Shows
The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About the Future of Water Heaters: Innovation & Industry Insights with Bradford WhiteIn this episode, Spencer from Bradford White shares a deep dive into the evolution of water heaters, industry regulations, and innovative technologies shaping the future. Whether you're a trades professional or just curious about how these appliances impact energy efficiency and safety, this conversation covers it all.In this episode:Spencer discusses Bradford White’s rich history dating back to 1881 and their pioneering Vitro glass lining in tanksBreakdown of efficiency metrics: AFUE standards, heat pump efficiencies, and the myth of over 100%The shift away from traditional atmospherically vented models toward condensing and hy...
2026-06-101h 05The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Closing the Trades Skills Gap with Dan Clapper : Episode 19Dan Clapper of Interplay Learning joins The Blue Collar Trades Show to break down one of the most misunderstood ideas in the trades the gap between experience and competency. A tech with ten years on the job isn't automatically better than one with two; what separates them is training, consistency, and the right learning modality. Dan walks through his own path from early exposure to the trades into his work helping businesses close skill gaps with smarter, data-driven training.This conversation gets into why career development is the real driver of retention, how to start with data t...
2026-05-271h 09The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Why Most Trades Salespeople Underperform with Neil Glatt : Episode 18Sales consultant Neil Glatt joins The Blue Collar Trade Show to unpack why so many tradespeople struggle on the sales side of their business — and why it almost never has anything to do with product knowledge. After a long career in B2B sales, Neil transitioned into consulting specifically for trades companies, and he's spent years studying what separates top closers from the techs who choke on the price conversation.This episode goes deep on the role of self-limiting beliefs in sales performance, how a tech's personal philosophy about money and selling shows up in every customer in...
2026-05-191h 02The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Going From Technician to GM With Ron Crabtree | Episode 17Longtime industry friend Ron Crabtree joins The Blue Collar Trade Show for an honest conversation about what separates great HVAC service businesses from struggling ones. Ron walks through his path from young technician to seasoned general manager and breaks down why sales is now a non-negotiable skill, how to hire and train techs who can actually communicate with homeowners, and why club memberships are one of the most underrated profit drivers in home services.The conversation digs into the fear most technicians carry into customer conversations, the role training and coaching play in building real confidence, and...
2026-05-121h 12The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About PR for Skilled Trades With Heather RipleyHeather Ripley of Ripley PR breaks down how skilled trades and home service businesses can use public relations to build credibility, attract clients, and stand out in a crowded market. Expect actionable strategies, current trends, and media engagement tips built specifically for contractors and franchise owners — not corporate PR theory.If you're a tradesperson or franchise owner who thinks PR is just for big brands with bigger budgets, this episode will change your mind.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction: Why PR is essential for skilled trades02:14 — Marketing vs. publi...
2026-05-051h 06The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Blue Collar Call Center Myths With Shelby AndersonShelby Anderson of Service Forge sits down with The Blue Collar Trade Show to break down one of the most misunderstood parts of running a contracting business — the call center. This conversation covers why so many contractors resist outsourcing their phones, how Service Forge keeps customer experience human at scale, and what it actually takes to run a call center team that treats every caller like they're calling a family business.Shelby shares her journey into the call center industry, from childhood experiences in her father's business to leading teams that handle thousands of calls for contractors ac...
2026-04-281h 01The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Military to Mechanical and Building a Winning Trades Culture with Jake WattenbargerJake Wattenbarger, President and General Manager of Smith & Oby (a Foundral company), walks through his unconventional path from military service into leading one of the Midwest's most respected mechanical contracting companies. This conversation covers the 125+ year history of Smith & Oby, the real challenges of finding and keeping skilled tradespeople, and the cultural shifts reshaping the construction industry.Jake breaks down the three core reasons employees leave a company and the retention framework he's built around culture, operations and growth. We dig into how to speak to different audiences with sincerity, the intentionality behind strong client...
2026-04-211h 12The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Mastering HVAC Business and Technical Skills with Dave Borowski | Episode 13Dave Borowski has spent 20+ years in HVAC — from trade school to running a multimillion-dollar operation to consulting for companies across the industry. In this episode, he breaks down what separates thriving HVAC businesses from struggling ones, why most technicians are leaving money on the table, and how private equity is quietly reshaping the trades landscape for better and worse.From duct design and airflow to recurring revenue models and AI diagnostics, Dave covers the technical and business sides of HVAC with equal depth. Whether you're a tech looking to level up or an owner trying to build a...
2026-04-141h 22The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About The Evolution of Workplace Safety with Jason GieferThis episode digs into two of the most important conversations happening in the trades right now: how safety culture has evolved over the decades, and what it actually takes to build a lasting career in blue-collar work.The conversation opens with an honest look at how the value placed on human life in workplace environments has changed — from compliance-driven rule enforcement to a culture rooted in empathy and mindset. Guest Jason Giefer, a Fall Protection Application Engineer at 3M, breaks down what's driving that shift and why equipment upgrades alone were never enough.From there, th...
2026-04-071h 17The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Female Leadership in the Trades With Juli BlakeIn this episode, we sit down with Juli Blake to talk about what it actually takes to rise through the ranks as a woman in the trades — from her early career and upbringing, to overcoming gender bias, to building a leadership style that gets real results.Where Work Ethic Comes FromJuli gets into how her upbringing shaped the way she approaches work — and why she thinks that foundation is something you either build early or spend years trying to catch up on. She doesn't hold back on generational differences either: what...
