Irregardless

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with Jim Vinoski, President of Cosgrove Content and Consulting, host and founder of the Manufacturing Talks podcast and web show, and a longtime Forbes contributor focused on the manufacturing space. After decades spent working across the industry, Jim has turned his attention to consulting and writing, sharing insights on the future of manufacturin...

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with Jared Cochran, Owner of Speed Fabrication out of Perryville, Missouri. What began as a father-son project to build a CNC plasma table turned into a thriving fabrication business that Jared runs with his wife. From decorative metal signs to residential, artistic, and government work, Speed Fab has grown from a garage hobby into a full-blown powe...

This week on Irregardless , we’re joined by Rob Mihalko , founder and principal of Spectus Strategy and a trusted expert in digital marketplaces. Rob shares hard-earned lessons from years helping marketplace businesses grow and scale. From his early days at Ariba to sharing his expertise with the next generation of marketplace leaders. We get into what actually drives sustainable marketplace growt...

In this episode, Bryzos COO Lee Letourneau sits down with Chris Luecke, host of Manufacturing Happy Hour and PubCast Worldwide , for a wide-ranging conversation that’s as insightful as it is entertaining. They explore how Chris went from a career in automation at Rockwell to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in the industrial space through podcasting. He shares how Manufacturing Happy H...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Shep Hickey and Lisa Reisman continue their discussion, diving into how MetalMiner evolved from a simple blog into a platform offering powerful forecasting tools for the metals industry. They explore the complexities of metal pricing, market volatility, and why critical thinking still matters in a world increasingly shaped by A.I. Lisa shares her perspective on what...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Shep Hickey sits down with Lisa Reisman, CEO and founder of MetalMiner, for an engaging and wide-ranging conversation that traces the unexpected journey that led her into the metals industry. Lisa shares her unconventional path, from early career twists and wild job stories to her first steps into aluminum trading. She talks about how she and her husband la...

This week on Irregardless , we sit down with Sam Goodwin, an entrepreneur, speaker, and St. Louis native, to hear a story that is as unthinkable as it is inspiring. In 2019, while on a mission to visit every country in the world, Sam was captured in Syria and held hostage for 63 days under the Syrian regime. With no formal charges and little hope, he endured solitary confinement, interrogation, an...

20 episodes in and still just getting started. For this episode, we’re looking back at some of our favorite moments from the first 19 episodes of the show. Hosted by the Bryzos team—Shep Hickey, Lee Letourneau, and Rachel Hartman—Irregardless brings together real, unscripted conversations with guests from across the metals industry, startups, tech, and beyond. Over the course of the season, we’ve...

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with Chris and Brent Jansky—the father-son duo leading T.J. Welding & Fabrication in Wharton, Texas. As President and Vice President, respectively, Chris and Brent represent the second and third generations of their family-run metal fabrication and welding business. Their story is one of legacy, resilience, and evolution in the metals industry....

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with Staci Thomas, Professor of Practice in Communications at Washington University’s Olin Business School, to dive into the rapidly evolving world of AI. With a rich background as a Mandarin translator in the U.S. Air Force and a lifelong passion for language and culture, Staci brings a unique and thoughtful perspective to the conversation. Togethe...

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with Mike Wayte, Principal and Founder of Clinch Northwest, a Seattle-based manufacturer and supplier of self-clinching sheet metal fasteners. Mike shares his journey through the metals and fasteners industry, what inspired him to start Clinch NW, and how his hands-on experience helped shape the company’s direction. They dive into Clinch NW’s transi...

In this laugh-out-loud episode of Irregardless , host Shep Hickey sits down with Allen Heggs , second-generation owner of Helcrist LLC , a family-run steel fabrication and erection company based in Philadelphia, PA. From residential and commercial builds to hotels, schools, and pharmaceutical projects, Helcrist’s legacy runs deep—and Allen is already preparing the next generation to carry it even...

