Blue-Collar BS

Brad Herda and Steve Doyle
  • 5.0 (10)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The age-old excuse "we can't find good people" is busted by two business coaches, Brad Herda and Steve Doyle. Blue-Collar BS features the top blue-collar business owners, thought leaders, and experts to share strategies on attracting and retaining top talent across ALL generations--including Gen Z's (and why they should not be overlooked). Blue-Collar BS helps blue-collar business owners like you build a business that'll thrive for decades by turning that blue-collar bullsh*t into some blue-collar business solutions. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

  1. Polygenerational WTF: From AI to Elk Hunting with Zach Hanson

    4H AGO

    Polygenerational WTF: From AI to Elk Hunting with Zach Hanson

    Zach did everything he was supposed to do went to college, got the tech job, bought the house. Then one day he looked around and realized he couldn't fix a single thing without calling someone. That bothered him enough to start learning skills on the side while keeping his white collar career going. What started as picking up welding and hunting turned into serious research about what happened to trades in this country and why people treat that kind of work like it's beneath them. When he was eliminated his tech position after 12 years and his savings ran out after 11 months, those side skills kept him afloat. Trapping and taxidermy paid the bills until he landed another tech role. COVID sped up what he'd already figured out being completely dependent on everything working perfectly all the time is a bad bet. We talk about how schools systematically got rid of shop classes, why looking down on skilled work makes no sense, and how learning to handle things yourself changes what you think you're capable of. HighlightsHow realizing you can't handle basic problems in your own life pushes you to learn practical skills even while working a desk job.Why education policy changes over decades systematically removed shop classes and created the skilled worker shortage we're dealing with now.The confidence that comes from learning hands-on skills carries over into everything else you do, not just the specific task you learned.How many people are quietly interested in becoming more self-reliant but won't say it out loud because of what others might think.Why the idea that white collar jobs are secure and blue collar work is beneath people turned out to be completely backwards. Make sure to subscribe to Blue Collar BS where we explore how different generations approach work, leadership, and building careers in the trades. Do you want to hear more stories like Zach's that challenge what you thought was possible and inspire you to try something different? We've got some amazing guests lined up! Get in touch with Zach: Website LinkedIn Instagram Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    29 min
  2. No Cape Needed: A Blue-Collar Tribute to My Dad, Jim Herda

    MAR 13

    No Cape Needed: A Blue-Collar Tribute to My Dad, Jim Herda

    Brad's father recently passed away, inspiring us to take time to honor the everyday heroes who show up without seeking recognition the people who teach us the most important lessons without even realizing they're doing it. Brad shares memories of his father who worked as a Teamsters driver and never missed a day of work, taught discipline without lectures, and showed integrity by owning mistakes when his job was at risk. The lessons came through presence rather than instruction being available when needed even if lengthy conversations weren't his style, showing up consistently for 45 years regardless of how he felt, and demonstrating values through actions instead of words. We explore how the most powerful teaching happens through observation rather than explanation, why consistency builds the credibility that matters when mistakes happen, and how being present counts more than being perfect. Highlights:How daily consistency builds the kind of credibility that carries you through mistakes and tough times.Why the most important lessons get taught through actions and presence rather than lectures or explanations.What integrity looks like when you have to own up to decisions that put everything at risk.The difference between being available and being perfect why showing up matters more than having all the answers.How learning to observe patterns and connect dots comes from watching people who lead through example. Please subscribe to Blue Collar BS where we talk about the real gaps between generations in blue collar work and what it takes to lead across different age groups in today's trades. Sometimes the most important episodes aren't about business at all they're about the people who shaped who we become. Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    25 min
  3. When the Apprentice Becomes the Mechanic with Sam DeWitt

    MAR 6

    When the Apprentice Becomes the Mechanic with Sam DeWitt

    Sam DeWitt got told like every millennial to go to college and get a degree. The path from there to becoming a master mechanic wasn't anything he could have planned, moving through different roles and companies before landing somewhere that changed his entire perspective on what leadership could be. His supervisor Bob showed him what servant leadership actually looks like creating space for people to grow by recognizing where they need help and empowering them to learn instead of expecting them to already know everything. We explore how admitting what you don't know opens the door to real learning, why seeking knowledge directly from people doing the work beats any manual, and how hands-on practice with real failure scenarios builds the next generation of skilled technicians. HighlightsWhy companies banking on operators training replacements fails when the operator is protecting their own job instead of teaching.How servant leadership that recognizes strengths and weaknesses across teams while empowering people to struggle and learn changes careers.Why maintenance requires some innate ability beyond what's teachable and finding people who want to work on broke stuff every day is hard.Why creating the right training tools can work better than prescribed ones. Get in touch with Sam: Podcast LinkedIn Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    34 min
  4. Ms. Swiss and the Sisterhood of Trades with Nush

    FEB 27

    Ms. Swiss and the Sisterhood of Trades with Nush

    Nush knew by sophomore year that traditional college wasn't her path. Automotive classes in high school led to NASCAR Technical Institute, then CNC machining when motorsport jobs required connections she didn't have. Now she's built Sisterhood of Trades, a Discord community of 850 women worldwide supporting each other across different trades. We explore why women still face basic safety issues like inaccessible restrooms and unlit parking lots that employers ignore while claiming to support women. Nush shares the harsh reality where reporting harassment leads to punishment instead of accountability, how LinkedIn networking creates more opportunities than degrees, and the vision to fund scholarships providing toolboxes for women entering trades so they don't start behind like she did. Highlights:How a worldwide Discord community of 850 women proves there's massive demand for peer support across trades.Why employers claiming to support women while ignoring accessible restrooms, lactating rooms, lit parking lots, and safe building access is empty lip service.The accountability gap where women reporting harassment about their bodies face punishment while leadership protects the men creating hostile environments.How university paths aren't the only option and successful fulfilling careers exist without the debt.The scholarship vision to provide toolboxes and resources so women don't start trades careers at a disadvantage. Subscribe to Blue Collar BS where we talk about the real gaps between generations in blue collar work and what it takes to lead across different age groups in today's trades. Get in touch with Nush: Instagram LinkedIn Sisterhood of Trades Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    34 min
  5. When Ego Paves the Wrong Road with Bryce Harem

    FEB 20

    When Ego Paves the Wrong Road with Bryce Harem

    Fresh out of college with a construction management degree, Bryce walked onto job sites telling field crews how to build based on what the book said. Fast forward to 2022 when he became a general manager and led his company to their largest financial loss ever at $1.5 million, forcing him to lay off 66 people. Instead of quitting, Bryce stood in front of the 35 remaining employees, wrote "I'm sorry" on a whiteboard, and owned the failure completely. We explore how treating people like numbers on a spreadsheet destroys companies, why chasing titles instead of impact sets you up for disaster, and how Bryce turned things around by asking field crews to teach him instead of pretending he knew everything. He shares his journey through alcohol and nicotine dependence trying to handle stress, the weekend journaling session that saved his career, and why the middleman mindset matters more than any title on your business card. Highlights:Why requesting to work with the toughest superintendents who didn't respect him became the turning point for earning trust.How treating a 100-person company like a spreadsheet with budgets and assets instead of people led to catastrophic financial loss.The moment where owning complete failure in front of his team changed everything.How to retain Gen Z talent by showing them the impact they're making instead of dangling titles and pay as the only rewards.How building personal power through relationships beats title power every time, especially when you're the middleman holding culture together. Subscribe to Blue Collar BS for practical advice on running your business better. Leading through failure requires more vulnerability than most people are willing to show - are you ready to own it? Get in touch with Bryce: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    30 min
  6. Shoebox Accounting & Other Bullsh*t That’s Costing You

    FEB 13

    Shoebox Accounting & Other Bullsh*t That’s Costing You

    Too many trades and construction business owners ignore their accounting until tax season hits, then spend days manually entering receipts from shoeboxes instead of using technology that does it automatically. We tackle the business operations side that gets pushed aside when you're busy doing the work that actually gets you paid. Steve reveals his manual QuickBooks process while Brad walks through why people fail to pay themselves properly, the three different rates you should be charging as owner-operator-CEO, and how to stop leaving money on the table with bad estimating. We explore tactics for building overhead into quotes without overcomplicating the math, why technology like receipt scanning apps can save days of work, and how understanding your customer's busy season changes your sales follow-up game completely. Highlights:HighlightsWhy paying yourself only after everything else is taken care of means you're getting a fraction of what you're worth instead of paying yourself first.How to calculate what you actually need to charge by separating your field labor hours from your CEO hours from your ownership compensationWhy most jobs are quoted wrong because overhead and profitability aren't properly estimated into the numbers.The garage door company example where tactical empathy in follow-up messaging closed the deal after understanding their busy season.Why seven touches before giving up beats three attempts, but only if you change your approach when the message isn't landing. Subscribe to Blue Collar BS for practical advice on running your business better. If you're still using shoeboxes and spreadsheets to track your money, this episode is for you. Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    26 min
  7. Who's Sucking Now with DT

    FEB 6

    Who's Sucking Now with DT

    Starting with a shop vac in a Ford Ranger, DT built a grease trap company that now runs 14 trucks across Washington State with his sights set on going national before turning 40. He's built a team that runs the business smoothly when he's not there, and employees talk up the company so much they're recruiting people from completely different industries. We explore how unconventional leadership creates this level of ownership, why creative benefits matter when you can't compete with corporate packages, and what happens when you give people freedom to figure things out instead of controlling every process. Highlights:Why 13 years of trial and error taught DT that internal communication was the missing piece until hiring a CFO.When employees ask for more responsibility, letting them take it and own it completely creates better results than telling them exactly how to do it.Monthly company shutdowns for yard day and meals show employees you value spending time with them beyond just getting work done.How DT's willingness to admit he screwed up 100 times makes employees want to help build the company instead of just collect paychecks.Why mistakes are inevitable but what you do about them determines whether your team fears failure or learns from it. Make sure to subscribe to the Blue Collar BS podcast where we talk about the real gaps between generations in blue collar work and what it takes to lead across different age groups in today's trades. Get in touch with DT: Website Facebook Instagram Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    33 min
  8. Chasing Checks Sucks with Joe Kaye

    JAN 30

    Chasing Checks Sucks with Joe Kaye

    Home service is now 4% of the US workforce and the fastest growing industry in the country, yet many successful businesses still struggle with basic invoicing and cash flow management. Joe Kaye, a tech veteran who worked construction through college, started exploring investments in blue collar businesses and discovered a massive gap between the amount of work available and the systems companies used to actually get paid. He teamed up with co-founder Luke to build Procured, a field service management software helping businesses get paid the same day jobs are completed instead of waiting weeks to send invoices. We explore why younger people are choosing trades over college debt, how 60-70% of home service businesses now embrace technology, and Joe's rapid-fire revelations including his vendetta against Reese's for changing their formula and why being 10 minutes early means you're on time. Highlights:Why tracking financials only when checks arrive creates cash flow chaos that makes it impossible to know if you can pay rent, staff, or buy equipment.The real cost of waiting 30-plus days to send invoices after completing jobs when you're paying for trucks, materials, and payroll today.How the gap between available work and getting paid is crushing successful businesses that should be thriving.Why younger workers choosing trades over college debt are forcing the industry to adopt technology or get left behind.The invoice that never gets sent because there's no system to track what's been completed versus what's been billed, leaving thousands of dollars on the table. Subscribe to Blue Collar BS where we talk about the real gaps between generations in blue collar work and what it takes to lead across different age groups in today's trades. Get in touch with Joe: Website Instagram LinkedIn Email Get in touch with us: Check out the Blue Collar BS website. Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    32 min
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5
out of 5
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About

The age-old excuse "we can't find good people" is busted by two business coaches, Brad Herda and Steve Doyle. Blue-Collar BS features the top blue-collar business owners, thought leaders, and experts to share strategies on attracting and retaining top talent across ALL generations--including Gen Z's (and why they should not be overlooked). Blue-Collar BS helps blue-collar business owners like you build a business that'll thrive for decades by turning that blue-collar bullsh*t into some blue-collar business solutions. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Herda and Steve Doyle
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    196
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Brad Herda and Steve Doyle
  • Show Website
    Blue-Collar BS