Dirt Talk by BuildWitt

Aaron and Alex are back with another Monday edition of the Dirt Talk podcast. This week, Aaron addresses previous comments he has made about "cheating" in college (way more nuanced than you think). Later, he and Alex consider the approach of hiring retirees of the Dirt World to help train new people and then discuss the importance of continuing to develop yourself, especially in a leadership position. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Hillstrom came onto the Dirt Talk radar through BuildWitt's own Benjamin Holmgren. Benjamin introduced Jordan like this: "He and Aaron would have a great conversation about their Dirt World philosophies." Can't beat that! Jordan is VP of Business Development at Xeratec, a software company based with offices in Michigan and South Carolina. He's also a co-owner of LoadTraxx, a company built on fixing issues in the shorthaul trucking process. But in addition to the software, Jordan was also a member of the Army Rangers has a deep love and appreciation for the Dirt World and making the Dirt World a better place. In this week's episode, hosts Aaron and Alex chat with Jordan about his time with the Rangers, why it's so important to treat people as people, and how by truly caring for people, we all can impact the Dirt World. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Dirt Talk podcast, Aaron and Alex talk about being on a rocket ship. They then discuss how to start getting into reading books and the challenges contractors face (and will face) if a large infrastructure bill gets approved by Congress. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's always fun to have the experts on Dirt Talk - not only do co-hosts Aaron Witt and Alex Horton learn about the guest, they learn an extraordinary amount in general. And on episode 90 of Dirt Talk, the guys definitely learn tons from Johnathan More. Johnathan is the Chairperson & CEO of Starr Peak Mining Ltd, a Canadian-based company focused on exploratory mining and land acquisition. Johnathan also now lives in Aaron's hometown (Scottsdale, AZ) and sends one of his kids to Aaron's old school. Aaron and Johnathan get into the nitty-gritty of acquiring land in order to start drilling, why there are so many mining companies in Canada, and what the land development process looks like to start a mine. Thanks to Johnathan More and Starr Peak Mining Ltd! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk staying vs. leaving when it comes to a job, as well as what kind of trust leaders should give to those that they lead. (Hint: it's a lot.) To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The people have spoken: more guests who are learning how to get their dirt businesses up and running. That topic is by and large the most common request from our listeners, and so today, we're happy to introduce you to Kristine Muller, Co-Owner and Vice President of Muller Excavating in Fowler, IN. She was kind enough to come on Dirt Talk and have a candid conversation about her place in the Dirt World and the steps her company takes to build it the right way from the beginning. This week, Kristine and host Aaron Witt talk about how she ended up running an excavating company with her husband, the best way(s) to get more women into the industry, and the importance of teaching children how to work hard. To check out more about Muller Excavating, check out their FB page at facebook.com/mullerexcavating. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex are podding in Dirt Talk Studios at the BuildWitt HQ this week, and are bringing the heat. Talking about hot air balloons. After Aaron details his latest travel across the Midwest and Southwest, Aaron and Alex discuss a few listener questions: examples of the best and most engaging safety meetings and why there are some aspects to the Dirt World that may turn away some young folks looking to start their careers (it's not the "millennials don't want to work anymore" garbage). Thanks for listening, we're so very grateful for all of the engagement and support from the Dirt Talk community. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Luke Payne, whose day job is marina sales, though he's been building his dirt company Black Iron Dirt in Fargo, ND. Black Iron Dirt is starting to make a name for themselves in the region with their black skid steers, so OF COURSE, Aaron was gonna love this guy. Luke and host Aaron Witt discuss skid steers, doing old things in a new way, and the advantage of being your own investor. Though there were a few technical difficulties with the conversation, the episode is a great lesson in "doing things in a way that makes sense for you". To follow Luke's story, check him out on IG @blackirondirt or the website blackirondirt.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Monday episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron has to sadly (but with a hopeful ending) recount how he accidentally rolled the BuildWitt Skid Steer aka "The Earth Moover" onto its roof last weekend. Aaron was totally safe thanks to the CAT safety features (#notsponsored), but the 259 is gonna need some time in the shop. Afterwards, Aaron and Alex spend some time talking about addressing an unsustainable workload and why new business owners might not want to take whatever job they can get when they're starting out. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dirt Talk had our very first guest in the Dirt Talk Studios this week, which is very exciting. He's also arguably our youngest guest to date. Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naImfk4rPrY This week, our guest is Dylan Taylor, a 20-year-old laborer and construction management student from MN. Dylan is a pretty special guy for a lot of reasons: he's already worked 2 summers as a laborer for Duininck Inc., he just started a 2-year college program for construction management, and he's traveled and meet with people all over the industry to make connections and learn from those more experienced than him. In episode 87 of Dirt Talk, hosts Aaron Witt and Alex Horton have a conversation with Dylan about what it's like to get into the industry at a young age, important advice he's already received, using doubt from others as fuel for your own internal fire, and how he's figuring out how to run equipment with only one hand. To follow along with his story, you can follow him on IG @1armedtrades or on LinkedIn. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex are back in Dirt Talk Studios, coming to you "live" from the BuildWitt HQ. Not live, but... well, you get it. After opening the floor for Aaron to vent about the comments he gets when he posts photos of remote-controlled equipment, he and Alex discuss what to actually post photos of when you're trying to build your brand online (the answer is whatever you're working on) and what kind of lessons (good and bad) that Aaron has learned since starting BuildWitt. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 2 of a 2-parter! Aaron and Alex had the enormous pleasure to have Sal Frisella as a guest on Dirt Talk. Sal is the President of 1st Phorm, a health and fitness company based out of St. Louis, Missouri, but that's not why he's the guest this week (okay, maybe a little). He's on the podcast this week because he's got a well-documented love and appreciation for the trades and blue-collar work. He owns a few pieces of equipment and takes every opportunity to hop in his Bobcat and move some dirt or brush. He's also a phenomenal speaker and unapologetically himself. The guys had a great time getting to know him and he and his team at 1st Phorm were so kind. This week, Aaron, Alex, and Sal finished up their podcast session at the 1st Phorm HQ. In the second half of the recording session, Sal talks about how their company builds systems that allow for their team members to grow, improve, and build a career. He also talks about how leaders can truly support their teams, how the "millennials don't want to work" attitude is trash, and building respect among your team. Follow Sal on IG at @mrfrisella. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex and Aaron are coming to you from the 1st Phorm HQ in St. Louis, MO. The guys are in town to record with Sal Frisella (President of 1st Phorm) and figured while they were there, they might as well take the mobile podcast rig out for a spin. This week, Aaron talks about his travel out West, and then the guys talk construction equipment in James Bond films, general contractors (and why Aaron isn't fully qualified to weigh in on them), and small dozers vs large dozers. To listen to the episode Aaron mentioned about GCs, click here: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of General Contractors with Garret Moss. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 1 of a 2-parter! Aaron and Alex had the enormous pleasure to have Sal Frisella as a guest on Dirt Talk. Sal is the President of 1st Phorm, a health and fitness company based out of St. Louis, Missouri, but that's not why he's the guest this week (okay, maybe a little). He's on the podcast this week because he's got a well-documented love and appreciation for the trades and blue-collar work. He owns a few pieces of equipment and takes every opportunity to hop in his Bobcat and move some dirt or brush. He's also a phenomenal speaker and unapologetically himself. The guys had a great time getting to know him and he and his team at 1st Phorm were so kind. This week, Aaron, Alex, and Sal sat down in the 1st Phorm HQ and dug into all kinds of topics. The guys talk Sal's upbringing learning tools and how to use all kinds of machinery, the importance of setting your own "balance" in your life, and why Sal is obsessed with his electric weed whacker. Follow Sal on IG at @mrfrisella. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron is in the Dirt Talk Studios while Alex is traveling - a real switcheroo after all of the traveling Aaron has been doing. Aaron recounts his East Coast trip this past week, and then the guys discuss questions about companies that don't allow their employees to post photos of their job sites and how leaders can best help their team members get in roles their best suited for. For the entire month of September, we’ll be doing a drawing of all submissions each week to win $100 to the BuildWitt store, but we will send a discount code out to each person that submits a review. To submit for the drawing(s): Please leave a review for Dirt Talk on Apple Podcasts Screenshot your submitted review and email it to [email protected] Look forward to hearing from our Dirt World (and Dirt World loving) folks. Thanks so much! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again, this podcast manages to stumble into bringing on an expert in their field as a guest. Everyone welcome Britton Lawson, Director of Construction Technologies at Veit & Company. Britton, a self-described "technology nerd/equipment enthusiast," started his career as an operator and because of his interest in technology, he's often found himself as an early adopter and expert when it comes to construction technology. This week, host Aaron Witt has a conversation with Britton to discuss Britton's experience, how Veit has become a major user of many kinds of modern technologies to make their crews more effective, and why technology makes the best operators even better. Follow Britton on IG at @technology_sandbox. For the entire month of September, we’ll be doing a drawing of all submissions each week to win $100 to the BuildWitt store, but we will send a discount code out to each person that submits a review. To submit for the drawing(s): Please leave a review for Dirt Talk on Apple Podcasts Screenshot your submitted review and email it to [email protected] Look forward to hearing from our Dirt World (and Dirt World loving) folks. Thanks so much! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Monday, ladies and germs. So. After emphatically stating that they were officially done recording podcasts at Aaron's house... this episode was recorded at Aaron's. Aaron and co-host Alex talk a little bit about the trials and tribulations of all of the inspections needed to open up a new office space for your company before Aaron goes into talking about the BuildWitt Skid Steer and why it was a great idea for BuildWitt to get it. Later, the guys discuss the challenge of getting insurance for a small business and Aaron brags a little about RAWSO's (not-so-overnight) recent success. This week, we are launching our podcast review contest! For the entire month of September, we’ll be doing a drawing of all submissions each week to win $100 to the BuildWitt store, but we will send a discount code out to each person that submits a review. To submit for the drawing(s): Please leave a review for Dirt Talk on Apple Podcasts Screenshot your submitted review and email it to [email protected] Look forward to hearing from our Dirt World (and Dirt World loving) folks. Thanks so much! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've finally tracked down the person who was around for the very very beginnings of BuildWitt (other than Aaron Witt)... introducing Mr. Kevin McCawley, who used to ride around the American Southwest and take photos with Aaron as they would shoot photos of any job site they could find. Now, Kevin is a med school student at the University of Michigan, but he was kind enough to sit down and help tell some behind-the-scenes stories of the birth of "BuildWitt" as we know it. Co-host Alex Horton joins Aaron and Kevin to recount the winding road of how "BuildWitt" as a brand came to be. Whether you've been following the BuildWitt story for years now or this is your first introduction, this episode is chock full of never-before-shared stories of the early wins and failures. Aaron also tells the story of how Kevin got roasted on social media for posing for a photo in front of some heavy machinery with Sperry's Boat Shoes. This week, we are launching our podcast review contest! For the entire month of September, we'll be doing a drawing of all submissions each week to win $100 to the BuildWitt store, but we will send a discount code out to each person that submits a review. To submit for the drawing(s): Please leave a review for Dirt Talk on Apple Podcasts Screenshot your submitted review and email it to [email protected] Look forward to hearing from our Dirt World (and Dirt World loving) folks. Thanks so much! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months (and months and months and...), the guys are in the BuildWitt offices recording a podcast in Dirt Talk Studios. Big moment. Alex and Aaron talk about Aaron's "Rules for the Office"... before having to stop recording because the restaurant down below is too loud to record. So, they come back 16 hours later to pick it up, and Aaron talks about the Founding Members aspect of BuildWitt Leaders. They then discuss a few listener-submitted topics about being included in all company events as an intern and how company's do (or don't) incentivize their employees to not move to other companies. To learn more about BuildWitt Leaders, visit leaders.buildwitt.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Coghlan aka @shamrockseanj on IG is the Owner/Operator of Shamrock Earthworks Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Over the years, his company has done a little bit of everything, but they've made quite a name for themselves by building beautiful custom rock retaining walls. Seriously, those guys are out there building awesome rock puzzles. Sean was kind enough to hop on a call from a job site and catch up and talk dirt with co-host Aaron Witt. This week, Aaron and Sean went DEEP on the Dirt Talk (rock talk?) as Sean shared his love of the two-piece excavator boom, why "operator school" might be a good fit for some folks, and why a lot of folks no longer do snow removal. This was old-fashioned Dirt Talk at its best. To keep up with Sean and Shamrock Earthworks, check out their website at shamrockearthworks.ca. You can also connect with Sean on LinkedIn or follow him on IG at @shamrockseanj. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the last podcast that co-hosts Aaron and Alex will record at Aaron's dining room table! Moving forward, all of our in-person podcasts will be recorded in the new BuildWitt Studios! This week, the guys discuss the merits of hiring someone to clean one's house, and then they talk about how to get access to job sites to take photos (be honest and authentic with whoever is in charge!) and what kinds of progress is being seen in the BuildWitt mission to make the Dirt World a better place. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goodfellow Bros. has been around for a while. Started by 3 brothers after the end of World War I, the company has since worked to be one of the most trusted contractors in the industry. This week, we were lucky enough to be joined by Goodfellow Bros. CEO Chad Goodfellow, the fourth generation of family leadership at GBI. Chad grew up in the industry like many of the folks in our industry and though he's the CEO now, he spent many summers learning the industry as a laborer. He was kind enough to have an open conversation with Aaron about the history of Chad's family company, the importance of explaining to others why our industry is so vital, and then Aaron tries to trap Chad into inviting Aaron out to their operation in Hawaii! If you want to learn more about Goodfellow Bros, check out their website at goodfellowbros.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Witt went to a Grand Prix... in his neighborhood? Aaron and his co-host Alex talk a good bit about the interests and eccentricities of Nashville, TN. Later, they talk about how to get access to job sites to take photos (hint: be upfront and authentic) and some signs and trends that show that the BuildWitt mission of "Make the Dirt World a Better Place" might be on to something. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brock Johnson reached out to us and shared his story... and whaddya know, he is now this week's guest on Dirt World. Brock is an interesting combo: not only is he a full-time operator working in northern MN, but he also started Prograde Excavating and spends his weekends building his own business. He certainly works a lot these days, but it's all towards a greater purpose: more freedom and flexibility for himself and his family. In this episode, host Aaron Witt and Brock talk about the challenges of starting a company while still working full-time for another company, being disciplined enough to always see the big picture, and what it's like to own a skid steer(!). To follow Prograde Excavating, follow him on IG at @progradeexcavating. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Monday, Dirt World. This week, Aaron and Alex sit down to discuss why "lifers" in the Dirt World sometimes discourage their kids from coming into the industry, landfills, and what one of our BuildWitt Partners (Veit) is up to. If you want to visit the Veit website, go to veitusa.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dirt Talk guest this week is from "across the pond," as it were: Nick Drew of Digger Man Blog fame. This week, Nick was kind and gracious enough to share his Saturday evening with us and, as Aaron Witt says, "shoot the poop." Aaron and Nick discussed Nick's construction background prior to focusing on writing about the Dirt World, what he misses (and doesn't miss) about the work, and how trolls on the internet don't deserve any recognition at all. Enjoy! Check out earthmoversmagazine.co.uk/digger-man to read up on what Nick works on. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

G'day, fellow Dirt World people. Aaron and Alex geek out a little about the BuildWitt Team meeting that happened a few weeks ago. They eventually discuss small ways that teams/organizations can introduce training into their company culture and why some industries rely on migrant workers vs others. Thanks for the questions - please keep them coming! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marcus Sheridan is a new friend of ours, but boy, are we glad we brought him around! In his words, he's an "International Keynote Speaker on Digital Sales/Marketing, Ranked #1 LinkedIn Voices for Entrepreneurship, Author of They Ask, You Answer...and a Dang Good Follow on LinkedIn"... and sharpened all those tools moving some dirt early on. He is one of the first speakers we brought on to be featured on the BuildWitt Leaders platform, and the more we've gotten to know him and vice versa, the more we realize how helpful and interested he could be to help us make the Dirt World a better place. This week, Marcus and Aaron connected to discuss how companies in the Dirt World can (and should) be marketing themselves to potential team members, why workers can be the best recruiting tool, and why this all fires Aaron up so g-d much! To learn more about Marcus Sheridan, you can visit his website marcussheridan.com. OR just follow him on LinkedIn, since, as he says, he's a "Dang Good Follow"! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Monday, Dirt World pals. Dirt Talk-erinos? We're working on it. Alex and Aaron geek out about how BuildWitt Leaders is going, as well as their excitement over the last few episodes of the podcast recordings in Aaron's house. This week, the guys dig in about how people start a dirt world business without debt (and how debt can be a useful business tool) and when Aaron first started to understand the need for change in Dirt World culture. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Molly Abbott of ban•spas Consulting is our guest this week. ban•spas is an organizational consulting + interior design firm based in the Arizona desert, and Molly was kind enough to work on a pretty big BuildWitt project: she designed and planned out the new BuildWitt Offices in Nashville, TN. Since she and Aaron Witt are the 2 people most intimately familiar with the space, it made sense to get them to talk about the entire process! And since we got a handful of requests asking to hear an episode about the new office, we figured we could share the conversation as a podcast! Molly, along with Aaron and Alex, talk about the long history of the building, why we felt compelled to build out a custom space for a team that is scattered all over the US, and why the space already feels SO special. Thanks for letting us geek out about our new offices. To keep up with what Molly and ban•spas are up to, check out the links below: website: banspas.com Instagram: @banspas.consulting LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mollymargaretabbott/ Pinterest: pinterest.com/banspasconsulting/_saved/ To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Monday! This week, Aaron and Alex chat at Aaron's home "studio"... but this is one of the last times ever, as the new BuildWitt Studios are almost complete! Can't wait to share photos and videos of the new space with the Dirt Talk community. On this week's episode, Aaron and Alex discuss what it takes to transition from doing landscaping work to excavation, Aaron's interest in owning a warehouse, and the naming rights of the BuildWitt skid steer. We're SO excited to be sharing the link to BuildWitt Leaders, our new leadership education website. Visit and join at leaders.buildwitt.com and join the movement to help make the Dirt World a better place. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a general rule, we at BuildWitt LOVE to engage with people who love the Dirt World as much as we do. So, when we first started chatting with David Cutler through email, LinkedIn, etc, it was clear immediately that he's got the passion for our industry running through his veins. And as the podcast team was building out the guest list, it just started to make more and more sense to bring David on the show, and we sure are glad we did. David Cutler is a Senior Estimator/Project Manager with Benchmark Site Development in eastern Pennsylvania, but what stood out is that he's also a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). He's made it a mission to marry his expertise in engineering with his passion for dirt to more effectively build his communities, and you can't go wrong working with someone like that. He had plenty of expertise to share, and we can't wait for y'all to listen. Link to the Fort McHenry Tunnel video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5R504FolbE0 U Chapter 2 Brainery: https://uchapter2.com/uc2-brainery/ To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron is in Montana, taking some much-needed "time off". As you'll hear, though, he still stays pretty involved. Aaron talks about how he's spending his time alone out in the mountains, and Alex and Aaron commiserate on endless shipping delays. Aaron and Alex also answer a few listener-submitted questions. They discuss building relationships with new co-workers, being honest with customers, and Aaron's preferred boots and hardhat (we are not advertising, we swear!). To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wally Adamchik literally runs the website constructionleadership.com. Suffice it to say, Wally is well-versed and well-traveled when it comes to leadership in the Dirt World. Wally's company FireStarter Speaking and Consulting works with companies all over the U.S., helping them to build better companies through better leadership, better operations, and better culture. Wally was kind enough to sit down with Aaron and Alex to talk all things Construction Leadership. Truly. It's one of the longest episodes we've done, but man, is it chock full of good info. We talk about why it's hard to change course as a company and why it's important for companies to be honest with themselves. To learn more about Wally, visit his website at firestarterspeaking.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Aaron Witt and Alex Horton discuss Aaron's travels out West this past week as he went to visit some Dirt World friends, and all of them are either past or future guests on the Dirt Talk podcast. They also answer a few listener questions about a workplace culture of learning, the dos and don'ts of asking for a raise, and if BuildWitt will have a booth at CONEXPO in 2023! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered anything about the gold mining industry? Enter David Garofalo, Chairman & CEO of Gold Royalty Corp. He's the premier name in the mining and precious metal industry. David has 30 years of experience in the creation and growth of over 15 multi-billion dollar sustainable mining businesses across multiple continents and led the largest merger in gold mining history valued at $32 billion. He started in finance but has clearly been working in the Dirt World for many years and has the stories and expertise to show for it. David's a brilliant guy, and we were so excited to have him on the podcast. David and host Aaron Witt had a deep dive conversation about the mining industry in general but touched on many topics. To say our crew learned a lot is quite an understatement. David and Aaron chatted about the world's gold supply, how some urbanization is actually important for the planet's health, and how much of the negative perception of mining is either distorted or untrue. A really fascinating conversation and we're psyched that we get to share it with our listeners. To learn more about David Garofalo's work, visit Gold Royalty Corp's website at goldroyalty.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex face their toughest obstacle yet - the lawn crew just outside the windows of the BuildWitt Studios (Aaron's dining room, for just a few more weeks). But they pushed through because we're on a mission. This week, the guys take on tough topics like Santa, what industry leaders read/listen to, and will BuildWitt start selling autographed merch. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got another young buck on the podcast to challenge Aaron for the Young Buck throne! This week, we've got Ben Warren of Warren Land Solutions, who was gracious enough to come by the BuildWitt Studio (Aaron's house for only a few more weeks!). He mentioned that this is his first podcast appearance, but don't let the fact that he's green fool you - he has plenty of great stories and earned experience to share. Aaron and Ben dug into how the land clearing business is a different beast than other kinds of work in the Dirt World. They also talk about not letting your age factor into business, and Ben talks about the importance of not putting your identity in your work. To learn more about Ben, find him on LinkedIn or the company website at warrenlandsolutions.com. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often speak about why our company values are important to us, and today we talk a little about why it's important for every company to be driven by those values. We believe it's not enough to identify the core values of the company - the entire company needs to be speaking those values out loud... and often.! Aaron and Alex also talk about BuildWitt employee travel (and whose responsibility it is to book it) and where Aaron is gonna park his skid steer. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've hinted at it for some time now, but now it's official: the BuildWitt crew has officially announced the upcoming launch of their leadership platform, BuildWitt Leaders! There have been a lot of questions about what exactly "BuildWitt Leaders" is, so we got Aaron Witt (CEO and Chief Dirt Nerd), Dan Briscoe (President), and Randy Blount (Advisor) to get together and lay it all out. Simply put, BW Leaders is an online platform of videos and education tracks for the leaders (and future leaders) of the Dirt World. We've been building this thing to help the leaders of the Dirt World learn everything from recruiting and marketing to estimating and profitability. In this episode, Aaron, Dan, and Randy provide tons of examples of how this tool will empower companies in the Dirt World to train up their people, plan for the future, and build the best teams they can. Stay tuned for our official launch date - you won't want to miss out. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex are back in the studio together after a week apart! They get to effectively go back in time and answer a question from a few weeks ago, as well as discuss attracting a new generation to the dirt world and how to manage a crew of people that are older than the leader. Check out the BuildWitt Youtube Channel. Thanks again for listening! If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reach out at [email protected]. Stay Dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is a big deal. It's part equipment trade show - part dirt world family reunion IN LAS VEGAS and it's anything but a breeze to organize. The event is put on by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers every 3 years and it takes every bit of that time in between to put all of the pieces together. Fortunately, Dana Wuesthoff (Show Director) and Caroline Roberts (Director of Event Operations) were kind enough to take an hour off and give us the inside scoop on the event's history and future. If you haven't been able to tell, Aaron is something of a fanboy of heavy equipment and especially CONEXPO. When he was young and dumb, he actually snuck into the event (this is a bad idea, everyone!), but at the 2020 edition of the event, he flew most of the BuildWitt team out to experience it. So, just in case it's not clear in the interview, Aaron was kiiiiinda excited to get to ask Dana and Caroline for all of the juicy details of what it takes to put CONEXPO on. They talk midnight equipment parades down the Vegas strip, how many bathrooms you have to plan for, and how 2023's event will take up at least 2.7 million square feet! To learn more about CONEXPO-CON/AGG, visit the site at conexpoconagg.com. To learn more about AEM, visit their site at aem.org. If you have questions/comments/concerns, please email