Dirt Talk by BuildWitt

Nick is considered the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee. Nick and Aaron cover his combat history, lengthy recovery journey, and overall life lessons. To engage with Nick, visit https://teammchn.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected] Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron is back with another reading from Goodfellow: A Century of Grit, Grace, and Goodwill. This week, Goodfellow Bros navigates challenging times. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barry Tudor is the CEO and Founder of Pembroke Resources, an Australia-based steel-making coal company. Operating in the infamous Bowen Basin, Pembroke recently established the Olive Downs Complex as a leader in steel-making coal mining and mining in general. To learn more, check out https://www.pembrokeresources.com.au/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Jason discuss the value of past Dirt World events and the upcoming 2024 Dirt World Summit. For more information about the Dirt World summit go to https://dirtworld.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Wood owns and operates Ryterra, a Washington-based materials and construction company. However, only a few years ago, Jason was known for another large construction company called Rino Construction. Aaron and Jason dig into the story, careful not to gloss over any lows. Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron's back to answer your questions. To have your question answered, send it our way — [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bryan Peters is President of AdvanceTrac, an equipment rental and brokerage business based in Texas. In this episode, Aaron and Bryan wander from anywhere from workforce challenges to servicing equipment. Learn more about AdvanceTrac by checking out their website here — https://www.advancetrac.net/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron is back with another reading from Goodfellow: A Century of Grit, Grace, and Goodwill. This week, the story of Goodfellows' first foray into Hawaii! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie is the COO of Echelon Front, a leadership consulting business initially founded by former Navy SEALs Leif Babin and Jocko Willink. Jamie discusses her journey with Extreme Ownership within her EF career but, more importantly, at home. To learn more about Echelon Front, check out their website here — https://echelonfront.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron's back to answer your questions. To have your question answered, send it our way — [email protected]! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mikel is president of Bowman Legacies and is an author, speaker, and mentor. He leverages his time in the mining industry and other career avenues to help develop leaders and company cultures more effectively. Learn more at https://bowmanlegacies.mykajabi.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the popular episodes from the Ames story, Aaron dives into another Dirt World tale with this first reading from the book Goodfellow: A Century of Grit, Grace, and Goodwill. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Wilson and Joe Ledford lead TWC Erosion Control, a company dedicated to... erosion control. Working anywhere from Texas to North Carolina, they talk with Aaron about the importance of the often over-looked work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is easily one of the most spectacular construction projects I've ever seen, and I detail what it is and how they're building it within this episode. You can learn more at the incredible project website https://femern.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daron's a pastor, author, speaker, and podcast host. After truly inspiring our attendees at last year's Ariat Dirt World Summit and this year's Dirt World workshop, I had to have him on to explore the messaging he has to offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I answer some common questions received following our recent trip across Europe to visit some of the world's finest construction operations. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Burkhart is the CEO of Garney Construction, a national water and wastewater contractor. Aaron and David talk about his progression through the company, Garney's employee ownership program, and the state of US infrastructure. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron highlights a few articles detailing the struggle to permit mines in the US despite our growing hunger for natural resources and plentiful reserves. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite Jarryd's 15 X Games medals and Nitro Circus Live rider status, he's struggled to gain citizenship in America over the past few years due to insane technicalities. We dig into his struggles and work in some skid steer talk, of course. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron and Jack discuss their recent month in Europe, from lava barriers to underwater tunnels. This trip had it all—except for AC. Keep an eye out for photos and videos on Aaron's social channels! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron is joined by Adam, Co-Founder and Partner at Ironspring Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on innovation across the industrial supply chain, including construction. Investors like Adam will play a key role in shaping the industry's future. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron answers some questions from Instagram. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions or has asked questions on any platform, keep ‘em coming! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the sales floor of Supplement Superstore to an executive at 1st Phorm International, Will has seen all sides of the diet, exercise, and supplement world. If you're looking to become healthier, this episode is for you. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Richmond (COO of BuildWitt) is back to chat about BuildWitt's events, the most recent being a Dirt World workshop at Knife River's training center. Jason and Aaron also dig in on what's in store for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach Laberge is the founder of Frenter, a business helping construction companies better track their fleet performance and identify issues before they're catastrophic. Oh... And he's still a teenager. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the last episode that Aaron will be reading from Persistence Creates Opportunity A book highlighting the history of Ames Construction. In this episode, Aaron reads about one of the biggest projects for Ames, the Denver International Airport. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Lidster Operator Training Specialist self employed at Australian Earth Training has seen more of the Mining industry than most. Starting in construction and moving to mining in Australia, Scotts career has taken him to some pretty Interesting places. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Penultimate episode that Aaron will be reading from Persistence Creates Opportunity A book highlighting the history of Ames Construction. In this episode, Aaron reads about Ames expansion into different regions of the United States. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Moon and Jenna Moon Co-Owners/Operators of Total Excavating talk about what it’s like to own a business while running a household together. Dan has been on the job site most of his life (specifically for total excavation) and Jenna comes from a background in non-profit work, together they make quite the duo! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron discusses the lessons he learned from BuildWitt's latest investment round. And these lessons apply to business and life, not just investment! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blake Enloe founded Legacy Corporation, primarily performing marine construction work on America's rivers. Although he hasn't always worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers... His first gig? Landscaping the neighborhood. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron dives into the ins and outs of his social media strategy that he's used to reach tens of millions of people and generate billions of views. The more people who tell the industry's story, the better! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Warren is the President and Founder of Warren Land Solutions, a land clearing and demolition contractor working in the southern US. As a young business owner, hearing his perspective on life and the Dirt World is always fun. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron digs into one of the most incredible projects he's ever seen — replacing a main runway at Zurich International Airport with Eberhard a few years ago. With only a few hours to do a mountain of work, there was NO margin for error! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Bullock is a production excavator and dozer operator at a large iron ore mine in Western Australia. Michael and Aaron discuss the intricacies of Australian mining following Aaron's recent trip to the area. To see Michael's photos and videos, you can follow him on Instagram at @the_english_earthmover. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drawing from his experience in college at Arizona State, Aaron offers his advice to anyone currently in college, thinking about college, or with kids considering it. There's still tremendous value within America's universities, but only if you do it right. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Peper is CEO of Mobilization Funding, which offers contract-based loans to companies like contractors. Understanding the flow of money through construction projects is critical for any successful industry leader, and Scott runs us through all the intricacies and pitfalls. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On what's technically an internal BuildWitt podcast, Aaron and Jason discuss the latest business happenings. If you're curious about what BuildWitt's up to, this episode is for you. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Paulson (Co-CEO) and Caitlyn Cook (VP of Marketing) join Aaron to discuss employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) and how being 100% employee-owned works for Emery Sapp & Sons. To learn more about ESS, check out their website at https://emerysapp.com/ As always, please leave the podcast a review, and you can send any questions/comments directly to us at [email protected]! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron is back to read two articles from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) newsletter. The first article is titled A Construction Market in Transition: The 2024 Hiring and Business Outlook, a survey conducted by AGC. The second is an article titled US Construction Outlook: Torrid or Tepid? written by Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, AGC of America. To Learn more about these Articles tune in to this episode! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Anhalt is a Corporate Product Specialist at McCoy Construction and Forestry, a major US John Deere dealer. Beginning his career in engineering, he wrote product manuals for John Deere's latest machines and then helped with machine design. Alex now focuses on assisting contractors in getting the most out of their machines and technology. To learn more about McCoy, you can check out their website here: https://www.mccoycf.com/ If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron is back at it again answering your questions. Some of these questions are from people who write and some are from comments on Instagram. Either way, we appreciate the feedback and the questions are as follows How do you rate Australian mining compared to American mining? Where do you see Buildwitt going? What is the best life decision you’ve made? What is your worst business decision in the last three years? Thanks again to whoever submitted these, they are picked at random so if you don’t see yours don’t lose hope, we do read all the feedback and there is always a chance you hear your question on Dirt Talk. **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Aaron is joined by Ben Winsor, a Managing Consultant at Aperture LLC. Ben and his team specialize in analyzing data from construction projects going through the litigation process. Construction consultants like Ben forensically analyze project data like schedules and cost reports, assist with claim preparation, write reports, and provide expert witness testimony at trials. Ben is not a lawyer, but he is someone you want on your and your lawyer’s side during litigation. Ben and his team help their client calculate damages and identify entitlement for those damages. Ideally, matters can be settled before a courtroom or arbitration is needed. Settlement can save contractors lots of time, money, and headaches so they can do what they do best- build. If the matter must be decided by the terms of the contract Ben will testify as an expert witness to assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence put forth by each side. If you want to learn more about the legal side of contracting this episode is for you. Connect with Ben on Linked-in if you need assistance on your project or have a question on how the process works. **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Aaron is joined by Jack Major (Vlog Videographer) to talk about Their recent trip to Australia. Recently Aaron, Jack, and TJ (social media expert) had the opportunity to travel halfway around the world to see what the Dirt World is like down under. The trip was anything but uneventful. Days were filled with lots of travel to almost every state in the country. They saw all manner of earthmoving from sight work to massive met-coal, and iron mines. During their time the boys certainly became acquainted with the outback and all its wildlife, some beautiful and some maybe not so great (remember to pack a fly net if you are going to Pilbara). If you want to learn more about the Australia trip, tune into this episode! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Aaron is Joined by Nick, Matt and Marty Coppock (President, Vice President, and Vice President of operations) at Rock n Dirt excavating. As you might have guessed, Rock n Dirt is a family company. Although it’s awesome to see a family working together, as some may know it's not always the easiest to work with people you’ve known your whole life. In this episode Aaron and the Coppocks dig into what life is like at Rock n Dirt excavating. They talk about the tricky nature of emergency work and hiring. They Also talk about machine utilization and what it takes to run everything off site too. If you ever wonder what it would be like to work alongside your family stay tuned. **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron is on his own to bring you another book report. He’s picking up where he left off in the Persistence Creates Opportunity: Building America for 50 Years, a book made for Ames Construction that periodically details their history. In this episode, Aaron reads from the 1960’s to the 1980’s which was a pivotal time in the history of Ames. They talk about the changing business and personal life of Dick Ames and some of the most important contracts that the company ever won. To learn more stay tuned for this week's book report. **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Aaron is joined by Immanuel Martinez, Public Works Division Manager at Sunland Asphalt & Construction,LLC. Although Sunland does some pretty awesome work all throughout Arizona and other parts of the southwest, in this episode Aaron focuses on a project of sunland’s that he saw personally last year in the southeast. Without giving too much away, it's in Miami and features some very fast vehicles. Aaron and Immanuel discuss the intricacies of such specialized asphalt paving. Working with unique materials, tight tolerances and other contractors on site all while being a nation's distance away from the company's HQ, makes for some pretty interesting circumstances. To learn more about Immanuel and Sunland stay tuned for this fascinating episode all about asphalt. **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the title suggests Jay Collup, President of Collup Enterprises, is an expert in the Dirt World and has plenty of experience in the seat and as a leader. In this episode, Aaron and Him sat down to catch up and talk about training and how folks can improve efficiencies on a site. Along with a small two-person excavating and grading business, Jay’s main goal is to train the next generation of expert operators. He’s achieving this by offering his unique simulator service. Jay and his team offer simulator rental and training via a mobile trailer with several different machine simulators. This provides a way for contractors to train new operators while their production machines keep running. Jay's approach is progressive and backed up by years of experience, so tune in if you want a piece of his dirt world knowledge. **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products. Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Chad Abernethy CEO of Abernethy Contracting. Abernethy is a Dirt World staple in their home state of North Carolina doing everything from utilities and site prep to concrete and asphalt paving. Chad being the CEO gives personal insight into what it means to be a leader in the industry and balance the want and need to be in the field versus behind the scenes. He shared the lessons learned and the success he’s had buying back the family business and leading the company into the future. Chad has a great message for all leaders in the industry so if you are hungry to learn how to lead this episode is for you! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron shares some shocking figures about interstate bridges from an article published by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, by Chief Economist Allison Black. He Also Shares some numbers directly from the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Transportation, and President Biden’s Infrastructure Act. These facts and figures paint a concerning picture of the state of our bridge and interstate systems, highlighting the point that this issue needs to be scrutinized more thoroughly by the federal government. Our Infrastructure got our great nation to where we are today, which is exactly why it cannot be overlooked. We need to do more to improve and repair our existing infrastructure while creating new infrastructure that will last the test of time. None of this can be accomplished without the Dirt World and the amazing people who are a part of it. Stay tuned to stay informed! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices