Photographs: Orb-Weaver Spiders from Stoy Hedges – PCT On-line

In January 2021, Irwin Levy exited the pest management trade after selling Aladdin Pest Control (to Terminix), a enterprise he had spent 45 years rising into a number one pest management supplier all through Lengthy Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties) and Queens County.

Levy has discovered success in his subsequent pursuit, serving as co-host, together with Esperanza Léon, of “Our Hamptons” podcast, which explores the historical past of South Fork, Lengthy Island..

As profiled in Behind the Hedges, Levy was a daily shopper at Léon’s artwork gallery and the 2 struck up a friendship, which led to the podcast. Each two weeks, Levy and Esperenza report/launch podcasts on historical past and preservation matters associated to East Hampton. For instance, their premier episode in Might was a profile of the Amagansett neighborhood of Poseyville, dwelling to quite a few baymen, and now present process main growth.

Obtain the podcasts by looking out “Our Hamptons” and hear anyplace you get your podcasts, or from this link.

PCT caught up with Levy for a glance again at his time spent in pest management and to study extra about his new pursuits.

Brad Harbison: How have you ever stayed related with the pest management trade?
Irwin Levy: I nonetheless have my consulting settlement doing M&A for Terminix.

BH: What do you miss most concerning the pest management trade?
IL: Relationships! These I shared with my purchasers, and the trade suppliers and gross sales representatives — the general camaraderie. You did not ask, however I am going to inform you what I do not miss: the 12-hour work days!

BH: What have you ever discovered about podcasting by means of this expertise? What makes podcast?
IL: I am going to reply this in reverse. I feel what makes podcast is subjective: 2+2 is all the time 4. However podcasting is extra like an artwork type. I do not assume there’s a appropriate or incorrect means of doing it. You discover a area of interest that works for the message you attempt to get out. With Our Hamptons, we deal with the historical past, preservation and sense of place on japanese Lengthy Island. Our explicit fashion is having a dialog fascinating sufficient that you simply wish to snoop on it. I’ve discovered {that a} podcast entails a lot analysis, manufacturing and social media. Largely, it’s important to have an efficient a platform to get a message out. We have truly had like-minded organizations attain out to us, wanting to inform our viewers their explicit story. We even get fan mail suggesting episodes. It is enjoyable!

BH: What expertise from operating a service-based enterprise enable you to join with the themes you interview?IL: That is a straightforward one. Individuals expertise. Positive, being an proprietor/operator of a pest management enterprise I handled nearly each problem this trade might throw at you. However it all the time reverts again to at least one indisputable fact you might be the very best technician (or dentist, or lawyer, or anything) but when the shopper does not such as you, none of that issues.