In this episode of Skilled Nation, Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Stephanie Hoffman, Director of Industry Development & Engagement at Miller Electric, to explore how a single opportunity turned into a career spanning welding, military service, education, entrepreneurship, and national workforce leadership.

Stephanie shares her journey from a self-described "lost punk rock kid" to one of the industry's most influential advocates. Along the way, they discuss why welding is no longer a single career path, how AI and automation are transforming skilled trades instead of replacing them, why America's manufacturing resurgence depends on the next generation of skilled workers, and what students, parents, educators, and employers need to understand about today's opportunities.

Whether you're considering welding, exploring skilled trades, or wondering where manufacturing is headed, this conversation offers practical insight and an inspiring reminder that the best careers are often discovered, not planned.

Topics Covered:

• Welding careers and apprenticeships
• Skilled trades career pathways
• Women in welding
• Workforce shortages and manufacturing
• AI, automation, and robotics in welding
• Career and technical education (CTE)
• Skilled trades education
• Miller Electric workforce development
• Infrastructure and data center jobs
• Why skilled trades are shaping America's future

#SkilledTrades #Welding #Manufacturing #Careers #Apprenticeship #SkilledNation #MillerElectric #WorkforceDevelopment #CTE #Trades

But what keeps construction workers, welders, electricians, HVAC technicians, and laborers safe when temperatures climb above 110°F?

In this episode of Skilled Nation, Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Mike Marden, owner of WDS Integrated Design Build, to discuss the realities of working in extreme heat after more than three decades in the construction industry.

They explore:

• How extreme heat impacts construction workers and job sites

• Heat exhaustion, hydration, and recognizing warning signs

• Why safety culture in the trades has changed

• The role of PPE, cooling apparel, and modern heat protection

• How leadership creates safer job sites

• Why prefabrication and new technology are reducing heat exposure

• What every new tradesperson should know before working outdoors

Whether you're considering a career in construction, welding, electrical, HVAC, or another skilled trade, this episode offers practical advice that could help you stay safe and build a long, successful career.

Skilled Nation is sponsored by Tulsa Welding School and celebrates the people, careers, and opportunities shaping America's skilled workforce.

Subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders, skilled trades professionals, and workforce experts.

To learn more about WDS Integrated Design Build head to https://wds.build/architect-contractor or @wdsdesignbuild

#ConstructionSafety #SkilledTrades #HeatSafety #ConstructionWorkers #Welding #HVAC #Electrician #JobsiteSafety #BlueCollar #ConstructionLife #WorkforceDevelopment #TradesCareers #SummerSafety #HeatExhaustion #SkilledNation #Tulsaweldingschool

They found their way into one of the most in-demand, overlooked, and flat-out lucrative careers in America.

In this special episode of Skilled Nation, we're bringing together the expertise of three HVAC professionals who've lived every side of the industry — the grind, the growth, and the life-changing money.

Chris Watt — Senior HVAC Instructor at RSI — breaks down why this career is AI-proof, recession-proof, and more financially rewarding than most four-year degrees.

Michael Gabhart — co-founder of Blue Line HVAC — shares the brutal schedule, the $9,500 trade school debt, and the moment a rooftop paycheck notification made him grab his chest.

Jesse Keenan — founder of Semper Fi Home Services — talks culture, veterans in the trades, and why he has technicians making half a million dollars a year.

This isn't a recruitment pitch. It's the real story of what this career looks like — the good, the grind, and the ceiling that barely exists.

🎙️ Subscribe to Skilled Nation wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Concetta Defa, electrician, workforce advocate, and host of Hire PowHER, to uncover the real reasons behind the skilled trades workforce shortage.

While many conversations focus on labor shortages, Concetta explains why the biggest challenge is the apprenticeship pipeline. As experienced journeyworkers retire, fewer mentors remain to train future electricians, lineworkers, heavy equipment operators, welders, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and other skilled professionals.

They also discuss:

• Why employers are ready to hire more skilled workers

• The apprenticeship bottleneck slowing workforce growth

• Why hands-on learning cannot be replaced by classrooms alone

• How Concetta became an electrician after a life-changing accident

• The role mentorship plays in building long-term careers

• Why more women are entering construction and energy careers

• Common misconceptions about skilled trades

• Why construction workers are some of the most highly skilled professionals in America

• How Hire PowHER is helping build the next generation of skilled workers

Whether you're a student, career changer, educator, employer, contractor, union member, or simply curious about the future of America's workforce, this conversation offers an inside look at the opportunities shaping the skilled trades.

