Dirt Talk by BuildWitt

Aaron and Alex are back at it again. After a light week of user-submitted questions where Alex had to fake one, the Dirt Talk community showed up in full-force and truly flooded the inbox with great questions. We're so thankful for the Dirt Talk listeners. This week, Aaron take a positive approach in talking about General Contractors (he's actually pretty nice!). He and Alex also talk about lack of training in the Dirt World (and what is being done about it) and deciding who to market yourself to. Listen to the episode Aaron did with Garrett Moss of Moss Utilities about The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of General Contractors. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know, we know... this isn’t our typical podcast guest on Dirt Talk, but give Nick Schiffer (of NS Builders) some credit - he’s got some serious construction bona fides. Nick started NS Builders in 2014 and has gained a lot of wisdom in the triumphs (and failures) of growing a custom home builder. He shares about his dreams of building homes all over the world, how video and social media sets his business apart, and how he’s pretty good with a classic Bobcat. Nick is also a host on the NS Builders Podcast which can be found here. If you’d like to keep with Nick and NS Construction, follow their IG at @nsbuilders and visit nsbuilders.com. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, reach out at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcasts aren't easy, as much as Aaron and Alex seem like it is (that was sarcasm). And while the Thursday episodes have been humming, we realized we didn't get any listener-submitted questions this past week. So listen as Alex tries to casually drop in a question that sounds really formal and Aaron busts him for just making it up. In all seriousness, the guys are so thankful for the continued engagement and support that they continue to receive. Our listeners are the best, and we're so grateful for all the shares and questions/comments that come in. Keep 'em coming! If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please reach out at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Randy Blount (of Blount Contracting) recently sold the family business to WW Clyde after running the company for almost 15 years. He took over the company in his early 20s after his father passed away. The traditional way this could have played out is that he would have continued to run the company in AZ and surrounding areas and then passed the business on to his children or other family, but he instead chose a different path and sold the company after having significantly grown the business. All that's to say, his story is uncommon, and that makes sense - Randy is not a common man. As he says in this episode, "one thing that I know about myself is that I can work hard." Aaron and Randy talk about why Randy decided to sell the company, how he has stayed on with WW Clyde as the Arizona Division Vice President, and why he made the bold (and VERY cool) choice to paint all of Blount's machines gray. Randy has also started working with BuildWitt as an advisor, and after hearing his story and perspective, you'll know why the BuildWitt team is very excited to work with him. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, reach out to us at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron is in Nashville and Alex is on a Florida beach. A perfect setup for a podcast, no? This week, Alex and Aaron catch up on BuildWitt office updates, exciting planning meetings last week, and Aaron explains why he thought it would be a good idea to run at least 48 miles in 48 hours (spoiler: he completed his run challenge). They also discuss a few listener-submitted questions about stress management, different machine sizes around the world, and if Aaron will personally do all maintenance on his new skid steer. Thanks for listening and being part of the Dirt Talk community. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please reach out to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Owner-Operator" is not the most common path in the Dirt World. It requires more admin work typically, and you have to actually buy the machine, of course. But for those who can make it happen, it opens up a world of possibilities in the Dirt World. This week, Aaron spoke with John Schiedeck of Schiedeck Construction about the owner-operator life. John's an absolute weapon with a blade, making him one of the best graders out there. He recently moved from California to Texas, but was gracious enough to take a break from unpacking to give us a sneak-peek into what the owner-operator process looks like. John and Aaron dig deep into some technical aspects of the heavy iron that John has, but they also discuss why to always "do what you can with the machine, so you don't have to do it with the shovel", the pros and cons of owning your own equipment, and John reveals a few operator tricks that he's learned in his career. If you want to get in touch with John, visit the website for Schiedeck Construction or follow him on IG at @schiedeck_construction. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to us at [email protected]. And as always... Stay Dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron and Alex catch up across the TN/AL state line. They check in about BuildWitt stuff happening and answer a few submitted questions like asking to hop in equipment on the job site, tracks vs wheels, and "the competition". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These days, the concept of “Company Culture” can be somewhat of a buzz-word, but the best companies truly understand what it is and why it’s important to have good culture. It’s also vital to know what “good company culture” is not. Enter Eric Sellman, a VP & General Manager of Mortenson Civil out of Minneapolis, MN. He and Aaron dug into this a little bit. Aaron has said many times before that, in his opinion, “company culture” is more than “ping pong tables and beer” (though the new BW office will have plenty of beer…). In addition to company culture, Aaron and Eric discussed big picture concepts of civil engineering and General Contractors (and why Aaron’s general dislike of them). Thanks so much for listening to Dirt Talk. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, reach out to Aaron and Alex at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's theme is the benefit of finding ways and opportunities to meet people and why it's so important to get face time whenever possible. Practicing what they preach, Alex and Aaron met in the illustrious BuildWitt Studios (aka Aaron's dining table, for now) to catch up and answer a few questions. This week's questions are especially exciting because they are from some of our younger listeners. Alex and Aaron touched on topics such as designing an office that people WANT to be in, the value of meeting people in person, and how to grow yourself to be a valuable employee. We LOVE the questions, so please keep them coming. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out at [email protected]. And as always... Stay Dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest is the newest team member with BuildWitt: VP of Business Development Ben Schwanberg. Ben and Aaron sat down in the illustrious BuildWitt Studios (aka Aaron’s house, at the moment) to smoke ribs, drink beer, and talk Dirt World stuff. While the ribs were cooking, the guys sat down to talk about Ben’s history in the industry, haul truck drivers, and not compromising on your goals. Buckle up - it’s a good one. As always, if you have questions, comments, or concerns, email the Dirt Talk team at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex are back in the studio together after Aaron was traveling last week. The chemistry was evident as they were able to have a conversation about the Dirt World and vaguely related topics like gas-powered generators, steak, and rain. As always, they answered listen-submitted questions about work-life balance, productivity on airplanes, and the BuildWitt philosophy on photography. We're so thankful for the questions and feedback we receive. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected]! And remember - Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Burnett is an “equipment trainer” in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada… but what that really means is that he knows his way around all kinds of equipment. And in Canada, they move a lot of dirt. Alex has all kinds of stories and offers a different perspective on the Dirt World in Canada than what is typical from our Dirt Talk guests. Alex works in the “oil sands” industry, which has many similarities to the American oil industry. Still, only a handful of countries in the world have oil sands (Canada, Russia, Kazakhstan, Venezuela). Aaron and Alex spend a lot of time discussing training and what it takes to train different types of operators, but they also dig into the value of learning from your mistakes and why it’s good to rib your peers at work sometimes. Thanks SO much for continuing to listen and share the podcast! For questions, comments, and concerns, please email us at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron is in Arizona. Alex is in Tennessee. But through the miracles of modern technology, they were able to have and record a face-to-face conversation. To say that they're excited to be the first people to ever have a video conversation would be a stretch because these two would never exaggerate or use sarcasm in any form. With Aaron taking the entire week "off work" (technically, though no one can keep him from the Dirt for long), Alex held down the fort in the BuildWitt home-base of Nashville as Aaron traveled the Southwest visiting family and Big Iron. The guys had some especially thought-provoking listener-submitted questions this week, with one answer ending with Aaron admitting he didn't really answer the question, so you know the info was good. Aaron and Alex touched on dealing with the haters, engaging young people who have an interest in entering the Dirt World, and what exactly is the point of LinkedIn. Thank you SO much to our listeners who have submitted questions and have been generous and supportive enough to continue sharing the podcast. We have a great time working on the podcast and hearing from so many perspectives in the industry that we love. It continues to be a privilege to build an engaged community of so many different types of folks who want to make the Dirt World a better place. If you have any questions or feedback, please email us at [email protected]. We've loved the questions so far, and we're finding that each question submitted is also a learning experience, so thank you very much. Keep it coming! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Dirt Talk is with one of BuildWitt's own: our Chief People Officer Jake Schmidtlein. Though his title might sound fancy, his blue-collar and dirt world bona fides are legit. He grew up working in the family business, racing go-karts and stacking thousands of bricks for money to buy fireworks. Jake's journey from brick-stacker to CPO at BuildWitt is anything but linear. He's worked in finance, ran a race track, and headed up business development for a John Deere dealership (Murphy Tractor). He's always had a passion for training and people development, and after being hired as VP of Business Development, he was asked to transition to Chief People Officer during his second week at BuildWitt, and boy are we excited for that. Thanks to Jake for taking the time and sharing his winding road that led him to BuildWitt. If you have any questions for Aaron or Alex, please email [email protected]. And remember... Stay Dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Alex met to record this podcast with 24 hours (spread over the following 3 days) of MSHA Part 48 training staring them and almost the entirety of the BuildWitt team in the face. Though there was much to look forward to with the training, it meant that a 5 (or 6) day work week would have to be squeezed into a Monday and a Friday. With their backs against the wall, Aaron and Alex bravely put their stresses aside and recorded their Monday podcast, as promised. The guys answered questions on skip loaders, which states Aaron did NOT visit in the past year, and about the land clearing industry. They also discussed the questionable safety of school buses when they were kids and the excitement and relief of adding talented folks to the BuildWitt team. If you have questions or feedback for the Dirt Talk team, please email us at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Bezates considers himself a utility man. He works on all kinds of projects in the Pacific Northwest, but he’s really made his name with a specific set of skills: welding. Nick and Bezates Construction Inc. have become one of the contractors to call in Oregon (and the surrounding states) for welding projects. Aaron and Nick had a wide-ranging conversation and touched on topics like how people get into welding, re-starting a family business, counting on your own quality of work, and the “joys” of working in a muddy hole. To learn more about what Nick and co, are up to, check out his IG at instagram.com/bezatesn. Please submit questions and feedback to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good Monday to you all! We've received some great questions from y'all, and a few questionable submissions as well (you know who you are). So thanks to all who've reached out, and please keep them coming! This week, Aaron and Alex discuss a few BuildWitt company values, the pros & cons of starting a business, and --- HOLY SH!T you guys we saw a flatbed truck drive past with a skid steer, and less than ten minutes later, pass by again but this time, it had a mini excavator back there too. Whoever loaded it up that quick is a wizard and deserves internet points or something. If you have any questions or feedback for the podcast, we're always open at [email protected]. Look forward to hearing from y'all. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trace Hall knows his way around a LOT of Cat equipment. He’s been with Thompson Machinery in Smyrna, TN for almost 20 years and is now a Sales Manager. The BuildWitt team recently met up at Thompson to drive a skid steer and a mini excavator. After seeing us out in the yard, Trace comes over and says, “I got something else you should check out!” and comes back with a full-size excavator for the team to try. After that, I knew I needed to get to know this guy. On this week’s episode, Trace and I discuss the ins and outs of CAT dealership culture, my first skid steer, and identifying competitive advantages. To learn more about what Trace and the team at Thompson is up to, check out their website at thompsonmachinery.com. Please submit questions and feedback to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday episode (our second on the feed), Alex and I dig into the good stuff. We discuss the recent travel of our BuildWitt team, our growing collection of Dirt Nerds™, the awesome work that our new BuildWitt Partner J.W. Fowler is doing on the West Coast, and what it feels like to operate large equipment. Our guest this Thursday is Trace Hall of Thompson Machinery in LaVergne, TN. We'll talk all things Caterpillar and the inner workings of the Cat dealer world. Please submit questions or any feedback to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Chrisman (@beefybladehand on IG) is a weapon with a grader. He’s made a name for himself online with his warm-hearted early morning greetings, wild blade videos, and educational content on how to use machines and grade control to its fullest potential. Dirt’s been in the blood of Ryan’s family for multiple generations. He ran tractors and skid steers starting at age 7 and naturally got into the Dirt World as soon as he could start working. We talk about his operator experience and opinions on equipment, working 100+ hours a week, and advice for young workers entering the industry. Check out Ryan on Instagram at @beefybladehand! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A big week in Dirt talk history: we'll begin posting 2(!) episodes per week beginning this week. Our regular Thursday episode will continue to come as scheduled, but we're also adding a Monday episode each week with Aaron and new producer on the show, Alex where they touch on BuildWitt happenings and answer listener-submitted questions. This week, they'll touch on succession plans for family businesses, what to do if a fire alarm goes off during a podcast, and if it's a serious no-no to accidentally refer to someone from Kansas as a "Cornhusker". To submit questions to be answered on the podcast, please email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frisch and Sons is an expert at making Southern California pools disappear. For the past year or two, I’ve watched their videos online as they’ve maneuvered their baby skid steers (Bobcat S70’s) across tiny backyards, in and out of pools, and even through people’s living rooms. Yep… just another day at the office for Frisch and Sons. Since I’ve spent entire days of my life watching their pool demolition videos, I figured I’d give Bobby Frisch, who’s the second generation to lead the company, a call. We talk about why so many people want their pools gone, how many trips it takes to fill a pool with dirt, and how they’re training the next generation—everything you’ve ever wanted to know about pool demolition and more. While no, I’m not targeting contractors that only rely on skid steers to perform their work, it’s certainly a plus that they have a fleet of twelve S70’s that are so small you can nearly put them in your pocket. To learn more about Frisch & Sons, follow them on Instagram at @frischandsons or visit their website at frischandsons.com Here’s the video of a Bobcat going through a house: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLcUMROJOuj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Answers Your Tough Questions! In this Dirt Talk episode, Aaron is joined by himself to answer your questions submitted via Instagram. No script and plenty of nonsense. He discusses what BuildWitt does, how he stays sane, whether he prefers a booth or table, and many more important and controversial dirt-related topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The word "autonomous" is a hot topic for cars, planes, and any other machines that move. While self-driving cars are neat, this isn't Car Talk; this is Dirt Talk. Enter Built Robotics, a Bay Area start-up racing to automate skid steers, bulldozers, and excavators. Started only a few years ago, they're making serious progress in their quest to create robots capable of digging ditches, grading roads, and building house pads. Like any other technology in the Dirt World, there's plenty of skepticism and misinformation surrounding Built's work. To learn fact from fiction, I visited their headquarters outside of San Francisco late last year to meet their robots. Boy, was I impressed. I was so impressed that I knew I needed them on the podcast to spread the word about what they're really up to. To learn more about their technology and robots, check out their website at builtrobotics.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since we’ve received plenty of feedback about interviewing more people who “do the work,” I finally heeded your advice and sent Pat a DM on Instagram asking if he’d lend me an hour or two of his Sunday morning. He said sure. Pat’s a long-time operator and has spent his entire adult life running heavy equipment. He started out working as a laborer for his family contracting business and quickly made his way to all sorts of heavy equipment-related companies across the Northeast and Canada. Today, Pat works at New Era Excavation, the same company referenced in DT039 when we talked to Tom Gardocki, AKA The Dirt Ninja. Pat works alongside Tom and his partner Craig as the third member of the New Era team. While Pat’s typically running equipment on the job, he has a fantastic amount of autonomy to run the projects as he pleases according to the vision laid out by the business partners. To follow Pat’s adventures online, check him out on Instagram at @patallen30. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marty Leum grew up traveling the country to race dirt bikes. Since he was around tracks so much, he began helping out where he could, whether it was hanging banners, or eventually, running equipment to clean up and build tracks. He had a knack for building tracks by shaping the earth with heavy equipment, and Marty traveled from event to event. After many nights away from home, he needed a more stable job closer to his family back home, so he went to work on the railroad. Said to be the best job in his town, he couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to get back to the dirt. With an old skid steer, he quit his stable job and officially started in the excavation world. Anyone who's followed Marty has seen his attention to detail and badass looking hot rod red Caterpillar equipment. He's done some fantastic work so far, and he's just getting started. Check out Dirt Monkey Excavating on Instagram at @dirtmonkeyexcavating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American mining is hugely misunderstood and, as a result, demonized by many. The irony is most people who denounce mining couldn't live their lives without it. Electricity, roads, cell phones, and just about any other aspect of the physical world is thanks to the hardworking men and women working day and night to make it all happen. Frankly, even I misunderstood mining until I recently began to experience it on a deeper level through our work with North America Coal, Mitigation Resources of North America (MRNA), and North American Mining. It turns out that extracting the resources we need to live and being environmentally conscious can go hand in hand. When visiting one of MRNA's operations in Mississippi back in November, I met Rebecca McGrew, whose formal title is Manager, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs at North American Coal. She was extraordinarily knowledgeable about mining and mitigating the environmental impacts of extracting resources from the earth. Since I learned so much from our conversation, I thought I'd have her on the podcast to have a real discussion about the realities of mining. To allow the conversation to be as free as possible, we have to say everything Rebecca expresses is solely her opinion! To learn more about North American Coal and MRNA, check out https://www.nacoal.