Watch our latest videos — full episodes launching July 1st! Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss a thing.
Give a warm Slump Monkeys welcome to Jennifer Mannatt! We dig into human performance in the concrete space, and it is a fascinating conversation. The first hour is dedicated to the start of college football as we break down the Slump Monkeys Pick Em League’s best picks, the 2026 games that could convert a non-believer into a fan, and Joey Bell invents a brand-new rankings system that solves all our problems. Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn, and be sure to check out our title sponsor for September, Rocket Start, at gorocketstart.com and tell them Slump Monkeys sent you.
Welcome TJ Crosby from Concrete Careers to the show as we discuss life as an HR executive viewed through a private equity lens, how head hunting really works, and the brand-new job board Concrete Careers just launched that no one has ever thought to do. Check it out at concretecareers.com/jobs. Thank you to our title sponsor for this episode, XBE. Visit them at x-b-e.com to see what Agent XBE can do for you. And don’t forget to join the Slump Monkeys College Football Pick Em group on ESPN, follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe, rate, and review!
Victor Bretting joins the podcast to talk life, legacy, and concrete. We appreciate his wisdom and hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. Learn more and connect with Victor through Bretting Texan Ranch. Thank you to our title sponsor, XBE. Talk with Agent XBE today at x-b-e.com. Join the LinkedIn community and hop into the Slump Monkeys college football Pick Em while you’re at it!
Please welcome Chris Wurtz to the Slump Monkeys Concrete Podcast. Chris is the President of Ready Mix at XBE with a keen focus on improving the business function of ready mix so you're actually running your business, not just managing it. We go DEEP on college football in this episode, touch on The Mill Report Blog's latest article on in-transit QC, and cover the sad reality of mental health in the concrete industry. Thank you again to all of our sponsors, especially our title sponsor XBE. Visit them today at x-b-e.com.
Come join us for another insightful episode! Paul reviews White Paper of the Month before diving into a great discussion with Jason Wimberly on all things concrete. Please connect with Jason on LinkedIn to let him know you enjoyed his insights on mix designs, working through the Engineer of Record, the importance of trust in our business, and what makes for a successful concrete contractor. As always, thank you to our sponsors, including our new Title Sponsor for August, XBE. Please visit them at x-b-e.com to learn more.
We are honored to have Manny Tejano from Rocket Start and his great friends from Murphy Concrete Construction. Come along as we discuss how company culture and employee engagement are crucial for talent retention and success. We highlight how people are the foundation of a successful company and where technology plays a significant role in the industry. We finish it off by highlighting the driver rodeo, so if you're like I was a few years ago and don't know what "driver rodeo" means, we'll cover it all for you! Thank you for listening and subscribe, rate, review!
The time is now to talk about mental health. Come along as Joey Bell opens up about the greatest safety danger facing our industry that no one talks about: Mental Health. This is a conversation every concrete professional needs to hear.
Ron Carlson's career journey from working in Cook County Jail to becoming an executive at Command Alkon is one for the books. We explore his transition from truck driver to quality control, from operations to customer satisfaction, and his love for training and developing the future leaders of the concrete industry. We also cover the potential move of the Chicago Bears to Hammond, Indiana, the impact of AI in the concrete industry, life in Mississippi, and the challenges in hiring and retaining drivers. Please visit our title sponsor at commandalkon.com to see how they can bring world class innovation and support to your concrete company.
Jake Ables of Silvi Materials joins us to talk about the concrete industry, market dynamics, and business operations. The conversation covers the impact of COVID-19 on the concrete industry, the resilience of the market and its effect on housing demand, and the challenges and responsibilities in business development. Jake highlights the importance of industry knowledge, leadership development, and the impact of sales and deep expertise on building lasting success.
Welcome to the first full episode of the Slump Monkeys Concrete Podcast! We are so thankful to Justin Lazenby for being our first guest and to Josh Hare for the ride along. Josh and I talk data centers, AI's role in modern business, and the conspiracies surrounding Nikola Tesla's death! Justin and I discuss innovations in cement and SCMs, exploring low-portland cement mixes, navigating parenting in the digital age, and challenges in concrete production and logistics. Last but certainly not least, we want to thank all our sponsors, including our first Title Sponsor: Command Alkon. You can find out more about our Title Sponsor by visiting their website at commandalkon.com and connecting with them on LinkedIn to let them know you appreciate them supporting the show.
The Slump Monkeys Concrete Podcast is officially launching July 1st! Get ready for real industry conversations, practical insight, and everything concrete and construction. Subscribe now so you don't miss episode one.
Meet the team behind the Slump Monkeys Concrete Podcast. Learn what this show is all about, who it's for, and why we're bringing a fresh voice to the concrete and construction industry.
