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PODCAST

Blue Collar Nation

Eric and Larry of Super Tech University, supertechu.com, have years of blue collar service business ownership. They know, all too well, that running a blue collar business is not for the faint of heart. For that reason, the Blue Collar Nation Podcast is dedicated to making the lives blue collar service business better. With humor and an unfailing optimism, Larry and Eric invite guests from all areas to the blue collar world to share ideas and help owners run their businesses more effectively.

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

47:52

From Injuries to Insurance: The Real Cost of Safety

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/09/30

Today Eric and Larry sit down with Eric Wick, founder of Safety Team Technologies. Eric breaks down how blue-collar companies can stop bleeding cash from preventable injuries and high workers’ comp. We get real about why paper manuals and sporadic tailgate talks don’t move the needle, how XMOD actually works (and why a single $40k claim can hammer your premiums for three years), and the simple habits that create a safety culture your team buys into. Eric shows how digital, mobile-first traini...

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72:59

Lighting the Way to Sales: Ryan Lee's Secrets for...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/09/19

In this episode, Eric and Larry sit down with Ryan Lee - creator of the Lighting Secrets framework and one of the sharpest minds in service sales. Ryan built his reputation by showing contractors how to turn outdoor lighting into a high-value service, and the principles behind that success apply to every trade. We break down how to position your services so homeowners see the value, not just the price...how to use storytelling and presentation to turn a "maybe' into a "yes"... and why the sam...

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49:06

Controlling Your Destiny: Being Creative To Create...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/08/08

In this episode, we sit down with the leadership team from One Tom Plumber to dig into how their business model works—and what service contractors can learn from it. Whether you're a restoration company, a plumbing business, or a multi-trade operator, there’s something here for you. We unpack how combining plumbing and restoration creates new revenue streams, how branding can actually make the phone ring, and why investing in solid systems and training is non-negotiable if you want to scale. ...

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48:37

How Training One Tech Changed Everything: Levi Gain’s...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/07/10

In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Eric and Larry sit down and have a conversation with Levi Gain, owner of Doug’s Carpet & Upholstery Care. Levi shares his journey from running a small, chaotic operation with one underperforming tech to leading a premium service business with consistent $750 average tickets. Levi opens up about the turning point—discovering Super Tech University—and how daily soft skills training completely transformed his team’s professionalism, communic...

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46:27

Mastering Market Downturns: Sales, Strategy & Soft...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/06/26

In this lively episode of Blue Collar Nation, Larry and Eric sit down with Jeff Jones—Director of Sales & Marketing and business coach at Violand Management—to unpack how trade businesses in the disaster restoration, HVAC, plumbing, and janitorial industries can thrive in today’s slower market. Jeff shares his journey from family hardware stores to becoming VP of Everything Amazing, reveals why aggressive sales during downturns can lead to market dominance, and highlights essential future...

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42:20

Leading the Next Generation: Managing Gen Z in Home...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/06/17

Gen Z is changing the workforce - and that includes your home service team. They don't respond to fear-based leadership or "back in my day" lectures. In this episode, Eric and Larry break down how to effectively lead and manage Gen Z employees in the trades. They discuss what makes Gen Z tick, what drives them to perform, and how to adjust your leadership style without lowering your standards. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or service manager, this is the playbook for building a hig...

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66:44

From Grassroots Beginnings to Industry Leader: The...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/06/04

In this engaging episode, Eric and Larry sit down with Kevin Bunce. Kevin shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey from dropping out of college to building a thriving company in the restoration industry. He discusses the importance of cultivating a strong company culture centered on professionalism, consistent training, and team development. Kevin emphasizes how investing in people through programs like Super Tech University has fostered loyalty, improved service quality, and differentiat...

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38:12

The 15-Minute Fix: How Daily Morning Meetings Can...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/05/23

In this impromptu Zoom session, we dig into one of the most underrated performance boosters in the home service industry: the daily morning meeting. Discover why 10–15 minutes each morning can reduce turnover, improve communication, and create a magnetic company culture that attracts top talent. Learn practical steps for implementing these meetings, overcoming resistance from your team, and maximizing ROI. If you’re tired of disengaged employees and inconsistent results, this is your blueprin...

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52:10

From Coal Mines to CEO: The School of Hard Knocks...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/05/16

In this inspiring episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Eric and Larry sit down with Bill German, co-owner of New Way Restoration and proud graduate of the "School of Hard Knocks." Bill shares his powerful journey from working in underground coal mines to leading a thriving restoration business. He dives into the life-changing lessons learned along the way—how COVID reshaped his views on work-life balance, what it really means to “figure it out,” and how mentorship, community, and relent...

