Skilled Nation

Do farmers truly own their John Deere equipment if independent technicians cannot access the software required to repair it? Willie Cade, director of the Theo Brown Society and a board member of Repair.org, joins Skilled Nation to explain the fight over John Deere right to repair. He breaks down the proposed $99 million settlement, the FTC’s role, state right-to-repair legislation, equipment owner...

A small mistake on a construction site can become a major expense once the walls close and the next trade moves in. So how can apprentices, journeymen and experienced crews catch problems before they trigger costly rework? Quality assurance inspector and electrical industry professional Will Lane joins Skilled Nation to break down the hidden “rework tax” created by missed details, misunderstood el...

This Labor Day, Skilled Nation celebrates the people whose skill, determination and craftsmanship keep America moving. Through stories from welders, electricians, HVAC professionals, builders, fabricators and more, this special episode explores the work happening behind the scenes, the dedication it takes to master a trade, and the pride that comes from building, fixing and creating something that...

College isn't the only path to a successful career, but for students interested in construction and the skilled trades, figuring out where to start can be the hardest part. In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades talks with Corey Foster, Director of Workforce Development for the Arizona Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, about what it really takes to turn an in...

What if we’re asking young people to choose a future before they’ve had the chance to see what’s possible? In this episode of Skilled Nation , host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Dr. Chad Wilson, Superintendent of the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) , to explore why career exposure needs to start earlier and why college shouldn’t be the only pathway students are encouraged to consider. Fr...

AI is changing the skilled trades, but what does that mean for the people doing the work? As homes get smarter, tools become more connected and artificial intelligence makes its way into the field, the job of an HVAC technician is beginning to evolve. But the biggest changes may not be the ones people expect. In this episode of Skilled Nation , host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Jamie Quanrud of Re...

What if the career that changes your life is the one nobody ever told you about? For Letty Bejarano and Rachel Miller , welding wasn't part of the plan. One followed the traditional path through college before realizing success on paper didn't feel like fulfillment. The other stumbled into a welding shop and instantly knew she had found where she belonged. Together, they turned those unexpected jo...

Women are helping reshape the future of the skilled trades, but barriers still exist. In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Concetta Defa, electrician, workforce advocate, and host of Hire PowHER, to discuss why the skilled trades industry needs more women, what's changing on today's job sites, and what challenges still need to be solved. From apprenticeship opportun...

Can an apprenticeship change your life? Mike Greenawalt says yes, because it changed his. Before becoming CEO of one of the nation's largest electrical contractors, Mike was a self described C student who struggled in a traditional classroom but thrived with his hands. One mentor, one opportunity, and one electrical apprenticeship completely changed his future. Today, through the Greenawalt Founda...

What if one high school welding class could change the course of your life? In this episode of Skilled Nation , Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Stephanie Hoffman , Director of Industry Development & Engagement at Miller Electric , to explore how a single opportunity turned into a career spanning welding, military service, education, entrepreneurship, and national workforce leadership. Stephanie s...

Every summer, millions of skilled trades professionals work in dangerous heat across Arizona, Texas, Florida, and the southern United States. But what keeps construction workers, welders, electricians, HVAC technicians, and laborers safe when temperatures climb above 110°F? In this episode of Skilled Nation , Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Mike Marden, owner of WDS Integrated Design Build, to discus...

What do a hotel clerk who fixed an ice machine on a whim, a man who walked out of prison and into a trade school, and a Marine who built a $100M HVAC company all have in common? They found their way into one of the most in-demand, overlooked, and flat-out lucrative careers in America. In this special episode of Skilled Nation, we're bringing together the expertise of three HVAC professionals who'v...

America doesn't have a shortage of skilled trades careers. It has a shortage of awareness, mentorship, and experienced workers to train the next generation. In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Concetta Defa, electrician, workforce advocate, and host of Hire PowHER, to uncover the real reasons behind the skilled trades workforce shortage. While many conversations fo...

Everyone talks about the skilled trades shortage, but are the jobs really worth it? In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Jacob Evanson, Business Manager of Boilermakers Local 627, for an honest conversation about the realities of working in the trades. They tackle the questions people are asking online: • Do skilled trades actually pay enough? • Is the work too hard...

What happens when a second-generation welder combines decades of hands-on experience with the power of social media? In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Stan Sherwin of SS Custom Welding, a custom fabricator, welding educator, and online creator who has built a loyal audience of more than 150,000 followers by sharing his craft, mentoring the next generation, and pr...

Jennifer Robles was exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck in survival mode balancing two jobs, raising three boys, and trying to hold her family together. But instead of settling, she made a life changing decision that would completely transform her future. In this emotional and deeply honest episode of Skilled Nation, Jennifer shares how she went from working as a medical assistant and fast-food supe...

What started as two brothers decorating their family home turned into one of Arizona’s most recognized holiday attractions. In this episode of Skilled Nation, Sammy and Kyle Pratt, better known as the Pratt Brothers, share how they built a nationally recognized Christmas spectacular using welding, electrical work, fabrication, programming, plumbing, pyrotechnics, and pure creativity. From dumpster...

Peyton Sweet went from learning welding at Tulsa Welding School to building Sweets Fabrication into a growing business and online brand in just five years. In this episode of Skilled Nation, Peyton breaks down the real side of welding, fabrication, entrepreneurship, pricing jobs, social media growth, mental health, and what it takes to survive in the skilled trades. From learning fabrication in th...

How does a 14-year-old struggling to strike his first arc turn into “The Welding Magician”… a welder, content creator, and founder of a fast-growing global brand? In this episode of Skilled Nation, Michael Cortez shares how he went from documenting daily welds to building a loyal community, launching a business, and inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in the skilled trades. From discip...

What does it take to run a live concert where every light, sound cue, and moment has to hit perfectly? In this episode of Skilled Nation, we go behind the scenes with Chris Elliott, a production manager overseeing high-tech live events across the country with R-Entertainment, where there is zero room for error. From starting as a ticket taker to managing 20–30 venues and coordinating crews, vendor...

You use the cloud every day for streaming, gaming, and AI, but few people understand what powers it. In this episode of Skilled Nation, we go inside the world of data centers with Michelle Woodford of DPR Construction to uncover the infrastructure behind every click, upload, and connection. From massive data center builds to the electricians, HVAC techs, and skilled trades that keep them running,...

What does it take to turn military discipline into a thriving business and build a company from a garage into a 100 million operation? In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Jesse Keenan, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Semper Fi Heating and Cooling, to break down the real path from service to success in the skilled trades. Jesse, an RSI graduate, shares how the mindset of the Mar...

Can gaming really lead to a successful career in the real world In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Henry, CEO of HK Concrete Design, who turned years of gaming into a thriving custom concrete business serving high end builders and contractors. What started as hours spent mastering strategy games like Quake and SimCity became real world skills in problem solving, design thinking, a...

What if video games were preparing you for a real career… and you didn’t even know it? In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Laurent Da Dalto, CEO of Mimbus, to explore how virtual reality and simulation-based training are transforming skilled trades education. From virtual welding and construction safety to immersive learning environments, this conversation reveals how gaming techno...

At 180 miles per hour, every detail matters. But what most fans never see is the skilled work behind the speed. In this episode of Skilled Nation, we go on location at Phoenix Raceway to uncover the real workforce powering NASCAR. From welding and fabrication to electrical systems, cooling technology, and pit crew precision, this episode breaks down the skilled trades that keep race cars competiti...