In this episode of Commercial Grade, host RC Victorino sits down with Josh Vitale, founder of Project BUILT, to have an honest conversation about addiction, mental health, and what the trades are getting wrong—and right—when it comes to supporting their people.

Josh grew up in the construction world and followed a familiar path many never talk about: high pressure, long hours, silence around mental health, and ultimately addiction. After hitting rock bottom, Josh chose recovery—and turned that experience into a mission to help others in the industry do the same.

Together, RC and Josh unpack the cultural challenges that make mental health conversations difficult in the trades, the generational shifts happening on job sites, and why leadership plays a critical role in creating safer, healthier work environments. Josh explains how Project Built approaches mental health differently—through peer support, family retreats, crisis planning, and training leaders to recognize when someone needs help.

This episode doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the work—but it offers a real path forward for an industry built on strength that often forgets vulnerability.

In this episode you’ll hear:

Why stress and burnout are baked into many trade environments
How addiction quietly takes hold in the construction industry
What hitting rock bottom taught Josh about recovery and leadership
Why mental health support must involve families—not just workers
How Project Built is creating real-world solutions beyond awareness
The role superintendents and leaders play in preventing crises
Why younger generations are demanding change
What it takes to build a truly supportive job site culture

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00) Understanding the Stress in the Trades
(00:31) Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
(01:02) Josh Vitale’s Journey into the Trades
(04:56) Challenges and Realizations in the Industry
(07:45) Hitting Rock Bottom and Seeking Help
(11:43) The Birth of Project Built
(18:26) Scaling Project Built’s Impact
(25:46) A Young Man’s Struggle and Asking for Help
(26:04) Generational Differences in Mental Health
(26:30) Challenges Facing Younger Trade Workers
(29:04) The Role of Superintendents in Mental Health
(29:43) Training Leaders to Support Their Teams
(31:00) Creating a Supportive Work Environment
(32:10) Judgment, Recovery, and Personal Reflection
(37:40) Why Every Company Needs a Crisis Plan
(40:00) Advice to a Younger Self
(41:14) The Future of Mental Health in the Trades
(42:17) Lightning Round: Personal Insights
(45:45) Getting Involved with Project Built

Links & Resources:

RC’s LinkedIn
Josh Vitale on LinkedIn
Learn more about Project Built
Learn more at BuildOps.com

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