Dirt Talk by BuildWitt (BuildWitt)

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

In this episode, Aaron, joined by Camron Lente (CEO) and Brad Griffith (COO) of NG Companies, discuss the wonderful world of hydro-vac trucks. Our guests share their experience with the growing demand for hydro-vac services in the utilities market and the unique challenges and opportunities within the industry.  NG companies' success has led to significant growth and expansion to multiple states. For good reason, their services are essential for navigating construction projects in a safe and efficient manner. They also touch on the workforce challenges and the role social media has in growing a company. You’re gonna want to stick around for the full episode! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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/

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Eric discuss strange emissions laws, plus answer questions about Whistlin’ Diesel, patching highways, and the Dirt World effects of increased interest rates. — DirtWorld.com Let’s build a BETTER DIRT WORLD Without the Dirt World, we wouldn’t have food, clean water, electricity, roads, or shelter required for survival. Demand for the industry is growing, yet over 40% of our workforce will retire by 2031. We must add hundreds of thousands of people every year only to keep up... So let’s fix that. What if society viewed our profession as noble? What if parents were proud when their kids declared they wanted to be in the Dirt World? What if a workforce shortage was no longer a worry? Now is the time for us all to work together to build a movement. We need to tell our industry's story, further care for and train our existing workforce, and create clear pathways for people to join and succeed in the Dirt World. It's all possible, but only together, and time is of the essence. Help us secure the future of the Dirt World. Stay Dirty!

In this episode, Kiewit finds work in yet another cold remote location, the northern regions of Alaska. Kiewit is credited with the success of the Trans Alaskan Pipeline, which is critical to America's petroleum infrastructure.    Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

This week on the Dirt Talk podcast, Aaron and Alex talk about being on a rocket ship. They then discuss how to start getting into reading books and the challenges contractors face (and will face) if a large infrastructure bill gets approved by Congress. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex ditch the original topic planned as they have a frank and honest conversation about the complications of serving an industry without being in the industry directly, why the work in the Dirt World is SO vital, and why the narrative about Blue Collar work in today’s society must change. If you’ve been following along with BuildWitt and care about the Dirt World, you know that the narrative shift must start with us. Stay Dirty! 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

"Our biggest competitors are stagnation and complacency." Jonathan Campbell is the Executive Vice President of Wheeler Machinery Co. out of Salt Lake City, UT. He's part of a multi-generation line of Campbells at Wheeler. With so much historical success running a 70-year-old CAT dealership, it's easy to envision leadership sitting on their laurels. And yet, Jonathan (and Campbell Companies) has made it his mission to fight "stagnation and complacency" by owning almost a dozen companies and investing in even more. He's got a vision for serving the Dirt World, and that's one reason he was a perfect fit to be an investor at BuildWitt. Aaron Witt and Jonathan Campbell discuss Jonathan's history at Wheeler Machinery, how he fights complacency, and why he decided to invest in BuildWitt's future. Thanks to Jonathan and Wheeler CAT for hosting the Dirt Talk crew in their offices AND for an amazing tour of their facility! 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

This week on the Monday edition of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex chat about Aaron's upcoming trip through the South and why he prefers driving instead of flying right now. As always, the guys also discuss some listener-submitted questions/topics, including operator school, selling an equity stake in your business for cash, and why it's still tough to find good people to work at your business these days. Thanks to everyone who sends in questions! If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out at DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Owner of Bachtel Excavating in Northeast Ohio, Matt Bachtel talks with Aaron about starting out in the industry by working alongside his father. They reminisce about working for dealerships, excavating, and job-hopping during summers when you’re still young. Matt and Aaron also discuss starting and running your own business, focusing the conversation on leadership and the vital work and empathy required of a business owner.  Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

In this episode Aaron is once again answering your questions from Instagram. Thank you everyone for submitting questions to Instagram and remember you can always email us directly at dirtalk@buildwitt.com. The questions are as follows.  What advice do you have for someone starting a small business?  Best way to get into the dirt world? How did you start filming? When did you start filming? Why? Best advice for a young person in a leadership role? Most unique job? If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

In this episode, Aaron is Joined by Bob Higgins President/CEO of Barge Designs Solutions. Barge is an employee-owned company that makes building plans for notable civil construction projects such as bridges, highway overpasses, and wastewater solutions, to name a few.  Bob also touches on his time as an Air Force serviceman, during the time of operation Desert Storm/ Desert Shield and how that structure helped shape his path for the future. To hear more about Bob’s story and the important work that they do at Barge stay tuned for this fascinating episode about construction design.  If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Keaton started Turner Mining Group in 2017 when he saw an opportunity to do contract mining differently in America. Since then, they've performed mining projects from coast to coast, and it seems like the fun's only beginning! Learn more about TMG at https://turnermining.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

Aaron's back to answer your questions. To have your question answered, send it our way — dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

Welcome to Building BuildWitt! For the next 4 weeks, we’ll be bringing you pieces of a 4-part story chronicling Dirt Talk host Aaron Witt’s upbringing far away from the Dirt World and how a series of disconnected experiences and decisions led to the formation and growth of the company that became BuildWitt.  In episode 2, Aaron tells of the punch in the mouth that came in the form of “going to college for engineering”, what he realized that he loved about working in the field, and why he came in last place in an estimating competition.  Thanks for listening. If you have any questions, stories, or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to dirttalk@buildwitt.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!

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

“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!

Nate Emerson runs Armadillo Excavation in Chattanooga, TN. Nate grew up on a 100-acre farm in Giles County, about an hour south of Nashville. After 2 years of college studying construction management, Nate knew that it wasn’t for him, and made a hard pivot to working in the music industry, selling merchandise, and doing stagehand work. After some office work experience, Nate found himself staring out the window into the Chattanooga mountains and realized that was where he needed to be. So he started chatting with local contractors and before he knew it, he was digging a basement on the side of a mountain. The rest, as they say, is history. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and Nate Emerson of Armadillo Excavation discuss the primal instinct to want to get out in the dirt, learning the hard lesson that building a business is mostly just making it up as you go, and doing hard things for your own mental wellness.  Follow along with Nate’s story on IG at @armadilloexcavationllc.  — DirtWorld.com Let’s build a BETTER DIRT WORLD Without the Dirt World, we wouldn’t have the food, clean water, electricity, roads, or shelter required for survival. Demand for the industry is growing, yet over 40% of our workforce will retire by 2031. We must add hundreds of thousands of people every year only to keep up... So let’s fix that. What if society viewed our profession as noble? What if parents were proud when their kids declared they wanted to be in the Dirt World? What if a workforce shortage was no longer a worry? Now is the time for us all to work together to build a movement. We need to tell our industry's story, further care for and train our existing workforce, and create clear pathways for people to join and succeed in the Dirt World. It's all possible, but only together, and time is of the essence. Help us secure the future of the Dirt World. 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!

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!

In this week's Monday Dirt Talk episode, Aaron and Alex discuss the unthinkable: quitting coffee. From there, they savor Aaron's list of restaurants followed by a discussion of the perils of gas station eating. They touch on the benefit of getting an entry-level start in the industry and answer questions on family support and females in the workforce.  Let your voice be heard! Answer a few simple questions at buildwitt.com/feedback and help us find more awesome listeners like you. Together, let’s make the Dirt World a better place! Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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

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

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

Ames Construction is one of the most legendary names in the industry. Starting only with a dozer in the early 1960s, they've built many of America's toughest projects since. Now moving into the next generation, Jerry Ouimet, CEO of Ames, gives us good insight as to what got the company here and where it's going. To learn more, visit https://www.amesconstruction.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

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!

