Pete talks with Damon Powell from FMC Advisors. Damon specialises in helping sanitation company owners to sell their businesses. When he first appeared on Get Flushed in Episode 81 in June 202, Damon spoke about the process that sanitation business owners can expect to go through when they decide to sell their company. In this episode, Damon and Pete discuss: the popularity of the sanitation industry in the United Sates over the past few years the type of buyers in the sanitation market and the ...
Apr 09, 2025•51 min•Ep. 129
Pete talks with Erin and Grant Stahla, owners of Stahla Services, a luxury restroom rental enterprise based in Omaha, Nebraska. This conversation covers the growth of their business, which Grant launched by Grant 11 years ago, before exploring the contributions made by Erin since her full-time involvement. The couple describe their shared vision, the intertwining of their personal and professional lives, and the strategic direction they envision for the company's future. They discuss their recen...
Mar 05, 2025•38 min•Ep. 128
Pete talks with Caleb Ingran, CEO of Iron-Vac, a leading manufacturer and supplier of vacuum tanks and trucks. Enter the Iron-Vac truck giveaway at https://www.septictrucks.com/giveaway Caleb reflects on the struggles he faced during his early days in the septic business, including the purchase of a truck that was wrecked before delivery. Rather than deterring him, this setback instilled a fierce resolve to succeed, leading to the establishment of a company that has grown significantly in just s...
Nov 08, 2024•45 min•Ep. 127
Pete is back with two requests for help. The first is to register your vote for Get Flushed in the Listener's Choice category at the New Zealand Podcast Awards. Visit www.nzpodcastawards.com/nominate to vote today. The second is to complete the 2024 Portable Sanitation Industry Benchmark Survey hosted by my friends at ServiceCore. This annual survey has become a regular fixture in the sanitation calendar and informs the annual Benchmark Report. That in turn helps operators to identify the challe...
Oct 29, 2024•3 min
Pete talks with Max Coon, founder and CEO of Toico Industries about Sanitation Manager or SanMan, the new software solution for portable restroom operators. Max takes listeners on a compelling journey through his 32 years in the portable sanitation industry. Reflecting on his beginnings working for his father-in-law's rental business, Max recounts the challenges he faced in sourcing products tailored to the sanitation sector. This struggle was the catalyst for Toico's creation in 1997, with a mi...
Oct 24, 2024•31 min•Ep. 126
In this week's episode, Pete talks about Artificial Intelligence with Vladislav Ostremski, head of Research and Development at Air-Vote. Air-Vote's innovative solution allows restroom users to provide real-time feedback through a simple QR code system. This approach has fundamentally changed how feedback is collected, enabling operators to respond swiftly to issues and enhance the overall cleanliness and patron satisfaction in their facilities. Vlad shares news of exciting developments at Air-Vo...
Oct 17, 2024•32 min•Ep. 125
Crafting a winning bid for a tender can be a daunting process, especially in the restroom service industry where competition is fierce. In this episode, Pete shares valuable insights, explains key terminology and describes a typical tendering process. Pete highlights the importance of clear, concise communication and the necessity of proofreading submissions to ensure professionalism and accuracy. Whether you're a seasoned operator or new to the field, this episode offers practical advice to enh...
Oct 10, 2024•16 min•Ep. 124
This episode features a detailed discussion with Joe Shelton, an expert in portable sanitation with decades of experience. Joe recounts his early start in the industry, working for his family's business, and how that foundation led him to launch his own company and later a successful brokerage. The episode focuses on the role of brokers in the restroom industry, dispelling myths and highlighting their potential to enhance business operations. Joe addresses common concerns about brokers, such as ...
Oct 04, 2024•37 min•Ep. 123
Submissions are now open for the New Zealand Podcast Awards 2024. Get Flushed has been entered in the Best Business Podcast and Best Independent Podcast categories. Long term listeners may remember that the show won a Bronze Medal at the inaugural awards in November 2021. This episode is our showreel submission for the 2024 Awards. It contains clips from five episodes released between 1 August 2023 and 31 August 2024.: Episode 120 released 9 January 2024 Episode 118 released 7 January 2024 Episo...
Oct 02, 2024•11 min
Pete talks with PJ Blignault, founder and owner of Eco-Fab about his company's new range of vacuum flushing restrooms. EcoFab's entry into the U.S. market marks a significant shift in the availability of advanced sanitation solutions for events and construction sites. PJ discusses the company's philosophy of providing high-quality vacuum flushing systems at a price point accessible to smaller operators, challenging the dominance of more expensive vacuum systems. The episode explores EcoFab's str...
Sep 30, 2024•31 min•Ep. 122
Death Without debt is a new podcast from the Get Flushed studio. In 2023, the average cost of a basic funeral or cremation in New Zealand was between $8,000 and $15,000. That same year, 64% of funerals and cremations in New Zealand were not pre-planned. Those high costs and lack of planning often leaves bereaved families with a huge bill that compounds the grief of those left behind. Death Without Debt is a social movement dedicated to: exposing the reasons why funeral costs are so high; and cha...
