I'm really smitten with how intelligent Scott is, Nate as well of course. It's really refreshing to see these guys flout the stigma's of working in the trades. Keep up the good work!
This almost brought a tear to my eye: "It gives me a chance to talk to my boy" I hope I can have such a great relationship with my kids when they grow up.
I had an all Hispanic landscape crew building a large block retaining wall behind my house. They had Spanish music blaring, all were singing along and it looked like poetry in motion as they handed block down the line and set it like a precision assembly line in time with the music. It was pretty cool to watch and hear. A bunch of young guys doing this to rock music would not have had that same appeal to me.
Mr Mikels -- Your point is true and worthy. In the Bible God asks us to meditate. And He tells us what to meditate on. I do not think we need foreign influences to affect our meditation. We let them in during the '60s and it has not served us well. At this point I am finally away from noisy homes and even noisy churches. All that racket reflects a mindless society. Shame on us! These things (especially in excess) do not promote character and wisdom. Open your Bible and read the book of Proverbs. How to be a worthwhile individual.
Being a farmer, I like to have the radio on when I’m doing repetitive field work, or regular chores. However I have found that if I need to give a problem or task some thought, I am better able to do so when I turn off the radio. I’ve read somewhere that creative thought is blocked when you have music or the radio playing in the back ground. That said, I like to listen to your podcast, and some others, when I’m driving or doing other tasks that don’t require much thought.
I had the same thought. As a longtime musician, I find I tend to give too much of my attention to what I'm listening to. Not to say I enjoy the music more, or less...but certainly differently, as I tend to analyze it as I listen. So I find that listening isn't a problem for menial or repetitive tasks that I can do on autopilot, but it plays havoc with my thought processes if I have to stop and actually work through a problem. Times like that, I want silence, so it's just me with my thoughts. :-)
Well scott and nate, here's my 2 cent and a bit of history of me and my dad. He's passed now 9/6/19 he and I worked together running our hvac shop just shy of 14 years. I've always liked quiet radio for install, and quiet for service. My dad on the other hand preferred quiet. However singing was our thing, as we would work side by side (not as much toward the end) we would sing, He sang the lead and me the bass. Or as the chemo changed his voice I'd sing lead and he sang a high tenor. Often times we would get comments from the customers, usually not negative, our tunes were usually bluegrass and gospel songs that he loved and I grew up with. Country gentlemen/jim and jesse mcreynolds right down to pp bliss hymns. Now I find myself singing and whistling by myself, hoping it doesn't offend anyone, but music(often times singing) is what gets me through the day. I didn't know this until his last year but when my dad would sing, that meant he was relaxed and enjoying the work. However on the flip side if he would whistle the tune that meant he was feeling stressed for some reason for another. I love the fact I had that with dad. I know singing isn't everyone's thing but it was for us and I miss it. And I don't think I'll be able to stop singing on and off the jobsite. Just hoping it doesn't offend but I am what I am and it's a special thing for me. As always thanks for your work guys I'm grateful for it.
I'm a musician (professionally, now), but, when I was a carpenter,I always felt the radio was the most important tool in the truck. It helped everyone get into a rhythm.
I have two hours worth of commuting per day. EC2 is perfect for my commute and compliments the educational videos of yours that I can only watch with undivided attention. Thank you, Scott and Nate!
It all depends on the job the customer location workmates and volume! Great channel wish there was something like this when I was an apprentice 38 years ago. All the best from Lancashire England Bob ,
I dig this platform. Know I'm late to the game here but I can listen to this all day. Coming from a diehard EC1 channel subscriber. Keep up the good work Boys!
I'm loving this podcast, Scott seems like a never ending ocean of stories and knowledge, and Nate is there to balance it out with a different perspective, definitely would be nice if episodes were at minimum around an hour, currently at around 30 minute episodes it seems like you guys are just getting warmed up into the conversation flow and then it just ends. Looking forward to the longer episodes!
I’m a carpenter and I work alone 99% of the time, most of the time I have headphones on and am listening to music or podcasts...it keeps me in the zone👍
Great chat guys I really enjoyed it! I listened to this at work yesterday. I have a Bluetooth speaker that's loud as hell and fits in my tool pouch. I listen to podcasts most of the time but I switch it up for music here in there to break up the day. I always shut it off when it's time to think though. I''m really surprised you didn't mention the guys who think it's appropriate to wear headphones on a job, it would have fit right in the the tennis shoe stereotype. We all know the type of person you're talking about! Thank you for sharing! Keep up the good work!
Your perspective and opinion are extremely valuable. I very much appreciate them. I am in construction as a HVAC installer/technician, nearly 20 years now (working on getting my license presently 🤞🏼). I am the exact opposite of you. I absolutely MUST have some sort of noise or I lose my train of thought. Whether that’s music or spoken word (Essential Craftsman podcast for instance 😉). I do agree, though, that a loud ‘stereo’ playing on a job site can be very unprofessional. I utilize Bluetooth ear buds while on the job. If I’m by myself, both ears are occupied. If I’m on a job with someone I always leave one ear open. It works great for me. You two are my favorites. I really REALLY appreciate your time and effort that is put into your endeavors. One of these days I’ll make it to one of your ‘get togethers’. Keep up the good work.
My grandpa was once asked how he could work on houses all day by his self with no radio and his reply was “Well, when I’m by myself, I’m in good company. That’s all the entertainment I need.” 😂
Wow. Good to hear others feel like me. I cannot bear the distraction of a radio when working---especially on work that requires thinking, planning, math etc. The best job sites have a No Radio policy. It often separates a good GC from another, not so good. It shows that a person/builder takes the job seriously.
