Hardworking Happy Hour

Episode 157: Mark Hedstrom of Skilled Career Coalition!

April 7th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 4 mins

career choices, community involvement, education, industry connection, labor shortage, mentorship, philanthropy, skilled careers, skilled trades, social media, trades awareness, tradespeople, vocational training, workforce development, youth engagement

In this conversation, Sean, Catherine and Mark Hedstrom discuss the importance of skilled trades and the need to destigskilled trades, workforce development, career choices, education, trades awareness, youth engagement, skilled careers, labor shortage, vocational training, industry connection, skilled trades, education, workforce development, mentorship, social media, career choices, philanthropy, youth engagement, tradespeople, community involvementmatize blue collar jobs. Mark, the executive director of the Skilled Careers Coalition, emphasizes the necessity of engaging parents and students in exploring skilled career options. They explore the challenges of connecting students to opportunities in the workforce and the fragmented ecosystem that exists. Mark shares insights on the supply and demand for skilled labor and his passion for raising awareness about the viability of skilled careers as a pathway to economic stability. In this conversation, Mark Hedstrom discusses the evolving landscape of skilled trades, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of social media on youth career choices. He emphasizes the need for a shift in educational focus, exploring alternative pathways for the next generation, and the role of philanthropy in addressing workforce challenges. The discussion highlights the significance of passion in career choices and the necessity of community engagement to foster a new generation of skilled workers.

Episode 156: Gordon South aka WoodBully!

March 31st, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 1 min

business growth, career choices, client satisfaction, communication, company culture, construction management, decision making, education, employee retention, entrepreneurship, hiring practices, keywords construction, passion, red seal certification, scheduling, trades, trades vs office jobs, work-life balance

Summary

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the evolution of Sean's construction business, focusing on growth, delegation, and hiring practices. They explore the importance of company culture, the challenges of firing employees, and the realities of working in the trades compared to office jobs. The discussion also touches on education and career choices, emphasizing the risks and rewards associated with different paths. In this engaging conversation, Sean and Catherine explore the complexities of career choices, particularly in the trades, the importance of effective communication in construction management, and the realities of scheduling in the industry. They discuss the challenges of transitioning from hands-on work to management roles, the significance of passion in one's career, and the hard truths about hard work. The dialogue emphasizes the need for flexibility, decision-making, and the value of experience in shaping a successful career.

Episode 143: Dronepocalypse and Forever Students!

December 23rd, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 6 mins

business, construction, drones, dump trucks, dumper, education, efficiency, hands-on experience, independence, innovation, keywords drones, learning, lifelong learning, machinery, new jersey, personal growth, photography, safety, sightings, student mindset, success, technology, trades, trivia, vehicles

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss their recent acquisition of a dumptruck and the excitement surrounding it. They transition into a discussion about mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey, exploring various theories and implications. The conversation then shifts to the use of drones in their business, highlighting how drones have transformed their photography and project presentations. They conclude by discussing the future of drone technology and its potential impact on their work. In this conversation, Catherine and Sean discuss the impact of drones on photography, emphasizing the importance of framing and capturing quality images. They also explore the misconceptions surrounding learning styles, particularly in trades, advocating for a broader understanding of what it means to be a 'good student.' The dialogue highlights the value of hands-on experience and continuous learning, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique learning paths. In this engaging conversation, Catherine and Sean explore themes of learning, independence, and the construction industry. They discuss the importance of redefining success in education, share trivia about construction and dump trucks, and highlight the dangers faced by construction workers. The conversation also delves into fun facts about heavy machinery, showcasing their knowledge and humor throughout.

Episode 136: It all comes back to communication...

October 28th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  58 mins 7 secs

challenges, communication, concrete, concrete work, construction, diy, door-to-door sales, education, home depot, home improvement, hvac, imposter syndrome, keywords construction, learning, mistakes, personal experiences, project management, teamwork, trivia

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss various personal and professional updates, including construction projects, experiences with door-to-door sales, and a new policy at Home Depot requiring executives to work in stores. They explore the importance of understanding different perspectives in the workplace, the significance of communication within teams, and the lessons learned from mistakes made during construction projects. The conversation emphasizes the need for better communication and collaboration to enhance team dynamics and project outcomes. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the challenges faced while working on concrete projects, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and the educational value of trial and error. They also touch on feelings of imposter syndrome that can arise in leadership roles and the normalization of such feelings. The episode concludes with a fun trivia segment that tests their knowledge on various topics related to home improvement and construction.

Episode 125: WE'RE BACK BABY!!

August 5th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  56 mins 13 secs

community, construction, construction news, construction trivia, cost, education, entertainment, favorite events, heat safety, infrastructure, keywords podcast, olympics, osha, reuse, trinity rodman, undocumented workers, waste reduction, worker safety

After taking a month off, Catherine and Sean discuss the changes they made to improve their podcast. They explore the topic of building infrastructure for the Olympics and the efforts to reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly. They discuss the construction process, the use of undocumented and migrant workers, and the controversy surrounding worker safety. They also touch on the cost of hosting the Olympics and the reuse of facilities after the games. The conversation concludes with a discussion about their favorite Olympic events and which events they would participate in if given the chance. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss various topics including Trinity Rodman's performance in the Olympics, new heat safety rules in construction, and a construction trivia game. They aim to create a sense of community for listeners in the construction industry and provide both educational and entertaining content.

Episode 2: College vs. The Trades

December 20th, 2021  |  1 hr 3 mins

blue collar, business, business owner, carpentry, college, college vs trade, construction, design, education, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, higher education, outdoor design, premier outdoor living, schooling, trades, white collar

Sean and Catherine break down the pros and cons of going to college and taking the higher education route, vs going right in to the trades. Or, making the increasingly more popular big life change and jumping to a new career later in life!