The Pagel Uncensored Podcast

Austin Gibson is the owner of Unique Auto Salvage, an automotive recycling business operating across Michigan — and parts of Ohio — buying, selling, and moving everything from catalytic converters to scrap vehicles. In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, Austin opens up about the real side of running a blue-collar business: downsizing from six employees to two, the constant struggle to find trustworthy help, and the pressure of being...

What do snow plows, broken computers, and military service all have in common? Tristan James joins the podcast to tell a story you don’t hear every day. From his days in the Army and surviving cancer, to running a computer repair shop with some truly unforgettable customers, Tristan walks us through how curiosity in a garage turned into Wisconsin Specialty Recycling — a top-level electronics recycling operation uncovering real valu...

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It took a minute — but once Kaleb locked in, everything changed. In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, Sally Rech, owner of Rech Family Farms & Rech Family Gardens, came...

Brady Vondra, owner of Vondra Ag Services, has spent over a decade building a farming business from the ground up — and at one point, watched it all burn down. In this raw and honest episode of Pagel Uncensored, Brady shares how losing everything forced him to rebuild smarter, tougher, and more committed than ever. From surviving a total loss to teaching the next generation about farming, this is a story about resilience, hard less...

In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with Josh Wells, owner of Wells And Son Outdoor Services, a Minnesota-based stump grinding and landscaping business built through decades of hands-on experience. Josh shares his journey through over 30 years in the landscaping industry, including the challenges of owning a business, balancing family life, and how his combat deployment shaped his work ethic and outlook. We talk about ...

Ever wondered why insurance costs so much — and what’s really behind those rising premiums? In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with Jaclyn Bevan, owner of Jaclyn Bevan Insurance Agency (State Farm) and Bacon Branch Beef, LLC, to cut through the noise. Jaclyn shares an honest take on the insurance world, small-town business, and what it’s like balancing work, family, and life on the farm. She opens up about real conver...

When the stress piled up, Paul Ledebuhr decided it was time to share the load. Now co-owner of Bluff Country Outdoor Services, Paul opens up about life in the lawn and landscape industry — from handling bad employees and burnout to rediscovering what matters most: teamwork, family, and the great outdoors. Follow Paul’s work here: 👉 Bluff Country Outdoor Services on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575180594268 �...

From dropping out of high school to running a multi-award-winning tree and winter services company — Matt Wingate, owner of Lakes Area Tree Guys LLC, joins Kaleb for a raw conversation about what it really takes to build a business from the ground up. Based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Matt shares how he built a 5-star-rated company with zero advertising, a loyal crew, and a reputation that speaks for itself. The two dive into the gr...

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Dowe and Scott Czaplinski, the duo behind K&S Driveway Guys LLC, based in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Since 2013, Kevin and Scott have been transforming driveways and sport courts across the Midwest — specializing in coloring, striping, and resurfacing for pickleball, tennis, basketball, hockey, four-square, and shuffleboard. They share how they went from road construction to building a niche...

In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, Kaleb sits down with Roger Krantz, the founder and former owner of West End Salvage in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Roger’s story is one of grit, vision, and small-town determination — building a thriving business from nothing and turning it into a legacy for generations to come. From humble beginnings and one life-changing car to building a company that became a community cornerstone, Roger shares how...

In this episode, we sit down with Darren Peters, owner of Peters’ Patio & Landscape in SE Minnesota. With 22 years in the landscape industry and 15 years running his own company, Darren has seen it all — from employee frustrations to equipment mishaps (yes, even pallet forks getting destroyed). What makes Darren stand out? Even after 15 years of ownership, he’s still out in the field, working side by side with his crew. We dive...

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Bauer, the man behind Paragon Excavation and Land Clearing—a one-man band who runs his business exactly the way he wants to. An OG fan since the early days, Nick shares how he walked away from seven years as a diesel mechanic, hopped in a skid steer, and built his own excavation and land clearing company with no regrets. We cover it all: * Running a business completely solo (and why he refuses...

In this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with Dalton Campbell — an OG fan, community supporter, and hardworking entrepreneur who runs two businesses: ✅ Buzz Lawn Care & Snow Removal – keeping properties clean and clear year-round. ✅ Buzz Impressions – a warehouse and printing company serving local businesses. Dalton shares his journey of growing both companies, what it’s like balancing family life with two hustles, and ...

In today’s episode, Rich Hume, owner of NE Acreage Group INC. in Leominster, MA, shares some of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard from a business owner. Rich built his commercial maintenance and parking lot sweeping company from the ground up, but the road hasn’t been easy — or ordinary. Along the way, he’s faced situations most entrepreneurs could never imagine, including: * A stolen car smashing head-on into one of his sweeper...

Meet Dan Mason, a man who was born with a rare condition called prune belly syndrome — a disorder that affects the abdominal muscles and urinary system, often making everyday life a struggle from the start. But Dan’s story isn’t about what he can’t do — it’s about what he’s built in spite of it. From running his own small engine repair business to working hard for a landscape company, Dan proves that grit, determination, and a blue...

On this episode of Pagel Uncensored, we sit down with a man who quite literally sleeps, eats, and breathes fencing. With a family-owned business spanning 40 years — and he’s only 36 himself — fencing isn’t just a job, it’s an obsession. From building posts to building a legacy, he shares what it’s like to grow up in the fence world, the challenges and triumphs of running a family trade business, and why fences are more than just wo...

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Bazor, owner and operator of Bazor Sons Concrete out of Renton, Washington. Steve shares how he built his concrete business, why “Concrete = Big Business”, and how his company stands out by offering an unmatched 10-year warranty on all their work. We also talk about his journey from being the winner of Giveaway #12 to hauling home a brand-new Lamar dump trailer — and how that helped fuel his ...