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Blue Collar Business Podcast

Blue Collar Business Podcast

Written by: Sy Kirby
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About this listen

Welcome to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby. Dive deep into the world of hands-on entrepreneurship and the gritty side of making things happen. Join us for actionable tips on scaling your blue-collar business, managing teams, and staying ahead in an ever-evolving market. We'll also discuss the latest industry trends and innovations that could impact your bottom line. If you're passionate about the blue-collar world and eager to learn from those who've thrived in it, this podcast is a must-listen. Stay tuned for engaging conversations and real-world advice that can take your blue-collar business to new heights.



© 2026 Blue Collar Business Podcast
Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Ep. 77 - 33 Million Views: How a Ditch Digger Built a Media Empire | With Marvin Joles from In the Mix Podcast
    Feb 18 2026

    Some stories start with luck. Ours starts with sweat, a $20 bill, and a phone camera. Marvin went from picking shingles in small-town Wisconsin to building a trusted asphalt brand and a media engine that opened doors to stages, sponsors, and a wider mission: make blue-collar work visible, respected, and easier to win.

    We dig into how simple, consistent documentation; tank fills, applications, cured results, and two-week check-backs, creates social proof that outperforms any sales script. Marvin shares the exact playbook that 4–6x’d his revenue: show the process, show the people, and keep showing up. When online critics argued methods across climates, he didn’t fight; he educated through trade articles and talks, turning confusion into context. That credibility unlocked a podcast, partnerships with major brands, and live hosting at ConExpo, all while the crew kept paving, sealing, and striping.

    There’s a real talk undercurrent here: posting is uncomfortable. The early videos were rough. Family and locals raised eyebrows. Anxiety hit. The cure wasn’t ego; it was purpose. If you want more leads, better applicants, and stronger community ties, you can’t stay invisible. We map out a practical path for owners; what to film, where to post, and how to balance personal and professional stories, so your feed becomes a trust engine and a recruiting magnet. You’ll hear how employer brand grows when safety, training, and crew wins are out front, and why omnichannel visibility beats one-and-done ads.

    If you’re three days from the lights going off or just ready to lead your market, this conversation hands you a toolkit: start now, post daily, educate through context, and let your work speak on camera. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a review with the first video you plan to make, what will you show tomorrow?

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    Follow and stay connected:

    Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
    YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Ep. 76 - Empower, Don’t Exhaust: Fixing Leadership at the Core With Missy Washam and Mayce DelValle
    Feb 11 2026

    Ever feel like you’re wearing every hat, working every hour, and still falling behind? We sat down with Missy Washam and Mayce DelValle of Mpactful Messages to unpack a blueprint that actually scales on the jobsite: connect with your people, empower with clarity, and prioritize what moves profit and life forward. No theory, just tools, stories, and steps you can use today.

    We start with connection as the core of leadership. Not fluff, simple acts like knowing your crew’s real lives, setting expectations in plain language, and modeling calm when the schedule slips. Influence isn’t a title; it’s how you show up. From there, we dig into empowerment done right: moving from “do this” to “own this.” You’ll learn how to define success, constraints, and checkpoints so delegation doesn’t boomerang back onto your plate. A powerful case study shows how these methods didn’t just boost performance, they saved a marriage and jump-started personal health.

    Then we tackle time: time blocking, habit stacking, and a ruthless look at time-wasters that keep owners stuck in trucks, inboxes, and emergencies. We talk promotions too, why the best operator isn’t automatically the best leader, and how to equip new supervisors with communication, standards, and accountability before handing them the name badge. Along the way, we challenge the ego that keeps leaders clinging to low-leverage work and share a free resource at manager-reset.com to help you buy back hours immediately.

    If you’re ready to replace chaos with systems and intensity with consistency, this conversation will meet you where you are and move you forward one clear step at a time. Subscribe, share with a fellow builder, and leave a review telling us the one habit you’ll commit to this week.

    Support the show

    Follow and stay connected:

    Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
    YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
    Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
    TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
    Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast
    LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast

    Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Ep. 75 - Brewing Brotherhood: A Coffee Brand Born in the Dirt | With Matthew Gleaves
    Feb 4 2026

    A night shift, a permit delay, and a fresh pot of coffee changed the way Matthew Gleaves thinks about safety. Sitting in a rescue trailer with harnesses and figure eights on the table, he turned small talk into real training and watched incident rates fall while morale climbed. That moment became the spark for Confined Space Coffee, and a blueprint for building a safety culture that crews actually believe in.

    We dig into Matthew Gleaves’ path from ministry to pipe fitting to safety leadership, including seasons on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and a rescue that cemented a “prepare before it breaks” mindset. We break down why trench standards must hold in “comfortable” places like front yards, how compliant doesn’t always mean safe, and why EMR is more than a number, it’s a gatekeeper to bids, margins, and reputation. Expect clear takes on competent person duties, near-miss reporting that helps instead of shames, and a “Take Five” routine that makes pausing to plan as normal as putting on a hard hat.

    This conversation also reaches the human side of the trades. Confined Space Coffee supports organizations fighting PTSD, suicide, and trafficking, because the toughest confined spaces are often the heart and mind. We talk about checking on your people, turning office-vs-field tension into joint planning, and using simple rituals, like a cup of coffee, to open honest conversations that stick when the job gets loud and the hours get long. If you lead crews, bid complex work, or just want fewer close calls, this one’s a practical guide you can use tomorrow.

    If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review. It helps more builders, operators, and safety pros find the tools, and the courage, to do the work right.

    Support the show

    Follow and stay connected:

    Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
    YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
    Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
    TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
    Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast
    LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast

    Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

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    1 hr and 10 mins
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