The Wealthy Ironworker

Between 2020 and 2025, Amazon's profits increased from 11.6 billion to 77.7 billion, while during that same timeframe, the number of people employed by Amazon who were on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) tripled!

In what world do we have corporations where profits increase 7 times over while employees eligible for federal welfare triple at the same time!!

This is absolutely crazy to...

In this podcast episode, I explain how the union organizational structure is similiar to the way government is structured. You have a local union (similar to local government), then locals grouped together comprise districts/regional areas (think state government), and those districts/regional areas come together to form the International (it's international because of the United States and Canada) and that is similar to a na...

Bechtel is a large company that knows the value of a continuous workforce pipeline and wants to ensure their nuclear projects are staffed.

Their solution?

Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NABTU - North America's Building Trades Unions - to "advance and modernize apprenticeships."

Bechtel's commitment to unions is a clear sign of the value of trade unionism and the Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) it uses to...

9/11 - a catastrophic event of epic proportions. And while our first responders - our police, firefighters, and emergency personnel - were on the scene, there was another group also on the scene who took the lead: Ironworkers.

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I get to sit down with the producer of "Metal of Honor: The Ironworkers of 9/11" - Rachel Maguire - where the often forgotten first responders, Ironworkers, ...

Labor Day 2026 - THE sacred day for those of us who labor in the United States. In this podcast episode, I detail what I believe we should know about the holiday - and, just as important - what we should looking for going forward.

Sneak peak? Labor unions are needed JUST AS MUCH TODAY AS THEY WERE IN THE PAST.

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on the podcast to email me. Please click this link to fill out the form: https...

Are you a contractor? Curious about what an actual Registered Apprenticeship Program can do for your company? You've come to the right podcast.

In this episode, we discuss some of the benefits companies get from being associated with a registered apprenticeship program.

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on the podcast to email me. Please click this link to fill out the form: https:/...

Apprenticeships are superior to trade school in a number of ways, and in this podcast episode, I discuss them.

A point of clarity here: For the most part, I am actively speaking about UNION Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs).

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on the podcast to email me. Please click this link to fill out the form: https://www.thewealthyironworker.com/contact/

Important bits of information about me:

...

While scrolling Reddit, I came across a discussion where someone asked, "What's the one thing about blue-collar work that people with office jobs will never truly understand?"

In this podcast episode, I discuss some of those things from the Reddit post as well as interject my own thoughts.

Here is the initial Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/bluecollar/comments/1vga316/whats_the_one_thing_about_bluecollar_work_that/

I am also in...

Too many people focus on what they get paid in the pocket and disregard any benefits, often to their own detriment - especially later in life.

No matter where you are at currently - completely disregarding benefits, get benefits but don't really understand their importance, haven't really thought about them, or simply would appreciate someone explaining them in greater detail, give this episode a listen/watch.

"Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within this contract..."

What??

Construction contracts are unlike any other type of contract you'll see, and yet far too many people sign confusing and difficult to understand language without a second thought.

Kendall Hoyd - CEO of Fairbuild AI, and Cheryl Lewis, COO of Fairbuild AI - built Fairbuild AI to help construction subcontractors level the playing field by identifying, isolating, and...

In this podcast episode, I discuss how the income inequality we are experiencing cannot continue; having a handful of trillionaires and massive unemployment will lead to civil unrest - and quite possibly, revolution.

Here is the initial article I mention: https://www.newsweek.com/millionaire-ceo-warns-us-economy-revolution-bradley-tusk-11010360

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on the podc...

Everyone has heard of Albert Einstein, and while he is usually known for his scientific contributions, did you know he had economic thoughts, too?

He criticized capitalism - and so did Peter Drucker, who is one of my favorite management giants.

In this podcast episode, I explore in part what each said, unpack it, and offer my thoughts.

The Einstein quote - taken from "Why Socialism?" writte...

In this podcast episode, I discuss the bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act - what it is, why it is proposed, and situations that have taken place, demonstrating why it's been proposed.

Here are the links I mentioned during the podcast:

David Norcross, House sponsor of the bill: https://norcross.house.gov/_cache/files/d/0/d05d572d-be84-485f-b498-76426792e484/86A633DDD5FA52FE03D7B3FDF1563BF2D96F17D9E96...

There seems to be a trend in the trades: The interest is there with people exploring new, viable options for a career.

The difficulty, however, often is from contractors and customers; they only want people with several years of experience, often unwilling to expand their ranks and give the inexperienced a try.

I believe this must change.

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on th...

Per diem, more money, the road life - whatever you've heard it called, it often turns into a trap. Many a man has sacrificed his family on the altar of the pursuit of success - only to find ruin.

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on the podcast to email me. Please click this link to fill out the form: https://www.thewealthyironworker.com/contact/

Important bits of information about me:

The Wealthy Ironworker Union Made M...

Far too many people - companies, customers, and others involved believe there is "apprentice work;" where they perform menial tasks, and when they graduate, those same people believe apprentices do not have enough experience!

It's precisely because you didn't allow them to actually DO THE ACTUAL WORK to gain experience.

What's more, many of those same people express outrage when those apprentices become journeymen with a few years i...

I share some of my thoughts about the romantization of the trades culturally and how the white collar world seems to have an interest in the blue collar world of today.

I am also inviting anyone who would like to be on the podcast to email me. Please click this link to fill out the form: https://www.thewealthyironworker.com/contact/

Important bits of information about me:

The Wealthy Ironworker Union Made Merch (from my friends at Sta...

Tara Cristel - Co-Owner of Total Glass - comes on the podcast to discuss the financial problems in the construction industry, how subcontractors have to fight for their money, and why things need to change.

To address this structural problem, she started The Subcontractor Project - which can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-subcontractor-project/

Tara's LinkedIn profile: https://www...

OSHA - the federal agency tasked with protecting American workers - has less power than you might think.

Phenix Lumber - dubbed "the deadliest workplace in America" - was allowed to operate despite numerous accidents, injuries, citations, and even three deaths.

I discuss some of it in this episode.

This is the Washington Post article I referenced: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2025/osha-workplace-deaths-safety-...