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The Line
The Line episodes
- Trademark Ft. Joshua Mellott Ep. 123
The definition of the word trademark is simple. It’s a symbol that identifies a company, a product, or a body of work. But at its origin in America, a trademark was something even more personal. It was your mark. It was how you gave your word. It was how you signed a contract, how you did business, how blacksmiths, stonemasons, and silversmiths marked their work so people knew exactly who stood behind it. I’ve always found that interesting. If you ever work with someone who doesn’t want to mark their work, it’s probably worth asking why. Why wouldn’t you want people to know what you built, what you fixed, what you created? This week’s episode is a little different. I’m not sitting down across from a guest. Well, I guess I am. I’m making you the guest. Step up to the line. We want to tell you what we’re doing with Trademark magazine and why. This first issue is titled Leave Your Mark, and the purpose behind it matters. I could try to explain it all in writing, but the reality is that’s why we recorded the podcast. If you want a deeper understanding of why we’re doing this, I open up about some things that aren’t always easy to admit. I ask myself the same questions I ask everyone else. What mistakes have you made? Where have you gotten it wrong? I try to answer honestly, even when it’s uncomfortable.Here’s the truth. Whether you ever listen to the podcast or just read this post, leaving your mark matters. It requires intention. If you’re a business and you’re not telling your story, if you’re not communicating who you are and what you believe, you will struggle to find the right clients and the right people who align with your why. When you communicate your story and build your brand, you begin to attract the people who are aligned with what you’re doing. And when that happens, your work becomes effective on a level that’s hard to explain until you experience it. The podcast is now available wherever you listen. If you’re curious about the heart behind Trademark and why leaving your mark matters, I’d encourage you to tune in. This episode is personal. Step up to the line.
25 min - The Nursery Ft. Chris Maharg Ep. 122
This one was cold. As I write this post, I can still feel it.
I sat down in the snow on a project with Christopher Maharg , Vice President of Legacy Electrical Services Inc. We were out there while his teams worked behind us to complete the project on time and under budget—words clients absolutely love to hear.
We talked about what’s needed in the trades and how his company sometimes feels called to provide a kind of nursery—a place where people can learn, where it’s okay not to have it all figured out, and where those with experience understand that growth takes time. Chris shares some real and honest things about who he is, how he handles situations, and how he and his team are working to build electricians for the next generation.
He challenges others in the field to do the same, because he believes it’s something our industry desperately needs. Now an owner of the construction company he’s been part of for so many years, he reflects on the opportunities he was given. Without what I’ll call those “nursery” seasons, he wouldn’t have come up through the trades with the knowledge, confidence, and ability to make decisions—or to have a vested interest in where the company is going.
I joke about the cold, but we truly believe our studio is the jobsite. We stood in the cold because the men and women who do this work stand in the cold. They work in the heat. They work no matter what to bring projects out of the ground—to build a legacy that you and I get to live in and be a part of.
Their sacrifice is what the trades are all about: serving others for their success in work and in life.
I encourage you to check out this new episode of The Line by Blackline LTD , wherever you listen to podcasts.45 min - Holding The Line Ft. Dan Garcia Ep. 121
The Line… it’s quite an interesting term.
Sometimes it means a podcast where two men sit and have an honest conversation.
Sometimes it’s a line in the sand—things you’re not willing to cross.
Sometimes it’s a line on the battlefield, like Gettysburg, where men stood firm and held the line, refusing to let it be crossed.
In this conversation, Dan Garcia and I are sitting in a farmhouse on the battlefield of Gettysburg as he steps up to the line with me on a podcast about the skilled trades. He shares his non-negotiables in leadership, talks about what he would do differently, and invites me to share those lessons with you.
In this episode with Dan of CW Matthews, we unpack some important leadership truths about building strong teams and making a difference in our industry52 min - Strong Like Iron Ft. Larry Sisco Ep. 120
If you don’t want to micromanage, the simple answer is this: don’t. Because if you’re going to do it anyway, you might as well have done it yourself.
In this conversation with Laurence Sisco of IronStrong Metal Fabrication , we talk about what it really means to build teams—and to build businesses that are strong. Not perfect, but strong. The kind of strength that comes from working through failure, not avoiding it, and using those moments to build people up.
As our businesses grow—and as we age in business—it’s easy to forget this. But building up the people on our teams, and the teams we work alongside, is paramount to long-term success.
It’s hard work. But it’s worth it.
And while we never want to forget that this is a business, we also can’t forget that a business is made up of people—people with lives, families, friends, and responsibilities outside of work. The environments we create as owners, founders, leaders, and operators matter. They matter for the next generation and for those learning and growing in an industry that desperately needs healthy, strong leadership environments.
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WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
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FOLLOW JOSH:
X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD
Website https://www.blacklineltd.com/
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Explore the podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
54 min - The Backyard Ft. Keaton Turner, Thomas Haun, Ryan Sistad, & Lisa Bodine Ep. 119
The Backyard is the final episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard—and it brings the conversation home.
In this episode, we hear from members of the organization, as well as from Ryan Sistad , who leads Better In Our Backyard and serves as the primary leadership voice in this conversation. Ryan shares what he hopes people take away from being part of this work, and why the organization exists—to bring real value to its members and to advocate for something larger than any one company or project: a better backyard for all of us.
At a time when minerals, strategic reserves, and national security dominate the news, this conversation serves as an important reminder. Mining—and the resources beneath our feet—have always played a critical role in sustaining our way of life. That hasn’t changed. What often changes is our awareness of it.
We’ve been honored to walk alongside the Better In Our Backyard team and to better understand the work they’re doing. Our hope is that these conversations uncover something for you as well—reminding us of what matters, what deserves our focus, and why perseverance matters, especially in an industry that knows difficulty and pressure firsthand.
From the entire Blackline team to Better In Our Backyard, thank you—for your leadership, your conviction, and your commitment to helping companies and organizations bring value, raise awareness, and operate responsibly. This is The Backyard—yours and ours. May we all take responsibility for making it a better one.
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WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
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FOLLOW JOSH:
X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD
Website https://www.blacklineltd.com/
-----------------------
Explore the podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
35 min - The Bedrock Ft. Jon Cherry Stephen Donohue & J.T. Starzecki Ep. 118
The Bedrock is where the resources sit—and what everything above it is built on. It’s what we build with, and ultimately, what determines the strength and longevity of what we leave behind.In this episode, we bring together conversations with Jon Cherry , Stephen Donohue , and J.T. Starzeki —leaders who are focused on the bedrock of America and the responsibility that comes with stewarding its resources. They speak candidly about where we need to be more intentional, how we need to change the way we look at domestic resources, and what it means to lead that change rather than wait for it.These are men who are stepping up to the line—pioneering new approaches, leading with conviction, and doing the work required to make a real difference. This is why they are part of Better In Our Back Yard , and why they are committed to building a future that is stronger, more responsible, and more sustainable—for you and for me.As Better In Our Backyard recently gathered for its Annual Dinner, this conversation serves as an important reminder. While most of us go about our daily lives, there are men and women across mining organizations and companies doing the work that makes those lives possible—providing the materials, energy, and foundation our future is built on. The Bedrock is about recognizing that responsibility and choosing to build on it the right way.
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WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
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FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD
Website: https://www.blacklineltd.com/
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EXPLORE THE PODCAST
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
33 min - The Ground Ft. Jessica Johnson Ep. 117
The Ground is the second episode in our four-part series with Better In Our Back Yard , as we continue reflecting on 250 years of building in the United States of America during the opening weeks of January 2026.
In this episode, Jessica Johnson , Vice President of Talon Metals Corp. , walks through an important distinction—preservation versus conservation—and why that difference matters. She speaks honestly about the reality that simply by living and breathing, we are using the ground every single day. Everything we rely on is either mined from the ground or grown from it. If it’s not mined, it’s grown.
Jessica explains, with clarity and conviction, why conservation—not avoidance—is the responsible path forward. She shares thoughtful insight into who we are as people and how we canuse the resources we’ve been entrusted with efficiently, responsibly, and respectfully—so that this ground can continue to sustain life not just today, but for generations to come.
The Ground drops Monday, January 12, 2026. If these conversations resonate, we invite you to follow along—and stand alongside other like-minded men, women, and organizations committed to ensuring the ground beneath our feet is better in our backyard.