2026-03-311h 12The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Building A Recruiting Legacy With Steve Gipson | Episode 10In this episode, we dive deep with Steve on what it actually takes to build a lasting recruiting business, why letting go is the hardest (and most important) move a founder can make, and why great recruiters will never be replaced by technology.What This Episode Covers:Steve's background and how he got into recruitingHow the family business was built — and evolved over timeThe BLT party story (yes, it's as good as it sounds)What happened when Steve finally let go of controlWhy the recruiting industry is harder than it looks from the outsideHow AI...
2026-03-241h 00The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Women In Welding With Sondra Brown | Episode 9Our Guest Sandra Brown shares her journey from welding and boilermaking to millwrighting — the challenges, risks, rewards, and the unique perspective women bring to the trades. Sandra makes a compelling case for why more women should seriously consider a career in skilled trades, and she does it with honesty, humor, and zero sugarcoating.We cover the technical side of welding different materials, what it’s actually like being a woman in a male-dominated industry, workplace culture, hilarious on-the-job stories, and Sandra’s future aspirations. If you’ve ever wondered whether the trades are a path worth taking, this epi...
2026-03-1759 minThe Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Blue Collar Marriages With Autumn Travis | Episode 8What's it really like being married to a blue-collar worker? This episode explores the unique dynamics of relationships with tradespeople—the support required at home, balancing demanding work schedules with family life, the pride and provider mindset that drives blue-collar workers, and why many people find trades workers attractive partners.We also discuss blue-collar tools and safety, the investment required to build a trades career, and future prospects in skilled trades industries.What This Episode Covers:The realities of supporting a blue-collar worker at home an...
2026-03-101h 02The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Going From MLB to Successful Construction Company With: Kelly Wunsch | Episode 7Kelly Wunsch shares his journey from college baseball to the major leagues to owning a successful construction firm. We discuss how professional sports prepared him for entrepreneurship, the importance of education for athletes, why trade skills create more career security than most degrees, and how AI is transforming the construction industry.What This Episode Covers:Kelly's background and journey from college baseball to the major leagues. Dealing with failure, pressure, and criticism in professional sports. The importance of education for athletes and career transitions. Kelly's transition from professional baseball to construction...
2026-03-031h 28The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Building A Franchise Powerhouse With Tony Hulbert | Ep.6Tony Hulbert, CEO of Horsepower Brands, shares insights on what makes home services franchises succeed, the myths surrounding franchising, and how AI is transforming business operations in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services.We discuss the traits that separate successful franchisees from those who struggle, common misconceptions about franchise ownership, and how AI is reshaping customer interactions, service delivery, and operational efficiency in home services businesses.What This Episode Covers:Tony Hulbert's background and journey to becoming CEO of Horsepower Brands. The biggest myths about franchising that mislead...
2026-02-2459 minThe Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About The Veteran Advantage With Jordie Kern | Ep.5Jordie Kern, founder of Seven Eagle Group, shares how his organization helps veterans transition from military service to civilian careers, with a focus on blue collar trades. We discuss the SkillBridge program that allows active-duty military members to train with civilian employers during their final months of service, the challenges veterans face adapting to civilian work culture, and why soft skills matter more than military credentials in hiring decisions.This conversation covers supporting military spouses, common misconceptions about veterans, success stories of veteran placement, the future of traditional resumes, and the Blue Collar Trades Academy's mission to...
2026-02-171h 09The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One Where Rock Bands Meet Blue Collar with Greg Nelson | Ep.4Our Guest Greg Nelson pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a career in live sound engineering. This conversation covers his journey from small venue gigs to major concert productions, the blue-collar grit behind the music industry's biggest shows, and why people skills matter more than technical knowledge for long-term survival in entertainment.We dig into how the industry has evolved with technology, the growing presence of women in live production, how military discipline shaped work ethic behind the scenes, and the brutal realities of COVID-19 on touring professionals. Greg shares real stories...
2026-02-101h 07The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One About Going From Entry-Level To Multi-Millionare With Jeff Rahn | Ep.3Episode Summary:Jeff Rahn shares his journey from the Air Force to building a successful home services business. This conversation dives into what actually makes blue collar businesses work: hiring for personality over technical skills, building team culture that drives retention, and why soft skills matter more than most people realize.We cover the realities of earning potential in the trades, how to handle employee development and terminations with integrity, and why customer service is the foundation of growth. Jeff shares hard-learned lessons about consistency, fair compensation, and adapting to industry changes driven...
2026-02-031h 09The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe One Where We Tackle Controversial Blue Collar Questions | Ep. 2In Episode 2, we tackle the biggest misconceptions surrounding blue collar work and explore why trade schools offer better value than most people realize. We debate whether college is worth the cost, discuss the changing work ethic in modern society, and examine how social media (especially TikTok) influences cultural trends around work.We also dive into the real challenges of starting a blue collar business—from accessing capital to managing time—and share personal stories about discovering and embracing blue collar identity. This conversation gets real about the roadblocks entrepreneurs face and what it actually takes to build a bu...
2026-01-3051 min
The Blue Collar Trades ShowThe Pilot. The One About How This Show Came To Life | Ep. 1Welcome to The Blue Collar Recruiter Podcast! In our first episode, we introduce ourselves and share the blue collar backgrounds that shaped our careers. We discuss our favorite tools, first business experiences, and early work that taught us what it means to work in the trades.This conversation covers blue collar upbringing, generational differences and commonalities, career paths and personal preferences, college debt versus trade careers, and the essential tools that define skilled trades work. We also talk about what's coming in future episodes and how you can engage with the show.
2026-01-2730 min