Dirt Talk Podcast

In this episode Aaron is joined by Jack Major (Vlog Videographer) to talk about Their recent trip to Australia. Recently Aaron, Jack, and TJ (social media expert) had the opportunity to travel halfway around the world to see what the Dirt World is like down under. 

The trip was anything but uneventful. Days were filled with lots of travel to almost every state in the country. They saw all manner of earthmoving from sight work to massive met-coal, and iron mines. During their time the boys certainly became acquainted with the outback and all its wildlife, some beautiful and some maybe not so great (remember to pack a fly net if you are going to Pilbara). If you want to learn more about the Australia trip, tune into this episode!

**UPDATE**

Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year!

They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products.

Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

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In this episode Aaron is Joined by Nick, Matt  and Marty Coppock (President, Vice President, and Vice President of operations) at Rock n Dirt excavating. As you might have guessed, Rock n Dirt is a family company. Although it’s awesome to see a family working together, as some may know it's not always the easiest to work with people you’ve known your whole life.

In this episode Aaron and the Coppocks dig into what life is like at Rock n Dirt excavating. They talk about the tricky nature of emergency work and hiring. They Also talk about machine utilization and what it takes to run everything off site too. If you ever wonder what it would be like to work alongside your family stay tuned. 

**UPDATE**

Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year!

They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products.

Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron is on his own to bring you another book report. He’s picking up where he left off in the Persistence Creates Opportunity: Building America for 50 Years, a book made for Ames Construction that periodically details their history. 

In this episode, Aaron reads from the 1960’s to the 1980’s which was a pivotal time in the history of Ames. They talk about the changing business and personal life of Dick Ames and some of the most important contracts that the company ever won. To learn more stay tuned for this week's book report. 

**UPDATE**

Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year!

They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products.

Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Aaron is joined by Immanuel Martinez, Public Works Division Manager at Sunland Asphalt & Construction,LLC. Although Sunland does some pretty awesome work all throughout Arizona and other parts of the southwest, in this episode Aaron focuses on a project of sunland’s that he saw personally last year in the southeast.  Without giving too much away, it's in Miami and features some very fast vehicles.

Aaron and Immanuel discuss the intricacies of such specialized asphalt paving. Working with unique materials, tight tolerances and other contractors on site all while being a nation's distance away from the company's HQ, makes for some pretty interesting circumstances. To learn more about Immanuel and Sunland stay tuned for this fascinating episode all about asphalt. 

**UPDATE**

Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year!

They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products.

Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the title suggests Jay Collup, President of Collup Enterprises, is an expert in the Dirt World and has plenty of experience in the seat and as a leader. In this episode, Aaron and Him sat down to catch up and talk about training and how folks can improve efficiencies on a site. 

Along with a small two-person excavating and grading business, Jay’s main goal is to train the next generation of expert operators. He’s achieving this by offering his unique simulator service. Jay and his team offer simulator rental and training via a mobile trailer with several different machine simulators. This provides a way for contractors to train new operators while their production machines keep running. Jay's approach is progressive and backed up by years of experience, so tune in if you want a piece of his dirt world knowledge.

**UPDATE**

Dirt Talk is STOKED to announce Ariat as our first official sponsor for the year!

They make world-class footwear and workwear that we see on every job site we visit, and their folks are just as great as their products.

Dirt Talk listeners can receive 10% off their first order with Ariat by clicking here or visiting Ariat.com/dirttalk.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Chad Abernethy CEO of Abernethy Contracting. Abernethy is a Dirt World staple in their home state of North Carolina doing everything from utilities and site prep to concrete and asphalt paving. 

Chad being the CEO gives personal insight into what it means to be a leader in the industry and balance the want and need to be in the field versus behind the scenes. He shared the lessons learned and the success he’s had buying back the family business and leading the company into the future. Chad has a great message for all leaders in the industry so if you are hungry to learn how to lead this episode is for you!

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

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In this episode, Aaron shares some shocking figures about interstate bridges from an article published by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, by Chief Economist Allison Black. He Also Shares some numbers directly from the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Transportation, and President Biden’s Infrastructure Act. 

These facts and figures paint a concerning picture of the state of our bridge and interstate systems, highlighting the point that this issue needs to be scrutinized more thoroughly by the federal government. 

Our Infrastructure got our great nation to where we are today, which is exactly why it cannot be overlooked. We need to do more to improve and repair our existing infrastructure while creating new infrastructure that will last the test of time.  None of this can be accomplished without the Dirt World and the amazing people who are a part of it. Stay tuned to stay informed!

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

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If you have listened to Dirt Talk for a while you might know that Kimo, owner of Truth Excavation, is a bit of a regular at this point. Kimo has joined Aaron twice in-studio and in this episode joined him via satellite internet video call in an unfinished office as a result of the reconstruction of Lahaina and its infrastructure

In this episode, Kimo breaks down the 2023 Lahaina fires, which devastated the community and affected him and Truth Excavation personally last August. He gave his honest perspective and broke down day by day what he saw as it unfolded. Truth is one of few excavation companies on the island of Maui and the only one directly based out of Lahaina. They were and still are is on the frontlines every day.

As the fire still blazed Kimo and his crew worked tirelessly to bring their water trucks and dozers wherever needed to snuff out flames and cut fire breaks. Now Kimo and his team work long hours in harsh conditions to help restore the community and infrastructure of Lahaina. 

Although Kimo may be too humble to agree, he is a hero in his community and continues to be a legend in the dirt world. Big thanks to him for taking the time to talk to us via one of the most peculiar recording setups in Dirt Talk history.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

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In this episode, Aaron is joined by Jonathan Campbell, Executive Vice President of Campbell Companies, a parent company for various businesses, including Wheeler Caterpillar, one of our favorite Cat dealers and service centers.

During the conversation, Aaron and Jonathan delve into the workforce challenge. Jonathan shows no hesitation in addressing the sometimes polarizing topics of immigration and the border wall, recognizing their impact on the workforce. Drawing from his wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience gained through advocacy efforts for our industry with Associated Equipment Distributors and the Utah Mining Association in Washington, DC, Jonathan provides insightful commentary.

They discuss the potential positive impact of legal immigration on our workforce, the role of technology as a workforce multiplier, and Jonathan's initiatives aimed at improving the workplace for all employees. As a respected leader in the industry, Jonathan shares valuable insights that listeners won't want to miss. Stay tuned to gain from his expertise.

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

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In this episode, Aaron is joined by Ryan Sistad, Executive Director at Better in Our Backyard. Ryan is a proud Minnesotan hailing from Duluth. Minnesota is also home to essential mining and infrastructure, more specifically copper and nickel. These resources are essential to keep the lights on for Hundreds of Thousands and will be vital in creating the infrastructure for a future of emission-free energy.

Ryan and the team at Better in Our Backyard Help to advocate, educate, and create community-led content that helps provide clarity about the critical importance of Northern Minnesota mining. By taking a people-first approach, Ryan helps by drawing from his experience as a project engineer for Parson Electric. This industry relies on mining, to advocate for the hard-working people that make an honest living in the mining industry. If you are interested in learning more about big mining and the role it plays in our infrastructure stay tuned!

If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

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