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to some recent internet criticism (I should know better about going down this rabbit hole, and yet here I am), I decided to take to the podcast to explain my stance on safety, photographs, and the mining world. Keep in mind this is me thinking aloud. I'm trying out new things on the podcast, so we'll see how folks like this one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Ron Kellish was working for a big four accounting firm in Chicago, he got a call from Larry Ames, who recently began his new earthmoving company, Bemas Construction. He and Larry had worked together in the past, and as Ron admits, Larry was the only one who could've talked him into coming back to Denver. Larry Ames grew up building the family business, Ames Construction, into the behemoth it is today. After helping to move 100 million yards of earth for the new Denver International Airport, Larry wanted to return to his roots by leaving the big family business and starting Bemas after buying a small scraper spread. Since Larry's always in the field and doesn't even have an office at Bemas' headquarters, he's relied on Ron and others to help lead the business while he does what he loves: moving dirt. While Ron's title is CFO, he wears tons of hats and touches all aspects of the business. In this episode, we talk about the money side of earthmoving, why it's essential to take care of people, and how Bemas structures its benefits to give everyone a lot more than just a paycheck. To learn more about Bemas, check out their website at https://bemas.net/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a long career as a Sheriff in Fresno, Josh McCahill took out a second mortgage on his house to buy an old bulldozer to start his ag business. Today, after years of six and seven-day workweeks, McCahill Enterprises works with large agricultural corporations to remove old trees and vineyards to prepare farmland for more profitable crops. To remove hundreds of acres of trees at a time, Josh's company uses all sorts of custom dozers, excavators, and loaders. It's such unique work full of challenges and seems to wreak havoc on equipment, but his company loves to roll with the punches. Check out Josh's daily adventures on Instagram at @mccahilldozing -- their work is badass! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Briscoe, COO of BuildWitt, and I sat down to discuss what we learned and accomplished in 2020. We talk about our business model, how we've grown, and where we're heading into 2021. Many people still don't realize that BuildWitt is a marketing agency well beyond a "kid with a camera," as we often say (I occasionally miss those simpler days). Since "transparency wins" is one of our company's core values, we tried to be as transparent as possible with this episode. Hopefully, this episode provides better insight into who we are and what we do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Dirt Talk, I was lucky enough to chat with Kari Taylor (President, North America Sales) and Matt Ackley (Chief Marketing Officer) of Ritchie Bros, the infamous global equipment auctioneer. As a dirt and equipment enthusiast, auctions have always fascinated me. I loved learning all about how Ritchie Bros manages to sell hundreds of thousands of machines annually. While we spent a lot of time talking about their traditional auctions, we heavily explore their transition to the online auction world with the acquisition of IronPlanet and COVID. I've confirmed that you can, in fact, but a skid steer on your phone in any one of their weekly unreserved auctions. To learn more about Ritchie Bros or participate in an auction, check out their website at https://www.rbauction.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Frederick is Vice President of Witech Excavating (https://witechcompany.com/), a mass excavation contractor based in the Chicagoland area. Starting at Witech as a laborer and later marrying the owner's (Tom Witvoet) daughter, Nick is currently transitioning to lead the business as Tom retires. Even though Witech began from humble beginnings as an idea born out of ministry work and family history, the company today moves millions of yards of earth for some of the largest development projects in Chicago. Nick and I talk about how he started in the Dirt World, how faith plays a role in their business, and why moving big dirt in the Midwest is so challenging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garrett Moss, President of Moss Utilities, has dealt with many general contractors as a utility subcontractor for large development projects around the DFW area. After speaking out against plenty of old school and harmful