Rocky France vs. ThePurist — Who's Actually Doing the Interview?

What happens when two decorative concrete contractors sit down tointerview each other?

Apparently, Rocky France decides he's the interviewer. 😂

In this episode, Rick and Rocky turn the tables on each other—and Rockyends up asking Rick almost as many questions as Rick asks him. The result isone of the most unexpected, funny, and personal conversations we've had.

We dig into Rick's journey through the concrete industry and howthat path eventually led him to the American Society of Concrete Contractors(ASCC).

But then things get weird...

🥊 High school and college wrestling
🦵 Tearing an MCL—and the unexpected thing that helped Rick recover
💃 How ballroom dancing helped save his leg, improve his physical health,and build confidence
🥋 The surprising connection between dancing and martial arts
🏗️ Rocky's start as a concrete finisher
🏢 Pouring massive square-footage slabs before eventually discoveringdecorative concrete
🎨 And a debate that gets surprisingly philosophical:

What actually is art?

Rocky believes much of decorative concrete is art.

Rick... isn't so sure.

The two go head-to-head over what separates decorative concrete from trueartistic expression—and what it really means to call yourself an artist.

And throughout the conversation, Rocky keeps discovering things aboutRick's life and career that leave him saying, essentially:

“Wait... YOU did WHAT?” 😂

Most importantly, we talk about the ASCC and why it has becomesuch an important organization for people working in the concrete industry.

This episode has laughter, wrestling, dancing, injuries, concrete,art, philosophy, career stories, and a whole lot of surprises.

Two contractors. Two interviews. One conversation that went somewhereneither of us expected.

🎧 Tune in to Rick &Rocky Show — and find out who actually interviewed whom.

FROM A SMALL WISCONSIN FARM TO THE BIG LEAGUES OF SALES

What happens when a kid from small-town Wisconsin grows up working hardon a farm, makes it all the way to professional football, and eventually findshimself running a career in the world of big business?

Meet Jesse Wendt.

Jesse is a manufacturer's representative working on 100% commission,representing multiple companies and product lines. But what does that actuallymean? How do you make a living when your paycheck depends entirely on thebusiness you create? And how do you juggle representing multiple companies atthe same time?

Rick sits down with Jesse to pull back the curtain on the world ofmanufacturer's reps—and the answer is more complicated and fascinating than youmight think.

But this conversation goes way beyond sales.

Jesse grew up on a farm in small-town Wisconsin, learned the value ofhard work early, and took that work ethic all the way to professionalfootball. Today, he lives in Ohio and operates in a completely differentworld—one of manufacturers, customers, relationships, negotiations and sales.

It's a story about where you come from, where hard work can take you,and what happens when you carry the lessons of small-town America into thecorporate world.

Hard work. Confidence. Determination. Failure. Success. Football. Sales.

This one has a little bit of everything.

Listen to Jesse Wendt tell the story of how he went from working on afarm in Wisconsin to making his living selling for multiple manufacturers—andwhat he learned along the way.

What does it take to walk away from the security of corporate America and bet everything on yourself?

In one of our most personal and entertaining episodes yet, Brian Mills joins Rick Lobdell for an honest conversation about friendship, career changes, entrepreneurship, and the people who shape our lives.

Brian shares his journey from climbing the ladder at a multi-billion-dollar corporation to making the life-changing decision to leave it all behind and build his own decorative concrete business. Along the way, Rick tells the absolutely hilarious story of his own disastrous interview with the very same company—a reminder that humility will always take you further than ego.

The laughs don't stop there.

Rick and Brian take a trip down memory lane, swapping unforgettable stories about the incredible team they worked with, the friendships that have lasted for years, and the lessons learned from both success and failure. Then they dive into the realities of being self-employed—the freedom, the challenges, and why neither of them would have it any other way.

Then the conversation takes an inspiring turn.

Jenna Mills joins the show to talk about life with the man affectionately known as the Concrete Yedi, while sharing her passion for the Women's Association of Concrete Professionals (WACP), where she serves as Marketing Director.

Together, we discuss the importance of creating opportunities for women in the concrete industry, the progress that's been made, and the work that still lies ahead. Rick also shares memorable stories from attending a WACP retreat, including eye-opening conversations about the challenges many women have faced while building successful careers in construction and corporate America.

This episode has it all:

• 😂 Laugh-out-loud stories
• 💼 Career-changing decisions
• 🤝 Lifelong friendships
• 🏗️ Entrepreneurship and business lessons
• ❤️ Honest conversations about supporting women in our industry

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a concrete contractor, a corporate professional, or simply someone looking for inspiration, this episode will make you laugh, make you think, and remind you why the people in this industry make it so special.

Don't miss this one—it may be one of our best conversations yet.