Ep #12 PT 2: Why the Trades Matter: Chris Boden’s Mission to Energize America’s Workforce

How do you move from a career in hospitality into the electrical trades?In this episode of LiveWire Podcast, April Souther of Montgomery Electric shares how an unexpected experience during a workplace remodel sparked her interest in electrical work and eventually led her to pursue an apprenticeship after nine years as a bartender.April discusses the relationship between classroom instruction and hands-on training, what it can be like to enter a jobsite as a woman, and the challenges of finding workwear and PPE that fit the people using them.She also recounts a close call from her first year as an apprentice involving a cord she had been told was off but was still energized. The experience shaped how she approaches electrical verification and why she encourages new apprentices to double-check and triple-check their work.Whether you're considering a career change, supporting an apprenticeship program, or working to strengthen jobsite safety and workforce development, April's experience offers a firsthand perspective on entering and growing in the electrical trades.Visit https://www.livewirepodcast.com.Connect with LiveWire Podcast:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/livewire-podcast-49ab32385/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livewirepod/X: https://x.com/LiveWirePod1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewirepodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6vsiDECeMhdLwO9S7wFcS7Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/livewire-podcast/id1847925085

How much of your electrical safety program depends on equipment performing exactly the way you expect? Derek Vigstol of e-Hazard joins LiveWire Podcast for a practical conversation about NFPA 70B, electrical maintenance, arc flash safety, and the decisions organizations are being asked to examine more closely. Derek explains how NFPA 70B evolved into a standard and why maintenance affects more than reliability. He walks through a hypothetical arc flash calculation showing how changes in protective-device clearing time can dramatically change modeled incident energy. The conversation also explores how organizations can approach large maintenance programs without getting stuck in analysis paralysis, why equipment condition and environment should influence maintenance decisions, and why EHS and maintenance departments increasingly need to work together. Derek also shares his perspective on AI in electrical training, education in the skilled trades, and his goal of helping the industry move toward zero electrical fatalities. Listen to the full conversation at www.livewirepodcast.com. Connect with LiveWire Podcast: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/livewire-podcast-49ab32385/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livewirepod/ X: https://x.com/LiveWirePod1 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewirepod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6vsiDECeMhdLwO9S7wFcS7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/livewire-podcast/id1847925085

Welcome back to LiveWire, the podcast from OEL Worldwide Industries. Derek Sang returns to LiveWire for round two, and this conversation goes deep into what it really takes to keep utility workers safe on the job. Derek talks about the quality gap in flame-resistant, arc-rated clothing, explaining why a $40 shirt bought online can carry very different protection than an $80 shirt from a proven brand, and why that difference only shows up the day someone actually needs it to work. The conversation also covers what it takes to earn trust with linemen who have been in the field for decades, why an outside voice can cut through in ways a supervisor's message sometimes can't, and what Derek looks for when thinking about who could eventually carry his role forward. Derek also shares what life looks like doing 40 to 55 speaking dates a year, from staying disciplined on the road to keeping the message fresh presentation after presentation. If you work in electrical safety, PPE, training, or utility operations, this episode is a candid look at the human side of building a career around keeping people safe. Subscribe and follow LiveWire: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/livewire-podcast-49ab32385/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livewirepod/ • X: https://x.com/LiveWirePod1 • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewirepod • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6vsiDECeMhdLwO9S7wFcS7 • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/livewire-podcast/id1847925085

Years on the job can build exceptional skill, but they can also create a dangerous illusion of invulnerability. In this episode of the LiveWire Podcast, host Asa Dyer sits down with Jason Brozen, CESCP, former master electrician, safety speaker, and arc flash survivor, to discuss the deceptive nature of complacency in the electrical trades and why seasoned veterans are often at the highest risk.Jason shares his personal journey surviving a catastrophic arc flash incident in 2009, how cutting corners on routine tasks changes lives forever, and why standard awareness seminars fail to produce truly qualified electrical workers.

Bryan Brewer, National Sales Manager at Steel Grip, joins Asa Dyer to discuss the values and operating principles behind a family-owned PPE manufacturer. Bryan reflects on growing up around SteelGrip, working alongside his father, and learning how honesty, responsiveness, and long-term relationships shape trust in a close-knit industry. The conversation covers SteelGrip’s history in molten-metal, arc-flash, chemical, and aluminum protection; the role of custom-built PPE; the practical value of American-made manufacturing; and why product standards cannot be compromised when people’s safety is involved. Bryan also shares how the company is approaching generational leadership, developing future talent, creating an environment where employees can speak up, and maintaining a strong connection to the communities where SteelGrip operates. Follow LiveWire Podcast for full episodes and clips: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/livewire-podcast-49ab32385/