Blue Collar Business Podcast

Sy Kirby
  • 4.7 (20)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 81 - Digging Blind: The 811 Truth No One Tells You with Khrysanne Kerr

    This episode was filmed live at Con Expo in Las Vegas! Join us for this special episode with Khrysanne Kerr! A locate mark that’s a few feet off can wreck a schedule. A utility strike can change a life. That’s why we sat down with Khrysanne Kerr from the Common Ground Alliance, one of the leaders behind the nationwide 811 Call Before You Dig campaign, to talk through what’s actually happening inside the locate system and what contractors can do to make it work better. We get into the real numbers that most people never think about: at any given time there can be more than one million active 811 locate requests across the country, but the locating workforce doesn’t magically scale with your deadline. Khrysanne explains why ticket volume keeps rising as more infrastructure goes underground and funding expands projects, and we share the simplest way to reduce waste: only request locates for the work you’re truly ready to dig. If you’ve ever wondered why marks show up late, incomplete, or rushed, this part connects the dots. From there we go practical. We talk about white lining with white paint or flags, why professional locators overwhelmingly say it’s the biggest damage prevention lever, and how it protects both the locator and the excavator through clearer communication and better documentation. Khrysanne also points you to free online excavation training from the Common Ground Alliance with 30+ modules in English and Spanish, built for crews who need training that fits real job-site life. We wrap with the hard truth about mis-marks, aging records, and why better mapping, GIS data, and new technology (from drones to smarter excavation equipment) will shape the future of underground utility locating and excavator safety. If you get value from this, subscribe to the show, share it with your crew, and leave a review so more contractors find the info that keeps people safe. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    27 min

  2. MAR 11

    Ep. 80 - Contractor to Consultant: How Kory Mitchell Mastered the Exit

    Want a blueprint for selling your contracting business without losing your identity or your team? We sit down with Kory Mitchell, founder of Iconic Founders Group and former CEO of a 200M environmental firm, to unpack how blue-collar owners can scale with intention, de-risk the books, and exit with clarity and control. Kory shares how he grew from a family asbestos shop to 37 locations through a mix of organic expansion and 13 acquisitions, and why the best deals hinge on people diligence, not just financials. We get practical fast: why job costing, WIP reporting, and real-time dashboards transform chaos into predictable profit; how small and recurring jobs often beat flashy mega-projects when it comes to valuation; and the simple margin habits that make buyers pay more. Kory breaks down rollovers, earn outs, and the reality of staying post-transaction, plus how private equity and large family offices think about multiples, leverage, and risk. We also dig into equipment strategy, when leasing can lift uptime and reduce deferred maintenance, and the hidden valuation hits from heavy CapEx, client concentration, bonding exposure, and weak safety culture. This is a candid look at the human side of exits, too. Burnout, replacing yourself before a sale, surrounding yourself with smarter peers, and getting an executive coach who has actually done deals, these steps create space to think and move on your terms. If you want to protect your people, preserve your brand, and still get paid for the value you’ve built, this conversation maps the path: clean data, safer operations, recurring revenue, and a buyer who matches your goals. If this helped you see your next step, grow, sell, or both, follow the show, share it with a friend who runs a crew, and leave a quick review so more blue-collar owners can find it. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 4m

  3. MAR 4

    Ep. 79 - Overbilling is Survival: Managing Construction Cashflow With Ben Justesen

    Ready to stop letting software and insurers set your prices? We sit down with restoration veteran and industry advocate Ben Justesen to map out a practical blueprint for blue-collar profit: building your own labor rates, managing WIP with confidence, and turning real culture into a recruiting edge. Ben’s story moves from a $400k patent lawsuit and five years of survival mode to leading markets in pricing by feeding data back into estimating platforms and, more importantly, engineering his own defensible rates from labor burden, overhead, and targeted margins. We break down how to translate takeoffs into true budgets, why material margins are thin and labor must carry the difference, and how production rates, sourced from your historical job data, make estimates faster and more accurate. Cash flow gets a no-fluff treatment: progress billing tied to visible milestones, staying over-billed instead of being the bank, and aligning estimating, production, and accounting around a single WIP report so red flags show up while there’s still time to act. Culture is the force multiplier. Ben details the shift from lip service to lived values like humility, initiative, ownership, and hunger, then shows how to hire for them with a recruiter’s route, structured interviews, and paid working days across departments. We also explore documentation tech, 360 job captures that let estimators scope remotely, lock down supplements, and eliminate disputes by showing before, during, and after in exact detail. That same documentation powers people-first marketing: celebrating crews and subs, earning name-specific reviews, and attracting talent who want to be part of a winning team. If you’re a contractor who’s tired of thin margins, late cash, and chaotic hiring, this conversation hands you a clear playbook: build rates from your numbers, bill from visual milestones, track production relentlessly, and let your values drive every process. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share it with a fellow builder, and leave a review with your biggest pricing or WIP breakthrough. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 14m

  4. FEB 25

    Ep. 78 - California Concrete: Navigating Rules and Regulation With Kyle Harris

    A good pour rewards speed and precision, but building a company takes a different mix. We sit down with Kyle Harris, president of Harris Company Concrete Construction, to trace how a young finisher who loved the rush of pour days became a leader who runs on systems, coaching, and clear numbers, while navigating California’s maze of regulations without losing his edge. Kyle walks us through the early wins and the 2008 gut punch that forced him to learn business the hard way: licensing scrutiny, cash flow shocks, and contracts that bite. The breakthrough came with a coach who pushed him to replace heroics with policies and procedures, install checklists for everything from demo prep to payroll, and fit people into roles where they actually excel. He explains how reading financial statements, understanding true overhead, and pricing the real cost of trucks, iron, and time changed his bids and protected margins. Then we get real about California. Low-carbon mix mandates, VOC restrictions, CARB compliance, and multi-layer inspections make structural work slower and riskier, yet the climate and markets in wine country, custom residential, and commercial builds offer year-round volume and rates that can offset overhead. Kyle shares practical tactics for RFIs, inspections, scheduling pours a month out, and why paying experts; CPAs, safety consultants and attorneys, buys back the only asset that scales revenue: your time. This conversation is a playbook for any builder who’s great at the trade but stuck in the business. You’ll hear how to let go of the tools without losing respect, lead crews with clarity instead of speed talking, and build a peer circle that keeps you honest and moving. If you’ve felt alone, underbid, or buried in red tape, Kyle’s hard-won lessons will help you reset the formwork and pour a stronger foundation for your company. Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share it with a friend in the trades, and leave a review telling us the one system you plan to implement this week. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 8m

  5. FEB 18

    Ep. 77 - 33 Million Views: How a Ditch Digger Built a Media Empire | With Marvin Joles from In the Mix Podcast

    Some stories start with luck. Ours starts with sweat, a $20 bill, and a phone camera. Marvin went from picking shingles in small-town Wisconsin to building a trusted asphalt brand and a media engine that opened doors to stages, sponsors, and a wider mission: make blue-collar work visible, respected, and easier to win. We dig into how simple, consistent documentation; tank fills, applications, cured results, and two-week check-backs, creates social proof that outperforms any sales script. Marvin shares the exact playbook that 4–6x’d his revenue: show the process, show the people, and keep showing up. When online critics argued methods across climates, he didn’t fight; he educated through trade articles and talks, turning confusion into context. That credibility unlocked a podcast, partnerships with major brands, and live hosting at ConExpo, all while the crew kept paving, sealing, and striping. There’s a real talk undercurrent here: posting is uncomfortable. The early videos were rough. Family and locals raised eyebrows. Anxiety hit. The cure wasn’t ego; it was purpose. If you want more leads, better applicants, and stronger community ties, you can’t stay invisible. We map out a practical path for owners; what to film, where to post, and how to balance personal and professional stories, so your feed becomes a trust engine and a recruiting magnet. You’ll hear how employer brand grows when safety, training, and crew wins are out front, and why omnichannel visibility beats one-and-done ads. If you’re three days from the lights going off or just ready to lead your market, this conversation hands you a toolkit: start now, post daily, educate through context, and let your work speak on camera. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a review with the first video you plan to make, what will you show tomorrow? Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 13m

  6. FEB 11

    Ep. 76 - Empower, Don’t Exhaust: Fixing Leadership at the Core With Missy Washam and Mayce DelValle

    Ever feel like you’re wearing every hat, working every hour, and still falling behind? We sat down with Missy Washam and Mayce DelValle of Mpactful Messages to unpack a blueprint that actually scales on the jobsite: connect with your people, empower with clarity, and prioritize what moves profit and life forward. No theory, just tools, stories, and steps you can use today. We start with connection as the core of leadership. Not fluff, simple acts like knowing your crew’s real lives, setting expectations in plain language, and modeling calm when the schedule slips. Influence isn’t a title; it’s how you show up. From there, we dig into empowerment done right: moving from “do this” to “own this.” You’ll learn how to define success, constraints, and checkpoints so delegation doesn’t boomerang back onto your plate. A powerful case study shows how these methods didn’t just boost performance, they saved a marriage and jump-started personal health. Then we tackle time: time blocking, habit stacking, and a ruthless look at time-wasters that keep owners stuck in trucks, inboxes, and emergencies. We talk promotions too, why the best operator isn’t automatically the best leader, and how to equip new supervisors with communication, standards, and accountability before handing them the name badge. Along the way, we challenge the ego that keeps leaders clinging to low-leverage work and share a free resource at manager-reset.com to help you buy back hours immediately. If you’re ready to replace chaos with systems and intensity with consistency, this conversation will meet you where you are and move you forward one clear step at a time. Subscribe, share with a fellow builder, and leave a review telling us the one habit you’ll commit to this week. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 4

    Ep. 75 - Brewing Brotherhood: A Coffee Brand Born in the Dirt | With Matthew Gleaves

    A night shift, a permit delay, and a fresh pot of coffee changed the way Matthew Gleaves thinks about safety. Sitting in a rescue trailer with harnesses and figure eights on the table, he turned small talk into real training and watched incident rates fall while morale climbed. That moment became the spark for Confined Space Coffee, and a blueprint for building a safety culture that crews actually believe in. We dig into Matthew Gleaves’ path from ministry to pipe fitting to safety leadership, including seasons on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and a rescue that cemented a “prepare before it breaks” mindset. We break down why trench standards must hold in “comfortable” places like front yards, how compliant doesn’t always mean safe, and why EMR is more than a number, it’s a gatekeeper to bids, margins, and reputation. Expect clear takes on competent person duties, near-miss reporting that helps instead of shames, and a “Take Five” routine that makes pausing to plan as normal as putting on a hard hat. This conversation also reaches the human side of the trades. Confined Space Coffee supports organizations fighting PTSD, suicide, and trafficking, because the toughest confined spaces are often the heart and mind. We talk about checking on your people, turning office-vs-field tension into joint planning, and using simple rituals, like a cup of coffee, to open honest conversations that stick when the job gets loud and the hours get long. If you lead crews, bid complex work, or just want fewer close calls, this one’s a practical guide you can use tomorrow. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review. It helps more builders, operators, and safety pros find the tools, and the courage, to do the work right. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 10m

  8. JAN 28

    Ep. 74 - Scaling Slow, Winning Big With Matt Bachtel

    If you think durable companies are built on flash, this conversation will change your mind. We sit down with excavation leader Matt Bachtel to unpack a 26-year journey powered by humble starts, careful decisions, and an unwavering investment in people. From mowing lawns and delivering filters at a dealership to running multi-crew water and sewer work across Northeast Ohio, Matt shows how steady growth and clean execution beat speed every time. We dig into the early years, mentors who opened doors, a chicken coop yard organized like a showroom, and the hard choice to rent equipment until the numbers said buy. Matt explains why he dumped spreadsheets for industry software long before it was cool, and how proper cost codes, AIA billing, and change-order discipline turned a small firm into a professional outfit. You’ll hear how foremen were grown from parts runners and pipe layers, how GPS skills evolved into drones and precision layout, and how a modest barn operation matured into a facility that earned customer confidence without losing its roots. Then the playbook exploded. A culture scare, a sudden retirement, and COVID-era shocks collided with inflation and supply shortages. Matt walks through promoting young standouts to foremen, adding a fourth crew, and rebuilding systems that broke under rapid growth. The customer-facing quality never slipped, because the team communicated, adapted, and kept documentation tight.  Looking to 2026, we break down the firm’s two-year public service line replacement contract for 1,245 homes, the five-page procedure that makes it possible, and the personal discipline that keeps momentum alive when January hype fades. If you’re a blue-collar owner or manager trying to scale without losing your soul, this is your field guide: know your market, hire for humility, rent smart, promote from within, and turn repeat pain into written process.  Subscribe, share this with a teammate who’s ready to level up, and leave a review with the toughest operational challenge you want us to tackle next. Support the show Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up. Follow and stay connected: Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod Facebook: Blue Collar Business Podcast LinkedIn: Blue Collar Business Podcast Never miss an update—follow, subscribe, and join the conversation!

    1h 12m
See All (81)

4.7
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Sy Kirby
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Blue Collar Business Podcast
  • Show Website
    Blue Collar Business Podcast

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