Sparky Life

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela chats with Kelly McNamara, a soon to be red seal carpenter, about her career transition into carpentry and her experiences as a woman in the trades. She emphasizes the importance of finding a company that values workers and the economic need for new talent in the trades. Kelly also reflects on the societal perceptions of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, Lia Lamela speaks with Kimmy the Sparks,  an electrician who shares her journey in the male-dominated electrical industry. Despite facing discouragement and gender discrimination, the electrician rose from an administrative role to become a qualified professional. She discusses the versatility of her job, the importance of female camarad...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Trish Conville, a seasoned professional from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They discuss the importance of safety, cleanliness, and proper accommodations in the construction industry, with a focus on the electrical trade. Trish shares insights from her work in power distribution and the a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela and fellow electrician Chessa Trimble discuss the challenges and rewards of being in the skilled trades industry. Chessa shares her journey from apartment maintenance to becoming an electrician, the decision to go non-union, and the importance of perseverance and innovation in the face of adversity. They also discuss the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Laura Stevenson, a red seal electrician and founder of Salty Mountain, a women's workwear brand. They discuss their experiences in the electrical trade, the differences in licensing between Canada and the US, and the pros and cons of union and non-union apprenticeships. Laura shares her journey of startin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela and guest Jennifer Rogers Markwell, a wealth advisor, discuss the importance of financial education for skilled tradespeople. They address the lack of financial knowledge among tradespeople and the potential pitfalls of this, such as making poor financial decisions. Jennifer emphasizes that financial advising is accessibl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with  master electrician Roberto Reyes. They discuss Roberto's career, his social media presence, and his journey into the trades. Roberto shares his experiences with learning challenges, the importance of mentorship, and his personal struggle with addiction. He also recounts some of his wildest worksite misha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Rachel Samala about her journey into the HVAC industry. Rachel shares her initial struggles with employment, her transition into HVAC, and her decision to start her own business. She emphasizes the importance of humility in her success.  After facing challenges in finding the right company, Rachel decided to b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Becky Sagen, a former entertainment industry professional turned custom furniture builder and coach. They discuss their shared experiences in career exploration, with Becky detailing her journey from theatre to teaching, to starting her own custom furniture business. Becky shares her unique approach to coachin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Live podcast, host Lia Lamela interviews Mae Krier, one of the original Rosie the Riveters. Mae shares her experiences working at Boeing during World War II, her advocacy work, and her efforts to honor women on the home front. She discusses the importance of respect, the role of women in society, and the need for equal pay. Mae's journey from bei...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Live podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with author Simone Stolzoff about his book "The Good Enough Job." They discuss the concept of finding meaning outside of work and the observations Simone has made about blue collar and white collar workers. Simone shares his perspective on work, emphasizing that it shouldn't be the sole measure of se...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode of the Sparky Life, host Lia Lamela discusses the importance of mental health in the construction industry. Joined by guests Dr. Talia Jackson and Douglas Jensen, they explore the benefits of therapy and challenge the stigma surrounding it. They emphasize that therapy is not just for those in crisis but can support personal growth and well-being. We also di...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Lia Lamela speaks with Coach Ike, a successful general contractor and founder of Prime to Rise. They discuss Coach Ike's background in the construction industry and his passion for serving others. Coach Ike shares his experience in the skilled trades, emphasizing the value of trade-specific education and the financial opportunities available. They deb...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with  Alexis Armstrong, a geologist and host of the Smoko Podcast. Alexis shares her experiences working on a deep-sea drilling vessel and her passion for representing women in STEM and skilled trades. They discuss the barriers and biases faced by women in these fields, the origin of the name "Smoko" for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela interviews Jeff Bond, the creator of Trade Jobs, a platform that connects skilled tradespeople with job opportunities. Jeff shares his background in the skilled trades and explains how the idea for Trade Jobs came about. They discuss the challenges of finding qualified tradespeople and the need for better education and aw...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela welcomes wastewater treatment plant operators Emily Grace and Val Gacek. Emily and Val share how they got involved in the field, the income range in the industry, and unique experiences they've had on the job. They also discuss the lack of interest in their field and the gender dynamics they encounter. Lia expresses...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Lia Lamela speaks with Bobby Buono (Blue-Collar Bobby), a union sprinkler fitter from Massachusetts. They discuss Bobby's journey into the union, his experiences in the construction industry, and his passion for creating humorous Instagram reels. Bobby's journey into the union is an inspiring one. He didn't have any family connections to rel...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Lia Lamela speaks to Dawn Ohama, a master electrician and owner of ATT Electric. Dawn shares her journey from being an apprentice to becoming an assistant business manager at the IBEW.  She divulges both the positive experiences she had in the union and a negative encounter with a coworker that led her to quit her job. Dawn shares the importance of fair tr...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Lia Lamela speaks with Amanda Veinott, the owner of Maven Roofing and Exteriors. They discuss Amanda's success in the roofing industry and her unique approach to building a successful crew. Amanda shares her journey into the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of authentic and knowledge-based sales. Connect with our guest Amanda Veinott...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Lia Lamela, host of the Sparky Life podcast, invites Lia Carta, a homeschooling mother and host of the Homeschooling for the Rest of Us podcast, as her guest. They discuss the importance of encouraging children to explore trade schools and skilled trade careers. They share personal stories and experiences, discuss the benefits of trade schools, and highlig...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, host Lia Lamela welcomes Chloe Williams, a panel beater technician at Lookers Body Paint and Body Center in Newcastle, England. Chloe shares her journey in the collision repair industry and how she discovered her passion for panel beating. They discuss Chloe's recent experiences, the allure of women in skilled trades, and the lack of women in her fiel...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Kyle Veazey, an expert in building automation systems. They discuss Kyle's career journey, the diverse paths within the field, and the steps to enter the industry. The conversation covers various aspects of building automation, including different career paths, networking, and the importance of soft skill...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Lia Lamela, host of the Sparky Life Podcast, speaks with guest Analisa Felix, the podcast host of Work University. They discuss Analisa's approach to conducting informational interviews with professionals from various careers. Analisa emphasizes the importance of uncovering the journey and challenges people face in their careers, rather than just focu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life Podcast, host Lia Lamela introduces her guest, Ki Barritt, an electrician and personal trainer for trainees. Ki shares her journey into the electrical trade and her passion for helping women in the trades through personal training. They discuss the challenges of being an electrician, the importance of access to basic resources like electricity an...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready for a thrilling episode of the Sparky Life podcast? Well, get ready because we have a special guest joining us who is going to take us on an exciting journey into the world of hunting and the great outdoors.  In this episode, Lia Lamela chats with Shilou Cote, a huntress and outdoor female mentor. Shilou shares her incredible experiences in hunting, from tracking dee...