Make Trades Great Again

Whether you're a seasoned professional, a newcomer, or simply interested in the trades, the "Make Trades Great Again" podcast offers something for everyone. Our goal is to promote the value of skilled trades, provide essential resources, and build a strong community of passionate individuals.

Industry Insights - Educational Content - Community Stories - Technology in Trades

Tune in now and be part of the movement to make trades great again!

Podcasting since 2020 • 385 episodes

Make Trades Great Again

Latest Episodes

American Tradesperson Series w/ creator John Mesenbrink

Join us as we explore the impactful work of John Mesenbrink and his innovative series on rebuilding communities after wildfires, workforce development in the trades, and the future of construction technology. Discover how these stor...

May 19, 2026 • Season 11 • Episode 387 • 36:31

Giant Water Heaters Everywhere!

In this episode, Eric shares a detailed case study of a residential hot water system issue, exploring piping mistakes, system design flaws, and practical solutions for improving hot water performance in large homes.Key topics:

May 12, 2026 • Season 11 • Episode 385 • 36:59

Keep it Simple Stupid

In this episode, hosts Eric and Andy share insights on using AI for writing scope descriptions, the importance of simplicity in estimates, and practical tips for effective communication in trades. They also recount personal stories from a recen...

May 05, 2026 • Season 11 • Episode 3823 • 37:42

Going after the work you want - Listener Write-in

Thanks to Connor for writing in with his question: How do you attract the kind of clients and work you want to do? Do you say no to work or is it best to take anything and everything that comes along?

April 22, 2026 • Season 11 • Episode 382 • 29:15

Who's Answering The Phone?

After a careful, long drawn-out (five minutes) process of consideration in selecting the exact perfect AI CSR system, intrepid business mogul Eric Aune has officially entered the AI universe lol. Eric & Andy talk about the new A...

April 14, 2026 • Season 11 • Episode 381 • 28:05

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Fan Mail

#MTGA Hey guys i wanted to reach out for your thoughts on something. Been listening to the podcast for about five years now and I love it. You two make my day when a new episode drops. You two really help get through any type of day good, bad, and ugly. I have six years of open shop plumbing experience. Been out on my own for just about four out of the six years. ( in my own truck in the company, not in my own business). The shop I recently worked for taught me everything I know, great relationship with the manager and other plumbers. The owner suddenly cut a good portion of our wages in the sense of commission. We used to make very good money overall with what you guys would say is a low hourly and I would agree. For some context I was in the 20s/hr but the commission made up for it. The owner pretty much cut the commission and made it more of a productivity goal making it difficult to get it at all. We also had 24hr on call which we didn't get any compensation for unless we went out on a call and even then it didn't seem worth it giving up the personal time. This week, I started at a new company making more money up front with no commission. It's a very small shop that's been in business for about 15 years. The first thing I noticed was it seems like the owner doesn't stock much at all and gets a lot of material from the big box stores. This is very different for me since my last shop had just about everything ready to go. The new shop does treat the customer just the same and gets the larger stuff like water heaters and water treatment systems fr

Warrington, Pennsylvania