This episode is a break from the usual dirt-business guest… and that’s the point. The Unhinged Rancher runs a ranch with 1,100–1,200 cows and somehow turned yelling at cows, turtles, and skid-steer projects into a real income stream. The best part: he lays out simple content rules that contractors can copy—how to hook people fast, deal with hate comments, and pivot platforms when the algorithm changes.

Takeaways:

✅ Humor is a tool, not a gimmick: he uses it to keep people watching, then keeps them with consistency and real-life work.

✅ Balance is a battle: ranch work doesn’t pause for “content day,” so he built a system to film while working—not instead of working.

✅ Monetization isn’t magic: the money came after attention—merch, platform payouts, partnerships—built off repeatable posting habits.

✅ Your circle matters: he’s intentional about being around people who are doing more, thinking bigger, and pushing forward.
✅ Ignore the comment section when a video pops: bigger reach brings more random hate—don’t let people who don’t pay your bills steer the wheel.

Why it Matters:If you’re an operator or contractor trying to get leads, hires, or attention online, Kyle’s approach shows how to turn everyday work into content that actually moves the needle.

Links:

➡️ Subscribe to The Unhinged Rancher’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnhingedRancher

➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. https://www.skidsteernation.com

⁠➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. https://getthrottledup.com/

Most guys in dirt work hit that point where they’re slammed with jobs, but the bank account doesn’t match the workload. That was Mike McQueston—busy, worn out, and wondering where the money was going. In this episode, he breaks down how tightening up pricing, choosing better jobs, and leaning into landfill mowing turned his excavation business from “just getting by” into a real profit-maker.

If you’ve ever looked at your books and thought, “Something’s not right here,” this episode is worth your time.

Takeaways:

✅ How Mike used landfill mowing contracts to create steady, repeat work.

✅ Simple pricing shifts that stopped him from working long hours for thin margins.

✅ Why he now says no to bad-fit jobs—even when the work is there.

✅ The mindset shift from “I need more jobs” to “I need the right jobs.”

✅ How protecting family time keeps him from letting the business run his life.

If you’re an excavation or land management contractor who’s constantly busy but not seeing the profit, this episode shows you how to tighten up your business so the numbers finally make sense.

Links:

➡️ Follow Mike and see what he’s building with Muddy Brook Enterprises: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083094322062

➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠

➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. https://getthrottledup.com/

Sometimes the hardest part of running a business isn’t the long hours or tough calls — it’s figuring out what comes next. In this episode, Ryan opens up about his own season of reflection: what it means to step back, redefine the vision, and start building with purpose again. No guest this week — just a raw, real talk between Ryan and you about leadership, growth, and the next evolution of Skid Steer Nation.

Takeaways:

✅ How creating space to think — even just 20 minutes a day — can completely change the direction of your business.

✅ The mindset shift from “being the boss” to serving your team and why that’s where real growth happens.

✅ Why Ryan is rebranding the Skid Steer Nation Podcast and what his upcoming book Out of the Weeds means for contractors everywhere.

✅ A behind-the-scenes look at the new software project, Toolbox, built to help small business owners simplify operations with AI-powered tools.

✅ The most powerful lesson Ryan’s learned lately: learning to say no — and how it protects your time, clarity, and vision.

Why It Matters:Because owning a business isn’t just about grinding — it’s about building something that actually gives you freedom, not another job.

Links:➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠

➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠https://www.throttleupmarketing.com