James G

Left Handed Hammers

Business EN ↓ 7 episodes

About Left-Handed Hammers Remember your first day on a job site? Maybe someone sent you looking for a left-handed hammer, a bucket of steam, or striped paint. That moment when you realized you'd been had? That's when the real learning began. Left-Handed Hammers is where construction professionals share the hard-earned lessons you can't learn from a manual—real talk about risk, safety, culture, and what it actually takes to build safely and profitably in today's world. Your Hosts: James Gurule, CLCS, PWCA - From swinging hammers on job sites to advising C-suite executives on complex risk. With...

Author

James G

Episodes

Your Hamburger's Still in the Freezer: HB26-1311: Colorado's New Retainage Bond Law - Part 2 02.07.2026 1:34:26

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 of our conversation with Luke Miller (Colorado Pavement Solutions) and Rob Slauson (VP of Operations, ESI). If you missed Part 1 — their backgrounds, company culture, and why they invest in NUCA of Colorado — start there first. This half is a full breakdown of HB26-1311, Colorado's new retainage surety bond law, effective August 2026. Retainage is a form of risk transf...

From Asphalt Crews to the State Capitol: Culture, Associations, and ROI (Part 1 of 2) 29.06.2026 55:49

Send us Fan Mail Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Luke Miller (Colorado Pavement Solutions) and Rob Slauson (VP of Operations, ESI) — two very different paths into the same industry. Rob grew up on an asphalt crew in Wisconsin, paid in cash at 12 years old, and has been on the construction side ever since. Luke studied political science and public policy, worked in local government, then fou...

Co Host Intro: Nate Miller & James Gurule 09.03.2026 39:45

Send us Fan Mail Get to know the two IMA Cohosts 1st part Nate 2nd part James

You Can’t Automate Grit: Fleet Safety, AI, and the Human Factor 06.03.2026 1:56:42

Send us Fan Mail Cameras don’t fix bad culture. AI doesn’t replace judgment. Liberty Energy’s Michael Tuomi explains how fleet safety actually works—and why technology only amplifies what’s already there.

Perry Silvey Intro 11.02.2026 32:59

Send us Fan Mail Learn a little about Perry.

Suicide Awareness & Mental Health w/ Heather Strong Gutierrez 11.02.2026 1:09:43

Send us Fan Mail Construction has some of the highest rates of suicide and substance use in the country. Yet many workers still feel pressure to stay silent. In this episode, Heather Strong Gutierrez, Director of Safety at JHL Constructors, talks about turning pain into purpose after losing her son to a fentanyl overdose. She explains why safety must include mental and emotional health, not just p...

Underground Warfare: The Future of Utility Infrastructure 26.11.2025 1:08:10

Send us Fan Mail Focus: The evolving demands on underground infrastructure and how utility contractors can stay ahead.