Podcast
The Line
Hosted by Blackline · EN
Step up to The Line. A new podcast focused on highlighting the skilled trades. Showcasing men and women by sharing their stories and experiences. Our guests range from CEOs of 100 million-dollar businesses to a 21-year-old fabricator/welder. By sharing their experiences we aim to inspire the next generation of boys and girls hoping to break the generational miseducation surrounding the trades as an option. The Line is produced by Blackline whose mission is to continue to lift the view of the skilled trades. For trades by trades. Welcome to the Line.
Tune in every Monday for a new episode.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Strong Like Iron Ft. Larry Sisco Ep. 120
Feb 200:53:04Tap to summarizeIf you don’t want to micromanage, the simple answer is this: don’t. Because if you’re going to do it anyway, you might as well have done it yourself. In this conversation with Laurence Sisco of IronStrong Metal Fabrication , we talk about what it really means to build teams—and to build businesses that are strong. Not perfect, but strong. The kind of strength that comes from working through failure, not avoiding it, and using those moments to build people up.As our businesses grow—and as we age in business—it’s easy to forget this. But building up the people on our teams, and the teams we work alongside, is paramount to long-term success.It’s hard work. But it’s worth it.And while we never want to forget that this is a business, we also can’t forget that a business is made up of people—people with lives, families, friends, and responsibilities outside of work. The environments we create as owners, founders, leaders, and operators matter. They matter for the next generation and for those learning and growing in an industry that desperately needs healthy, strong leadership environments.--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7 Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848--------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg--------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite https://www.blacklineltd.com/-----------------------Explore the podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
Transcribe →The Backyard Ft. Keaton Turner, Thomas Haun, Ryan Sistad, & Lisa Bodine Ep. 119
Jan 2600:34:59Tap to summarizeThe Backyard is the final episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard—and it brings the conversation home.In this episode, we hear from members of the organization, as well as from Ryan Sistad , who leads Better In Our Backyard and serves as the primary leadership voice in this conversation. Ryan shares what he hopes people take away from being part of this work, and why the organization exists—to bring real value to its members and to advocate for something larger than any one company or project: a better backyard for all of us.At a time when minerals, strategic reserves, and national security dominate the news, this conversation serves as an important reminder. Mining—and the resources beneath our feet—have always played a critical role in sustaining our way of life. That hasn’t changed. What often changes is our awareness of it.We’ve been honored to walk alongside the Better In Our Backyard team and to better understand the work they’re doing. Our hope is that these conversations uncover something for you as well—reminding us of what matters, what deserves our focus, and why perseverance matters, especially in an industry that knows difficulty and pressure firsthand.From the entire Blackline team to Better In Our Backyard, thank you—for your leadership, your conviction, and your commitment to helping companies and organizations bring value, raise awareness, and operate responsibly. This is The Backyard—yours and ours. May we all take responsibility for making it a better one.--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7 Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848--------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg--------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite https://www.blacklineltd.com/-----------------------Explore the podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
Transcribe →The Bedrock Ft. Jon Cherry Stephen Donohue & J.T. Starzecki Ep. 118
Jan 1900:33:00Tap to summarizeThe Bedrock is where the resources sit—and what everything above it is built on. It’s what we build with, and ultimately, what determines the strength and longevity of what we leave behind.In this episode, we bring together conversations with Jon Cherry , Stephen Donohue , and J.T. Starzeki —leaders who are focused on the bedrock of America and the responsibility that comes with stewarding its resources. They speak candidly about where we need to be more intentional, how we need to change the way we look at domestic resources, and what it means to lead that change rather than wait for it.These are men who are stepping up to the line—pioneering new approaches, leading with conviction, and doing the work required to make a real difference. This is why they are part of Better In Our Back Yard , and why they are committed to building a future that is stronger, more responsible, and more sustainable—for you and for me.As Better In Our Backyard recently gathered for its Annual Dinner, this conversation serves as an important reminder. While most of us go about our daily lives, there are men and women across mining organizations and companies doing the work that makes those lives possible—providing the materials, energy, and foundation our future is built on. The Bedrock is about recognizing that responsibility and choosing to build on it the right way.--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/JoshuadmellottLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg--------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltdInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite: https://www.blacklineltd.com/--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
Transcribe →The Ground Ft. Jessica Johnson Ep. 117
