Aaron and Alex discuss the flaws in the argument that the Dirt World will rebound fine from another recession and then Aaron answers questions about excavation and the “formula” new business owners can use to build their books of business. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com . Stay Dirty!...
May 16, 2022•38 min
Nick Schiffer (of NS Builders fame) is back on the podcast, but this time in person! Nick and Dirt Talk host Aaron Witt chat about the complications of separating a personal brand from a business’s brand, the importance of "rising tides raise all ships" in construction, and the positive aspects of working with "competitors" to build a better market for contractors and customers. Nick also discusses how new business owners can borrow/steal lessons that the folks who came before them. Nick is co-h...
May 12, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 119
This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk about Aarons’s Boston marathon run and how sometimes, you need a break from running, and other times, you just need to do the thing. They later discuss Aarons’s trip to Europe and the tremendous earthmoving power of the Midnight Force at Zurich airport. They then answer a few questions about when it makes sense for a small company to merge with a larger company and what it takes to effectively sell to Dirt World companies. Don't forget you can watch or...
May 09, 2022•48 min
Host Aaron Witt has been very clear about his opinions on General Contractors over the years, and yet one was brave enough to be on the podcast. (To be fair, Aaron has softened and added some nuance to those hot takes). Enter Paul Jones, President of Solomon Builders in Nashville, TN. Aaron has sung these guys' praises multiple times internally to the team, and so it made sense to have Paul on to set the record straight on GCs. This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Paul discuss Pauls’s beginnings as...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 118
This week, Alex was out on vacation, so Aaron is joined by Eric jumper. The co-Vice Presidents of BuildWitt Excavating and Grading talk about Eric training the services team on how to be earthmoving pros, and exposing new folks to the Dirt World. Eric talks shop about cleaning equipment, hydraulic ladders, and the pitfalls of heavy machinery, plus the internet trolls who have some interesting options on it. They also answer questions about what jobs they would want if they both went back to work...
May 02, 2022•45 min
Gabe Krebs is the competitor. Tom Wozniak is the coach. And no, we're not talking traditional sports here. Gabe is a diesel mechanic (among other things) by day, and a competitive mechanic by night. Tom has been training folks in a variety of disciplines with WorldSkills USA for years. And together, they've been prepping for Gabe to compete in international competition in China this fall. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with Gabe and Tom to discuss the path that led Gabe to his spo...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 117
In this episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk about wardrobe, the BuildWitt Store, and the importance of a good haircut. They dig into the lengths we go to protect nature, especially the beloved desert tortoise. Aaron expresses his anticipation around the Boston Marathon and an upcoming trip to Europe. They finish off the episode answering questions from listeners about workplace incidents and how you can maintain family life in the heavy civil construction industry. Let your voice be heard!...
Apr 25, 2022•38 min
Owner of Bachtel Excavating in Northeast Ohio, Matt Bachtel talks with Aaron about starting out in the industry by working alongside his father. They reminisce about working for dealerships, excavating, and job-hopping during summers when you’re still young. Matt and Aaron also discuss starting and running your own business, focusing the conversation on leadership and the vital work and empathy required of a business owner. Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt ...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 116
In this week's Monday Dirt Talk episode, Aaron and Alex discuss the unthinkable: quitting coffee. From there, they savor Aaron's list of restaurants followed by a discussion of the perils of gas station eating. They touch on the benefit of getting an entry-level start in the industry and answer questions on family support and females in the workforce. Let your voice be heard! Answer a few simple questions at buildwitt.com/feedback and help us find more awesome listeners like you. Together, let’s...
Apr 18, 2022•41 min
This week's guests move almost no dirt. They don't do demolition. They don't deal in aggregates. And yet, folks in their line of work visit hundreds of job sites per year. Welcome Chris Moore (SVP of Internal Operations) and Preston Higgins (Project Manager) of GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems) to the podcast. Among other things, GPRS is a great example of your friendly neighborhood utility locator. And boy, did these guys pique Aaron's interest. If you've ever worked a job and had to comm...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 115
This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss the first-ever BuildWitt Office Open House, before diving into a question from a project manager regarding how to communicate with foremen. They also dissected the most important question of the week: "Are there more wheels or doors in the world?" Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app . If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com . Stay ...
Apr 11, 2022•29 min
In this week’s episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron’s joined by industry vet Jay Collup, founder of Collup Enterprises. Jay’s a longtime trainer and certified Dirt World expert, and he shares his insights on the state of training in the industry today, the ROI of proper training, and building a life in the Dirt World. He’s even got insights on relationships, team building, and the pros and cons of traveling for work. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn mo...
Apr 07, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 114
In this week's episode of the Dirt Talk podcast, Aaron discusses his recent wilderness experience with the Basic Course by the 3-of-7 Project and how doing uncomfortable things helps shape our perspectives as leaders. We also cover a range of listener questions, including how concrete differs from cement (no, they're not the same thing) and the books Aaron considers essential for all leaders in the Dirt World — and beyond. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Y...
Apr 04, 2022•35 min
"If it's worth having, then you're gonna pay for it upfront, but the return on investment is going to be realized pretty quick." Ryan Goodfellow (of Rock Structures Utility and Excavating ) is clearly passionate about heavy equipment. His company IG acct @rockstructures has almost 100k followers and consistently features his crew on jobs around Utah, ranging from digging basements to building intricate rock walls. But in addition to equipment, Ryan is a good time. He's got plenty of jokes and is...
Mar 31, 2022•55 min•Ep. 113
This week, we have a special guest on the podcast: Dirt Talk alum Kimo Clark IN THE OFFICE from Hawaii. Kimo and Aaron headed out to the North Carolina mountains to do a challenging backpacking trip. Aaron, Alex, and Kimo dig into how folks in the Dirt World get paid, why most field workers are hourly, and how to beat the "Monday blues".
