24: Chris Luecke - How Tech, Trades, & Podcasts are Shaping Manufacturing

In this episode, Bryzos COO Lee Letourneau sits down with Chris Luecke, host of Manufacturing Happy Hour and PubCast Worldwide, for a wide-ranging conversation that’s as insightful as it is entertaining. They explore how Chris went from a career in automation at Rockwell to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in the industrial space through podcasting. He shares how Manufacturing Happy Hour evolved from a side project to a full-time platform, and what it’s taught him about the future of the trades, technology, and storytelling in B2B.
The two dive into how the U.S. views skilled trade careers compared to other countries, especially in Europe, where trades are seen as equal to traditional college paths. They talk about the accelerating role of automation and digital platforms in reshaping industrial workflows, and Chris offers his perspective on what he’s seeing in the industry when it comes to tech adoption, including who is pushing forward and who is still falling behind.
Chris also opens up about the origin stories behind both of his podcasts, how and why he launched them, and when things really started to gain momentum with Manufacturing Happy Hour. Finally, he shares his thoughts on Bryzos and the Irregardless podcast, and why more B2B companies should lean into content creation to connect with their audience in more meaningful ways.
It’s a fun, thoughtful, and easygoing conversation with one of the most influential voices in the industrial space.