Skilled Nation

Star Worldwide Networks

Skilled Nation takes you inside the world of high-demand trades—welding, electrical, HVAC, industrial maintenance, and more. Through real stories from graduates and pros, you’ll see how hands-on training can launch you into a high-paying, future-proof career—without the four-year degree and crushing debt. Way of Life, Badge of Honor—this is the real story of building a career, a craft, and a future you’re proud of.

  1. 1d ago

    She Was Told to College was the Only Way. She Chose Welding Instead. | WeldHer Workshops

    What if the career that changes your life is the one nobody ever told you about? For Letty Bejarano and Rachel Miller, welding wasn't part of the plan. One followed the traditional path through college before realizing success on paper didn't feel like fulfillment. The other stumbled into a welding shop and instantly knew she had found where she belonged. Together, they turned those unexpected journeys into WeldHer Workshops, a movement that's introducing more women to careers they never imagined possible. In this episode of Skilled Nation, they share the stories behind the sparks. From career pivots and self-doubt to building confidence with a welding hood for the first time, this conversation explores what it really takes to break into one of America's most in-demand industries. Along the way, they open up about mentorship, workplace culture, mental health in the trades, and why the biggest barrier isn't ability. It's awareness. Whether you're a student wondering what comes after high school, a parent helping your child explore career options, or someone looking for a fresh start without taking on years of student debt, this episode may change the way you think about skilled trades. In this episode:Why welding became a life-changing career for two women who never planned on itWhat more people need to know about apprenticeships and skilled tradesThe biggest myths keeping women out of welding and constructionHow WeldHer Workshops is opening doors for the next generationThe truth about workplace culture, confidence, and belongingWhy AI isn't replacing skilled trades anytime soonHow mentorship and community can transform careers If you've ever wondered whether college is the only path to success, or if there's a career out there you've never considered, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to Skilled Nation for conversations with the people building America's future through welding, electrical, HVAC, construction, manufacturing, and the skilled trades. #SkilledNation #WomenInWelding #Welding #SkilledTrades #WomenInTrades #Apprenticeship #CareerChange #TradeSchool #Construction #Manufacturing #BlueCollar #WorkforceDevelopment #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #UnionApprenticeship #WeldHer #JimmyRhoades

  2. Jul 23

    Women Are Changing the Skilled Trades Industry | Concetta Defa

    Women are helping reshape the future of the skilled trades, but barriers still exist. In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Concetta Defa, electrician, workforce advocate, and host of Hire PowHER, to discuss why the skilled trades industry needs more women, what's changing on today's job sites, and what challenges still need to be solved.From apprenticeship opportunities and workforce shortages to childcare, mentorship, workplace culture, and career growth, this conversation explores how expanding access to skilled trades careers benefits workers, employers, and the entire economy. Concetta also shares inspiring stories of women whose lives were transformed through careers in the electrical and energy industries, proving that skilled trades offer far more than a paycheck. They create long-term career opportunities, financial stability, confidence, and generational impact. In this episode: • Why visibility and mentorship matter for women entering the trades • The biggest misconceptions about women in construction and energy careers • Why employers want to hire more women and what's still holding them back • PPE, workplace culture, and creating more inclusive job sites • Why childcare may be the biggest workforce issue facing the construction industry • How skilled trades careers change lives for single mothers and families • What women uniquely contribute to construction and skilled trades • The future of energy careers and why demand continues to grow • Practical advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship or career in the skilled trades Whether you're exploring a career in construction, electrical work, HVAC, welding, utilities, renewable energy, or infrastructure, this episode offers an honest look at the opportunities available and the work still ahead. #WomenInTrades #SkilledTrades #ConstructionCareers#EnergyJobs #Apprenticeship #WomenInConstruction#Electrician #WorkforceDevelopment

  3. Jul 16

    From C Student to CEO: The Skilled Trades Success Story Every Parent Needs to Hear

    Can an apprenticeship change your life? Mike Greenawalt says yes, because it changed his. Before becoming CEO of one of the nation's largest electrical contractors, Mike was a self described C student who struggled in a traditional classroom but thrived with his hands. One mentor, one opportunity, and one electrical apprenticeship completely changed his future. Today, through the Greenawalt Foundation, he's helping the next generation discover the same path. In this episode of Skilled Nation, we explore why registered apprenticeships are becoming one of the most valuable career pathways in America, what the new Workforce Pell Grant means for students pursuing skilled trades, why employers desperately need more apprentices, and how mentorship can transform lives. Mike also shares practical advice for parents, guidance counselors, employers, and anyone considering a career in construction, electrical work, welding, HVAC, manufacturing, or other skilled trades. If you've ever wondered whether college is the only path to success, this conversation may change your perspective. In this episode:How an electrical apprenticeship led from apprentice to CEOThe biggest myths about careers in the skilled tradesWhat the new Workforce Pell Grant means for career trainingWhy America needs more apprentices than everThe role mentors play in building successful careersHow the Greenawalt Foundation is helping future trades professionalsWhy parents should rethink the "college only" mindsetHow to find registered apprenticeship programs near you Whether you're a student, parent, educator, employer, or career changer, this episode offers real insight into one of the fastest growing career opportunities in America. Subscribe to Skilled Nation for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of skilled trades, apprenticeships, workforce development, and career education. For more information on the Greenawalt Foundation head to https://greenawaltfoundation.org/ #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeship #Electrician #TradeSchool #WorkforceDevelopment #CareerSuccess #BlueCollar #ConstructionCareers #WorkforcePellGrant #CareerAdvice #SkilledNation #TradesJobs #Mentorship #FutureOfWork #ElectricalApprenticeship

  4. Jul 9

    The Future of Welding: How One Career Can Lead to Endless Opportunities

    What if one high school welding class could change the course of your life? In this episode of Skilled Nation, Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Stephanie Hoffman, Director of Industry Development & Engagement at Miller Electric, to explore how a single opportunity turned into a career spanning welding, military service, education, entrepreneurship, and national workforce leadership. Stephanie shares her journey from a self-described "lost punk rock kid" to one of the industry's most influential advocates. Along the way, they discuss why welding is no longer a single career path, how AI and automation are transforming skilled trades instead of replacing them, why America's manufacturing resurgence depends on the next generation of skilled workers, and what students, parents, educators, and employers need to understand about today's opportunities. Whether you're considering welding, exploring skilled trades, or wondering where manufacturing is headed, this conversation offers practical insight and an inspiring reminder that the best careers are often discovered, not planned. Topics Covered: Welding careers and apprenticeships Skilled trades career pathways Women in welding Workforce shortages and manufacturing AI, automation, and robotics in welding Career and technical education (CTE) Skilled trades education Miller Electric workforce development Infrastructure and data center jobs Why skilled trades are shaping America's future #SkilledTrades #Welding #Manufacturing #Careers #Apprenticeship #SkilledNation #MillerElectric #WorkforceDevelopment #CTE #Trades

  5. Jul 2

    Extreme Heat Safety for Construction Workers, Welders, HVAC Techs & Electricians

    Every summer, millions of skilled trades professionals work in dangerous heat across Arizona, Texas, Florida, and the southern United States. But what keeps construction workers, welders, electricians, HVAC technicians, and laborers safe when temperatures climb above 110°F? In this episode of Skilled Nation, Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Mike Marden, owner of WDS Integrated Design Build, to discuss the realities of working in extreme heat after more than three decades in the construction industry. They explore: • How extreme heat impacts construction workers and job sites • Heat exhaustion, hydration, and recognizing warning signs • Why safety culture in the trades has changed • The role of PPE, cooling apparel, and modern heat protection • How leadership creates safer job sites • Why prefabrication and new technology are reducing heat exposure • What every new tradesperson should know before working outdoors Whether you're considering a career in construction, welding, electrical, HVAC, or another skilled trade, this episode offers practical advice that could help you stay safe and build a long, successful career. Skilled Nation is sponsored by Tulsa Welding School and celebrates the people, careers, and opportunities shaping America's skilled workforce. Subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders, skilled trades professionals, and workforce experts. To learn more about WDS Integrated Design Build head to https://wds.build/architect-contractor or @wdsdesignbuild #ConstructionSafety #SkilledTrades #HeatSafety #ConstructionWorkers #Welding #HVAC #Electrician #JobsiteSafety #BlueCollar #ConstructionLife #WorkforceDevelopment #TradesCareers #SummerSafety #HeatExhaustion #SkilledNation #Tulsaweldingschool

  6. Jun 26

    The HVAC Episode: Real Careers. Real Money. Real Grind.

