EP 100 | Reflecting on the Stories that Shaped the Show

In this episode:

We made it to 100! In this special milestone episode of Your Project Shepherd, the tables are turned. Frequent guests and friends of the show — Jeremy McFarland (Brickmoon Design), Toner Kersting (Toner Home Performance), and Matt Sneller (Sneller Custom Homes) — sit down to interview host Curtis Lawson. What follows is a hilarious, behind-the-scenes journey through the podcast’s evolution, Curtis’s background (including his failed pizza business and musical roots), and what they’ve all learned after 100 episodes discussing construction, client education, quality control, and more. From bathrobes to building science, this one’s got it all.

TOPICS COVERED:

• Curtis’s journey from pizza shop owner to custom builder and podcast host

• How being a musician helped shape his leadership and scheduling style

• Early podcast struggles (including firing his first producers… his daughters)

• What builders can learn from restaurant-level customer service

• Why accurate scopes of work and expectations are key to avoiding conflict

• How the team uses third-party inspections to protect clients and quality

• The persistent myth of $200/sq ft custom home construction

• Maintenance mistakes that cause warranty calls — and how to fix them

• Rainwater harvesting, mechanical rooms, and future-ready design ideas

• The importance of realtors and designers who actually do the work

• How Curtis wants to shift more into owner’s rep work — and the Houston hurdles

Full Transcript