Your Construction Network

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SL5 for 5% off!  Code applies to purchases under $1,000 and first time buyers. What if quitting your corporate job to swing a hammer could make you MORE money? Christina, @christina_nomadak, ditched her sales career to become a union carpenter—and now runs her own successful construc...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SL5 for 5% off!  Code applies to purchases under $1,000 and first time buyers. March 2023 marked a turning point for Sparky Life Podcast. In this reflective episode, Lia revisits her conversation with Dustin Stelzer , creator of Electrician U who was a guest on the Sparky Life Podcas...

Welcome to The Sparky Life Podcast, where we celebrate careers in skilled trades with your host,  Lia Lamela . This episode is brought to you by  SupplyHouse.com , your trusted source for reliable inventory, friendly customer service, and fast shipping from coast to coast. Check out  supplyhouse.com/tm  today and explore their Trade Masters program, offering free shipping and order discounts. In t...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SL5 for 5% off!  Code applies to purchases under $1,000 and first time buyers. If you're tired of dead-end jobs, paycheck-to-paycheck living, or wondering how to escape poverty without going into massive student debt - this episode is for you.  In this episode hear about: Poverty...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SL5 for 5% off!  Code applies to purchases under $1,000 and first time buyers. What if the difference between earning $100K or $500K in the trades had nothing to do with your tools, speed, or skill? In this episode of The Sparky Life, Lia talks with Patricia Oholeguy, a bookkeeping e...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SL5 for 5% off!  Code applies to purchases under $1,000 and first time buyers. This episode of Tool Time with Lia, I breakdown two essential tools for electricians: the Milwaukee Knockout Tool and the Milwaukee Rotary Hammer. We go over the features, usage, and benefits of each tool,...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SL5 for 5% off! When disaster strikes, everyone sees the firefighters and first responders—but what about the invisible guardians who prevent tragedy in the first place? This episode shines a spotlight on fire alarm electricians: the unsung heroes who make sure alarms sound, exits li...

Welcome back to The Sparky Life! In this episode, we dive deep into the world of solar energy in residential sectors with our special guest, Chessa Trimble. Is solar a scam? Is it truly beneficial for the environment? Join us as we explore the pros and cons of solar panel installation and discuss whether it's a viable career path in the electrical industry. Chessa shares her insights on the cu...

In this episode of the Sparky Life Podcast, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of the skilled trades industry. With a significant labor deficit and a shift in how we identify and nurture talent, it's crucial to rethink our approach to recruitment and leadership development. Join us as we discuss: The changing perceptions of skilled trades and the impact of societal pressures on career ch...

Welcome to this week's episode of The Sparky Life! Join your host, Lia Lamela, as she dives into a controversial topic in the construction industry: the stigmas surrounding construction workers and their behavior on job sites. In this episode, Leah discusses a shocking story about a homeowner who discovered that the construction crew was urinating inside her new house. She explores the implica...

Welcome to this exciting episode. Join the world of motorsports with Crew Chief Eric, the owner of Grand Touring Motorsports and the Motoring Podcast Network. In this episode, Lia and Eric discuss the fascinating intersections between motorsports and skilled trades, exploring how both fields require teamwork, specialized skills, and a passion for building and repairing. Eric shares his personal jo...

Welcome back to another episode of The Sparky Life! Join your host, Lia Lamela, as she shares three hilarious and eye-opening trade tales from the world of construction. In this episode, Lia dives into the challenges faced by blue-collar workers, including a shocking story about a port-a-potty nightmare, a frustrating encounter with a clueless boss, and a plumbing disaster that takes an unexpected...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SL5 for 5% off! Ever wake up and wonder, “Is this really all there is?” You’re grinding, you’re exhausted, and yet it feels like everyone else is racing ahead while you’re stuck in place. Here’s the truth: you’re not lazy, you’re just misaligned—and it’s time to break free. In this e...

