Shows
IrregardlessRob Mihalko - The Digital Marketplace PlaybookThis week on Irregardless, we’re joined by Rob Mihalko, founder and principal of Spectus Strategy and a trusted expert in digital marketplaces.
Rob shares hard-earned lessons from years helping marketplace businesses grow and scale. From his early days at Ariba to sharing his expertise with the next generation of marketplace leaders. We get into what actually drives sustainable marketplace growth, how strategy shifts over time, and what most teams get wrong when trying to scale.
He also gives us a peek into his work as an educator at Stanford, where he teaches the next wave of innovators bui...2025-07-2350 min
IrregardlessChris Luecke - How Tech, Trades, & Podcasts are Shaping ManufacturingIn this episode, Bryzos COO Lee Letourneau sits down with Chris Luecke, host of Manufacturing Happy Hour and PubCast Worldwide, for a wide-ranging conversation that’s as insightful as it is entertaining. They explore how Chris went from a career in automation at Rockwell to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in the industrial space through podcasting. He shares how Manufacturing Happy Hour evolved from a side project to a full-time platform, and what it’s taught him about the future of the trades, technology, and storytelling in B2B.
The two dive into how the U.S. view...2025-07-161h 04
IrregardlessLisa Reisman Pt. 2 - Transparency, Tech, & the MetalMiner MissionIn Part 2 of this conversation, Shep Hickey and Lisa Reisman continue their discussion, diving into how MetalMiner evolved from a simple blog into a platform offering powerful forecasting tools for the metals industry.
They explore the complexities of metal pricing, market volatility, and why critical thinking still matters in a world increasingly shaped by A.I. Lisa shares her perspective on what A.I. can and can’t do, and what the future of automation might look like for industrial buying and forecasting.
She also opens up about her leadership style, how she builds and leads a high-performing te...2025-07-0954 min
IrregardlessLisa Reisman Pt. 1 - The MetalMiner Origin StoryIn Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Shep Hickey sits down with Lisa Reisman, CEO and founder of MetalMiner, for an engaging and wide-ranging conversation that traces the unexpected journey that led her into the metals industry.
Lisa shares her unconventional path, from early career twists and wild job stories to her first steps into aluminum trading. She talks about how she and her husband launched MetalMiner as a blog, what it was like to break into the space, and how she navigated a new industry with fresh eyes and relentless curiosity.
They wrap Part 1 with the story of...2025-07-0251 min
IrregardlessSam Goodwin - Captivity, Courage & Embracing UncertaintyThis week on Irregardless, we sit down with Sam Goodwin, an entrepreneur, speaker, and St. Louis native, to hear a story that is as unthinkable as it is inspiring.
In 2019, while on a mission to visit every country in the world, Sam was captured in Syria and held hostage for 63 days under the Syrian regime. With no formal charges and little hope, he endured solitary confinement, interrogation, and extreme uncertainty, while his family worked behind the scenes with the U.S. and international governments to bring him home.
But this is not just a story about survival. It...2025-06-251h 04
IrregardlessBest of Irregardless - The Rewind Episode20 episodes in and still just getting started. For this episode, we’re looking back at some of our favorite moments from the first 19 episodes of the show.
Hosted by the Bryzos team—Shep Hickey, Lee Letourneau, and Rachel Hartman—Irregardless brings together real, unscripted conversations with guests from across the metals industry, startups, tech, and beyond.
Over the course of the season, we’ve covered a lot: from raw lessons in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship to insights on software, AI, marketplaces, and how Bryzos is changing the game. We’ve heard from shop floors and boardrooms, fabricators and founders...2025-06-1835 min
IrregardlessBrent & Chris Jansky - Three Generations, One TorchIn this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Chris and Brent Jansky—the father-son duo leading T.J. Welding & Fabrication in Wharton, Texas. As President and Vice President, respectively, Chris and Brent represent the second and third generations of their family-run metal fabrication and welding business. Their story is one of legacy, resilience, and evolution in the metals industry.
They take us back to the company’s origins, founded by Chris’s father and later passed down to him. After decades of hard work, Chris eventually handed the reins to Brent in the wake of Hurricane Harvey—a catastro...2025-06-111h 13
IrregardlessStaci Thomas - From Mandarin to Machine LearningIn this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Staci Thomas, Professor of Practice in Communications at Washington University’s Olin Business School, to dive into the rapidly evolving world of AI. With a rich background as a Mandarin translator in the U.S. Air Force and a lifelong passion for language and culture, Staci brings a unique and thoughtful perspective to the conversation.
Together, Shep and Staci explore the power and potential of artificial intelligence—its real-world applications, its promise, its pitfalls, and what it means for the future of communication, education, and business. As the instructor of a co...2025-06-041h 27
IrregardlessMike Wayte - Clinch NW and the Digital ShiftIn this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Mike Wayte, Principal and Founder of Clinch Northwest, a Seattle-based manufacturer and supplier of self-clinching sheet metal fasteners. Mike shares his journey through the metals and fasteners industry, what inspired him to start Clinch NW, and how his hands-on experience helped shape the company’s direction.
They dive into Clinch NW’s transition to digital, including their eCommerce site and what it takes to bring traditional manufacturing into the online space. Mike and Shep also unpack hot-button topics like tariffs, market volatility, and how global economic shifts are impacting American manu...2025-05-281h 18
IrregardlessAllen Heggs - DJing, Body Batteries & Building LegaciesIn this laugh-out-loud episode of Irregardless, host Shep Hickey sits down with Allen Heggs, second-generation owner of Helcrist LLC, a family-run steel fabrication and erection company based in Philadelphia, PA. From residential and commercial builds to hotels, schools, and pharmaceutical projects, Helcrist’s legacy runs deep—and Allen is already preparing the next generation to carry it even further.
But Allen’s journey didn’t start with beams and blueprints. He shares hilarious and heartfelt stories from his early entrepreneurial days—selling candy, DJing parties at just 14, and skipping the traditional college path to dive straight into the real world. His...2025-05-211h 27
IrregardlessEric Gilbert - ANOVA, Authority & the Art of LeadingThis week on Irregardless, Shep sits down with Eric Gilbert, CEO of ANOVA Furnishings — a St. Louis-based company known for crafting commercial-grade outdoor site furnishings like benches, tables, and receptacles. As a second-generation leader, Eric shares what it’s been like taking the reins from his father and steering the business into its next chapter.
The two dive into everything from entrepreneurship at a young age to the power of teamwork, leadership, and evolving a legacy brand in a modern world. Eric reflects on what’s driving ANOVA forward, how he’s strengthened operations, and the importance of surrounding yourself...2025-05-141h 21
IrregardlessJoe Tierney - Drums, Data & Doing It AllIn this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with the one and only Joe Tierney—a Broadcast and I.T. Specialist who wears more hats than most people own. If you’ve seen our Cracking the Code mini-series, you’ve already seen Joe’s work. He was the quiet force behind the scene, helping to capture the Bryzos team with clarity, creativity, and authenticity. But this time, we’re flipping the script and bringing Joe in front of the lens to hear his story.
Joe’s talents run deep. By day, he works in live sports broadcasting as a technical di...2025-05-0742 min
IrregardlessJeff Hasty - K9s, Construction & the Power of the MindFrom the bite suit to the welding mask—Jeff Hasty’s career path is anything but ordinary.
Jeff was raised around welding and pipe fitting, following his dad's career from state to state. As one of the best welders Jeff’s ever known, his dad gave him an early look into the world he’d eventually return to. Initially, Jeff was pulled toward law enforcement after a Ride-Along sparked a new passion. He built a rewarding career as a police officer and K9 handler in California, suiting up in the bite suit and training alongside his four-legged partner.
When lif...2025-04-301h 16
IrregardlessDennis Arrowood - Strategy, Sales, & the Bryzos AdvantageDennis Arrowood, a 28-year veteran of the metals industry and Sales Operations Specialist at Ryerson, joins Shep for a conversation that spans tanks, transitions, and technology. From his early days driving armored vehicles in the U.S. Army to nearly three decades in steel, Dennis brings a unique perspective on structure, discipline, and getting things done.
Inside Ryerson, Dennis carved out a career by navigating both the contract and transactional sides of buying. He breaks down the key differences between the two and what it took to make the leap into sales—offering insight into how the metals industry op...2025-04-231h 25
IrregardlessDr. Dave King - Med School to MLB MedicineIn this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Dr. Dave King, a leading orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, for a deep dive into the high-performance world of sports injuries and surgical innovation. From his days in med school to the intense realities of the OR, Dr. King shares how mental focus, teamwork, and technology collide when treating athletes on and off the field.
