Podcast
Inside The Trades
Hosted by 3805 Productions · EN
Inside The Trades seeks to find the answers on closing the talent gap and making the skilled trades an attractive destination for the next generation.We see the solution to this problem sits with the youth of today and helping them learn how the skilled trades are a pathway to a lucrative career. We talk with community and business leaders and hear their stories about the education, innovations and technology they're using today to build fulfilling careers. If you are a parent, school administrator or employer looking for ways to highlight the benefits of a skilled trades career please like, follow and share our show. If you have a story to tell that you think will help this mission please reach out to us!
58episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
ENCORE EPISODE: Misti Martin of Be Pro Be Proud Georgia
Jan 11, 202300:19:39Tap to summarizeClosing the skills gap and getting students excited about being part of the trades as a career takes more than just providing them with information. It takes having students exposed to the trades through advanced technology, virtual reality simulators, and hands-on instruction and learning. Not only does this give young people the opportunity to try something new, but it can be the spark of something they've been looking for that they couldn’t find in a traditional school setting. You can't ignite passion for trades in someone who doesn’t know what's out there.This is something our guest on today’s episode understood, so she took it upon herself with a team of trusted people and helped launch Be Pro Be Proud Georgia. Misti Martin, President and CEO of Be Pro Be Proud, joins us to let us know all about her initiative to bring mobile workshops to schools to have young students learn about the trades by using cutting edge technology. Many are trying to solve the skills gap, however, Misti is putting action behind her words and going straight to the source. Tune in to hear about an initiative that works, and how you can find a mobile workshop in your state.Topics discussed in this episode:How Be Pro Be Proud Georgia was createdWhat sets Be Pro Be Proud apart from other initiativesIncorporating high tech in learning about the tradesFeedback from schools about the mobile workshop How to find Be Pro Be Proud in your stateTo learn more about Be Pro Be Proud Georgia, check out their website here!Connect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →ENCORE EPISODE: Stefani Thatcher of Domani Home Design
Jan 4, 202300:32:19Tap to summarizeENCORE EPISODE: When you think about male-dominated industries, construction might be one of the first that comes to mind. Today’s guest believes that, by utilizing skilled tradeswomen and women-owned companies at all stages of your residential construction project, your home will not only be more beautiful but more holistically attuned to your unique needs too! In part one of this two-part conversation, we are joined by Stefani Thatcher, who is the Owner and Lead Designer of Domani Home Design. Each of Stefani’s home designs utilizes her unique Smarter Floor Plans design method, with the homeowner’s personal stories and unique lifestyle woven into the finished product. Today, Stefani offers us a closer look at her business and holistic design processes. Tuning in, you’ll find out how some of the stereotypical attributes that women in trades are often overlooked for can be a valuable asset to your next home design project. Stefani is not only a world-class architect, home designer, and educator, but she's also one of the inspirations for a children's book, which you will learn more about in today’s episode. Be sure to stick around to hear how Stefani is helping to close the talent gap in the trades! Topics discussed in this episode: Stefani’s origin story, which started at just nine years oldThe curiosity required to constantly improve your processesA look inside The House That She BuiltWhat women bring to the trade of constructionClosing the skills gap and improving the homeowners’ experience!Bringing humanity to the homeWhy a house is so much more than four wallsThe emotional bond Stefani forms with her clientsSome of the custom designs Stefani has createdA practical understanding of bringing these designs to lifeWhy certain constraints are good for innovation To connect with Stefani and Domani Home Design, visit her website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.Connect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →ENCORE EPISODE: Father Judge High School Welding Instructor and Mentor, Joe Williams
