Welding careers, welding apprenticeship programs, and the welding skills gap—Arc Junkies host Jason Becker breaks down what today’s welders need to know.

Host Andrew Brown sits down with Jason Becker, Marine veteran, longtime welder, educator, and host of the Arc Junkies podcast, to explore the real-world journey from hands-on welding work to industry-wide storytelling and advocacy.

This episode unpacks how years of hands-on welding experience shaped Jason’s voice as an industry advocate and podcast host—learning welding through repetition, hard work, and decades in the trade and how he went on to hosting his own podcast where he’s spent 450+ episodes amplifying honest conversations about welding careers, workforce development, and the growing welding skills gap.

Together, Andrew and Jason break down what today’s welders need to know about welding apprenticeship programs, trade school for welding, mentorship, pay progression, and why the trades struggle to attract and retain the next generation. The conversation also highlights how platforms like the Arc Junkies podcast help reshape how young people view welding and the broader Skilled Trades.

Whether you’re considering a career in welding, already working under the hood, or interested in how storytelling can influence the Trades Industry, this episode delivers grounded, experience-backed insight.

1. (00:01) – From Under the Hood: Jason Becker’s welding origin story
2. (07:45) – Military welding, ironwork, and decades in the field
3. (16:10) – To the Mic: Taking over the Arc Junkies podcast
4. (27:30) – Welding Apprenticeship Programs vs Trade School for Welding
5. (40:50) – The Welding Skills Gap: pay, perception, and mentorship failures
6. (55:40) – Why storytelling matters for the future of welding careers

1. Welding careers are built through time under the hood—real skill takes repetition, patience, and mentorship.
2. Welding apprenticeship programs and trade school for welding both play critical roles, depending on career goals and access.
3. The welding skills gap is driven as much by culture, pay stagnation, and weak mentorship as by labor shortages.
4. Moving from the shop floor to platforms like the Arc Junkies podcast shows how tradespeople can lead industry advocacy and education.

Jason Becker is a Marine veteran, professional welder, educator, and host of the Arc Junkies podcast. With decades of experience in welding, construction, and workforce training, Jason has become a trusted voice in conversations around welding careers, skills development, and the future of the Skilled Trades. His work bridges hands-on craftsmanship with industry-wide storytelling and advocacy.

Welding Careers, Welding Apprenticeship Programs, Welding Skills Gap, Trade School for Welding, Arc Junkies Podcast, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, Trades Careers, Tradespeople, Contractors, Industry Experts, Skilled Trades Advisory Council, Construction, Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights,...

The first thing a superintendent said to Valerie Butler on a jobsite was: ‘You’re not who we want out here.’”

Host Andrew Brown sits down with Valerie Butler, a plumbing apprentice at P.I.P.E. Incorporated, to explore how to build a successful plumbing career path in today’s skilled trades industry. Valerie shares her journey from the Marine Corps to a hands-on plumbing apprenticeship, offering real insight into military to trades career transitions, job site realities, and the value of skilled trades mentorship.

This episode takes an honest look at what it’s like being one of the first women in a company’s apprenticeship program, how plumbers actually get started without industry connections, and why the trades offer long-term opportunity without college debt. If you’re exploring women in the skilled trades, considering a plumbing apprenticeship, or looking for a proven plumbing career path, this conversation delivers practical guidance from someone living it.

1. (00:01) – From Military to Trades Career: How Valerie transitioned from the Marine Corps into a plumbing apprenticeship
2. (07:58) – Plumbing Apprenticeship 101: How to get hired, what first-year plumbers actually do
3. (15:40) – Women in the Skilled Trades: Navigating job sites, skepticism, and earning respect
4. (26:22) – Skilled Trades Mentorship: Why the right foreman changes everything
5. (35:55) – Plumbing Career Path & Pay Progression: Apprentice wages vs journeyman income
6. (47:30) – Advice for Gen Z & Career Changers: How to test trades careers without long-term risk

1. A plumbing apprenticeship provides paid education and long-term career security without student loan debt.
2. Women in the skilled trades are reshaping construction culture through planning, leadership, and problem-solving.
3. Military to trades career transitions offer a strong advantage, especially in discipline, confidence, and adaptability.
4. Skilled trades mentorship accelerates learning, builds confidence, and shortens the path to mastery.