They explore what it’s like to work with professional sports teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, the evolution of sports-related surgeries, and how robotics and AI are transforming both patient outcomes and the fu...2025-04-161h 14
IrregardlessGarret Armstrong - From the Show Floor (NASCC '25 Edition)In this special mini episode recorded live at the 2025 NASCC Steel Conference, we switch things up with a quick, on-the-ground conversation between Bryzos’ own Lee Letourneau and Garret Armstrong, Project Manager and Estimator at Metal Pros LLC in Wichita, KS—and an active Bryzos member.
Garret shares his experience attending NASCC, including what sessions stood out, what he’s taking back to his team, and why the event is such a valuable space for professionals in the steel and metals world. He also talks about how he got started on Bryzos, how the platform has helped him secure more jobs...2025-04-0906 min
IrregardlessSean Bailey - Leadership Lessons from Off-The-GridThis week on Irregardless, Shep Hickey sits down with Sean Bailey, Territory Sales Manager at Smokiez Edibles, for a conversation that spans from cannabis to the Chilean mountains. Sean gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Missouri’s evolving cannabis industry—how the shift from medicinal to recreational use reshaped his career and opened up new opportunities.
But that’s just the beginning. Sean dives into his time with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), where he spent six months living off the land in Patagonia, Chile. From survival skills and leadership to the Leave-No-Trace philosophy, Sean shares what it really...2025-03-281h 20
IrregardlessJosh Weber - Where Custom Builds Meet Controlled ChaosIn this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with industry insider Josh Weber, owner of Metal Transformations LLC in Wichita, KS. Josh’s journey into the metals world is anything but typical—starting out in cattle farming, he transitioned from life on the farm to becoming a skilled metal fabricator.
They dive into his early days learning to weld, the favorite projects he’s worked on over the years, and how he took on the challenge of building his own steel-framed house on the river. Josh also shares his experience crafting Demolition Derby bumpers and the unexpected path that l...2025-03-1951 min
IrregardlessJeff Giles - STL Roots, National Growth, & Strategic MovesIn this episode of Irregardless, Bryzos COO, Lee Letourneau, sits down with Jeff Giles, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Core & Main, to dive into the journey of one of St. Louis’ industry leaders. Core & Main, a national distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and services, went public in 2021 and has continued to expand through strategic mergers and acquisitions.
Jeff shares insights into the company’s rapid growth, the challenges and successes of his role, and what the future holds for Core & Main. A major focus of the discussion? The crucial role that comp...2025-03-1252 min
IrregardlessCory Bricker - BNPL, Payment Innovation, & the CassPay MissionIn this episode, Shep is joined by Cory Bricker, President of Cass Pay, to explore the evolution of financial technology.
We dive into the origins of Cass Information Systems, headquartered in St. Louis, and how Cass Pay is transforming payment solutions. Cory shares his journey within the company, insights into how Cass Pay works, and a deep dive into Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)—its rise, benefits, and potential risks.
Tune in for a compelling discussion on the ever-changing landscape of FinTech.2025-03-051h 18
IrregardlessBob Gassoff - From LEGOS to Navy SEALsIn this episode Shep sits down with Bob Gassoff to discuss his amazing journey from youth hockey to NCAA hockey championship with Michigan to NHL minors to Navy SEALs to distribution.2025-02-2859 min
IrregardlessSarah Hickey - From Patient to PT, Her MS StoryIn this episode of Irregardless, Rachel sits down with Sarah Hickey to hear her powerful story of resilience, determination, and hope. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at just 26, Sarah opens up about the challenges she faced navigating life with M.S. and the transformative stem cell treatment she underwent in 2022.
Beyond her personal journey, Sarah shares her passion for helping others through her work as a physical therapist with Show Me Aquatics and Camp Independence. She reflects on the joy and inspiration she found working with kids with cerebral palsy in adaptive sports, and how those experiences shaped her perspective...2025-02-191h 06
Making SparksHow to Streamline Metal SalesIn this episode, Matthew and Casey sit down with Lee from Bryzos to dive into how the company is reshaping the steel pricing landscape and offering innovative solutions to fabricators. They dive into the word of instant pricing and streamlined procurement in the metal industry. Episode Highlights: [00:00:07] Lee explains how Bryzos is transforming the way fabricators buy and sell material with real-time pricing that challenges the traditional metal quoting process. [00:03:10] A deep dive into Bryzo's journey from it's creation to current desktop app [00:07:06] Discover how a feature eliminates endless quoting and delivers instant pricing in u...2025-02-1218 min
IrregardlessRon King - Economics, Exploration & a Life of CuriosityIn this episode, Shep chats with Ron King, a recently retired accounting professor from Washington University and former professor to Shep during his time in the MBA program. Ron reflects on his decades in academia before sharing thrilling stories from his hiking and camping adventures across the U.S.
