Trade Life by Point Load Media

Designers pick the finishes. Trades make them work. This week Mike Holmes Jr. and Ian MacFayden sit down with Erica of Studio E Design Co. to find out what really happens when the drawings hit the drywall. Erica breaks down how she designs spaces people actually live in - where homeowners waste money, which trends age badly, and why the best builds start with the designer and the trades in the sam...

Misha from Winni Designs has built one of the biggest audiences in construction - 4.2M on TikTok, 1.7M on Instagram, 1.26M on YouTube, and 4.6M on Facebook. This week, Michael and Ian find out how he actually did it. Misha breaks down how he grew from zero, what he thinks about chasing trends, and what a real day on site looks like when the camera's rolling. If you're in the trades and wondering w...

Your real estate agent has never seen behind a wall. Rob Collier has torn out a few. Michael and Ian sit down with Rob Collier - tradesman turned real estate agent, Michael's brother-in-law, and the guy you've seen working hard (playing hard?) alongside them on Holmes & Homes Season 1 and 2. This one gets into: Owning vs. renting - and why the "obvious" answer might be wrong What actually make...

This week Mike Holmes Jr. and Ian sit down with Evan of Evan's Workshop - a young tradesman who skipped the "figure it out later" route and went straight into the trades. We get into what it actually takes to start young, the stuff nobody warns you about, and why the industry is desperate for the next generation to show up. If you're a parent wondering whether the trades are a real career for your...

Kyle Kelland has spent twenty years on job sites. Now he's Partner and VP of Construction at Hummingbird Hill Homes... and a camera crew follows him around all day. He tells Mike what that's actually like: the fear that the guys he came up with will stop seeing him as a carpenter and start writing him off as "the HGTV guy who shows up at the end." That opens into the real conversation. Every rung...

Michael and Ian discuss the reality of getting into the trades and what it takes to survive once you're in.

Tonight, Ian runs 135 kilometers through the night up the coast past Quebec City - a projected 30 hours on his feet, with his wife Leanne doing a 50K in the same ultra. In this episode, Michael gets inside the mind of a former powerlifter who swore he'd never run: the pain, the mud, the feet that fell apart at 100K, and why he keeps coming back. Last year he was pulled from this exact race at 85K....

In this episode of Trade Life Podcast, Mike and Ian get real about men's mental health during Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. They're not therapists - they're two guys from the trades who've been through it: stillbirth, near-bankruptcy, anxiety, and the slow work of learning to actually feel things. They share what helped, what didn't, and why talking to another man might be the most underrat...

What does it actually take to build a startup from scratch? Mike and Ian are in the middle of it - and they're pulling back the curtain. In this episode, we get into the real story behind Projekt Network (a LinkedIn alternative built specifically for the skilled trades) and Point Load Media - two ventures born from frustration, late nights, and a whole lot of belief. We break down: Why your idea i...

Mike Holmes Jr. and Ian MacFayden aren't verified love experts but this week they get real about one of the most overlooked parts of the trade life: your marriage. In this episode, they break down what it actually takes to prioritize your relationship when you're grinding long hours, running a business, and raising kids. They know they aren't perfect, but they are trying, just like you. From knowi...

Mike Holmes Jr. and Ian MacFayden hit the floor at Skills Canada 2026 and they've got a lot to say. From jaw-dropping student competitors to the future of the trades, the two sit down to recap everything they saw, felt, and took away from one of Canada's biggest skilled trades events. If you believe in building the next generation of tradespeople, this one's for you.

Mike Holmes Jr. and Ian MacFadyen sit down to go through the photos submitted to the Fence & Deck Competition sponsored by Turkstra Lumbar on Projekt Network, and they don't hold back. The guys break down what's working, what's not, and what separates a good build from a great one before crowning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Plus, find out who took home the People's Choice Award as voted b...

If you could start your trade over, what would you pick? Two carpenters debate the trade they'd choose for love vs. the one they'd choose for money - and hand out plenty of grief to electricians, roofers, and painters along the way. Carpentry wins their hearts, but the cash points somewhere else entirely. No trade is safe. 🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Shortage of workers or shortage of skill ? On this episode of Trade Life Podcast, the guys pour a Carlsberg and dig into the skilled trades shortage from every angle: the stigma that's followed contractors for decades, the guidance counselors who steered kids away from the trades, the gap between 100 job applicants and zero qualified hires, and why post-secondary education shouldn't be the automat...

What’s it really like growing up as the son of a TV icon? In this deeply personal episode of the Trade Life Podcast, Mike Holmes Jr. opens up about his childhood, family struggles, growing up around construction, and the realities behind the public image people thought they knew. From bankruptcy and divorce to working construction at 14 and eventually joining his dad on set, Mike shares the experi...

In this episode, we get real about what it actually takes to build something — from surviving six weeks without a paycheck to nearly going bankrupt with 30 carpenters on staff. We break down the entrepreneurial mindset: personal accountability, pushing through the hard times, knowing when to cut your losses, and why the fear of failure might actually be your biggest driver. Whether you're running...

What if “work–life balance” isn’t real? In this raw and reflective episode, Ian and Mike open up about their struggles to juggle entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and fulfillment - and how tragedy, growth, and passion reshaped their mindset. 💬 Topics include: The story of the fisherman and the myth of “balance” How grief and burnout forced a reset Why passion makes you more present with your family T...

Mike Holmes Jr. and Ian MacFayden sit down with master builder Johnny Hourihan... not in a studio, not on a job site, but inside one of his finished multi-million dollar homes. What started as a casual walkthrough of Johnny's kitchen turned into a conversation too good to keep off the mic. No planned questions. No setup. Just three builders standing in a space that took years of skill and obsessio...

Come join us as we sip on some bourbon and discuss why Resumes suck in the trades and the importance of documenting your work. Also, what's your favourite thing to jam out to on the jobsite? Let us know in the comments! Takeaways Resumes are ineffective for evaluating trade skills Project Network addresses the hiring challenges in the trades industry Documenting work through pictures is crucial fo...

Ian MacFayden and new co-host Mike Holmes Jr. share the plan for the new format going forward while enjoying a smooth bourbon.

The conversation delves into the challenges of work-life balance, the impact of family on priorities, and the importance of finding time for health and personal passions. It also explores the significance of resistance training and the benefits of taking care of one's physical and mental health. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to fitness, nutrition, and work-life balance. It...

The conversation delves into the challenges of bad hiring experiences and the limitations of resumes and references in the trades industry. It highlights the need for a more effective approach to hiring, such as the use of work portfolios and the Projekt Network platform to showcase skills and experience. The conversation delves into the challenges of hiring the right people for construction proje...

The conversation covers the importance of financial systems and controls within a contracting firm, the need for business skills in addition to trade skills, and the challenges of cash flow management in the construction industry. It also delves into the complexities of accounting, tax management, and growth-oriented financial strategies. The conversation covers essential topics related to cash fl...

https://projektnetwork.com/views/forum Summary In this episode of the Trade Life podcast, host Ian MaFayden sits down with Michael Holmes Jr. to discuss their shared experiences in the skilled trades, particularly carpentry. They delve into the importance of hands-on experience versus formal education, emphasizing that many young people feel pressured to choose a career path too early. Michael sha...

Keywords apprentices, tools, battery technology, cordless tools, ergonomics, skilled trades, tool brands, Project Network, construction, tool reviews Summary In this episode of the Trade Life podcast, Ian MacFayden and Kiefer Lineback discuss the challenges faced by apprentices in the skilled trades, particularly in relation to technology and tools. They explore how apprentices can navigate the va...