practices many general contractors believe in via LinkedIn, I figured I'd get him on the podcast to discuss his thoughts on the subject. While there are some great general contractors out there, everyone who follows me on social media knows I'm not the biggest fan of them, and we stay away from working with GC's for a reason. If you want to hear more about Garrett's business story, check out episode 15 of Dirt Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jarryd McNeil is a 15-time X Games motocross medalist who's traveled the world performing wild tricks on dirt bikes since he was a young kid. Growing up on a dairy farm, he fell in love with riding dirt bikes and operating heavy equipment. Once Jarryd was old enough, the ultimate goal was to become a professional rider in America. He left school early, moved to California when he was eighteen, and got to work. I talk with Jarryd about his career, love for America, Southern California farm, baby cow, and heavy equipment. His passion for the Dirt World is undeniable, and I'm stoked to see how his life changes as he takes on building more earthwork projects. To follow Jarryd's wild life, check him out on Instagram at @jarrydmcneil. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being unexpectedly fired from the best job of his life, Dary Langfitt (@rockbottomenterprises on Instagram) told everyone in his family that he would start a landscaping business. How hard could it be? Once the Alaskan winter calmed down and the work season began, he kept his word by starting Rock Bottom Enterprises, a landscaping and now construction business still located in the great state of Alaska. Dary and I talk money, working on the north slope oil fields, and how to build ice roads. Just Alaska things... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I talk with Michelle Walker, VP of Finance and Administration of SSC Underground, about suicide prevention in the construction industry. According to the CDC, while we as an industry rarely discuss it, construction ranked #1 for suicides by career. It's a serious issue that Michelle and the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention are bringing to light. We discuss why mental health/suicide is an issue, to begin with, what we can all do to address it, and why it's ok not to be ok. To learn more about CIASP and access their free resources, visit www.preventconstructionsuicide.com. If there was one podcast episode that I wish would be shared amongst people, it's this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Jumper (@eric_jumper on Instagram) and I sat down at my kitchen table last week to discuss his upbringing in the dirt world, why building terrain parks makes for a wild job, how dredging works, and why / why not you should operate equipment with the doors and windows open. While thrilling isn't a word I'd use to describe our conversation, it was indeed dirty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Gardocki, known as the Dirt Ninja online, co-owns a residential excavation company in New Hampshire. If you've ever perused the internet for dirt related photos and videos, odds are you've ran across Tom's stuff at some point. He's shared his daily excavation-related adventures online for ten years now. Starting at his parent's landscaping business, he still works there a few days a week while he spends all his other days working at his own business. It's a crazy schedule, especially with a newborn now in the mix. Tom and I talk about how he started his business, why he invests in technology and equipment as a small contractor, and some of the experiences he's had thanks to social media. You can find Tom everywhere online by searching "the dirt ninja!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After many (at least two) requests, I reached out to Garret Wilson, who's said to be the world's best operator, and asked if he'd like to be on the podcast. He said no, but I managed to get him on anyway. While we start with antique heavy equipment, we eventually touch on mental health issues, parenting, starting as an operator, and a whole lot more. For a nervous wreck who has never done a podcast, Garret did pretty damn good. I enjoyed my talk with Garret and learned a lot, so hopefully, you enjoy it too! If you have delicate ears, this ain't the podcast for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Meeker is a Caterpillar dozer extraordinaire and is formally a Product Application Specialist for Track-Type Tractors. Starting in the agriculture world, he found his way into dirt with Caterpillar and quickly took to track loaders and now dozers. While he doesn't have a formal operating background like his excavator counterpart Mr. Ryan Neal, Sam knows more about Cat dozers than just about anyone. I've always enjoyed his love for these machines, and it's quite apparent in this episode. To follow along on Sam's dozer and combine adventures, follow him on Instagram at @yieldmap! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Dirt Talk, I talk with Mike Willhite, owner of Willhite Grading and Excavation, about his past controversies, life lessons, and business experiences. Most people know Mike from social media as he's shown off his Santa Barbara-based excavating business day to day for years now online. While he's spoken openly about some of the recent rough life experiences, we dive into it all, and I have a lot more respect for him after this conversation. We talk about anything from jail time to parenting, and it's a conversation I'll no doubt remember. "It broke me for quite a while. I had one employee I basically paid to relay my orders every day because I was buried in a bottle for five weeks. I was so utterly distraught and destroyed that I lost my family. I don't have anything to hide. I kept him there, so I didn't go out and do something stupid and lose my kid." To learn more about Mike, check him out on Instagram at @willhitegrading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dane started his Bozeman, Montana-based excavation business a few years ago when he grew tired of his job. He abruptly quit, financed a skid steer the same day, and he was off to the races to build a business from nothing. While DC Excavation is small, they have an incredibly slick fleet with all the gizmos and gadgets imaginable from engcons to Trimble 3D GPS. Dane and I talk life, business, equipment, and of course, dirt. Learn more about Dane and DC Excavation by following them on Instagram @dcexcavation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a whole new world for Dirt Talk! We finally took the podcast on the road to interview RAWSO Constructors foreman/superintendent Brett Baker on his site development project in Antioch, Tennessee. Brett is a self-proclaimed red neck from West Tennessee who now manages entire projects at only 24-years old. Initially studying nursing in college, he dropped out of school two semesters short when he had a child to rejoin the construction industry. We go into his story, what he does day to day at RAWSO, why the grass ain't always greener on the other side, and what advice he has for other youngins looking to move up in the world of construction. Learn more about RAWSO Constructors at RAWSO.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, learn how Matt Moldenhauer went from big-time business consultant to southern logging business owner (Bellwether Forest Products). Even though he knew nothing about logging when he started, thanks to his consulting skillset combined with humility, Bellwether moves five times the wood than it did just a few years ago when Matt joined the business. Since Bellwether was one of the first-ever businesses I visited with BuildWitt, I have a soft spot for the company. Not only do I have fond memories, but it's a great company filled with remarkable people. The Southern blue-collar culture is unlike anything I've ever experienced before in the best of ways. Learn more about Bellwether's operations on Instagram @bellwether_fp or by following Matt on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-moldenhauer-16b92411/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This past weekend, I made a post via Instagram stories asking for questions that I'd answer on an upcoming podcast episode. To my surprise, people actually submitted somewhat thoughtful questions. With that, I turned on the microphone and went down the list of questions cold-turkey. From business ownership to whether I believe mayonnaise is an instrument, I answered each as genuinely as I could. Hopefully, you enjoy -- if people like this, maybe we'll do it again sometime! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I stayed up well past my bedtime to talk dirt with Jimmy Starbuck, owner of Starbuck Excavation in Melbourne, Australia. If you're on social media, you've likely seen Jimmy's diggers with the enormous "STARBUCK" logo on the boom and counterweight. We get into how he went from working in a soap factory to buying an excavator with a car loan, how he's grown his business, how he's become vertically integrated, and how COVID is affecting Australian businesses. Not only is this interview a damn good lesson in entrepreneurship, but Jimmy is pretty damn funny too. You can find Jimmy online at @starbuckexcavation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Herb Sargent and I chat about life, anxiety, my recent struggles and his life lessons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to excavators, Ryan Neal knows just about everything there is. As Regional Product Application Specialist for large excavators at Caterpillar, Ryan spends his days testing new excavators, talking to customers, and training operators worldwide. After working as an operator in the construction industry for about a decade, Ryan had the chance to become a demonstrator instructor at Caterpillar's Edwards facility in Peoria, Illinois. During his time there, he became familiar with every machine in Cat's product line and flew to countries from Sweden to India to help operators get the most out of their machines. These days, his entire focus is on large excavators and how to make them the best. We talk about Ryan's early days, his travel experiences, how a new excavator goes from drawings to reality, and we touch on the 395, obviously. To learn more about Ryan, give him a follow on Instagram at @rneal1997 or watch him drive a mini excavator through a china shop here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3sdMEgor7E. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I explain why I went to college, what I think the major mistakes people who go to college make are, and how to get the most out of it if you do go, in my opinion. Like anything else in life, there's a right and wrong way to do college. While it's no longer a requirement for "success" in the year 2020, it's still a fantastic thing to do, if you do it right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices