Construction Junkie’s annual Best Construction Podcast of 2020 Competition is underway and the voting booth is officially open. As part of the competition, I will be individually highlighting each of the 12 nominees throughout until the booth closes on July 1. Next up is the Bridging the Gap Podcast.
Hosted by Todd Weyandt, the Bridging the Gap Podcast is another new show in this year’s competition, having started in November of 2019. Each episode, which typically lasts around 30 minutes, features an interview with a construction industry expert that are looking to put their stamp on an industry that has been historically resistant to change.
“I started the Bridging the Gap podcast to help give voice to the innovation happening in the construction and MEP industry,” Weyandt told me, “I truly believe construction is going to lead the way with technology advancements. There is so much to love about the industry from the resilient spirit to the problem-solving mindset to the humble people.”
As a marketing expert himself, Weyandt brings a bit of a different perspective to his show. He continued, “with my marketing background, I actually think the construction industry has a marketing problem that has led to a misperception of the industry. Through the Bridging the Gap podcast, my hope is to really shine a light on the innovation and industry change agents to start changing perceptions and let people know the cool things going on.”
With all of the money being spent on innovation currently, it’s certainly an exciting time for the construction industry. We’re truly seeing a shift happen right before our eyes as software, robotics, and tools become more affordable and accessible than ever before.
So while Weyandt’s initial plan was to focus on the specific product or workflow the weekly guest was invited on to talk about, he has noticed an interesting benefit from spending time talking to them: he’s been able to learn more about the people behind those products and workflows.
“My biggest surprise has been how open the guests have been to talk about anything and everything,” Weyandt explained, “I thought the show would be much more strictly focused on the tech out there or new workflows. However, I have found construction and the MEP trades very open to talk about everything from family life, communication skills, mental health and more. The show is much more about getting to know the people behind the innovations than I originally thought it would be. I often say that you have to know the person behind the worker to really create an understanding. The guests have been very willing to open up and lean into the conversations which has been awesome.”
To find out more about the Bridging the Gap Podcast, you can visit their webpage. If you’d like to vote for the show for Best Construction Podcast of 2020, you can do so by clicking or tapping here.
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.