Valerie Butler is a plumbing apprentice at P.I.P.E. Incorporated and a passionate advocate for women in the skilled trades. After leaving the Marine Corps due to injury, Valerie pursued a plumbing apprenticeship, proving that a military to trades career can lead to stability, growth, and fulfillment.

As one of the first women apprentices in her company, Valerie actively supports skilled trades mentorship, participates in career fairs, and uses LinkedIn to help more women explore sustainable plumbing career paths in the trades industry.

Women in the Skilled Trades, Plumbing Apprenticeship, Military to Trades Career, Skilled Trades Mentorship, Plumbing Career Path, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, Andrew Brown, Valerie Butler, P.I.P.E. Incorporated, Toolfetch, Plumbers, Electricians, HVAC, Carpentry, Millwrights, Construction, Trades Careers, Tradespeople, Craftsmanship, Problem-solving,...

Aircraft maintenance is the backbone of aviation safety. Andrew Brown and Jason Pfaff break down the aircraft maintenance technician shortage, FAA A&P certification, and aviation careers.

Host Andrew Brown sits down with Jason Pfaff, CEO of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, to explore the unseen world of aircraft maintenance and why the growing aircraft maintenance technician shortage is becoming a serious issue across the aviation industry.

They unpack what goes into keeping planes airworthy, why FAA A&P certification is one of the most rigorous credentials in the skilled trades, and how aviation maintenance school serves Gen Z, career changers, and hands-on problem solvers alike. The conversation also maps the long-term aviation mechanic career path, including pay progression, mobility, and opportunities beyond commercial airlines.

This episode is essential listening for anyone curious about Skilled Trades, the Trades Industry, or high-impact careers built on craftsmanship, precision, and responsibility.

1. (00:00) – Aircraft Maintenance Explained: What the public doesn’t see behind every flight
2. (01:27) – The Aircraft Maintenance Technician Shortage: Why aviation is facing a workforce gap
3. (08:17) – FAA A&P Certification: Why aviation mechanics are held to a higher standard
4. (13:40) – Aviation Maintenance School: Program length, structure, and return on investment
5. (18:56) – Career Placement & Mobility: Airlines, MROs, space, and advanced aerospace roles
6. (26:05) – The Aviation Mechanic Career Path: Earnings, leadership tracks, and long-term growth

1. Aircraft maintenance is a highly coordinated, safety-critical system that most passengers never notice—until something goes wrong.
2. The aircraft maintenance technician shortage is structural, driven by retirements, reduced trade pipelines, and rising travel demand.
3. FAA A&P certification provides standardized credibility, portability, and strong employer demand across aviation and aerospace.
4. An aviation maintenance school pathway offers a high-ROI skilled trade with a scalable aviation mechanic career path.

Jason Pfaff is the CEO of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, one of the nation’s largest aviation training organizations. He leads initiatives focused on workforce development, FAA-aligned education, and career placement across commercial aviation, MROs, and aerospace employers. Jason is a vocal advocate for Trades Careers, education access, and strengthening the skilled trades pipeline nationwide.

Aircraft Maintenance, Aircraft Maintenance Technician Shortage, FAA A&P Certification, Aviation Maintenance School, Aviation Mechanic Career Path, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, Trades Careers, Tradespeople, Craftsmanship, Problem-solving, Creativity, Advocacy, Education, Skilled Trades Advisory Council, Andrew Brown, Jason Pfaff, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Construction, Contractors,...

Host Andrew Brown tackles the growing welding workforce shortage and explains why it’s one of the most urgent challenges facing the construction and skilled trades industries today. As experienced tradespeople retire and fewer young workers enter the pipeline, the future of welding jobs in the U.S. hangs in the balance.

Andrew breaks down how to get into the welding trade, why traditional advice is failing Gen Z, and what’s missing from today’s education system. He explores skilled trades careers for Gen Z, highlighting how craftsmanship, problem-solving, and creativity are being overlooked in favor of outdated college-only narratives.

The episode also compares welder apprenticeship vs trade school, showing contractors, parents, and young workers how to evaluate real career pathways not marketing promises. Along the way, Andrew ties welding to the broader ecosystem of carpentry, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, millwrights, and the entire trades industry, calling for stronger advocacy and leadership from industry experts, contractors, and organizations like the Skilled Trades Advisory Council.

