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🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we spotlight the fearless innovators who shaped the trades — and the world.

What if we told you one deaf engineer made skyscrapers possible?

Today, we’re diving into the wild, dramatic story of Elisha Otis — the man who invented the safety elevator and literally changed the shape of cities forever.

💥 Join Lia as she unpacks:

• The chaotic, dangerous world of elevators before Otis
• Why skyscrapers were impossible until one invention changed everything
• Otis’s crazy live demo that went viral before the internet existed
• What it takes to turn an idea into a life-saving, world-changing product
• Why elevator mechanics deserve more respect (hint: it’s not all button-pushing)
• How one man’s guts and grit gave rise to New York’s skyline

This episode has it all — invention, danger, history, and a healthy dose of Sparky sass. If you’ve ever been in an elevator (spoiler: you have), you owe this man a thank-you.

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⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:03:16 – Welcome to Sparky Life

00:03:39 – Meet Elijah Otis: Elevator Game-Changer

00:04:43 – Elevators Before Otis: Actual Death Traps

00:05:51 – The Invention That Changed Everything

00:07:03 – Otis’s Safety Brake Explained

00:09:02 – The 1854 Elevator Stunt That Shook NYC

00:11:29 – How Otis Elevators Took Over the World

00:12:55 – Legacy of a Deaf Inventor Who Stared Down Gravity

00:14:09 – The Trades That Keep the World Moving

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

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🚐💥 Discover the Skilled Trade That Pays $100K+ — No College Degree Needed!
In this episode of Sparky Life, Lia Lamela (Queen of Construction 👷‍♀⚡) interviews Curtis Hemmeler, a leading voice in the RV service world, to reveal why becoming an RV Technician might be the most underrated career path in the skilled trades.

Whether you're a student, career changer, or just trade-curious, this episode unpacks:
✅ What an RV Technician really does
✅ How to get trained (even with zero experience)
✅ Why this trade offers mobility, freedom, and six-figure earning potential
✅ Scholarships and opportunities for women and second-chance trainees
✅ Why RV techs are in HUGE demand right now

🎓 No degree? No problem.
💪 Hands-on work, people-first impact, and job security await.

Want to break free from the desk and build a career that travels with you?
👉 Hit play. This might be your sign.

🔗 Subscribe to Sparky Life for more stories from the trades!
https://www.youtube.com/@sparkylifeoflia

🎙 Listen to the podcast on the go: [insert podcast link]

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#RVTechnician #SkilledTrades #CareerChange #WomenInTrades #SparkyLifePodcast #TradesJobs #BlueCollarBoom #RVLife #RVTechCareer

💬 Pinned Comment (First Comment to Spark Engagement)

🚨 RV Techs are in MASSIVE demand!
What part of this career surprised you the most —
💰 Six-figure potential?
🛠 No experience required?
🚐 The freedom to travel?

👇 Drop your thoughts or questions for Curtis below!
🎧 And don’t forget to subscribe for more real stories from the trades.

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Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we shine a spotlight on the grittiest, gutsiest careers in the skilled trades — and sometimes even the deadliest.

Everyone says skilled trades are dangerous… but which one tops the list?

You won’t believe it — because it’s not what you think.

💥 In this wild and witty episode, Lia reveals the most dangerous skilled trade in America — and no, it’s not electricians, roofers, or deep-sea fishing crews. It’s… loggers.

Yep, the folks who take down trees and keep your homes, floors, and toilet paper stocked.

Join Lia as she dives into:

• The real risks behind America’s deadliest blue collar job 😳
• Chainsaws, bears, and zero cell service — what logging really looks like
• How high-tech machines (yes, like Transformers) are changing the game
• What logging pays, and whether it’s worth the danger
• Why loggers are essential and why we literally can’t live without them
• Who thrives in this career — and who should stay far away

It’s part thrill ride, part PSA, and all blue collar badassery. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or just love learning about skilled trades that keep the world running — you don’t want to miss this one.

⸻

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 – Welcome to Sparky Life

00:00:28 – What’s the Most Dangerous Skilled Trade?

00:00:53 – It’s Logging! (Wait… what?)

00:01:22 – What Loggers Actually Do

00:02:09 – Logging Goes High Tech

00:03:01 – Just How Dangerous Is Logging?

00:04:10 – Fatality Rates & Real Stats

00:05:18 – Who Would Choose This Job?

00:06:16 – Pay, Perks, and the Power of Grit

00:06:44 – Pros and Cons of Logging

00:07:37 – Who Should Consider This Career

00:08:27 – What If Loggers Disappeared Tomorrow?

00:09:23 – Logging Isn’t Just a Job — It’s a Legacy

00:10:14 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

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📲 Stay Connected:

Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia

TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

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🛠 Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse

Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m

Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we challenge everything you’ve been told about success, college, and the so-called “right” career path. If you’ve ever felt lost, lied to, or stuck in a soul-sucking cubicle — this one’s for you.

This episode is a wake-up call.

You’ve been fed a fairytale — go to college, find your passion, land a job, live happily ever after. But here’s the truth: That system is broken, and Lia’s here to show you the way out.

💥 Lia gets raw about:

• How the education system sets young people up for debt and disappointment
• Why “following your passion” is nonsense without real-world experience
• How skilled trades flipped her life from homeless shelter to financial freedom
• Why apprenticeships are the real golden ticket — get paid to learn, no debt required
• Eye-popping salary comparisons: skilled trades vs. college grads
• Why AI is replacing office jobs — but not electricians, welders, and tower crane operators
• What it really takes to succeed in trades as an adult starting from zero

This is your permission to quit the cubicle.

To throw out the script.

To choose a path that actually pays — in dollars, dignity, and freedom.

⸻

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Welcome to Sparky Life

00:01:05 - “I Don’t Know What I Want to Be When I Grow Up”

00:03:42 - The Lie of the 4-Year Degree

00:06:10 - The Student Loan Trap

00:08:30 - The Labor Shortage = Your Opportunity

00:11:25 - Getting Paid to Learn in the Trades

00:13:45 - “It’s Like Hogwarts… with Welding Torches”

00:17:15 - Office Politics vs. On-the-Job Promotions

00:20:00 - AI Is Coming… but Not for Skilled Labor

00:22:40 - Construction Careers: High-Tech, High-Pay

00:26:00 - Real Numbers: What Tradespeople Are Earning Today

00:29:55 - The Power of Practical Skills

00:33:00 - Lia’s Journey: From Women’s Shelter to 6 Figures

00:36:45 - Final Message: The Opportunity Is Yours

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

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📲 Stay Connected:

Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia

TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

⸻

🛠 Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse

Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m

Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life — your backstage pass to the real, raw, and unapologetic world of blue collar greatness, high-octane relationships, and careers that challenge the status quo.

Today, we’re getting real about something most people only whisper about…What do blue collar wives really think about women entering the trades?

Join Lia and Chelsea as they explore:

• What blue collar wives actually think about women working alongside their husbands
• The hilarious (and awkward) moments that happen when trust is tested on the job site
• Chelsea’s real-life blue collar love story and how she met her husband — it’s swoon-worthy 😍
• Why traditional gender roles might just be the secret to lasting love and a happy home
• The beauty and balance of modern-day, high-respect masculine/feminine relationships
• The power of decompressing before walking through the door — and how that 15-minute car moment changes everything

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

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👩‍🦰 Guest Name: Chelsea aka The Blue Collar Wife

IG: @Chelsea.0929

🎙 Listen to her podcast: Hanging with the Hays

⸻

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Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life — your official backstage pass to the world of dirty jobs, high paychecks, and careers that make your relatives go, "You do what for a living?!"

Today, we’re answering a BIG question:
Who makes the most money in the skilled trades?

💥 Think electricians rule the skilled trades paycheck game? Think again! In this episode of the Sparky Life Podcast, we reveal the surprising kings and queens of high-paying skilled trades — elevator and escalator mechanics — who often make over $100K a year without a college degree!

Join Lia as she dives into:

• The day-in-the-life of an elevator mechanic (spoiler: it's way more badass than you think 🚀)
• Why elevator mechanics are called the "ghosts" of the skilled trades
• The real reason more people aren’t jumping into this career (hint: it’s not the hard work)
• How to get into the NEIEP apprenticeship program and start building a 6-figure future
• Hidden perks like union benefits, pensions, millionaire retirement plans, and more!

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

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📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia
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⸻
🛠️ Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse
Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m
Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: A devastating fire. Locked doors. No escape. This episode tells the shocking true story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—one of the deadliest workplace disasters in American history—and how it reshaped fire codes, safety laws, and the future of skilled trades.

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

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SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

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📲 Stay Connected:
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TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

⸻
🛠️ Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse
Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m
Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE - Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: In this raw and inspiring conversation, Lia sits down with Bobby Armstrong – an HVAC technician, entrepreneur, and all-around badass – who opens up about his wild ride through the trades, from childhood struggles to launching his own business.

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on SPOTIFY

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SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

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📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia
TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

⸻
🛠️ Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse
Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m
Use code SH5 for 5% off!

⸻

🎧 Don’t Miss This If You’re:

• In the trades or considering a career in them
• Battling stereotypes or burnout
• Curious how real people build freedom through skilled work
• Ready to be inspired (or laugh at a pee bottle in the wall)

Support the show

Special thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse – Get the best tools & supplies! https://www.supplyhouse.com

Welcome to the Sparky Life podcast with your host, Lia Lamela! In this episode, we dive into a crucial topic that everyone should be aware of: the coming biggest recession in United States history and why construction workers and skilled trade professionals are positioned to be the ultimate survivors. We break down the economic storm, the fascinating theory of K-waves, and discuss how events and figures like Warren Buffett's cash holdings and the presidency of Donald Trump play a role.

Tune in to understand:

• Why historical cycles and market trends point towards an economic downturn.
• The significance of the Kondratiev wave (K-wave) and what past cycles tell us.
• Why the slowing housing market, inflation, and corporate layoffs are key indicators.
• The potential impact of Donald Trump's presidency on the timing and severity of the crash.
• Crucially, why construction jobs are recession-proof.
• Actionable strategies for those in the skilled trades to not just survive, but thrive during an economic downturn, including getting more certifications, building a strong network, and managing your finances wisely.

This is a must-listen for anyone in the construction industry or considering a career in the skilled trades!

Socials:

📲 Follow me on social media for more adventures:
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦:     https://www.instagram.com/sparkylifeoflia
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤:       https://www.facebook.com/thesparkylifepodcast

Youtube: @sparkylifeoflia

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Ever wondered why you should NEVER take the elevator during a fire in a high-rise? This video dives deep into the life-saving technology of elevator recall and the critical role it plays in fire safety.

Learn why elevator recall is one of the most important fire safety systems in a building and how it's designed to prevent you from unknowingly entering a dangerous situation.

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SupplyHouse – Get the best tools & supplies!: https://www.supplyhouse.com

Don't forget to subscribe for more insights into the builders of our civilization and the technologies that keep us safe! Drop a comment below with "fire alarm" if you found this episode fiery!

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