16: Allen Heggs - DJing, Body Batteries & Building Legacies

In this laugh-out-loud episode of Irregardless, host Shep Hickey sits down with Allen Heggs, second-generation owner of Helcrist LLC, a family-run steel fabrication and erection company based in Philadelphia, PA. From residential and commercial builds to hotels, schools, and pharmaceutical projects, Helcrist’s legacy runs deep—and Allen is already preparing the next generation to carry it even further.
But Allen’s journey didn’t start with beams and blueprints. He shares hilarious and heartfelt stories from his early entrepreneurial days—selling candy, DJing parties at just 14, and skipping the traditional college path to dive straight into the real world. His take on “failing fast” and finding your true path—whether that’s through steel, music, or raising kids—is both inspiring and genuinely funny.
He and Shep also dive into how Bryzos fits into Allen’s workflow today, and reflect on what it takes to follow a dream—like when Shep first stepped out to build Bryzos from scratch. It’s a conversation about hustle, legacy, and having the guts to build something that matters.
Expect big laughs, real talk about parenthood and unconventional paths, and a Garmin Body Battery story so ridiculous that Shep and Allen could barely keep it together—and asked ourselves, what happens when it does get to zero?