This week on Irregardless , Shep sits down with Eric Gilbert, CEO of ANOVA Furnishings — a St. Louis-based company known for crafting commercial-grade outdoor site furnishings like benches, tables, and receptacles. As a second-generation leader, Eric shares what it’s been like taking the reins from his father and steering the business into its next chapter. The two dive into everything from entrep...

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with the one and only Joe Tierney—a Broadcast and I.T. Specialist who wears more hats than most people own. If you’ve seen our Cracking the Code mini-series, you’ve already seen Joe’s work. He was the quiet force behind the scene, helping to capture the Bryzos team with clarity, creativity, and authenticity. But this time, we’re flipping the script...

From the bite suit to the welding mask—Jeff Hasty’s career path is anything but ordinary. Jeff was raised around welding and pipe fitting, following his dad's career from state to state. As one of the best welders Jeff’s ever known, his dad gave him an early look into the world he’d eventually return to. Initially, Jeff was pulled toward law enforcement after a Ride-Along sparked a new passion. He...

Dennis Arrowood, a 28-year veteran of the metals industry and Sales Operations Specialist at Ryerson, joins Shep for a conversation that spans tanks, transitions, and technology. From his early days driving armored vehicles in the U.S. Army to nearly three decades in steel, Dennis brings a unique perspective on structure, discipline, and getting things done. Inside Ryerson, Dennis carved out a car...

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with Dr. Dave King, a leading orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, for a deep dive into the high-performance world of sports injuries and surgical innovation. From his days in med school to the intense realities of the OR, Dr. King shares how mental focus, teamwork, and technology collide when treating athletes on and off the field. Th...

In this special mini episode recorded live at the 2025 NASCC Steel Conference , we switch things up with a quick, on-the-ground conversation between Bryzos’ own Lee Letourneau and Garret Armstrong , Project Manager and Estimator at Metal Pros LLC in Wichita, KS—and an active Bryzos member. Garret shares his experience attending NASCC, including what sessions stood out, what he’s taking back to his...

This week on Irregardless , Shep Hickey sits down with Sean Bailey, Territory Sales Manager at Smokiez Edibles, for a conversation that spans from cannabis to the Chilean mountains. Sean gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Missouri’s evolving cannabis industry—how the shift from medicinal to recreational use reshaped his career and opened up new opportunities. But that’s just the beginning. Sean...

In this episode of Irregardless , Shep sits down with industry insider Josh Weber, owner of Metal Transformations LLC in Wichita, KS. Josh’s journey into the metals world is anything but typical—starting out in cattle farming, he transitioned from life on the farm to becoming a skilled metal fabricator. They dive into his early days learning to weld, the favorite projects he’s worked on over the y...

In this episode of Irregardless , Bryzos COO, Lee Letourneau, sits down with Jeff Giles, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Core & Main, to dive into the journey of one of St. Louis’ industry leaders. Core & Main, a national distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and services, went public in 2021 and has continued to expand through...

In this episode, Shep is joined by Cory Bricker, President of Cass Pay, to explore the evolution of financial technology.  We dive into the origins of Cass Information Systems, headquartered in St. Louis, and how Cass Pay is transforming payment solutions. Cory shares his journey within the company, insights into how Cass Pay works, and a deep dive into Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)—its rise, benefits...

In this episode Shep sits down with Bob Gassoff to discuss his amazing journey from youth hockey to NCAA hockey championship with Michigan to NHL minors to Navy SEALs to distribution.

In this episode of Irregardless , Rachel sits down with Sarah Hickey to hear her powerful story of resilience, determination, and hope. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at just 26, Sarah opens up about the challenges she faced navigating life with M.S. and the transformative stem cell treatment she underwent in 2022. Beyond her personal journey, Sarah shares her passion for helping others through...

In this episode, Shep chats with Ron King, a recently retired accounting professor from Washington University and former professor to Shep during his time in the MBA program. Ron reflects on his decades in academia before sharing thrilling stories from his hiking and camping adventures across the U.S. They then dive into the world of startups, with Ron offering insights on entrepreneurship, financ...