In this episode of “All Things Wood Floor,” host Stephen Diggins welcomes New England legend Charlie “Big Charlie” Auditore, who was born in 1942, for an unscripted oral history of six decades in hardwood flooring—from post-WWII union jobs and on-site fistfights to million-foot parquet installs at Boston’s Prudential Center and iconic spaces like the Hatch Shell. Charlie traces his path from his father’s Allegheny Contract Flooring to founding Auditore Floors (later The Becht Corp.), sharing gritty stories of installing in Army base housing by the thousands, MIT’s exotic panga-panga parquet, Sydney blue gum for retail, iron-bound and cold-stick installs, and the evolution of sanding and finishing, including hand-scraping, shellac and moisture-cure urethane—including the health and safety consequences learned the hard way. He recalls union vs. non-union tensions, New York job-site politics (and stolen tools), riots in 1960s Boston and years running big crews across Maine and New England. 

Thanks to this season’s sponsor of  All Things Wood Floor, Odie’s Oil – the wood floor finish that is safe and beautiful while delivering a lower cost and higher profit margin.

In this episode, the "Dutch Wood Artist" Jakko Woudenberg describes how, as a typical wood floor pro, he felt compelled to create something more. That journey has led him to creating some of the most incredibly wood floors in the world, including the phenomenal massive tree-ring floor and, most recently, a 195,000‑piece wooden mosaic re-creation of Rembrandt’s "The Night Watch". In his conversation with host Stephen Diggins, he shares his philosophy on creativity, craftsmanship and mentorship.

Jakob also discusses collaboration, teaching the next generation and his vision for creating a global, pay‑it‑forward flooring artwork that connects elite wood floor pros around the world.

See the article about Jakko Wounderberg's “The Night Watch in Wood” from the October/November 2025 issue of Wood Floor Business here. 

See his phenomenal tree ring floor in this article.

Troy Stanfield of Plankd Flooring in Mount Baker, South Australia, walks listeners through his journey from furniture restoration to award-winning "timber" floors, sharing how his boutique, quality-first approach built a strong reputation and unique niche in Australia’s timber flooring trade.

Troy recounts memorable jobs—from a scissor lift that destroyed century-old jarrah parquet to falling asleep while sanding to plasterers stomping their way through a Baltic pine while dancing Irish jigs—and closes with practical lessons on scheduling, saying no, inventory management and mentoring the next generation of floor pros.

Read the articles Stephen and Troy discussed in this episode:

The Horrible Wood Flooring Job That Taught Me So Much

Trick of the Trade: Keeping Track of Your Finish Made Easier

Tales From the Front: The Jig Was … Down on This Job

Josh Johnson, owner of Johnson Flooring in Decherd, Tenn., shares how he began by knocking on a flooring van’s window and learned the trade hands‑on, including his nightmare first sanding job and the huge mistake he made on that job.

He also describes mentorships, equipment upgrades from a 110 sander to a legit big machine and how classes and tools like a multi-head sander transformed his work and business.

Josh offers practical advice for newcomers, reflects on pricing and physical demands, and outlines plans to open a showroom while continuing to balance installations and sand‑and‑finish work.

Read the Wood Floor Business article that profiles Josh Johnson here: https://bit.ly/fm25nextgen

Part two of our interview with Daniel Boone dives into machine setup, edgers, training on buffers, and practical classroom-to-job techniques he uses to train wood floor professionals. Daniel also shares stories from international schools, the Train‑the‑Trainer initiative, and why mentoring the next generation is essential for the trade’s future.

Read recent articles from Daniel Boone in Wood Floor Business:

A Key to Better Sanding: Know Your Scratch

Wood Floor Sanding 101, Part 1

Sponsored: A Wood Floor Recognized For Beauty & Craftsmanship

In this episode of All Things Wood Floor, host Stephen Diggins welcomes legendary wood floor pro and trainer Daniel Boone. A direct descendant of the iconic frontiersman, Daniel shares his own pioneering journey—from running an edger at age 12 in the family wood floor business to training wood flooring pros across continents. With a life steeped in the wood flooring trade since childhood, Daniel reflects on how a simple piece of two-and-a-quarter flooring became his passport to the world. He discusses his hands-on teaching philosophy, the evolution of flooring education and how he's tried to make a positive impact on the thousands of people he's trained in the industry. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode.

Read recent articles from Daniel Boone in Wood Floor Business:

A Key to Better Sanding: Know Your Scratch

Wood Floor Sanding 101, Part 1

Sponsored: A Wood Floor Recognized For Beauty & Craftsmanship

In this sponsored episode of All Things Wood Floor, host Steve Diggins sits down with Milton Goodwin, VP of product management-hardwood at AHF Products—the powerhouse behind the iconic Bruce brand—to explore how innovation, heritage and craftsmanship are shaping the hardwood flooring industry. From Bruce's roots in 1884 to AHF's modern approach to unfinished solid and engineered flooring and domestic manufacturing, the conversation covers key topics like the evolution of performance-driven flooring products, trends in design and finish, and how AHF is responding to global supply chain challenges with strategic investments in U.S.-based production. Goodwin also shares insights on sustainability initiatives and how the company supports wood floor pros through technology and training. Whether you're a seasoned flooring professional or just passionate about what's underfoot, this episode offers valuable insight into why AHF Products continues to set the standard for performance and style in wood flooring.

Join host Steve Diggins from Specialty Forest Products for this sponsored episode as he delves into the world of wood floor finishes with two experts from Canlak Coatings, the name behind trusted wood floor finish brands like Absco, Poloplaz, Sampson and Wilson Imperial. Laura Posadas and Doug McGrew from Canlak peel back the curtain on the extensive research that goes into wood floor coatings chemistry and innovations at this major manufacturer. Hear their insights on everything from residential to sports flooring, including where the industry has been and where the world of coatings is headed in the future. 

In this episode of All Things Wood Floor, host Steve Diggins of Specialty Forest Products talks with young wood flooring pro Israel Alejandre, the owner of Cedar Oak Flooring based in Middlefield, Ohio. Featured as part of Wood Floor Business’s annual discussion about the Next Generation of emerging talent in the hardwood flooring industry, Israel shares insights into his journey as a young professional navigating the trade. Broadcasting from Ohio’s Amish country, just outside Cleveland, Israel reflects on his early experiences, the founding of his company, and what drives his success as a next-generation flooring pro. 

Read "The Next Generation: Advice For Aspiring Wood Floor Pros," featuring Israel Alejandre, from the February/March 2025 issue of Wood Floor Business. 

Brad Rushing of North Palm Beach, Fla.-based California Designs discusses what it is like being a retailer in one of Florida’s luxury markets, what he learned about business and people from his father, how the company has kept both clients and employees for decades, how Brad modernized the family business, including their marketing, and how educating clients boosts their business.

See California Designs’ profile in the 2024 Wood Floor Business Outstanding Retailer Awards: https://bit.ly/42bFHpv

Read Brad’s article in Wood Floor Business “How We’ve Managed to Retain Employees for Decades” here: https://bit.ly/on24retail