Ziad Bedran and Nicholas McMillen

No Shortcuts by OWETEC

Business EN ↓ 4 episodes

No Shortchuts by OWETEC Conversations that challenge the welding industry No Shortcuts: Welding by OWETEC is exactly what it sounds like, real conversations from people in the welding world. Hosted by Ziad Bedran and Nicholas McMillen, each episode brings together voices from across the industry to talk through how they got started, what the work is really like, and what they’ve learned along the way. It’s honest, occasionally off-color, and rooted in the kind of discussions that usually happen behind the scenes, not scripted, not polished, just real insight from people living the trade every...

Author

Ziad Bedran and Nicholas McMillen

Episodes

Mastering the Trades with Ernie Benway 01.07.2026 1:02:14

Welcome to "No Shortcuts" by OWETEC, where we dive deep into the conversations that challenge the welding industry. In this compelling conversation, hosts Ziad Bedran and Nicholas McMillen sit down with industry legend and veteran welding instructor Ernie Benway. Together, they track Ernie’s extraordinary journey from a kid looking through a workshop window to his pivotal years operating nuclear...

Leadership and Grit: The S3 Welding Story with Derick Lycette 10.06.2026 51:53

What does it take to transition from a hands-on manual welder to a thriving industrial subcontractor? What happens when your first major cross-country contract completely dries up within weeks, and how do you find the grit to keep moving forward? Welcome to "No Shortcuts" by OWETEC, where we dive deep into the conversations that challenge the welding industry. In this episode, hosts Ziad Bedran a...

Staying Authentic in the Trades with Bricia Balderas 27.05.2026 35:04

Welcome to "No Shortcuts" by OWETEC, where we dive deep into the conversations that challenge the welding industry. In this episode of No Shortcuts, Nicholas McMillan sits down with Bricia Balderas , a 32-year-old professional combo welder, to map her extraordinary journey from working as a registered nurse to thriving as a trailblazing tradeswoman. Together, they unpack the profound psychologic...

Challenging the Welding Industry 13.05.2026 40:16

What if the most overlooked trade in America is actually one of the most versatile paths to personal and professional freedom? Can a mechanical engineer and a seasoned welder bridge the gap between corporate strategy and the reality of the workshop floor? How do we challenge an industry plagued by myths and a massive labor shortage without taking the easy way out? Welcome to "No Shortcuts" by OWET...