Some people say that they'd go to any lengths to achieve their goals, but not everyone would move halfway around the world like Michael Bullock aka @the_english_earthmover. Michael was born and raised in England, but has been working in the Dirt World in Australia for years now. He's built up quite a following on his IG acct @the_english_earthmover where he has been posting photos of equipment and projects for years. Michael was gracious enough to find time (with a 13 hour time difference!) to come on the podcast and share his story. He and Aaron talk differences between the US and Australia, the long and winding road it can take to find your calling, and why some folks do not want you taking photos of their project, no matter where it is. Follow Michael on IG @the_english_earthmover to keep up with his Aussie dirt adventures. Thanks for listening to Dirt Talk! If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reach out to us a DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty.

This is the first official episode of Dirt Talk: Travel Reports with Aaron Witt and Chase Lyons. Chase is the director/videographer of the Aaron Witt vlog. Check that out at youtube.com/@AaronWitt.  This week, Aaron and Chase recount the week they recently spent in the Western US in California and Colorado. They only got to see a few job sites in California before the uncharacteristic rain forced a change in plans. In addition to the classic construction content, they also were lucky enough to see a Cal Fire training session, Winter X Games construction in Aspen, and the guys got to spend a day with action sports star Jarryd McNeil on his farm. They ended the trip hanging with old BuildWitt friend Shay Stutsman from Stutsman Gerbaz Inc Earthmoving.  If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

On this week's episode, we are back (Aaron and Myself) to talk more about Australia. Part one left us at the Komatsu dealership checking out some 475 Dozers at the dealer. In this week's episode, Aarons gets right into it with tales of some really slick machines doing some really impactful work. The journey starts in New South Wales, meeting up with the familiar faces of MC Earthmoving working on a huge reservoir that will help farms get the water they need. Next Aaron visits the one and only Jimmy Starbuck in Brisbane to see how the business is done and learn about asbestos remediation and transportation. After that Aaron Visits the airport but not to get on a plane. Fun fact concrete work for runways is like real-life legos. Finally, they wrap up with some bonus content at the coal mines outside of Victoria. Boring! It's only the world's Heaviest D11 pushing heaps of material that will eventually power 25% of Victoria (trick!) The trip came to a close with Aaron getting some much-needed R&R at the beach. Thanks for listening! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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

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.

Welcome to Building BuildWitt! For the last 4 weeks, we’ve published pieces of a 4-part story chronicling Dirt Talk host Aaron Witt’s upbringing far away from the Dirt World and how a series of disconnected experiences and decisions led to the formation and growth of the company that became BuildWitt.  In the final episode of this season, we’ll hear how and why Aaron started hiring people, how he almost got arrested in Saudi Arabia, and why its so vital to tell the stories of the Dirt World. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions, stories, or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to dirttalk@buildwitt.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!

In this week's episode of Dirt Talk: Monday edition, Aaron and Alex chat about getting negative comments online before Aaron launches into an impromptu book report on the old out-of-print book Foremen: Leader or Drivers? that was published 80 years ago. Aaron gets pretty passionate about the lessons he learned from the book and how we could all apply them to the Dirt World today. Afterward, the guys talk about why some companies could have employee turnaround issues even as they invest in training and caring for their people. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com. 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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

