Matt Risinger‘s builder-led education program, built from the jobsite and expanded through The Build Show Network, is recognized among the industry’s most influential podcasts for making building science, craftsmanship and high-performance construction usable for professionals who have to build it correctly.
TAMPA, Fla. – August 29, 2026 – HG HomeClub, a national media platform dedicated to curating the most valuable stories, rankings and resources for the home improvement, home services and outdoor living industries, today announced that The Build Show Podcast, the building science, construction quality and professional craftsmanship podcast hosted by Matt Risinger, has been named the No. 24 most influential podcast serving home improvement, home services and outdoor living professionals. The recognition places The Build Show Podcast alongside contractor-business programs and specialist trade media, and identifies it as one of the ranking’s most important resources for builders, remodelers, architects and specialty trades seeking practical guidance on high-performance homes and better construction practice.
A curated media platform built on “informed transparency” chooses the podcasts that actually move the trades forward
HG HomeClub was created to address a gap its founders identified in home improvement media: too much noise, not enough signal. According to the organization’s own description of its mission, HG HomeClub was “created from identifying a need in the home improvement media space to champion media back to its original purpose of ‘informed transparency.’” The platform pursues that mission by curating the top stories, headlines and “can’t miss” information across the home improvement, home services and outdoor living industries, spanning articles, videos, podcasts, webinars, events and product recommendations from working professionals, in one easily consumable destination for homeowners and contractors alike.
In residential construction, signal is often the practical explanation behind a detail that may otherwise remain invisible. A wall can look finished while managing moisture poorly. A home can be comfortable today but waste energy, hold humidity or create long-term durability risks if air sealing, insulation, ventilation, flashing and material sequencing are not understood. HG HomeClub created this ranking to recognize programs that help professionals see the cause-and-effect relationships behind quality construction and apply that understanding on real projects.
The criteria behind the list: practical value over download counts, and why building science earned No. 24
That mission extends to original editorial rankings, including HG HomeClub’s list of the 25 most influential podcasts serving contractors and home-service business owners. Rather than ranking shows purely by download counts, figures that are inconsistently reported and rarely independently verified across the podcast industry, HG HomeClub’s editorial team evaluated each show on practical value to contractors, industry influence and recognition, the credibility of hosts and guests, depth and originality, consistency and longevity, and reach across audio, video, social media and industry events.
Applied to The Build Show Podcast, those criteria reward a distinct contribution to the construction conversation. Matt Risinger focuses on building science, craftsmanship, durability, indoor air quality, energy efficiency and high-performance construction, translating technical principles into the decisions builders, remodelers and specialty trades make at the jobsite. The program’s No. 24 placement reflects the depth of that practical education, the authority of a builder-led platform and the wider reach of Sources: The Build Show Network.
The placement also recognizes the show’s scope. The Build Show Podcast is not a general contractor business program centered on acquisitions, pricing strategy or sales-team management. Its center of gravity is the work itself: how homes are designed, detailed, built and improved. HG HomeClub’s editorial assessment treats that specialization as a defining strength for professionals who want better construction outcomes and a clearer understanding of why certain practices matter.
Why building science matters when the most important parts of a house are hidden after the job is done
A finished project can be persuasive. Fresh paint, finished flooring and a well-designed kitchen are visible evidence of work. But much of what determines a home’s durability, comfort, energy performance and indoor air quality is concealed when the project is complete. Flashing sits behind cladding. Air sealing is covered by drywall. Insulation is hidden inside assemblies. Ventilation systems work best when their effect is felt rather than seen.
The Build Show Podcast is designed to make these hidden systems understandable. Matt Risinger addresses moisture management, insulation, air sealing, ventilation, building-envelope performance, framing, roofing, windows, foundations, finishes and installation methods in a format that connects technical principles to real construction decisions. The show does not present building science as an academic exercise. It shows why these details affect the homes contractors build and the clients who live in them.