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WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
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FOLLOW JOSH:
X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD
Website: https://www.blacklineltd.com/
--------------------------
EXPLORE THE PODCAST
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
36 min - The Dirt Ft. Mike Heatwole Ep. 116
For 250 years, this country has been built by men and women willing to step up to the line—willing to walk on the dirt, stand on the ground, and do the work that begins at the bedrock. Long before headlines and soundbites, there was responsibility. There was stewardship. There was an understanding that what lies beneath our feet matters, because it supports everything above it—our communities, our economy, and our way of life.As we enter the first four weeks of January 2026, Blackline—in partnership with Better In Our Backyard—will be sharing a four-part series of real, honest conversations rooted in that foundation. Each week, we’ll release an episode leading into the Better In Our Backyard Annual Dinner on January 15, centered on responsible industrial development, strong local economies, and the people who do the work that sustains modern life.The series unfolds in four parts: The Dirt. The Ground. The Bedrock. And The Backyard.These conversations are about more than industry—they’re about responsibility. About developing resources the right way. About investing in local workforces, strengthening communities, and educating people on why domestic mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure matter. Better In Our Backyard exists to bring value to the companies, organizations, and men and women who walk on the dirt, stand on the ground, and build on the bedrock of this country—so families can thrive and communities can endure.Over the next four weeks, follow along—and stand alongside other like-minded men, women, and organizations who believe a stronger future is built locally, intentionally, and with care. If that resonates, you can learn more and register to attend the Better In Our Backyard Annual Dinner on January 15 through the link. Because a better economy, a better community, and a better future all start the same way—right here, in our backyard.
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WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
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FOLLOW JOSH:
X: https://x.com/JoshuadmellottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTD
Website: https://www.blacklineltd.com/
--------------------------
EXPLORE THE PODCAST
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
37 min - Trade Therapy Ft. Dave "Dozer Dave" Turin Ep. 115
Dave is familiar to audiences through shows like Gold Rush, but what stood out most in this conversation had nothing to do with television. It was his perspective on work. On the trades. And on what happens when a person is given the dignity, responsibility, and opportunity to build something with their hands.
Dave talks openly about how the trades can be therapy. How work itself can be a pathway through hardship—helping people process difficult seasons, regain confidence, and even escape abusive or limiting situations. In a country that offers the freedom and opportunity to work, the trades can quite literally change the trajectory of a life. But only if we choose to see their value.
That choice matters.
Because when we recognize the importance of the work being done, we begin to understand the people doing it. And when we understand the people, we begin to see the true power of the skilled trades.
This conversation dives deeply into mining—an industry that has been part of America since the very beginning. Mining has provided not only gold and precious metals, but opportunity, stability, and long-term security. It has helped build the foundation of this country, and it continues to play a critical role in what lies ahead.
Dave is clear about one thing: he doesn’t want to be the story. He wants their stories to be told—the men and women who show up, do the work, and quietly carry the weight of industries most people never think about. His hope is that through understanding the trades, others will recognize the pride, purpose, and potential found within them.
In this first episode of Season Three of The Line Podcast, we invite you to step up to the line with us. To have a real, honest conversation. To reflect on where we’ve come from—and to look ahead at the future in front of us.
As we approach 250 years of America, we believe that future is still built by hands willing to work.
Happy New Year. Welcome to 2026.
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WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
-------------------------
FOLLOW JOSH:
X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite: https://www.blacklineltd.com/
--------------------------
EXPLORE THE PODCAST
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
44 min - 2025 Highlights Ep. 114
As we look back on 2025, we’re reminded just how meaningful this year has been.
Through our podcasts, we’ve had the privilege of sitting down for some truly powerful conversations — stories of leadership, grit, failure, growth, and conviction. These weren’t just interviews; they were moments that reminded us why this work matters.
At Blackline, we exist because of the men and women who show up every day to build — the infrastructure, the systems, the companies, and ultimately the world we all live in. Your work often goes unseen, but it is never unnoticed here.
As we recap a few of the conversations from this past year, we simply want to say thank you for investing in the future and for carrying the weight that real work requires.
From all of us at Blackline,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.--------------------------
WHERE TO WATCH:
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
-------------------------
FOLLOW JOSH:
X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Joshuadmellott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-mellott-0b0525118/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCC11qG6HXWP7TmVMr_Sv7Vg
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FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklineltd?igsh=a2wwbzJ3Y3Jjd2o4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095504736514
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackline-ltd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklineLTDWebsite: https://www.blacklineltd.com/
--------------------------
EXPLORE THE PODCAST
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hFAsPAZYCUF4OMBB7?si=0da16a8fb2574ca4
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-line/id1722664848
1 hr 8 min
About The Line
From the publisher's feed
Step up to The Line. A new podcast focused on highlighting the skilled trades. Showcasing men and women by sharing their stories and experiences. Our guests range from CEOs of 100 million-dollar businesses to a 21-year-old fabricator/welder. By sharing their experiences we aim to inspire the next generation of boys and girls hoping to break the generational miseducation surrounding the trades as an option. The Line is produced by Blackline whose mission is to continue to lift the view of the skilled trades. For trades by trades. Welcome to the Line.
Tune in every Monday for a new episode.
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