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Mechanical Hub Media's John Mesenbrink and Tim Ward turn up the volume as hosts of this weekly Appetite for Construction podcast. The chat fest digs deep into the building trades industry, and features interviews with industry professionals and a variety of irrelevant, fun stuff that we hope you will enjoy. Trust us, we are just two regular guys with lots of thoughts, ideas and opinions. #construction #trades #tradetalk #plumbing #mechanicalsystems #buildingtrades #hvac #heatingandcooling
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The boys talk with Xylem's Austin Alexander, Vice President, Sustainability and Social Impact, and Susan O’Grady, Senior Director of Marketing, to discuss one of our most valuable resources—water. By working together, we can ensure water is accessible, affordable, and safe for all. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your f…
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This Friday Shorty runs a bit longer as the boys have a great time visiting with good friend, Jon Block, Estimating and Sales Project Manager, LH Block Electric Co., Inc., Bartlett, Ill. We talk about how the company started, Jon's entry into it, and working within the family dynamic, as three of Jon's brothers work at LH Block. Oh, and do Sparkies…
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How do you turn an abandoned adult book store to a net zero office? And, passive cooling in the desert? Celia Hoag and Cassie Robertson from DPR Construction stop by to discuss the transformation of an adult book store to the company's regional headquarters in Phoenix, and the net zero processes that went with it along the way. Subscribe to the App…
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Tim & John travel to balmy Orlando for the Service Titan Pantheon event. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Follow Plumbing Perspective IG @plumbing_perspective Follow Mechanical Hub IG @mechanicalhub Sign up fo…
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Season 4, episode 1 of the American Plumber Stories is here and they boys talk with Mark Crawford and Barrett Grant of Fulmer Heating, Plumbing & Cooling, Newberry, South Carolina. In order to find the next generation of tradesman, listen as Mark talks about hiring based on character, aptitude and ability. Be sure to check out Navien's Boiler Bonus…
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Tim and John talk about the recent passing of Jimmy Buffett and the footprint he left behind. John also talks about a homicide that took place in his small home town last night. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team…
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What is PEX piping and when was it introduced into plumbing systems in the United States? Jeff Wiedemann, manager of Product Performance and Technical Support at Uponor, and Aaron Stotko, director of Segment Marketing at Uponor, talk about PEX, new technology, the supply chain and the newly-built Experience Center. Be sure to check out Navien's Boi…
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Shorty: Kickin' Off Season 4 of the American Plumber Stories
18:52
18:52
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Our good buddy Spencer Brown, director of commercial sales, Pfister Faucets, stops by the Appetite for Construction podcast to talk about next week's lid lifter of season 4 of the American Plumber Stories. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact …
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Tim and John welcome Matt Blashaw of DIY Network & HGTV fame—with shows that include Yard Crashers and Build It Forward—to talk about his journey into his career, how he met his wife, his work with the Plumbing Education and Research Council (PERC), his enthusiasm for the trades and, of course, his self-diagnosed ADD. Be sure to check out Navien's …
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It's been "hot as balls" this past week and John & Tim welcome two plumbing & heating big dawgs—Alan Carlson and Eric Aune—to talk about working in these conditions, and they give some tips on how they handle the heat. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways…
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What's the answer for reliable hot water? This week the boys talk with Ansley Houston, Ariston Group, to talk water heating, heat pumps, electrification, and his relatively new position with the company. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact wi…
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Appetite for Construction
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Maui Picks up the Pieces with Maui Plumbing Inc.
27:42
27:42
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An emotional Ray Michaels, president of Maui Plumbing Inc., talks to the guys about the recent wildfires in the historic area of Lahaina. Michaels and his team has been working with vendors and contractors to build intermediate housing for those who’ve been displaced. He's also working with local officials to help his family and friends on the isla…
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National Backflow Prevention Day with Gary Parker Jr.
