In this milestone 100th episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, the microphone gets flipped. Mike Chiles takes over as host and interviews Adam Hoots, bringing the podcast full circle from Episode 1 and creating space to pause, reflect, learn, and look ahead. Adam revisits the beginning of the show and the trust Joe Donarumo and Keyan Zandy placed in him to bring a field-first voice to The Lean Builder. What began as a podcast focused on translating Lean concepts into language builders could actually use became something much bigger: a four-year learning journey about people, leadership, health, faith, relationships, and the responsibility leaders have to improve the lives of the people doing the work. The conversation gets deeply personal as Adam reflects on the 48-day hospitalization that stopped his fast-moving consulting career in its tracks, the loss of his transplanted kidney, dialysis, and the eventual kidney transplant that gave him another chance. He shares how Buddy Brumley became an anchor during that season and helped pull The Old Dawg Lean Thesaurus out of him while simultaneously challenging Adam to see Lean as something far greater than a collection of tools. Mike and Adam revisit the people and conversations that shaped the first 100 episodes, including lessons from Buddy Brumley, Jesse Hernandez, Felipe Engineer-Manriquez, Mack Story, Jeff Reilly, Brent Darnell, Boone White, Gabe Lightner, and many others. The recurring lesson is clear: construction does not transform through tools alone. It transforms when leaders develop themselves, genuinely see the humans doing the work, and create environments where those people can flourish. Adam also finally defines the phrase that has lived in the show's title for 100 episodes: "bullshido." Borrowed from the martial arts world, it describes what happens when ideas are mixed, repackaged, and separated from their original meaning. For Adam, Lean becomes bullshido when tools, certifications, jargon, and consultant-driven systems become more important than the frontline people they were supposed to serve. The episode then turns toward the future. Adam announces that Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido is beginning to sunset as the mission expands beyond one person and beyond the word Lean. The next chapter is centered on the Old Dawg Builders community and the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast: builders building builders, sharing construction wisdom with the next generation, and developing leaders who improve themselves first, others second, and ultimately their teams, companies, and industry. After 100 episodes, this is not a goodbye. It is a reflection on where the journey started, gratitude for everyone who helped shape it, and a declaration that the work is only beginning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Pause, Reflect, Learn, Share — Reflection is where experience begins turning into wisdom. Episode 100 intentionally looks backward so those lessons can be carried forward.

• Continuous Improvement for the Betterment of People — Lean is not improvement for improvement's sake. The purpose is to create greater value and better conditions for the humans doing the work.

• Develop the Capability to Develop Capability — Leadership is not about becoming the person with every answer. It is about creating environments where other people can learn, grow, solve problems, and eventually develop others.

• Respect Must End in Human Flourishing — Respect for people cannot stop at slogans, kindness, or jobsite rules. The ultimate test is whether the people in the system are actually becoming better and flourishing at work and at home.

• Leadership Requires Range — Laissez-faire, transactional, and transformational leadership all have a place. The challenge is understanding the person, situation, and purpose well enough to know which approach is needed.

• Between Stimulus and Response Is a Choice — Emotional intelligence requires awareness and regulation. Leaders can learn to pause, select their response, and act intentionally rather than simply react.

• Beware of Bullshido — Lean loses its meaning when tools, certifications, jargon, and consultant-created variations become more important than the people doing the work.

• Leadership Lives on the Ground — Leadership is found in the mud, meetings, sweat, tears, conversations, and daily interactions where builders either create suffering or create environments where people can succeed.

• Build Yourself Before Building Others — Personal mindfulness and character come first. The progression is yourself first, others second, and the team, company, and industry third.

• The Next Chapter Is Bigger Than Hoots — The future is about community, leadership, wisdom transfer, and builders building builders through the Old Dawg Builders community.

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Lean Builder — Joe Donarumo and Keyan Zandy https://theleanbuilder.com/

• The Old Dawg Lean Thesaurus — Adam Hoots and Buddy Brumley https://a.co/d/07Yg73BV

• Old Dawg Builders Community — https://www.skool.com/olddawg

• Old Dawg Leadership Podcast —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MONxYKqdfk&list=PLKqwflrGs-zw

• Lean Construction Institute (LCI) — https://leanconstruction.org/

• Making Construction Easier, Better, Faster — Felipe Engineer-Manriquez https://www.theebfcshow.com/

• Five Principles of Human and Organizational Performance — Dr. Todd Conklin https://a.co/d/06Ka8Wbx

• Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention — https://www.preventconstructionsuicide.com/

• Miles that Matter Virtual 5K —https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Springfield/MilesThatMatterVirtual5K

EPISODE QUOTES (paraphrased):

• "Continuous improvement for the betterment of people."

• "How do we develop the capability to develop capability?"

• "The last dimension of respect for people is the flourishing of the individual."

• "If you are only talking Lean, you are missing the boat. What we are really talking about is leadership."

• "87% of the reason people follow you is because of who you are; 13% is what you know."

• "It is not Hoots on the Ground. It is boots on the ground."

• "Leadership lives on the ground. It is in the mud, the meetings, the work, the tears, the sweat, and the blood."

• "Build yourself first, others second, and the team, company, and industry third."

• "We are builders building builders who are building buildings."

• "We ain't done yet, baby. This is only the beginning."

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Adam Hoots https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoots/ — The tables turn for Episode 100 as Adam becomes the guest and reflects on the first 100 episodes of Hoots on the Ground, his personal journey, the evolution of his thinking about Lean and leadership, and what comes next.

• Mike Chiles https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-chiles/ — Guest host for Episode 100, Old Dawg Leadership Podcast co-host, trusted friend, and construction leader who guides Adam through the reflection on the past four years.

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

In this episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots welcomes internationally recognized Lean leadership expert, author, speaker, and Japan learning guide Katie Anderson for one of the most human-centered conversations the podcast has featured. Katie, author of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn, shares lessons learned through her friendship with former Toyota leader Isao Yoshino and years spent living in Japan. Rather than focusing solely on Lean tools, the discussion explores the deeper purpose of Lean: developing people. The conversation dives into why organizations become overly focused on technical excellence while overlooking the social systems that enable people to thrive. Adam shares reflections from his own trip to Japan and how it reshaped his thinking around respect for people, visual management, discipline, and leadership. Topics include:

· Why people must come before processes and tools.

· Breaking the "telling habit" to develop others.

· Leadership as a practice instead of a title.

· Lean as a sociotechnical system.

· Japanese concepts including Omotenashi, Shikō, Kaizen, and the Daruma Doll.

· Turning learning into action instead of simply consuming more information.

Whether you're in construction, healthcare, manufacturing, or any leadership role, this episode reminds us that organizations improve only when people intentionally help other people grow.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

· People Before Process — Sustainable improvement begins by developing people before optimizing tools.

· Break the Telling Habit — Great leaders ask questions instead of always supplying answers.

· Leadership Is a Verb — Leadership is demonstrated through daily behaviors, not job titles.

· Lean Is Sociotechnical — Great results require both strong systems and strong human relationships.

· Intention Drives Action — Align daily behaviors with purpose and values.

· Small Improvements Compound — Better happens through continuous, incremental improvement.

· Learning Requires Action — Knowledge only becomes valuable when applied.

· Respect Is Demonstrated — Small acts of service and genuine care build trust.

EPISODE QUOTES (paraphrased):

· "The only real secret to Toyota is its attitude toward learning."

· "Leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about creating the conditions where others can discover them."

· "People come before process."

· "Break the telling habit."

· "The goal isn't the tool. The goal is helping people learn."

· "Intention is where heart meets direction."

· "Kaizen starts with improving yourself."

· "Don't just collect knowledge. Harvest it by putting it into practice."

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: https://kbjanderson.com/learning-to-lead/

• Chain of Learning Podcast: https://kbjanderson.com/podcast/

• Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

• Toyota Production System

• Isao Yoshino

• John Shook

• Omotenashi

• Kaizen

• Daruma Doll

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Katie Anderson — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson/ - International leadership consultant, author, speaker, executive coach, host of the Chain of Learning podcast, and leader of immersive Japan Leadership Experiences.

• Adam Hoots — https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoots/ - Host of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Lean Builder, educator, and advocate for field leadership.

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

In this wide-ranging episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots sits down with Geoff Lobley, a Calgary-based construction professional, educator, and risk specialist with TRAVIS Engineering Inc., who came up through the trades and has worked nearly every seat on the org chart. Adam and Geoff have only crossed paths a couple of times (the first in Auburn), but Geoff is the kind of person whose energy you feel the moment he walks into a room. Recording from a deep-frozen Calgary, Canada, at -25°C, the two skip the small talk and dig straight into the human side of building.