Dec 28, 202200:37:20Tap to summarizeHOLIDAY ENCORE - On this episode we're back with the Father Judge welding program in Philadelphia, speaking to the instructor and architect of the program, Joe Williams.Joe has decades of experience as a welder, working on national defense systems in private industry, as a teacher at his alma mater, and has even constructed Hollywood movie sets and props!Most recently, he was tasked with architecting Father Judge's program from the ground up, just graduated his first class of students in June 2022, and continues to expand his program this coming Fall.Listen in to hear why we start calling Joe "Obi Wan," how he's preparing his students to make an impact on their communities, and the role that mentors have in growing the skilled trades today.Connect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →ENCORE EPISODE: How a New Welding Program Transformed a High School, with Brian Patrick King of Father Judge High School
Dec 21, 202200:41:03Tap to summarizeENCORE EPISODE - Father Judge High School President, Brian Patrick KingFather Judge is a Catholic, all-boys college preparatory school, but when Brian took over as president in 2016 he noticed that 66% of students were lacking clear, actionable career options post-graduation. That led to the school's decision to develop a new welding program to provide skilled trade alternatives for young men in the community.Listen in to hear Brian's story about how Father Judge created the welding program, how they developed buy-in and investment from leaders in the Philadelphia community, the success of graduating the very first class of students in the Spring of 2022, and what's coming next for the program.Father Judge has become a model for how to grow and promote the skilled trades with America's youth in this day and age. For anyone who believes it's too hard or that's a thing of the past, we hope you'll listen in to this great success story!Learn more about the Father Judge welding program or feel free to connect with Brian directly using these resources:"Father Judge set to graduate first group of welding students" - https://catholicphilly.com/2022/05/news/local-news/father-judge-set-to-graduate-first-group-of-welding-students/Website - https://www.fatherjudge.com/Email - bking@fatherjudge.comConnect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →ENCORE EPISODE: Nuclear Fusion, Aerospace and the Trades with Jeremy Hollman of Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Dec 14, 202200:44:04Tap to summarizeWith the recent breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology it seems fitting to revisit our conversation with Commonwealth Fusion System's Jeremy Hollman. With an impressive resume that includes testing and designing for groundbreaking projects at Boeing, SpaceX and Aurora Flight Sciences, Jeremy is that smart science guy we think only exists in movies like The Saint. This extensive experience in such an important field sounds intimidating, and that may be the very reason many skilled tradespeople think they need an engineering or advanced science degree to get their foot in the door of cutting-edge industries. Now leading the development of nuclear fusion technology at Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Jeremy shares how his experiences as a student made him aware of how technical workers are crucial to the development of advanced technology. Be part of the movement that inspires students and laborers to join companies that are changing the world! Topics discussed in this episode: Derek’s experience putting together an aerospace conferenceHow technical skills are key to the aerospace industrySkills Jeremy was taught by coworkers at SpaceX that can’t be learned from a bookThe difference between fusion and fission technology Why nuclear fusion technology is better for the environment and cost effectiveHurdles faced by private companies to move past the development phaseHow Commonwealth Fusion Systems is bringing opportunities to the local communityProgress on the building of Spark, Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ demonstration plant in Devon, MAHow building partnerships with local schools is key to creating a strong and skilled workforceReasons many laborers aren’t aware of opportunities in advanced tech fields or don’t want to be a part of itWhy Jeremy made the switch from the defense and aerospace fields to the energy sector with Commonwealth Fusion SystemsHow solving energy problems can help solve some of the world’s conflictsBenefits of working in the private sector to effectively make changeWhy government collaboration is important to companies and communitiesMovement building to educate and bring communities on board Current job openings at Commonwealth Fusion Systems Learn more about Commonwealth Fusion Systems Connect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →EP 33: Community Partnerships in the Skilled Trades with NEST Multi-Facility Management CEO Rob Almond
