Powered by the Trades: A Milwaukee Tool Podcast

How are power utility linemen balancing evolving tools with safety, mindset, and real-world jobsite conditions?  Recorded at PIPELINE™ 2025, Aaron LeBlanc ( Bob’s Decline ) and Paul Salgado ( Power Element Podcast ) join Milwaukee Tool product manager Kim for a practical conversation about cable prep in the power utility industry - and how workflow, safety, and training continue to evolve in the f...

Recorded at World of Concrete 2026 in Las Vegas, this episode features Brandon Fredricks, Senior Product Manager at Milwaukee Tool, in conversation with David Odell of Odell Complete Concrete.  David shares how his work spans multiple types of projects, and how that versatility shapes the way he approaches tools and equipment on the jobsite. Together, Brandon and David talk through the realities o...

Choosing the right power tool accessory is often the difference between a smooth job and lost time on the site. In this episode, Rob Robillard and Jeff Deitz (@ConcordCarpenter / Tool Lab) sit down with Milwaukee Tool power tool accessory product managers Ryan and Joe to talk about why right‑sizing accessories matters - and how it can impact professionals on the job.   Recorded during PIPELINE™ 20...

Head protection is evolving across the trades, and the conversation is shifting beyond compliance to real-world impact on worker safety. In this episode, Zach Richman, Senior Vice President of Product Marketing for Personal Protective Equipment at Milwaukee Tool, sits down with Joe Whiteman, Director of Safety at American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), to discuss how head protection is ch...

Recorded at PIPELINE™ 2025, Brandon Fredricks, Product Manager on the MX FUEL™ team, sits down with Riley Peterson, Product Manager on Milwaukee Tool’s P&E team, to talk about what’s changing, and what’s been overlooked, in underground gas utility work.  The conversation starts in the trench, walking through the real-world workflow of gas utility service and repair. Brandon and Riley discuss h...

What does meaningful support for the skilled trades look like today, and where is it headed?  Recorded at World of Concrete 2026, this conversation brings together perspectives from the field, labor organizations, and product development. The episode features Sean Kelley and Justin Ross of Milwaukee Tool alongside Bob Jacobson of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), exploring how real‑world...

Branch conduit work demands precision - even small inconsistencies can lead to rework, lost time, and added strain. Recorded at PIPELINE™ 2025, this episode features Jack Fisher, Product Manager on Milwaukee Tool’s Plumbing and Electrical team, in conversation with San Diego-based electrician Kevin Martinez ( @_ksparky ). Together, they explore the challenges of conduit bending and the jobsite res...

What does it really look like to build a long‑term career as a woman in the trades? In this episode recorded at World of Concrete, Milwaukee Tool Product Manager, Hailey, sits down with Kilah, a concrete finisher with 27 years of experience and Business Manager for the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA). Kilah shares her journey entering the trades at 18, w...

The shift from pneumatic to cordless tools has reshaped modern auto shops. In this episode, recorded at PIPELINE™ 2025, Ryan Mack, Product Manager over Transportation Maintenance at Milwaukee Tool, sits down with Charles of @humblemechanic to talk through what that transition has really looked like over the past 20 years.  As a Master Certified Volkswagen Technician with more than two decades in t...

Chase Hummel ( @hummelconcrete ) and Milwaukee Tool Senior Product Manager Brandon Fredricks sit down at World of Concrete 2026 to reflect on some of the most impactful jobsite innovations released in 2025. The conversation takes a look at what actually made a difference on the job — from solutions that improved safety and productivity to tools that helped crews work more efficiently day in and da...

Jack Martin ( @martinoutdoorinnovations ) and Milwaukee Tool Vice President of Digital Product Andy Lambert sit down to discuss how digital organization systems are reshaping professional landscaping operations. Recorded in August at PIPELINE™ 2025, the conversation explores Jack’s journey into the trades, the challenges of growing a small business, and how organization has played a critical role...

Aaron Leblanc ( @Bobsdecline ) sat down with Kyle Anderson, Product Manager at Milwaukee Tool, during PIPELINE™ 2025 in August to discuss the shift toward Type 2 head protection in professional trades. This episode explores why more industries, including power utility linemen, are moving from Type 1 hard hats to Type 2 safety helmets and what that means for jobsite safety and performance.  Kyle an...

Adrian Garcia ( @ReliableHVACR ) sat down with Riley Peterson, Product Manager at Milwaukee Tool, during PIPELINE™ 2025 in August to discuss how innovation is reshaping HVACR workflows — and what the shift toward fully cordless service means for productivity, efficiency, and safety on the job.  In this episode, they explore Milwaukee’s approach to HVACR innovation through real-world user feedback,...

Matthew Hawk ( @matthews_mowing ) and Milwaukee Tool Product Manager Jordan Smith sit down to discuss battery-powered equipment and how it’s driving innovation in professional landscaping operations. Recorded in August at PIPELINE™ 2025, the conversation centers on Matthew’s transition to battery-powered equipment and his firsthand experience integrating battery-powered equipment into a year-round...

Released monthly: Industry Forward, Conversations from the Trades. This is Powered by the Trades, A Milwaukee Tool Podcast