I used to drive a Semi through the night hours on Freeways that were almost empty for long stretches, I got so bored listening to the radio. Then I found Audio Books, to me it was like finding a pot of gold. I got the chance to listen to some old classics that I didnt think I would ever read. War And Peace, ect. Truly amazing. Must of listened 2 at least 500 books. Interesting Conversation
Good conversation. I love music. I'm a musician myself. But it seems to be a day to day thing for me as to whether or not I enjoy music while I'm working or if I just want dead silence. Anyway, I enjoy listening to you guys talk. Thanks for all that you do.
Great discussion of poetry and music. When de Tocqueville toured America he remarked that there was no home, no matter how poor or remote in the US that didn’t have the King James Bible and the the collected works of Shakespeare. When your sole entertainment is the poetry of the psalms and the music of the sonnets, it’s easy to see how generations of people would find poetry, and graceful metered speech in general, as essential.
Love your insite on work and life. Same values I have and try to pass it on to my kids and the students I taught for 32 years. Keep up the good content.
I was fortunate to get an apprenticeship across the aisle from my father. I was 30yrs old & finally got to prove to my Dad what kind of man I was. It only lasted 2 years but they were great. I miss him.
I didn't think I could like you fellas anymore than I already did, but then you brought up Weezer and Calvin and Hobbes in a discussion about not playing music on a jobsite. You are my kind of people!
I can’t tell you how happy I am that y’all are doing a podcast now. I’ve been listening to podcasts for over a decade now, starting with JRE in the early days. But this has its own niche that is perfect for me. Many thanks and continued success
I have been a subscriber of yours for a long time. I'm pretty sure I have watched every video you have released on TH-cam. I think this is the first time I have been completely on the other end of the scale from where you stand. I'm a trim carpenter that has his own business. I arrive on the jobsite between 6:30 and 6:45. One of the reasons I do that is so I can claim the jobsite airwaves. I do pay attention to who is on site and what is going on. I edit the station I'm listening to if i need to. If there is communication going on between superintendent, homeowners, designers, etc. going on, I will turn down my music. For me, having my radio on is part of setting the tone that this is my space, and my time. If the radio is off, that means we are not actively working. I also can't stand to work in silence. When I'm designing a cabinet layout, or making a cut sheet for someone, I might change the type of music I'm listening to, but, it is always there. When I'm on a remodel, I will leave the radio outside near the cut station, as opposed to inside the house. I also switched to pandora years ago. Most people have favorable comments about the music I play on site, tradesmen and homeowners. I would love to be able to work on your job, but we would probably butt heads on this point. Good luck on the spec, can't wait to see the trim!
I appreciate the Podcasts, especially having them available on TH-cam. I like being able to go from the Podcasts on EC2 and back to the Essential Craftsman channel and so on. I don't work at a job site, but I'm listening from work. Keep up the good work.
When I listen to Peterson's lectures in the shop I have to re listen to them to understand anything. If I am attentive I get little done. Also, given that my shop is my garage, if I have to much on it shuts down the ability for my children to ask me questions. But driving alone, is a great time to listen to podcasts and music. One exception is, sanding...when I sand I love to have music under my ear protection.
What an absolutely amazing podcast. This content is so great. I have been watching the main chanel for a few years now, and I have tried to relay to my girlfriend how enriched I have been over those years. I m going to share this podcast with her as a way to open her up to your work; both from your hands and your mouths. Thank you.
37 years ago while in college, I had a summer job working on a landscaping crew. somedays we put in bushes and yards so no radio. However, at a lakeside for more than a month we built a retaining wall with two flat breaks and more than 2,000 new railroad ties. The radio was at full volume for that job. Actually we worked like a well oiled crew and had great fun.
Scott, Nate. I really love this new format I never knew my father or grandfather but I hope they would have been half as insightful, kind and generous as you guys. I didn't expect to be as moved by some of the content as I have been, and all I can say is many thanks for the wisdom, witticisms and stories.
Wow, I just discovered EC2 from your main channel. I love this! I found this philosophical discussion stemming from "having the radio on while working" both insightful and inspirational. Don't worry about needing to have in depth hour upon hour podcasts like Rogan, this podcast was a timed nugget. Your content is genuine and insightful. The only way I can ever tolerate a long podcast is if I'm listening while driving long distance. Keep up the good work! ( I heard that somewhere before, from someone really cool ).
These podcasts are great. The shorter format is perfect. Some topics may require longer conversations but I've really enjoyed them so far. Keep up the excellent content. :-)
My first real career job I was a draftsman in a woodworking shop. The guy who taught me how to draw, Harald Parzar, he always had WBAB classic rock station playing in the office. It was just me and him. I heard the same songs over and over. Throughout my career, after that job, I put music on to get things done. For me drawing became music and I really needed a soundtrack to set the pace. I think Harald was the same way. Funny story, Harald’s father (Helmut) was a foreman in a massive woodworking company. Top of the line company. Screw guns were not allowed in this shop. You drilled a pilot hole and then you used a screwdriver. Well one day a guy came into work, first day on the job, and brought a radio in. He put it at his work station, then went to the bathroom. Comes back and goes to plug in his radio and there’s no plug on the cord. Just a clean cut at the end. He turns around and Helmut is there “No radios.” 😂
I think you guys summed it up pretty well, there are times for music and times that are not ! Like when workers at my CLOSE neighbors are blasting it..... at six o'clock in the morning ! 🙉 Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
Situational awareness is so important on the job. I've almost always got my clients around while I'm working, sometimes that means I need to be able to respond to questions or keep a conversation going, sometimes it means having the Bluetooth earmuffs on (no dangling cords to get caught on things or tangled in a grinder), and sometimes if I'm lucky it means cranking up some Bach and getting to connect with the customer through a mutual love of classical music, or public radio or whatever thing outside of the job at hand that can really help that relationship and understanding of each other's humanity beyond the tradie/client dynamic. In any case though, if I was in the mood for some loud rock and roll, it'd most certainly be in the earmuffs and not anywhere else
Thank God I'm not the only one don't dig it for anything I'm doing that requires, or may require me to communicate with others ... One of My personal pet peves of all time , crew hollering wants and needs to me over there radios and getting irritable when I have to yell back that I can't hear or understand them... Huge time and time again was
I would assume bakers can appreciate a well crafted roll as a carpenter can notices a perfect gap in bathroom tile (or more likely not perfect gap)! Haha, love the podcast. Thanks for sharing! PS: No radio on a jobsite with more people than oneself ;)
EC is one of the most amazing youtube channels I've ever watched. learned a lot from watching these videos. But damn, gotta have that radio on the jobsite, the boys would kill each other in the silence haha!
When i used to frame, the boss man didn't allow a radio on the job. He used to say "we make our own music". There was so much noise on site between the generator, compressor, nail guns, hammers, saws, etc, don't need more noise. From a safety perspective, it's good to be able to easily communicate with the rest of the crew without yelling, especially if someone got hurt.
@13:35 I *love* Calvin and Hobbes as well. I named my dog Hobbes. A friend of mine had the best suggestion for the very last comic strip. Where Calvin sees the stuffed Hobbes like everyone else and walks out of his room. Thanks for the content guys!
Me and my buddy used to work for a drywall company and we'd clean up after the tapers, Sanders, and knock down guys. When we'd pull up to a job and realize we're alone on that particular one only then did the radio come out of the truck
I think this episode is a good model for future podcasts. You had a topic that relates directly to craftsmanship and work habits but it also gave you a long enough leash that you could touch on a wide variety of things. Regarding music: until I had some nice wireless earbuds music and audio was probably a hindrance to any physical task I was trying to do. Now that I have a nice pair I find it’s a boon. No more wire snags or buds falling out. Usually just keep one ear in so I can maintain some awareness.
Really enjoyed this one! I could relate to both sides of the issue also. I think you guys did a good job presenting both sides, dare I say “fair and balanced“, LOL! My favorite soundtrack, for when I’m doing mindless work like sanding, taping drywall or mowing grass, etc is smooth jazz. Most of the numbers are fairly long and there’s no words usually. It has a kind of continuous quality to it that kind of keeps me moving. Just my two cents. Keep up the good work guys!!
We live in 2019, not 1910 - there’s no reason to have a job site speaker - conversations are difficult, not everyone is ever happy with it, saws make it hard to hear if you do like it and it’s just another thing to trip over. I personally have one earbud in (and *only* one for safety reasons) on low volume and the ability to pause and play whatever I’m listening to with a button directly on the earpiece itself in case someone wants or needs to talk to me. I have always
I like to select a music theme that matches the project. Consider that a Craftsman House deserves Classical Music. Or, do you suggest another theme of music?
I am a landscaper. If I'm throwing mulch, planting, or pruning, I love having headphones on - not inflicting my listening preferences on anybody else, still able to converse and hear what's going on around me. Definitely helps the time go by. I had to work with a girl a few years ago who played her music straight from her phone and it was awful. Shattered the calm environment and grated on my nerves. Even when people DO bother to ask, "Do you mind if I play my music?" people typically don't feel free to honestly answer, "No, I'd rather not listen to your stuff. Wear headphones." A girl did that in one of my classes a few years ago and it was so distracting that I had to pick up my materials and go somewhere else to concentrate. I need enough background noise to help me concentrate (there is some study about how your brain is looking for a distraction, so if you feed it a light dose of distraction, it helps with focus), but not somebody else's noise. lol
I have a co worker that every weekend (no managers around) turns the radio on in the shop. The problem is that the antenna is terrible and most of what you can hear is stactic.
So I was on a job one time, and there was this worker (who I considered to be a hack job) laying tile. He listened to music no matter who cared, and it was the same station with the same songs and the same commercials every time. He was laying this tile, and a commercial came on, and he sang along with the commercial! I thought that was pretty funny.
I love music on the job but your right i can't listen and build stairs but i could mud sheet rock or paint. I ask customers first, i keep it low and pick music that fits their age group when in older customers house i play big band or 1950s.
I read a book of short stories when I was a kid that I have never been able to re-discover, but in one story a guy learned how to meditate by picturing something that he held dearly (the face of his brother) , and if anything else came into his mind he immediately shut it down and started over. He could only do it for a few seconds at a time at first, (try it yourself... just one thing in your head without any interruptions). Eventually he developed the skill of intense focus on one thing, so it wasn't emptying his mind, but filling it with one item. Since then I have used this trick to get to sleep when my brain is churning with a million things. I'm realizing now that I did that today when I had to stop my audiobook (bluetooth earbuds with a pause button right under your ear are wonderful) and mentally isolate the greenhouse panels and angled aluminum channel pieces I was working with to determine the best start-to-finish method of installing everything. It took concentration and the blocking out of everything else while I imagined the entire measuring, cutting, assembling, and fastening process. So yes, there's definitely a connection between meditation and jobsite pondering.
When I was production welding, I used an MP3 player with interchangeable SD card and noise blanking earbuds. Each card had around 2,000 songs and I had 5 cards. I could listen to over 10,000 songs with out hearing the same one twice for about three weeks. It was the only thing that kept me sane and on task doing endless repetitive work for ten hours a day. Now that I'm doing one off machining and fabrication I only listen to music while drilling and tapping a lot of holes or other such repetitive tasks. I can't have the music going while I am thinking about how I am going to solve the next problem or doing math.
Interesting topic - love to hear both sides and certainly identify with both sides. Some times when I'm alone and just doing some completely menial task, music is a must have in order to keep my sanity. And, when I need to heads down and in "problem solving mode" if there is music, for me, it can't have words. One point I think you might have missed on the construction site, music adds to complacency. When you're running a nail gun and going up and down ladders, walking on catwalks, etc. it doesn't take much of a false move to cause a real problem. I think music is part of the problem in that instance. As much as I like listening to music while I'm driving, I see the same thing there as well. How many times has your mind got wrapped up in the music, look down and you're well over the speed limit? ;-) Anyway, thanks for the show gentleman, this was great.
45 years as a general contractor and we figured out radios on a multi trade job was not just a hassle but not safe. You got to be aware where others are working and what they are doing; hearing is a greater part of that.
Listening to this while I work. But as software engineer I can listen to "talk radio" while I work without issue. Depending on the level of complication I'm trying to solve I may listen to music instead, or in really rough situations, take my headphones off completely. Also always use headphones so it doesn't bother anyone else working here.
We forced radios off the jobsites in the late 90s. Too many competing radios make an obnoxious cacophony. Yes, by myself I listen to the radio in my shop. By myself. As an electrician, we always had the tools to cut the cords and make for silence. Getting the radios off the job was never done by management, it was done by the people on the job. Three radios, 20 feet apart full volume separately playing CW, Heavy Metal and Mariachi, makes for a miserable day. As to your final comments, I like the current length as it allows me a complete conversation to hear, and not swallow up a day. 30 minutes plus or minus, is comfortable, 2-3 hours would never allow me to listen at one sitting.
I used to work for a contractor named Ralph who had started out as a mason. Back in the 1950s he and his helper were building a chimney on a job site where there was a carpenter who had a radio playing. This would have been one with a bakelite case and vacuum tubes inside. Ralph’s helper had worker for the railroad for years and was decidedly hard of hearing and could not understand what Ralph was asking him to bring up. Ralph asked the carpenter to turn the radio down, not off but just turn the volume down. The carpenter ignored him. Ralph climbed down from the scaffold and dropped an eight inch concrete block on the radio.
Bring in interview with AVE, This old Tony, Alec Steele, Abom79 and other niche metalworking/machining youtubers for podcast. This channel will surely blow up.
1) don’t go to long, it’s hard to carve out time. 2) i love music just not when i need to focus and a job site requires focus. 3) just do you, you’re who we follow, you’re worth our time.
Years ago I read an article on a custom harpsichord maker in Berkeley. The journalist asked if they listened to music and the response was that they didn't because it impaired concentration. I suppose it depends on the level of concentration required by the task at hand.
Hey guys love listening. Scott you seem so nice and have a good balance on life. How about talking about your experience being a father and grandfather and what Gems you can share with us to be good parents. Totally off topic I know. Keep up the good work.
All in one podcast: references to Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Orson Scott Card, and Calvin and Hobbs. I have to get my sons to start listening to this.
While I doubt that Nathan suffers from the frailties that TR did, he is quite obviously a 'mover!' [ I mean that as a positive assessment of his potential and accomplishments so far]. In these conversations it is evident he is not comfortable sitting in one place for an extended time [as evidenced by the deer antler for back scratching, the twiddling with the Knipex pliers, the hands in the pockets, et al] He is such a charming and capable young lad and I value his views being shared with his "Best Pal." Keep up the GOOD WORK, guys! 🤠
Only time I can have music on is during painting and a few times where no problem solving is needed. Totally agree with this. That said, I love music all the rest of the time!
I wouldn't call my self a musician but I've played percussion since grade 4-5. I play music most of the time when I'm doing a construction/hands-on work. I'm able to hear the music but separate and do the work. That said I wear hearing aids and if I'm working near or with someone that radio needs to be off so I can hear call-outs or other conversation.
I can definitely sympathize with both points of view. I’ve always felt that with the way that my particular brain works, if I have music or a podcast on it sort of occupies that creative, distracted part of my brain and HELPS me focus. If I don’t have something audio going, that part of my brain tends to wander all over the place and cause me more distraction because I get thinking about life and stress and things other than the work.
I'm really smitten with how intelligent Scott is, Nate as well of course. It's really refreshing to see these guys flout the stigma's of working in the trades. Keep up the good work!
This almost brought a tear to my eye: "It gives me a chance to talk to my boy"
I hope I can have such a great relationship with my kids when they grow up.
The more I listen to these podcasts, the more apparent it is that Nate is an awesome dude.
My well-seasoned preference...
Solo: Radio on.
Crew: Radio off.
Reason: I hate yelling over noise. But i never yell at myself.
I had an all Hispanic landscape crew building a large block retaining wall behind my house. They had Spanish music blaring, all were singing along and it looked like poetry in motion as they handed block down the line and set it like a precision assembly line in time with the music. It was pretty cool to watch and hear. A bunch of young guys doing this to rock music would not have had that same appeal to me.
Prayer is great meditation.
Mr Mikels --
Your point is true and worthy. In the Bible God asks us to meditate. And He tells us what to meditate on.
I do not think we need foreign influences to affect our meditation. We let them in during the '60s and it has not served us well.
At this point I am finally away from noisy homes and even noisy churches.
All that racket reflects a mindless society. Shame on us! These things (especially in excess) do not promote character and wisdom.
Open your Bible and read the book of Proverbs. How to be a worthwhile individual.
*it gives me a chance to talk to my boy* I damn near cried at that. I am so happy you two are fortunate enough to spend this time together.
Being a farmer, I like to have the radio on when I’m doing repetitive field work, or regular chores. However I have found that if I need to give a problem or task some thought, I am better able to do so when I turn off the radio. I’ve read somewhere that creative thought is blocked when you have music or the radio playing in the back ground.
That said, I like to listen to your podcast, and some others, when I’m driving or doing other tasks that don’t require much thought.
I had the same thought. As a longtime musician, I find I tend to give too much of my attention to what I'm listening to. Not to say I enjoy the music more, or less...but certainly differently, as I tend to analyze it as I listen. So I find that listening isn't a problem for menial or repetitive tasks that I can do on autopilot, but it plays havoc with my thought processes if I have to stop and actually work through a problem. Times like that, I want silence, so it's just me with my thoughts. :-)
just like people who turn down the music in their vehicle when driving so they can see better
It's actually so they can concentrate better with fewer distractions. More about the mind, less about the eye.
@@aussiebloke609 that's his point
Well scott and nate, here's my 2 cent and a bit of history of me and my dad. He's passed now 9/6/19 he and I worked together running our hvac shop just shy of 14 years. I've always liked quiet radio for install, and quiet for service. My dad on the other hand preferred quiet. However singing was our thing, as we would work side by side (not as much toward the end) we would sing, He sang the lead and me the bass. Or as the chemo changed his voice I'd sing lead and he sang a high tenor. Often times we would get comments from the customers, usually not negative, our tunes were usually bluegrass and gospel songs that he loved and I grew up with. Country gentlemen/jim and jesse mcreynolds right down to pp bliss hymns. Now I find myself singing and whistling by myself, hoping it doesn't offend anyone, but music(often times singing) is what gets me through the day. I didn't know this until his last year but when my dad would sing, that meant he was relaxed and enjoying the work. However on the flip side if he would whistle the tune that meant he was feeling stressed for some reason for another. I love the fact I had that with dad. I know singing isn't everyone's thing but it was for us and I miss it. And I don't think I'll be able to stop singing on and off the jobsite. Just hoping it doesn't offend but I am what I am and it's a special thing for me. As always thanks for your work guys I'm grateful for it.
This is an example of the very best possible thing...
I'm a musician (professionally, now), but, when I was a carpenter,I always felt the radio was the most important tool in the truck. It helped everyone get into a rhythm.
Your guys are great.
Radio on. Clean signal. No static. Good and neutral music. Get the work done. FM channels are best.
Thanks
I have two hours worth of commuting per day. EC2 is perfect for my commute and compliments the educational videos of yours that I can only watch with undivided attention.
Thank you, Scott and Nate!
It all depends on the job the customer location workmates and volume! Great channel wish there was something like this when I was an apprentice 38 years ago. All the best from Lancashire England Bob
,
Love the hard core history and Calvin and Hobbs shout outs!
I dig this platform. Know I'm late to the game here but I can listen to this all day. Coming from a diehard EC1 channel subscriber. Keep up the good work Boys!
If I'm doing mindless work and I'm just sorta on auto pilot, yes radio is good. If I have to use my brain, I prefer quiet
I'm loving this podcast, Scott seems like a never ending ocean of stories and knowledge, and Nate is there to balance it out with a different perspective, definitely would be nice if episodes were at minimum around an hour, currently at around 30 minute episodes it seems like you guys are just getting warmed up into the conversation flow and then it just ends. Looking forward to the longer episodes!
You two are absolutely BRILLIANT. I love it.
I’m a carpenter and I work alone 99% of the time, most of the time I have headphones on and am listening to music or podcasts...it keeps me in the zone👍
I really enjoy playing music on my bluetooth. It really energizes me and I become very productive
Thank you for your quality content
Great chat guys I really enjoyed it! I listened to this at work yesterday. I have a Bluetooth speaker that's loud as hell and fits in my tool pouch. I listen to podcasts most of the time but I switch it up for music here in there to break up the day. I always shut it off when it's time to think though. I''m really surprised you didn't mention the guys who think it's appropriate to wear headphones on a job, it would have fit right in the the tennis shoe stereotype. We all know the type of person you're talking about! Thank you for sharing! Keep up the good work!
Your perspective and opinion are extremely valuable. I very much appreciate them. I am in construction as a HVAC installer/technician, nearly 20 years now (working on getting my license presently 🤞🏼). I am the exact opposite of you. I absolutely MUST have some sort of noise or I lose my train of thought. Whether that’s music or spoken word (Essential Craftsman podcast for instance 😉). I do agree, though, that a loud ‘stereo’ playing on a job site can be very unprofessional. I utilize Bluetooth ear buds while on the job. If I’m by myself, both ears are occupied. If I’m on a job with someone I always leave one ear open. It works great for me. You two are my favorites. I really REALLY appreciate your time and effort that is put into your endeavors. One of these days I’ll make it to one of your ‘get togethers’. Keep up the good work.
My grandpa was once asked how he could work on houses all day by his self with no radio and his reply was “Well, when I’m by myself, I’m in good company. That’s all the entertainment I need.” 😂
loved this conversation. thanks y'all
Wow. Good to hear others feel like me. I cannot bear the distraction of a radio when working---especially on work that requires thinking, planning, math etc. The best job sites have a No Radio policy. It often separates a good GC from another, not so good. It shows that a person/builder takes the job seriously.
I used to drive a Semi through the night hours on Freeways that were almost empty for long stretches, I got so bored listening to the radio. Then I found Audio Books, to me it was like finding a pot of gold. I got the chance to listen to some old classics that I didnt think I would ever read. War And Peace, ect. Truly amazing. Must of listened 2 at least 500 books.
Interesting Conversation
very cool!
What a great topic. Very few things have been more divisive and polarizing in my professional career. Or in raising a teenager!
I love these podcasts guys.. great job Nate and Scott!
I feel exactly like Scott about the radio.