Dec 7, 202200:51:09Tap to summarizeIf you ever wonder how stores open back up after a hurricane, fire, flood, civil unrest or COVID it's companies like NEST and their network of providers that do the hard work. NEST is not only a major figure in facilities management they're also dedicated to closing the talent gap in the skilled trades, led by their CEO, Rob Almond.Rob has spend most of his career at NEST and seen all the hard work the men and women who clean, repair and maintain the thousands of properties across their network in the US and Canada. This appreciation and dedication to community engagement led to the creation of NEST Nurtures and their Partnership with the Philadelphia chapter of NAWIC. These initiatives are just the beginning for what Rob and NEST are planning to do by leveraging the tens of thousands of providers to build a large coalition and find solutions to closing the talent gap in the skilled trades.We are grateful and honored to join that mission and help Rob and his network get more people looking to the trades for a fulfilling life.Rob Almond's BioRob Almond's LinkedIn profileNEST Nurtures NEST WebsiteForbes Article by Rob, about The Dope Teacher, Evin JarrettNEST Partnership with NAWICConnect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →EP 32: General Contractor Mom Shows How the Trades Offer Flexibility, with Kristi Allen
Nov 30, 202200:42:59Tap to summarizeGrowing up in construction and being part of multiple generations of builders offered Kristi Allen the mentoring and pathway to a life in the trades. As owner of Woodcastle Builders and one of the inspirations for The House That She Built, Kristi has leveraged her career as a general contractor to pay it forward and show a new generation of girls the benefits of the blue collar life. She also complemented her undergraduate and graduate studies with the hands-on learning of general contracting and is always seeking to expand her knowledge. We loved hearing how being a lifelong learner contributed to success and see this as another example that education and hands-on development can lead to great results. If you would like to learn more about Kristi and The House That She Built here are some helpful resources:Woodcastle Homes WebsiteWoodcastle Homes on InstagramKristi on LinkedInThe House That She BuiltConnect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →EP 31: Master Plumber Turned Skilled Trades Technology Guru: Ken Midgett of Interplay Learning
Nov 23, 202200:53:16Tap to summarizeOne of the first things that becomes apparent in talking with Ken Midgett, besides being incredibly knowledgeable, is how caring he is. You can hear it in his voice, how carefully-thought out his answers are to questions, the way he talks about former students and the love he has for his work. It was truly a pleasure to have him on the show and hear how he's taken over 40 years as a master plumber and helped guide young adults towards a successful career in the trades and built talent pipelines for employers. His article on building stronger ties with CTE programs should be a playbook for every community looking to develop a steady pipeline of talented professionals. We can't wait to bring him back again and we hope you enjoy the show!Ken Midgett LinkedInInterplay LearningConnect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →EP 30: How Do You Go From Elevator Repairman to President of the Company? Chris Gutkes of Island Elevator
Nov 16, 202200:59:36Tap to summarizeIn what can only be described as a modern day Shakespearean tale, this week's episode explores Chris Gutkes' ascendency from reluctantly following the family legacy, in the elevator industry, to running the business literally overnight. Suddenly losing a family member thrust Chris into a role he was not prepared to assume and it took all his skills as a technician, lifelong learner and a few helpings of humble pie to wear the crown and bring the business back up to the top floor. We think this is an incredible story for those asking how someone can rise the ranks in the trades and one day run the entire company. We hope you enjoy it.Follow Chris and Island Elevator:Island Elevator WebsiteChris Gutkes on LinkedInIsland Elevator on InstagramConnect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
Transcribe →EP 29: How Horses and Entrepreneurship Can Lead to a Successful Career in the Trades, with Jess the Farrier
Nov 9, 202200:49:51Tap to summarizeIt's not everyday you get to host an Instagram influencer, horse manicuring mogul AND break a major story all in one episode so this one's special! This week we're excited to welcome a member of the trades that hasn't fallen into the customary lines of business and we learn a bit about the equine and entrepreneurship world from Jess the Farrier.Jess breaks down what farriers are and how she's been able to cultivate a steady client base since dropping out of college and making a bold leap into the field. Spoiler Alert: It's worked out pretty good.Check out her work and be sure to give her a follow. It's fascinating to watch and definitely a rabbit hole you'll have a hard time climbing out of! Instagram Facebook Website Connect with us:InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokYouTubeHead to Apple Podcast for more episodes.
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