{"podcast":{"title":"WELD","slug":"weld-3832015","podcast_index_feed_id":3832015,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/56a6df3c/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://www.weld.com","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/14437767/14437767-1755264467747-d098ddd100ba2.jpg","author":"Weld.com","episode_count":250,"summary":"WELD is the show that opens real doors in the welding world. From first arc to six-figure specialty work, host Beau Wigington talks with industry professionals as they share wins, mistakes, and the various pathways available in the welding industry. Whether you are in school or on the tools, guests will share practical steps, safety-first habits, and career plays to help you master the trade. MIG, TIG, stick, flux-core, pipe, fabrication, repair, inspection, and business growth all live here. New episodes each week.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-23T04:17:34.443660+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015"},"episode":{"title":"Why Backyard Welding Events Might Be the New Shop Class","slug":"why-backyard-welding-events-might-be-the-new-shop-class","published_at":"2026-04-27T16:00:01+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015/why-backyard-welding-events-might-be-the-new-shop-class","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/welddotcom/episodes/Why-Backyard-Welding-Events-Might-Be-the-New-Shop-Class-e3ihgij","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/56a6df3c/podcast/play/119111699/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-27%2F422957363-44100-2-e2be6528bf104.m4a","summary":"Backyard welding events are giving first-timers the kind of hands-on shop experience that many schools no longer offer. If you’re a welder, maker, teacher, fabricator, or someone who wants to help more people get into the trades, this episode shows what can happen when a community opens the shop doors and lets people learn by doing. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why community-based maker events can help fill the gap left by disappearing shop classes • How Sparks and Sawdust gave woodworkers and beginners a chance to weld on a real Santa Maria grill build • What makes learning on an actual project different from practicing beads on flat plate • How Papa Chad kept his first event simple, hands-on, and focused on learning instead of turning it into a big production • Why welders, fabricators, and makers can play a bigger role in bringing new people into the trades Papa Chad is a maker, builder, and host of Sparks and Sawdust in Phoenix City, Alabama. His property brings together a welding shop, wood shop, sawmill pad, custom pizza oven, and enough equipment to give first-timers a real hands-on experience. What makes his perspective valuable is that he is not trying to impress anybody — he is creating a place where people can try new skills, build something real, and leave better than they came in. Connect with Papa Chad: Instagram: @AlabamaPapaChad YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Papa_Chad Website: PapaChad.com Connect with Tom from Phoenix Wood Shop: Instagram: @PhoenixWoodShop Connect with Chris from Green Money Fab Instagram: @GreenMoneyFab Connect with Beau Wigington: Instagram: @beaudiditwelding Download the WELD App: iOS: App Store https://foxly.link/m6jqqa Android: Google Play https://foxly.link/cYEXjL If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-s…","meta_description":"Backyard welding events are giving first-timers the kind of hands-on shop experience that many schools no longer offer. If you’re a welder, maker, teacher…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":656,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/weld-3832015/episodes/why-backyard-welding-events-might-be-the-new-shop-class/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/weld-3832015/why-backyard-welding-events-might-be-the-new-shop-class.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}