Join us for an insightful conversation as we dive into the world of BuildWitt, and our mission to make the dirt world a better place. In this one, three-fourths of our senior leadership team got together to chat about our marketing services, groundbreaking training products, and the Ariat|Dirt World Summit, aimed at addressing critical workforce challenges and leadership. Discover how BuildWitt is championing leadership development, mental health awareness, and overall well-being in construction...
Aug 10, 2023•1 hr 3 min
On this week's episode, we are back (Aaron and Myself) to talk more about Australia. Part one left us at the Komatsu dealership checking out some 475 Dozers at the dealer. In this week's episode, Aarons gets right into it with tales of some really slick machines doing some really impactful work. The journey starts in New South Wales, meeting up with the familiar faces of MC Earthmoving working on a huge reservoir that will help farms get the water they need. Next Aaron visits the one and only Ji...
Aug 03, 2023•38 min•Ep. 177
In this week's episode, Aaron invites back Mr. Sunday Service himself Eric Jumper, to talk about, you guessed it, machines that move earth! The conversation starts with Eric still buzzing from the excitement of dragline week. Naturally, the massive 9-figure Draglines used by North American Mining and FEC in Florida are a good place to start. As they delve further into the world of Aggregate the conversation diffuses into all manner of uses for Aggregate, including the highly in demand and illusi...
Jul 27, 2023•58 min
On this weeks Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt recounts his travels down under! The adventure began at Hastings Deering in Mackay, where they learned about heavy equipment used in the mining industry. Next, they visited the Pembroke Olive Downs complex, witnessing the operations and infrastructure of a metallurgical coal mine in the Bowen Basin. National Group showcased their equipment supply services, which was followed by a trip to the Carmichael mine, a massive thermal coal operation. The guys also expe...
Jul 20, 2023•51 min
On this week’s Dirt Talk, Aaron and Randy delve into the profound influence of vulnerability and effective leadership. They explore how embracing vulnerability not only strengthens leaders but also inspires those around them to share their ideas and learn from their mistakes. By challenging the traditional notion of infallibility, leaders can create a culture that values openness and fosters innovation. The conversation highlights the significance of authentic leadership and the role it plays in...
Jul 13, 2023•43 min
In this episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron Witt dives into the world of demolition and recycling, shedding light on the importance of sustainable practices in the industry. He is joined by James Milburn, a representative from the National Demolition Association (NDA), who shares valuable insights and experiences. The conversation covers various topics, including the recycling of construction and demolition materials, the challenges faced in different regions, and the potential for incorporating recycle...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min
This week’s Dirt Talk has got it all… From late night show hosts sharing their controversial views on COVID, to the absurdities of airport experiences, and even our wild fantasies of owning military planes. The conversation takes you from laughter, to deep insights, and later, through some wild turns. Get ready to laugh, ponder, and maybe even question your own sanity as we navigate through the quirks of modern life and indulge in some outlandish ideas. Join in on the fun as Eric Jumper and Aaro...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 21 min
In this week’s Dirt Talk, Jason Schroeder shares his experience implementing Lean practices in the construction industry, promoting transparency, and driving change towards a more respectful and employee-friendly environment. Tune in to hear his insights and advice for the Dirt World. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com . Stay Dirty!
Jun 22, 2023•56 min
Join Aaron and guest Jason Richmond as they spill the beans on the power of authenticity in construction. The guys discuss the importance of transparency, admitting mistakes, and addressing criticisms on social media. Later, they reveal the secret sauce to industry growth and trust-building. Learn more about the value of sharing lessons learned, promoting industry growth through open dialogue, and building trust with audiences. They wrap things up by diving into the world of social media platfor...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 12 min
This week on Dirt Talk, the guys dive deep into the important topic of mental health in the construction industry. They're joined by Vince Hafeli, the president Ajax Paving Industries, who shares his personal experiences and the steps his company took to tackle mental health challenges among their workforce. Together, they explore practical strategies that companies can implement to prioritize mental well-being. From introducing toolbox talks focused on mental health to providing accessible reso...
