Work and Talk Podcast | Building Builders in the Trades

Most electricians don't fail.They get comfortable.The longer you're in the trade, the easier it is to believe you've seen it all, learned enough, and have nothing left to improve.In this conversation with Jeffrey Lorenzano of JL Electrical, we discuss why some electricians continue growing into leaders, foremen, project managers, and business owners while others stay in the same place for years.It needs electricians willing to keep learning, keep adapting, and keep pushing themselves long after they become good at the work.Welcome to Energize Us Edu Inc — Your #for1 Channel for all things Construction & Skilled Trades 🚀At Energize Us Edu, we are your one-stop shop for all things trades-related. Throughout 2023–2024, we’ve traveled the country interviewing the most influential tradespeople, sharing their stories, and documenting every step of our own journey to help you build a successful career.🔧 We break down:How to get started in the tradesThe mindset and tools needed to go proReal-world advice and mentorship from industry leadersThis isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about building a future.🎧 Follow our journey, get inspired, and take control of your skilled trades path today.📌 Explore More:🌐 Visit Our Website: https://energizeus-edu.today🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: https://podcast.energizeus-edu.today/📘 Free Blueprint eBook: https://info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energizeusedu/

Every electrician remembers their early apprentice years.You’re learning tools, running material, trying to keep up with the pace of the jobsite.But after a while something becomes obvious.Some apprentices move forward quickly… while others stay stuck doing the same tasks.So what actually makes the difference?In this episode we break down the habits that experienced electricians notice immediately on a jobsite and the practical things apprentices can start doing today to grow faster in the trade.

🎙️ Is becoming an electrician still a smart move for an 18-year-old in 2026?For years the message was simple: go to college. But while that happened, the skilled trades kept aging. The average worker in construction is now in their 40s, and companies across the country are struggling to find the next generation.So if the opportunity is so big… why aren’t more young people entering the trades?In this episode we break down the real decision facing young people today. College vs apprenticeship, student debt vs earning while learning, and what a career as an electrician can actually look like over the next 10–20 years.Topics we cover:• Trade school vs college• The electrician career path (apprentice → journeyman → contractor)• Why the construction workforce keeps getting older• Opportunities coming from electrification, EV infrastructure, and grid upgrades• What an 18-year-old should really think about before entering the trades🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today🏗️ B.U.L.D. Association: info.energizeus-edu.today/buld-association📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

Electricians attack other electricians more than anyone else.Pricing wars. Ego battles. Comment section toxicity.Undercutting. Belittling. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years.”And then we wonder why the public doesn’t respect the trade.In this episode of The Builder Show, we stop hiding from it.We talk about:• Why electricians attack other electricians• The insecurity behind the ego• Why undercutting is killing pricing power• The leadership vacuum in the trade• How this behavior is holding the entire industry backThis isn’t about being soft.This is about accountability.If we don’t address this now, the next generation will inherit the same broken culture.Electricians — it’s time to look in the mirror.🎙 The Builder Show📅 Monday, Wednesday, Friday⏰ 7AM Eastern / 4AM Pacific🎧 Work & Talk Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, AppleDrop your honest take below.Do electricians really hate each other… or are we just avoiding the truth?

Every electrician has seen it —Union vs non-union.Scab. Rat.Name-calling instead of real discussion.In this episode of The Builder Show, we break down:Where terms like scab and rat actually came fromWhy intent and character matter more than labelsWhy union vs non-union isn’t a black-and-white issue in 2026How OSHA, DOL, and state licensing actually workWhat apprentices should really be asking before choosing a pathMost electricians are just trying to:Show up.Work safe.Get paid fairly.Go home with the same fingers they came in with.This episode isn’t anti-union or anti-non-union.It’s pro-electrician.If you’re an apprentice, journeyman, contractor, or shop owner trying to figure out what path makes sense for you, this conversation is for you.Drop a comment:Are you union or non-union?Why did you choose that path?What would you do differently?🗣️ New episodes every week — hit subscribe so you never miss a moment.🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