Good conversation. I love music. I'm a musician myself. But it seems to be a day to day thing for me as to whether or not I enjoy music while I'm working or if I just want dead silence.
Anyway, I enjoy listening to you guys talk. Thanks for all that you do.
Loved this episode. Please do make them longer, when you have the time for it. References to C&H, OSC, JBP and Dan Carlin greatly appreciated.
Great discussion of poetry and music. When de Tocqueville toured America he remarked that there was no home, no matter how poor or remote in the US that didn’t have the King James Bible and the the collected works of Shakespeare. When your sole entertainment is the poetry of the psalms and the music of the sonnets, it’s easy to see how generations of people would find poetry, and graceful metered speech in general, as essential.
Love your insite on work and life. Same values I have and try to pass it on to my kids and the students I taught for 32 years. Keep up the good content.
I love playing my music through my headphones!! Its what keeps me focused and uninterrupted
I was fortunate to get an apprenticeship across the aisle from my father. I was 30yrs old & finally got to prove to my Dad what kind of man I was. It only lasted 2 years but they were great. I miss him.
I didn't think I could like you fellas anymore than I already did, but then you brought up Weezer and Calvin and Hobbes in a discussion about not playing music on a jobsite. You are my kind of people!
I can’t tell you how happy I am that y’all are doing a podcast now. I’ve been listening to podcasts for over a decade now, starting with JRE in the early days. But this has its own niche that is perfect for me. Many thanks and continued success
So much positive influence.
And it might humor you to hear, your pod cast is the back ground chatter in my shop.
I have been a subscriber of yours for a long time. I'm pretty sure I have watched every video you have released on TH-cam. I think this is the first time I have been completely on the other end of the scale from where you stand. I'm a trim carpenter that has his own business. I arrive on the jobsite between 6:30 and 6:45. One of the reasons I do that is so I can claim the jobsite airwaves. I do pay attention to who is on site and what is going on. I edit the station I'm listening to if i need to. If there is communication going on between superintendent, homeowners, designers, etc. going on, I will turn down my music. For me, having my radio on is part of setting the tone that this is my space, and my time. If the radio is off, that means we are not actively working. I also can't stand to work in silence. When I'm designing a cabinet layout, or making a cut sheet for someone, I might change the type of music I'm listening to, but, it is always there. When I'm on a remodel, I will leave the radio outside near the cut station, as opposed to inside the house. I also switched to pandora years ago. Most people have favorable comments about the music I play on site, tradesmen and homeowners. I would love to be able to work on your job, but we would probably butt heads on this point. Good luck on the spec, can't wait to see the trim!
More on the monk and meditation please. Possibly a link?
I appreciate the Podcasts, especially having them available on TH-cam. I like being able to go from the Podcasts on EC2 and back to the Essential Craftsman channel and so on. I don't work at a job site, but I'm listening from work. Keep up the good work.
When I listen to Peterson's lectures in the shop I have to re listen to them to understand anything. If I am attentive I get little done. Also, given that my shop is my garage, if I have to much on it shuts down the ability for my children to ask me questions. But driving alone, is a great time to listen to podcasts and music. One exception is, sanding...when I sand I love to have music under my ear protection.
What an absolutely amazing podcast. This content is so great. I have been watching the main chanel for a few years now, and I have tried to relay to my girlfriend how enriched I have been over those years. I m going to share this podcast with her as a way to open her up to your work; both from your hands and your mouths.
Thank you.
37 years ago while in college, I had a summer job working on a landscaping crew. somedays we put in bushes and yards so no radio.
However, at a lakeside for more than a month we built a retaining wall with two flat breaks and more than 2,000 new railroad ties. The radio was at full volume for that job. Actually we worked like a well oiled crew and had great fun.
It seems odd maybe, but absolutely one of the best channels/podcast to date. Your honesty is so informative. Well done. Bravo!
I love what you guys talk about it’s like family.
Scott, Nate. I really love this new format
I never knew my father or grandfather but I hope they would have been half as insightful, kind and generous as you guys.
I didn't expect to be as moved by some of the content as I have been, and all I can say is many thanks for the wisdom, witticisms and stories.
When you have a number of folks in a work environment all most no one will agree on the music and that can cause more problems then it solves.
Good Lighting, Good Audit, Good Topic. Those are the simple yet key ingredients for a great VLOG. Great job guys, keep at it.
I like the podcast. Keep up the great work guys and thank you
Wow, I just discovered EC2 from your main channel. I love this!
I found this philosophical discussion stemming from "having the radio on while working" both insightful and inspirational.
Don't worry about needing to have in depth hour upon hour podcasts like Rogan, this podcast was a timed nugget. Your content is genuine and insightful. The only way I can ever tolerate a long podcast is if I'm listening while driving long distance.
Keep up the good work! ( I heard that somewhere before, from someone really cool ).
These podcasts are great. The shorter format is perfect. Some topics may require longer conversations but I've really enjoyed them so far. Keep up the excellent content. :-)
I adore the podcasts. I’m really loving them please please keep them coming
My first real career job I was a draftsman in a woodworking shop. The guy who taught me how to draw, Harald Parzar, he always had WBAB classic rock station playing in the office. It was just me and him. I heard the same songs over and over. Throughout my career, after that job, I put music on to get things done. For me drawing became music and I really needed a soundtrack to set the pace. I think Harald was the same way. Funny story, Harald’s father (Helmut) was a foreman in a massive woodworking company. Top of the line company. Screw guns were not allowed in this shop. You drilled a pilot hole and then you used a screwdriver. Well one day a guy came into work, first day on the job, and brought a radio in. He put it at his work station, then went to the bathroom. Comes back and goes to plug in his radio and there’s no plug on the cord. Just a clean cut at the end. He turns around and Helmut is there “No radios.” 😂
I think you guys summed it up pretty well, there are times for music and times that are not !
Like when workers at my CLOSE neighbors are blasting it..... at six o'clock in the morning ! 🙉
Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
This podcasts resonates with my soul. Not just what you guys say but how you say it. How can two people have such correct opinions?
Now what in the world is a man to choose when it comes to Essential Craftsman Podcasts on the job....??
Situational awareness is so important on the job. I've almost always got my clients around while I'm working, sometimes that means I need to be able to respond to questions or keep a conversation going, sometimes it means having the Bluetooth earmuffs on (no dangling cords to get caught on things or tangled in a grinder), and sometimes if I'm lucky it means cranking up some Bach and getting to connect with the customer through a mutual love of classical music, or public radio or whatever thing outside of the job at hand that can really help that relationship and understanding of each other's humanity beyond the tradie/client dynamic. In any case though, if I was in the mood for some loud rock and roll, it'd most certainly be in the earmuffs and not anywhere else
Thank God I'm not the only one don't dig it for anything I'm doing that requires, or may require me to communicate with others ... One of My personal pet peves of all time , crew hollering wants and needs to me over there radios and getting irritable when I have to yell back that I can't hear or understand them... Huge time and time again was
You guys are musicians too? You're true renaissance men!
I would assume bakers can appreciate a well crafted roll as a carpenter can notices a perfect gap in bathroom tile (or more likely not perfect gap)! Haha, love the podcast. Thanks for sharing!
PS: No radio on a jobsite with more people than oneself ;)
Philosophy, literature & ethics- what a great podcast guys!
2 very smart gentlemen right here...Enjoying all the podcasts 👍🏼
Thanks for making these longer guys!
EC is one of the most amazing youtube channels I've ever watched. learned a lot from watching these videos. But damn, gotta have that radio on the jobsite, the boys would kill each other in the silence haha!
When i used to frame, the boss man didn't allow a radio on the job. He used to say "we make our own music". There was so much noise on site between the generator, compressor, nail guns, hammers, saws, etc, don't need more noise. From a safety perspective, it's good to be able to easily communicate with the rest of the crew without yelling, especially if someone got hurt.
so amazing... so good.
Great discussion!
What do you think of working with guys who everyday have some horrible after shave or body spray that is overwhelmingly obnoxious?
@13:35 I *love* Calvin and Hobbes as well. I named my dog Hobbes. A friend of mine had the best suggestion for the very last comic strip. Where Calvin sees the stuffed Hobbes like everyone else and walks out of his room. Thanks for the content guys!
This actually makes a lot of sense , I’ve never thought about a site radio like this, but each example made so much sense
I appreciate your RV in my yard. Keep it up!
Me and my buddy used to work for a drywall company and we'd clean up after the tapers, Sanders, and knock down guys. When we'd pull up to a job and realize we're alone on that particular one only then did the radio come out of the truck
I think this episode is a good model for future podcasts. You had a topic that relates directly to craftsmanship and work habits but it also gave you a long enough leash that you could touch on a wide variety of things.
Regarding music: until I had some nice wireless earbuds music and audio was probably a hindrance to any physical task I was trying to do. Now that I have a nice pair I find it’s a boon. No more wire snags or buds falling out. Usually just keep one ear in so I can maintain some awareness.
Really enjoyed this one! I could relate to both sides of the issue also. I think you guys did a good job presenting both sides, dare I say “fair and balanced“, LOL! My favorite soundtrack, for when I’m doing mindless work like sanding, taping drywall or mowing grass, etc is smooth jazz. Most of the numbers are fairly long and there’s no words usually. It has a kind of continuous quality to it that kind of keeps me moving. Just my two cents. Keep up the good work guys!!
An interesting conversation. I loved the music at the end.
We live in 2019, not 1910 - there’s no reason to have a job site speaker - conversations are difficult, not everyone is ever happy with it, saws make it hard to hear if you do like it and it’s just another thing to trip over. I personally have one earbud in (and *only* one for safety reasons) on low volume and the ability to pause and play whatever I’m listening to with a button directly on the earpiece itself in case someone wants or needs to talk to me. I have always
My favorite youtube host talking about my favorite author, awesome
I like to select a music theme that matches the project. Consider that a Craftsman House deserves Classical Music. Or, do you suggest another theme of music?
I am a landscaper. If I'm throwing mulch, planting, or pruning, I love having headphones on - not inflicting my listening preferences on anybody else, still able to converse and hear what's going on around me. Definitely helps the time go by. I had to work with a girl a few years ago who played her music straight from her phone and it was awful. Shattered the calm environment and grated on my nerves. Even when people DO bother to ask, "Do you mind if I play my music?" people typically don't feel free to honestly answer, "No, I'd rather not listen to your stuff. Wear headphones." A girl did that in one of my classes a few years ago and it was so distracting that I had to pick up my materials and go somewhere else to concentrate. I need enough background noise to help me concentrate (there is some study about how your brain is looking for a distraction, so if you feed it a light dose of distraction, it helps with focus), but not somebody else's noise. lol
The podcasts have been great. I especially like the spec house follow ups.
I have a co worker that every weekend (no managers around) turns the radio on in the shop. The problem is that the antenna is terrible and most of what you can hear is stactic.
So I was on a job one time, and there was this worker (who I considered to be a hack job) laying tile. He listened to music no matter who cared, and it was the same station with the same songs and the same commercials every time. He was laying this tile, and a commercial came on, and he sang along with the commercial! I thought that was pretty funny.
I love these podcast. keep up the good work.
I love music on the job but your right i can't listen and build stairs but i could mud sheet rock or paint. I ask customers first, i keep it low and pick music that fits their age group when in older customers house i play big band or 1950s.
