The Power of Podcasting for Skilled Trades to Build Leadership and Brand Influence with Josh Zolin

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In this episode of Podcast Gurus, we’re joined by Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment and host of the Blue Is the New White podcast. Josh shares his fascinating journey from working as a stuntman in Hollywood to running a thriving business that’s changing the narrative around blue-collar careers. From his roots in the stunt industry, Josh explains how he transitioned into the restaurant equipment repair business, learning key lessons along the way that led to the creation of his podcast and academy.

Josh opens up about the challenges he faced in both his career and personal life, detailing how his experience as a stuntman taught him the importance of resilience and humility. Through his podcast, Josh highlights the value of blue-collar work, soft skills, and leadership, and why it’s crucial to empower frontline employees with the tools they need to succeed. If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone in the trades, this episode provides actionable insights that could change how you think about success and growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Josh’s journey from stuntman to CEO of Windy City Equipment.
• How soft skills and leadership are changing the game for blue-collar workers.
• The unexpected origins of the Blue Is the New White podcast and how it’s reshaping the industry.
• The importance of recognizing the value of blue-collar careers and why it’s time to change the narrative.
• How Josh turned his passion for blue-collar work into a thriving business and a platform for education.

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

[[00:00] Introduction: Josh Zolin reflects on how personal growth and impact inspired his book, podcast, and academy.

[00:31] Meet Josh Zolin: CEO of Windy City Equipment and host of Blue Is the New White.

[03:07] The Stunt Legacy: Josh’s multigenerational family history in the film stunt industry.

[06:17] Ego vs. Passion: Josh redefines passion after realizing fulfillment in helping others.

[09:08] Slipping into the Trade: Learning equipment repair alongside his dad.

[12:42] Launching the Book and Podcast: How Blue Is the New White evolved into an advocacy platform.

[16:07] From Father-Son Duo to Team: Josh takes charge of growing the business and managing employees.

[19:39] First Big Mistake: Hiring unskilled employees slows down their progress.

[21:41] Why Write a Book?: Josh’s wife inspires him to create a much-needed industry resource.

[24:57] Turning Point in Career: The book opens doors, builds his brand, and launches his speaking career.

[26:51] Birth of the Podcast: Josh starts recording stories from passionate tradespeople.

[31:02] Industry-Wide Impact: The book and podcast serve both Windy City and the wider blue-collar sector.

[36:11] Podcast Interviews > Job Interviews: Why meaningful conversations build better alignment.

[37:53] What’s Next: Josh introduces Bet New Academy for frontline soft skills and financial literacy.

[41:48] Empowering Employees: Teaching staff how to impact the bottom line and grow the business.

Follow Josh Zolin:

• Josh Zolin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshzolin/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshzolin/
• X: https://x.com/joshzolin
• Windy City Equipment: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wcecommercial/
• Blue is the New White Podcast: https://www.blueisthenewwhite.com/

Follow Hussam & Guillaume:

• Hussam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-ali-6bb69186/
• Guillaume on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-jouvencel/
• Gha Marketing Website: https://ghapodcast.com/

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