When you’re an electrician, work seems endless.Side jobs pop up.Something’s always broken.The phone rings.But the moment you go out on your own as a contractor, the calendar opens up—and the phones go quiet.In this episode of Work & Talk, we sit down with Jimmy Spire, CEO and founder of Glasshouse, to talk about the real problem most electrical contractors face: relying on a reactive market and waiting for the phone to ring.We break down:• Why being busy as an electrician doesn’t translate to steady work as a contractor• The difference between building a job and building a business• Why “waiting to be found” is dangerous in today’s market• How outbound thinking changes control and stability• What electricians need to understand before jumping into contractingThis conversation is for electricians thinking about contracting, new contractors with empty schedules, and anyone tired of hearing “just spend more on marketing” with no real results.🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

Working nonstop, but the money never shows up? In this episode of Masters of Home Service, host Adam Sylvester talks with Wilson Betances, electrical contractor and founder of Energize Us Edu Inc, about how unpaid invoices spiraled into massive debt and nearly cost him his home. Hear the wake-up call that changed everything, and the simple habits that helped him rebuild his systems and regain control of his cash flow.

This episode of The Builder Show is a direct conversation for electricians, journeymen, apprentices, and electrical contractors heading into 2026.We’re not talking about motivation.We’re talking about real behaviors in the trade that are holding people back — complacency, avoiding licensure, relying on one contract, doing journeyman work without journeyman authority, and mistaking “showing up” for progress.In this episode, we break down:Why doing the same thing you did last year won’t work in 2026How unlicensed electricians quietly lose leverage, pay, and optionsWhy “good work” alone doesn’t protect your job anymoreThe difference between movement and actual progress in the tradesWhat electricians can change right now to separate themselvesThis show is for people who want more than a paycheck.If you’re an electrician who wants respect, stability, and long-term options — this episode is for you.🎧 Listen to the full episodeAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🛠️ Builders Convention: thebuildersconvention.com/optin🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today🏗️ B.U.L.D. Association: info.energizeus-edu.today/buld-association📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

Every January, electricians set goals — and then quietly drift back into the same routine.In this episode of The Builders Show, we talk about why so many electricians, apprentices, and journeymen lose momentum after the New Year, why “just showing up” eventually works against you, and why licensure, communication, and intentional growth matter more than ever in the trades.This conversation breaks down what we see every week working with electricians and contractors across the country — people with talent, work ethic, and opportunity who stall out because they stop planning, stop learning, and stop pushing themselves forward.We cover:– Why New Year motivation fades fast in the trades– How complacency shows up on the jobsite– Why licensure changes your career direction– Why communication separates leaders from labor– How electricians can stand out without working more hoursIf you’re an electrician heading into 2026 and don’t want another year to disappear, this episode will hit home.The Builders Show airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7am EST / 4am PST.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🛠️ Builders Convention: thebuildersconvention.com/optin🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today🏗️ B.U.L.D. Association: info.energizeus-edu.today/buld-association📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

Welcome back to the Work & Talk Podcast — the podcast for tradespeople, by tradespeople.In this exclusive episode, we sit down with Leviton Manufacturing Company — one of the most historic names in electrical innovation — to explore how a partnership with Thomas Edison sparked a century of progress that continues to shape the electrical industry today.🎧 Recorded LIVE from Leviton LIVE Nashville, this episode dives into Leviton’s 100+ year legacy, their role in powering America’s growth, and how the Next Gen Contractor Event is paving the way for the future of electricians, contractors, and builders.💡 In This Episode:The history of Leviton and Thomas Edison’s collaborationHow Leviton evolved from the lighting era to modern smart home solutionsWhy Leviton remains a trusted brand for electricians worldwideThe Next Gen Contractor Event: hands-on training, innovation, and education“AI can’t wire a house” — the human side of the skilled tradesWhole Home discussion: Performance. Electrification. Trust.How Leviton is shaping the next 100 years of electrical work⚡ Why This Matters:Leviton isn’t just a brand — it’s the backbone of an industry. From switches and controls to complete energy ecosystems, this conversation is about honoring the past, celebrating innovation, and empowering the next generation of builders.📍 Watch or Listen Now:YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts🎧 podcast.energizeus-edu.today👷 Hosted by: @willmbetances & @cameronvogelsang🎥 Presented by: @workntalkpodcast🎙️

