Dirt Talk by BuildWitt

This week, we bring you the very first edition of Dirt Talk: LIVE where Aaron, Alex, and Eric take the Dirt Talk show on the road. Aaron lays out the story below: “Months ago, organizers from the ECC (The Association for the Capital Projects Engineering and Construction Community) asked us to speak to 200 of their future leaders at their annual conference in San Antonio. Think key future leaders from companies like Chevron, Shell, Fluor, and Kiewit. While I figured I’d prepare another speech about workforce development and what everyone can do to help solve the problem, the event organizers had a different idea… They wanted us to take the Dirt Talk Podcast on the road. After hundreds of podcast episodes, Alex, Eric, and I are pretty damn comfortable talking dirt, but we always do it within our small Nashville studio. To do it on stage in front of 200 important people? That’s a different ballgame. And one more detail… The speaker before us was a retired U.S. Army general. What the heck were they thinking of inviting us? We gave it the ol’ college try, and I’m happy with how we did. We talked about our travels, explained the importance of storytelling, and answered audience questions. We debriefed at the airport after and have a long list of lessons learned, but we may be onto something. Stay tuned… the Dirt Talk Podcast might be coming soon to a conference near you!” Thanks for listening and following along on the BuildWitt journey. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex are joined by Eric Jumper. The guys are coming right off of a full company BuildWitt meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, and they examine why it makes sense to spend money on a company meeting when you’re in growth mode. They discuss the value of educating each person in the company understanding how each team works and why each piece is important to the larger mission to make the Dirt World a better place. Enjoy this Behind the Scenes peek into #buildingbuildwitt. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is a special treat for Dirt Talk listeners (and maybe especially the Dirt Talk host): Aaron’s mother Carolyn MacDonald is the guest! She gives the dirt (pun intended?) on Aaron’s obsession with construction and its equipment from a very young age as well as gives context (and corroboration) for many of the memories that Aaron has shared over the years about his earliest memories of the Dirt World. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and guest (and mother of the host) Carolyn MacDonald reminisce on Aaron’s earliest Dirt World experiences, contextualize some of Aaron’s more common stories he tells from when he was young, and explain the incredible opportunities Aaron had to learn from smart people as a child. Thanks to Carolyn for coming on the podcast (and to Aaron for allowing it!). Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Dirt Talk podcast, Aaron, Alex, and guest-host Eric Jumper revisit their recent experience doing the Dirt Talk podcast LIVE in front of a large audience at the ECC Conference in San Antonio, TX. They discuss the challenges of changing up the approach and why it was both fun (and intimidating) to talk about the Dirt World to a room of folks from the energy sector. Later, they chat about the interesting dynamic of some folks in the industry not believing in the BuildWitt mission. Listen to Dirt Talk: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GK5UWkulNJ6tNFXvWngMt?si=2332acb8e2954301 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirt-talk-by-buildwitt/id1494235724 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6enNwcm91dC5jb20vNzc5NjAz Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brent Rasmussen might have the title of Project Manager on LinkedIn, but he’s got his hands all over the family company, Rasmussen Excavation LLC. Rasmussen was started almost 50 years ago with a focus on excavation, but in the years since, they’ve branched out into utilities, sand/gravel, rentals, and their most niche offering: solar projects. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is joined by Brent Rasmussen. The guys chat about building solar farms (12:54), keeping younger guys motivated (37:32), and the importance of giving people the choice to work for you (48:16). Later, they discuss why it’s vital to get “out of the weeds” when leading a business (58:23) and the problems that come when trying to hire from an older generation’s perspective. You can learn more about Rasmussen Excavation by following @rasmussen_excavation or visit their website at rasmussenexcavation.com. Listen to Dirt Talk: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GK5UWkulNJ6tNFXvWngMt?si=2332acb8e2954301 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirt-talk-by-buildwitt/id1494235724 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6enNwcm91dC5jb20vNzc5NjAz Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week begins a new phase on Dirt Talk: Each Monday, we’ll be releasing episodes with new formats, new guests, and new stories! This week on Dirt Talk, the OG Dirt Talk crew (Aaron Witt and Alex Horton) is here with a Q+A. The guys chat about “hidden gem” locations in the Dirt World, book recommendations for young people in the industry, and “chasing the dozer dream”. They also discuss the right time to specialize equipment, keeping morale up on a long slog of a job, and Aaron’s “insistence” (read: demand) to always drive on road trips. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Because September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we’re featuring a few experts on the topic to share information and tools to help make the Dirt World a better place for all of us. Today, Michelle Walker, founding chairperson of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, is back on the Dirt Talk podcast for her second episode. She was first featured on episode 41 way back in November 2020. You can find that episode here: buildwitt.com/dirt-talk/podcast/suicide-prevention-in-construction-with-michelle-walker-of-ssc-underground This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt is joined by Michelle Walker to discuss the work that goes into suicide prevention in construction, an essential model for solving the workforce problem, and why caring for people is the most important thing you can do for them. They also touch on navigating tricky work relationships and why it’s so vital to understand and value different experiences that people bring to their work. If you want to learn more or get involved in the essential work, go to preventconstructionsuicide.com for more information. Thanks SO much to Michelle Walker for coming back on the pod. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’ve got Aaron, Alex, and frequent guest Eric Jumper talking about jobsite mistakes and the lessons learned (or not learned). Aaron shares a story from his time working on the railroad, and Eric realizes once he starts telling one mistake story how many others begin flooding his memory. We all make mistakes on the job, and it’s time we admit that mistakes are part of the pathway to growth and getting better. A (semi-) famous quote: “Dude, sucking at something is the first step towards being sorta good at something.” - Jake the Dog from Adventure Time If you’ve got a lesson you’d like to share with the Dirt Talk guys, email us at [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sees issues of suicide prevention and mental health promotion from a host of perspectives. Clinical psychologist. Mental health advocate. Faculty member. Researcher. And suicide loss survivor. She has earned an international reputation as an entrepreneur and innovator in social change. Along the way, she’s helped establish many large-scale, gap-filling mental health efforts, including Man Therapy (www.ManTherapy.org) and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. In 2016, she was invited to speak at the White House on men’s mental health. And somehow, we were lucky enough to get 90 mins of her time. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas about a heavy topic: suicide prevention, especially in the workplace. Dr. Sally shares what led her to the mission of suicide prevention education, what suicide prevention actually looks like, and the challenges of managing mental health in the Dirt World. Dr. Sally clearly has a passion for the work, and we appreciate all of the wisdom, data, and tools that she shared with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt and Alex Horton are joined by Dirt World “Expert” Eric Jumper. Eric complains about not getting paid after working at BuildWitt for two years (editor’s note: this is not true) before the guys address internet trolls who complain that every video Aaron posts doesn’t show every step of every process, people putting RAM-NEK in the back of an excavator to warm it up in the cold months, and the time Eric brought 10 feet of sewer pipe into the BuildWitt office. Later, they answer questions about how Aaron should be approached in public, now that he’s famous (editor’s note: he absolutely hated this question), and how, after the People Problem, material shortages might be the Dirt World’s next colossal problem. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sophie Coleman (of Victoria, Australia) was raised around the Dirt World as her father built up his career before he started MC Earthmoving. Sophie had thought joining the family business would be for her other siblings, and ended up moving to New York City. But after working a few jobs and traveling a good bit around the US, she started feeling the pull to go back to Australia. And after working part-time at MC Earthmoving as she built her freelance graphic design business, she started to find she wanted to spend more and more time working on the construction business. Fast forward a little bit, and she’s now the “Operations Manager of sorts” for the family business. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is joined by Sophie Coleman as she graciously stopped by the BuildWitt office during her whirlwind tour of the US. They dug into the opportunities and challenges of working for your father, why it’s sometimes okay that people assume she’s a man on the company's social media accounts and the value of approaching efficient practices one tiny step at a time. You can learn more about MC Earthmoving at mcearthmoving.com.au or @mc_earthmoving. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron recounts his recent travel through Canada as he visited an oil sands mine site, the largest Caterpillar dealership in the world, Fort McMurray, Calgary - a wide-ranging trip with some badass earthwork. Aaron weighs in on the negative perception (and the importance today) of oil and the role it plays in society before he and Alex discuss questions about how some employers are providing work-life balance opportunities for their people and why some companies who do the actual earthwork are also required to finance the project before getting paid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The only way to have a more sustainable world is through infrastructure.” Will Paddock is the Managing Director of WAP Sustainability based in Tennessee, a team of sustainability professionals who help clients both in and out of the Dirt World achieve their sustainability goals. To say “the world of sustainability is complex” would be an understatement, as evidenced by the conversation Will had with Dirt Talk host Aaron Witt, but Will has spent his entire career in the space and was able to connect a lot of dots with the role that sustainability plays in the Dirt World. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt and Will Paddock dig into the world of sustainability in the U.S. and how it plays a role in the Dirt World. Aaron and Will discuss the meaning of LEED, measuring the concrete carbon footprint, and why cement production has had to drop off (and the problems that causes!). Thanks to Will for coming on the podcast. You can learn more about his company at wapsustainability.com. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex check in on the joys of running and the utter terror of a bathroom emergency in the middle of a long run. Naturally, they transition to the topic of “Perseverance”. Later, they answer questions about staying in the Dirt World while striving for a healthy work-life balance and how to work through relational issues with difficult crew members. Don’t forget to check out the video of this podcast on the Dirt Talk YouTube channel or on the BuildWitt app! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, the DT crew has collected some of the most asked-about topics and combined them into one episode to answer YOUR questions about the importance of training and leadership in the Dirt World. Spanning over six months of conversations, we hope that every listener learns something new or sees a new perspective that they hadn’t considered before. Questions/topics discussed include: “Why is it so hard to train my team and get them to work quickly?” Asking yourself why other team members act a certain way when presented with a task “How do I hire and lead my first employee?” Relating to People vs Managing Them “Should trade schools teach Dirt World classes?” “Is a$$-chewing an appropriate leadership and training tactic?” A handful of other points, as well Thanks to all of the listeners of Dirt Talk. You’re the reason we get to do what we do. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt and Alex Horton are back at it, catching up after another long stretch of travel for Aaron. The guys discuss the Appalachian Trail and the “time warp” of living on the road before diving into this week’s topic: Interns. They discuss the value of skipping the unpaid internship and just getting out in the field and working. Then, they answer a question about the value of outward-facing branding and why it works for some companies to paint all of their equipment. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Marsh is a collector at heart. Recently, he’s begun hunting for and collecting chain saws. Why? “Why not?!” he says. But because this is a podcast about construction, George’s most obvious (and precious) collection is the armada of heavy equipment that he and his father have accumulated over the years. According to George, a self-proclaimed “old iron enthusiast,” they have something like 70 pieces on their property… and most of them still run! But in addition to the old equipment, he’s also quite the Dirt World historian and an old soul, especially when it comes to being a dragline operator. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and George Marsh dig into why George believes in the power and education that operating only old equipment can provide. George also shares the history of earthmoving in his own family before laying out what drew him to draglines and why it’s such a good fit for the work he wants to do right now. Later, he and Aaron discuss some of the downsides of using and relying on GPS and the pride and level of expertise that can be gained by learning operator skills on older equipment. The guys also discuss the lack of tolerance for mistakes in the industry, the shortage of entry-level positions, and the fulfilling nature of manual labor. If you want to learn more about the equipment that George collects, he’s @oldschoolgeorge on IG. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is joined by Eric Jumper to talk equipment (of course), but the conversation quickly evolves into a conversation on how you approach valuing your work abilities and how to use certain tools to develop yourself and your career. The guys also touch on landfills, meat processing, and machine rental. Later, Aaron and Eric answer questions like “what is strip mining?” and “how do you determine how much you should be paid?” Don’t forget to check out the video of this podcast on the Dirt Talk YouTube channel or on the BuildWitt app! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve spent any time working in or around the Dirt World, you know this one thing to be true: there is a labor shortage. And if you’ve been listening to Dirt Talk for any length of time, you know that host Aaron Witt is very passionate about working with folks in the industry to fix that issue. Enter Tyler Robertson: CEO of Diesel Laptops. In addition to being a badass company name, it’s also precisely what the company sells. Diesel Laptops “originally set out to help clients with their diagnostic tool needs. As trucks and emission technology became more advanced, a demand was placed in the market for diagnostic tools to meet those needs.” It’s a fascinating technology and the Dirt Talk crew enjoyed chatting with Tyler. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt is joined by Tyler Robertson of Diesel Laptops to talk diesel engines (insert Tim Taylor from Home Improvement’s grunt here) and the tricky diagnostics and maintenance that come with them. Tyler shares why he started the company in the first place, how it helps with the diesel tech shortage, and what, exactly, “predictive maintenance” is. Later, Tyler and Aaron dig into the disconnect between OEMs and dealers, the future of trucking, and why change starts with responsibility. Thanks to Tyler for coming on the podcast. Go check out Diesel Laptops at diesellaptops.com. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’ve got a special edition of Dirt Talk: host Aaron Witt and producer Alex Horton are joined by BuildWitt Co-President Dan Briscoe to discuss what’s been going on lately on the business side of BuildWitt. Suppose you’ve been following along with the BuildWitt story for the last few months. In that case, you know that we’ve been working on rolling out BuildWitt Training, a software platform built for the Dirt World to address the “people problem”: how can our industry better attract, train, and retain our people? BuildWitt Training was built to make training content easily accessible and easily digestible. We’ve been building the software AND the content and partnering with industry experts to ensure the training content is valuable and first-class. Aaron and Dan discuss why it made sense to go this route as a business and why it’s becoming a rallying cry throughout the industry to get other folks to step up to the plate and double down on training their people. There’s a lot of good information here, whether you’ve been following BuildWitt for years OR you’re new to the BuildWitt story and are just learning about everything the BuildWitt crew is working on. Remember that you can watch/listen to episodes on the BuildWitt app and on our Dirt Talk YouTube Channel. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reilly Sasse gives a sh!t about the blue collar world. You can see it on his company Red River’s website, you can see it on his LinkedIn, and you’ll pick up on it quickly when you chat in person… and luckily, Reilly was kind enough to come hang with the Dirt Talk crew at the BuildWitt HQ last week. Reilly is CEO of Red River, a company in Wyoming that does manufacturability and fabrication for the oil and gas industry. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and Reilly Sasse dig deep on the state of oil and gas in America. Reilly shared why he wanted to go to work at such a young age, his background working for Tapani for many years, and why he places such an emphasis on humility in his own life. Later, he and Aaron chat about the disconnect between the blue collar world and the folks who think blue collar workers don’t care about the environment and why it’s important to not reject emotion for the sake of business. Don’t forget to check out the video of this podcast on the Dirt Talk YouTube channel or on the BuildWitt app! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron gives a preview of his upcoming trip to Canada. Among other things, he’s pumped to go see the oil sands at Fort McMurray. Later, he and Alex discuss public work vs private work and the complications and opportunities that come with each. They then speak a little about joining a union before addressing BuildWitt’s future plans regarding getting involved in government. Don’t forget to check out the video of this podcast on the Dirt Talk YouTube channel or on the BuildWitt app! To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Senior year, I made a million dollars.” When the BuildWitt crew is universally pumped to have a guest in the studio for Dirt Talk, you know you’ve got a good one. Will Schuler is CEO of Will Power Excavation, based near Indianapolis, IN. He’s only just entered his 20s, but had already built a great business. From the beginning, Will has made it clear that taking care of his employees and ensuring everyone is well-trained are very high on his priority list. He was kind enough to travel down I-65 to Nashville to record a podcast at BuildWitt HQ, and we’re sure it won’t be the last time! Will shared how and why he got started in the Dirt World at such a young age, how he started pricing work when he was just getting started, and he was very open about the challenges of balancing high school and work. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt and Will Schuler weigh in on what being young in the Dirt World means (and what opportunities that creates), how the Dirt World can better attract more young folks and the challenge (and benefits) of being a young leader. Don’t forget that you can watch the Dirt Talk podcast on the Dirt Talk YouTube channel. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just like Kevin McCallister got Lost there in Home Alone 2 and The Muppets took Manhattan, Aaron Witt and Eric Jumper went to New York and saw some iron. They braved the streets, they saw the dirt, and it was good. They sat down to debrief the trip and weigh in on what it’s like to drive in New York City. Additionally, like usual, there are gas station reviews followed by dozer talk. Don’t forget: you can watch Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt App AND our YouTube Channel. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CJ Shade of Shade Farm Management is a 6th-generation California family farmer from Santa Barbara, CA. In addition to being an avocado guy, he’s also spent plenty of time in equipment, mainly in the agriculture sector. He was kind enough to hop on a call to talk dirt and California farming. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with CJ Shade about working hard when you’re young, land clearing, and avocados (of course). Later, they discuss the challenges of growing your business AND growing yourself simultaneously, as well as how CJ financed his first pieces of equipment. To follow along with CJ’s story, follow @sfm.inc on IG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, the guys discuss a pressing question from the internet: what is a motor grader? Aaron also digs in on the importance of our teams traveling the Dirt World before weighing in on the “perception” of consolidation in the Dirt World. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Aaron Witt introduced Justin Hoerner to co-host Alex Horton via email with the subject line “Young Buck @ a Start Up”. Of course, the wheels immediately began turning, knowing that if Aaron is pumped to have another young guy on the pod, his story is going to be pretty good. Folks, Justin did not disappoint. Justin Hoerner is an Assistant Project Manager (/precon manager/marketer/assistant super/recruiter/IT manager…) at Bruce Builders in Eldridge, IA, a small commercial GC that a co-worker started and Justin soon followed him to. Since the company is in the growth phase, Justin is seeing first-hand how to build the business and is already a well-rounded part of the Dirt World. He’s also a young guy who readily admits he has a ton to learn, but is thankful for the multiple stops on his journey. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Justin discuss the risks and rewards of leaving a comfortable position to join a start-up company. Later, they dig in to why self-development is so important (ESPECIALLY when you’re young), lessons already learned, and why some people still think it’s controversial to move straight into a construction job after high school. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So there are a lot of fancy restaurants here in Nashville, the home to BuildWitt. But would you ever catch your podcast hosts Aaron Witt and Alex Horton in one? That’s how this episode starts, but there’s plenty more to talk about this week, too, like: *When developing, the workforce can feel at odds with the traditional tough-guy persona of the Dirt World. *Why that persona isn’t doing us any favors. *How the construction industry should pump up how we invest in our workforce. *What kinds of companies make up the Dirt World anyway. Plus, Aaron and Alex tackle the age-old question of how small business owners can best navigate that first hire. What’s next? Don’t forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app. Connect with others who listen to the show by dropping or searching #betterdirtworld. Or reach out with any questions, comments, concerns, or Nashville restaurant recommendations to [email protected]. Stay Dirty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the outside looking in, people might think the dirt world and technology are completely unrelated. And while construction is often lagging behind, that doesn’t mean the industry is lacking in technological needs—or advancements. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt sits down with Austin Conti, the co-founder and CEO of Tenna. Conti talks all about his international experience in construction operations and how his passion for entrepreneurship and technology led him to create his company—a construction technology platform that revolutionizes equipment fleet operations. You can follow Austin Conti on LinkedIn or learn more about his company at Tenna.com or on Instagram at @tenna_co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Dirt Talk podcast, host Aaron Witt and Alex Horton discuss how economic decline affects (or doesn’t affect) the work of the Dirt World. They also dig into how that approach affects how BuildWitt does business. Later, they dig into taking the appropriate amount of ownership in a situation without letting that “ownership” be a detriment and the adverse effects of specific demographics retiring from the workforce before new demographics join it. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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 last time we chatted with Matt Moldenhauer, he told the story of how he went from “big-time business consultant” to southern logging business owner. Almost two years later, he’s back to talk about lessons learned and educate our listeners on the logging industry. He also gives a little background to his start in the industry and how he and Aaron got connected years ago. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and guest Matt Moldenhauer, President of Bellwether Forest Products and Managing Director of LOTS Group USA, talk about logging and the forest product market. They dig into the importance of and improvements that have come to trucking, mergers, and how they affect the small details and the potential of the blue-collar world. Learn more about Bellwether's operations on Instagram @bellwether_fp or by following Matt on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-moldenhauer-16b9241 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt, and Alex Horton give some background to the inner machinations of BuildWitt and how/why the company is structured the way it is. They then answer questions about whether job shopping to keep management honest is a good way to keep pay competitive and the differences between construction in Europe and America. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

In some ways, the early days of RAWSO coincided with the early days of BuildWitt. We’ll always love telling their stories, so we know just how lucky we were to sit down with the RAWSO Constructors VP of Operations, Matthew McQueen. Matthew learned work ethic from his dad before joining Eutaw Construction out of college. He moved to Middle Tennessee in 2014 and would later go on to meet RAWSO Founder and President Dylan Stephens. After realizing they shared a defined vision for the Dirt World and its people, Dylan began asking Matthew to join RAWSO, and in 2021, he did. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and Matthew McQueen sat down to talk bout Matthew’s story in the Dirt World before diving into Matthew's (and RAWSO’s) passion for people and crafting a vision that is focused on them, not just the work they do. They later chat about truly leading people and the importance of keeping people “in the loop.” You can follow Matthew McQueen on LinkedIn and check out the RAWSO story at rawso.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss public speaking before diving into how BuildWitt uses investment money and how that can sometimes differ from the contractors in the Dirt World. They then chat about the importance of communicating to all of the people on the team relevant context and allowing the entire crew to “see the scoreboard” as it relates to finance and how work gets done. Later, they answer questions about the stability of blue-collar work vs 9-5 jobs in an economic downturn and why some folks consider the D7E a “bad dozer”. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

Flash back a few days: Eric Jumper: “Hey man, you should have John Scepaniak on Dirt Talk. He’s a cool dude.” Alex reaches out to John. John: “Yeah, want me to just come to Nashville tomorrow?” The magic of Dirt World folks, y’all. If you want to do things right, do them in person. John Scepaniak is part of the 3rd-generation of Scepaniaks at Wm. D Scepaniak, Inc., one of the nation's leading family-owned and operated aggregate services contractors out of Minnesota. John was born and bred in the Dirt World and was brought up in the company by his father, Joe. He’s had a few roles over the years, but he currently describes his role as “Director of Aggregate Operations”. This week on Dirt Talk, John joins host Aaron Witt in the Nashville BuildWitt HQ. They chat about the inevitability of turning into your parents, all things aggregate(!), and the intricate nature of the Dirt World workforce. John also shares about his appearance in Pit & Quarry before he and Aaron compare gym routines. They also mutually decide to wrap the podcast because John rented a Porsche Carrera 911 and Aaron wanted to see it. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

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This week on Dirt Talk, Alex and Aaron talk about food and ask a fundamental question: "Can you cook veggies on a hotdog roller?" Aaron talks about his “privilege,” and why BuildWitt is “doomed” because he eats at too many fancy restaurants for breakfast. Later, Aaron talks about the standard of leadership and what it should look like: don’t be a complete jerk before weighing in on ways to acquire a small dirt company without the cash to buy it outright. They also reflect on the John Muir quote, “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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 was only a short time ago that BuildWitt and C.W. Matthews got connected, and yet there's been a certain buzz among the BuildWitt folks that had been to visit some C.W. Matthews job sites: "you gotta have Dan Garcia on Dirt Talk." With a ringing endorsement like that, it was only a matter of time. Dan Garcia has been President at C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. for over 9 years. He's clearly a compassionate leader, and throughout the conversation, his care for the people who work with him pours out. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt sits down with Dan Garcia of C.W. Matthews. They dig into a number of topics like "why invest in a company pastor?" and "why invest in a program for high schoolers?" and "why apply for a government program to hire 24 immigrant workers for the summer?"And yet, there's a clear common thread throughout the conversation: Dan is a man who understands the cost of truly investing in your people is never a question of value. To get to know more about what's going on at C.W. Matthews, check them out at cwmatthews.com and on IG at @cw_matthews. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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 discuss some feedback about the structure of Dirt Talk and the complicated relationship that feedback has with creative endeavors, especially when it comes to podcasting (they're super appreciative of the feedback, though!). Later, the guys address at length a question from a contractor looking to start hiring for the first time while trying to button up the business before the hirings happen. Then, they consider an email from a listener from the coal industry. In this episode, Aaron references both Uncontainable: How Passion, Commitment, and Conscious Capitalism Built a Business Where Everyone Thrive by Kip Tindell and The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance by Rich Diviney. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

Sometimes, things just work out. That's how Justin Martin (CEO of Nox Group Companies, which is the umbrella corp over Corbins, among other companies) & David Brown (President of D. Brown Management) ended up on Dirt Talk. It all started with Aaron telling the Dirt Talk crew that Justin happened to be coming to town, and would be a great Dirt Talk guest. And then Justin showed up at the office to record and he'd brought David along. After a few minutes of small talk, Aaron asks David, "Can you talk?" ... and thus, we've got Justin and David on the pod! This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is joined by Justin Martin and David Brown. They talk about the importance of team values, making space and opportunities for your people to be together, and how failure can sometimes be the best teacher. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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, Alex and Aaron talk about traveling to Starkville, MS via the Natchez Trace and the increase in trucks due to e-commerce. They also discuss the challenges of greatly increasing the rail system in the United States. Later, they further investigate the American infrastructure life-cycle before broaching the (sometimes) complicated topic of oil and natural gas and its difficult PR relationship with the typical person. Then, they answer a question about the need for "operator classes" in community colleges, and the broader challenges and opportunities related to that. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

For better or for worse, Mr. Eric Jumper is back to shoot the poop with host Aaron Witt. The guys meander through all kinds of Dirt World topics, but they do spend a good bit of time on the importance of training non-Dirt World folks in the ways of the Dirt World. They also check in about the grandeur of Buc-ee's, Eric's upcoming trip to do some work with Shay Stutsman in CO, and the perils of dredging (hard on machines, watch out for turtles). Follow Eric on IG @eric_jumper. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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 chat about the possibility of Aaron needing to hire someone to take his CEO role someday, operator comfort, and why it's so important to make it easy for team members to make good decisions. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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, host Aaron Wit regales co-host Alex Horton with the details of his recent trip to Europe. Aaron loves a play-by-play, and the short version is laid out below. Among other things: Aaron and Angel pregame their trip to Europe They met up with a few guys from Stutsman Gerbaz Inc. out of Colorado who were ALSO traveling abroad In Zurich, they took a trip to see a bridge demo, where they found they weren't the only onlookers The gang went to a few Aregger demo sites where they saw some thicc track hoes munch concrete Saw the Liebherr A-Rex, one of the largest machines on the continent PAUSE as Aaron reflects on the efficiency of Swiss demolition, especially the application of OilQuick They saw Eberhard's main facility and were shocked and awed by the scale, and Eberhard's incredible museum Went to see the good folks of Liebherr, where they dug up the French countryside and toured the facilities Finally, Aaron and Angel ended up in Munich for a celebratory beer Thanks for keeping up with the BuildWitt adventures, both home and abroad. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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 discuss the flaws in the argument that the Dirt World will rebound fine from another recession and then Aaron answers questions about excavation and the “formula” new business owners can use to build their books of business. 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

Nick Schiffer (of NS Builders fame) is back on the podcast, but this time in person! Nick and Dirt Talk host Aaron Witt chat about the complications of separating a personal brand from a business’s brand, the importance of "rising tides raise all ships" in construction, and the positive aspects of working with "competitors" to build a better market for contractors and customers. Nick also discusses how new business owners can borrow/steal lessons that the folks who came before them. Nick is co-host of The Modern Craftsman Podcast. You can also learn more about Nick at nickschiffer.com. Aaron and Nick also reference The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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 about Aarons’s Boston marathon run and how sometimes, you need a break from running, and other times, you just need to do the thing. They later discuss Aarons’s trip to Europe and the tremendous earthmoving power of the Midnight Force at Zurich airport. They then answer a few questions about when it makes sense for a small company to merge with a larger company and what it takes to effectively sell to Dirt World companies. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

Host Aaron Witt has been very clear about his opinions on General Contractors over the years, and yet one was brave enough to be on the podcast. (To be fair, Aaron has softened and added some nuance to those hot takes). Enter Paul Jones, President of Solomon Builders in Nashville, TN. Aaron has sung these guys' praises multiple times internally to the team, and so it made sense to have Paul on to set the record straight on GCs. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Paul discuss Pauls’s beginnings as a GC and how defining company values is essential to running a business, especially in the face of hardship. They later discuss the operations of subcontractors vs general contractors, and how not taking yourself too seriously can be beneficial. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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, Alex was out on vacation, so Aaron is joined by Eric jumper. The co-Vice Presidents of BuildWitt Excavating and Grading talk about Eric training the services team on how to be earthmoving pros, and exposing new folks to the Dirt World. Eric talks shop about cleaning equipment, hydraulic ladders, and the pitfalls of heavy machinery, plus the internet trolls who have some interesting options on it. They also answer questions about what jobs they would want if they both went back to working full-time in the Dirt World and the difficulties of engineers building strong relationships with folks in the field. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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

Gabe Krebs is the competitor. Tom Wozniak is the coach. And no, we're not talking traditional sports here. Gabe is a diesel mechanic (among other things) by day, and a competitive mechanic by night. Tom has been training folks in a variety of disciplines with WorldSkills USA for years. And together, they've been prepping for Gabe to compete in international competition in China this fall. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with Gabe and Tom to discuss the path that led Gabe to his spot on the American team for the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in October. They discuss the trade school path and what our schools and individuals can do to build successful careers in any trade industry. Some really great education and training perspectives are shared throughout. Follow Gabe's story, he's @_gabe_krebs on IG. You can also learn more about WorldSkills at worldskillsusa.org. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. 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