Best Sy Kirby Podcasts (2025)

1
Pipelayer to Podcaster w/ Sy Kirby – DT 348 1:44:59

4d ago1:44:59

1:44:59

Sy founded Sy-Con Excavation and Utilities with his wife, Sara, in 2016. Nowadays, they perform all sorts of utility and site work for large projects around Northern Arkansas. Sy’s also the host of the Blue Collar Business Podcast and shares his excavation journey weekly on YouTube. Check out both channels below! https://www.bluecollarbusinesspodca…

1
Ep. 42 – Digitizing the Trades: An Aussie Tradie's Mission 1:20:57

5d ago1:20:57

1:20:57

Trade skills are vanishing with retiring workers while younger generations struggle to find mentors. Marc Webb, growing up in an Australian coal mining town with limited career options, recognized this crisis after his journey from greenkeeper to youth justice worker to operations manager. His response? UTRADIE - a revolutionary digital passport sy…

1
BuildWitt Update #5 – DT 347 15:02

7d ago15:02

15:02

Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting www.dirtworld.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]!By BuildWitt

1
Reducing Turnover by 70% in One Year w/ Glenn Baranko – DT 346 1:41:26

11d ago1:41:26

1:41:26

Glenn is President of Baranko Bros, a civil and oil field services contractor based in Dickinson, North Dakota. After building North Dakota and the surrounding states for decades, Glenn and his leadership team thought there could be a better way to develop and retain their people. So they got to work, and the results speak for themselves. You can l…

1
Ep. 41 - Why Buildertrend Failed Us (and How Project Management Saved It) 1:03:54

12d ago1:03:54

1:03:54

Ever felt trapped in the endless cycle of gathering more work than you can handle, scrambling to complete it, then desperately seeking more jobs to stay afloat? Sy Kirby calls this the "hamster wheel of death" for blue collar entrepreneurs—and it's exactly where he found himself before implementing proper systems and processes at Sy-Con. In this re…

1
BuildWitt Update #4 – DT 345 13:24

14d ago13:24

13:24

Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting www.dirtworld.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]!By BuildWitt

1
Landscaping Leadership w/ Justin White – DT 344 1:58:23

18d ago1:58:23

1:58:23

Justin is CEO of K&D Landscaping, a high-end landscaping design and maintenance company based in Watsonville, California. Similar to modern civil contractors, Justin’s leading the charge to shake up not only how his company does business but also how landscaping operates as a whole. You can learn more by visiting their company website and following…

1
Ep. 40 - Ditching Corporate America to Build a Landscaping Empire 47:24

19d ago47:24

47:24

What happens when your body knows what your mind won't admit? For Matt Keller, it took chest-tightening panic attacks in his corporate office to recognize he was on the wrong path entirely. Despite managing a $250 million budget at Walmart by age 26, something was deeply wrong. "I used to sit at Sam's home office, looking out the window, thinking i…

1
BuildWitt Update #3 – DT 343 14:31

21d ago14:31

14:31

Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting www.dirtworld.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]!By BuildWitt

1
Strengthening America’s Railroads w/ Jeremy Pyler – DT 342 1:32:55

25d ago1:32:55

1:32:55

After a long career in the power and railroad industries, Jeremy Pyler started HG Railroad Services, a contractor serving from the Class One’s to short lines across the southeast. One call solves it all! Follow Jeremy on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-plyler-410085118/ Learn more about HG Railroad Services here: https://hgrailroa…

1
Ep. 39 - The Plumbing Pioneer's Playbook 45:41

26d ago45:41

45:41

Turning a $5.50 per hour job into a six-crew plumbing empire doesn't happen overnight. Jerry Houy's 20-year journey building Jerry's Plumbing reveals what's truly possible when determination meets opportunity in the skilled trades. Jerry's story begins like many in construction - hating his daily grind as a "pack mule" carrying shingles until a plu…

1
BuildWitt Update #2 – DT 341 13:17

28d ago13:17

13:17

Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting www.dirtworld.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]!By BuildWitt

1
Machines That Make America w/ Jamie Roush – DT 340 1:58:56

1M ago1:58:56

1:58:56

Jamie Roush is CEO of Anderson UnderBridge, an OEM that manufactures bridge inspection equipment for America’s over 600,000 bridges. He previously worked in the paving equipment world, where he was known for his unconventional but highly effective style. Learn more about Anderson UnderBridge at their website here: https://andersonunderbridge.com/ A…