Jun 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min
This week on Dirt Talk, the guys are joined by Randy Blount in a conversation about the challenges and dynamics of the construction industry. They dive into topics like the impact of long working hours on work-life balance, the need for flexibility in scheduling, and the potential for increased productivity through efficient planning. Later, the conversation moves into the effects of overworking and the importance of finding a balance that promotes mental well-being, family life, and overall job...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 19 min
This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is back with Alex Horton for a monthly installment of QUESTIONS & QUESTIONABLE ANSWERS! They guys discuss the challenges of speaking when you reach a certain age before answering questions about the disconnect between designers and builders, the way(s) that engineers can win over the people in the field, and how to convince company leaders to finally buy-in to using social media. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirtta...
May 25, 2023•46 min•Ep. 167
This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is joined by Alex Horton and Mr. i_filmdrt himself, Angel Torres. Aaron and Angel recount their recent trip to Hawaii to visit Goodfellow Bros , Alpha Inc, and Truth Excavation . While there, Aaron got to do a podcast with Steve Goodfellow (DT158), as well as squeeze in a “nutz fit” workout with Kimo Clark aka Jimmy Cheezenutz. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com . Stay Dirty!...
May 19, 2023•44 min•Ep. 166
Aviv Leibovici is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Buildots , a construction tech company based in Tel Aviv with locations in the UK and US, as well. Buildots uses AI and powerful data systems to connect all of the aspects of construction projects, from the first day of design to the last day of construction, to bring accuracy to data analysis and keep everyone on the the same page through the construction process. Surprisingly, Aviv is relatively new to construction, but he knew thro...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 165
Jeremy Whitaker is the Director of Training & Recruitment at C.W. Matthews Contracting out of Marietta, Georgia. It’s something of a unique position, but as you’ll learn from the podcast, Jeremy has the unique background and career path to match. He worked for multiple years a carpenter, a phys ed teacher, a musician/worship leader before he ever began teaching and training young people in construction. After a varied career, he felt the call on his life to combine his passions and experienc...
May 04, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 164
Ken Rusk is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life, entrepreneur, and blue-collar advocate “showing that there’s no degree required for comfort, peace, and freedom.” Ken never went to college and instead spent his younger years digging ditches and working in construction. Through hard work and patience, he’s become a very successful entrepreneur and now specializes in mentoring and coaching folks in goal set...
Apr 27, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 163
It’s not really a stretch to say that Ryan Neal is a Caterpillar equipment expert. After a career as an equipment operator, he joined the corporate arm of Caterpillar as a Senior Product Demonstrator Instructor. He worked his way up over the course of 16 years and is now the Market Professional for Large Excavators. In addition to it sounding like an awesome job, it IS an awesome job. And thankfully, he was kind enough to stop by the BuildWitt HQ with his family a few weeks ago to chat on the po...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 162
Aaron Witt recaps his experience at CONEXPO 2023 a few weeks ago. He lays out the difference between his first CONEXPO, when he essentially snuck in and 2023, when he spoke at an event each day that he was there. He also wrestles with the bizarre nature of being something of a celebrity among parts of the Dirt World, and why that requires an intentional mindset shift. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com . Stay Dirty!...
Apr 13, 2023•27 min•Ep. 161
The BuildWitt relationship with Nic Parish (VP of Operations + Contracting for Burns Dirt out of Columbus, Mississippi) had quite the start. Nic emailed the podcast team and led with this: “A few other business owners and I started a nonprofit geared towards recruiting in our industry a few years ago called FORGE. Please check us out at www.forgeyourpath.com . Starting this nonprofit led me to be appointed by the governor of Mississippi to a 5-person committee to redesign workforce development i...
Apr 06, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 160
In another installment of “Questions and Questionable Answers” with host Aaron Witt, Aaron and co-host Alex Horton review questions sent in by listeners. This time, the guys answer questions like “should everyone start on a shovel before becoming an operator?”, “where does manufacturing fit into the Dirt World?” and “is it valuable to go to college for construction management?” They also discuss Aaron’s foolproof plan to track books he wants to read. It’s uh... pretty simple. Thanks as always to...
