The Line

The definition of the word trademark is simple. It’s a symbol that identifies a company, a product, or a body of work. But at its origin in America, a trademark was something even more personal. It was your mark. It was how you gave your word. It was how you signed a contract, how you did business, how blacksmiths, stonemasons, and silversmiths marked their work so people knew exactly who stood be...

This one was cold. As I write this post, I can still feel it. I sat down in the snow on a project with Christopher Maharg , Vice President of Legacy Electrical Services Inc. We were out there while his teams worked behind us to complete the project on time and under budget—words clients absolutely love to hear. We talked about what’s needed in the trades and how his company sometimes feels called...

The Line… it’s quite an interesting term. Sometimes it means a podcast where two men sit and have an honest conversation. Sometimes it’s a line in the sand—things you’re not willing to cross. Sometimes it’s a line on the battlefield, like Gettysburg, where men stood firm and held the line, refusing to let it be crossed. In this conversation, Dan Garcia and I are sitting in a farmhouse on the battl...

If you don’t want to micromanage, the simple answer is this: don’t. Because if you’re going to do it anyway, you might as well have done it yourself. In this conversation with Laurence Sisco of IronStrong Metal Fabrication , we talk about what it really means to build teams—and to build businesses that are strong. Not perfect, but strong. The kind of strength that comes from working through failur...

The Backyard is the final episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard—and it brings the conversation home. In this episode, we hear from members of the organization, as well as from Ryan Sistad , who leads Better In Our Backyard and serves as the primary leadership voice in this conversation. Ryan shares what he hopes people take away from being part of this work, and why the orga...

The Bedrock is where the resources sit—and what everything above it is built on. It’s what we build with, and ultimately, what determines the strength and longevity of what we leave behind. In this episode, we bring together conversations with Jon Cherry , Stephen Donohue , and J.T. Starzeki —leaders who are focused on the bedrock of America and the responsibility that comes with stewarding its re...

The Ground is the second episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard , as we continue reflecting on 250 years of building in the United States of America during the opening weeks of January 2026. In this episode, Jessica Johnson , Vice President of Talon Metals Corp. , walks through an important distinction—preservation versus conservation—and why that difference matters. She spea...

For 250 years, this country has been built by men and women willing to step up to the line—willing to walk on the dirt, stand on the ground, and do the work that begins at the bedrock. Long before headlines and soundbites, there was responsibility. There was stewardship. There was an understanding that what lies beneath our feet matters, because it supports everything above it—our communities, our...

Dave is familiar to audiences through shows like Gold Rush, but what stood out most in this conversation had nothing to do with television. It was his perspective on work. On the trades. And on what happens when a person is given the dignity, responsibility, and opportunity to build something with their hands. Dave talks openly about how the trades can be therapy. How work itself can be a pathway...

As we look back on 2025, we’re reminded just how meaningful this year has been. Through our podcasts, we’ve had the privilege of sitting down for some truly powerful conversations — stories of leadership, grit, failure, growth, and conviction. These weren’t just interviews; they were moments that reminded us why this work matters. At Blackline, we exist because of the men and women who show up eve...

Merry Christmas.  As Christmas approaches, and as we drop our podcasts every Monday here at Blackline LTD , our team wanted to give our listeners a gift, the gift of leadership.  We sat down with Wally Adamchik CMC, CSP, MBA on the battlefields of Gettysburg to talk about what leadership really is, how you attain it, how you keep it, and how you build it. It is truly one of the most powerful locat...

Lou brings a rare perspective—rooted in the blue-collar world and shaped by time spent doing the work himself, from carpentry to self-performing in the field. Through that experience, he saw a gap in the industry: technology that actually serves the trades and helps companies operate more effectively. In this conversation, Lou unpacks the why behind Lumber—how it was built to support the men and w...

In this episode of The Line, Joshua D. Mellott sits down with Ryan and Lisa from Better In Our Back Yard at their inaugural Better In Our Backyard Mining & Energy Expo. They talk about the importance of this industry and the people who make it work. Ryan Sistad breaks down what can happen when you don’t let your concerns hold you back—why being intentional matters, why choosing to make an impa...

What do you do? It’s a question we get a lot at Blackline. How do you do it? Why do you do it? In this episode, I sit down with you—the listener, the one asking the questions—and we talk about exactly that. We talk about what we do at Blackline, why we do it, and where we’re headed. At the core of the Lifting the View of the Skilled Trades is one simple mission: communicate the value of the men an...

This week on The Line , we sit down with Sylvan Brandt Antique Flooring , a company committed to lifting the view of the skilled trades by reviving the work of tradesmen past and giving old craftsmanship a brand-new life.   Sylvan Brandt has built its legacy on seeking out old wood and restoring its story—transforming barn siding from century-old farms and reclaimed beams into premium flooring now...

In this episode of The Line, we sit down with Blue Collar Bobby, a sprinkler fitter who was “voluntold” into the trade and decided to turn that opportunity into something bigger. Not only did he learn the work, he became one of the most influential voices in the fire-protection community. Through Instagram and his platform, The Dope and Tape Show, he has committed time, energy, and resources to te...

Last month, we had the opportunity to take part in the inaugural BIOBY Mining and Energy Expo — surrounded by some of the sharpest minds in mining, energy, and environmental innovation. These are people who not only understand the systems that power our world, but who genuinely care about the people working within them. You can feel their passion — it’s in the way they talk about their work, their...

🎙️ The Line Podcast — Presented by Blackline LTD  In this episode, we sit down with Justin Holmberg of Five Forty Build , a heavy civil contractor based in Virginia. We talk about what it means to be passionate about your work , to build something that lasts , and to pursue excellence in the trades and the industry at large. Our conversation dives into AI, job security, and the future of the skill...

In this episode of The Line Podcast, we sit down with Jim from North American Iron to talk about the heart of American industry — the iron range. Together, we dig into the story of rare earth metals, the importance of domestic mining, and how efficiency and stewardship work hand in hand to protect our environment while fueling our economy. This conversation reminds us that the strength of our nati...

This week on The Line Podcast , we sit down with Daron , author of The Death of a Dream and founder of The Rogue Collective .  This conversation goes deep — faith, calling, work, and the search for purpose. Daron opens up about what it truly means to go “rogue,” to follow a calling that doesn’t always makesense, and to trust God through the unknown. His words come from a place of experience and co...

🚨 New Episode Drops Monday 🚨This week on The Line Podcast, Daxton (a.k.a. DAX) steps up to the line for a raw and honest conversation. DAX isn’t a CEO or an owner—he’s a journeyman in the field, leading crews, managing complex electrical projects, and facing the challenges that can feel overwhelming. In this episode, he opens up about:⚡ Learning from mistakes⚡ Leading people through what feels...

A lot of people don’t know this, but Blackline has its very own institute. Blackline Institute is a registered apprenticeship program in the state of Pennsylvania. Earlier this year we partnered with a company called Go Sprout to help us maintain records. They work directly with the state and the government in order to make sure that all the paperwork is properly recorded and the help with our tra...

Manufacturing is the backbone of America. Supporting US manufacturing is a way to secure our future. We believe that just like in World War II the fight now or the race or whatever you wanna call it, is for AI. Josh sat down and had a real and honest conversation at the Manufacturing Association with Adam Marsh, CEO of Ledge Inc. They discussed what manufacturing is and how to make things work bet...

Building America is a phrase I heard over and over again as I toured the facility at Gaylor Electric and saw their innovation center or their “high school”, as they call it, where they have people come and learn. It truly was inspiring. I sat down with one of their apprentices, one of their journeymen, and I got the opportunity to close the conversation with the CEO, Chuck Goodrich. What I was str...

We were in Jacksonville, Florida not too long ago and I got a chance to connect with Ryan and Charles of Petticoat-Schmitt. Charles and I sat down and had a real and honest conversation at their new offices, as they’re expanding andgrowing. A big part of their growth is what we talked about and how over their 18 years of achievement it’s been accomplished through building values in their organizat...