This is particularly valuable for builders and remodelers who must coordinate a wide range of specialties. A wall assembly may involve structural decisions, insulation, air control, water management, windows, cladding and mechanical design. A failure in one part can affect the whole system. The Build Show Podcast gives professionals a common language for understanding those relationships and a practical resource for improving work before a problem becomes expensive to repair.
A weekly podcast inside a larger education network: how a builder’s jobsite lessons became a multi-platform resource
The Build Show Podcast launched in 2021 and publishes weekly. Its Apple Podcasts listing lists 234 episodes and a 4.8-out-of-5 rating from 389 ratings. The podcast is part of The Build Show Network, a multi-platform education business serving builders, remodelers, architects and specialty trades through podcasting, videos, interviews and structured learning series.
The program is available through The Build Show Network, Apple Podcasts and the Build Show YouTube channel. The show’s format extends beyond a conventional audio discussion. Video allows viewers to see assemblies, tools, materials, jobsite practices and construction details in context. Structured learning series, including Building Science 101, Build HD and Talking Trades, extend the platform’s mission of making complex construction topics more accessible and useful.
That combination of audio, video and educational programming is central to the platform’s value. Contractors can listen to a conversation about high-performance construction, then watch a project-based explanation of a detail they are preparing to build. Architects can use the content to consider constructability. Specialty trades can see how their work interacts with the building envelope and the wider project. The Build Show Podcast earns influence because it translates technical knowledge into multiple formats suited to the way construction professionals actually learn.
A podcast audience with strong engagement, supported by a construction-media platform of far greater scale
The Build Show Podcast‘s Apple Podcasts listing lists 234 episodes and a 4.8-out-of-5 rating from 389 ratings. These numbers provide a direct public indicator of the podcast’s ongoing engagement. The show’s broader influence, however, extends through The Build Show Network and its multi-platform education ecosystem.
The Build Show YouTube channel lists approximately 1.23 million subscribers, 2,206 videos and more than 307 million views. Those are channel-level figures and should not be treated as direct podcast-listener totals. The Build Show Network reported in its 2026 Build Show LIVE materials more than 2 million monthly subscribers, 1.6 million monthly video views, 600,000 monthly unique visitors or listeners, 1.7 million monthly video-view hours and 216,000 monthly social followers across its wider media ecosystem. These are parent-network figures, not a stand-alone measure of the podcast audience.
HG HomeClub did not rank The Build Show Podcast by raw subscribers, video views or downloads alone. The No. 24 placement reflects the combined value of deep building-science education, host and guest credibility, consistent publishing and broad accessibility across audio, video, social media and live education. The reach of the wider network matters because it gives the podcast’s ideas an extended life across the construction community.
Matt Risinger brings a builder’s perspective to questions that affect both craftsmanship and building performance
Matt Risinger is the founder of The Build Show Network and a founding partner of Risinger Build. That builder-led background shapes the program’s perspective. Matt Risinger examines construction quality from the standpoint of professionals who must make details work under real project conditions, including schedule pressure, coordination challenges, material choices and the responsibility to deliver a durable home.
The host’s work connects craftsmanship to performance. Framing quality affects whether other systems can be installed as designed. Window details affect water management and air sealing. Insulation and ventilation influence comfort, durability and indoor air quality. Product choices matter, but the way products are sequenced and installed matters just as much. The Build Show Podcast gives construction professionals a way to understand those relationships without separating “craft” from the science that supports it.
The Build Show Network also provides important context for listeners. The platform is a commercial media and education organization with relationships across construction products, tools, technology and industry partners. Its content reflects a builder-led editorial perspective and a broad professional network. HG HomeClub’s assessment recognizes that context while crediting the show for helping elevate practical building-science knowledge in an accessible form for the trades.
Guests from architecture, engineering and building carry the conversation from theory into project decisions
The Build Show Podcast features builders, architects, engineers, manufacturers and building-science specialists. Guests and collaborators include Steve Baczek, an architect and building-science educator; Kristof Irwin, P.E., director of building science and co-founder of Positive Energy; and Jim Wolffer, a builder with Shoreline Builders. Per client instruction, organization names without verified direct URLs appear without hyperlinks, while each guest is linked to the supplied LinkedIn profile.
The guest mix reflects the interdisciplinary nature of high-performance construction. Steve Baczek brings an architect’s perspective on design and building enclosure. Kristof Irwin, P.E. brings engineering and building-science insight into how assemblies perform. Jim Wolffer brings a builder’s view of turning those principles into constructed work. The variety gives listeners a chance to understand where disciplines reinforce one another and where coordination failures can create risk.
This kind of conversation is central to the show’s usefulness. Building science works best when architects, builders, trades and product specialists understand the role each part plays in the whole assembly. The Build Show Podcast helps create that shared understanding, allowing professionals to learn from experts outside their own role without losing sight of the practical decisions that must be made on a real jobsite.
Building Science 101, Build HD and Talking Trades give a complex subject an organized way into the field
The Build Show Network has developed original education series including Building Science 101, Build HD and Talking Trades. These programs extend the purpose of The Build Show Podcast by organizing complex material into forms that construction professionals can revisit. A contractor learning about air sealing may need foundational principles. A builder evaluating a high-performance assembly may need detailed project examples. A trade professional may need a better understanding of how their scope interacts with the rest of the building.
The structured-series model is valuable because construction knowledge is cumulative. An owner does not become fluent in moisture management through a single conversation. A remodeler does not transform a project-management process by watching one video about air sealing. But recurring education can help professionals develop a stronger mental model of building performance, then apply it project by project. The Build Show Podcast functions as a gateway into this larger learning environment.
The platform’s approach also recognizes that technical knowledge must remain connected to craft. A construction detail may be theoretically sound but difficult to execute without clear sequencing, jobsite communication and trade coordination. By pairing interviews and discussion with visual, project-based education, The Build Show Network helps make the knowledge more usable for people who need to build the details – not merely understand them in principle.
High-performance homes make quality, comfort and resilience part of the same construction conversation
High-performance construction can sound like a premium category reserved for specialized projects. The Build Show Podcast presents the underlying principles more broadly: moisture management, air sealing, insulation, ventilation, durable assemblies, indoor air quality and resilient construction affect the quality of homes across price points and project types. A builder or remodeler does not need to pursue every high-performance certification to benefit from understanding how a building enclosure works.
Matt Risinger uses the program to connect these principles to practical outcomes. Better air sealing can affect comfort and energy use. More thoughtful insulation can support consistent temperatures. Appropriate ventilation can improve indoor air quality. Proper flashing and water management can reduce the risk of costly moisture damage. Stronger construction details can protect a company’s reputation by reducing callbacks and helping clients experience the value of the work after the project is complete.
This is why building science belongs in the contractor-media conversation. It changes how professionals define quality. Quality is not only a clean finish or a completed schedule; it is also the performance of the assemblies behind the finish, the durability of the home over time and the confidence a builder can have that the work will hold up under real conditions. The Build Show Podcast helps make that definition more practical.
Construction technology and AI matter when they help teams see, communicate and build better
Digital tools, project documentation, estimating systems, digital twins and artificial intelligence are increasingly present in construction. The Build Show Podcast addresses these topics alongside building science and craftsmanship, recognizing that technology has the most value when it helps professionals improve the work itself. A tool can make a detail easier to document, help a team coordinate information or make a project decision more visible. It cannot replace trade skill, clear responsibility or the judgment required to build a durable assembly.
Matt Risinger places construction technology in the context of workflow and communication. Estimating, documentation, project management and AI-enabled tools can help a company reduce uncertainty, but only if teams understand their processes and use the tools to reinforce – not bypass – quality standards. The same principle applies to building-performance information. Data is useful when it helps builders make better choices, explain those choices to clients and verify that a home performs as intended.
This is a valuable perspective for a trade facing rapid technological change. Construction professionals do not need technology for its own sake. They need tools that improve coordination, reduce rework, preserve knowledge and help teams deliver on the promise of better-built homes. The Build Show Podcast contributes to that conversation by keeping craft, science and practical judgment at the center.
Build Show LIVE turns a digital education platform into a professional gathering around better building
The Build Show Network has expanded its education platform through Build Show LIVE, a professional event centered on building science, craftsmanship and project-specific construction techniques. The event gives builders, remodelers, architects, specialty trades, product experts and educators a place to move the conversation beyond a video or podcast episode and into shared learning.
Build Show LIVE reflects one of the platform’s central strengths: the ability to connect professionals around the details that make construction better. A builder may encounter a new idea online, then explore it further through a live demonstration, peer conversation or detailed training. A trade professional may see how a product or installation approach fits into a larger assembly. A designer or architect may hear directly from builders about the practical consequences of a specification. The event extends the show’s educational function into a community setting.
The live event should not be treated as a measure of the podcast’s audience or as proof of editorial value on its own. It is part of the wider ecosystem surrounding The Build Show Podcast. HG HomeClub considered the program’s own content depth, reach and practical usefulness in assigning the No. 24 placement, while the event demonstrates how the platform’s ideas can become part of a wider professional learning culture.
Professional recognition shows the long runway behind the builder-led platform
Matt Risinger has received professional recognition beyond the current podcast. His LinkedIn profile lists JDR Annual Blogger Awards for Best Blog in the Green Building category in 2014 and 2015. He has also contributed to publications including Fine Homebuilding and Pro Builder, while Risinger Build projects have appeared in architectural and design publications. Per client instruction, publication and company names without verified direct URLs appear without hyperlinks.
These recognitions provide context for the authority behind The Build Show Podcast. The platform did not emerge only as a podcast in 2021; it grew from years of builder-led writing, video, project work and construction education. That history helps explain why The Build Show Network can convene experts across architecture, engineering, materials, tools, building science and construction practice.
The No. 24 ranking is not an award for the host or the wider platform. It is an editorial recognition based on the criteria applied by HG HomeClub. But the host’s professional history and the network’s established place in construction media reinforce the central conclusion: The Build Show Podcast has made practical building-science education more accessible to a wide professional audience.
Why the methodology rewards a show that turns technical construction knowledge into practical field decisions
HG HomeClub’s No. 24 placement reflects the way The Build Show Podcast performs across the ranking’s editorial criteria. Its practical value lies in translating building science, craftsmanship, product knowledge, high-performance construction and project-specific techniques into information that builders and trades can apply. Its credibility is supported by Matt Risinger, The Build Show Network and a guest roster spanning architecture, engineering and construction. Its consistency is supported by weekly publication since 2021 and a 234-episode Apple Podcasts archive.
The show ranks below the 23 programs above it because those programs hold different advantages under the same criteria, including broader focus on company operations, deeper leadership or sales specialization, longer podcast histories in their sectors or direct relevance across multiple service trades. The Build Show Podcast earns a place near the end of the ranking not because building science is less important, but because the list includes a wide range of media formats and business audiences. Its contribution is unique: it gives construction professionals a practical way to improve the invisible details that affect how homes perform long after the project is finished.
Its specialization is both its strength and its boundary. Contractors seeking a broad management program, a sales framework or a technical curriculum for another trade will need complementary resources. But for builders, remodelers, architects and specialty trades who want a deeper understanding of durability, moisture, air, heat, comfort and quality construction, The Build Show Podcast is a valuable and far-reaching resource.
What the recognition says about an industry that has to build for performance, not just appearance
Construction quality is increasingly visible to clients, even when the details themselves remain hidden. Homeowners notice comfort, humidity, drafts, noise, energy use, maintenance needs and whether a home feels durable over time. Builders and remodelers are also being asked to work with more sophisticated products, higher customer expectations, more complex assemblies and greater awareness of health and performance.
The Build Show Podcast matters because Matt Risinger makes the connection between better information and better construction practical. The program gives professionals a place to examine building science, craftsmanship, high-performance homes, technology and project practice without separating those ideas from the conditions of a real jobsite. The No. 24 recognition reflects the value of a platform that helps the trade build with more confidence and more understanding.
The larger lesson for home improvement, home services and outdoor living is that craftsmanship and science are not opposing ideas. The strongest work combines skill, care, evidence, coordination and a willingness to understand why details matter. The programs with lasting influence will be those that help professionals carry that understanding from the screen or the podcast into the buildings, projects and customer relationships they create.
The complete ranking: HG HomeClub’s 25 most influential podcasts serving home improvement, home services and outdoor living
The full list of shows recognized by HG HomeClub, in ranked order:
- The Home Service Expert – hosted by Tommy Mello
- Owned and Operated – hosted by John Wilson and Jack Carr
- PowerChat – hosted by Greg Cummings
- Contractor Evolution – hosted by Danny Kerr
- Toolbox for the Trades – hosted by Jackie Aubel and Amanda Salvatore
- To The Point: Home Services Podcast – hosted by Chris Yano and Chad Peterman
- Waste No Day – hosted by Brian Burton and Nate Minnich
- Service Business Mastery – hosted by Tersh Blissett and Josh Crouch
- The Wealthy Contractor – hosted by Brian Kaskavalciyan
- HVAC School – hosted by Bryan Orr
- Roofing Success – hosted by Jim Ahlin
- The Strong Roofer – hosted by Adam Bensman
- Remodelers on the Rise – hosted by Kyle Hunt
- Can’t Stop the Growth – hosted by Chad Peterman
- PowerTips Unscripted – hosted by Victoria Downing and Mark Harari
- Contractor Growth Network – hosted by Logan Shinholser
- Hammer & Grind – hosted by Brad Huebner
- Roofing Road Trips – hosted by Heidi J. Ellsworth
- The Green Industry Podcast – hosted by Paul Jamison
- Contractor Fight TV – hosted by Tom Reber
- Pest Control Legends – hosted by Dan Leibrandt
- Profits for Sanity Podcast – hosted by Dominic Caminata
- The Construction Leading Edge – hosted by Todd Dawalt
- The Build Show Podcast – hosted by Matt Risinger
- Modern Craftsman – hosted by Tyler Grace, Nick Schiffer and Johnny Hourihan
About HG HomeClub
HG HomeClub is a national media platform serving the home improvement, home services and outdoor living industries. Created to champion media back to its original purpose of informed transparency, HG HomeClub curates the top stories, headlines, rankings, videos, podcasts, webinars, events and professional recommendations across the industry and presents them in one consolidated, easily consumable destination – helping both homeowners and professionals make better-informed decisions. More information is available at Sources: hghomeclub.com.
About The Build Show Podcast
The Build Show Podcast is a weekly residential-construction program hosted by Matt Risinger, founder of The Build Show Network and a founding partner of Risinger Build. Launched in 2021, the podcast serves builders, remodelers, architects and specialty trades with practical information on building science, craftsmanship, high-performance homes, product and tool analysis, construction technology and project workflows. The program is part of The Build Show Network, which includes original education series such as Building Science 101, Build HD and Talking Trades. The Build Show Podcast is available through Apple Podcasts and YouTube. More information is available at.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is HG HomeClub?
HG HomeClub is a national media platform focused on the home improvement, home services and outdoor living industries. It was built to curate the most valuable stories, rankings, videos, podcasts and events across those industries in one place, with a stated mission of restoring “informed transparency” to home improvement media, helping both homeowners and professionals make better decisions. More detail on its mission is available on the Sources: HG HomeClub About page.
2. Why did The Build Show Podcast rank No. 24 rather than higher or lower on the list?
The Build Show Podcast earned No. 24 because HG HomeClub’s editorial assessment recognized its important but specialized role in building science, craftsmanship and high-performance construction education. Matt Risinger provides practical jobsite-focused insight for builders, remodelers, architects and specialty trades, supported by a 234-episode Apple Podcasts archive, strong listener ratings and wide multi-platform distribution through The Build Show Network. Shows ranked higher hold other advantages in contractor-business operations, multi-trade breadth, executive access or longer category-specific runs. The No. 24 placement reflects strong technical-education value within a broad editorial list.
3. Who hosts The Build Show Podcast, and what is his background?
The Build Show Podcast is hosted by Matt Risinger, founder of The Build Show Network and a founding partner of Risinger Build. Matt Risinger brings a builder-led perspective to building science, craftsmanship, durable assemblies, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and high-performance home construction. His work connects design and technical principles with the jobsite realities of framing, windows, roofing, insulation, ventilation, moisture management and trade coordination. That experience gives the program practical relevance for professionals who need to apply building-performance knowledge on real construction and remodeling projects.
4. What kind of content does The Build Show Podcast produce?
The Build Show Podcast produces weekly conversations, videos, and educational content on building science, craftsmanship, and construction practice. Matt Risinger covers moisture management, air sealing, insulation, ventilation, building-envelope performance, framing, roofing, windows, foundations, finishes, high-performance homes, energy efficiency, durability, indoor air quality, product and tool analysis, digital twins, estimating, documentation, project management and artificial intelligence. Guests include Steve Baczek, Kristof Irwin, P.E. and Jim Wolffer. The wider Build Show Network also offers structured series including Building Science 101, Build HD and Talking Trades.
5. How large is The Build Show Podcast’s audience?
The Build Show Podcast‘s Apple Podcasts listing lists 234 episodes and a 4.8-out-of-5 rating from 389 ratings. The Build Show YouTube channel lists approximately 1.23 million subscribers, 2,206 videos and more than 307 million views, but these are channel-wide, not podcast-only, figures. The Build Show Network reported more than 2 million monthly subscribers, 1.6 million monthly video views and 600,000 monthly unique visitors or listeners across its wider digital ecosystem in 2026. HG HomeClub did not rank the show by audience size alone.
6. What makes The Build Show Podcast different from other contractor podcasts?
The Build Show Podcast is distinctive for making building science and high-performance construction practical for the jobsite. Matt Risinger connects hidden building systems – moisture management, air sealing, insulation, ventilation and enclosure design – to visible outcomes such as comfort, durability, energy performance, indoor air quality and client satisfaction. Unlike general contractor-business programs, the show focuses primarily on how homes are built and why details matter. Its audio, visual and structured-learning formats let builders, remodelers, architects and specialty trades see how technical principles translate into real construction decisions.
7. Has The Build Show Podcast received other industry recognition?
No major external award specifically for The Build Show Podcast was verified for this release. Its industry standing is reflected in its 234-episode Apple Podcasts archive, 4.8-out-of-5 rating from 389 ratings and the broad reach of The Build Show Network. Matt Risinger lists JDR Annual Blogger Awards for Best Blog in Green Building in 2014 and 2015 on his LinkedIn profile. That recognition belongs to the host’s earlier blog work, not directly to the podcast. The No. 24 ranking from HG HomeClub is an editorial recognition of the podcast’s practical building-science contribution.
8. What role does The Build Show Network play in the podcast’s credibility?
The Build Show Network is the multi-platform education organization founded by Matt Risinger that produces The Build Show Podcast. It extends the program through video, structured education series, interviews and Build Show LIVE, providing the show with a wide professional network across builders, remodelers, architects, specialty trades, product experts and building-science specialists. It also provides important context: The Build Show Network is a commercial media and education business with industry relationships that shape its ecosystem. HG HomeClub considered both the practical education value and that context in its editorial assessment.
9. Where can people listen to or watch The Build Show Podcast?
The Build Show Podcast is available through The Build Show Network, its Apple Podcasts page, and the Build Show YouTube channel. Apple Podcasts provides the program’s audio listing, while YouTube provides a substantial video library of jobsite education, project details, interviews and related series. The Build Show Network provides the central destination for the podcast and additional resources such as Building Science 101, Build HD, Talking Trades and Build Show LIVE. No verified official Spotify destination was supplied in the publishing template.
