What does it actually take to make it in the trades?

What is the industry getting wrong about the next generation coming up behind us?

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Josh Nieves, a New York City-raised IBEW Local 3 master electrician and the youngest card-carrying superintendent in the local's 15,000-member history. Josh's father, a Light Heavyweight Golden Glove champion turned signatory contractor, had maintenance contracts inside both World Trade Center towers on 9/11 and survived only because of a doctor's appointment that morning. Years later, at 24 years old, Josh got the call to be sub-foreman on the Freedom Tower while standing on top of the Empire State Building looking directly at the build.

Together, Josh and Ryan dig into what a real union meeting looks like when brotherhood is alive and well, the leadership gap that's quietly eroding organized labor from the inside, why Josh sold his brand new house to buy a 160-acre farm in search of purpose, how he built a coaching practice and workforce development career from a single LinkedIn post, and what every contractor needs to hear about recruiting the next generation.

Topics covered:

• The Freedom Tower call that came in while Josh was standing on the Empire State Building
• What an IBEW Local 3 union meeting felt like at 18: "a scene out of Goodfellas"
• The CBA gut check Josh ran with 80 field leaders, and what it revealed about union leadership today
• Why the skills gap is really a leadership gap and what the difference looks like in practice
• The boxing analogy every aspiring leader in the trades needs to hear
• Why "construction workers don't want another pizza party", and what they actually want
• How to flip the recruiting question from "why should I hire you?" to "why should I come work for you?"
• Mental health in the trades and why the industry can't keep sitting back

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⚡️GUEST: JOSH NIEVES⚡️

LinkedIn: ⁠Josh Nieves⁠

Instagram: ⁠@joshnieves_

🎙️HOST: RYAN LUCAS🎙️

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠[email protected]

What does it really mean to be union, and what does it take to make the brotherhood worth fighting for?

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Lori Maclean, a former BC Hydro HR professional and IBEW Local 258 staff member turned business manager candidate, who brings a rare dual perspective from both sides of the table. As a mother of two journeyman linemen, Lori's connection to the trade runs deep, and she doesn't hold back on what it takes to strengthen the union from the inside out.

Together, they dig into what a strong hall really looks like, why brotherhood and community are the IBEW's greatest assets, how mental health support needs to become a bigger priority for the union, and why showing up for your members has to mean more than just showing up at contract time.

Topics covered:

• What a strong union hall actually looks like
• Why the Brotherhood is the IBEW's most important brand asset
• How community and connection have eroded, and how to get it back
• Mental health in the trades and why the union needs to lead the charge
• The unique perspective of raising two journeyman linemen
• Communication in the line trade and why unclear communication costs lives
• What the IBEW does well and where the real opportunity lies

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

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Instagram:  ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠

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HOST: RYAN LUCAS

Instagram: ⁠@ryanwlucas⁠

TikTok: ⁠@ryanwlucas⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠Ryan Lucas⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: [email protected]

April 18th is National Lineman Appreciation Day.

This episode is for the ones who got the call at 2 in the morning.

The ones who kissed their sleeping kids on the forehead and drove toward the storm.

This is a solo episode, no guest, just Ryan. Short and intentional.

Because some things don't need to be long. They just need to be true.

Ryan draws on 15 years in the trade, responding to storms across North America and performing barehand work on energized 500kV lines, to talk about what linemen actually do, what they give up, and why the trade gets into your blood and stays there.

He also speaks directly to the linemen listening, the ones who never needed a parade, but deserve to hear it said clearly: thank you.

If you're a lineman, or you love one, share this.

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

Hit up our website here: https://www.powerlinepodcast.com/

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HOST: RYAN LUCAS

Instagram: @ryanwlucas

TikTok: @ryanwlucas

LinkedIn: Ryan Lucas

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: [email protected]

What does it actually take to step into the workforce and earn respect from day one?

In this special panel episode, Ryan hosts a diverse group of leaders at the LazyQ Ranch for a candid conversation with high school rodeo athletes preparing to enter the world beyond the arena.

