EP297: Backyard Pond Myths EXPOSED – Friday the 13th Edition
Release Date: 06/13/2025
EP323: A Moment With Sasha Vaynerchuk During His Pond Build
The Pond Digger Podcast
This episode captures a conversation with Sasha, the father of Gary Vaynerchk, during a large-scale landscaping project. Sasha expresses his surprise at the project's magnitude and the extensive use of natural rock sourced directly from his property, which is unusual for projects in California. The discussion highlights the collaborative efforts of various contractors and the strategic placement of massive rocks and logs to create a natural, forest-like aesthetic around a newly constructed pond. Sasha also shares anecdotes about meeting the main contractor, Brian, through a search for pond...
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EP322: A Look Inside The Fitz's Fish Ponds Machine with Tom Swinarsky
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric speaks with Tom Swinarsky, the Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist at Fitz's Fish Ponds, a rapidly expanding East Coast company. Swinarsky discusses his journey from retail associate to his current leadership role, highlighting the company's growth during the pandemic and his personal commitment to its success. He also shares recollections of rebuilding the Saddle River location and the profound impact of water features on his life and the community, emphasizing the historical and emotional significance of their projects. The conversation portrays the dynamic culture of Fitz's Fish Ponds...
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EP321: The Gary Vee Family Pond Build Story with Brian Fitzsimmons of Fitz's Fish Ponds
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric and Brian discuss the upcoming pond build for Sasha Vaynerchuk, father of entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. Brian recounts his developing friendship with Sasha, which began with a sales lead for a pond renovation, and emphasizes the organic nature of their connection beyond mere business. The conversation also touches upon Brian's first interaction with Gary Vee at a basketball game, establishing a lighthearted relationship dubbed the "Koi boys." They openly discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by this high-profile project, including logistical planning and the potential for...
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EP320: Autonomous Yard Care Is Coming To Residential w/ Viet Huynh with Hygreen
The Pond Digger Podcast
Today's episode features an interview with Viet Huynh from , a company introducing an autonomous, solar-powered robotic lawnmower called Go, designed for residential use. The discussion highlights the mower's advanced features, including an AI camera for precise mapping and obstacle avoidance, ensuring it stays out of designated "no-go" areas like ponds or flower beds. Eric and Viet explore how this technology offers convenience, sustainability, and time-saving benefits for homeowners, suggesting it could allow individuals to focus on other pursuits like gardening or enjoying their ponds. The...
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EP319: Find Time To Maintain Your Vehicle Assets Before They Schedule It For You! w/ Jeff Allred & Clark Maxwell of Fleetio
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric's guests are Jeff Allred and Clark Maxwell from . The discussion centers on Fleetio's software, which helps businesses manage and maintain their vehicle assets and other equipment. They explain how the software streamlines maintenance tracking, expense reporting, and communication among team members, ultimately aiming to save time and money by preventing breakdowns and inefficient spending. The conversation also touches on integrations with fuel cards and GPS systems, the maintenance shop network, and the cost-effectiveness of Fleetio for fleets of varying sizes. Key Takeaways: ...
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EP318: Scaling Your Business Through AI & "Traction" w/ Todd Reinhart
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric interviews Todd Reinhart from Reinhart Services, live at the Lawn and Landscape Technology Conference. The discussion centers on leveraging technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, to scale businesses in the green industry. Reinhart emphasizes the importance of tools like ChatGPT as a "ride-along mentor" and details his company's use of AI for data analytics, robotic lawnmowers, and even experimental exoskeletons to improve efficiency and reduce injuries. The conversation also touches upon the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), based on the book Traction,...
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EP317: When Pond Procrastination Bites Back with Tyson Matyas & Israel Rodriguez
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric and his friends explore the various pitfalls of procrastinating on pond maintenance, emphasizing that neglecting upkeep, even when a pond appears healthy, can lead to significant issues and costly repairs. They discuss seasonal considerations for pond care, highlighting the importance of timely interventions in spring and fall, and share anecdotes about client and personal procrastination to illustrate their points about the long-term consequences of delayed maintenance. They also stress that a pond, being an evolving ecosystem, requires consistent attention and professional oversight to...
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EP316: Disrupt Your Competition With a Very Special Peer Group Opportunity w/ Drew Etling of Disruptors
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric chats with Drew Etling, the executive assistant to Justin White, founder of the . They talk about this exclusive peer group for landscaping contractors and entrepreneurs. Etling explains that the community's goal is to disrupt and elevate the landscaping industry by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among members, who range from those doing $500,000 to $40 million in revenue. He details how the community provides real-time feedback, discounted partnerships, and access to experienced leaders who openly share their strategies and financials. Key Takeaways: Actively engage...
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EP315: Using AI to Deepen Customer Relationships w/ Justin White
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric is joined by Justin White of at a recent technology conference. White, a self-made CEO who grew his family's landscaping business from $1 million to $20 million in ten years, shares insights on leveraging technology, particularly AI, for business growth and efficiency. He emphasizes that while AI can't perform physical tasks like mowing, it revolutionizes administrative work such as estimating, scheduling, and communication, ultimately freeing up time for a more "human" approach with clients. The conversation also highlights the importance of personal well-being, strategic vision, and...
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EP314: Has Social Media Already Transitioned to Interest Media? w/ Dalton Fisher
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric talks with social media expert Dalton Fisher, whose company, , helps businesses with their social media presence, discusses strategies for creating viral content, the evolving landscape of social media algorithms, and the benefits of an online presence for businesses, including brand recognition, lead generation, and employee morale. The conversation highlights the shift from follower-based metrics to content performance and the importance of authentic, engaging video in capturing audience attention, even if it means embracing "weird" or controversial approaches for increased visibility...
info_outlineIn the special Friday the 13th episode "Pond Myths," Eric focusses on various misconceptions surrounding backyard ponds and aquatic life, particularly koi fish. He challenges common beliefs, such as koi only growing to their environment's size or the incompatibility of plants and koi, by providing anecdotal evidence and practical explanations. He also addresses real-world challenges, like pond cloudiness from raccoons or new pond syndrome, and offers preventative measures against predators and equipment failures, emphasizing the importance of redundancy and professional inspections. Ultimately, the episode aims to debunk prevalent myths and equip listeners with knowledge to maintain a healthy and thriving pond environment.
- Manage your pond's water quality diligently to ensure fish health and optimal growth, even in smaller environments.
- Establish electrical redundancy for your pond equipment, such as having your waterfall pump and air pump on separate circuits, to prevent total system failure during power outages.
- Employ a combination of predator deterrents like deeper ponds, a dog, netting, or enclosed structures, as relying on a single method like a decoy is often insufficient.
- Always use a quarantine tank for new fish to prevent the introduction of diseases and protect your existing aquatic life.
- Schedule regular professional inspections for your pond, at least once or twice a year, to address potential issues before they escalate into major problems.
Resources:
- Contractor Sales Secrets: ContractorSalesSecrets.com
- Fitz Fish Ponds: Koi Trips
- Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
- The Pond Digger: https://theponddigger.com/
- LA Pet Fair: https://www.lapetfair.com/
- Atlantic-Oase: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/
- Helix Pond Filtration: http://helixpondfiltration.com/
- TWT Contractor Circle (Facebook Group): TWT Contractor Circle
- TWT Contractor Power Circle (Facebook Group): TWT Contractor Power Circle
- The Pond Digger Instagram: Instagram
- The Pond Digger Facebook: Facebook
- Train With Triplett TikTok: TikTok
- EasyPro Pond Products: https://easypro.com/
- Pond Trade Magazine: https://www.pondtrademag.com/