{"podcast":{"title":"The Lost Art Of the Skilled Trades","slug":"the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648","podcast_index_feed_id":6923648,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-lost-art-of-skilled-trades/","website_url":"https://www.andrewbrown.net","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/646c90b5-c725-4a9f-b15c-452ed30769ee/Cover-TLAOST-3.jpg","author":"Andrew Brown","episode_count":98,"summary":"Welcome to The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, the ultimate podcast dedicated to celebrating and exploring the world of skilled trades. Hosted by Andrew Brown, a passionate advocate for the trades industry, this podcast is your go-to source for knowledge, inspiration, and practical advice. Andrew brings a unique perspective shaped by years of hands-on experience, entrepreneurial success, and a deep commitment to elevating the trades. Dive into the fascinating and ever-evolving world of skilled trades, where creativity, problem-solving, and dedication come together to build the world around us. From carpentry and HVAC systems to electricians, plumbers, millwrights, and beyond, every episode uncovers the grit, determination, and artistry that define the people behind these essential professions. Andrew’s journey began with a life-changing moment on September 11, 2001, when he worked alongside tradespeople, first responders, and community helpers at Ground Zero. This experience inspired him to dedicate his life to advocating for the unsung heroes of the trades. Through his company, Andrew has helped provide tools, equipment, and resources to industry professionals worldwide. Now, thr…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-01T10:20:44.576717+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648"},"episode":{"title":"Why Apprentices Quit in the First 30 Days with Glenda Rahn","slug":"why-apprentices-quit-in-the-first-30-days-with-glenda-rahn","published_at":"2026-06-23T21:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/why-apprentices-quit-in-the-first-30-days-with-glenda-rahn","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648","url":"https://the-lost-art-of-skilled-trades.captivate.fm/episode/why-youre-losing-apprentices-in-the-first-30-days-with-glenda-rahn","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/860f0f5b-4dfd-46a2-a5f9-86b7afd5191b.mp3","summary":"Glenda Rahn, Director of Workforce Development at Merit Ontario, reveals why skilled trades companies lose new apprentices in the first 30 days — and what to do about it. Every contractor says the same thing: \"We can't find people.\" But Glenda Rahn has seen something different on the ground — and it's not a recruitment problem. It's a retention problem. Companies bring in new hires who are excited on day one and then fail to give them what they need to stay: clear expectations, a real mentor, and a reason to belong. Glenda is the Director of Workforce Development at Merit Ontario, where she works directly with construction contractors and apprentices across Ontario to fix the workforce pipeline from the inside out. She's spent years doing individual coaching calls with candidates, building mentorship frameworks, and having hard conversations with employers about what they're doing wrong — and what actually works. If you're a contractor struggling to keep new hires, a young person trying to break into the trades, or an industry leader who wants to understand Gen Z on the jobsite, this episode is packed with practical insight you can put to work today. IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) – The Real Problem Is Retention: Most companies focus on recruitment, but Glenda says the real workforce crisis is what happens after someone gets hired. (01:45) – Onboarding Breakdown: The first 30 days are make-or-break — here's why new apprentices walk out the back door before they ever hit the 60-day mark. (03:10) – What Good Mentorship Actually Looks Like: It's not just having a senior person nearby — it's emotional intelligence, clear communication, and the willingness to share knowledge on purpose. (05:45) – Gen Z vs. Older Generations: Andrew and Glenda dig into whether Gen Z has changed the…","meta_description":"Glenda Rahn, Director of Workforce Development at Merit Ontario, reveals why skilled trades companies lose new apprentices in the first 30 days — and what…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1576,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/episodes/why-apprentices-quit-in-the-first-30-days-with-glenda-rahn/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/why-apprentices-quit-in-the-first-30-days-with-glenda-rahn.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}