Welcome back to The Sparky Life! In this electrifying episode, host Lia Lamela sits down with fire protection guru Chad Tester. With a background that spans various aspects of fire safety, Chad shares his journey from commercial fishing to becoming a fire protection expert. Join us as we dive into: Chad's unique path into the skilled trades and how he discovered his passion for fire protection...

This podcast episode features a discussion between Lia Lamela and Coach Ike, a construction industry veteran, focusing on the challenges and nuances of working in construction, particularly the relationship between tradespeople and superintendents. The conversation highlights how important it is to understand the pressures and perspectives of everyone on a job site. Coach Ike shares his experience...

Send us a text Join Lia Lamela on The Sparky Life as she interviews Jack Teetor, the creator of the documentary, Blind Logic: The Ralph Teetor Story. This captivating film tells the inspiring story of Ralph Teetor, a man whose life intertwined with the birth of the American automobile age and the industrial revolution. Discover the extraordinary journey of Ralph Teetor, who despite losing his sigh...

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SL5 for 5% off! 🎧 In this episode: This week on Sparky Life, we’re breaking barriers — and glass ceilings — with Jennifer Harrison, Vice President of Merchandising at SupplyHouse. Jennifer didn’t apply for her executive role. Her CEO created the position for her after one conversati...

Send us a text Welcome to the Sparky Life! We welcome Jonathan Cinelli, a strategic construction broker and licensed electrician with three decades of experience, to discuss how to rebuild the foundation of the construction industry. In this episode, Jonathan addresses the toxic culture within the construction industry and shares his forward-thinking approach to business, which disrupts traditiona...

Send us a text BRUTAL TRUTH ALERT:  After 30+ years climbing from carpenter to superintendent to business owner, Barb Allen is dropping BOMBS about why women are still fighting for respect in construction! 💥 This isn't your typical "women in trades" fluff piece - this is RAW, UNFILTERED reality from someone who's been in the trenches and boardrooms. Barb reveals the hidden sabot...

Send us a text In this episode of Sparky Life we discuss the critical role of digital presence in the construction industry with tech guru Daniel Leal. We explore the importance of having a professional website, the impact of technology on business efficiency, and the evolving landscape of education in tech careers. Daniel shares his journey from a small town in Texas to becoming a successful entr...

Send us a text We speak with  Megan Switzer  for a raw and honest conversation about the complex dynamics of women supporting women, particularly within male-dominated fields. Get ready for some eye-opening truths as they delve into the question of why women don't always support each other. Drawing on  Dr. Sha Andrews' research (as featured in Forbes) , they discuss the  "power dead e...

Send us a text Ever wondered why you should NEVER take the elevator during a fire in a high-rise? This video dives deep into the life-saving technology of elevator recall and the critical role it plays in fire safety. Learn why elevator recall is one of the most important fire safety systems in a building and how it's designed to prevent you from unknowingly entering a dangerous situation. 💡...

Send us a text Special thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse – Get the best tools & supplies! https://www.supplyhouse.com Welcome to the Sparky Life podcast with your host,  Lia Lamela ! In this episode, we dive into a crucial topic that everyone should be aware of: the coming  biggest recession in United States history  and why  construction workers and skilled trade professionals are positioned...

Send us a text Every skilled professional needs the  right tools  to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at  SUPPLY HOUSE  - Use code SL5 for 5% off! 🎧  In this episode:  In this raw and inspiring conversation, Lia sits down with Bobby Armstrong – an HVAC technician, entrepreneur, and all-around badass – who opens up about his wild ride through the trades, from childhood struggles to launching h...

Send us a text Every skilled professional needs the  right tools  to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at  SUPPLY HOUSE  - Use code SL5 for 5% off! 🎧  In this episode:  A devastating fire. Locked doors. No escape. This episode tells the shocking true story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—one of the deadliest workplace disasters in American history—and how it reshaped fire codes, safety...