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37:51

Inspect to Impress: In-Home Inspections That Close...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/05/08

In this episode, Larry and Eric break down the art of the in-home inspection—not just to diagnose problems, but to educate the client, build trust, and lead them naturally to a confident buying decision. If you’re in the home services industry, this one’s for you. We’ll explore how to turn your inspection process into a structured, trust-building experience that eliminates sales pressure and increases your close rate. Learn how to ask the right questions, use simple language, and visually inv...

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52:32

The Perfect Service Call

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/05/01

We are always on the quest of trying to get our techs to perform "the perfect service call" so we get all the repeat business, referrals, and those coveted Google reviews. In this episode, Eric and Larry go step by step through the actions and habits that create the perfect service call. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach the...

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34:45

Winning Every Call: Mastering Soft Skills to Thrive...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/04/24

Join this insightful conversation with Eric and Larry as they discuss how home service businesses can maximize each service call's effectiveness by prioritizing technician training and soft skills, especially during a tightening economy. Key Takeaways: Every Call Counts: Each service call is your opportunity to secure a lifetime client, not just a one-time job.Soft Skills are Critical: Connection, clarity, and confidence determine the outcome of your service calls.Consistent Training Pays Off...

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22:35

What Does It Feel Like to Work for You

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/04/02

Most service company owners spend an inordinate amount of time working on and worrying about client experience....as they should. However, do they put the same amount of effort into creating an amazing work experience for their team? Larry and Eric discuss this topic on today's podcast. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft ...

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72:10

Thriving in HVAC for the Next Decade with Service...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/03/15

Matt Michel joins Eric and Larry to talk about the future of the HVAC industry for the next 10 years. We tackle topics such as how tariffs will affect HVAC sales, the importance of soft skills to grow a great service company, and how the smaller companies can effectively compete with the big players in their markets. This is an episode that should not be missed, regardless of which vertical you are in for home services. Check out Matt's book, Contractor Stories: Inspirational Lessons for Cont...

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57:50

Knowing Your Business Data with Mandy Rewis of JOC...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/02/15

In this episode, we sit down with Mandy Rewis, Director of Business Development and Strategy at JOC Analytics, to explore how business intelligence tools are revolutionizing the restoration and trades industries. Mandy shares how JOC Analytics pulls data from CRMs and job management software to create real-time, customizable dashboards that eliminate manual reporting and provide actionable insights on KPIs, financials, and production metrics. We discuss why small and mid-sized businesses need...

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34:57

Gaining Wisdom In Entrepreneurship

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/02/03

In this weeks episode, Larry and Eric sit down to discuss the positives and negatives that come with running a business at a certain age and how to stay on the cutting edge of new business practices. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ for more info....

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53:55

Getting Paid for What You're Worth

Blue Collar Nation ·

2025/01/10

It is a never ending struggle in the restoration industry to get paid what we are worth, for all the work we have done, and in a timely manner. This week Eric and Larry sit down with Becca Dopher of SFY, Service For You, to talk about what contractors can do to help them get paid in full for the work they have performed.SFY is a leading estimate and supplement solution, offering quick and accurate Xactimate estimates and claims management for restoration and roofing contractors in water mitig...

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46:37

Unlocking Home Service Success using V-Street w/ John...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2024/12/26

In this episode, we sat down with John Monroe of Violand Management to talk about their new V-Street educational platform—an essential resource hub designed specifically for service business owners. V-Street consolidates over 750 documents, training videos, and management tools into one user-friendly platform, empowering businesses to streamline operations and boost performance.Key highlights include:How to access a 30-day free trial with priority code BCN30 at https://violand.com/vstreet/.Th...

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42:17

Supporting Women in the Trades with Amy O'Grady

Blue Collar Nation ·

2024/12/17

Amy O'Grady, Executive Director of Women in HVACR, joined Eric and Larry to talk about the work she and women in HVACR are doing to help recruit, train, and support women who are getting into the trades. Eric and Larry learn about Amy's vast and diversified employment history and entrance into HVAC as a second-generation HVAC contractor. Contact Amy at director@womeninhvacr.org. Enjoy the conversation!TITLE SPONSOR:Super Tech UniversityDramatically improve your team's performance with a...

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63:29

Manufacturing Your Own Leads with 1 Tom Plumbers...

Blue Collar Nation ·

2024/12/06

Many restoration companies are beholden to program work, TPA's and the plumber referral game. 1 Tom Plumber Rocky Hensley sits down with Eric and Larry to educate our listeners on how to make their own water damage leads. You can reach Rocky at 1 TOM PLUMBER (1-866-758-6237) or email him at Rocky@1tom.com.TITLE SPONSOR:Super Tech UniversityDramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest...

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308 results

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