Guest: Conchita Defa Electrician | Workforce Development Advocate | Host of Hire PowHER

HirePowHER.org

@HirePowHer

@GetintoEnergy

In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Jacob Evanson, Business Manager of Boilermakers Local 627, for an honest conversation about the realities of working in the trades. They tackle the questions people are asking online:

• Do skilled trades actually pay enough?

• Is the work too hard on your body?

• How important are unions in today's workforce?

• What happens when projects end?

• Are apprenticeships better than college?

• Will AI replace skilled trade careers?

• How are data centers, semiconductor plants, mining, nuclear energy, and America's manufacturing revival creating new opportunities?

Jacob shares his own journey as a third-generation boilermaker and explains how apprenticeship programs, mentorship, healthcare benefits, pensions, continuing education, and union support systems help workers build long-term careers instead of simply finding jobs.

The conversation also explores mental health in construction, workforce shortages, career advancement into project management and welding inspection, and why skilled workers remain essential to America's future.

Whether you're a student, parent, career changer, veteran, or someone wondering if the trades are still a smart career path, this episode offers a candid look at what life in the skilled trades really looks like.

In this episode:

✔ Boilermaker careers explained

✔ Union vs non-union jobs

✔ Apprenticeship opportunities

✔ Skilled trades pay and benefits

✔ Mental health in construction

✔ Career growth beyond the tools

✔ Data centers and AI-driven infrastructure

✔ Energy, mining, and manufacturing jobs

✔ Workforce development in America

✔ The future of skilled trades

Learn more about Boilermakers Local 627: https://www.627.org

#SkilledNation #Boilermakers #SkilledTrades #UnionJobs #Apprenticeship #ConstructionCareers #Welding #Manufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment #DataCenters #NuclearEnergy #BlueCollar #TradeSchool #CareerChange #Infrastructure #PrattPodcasting

In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Stan Sherwin of SS Custom Welding, a custom fabricator, welding educator, and online creator who has built a loyal audience of more than 150,000 followers by sharing his craft, mentoring the next generation, and proving there's more than one way to master a trade.

Stan shares how growing up around his father's boilermaker career shaped his work ethic, why he chose the skilled trades over college, and how years of practicing after work helped him become one of the top welders in his field. He also reveals how posting welding videos online transformed his career, connected him with aspiring welders around the world, and gave him a new purpose: helping others succeed.

Whether you're considering welding school, already working in the trades, or interested in building a personal brand around your skills, this episode offers practical advice on craftsmanship, consistency, confidence, social media, mentorship, and career growth.

In this episode:

How Stan learned welding from his father and on the job

The realities of becoming a professional pipe welder

Why welding is both a trade and an art form

Building a welding brand on Instagram

Handling criticism and trolls online

How social media can create opportunities in the skilled trades

Advice for young welders and future tradespeople

The philosophy behind "Learn It. Earn It. Return It."

Skilled Nation celebrates the people, careers, and stories that keep America running. Because being a tradesperson isn't just a job. It's a way of life. It's a badge of honor. Subscribe today!

#PrattPodcasting #StarWorldwideNetworks

In this emotional and deeply honest episode of Skilled Nation, Jennifer shares how she went from working as a medical assistant and fast-food supervisor to graduating from the electrical program at Tulsa Welding School with highest honors.

She opens up about motherhood, sacrifice, heartbreak, self-doubt, being the only woman in her electrical class, and the moment she realized she was capable of more. This is a raw, inspiring story about resilience, career change, women in the skilled trades, and building a better future through electrical training and hands on education. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid to start over, Jennifer’s story will hit home.

#SkilledTrades #Electrician #WomenInTrades #TulsaWeldingSchool #CareerChange #BlueCollar #Tradeswomen #ElectricalWork #SkilledNation #Motivation #StarWorldwideNetworks #PrattMarketingAgency #PrattPodcasting

In this episode of Skilled Nation, Sammy and Kyle Pratt, better known as the Pratt Brothers, share how they built a nationally recognized Christmas spectacular using welding, electrical work, fabrication, programming, plumbing, pyrotechnics, and pure creativity.

From dumpster diving for materials and teaching themselves trades on YouTube to managing massive live events seen by thousands, this conversation explores the real intersection of skilled trades, entrepreneurship, entertainment, and innovation.

If you’ve ever wondered how hands on skills can evolve into a creative business, this episode is proof that the trades can build far more than buildings. They can build experiences, brands, and entire worlds.

Subscribe today for more insight into what careers skills in the trades can lead to.

#StarWorldwideNetworks #PrattMarketingAgency #PrattBrothersChristmas #PrattBrothers

From learning fabrication in the field to building a welding business during economic uncertainty, Peyton shares honest insight into the pressure, freedom, failures, and opportunities that come with skilled trades careers. He also explains how welding, problem solving, and content creation helped him grow a following of hundreds of thousands across social platforms.

This episode is for anyone interested in welding careers, fabrication, skilled trades training, entrepreneurship, or starting a business without a four year degree.

Featuring Peyton Sweet of Sweets Fabrication.

#Welding #Fabrication #SkilledTrades #Entrepreneurship #TulsaWeldingSchool #WeldingBusiness #TradesCareers #SkilledNation

In this episode of Skilled Nation, Michael Cortez shares how he went from documenting daily welds to building a loyal community, launching a business, and inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in the skilled trades. From discipline and consistency to social media growth and brand building, this is a real story of turning blue-collar skills into opportunity, income, and impact.

If you’re interested in welding, skilled trades careers, trade school pathways, or building a brand from your craft—this episode breaks it all down.

New episodes of Skilled Nation drop weekly. Subscribe to Skilled Nation Podcast for real stories from the trades shaping the future.

From starting as a ticket taker to managing 20–30 venues and coordinating crews, vendors, and artists nationwide, Chris’s journey proves that a strong foundation in skilled trades, especially electrical, production, and technical systems, can unlock careers most people never even consider.

This episode breaks down the real infrastructure behind concerts: the electricians powering massive loads, the crews rigging lights and sound, and the precision teamwork required to bring an artist’s vision to life. It’s fast-paced, high-pressure, and one of the most rewarding career paths in the trades.

If you’ve ever been to a concert, you’ve seen the result.

This episode shows you the careers behind it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How skilled trades power live events and concerts

The career path from entry-level to production management

Why electricians and technical trades are critical in entertainment

How to break into the live event and production industry

What it takes to thrive in a high-pressure, high-reward career

If you’re looking for a career that’s hands-on, fast-moving, and part of something bigger—this is it.

Most people will never think about this career.

Now you can’t unsee it.

Hit subscribe, dive into the full episode, and take the first step toward a career that puts you behind the scenes of something bigger.

From massive data center builds to the electricians, HVAC techs, and skilled trades that keep them running, this episode breaks down how the cloud is not abstract at all. It is physical, complex, and rapidly expanding. With demand driven by AI and digital growth, data centers are creating long term career paths that can span decades, with opportunities in construction, maintenance, and operations.

We explore how data centers are built, why cooling systems and power infrastructure are critical, and how innovations like liquid cooling are changing the industry. You will also learn why common myths about water usage and environmental impact are often misunderstood, and how cities like Phoenix have become major hubs for this growth.

If you are interested in skilled trades, electrical careers, or the future of AI infrastructure, this episode shows how you can be part of an industry that is not slowing down.

Subscribe to SkilledNationPodcast for real stories and career paths in welding, electrical, HVAC, and the trades that keep the world running.

In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Jesse Keenan, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Semper Fi Heating and Cooling, to break down the real path from service to success in the skilled trades.

Jesse, an RSI graduate, shares how the mindset of the Marines shaped his leadership, how he scaled a business to over 400 employees, and why HVAC is one of the most lucrative and in demand career paths today. From early struggles handing out flyers to building a company rooted in integrity, community, and opportunity, this episode reveals what most people never hear about trade careers.

If you are exploring alternatives to college, looking for a high-income career without massive debt, or searching for purpose driven work, this conversation shows what is possible in the skilled trades.

You will learn:

How military experience translates into business success

The real earning potential in HVAC and skilled trades

Why trades are one of the fastest growing career paths in America

How companies like Semper Fi are creating life changing opportunities

What it takes to build a business from the ground up

Skilled trades are more than jobs. They are a way of life and a badge of honor.

Stop scrolling and start building your future. Subscribe to Skilled Nation and learn how people are turning hands on skills into six figure careers without the debt. Your next move starts here.

Watch more episodes and learn more at skillednation.com

In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Henry, CEO of HK Concrete Design, who turned years of gaming into a thriving custom concrete business serving high end builders and contractors. What started as hours spent mastering strategy games like Quake and SimCity became real world skills in problem solving, design thinking, and entrepreneurship.

Henry breaks down how gaming builds precision, resilience, and the ability to think on your feet and how those same skills translate directly into the skilled trades. From ultra high-performance concrete to 3D modeling and design innovation, this conversation reveals how digital thinking can shape physical creation.

If you have ever wondered whether your time gaming is wasted or if there is a path to something bigger, this episode will change how you see your skills.

