PSA Sunday Sitdown

I brought a camera down to our machine shop and sat down with the guys who make the stuff the rest of us just draw on a screen.

No script, no talking points, no marketing person hovering. Just seven guys, one iPhone, and about forty minutes of what actually happens down there. We got into what a typical day looks like, which turns out to be a lie, because there's no such thing. We talked about hot jobs showing up ten minutes after the phone call, taking on work other shops would laugh at, and the part nobody outside the shop ever sees: standing in front of a finished assembly going "how did we pull that off."

Also covered: what music is playing depends entirely on which corner of the shop you're standing in and what day of the week it is. There's a death metal corner. There's mariachi. Friday is hip hop. This is apparently non-negotiable.

There's a running joke about our real expertise being turning holes into slots. There's a $300 end mill that somebody broke and nobody yelled about, which says more about the culture here than anything I could put in a brochure. And there's the line that gave this one its name, plus the correction that followed it, which is the funniest thing in the whole episode.

If you've never worked in a shop, this is a pretty honest look at one. If you have, you'll recognize every single person in this room.

Fair warning: a few bleeps. It's a machine shop.

Graham Ginder is the engineer who can trace a product from one tiny bolt to the entire system it powers. If you want to understand how real engineering, project management, and customer problem-solving actually come together, this conversation is packed with the kind of behind-the-scenes insight most people never hear.Graham shares how a meandering path led him to PSA, and why design - not just engineering - has always been his true focus. From CAD work and machine design to product design, systems engineering, and managing projects end to end, he explains how the role of an engineer expands far beyond sitting behind a screen.We break down:- Why the smallest component can determine whether an entire system succeeds or fails- How engineers help bridge the gap between sales, quoting, procurement, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting- Why the "simplest" quote often comes with the most follow-up questions- What it takes to deliver solutions that are accurate, reliable, and actually solve the customer’s problem- How Graham’s career at PSA has exposed him to wildly different projects, from filing cabinet machinery to military applicationsGraham also opens up about Penn State, including the long road through one of the toughest engineering programs in the country, the pressure of the Bryce Jordan Center career fair, and the unforgettable first whiteout that cemented his lifelong fandom. For anyone who loves engineering, Penn State football, or just hearing how people turn technical curiosity into a career, this one delivers.Essential listening if you want a real look at what engineers do when the project, the customer, and the deadline are all moving at once.

Jerry Perez of FANUC America joins the Sunday Sitdown to talk about why cobots were everywhere at Automate 2026, what actually changed with the 2025 collaborative robot safety standards, and why "easy to deploy" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in cobot marketing.

We get into the history of collaborative robots going back to the Baxter days, why most cobot applications aren't really collaborative at all, and the requirement to measure intended and unintended contact forces that a lot of deployed cells probably would not pass. Jerry breaks down where FANUC is positioned with pre-engineered Cobot and Go cells, monthly payment options, and what people actually mean when they say RaaS.

Then we get outside the safety fencing. Jerry wanted to be a high school math and physics teacher, ended up at Michigan studying mechanical engineering and advanced particle physics, and plays jazz piano, drums, and an upright bass he bought for 75 dollars at an art fair. He also tells the story of picking a flyer up off the street in Ann Arbor and catching one of Ray Brown's last live shows.

Find Jerry on LinkedIn, and see FANUC's pre-engineered cobot solutions at crx.fanucamerica.com

What do industrial robots, a good slice of pizza, and a solid watch collection have in common? On this one, more than you'd expect.For episode 10 of the Sunday Sitdown, Josh Horton sits down with Alex Boffi of Kawasaki Robotics, where he leads General Industries Sales. Alex has spent years in and around automation, from high-speed manufacturing to the cobots and humanoids Kawasaki is building now, and he brings a real perspective on where the robotics industry is actually heading versus where the hype says it's going.But this is a Sunday Sitdown, so we don't stay on the factory floor the whole time. The conversation wanders into pizza, watches, and the kind of tangents that make these talks fun. Grab a coffee and settle in.🎙️ Sunday Sitdown with Josh Horton is presented by PSA Systems, a Pennsylvania-based industrial automation systems integrator.👉 Subscribe for a new sit-down every week, and catch the full back catalog on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, Pete Allen shares his extensive experience in robotics, from warehouse automation to humanoid robots, and discusses the strategic approach to bringing innovative robotics solutions to market. We explore how partnerships and honest communication are key to successful deployment in the industry.

You never really know where a Sunday Sitdown is going to end up. This one ended with deviled eggs.David Regan sells cobots for Elite Robots, but that might be the least interesting thing about him. Josh and David skipped the whiteboard, grabbed a golf cart at Springfield Golf Club, and got into the real story: managing jam bands through the 90s, bailing a bass player out of jail in Georgia, a night at the Clinton White House, and a wild path from Capitol Hill to art school to autonomous vehicles to robotics. And then, somehow, the deviled egg empire he is actually planning to build.If you came for the automation, David has a take on cobots turning into a commodity that is worth the whole listen. If you came for the deviled eggs, well. That's it. That's the episode.Recorded in person, on a Sunday, the way it's supposed to be.

Tony Kelbert, engineer, LinkedIn creator, and co-founder of AeroGrowth, joins the PSA Sunday Sitdown for a conversation that covered a lot more ground than we planned for.We start with how Tony went from a 15-year engineering career to building a genuine following on LinkedIn, dig into AI, authenticity, and why he treats AI like an intern instead of an oracle, and end up in a much bigger conversation about problem-solving, personal growth, and what shaped who Tony is today.We also cover:How Tony's very first LinkedIn post came from a random question about a 2005 Scion xBWhy he refuses to let AI write his posts for him, and where he thinks the platform is headedWhat led him from engineering into sales and business coaching with AeroGrowthHow his engineering mindset shows up in problem-solving well beyond the technical sideA very unexpected hobby involving his wife, a tank, and some flesh-eating beetles

Brooke Laing spent five years as a steamfitter and welder. Then a 30-second TikTok about pipe wrenches hit 1.8 million views, and her career took a hard turn.Josh sits down with Brooke to talk about leaving the job site for manufacturing media (she's now working with The Manufacturing Connector, AeroGrowth, and MakingChips), what it's actually like being one of the only women on a shop floor, the knowledge-transfer gap as older tradespeople retire, and her goal to visit 100 machine shops across Ontario before the end of the year.They also get into why she still hasn't met another woman on a shop floor, how the old-timers reacted when she went viral, and the mechanical company she and her fiancé still talk about starting one day.

Most of us overlook the profound lessons hidden in everyday experiences like golf, trades, or even managing a busy family life. Ryan Hanley’s journey from union metal worker to project manager at PSA shows how stepping away from the traditional path can unlock fulfillment, freedom, and unexpected growth. If you're feeling stuck in a career that does not spark joy or questioning the college-to-success narrative, this episode is your wake-up call.Ryan shares the critical decision points that shifted his life, including leaving a stifling union job for a more rewarding role in the trades and finding real joy in working with his hands. You’ll discover how his background in manufacturing shaped his leadership and innovation at PSA, with capabilities ranging from welding to automation. We also explore the misconceptions around skilled trades versus college degrees and why trades can offer a stable, lucrative lifestyle along with a real sense of purpose.Get insights into how golf reflects real-world relationships, how long-term dedication in the trades can lead to leadership opportunities, and how family, career, and personal passions can all fit together. Ryan’s perspective on impact, whether fixing machinery or coaching his kids, highlights the value of purpose and flexibility in today’s work landscape. This episode is perfect for anyone craving a career reset, seeking inspiration outside the usual narrative, or exploring the opportunities available in skilled trades and manufacturing.If you are ready to rethink what success looks like and embrace a path that is both meaningful and rewarding, do not miss this candid conversation. Ryan’s story is a blueprint for redefining your career, your life, and your priorities while still making time for the things that matter most.

What do drones, CNC machine shops, and NATO training exercises have in common? More than you'd think.In this week's PSA Sunday Sitdown, Josh sits down with Danny Lykens to pull back the curtain on one of PSA's most unique capabilities — drone manufacturing.Danny breaks down why PSA is uniquely positioned to build complex, high-mix drone systems at scale, and how the same manufacturing DNA that makes PSA great at "weird things in volume" translates directly into the drone space.The conversation goes deep on the intersection of drone technology, industrial automation, and precision machining — and how those three worlds are converging faster than most people realize.Plus, Danny shares firsthand stories from the team's recent trip to Romania for a NATO red team training exercise, and touches on emerging applications like cloud-seeding that are pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do.Whether you're in manufacturing, defense, or just fascinated by where automation is headed — this one's worth your time.