Dirt Talk Podcast

Nick Frederick is Vice President of Witech Excavating (https://witechcompany.com/), a mass excavation contractor based in the Chicagoland area.

Starting at Witech as a laborer and later marrying the owner's (Tom Witvoet) daughter, Nick is currently transitioning to lead the business as Tom retires.

Even though Witech began from humble beginnings as an idea born out of ministry work and family history, the company today moves millions of yards of earth for some of the largest development projects in Chicago.

Nick and I talk about how he started in the Dirt World, how faith plays a role in their business, and why moving big dirt in the Midwest is so challenging.

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Garrett Moss, President of Moss Utilities, has dealt with many general contractors as a utility subcontractor for large development projects around the DFW area.

After speaking out against plenty of old school and harmful practices many general contractors believe in via LinkedIn, I figured I'd get him on the podcast to discuss his thoughts on the subject.

While there are some great general contractors out there, everyone who follows me on social media knows I'm not the biggest fan of them, and we stay away from working with GC's for a reason.

If you want to hear more about Garrett's business story, check out episode 15 of Dirt Talk.

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Jarryd McNeil is a 15-time X Games motocross medalist who's traveled the world performing wild tricks on dirt bikes since he was a young kid. Growing up on a dairy farm, he fell in love with riding dirt bikes and operating heavy equipment. Once Jarryd was old enough, the ultimate goal was to become a professional rider in America. He left school early, moved to California when he was eighteen, and got to work.

I talk with Jarryd about his career, love for America, Southern California farm, baby cow, and heavy equipment. His passion for the Dirt World is undeniable, and I'm stoked to see how his life changes as he takes on building more earthwork projects.

To follow Jarryd's wild life, check him out on Instagram at @jarrydmcneil.

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After being unexpectedly fired from the best job of his life, Dary Langfitt (@rockbottomenterprises on Instagram) told everyone in his family that he would start a landscaping business. How hard could it be?

Once the Alaskan winter calmed down and the work season began, he kept his word by starting Rock Bottom Enterprises, a landscaping and now construction business still located in the great state of Alaska.

Dary and I talk money, working on the north slope oil fields, and how to build ice roads. Just Alaska things...

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In this episode, I talk with Michelle Walker, VP of Finance and Administration of SSC Underground, about suicide prevention in the construction industry.

According to the CDC, while we as an industry rarely discuss it, construction ranked #1 for suicides by career. It's a serious issue that Michelle and the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention are bringing to light.

We discuss why mental health/suicide is an issue, to begin with, what we can all do to address it, and why it's ok not to be ok.

To learn more about CIASP and access their free resources, visit www.preventconstructionsuicide.com.

If there was one podcast episode that I wish would be shared amongst people, it's this one.

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Eric Jumper (@eric_jumper on Instagram) and I sat down at my kitchen table last week to discuss his upbringing in the dirt world, why building terrain parks makes for a wild job, how dredging works, and why / why not you should operate equipment with the doors and windows open.

While thrilling isn't a word I'd use to describe our conversation, it was indeed dirty.

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Tom Gardocki, known as the Dirt Ninja online, co-owns a residential excavation company in New Hampshire.

If you've ever perused the internet for dirt related photos and videos, odds are you've ran across Tom's stuff at some point. He's shared his daily excavation-related adventures online for ten years now.

Starting at his parent's landscaping business, he still works there a few days a week while he spends all his other days working at his own business. It's a crazy schedule, especially with a newborn now in the mix.

Tom and I talk about how he started his business, why he invests in technology and equipment as a small contractor, and some of the experiences he's had thanks to social media.

You can find Tom everywhere online by searching "the dirt ninja!"

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After many (at least two) requests, I reached out to Garret Wilson, who's said to be the world's best operator, and asked if he'd like to be on the podcast. He said no, but I managed to get him on anyway.

While we start with antique heavy equipment, we eventually touch on mental health issues, parenting, starting as an operator, and a whole lot more. For a nervous wreck who has never done a podcast, Garret did pretty damn good.

I enjoyed my talk with Garret and learned a lot, so hopefully, you enjoy it too! If you have delicate ears, this ain't the podcast for you!

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Sam Meeker is a Caterpillar dozer extraordinaire and is formally a Product Application Specialist for Track-Type Tractors.

Starting in the agriculture world, he found his way into dirt with Caterpillar and quickly took to track loaders and now dozers.

While he doesn't have a formal operating background like his excavator counterpart Mr. Ryan Neal, Sam knows more about Cat dozers than just about anyone. I've always enjoyed his love for these machines, and it's quite apparent in this episode.

To follow along on Sam's dozer and combine adventures, follow him on Instagram at @yieldmap!

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In this episode of Dirt Talk, I talk with Mike Willhite, owner of Willhite Grading and Excavation, about his past controversies, life lessons, and business experiences.

Most people know Mike from social media as he's shown off his Santa Barbara-based excavating business day to day for years now online.

While he's spoken openly about some of the recent rough life experiences, we dive into it all, and I have a lot more respect for him after this conversation. We talk about anything from jail time to parenting, and it's a conversation I'll no doubt remember.

"It broke me for quite a while. I had one employee I basically paid to relay my orders every day because I was buried in a bottle for five weeks. I was so utterly distraught and destroyed that I lost my family. I don't have anything to hide. I kept him there, so I didn't go out and do something stupid and lose my kid."

To learn more about Mike, check him out on Instagram at @willhitegrading.

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