at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Monday edition of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex chat about Aaron's upcoming trip through the South and why he prefers driving instead of flying right now. As always, the guys also discuss some listener-submitted questions/topics, including operator school, selling an equity stake in your business for cash, and why it's still tough to find good people to work at your business these days. Thanks to everyone who sends in questions! If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colby Williams describes his skills as "pushing buttons". But if you've come across his work as Fueled Photography, then you know he's no hack. For years, Colby has been shooting cars, trucks, bulldozers, cement trucks, cranes - if it looks cool, chances are good that Colby has photographed it. And we at Dirt Talk were lucky enough to have him come on the pod and talk about his story. Colby and host Aaron Witt have plenty in common - they both spend a lot of time shooting big equipment all over America. But Colby's path to where he is today wasn't easy or straightforward. Colby and Aaron talk about Colby's start with photography, why he had to take a break (and why he had to come back), and his love for big trucks. Check out Colby's IG at @the.fueled and visit the Fueled website at fueledphotography.com. If you have questions/comments/concerns, email the Dirt Talk team at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron and Alex discuss their recent travel and answer listener-submitted questions about photography, job titles and company structure, and two-stick controls vs full joysticks. If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Garcia (of Rogers Group in the southeast US) has been bouncing around the last few years. He's been hired at Rogers Group multiple times. He's moved to and from Alabama multiple times. And now, after working for Reed Contracting for a time, he's now running what was formerly their operations after Rogers Group acquired Reed Contracting. Knowing that, it is easy to understand why he's perfectly suited for that work. Anthony and Dirt Talk host Aaron Witt discuss Anthony's winding road that his career has taken. They talk about Anthony's commitment to education and understanding elements of the Dirt World, challenges, and good people. To learn more about Rogers Group, visit their website at rogersgroupincint.com. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please reach out to the guys at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex FINALLY talk about what happened on Aaron's trip to see the official BuildWitt Skid Steer in the Caterpillar Factory! Yes, folks, it's actually real and not a joke. As always, the guys answer a few questions too. Keep the questions coming! If you have questions/comments/concerns, please email Alex at [email protected]. Stay Dirty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people say that they'd go to any lengths to achieve their goals, but not everyone would move halfway around the world like Michael Bullock aka @the_english_earthmover. Michael was born and raised in England, but has been working in the Dirt World in Australia for years now. He's built up quite a following on his IG acct @the_english_earthmover where he has been posting photos of equipment and projects for years. Michael was gracious enough to find time (with a 13 hour time difference!) to come on the podcast and share his story. He and Aaron talk differences between the US and Australia, the long and winding road it can take to find your calling, and why some folks do not want you taking photos of their project, no matter where it is. Follow Michael on IG @the_english_earthmover to keep up with his Aussie dirt adventures. Thanks for listening to Dirt Talk! If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reach out to us a [email protected]. Stay Dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And we're back! Aaron and Alex are back to answer YOUR questions. Thanks to our listeners for sending in such great questions. This week, the guys talk about some really exciting upcoming travel for the BuildWitt team, and then dig into some questions. They discuss union vs non-union wages and how and when to ask for a raise. If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reach out at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years ago, Bridger Snow was still in high school. Since then, he's not only started his career in the Dirt World -- he is the owner of Snow Excavation in Northern Utah. He's learning a lot of lessons the hard way in real-time, but he's far ahead of the rest of us when we were his age! Bridger was kind enough to take a few moments out of his weekend to chat with Aaron, and even though Aaron is clearly threatened by Bridger being even younger than Aaron, they were able to spend a lot of time on the benefits and challenges of getting in the Dirt World early. They also discuss Bridger's first machine, why he could trust his friends to work hard for him in the early days, and the challenges of getting a loan in your early 20s. Check out his company at snow-excavation.com and @snowexcavation. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please email Alex at [email protected]. Stay Dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices