The Line

Blackline
  • 4.9 (17)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED DAILY

Step up to The Line. A new podcast focused on highlighting the skilled trades. Showcasing men and women by sharing their stories and experiences. Our guests range from CEOs of 100 million-dollar businesses to a 21-year-old fabricator/welder. By sharing their experiences we aim to inspire the next generation of boys and girls hoping to break the generational miseducation surrounding the trades as an option. The Line is produced by Blackline whose mission is to continue to lift the view of the skilled trades. For trades by trades. Welcome to the Line. Tune in every Monday for a new episode.

  1. 2D AGO

    The Plan Ft. Garret Barbush Ep. 125

    What happens when a company actually has a plan—not just to win work, but to change an industry? In this episode of The Line, I sit down with Garret Barbush of Warfel Construction. As he walked me through their strategic plan, one thing became clear: They’re not just building projects. They’re building a culture. At Blackline, we talk a lot about elevating the view of the skilled trades. Listening to Garret describe the investment they’re making in people and in their organization, I realized something simple: Our plans align. Because the truth is, it doesn’t really matter who gets the credit. What matters is that we’re willing to step up to the line and make a difference. That means being intentional about how we treat people. Intentional about how we invest in our teams. From the field to the office.Because the reality is this: When a building goes up, every trade matters.If one of them didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be there.You can look successful for a while by chewing people up and spitting them out. Some companies do. But it won’t last. You won’t have a legacy. You’ll have a horror story.Real success—the kind that lasts—comes when you value every member of the team. So today, step up to the line with Garret and me. Let’s talk about The Plan.

    1h 15m

  2. MAR 2

    Energizing America Ft. Shane Stolp Ep. 124

    In this episode of The Line, I sit down with Shane Stolp, CEO of Wescom, Inc., and host of the Energizing America Podcast.We talk about how we attract new talent to the trades — and the real opportunities that exist. The trades aren’t a dead end. They’re a launching point. The skills learned in the field can transfer into leadership, ownership, entrepreneurship, and countless other paths. In this conversation, Shane shares real wisdom — about his company, their success, and the broader opportunity we have in this country if we’re willing to invest in people and elevate the view of blue-collar work. He’s not only leading an electrical company — he’s using his voice to champion the trades and the men and women who power America every day. I invite you to step up to the line with us and hear what Shane has to say. This was a great conversation. I truly enjoyed it.

    27 min

  3. FEB 23

    Trademark Ft. Joshua Mellott Ep. 123

    The definition of the word trademark is simple. It’s a symbol that identifies a company, a product, or a body of work. But at its origin in America, a trademark was something even more personal. It was your mark. It was how you gave your word. It was how you signed a contract, how you did business, how blacksmiths, stonemasons, and silversmiths marked their work so people knew exactly who stood behind it. I’ve always found that interesting. If you ever work with someone who doesn’t want to mark their work, it’s probably worth asking why. Why wouldn’t you want people to know what you built, what you fixed, what you created? This week’s episode is a little different. I’m not sitting down across from a guest. Well, I guess I am. I’m making you the guest. Step up to the line. We want to tell you what we’re doing with Trademark magazine and why. This first issue is titled Leave Your Mark, and the purpose behind it matters. I could try to explain it all in writing, but the reality is that’s why we recorded the podcast. If you want a deeper understanding of why we’re doing this, I open up about some things that aren’t always easy to admit. I ask myself the same questions I ask everyone else. What mistakes have you made? Where have you gotten it wrong? I try to answer honestly, even when it’s uncomfortable.Here’s the truth. Whether you ever listen to the podcast or just read this post, leaving your mark matters. It requires intention. If you’re a business and you’re not telling your story, if you’re not communicating who you are and what you believe, you will struggle to find the right clients and the right people who align with your why. When you communicate your story and build your brand, you begin to attract the people who are aligned with what you’re doing. And when that happens, your work becomes effective on a level that’s hard to explain until you experience it. The podcast is now available wherever you listen. If you’re curious about the heart behind Trademark and why leaving your mark matters, I’d encourage you to tune in. This episode is personal. Step up to the line.

    25 min

  4. FEB 16

    The Nursery Ft. Chris Maharg Ep. 122

    This one was cold. As I write this post, I can still feel it.I sat down in the snow on a project with Christopher Maharg , Vice President of Legacy Electrical Services Inc. We were out there while his teams worked behind us to complete the project on time and under budget—words clients absolutely love to hear.We talked about what’s needed in the trades and how his company sometimes feels called to provide a kind of nursery—a place where people can learn, where it’s okay not to have it all figured out, and where those with experience understand that growth takes time. Chris shares some real and honest things about who he is, how he handles situations, and how he and his team are working to build electricians for the next generation.He challenges others in the field to do the same, because he believes it’s something our industry desperately needs. Now an owner of the construction company he’s been part of for so many years, he reflects on the opportunities he was given. Without what I’ll call those “nursery” seasons, he wouldn’t have come up through the trades with the knowledge, confidence, and ability to make decisions—or to have a vested interest in where the company is going.I joke about the cold, but we truly believe our studio is the jobsite. We stood in the cold because the men and women who do this work stand in the cold. They work in the heat. They work no matter what to bring projects out of the ground—to build a legacy that you and I get to live in and be a part of.Their sacrifice is what the trades are all about: serving others for their success in work and in life.I encourage you to check out this new episode of The Line by Blackline LTD , wherever you listen to podcasts.

    45 min

  5. FEB 9

    Holding The Line Ft. Dan Garcia Ep. 121

    The Line… it’s quite an interesting term. Sometimes it means a podcast where two men sit and have an honest conversation. Sometimes it’s a line in the sand—things you’re not willing to cross. Sometimes it’s a line on the battlefield, like Gettysburg, where men stood firm and held the line, refusing to let it be crossed. In this conversation, Dan Garcia and I are sitting in a farmhouse on the battlefield of Gettysburg as he steps up to the line with me on a podcast about the skilled trades. He shares his non-negotiables in leadership, talks about what he would do differently, and invites me to share those lessons with you. In this episode with Dan of CW Matthews, we unpack some important leadership truths about building strong teams and making a difference in our industry

    51 min

  6. FEB 2

    Strong Like Iron Ft. Larry Sisco Ep. 120

    If you don’t want to micromanage, the simple answer is this: don’t. Because if you’re going to do it anyway, you might as well have done it yourself. In this conversation with Laurence Sisco of IronStrong Metal Fabrication , we talk about what it really means to build teams—and to build businesses that are strong. Not perfect, but strong. The kind of strength that comes from working through failure, not avoiding it, and using those moments to build people up. As our businesses grow—and as we age in business—it’s easy to forget this. But building up the people on our teams, and the teams we work alongside, is paramount to long-term success. It’s hard work. But it’s worth it. And while we never want to forget that this is a business, we also can’t forget that a business is made up of people—people with lives, families, friends, and responsibilities outside of work. The environments we create as owners, founders, leaders, and operators matter. They matter for the next generation and for those learning and growing in an industry that desperately needs healthy, strong leadership environments. -------------------------- WHERE TO WATCH: Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- FOLLOW JOSH: X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.blacklineltd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----------------------- Explore the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    53 min

  7. JAN 26

    The Backyard Ft. Keaton Turner, Thomas Haun, Ryan Sistad, & Lisa Bodine Ep. 119

    The Backyard is the final episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard—and it brings the conversation home. In this episode, we hear from members of the organization, as well as from Ryan Sistad , who leads Better In Our Backyard and serves as the primary leadership voice in this conversation. Ryan shares what he hopes people take away from being part of this work, and why the organization exists—to bring real value to its members and to advocate for something larger than any one company or project: a better backyard for all of us. At a time when minerals, strategic reserves, and national security dominate the news, this conversation serves as an important reminder. Mining—and the resources beneath our feet—have always played a critical role in sustaining our way of life. That hasn’t changed. What often changes is our awareness of it. We’ve been honored to walk alongside the Better In Our Backyard team and to better understand the work they’re doing. Our hope is that these conversations uncover something for you as well—reminding us of what matters, what deserves our focus, and why perseverance matters, especially in an industry that knows difficulty and pressure firsthand. From the entire Blackline team to Better In Our Backyard, thank you—for your leadership, your conviction, and your commitment to helping companies and organizations bring value, raise awareness, and operate responsibly. This is The Backyard—yours and ours. May we all take responsibility for making it a better one. -------------------------- WHERE TO WATCH: Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- FOLLOW JOSH: X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.blacklineltd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----------------------- Explore the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    35 min

  8. JAN 19

    The Bedrock Ft. Jon Cherry Stephen Donohue & J.T. Starzecki Ep. 118

    The Bedrock is where the resources sit—and what everything above it is built on. It’s what we build with, and ultimately, what determines the strength and longevity of what we leave behind.In this episode, we bring together conversations with Jon Cherry , Stephen Donohue , and J.T. Starzeki —leaders who are focused on the bedrock of America and the responsibility that comes with stewarding its resources. They speak candidly about where we need to be more intentional, how we need to change the way we look at domestic resources, and what it means to lead that change rather than wait for it.These are men who are stepping up to the line—pioneering new approaches, leading with conviction, and doing the work required to make a real difference. This is why they are part of Better In Our Back Yard , and why they are committed to building a future that is stronger, more responsible, and more sustainable—for you and for me.As Better In Our Backyard recently gathered for its Annual Dinner, this conversation serves as an important reminder. While most of us go about our daily lives, there are men and women across mining organizations and companies doing the work that makes those lives possible—providing the materials, energy, and foundation our future is built on. The Bedrock is about recognizing that responsibility and choosing to build on it the right way. -------------------------- WHERE TO WATCH: Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------------------------- FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------- FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.blacklineltd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- EXPLORE THE PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    33 min
See All (125)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Step up to The Line. A new podcast focused on highlighting the skilled trades. Showcasing men and women by sharing their stories and experiences. Our guests range from CEOs of 100 million-dollar businesses to a 21-year-old fabricator/welder. By sharing their experiences we aim to inspire the next generation of boys and girls hoping to break the generational miseducation surrounding the trades as an option. The Line is produced by Blackline whose mission is to continue to lift the view of the skilled trades. For trades by trades. Welcome to the Line. Tune in every Monday for a new episode.

Information

  • Creator
    Blackline
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Blackline
  • Show Website
    The Line

You Might Also Like