The panel brings together a World Champion Barrel Racer, Jordon Briggs, a 24-Time World Champion Roper, Jackie Crawford, a Marine Corps Veteran & Quanta Services Veteran Advisor, Donny Farmer, a 26-Year Journeyman Lineman & Quanta Services Superintendent, Kyle Seaward, and a 28-Year Journeyman Lineman & Quanta Energized Services Advisor, Rob Mitchell, all sharing the hard-earned lessons they wish someone had told them starting out.

Together they dig into what real leadership looks like before you ever get a job title, how your reputation will follow you everywhere in a trade that's smaller than you think, why emotional control is a skill as important as any technical one, and how gratitude, punctuality, and follow-through can separate you from the crowd faster than talent alone.

Topics covered:

• What leadership looks like without a title
• Behaviors that build trust fast — and destroy it faster
• Why your reputation will beat you to the next job site
• Controlling emotions under pressure — breathing, preparation, and mindset
• Communication skills that can save lives in the line trade
• Why gratitude is a daily practice, not a feeling
• Advice from five high-performers on what they'd tell their younger selves

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

Hit up our website here: ⁠⁠https://www.powerlinepodcast.com/⁠⁠

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

TikTok:  ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

LinkedIn:  ⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠

X:  ⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠

HOST: RYAN LUCAS

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

What would you do if you lost your leg at 15 and then decided to become a lineman?

That's exactly what Brandon Crawford did.

Born and raised in Arkansas, Brandon lost his leg below the knee in an ATV accident the week before 10th grade. Doctors gave his family a choice: amputate now, or try to save it and risk losing it anyway. They chose to try and he lost it regardless. He never looked back.

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Brandon for a raw, honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a life in this trade when the odds are stacked against you. Brandon talks about climbing poles on a prosthetic leg, earning respect the hard way, his battle with PTSD, and why his wife's ultimatum may have saved his life. He opens up about storm work, brotherhood, the guys who shaped him, and why he's passionate about safety culture and training the next generation the right way.

This isn't an inspirational poster. It's a real story about a real lineman and it'll hit home for anyone who's ever been told what they can't do.

Topics covered:

• Losing his leg at 15 and the road back.
• Why he chose linework and how he convinced a school to let him try.
• Climbing poles on a prosthetic and the adaptations nobody talks about.
• PTSD, mental health, and the moment his wife changed everything.
• Storm work, brotherhood, and the bonds the trade builds.
• Safety culture — training vs. policing, and why the difference matters.
• Why he wants to be an instructor and give back to the next generation.

✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️

Hit up our website here: ⁠⁠https://www.powerlinepodcast.com/⁠⁠

📱FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱

Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

TikTok:  ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@powerlinepodcast⁠⁠

LinkedIn:  ⁠⁠⁠Powerline Podcast⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@Powerline-Podcast⁠⁠

X:  ⁠⁠@PowerlinePodcst⁠⁠

HOST: RYAN LUCAS

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@ryanwlucas⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Ryan Lucas⁠⁠

💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Ryan sits down with JJ Harrison, pro rodeo clown, master communicator, and Quanta Services ambassador for one of the most unexpected and inspiring conversations in Powerline Podcast history.JJ has spent 20+ years performing at the highest levels of pro rodeo, including the National Finals. He's a stand-up comedian on the world's most dangerous stage, dodging bulls while keeping thousands entertained. But underneath the painted face and the football bits is a former schoolteacher with a master's degree, a guy who really gets people, and has found a powerful mission bridging the rodeo world with the skilled trades.In this episode, JJ breaks down what it takes to communicate like a pro, how crew culture in the arena mirrors life on a job site, what "crew flu" does to a team, and why he's all-in on Quanta Services and the Quanta Express stagecoach program. He talks about the line school at LazyQ, scholarships for the next generation, and why linemen deserve the same celebration as soldiers and first responders.Topics covered:- JJ's path from teacher to rodeo clown to Quanta ambassador.- Communication skills every tradesman needs.- Crew culture, "crew flu," and team-first leadership.- The Quanta Express stagecoach and its mission in the trades.- LazyQ Ranch line school and next-gen workforce development.- Why supply and demand makes the trades the best career decision right now.- Physical longevity, recovery, and why you have to keep moving.✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️ Hit up our website here:https://www.powerlinepodcast.com/ 📱FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱TikTok:  / powerlinepodcast Instagram:  / powerlinepodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn:  / powerline-podcast Twitter:  / powerlinepodcst HOST: RYAN LUCASInstagram: / ryanwlucas TikTok: / ryanwlucas 💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Tyrel Crystal for a candid conversation that bridges the gap between the line side and the civil/underground world and why understanding each other’s work matters more than ever.Tyrel shares what it’s been like watching the “door get kicked open” with Quanta-level opportunity, going from underground utilities and civil work into larger-scale projects like ROW development, pad sites, pole sites, and major infrastructure builds. From leadership lessons to real talk about discipline, communication, and growth, this one is packed with takeaways you can apply on any crew, in any craft.In this episode we get into:- What civil + underground crews do that line crews don’t always see- How Quanta opens up a bigger “menu” of opportunities (and what you do with it)- The Elite Foreman conversation: leadership, trust, and why foremen are the “quarterbacks”- Why discipline beats motivation (and what that looks like on the job)- Saying yes to the little reps that lead to the big rooms- How line + civil teams can work better together through effective communication.- What Tyrel is most excited about heading into 2026: data centers, gas/power generation, aging infrastructure, and long-run utility replacement.- What kind of people crews need right now: attitude, work ethic, humility, willingness to learnIf you’re a foreman (or want to be), a young hand trying to level up, or someone who wants a clearer picture of how these projects come together, this one’s for you.✌️SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE ✌️ Hit up our website here:https://www.powerlinepodcast.com/ 📱FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA📱TikTok:  / powerlinepodcast Instagram:  / powerlinepodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn:  / powerline-podcast Twitter:  / powerlinepodcst HOST: RYAN LUCASInstagram: / ryanwlucas TikTok: / ryanwlucas 💥INQUIRIES OR GUEST SUGGESTION💥Email: [email protected]

In October 2025, Hudson and I attended the International Lineman’s Rodeo.

At the time, he had just graduated high school. College didn’t feel like the right path. He was unsure what came next. Like so many young people today, he felt the weight of expectation but not the clarity of direction.

In this episode, we sit down and talk honestly about where he’s at.

We talk about school. ADHD. Dyslexia. Pressure. Identity. The experience at the Rodeo. What surprised him. What shifted. And what he thinks his next steps might be.

This isn’t a polished success story.

It’s a real conversation about being 18 and trying to figure out your life.

If you’re young and unsure what comes next, this episode is for you.

If you’re a parent navigating these conversations at home, this episode is for you.

If you believe there are meaningful paths outside the traditional college route, this episode is for you.

Sometimes clarity doesn’t come all at once.

Sometimes it starts with a conversation.

Jesse McKeral isn’t just a lineman.

He’s a teacher. A safety leader. And one of the most recognizable voices in the trade online through his platform @afewclickslow.

In this episode of the Powerline Podcast, we talk about:

• What mentors did right and wrong when we were coming up

• The biggest mistakes apprentices are making today

• Why safety and operations shouldn’t be at odds

• What linemen misunderstand about moving into leadership

• How social media is changing the way the trade learns

• And why visibility matters more than ever for the future of linework

Jesse shares honest lessons from the pole, the classroom, and the safety side of the industry.

If you care about training better apprentices, building trust in safety roles, and elevating the next generation of linemen this one’s for you.

In this episode of Powerline Podcast, I sit down with Alex Lacey to talk about leadership, risk, and why communication – not compliance – is what actually keeps crews safe.

We unpack the current state of safety in the trades, why memorizing rules isn’t the same as understanding risk, and how complacency quietly creeps into even the most experienced crews.

Alex breaks down how leaders can explain risk in a way that actually lands, what the data says that most people miss, and why culture ultimately determines whether a crew thrives or drifts into cruise control.

🎧 Topics include:

• Why understanding risk matters more than memorizing procedures

• What causes complacency in experienced workers

• The communication gap between leadership and the field

• How to build honest bottom-up dialogue

• Coaching people out of cruise-control mode

• Leadership habits that immediately improve crew safety

• Personal growth and mindset in high-risk industries

This episode is for foremen, supervisors, safety professionals, and anyone who wants to lead people–not just enforce rules.