1. (00:00) Why This Episode Matters: The Welding Workforce Shortage & AWS Summit Context
2. (02:19) 9/11, the Trades, and Why This Mission Became Personal
3. (05:13) From IT to Trades Advocacy: Building Toolfetch and Telling Trade Stories
4. (07:28) Why Gen Z Isn’t Entering the Trades: Shop Class, Guidance Counselors, and Perception
5. (09:47) Trade School vs Reality: Barriers to Entry and Early-Career Frustration
6. (11:49) How to Get Into the Welding Trade: Standing Out, Follow-Up, and Personal Branding
7. (14:17) The Future of Welding Jobs in the U.S. and Why AI Won’t Replace the Trades
8. (16:44) Final Advice: Earning Your Stripes, Staying Patient, and Building a Career

1. The welding workforce shortage is a long-term structural problem driven by retirements, broken education pipelines, and poor messaging.
2. The future of welding jobs in the U.S. remains strong, stable, and essential to construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing.
3. Choosing between welder apprenticeship vs trade school depends on mentorship, employer commitment, and real job placement—not tuition price alone.
4. Skilled trades careers for Gen Z must be reframed around purpose, creativity, problem-solving, and long-term opportunity.

KEYWORDS:

Welding workforce shortage, How to get into the welding trade, Skilled trades careers for Gen Z, Welder apprenticeship vs trade school, Future of welding jobs in the U.S., Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Construction, Craftsmanship, Problem-solving, Creativity, Tradespeople, Advocacy, Trades Careers, Industry Experts, Contractors, Education, Skilled Trades Advisory Council

ABOUT THE HOST

Andrew Brown is the host of The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades podcast and the founder of Trades Media. He works with industry leaders, educators, and employers to close the...

Want to start a plumbing career? Charles Goede joins host Andrew Brown to break down trade school training, union apprenticeships, and the SkillsUSA competition.

Host Andrew Brown sits down with Charles Goede , the U.S. competitor for WorldSkills Plumbing & Heating 2026, to explore how a young tradesperson rises through trade school training, excels in the SkillsUSA competition, and builds a long-term plumbing career.

Charles opens up about mentors who shaped him, the reality of union apprenticeships, what it’s like to compete on a world stage, and how the skilled trades create life-changing opportunities—from travel to high-earning work to lifelong craftsmanship.

Whether you’re curious about entering the trades industry, pursuing plumbing, or navigating union vs. non-union opportunities, this episode delivers raw, real-world insight from someone who’s lived it.

1. (00:01) – Starting a Plumbing Career Through Trade School Training. How Charles discovered trade school training, joined SkillsUSA, and realized the skilled trades were the right path.
2. (05:22) – SkillsUSA Competition: Pressure, Performance & Personal Growth. Charles explains competing at the SkillsUSA competition, winning Connecticut, and placing second in the nation—plus the nerves of performing in front of thousands.

1. (12:18) – Family Influence, Mentorship & Finding the Right Trade. Why he chose a plumbing career over welding or electrical, and how mentors, teachers, and his cousin guided him through early decision-making.

1. (18:40) – Big Mechanical Systems & Daily Problem-Solving in the Skilled Trades. A look at boilers, chillers, steam systems, blueprints, and why problem-solving is the heart of craftsmanship in the skilled trades.

1. (24:50) – Union Apprenticeships: Pay, Benefits & How to Get In. Charles breaks down why he recommends union apprenticeships, how competitive they are, and how persistence helps apprentices get accepted.

1. (32:15) – Preparing for WorldSkills 2026: Metric Systems, Training & Mental Toughness. Inside the intense world of WorldSkills: simulations, training on European plumbing systems, mental discipline, and representing the U.S. next year.

1. Trade school training opens real pathways into high-earning, meaningful careers in the skilled trades.
2. Union apprenticeships offer unmatched pay, training, and benefits, but require persistence and commitment.
3. The SkillsUSA competition builds confidence, problem-solving skills, and exposure to elite craftsmanship.
4. A successful plumbing career combines hands-on learning, mentorship, field experience, and adaptability—especially on major construction projects.

Charles Goede is a rising leader in America’s skilled trades and the official U.S. competitor for WorldSkills Plumbing & Heating 2026. After launching his plumbing career through trade school training, Charles excelled in the SkillsUSA competition,...

Career change at 40? Learn how skilled trades careers, plumbing apprenticeships, and the Trade Up Program help adults start working with your hands.

Host Andrew Brown sits down with Lixil America’s Senior National Sales Trainer Vinny Arnese to unpack what it really looks like to make a career change at 40, begin a plumbing apprenticeship, join the Skilled Trades, or shift into a hands-on career through the Trade Up Program.

They break down the rising demand for skilled trades careers, why so many people over 40 are ditching white-collar stress for working with your hands, and how Lixil’s national initiatives support contractors, educators, and the next generation through real advocacy.

Whether you're exploring a career change at 40, researching skilled trades careers, or considering a plumbing apprenticeship, this episode delivers grounded advice, personal stories, and real industry insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

● (00:00) – Why Skilled Trades Careers Are Exploding: Demand, wages, and why more people make a career change at 40.

● (04:52) – Is It Too Late at 40? Real stories of adults shifting careers and finally enjoying working with your hands.

● (10:41) – Inside the Trade Up Program: How Lixil America is reshaping pathways into skilled trades careers through advocacy & education.

● (18:22) – What a Plumbing Apprenticeship Really Looks Like: Earn-while-you-learn, tuition support, and contractor pathways.

● (25:55) – Gen Z, School Counselors & Trades Education: Why the industry needs more structured messaging and exposure.

● (32:14) – Purpose & Fulfillment Through Hands-On Work: Problem-solving, craftsmanship, and why working with your hands transforms lives.

● A career change at 40 is not only realistic—it’s becoming one of the fastest-growing entry points into skilled trades careers.

● A plumbing apprenticeship gives you paid training, fast advancement, and long-term job security without student debt.

● Lixil America’s Trade Up Program is helping adults and students find real pathways into the trades through advocacy and hands-on exposure.

● Working with your hands offers creativity, purpose, problem-solving, and financial stability in a way many white-collar roles no longer provide.

Vinny Arnese is the Senior National Sales Trainer for Lixil America, representing American Standard, GROHE, and DXV. He leads Lixil’s nationwide Trade Up Program, an initiative designed to close the talent gap by guiding students, adults, contractors, and educators toward skilled trades careers—including mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, electricians, millwrights, and construction.

A passionate advocate for the Skilled Trades, Vinny works closely with educators, unions, contractors, and industry experts. His mission is to help anyone—from high school students to those making a career change at 40—discover the stability and fulfillment of working with your hands through training, mentorship, and access to proper education pathways like a plumbing apprenticeship.

Career Change at 40, Skilled Trades Careers, Plumbing Apprenticeship, Trade Up Program, Working With Your Hands, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, Andrew Brown, Vinny Arnese, Lixil, Lixil America, Toolfetch, Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Construction, Craftsmanship, Problem-Solving, Creativity, Tradespeople, Advocacy, Trades Careers, Contractors, Industry Experts, Education, Skilled Trades Advisory Council

Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinny-arnese-7a71006b/

Lixil Website: https://www.lixil.com/

Union-backed skilled trades careers create long-term opportunity. Tom Bigley joins host Andrew Brown to break down trade school options, union benefits, and how to launch a successful path in the trades industry.

Host Andrew Brown sits down with Tom Bigley, Director of Plumbing Services for the United Association, to explore how today’s skilled trades careers really work—covering everything from plumbing union entry requirements to why modern apprenticeships and trade school pipelines offer unmatched union benefits and long-term security.

Tom shares 40+ years of insights on recruitment, opportunities for women, career advancement, pension programs, and how the next generation can thrive across plumbing, welding, HVAC, carpentry, and other trades.

Whether you’re a student, a parent, or someone considering a mid-life pivot into the skilled trades, this episode provides clear, real-world guidance from one of the most respected leaders in the trades industry.

00:01 – Skilled Trades Benefits & Union Advantages: How pensions, healthcare, and union benefits make trades careers uniquely stable.

04:18 – Plumbing Union Career Paths: Tom explains the United Association, leadership roles, and how the plumbing union builds future tradespeople.

11:02 – What Makes Great Apprentices?: Communication, work ethic, and the essential soft skills behind successful apprenticeships.

17:45 – Trade School & Technology Evolution: How modern trade school programs and training centers raise the bar for today’s skilled workers.

25:30 – Recruiting Gen Z & Educating Parents: Why awareness of skilled trades benefits must start at home.