Mar 30, 2023•42 min•Ep. 159
Steve Goodfellow is the Chairman of the Board for Goodfellow Bros after years as the CEO. Goodfellow Bros Inc was founded in 1921 by Steve’s grandfather and uncles. Joining the company at 17, Steve knew early on that his career path was always going to be with the family company. The company now has an HQ in both Hawaii AND Washington. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt was kindly invited to speak at a Goodfellow Bros Company Meeting in Hawaii. In addition to giving a presentation, Aaron go...
Mar 23, 2023•56 min•Ep. 158
Ben Warren of Warren Land Solutions is back on Dirt Talk. We last heard from Ben in the summer of 2021 when he and Aaron recorded a podcast at Aaron’s dining table. My how things change. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and Ben Warren relate the opportunities and challenges that come from growing and leading a business in your late 20s. Ben again drops nuggets of wisdom throughout the episode as the guys dig into the importance of communicating the “what” to a team and then allowing the t...
Mar 16, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 157
This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt is joined by BuildWitt’s own Eric Jumper to dive into the dark web of construction. They make predictions about ConExpo 2023, virtual equipment training, and why “more robots” is a poor solution to the workforce issues facing the Dirt World. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk@buildwitt.com . Stay Dirty!
Mar 09, 2023•57 min•Ep. 156
Shane Patterson started his career selling tires and making good money. Life was good… until he realized that the Dirt World was calling. So he took a job as a haul truck driver to get out from behind a desk, and over the span of 18 months, he earned more and more responsibility (and the accompanying skills) by asking directly for it when he saw how he could help the team. Shane would go on to realize that he could take the soft skills learned from sales and the technical experience he was learn...
Mar 02, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 155
This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex are back answering good questions with questionable answers. The guys dig into questions on topics like hard hat stickers, using LinkedIn to build a business, and discussing where a 22-year-old should start when coming into the industry to start a career. Aaron also reflects on the most important decision(s) that have had the biggest positive impact on BuildWitt’s culture. Thanks to the folks who sent in questions! If we didn’t get to your question, Alex wi...
Feb 23, 2023•51 min•Ep. 154
Carson Mediate is interesting. Multiple times during the podcast, host Aaron Witt exclaimed, “no shit!” Carson is from south Georgia, and didn’t grow up in the Dirt World, in that neither of his parents worked in the industry. However, he DID start his own landscaping business when he was 14 and was running crews of his friends and managing at a Chik Fil A all while going to high school. He always had an interest in agriculture work, and after high school, he had to decide if he was going to foc...
Feb 16, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 153
“Being in the family business… I'm lucky for that because a lot of people don't have the opportunity. I have it. I want to take advantage of it.” Kevin Tompkins grew up in the family business, going to work with his dad when he was 2 years old. He started working weekends and summers when he was 10, but ended up going away to college for civil engineering. After just one year of school, however, he knew deep down that he wanted to go back home and help his family run Tompkins Excavating . He was...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 152
This is the first official episode of Dirt Talk: Travel Reports with Aaron Witt and Chase Lyons. Chase is the director/videographer of the Aaron Witt vlog. Check that out at youtube.com/@AaronWitt . This week, Aaron and Chase recount the week they recently spent in the Western US in California and Colorado. They only got to see a few job sites in California before the uncharacteristic rain forced a change in plans. In addition to the classic construction content, they also were lucky enough to s...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 151
Back on Dirt Talk this week is Randy Blount , former owner of Blount Contracting and now current CFO(!) at BuildWitt. He was the first investor at BuildWitt and has been a valuable advisor over the years, and we’re stoked to have him leading our finance arm into the future. This week on Dirt Talk, Randy and host Aaron Witt chat about why the construction industry's stuck in the old ways, using a traditional command and control structure. They also get into the Dirt World's low-profit margins, th...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 150
This week on the first episode of 2023, Aaron and Alex take a look back at 2022. They discuss the progress and successes of BuildWitt over the past year. The guys mention that their marketing services have had remarkable success and that they have been able to engage with high-quality companies. They also mention that the BuildWitt Training software, while successful, has not had the expected speed of adoption and the cost of that overestimation. Aaron also shares his struggle to talk about succ...
Jan 19, 2023•39 min•Ep. 149