In this episode you will learn:

How gaming develops real world problem solving and strategy

The connection between digital design and hands on skilled trades

How Henry built a successful concrete design business from scratch

Why the skilled trades are evolving with technology and innovation

How creativity and entrepreneurship come together in modern trades

Gaming builds focus, strategy, and resilience. Skilled trades turn those skills into careers that build the world around us.

Watch now and rethink what your skills can become.

Subscribe for more real stories from the skilled trades and the people building the future.

In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Laurent Da Dalto, CEO of Mimbus, to explore how virtual reality and simulation-based training are transforming skilled trades education. From virtual welding and construction safety to immersive learning environments, this conversation reveals how gaming technology is becoming a powerful pathway into high-demand careers.

We break down:

How VR training creates up to 5x higher focus and retention

Why simulation is reducing risk, cost, and training time across industries

How gamers are developing real-world skills like precision, reaction time, and problem-solving

The role of VR in solving the global skilled labor shortage

How early exposure in schools could change the future workforce

This is more than innovation. It is a complete shift in how the next generation learns, trains, and builds careers.

If you think gaming is just entertainment, think again.

🎧 Tune in and discover how simulation is turning play into purpose.

Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode.

In this episode of Skilled Nation, we go on location at Phoenix Raceway to uncover the real workforce powering NASCAR. From welding and fabrication to electrical systems, cooling technology, and pit crew precision, this episode breaks down the skilled trades that keep race cars competitive at the highest level.

Featuring insights from former NASCAR pit crew member and analyst Dion “Rocko” Williams, along with active crew members from Team 44 from Alpha Prime Racing Victor Williams, we explore how human performance, technical skill, and teamwork come together in seconds on pit road. A single mistake can cost a race, and every role, from fabricators to HVAC specialists, plays a critical part in performance.

You’ll learn:

How pit crews execute 9–12 second stops with precision timing

Why welding, electrical, HVAC, and fabrication are essential in motorsports

The real career path into NASCAR through skilled trades

How preparation, discipline, and teamwork determine race outcomes

The hidden systems and strategies fans never see

Whether you're exploring trade careers, passionate about motorsports, or curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode shows how skilled trades drive one of the fastest sports in the world.

Subscribe to Skilled Nation and join the movement redefining careers, craftsmanship, and the future of work.

In this episode of Skilled Nation, we sit down with Alayna Chavez, a professional plumber at Parker and Sons, and Kate Glantz, co-founder of Move Over Bob, to explore how women are breaking into careers in plumbing, construction, welding, and other skilled trades and building powerful, high paying futures in the process.

Alayna shares her real story of turning her life around through trade school, landing multiple job offers, and building a six-figure career without college debt. Kate reveals how her platform is reshaping the narrative and connecting women to apprenticeships, careers, and opportunities that most young people do not even know exist.

This conversation dives into:

Why skilled trades are facing a massive workforce shortage

How women are stepping in to fill critical roles

The truth about pay, career growth, and job security

Trade school versus apprenticeship pathways and how to start

Why the college only mindset is leaving opportunity on the table

If you are exploring career options, considering a career change, or want to understand the future of the workforce, this episode is a must watch.

The trades are not defined by gender. They are defined by skill, grit, and opportunity.

In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades speaks with Jessica Bruner of Arouet, a nonprofit organization focused on workforce development, reentry support, and career pathways for justice impacted women. Through vocational training, industry partnerships, and employer education, Arouet helps people transition into meaningful careers in the skilled trades.

This conversation explores how second chance hiring, workforce training programs, and employer partnerships can help solve the skilled labor shortage while rebuilding lives and strengthening communities.

Topics covered in this episode include:

Why the skilled trades workforce shortage is growing

How construction labor shortages impact housing affordability and infrastructure

Workforce training programs that prepare people for trades careers

Why skilled trades jobs offer strong pay, benefits, and career growth

How second chance hiring improves employee loyalty and retention

How nonprofits partner with employers to close the talent gap

Why more women are entering construction and trade careers

Jessica also shares real stories of individuals who rebuilt their lives through vocational training and skilled trades careers.

If you are interested in workforce development, skilled trades careers, second chance hiring, construction industry jobs, or economic mobility, this episode offers insight into how new pathways are being built across the country.

Subscribe to Skilled Nation for conversations with industry leaders, educators, and professionals working to build the future of the skilled workforce.

Hear from someone who's been there—an actual student or recent grad who got hands-on training, had tuition covered, and came out job-ready thanks to sponsor-backed programs. We'll talk tools, tech, and the kind of mentorship that actually leads somewhere.