Going out on your own? We cover first-year mistakes, pricing you can defend, lead flow that works, and the “Contractor GPS” so you stop winging it. Plus TN licensing (LLE vs CE) and a look ahead to Leviton’s Next Gen Contractors event.Subscribe for The Builders Show M/W/F 7 AM ET • @workntalkpodcastThe Builders Show — the morning show for builders, electricians, and contractors.We took a week off (baby on the way!) and we’re back with a tactical episode for anyone in Year 0–3 of business or about to go out on their own.What we cover today:First-year contractor mistakes (and how to avoid them)The Contractor GPS: how to set a destination (not just “get jobs”)Pricing basics: stop guessing — start with targets, quarters, and weekly revenueLead flow: what actually works early (and what to avoid)Saying no to bad customers without starving your pipelineTN Licensing: LLE vs CE (scope, limits, prep that actually helps)Leviton Next Gen Contractors Event (Nashville): what we’ll share on business planning, pricing & load centersWhy watch: Real, usable steps before you clock in — build a business you don’t end up hating.Listen anywhere: podcast.energizeus-edu.todayFollow: @workntalkpodcast (IG & YouTube)Live cadence: The Builders Show — Mon/Wed/Fri @ 7 AM ET • Guest episodes — Wed @ 8 PM ETComment: What’s your one move this week — apply for a license, price a MPU, join an association, or set a monthly target?

Good morning! It’s Friday, Sept 26—and we’re back on The Builders Show, the only morning show for builders, electricians, and contractors.Today’s Q&A (from your DMs):“How do I know I’m ready to be my own boss?” (Timing vs. preparation, the real checklists)How to get your name out there (Builders associations, local groups, what not to pay for)Tennessee licensing: LLE vs CE (what they allow, test prep that actually works)Leadership > labor: why the trades need mentors and succession, not gatekeepersUpcoming October appearances: education, professional development, and media eventsWhy watch: practical answers you can use before you clock in—mindset + moves you can make this week.Live cadenceThe Builders Show — Mon/Wed/Fri @ 7 AM ETGuest Episodes — Wed @ 8 PM ETFollowInstagram & YouTube: @workntalkpodcastListen everywhere🎧 Full audio: podcast.energizeus-edu.todayComment: What’s the one move you’ll make in the next 7 days (apply for license, join an association, set pricing, book a prep course)?Subscribe for live morning shows M/W/F 7 AM ET and guest episodes Wed 8 PM ETFollow @workntalkpodcast for clips, tools, and event updates

It’s Episode 12 of The Builders Show, the only morning show for contractors, tradespeople, and builders.Today, Cameron and Will dive into the future of the skilled trades after watching a video from The Human Side of Construction. The next 10 years will bring massive changes: retirements, leadership gaps, and the need to pass on knowledge the right way.⚡ Why we don’t just need more workers — we need more leaders.⚡ The difference between 30 years of experience and 30 years of growth.⚡ Why gatekeeping kills the industry and mentorship builds it.⚡ How to take your license, your experience, and turn it into leadership.This episode is about raising the next wave of foremen, project managers, and contractors — not just filling jobs, but building the future.skilled trades leadership, construction leadership shortage, human side of construction reaction, electricians vs contractors, contractor podcast, foreman training, trades mentorship, electrician license value, building future leaders, the builders show podcast📲 Call to Action✅ Watch new episodes of The Builders Show live every Mon/Wed/Fri at 7AM ET🎧 Guest interviews every Wednesday night, 8PM ET📲 Follow us on Instagram & YouTube: @workntalkpodcast💬 Drop a comment: What did YOU want to be when you were a kid — and how does it connect to what you do today?