Marvin talks with John Summers, vice president of AEM's construction utility sector, about CONEXPO-CON/AGG, World of Asphalt, and AEM's role in the equipment industry. They discuss improving the attendee experience, managing the massive Las Vegas show, and using feedback to make each event better. They also explore automation, training, attracting young people to construction, the growing influence of content creators, and the value of networking across the industry.

🔗 Connect with John

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsomers/

🚜 CONEXPO-CON/AGG

https://www.conexpoconagg.com/

🏗️ Association of Equipment Manufacturers

https://www.aem.org/

🎙️ Connect with Marvin

Website: https://inthemixmj.com

Instagram – Marvin Joles: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/

Instagram – In The Mix: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 Sponsors

1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

Bensink 🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20

1-800 Stencil / RAE Products 🌐 https://rae-products.com/

Brunt Workwear 🌐 www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

Jobber 🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎁 Free 14-day trial plus 20% off Jobber for 6 months.

1st Phorm 🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 🚚 Free shipping on orders over $75.

Portable Lighting Solutions 🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

KM International 🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

Bulk Source 🌐 https://bulksource.com/

TruTec – AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

🎧 About In The Mix

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who comprise it, and the organizations that make it up. We also talk about the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, and other trades with great guests.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we banter about asphalt paving, asphalt sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, asphalt milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers.

We also discuss how to stay motivated, how to deal with the challenges of owning your own business, working in the asphalt trade, and other great stories from our industry and beyond.

📌 Hashtags

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #Dirtworld #Linestriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

Dig World Founder Jacob Robinson on Building a Construction Theme Park

In this episode of In The Mix, Marvin interviews Jacob Robinson, founder of Dig World near Houston, a construction-themed amusement park where kids and adults operate real excavators, skid steers, tractors, and boom lifts with safety controls like "Dig World mode," timers, and kill switches. Robinson shares how the idea grew from his son Pierce's love of heavy equipment after Pierce survived bacterial meningitis and now lives with severe disabilities. He recounts pitching 248 investors before opening in 2022, appearing on Shark Tank, and learning hard lessons from a rushed, disastrous grand opening. They discuss Dig World's broader impact—field trips, exposure to construction careers, customer appreciation for skilled operators, and even equipment tryouts for potential buyers—plus partnerships with Caterpillar, the power of storytelling and organic social sharing, and expansion plans to open 10 parks in five years, starting with Dallas and future markets including Charlotte, Nashville, Austin, Phoenix, and more.

🤝 Connect with Jacob

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-robinson-9912b215/ 🌐 Website: https://www.jacobrobinson.co/ 🏗️ Dig World Nation: https://digworldnation.com/

🎙️ Connect with Marvin

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ 📸 In The Mix Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🙌 Sponsors

1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

Bensink 🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20

1800Stencil / RAE Products 🌐 https://rae-products.com/

Brunt Workwear 🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

Jobber 🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎁 Get a free 14-day trial and 20% off Jobber for 6 months.

1st Phorm 🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 📦 Free shipping on orders over $75.

Portable Lighting Solutions 🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

KM International 🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

Bulk Source 🌐 https://bulksource.com/

TruTec - AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

🎧 About In The Mix

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who comprise it, and the organizations that make it up. We also talk about the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, other trades, and the stories of great guests from across the industry.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we cover asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers. We also discuss staying motivated, overcoming the challenges of owning a business, working in the asphalt trade, and sharing great stories from our industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #Dirtworld #Linestriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

On this episode of In The Mix, Taylor Kitchen joins the show to talk about her journey in motorsports media, from launching the Above the Yellow Line NASCAR podcast and ATYL Media to managing social media at Motorsport. She shares what it's like covering Daytona, memorable moments from race weekend, standout drivers, and the unique atmosphere inside the track. They also discuss Daytona's history, superspeedway fuel-saving strategies, changes in racing and pit stops, and where motorsports media is headed next.

🎙️ Connect with Taylor

🌐 Website: https://www.abovetheyellowline.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ATYLMedia ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ATYLMedia

🎧 Connect with Marvin

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ 📸 In The Mix Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 Sponsors

1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

Bensink Rotary Broom 🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20

1-800 Stencil / RAE Products 🌐 https://rae-products.com/

Brunt Workwear 🌐 https://www.bruntworkwear.com/ 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

Jobber 🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎁 Free 14-Day Trial + 20% off Jobber for 6 months.

1st Phorm 🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 📦 Free shipping on orders over $75.

