Blue Collar Business Podcast

This week on the Blue Collar Business Podcast , I’m bringing you something a little different—a live Q&A session straight from TikTok and YouTube. I took your real, raw questions and gave honest answers based on what I’ve lived and learned in the trenches. We hit on everything from scaling family-run excavation businesses to figuring out margins, systems, and when it’s time to get out of the m...

Ever finished a job perfectly, only to wait weeks or months to actually get paid for it? For blue collar businesses, cash flow isn't just an accounting concept—it's the lifeblood that keeps crews working, equipment running, and families fed. In this revealing conversation, tech entrepreneur Joe Kaye shares how his journey from corporate boardrooms to blue collar solutions began when he n...

Mark Zweig takes us on a remarkable journey through his multiple years in architecture, engineering, and construction, sharing candid insights about the industry that few are willing to discuss. From his early career in architecture firms to founding the Zweig Group (now in its 37th year), Mark reveals how his experience across multiple disciplines gave him unique perspective on the construction e...

Trade skills are vanishing with retiring workers while younger generations struggle to find mentors. Marc Webb, growing up in an Australian coal mining town with limited career options, recognized this crisis after his journey from greenkeeper to youth justice worker to operations manager. His response? UTRADIE - a revolutionary digital passport system connecting trade knowledge across generations...

Ever felt trapped in the endless cycle of gathering more work than you can handle, scrambling to complete it, then desperately seeking more jobs to stay afloat? Sy Kirby calls this the "hamster wheel of death" for blue collar entrepreneurs—and it's exactly where he found himself before implementing proper systems and processes at Sy-Con. In this revealing conversation with Shelena T...

What happens when your body knows what your mind won't admit? For Matt Keller, it took chest-tightening panic attacks in his corporate office to recognize he was on the wrong path entirely. Despite managing a $250 million budget at Walmart by age 26, something was deeply wrong. "I used to sit at Sam's home office, looking out the window, thinking if I could, I'd rather be diggi...

Turning a $5.50 per hour job into a six-crew plumbing empire doesn't happen overnight. Jerry Houy's 20-year journey building Jerry's Plumbing reveals what's truly possible when determination meets opportunity in the skilled trades. Jerry's story begins like many in construction - hating his daily grind as a "pack mule" carrying shingles until a plumbing company o...

In this special compilation episode, Sy brings together powerful insights from past guests, each answering the same crucial question: "What advice do you have for a blue-collar worker who’s sick of being stuck in the mud?" Whether that frustration is physical, emotional, or mental, this episode delivers straight talk and practical wisdom from voices who’ve been through the grind—and made...

What truly separates successful excavation companies from those that struggle? In this revealing episode, Sy Kirby brings his core Sy-Con team—Wes, Jesus, and Sam—into the studio for an unfiltered conversation about the realities of running a blue-collar business. The team pulls back the curtain on their transformation from a price-driven company to one that prioritizes production rates and deadli...

What if your workers treated every dollar of your labor budget as if it were their own money? In this eye-opening conversation, Michael Fortinberry, co-founder and president of Protiv, reveals the fundamental flaw in how blue-collar businesses compensate their workforce – and how to fix it. The contradiction is startling: contractors bid jobs based on production rates and material quantities, then...

Ever wondered if marketing your blue-collar business is worth the investment? In this candid solo episode, Sy Kirby pulls back the curtain on how creating the Blue Collar Business Podcast transformed his excavation company in ways he never anticipated. Nine years into running SyCon Excavation, Sy found himself facing the same challenges many trades entrepreneurs encounter: how to grow without simp...

What happens when a business owner with 22,500 TikTok followers who started pushing a mower across the street meets a podcast host who's been through the excavation industry's highest highs and lowest lows? Pure, unfiltered wisdom that every blue-collar contractor needs to hear. Trent Harris of Blue Collar Contractors pulls back the curtain on his journey from mowing lawns as a freshman...

Clay Hudspeth of HudX Excavation takes us on a journey through his entrepreneurial evolution, sharing the wisdom gained from over 25 years in the blue-collar world. After building a successful landscaping business with multiple crews, Clay completely restructured his approach with his excavation company, focusing on quality over quantity and implementing a strategic business model designed with an...

The remarkable journey of Bear Iron Works exemplifies how practical innovation solves real-world construction challenges. Father-son team Mike and Roggen Frick transformed what began as a side hustle into a thriving American manufacturing enterprise by identifying crucial equipment gaps in the construction industry. Mike's extensive background in construction and mining provided the technical...

The blue collar industries are experiencing a critical communication breakdown that's been misinterpreted as a skilled worker shortage. Brent Flavin, co-founder of BoomNation, joins the Blue Collar Business Podcast to reveal what's really happening behind the headlines and how technology is finally catching up to the needs of tradespeople. Traditional hiring platforms have created a syst...

When you've mastered your craft but your business owns your life, something's deeply wrong. Richard Walsh knows this firsthand – from digging trenches at $5/hour to building (and losing) a successful landscaping company during the 2008 crash, his journey reveals truths every blue-collar entrepreneur needs to hear. The moment that changed everything? Watching his four-year-old chase his t...

The world of government contracting remains largely hidden from most blue collar businesses, yet it represents billions in untapped opportunities waiting to be claimed. In this eye-opening conversation with Melinda Colon of Fortis OBM, we discover how tradespeople and contractors can access this lucrative market with less paperwork than buying a house. Melinda brings her 20+ years of expertise in...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Lance Cayko, the co-founder of F9 Productions and host of the Inside the Firm podcast, as he shares his transformative journey from a farm upbringing to a flourishing career in architecture. Lance's personal narrative reveals how early lessons in construction and clashing personalities with his father led him to rethink financial success and wealt...

Explore the transformative power of career and technical education (CTE) with Rodney Ellis, the visionary workforce training director at Springdale School District. Discover how Rodney and Chad Burkett are reshaping the educational landscape by embedding practical, skill-building courses into the curriculum as early as fourth grade. From robotics to CDL training and OSHA 30 certifications, we disc...

Unlock the doors to the world of blue-collar education as we spotlight the remarkable Chad Burkett and his transformative work in Springdale, Arkansas. Chad joins us to share the vital role of programs like heavy equipment operation, CDL training, and welding in shaping future industry leaders, thanks in part to partnerships with giants like Caterpillar and Tyson. You’ll hear how real-world collab...

Uncover financial strategies that can transform your blue-collar business with insights from Lauren Furtado, the Unconventional CFO. Lauren joins us to break down barriers and challenge traditional CPA norms, making financial concepts like cash flow management and forecasting more accessible to entrepreneurs who might feel overwhelmed. Learn how a fractional CFO can be a game-changer in your busin...

Ever wonder how a lawn-mowing gig can lead to TikTok fame and a thriving business? Trey Bo and Big Trey from Trey Bo Dirt share their incredible journey from neighborhood landscapers to social media sensations with over 125,000 followers. We promise you'll gain insights into the blue-collar hustle, filled with humor and real-world experiences. Tune in to hear stories of entrepreneurial spirit...

James Hatfield, the Chief Revenue Officer of LiveSwitch, takes us on an inspiring journey from the world of painting businesses to the cutting-edge realm of technology. James shares his incredible transition from working on scaffolds and ladders to becoming a leader in tech, offering insights and humorous tales from his days managing painting and power washing companies. This episode promises to e...

What if your backyard held the key to sustainable wastewater management? Join me for an insightful conversation with Joe Reed of White River Environmental, where we unravel the intricacies of septic systems that operate as miniaturized municipal sewer treatments for rural homes. Joe takes us through his inspiring journey from shadowing his father in the plumbing world to mastering septic system in...

Rusty Alexander, CEO and President of Integrity Automotive, shares his inspiring journey from serving on US Navy submarines to leading a successful automotive business. Discover how his military background shapes his unique strategies for acquiring and maintaining work trucks, and his commitment to high standards. Rusty reveals his insights on purchasing vehicles from leasing companies and his amb...