Mar 28, 2022•33 min
"Our biggest competitors are stagnation and complacency." Jonathan Campbell is the Executive Vice President of Wheeler Machinery Co. out of Salt Lake City, UT. He's part of a multi-generation line of Campbells at Wheeler. With so much historical success running a 70-year-old CAT dealership, it's easy to envision leadership sitting on their laurels. And yet, Jonathan (and Campbell Companies) has made it his mission to fight "stagnation and complacency" by owning almost a dozen companies and inves...
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 112
You have to intentionally create space to think without the pressure to "deliver" something. This Monday on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex catch up about Aaron's solo trip to Savannah, GA to unplug and create space mentally. Aaron digs into why it's important for leaders to create that space and why it's vital to level up when you're a leader. Aaron also gives an update on the Earthmoover (aka the BuildWitt skid steer). Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can l...
Mar 21, 2022•40 min
Eric Jumper is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get. One thing that's true, however, is that it will be entertaining and educational. Though he's only 26, he's been working in the Dirt World for almost 10 years, and literally grew up in the dirt. As a 3rd generation dirt mover, having a deep love and insatiable curiosity for the Dirt World is in Eric's blood. And as a team member at BuildWitt for the last year, he's been all over the country meeting up with and learning...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 111
This week, Aaron and Alex dig into how we're all wired to create as children, but often lose that drive and desire as we grow. and the importance of telling your own story (before someone else tells it for you). Later, Aaron talks about some kinds of projects that he'd like to go see this year and why it's important to be the driver of your own career.
Mar 14, 2022•47 min
"Our team loves change. They see it as an opportunity to do better." A few years ago, Brian McManus was facing a dilemma: work wasn't fun anymore. He realized that he and his company Hoopaugh Grading Company needed to change, and that change needed to start with him taking a long look in the mirror. One of the first changes Brian made was to bring in an old friend Brandon Lindsey because even though Brandon didn't know dirt all that well, he knew people . And so from there, the process began of ...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 110
Is there a time when it actually makes sense to chew someone out? This week on the Monday Edition of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss the required shorthand and nicknames for types of heavy equipment. Then, they discuss if and when it makes sense to give out an old-fashioned "ass-chewing" and suggest some possible other tactics before it might come to just berating someone. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/build...
Mar 07, 2022•41 min
We're over the moon the welcome back Mining Professional & star of Discovery's Gold Rush: Dave Turin's Lost Mine DAVE TURIN aka "Dozer Dave". The last time that Dave was on Dirt Talk, Dave and host Aaron Witt chatted at CONEXPO 2020 about the frustrations each has regarding the other's generation and Dave's exciting new TV show... Fast forward 2 years and Gold Rush: Dave Turin's Lost Mine is about to begin airing it's 4th season and BuildWitt has gone from 10 team members to almost 80! This ...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 109
You can't make everyone happy. This week, Aaron and co-host Alex discuss the new free BuildWitt app (learn more here ) and why you should listen and watch podcasts on it! Later, they dig into the challenges of being a young leader in an older industry, why you can't make content that applies to everyone all the time, and the value of changing your approach to work and life as you gain more knowledge and experience. You can learn more about the BuildWitt app at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app . To co...
Feb 28, 2022•35 min
Kjell Gerber was the second employee at BuildWitt, at least according to our HR software. He came on to help with video editing and has since held multiple leadership and media production roles, but he's always been one of our "field guys". Before BuildWitt, Kjell (pronounced "Chell") came up in the Dirt World and worked for his family's dirt business in Utah for almost 10 years before connecting with Aaron on social media. After a little back and forth, Kjell started doing some work with Aaron ...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 108
This week on the monday edition of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss creating a balance of authenticity and professionalism on social media, and then discuss the problematic approach of training and developing your team with a focus on efficiency and speed. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com . Stay Dirty!...
Feb 21, 2022•36 min
Nic Parish became VP of Operations and Contracting at Burns Dirt Construction in Columbus, MS before his 30th birthday, but he's already gained a wealth of experience and is actively applying that hard-won knowledge in both his company as well as in his community. In addition to Burns Dirt, he is also a founding member of Forge Your Path , a non-profit in MS whose mission is to, "[make] the trades cool again." (We'd like to point out that they've always been cool, and we're sure Nic agrees!). Th...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 107
This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss BuildWitt Training before diving into what Aaron believes the Dirt World will look like in the future.
Feb 14, 2022•39 min
Keaton Turner and Aaron Witt have a complex history: Keaton's company Turner Mining Group was a client of Aaron's in the early days of BuildWitt ... and then TMG no longer required the services of BuildWitt. But the two have kept in touch, with Keaton appearing on the 11th episode of Dirt Talk and Aaron appearing on the first episode of Keaton's podcast. Now, with both guys having grown their respective businesses in different ways, they reconnected in the Dirt Talk studio to catch up. This week...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 106
This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk about the challenges that come with leading a company from the road before making an announcement about a podcast series they'll be releasing. Then, they discuss a question about whether to start a career in the public or private sector. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com . Stay...
Feb 07, 2022•35 min
Jimmy Starbuck is back on the podcast, but this time it's in person. Jimmy runs Starbuck Excavation out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and a few weeks ago, we heard the man himself would be stateside and we knew we had to have him back on the podcast. He had no shortage of opinions and strategies to share, and we had a ball getting to chat for an hour. We were also joined by Trevor and Missy Scherber as studio guests - a real "who's who" of Dirt World folks. In this week's episode, host Aaron...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 105