1
Ep. 38 - How to Thrive When You’re Tired of the Blue Collar Rut 18:37

1M ago18:37

18:37

In this special compilation episode, Sy brings together powerful insights from past guests, each answering the same crucial question: "What advice do you have for a blue-collar worker who’s sick of being stuck in the mud?" Whether that frustration is physical, emotional, or mental, this episode delivers straight talk and practical wisdom from voice…

1
BuildWitt Update #1 – DT 339 15:40

1M ago15:40

15:40

Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting www.dirtworld.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]!By BuildWitt

1
Forty Years of Dirt World Leadership Lessons w/ Dave Lersch – DT 338 1:59:41

1M ago1:59:41

1:59:41

Dave Lersch recently retired as the VP of Administrative Operations of Miller Brothers Construction after forty years of work across the organization and Ohio. After a few months from work, he’s reflecting on the lessons learned and his time in the industry! Learn more about Miller Brothers Construction here: https://www.mbcholdings.com/ Learn more…

1
Ep. 37 - How to Handle Honest Questions from Your Team 1:17:58

1M ago1:17:58

1:17:58

What truly separates successful excavation companies from those that struggle? In this revealing episode, Sy Kirby brings his core Sy-Con team—Wes, Jesus, and Sam—into the studio for an unfiltered conversation about the realities of running a blue-collar business. The team pulls back the curtain on their transformation from a price-driven company t…

1
Europe Trip 2025 Review – DT 337.5 1:08:00

1M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Jack, TJ, and Aaron sit down to recap their recent trip to visit contractors in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! To learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit, click here!By BuildWitt

1
Inside Virginia’s MONSTER Water Project – DT 337 29:55

1M ago29:55

29:55

Inside Virginia’s MONSTER Water Project – DT 337 Aaron gives an overview of SWIFT, an innovative water treatment and aquifer recharge project commissioned by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. Garney, America’s leading water and wastewater contractor, is leading the construction of the multi-billion dollar and multi-year project. To learn more,…

1
Energizing America w/ Ryan Lucas – DT 336 1:42:48

2M ago1:42:48

1:42:48

Ryan Lucas is a former lineman and host of the Powerline Podcast, produced under the umbrella of Quanta Services. Leaning on his experience in the field doing anything from new transmission line construction to emergency storm work, he now shines a light on well-deserved stories and topics throughout the power industry. Listen now at the link below…

1
Ep. 36 - Performance Pay in Construction: Boost Culture and Profits 53:10

2M ago53:10

53:10

What if your workers treated every dollar of your labor budget as if it were their own money? In this eye-opening conversation, Michael Fortinberry, co-founder and president of Protiv, reveals the fundamental flaw in how blue-collar businesses compensate their workforce – and how to fix it. The contradiction is startling: contractors bid jobs based…

1
How California’s Fire Dozers Work – DT 335 29:15

2M ago29:15

29:15

Aaron explains how California’s fire dozers work based on his recent experience with CALFIRE and other state fire agencies. The work is no joke, so some amazing machines and operators are required! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make…

1
From Antique Tractors to Modern Innovation w/ Phil Rausch of MTS – DT 334 2:00:35

2M ago2:00:35

2:00:35

Phil’s the Sales Manager for Mobile Track Solutions, an earthmoving OEM based in Elkader, Iowa. Built upon the earthmoving pedigree of CJ Moyna and Sons, the company has created some of the most innovative earthmoving tools of the modern age. Learn more about the Earthmoving Legacy Center (open to the public) and MTS at the link below! https://www.…

1
Ep. 35 - Buying a GC Company at 30: What They Don’t Tell You 52:21

2M ago52:21

52:21

What happens when an architecture graduate decides he'd rather build buildings than design them? For Trent Hanna, President of SSI Northwest Arkansas, this realization launched a journey through construction superintendency and project management before culminating in the purchase of a 50-year-old general contracting company. Trent's story is a mas…

1
Monday Q&A– DT 333 32:50

2M ago32:50

32:50

Aaron's back to answer your questions. Send us your questions — [email protected]! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great a…