29:43
29:43
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Did you know that tomorrow is National Backflow Prevention Day? Tim & John talk backflow prevention with Watts' Gary Parker Jr. Gary joined Watts in 2018 with more than 15 years of general contracting and wholesale experience in the plumbing mechanical and construction industries. National Backflow Prevention Day day commemorates the tragic backflo…
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Recently, the DOE proposed a new ruling to raise standards for tankless gas-fired water heaters to 91 percent efficiency. Guest Frank Windsor, president of Rinnai North America, says to put it in perspective, Rinnai's non-condensing tankless water heater resides at about 82% efficiency. If passed, the new rule will unreasonably restrict consumer ac…
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Boogity, Boogity, Boogity — Talkin' Racing and America's Pastime
31:21
31:21
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Tim & John welcome in Josh Lipowski, the future son-in-law of Danny G. Josh is a writer for the the Daily Downforce, a NASCAR resource, and he calls games for the local semi-pro Lake County Corn Dogs. We talk racing and baseball. Yeah buddy! Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forg…
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Shorty: Love/Hate Relationship with the Internet; Brisket Sabotage
25:38
25:38
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On this Friday bonus edition, Tim And John discuss the websites that draw the most engagement and what apps people are most likely to delete off of their phones. John talks about the curious case of brisket sabotage. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways t…
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Appetite for Construction's Tim and John are joined by Make Trades Great Again's Eric and Andy as they share thoughts about the industry. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Follow Plumbing Perspective IG @plumbi…
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Appetite for Construction
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Unlocking the Mystery of Marketing with Brittany Murphy
40:11
40:11
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The boys talk with Brittany Murphy, who, for almost a decade, has created more than 900 online marketing strategies for clients all across the US. As a partner at One Thing Marketing, Brittany focuses on helping home service business owners get their phones to ring with new leads. Growing up with her family in the trades, her team has niched into s…
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Tim & John talk about the occasional troll on social media, John's upcoming fishing trip and some positive news about the drain cleaning industry. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Follow Plumbing Perspective I…
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Collaborating on Decarbonization with Sinem Gundogdu Kalkin
29:52
29:52
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Sinem Gundogdu Kalkin is Global Business Development Manager at Danfoss for Sector Integration, focused on decarbonization with integrated cooling and heating and heat recovery systems. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical …
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John welcomes in his good friend Brian Bailey, a pilot for American Airlines. Brian shares his experiences over the span of his 25-year career of flying the friendly skies. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Fol…
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Artificial Intelligence with IAPMO's John Mullen
31:19
31:19
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31:19
Tim & John head to North Carolina to talk with John Mullen, director of technical services, the IAPMO Group. John talks about Artificial Intelligence (AI), ChatGPT and the future of our industry using such data-driven tools. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the othe…
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John talks to Mike Prencavage Jr. who recently visited SoCal's new hydrogen facility. The members of the Southern California PHCC chapter were given a tour of the new building, including a model net zero home. The tour changed Mike's mind on the viability and efficacy of hydrogen fuel. The future is here baby! Subscribe to the Appetite for Construc…
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Oh, the stories they will tell. The boys head up to Maine to talk with Evan and Mike Levesque of Dan Davis Sales, a manufacturer's rep in the Northeast since 1976. A third-generation business, the brothers rely on relationships as the cornerstone of their success. They share stories of their grandfather—founder of the business—and working with thei…
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Friday Shorty: NASCAR Takes Chicago, Dream Jobs and Social Media Negativity
20:51
20:51
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As the 4th weekend approaches, Tim and John talk about upcoming plans and events. They also discuss NASCAR's Chicago street race, dream jobs and how to handle the occasional A-hole on social media. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the…
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We head back to the state of cheese to talk with Ryan Pfund—the "P" is silent. Ryan is the Sr. Product Manager at Bradley Corporation with more than 20 years of product management experience. He is responsible for the Safety & Industrial products at Bradley, including managing the Emergency Drench Showers and Eyewash product lines, and Thermostatic…
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In most hydronic installations, often times techs go to great lengths to eliminate air from the system, but for submersibles? Every molecule matters. We talk about it. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Follow P…
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The boys talk with Marc Womack. Who is Marc, you ask? Owner of Sub7 LLC, the production company that shoots the American Plumber Stories docuseries on YouTube. Marc talks about the what's it like behind the scenes, working with Spencer Brown—who also joins the show—and talks about the importance of the mission of telling these stories to get the tr…
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Friday Bonus: The State of the Trades and Reading the Room with Branding
16:49
16:49
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John & Tim talk about the current state of worker shortages in the construction industry and why now is the time to join a trade. The $$$ is there! We also talk about branding and how to read a room and know your audience. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other …
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Buzz, Buzz, Buzz: A Pragmatic Approach to Heat Pump Technology & Electrification
31:42
31:42
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31:42
Tim and John talk heat pump technology and electrification with Lochinvar's Jennifer Russell, Segment Development Manager, Decarbonization, and A.O. Smith's Josh Greene, Corporate Vice President, Government, and Industry Affairs. What's all the buzz about? Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels…
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Bonus: Allergies, Canadian Wildfires, Mosquitoes, Beer and Social Media Influencers
21:19
21:19
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The boys slide into the weekend airing out their thoughts on allergies, Canadian wildfires, pesky mosquitoes, cold beer and a couple cool events in Cleveland involving social media influencers. We are airing it out...get the pun? Cheer and enjoy the weekend everyone! Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streami…
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Tim & John head to the secret bunker in Milwaukee where we find Caleffi's national training manager, Cody Mack. Nothing too technical, we talk about Cody's beginning as a HVAC tech, getting hired at Caleffi, his job and the latest products and innovation from Caleffi. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite stream…
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Appetite for Construction
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Codes and the Regulatory Environment with Chris Forth, Johnson Controls
35:45
35:45
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This week Tim & John welcome in Chris Forth, an HVAC industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience working in engineering, product management and most recently the regulatory and codes space as the Vice President of Regulatory, Codes & Environmental Affairs for the Ducted Systems division of Johnson Controls. Subscribe to the Appetite for …
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Bonus: Private Equity, Immigration Reform & the Case of Missing Buffalo Trace Whiskey
22:44
22:44
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22:44
The boys talk about the efficacy of good immigration reform, private equity entering the PHVAC industry, fashion hair tips and the mysterious case of the missing Buffalo Trace whiskey. BOOM! Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechan…
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Appetite for Construction
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Seán Kearney, Managing Director, IWSH Foundation
27:32
27:32
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Tim & John set sail for Ireland as they talk to Seán Kearney, managing director for the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation. While at the ISH Show in Germany, Tim and John covered the Plumbing Champions event where 12 plumbers/apprentices from eight different countries came together to prefab bathroom fixtures (toilets, ur…
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Bonus: TikTok Bans, Favorite Movies & Poop Nuggets
26:23
26:23
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They guys end the week talking about the recent TikTok ban in Montana, favorite movies, and do older movies stand the test of time like music does? Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Follow Plumbing Perspective …
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Appetite for Construction
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Training, Training, and More Training with Dan Clapper & Ken Midgett
30:01
30:01
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This week the boys talk training with Dan Clapper and Ken Midgett with Interplay Learning, an online and VR training for the essential skilled trades, which is scalable and more effective than traditional training methods. Clapper is the Commercial HVAC and Facilities Maintenance Market Director for Interplay Learning, while Midgett serves as the P…
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Bonus: The Anxiety Behind Starting—and Selling—Your Plumbing Business
25:51
25:51
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Friend and regular guest Danny G from Gronendyke Plumbing joins the show to talk about what it was like when he went off on his own. How did he get his phone to ring? Was there anxiety? Ask his wife. He also talks about the transition of his business to his apprentice Mason T. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favori…
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Appetite for Construction
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BOOM! Improving People's Lives Through Plumbing with Judaline Cassidy
31:48
31:48
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A feminist plumber, activist, mentor for young girls, and a plumber for the New York Housing Authority, Judaline tells her story of coming from nothing, a poor girl living in Trinidad & Tobago with her great grandmother. She has been a positive spokesperson for the plumbing industry pushing forward with the mantra—trades have no genders. Subscribe …
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Appetite for Construction
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Friday Bonus: Body Slams and Long Duck Dong
24:20
24:20
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This week, John welcomes his cousin and his son—Tim and Michael McRaith—to the Friday episode of Appetite for Construction. Michael, aka Flex Murphy, talks about pursuing professional wrestling and Tim talks about being an extra in movies, dating back to the mid-'80s with Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, to working on current TV sets. …
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Finding Success in a Business Management Solution
21:21
21:21
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The guys talk with Chris O'Grady, chief sales officer for Successware, a contractor-founded business and field service management software company for the home services industry. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Tea…
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Rap Master Danny G joins John on this Friday Bonus edition to talk about his latest rap release, "Name Drop," which can be downloaded on iTunes. We talk about his love for rap music, how he got started, Shaq, and he debuts the full rap song from his America's Got Talent audition. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your fav…
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Getting into Hot Water with Gary Klein
1:03:13
1:03:13
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This week we talk with Gary Klein, Gary Klein & Associates. Gary has been talking energy efficiency since the late '70s and has been carrying the torch for better plumbing systems through better design, right-sizing pipes, understanding behaviors and ultimately striving to better integrate a high performance hot water system into these buildings. W…
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The Hub team returns from another successful Iowa Build My Future Event in Des Moines. Tim & John jump on with Brandon Patterson, Iowa Skilled Trades, and the primary architect of this impressive event. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact wit…
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Mike Prencavage Jr.: The Man of the People
34:36
34:36
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Tim & John head to Southern California to talk with Mike Prencavage Jr. (@socalplumbguy), president/owner of The Family Plumber in Los Alamitos, Calif. Not only does Mike run a successful plumbing business, he is also active with PHCC, as he is president of PHCC Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (PHCC-ORSB), and on the board of d…
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Tim & John talk about crazy airport/airplane stories over the years. Also, the Iowa Build My Future event is next week. We talk about it. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team! Follow Plumbing Perspective IG @plumbi…
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Up Close with PHCC's Cindy Sheridan & David Frame
40:26
40:26
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The boys sit down with new CEO Cindy Sheridan and president David Frame, Bob Frame Plumbing, South Bend, Ind. In addition to adding union shops to the PHCC membership, see what else the two are doing to push the association, and the industry, forward through continued collaboration. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your …
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Friday Bonus: The Boys Riff on The Masters, Dreamy Retirement Locations and Easter Plans
17:30
17:30
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The boys get together for a Friday Bonus episode! Tim quizzes John on The Masters, including lots of Green Jacket and Champions Dinner talk, Retirement Locations, share their Easter plans and end the week looking forward to family time. Happy Easter to all our listeners. Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite str…
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We were thinking of a different title but it wasn't family friendly. Tim & John reconnect from a busy 2+ months of traveling. What are the top 5 things forgotten in a returned rental car? John talks about his trip to South Carolina, we talk NCAA Tournaments, sportsmanship, Tim's fear of heights and all sorts of good stuff. Subscribe to the Appetite…
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The boys catch up with Da Coach Alan Carlson to discuss Mental Health, WWETT, Scooter Riding, Social Media Influencers, Community over Competition, Chicago Sports Scene and debate the vocabulary evolution of the phrase, "that shit is so ass." Subscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't for…
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