Portable Lighting Solutions 🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

KM International 🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

Bulk Source 🌐 https://bulksource.com/

TruTec – AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

About In The Mix

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who comprise it, and the organizations that make it up. We also talk about the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, heavy equipment, and other trades with great guests from across the industry.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we cover asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers.

We also discuss entrepreneurship, staying motivated, overcoming the challenges of owning a business, working in the asphalt trade, and great stories from our industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #Dirtworld #Linestriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

Chris Walsh ("Chris the Striping Guy") joins Marvin to discuss his parking lot maintenance business (crack sealing, sealcoating, striping) and their meetup at PAVE/X in New Orleans. Chris explains how he went from working multiple low-wage jobs to starting a striping business after learning from YouTube, then documenting his work and building an education/consulting income stream as people repeatedly asked for help. They talk about industry criticism, the value of free content, and why active contractors make better advisors than "gurus." Chris details a recent incident where a caller offering SEO services allegedly posted multiple fake one-star Google reviews and demanded $200 to remove them; Chris documented the calls/texts, posted public replies, and the reviews were ultimately removed with audience support.

🎙️ Connect with Chris

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_thestripingguy/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStripingGuy

🎓 How to Stripe Training: https://fse1.kartra.com/page/HTS

🎧 Connect with Marvin

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 Sponsors 🎨 1-800 Stencil Products

📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

🧹 Bensink

🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

📐 Moasure

🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20 through Marvin's link.

🛣️ 1-800 Stencil / RAE Products

🌐 https://rae-products.com/

👢 Brunt Workwear

🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

💻 Jobber

🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎁 Get a free 14-day trial and 20% off Jobber for six months.

💪 1st Phorm

🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 📦 Get free shipping on orders over $75.

💡 Portable Lighting Solutions

🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

🔥 KM International

🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

🚛 Cemen Tech

🌐 https://cementech.com/

🪨 Bulk Source

🌐 https://bulksource.com/

🤖 TruTec — AI Paving Takeoffs

🌐 https://trutec.ai/

💙 Dream On 3

🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

🎙️ About In The Mix

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who comprise it, and the organizations that help it thrive. We also talk about the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, and other skilled trades with great guests from across the industry.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we discuss asphalt paving, asphalt sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, asphalt milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers.

We also explore how to stay motivated, overcome the challenges of owning a business, build a career in the asphalt trade, and learn from great stories throughout our industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #Dirtworld #LineStriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

On In The Mix, Marvin Joles, Jennifer Brigman and Jerry Corder of Merlo America discuss the company's growing U.S. presence ahead of ConExpo. They highlight Merlo's telehandlers, attachments, versatile applications, dealer support, warranty, training, parts availability, ConExpo plans, and partnership with race car driver James Roe. They also reflect on changing contractor needs, new technology, the next generation, and growing diversity in the industry.

🚜 CONNECT WITH MERLO AMERICA

🌐 Website: https://www.merlo.com/usa/en/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlogroupamerica/

🎙️ CONNECT WITH MARVIN

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com

📸 Marvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/

📸 In The Mix on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

🖌️ 1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

🧹 Bensink 🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

🚧 PaveCo National 📞 1-866-PAVEMENT 🌐 https://paveco.com/

📏 Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20 through Marvin's link.

🎨 1-800 Stencil / RAE Products 🌐 https://rae-products.com/

🥾 BRUNT Workwear 🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

📋 Jobber 🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎁 Receive a free 14-day trial and 20% off Jobber for six months.

💪 1st Phorm 🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 📦 Receive free shipping on orders over $75.

💡 Portable Lighting Solutions 🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

🔥 KM International 🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

🚛 Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

🏗️ Bulk Source 🌐 https://bulksource.com/

🤖 TruTec – AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

💙 Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 VISIT IN THE MIX ONLINE

https://inthemixmj.com

🎧 ABOUT IN THE MIX

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who comprise it, and the organizations that keep it moving forward.

We also explore the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, heavy equipment, and other trades through conversations with outstanding guests.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we cover asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers.

We also discuss staying motivated, overcoming the challenges of owning a business, working in the asphalt trade, and sharing great stories from our industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #DirtWorld #LineStriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

Marvin interviews Bianca of Crosswalks Collective LA, a guerrilla urbanist group painting crosswalks to make Los Angeles safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. Bianca explains how they choose locations, mimic city standards, and respond to citations, fines, and removals. They also discuss infrastructure inequities, the city's reactive approach to safety, community support, and how others can bring similar projects to their neighborhoods.

🚸 Connect with Crosswalks Collective LA

🌐 Website: https://crosswalksla.org/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crosswalksla/

🎙️ Connect with Marvin Joles

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com 📸 Marvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ 📸 In The Mix on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 Sponsors 🎨 1-800 Stencil Products

📞 Phone: 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

🧹 Bensink

🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

🛣️ PaveCo National

📞 Phone: 1-866-PAVEMENT 🌐 https://paveco.com/

📏 Moasure

🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Offer: Save $20.

🎨 1-800 Stencil / RAE Products

🌐 https://rae-products.com/

🥾 Brunt Workwear

🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

📋 Jobber

🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎁 Start a free 14-day trial and receive 20% off Jobber for six months.

💪 1st Phorm

🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 📦 Receive free shipping on orders over $75.

💡 Portable Lighting Solutions

🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

🚧 KM International

🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

🚛 Cemen Tech

🌐 https://cementech.com/

🪨 Bulk Source

🌐 https://bulksource.com/

🤖 TruTec | AI Paving Takeoffs

🌐 https://trutec.ai/

💙 Dream On 3

🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

The In The Mix podcast highlights the asphalt industry, the people who comprise it, and the organizations that keep it moving. We also explore the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, and other skilled trades through conversations with outstanding guests.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we discuss asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers. We also share stories about staying motivated, overcoming the challenges of business ownership, working in the asphalt trade, and building a successful career in the industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #DirtWorld #LineStriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

Marvin welcomes Jack from TestFit.io to explore how the platform helps contractors, engineers, and designers quickly create and optimize parking layouts. Jack demonstrates parcel mapping, editable site boundaries, ADA and EV spaces, landscaped islands, generative design, and exports to PDF, CAD, and SketchUp. They also discuss how faster layouts reduce revisions and help contractors quote and win work more efficiently.

🔗 Connect with Jack and TestFit

🌐 Website: https://www.testfit.io/ 💼 Jack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackjoers/

🎙️ Connect with Marvin

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com 📸 Marvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ 📸 In The Mix on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 Sponsors

1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

Bensink 🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

PaveCo National 📞 1-866-PAVEMENT 🌐 https://paveco.com/

Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20 through Marvin's link.

1-800 Stencil / RAE Products 🌐 https://rae-products.com/

Brunt Workwear 🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

Jobber 🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles Start a free 14-day trial and receive 20% off Jobber for six months.

1st Phorm 🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix Receive free shipping on orders over $75.

Portable Lighting Solutions 🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

KM International 🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

Bulk Source 🌐 https://bulksource.com/

TruTec | AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, including the people and organizations that make it what it is. We also explore the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, the skilled trades, and the stories of the people building successful businesses.

Topics include asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design, line striping, heavy equipment, business ownership, motivation, and overcoming the challenges of working in the asphalt trade.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #DirtWorld #LineStriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

Host Marvin Joles welcomes Brandon Noel, asphalt industry editor and creator of the No Edge Lines video series, for a conversation about storytelling, safety, and the future of the industry. Brandon shares how he highlights the people behind the work, why podcasts and video are changing industry communication, and how road work remains a serious safety concern. They also discuss NAPA advocacy, conference season, private equity, ESOPs, and the growing influence of blue-collar workers.

🔗 Connect with Brandon

🌐 Website: https://www.asphalt.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asphaltcontractor

🎙️ Connect with Marvin

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com 📸 Marvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ 📸 In The Mix on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🤝 Sponsors 1-800 Stencil Products

📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

Bensink

🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

PaveCo National

🌐 https://paveco.com/ 📞 1-866-PAVEMENT

Moasure

🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20 through Marvin's link.

RAE Products

🌐 https://rae-products.com/

BRUNT Workwear

🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🏷️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout.

Jobber

🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎉 Get a free 14-day trial and 20% off Jobber for six months.

1st Phorm

🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 📦 Get free shipping on orders over $75.

Portable Lighting Solutions

🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

KM International

🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

Cemen Tech

🌐 https://cementech.com/

Bulk Source

🌐 https://bulksource.com/

TruTec AI Paving Takeoffs

🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3

🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit In The Mix Online

https://inthemixmj.com

🚧 About In The Mix

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, including the people, businesses and organizations that keep it moving.

We also explore the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship and other skilled trades through conversations with great guests.

Topics include asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design and line striping for residential and commercial projects. We also discuss motivation, business ownership and the challenges and success stories that come from working in the asphalt trade.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #DirtWorld #LineStriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

On "In the Mix," Marvin welcomes Three and Jackie Carpenter, authors of "People First," to discuss workforce turnover as boomers retire and younger "digital natives" enter skilled trades and hospitality. They argue the biggest gap isn't technology but interpersonal skills, and leaders must teach and model basics like eye contact, communication, and positive attitudes rather than assuming them. The Carpenters emphasize that retention hinges on the employee experience—feeling respected, supported, and cared for—more than pay alone, and suggest hiring a culture-focused leader when owners aren't naturally people-first. They caution that AI is a tool that can boost efficiency but shouldn't replace critical thinking or human connection, and recommend starting with a simple employee survey and improving one issue at a time while maintaining an internal focus on culture.

🔗 Connect with Three & Jackie Carpenter

🌐 Website: https://threeandjackie.com/

📘 Purchase People First: The 5 Steps to Pure Human Connection and a Thriving Organization: https://www.amazon.com/People-First-Connection-Thriving-Organization/dp/B09L321YDP/

🎙️ Connect with Marvin

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/

📸 In The Mix Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

🙌 Sponsors

1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

Bensink 🌐 https://bensinkrotarybroom.com/

PaveCo National 📞 1-866-PAVEMENT 🌐 https://paveco.com/

Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20

1800Stencil / RAE Products 🌐 https://rae-products.com/

Brunt 🌐 https://www.BruntWorkwear.com 🎟️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout

Jobber 🌐 https://go.getjobber.com/Marvinjoles 🎟️ Promo: Free 14-day trial and 20% off Jobber for 6 months

1st Phorm 🌐 http://1stphorm.com/inthemix 🚚 Free shipping on orders over $75

Portable Lighting Solutions 🌐 https://portablelightingsolutions.net/

KM International 🌐 https://www.kminternational.com/

Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

Bulk Source 🌐 https://bulksource.com/

TruTec, AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

🌐 Visit Us Online

https://inthemixmj.com

🎧 About The Show

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who make it great, and the organizations that help move it forward.

We also talk about the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, and other trades with great guests. When it comes to the world of asphalt, we cover asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, patching, milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers.

We also discuss motivation, the challenges of owning your own business, working in the asphalt trade, and great stories from our industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #Dirtworld #Linestriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.

In this episode of In the Mix, the host talks with Dusty Bailey (Asphalt Space Ranger) about the tight-knit online paving community and how high-quality social media content has raised the bar for showcasing asphalt work. Dusty explains how he got into the industry at 19 through his dad, started on a tennis-court crew, worked up through tasks like running a tack wagon and dumping trucks, and eventually became a paver operator, describing his early jobs and daily routine starting before dawn. They discuss the industry's workforce challenges as boomers retire, the value of making paving look "cool" to attract younger workers, and the pride and family legacy behind the trade. Dusty shares filming and editing habits, advice for posting without hurting production, the hardest parts of operating a paver, a miserable end-of-season job with injuries and winter conditions, and closes with a focus on safety and getting the crew home safe.

Connect with Dusty 🚀

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asphalt_space_ranger/

Connect with Marvin 🎙️

🌐 Website: https://inthemixmj.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinjoles/ 📸 In The Mix Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemixmj/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixmj 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marvinjoles 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-joles-4b1b73130/

Sponsors 🙌

1-800 Stencil Products 📞 1-800-783-6245 🌐 https://1800stencil.com/

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Moasure 🌐 https://moasu.re/Marvin 💰 Save $20

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Brunt Workwear 🌐 www.BruntWorkwear.com 🎟️ Promo Code: MJOLES10 💰 Save $10 on new orders of $60 or more at checkout

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Cemen Tech 🌐 https://cementech.com/

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TruTec - AI Paving Takeoffs 🌐 https://trutec.ai/

Dream On 3 🌐 https://dreamon3.org/

Visit Us Online 🌐

https://inthemixmj.com

The In The Mix podcast highlights the entire asphalt industry, the people who make it great, and the organizations that keep it moving. We also talk about the Dirt World, construction, entrepreneurship, and other trades with great guests from across the industry.

When it comes to the world of asphalt, we cover asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack sealing, asphalt patching, asphalt milling, hot-mix asphalt design, and line striping for residential and commercial customers. We also discuss motivation, the challenges of owning your own business, working in the asphalt trade, and great stories from our industry and beyond.

#AsphaltPaving #Blacktop #Asphalt #Sealcoating #Construction #HeavyEquipment #Dirtworld #Linestriping

© Marvin Joles, LLC, 2026. All rights reserved.