They then dive into the world of startups, with Ron offering insights on entrepreneurship, financial challenges, and the unique dynamics of hiring in fast-paced environments.
Tune in for a blend of wisdom, adventure, and practical advice from a seasoned educator and explorer.2025-02-121h 33
IrregardlessBob Solomon - Software, Scale & the Long Game in B2BBob Solomon, founder and President of Software Platform Consulting Inc., sits down with Shep to discuss his beginnings at Stanford University where he completed his MBA, to his time spent working in the food industry supply chain and Ariba software company. They also dive into their shared insights on the future of Bryzos and the evolution of B2B marketplaces.2025-01-242h 04
IrregardlessBrad Gross - Fabrication, Family & the Future of Gross MechanicalThe first episode of Irregardless is here! Brad Gross, owner of Gross Mechanical, sits down with Shep to discuss getting into the business of power and process piping as a 3rd generation mechanical contractor, automation on the shop floor and in the office, as well as the future of AI in the construction and metals industries. 2025-01-241h 06
Metal Steel Manufacturing PodcastMetal Industry Innovation and Bryzos.com with Shep HickeyMetal Industry Innovation and Bryzos.com with Shep HickeyToday we are honored to have Shep Hickey, a former metal service center and distribution operator. From his experience of an old style of data shuffling, Bryzos was born from a thought and a vision. This vision has come to life today from a lot of hard work and commitment to the vision. Shep, his team, and Bryzos add tremendous value to the metals marketplace. Today we get into the details of how it happened and where it is going. Thank you very much, Shep; I genuinely appreciate...2022-11-0349 min
Fintech ImpactBryzos with Shep Hickey | E242Jason Pereira talks to Shep Hickey, founder, and CEO of Bryzos. It is an online steel marketplace. Any kind of marketplaces are financial solution, and Shep incorporated Fintech solutions into the platform itself.Episode Highlights1.03: Bryzos is an online steel marketplace that has Fintech features that allow a buyer or seller to go all the way with procure to pay.2.17: Bryzos absolute origin is really about creating a solution for the daily grind of sourcing, bringing and getting sales down the road.4.28: The mill distributor who are making some materials are primarily on the sell...2022-09-1319 min
FreightWaves LIVE: An Events PodcastSteely determination: Lessons in moving the sale of 1.86 billion metric tons of steel onlineShep Hickey of Bryzos and Karen Webster of PYMNTS join together in this fireside chat.Follow FreightWaves on Apple PodcastsFollow FreightWaves on SpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2022-08-1821 min
WHAT THE TRUCK?!?Mo’ money, less problems? WTT Live from Supply Chain Meets FinTechOn today’s episode Dooner and The Dude are coming to you live from FreightWaves’ and PYMNTS’ Supply Chain Meets FinTech virtual event.How can payments technologies improve experiences for carriers? How does financial technology improve cross-border logistics? What does the future of digital marketplaces look like? We’ll explore all that and more with special guests Mustafa Azizi, co-founder and CEO of Zuum; Todd Pigeon, VP of East Coast sales at PayCargo; and Shep Hickey, founder and CEO of Bryzos. Watch on YouTubeSubscribe to the WTT n...2022-08-1734 min
Digital Transformation PodcastDigital Transformation in the Steel IndustryShep Hickey, CEO of Bryzos, an online metals marketplace that facilitates trade between third-party buyers and third-party sellers, discusses digital transformation in the steel industry and how organizations are building competitive advantage. The steel industry is traditionally known as an “analog” industry, but Shep says that there is a digital revolution happening in the sector. Listen as we explore what is driving innovation. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest?2022-03-2421 min
Digital Marketing Leadership with Alex WolkA profile of BRYZOS Steel Marketplace for Buyers And SellersBryzos is the business-to-business (B2B) online steel marketplace that facilitates trade between steel buyers and sellers.We're talking pipe, tube, fittings, flanges, coil, plate...all things steel.Our MissionProvide an unbiased, honest, transparent, intuitive and comprehensive steel trading platform to maximize your business.We are seriously transparent-No need to dig through our terms and conditions for pricing. We'll tell you right here, right now.-No monthly subscription-For RFQ's, the higher the transaction value ($), the lower the Bryzos Marketplace Fee.-It’s...2020-06-1603 min