Welcome to Grit Nation, the Building Trades Podcast. 

I’m Joe Cadwell, the writer, producer, and host of the show and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ken Rusk.  

Ken is a blue-collar career choice advocate, construction industry entrepreneur and the author of Blue-Collar Cash which details how you can…. Love Your Work, Secure Your Future and Find Happiness for Life. 

We’ll start today’s conversation by learning about Ken’s background and how his passion for hard work and construction earned him the nickname “The Million Dollar Ditch Digger”.

 We’ll then unpack the lessons Ken learned from a lifetime in the trades that enabled him to write his book, and how these lessons have been useful in his current role as a life coach and mentor to those interested in pursuing a career as a blue-collar tradesperson. 

Next, we’ll discuss the downside of buying into the oversold notion that the only pathway to professional pride and financial security is through a college degree and why now more than ever blue-collar jobs and the people who can do the work are in such great demand. 

Later, Ken will explain the importance of detailed visualization in helping you map out a future that will bring you Comfort, Peace and Freedom. 

And we’ll end our conversation by leaning what Ken’s definition of success is and why he is so passionate about helping people achieve their dreams regardless of their educational background or past.   

The Show Notes

Ken Rusk
https://www.kenrusk.com/

On today’s episode I discuss organized labor movements in America and why it is so important for UBC carpenters to develop and appreciate the storied history of our organization.  

Without knowing how we got to where we are, many may find it easy to undervalue the vast amount of blood, sweat and tears that were spilled in achieving the benefits we all enjoy as union members today. 

Countless hours devoted to organizing and negotiating campaigns often go unseen and unappreciated by the vary members whose lives they mean to better.  

Worse yet, many union members see it as someone else’s responsibility to do the heavy lifting necessary to protect our organization from the endless onslaught of attacks from big monied interest determined to destroy our way of life.  

Sadly, they do not understand the true strength of our organization, is its members. 

Our ability to command livable wages, healthcare benefits for ourselves and our families, access to training, safer working conditions, representation and the prospect of retirement with dignity, fall upon our collective shoulders to protect for future generations of carpenters to come. 

Today’s guest will share insight on the many hardships and successes, labor unions have endured over the decades, while paving the way towards a strong middle-class America, and how quickly our way of life can be disastrously altered if we don’t keep our eyes on the future. 

Mark McDermott is a lifelong supporter of organized labor and public presenter who has given over 450 talks on the history of organized labor movements and the long struggle for economic and social justice in our country. 

We’ll start our conversation by delving into why, now more than ever, we need strong labor unions.

Next, we’ll look into what attacks are being made on unions and who is responsible for these attacks. 

Mark will later explain the importance of member involvement in politics and how vital it is in maintaining the balance of wealth in America. 

And we will end our conversation by giving you the information needed to join the fight in protecting your future as a professional craftsperson.

Show Notes

Mark McDermott
http://www.markmmcdermott.com/

Welcome to Grit Nation. I’m Joe Cadwell the writer, producer, and host of the show and on today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with author Kathleen McLaughlin, about her new book titled; Blood Money – The Story of Life, Death and Profit Inside America’s Blood Industry.

In her book Kathleen turns the lights on a healthcare crisis hidden in plain sight and reveals a stunning example of economic inequality in action. 

Intertwined with her own story as a working-class American managing a chronic illness, she finds an industry that targets and exploits America’s most marginalized communities to feed the hunger for human blood plasma.

Over 20 million pay-for-extractions occur each year of American blood, which is then processed, and packaged for sale as part of a $30 billion-dollar global industry.

Blood Money reveals the controversial and unbalanced power structures behind the blood industry. 

From China’s blood black market to Silicon Valley tech startups, this electrifying expose demonstrates the shadowy overlap between big medicine and big business while painting a searing portrait of the extent to which American industry is eager to feed on the country’s most vulnerable.

The Show Notes

Kathleen McLaughlin
https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Kathleen-McLaughlin/179283499

Blood Money
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Blood-Money/Kathleen-McLaughlin/9781982171964