Lumber Slingers

Chelsea Zuccato & Natalie Heacock

5.0 (13)
BUSINESS
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Each podcast we bring relevant and useful industry information including interviews with top lumber professionals and discussion of current events in the industry. Whether it be lumber grading, industry and market trends, or who-is-who in lumber, we hope to extend your current tally on industry knowledge.

6D AGO

31. Newswire Update: An Opalite Market, and Super Bowl Predictions

In this episode of Lumber Slingers, Chelsea and Trent kick things off with a little pop-culture fun before diving into what’s happening across the lumber and housing markets. The conversation covers several major industry updates, including the official close of the Rainier–PotlatchDeltic merger, leadership transitions at Romack, and a production realignment announcement from Roseburg Forest Products that impacts operations in Oregon. While some of the news brings optimism around modernization and long-term strategy, the hosts also take time to acknowledge the real human impact of workforce reductions and encourage industry support where possible. On the market side, Trent breaks down the latest lumber pricing trends, mortgage rate stability, and a dip in mortgage applications, discussing how extreme winter weather across much of the U.S. may be temporarily distorting housing demand. Chelsea adds regional insight from the Pacific Northwest, where strong real estate activity suggests pent-up demand could surface as weather conditions improve. The episode also highlights positive momentum elsewhere, including 84 Lumber’s new California store opening, signaling continued investment and confidence in key markets. To wrap things up, the conversation shifts from lumber to the Super Bowl, complete with snack plans, team loyalties, playful rivalry, and a friendly swag bet on the game’s outcome. A mix of industry insight, real-world context, and lighthearted banter, this episode is classic Lumber Slingers. Questions / Comments? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

22 min
JAN 30

130. Newswire Update: Hawkish, Bearish or Bullish

Black Pink fandom, music video nostalgia, and why hawkish is apparently the Fed’s favorite bird. This week on Lumber Slingers, we cover a packed news cycle-starting with pop culture and ending deep in the lumber markets. We break down the surprise nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, what his historically hawkish stance could mean for inflation and interest rates, and why the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady still leaves housing in limbo. Mortgage rates hover just above 6%, applications are down, and everyone’s waiting for a real catalyst. On the lumber side, consolidation continues at full speed. We also highlight key leadership appointments across the industry and preview earnings season, including Weyerhaeuser’s latest results. To wrap it up, we check in on lumber pricing momentum, which continues to trend upward month-over-month—suggesting demand may be firmer than expected heading into February. Lets be optimistic!

18 min
JAN 16

129. Newswire Update: Time to Buy, Baby!

Real Housewives of Boring, Oregon: confirmed by a 65-year-old waitress at brunch. Also: Trent just admitted he listens to MP3s. Yes, in 2026 Lumber news hits: a couple M&A items, production curtailments vs. closures, a James Hardie footprint optimization , and a positive expansion announcement. Then the macro corner: 30-year mortgage rates hovering up and a big jump in mortgage applications. The episode closes with a landowner fun fact: America’s biggest private landowner title shifting from Red Emmerson to Stan Kroenke after a major New Mexico purchase. Questions? Email us at lumberslingers@gmail.com

26 min
JAN 12

128. Newswire Update: From Holiday Whiplash to Market Moves in 2026

Chelsea and Trent ease into the new year catching up on holiday travel mishaps and family time to a fast-moving start to the year in forest products, this episode captures exactly how January feels: full speed, no warm-up. Inside this episode: A look at how the holidays actually went (blizzards, extended stays, Fortnite wins, and all) Early-year momentum in mergers & acquisitions across the building materials space Builders FirstSource acquiring Premium Building Components in New York Adams Group expanding through the acquisition of Millrite Woodworking in Florida Leadership updates at Patrick Industries What a “goodwill impairment” really means (explained simply) Updated operational outlook from West Fraser Brand consolidation as Palmer-Donavin transitions Diamond Hill Plywood fully under one name Mortgage application trends and where rates are sitting to start the year This episode is a reminder that the forest products industry doesn’t slow down! Even when the holiday lights come down. Grab a coffee and jump into what’s shaping the early weeks of 2026. Questions? Comments? Email Us at Lumberslingers@gmail.com

22 min
12/12/2025

127. Newswire Update: Gobble Gobble… Ho Ho Ho… Acquisition Season

It’s a full-on hat day as Natalie, Chelsea, and Trent kick off with swag talk.. Then they run through a rapid-fire lumber news roundup: major acquisitions, mill curtailments and closures, leadership changes, mortgage data, and Madison’s Lumber Price Index—before signing off for a Christmas break and teeing up what could get interesting in early 2026. Email us Lumberslingers@gmail.com

17 min
11/17/2025

126. Getting Real with Rick Dancer: The Truth About Timber & Lumber Slingers

In this special crossover episode, we’re rebroadcasting our recent appearance on Get Real with Rick Dancer. Rick flips the script and interviews us about how Lumber Slingers started, why we’re so passionate about changing the narrative around timber, and what it looks like to build a people-first culture at Patrick Lumber Company. We talk about everything from making lumber “sexy” again and attracting new talent to the industry, to friendship in leadership, networking without being cringe, and why listening and authenticity matter more than ever. If you’re curious about the Truth About Timber, how modern mills really operate, or what it’s like to help run a growing lumber company, this one’s for you. Questions or comments? Email us at LumberSlingers@gmail.com Want the video version? Check out the Lumber Slingers channel on YouTube.

48 min
11/14/2025

125. Newswire Update: Travel Anxiety, Lumber Reality

Natalie, Trent, and Chelsea kick things off with some classic airport chaos. They circle through Kansas City’s new airport (featuring Patrick Lumber hemlock), detour to South Dakota’s Corn Palace, and then get into the actual news: Stella-Jones closing on Brooks Manufacturing, BlueLinx expanding, a new Mead Lumber yard, leadership changes at Roy O'Martin, mortgage-rate chatter (including portable mortgages and 50-year terms), and lumber prices dipping. Questions or comments? Email us at LumberSlingers@gmail.com Want the video version? Check out the Lumber Slingers channel on YouTube.

22 min
11/07/2025

124. Traders Market LIVE!

Live from NAWLA Traders Market, we trade booth noise for breaking news: BlueLinx buys Disdero, Chinook strikes a deal to acquire South Coast, West Fraser announces permanent closures, and Trex expands distribution in Michigan. Plus: travel chaos watch, swag report, and a lightning round on mortgage rates, apps, Madison’s prices, and (yes) the “word of the year.” Questions or comments? email us at Lumberslingers@gmail.com Want the video version? Check out our YouTube channel: search “Lumber Slingers” and subscribe.

28 min

5

out of 5

13 Ratings

Each podcast we bring relevant and useful industry information including interviews with top lumber professionals and discussion of current events in the industry. Whether it be lumber grading, industry and market trends, or who-is-who in lumber, we hope to extend your current tally on industry knowledge.

Creator

Chelsea Zuccato & Natalie Heacock
Years Active

2019 - 2026
Episodes

130
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© All rights reserved
Show Website

Lumber Slingers