Dirt Talk Podcast

November 9, 2026 Emotions in Business… A Trap? Or Guide? (Building BuildWitt #78) BuildWitt Update #78– DT 494 Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2026 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting https://events.dirtworld.com/event/summit-2026/summary Want to better train and develop your teams? Check out BuildWitt Improve! https://buildwitt.com/product Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

November 5, 2026 Construction Can Rebuild The Middle Class w/ Larry Baker Larry Baker w/ FleetWatcher – DT 493 Larry Baker is the former President and CEO of FleetWatcher, a construction equipment management technology company he built and eventually sold. After decades in the construction industry, Larry began rethinking what it meant to build a successful business. What started as a focus on personal development eventually transformed the way he approached leadership, company culture, and taking care of his employees. By prioritizing the right people, sharing profits, and creating a workplace where employees felt valued, Larry built a company that people wanted to be part of. Larry shares how firing three key employees changed his company's culture, why he believes the money in construction is made in the field, and how giving more to his employees ultimately made his business more successful. He also reflects on the financial struggles he faced during the recession, including losing his home and struggling to make payroll, and why achieving financial success didn't bring the fulfillment he expected. Along the way, Larry discusses his decades-long search for meaning, the importance of knowing when you have enough, and why he believes the construction industry has an opportunity to rebuild America's middle class by creating better lives for the people doing the work. Follow Larry Baker on LinkedIn at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-baker-3883348 Want to better develop your civil construction workforce and leaders? Check out BuildWitt Improve! https://buildwitt.com Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

November 2, 2026 Why Not Being Good is Good (Building BuildWitt #77)  BuildWitt Update #77– DT 492 Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2026 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting https://events.dirtworld.com/event/summit-2026/summary Want to better train and develop your teams? Check out BuildWitt Improve! https://buildwitt.com/product Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 29, 2026 The Cost of Opening Too Soon w/ Jacob Robinson Jacob Robinson w/ Dig World – DT 491 Jacob Robinson is the Founder of Dig World, a construction-themed amusement park where kids and families can operate real heavy equipment. The idea came from his son, Pierce, who suffered a devastating brain injury after contracting bacterial meningitis at just 21 months old. After 75 days in the hospital, Pierce returned home nonverbal, deaf, in a wheelchair, and experiencing roughly 100 seizures a day. Through it all, one thing never changed: his love for construction equipment. That passion inspired Jacob to create a place where Pierce could one day work and families could come together to experience something different. Jacob shares how he turned that idea into a business despite being rejected by 248 potential investors, navigating the challenges of COVID, and experiencing a disastrous grand opening that forced Dig World to temporarily close. He also discusses appearing on Shark Tank, partnering with Caterpillar, and expanding Dig World beyond its original Houston location. Along the way, Jacob reflects on how Pierce's story changed his perspective on failure, risk, faith, and leadership, and why introducing kids to construction at an early age could help inspire the next generation of the industry's workforce. Follow Jacob Robinson on LinkedIn at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-robinson-9912b215/ Learn more about Dig World at: https://digworldnation.com/ Want to better develop your civil construction workforce and leaders? Check out BuildWitt Improve! https://buildwitt.com Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 26, 2026 Dirt World Nearly Died (Building BuildWitt #76)  BuildWitt Update #76– DT 490 Aaron recaps the wins and lessons learned at BuildWitt this week. Learn more about attending the 2026 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting https://events.dirtworld.com/event/summit-2026/summary Want to better train and develop your teams? Check out BuildWitt Improve! https://buildwitt.com/product Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices