Dirt to Docks Podcast

Everyone loves to talk about the freedom, the money, and the excitement of owning a business. But here’s what they don’t tell you: it’s hard, it’s messy, and most of the time… it doesn’t feel like freedom.

In this episode, we break down the side of entrepreneurship no one really talks about—burnout, pressure, hiring struggles, cash flow chaos, and the weight of making every decision.

This isn’t to scare anyone off—it’s to keep it real. Because if you’re going to start or buy a business, you need to know what you're walking into.

If you’re already in the thick of it, this one’s for you too. You’re not alone.

In this episode, Matt Cone shares the winding path that led him to where he is today—owning a materials company and selling dirt for a living.

From growing up around construction to flipping homes, Matt talks about the unexpected twists his career has taken—and how each step led him closer to owning his own business.

Joining him is his girlfriend, Kelsey Woychowski, who shares her perspective on what it’s been like to adapt to the highs, lows, and unpredictability of entrepreneurship.

Whether you’re already in the trades or thinking about jumping into business ownership, this episode is a reminder that there’s no straight path—and no one does it alone.

In this episode, Trey shares his unexpected journey from a finance career to owning a dock-building company—with zero construction experience.

We talk through the jobs he took, why he chose them, and how they helped (and didn’t help) when it came time to acquire a business.

Joining the conversation is Trey’s wife, Mallie Lomel, who gives her honest take on what it was like navigating the highs, lows, and stress of buying a company—during their first year of marriage.

This one’s a mix of backstory, business, and real-life behind the scenes.

In this first episode of Dirt to Docks, hosts Matt Cone and Trey Lomel introduce themselves—two guys in their 20s who bought blue collar companies and are figuring out how to run and grow them in real time.

They share why they’re launching the podcast, what listeners can expect, and how their paths—one in the dirt world of mining and materials, the other in marine construction—led to unexpected ownership and constant learning.

It’s raw, honest, and just the beginning of what they hope will be a relatable, useful, and occasionally ridiculous journey for anyone building something of their own.