The Trade Talks

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for!

Join us every Wednesday from 3:00-4:00 Cental as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed.

Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! A big thank you to Leak-Pro for sponsoring this episode of The Trade Talks Live!

Register for my FREE webinar! https://www.justmetroger.com

LeakPro provides state-of-the-art leak detection solutions specifically designed for plumbers, helping professionals pinpoint hidden leaks with accuracy and efficiency.

By utilizing advanced acoustic technology and digital sensors, LeakPro allows plumbers to reduce unnecessary damage, saving time and money on every job.

LeakPro's tools are essential for detecting slab leaks, pipe leaks, and irrigation system failures without invasive measures.

Whether working in residential or commercial plumbing, LeakPro offers cutting-edge solutions that enhance service quality.

For more information, visit https://www.leak-pro.com or call 1-888-853-2577

Tradesmen built America.

This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media...

To GROW in the trades!!!

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice!

In this episode, I sit down with an incredible automotive technician turned business owner who shares his journey from the boxing ring to building his own shop at just 22 years old. From growing up with very little… to almost becoming a pharmacist… to starting as a porter making $8 an hour… this story is all about passion, mentorship, and mastering the little things that most people overlook.

We talk about:

✅ How he fell in love with the trades ✅ Why quality control and attention to detail separate good techs from great ones ✅ The technician shortage (yes, it's real) ✅ What top automotive techs are earning today (you might be surprised 👀) ✅ Why mentorship changed his life ✅ The difference between replacing vs rebuilding engines and transmissions ✅ The opportunity young people are missing in the trades

One of the biggest takeaways? You can do everything right for 10 years — but one bad customer experience can cost you everything. Details matter. Clean work matters. Pride in your craft matters.

Whether you're in plumbing, automotive, HVAC, electrical — or you're a young person trying to figure out your path — this conversation shows how powerful the trades can be when you commit to excellence.

The trades aren't a backup plan. They're a wealth-building plan.

If you're in the trades (or thinking about it), drop a comment below and tell us: 👉 What made you fall in love with your craft?

And if you got value from this, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

Let's build the next generation of skilled trades professionals the right way.

— Roger Wakefield

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for!

Join us every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 Cental as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed.

Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! A big thank you to Leak-Pro for sponsoring this episode of The Trade Talks Live!

Register for my FREE webinar! https://www.justmetroger.com

LeakPro provides state-of-the-art leak detection solutions specifically designed for plumbers, helping professionals pinpoint hidden leaks with accuracy and efficiency.

By utilizing advanced acoustic technology and digital sensors, LeakPro allows plumbers to reduce unnecessary damage, saving time and money on every job.

LeakPro's tools are essential for detecting slab leaks, pipe leaks, and irrigation system failures without invasive measures.

Whether working in residential or commercial plumbing, LeakPro offers cutting-edge solutions that enhance service quality.

For more information, visit https://www.leak-pro.com or call 1-888-853-2577

Tradesmen built America.

This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media...

To GROW in the trades!!!

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for!

Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed.

Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! A big thank you to Leak-Pro for sponsoring this episode of The Trade Talks Live!

Register for my FREE webinar! https://www.justmetroger.com

LeakPro provides state-of-the-art leak detection solutions specifically designed for plumbers, helping professionals pinpoint hidden leaks with accuracy and efficiency.

By utilizing advanced acoustic technology and digital sensors, LeakPro allows plumbers to reduce unnecessary damage, saving time and money on every job.

LeakPro's tools are essential for detecting slab leaks, pipe leaks, and irrigation system failures without invasive measures.

Whether working in residential or commercial plumbing, LeakPro offers cutting-edge solutions that enhance service quality.

For more information, visit https://www.leak-pro.com or call 1-888-853-2577

Tradesmen built America.

This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media...

To GROW in the trades!!!

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice!

Do people need you or just want you? The Trade Talks #215 Tom Parker Tradesmen built America, not desk jockeys or policymakers. In this episode of The Trade, Roger Wakefield sits down with a seasoned plumber to talk about how the plumbing industry has evolved and why change is inevitable in the skilled trades.

From the shift from cast iron and copper to PVC and plastics, to the future impact of AI on blue-collar work, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build a long, successful career in plumbing. You'll hear real-world lessons about apprenticeships, union vs non-union work, commercial vs residential experience, and why mastering the science behind the pipe matters just as much as making the connection.

We also explore how a simple piece of advice, "Do people need you or just want you?", shaped an entire career, plus why focus, mentorship, and adaptability separate good tradespeople from great ones. If you're thinking about getting into the trades, already working in plumbing, or just want an honest look at how skilled labor continues to shape America, this episode is for you.

If you're thinking about getting into the trades, already working in plumbing, or just want an honest look at how skilled labor continues to shape America, this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for more real conversations with the nation's top skilled labor professionals

👉 Like & share to support the trades

👉 Comment below: What's the biggest change you've seen in plumbing?

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for!

Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed.

Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! A big thank you to Leak-Pro for sponsoring this episode of The Trade Talks Live!

Register for my FREE webinar! https://www.justmetroger.com

LeakPro provides state-of-the-art leak detection solutions specifically designed for plumbers, helping professionals pinpoint hidden leaks with accuracy and efficiency.

By utilizing advanced acoustic technology and digital sensors, LeakPro allows plumbers to reduce unnecessary damage, saving time and money on every job.

LeakPro's tools are essential for detecting slab leaks, pipe leaks, and irrigation system failures without invasive measures.

Whether working in residential or commercial plumbing, LeakPro offers cutting-edge solutions that enhance service quality.

For more information, visit https://www.leak-pro.com or call 1-888-853-2577

Tradesmen built America.

This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media...

To GROW in the trades!!!

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice!

Dedication and Pride In Your Work Pays Off! Drew Meshell The Trade Talks Podcast – This Week's Episode This week on the Trade Talks Podcast, I'm joined by one of my former apprentices, Drew Meshell. Drew shares his journey in the trades, starting from his early days working alongside me to building a strong foundation through dedication, discipline, and hard work. We talk about what it really takes to succeed in the trades, the lessons learned on the job, and how staying committed over time has paid off for Drew both professionally and personally.

This episode is a great listen for anyone considering a career in the trades or looking for motivation to keep pushing forward.

🔧 Hard work

🔨 Commitment to the craft

📈 Long-term success in the trades.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast with someone who's passionate about skilled trades!

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice!

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! 2025 Is Over. Are the Trades Ready for What's Coming Next? The trades are at a crossroads—and most people aren't ready for what's ahead. After spending the last year talking with the biggest movers, shakers, and disruptors in plumbing, HVAC, and construction, I've seen two things very clearly: 🚨 serious threats that could wipe out unprepared businesses 🚀 massive opportunities that are turning apprentices into high earners faster than anyone expected In this episode, I turn the camera on myself and ask the hard questions most influencers won't touch. We talk openly about: The Silver Tsunami and what retiring tradesmen really means for 2026 Whether we're actually fixing the labor shortage—or just talking about it The truth behind "six figures in the trades" (and who really succeeds) Killing outdated trade stereotypes and why branding matters now more than ever Why soft skills, manners, and professionalism win more jobs than tools alone Mental health in construction and how the "tough it out" mindset is hurting our people AI, technology, and what's actually coming for the trades Why more women should be on job sites—and what's holding the industry back College vs. trade school: have parents finally started to get it? Do plumbers and tradespeople really need YouTube, TikTok, and social media to grow? This conversation isn't about hype. It's about survival, growth, and the future of the American tradesman. ⚠️ The next hour could change how you plan for 2026—and it might save your business from becoming obsolete. If the Silver Tsunami is real (it is), you're going to want to send this video to every contractor you know. Let's get to work.

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice!

In this episode of THE TRADE, Roger Wakefield sits down with Charles Goede, a third-year plumbing apprentice from Local 777 in Connecticut who is about to represent the United States in WorldSkills — in Shanghai, China. From discovering the trades in high school to working on massive projects like hospitals, laboratories, Yale University facilities, and even an indoor water park, Charles shares the journey that led him from a classroom shop rotation… all the way to the international plumbing arena. In this conversation:

🔧 How trade school set him up for success

🔧 Why plumbing "just clicked"

🔧 Getting real-world experience through work-based learning at 16

🔧 His first plumbing jobs — boilers, gas lines, hydronics & more

🔧 What it's like working for a major mechanical contractor

🔧 Preparing to compete against the best plumbers in the world

🔧 Learning basic Mandarin & Cantonese for Shanghai

🔧 What the union has meant for his apprenticeship

Whether you're a tradesperson, an apprentice, a contractor, or someone thinking about a career in the skilled trades, this episode shows how far the trades can take you — even across the globe.

👷 Guest: Charles Goede — Apprentice, UA Local 777 (Connecticut), Team USA Competitor, WorldSkills Plumbing 🎙 Host: Roger Wakefield — The Trade

👍 If you believe in the trades, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share this episode!

#TheTrade #RogerWakefield #Plumbing #Tradesmen #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeship #WorldSkills #UnionStrong #BlueCollarProud #Local777

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for!

Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed.

Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! A big thank you to Leak-Pro for sponsoring this episode of The Trade Talks Live!

Register for my FREE webinar! https://www.justmetroger.com

LeakPro provides state-of-the-art leak detection solutions specifically designed for plumbers, helping professionals pinpoint hidden leaks with accuracy and efficiency.

By utilizing advanced acoustic technology and digital sensors, LeakPro allows plumbers to reduce unnecessary damage, saving time and money on every job.

LeakPro's tools are essential for detecting slab leaks, pipe leaks, and irrigation system failures without invasive measures.

Whether working in residential or commercial plumbing, LeakPro offers cutting-edge solutions that enhance service quality.

For more information, visit https://www.leak-pro.com or call 1-888-853-2577

Tradesmen built America.

This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media...

To GROW in the trades!!!