Essential Craftsman Podcast

The podcast is back! Nate & EC's video producer, Brady, are sharing why the podcast was put on hold & what we're excited about for the future. Stay tuned!

Huge thanks to Gerber for working with us on this video! They are great people making fantastic products.   Learn more about their plumbing fixtures here: https://www.gerber-us.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@GerberPlumbing https://www.instagram.com/gerberplumbing/ https://www.youtube.com/@GerberPlumbing https://www.facebook.com/GerberPlumbing/ https://twitter.com/GerberPlumbing

Learn more here https://www.instagram.com/realcraftusa

Nate interviews Tim from JK Boots! They talk about his home country of Ukraine, JK Boots customer experience and more.   0:00 Intro 2:12 Ukraine 15:26 Marketplace approach 24:01 Customer experience   Handmade Boots and the American Dream | JK Boots Factory Tour https://youtu.be/tfaNuXF6G_s Instagram: @jkboots Website: https://www.jkboots.com/ Podcast: Walking with JK Boots JK Boots interview with...

Nate and Scott met Dean in the Essential Craftsman Academy twice monthly zoom chat. Dean is an attorney in Texas with decades of experience in litigation and is now working in mediation. He works with many general contractors and people in the trades and was willing to share a lot of information and tips for staying out of the court room.   0:00 Intro 2:20 Litigation & mediation 4:53 Handshake not...

Scott and Nate talk with Bob about his 52 years blacksmithing and running a sawmill. Scott and Bob have been friends for years and share many common interests. They discuss blacksmithing mentors and so much more.   0:00 Intro 2:00 Currently blacksmithing 3:10 VIP blacksmiths 27:37 Bragging rights 32:30 Sharing knowledge 36:44 Woodpecker sawmill 1:02:31 Forging an anvil 1:05:05 Visiting British bla...

Nate shares some thoughts about career paths and paradoxes, and changing seasons. Nate also chats then Natalie, and expert on worms, about worm castings, composting and all things garden.   0:00 Career Paradoxes 5:48 Change of Season 8:44 Worm castings 10:12 Composting components 12:07 Vermicomopost 13:13 Screening the castings 15:23 Natalie's background 16:26 Small spaces 17:43 Mass production 19...

Nate and EC chat with Ryan about Stagecoach Farm and Forge (Ryan's blacksmithing business) the cookware he makes and how Ryan and EC both turned their blacksmithing hobbies into something much more.   0:00 Intro :43 Background 4:12 Cookware & gambling 7:36 Billable work 9:30 Cy & installation 10:55 Bidding iron work 14:18 Custom v repeat work 17:28 Creating & branding 19:32 High end work 23:40 Pri...

Nate met Jeff during a Live Chat inside the Essential Craftsman Academy. In this interview they chat about engineering, the pros and cons of serving in the Coast Guard and much more.   0:00 Intro 3:22 Background 8:33 Merchant 9:44 Responsibilities 14:12 Agreements 15:41 Academy & training 19:13 Types of engineering 26:16 Overlap with trades 30:27 Ship operations 37:58 Pros & cons 45:23 Career now...

Nate talks with Kaitlyn about some basic advice for interior design, how to avoid trends and much more.   0:00 Intro 2:31 Copy cat 3:35 Contractors & design 5:31 Outdated 6:47 Photos 8:12 Opinions 11:42 Basic advice 15:38 Balance 17:59 Trendy v classic 23:43 When to hire 27:38 Trial & error 30:17 Aesthetic 32:00 Having favorites 34:41 Current projects   IG:  @iconic design build  Website: www.icon...

My apologies to Sam and EC for my blunder is losing the audio to this interview. I will work on getting them back in here to try again!

Nate talks with Kevin about the ins and outs of gardening in any climate with any skill level.   0:00 Intro 2:28 Kevin's books 4:47 Writing 6:02 Reading 11:49 Public speaking 16:28 Gardening basics 20:16 Satisfaction 24:12 Harsh climates 27:13 Space 30:02 Bees 30:50 Current projects 34:19 Trouble shooting 38:50 Collaborations   IG:  @Epic Gardening  Website/blog: epicgardening.com YouTube: Epic Ga...

Nate talks with Shawn about water drainage and the efficiency of french drains.   0:00 Intro 3:59 Beginnings 6:35 Biology & ecology 8:08 Real estate 8:55 Contractor 10:15 College 11:39 Drainage styles 13:10 Installation = longevity 17:06 Video footage 19:08 Soil 20:38 Clean outs 23:09 Permits & inspections 24:47 Niche 27:09 DIY drainage 28:44 Straw & moss 31:30 Equipment & skills 38:26 YT & commen...

Nate chats with Ted about Build Magazine and the opportunities he has to photograph trade work all over the world. 0:00 Intro 2:00 Print industry 6:49 High end mindset 10:45 Portfolio 12:33 Jobsite photos 15:29 The Wealthy 18:14 Luck/preparation 20:34 American dream 23:19 Success mindset 26:02 Reading & optimism 28:05 Travel & water 38:18 Architectural Impact 40:11 European cabinetry 43:37 Tool na...

