In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Sergio “El Profe” Cortez — founder of Surge Electrical Training. With over 30 years in the field, from Coast Guard electrician to national trainer, Sergio shares how he’s shaping the next generation of safe, skilled, and certified electricians.

Timestamps

01:47 – How teaching became his passion

04:35 – The “aha” moment that changed his career

07:11 – Training models: hybrid, on-site, and national expansion

09:19 – Building community & supporting graduates

13:21 – Why Skool.com could be a game-changer

18:30 – Training residential, commercial, and solar electricians

24:51 – Innovations: prefab, AI, and safety technology

31:33 – Why companies must invest in training

34:44 – Stories from the field: changing unsafe habits 42:39 – What expansion looks like for SET

45:47 – Advice to his younger self

47:02 – What excites Sergio about 2026 and beyond

52:28 – Why trades are becoming the smarter career path2212

https://whiteoakpastures.com/

Will Harris is the 4th-generation farmer behind White Oak Pastures, a 150+ year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. From running an industrial cattle operation to becoming one of the leading voices in regenerative agriculture, Will’s story is about legacy, resilience, and building a better food system.

→ The history of White Oak Pastures (6 generations since 1866)

→ Lessons from industrial farming and why he turned away from it

→ The rise of regenerative agriculture and “radical traditionalism”

→ Building a $30M vertically integrated farm → Why he wrote A Bold Return to Giving a Damn

→ The challenges of competing with multinational corporations

→ Family succession, legacy, and teaching the next generation

→ What the future of food and farming looks like

Johnny Palumbo is the co-founder of Simplify Tech and Simplify Growth, helping companies from $3M–$50M scale with AI, automation, and smart systems. In this episode, Johnny shares his entrepreneurial journey — from raising $22,000 at 17 to building a fast-growing AI consultancy — and lessons on how founders can navigate today’s overwhelming tech landscape. → Why AI is the new internet (and how to think about it like a calculator) → From fanny packs to BlackRock: Johnny’s entrepreneurial journey → How Simplify Tech helps $3M–$50M companies buy back their time → Automations that deliver ROI in 2 months or less → Why raising rates led to growth (quality better than cheap pricing) → AI in real estate, consulting, and education → Staying curious: how to actually learn AI in 2025 → Balancing “seeking” and “savoring” as a young entrepreneur

https://www.simplifytech.ai/