CONEXPO – CON/AGG Podcast: Construction Business Insights For Contractors

Discover how construction business owner Taylor White navigates the unique mental health challenges of the industry. From financial stress to the loneliness of leadership, he shares personal strategies for resilience and maintaining well-being in a blue-collar world.

Business ownership in construction means constant challenges, with many owners working through extreme stress. The "tough it out" culture often makes it impossible for ...

What is the future of construction technology? Veteran excavation business owner Ryan Goodfellow of Rock Structures joins the show to discuss the real trends separating hype from high-ROI investments. He offers a detailed analysis of new machinery from brands like Hyundai, John Deere, and Hitachi, explaining how integrated systems are becoming the new standard.

Many contractors left the show wondering which technologies will actuall...

What really happens behind the scenes at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, the world's largest construction trade show? Taylor provides a complete recap of his experience of the show in Las Vegas covering essential planning tips, the biggest industry trends like AI, and the personal moments that defined the show. As a third-generation construction business owner and podcast host, Taylor offers a unique view of the event.

Many people attend CONE...

Mike Simon - better known as Dirt Perfect - is back on the podcast today! Since his first appearance, Mike has grown his YouTube channel to over 500,000 subscribers, all while running his excavating business. In this live recording from the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 Community Zone, Mike sits down with Taylor to talk about what's changed, what hasn't, and why his "hobby" now earns more than his business.

From the emotional reason he start...

How does the youngest asphalt company owner in Wisconsin, and the only woman of color in that role, build a thriving business? Ebony Jennings shares her journey of honoring her family's legacy while forging her own path in a male-dominated field. She offers a direct look at the challenges and advantages of her unique position.

Ebony explains why certain industry programs, designed to help, can sometimes feel like a double-edged swor...

Construction business owners face a massive recruitment hurdle. Society has spent years telling kids that university degrees were the only path to success - a message that has created a culture where manual labor is seen as a ‘last resort’. Emmy award-winner, creator and host of Dirty Jobs, and America’s leading advocate for the skilled trades, Mike Rowe, joins the show to explain why this labor gap is a threat to national security...

Raised on Blacktop’s Matt Stanley returns to explain how a family paving business actually runs. Most people think a large fleet means the owner is comfortable, but the truth is that the work feels fragile when you are in the trenches every day, and you have to ‘keep the main thing the main thing’ to stay profitable. Matt reveals how to grow a public brand without losing touch with the job site.

Explaining that you need to master th...

Most construction business owners believe that doing quality work is the only marketing they need. The industry is shifting rapidly, and competitors now use digital tools to capture attention and market share before you even get a chance to bid. Marvin Joles explains why staying invisible is a risk you cannot afford to take in 2025.

You might worry that posting videos looks unprofessional or feels awkward to your peers. Silence and ...

Scaling a family business usually requires preserving tradition and maintaining the status quo. But in a high-stakes, low-trust economy, clinging to the old ways of handshake deals and unchecked hours can destroy a company rather than save it. Taylor White sits down with his father, David, to reveal the hard truths about modernizing a legacy construction firm into an eight-figure powerhouse.

The conversation gets raw as they revisit...

Are you playing it safe in your business? Taylor challenges the conventional wisdom of saying "no" to opportunities that seem too big or too risky, revealing the game-winning mindset that separates stagnant businesses from those experiencing explosive growth.

Many entrepreneurs believe caution is key, carefully avoiding projects that stretch their capabilities. But what if that hesitation is the very thing keeping you from your next...

Is the construction boom over? As the market tightens, new competitors are driving down prices, and cash flow is becoming a daily battle. For many owners, the strategies that created massive growth are now creating massive risk. But what if you could pivot your approach to not only protect your profits but also strengthen your company for the long term?

In this episode, Australian construction leader Jimmy Starbuck joins Taylor to p...

Frustrated with the relentless demands of the construction industry eating into your family time? As a dad and business owner in the trades, Taylor today pulls back the curtain on the tough realities and incredible rewards of balancing a thriving career with intentional fatherhood.

Many parents in demanding industries face the challenge of unpredictable schedules and the heavy mental load of entrepreneurship, often feeling torn betw...

Preparing for a massive trade show like  CONEXPO-CON/AGG can feel like a monumental task. With millions of square feet and thousands of exhibitors, it's easy to get lost in the noise, but simply showing up without a plan is a surefire way to miss the game-changing connections and technologies that could redefine your business.

Today’s episode features a recent Customer Panel recorded at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG Exhibitor Meeting in ...

Ever wonder what it really takes to build a multi-seven-figure construction company from the ground up? Many who dream of launching their own business encounter a landscape filled with immense risk, financial pressure, and operational chaos. The path from skilled operator to successful owner is rarely a straight line.

But what if you could learn the unfiltered truth from someone who navigated that exact journey in just three years? ...

What is a lineman's life really like during a storm? While the 7,200 volts are dangerous, the greatest threat is far more surprising. 21-year veteran power line technician Aaron LeBlanc (from the YouTube channel Bobsdecline) pulls back the curtain on this high-stakes trade, revealing why public perception of storm recovery is often wrong.

Ever wonder if the most lethal danger isn't the electricity, but something far more common? Aar...

Many skilled operators dream of being their own boss, but the reality is a brutal mix of financial pressure, operational chaos, and personal sacrifice. In this episode, Sy Kirby of Sy-Con Excavation shares his unfiltered story of turning a trade into a thriving business.

From a name his grandfather wrote on a toy truck to building a company, a popular YouTube channel, and the Blue Collar Business Podcast, Sy reveals the raw truths a...