Nate talks with Matt about how from the time Matt was a child, he loved to fix everything he could get his hands on and how that led to the success of his YouTube channel Diesel Creek. 0:00 Intro 0:53 Craftsmanship 2:31 Part of the job 4:20 Background 5:50 Kindergarten 7:14 Strategy 11:33 Career path 14:28 Pipeline 20:21 YouTube 25:13 Introvert 27:01 Equipment 31:17 Restoration mindset 39:29 Next...

Nate talks with Dwight, the inventor of the Accu Footing, a concrete brace footing. They talk about the tool, how it's used, and Dwight's career.   0:00 Intro 2:48 Background 4:02 ICF forms 10:14 Redi mix 13:13 Confidence in styrofoam 15:48 Training wheels 17:05 Distribution 27:38 Customer service 32:43 Process/ wet set 35:07 Competition 40:11 How to order 43:36 Slinger trucks 48:50 Where to find...

Nate talks with Tim about the possible unknown advantages for contractors to have a website.   0:00 Intro & ECA 3:28 Growth hacking 7:02 Purpose of websites 13:46 Outsourcing 16:36 'How To' content 18:22 More than referrals 25:17 Build your own website 32:49 Not about you 38:17 Size of contractor 40:42 Website craftsmanship 45:28 Pride in work 48:07 Costs 52:41 Customize/Call to action 55:01 Findi...

Nate talks with Karalynn about the obstacles contractors face legally and what they can do to stay out of trouble.   0:00 Intro 1:27 Craftsmanship 2:31 Front end lawyer 4:21 Contract modification 6:10 Flat fee 6:41 Scope & bid 8:17 Res vs commercial 10:46 Background 12:15 Not getting paid 14:13 Filing liens 15:54 Automated 18:15 Subcontractor institute 22:42 Covid & contracts 24:30 Legal customers...

Nate chats with Kody about hunting, fishing, and all things outdoors. They talk about Kody's YouTube channel and how to get started if you want to experience the outdoors.   0:00 Intro 1:02 Background 5:50 Hunting culture 9:50 Kids & hunting 13:23 Hunting styles 14:37 When Where How 17:11 Steps & expectations 19:32 Turkeys 22:54 Video & content 24:40 DVDs & YT 28:41 50 videos 50 days 31:47 Workspa...

Nate talks with Danny about the amazing benefits of getting a welding education at Western Welding Academy.   0:00 Intro 3:08 Western Welding Academy 4:58 Options 6:52 Types of welding 9:53 Pipelines, oil, gas 15:28 Repair work 22:04 Student experience 24:08 Application process 26:20 6 months 27:21 Income 32:12 Welding trucks 35:05 Danny's background 41:24 Producing content 43:36 Beards 44:56 Who...

Nate and Nick discuss the best ways to acquire basic tools and knowledge needed to get started creating and building projects.   0:12 Intro 1:23 Mailing list 4:58 Welding 6:35 Engines & equipment 7:59 Junk drawer 9:32 Wood working 11:48 Intro to Nick 13:24 Wood working 15:27 1 car garage 18:03 Buying used 21:42 Table saw/track saw 23:50 Chainsaws 25:00 Startup tools 25:48 Quality wood 29:37 Curren...

Nate talks with Alex about building his YouTube channel, his philosophy of work and family, and his current projects.   0:00 Intro 2:11 Current projects 5:37 Take it apart 10:46 Learning in public 13:46 Risk 16:42 YouTube 20:34 Satisfaction level 23:30 Bigger better 28:52 Behind the scenes 31:29 Uncertainty 33:32 Philosophy of work 36:28 Family business 39:30 Hire out 42:01 Log cabin 45:53 Idaho 5...

Nate talks with Todd Taylor about starting and growing his landscaping equipment repair business Mow Power in Mesa, Arizona. They discuss the growth of the company, employees, business debt and so much more.   https://mowpoweraz.com/

Nate interviews Joe about his experience doing underwater construction/commercial diving while in the Navy, and his current involvement with the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute union, the local branch of UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpentry).   0:00 Intro 1:08 Unions 4:35 Diving 6:35 Navy salvage diving 8:38 Ship repair 13:13 UBC 15:13 Diving jobs 24:25 Unions 28:17 Trade options 35:40 Sati...

Nate talks with Eric Cup of Bridgewater Studios, a one-of-a-kind fabricating company using 3D printing and many of the skills that people in the trades use. Fabrication meets craftsmanship meets art. "If you need something weird, that's what we do."   0:00 Intro 1:14 Real world scenery 3:45 Problem solving 5:22 Interactive products 9:18 Digital work flow 10:55 Hiring & bidding 15:37 Clean slate 17...