We've finally tracked down the person who was around for the very very beginnings of BuildWitt (other than Aaron Witt)... introducing Mr. Kevin McCawley, who used to ride around the American Southwest and take photos with Aaron as they would shoot photos of any job site they could find. Now, Kevin is a med school student at the University of Michigan, but he was kind enough to sit down and help tell some behind-the-scenes stories of the birth of "BuildWitt" as we know it. Co-host Alex Horton joins Aaron and Kevin to recount the winding road of how "BuildWitt" as a brand came to be. Whether you've been following the BuildWitt story for years now or this is your first introduction, this episode is chock full of never-before-shared stories of the early wins and failures. Aaron also tells the story of how Kevin got roasted on social media for posing for a photo in front of some heavy machinery with Sperry's Boat Shoes. This week, we are launching our podcast review contest! For the entire month of September, we'll be doing a drawing of all submissions each week to win $100 to the BuildWitt store, but we will send a discount code out to each person that submits a review. To submit for the drawing(s): Please leave a review for Dirt Talk on Apple Podcasts Screenshot your submitted review and email it to DirtTalk@BuildWitt.com Look forward to hearing from our Dirt World (and Dirt World loving) folks. Thanks so much! 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aaron reads from Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. This book highlights how and how not to communicate with your team to become the most effective leader you can be.  Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Bryan Peters has spent his entire career around heavy equipment, so when he decided to start his company AdvanceTrac Equipment, he knew that even though he wanted to get into helping companies optimize their heavy iron fleets, he knew he'd want to do things differently. Though he admitted that he has "audacious goals" for where he wants to go, he's also fully present in the current grind of building a business. Bryan made a pit stop in Nashville on his way to Indiana to pick up a trailer (a good example of the nature of the equipment market) and was gracious enough to sit down with Dirt Talk hosts Aaron Witt and Alex Horton. The guys talked all kinds of iron, the Dirt World "scene" in Texas, and why the internet is more important than ever for EVERY industry. To follow along with Bryan and AdvanceTrac, check them out on IG @advancetrac_equipment. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

In this episode, Aaron sat down with Landon Morel, a Foreman at Southern Sun Paving, to delve into the world of luxury paving. Landon, drawing from his expertise and experience in a family-run asphalt business, sheds light on the meticulous craftsmanship and commitment involved in each layer of asphalt used in high-end residential paving projects. Amidst the rumble of heavy machinery and the aroma of freshly laid asphalt, we explore the distinctive aesthetics of chip sealing, the viral appeal of paving videos, challenges in managing machinery, and the dynamic between innovative paving technologies and traditional methods.  If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

And we're back! Aaron and Alex are back to answer YOUR questions. Thanks to our listeners for sending in such great questions. This week, the guys talk about some really exciting upcoming travel for the BuildWitt team, and then dig into some questions. They discuss union vs non-union wages and how and when to ask for a raise. If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reach out at DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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!

Welcome to a special episode of Dirt Talk! This week's episode differs from our usual format, offering a compilation of shorter clips from past episodes. These excerpts, selected from our YouTube channel (find us by searching 'Dirt Talk Podcast' on YouTube), showcase the top moments from throughout 2023. At BuildWitt, we've taken time during this holiday season for reflection. This compilation provides a perfect opportunity to review our progress in 2023 while gearing up for the exciting changes ahead in 2024. We extend our gratitude to all the incredible dirt enthusiasts for their unwavering support. Everything we do is for you, and we remain dedicated to bringing even more high-quality content in the upcoming year. Stay tuned for further announcements! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

This week on the Monday edition of Dirt Talk, hosts Aaron Witt and Alex Horton talk about the upcoming BuildWitt company meeting in Nashville and equipment training. They then chat about safely knocking over trees (note: they're not experts in this) and why it's important to represent your company/team/group all the time. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Justin is the Director of National Health and Safety Strategy at Milwaukee Tool. After serving in the Marines, he worked as a steelworker and a firefighter and eventually found his passion as a safety coordinator for large infrastructure companies. He uses his experience to teach a remarkably practical approach to safety. Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

In this episode, Aaron discusses, you guessed it, draglines. These Mammoth machines work 24/7 and are the heart of one of America's largest coal strip mining operations at North American Coal. Aaron and the gang have had the honor to go see these machines work in person in the coal fields at the NACCO Freedom mine just outside of Beulah, North Dakota. That particular machine “Missouri Quest” works strip by strip to clear overburden using a 123-yard bucket! As the machine works to clear the overburden it reclaims the area it was just working. To learn more about this amazing dragline and others tune into this episode! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aaron and Alex are back in the studio, but this Monday the audience members are the ones truly in the driver's seat. That’s right we are doing another question-and-answer episode and touching on some great submissions from our amazing Dirt Talk fans. The questions touch on recognizable iron, how rewarding a career in the Dirt World can be, running one-hundred miles, our core values, and lessons from starting a company. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions. Keep on sending them to dirtalk@buildwitt.com and you just might hear them on the next Q&A episode.  Stay dirty!

Kjell Gerber was the second employee at BuildWitt, at least according to our HR software. He came on to help with video editing and has since held multiple leadership and media production roles, but he's always been one of our "field guys". Before BuildWitt, Kjell (pronounced "Chell") came up in the Dirt World and worked for his family's dirt business in Utah for almost 10 years before connecting with Aaron on social media. After a little back and forth, Kjell started doing some work with Aaron and the rest is history. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt and Kjell Gerber chat about the genesis of their friendship and the early work they did together at BuildWitt. They also dive into safety culture problems, the complications of leaving a job at the family business, and Kjell's @bluecollar_photographer acct on IG. Kjell is also a great follow on LinkedIn. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Jason Richmond, BuildWitt’s Chief Operating Officer. Jason, a natural leader and sales expert, serves as a frequent co-host for the internal podcast and this iteration of the Monday episode. To hear more into Jason's story, check out his Dirt Talk Episode (170). In today's discussion, Aaron and Jason shed light on BuildWitt's operational framework and their roles as senior leaders within the company. They explore the services and products offered by BuildWitt and elaborate on the company's commitment to make the dirt world a better place. For additional details, visit BuildWitt.com. Enjoy! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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.

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Josh is a long-time electrician, Blackline LTD CEO, and The Line Podcast host. Josh saw a need to highlight the importance of tradespeople, so he started his media company and podcast to make it happen! You can learn more at https://www.blacklineltd.com/home Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk about the challenges that come with leading a company from the road before making an announcement about a podcast series they'll be releasing. Then, they discuss a question about whether to start a career in the public or private sector. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

This week, we have a special guest on the podcast: Dirt Talk alum Kimo Clark IN THE OFFICE from Hawaii. Kimo and Aaron headed out to the North Carolina mountains to do a challenging backpacking trip. Aaron, Alex, and Kimo dig into how folks in the Dirt World get paid, why most field workers are hourly, and how to beat the "Monday blues".

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

This week on the first episode of 2023, Aaron and Alex take a look back at 2022. They discuss the progress and successes of BuildWitt over the past year. The guys mention that their marketing services have had remarkable success and that they have been able to engage with high-quality companies. They also mention that the BuildWitt Training software, while successful, has not had the expected speed of adoption and the cost of that overestimation. Aaron also shares his struggle to talk about successes and tends to focus on what they can do better and the next steps for the company. They also discuss the way their company organizes and prioritizes its goals, using the "rocks" system in which each level of the organization has goals that feed up to the larger goals. Aaron expresses his concern that the "rocks" system may constrict their ability to create and do things that have never been done before. He also mentions that they've had to correct course in the past year due to mistakes of thinking they were smarter than they were and growing too fast. And those mistakes cost us. Thankfully, there were also plenty of lessons to be learned, especially in the hard stuff, and so we march forward with both momentum and lessons learned in tow. If you have feedback or questions, reach out at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Thanks! Lots of exciting stuff ahead for Dirt Talk and the greater BuildWitt mission, so for now… Stay Dirty!

This week, Aaron and Alex discuss for a second the challenges of recording 4 podcasts in a day before they do a recap on Aaron's recent travel to North Dakota and Ohio. Then, they dig into a question about how lower-ranking crew members can make suggestions to leadership that are more likely to be well-received. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

On this week's Monday episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron has to sadly (but with a hopeful ending) recount how he accidentally rolled the BuildWitt Skid Steer aka "The Earth Moover" onto its roof last weekend. Aaron was totally safe thanks to the CAT safety features (#notsponsored), but the 259 is gonna need some time in the shop. Afterwards, Aaron and Alex spend some time talking about addressing an unsustainable workload and why new business owners might not want to take whatever job they can get when they're starting out. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

Language Warning. The people have spoken, so we've done the impossible and brought Garret Wilson back on the Dirt Talk podcast. He's known for being an expert operator and expert buster of chops. In this episode, he didn't hold back! This week, Garret sat down with Aaron and Alex to discuss working for himself, being true to yourself, and the power of swearing. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

There's often been comments and questions about the BuildWitt Internal Podcast, but since it's just for our team, it's always seemed a little strange and unnecessary to share it with the greater audience. But... after recording this one, Aaron and Alex looked at each other and immediately said, "we should put this episode on Dirt Talk, too". So without further ado, we're sharing the most recent episode from the BuildWitt Internal Podcast. We use this format to communicate with our team across multiple states and time zones. It helps us stay connected and get to know one another. In addition to Aaron/Alex conversations, it also features interviews with members of the BuildWitt team. Thanks for listening! If you have any questions about podcasts for your team, email DirtTalk@BuildWitt.com. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Alex and Aaron are coming to you from the 1st Phorm HQ in St. Louis, MO. The guys are in town to record with Sal Frisella (President of 1st Phorm) and figured while they were there, they might as well take the mobile podcast rig out for a spin. This week, Aaron talks about his travel out West, and then the guys talk construction equipment in James Bond films, general contractors (and why Aaron isn't fully qualified to weigh in on them), and small dozers vs large dozers. To listen to the episode Aaron mentioned about GCs, click here: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of General Contractors with Garret Moss. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex are back answering good questions with questionable answers. The guys dig into questions on topics like hard hat stickers, using LinkedIn to build a business, and discussing where a 22-year-old should start when coming into the industry to start a career. Aaron also reflects on the most important decision(s) that have had the biggest positive impact on BuildWitt’s culture.  Thanks to the folks who sent in questions! If we didn’t get to your question, Alex will try to get to it on the next Q+A episode. Unless it’s very clearly not for public ears (you know who you are, fellas!). If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aaron's back to answer your questions. To have your question answered, send it our way — dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is a big deal. It's part equipment trade show - part dirt world family reunion IN LAS VEGAS and it's anything but a breeze to organize. The event is put on by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers every 3 years and it takes every bit of that time in between to put all of the pieces together. Fortunately, Dana Wuesthoff (Show Director) and Caroline Roberts (Director of Event Operations) were kind enough to take an hour off and give us the inside scoop on the event's history and future. If you haven't been able to tell, Aaron is something of a fanboy of heavy equipment and especially CONEXPO. When he was young and dumb, he actually snuck into the event (this is a bad idea, everyone!), but at the 2020 edition of the event, he flew most of the BuildWitt team out to experience it. So, just in case it's not clear in the interview, Aaron was kiiiiinda excited to get to ask Dana and Caroline for all of the juicy details of what it takes to put CONEXPO on. They talk midnight equipment parades down the Vegas strip, how many bathrooms you have to plan for, and how 2023's event will take up at least 2.7 million square feet! To learn more about CONEXPO-CON/AGG, visit the site at conexpoconagg.com. To learn more about AEM, visit their site at aem.org. If you have questions/comments/concerns, please email at DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

This week on the monday edition of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss creating a balance of authenticity and professionalism on social media, and then discuss the problematic approach of training and developing your team with a focus on efficiency and speed. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Ryan Gandy is President of Builders Asphalt, a paving and materials company serving the Chicago, Illinois, area. Aaron and Ryan dive deep into the intricacies of roadbuilding and creating one of America's most widely-used building materials. To learn more, visit https://thebuildersco.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

In this episode of the Monday Dirt Talk Aaron breaks down a project and in an unprecedented turn of events he came prepared this time. He shares some interesting facts about how the mine got its start, the scale of the operation, and the products that are made at the Kennecott mine.  He also shares his personal experience getting to go and photograph this modern marvel. Later we discuss some recent history that might surprise you. If you like big machines and moving lots of earth this is the episode for you! If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Once I understood the importance of habits, life improved big time. I walk through how I initially formed positive habits and what my habits look like today. Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! 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.