Jan 1200:35:36Tap to summarizeThe Ground is the second episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard , as we continue reflecting on 250 years of building in the United States of America during the opening weeks of January 2026.In this episode, Jessica Johnson , Vice President of Talon Metals Corp. , walks through an important distinction—preservation versus conservation—and why that difference matters. She speaks honestly about the reality that simply by living and breathing, we are using the ground every single day. Everything we rely on is either mined from the ground or grown from it. If it’s not mined, it’s grown.Jessica explains, with clarity and conviction, why conservation—not avoidance—is the responsible path forward. She shares thoughtful insight into who we are as people and how we canuse the resources we’ve been entrusted with efficiently, responsibly, and respectfully—so that this ground can continue to sustain life not just today, but for generations to come.The Ground drops Monday, January 12, 2026. If these conversations resonate, we invite you to follow along—and stand alongside other like-minded men, women, and organizations committed to ensuring the ground beneath our feet is better in our backyard.--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7 Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/JoshuadmellottLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg--------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite: https://www.blacklineltd.com/--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
Transcribe →The Dirt Ft. Mike Heatwole Ep. 116
Jan 500:36:47Tap to summarizeFor 250 years, this country has been built by men and women willing to step up to the line—willing to walk on the dirt, stand on the ground, and do the work that begins at the bedrock. Long before headlines and soundbites, there was responsibility. There was stewardship. There was an understanding that what lies beneath our feet matters, because it supports everything above it—our communities, our economy, and our way of life.As we enter the first four weeks of January 2026, Blackline—in partnership with Better In Our Backyard—will be sharing a four-part series of real, honest conversations rooted in that foundation. Each week, we’ll release an episode leading into the Better In Our Backyard Annual Dinner on January 15, centered on responsible industrial development, strong local economies, and the people who do the work that sustains modern life.The series unfolds in four parts: The Dirt. The Ground. The Bedrock. And The Backyard.These conversations are about more than industry—they’re about responsibility. About developing resources the right way. About investing in local workforces, strengthening communities, and educating people on why domestic mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure matter. Better In Our Backyard exists to bring value to the companies, organizations, and men and women who walk on the dirt, stand on the ground, and build on the bedrock of this country—so families can thrive and communities can endure.Over the next four weeks, follow along—and stand alongside other like-minded men, women, and organizations who believe a stronger future is built locally, intentionally, and with care. If that resonates, you can learn more and register to attend the Better In Our Backyard Annual Dinner on January 15 through the link. Because a better economy, a better community, and a better future all start the same way—right here, in our backyard.--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7 Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/JoshuadmellottLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg--------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite: https://www.blacklineltd.com/--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
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053 "Going Forward Together" w/ Marvin Joles
Nov 11, 2024Tap to summarizeStep up to The Line. A podcast focused on highlighting the skilled trades. In this week's episode, Marvin Joles of Blacktop Banter sits down with Josh and discusses the importance of integrity and how you exit this world with nothing and leave only a few things. The most important of which being the impact you had on people. Josh and Marvin also cover the 2024 Dirt World Expo that just wrapped up in San Antonio Texas. Dirt World Expo hosted by Buildwitt and Josh and Marvin give their take on the speakers, the atmosphere as well as the mission behind the curtain. Tune in every Monday for a new episode. -------------------------- Also on Youtube: -------------------------- FOLLOW JOSH: https://www.instagram.com/joshuadmellott?igsh=a3RxZmo3ZXJiMDV1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/ FOLLOW AARON: https://www.instagram.com/aaronwitt/ https://www.instagram.com/buildwitt/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwitt/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildwitt/posts/?feedView=all https://buildwitt.com/ https://dirtworld.com/ FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4 https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514 https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/ https://www.blacklineltd.com/
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The Line Episode 1 (All eyes on me Ft. Marvin Joles)
Dec 23, 2023Tap to summarizeStep up to The Line. A new podcast focused on highlighting the skilled trades. Watch as Josh and Marvin talk during the Dirt World Summit hosted by @official_buildwitt about the power of social media and where all of the attention is. They talk about how to own your mistakes, how to build success in life and business, the power of knowledge and networking, and how to balance work and home life. Tune in every Monday for a new episode. -------------------------- FOLLOW JOSH: https://www.instagram.com/joshuadmellott?igsh=a3RxZmo3ZXJiMDV1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/ FOLLOW MARVIN: https://www.instagram.com/blacktopbanter?igsh=bXJzazlpajhnMnV0 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/ @blacktopbanter https://www.blacktopbanter.com/ FOLLOW BLACKLINE: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4 https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514 https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/ https://www.blacklineltd.com/
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