Sep 11, 2024•38 min
Host Pete introduces Death Without Debt, a new podcast from the Get Flushed studio. Death Without Debt is dedicated to making funerals and cremations more affordable for all New Zealanders. To find out more about the Death Without Debt campaign, please visit http://www.deathwithoutdebt.org.nz Episode 1 of Death Without Debt coming soon.
Sep 07, 2024•3 min
Would you like to appear on Get Flushed? In this short episode, Pete explains the recording process and tells us what Get Flushed could do for you and your business. If you run or own a portable restroom operation, supply goods or services to the sanitation industry, organise events or work with (or for) an amazing sanitation provider, we'd love to feature you on the show. There's no charge for this, so it won't cost you anything except your time. If you would like to appear on Get Flushed, have...
Aug 12, 2024•4 min•Ep. 121
Pete returns to address a pressing issue in the portable restroom industry: how to handle competition from operators offering restrooms at unsustainably low prices. Prompted by a message from an industry veteran facing this challenge, Pete delves into the economic pressures pushing some operators to cut prices and the potential pitfalls of such strategies. He argues that slashing prices may attract customers in the short term but often leads to a decline in service quality, resulting in dissatis...
Aug 09, 2024•7 min•Ep. 120
I’m very sorry to tell you all that my good friend, sanitation expert, podcast collaborator, bon viveur and fellow raconteur David Andres passed away suddenly from natural causes at his home in Houston on 7th January 2024. He was 57 years old. This episode is an abridged version of Dave's account of the sanitation response at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on 9-11. It was originally published in 2021 on the 20th anniversary of those attacks. In the episode,...
Jan 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 119
Pete continues his series about road safety by looking at the steps that drivers, owners and managers should and could take if a company vehicle is involved in a road accident while at work. The latest installment of Get Flush delves into the critical topic of workplace vehicle accidents, emphasizing the importance of immediate response and safety procedures. Host Pete outlines the alarming statistics surrounding motor vehicle-related fatalities at work, drawing attention to the necessity for co...
Jan 06, 2024•17 min•Ep. 118
In the last Get Flushed Short for the year, Pete discusses the future of Get Flushed in 2024.
Dec 31, 2023•2 min•Ep. 117
Today's question was posed by listener Steff, who asked "Hey Pete, how often should my company hold 'Toolbox' Health & Safety Meetings?"
Dec 30, 2023•2 min•Ep. 116
Should Restroom Operators join an Industry Association? Host Pete weighs the pros and cons of this decision, emphasizing the importance of understanding the specific benefits that such associations can offer. He notes that while many organizations, such as the Portable Sanitation Association International and its European counterparts, aim to elevate industry standards and provide valuable resources, the decision to join should be carefully weighed against the costs involved and the relevance of...
Dec 29, 2023•2 min•Ep. 115
In today's short, Pete asks "Does your portable restroom business need a presence on social media?"
Dec 28, 2023•3 min•Ep. 114
In today's short, Pete asks whether Portable Restroom Operators are allowed to test their employees for drink or drugs at work
Dec 27, 2023•2 min•Ep. 113
In today's short, Pete asks "What tools should restroom operators carry on their sanitation trucks?"
Dec 26, 2023•2 min•Ep. 112
Pete looks at the different formations that restroom operators can use to arrange restrooms at large scale events
Dec 25, 2023•4 min•Ep. 111
In today's short, Pete answers listener Ryan who asked "Hey Pete, should I hire a sales professional to help grow my portable restroom business?"
Dec 24, 2023•3 min•Ep. 110
In today's short, Pete answers listener Jan, who asked "What type of gloves do you wear when pumping restrooms?"
Dec 22, 2023•2 min•Ep. 109
Pete asks how can restroom operators reduce the foul odours associated with portable toilets, especially during hot weather
Dec 21, 2023•2 min•Ep. 108
Pete asks whether cabin doors should face in or out when transporting portable restrooms on a trailer
Dec 20, 2023•3 min•Ep. 107
Today's question came from listener Ray who asked "Why haven’t you had any of the big restroom manufacturers and operators on the show?" If you listen to this episode and would like to find out more about appearing on Get Flushed as a guest, please email pete@getflushed.online or get in touch through social media
Dec 20, 2023•2 min•Ep. 106
Today’s question came from listener Steve who asked "What’s the worst thing you've found in a portable toilet?"
Dec 19, 2023•2 min•Ep. 105
Playbooks describe a company's policies, workflows and procedures. In today's short, Pete asks whether restroom operators need a playbook and if so, what form should it take?
Dec 18, 2023•3 min•Ep. 104