Geoff is refreshingly honest about not being a natural "people person." He shares how a painful personal loss, paired with a blunt-but-caring boss named Lisa Gibson, cracked him open to mentorship at exactly the right moment — and reframed vulnerability from a perceived weakness into the fastest way to build trust and rapport.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Why vulnerability is the fastest path to trust and why it isn't the same thing as weakness

• The mental health and suicide crisis in construction and why the six-day-week culture deserves scrutiny

• Walking the six core principles of Lean back to a single idea: respect for people

• Reflective practice — reflection in action and reflection on action — as a daily Lean habit

Geoff doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. He talks candidly about the mental health and suicide crisis on jobsites, the band-aid-but-meaningful value of bringing one-hour mental health sessions to crews, and a Calgary Construction Association program working to do exactly that, one site at a time. He and Adam also wrestle honestly with work-life balance, the "but I learned twice as much" justification for brutal hours, and what that learning really costs.

Then Geoff ties it all together by walking through the six Lean principles — continuous improvement, focus on flow, eliminate waste, generate value, and optimize the whole — and routing each one back through people. The conversation lands on reflective practice and a deceptively simple language hack: flip "don't forget to" into "remember to," because the brain quietly drops that first word.

Equal parts honesty, humor, and hard-won wisdom, this episode is a reminder that the most important system on any jobsite is the human being standing on it — and that small, intentional acts of lean (and of care) compound over an entire career.

Key Takeaways:

• Vulnerability Builds Trust Faster: Sharing a little personal context early — even a quick chat about someone's Mustang collection — opens doors that pure technical competence never will.

• Construction Has a Mental Health Crisis: By percentage, the industry's suicide rate rivals or exceeds that of veterans. A one-hour jobsite session is a band-aid — but band-aids still matter.

• Question the Six-Day Week: Working twice the hours doesn't mean learning twice as much. Ask what it's really costing you — and the people waiting at home.

• Respect for People Anchors Everything: Run the six Lean principles through a human lens, and they all come back to developing, valuing, and looking out for the people doing the work.

• "Remember To" Beats "Don't Forget To": The brain skips the first word, so "don't forget" becomes "forget." Flip the language, and people actually follow through.

• Listen Your Way to Honesty: Like going from water-skiing to scuba diving, the right question at the right moment lets people open up one layer at a time.

• Reflective Practice Is a Lean Habit: Pull two lessons learned out of every weekly trade meeting — what went well, what didn't — before anyone forgets the good stuff.

EPISODE QUOTES:

• "Anybody can do the technical work. If you want to advance, you focus on the people around you."

• "Vulnerability isn't weakness — it's being open enough to build trust, and the more open you are, the faster you build it."

• "We exceed the number of suicides compared to veterans. Think about that for a minute."

• "Did you really learn twice as much? And even if you learned more, was it worth it? At what cost?"

• "The brain skips the first word, so 'don't forget to' becomes 'forget to.' Flip it to 'remember to.'"

• "If you feel you're missing your opportunities, you are. So just ask — make the opportunities."

• "Find a small increment. 5S your desk, 5S your files. Those are easy wins — and they don't hurt at home either."

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Lean Builder
• Calgary Construction Association (Lean Community of Practice)
• Depth Builder — Jesse Hernandez
• Lean Construction Institute

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Geoff Lobley | LinkedIn — Construction professional, educator & risk specialist | Instructor at SAIT | Calgary Lean Community of Practice | TRAVIS Engineering, Inc.
• Adam Hoots | LinkedIn — Host/Producer of Hoots on the Ground and Lean builder focused on respect for craft and field leadership.

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: The Neuroscience of Leading Construction Teams with Roxanne Evans (Episode 96)

In this episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, host Adam Hoots is joined by Mike Chiles and special guest Roxanne Evans, owner of Brain Balance in Lee's Summit, Missouri. This conversation picks up where an earlier episode on neurodivergence left off — diving deeper into how the brain develops, how technology and modern lifestyles are widening developmental gaps, and what construction leaders can do about it.

Roxanne brings a rare combination of perspectives: a former educator, a mother of four boys, and an operator of a Brain Balance center for nearly a decade. Her journey into brain health began with her own son's struggles with attention, focus, and emotional regulation — and the transformation she witnessed after going through the Brain Balance program became the foundation of her life's work.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Why the brain's base operating system — built from birth to age three — determines how we process and respond to everything around us
• How developmental gaps that were once one to two years are now three to five years wide, starting in kindergarten
• Why the real problem isn't just screen time — it's the absence of physical movement that compounds the damage
• The two behavioral profiles Roxanne sees most on job sites: turtles (shut down and withdraw) and race cars with no brakes (always busy, rarely productive)
• Why a worker on their phone may not be lazy — they may be overwhelmed and avoiding a task they couldn't process
• How a leader's own emotional regulation sets the tone for the entire team
• What mirror neurons are and why some workers can't learn by watching — no matter how many times you demonstrate

Roxanne also answers a question that lands for every leader in the room: why can you handle a five-alarm crisis at work with a calm two-level response, but blow up at home over something small? Her answer — that home is where the brain finally relaxes its performance — reframes the problem entirely and points toward practical solutions.

This is a rich, practical episode that challenges construction leaders to see their people through a new lens — not as underperformers, but as individuals whose brains may need different support to thrive. Because when leaders build better brains on their job sites, everybody wins.

Key Takeaways:

Everything Starts in the Brain: How the brain perceives, processes, and responds to information determines behavior on and off the job site. Gaps in this base operating system show up as attention struggles, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty completing tasks.

The Developmental Gap Is Wider Than Ever: Where prior generations saw a one-to-two-year developmental gap, today's workforce is seeing gaps of three to five years. The age of full brain maturity has shifted from 25 to around 35, meaning many workers are functioning at a younger cognitive and emotional level than their age would suggest.

Tech Isn't the Only Problem — It's the Absence of Movement: Screens keep the brain's fight-or-flight system perpetually activated, but the deeper issue is sitting still. Physical movement — especially bilateral activity like walking, crawling, and weight training — is essential for building brain function, processing speed, and emotional regulation.

Turtles vs. Race Cars: Workers tend to fall into two profiles when overwhelmed: those who shut down and withdraw (turtles), and those who stay constantly busy but accomplish little (race cars with no brakes). Recognizing which type you're dealing with is the first step to leading them effectively.

Phone Use May Signal Overwhelm, Not Laziness: When a worker reaches for their phone instead of completing a task, they may be avoiding it because they were overwhelmed by instructions they couldn't fully process — not because they don't care. Curiosity, not judgment, is the right response.

The Leader's Regulation Sets the Team's Regulation: Culture starts with the leader. A calm, curious, regulated leader creates safety that helps even dysregulated team members stay in a learning state. An unpredictable leader keeps everyone in fight-or-flight — which shuts down learning entirely.

Mirror Neurons Matter in the Trades: Not all workers can learn by watching. Some brains haven't developed the mirroring capacity to accurately replicate a demonstrated skill. This isn't defiance or laziness — it's a gap that, once addressed, can unlock strong performance.

Meeting Design Can Unlock Better Performance: Keep meetings to 20 minutes or less, allow movement, build in physical resets, and create shout-out moments that get people clapping and engaged. These aren't soft perks — they're neurological tools that keep brains in a state where learning and retention are actually possible.

The Home vs. Work Regulation Gap Is Real: Many leaders hold it together under pressure at work but lose their cool at home over small things. Home is the brain's safe place — where it relaxes into its default regulation patterns. The fix isn't trying harder; it's building better brain regulation so the gap between settings shrinks.

EPISODE QUOTES:

• "Everything starts in the brain. How the brain perceives information sets the tone for how it processes — and then how it responds."
• "We used to see a one-to-two-year developmental gap. Now we're seeing three to five years, starting in kindergarten — and those trajectories just keep widening."
• "It's not the screens alone. It's the absence of body movement that's creating the bigger problem. When our body moves, it tells our brain information — and our brain can grow and change based on that."
• "When someone's on their phone instead of doing the task, they may not be lazy — they might be overwhelmed and avoiding looking incompetent. Be curious, not judgmental."
• "My regulation sets the tone for everyone else's. If they know they're safe with me, they can stay in a learning state instead of fight-or-flight."
• "At work you hold it together because there are consequences. At home, they love you no matter what — so the brain relaxes into its default patterns. That's why you blow up over the small stuff at home."
• "What we want is for their life to be enriched because they worked with you. Not just that we required them to perform — but that we taught them how to be well."

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Brain Balance Centers

Brain Balance – Lee's Summit, MO

Brent Darnell International – Emotional Intelligence in Construction

Yerkes-Dodson Law (The Goldilocks Rule)

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

Roxanne Evans — Owner and Director, Brain Balance of Lee's Summit, MO. Former educator, mother of four boys, and community leader. Roxanne opened her Brain Balance center in 2015 and has spent nearly a decade helping children and adults build the neurological foundation for attention, emotional regulation, learning, and performance.

Mike Chiles — Lean construction leader, educator, and co-host of the Chiles Brothers conversations on the podcast. Mike is based in the Kansas City area and has a heart for community, construction, and bringing better tools to the people who build.

Adam Hoots — Host/Producer of Hoots on the Ground and Lean builder focused on respect for craft and field leadership.

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

In this wide-ranging episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots connects with Derek Sinnott, a self-described pracademic from Wexford, Ireland. Derek is a civil engineer-turned-academic at SETU (South East Technological University), a Lean coach, and the Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School in Ireland.

Adam and Derek first crossed paths in Japan, and the conversation that unfolded there clearly stuck — because Derek showed up in Ireland when Adam brought a team of Clemson students over for a construction competition, and that says everything you need to know about who Derek is.

Derek opens up about his background growing up on a farm, finding his footing in engineering after struggling through secondary school, and ultimately discovering his true calling in training, coaching, and developing people across the construction industry.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Why the biggest inefficiency in construction is the illusion of collaboration

• The difference between being efficient and being effective when coaching teams

• What sustainability really means in Ireland — and why it goes way beyond green building

• The supply chain as the true value-delivery engine of every project

• Why early contractor involvement is critical, and what it looks like when done well

• How asking good questions leads to better relationships — and better buildings

Derek also shares his deep respect for trade workers and frontline teams — the people who actually put nail to formwork — and reflects on what real respect for people looks like in practice. He talks about the power of simply walking the job and being curious rather than coming in with a fixed agenda.

They also revisit the ASCE student competition that brought Adam's Clemson team to Ireland (earning two third-place trophies and a Best Speaker Award), explore the possibility of teaming up for the upcoming November competition, and Derek teases a podcast of his own on the horizon.

This episode is equal parts Lean philosophy, sustainability education, and authentic human connection — a reminder that no matter what ocean separates us, we're all telling the same story in different accents.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Collaboration ≠ More Meetings: Real collaboration means breaking down silos and sharing learning, not just scheduling more conversations.

• Coach, Don't Consult: The most effective intervention isn't solving problems for teams — it's helping them develop the ability to solve their own.

• Sustainability Is Bigger Than Green: ESG — environmental, social, and governance — means taking care of your people, your community, and running an ethical business.

• Supply Chain Is Everything: The trade partners and vendors who install and deliver are the true value-creators. Educating and supporting them is how projects succeed.

• Decisions Made Early, Lived With Long: The choices made in pre-construction shape 90% of cost, schedule, and quality outcomes, and ripple through the building's entire lifecycle.

• "Can't" Is a Four-Letter Word: Derek's most despised phrase — there's always a path forward, even when there are constraints.

• Better, Faster, Together: The motto of Lean Construction Ireland and a philosophy that puts people first in pursuit of continuous improvement.

EPISODE QUOTES (paraphrased):

• "The biggest inefficiency in construction is the illusion that collaboration has taken place."

• "The most efficient thing is to just go solve it. But the most effective thing is to step back and coach."

• "I get disappointed when a group doesn't challenge me — that means nothing is landing."

• "Good looks like better than before."

• "Can't — that word drives me absolutely bananas."

• "We're always in pursuit of perfection. I'm not sure what that looks like, but it's an awful lot better than what we do at the moment."

• "It's not about being soft. It's just: how are you doing?"

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Lean Construction Ireland • Supply Chain Sustainability School • SETU (South East Technological University, Ireland) • Associated Schools of Construction Region 8 (ASC) Competition

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Derek Sinnott — Executive Coach & Strategic Advisor to CEOs & Senior Leaders in the Built Environment | Chair | MC | Speaker | Author | Director (https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-sinnott)

• Adam Hoots — Host/Producer of Hoots on the Ground and Lean builder focused on respect for craft and field leadership.(https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoots/)

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

Lean at the Crossroads: Culture, Community, and Congress with Elizabeth Taylor (Episode 94)

In this heartfelt and high-energy episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots sits down with Elizabeth Taylor, National Director of Lean at JE Dunn Construction and 2026 LCI Congress Co-Chair, to talk about leadership, culture, and what it really means to build community in construction.

Elizabeth shares her journey from project management to Lean coaching, including her AMAZING Lean experience on the Williston Rec Center project in North Dakota, where living onsite and stumbling through The Last Planner System® created lifelong relationships and a powerful example of what Lean culture can truly look like.

The conversation dives deep into:

• The difference between Lean tools and Lean culture

• Why relationships accelerate project performance

• How to move from "doing Lean" to being a Lean organization

• The importance of field-first thinking and supporting trade workers

• What it takes to lead at scale inside a national construction firm

Elizabeth also opens up about personal loss, vulnerability, and how the Lean community has supported her during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. This episode goes beyond business, it's about humanity, leadership courage, and creating intentional spaces where people belong. Check out Elizabeth illustrating true vulnerability, live in person as she handles the questions from Hoots.

They also preview the 2026 LCI Congress in Atlanta, themed "Lean at the Crossroads: Building the Future Together." Elizabeth shares insights into this year's four tracks:

1. Next Generation Delivery Integration

2. Field First Lean: Tools, Flow & Daily Improvement

3. Becoming a Lean Organization Through Culture & Learning

4. Whole Team, Whole Project Integration

If you've ever wondered what Congress looks like behind the curtains, whether your story is worth sharing, this episode is your sign to step up.

Abstracts are due Thursday, March 5th. Don't wait. Submit to speak here: https://congress.leanconstruction.org/abstract-submission/

This one is part Lean strategy, part leadership masterclass, and part reminder that we can't do life, or construction, alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Lean Is More Than Tools: Last Planner may start the journey, but culture and trust sustain it.

• Relationships Drive Results: Teams that cook dinner together and problem-solve together build projects differently.

• Vulnerability Is Leadership: Real culture change starts when leaders model openness and humanity.

• Field First Matters: Trade workers carry the weight of poor systems—Lean must serve them.

• Lean at Every Level: Personal, project, organizational, and industry-wide transformation are all connected.

• Congress Is Community: LCI isn't just about sessions—it's about conversations, connection, and shared growth.

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Lean Construction Institute (LCI) Congress 2026 — Atlanta, GA

• JE Dunn Construction National Lean Program

• Signia Hotel and conference Center (LCI Congress 2026 venue area)

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Elizabeth Taylor — National Director of Lean, JD Dunn Construction | 2026 LCI Congress Co-Chair (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmckiernan/)

• Adam Hoots — Host/Producer of Hoots on the Ground and Lean builder focused on respect for craft and field leadership (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoots/)

EPISODE QUOTES (paraphrased):

• "Lean tools are easy to grab onto. Culture is what makes them work."

• "You can't tell me it won't work. I've seen it work."

• "We're all just humans doing construction."

• "We can't do this thing called life alone."

• "Don't say 'we can't.' That's where the work starts."

• "Make it visual. Make it simple. That's how you get everybody on the same page."

In this absolutely, positively NO Bullshido kickoff episode, Adam Hoots sits down with Brian Chiles and Mike Chiles—two brothers with deep roots in relationships, leadership, and Lean thinking lived out in the real world. Brian came into construction from a teaching/coaching and project management background; Mike brings 20+ years in the industry, raising four kids while remaining relentless about respect for people and building teams that work together.

This conversation is equal parts family, field, and flow. The Chiles Bros unpack why Lean is not a tool, why relationships are the real work, and how the best leaders "feed the hungry" instead of wasting energy trying to convince people who don't want it. They talk about being curious, not judgmental, the difference between explaining tools vs. teaching them, and why the 87/13 (character over competency) shows up, whether you like it or not.

If you're trying to build trust, reduce conflict, and lead people—not just tasks—this one is a straight shot of Old Dawg wisdom with a Lean Geek edge.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Feed the Hungry: Stop spending 80% of your time trying to win over the 20% who don't care. Find the receptive people and build momentum through them.

• Tools Don't Stick Without Trust: It's easy to explain A3, 5S, and planning tools. It's hard to teach them without relationships and psychological safety.

• Optimize the Whole: The best projects don't pit field vs. office. They create one team—shared reality, shared plan, shared wins.

• Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Great leaders pause before reacting, look for the system issue, and consider what wounds/stress might be driving behavior.

• 87/13 Leadership: Your character is influencing people whether you intend it or not—choose whether that influence builds trust or triggers defensiveness.

EPISODE QUOTES (paraphrased):

• "Find the hungry—and feed them. Don't waste your fire on people who don't want it."

• "It's easy to explain the tools. Teaching them takes trust."

• "You can feel the health of a weekly work plan meeting the same way you can feel a locker room."

• "People protect their wounds, but they'll brag about their scars."

• "Your character is influencing the jobsite whether you mean it to or not—lead for good."

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Lean Construction Institute (LCI) Congress — relationship-fueled learning, community, and recharge. https://leanconstruction.org/

• Old Dawg Lean Thesaurus (Adam Hoots & Buddy Brumley) — Lean terms translated for the field (Old Dawg + Lean Geek). https://www.amazon.com/Old-Dawg-Lean-Thesaurus-Making/dp/B0C6W48CKF

• Everything I Learned About Lean I Learned in First Grade — reminder that Lean is simple when you stop overcomplicating it. https://www.amazon.com/Everything-About-Learned-First-Grade/dp/1934109347

• Ted Lasso — "Be curious, not judgmental." https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy

• The Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell) — connectors, influence, and how ideas spread. https://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624

• Dave Ramsey — simple wisdom delivered in a way people can actually apply. www.ramseysolutions.com

• Scrum / Felipe Engineer-Manriquez — learning a "new toy," then applying it with people-first intention. https://www.theebfcshow.com/

• Mac Story / Blue-Collar Leadership — 87/13 and character-driven leadership (referenced throughout). https://bluecollarleadership.com/

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Adam Hoots | LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoots Host of Hoots on the Ground, The Lean Builder voice from the field.

• Mike Chiles | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-chiles/ — Project Director at JE Dunn Construction - Construction leader, people-first builder, husband and father of four, Lean community connector.

• Brian Chiles | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianchilesmas/ — Lean Specialist at JE Dunn Construction - Lean specialist and former coach/teacher turned builder of teams, trust, and jobsite flow.

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

In this no-bullshido episode of Hoots on the Ground, Adam Hoots sits down with "Old Dog" Jeff Reilly—a devoted father, husband, and superintendent with Mill Creek Residential Trust whose leadership philosophy bridges family, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. From his Boston union roots to leading modern Lean projects, Jeff shares how lessons from his ancestors, parents, and mentors shaped his mindset on respect, environment, and the true meaning of Kaizen.

Together, Adam and Jeff dig deep into what it means to balance family, work, and wisdom in today's construction world. They explore how true leadership comes from presence—not just productivity—and why the best Lean builders know that mentors don't always know that they're mentors. From developing young leaders to honoring the OG Old Dawgs Buddy Brumley and Mondo 3K, this conversation reminds us that Lean is more than tools—it's a mindset built on humanity, humility, and legacy.

Key Takeaways:

• Family-First Leadership: Jeff draws strength from his union roots and family traditions, building teams the same way his parents built him: with presence, purpose, and pride.

• Kaizen with Purpose: Lean isn't about checklists or buzzwords; it's about creating environments that respect people, improve daily, and flow with intention.

• Mentors Matter: Every worker is conditioning someone else; be self-aware enough to model the example you wish you'd had.

Key Quotes:

• "Presence builds people. Productivity is just the result."

• "Lean isn't tools—it's how you show up for your team."

• "Your kids and your crew need the same thing: your time and your attention."

• "Every Old Dawg was once a young pup watching someone else."

• "Environment is leadership—design a space where people can succeed."

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Lean Builder — Blog, book, and field tools for Lean practitioners. (https://theleanbuilder.com/)

• This is Lean — Niklas Modig — A modern reframing of efficiency, flow, and value. (https://thisislean.com/)

• Old Dawg Lean Community — Wisdom-sharing group continuing Buddy Brumley's legacy. (https://www.skool.com/olddawg)

• LCI Congress — The annual gathering of Lean construction leaders shaping industry transformation. (https://congress.leanconstruction.org/)

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Adam Hoots | Host of Hoots on the Ground and Lean Construction Shepherd with ConstructionACHEsolutions. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhoots/)

• Jeff Reilly | Superintendent with Mill Creek Residential Trust, Old Dawg Lean Leader, and builder of teams, families, and better jobsite environments. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-reilly-640b66b9/)