1
Small Family Business to National Brand w/ Brian and Tony Dietz – DT 332 1:59:59

2M ago1:59:59

1:59:59

Brian and Tony run Bob Dietz and Sons Inc., a site contracting company in New Paltz, New York. They discuss the lessons they’ve learned while transforming the company from a traditional family construction company to a growing operation tackling bigger work than ever. You can follow them online at @bob_dietz_and_sons_inc on Instagram and learn more…

1
Ep. 34 - When Content Became My Most Valuable Tool: Why I Started a Podcast 33:31

2M ago33:31

33:31

Ever wondered if marketing your blue-collar business is worth the investment? In this candid solo episode, Sy Kirby pulls back the curtain on how creating the Blue Collar Business Podcast transformed his excavation company in ways he never anticipated. Nine years into running SyCon Excavation, Sy found himself facing the same challenges many trades…

1
Monday Q&A – DT 331 28:28

2M ago28:28

28:28

Aaron's back to answer your questions. Send us your questions — [email protected]! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great a…

1
From Trucking to Paving to Shoring w/ Michael Baer – DT 330 1:21:06

2M ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Michael Baer leads TRENCH-ADE, an Arizona and Texas trench shoring rental company. He originally started in the Dirt World with a trucking business, leading to a hugely successful stint in paving. Now, he’s applying all his lessons learned to an entirely new kind of business. Learn more about TRENCH-ADE at https://trench-ade.com/ Questions or feedb…

1
Ep. 33 - The Hidden Challenges of Excavation Growth 1:10:47

2M ago1:10:47

1:10:47

What happens when a business owner with 22,500 TikTok followers who started pushing a mower across the street meets a podcast host who's been through the excavation industry's highest highs and lowest lows? Pure, unfiltered wisdom that every blue-collar contractor needs to hear. Trent Harris of Blue Collar Contractors pulls back the curtain on his …

1
How Disaster Cleanup Works – DT 329 32:49

2M ago32:49

32:49

Aaron explores how disaster cleanup works based on two recent experiences. The first was with Branch Civil cleaning up Northern Carolina after Hurricane Helene. And the second was Anvil Builders cleaning up following the Southern California fires. It’s vital but very misunderstood work. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Sta…

1
From Small Town MS to Building the Southeast w/ Aaron Gregory – DT 328 1:58:22

2M ago1:58:22

1:58:22

Aaron Gregory is President of Gregory Construction, a site development contractor based in Mississippi, but working in eight states across the Southeast and beyond. After growing up around his father’s local site work business, he started in business himself before he could legally drink. Learn more about Gregory Construction at https://gregorycons…

1
Ep. 32 - Dirt to Dollars: Excavating Success with Clay Hudspeth 43:34

2M ago43:34

43:34

Clay Hudspeth of HudX Excavation takes us on a journey through his entrepreneurial evolution, sharing the wisdom gained from over 25 years in the blue-collar world. After building a successful landscaping business with multiple crews, Clay completely restructured his approach with his excavation company, focusing on quality over quantity and implem…

1
Monday Q&A – DT 327 28:27

3M ago28:27

28:27

Aaron's back to answer your questions. Send us your questions — [email protected]! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great a…

1
The Veit Contracting Story w/ Kelly and Vaughn Veit – DT 326 1:15:02

3M ago1:15:02

1:15:02

In all my travels, one company comes up in conversation more than any other — Veit Contracting. And for good reason. Their history, combined with an incredible array of services from waste to foundations, makes for a spectacular story. And to capture some of the story from the past and where Veit's headed, I was lucky enough to sit down with Kelly …

1
Ep. 31 - Turning Your Side Hustle into a Thriving Business: Bear Iron Works 45:43

3M ago45:43

45:43

The remarkable journey of Bear Iron Works exemplifies how practical innovation solves real-world construction challenges. Father-son team Mike and Roggen Frick transformed what began as a side hustle into a thriving American manufacturing enterprise by identifying crucial equipment gaps in the construction industry. Mike's extensive background in c…

1
Japan Trip Update – DT 325 47:50

3M ago47:50

47:50

Aaron, Jack, and TJ recap their recent trip to Japan to visit Hitachi factories and customers. Kon'nichiwa! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks…

1
Destigmatizing Mental Health in Construction W/ Rich Jones – DT 324 2:04:50

3M ago2:04:50

2:04:50

Rich is a behavioral therapist, Co-founder of YouTurn health and leader at Buildwell health. As a former addict Rich gives a unique perspective on the subject of mental health in the work force. His practical approach helps numerous companies and individuals in construction get the help they need. To learn more visit https://www.buildwellhealth.com…

1
Ep. 30 - Finding Your Next Job Just Got Easier 44:33

3M ago44:33

44:33

The blue collar industries are experiencing a critical communication breakdown that's been misinterpreted as a skilled worker shortage. Brent Flavin, co-founder of BoomNation, joins the Blue Collar Business Podcast to reveal what's really happening behind the headlines and how technology is finally catching up to the needs of tradespeople. Traditio…

1
Monday Q&A – DT 323 30:13

3M ago30:13

30:13

Aaron's back to answer your questions. Send us your questions — [email protected]! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great a…

1
Excavation Business Lessons w/ Matt Bachtel — DT 322 2:03:17

3M ago2:03:17

2:03:17

Matt started Bachtel Excavating over twenty years ago and has since left his mark across Northeast Ohio. He's learned many lessons along the way and is now focusing on developing the next generation. Visit https://www.bachtelexcavating.com/ to learn more! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have …

1
Ep. 29 - Reclaim Your Time and Grow Your Business 1:13:06

3M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

When you've mastered your craft but your business owns your life, something's deeply wrong. Richard Walsh knows this firsthand – from digging trenches at $5/hour to building (and losing) a successful landscaping company during the 2008 crash, his journey reveals truths every blue-collar entrepreneur needs to hear. The moment that changed everything…

1
My Habits Explained – DT 321 47:21

3M ago47:21

47:21

Once I understood the importance of habits, life improved big time. I walk through how I initially formed positive habits and what my habits look like today. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! We’re thrilled to have Ariat as our official Dirt Talk Podcast sponsor! They make world-class footwear and workwear that …

1
Paving Chicagoland w/ Ryan Gandy of Builders Asphalt – DT 320 1:46:01

3M ago1:46:01

1:46:01

Ryan Gandy is President of Builders Asphalt, a paving and materials company serving the Chicago, Illinois, area. Aaron and Ryan dive deep into the intricacies of roadbuilding and creating one of America's most widely-used building materials. To learn more, visit https://thebuildersco.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! S…

1
Ep. 28 - Unlocking Billions in Government Contracts 59:22

3M ago59:22

59:22

The world of government contracting remains largely hidden from most blue collar businesses, yet it represents billions in untapped opportunities waiting to be claimed. In this eye-opening conversation with Melinda Colon of Fortis OBM, we discover how tradespeople and contractors can access this lucrative market with less paperwork than buying a ho…

1
How the Hoover Dam was Built – DT 319 29:46

3M ago29:46

29:46

One of the most famous infrastructure projects in American history. Aaron delves into the amazing construction techniques used to build this engineering marvel. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class foo…

1
100% Employee-Owned w/ Herb Sargent of Sargent Corporation – DT 318 2:13:01

4M ago2:13:01

2:13:01

Sargent's built infrastructure and moved dirt in Maine and on the East Coast for nearly a century. Now, as an entirely employee-owned business, the company is moving to the next generation, and the future looks bright. To learn more about Sargent, check out their website here: https://sargent.us/ Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwit…

1
Ep. 27 - Bridging the Contractor-Architect Gap 49:52

4M ago49:52

49:52

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Lance Cayko, the co-founder of F9 Productions and host of the Inside the Firm podcast, as he shares his transformative journey from a farm upbringing to a flourishing career in architecture. Lance's personal narrative reveals how early lessons in construction and clashing personalities with his father l…

1
Peaceful Nuclear Explosions – DT 317 23:06

4M ago23:06

23:06

Aaron explores some far-off ideas for using nuclear detonations for civil engineering purposes... Fortunately, someone talked them out of it! Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year! They make world-class footwear and workwear …

1
Bridge Building Stories w/ Ike Scott of Scott Bridge – DT 316 1:46:06

4M ago1:46:06

1:46:06

Since 1933, Scott Bridge Company has built countless bridges across the Southeast. Ike Scott has led the charge from the front lines for decades, which has made for some amazing stories. Learn more about Scott Bridge at their website here: https://scottbridge.com/ Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Stay Dirty! **UPDATE** Dir…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sy Kirby Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide