# Plumbing, Pressure & Competition: Lessons from A WorldSkills Competitor with Charles Goede Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/plumbing-pressure-competition-lessons-from-a-worldskills-competitor-with-charles-goede Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/plumbing-pressure-competition-lessons-from-a-worldskills-competitor-with-charles-goede.md Podcast: [The Lost Art Of the Skilled Trades](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648) Published: 2025-12-09T22:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://the-lost-art-of-skilled-trades.captivate.fm/episode/plumbing-pressure-competition-lessons-from-a-worldskills-competitor-with-charles-goede Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/2f3a6100-90ad-4f6c-a1c1-d2183248f613.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/episodes/plumbing-pressure-competition-lessons-from-a-worldskills-competitor-with-charles-goede Duration seconds: 925 ## Resource 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. IN THIS EPISODE (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. (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. (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. (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. (24:50) – Union Apprenticeships: Pay, Benefits… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/episodes/plumbing-pressure-competition-lessons-from-a-worldskills-competitor-with-charles-goede/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/plumbing-pressure-competition-lessons-from-a-worldskills-competitor-with-charles-goede.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.