Hard Knock University Podcast

🎸 Embrace the Suck: Project Management Lessons from a Bluesman | Remix Episode 3 | Hard Knock U

Remix Alert! 🔥
This ain’t your typical project management podcast — we’re throwing down hard truths, blues riffs, and uncomfortable truths with a heavy dose of grit and humor.
In this remixed edition of Episode 3: Embracing Discomfort, host Mark Caples and guest Todd Roth (blues musician, luthier, and certified vibe curator) dive into why growth lives in the discomfort zone — in projects, in music, in life.
This upgraded version fuses the original content with that signature HKU seasoning: fresh edits, sharper laughs, and an exclusive live music performance from Todd Roth to close it out 🎶🔥
💡 What You'll Learn: Why project managers need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable How to manage a real-life nightmare client (aka “Hurricane Mike”) without losing your damn mind What musicians and PMs have in common (hint: it’s chaos) Lessons from Ben Horowitz's What You Do Is Who You Are Why cultural leadership thrives when sh*t hits the fan
🔥 BONUS: Live blues jam at the end of the episode. Because growth should come with a groove. 🎸
📘 Grab the book: https://leadershipknocks.com/book
🎙️ Listen to more: https://www.youtube.com/@HardKnockUniversityPodcast
👊 Join the movement: www.LeadershipKnocks.com #HardKnockLessons #ProjectManagement #LeadershipWithGrit #PodcastRemix

Remix: 7 Brutal Project Management Lessons + Construction Career Pivot | Hard Knock University Ep. 2

In this REMIXED episode of Hard Knock University, Mark Caples takes you through Chapter 1 of The Hard Knock School of Project Management with real-world lessons from a disastrous home renovation project. Discover 7 project management truths every PM, contractor, or team leader needs to hear. From scope creep and stakeholder chaos to language barriers and permit nightmares—this one’s a crash course in navigating the storm.
🎤 Then, Mark interviews Johnny Buonadonna, a former police officer who traded his badge for blueprints. Johnny shares how he broke into the construction game, what he learned the hard way, and why integrity matters more than any invoice. If you're thinking about starting a construction business with just a truck and a hundred bucks, don't miss this conversation.
📚 Book of the Week: Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt
🧠 Knockback Q&A: Respect, ghosting contractors, and micromanagement
🎧 Bonus: Mark’s unfiltered rants, whiskey wisdom, and gear geek-outs.
👉 Grab the book: https://leadershipknocks.com/book
📩 Join the newsletter: LeadershipKnocks.com
📺 Subscribe to the podcast: @HardKnockUniversity
Podcast Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & Remix Setup
03:00 Chapter 1 Breakdown: The Chaos Project
12:00 7 Brutal Project Management Lessons
20:00 Book of the Week: Trillion Dollar Coach
30:00 Interview: Johnny Buonadonna’s Career Pivot
40:00 Knockback Q&A (Listener Questions)
45:00 Closing Thoughts + What's Next

Fatherhood, Failure & Finding My Way | Bonus Episode from Hard Knock University 🎙️

🎙️ Bonus Episode – Hard Knock University Podcast
While prepping for my guest appearance on the Fatherhood Exclusive Podcast with Jay Burke, I hit record. I didn’t mean to go deep—but I did. I talk about my past, the pain I rarely share, what it means to be a father, and why I chose the path I’m on today.
This one’s personal. Real talk. No script. Just me, signing books and opening up about the lessons life beat into me.
🧠 If you’ve ever felt like your past disqualified you from doing something great, this one’s for you.
📺 Watch my episode on the Fatherhood Exclusive Podcast:🎧 Available wherever podcasts are streamed + on YouTube
📘 The Hard Knock School of Project Management – available now👉 Buy the book
📢 Season 2 of Hard Knock University is coming—featuring leadership lessons from movie villains and more real talk about work, life, and everything in between.
#HardKnockLessons #LeadershipKnocks #Fatherhood #OvercomingTrauma #FromTheField #ProjectManagement #BlueCollarWisdom #PodcastBonus

REMIXED: Project Management 101 Gets a Hilarious Chaos Upgrade!

🚨 BONUS EPISODE ALERT!
We’re throwing out the rulebook in this remixed, unfiltered, and hilarious version of Hard Knock University Season 1, Episode 1: "Project Management 101."
👷‍♂️ It’s still about stakeholders, scope, and the triple constraint, but this time it’s got cutaway comedy, stock market crashes, pirate captains, and real-life chaos—because that’s how we actually learn project management. 🎯 What’s inside this remix:
💥 Family Guy-style cutaways = comedy meets chaos
📉 Dow Jones tanks 2200 pts (and so did my patience)
🛥️ Florida fishing captain goes full pirate mode (Brock Horner, you wild!)
📘 First look at the Hard Knock School of Project Management paperback (dropping June 1—orange & teal cover!)
📚 Book of the Week: Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Poumpouras
🔮 Sneak peek at Season 2: Thanos, Mother’s Day, and more mayhem This episode is loud, funny, real, and packed with the same #HardKnockLessons you love—just remixed for maximum impact (and maximum laughs).
🎤 What was your worst project management disaster? Drop it in the comments and join the crew!
👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe so you don’t miss the next remix or our wild Season 2 premiere.
👉 Watch now and survive the chaos—with a smirk.
#HardKnockLessons #ProjectManagement #LeadershipKnocks #PodcastRemix #ChaosAndLaughs

Project Management Crash Course: Surviving Chaos w/ Seth Caples

Hard Knock University Podcast S1 Ep10 | "Project Management Crash Course: Surviving Chaos w/ Seth Caples"
🚀 The Explosive Season 1 Finale is Here! 🚀
Buckle up, Hard Knockers! Episode 10 is a no-holds-barred crash course in project management, chaos control, and leadership survival. Host Mark Caples teams up with his brother Seth Caples for a wild ride through the toughest lessons in leadership and life—served with humor, hard truths, and a dash of sibling rivalry.
🔥 What’s Inside This Episode? 🎙 MrBeast-Style Epilogue – Speechify takes on the voice of YouTube royalty to recap our biggest wins & hardest lessons from the Hard Knock School of Project Management.
📖 Book of the Week: The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz’s brutally honest leadership playbook for surviving project meltdowns and business chaos.
🔥 Seth Grills Mark – A no-BS breakdown of the 7 sacred Hard Knock Lessons, mixing real-world wisdom with brotherly roast vibes.
📢 #HardKnockLessons from YOU! – Our listeners drop golden nuggets of wisdom that prove resilience is the real flex.
🔧 Murphy’s Law Meets Dad Jokes – Mark’s week in a nutshell:
✔ Wrestling a Mercedes PCV valve
✔ Water pump nightmare on a 90-foot well
✔ A proud dad moment at his daughter's UIL orchestra trip 🎻
🎓 Season 1 Wraps… But Season 2 is Coming with a Villainous Twist! Stay tuned!
📚 Want the Full Playbook? Grab The Hard Knock School of Project Management at LeadershipKnocks.com
🎧 Listen Now for laughs, leadership, and lessons that hit harder than a mic drop!
👇 Drop a comment with your biggest Hard Knock Lesson! #HardKnockLessons #ProjectManagement #LeadershipKnocks #SeasonFinale

The Art of Adaptation | Chris Day | Hard Knock University Podcast S1 Ep9

In this episode of Hard Knock University, host Mark Caples sits down with Chris Day to dive deep into The Art of Adaptation—a must-have skill in project management, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Plans fall apart. Markets shift. Unexpected obstacles arise. The key to success? Resilience, flexibility, and the ability to pivot when things don’t go as planned.
Chris shares hard-earned insights on navigating chaos, overcoming resistance to change, and why diversification is essential for long-term success. Whether you're managing projects, running a business, or simply trying to level up in life, this conversation will challenge you to embrace uncertainty and turn setbacks into opportunities.
🔑 Key Takeaways:✅ Adaptation is crucial in business and project management.✅ The best plans will still fall apart—flexibility is your superpower.✅ Understanding resistance to change can help you overcome obstacles.✅ Diversification provides stability in uncertain times.✅ Resilience is built through failures, not avoiding them.✅ Communication is everything when navigating challenges.
💡 "Lean into the chaos. That’s where the real growth happens."
🎧 Listen now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms!
🔗 Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/fxLtUKwbN4g
#HardKnockUniversity #Adaptation #ProjectManagement #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #ChangeManagement #BusinessStrategy #LessonsLearned #GrowthMindset

The Universal Translator | Caroline Monicion | Hard Knock University Podcast S1 Ep8

🚀 The Secret Weapon of Project Management: Communication 🚀
In this episode of the Hard Knock University Podcast, Mark Caples breaks down one of the most underrated skills in project management—being a translator. From navigating client expectations to ensuring teams execute the vision, communication is everything.
🔥 Key Topics Covered:
✅ Why project managers are the ultimate translators
✅ Lessons from Exactly What to Say by Phil M. Jones 📖
✅ How the right words can shift conversations and close deals
✅ The Snoop Dogg effect in communication 🎤
✅ Real-life stories of communication failures and wins
💡 Big Takeaways:
🔹 Project management is speaking everyone's language.
🔹 The right words can make or break a deal.
🔹 Over-communication is better than assumptions.
🔹 Listening is just as important as talking.
🎧 Tune in now and learn how to become the ultimate translator in your projects!
#ProjectManagement #Communication #HardKnockUniversity #LessonsLearned #ClientManagement #Leadership #Teamwork

Behind The Canvas - Gary Sweeney - Hard Knock University Podcast S1 Ep7

🎙️ Behind The Canvas | Gary Sweeney | Hard Knock University Podcast (S1, Ep7)
What do public art and project management have in common? More than you think! In this episode, Mark Caples sits down with legendary public artist Gary Sweeney to explore the unsung heroes behind every great project and the art of success.
🔥 Inside This Episode:✅ The creative process vs. the final product✅ Lessons from Gary’s witty billboard art✅ Why project management is the backbone of every masterpiece✅ Mark’s take on The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* by Mark Manson✅ Sneak peek: Movie villain leadership breakdowns coming in Season 2!
🎧 Watch Now & Join the Conversation!📖 Grab The Hard Knock School of Project Management at LeadershipKnocks.com or on Amazon.
💬 What’s your favorite creative process vs. product moment? Drop it in the comments and tag #HardKnockLessons!
#ProjectManagement #ArtAndLeadership #CreativeProcess #HardKnockUniversity #Podcast #BehindTheCanvas

People Over Process - Jacob Ransom - Hard Knock University Podcast S1 Ep6

🎙️ People Over Process: The Heart of Project Management | Hard Knock University Podcast (S1, Ep6)
Welcome back to the Hard Knock University Podcast! In this episode, Mark Caples sits down with Jacob Ransom to break down a fundamental truth in project management—success isn’t just about processes; it’s about people.
🚀 Inside This Episode:
✅ Leadership Dynamics – Managing team dynamics for better outcomes.
✅ Empathy in Leadership – Delivering tough news with emotional intelligence.
✅ Communication is Key – How clarity and kindness drive high-performing teams.
✅ Adapting to Change – Knowing when to pivot for business success.
✅ Human Innovation – Why people—not processes—are the driving force behind projects.
🎧 Key Takeaways:
🛠️ "Managing people takes up most of your time."
💡 "Every project is an opportunity for growth."
💬 "Clarity is kindness."
📖 Bonus Insight: We also explore lessons from The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes and how they apply to leadership and business strategy.
🚀 Want More?
📖 Get The Hard Knock School of Project Management at LeadershipKnocks.com or on Amazon.
💬 Join the Conversation! Share your leadership experiences with #HardKnockLessons and be featured in a future episode!
#ProjectManagement #Leadership #PeopleManagement #Communication #TeamCulture #HardKnockUniversity

Being The Bad Guy - Mark Sebby - Hard Knock University Podcast S1 Ep5

🎙️ Hard Knock University Podcast - "Being The Bad Guy" (S1, Ep5) 🚀 In this episode, we dive into Chapter 4 of The Hard Knock School of Project Management—"Sometimes You're the Bad Guy." Tough decisions are part of leadership, but being the "bad guy" isn't about power—it's about responsibility, integrity, and making the right call for the greater good. 🔥 Inside This Episode: ✅ Unpopular Decisions – Why leadership sometimes means making the tough calls. ✅ Negotiation Tactics from Chris Voss – Never Split the Difference strategies for managing conflict with empathy. ✅ Lessons from the Music Industry – Special guest Mark Sebby shares how he navigates tough leadership moments. ✅ Leading with Integrity – How to balance authority with fairness and foresight. 🎧 Key Takeaways: "Being the bad guy isn’t about being harsh—it’s about leading with integrity." "Negotiation is about empathy, not just winning." "Sometimes, tough calls are necessary to protect the project and the team." 🚀 Want More? 📖 Get The Hard Knock School of Project Management at LeadershipKnocks.com or on Amazon.💬 Join the Conversation! Share your experiences with #HardKnockLessons and get featured in a future episode! #HardKnockUniversity #ProjectManagement #Leadership #Negotiation #Growth