In this episode, Aaron Witt, joined by Brett Ruppel of IMPETUS dug into the complexities of construction design, particularly in large chemical plants. They discussed the challenges inexperienced engineers face, trends in civil engineers transitioning into construction roles, and the concept of design assist projects. Tune in to learn more about the intricacies of construction design and its impact on the industry. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

We've got another young buck on the podcast to challenge Aaron for the Young Buck throne! This week, we've got Ben Warren of Warren Land Solutions, who was gracious enough to come by the BuildWitt Studio (Aaron's house for only a few more weeks!). He mentioned that this is his first podcast appearance, but don't let the fact that he's green fool you - he has plenty of great stories and earned experience to share. Aaron and Ben dug into how the land clearing business is a different beast than other kinds of work in the Dirt World. They also talk about not letting your age factor into business, and Ben talks about the importance of not putting your identity in your work. To learn more about Ben, find him on LinkedIn or the company website at warrenlandsolutions.com. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aron Nick was recommended to us with a simple message: “He has been kicking ass trying to make the Dirt World a better place.”  Since that is about as good of an intro as any: Aron Nick is an Equipment Trainer at Strack, Inc out of Fairburn, GA. He’s been around the block in the industry: shoveled fly ash at a coal power plant, helped build the 5th runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and has built a reputation as an elite operator. He’s spent time as a supervisor, thought he wasn’t cut out for leadership and tried to stay out of leader, but was immediately identified over and over again as someone who knows their stuff and has the patience to teach that to others. In the last few years, Aron has dived head-first into developing effective training programs to bring new folks into the industry and train them to become highly valuable team members. With a background like that, what’s not to like? This week on Dirt Talk, Aron joins host Aaron Witt in the Dirt Talk Studio for a vulnerable and transparent conversation about his winding road through the Dirt World, what he’s discovered many people miss when it comes to training new people, and how leadership doesn’t just come from your job title — everyone can be a leader. Follow the Strack Inc story at strackinc.com or @strack_inc on IG. Stay Dirty!

Anna Johnson is the founder and owner of AQUIP, "the first and only known independently female-owned vacuum truck and environmental products dealership in the United States." In the last few years, she's been burning up the interstates in the Southeast US, building her business from the ground up. Anna was kind enough to swing through Nashville and be a guest on Dirt Talk. In this week's episode, host Aaron Witt and co-host Alex Horton chat with Anna about how she got into the Dirt World, what exactly a vacuum truck is (and why she finds them fascinating), and what can be different or challenging about being a woman in the Dirt World. Super fun conversation until Aaron really had to pee. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Welcome to the first episode of Dirt Talk of 2022! Thanks to the Dirt Talk community for being a part of this thing and for sharing the podcast. This week, Aaron and Alex talk about the need for equipment to have updated radios and sound systems. Then, they broach a sensitive topic responding to a listener's question regarding racism and discriminatory behavior in the Dirt World. 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aaron talks about the lessons he learned along the way in 2024 and how these lessons will shape the future of his life and BuildWitt. Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk staying vs. leaving when it comes to a job, as well as what kind of trust leaders should give to those that they lead. (Hint: it's a lot.) 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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

Aaron's back to answer your questions. To have your question answered, send it our way — dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com 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.

Big iron, am I right? Little Iron, or in this case, wood? In this episode (DT204), Aaron is joined by Ryan Haasen, an estimator/PM at Blue-Con Excavation Ltd. You might recognize Ryan for his incredible to-scale models of construction machinery. Ryan's journey into woodworking started at a young age, and growing up around the construction industry naturally led him to merge his two passions. Despite working full-time at Blue-Con, Ryan's love for construction and the scale model community gained widespread attention on Instagram. After crafting an entire replica of a job site within a table, requests started pouring in for Ryan to create similar masterpieces for others. Don't miss out—check out @ryan_haasen_woodworks on Instagram. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aaron and Jason are back to discuss 2024 and reflect on the lessons learned. They also discuss the success of the Ariat Dirt World Summit and our plans for 2025! Learn more about the Summit at dirtworld.com! 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.

In this episode, we’re trying something different. Aaron came up with the idea to talk about some news from the industry that folks might not have seen. In this one, Aaron will be highlighting some key points of an article published in Equipment World by Jordanne Waldschmidt. The Article is titled, Opinion: The Misguided Push Toward Electric Construction Equipment – and Why Hybrids are the Better Alternative. Stay tuned for what Aaron has to say about the matter (spoiler he agrees.) If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Colby Williams describes his skills as "pushing buttons". But if you've come across his work as Fueled Photography, then you know he's no hack. For years, Colby has been shooting cars, trucks, bulldozers, cement trucks, cranes - if it looks cool, chances are good that Colby has photographed it. And we at Dirt Talk were lucky enough to have him come on the pod and talk about his story. Colby and host Aaron Witt have plenty in common - they both spend a lot of time shooting big equipment all over America. But Colby's path to where he is today wasn't easy or straightforward. Colby and Aaron talk about Colby's start with photography, why he had to take a break (and why he had to come back), and his love for big trucks. Check out Colby's IG at @the.fueled and visit the Fueled website at fueledphotography.com. If you have questions/comments/concerns, email the Dirt Talk team at DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

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

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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

In all my travels, one company comes up in conversation more than any other — Veit Contracting. And for good reason. Their history, combined with an incredible array of services from waste to foundations, makes for a spectacular story. And to capture some of the story from the past and where Veit's headed, I was lucky enough to sit down with Kelly and Vaughn at Veit's Minnesota HQ! Learn more about Veit at their website here: https://veitusa.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! 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.

Mark is on a mission to spread the message that the truth of leadership effectiveness is both knowable and applicable in all walks of life. Mark and his team at Chick-fil-A invested a quarter century and tens of millions of dollars searching for and validating ideas that work.  Now, as the Co-Founder of Lead Every Day, Mark shares this research and unlocks the full potential of leaders and teams to create high-performance leaders and organizations across the globe. You can learn more at https://leadeveryday.com/ **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.

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.

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 dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Matt Aston, President at GPRS. GPRS is changing the construction game, using radar and electromagnetic signals to locate utilities. This technology is essential for spotting potential hazards (exp. underground power) in the ground and even through solid concrete! How effective is it you ask? Last year they completed roughly 120,000 jobs with an incident report rate of 0.13% saving potentially millions of dollars in damages, and keeping workers safe.  GPRS is now a major player in the industry with crews nationwide. Still, they have plans to grow and are always improving to get their margin for error down to zero. This all started because Matt was bold enough to spot a major problem he knew he could solve. So next time you have some iffy digging or treacherous cutting to do, consider GPRS. You could save a lot of time and money and potentially save a life! Learn more in this episode of Dirt Talk If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Aaron's back to answer your questions. To have your question answered, send it our way — dirttalk@buildwitt.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com! 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.

As a general rule, we at BuildWitt LOVE to engage with people who love the Dirt World as much as we do. So, when we first started chatting with David Cutler through email, LinkedIn, etc, it was clear immediately that he's got the passion for our industry running through his veins. And as the podcast team was building out the guest list, it just started to make more and more sense to bring David on the show, and we sure are glad we did. David Cutler is a Senior Estimator/Project Manager with Benchmark Site Development in eastern Pennsylvania, but what stood out is that he's also a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). He's made it a mission to marry his expertise in engineering with his passion for dirt to more effectively build his communities, and you can't go wrong working with someone like that. He had plenty of expertise to share, and we can't wait for y'all to listen. Link to the Fort McHenry Tunnel video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5R504FolbE0 U Chapter 2 Brainery: https://uchapter2.com/uc2-brainery/ 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 DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!