow mornings, and what it actually means to build a home as a personal thesis. Buckle up, this one earns every one of its 90 minutes.

    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://www.mysahus.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysahus/

    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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 38 mins
  • Inside the Big Wins | Paul Cramer on Why Surviving Something Shapes Everything
    Jun 4 2026

    Paul Cramer sold his business, hit rock bottom, and discovered that being sober for decades doesn't automatically mean you have your stuff together, which is a humbling plot twist for anyone keeping score at home. Round two gets into the real work: two weeks of intensive therapy, rebuilding from scratch, and why the way you survive something becomes the way you live everything. Buckle up, this one hits different.

    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://www.pauljcramer.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauljcramer/

    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

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins