Make Trades Great Again

Milwaukee Tool invited Eric out to see all the new tools available and coming soon to a job site near you. Eric gives us an inside look at some of the new tools and info you might not have seen yet.  This episode has a ton of visual info best viewed on the MH Youtube channel  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback o...

You might know Colton as @viking_pipefitter on the socials. You might know him from a training session or trades show when he worked for Viega but do you know how he got his start?  This was a fun conversation, we hope you enjoy it!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels!...

The guys talk stress relief and how to handle the day-to-day stresses of running a small business. Some days are better than others for sure but having one or two things to keep you sane can make a huge difference!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechani...

The guys are bs'ing about vans again. Should we change the title to the podcast to "Van Talk"? lol Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

The guys talk AI and how they've been using it for work. Scheduling, emails, videos etc. are just some of the ways Eric has put ChatGPT to work for him.  Are you using any form of artificial intelligence on the job or in the office for day to day tasks? We'd really like to talk to you about it so text us!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.pr...

Most would agree it’s a good idea to have options when it comes to supply chain but we’re often loyal to at least one supplier. So, what would make you switch to another supplier?    Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb...

As things slow down and the job outlook or load changes we have to consider how to fill the schedule. Does that mean taking on work you normally wouldn't?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: h...

Longtime friend of MTGA, Jason Norman joins Eric & Andy to get deeper into the EV Fleet debate. Will we be forced to change our work schedules, driving habits? Will field techs no longer get to drive their work van home? This has been a very popular topic for the podcast, thank you all for the feedback and listens!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at ww...

Eric hits the road, or sky’s to join Andy in Missoula for a special project.  We’ve talked connected appliances and controls many times on the podcast and do it again this time. A couple new Tekmar products will serve Andy’s clients well.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social chan...

There's no other way to say it, it sucks falling behind on keeping the shop and vehicles tidy. Extra money is spent on redundant materials and tools, time is lost looking for that one thing you just know you had...  The guys talk shop and all things that go with it in this episode of the Make Trades Great Again podcast.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course...

Milwaukee Tool recently announced and shipped the long awaited M12 tubing cutter capable of cutting up to 2" copper pipe.  Whoa, whoa that's not all! Andy makes a pretty bold statement, naming the BEST SCREWDRIVER IN THE WORLD. Hint: It's a Wiha.  The guys talk new tools, favorite tools and get into some general BS about tools for the heck of it.  Text the guys your ideas & feed...

MTGA friend Denver Baker joins the guys to talk E.V.’s. Specifically, service vehicles for his or the many HVAC contracting companies.  The crew talks tech, charging, current offerings from the usual suspects and so new auto makers offering rechargeable cargo vehicles.  We’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www....

The guys answer an email from a friend of the show. What do we want from our sales people?  Mark says he's recently moved into an outside sales position for the supply company he works for, he's looking for our feedback on what we are looking for from our sales partners in the industry.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  S...

Ever just get to a point you cant stand your own playlist? We have and Andy wants to know what you're listening to.  This week the guys relax and reminisce about the early days of XM Radio and talk about some of their favorite things to stream now.    Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over o...

Some pretty big changes are in the works for how Minnesotans pay for, and use electricity which had the guys discussing everything from electrification, off-peak electrical and the home heating utility usages from one state to the next.  To our faithful listeners: No actual investigative journalism was used for this groundbreaking discussion and revelations.  Text the guys your ideas & feedbac...

In all seriousness, the guys do talk about a couple recent medical events as a reminder that none of are invincible and taking care of ourselves is paramount to having a long successful career in the trades.  Pre-surgery talk started back in February in episode 279: https://maketrades.buzzsprout.com Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid ...

Eric and Andy share insights and strategies for navigating economic slowdowns amidst shifting market conditions. Whether it's seasonal fluctuations or the impact of high interest rates and inflation on consumer behavior, they delve into practical approaches. This episode focuses on the effective practices that have sustained their plumbing and heating service business, with potential applicat...

It’s time for a break from new episodes while the guys work on a new approach to delivering the MTGA content and topics.  Please take a look at any one of the 280 previous episodes in our library if you haven’t heard them all. We will be back, thank you for your continued support!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feed...

Credit card payments are the norm but how much of a risk are they if payments can be easily disputed and taken from you?  The guys talk about this as it all started from, where else but a stupid Facebook group…  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalh...

Eric has a minor surgery coming up, Andy just had one himself and both could've been done months or even years ago but it's too easy to put it off for another day.  In this episode the guys say lit like it is, you gotta make yourself a priority, if you don't it's only going to get worse.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.co...

Here's another one from AHR Expo 2024. Our friends Becky Brotherton and Michael Provenzano join us to talk about the iconic tool company's 100 years of manufacturing history and more.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson...

Heat Pumps are everywhere and Samsung HVAC has new technology on the market now and coming. Wade McCorkel of Samsung HVAC joins the guys at AHR Expo in Chicago to talk dual fuel and universal heat pump tech.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub...

Live from AHR Expo in Chicago, the guys sit down with Bryan Orr. Bryan Orr is the Co-Owner of Kalos Services Inc. an Orlando- area HVAC contracting business as well as an audio nerd and podcaster.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickel...

Warning: Lots of weather talk in this one lol.  When the weather dips to the double digits below zero (F) the heat needs to stay on because setting-back the temperature may be a recipe for disaster.  The guys talk ways to combat the extreme cold and how talking with your customers ahead of the storm might be useful.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.p...

Setting expectations ahead of starting a job is an obvious step in the process of service, repair, construction right?  Eric tells of a recent job when it didn’t start out so great.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb...