In this episode, Bryzos COO Lee Letourneau sits down with José Reyes, owner of Texas Arc Welding Academy and Texas Arc Welding Supply. José shares how welding offered him a new path when many around him were heading straight into construction. A high school counselor introduced him to the trade and connected him with a welder who helped launch his career. From there, he built a strong foundation in pipe welding and worked across multiple companies and job sites. José explains how the passion of his own instructor inspired him to give back to the next generation. About a year ago, he opened Texas Arc Welding Academy to train new welders, followed by Texas Arc Welding Supply to bring equipment, PPE, and specialty products directly to the community. He and Lee also talk about technology, time savings, and why innovation matters in the metals industry. José believes anything that saves time is worth the cost because time is the one thing you can never get back. That mindset is what brings him to FABTECH every year to see the tools and ideas that push the trade forward. Thank you, Mr. Reyes! 

In this episode, Rachel Hartman sits down with Laynie Locke, founder of Lips and Sticks Welding, at FABTECH 2025. Laynie shares how she built her brand creating fun and feminine hood decals, stickers, hats, and apparel designed to give women in welding a way to express themselves on the job. Before welding, Laynie spent 15 years in marketing, often working with welding schools and shops. Being around the industry sparked her curiosity, and she eventually enrolled in a welding course. With a background that mixed creativity and hands-on skill, welding clicked right away. She pushed through long training days and describes striking her first arc as “love at first spark.” As she started welding, she realized there were no hood stickers or gear that matched her style. So she made her own, which became the start of Lips and Sticks Welding. Today she blends her design background with her passion for the trade, creates gear for women across the industry, reps brands like Bocomal, and advocates for PPE built specifically for women. Laynie’s story is creative, inspiring, and a powerful example of following your passion and building something uniquely your own.

This week on Irregardless, host Rachel Hartman sits down with Steve Kost, metal artist and founder of Metal Health Artwork, for an inspiring conversation recorded from FABTECH 2025! Steve’s journey is one of grit, healing, and transformation. From his early days as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy, serving in Somalia in the 1990s, to his years as an ironworker in Chicago, Steve’s hands have always built, repaired, and created. But it wasn’t until later in life, as he faced the weight of PTSD and the challenges many veterans experience after service, that he found true purpose through art. What started as “tinkering” with old typewriters and mechanical scraps turned into an extraordinary outlet. Steve began welding small creatures, dinosaurs, animals, intricate sculptures, crafted entirely from repurposed metal parts. His work evolved into stunning, expressive art that’s now been featured in galleries, the Library of Congress, the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, and even commissioned by Google’s Art Director for a Veterans Day piece. In this heartfelt episode, Steve shares how creativity became therapy, how passion can rebuild purpose, and how the most meaningful art often comes from the hardest battles. His story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to find healing through creation. Learn more about Steve’s work and Metal Health Artwork at stevekost.com 

Recorded from the show floor at FABTECH 2025, host Rachel Hartman sits down with Emily Wilkins, CEO and Founder of Marketing Metal; a bold, no-BS agency built for the “Radical Job Shop” of the metals industry. Emily shares her journey growing up near Detroit in a GM family, trading a mechanical engineering path for a passion in marketing, and ultimately founding Marketing Metal, the “anti-agency” reshaping how manufacturers tell their stories. Rachel and Emily dive into why marketing yourself is harder (and more important) than ever, the power of authentic storytelling, and why people in this industry don’t want cookie-cutter marketing. They also draw parallels to how Bryzos has taken a similar path — through its docuseries and this very podcast. A fun, candid, and relatable conversation for anyone pushing the boundaries of what marketing in manufacturing can be! Check out Emily’s work at marketingmetal.com.

In this episode, recorded from the show floor at FABTECH 2025, Shep sits down with John King, the owner of JK Welding in Texas, to share an incredible story of grit, growth, and building a fabrication powerhouse from the ground up. John takes us back to the early days of his career, working through a string of grueling trade jobs—from oil mopping to HVAC to brick laying—before discovering welding. Once he struck his first arc, he was hooked. Starting out with small garage projects, John quickly found himself choosing between overtime at work or chasing bigger welding opportunities on the side. Eventually, he took the leap and left his full-time job to pursue his dream. What started as a one-man operation has since grown into JK Welding, a full-capacity, one-stop job shop handling everything from stainless welding and pipe fabrication to skids, commissioned art installations, and more. The shop even holds two world records: the World’s Largest Windchime and the World’s Largest Hex Nut. With rapid expansion underway, including a new location opening in 2026, John’s story shows what’s possible when determination meets opportunity.a Throughout the conversation, John shares his perspective on what it really takes to be an entrepreneur today, why grit is non-negotiable, and how persistence can turn a spark of interest into a legacy.

This week on Irregardless, Rachel Hartman sits down with Demi Knight Clark — welder, manufacturing and automation enthusiast, “Steminist,” and founder of Reimagined Rosies. Demi’s passion for the trades runs deep. Inspired by her grandmother, an original Rosie the Riveter and welder during WWII, Demi carried the “Knight” name forward as a tribute to her roots. From early vo-tech classes to a career in construction and welding, she has made it her mission to destigmatize the trades and show the next generation that picking up a blowtorch can be just as empowering as choosing a college path. Through her nonprofit, Reimagined Rosies, Demi introduces kids ages 11–16 to welding and robotics—helping them explore creativity, build confidence, and see new possibilities for their future. In this conversation, Demi and Rachel dig into the skilled trades gap: what it really means, how we got here, and how businesses can address it. Demi argues that closing the gap isn’t just about inspiring the next generation, but also about investing in today’s workforce—equipping them with new skills and technologies that make them more valuable, not replaceable. They also touch on women in the trades, the importance of creating welcoming spaces for all, and how diversity and access can dramatically expand the pool of talent in manufacturing. It’s an inspiring and practical conversation that bridges history, passion, and strategy for the future of the industry.

Irregardless recorded from the show floor at FABTECH 2025! In this episode, Rachel sits down with Sarah Stork, Welding Artist, to hear how her passion for metalwork first sparked and grew into a full-time career. Sarah shares how it all began with a practical need, learning code welding at community college to fix a fence on her farm. That spark quickly turned into a calling, leading her to compete in SkillsUSA’s Welded Sculpture competitions and ultimately launch her career as a professional artist. Today, Sarah creates large-scale commissioned sculptures for brands and companies across the globe. Her projects range from a massive steel turtle to a towering cassowary destined for Australia, along with other intricately welded animal sculptures that showcase both her craftsmanship and creativity. Rachel and Sarah also dive into a conversation about the skilled trades gap, why it matters, how we can close it, and what Sarah calls the importance of building the "Tool Belt" Generation. She makes the case for why more young people should be encouraged to pick up the trades, and why the industry needs to invest in supporting them. This is the first of several conversations recorded at FABTECH 2025. Stay tuned for more powerful stories straight from the show floor!

On this episode of Irregardless, we’re kicking off a special spotlight series: Women in the Trades. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring conversations with women across welding, manufacturing, and the metals industry who are making an impact and paving the way for the next generation. We’re starting with none other than Barbie Parsons—better known as Barbie the Welder. A Metal Artist, Author, Keynote Speaker, and advocate for the trades, Barbie’s journey is as inspiring as it is bold. She shares with Shep how she went from a life marked by struggle and substance abuse to a new beginning sparked by the movie Cast Away. Determined to change her life, she enrolled in welding school, took a job in the field, and eventually made the leap to pursue metal art full time. Starting with small pieces like spoon rings and horseshoe art, she faced doubt from many around her but never stopped believing in herself. Today, Barbie creates sculptures valued at over $10,000 for brands like Harley-Davidson, Burger King, and the American Welding Society. Beyond her commissioned pieces, she pours her heart into meaningful projects like the Veterans Healing Farm, using her art to give back and inspire others. This conversation is filled with grit, positivity, and the reminder that we all have the power to change our lives and become more.

In Part 2 of our conversation, Tim Reboulet, COO of M6 Global Defense, takes us deeper into the world of the U.S. Secret Service and beyond. Tim shares what it really takes to make it into the agency, including the unforgiving training process where one failed test means you’re out. He explains the constant challenge of protecting the President in public settings, the tension between Secret Service protocols and White House priorities, and how agents are trained to spot counterfeit currency at a glance. From presidential detail to K–12 campuses, Tim draws powerful parallels between safeguarding world leaders and protecting children in schools. He also breaks down the real factors contributing to school safety concerns today, plus a lighter moment revealing the Secret Service’s trick to a perfect J-turn (don’t try this one at home). This episode offers an unfiltered look at the realities of security — from the highest office in the nation to the classrooms in our communities.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Shep sits down with Tim Reboulet, COO of M6 Global Defense, to unpack a remarkable career in security, protection, and leadership. With nearly 30 years of experience across law enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, cybersecurity, and K–12 safety, Tim’s path began in local policing before enduring the rigorous selection process to join the Secret Service. Tim reflects on the pivotal events of the 1990s including Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the first World Trade Center attack that cemented his resolve to help safeguard the nation. He also shares a behind-the-scenes look at his time protecting the President, the deep knowledge of U.S. currency required to combat counterfeiting, and how those experiences shaped his approach to security today. This episode offers an inside perspective on the formative years of a career dedicated to keeping people, whether world leaders or schoolchildren, safe.

In this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Rob Rolves, President of Foreman Fabricators in St. Louis, a decorative and ornamental fabrication company whose work can be seen across the city’s skyline and landmarks. Rob shares the unique path that led him from engineering student to history major, and eventually to Foreman Fabricators, where he worked his way up to the top. He talks about his close relationship with Brian Foreman, the company’s founder, and the profound impact of having a mentor. The conversation explores the evolution of fabrication, from traditional tools to the digital innovations shaping the industry today. Rob opens up about navigating the transition of ownership, developing his leadership style, and the eye-opening experience of becoming president. They also dive into Rob’s love of history, especially the Middle Ages, and his recent travels through Europe, where he uncovered more about his own family’s past.

In this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Jim Vinoski, President of Cosgrove Content and Consulting, host and founder of the Manufacturing Talks podcast and web show, and a longtime Forbes contributor focused on the manufacturing space. After decades spent working across the industry, Jim has turned his attention to consulting and writing, sharing insights on the future of manufacturing, the trends he’s seeing, and the challenges that need addressing. Their conversation covers why it’s so important for the United States to stay at the top when it comes to manufacturing, and how slipping from that position is directly tied to the growing skilled trades worker shortage. Jim explains what it will really take to mobilize and close that gap, why this issue goes beyond economics and into national security territory, and what his “magic wand fix” would be if he could change one thing in the industry today. The two also get personal, swapping thoughts on parenting in today’s tech-heavy world and the impact of growing up with constant access to screens. This is a wide-ranging and eye-opening episode with someone who brings decades of experience and a refreshingly honest take on what the manufacturing industry really needs.

In this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Jared Cochran, Owner of Speed Fabrication out of Perryville, Missouri. What began as a father-son project to build a CNC plasma table turned into a thriving fabrication business that Jared runs with his wife. From decorative metal signs to residential, artistic, and government work, Speed Fab has grown from a garage hobby into a full-blown powerhouse fabrication shop. Jared shares how losing his full-time job led him to take the leap into entrepreneurship, how the COVID pandemic unexpectedly accelerated their growth, and why delivering American-made products remains at the core of everything they do. He and Shep talk about the evolution of their business, adapting in the face of adversity, embracing automation and new tech, and why speed is more essential than ever. They also dive into how Speed Fab and Bryzos first connected—and what’s ahead as the next generation joins the shop.

This week on Irregardless, we’re joined by Rob Mihalko, founder and principal of Spectus Strategy and a trusted expert in digital marketplaces. Rob shares hard-earned lessons from years helping marketplace businesses grow and scale. From his early days at Ariba to sharing his expertise with the next generation of marketplace leaders. We get into what actually drives sustainable marketplace growth, how strategy shifts over time, and what most teams get wrong when trying to scale. He also gives us a peek into his work as an educator at Stanford, where he teaches the next wave of innovators building platforms and marketplaces. Whether you’re in the trenches of a startup or advising one, Rob’s insights will change how you think about growth.

