Grit Nation

Welcome to Grit Nation, the Building Trades Podcast.

I’m Joe Cadwell, the writer, producer, and host of the show and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ken Rusk.

Ken is a blue-collar career choice advocate, construction industry entrepreneur and the author of Blue-Collar Cash which details how you can.... Love Your Work, Secure Your Future and Find Happiness for Life.

We’ll start today’s conversation by learning about Ken’s background and how his passion for hard work and construction earned him the nickname “The Million Dollar Ditch Digger”.

We’ll then unpack the lessons Ken learned from a lifetime in the trades that enabled him to write his book, and how these lessons have been useful in his current role as a life coach and mentor to those interested in pursuing a career as a blue-collar tradesperson.

Next, we’ll discuss the downside of buying into the oversold notion that the only pathway to professional pride and financial security is through a college degree and why now more than ever blue-collar jobs and the people who can do the work are in such great demand.

Later, Ken will explain the importance of detailed visualization in helping you map out a future that will bring you Comfort, Peace and Freedom.

And we’ll end our conversation by leaning what Ken’s definition of success is and why he is so passionate about helping people achieve their dreams regardless of their educational background or past.

The Show Notes
Ken Rusk
https://www.kenrusk.com/

Union Home Plus
Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with professor of sociology at Middlebury College, workers’ rights activist, and the author of two books on labor, Jamie McCallum.

Jamie’s latest effort titled, Worked Over: How Round-the-Clock Work is Killing the American Dream; addresses the loss of agency the average American worker has in managing their work - life balance and why labor’s next big battle may not just be about wages but about time too.

We’ll start our conversation by understanding the give and take relationship labor and management have shared over the ages and how this paradigm shifted from the agrarian task-based formula to a “time is money” model with the advent of clocks.

Next, we’ll investigate the 1970’s resurgence of Corporate Class Power and how it has led to the extremes in income inequality we see today and how this resurgence has led to a dynamic which enables a CEO to make over 350 times what the average worker does.

Later, we’ll discuss the triple threat that is unique to US workers and how over scheduling, under scheduling and volatile work hours contribute to work instability and why the American Dream is alive in well in other nations but is falling further away from the grasp of many Americans.

And we’ll finish our conversation by discussing why Jamie believes “we should redesign our economy so that trading most of our waking hours for money, isn’t the only pathway to a dignified life,”
The Show Notes
Jamie McCallum
https://www.jamiekmccallum.com/Worked Over
https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/jamie-k-mccallum/worked-over/9781541618343/

Union Home Plus
Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to Carpenter Stories.

I’m Joe Cadwell, the writer, producer and host of the show and I am proud to bring you this special series within the Grit NW podcast.

Carpenter Stories will introduce you to individuals whose lives have been bettered after finding a career as a professional tradesperson in the UBC.

On today’s show I have the pleasure to speak with Jimmy Jones, retired Journeyman carpenter, and member of the local 271.

I met Jim a few years ago and have admired his positive attitude and can-do spirit. Jim exemplifies what someone in the trades can achieve through hard work, tenacity, and ability to grow and change with the industry.

We’ll start our conversation by learning why Jim decided to leave Oregon State University where he was working on a degree in forest engineering to become a full-time carpenter.

Next, we’ll hear some of the challenges and biases he encountered on the job that stemmed from his not going through a recognized union apprenticeship.

Later Jim will tell us about his time spent as a Job Corp instructor and how he feels his career came full circle when he was able to give back and share the knowledge and insight he had acquired over the years in the trades.

And we’ll finish our conversation when I ask Jim to answer 3 questions designed to give guidance and direction to anyone interested in becoming a professional trades person.

This is a great episode full of humor and stories that you won’t want to miss.

So, sit back, and enjoy Jimmy Jones, Carpenter Story.
The Show Notes
UBC Job Corp Information
https://www.carpenters.org/job-corps/

NW Carpenters Union
United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Regional Council in the Pacific Northwest
Union Home Plus
Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home.

Visit our webpage
https://www.gritnationpodcast.com
Win Stuff!!
https://mailchi.mp/c28da31260b8/grit-nation-podcast-sign-up-page
Email Grit Nation:
[email protected]

Work is tough, and for sure you got to be tough to be in construction.
But having issues on the job that aren’t directly related to the challenges of being a professional trades person can definitely make for some long days and foster low morale.

Sound familiar? Maybe you’re dealing with issues on your jobsite right now?

Being asked regularly to work through your scheduled breaks?

Job shack or porta-johns not up to speed?

Concerns with your pay?

For many union members, especially new members, or apprentices, dealing with these issues head on and by themselves may be out of their comfort zone.

So what do you? Contact your council rep?

Sure, that’s an option, but calling in the big guns shouldn’t always be your first choice.

How about looking into the contract yourself? See what it says?

Well, that’s a possibility, but I’ll be the first one to admit that contract language can sometimes be confusing and filled with ambiguity making them difficult to decipher and understand.

So where do you turn?

Well, in this episode of Grit NW we’ll look into the role and responsibilities of union stewards on the job, and why they are so important in keeping a worksite running smoothly.

Hi, I’m Joe Cadwell, the writer producer and host of Grit NW and today I talk with Council Rep and local 70 member Paul Galovin.

Paul is a steward advocate and trainer, and he is going to help us understand what rank-and-file members take on when they step up to the union steward position.

Well learn what personality traits make a good steward and how they develop the skills necessary to become effective jobsite organizers, negotiators, counselors, peacemakers and guardians of our contracts.
This episode is part of my effort to recognize opportunities within our organization for members to step-up and take ownership of their union and their future.
The Show Notes
Grit Nation Webpage
https://www.gritnationpodcast.com
Follow Grit Nation on Twitter
https://twitter.com/gritnationpod
Email comments or suggestions to:
[email protected]Grit Nation is a proud member of the Labor Radio / Podcast Network
https://www.laborradionetwork.org/

Union Home Plus
Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home.
NW Carpenters Union
United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Regional Council in the Pacific Northwest

Visit the webpage
https://www.gritnationpodcast.com
Win Grit Nation merch
https://mailchi.mp/c28da31260b8/grit-nation-podcast-sign-up-page
Follow us on Twitter
https://twitter.com/gritnationpod
Email comments or suggestions to:
joe@gritnation...

In today's episode I get a chance to be on the other side of the microphone when I am interviewed by Josh Zolin for his podcast Blue is the New White.

Josh is the author of Blue is the New White - The Best Path to Success No One Told You About - Until Now

Josh and I start off our conversation by discussing my background as a former navy diver, commercial diver and now apprentice coordinator at PNCI, the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute in Portland, Oregon.

We later get into what it takes to make a successful career in the trades.

This is part one of a two part series.

To hear more personal accounts of people finding lucrative and satisfying careers in the trades, be sure to check out the Blue is the New White podcast on Spotify or in your favorite podcast directory.

The Show Notes

For more about Josh, his book and his podcast click here
https://blueisthenewwhite.com/

Join Grit NW Nation here:
(could this be any easier?)
https://forms.gle/WEKcA76y3Wegmv8z7

Grit NW is a proud member of the Labor Radio / Podcast Network
https://www.laborradionetwork.org/

For comments, questions or suggestions about the show send an  email to:
[email protected]

You can also share this link to the Grit NW webpage with friends, family members or co-workers and score good karma points, you'll be a better person for it, I promise:
https://Buildnw.org/podcast

Grit NW is now on the Twitter!!  How cool is that, right?
https://twitter.com/GritNW

NW Carpenters Union
https://www.nwcarpenters.org/

PNCI.org
http://www.pnci.org

And if you haven’t already done so please rate the show on Apple Podcast,
it will help others find the show (which I personally feel is important).

Seriously, do this.
It only takes a minute
And while I can't promise you any more good karma points, you can at least  feel
satisfied about writing something  that  billions of people might read.
Now that's really cool. 

NW Carpenters Union
United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Regional Council in the Pacific NW 6 states + 29k members strong!!

The Grit Nation MVP Team
Join The Nation and help spread the word on how unions are building lives + careers to be proud of.

Union Home Plus
Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home.