    What do a hotel clerk who fixed an ice machine on a whim, a man who walked out of prison and into a trade school, and a Marine who built a $100M HVAC company all have in common? They found their way into one of the most in-demand, overlooked, and flat-out lucrative careers in America. In this special episode of Skilled Nation, we're bringing together the expertise of three HVAC professionals who've lived every side of the industry — the grind, the growth, and the life-changing money. Chris Watt — Senior HVAC Instructor at RSI — breaks down why this career is AI-proof, recession-proof, and more financially rewarding than most four-year degrees. Michael Gabhart — co-founder of Blue Line HVAC — shares the brutal schedule, the $9,500 trade school debt, and the moment a rooftop paycheck notification made him grab his chest. Jesse Keenan — founder of Semper Fi Home Services — talks culture, veterans in the trades, and why he has technicians making half a million dollars a year. This isn't a recruitment pitch. It's the real story of what this career looks like — the good, the grind, and the ceiling that barely exists. 🎙️ Subscribe to Skilled Nation wherever you get your podcasts.

  7. Jun 25

    America's Skilled Trades Shortage Isn't What You Think | Concetta Defa | Hire PowHER

    America doesn't have a shortage of skilled trades careers. It has a shortage of awareness, mentorship, and experienced workers to train the next generation. In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Concetta Defa, electrician, workforce advocate, and host of Hire PowHER, to uncover the real reasons behind the skilled trades workforce shortage. While many conversations focus on labor shortages, Concetta explains why the biggest challenge is the apprenticeship pipeline. As experienced journeyworkers retire, fewer mentors remain to train future electricians, lineworkers, heavy equipment operators, welders, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and other skilled professionals. They also discuss: • Why employers are ready to hire more skilled workers • The apprenticeship bottleneck slowing workforce growth • Why hands-on learning cannot be replaced by classrooms alone • How Concetta became an electrician after a life-changing accident • The role mentorship plays in building long-term careers • Why more women are entering construction and energy careers • Common misconceptions about skilled trades • Why construction workers are some of the most highly skilled professionals in America • How Hire PowHER is helping build the next generation of skilled workers Whether you're a student, career changer, educator, employer, contractor, union member, or simply curious about the future of America's workforce, this conversation offers an inside look at the opportunities shaping the skilled trades. Guest: Conchita Defa Electrician | Workforce Development Advocate | Host of Hire PowHER HirePowHER.org @HirePowHer @GetintoEnergy

  8. Jun 11

    The Truth About Skilled Trades in 2026 | Boilermakers, Unions, Pay & Career Reality (Audio)

    Everyone talks about the skilled trades shortage, but are the jobs really worth it? In this episode of Skilled Nation, host Jimmy Rhoades sits down with Jacob Evanson, Business Manager of Boilermakers Local 627, for an honest conversation about the realities of working in the trades. They tackle the questions people are asking online: • Do skilled trades actually pay enough? • Is the work too hard on your body? • How important are unions in today's workforce? • What happens when projects end? • Are apprenticeships better than college? • Will AI replace skilled trade careers? • How are data centers, semiconductor plants, mining, nuclear energy, and America's manufacturing revival creating new opportunities? Jacob shares his own journey as a third-generation boilermaker and explains how apprenticeship programs, mentorship, healthcare benefits, pensions, continuing education, and union support systems help workers build long-term careers instead of simply finding jobs. The conversation also explores mental health in construction, workforce shortages, career advancement into project management and welding inspection, and why skilled workers remain essential to America's future. Whether you're a student, parent, career changer, veteran, or someone wondering if the trades are still a smart career path, this episode offers a candid look at what life in the skilled trades really looks like. In this episode: ✔ Boilermaker careers explained ✔ Union vs non-union jobs ✔ Apprenticeship opportunities ✔ Skilled trades pay and benefits ✔ Mental health in construction ✔ Career growth beyond the tools ✔ Data centers and AI-driven infrastructure ✔ Energy, mining, and manufacturing jobs ✔ Workforce development in America ✔ The future of skilled trades Learn more about Boilermakers Local 627: https://www.627.org #SkilledNation #Boilermakers #SkilledTrades #UnionJobs #Apprenticeship #ConstructionCareers #Welding #Manufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment #DataCenters #NuclearEnergy #BlueCollar #TradeSchool #CareerChange #Infrastructure #PrattPodcasting

    The Truth About Skilled Trades in 2026 | Boilermakers, Unions, Pay & Career Reality (Audio)
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About

Skilled Nation takes you inside the world of high-demand trades—welding, electrical, HVAC, industrial maintenance, and more. Through real stories from graduates and pros, you’ll see how hands-on training can launch you into a high-paying, future-proof career—without the four-year degree and crushing debt. Way of Life, Badge of Honor—this is the real story of building a career, a craft, and a future you’re proud of.

Information

  • Creator
    Star Worldwide Networks
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Skilled Nation
  • Show Website
    Skilled Nation