Dirt Talk Podcast

This week's guests move almost no dirt. They don't do demolition. They don't deal in aggregates. And yet, folks in their line of work visit hundreds of job sites per year.

Welcome Chris Moore (SVP of Internal Operations) and Preston Higgins (Project Manager) of GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems) to the podcast. Among other things, GPRS is a great example of your friendly neighborhood utility locator. And boy, did these guys pique Aaron's interest. If you've ever worked a job and had to communicate with someone coming out to do a locate, then you might know that this kind of work is often looked at as an annoyance... and yet, people still hit utility lines! This conversation was a great basic rundown of what that work looks like from their perspective, and if you're a fan of tech talk, then you'll really connect with these guys.

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with Chris Moore and Preston Higgins about ground penetrating radar/utility locating, why they (and companies like GPRS) can sometimes get a bad rap, and why GPRS likes to focus on developing their team members into good people, first and foremost.

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

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This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss the first-ever BuildWitt Office Open House, before diving into a question from a project manager regarding how to communicate with foremen. They also dissected the most important question of the week: "Are there more wheels or doors in the world?"

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

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In this week’s episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron’s joined by industry vet Jay Collup, founder of Collup Enterprises. 

Jay’s a longtime trainer and certified Dirt World expert, and he shares his insights on the state of training in the industry today, the ROI of proper training, and building a life in the Dirt World. He’s even got insights on relationships, team building, and the pros and cons of traveling for work. 

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

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In this week's episode of the Dirt Talk podcast, Aaron discusses his recent wilderness experience with the Basic Course by the 3-of-7 Project and how doing uncomfortable things helps shape our perspectives as leaders.

We also cover a range of listener questions, including how concrete differs from cement (no, they're not the same thing) and the books Aaron considers essential for all leaders in the Dirt World — and beyond.

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

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"If it's worth having, then you're gonna pay for it upfront, but the return on investment is going to be realized pretty quick."

Ryan Goodfellow (of Rock Structures Utility and Excavating) is clearly passionate about heavy equipment. His company IG acct @rockstructures has almost 100k followers and consistently features his crew on jobs around Utah, ranging from digging basements to building intricate rock walls. But in addition to equipment, Ryan is a good time. He's got plenty of jokes and is a hoot to laugh with. While the Dirt Talk guys were in Utah, they asked Ryan to come out to Wheeler Machinery to come talk shop, and he didn't disappoint. From the get-go, this episode features a lot of technical talk about equipment, with points made about operating technique, 3D GPS, finding hidden grease points, and much more.

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt sits down with Ryan Goodfellow to chat about Ryan's Dirt World story and his love and appreciation for heavy equipment. Aaron and Ryan discuss why Ryan would prefer to dig a basement vs build a rock wall, why he owns both John Deere AND Caterpillar equipment, and why investing in quality tools (among other things) is worth it.

To learn more about Ryan and Rock Structures, visit the website at rockstructures.com or follow along on IG at @rockstructures.

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

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This week, we have a special guest on the podcast: Dirt Talk alum Kimo Clark IN THE OFFICE from Hawaii. Kimo and Aaron headed out to the North Carolina mountains to do a challenging backpacking trip. Aaron, Alex, and Kimo dig into how folks in the Dirt World get paid, why most field workers are hourly, and how to beat the "Monday blues".

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"Our biggest competitors are stagnation and complacency."

Jonathan Campbell is the Executive Vice President of Wheeler Machinery Co. out of Salt Lake City, UT. He's part of a multi-generation line of Campbells at Wheeler. With so much historical success running a 70-year-old CAT dealership, it's easy to envision leadership sitting on their laurels. And yet, Jonathan (and Campbell Companies) has made it his mission to fight "stagnation and complacency" by owning almost a dozen companies and investing in even more. He's got a vision for serving the Dirt World, and that's one reason he was a perfect fit to be an investor at BuildWitt.

Aaron Witt and Jonathan Campbell discuss Jonathan's history at Wheeler Machinery, how he fights complacency, and why he decided to invest in BuildWitt's future.

Thanks to Jonathan and Wheeler CAT for hosting the Dirt Talk crew in their offices AND for an amazing tour of their facility!

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

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You have to intentionally create space to think without the pressure to "deliver" something.

This Monday on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex catch up about Aaron's solo trip to Savannah, GA to unplug and create space mentally. Aaron digs into why it's important for leaders to create that space and why it's vital to level up when you're a leader. Aaron also gives an update on the Earthmoover (aka the BuildWitt skid steer).

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

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Eric Jumper is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get.

One thing that's true, however, is that it will be entertaining and educational. Though he's only 26, he's been working in the Dirt World for almost 10 years, and literally grew up in the dirt. As a 3rd generation dirt mover, having a deep love and insatiable curiosity for the Dirt World is in Eric's blood. And as a team member at BuildWitt for the last year, he's been all over the country meeting up with and learning from the folks that are literally building our country.

In this week's episode, host Aaron Witt and producer Alex Horton are joined by Eric Jumper, a "Connoisseur of heavy equipment-related matters" here at BuildWitt. On Eric's second Dirt Talk episode, the guys talk equipment (of course), but they sprinkle in plenty of other topics. They dig into why Eric covered the floor of a machine with astroturf, why it was so cool to shoot photos of a machine that he used to operate at an old job, and how he recognizes more and more these days that his upbringing in the Dirt World is pretty unique.

To check out Eric's equipment journey, follow him on IG at @eric_jumper.

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

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This week, Aaron and Alex dig into how we're all wired to create as children, but often lose that drive and desire as we grow. and the importance of telling your own story (before someone else tells it for you). Later, Aaron talks about some kinds of projects that he'd like to go see this year and why it's important to be the driver of your own career.

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