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.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Shep Hickey and Lisa Reisman continue their discussion, diving into how MetalMiner evolved from a simple blog into a platform offering powerful forecasting tools for the metals industry. They explore the complexities of metal pricing, market volatility, and why critical thinking still matters in a world increasingly shaped by A.I. Lisa shares her perspective on what A.I. can and can’t do, and what the future of automation might look like for industrial buying and forecasting. She also opens up about her leadership style, how she builds and leads a high-performing team, and the values that drive MetalMiner’s success in a constantly changing space. A thought-provoking conversation about data, technology, and the human side of innovation in metals.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Shep Hickey sits down with Lisa Reisman, CEO and founder of MetalMiner, for an engaging and wide-ranging conversation that traces the unexpected journey that led her into the metals industry. Lisa shares her unconventional path, from early career twists and wild job stories to her first steps into aluminum trading. She talks about how she and her husband launched MetalMiner as a blog, what it was like to break into the space, and how she navigated a new industry with fresh eyes and relentless curiosity. They wrap Part 1 with the story of MetalMiner’s pivot from a niche content site to the data-driven forecasting platform that serves buyers and suppliers across the industry today. Don’t miss Part 2 next week, where Shep and Lisa dig deeper into industry disruption, marketplaces, A.I., and what it really takes to innovate in metals.

This week on Irregardless, we sit down with Sam Goodwin, an entrepreneur, speaker, and St. Louis native, to hear a story that is as unthinkable as it is inspiring. In 2019, while on a mission to visit every country in the world, Sam was captured in Syria and held hostage for 63 days under the Syrian regime. With no formal charges and little hope, he endured solitary confinement, interrogation, and extreme uncertainty, while his family worked behind the scenes with the U.S. and international governments to bring him home. But this is not just a story about survival. It is about transformation. Since his release, Sam has taken his experience and turned it into a platform to help others grow through adversity. With a background in startups and a passion for personal and professional development, he now speaks around the world on how to navigate the unknown, lead with clarity, and turn hardship into strength. We talk about mindset, risk, faith, purpose, and what it means to move forward when nothing feels certain. Whether you are building a business, leading a team, or going through something difficult in your personal life, this episode will stay with you.

20 episodes in and still just getting started. For this episode, we’re looking back at some of our favorite moments from the first 19 episodes of the show. Hosted by the Bryzos team—Shep Hickey, Lee Letourneau, and Rachel Hartman—Irregardless brings together real, unscripted conversations with guests from across the metals industry, startups, tech, and beyond. Over the course of the season, we’ve covered a lot: from raw lessons in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship to insights on software, AI, marketplaces, and how Bryzos is changing the game. We’ve heard from shop floors and boardrooms, fabricators and founders, and we’ve had a few laughs along the way. We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to be joined by so many amazing guests who shared their stories, wisdom, advice, and honesty. Irregardless wouldn’t be what it is without them, and this episode is a celebration of those voices. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re just tuning in, this is a great episode to get a feel for the show and the incredible guests who’ve joined us along the way. This episode pulls together our favorite mic-drop moments, unexpected tangents, and conversations that stuck with us. A rewind worth hitting play on.

In this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Chris and Brent Jansky—the father-son duo leading T.J. Welding & Fabrication in Wharton, Texas. As President and Vice President, respectively, Chris and Brent represent the second and third generations of their family-run metal fabrication and welding business. Their story is one of legacy, resilience, and evolution in the metals industry. They take us back to the company’s origins, founded by Chris’s father and later passed down to him. After decades of hard work, Chris eventually handed the reins to Brent in the wake of Hurricane Harvey—a catastrophic event that not only devastated their shop but also much of their town. In the face of destruction, the Janskys share how loyal employees, strong community ties, and family leadership helped rebuild their operation from the ground up. Now at the helm, Brent reflects on honoring his family’s legacy while leading the company into the digital age. From adapting technology to staying true to old-school values, the conversation hits on powerful themes: generational transitions, digital transformation in metalworking, and how to balance tradition with innovation. It’s a must-listen for anyone in the steel or fabrication world—and for those who understand the grit it takes to build, rebuild, and grow a family business in today’s world.