Taylor Talks Trades

In this episode Jamie sits down with Shaun Dunn from SD Plumbing and Heating to talk about the real journey of starting and growing a trade business.

Shaun opens up about the early days of starting his company and the sacrifices that came with it including how pursuing his business dream strained the relationship with his dad. Like many business owners in the trades the road was not smooth.

There were tough moments hard lessons and times where the pressure of running a business felt overwhelming. But Shaun did not quit. He talks about the key turning points that helped him push through the difficult stages and the mindset shifts that helped him grow and how he eventually built SD Plumbing and Heating into a 7 figure business which is still growing.

This episode dives into the reality of entrepreneurship in the trades. The struggles, the risks, the personal sacrifices and the moments that shape you into the business owner you become. If you are running a trade business thinking about starting one or currently in the tough early stages this conversation will resonate with you.
 In this episode we discuss
• Starting a business and the personal sacrifices that come with it
• The challenges of the early years in business
• Lessons learned from mistakes and setbacks
• The key moments that helped Shaun grow his company
• What it really takes to build a 7 figure trades business

If you enjoy the episode make sure to like comment and subscribe for more conversations with trade business owners sharing their real stories.
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Apple Podcasts:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylortalkstrades
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-talks-trades
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylortalkstrades
Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/3ZMHf5L
Apple Podcasts 👉 https://apple.co/3Lri8RM

This is Part 2 of Cristian Montaño’s powerful story.

In this episode, Livingston FC winger Cristian Montaño opens up about one of the most difficult periods of his life facing multiple court cases, the emotional toll it took, and what it felt like to have his career and reputation hanging in the balance.

Cristian speaks honestly about the uncertainty, the pressure, and the fear during that time  and the relief of being proven not guilty in both cases.

But even after clearing his name, the journey wasn’t over. He shares why he made the decision to return to Colombia to reconnect with himself and rediscover his love for football, playing for América de Cali and rebuilding both his confidence and identity.

From there, Cristian talks about moving back to the UK with a new mindset learning to open up about mental health, speak about his experiences, and use his story to help others who may be struggling in silence. Now back playing for Livingston FC,

he reflects on: 
• How adversity reshaped his mindset
• The importance of resilience and self-belief
• What football means to him today
• And how he defines success now

This episode is about redemption, growth, mental strength, and becoming stronger through the toughest chapters of life.
Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylortalkstrades
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-talks-trades
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylortalkstrades
Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/3ZMHf5L
Apple Podcasts 👉 https://apple.co/3Lri8RM

In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Livingston FC player Cristian Montaño shares the early chapters of a life that took him from the streets of Colombia to professional football in the UK.

Cristian opens up about growing up surrounded by gang and drug culture, what it was like being exposed to danger at such a young age, and how moving to the UK at 11 years old changed everything. He talks about falling in love with football, being spotted for his talent, and earning a move to West Ham where the dream of becoming a professional became reality.

 But the journey was far from straightforward. Cristian reflects on the pressure that came with success, how quickly things can change in football, and what it felt like to see everything he had worked for begin to slip away. This episode is about ambition, identity, resilience, and the lessons learned when life takes an unexpected turn.
Part 1 tells the story of the rise and fall
Part 2 Shows the rebuild

Like, comment, and subscribe to follow the full journey in the next episode.
Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylortalkstrades
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-talks-trades
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylortalkstrades
Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/3ZMHf5L
Apple Podcasts 👉 https://apple.co/3Lri8RM

In this episode, we sit down with Gavin Gray from LCL Landscaping and Gardening to talk honestly about the realities of growing a trades business.

Gavin opens up about the challenges he has faced trying to scale his business to three vans and multiple teams, and why it has never quite worked out the way he expected. From struggling to find the right people, to not having the management structure in place, Gavin shares the pressures that come with growth and the frustration of feeling stuck between staying small and trying to expand.

Jamie offers real world advice on how to grow a business sustainably, focusing on building the right foundations, believing in yourself, and making the jump when the time is right. The conversation explores what sustainable growth really looks like, why not every business needs to scale quickly, and how mindset plays a huge role in long term success.

This episode is for anyone in the trades who feels the pressure to grow, but wants to do it the right way. Like, comment, and subscribe for more real conversations from the world of trades and business.

Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylortalkstrades 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-talks-trades
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylortalkstrades
Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/3ZMHf5L 
Apple Podcasts 👉 https://apple.co/3Lri8RM

In this episode, we sit down with Chris McLaughlin to hear the real story behind his journey from working as a greenskeeper around the world to building his own landscaping business.

 Chris talks about how his early career took him across different countries and helped shape his work ethic, mindset, and love for the industry. He shares what it was really like starting out, learning on the job, and finding his path through hands on experience.
The conversation also dives into the realities of growing a business.
Chris opens up about the struggles that come with scaling, the pressure behind the scenes, and why being busy does not always mean being profitable.

He speaks honestly about how people often support you in the early days, but as you grow, that attention fades and you are left to push forward on your own.

This episode is about growth, resilience, and understanding what success really looks like when you are building something from the ground up. Whether you are in the trades, running a business, or thinking about starting your own journey, Chris’s story offers real insight into the highs and the hard truths.

Like comment and subscribe for more real conversations from the world of trades and business. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylortalkstrades
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-talks-trades
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylortalkstrades
Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/3ZMHf5L
Apple Podcasts 👉 https://apple.co/3Lri8RM