Dumpster Darlin smart thinking, low and appropriate for the job site. Big band and crooners are talented
I read a book of short stories when I was a kid that I have never been able to re-discover, but in one story a guy learned how to meditate by picturing something that he held dearly (the face of his brother) , and if anything else came into his mind he immediately shut it down and started over. He could only do it for a few seconds at a time at first, (try it yourself... just one thing in your head without any interruptions). Eventually he developed the skill of intense focus on one thing, so it wasn't emptying his mind, but filling it with one item. Since then I have used this trick to get to sleep when my brain is churning with a million things. I'm realizing now that I did that today when I had to stop my audiobook (bluetooth earbuds with a pause button right under your ear are wonderful) and mentally isolate the greenhouse panels and angled aluminum channel pieces I was working with to determine the best start-to-finish method of installing everything. It took concentration and the blocking out of everything else while I imagined the entire measuring, cutting, assembling, and fastening process. So yes, there's definitely a connection between meditation and jobsite pondering.
When I was production welding, I used an MP3 player with interchangeable SD card and noise blanking earbuds. Each card had around 2,000 songs and I had 5 cards. I could listen to over 10,000 songs with out hearing the same one twice for about three weeks. It was the only thing that kept me sane and on task doing endless repetitive work for ten hours a day. Now that I'm doing one off machining and fabrication I only listen to music while drilling and tapping a lot of holes or other such repetitive tasks. I can't have the music going while I am thinking about how I am going to solve the next problem or doing math.
Interesting topic - love to hear both sides and certainly identify with both sides. Some times when I'm alone and just doing some completely menial task, music is a must have in order to keep my sanity. And, when I need to heads down and in "problem solving mode" if there is music, for me, it can't have words. One point I think you might have missed on the construction site, music adds to complacency. When you're running a nail gun and going up and down ladders, walking on catwalks, etc. it doesn't take much of a false move to cause a real problem. I think music is part of the problem in that instance. As much as I like listening to music while I'm driving, I see the same thing there as well. How many times has your mind got wrapped up in the music, look down and you're well over the speed limit? ;-) Anyway, thanks for the show gentleman, this was great.
45 years as a general contractor and we figured out radios on a multi trade job was not just a hassle but not safe. You got to be aware where others are working and what they are doing; hearing is a greater part of that.
Listening to this while I work. But as software engineer I can listen to "talk radio" while I work without issue. Depending on the level of complication I'm trying to solve I may listen to music instead, or in really rough situations, take my headphones off completely.
Also always use headphones so it doesn't bother anyone else working here.
Can you link the video of the monk’s talk on meditation?
We forced radios off the jobsites in the late 90s. Too many competing radios make an obnoxious cacophony. Yes, by myself I listen to the radio in my shop. By myself. As an electrician, we always had the tools to cut the cords and make for silence. Getting the radios off the job was never done by management, it was done by the people on the job. Three radios, 20 feet apart full volume separately playing CW, Heavy Metal and Mariachi, makes for a miserable day.
As to your final comments, I like the current length as it allows me a complete conversation to hear, and not swallow up a day. 30 minutes plus or minus, is comfortable, 2-3 hours would never allow me to listen at one sitting.
I used to work for a contractor named Ralph who had started out as a mason. Back in the 1950s he and his helper were building a chimney on a job site where there was a carpenter who had a radio playing. This would have been one with a bakelite case and vacuum tubes inside. Ralph’s helper had worker for the railroad for years and was decidedly hard of hearing and could not understand what Ralph was asking him to bring up. Ralph asked the carpenter to turn the radio down, not off but just turn the volume down. The carpenter ignored him. Ralph climbed down from the scaffold and dropped an eight inch concrete block on the radio.
Bring in interview with AVE, This old Tony, Alec Steele, Abom79 and other niche metalworking/machining youtubers for podcast. This channel will surely blow up.
1) don’t go to long, it’s hard to carve out time. 2) i love music just not when i need to focus and a job site requires focus. 3) just do you, you’re who we follow, you’re worth our time.
Years ago I read an article on a custom harpsichord maker in Berkeley. The journalist asked if they listened to music and the response was that they didn't because it impaired concentration. I suppose it depends on the level of concentration required by the task at hand.
Hey guys love listening. Scott you seem so nice and have a good balance on life. How about talking about your experience being a father and grandfather and what Gems you can share with us to be good parents. Totally off topic I know. Keep up the good work.
All in one podcast: references to Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Orson Scott Card, and Calvin and Hobbs. I have to get my sons to start listening to this.
While I doubt that Nathan suffers from the frailties that TR did, he is quite obviously a 'mover!' [ I mean that as a positive assessment of his potential and accomplishments so far]. In these conversations it is evident he is not comfortable sitting in one place for an extended time [as evidenced by the deer antler for back scratching, the twiddling with the Knipex pliers, the hands in the pockets, et al] He is such a charming and capable young lad and I value his views being shared with his "Best Pal." Keep up the GOOD WORK, guys! 🤠
Only time I can have music on is during painting and a few times where no problem solving is needed. Totally agree with this. That said, I love music all the rest of the time!
Darn, love this discussion.
I wouldn't call my self a musician but I've played percussion since grade 4-5. I play music most of the time when I'm doing a construction/hands-on work. I'm able to hear the music but separate and do the work.
That said I wear hearing aids and if I'm working near or with someone that radio needs to be off so I can hear call-outs or other conversation.
I can definitely sympathize with both points of view. I’ve always felt that with the way that my particular brain works, if I have music or a podcast on it sort of occupies that creative, distracted part of my brain and HELPS me focus. If I don’t have something audio going, that part of my brain tends to wander all over the place and cause me more distraction because I get thinking about life and stress and things other than the work.