Real and relatable stories.

A podcast for professionals to tell their unbiased stories about the industry and the markets they live and work in. From their wins and losses to the experiences they’d change or keep, we aim to uncover honest conversations with each of our guests. Mental health, balance, money, company growth, education. We want to discuss the in-between sh*t that no one else is talking about.
Subscribe & Listen Everywhere:
About the Hosts

Nick Schiffer

I run NS Builders out of Boston — high-end custom homes, $3M and up, architect-led. Before that I was 11 years old sweeping floors in my dad's fab shop, then carpentry school, then commercial high-rise construction at 22. I started NS Builders because I wanted to build the way I was taught to build, not the way a corporate schedule made me build.

Somewhere in there I started a podcast with a guy named Tyler Grace because we couldn't find anyone talking honestly about the business side of this trade. 400+ episodes later, we still can't believe how many builders are running a job instead of a company — great at the craft, drowning in the numbers, hostage to their own phone.

If that's you, you're not broken. Nobody taught you this part. That's what the Modern Craftsman System is for.

If you want it faster and more direct than a course, I take a limited number of 1:1 calls.

‍Book time with me.

Tyler Grace

TRG Home Concepts, New Jersey — kitchens, baths, finish carpentry, high-end remodels. I run lean. No big office, no layer of PMs between me and the client. That's by choice, and it means every mistake I've made, I made with my own name on it.

Nick and I started the podcast because the stuff that actually matters — how to price a job so you don't hate your life in month six, how to fire a client the right way, what it costs you when you don't know your numbers — nobody was saying it out loud. So we did.

I'm building my own house right now, using the exact systems from Run the Build. If you want to talk through your business specifically — pricing, a client situation, whatever's stuck — I take calls.

Book time with Tyler.
The Show

A Thriving Builder Community

If you are a general contractor, carpenter, design professional, architect, project manager, or craftsman from across the nation this podcast will touch upon current issues in your field. Modern Craftsman guests include Norm Abrams, Gary Katz, Tom Silva, Brent Hull, Tim Uhler, Jeff Sweenor, Kevin O'conner, and many more!
“Nick, Tyler and their guest drop nothing but gold nuggets episode after episode. Since listening, I feel as if my woodworking business and my personal self could be 10x what they are now had I tuned in earlier. In the age of cheaper and faster as we ‘race to the bottom’ these guys are a breath of fresh air in regards to putting the craft back in craftsmanship and bringing respect back to the trades. Needless to say, I am all in.”
“My husband and I started a business in 2020. We often listen to the podcast together and value the candid conversations. It has helped us think strategically and validate our path. Know that your time and this podcast makes a positive difference to others in the trades community. Thank you!”
"I really appreciate the time Nick and Tyler put into this. I’ve been listening for a year or so and have learned a lot. Both hosts have a commitment to the craft and to their clients that I admire and seek to emulate, and you complement each other’s experience well. Thank you for doing this!”
“Appreciate all of the content y’all put out. As a small business owner, I learn a lot and am glad to have found like-minded contractors that are selling more than just a job!”
“The Modern Craftsman is a gem in so many ways for any business owner, but especially for anyone operating in the construction / trade / vendor world around the main topics. At first, the two hour time commitment seemed like too much, but in a world of surface level content and scratch and sniff stickers, this show stands out in its depth of character.”
“Appreciate all of the content y’all put out. As a small business owner, I learn a lot and am glad to have found like-minded contractors that are selling more than just a job!”
“My husband and I started a business in 2020. We often listen to the podcast together and value the candid conversations. It has helped us think strategically and validate our path. Know that your time and this podcast makes a positive difference to others in the trades community. Thank you!”
“I really appreciate the time Nick and Tyler put into this. I’ve been listening for a year or so and have learned a lot. Both hosts have a commitment to the craft and to their clients that I admire and seek to emulate, and you complement each other’s experience well. Thank you for doing this!”
“Nick, Tyler and their guest drop nothing but gold nuggets episode after episode. Since listening, I feel as if my woodworking business and my personal self could be 10x what they are now had I tuned in earlier. In the age of cheaper and faster as we ‘race to the bottom’ these guys are a breath of fresh air in regards to putting the craft back in craftsmanship and bringing respect back to the trades. Needless to say, I am all in.”
“The Modern Craftsman is a gem in so many ways for any business owner, but especially for anyone operating in the construction / trade / vendor world around the main topics. At first, the two hour time commitment seemed like too much, but in a world of surface level content and scratch and sniff stickers, this show stands out in its depth of character.”