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PODCAST

Blue-Collar BS

Brad Herda and Steve Doyle

The age-old excuse "we can"t find good people" is busted by two business coaches, Brad Herda and Steve Doyle. Blue-Collar BS features the top blue-collar business owners, thought leaders, and experts to share strategies on attracting and retaining top talent across ALL generations--including Gen Z"s (and why they should not be overlooked). Blue-Collar BS helps blue-collar business owners like you build a business that"ll thrive for decades by turning that blue-collar bullsh*t into some blue-collar

business careers

All Episodes

58:33

Built Tough: Women Leading Manufacturing Becca and...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/31

Two Gen X women who worked their way through male-dominated manufacturing share stories about earning respect, managing up, and why facts beat emotions every time. Becca and Jennifer reunite with Brad who used to manage them back when they all worked at Bucyrus to discuss leadership lessons.Both women rose from early roles to director level positions Becca now leads marketing at Super Products making truck mounted vacuums, while Jen oversees materials management. Their journeys reveal how women

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25:05

Gen Z Bossing Boomers with Class with Collin Thomey

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/24

At 22 years old, Colin Thomey manages staff members twice his age while running his own golf performance business on the side. His journey from retail frustration to golf course general manager reveals what happens when Gen Z enters leadership roles in family businesses.Colin learned early on in his career that coming on too strong with new ideas instead of taking time to understand the family business, their margins, memberships, and existing staff dynamics.The turning point came when Colin asked

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24:50

Shorty Shorts, Tank Tops, and Customer Service

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/17

When is a job really finished? This episode explores the gray area between completed work and customer satisfaction through Steve's personal experience as both contractor and homeowner in a landscaping project gone sideways.The conversation centers around a classic scenario: contractor completes work per original scope, homeowner calls four months later wanting additional work done. Steve built a retaining wall but explicitly excluded soil reclamation from his scope now the homeowner wants that dirt

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28:04

From Law Enforcement to Life Protection with Captain...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/10

How aware are you of your surroundings? Retired law enforcement captain Catherine Trimboli shares decades of experience about personal safety and situational awareness, revealing why our phone-obsessed generation has become sitting ducks for criminals.This GenXer spent 30+ years in law enforcement, working everything from jails to freeway patrol as a deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Her passion for empowering women and families grew from witnessing how many people lack basic safety

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23:49

How to Tell If You’ve Hired the Wrong “Tool”

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/10/03

A $6 soldering iron that catches fire the first time you use it versus a snap-on tool that still works perfectly after 35 years the difference between cheap tools and quality equipment mirrors the challenge many blue-collar businesses face with workforce compensation and expectations.The conversation starts with tool brand loyalty Milwaukee versus DeWalt versus Ryobi - and evolves into a deeper question about value. When you buy snap-on tools, you know exactly what you're getting. When you hire

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29:07

Crispy Like Toast: What Happens When Your Business...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/26

A lot of business owners wake up one day looking like "crispy toast" and realize they need to exit only to discover their business isn't sellable. Mike Finger lived this nightmare firsthand and spent five brutal years rebuilding his company with buyers in mind before successfully selling.This Gen Xer has bought and sold multiple businesses over 25 years, learning hard lessons about what makes companies truly transferable. His approach cuts through the industry complexity and sorcery filled advice to

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30:48

From Zero to $19 Million: Inside IRBIS HVAC’s...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/19

What happens when two 30-something millennials decide to shake up a traditional industry dominated by older, established companies? Tim and Vadim from IRBIS HVAC prove that age is just a number when you combine technical expertise with smart marketing and genuine care for your team.These Ironman finishers started as hands-on technicians and built their Silicon Valley HVAC company from scratch, reaching toward $19 million in revenue this year. Their approach to company culture, employee retention,

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27:15

Why ‘95 Babies Might Save Your Business; Nathan Schnell

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/12

From production manager to entrepreneur in just three months Nathan Schnell's water jet cutting startup reveals the real challenges and unexpected wins facing young business owners in traditional manufacturing industries.Born in 1995, Nathan represents that unique generation caught between millennials and Gen Z - old enough to appreciate wisdom from seasoned professionals, young enough to embrace new approaches. His story offers insights for anyone considering the leap from employee to entrepreneur,

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24:04

Toxic Positivity

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/09/05

What happens when workplace positivity becomes a toxic mask that's slowly killing your business? Steve's recent post about this very issue sparked a fascinating conversation that reveals why so many blue-collar organizations are struggling with employee loyalty and retention.The discussion began with a complete misunderstanding of what "toxic positivity" means. Its not about creating contagious positive energy it reveals the darker truth: organizations that force fake smiles while burying serious

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26:07

Living the Dream or Chasing a Paycheck? Adam Goldman...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/29

You don’t need to know the trade to own the business. Adam Goldman helps people see why franchising might be the smartest move they’ve never considered.We brought on Adam Goldman, a franchise consultant who's seen hundreds of folks jump ship from corporate life and into something way messier and way more fulfilling. From office cleaning to water restoration to lighting installs, Adam’s not just watching the shift from white collar to blue collar he’s in the thick of it.He breaks down the

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26:49

Retention Goldmine: Why Aaron’s Techs Never Leave

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/22

We’ve all worked places where the culture sucked. Aaron Beay decided to build the one he always wanted and five years later, no one’s left.We brought Aaron on because of the culture he’s created one that actually retains young talent, and not by accident. After 18 years in the field, burnout pushed him to try teaching. That part-time gig turned into a full-blown strategy for recruiting and training a team that’s never left his side in five years. Yeah, you read that right 100% retention.Aaron

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32:54

From Boiler Room to Business Boss: Chris Mesker's...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/15

Ever thought about owning a franchise but had no idea what kind would actually fit? Chris Mesker’s been there and most people don’t realize how many are built for the trades.In this episode, we dig into what franchise ownership really looks like, especially for those of us coming from the trades, stuck in a job you hate, or just done working for someone else. Franchising isn’t just fast food. There’s a whole world of blue collar opportunities out there, from dog poop pickup to drone powered power

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24:25

Ditch the Diploma and Grab a Wrench

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/08

If you’ve listened to the show for a while, you know that we are big believers that not everyone is meant for a 4-year university. It looks like the mainstream media has also picked up on that, and we're excited to dive into what that means for the future of work.Brad and I had a fantastic conversation this week about a significant cultural shift: high schoolers increasingly choosing the trades over traditional college. We discussed the rising trend of graduates earning substantial, debt-free

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34:08

From Airstream Dreams to Leading Shipyards with Frank...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/08/01

We’ve heard a lot of “that’s how we’ve always done it” in the trades but Frank Manning is showing how to lead with humility, trust, and a hands-on mindset.Frank is the President of Diversified Marine, isn’t your typical shipyard boss. He stumbled into the marine industry after a failed business venture and has been hooked ever since. Leading one of the top tugboat building teams on the West Coast, Frank brings a rare mix of humility and confidence to an industry dominated by legacy and tradition.In

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31:19

What Happens When BROADs Call BS

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/07/25

We did something a little different this week a crossover with Erin and Lori from BROADcast for Manufacturers. We tackled how fear based leadership and economic uncertainty are gutting decision-making, hiring, and trust across the shop floor.We dug into why leaders freezing up or worse, constantly changing course is killing morale and productivity. A recent Russell Reynolds report gave us a solid starting point, but the real value came from real experience: what happens when leaders react instead of

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30:07

From $9 an Hour to CEO: Jacob Emery’s Blueprint for...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/07/18

We’re talking with Jacob Emery, a guy who went from digging trenches at $9 an hour to running the company and that’s just half the story. Jacob’s not just leading R & R Pipeline in central Ohio, he’s also building a culture that challenges the old-school, cutthroat mindset in the trades. What really hit us was the moment someone looked him in the eye and asked, “What the hell are you doing with your life?” That one question flipped a switch.Jacob grew up around heavy equipment, started working

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30:45

How to Lead People Who Don’t Think Like You with...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/07/11

We’ve known George for nearly a decade, and what stands out most is his ability to connect with people across industries, titles, and generations. This episode is packed with helpful tips on how he’s learned to lead by listening, adapting, and meeting people where they are.Our longtime friend George McCaughan is joining us this week to talk about how to lead people across generations from union guys on the factory floor to young lawyers in a Florida firm. He’s done it all, and he’s still calling BS

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24:26

Fireworks, Food, and Freedom: The 4th of July Episode

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/07/04

We figured, hey it’s the 4th of July. Let’s skip the heavy stuff and just talk food, fireworks, and all the random things that make this holiday what it is.This week, we're keeping it light because it's the 4th of July and nobody needs a lecture while they're flipping burgers or chasing kids around the backyard. We’re talking backyard games, cookout must haves, fireworks chaos, and all the weird traditions that somehow make this holiday one of our favorites.Steve breaks down what 4th of July looks

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30:22

Teen Worker Tells All: What Gen Z Really Thinks About...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/06/27

We’ve always wanted to hear it straight from the source so this week, we brought in a real Gen Zer (and Steve’s daughter) to break down what it’s actually like to be young and working today.This one’s personal and eyevopening. We’re joined by Kayla, Steve’s high school aged daughter, who’s already on her third job and has plenty to say about what’s working (and what’s not) in the workplace. From bad bosses to “walk of shame” exits, she gives us the kind of honest feedback most business owners will

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31:00

Branding, Grit, and the New Face of Construction with...

Blue-Collar BS ·

2025/06/20

We knew Stefanie Couch was gonna bring the heat when she showed up in her pink hat and yep, she delivered. We’re talking branding in the trades, leading teams across generations, and how to stand out without selling out.She grew up in a family lumber yard, crushed it in the corporate world, and now she runs her own agency helping construction companies fix what’s not working usually starting with their marketing (or lack of it). Stefanie’s got strong opinions and real experience, which is exactly

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176 results

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