34:40 – How to Join the Union: Step-By-Step: Application tips, timelines, requirements, and how anyone can begin a skilled trades career.

• Apprenticeships in the plumbing union provide unmatched union benefits, from paid training to pensions and healthcare—making them one of the strongest entry points into the skilled trades.
• Trade school and apprenticeships create a debt-free, high-income pathway, often outperforming traditional college outcomes.
• The plumbing union develops more than just craft skills—it produces leaders, project managers, and industry innovators.
• Skilled trades careers offer stability, upward mobility, and real purpose, especially as labor shortages increase opportunities nationwide.

Tom Bigley is the Director of Plumbing Services for the United Association, representing nearly 400,000 tradespeople across plumbing, HVAC, welding, sprinkler fitting, and pipeline work in the U.S. and Canada. With over 44 years in the skilled trades, Tom has served as a business manager, international leader, and Chairman of the World Plumbing Council. He is a lifelong advocate for apprenticeships, trade school pathways, strong union benefits, and building the future of the skilled trades workforce.

Skilled Trades, skilled trades careers, Plumbing Union, plumbing union benefits, Apprenticeships, apprenticeship programs, Trade School Training, union benefits, Trades Industry, Trades Careers, Tradespeople, Craftsmanship, Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Construction, Problem-solving, Creativity, Andrew Brown, Tom Bigley, Toolfetch, Plumbing Services of United Association, Industry Experts, Contractors, Skilled Trades Advisory Council, Education, Workforce Development, Labor Shortage Solutions, Union vs Non-Union

• Website: https://ua.org/plumbers/
• PHCC website:...

Behind every home built and tool lifted, the Home Depot Foundation is powering skilled trades careers through its Path to Pro trade programs. Courtney Jenkins from the Home Depot Foundation joins host Andrew Brown to discuss how to start a career in the trades, and what’s next for the trades industry.

Host Andrew Brown welcomes Courtney Jenkins, Manager of National Programs and Strategic Partnerships at the Home Depot Foundation, for a deep dive into the future of skilled trades careers. Discover how trade programs, Path to Pro, and national partnerships are training thousands for construction jobs, HVAC, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical careers.

Whether you’re exploring education in the trades, a contractor seeking new talent, or someone curious about craftsmanship and problem-solving, this episode shows how advocacy, access, and mentorship are closing the skilled labor gap.

(00:00) – Skilled Trades as Option A: Why trades careers deserve to be the first choice, not a fallback.

(06:45) – Home Depot Foundation’s $50M Commitment: How investment fuels trade programs nationwide.

(13:10) – Path to Pro Platform: Training, mentorship, and scholarships for construction jobs and trades careers.

(22:30) – Fixing the Labor Shortage: How the trades industry is rebuilding America’s workforce.

(33:50) – Real-Life Impact Stories: From high school programs to veterans finding their calling.

(46:15) – Get Involved: How to join Path to Pro, volunteer, or start your own skilled trades initiative.

• The Skilled Trades = Essential Careers: The trades industry fuels America’s economy with construction jobs, HVAC, electricians, carpenters, and plumbers who create lasting impact.
• $50M in Action: Home Depot Foundation’s Impact: Through national trade programs like Path to Pro, the Home Depot Foundation has trained 60,000+ participants and introduced 490,000 people to skilled trades opportunities.
• Education + Advocacy Build the Pipeline: The next generation of tradespeople needs strong mentors, inclusive education, and a culture that celebrates craftsmanship and problem-solving.
• Path to Pro = Path to Success: With free training, scholarships, and job connections, Path to Pro makes starting in the skilled trades accessible, debt-free, and rewarding.

Courtney Jenkins serves as Manager of National Programs and Strategic Partnerships at the Home Depot Foundation, leading initiatives that expand access to trade programs, strengthen the trades industry, and help close the construction jobs gap. Through Path to Pro, she advocates for education, diversity, and long-term career growth in the skilled trades.

Skilled Trades, Construction Jobs, Home Depot Foundation, Trade Programs, Path to Pro, Trades Industry, Andrew Brown, Courtney Jenkins, Toolfetch, Carpentry, HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Construction, Contractors, Craftsmanship, Problem-solving, Creativity, Tradespeople, Advocacy, Trades Careers, Industry Experts, Education, Skilled Trades Advisory Council

Home Depot's Path to Pro Website: https://pathtopro.com

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyjenkins90/

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