It’s been a crazy year and people have been living very differently. All this extra time at home has meant people are spending more time in their backyards and wanting to create special pond oases to enjoy. This has led to five cool pond trends so far this year! Eric shares his insight on: Remodels - such as adding extensions to make current ponds bigger or upgrading filtration systems. Restorations - getting non-operational, neglected ponds back up and running. This one can often take quite a b...
May 14, 2021•16 min
Why does attention to detail matter? Today, Eric is joined by both his wife and Tyson to chat about how attention to detail is important in every aspect of life - and especially, in your business. Eric shares his insight on: Why you need people on your team who are strong at big picture thinking as well as people who are strong at attention to detail What attention to detail means to Tyson and why it can be critical. How a lack of attention to detail comes down to sloppy craftsmanship - which me...
Apr 23, 2021•45 min
A lot of clients tend to compare the prices of their pool guys to their pond guys. To them, it seems like a similar job, and they can’t understand why their pond guy is so much more expensive! This can lead to some awkward conversations, and it’s a topic that needs to be addressed. Give it a listen and you’ll be better prepared the next time this subject comes up with a client! Eric shares his insight on: How route density is the biggest difference between pool companies and pond companies. Beca...
Apr 08, 2021•15 min
It’s time for the next episode in our Craftsman Series, with guest Tyson. A lot of craftsmen will at one time be an apprentice or have apprentices under them. There’s a specific mindset that goes along with being an apprentice, and you must develop it so you can learn what you need to know on your journey to becoming a craftsman. Eric and Tyson share their insight on: How our culture puts pressure on people so everyone feels like they should be an expert right away. Why people with experience ca...
Mar 26, 2021•48 min
Eric is in Miami today to chat with pond digger Erick Santana. They’re talking about Erick Santana’s new show, Pond Wars! Erick was needing new ways to make content and bring creativity into his work. So he created the show to show off all the wars that pond builders fight and the beauty that they make. Eric and Erick share their insight on: How Pond Wars will be bringing the reality back to reality TV. Erick’s Vlogs and all the awesome creativity happening there. Plus how they helped inspire th...
Mar 20, 2021•33 min
Get ready for the next installment of The Craftsman Series! Eric is joined by Tyson again to talk about tools -specifically, how craftsmen handle their tools and how the way someone uses their tools tells a lot about them. Eric and Tyson share their insight on: Why you should never pretend to know how to use a tool if you can’t. It’s always better to let someone teach you than to risk injuring yourself or others. How there’s an art to using even simple tools, like shovels. Tips and tricks for us...
Mar 12, 2021•49 min
It’s just about springtime which means it’s the perfect time to take stock and clean things up. Eric today has Leslie on the podcast with him to cover four principles for pond care that are important to do each year for some Spring cleaning. Think of it like giving your pond a much-needed annual physical! Eric and Leslie share their insight on: Evaluating your livestock: How the needs of your fish change over time and why older (bigger) fish impact your pond differently than younger (smaller fis...
Mar 05, 2021•39 min
Today we’re kicking off something new: The Craftsman Series, which celebrates the craft within the pond industry. We’re starting out with the very basics: discussing what being a craftsman means! Eric’s guest is his good friend Tyson Matthias, a versatile craftsman and talented woodworker in his own right. Eric and Tyson share their insight on: The necessity of tools to craftsmen and the importance of having the right tool for the job. The art and integrity that comes along with craftsmanship -s...
Feb 27, 2021•40 min
We’ve all come up against a challenge when working on a Koi pond that we didn’t immediately have the time and resources to fix in the most proper, by-the-book way. Sometimes, this can lead to awesome, inventive solutions, but other times, it’s really not an appropriate way to go. Today, Eric is going over three specific examples of redneck fixes he’s seen. Hopefully, it will put a smile on your face! Eric shares stories about: One hilarious temporary fix a couple created when they needed a tempo...
Feb 12, 2021•13 min
Whether you’re looking to be a better pond-builder or you’re looking for someone to build a pond for yourself and want to interview prospective builders, we’ve compiled the three skills that make someone a great pond builder! Eric shares his insight on: How a background in and passion for aquariums will teach you all the things you need to remember to create a well-balanced pond environment for fish to thrive. Various ways pond-builders can utilize a deep understanding of aquatic plants, both in...
Feb 05, 2021•19 min
We’ve all heard of that famous demonstration where large rocks are placed in a jar and it looks full. Until smaller rocks are added, and then it looks full again, and so on. This jar demonstration is of course a metaphor for life. When you pay attention first to things like goal setting and personal development, the daily chores will be able to fit in around them. Eric shares his insight on: How to identify the bigger and more important aspects of life, over the smaller tasks that don’t mean as ...
Jan 29, 2021•17 min
No one has ever done anything great without at least some help from someone else. The Pond Digger is no exception. Eric’s guest today is the legend, John Niemans, one of Eric’s mentors from back when he got into the pond business. John is a tropical fish breeder, now retired from shipping and distribution. With over 25 years of fish breeding experience, John is here to discuss the five coolest African Cichlids that he has seen in his day! Eric and John share their insights on: John’s conquest of...
Dec 11, 2020•50 min
Everyone has someone who has opened a door or paved the path for them in their career. Eric has had the luxury of being on both sides of that coin. Eric’s guest today is Landon Malave of LCM Landscapes, as well as Tyson. Throughout their careers, mentors in the landscape and construction industries have helped shape who Eric, Tyson, and Landon are today. They understand first-hand the importance of mentorship and what it means to craftsmen specifically! Eric, Tyson, and Landon discuss: How Lando...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 30 min
There’s a lot of murkiness when it comes to the topic of UV Clarifiers on ponds, mostly because of marketing mishaps. Eric is in the house to expose 3 of those UV Clarifier myths. Pay attention so you know when someone is blowing smoke and also so you don’t purchase the wrong product! Eric shares his insight on: Differentiating between a UV Sterilizer and a UV Clarifier Why some marketing campaigns have misinformed people Things can still go wrong if you have the right UV settings Why biofilters...
Nov 20, 2020•17 min
People fail at their New Years’ resolutions because they set completely unrealistic goals. You don’t need to set huge goals to make a big difference in your life. Well, the rule applies to your pond. Eric and Leslie are in the house today to talk about those simple things you can do in preparation for the pond or to the pond that will make a massive difference. Tiny changes can equal remarkable results! Eric shares his insight on: The reason that most people fail on their New Years’ resolutions ...
Oct 09, 2020•27 min
Pond digging is not just the glitz and glamour that you see in the finished product. A lot goes on behind the scenes to make everything happen. Eric’s guest today is Mikey Centlivre, an employee that helped Eric rebuild his team from scratch back in 2017. The importance of having the right team cannot be understated when you are trying to build a business. Take a look inside the machine that is the Pond Digger construction team and how this baby keeps running smoothly! Eric shares his insight on...
Oct 02, 2020•33 min
Expectation is the mother of frustration. Just think about that for a second. You expect something to be there or to happen and when things don’t turn out how you expected, you become frustrated. Eric’s guest today is his amazing wife Leslie. Leslie and Eric are discussing how incorrect expectations can quite often lead to frustration. This holds especially true when it comes to ponds! Eric shares his insight on: Eric has passed on blog-writing duties to Leslie as his business has grown The frus...
Sep 29, 2020•25 min
People are so drawn to Bonsai, but that draw is different for every single person. Eric’s guest today is Jeremiah Lee, a Bonsai enthusiast that spotted Eric at a Bonsai nursery by his house. Today, Eric and Jeremiah are comparing the art of Bonsai to keeping Koi fish. After some experimentation with Bonsai 20 years ago, Eric put it to the side to focus on Koi, but he still loves them! Eric shares his insight on: Sharing his interests allows Eric to meet interesting people Jeremiah breaks down Bo...
Sep 04, 2020•1 hr 30 min
At the end of an already very hard day, the farm was struck with even more tragedy when all hell broke loose. Eric was just trimming a Bonzi tree when he smelled it, fire coming from the west side of the property. With his wife, son, and 2 employees still on the property, Eric knew there was no time to waste. In a moment of complete chaos, Eric, his family, his employees, and complete strangers joined forces to battle the fire and save the farm! Eric shares his insight on: Deciding what the righ...
Aug 28, 2020•2 hr 4 min
COVID has affected all aspects of life, home landscaping definitely included. Eric’s guest today is Sara Bendrick, a landscape designer/contractor, TV host, and author of the book, Big Impact Landscaping , a book dedicated to helping DIYers construct the landscaping that they desire. Her goal in landscaping is to help people decide climate-friendly and native aspects for their home landscapes. People are starting to realize the value of their homes during this staycation and habits are being cha...
Aug 22, 2020•1 hr 19 min
They say knowledge is power, but don’t let that knowledge poison the water. Eric has seen his fair share during his long career in the pond industry, and he’s here today to share some stories about when knowledge was not used for the greater good. Many people are caught in this tug of war between a thirst for knowledge and how to use that knowledge correctly. Take a listen to see if you might be in this war without even knowing it! Eric shares his insight on: Passion can become an obsession, whe...
Aug 14, 2020•20 min
A pond is more than just something to make your yard look pretty or act as a symbol of wealth. Ponds actually affect people’s lives at a much deeper level. Today, Eric is in the house with his wife, Leslie, to talk about the role that ponds play in mental health. The world is going through an outrageous and crazy time right now, and with so much time alone or out of work, the mental health of those affected has taken on some added pressure. Ponds and the wildlife around them can actually help ea...
Aug 01, 2020•37 min
Plenty of people want a pond on their property, but those special few have an innate desire to learn how to do it themselves. Part of being a member of the DIY community is going through the growing pains of learning a new trade. It’s not your expertise, so failure is unavoidable. Eric’s special guest today, Ron Yelenich, knows all about DIY disasters when it comes to building ponds, being a member of the DIY community himself, and he started before YouTube! Don’t let disaster and failure deter ...
Feb 16, 2020•1 hr 5 min
If you find yourself in a position where you are constantly trying to achieve deadlines, you know that life can get a little hectic. Sometimes you just can’t seem to get yourself moving, looking for any reason to put off your deadline until the last minute. Today, Eric wants to discuss an old adage, swallow the toad. A phrase that historically relates to procrastination, Eric finds a way to relate it to pond building. Procrastination is something that comes in our DNA, so “swallow the toad” in t...
Feb 07, 2020•16 min
There are many different paths that can lead someone to the world of pond building. Not everyone comes from the construction business or even become professional pond builders, and that’s definitely the case on today’s episode. Eric’s guest today, Matt Sexton, got into tropical fish as a young man but eventually found his way into the DIY pond-building community. Some of the most creative pond designs and innovations come for the DIY community. Matt is a prime example of someone who needed to sc...
Jan 29, 2020•47 min
Getting a pond goes beyond changing the physical appearance of your home. Once you dive into the pond world, your entire lifestyle will be affected. Eric’s guest today, Rushka Knauss, has seen an incredible amount of transformation throughout her own life stemming from the ponds that she has had. Today, Eric and Rushka are going to take you through Rushka’s incredible pond journey. When you decide to get your first pond, know that you are entering a new lifestyle that will follow you for the res...
Jan 24, 2020•32 min
There are a lot of things that happen between someone’s first desire to get a pond and the completion of the project, but most people don’t really know how much goes into the process. A contractor can only tell you so much, but to see it through the homeowner’s eyes is an incredibly enlightening picture. Eric’s guests today, Diane and Allen Anderson, are going to show you a very interesting perspective of their journey to hiring a pond contractor as homeowners. Stay tuned so you know what possib...
Dec 20, 2019•45 min
Oddly enough, one of the most important aspects of having a great pond is the air. Ironic, right? Airlift technology plays a vital role in maintaining aquatic life in your home pond. Today, Eric is talking airlift technology with one of his great friends and mentors, Kent Wallace. Kent has spent years working with airlift technology in ponds, creating and innovating in the industry. He is going to tell you all about how airlift works and how to use it correctly to maximize your pond efficiency. ...
Dec 13, 2019•27 min
There are few things more beautiful than looking out your window and seeing a beautiful pond, but not everyone can afford a contractor. Others don’t want one. For whatever reason, many people would rather do it themselves when it comes to many projects that would usually call for a contractor. Eric’s guest today, Tyson Matyas, is one of those people that likes to do it himself. Eric and Tyson are going to take you inside the mind of the person that wants to do the project themselves. Eric shares...
Dec 06, 2019•29 min
Bad news travels around the world faster than good news. It catches like wildfire with a powerful wind. In the same way, negative reviews seem to spread easier than positive reviews when it comes to business. With some review mediums, the threats of bad reviews are even used as extortion. Today, Eric is talking about positivity, extortion, and business reviews. Taking positive action is the only way to balance out the negativity that runs rampant in this world. Don’t be that wind. Take positive ...
Nov 22, 2019•30 min
