{"podcast":{"title":"The Better SMB Podcast","slug":"the-better-smb-podcast-7059551","podcast_index_feed_id":7059551,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6226633/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast--6226633","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/14cd7f93a65c46debcde9a3761caf5b6.jpg","author":"David Altena","episode_count":38,"summary":"Join hosts David Altena and Rob Bull as they delve into the subject of small and medium- business productivity in New Zealand. With a focus on driving operational excellence and business improvement, The Better SMB Podcast is your go-to resource for strategies, insights, and success stories from the front lines of the SMB sector. Despite New Zealand’s historical challenges with productivity compared to our OECD peers, David and Rob are on a mission to turn the tide. Tune in to discover actionable tips, expert interviews, and innovative ideas that will help your business thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, The Better SMB Podcast will equip you with the tools you need to enhance productivity and achieve your business goals. Connect with us on LinkedIn: @DavidAltena and @RobBull","last_synced_at":"2026-07-16T12:19:57.070175+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551"},"episode":{"title":"Ep 35 - Insights of Excellence – Drain Ninjas","slug":"ep-35-insights-of-excellence-drain-ninjas","published_at":"2026-06-01T21:22:33+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551/ep-35-insights-of-excellence-drain-ninjas","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-35-insights-of-excellence-drain-ninjas--72286211","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72286211/6210c71f_b8de_c7f9_bd09_309594c280a3.mp3","summary":"What does it take to build a high-performing business — and then hand it on to the next generation?David and Rob sit down with Jeff and Sasha Langham, the father-daughter team behind Drain Ninjas — a West Auckland drainage company and winner of the High Performance Award at the 2025 Northwest Country Business Association Business Awards. Drain Unblocking Auckland | Vacuum Loading | Drain Ninjas Their story starts simply: a gap in the market, a commitment to communication, and a family that saw an opportunity. Ten years on, they're a multi-service operation with a loyal team, a strong word-of-mouth reputation, and a business built to last beyond its founders.The conversation covers three big themes. First, the power of stepping back — entering the awards forced Sasha to reflect on a decade of progress she'd been too deep in the trenches to appreciate. Second, the team comes first — Drain Ninjas brought the whole crew to the awards night, because if the business wins, everyone wins. And third, succession done right — Jeff planned for the handover from day one, building a business that didn't revolve around any one person, with clear roles, documented plans, and support structures already in place.Their advice for other Kiwi family businesses? Start the conversation earlier than you think you need to. Clarify roles. Write it down. And don't wait until you're ready to retire to think about what happens next.Practical, honest, and full of hard-won insight — this one's worth sharing with every business owner you know. A big thanks to our web sponsors, Set Seed. Go to www.setseed.com to access great developers and an all-in-one platform for your business.","meta_description":"What does it take to build a high-performing business — and then hand it on to the next generation?David and Rob sit down with Jeff and Sasha Langham, the…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2690,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551/episodes/ep-35-insights-of-excellence-drain-ninjas/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551/ep-35-insights-of-excellence-drain-ninjas.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}