Metal Fabrication Nation is real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, foremen, estimators, and the people building the metal fabrication industry. Hosted by Greg Sheldon, the show covers shop-floor lessons, field work, business, leadership, technology, AI, American manufacturing, and the future of the trades. Real shops. Real metal. Real talk.
OFF TOPIC, Kinda: Could One Person Take Down the Alcohol Industry?
Send us Fan Mail Yes, I’m talking about alcohol again. Last episode I talked about addiction in the trades and what the person trapped inside it is actually going through. This time, I’m going after the culture and the industry that have made alcohol so normal in our shops, homes, and lives. It may be off topic, but not really; it destroys our workers, families, careers, and businesses, and nobody is talking about it enough. So I am. The question is; could one person actually start taking down the alcohol industry? Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
They Promised They’d Stop. They Meant It.
Send us Fan Mail Yes, this is about the metal trades. But this episode goes somewhere our industry rarely goes. How can someone swear they are finished in the morning, then return to the same substance that night, while meaning it both times? I take you inside the craving, fear, deception, withdrawal, and shame that turn relief into a prison. Before we judge the person behind the welding hood, we need to understand the fight nobody else can see. Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Two Factions: Are We Building Our Own Prison?
Send us Fan Mail As AI becomes woven into every part of society, are we building the greatest tool in human history, or something we’ll one day regret? This episode explores the questions surrounding AI, privacy, convenience, power, and the future we’re creating. What do you think? Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Two Factions: AI or Anti-AI?
Send us Fan Mail As AI becomes part of everyday life and work, are we heading toward two distinct groups; those who embrace it and those who choose to avoid it? In this episode, I explore whether that divide is already forming, what it could mean for the skilled trades and manufacturing, and whether there is still room for a middle ground. Where do you stand: AI or Anti-AI? NEXT EPISODE WE GO MORE IN DEPTH ON THIS TOPIC and I SHARE MY OPINION ON THE DANGER OF AI AND WHAT I DISAGREE WITH AND HOW IT MIGHT RUIN EVERYTHING; ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE PUTTING A CHIP IN YOUR BRAIN AND CONNECTING IT TO STARLINK. Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
The Chinese Belt & Road Threat and How to Protect Your Shop
Send us Fan Mail Are you tired of losing bids to dirt-cheap overseas suppliers? The Chinese Belt & Road Initiative is a massive global machine designed to undercut your local fabrication shop. But slashing your margins and racing to the bottom is not the answer. In this episode of Metal Fabrication Nation; we break down the hidden costs of cheap global fabrication and show you exactly how to fight back. You will learn the 5-step process to build an unstoppable Market Dominating Position. Stop competing on price; identify your customers' true hot buttons; and become the only logical choice for your clients. Get your free audio class and workbook and start mapping out your shop's Market Dominating Position today. https://gregsheldon.github.io/fab-profit-system/mdp.html Keep it real. God bless. Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Why Talented Tradesmen Get Fired
Send us Fan Mail Nobody owes you a career. In this episode of Metal Fabrication Nation, Greg Sheldon drops a massive wake-up call for young tradespeople. Why do highly talented welders fail while average workers become indispensable? Greg reveals the unwritten rules of the shop floor, the single biggest mistake that kills apprenticeships, and why mastering the "boring stuff" is your fastest ticket to earning top rate. Plus, a hard truth for the veterans and shop owners complaining about "kids these days." Your name is your resume. Hit play to learn how to protect it. Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Men Carry More Than Steel
Send us Fan Mail In this raw, personal episode of Metal Fabrication Nation, I talk about divorce, fatherhood, court pressure, anger, control, faith, and what men in the trades carry when nobody is watching. This is not a polished episode. It is real, emotional, and straight from the heart. Sometimes the hardest thing a man has to build is himself back up. #MetalFabricationNation #MensMentalHealth #Fatherhood #SkilledTrades #RealTalk Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Great Welder. Bad Leader.
Send us Fan Mail Some foremen aren’t leaders. They’re just good welders with a title and a bad attitude. This episode calls out the promotion mistake too many shops keep making. #Welding #MetalFabrication #ShopLife #BlueCollar #SkilledTrades Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Nobody Wants to Work? Or Nobody Wants to Lead?
Send us Fan Mail The welding and fabrication industry keeps saying it wants young people, but too many shops are terrible at training them. In this episode, Greg Sheldon calls out the excuses, weak leadership, toxic shop culture, and old-school attitudes that are hurting the future of the trades. This is a hard-hitting episode for shop owners, foremen, experienced tradespeople, and young workers who believe the trades are not a backup plan. They are the backbone. Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
Metal Is Still in My Blood
Send us Fan Mail Greg Sheldon is back with Metal Fabrication Nation; a solo podcast for welders, fabricators, shop owners, foremen, estimators, field crews, apprentices, and anyone who believes the trades still matter. In this first episode, Greg talks about stepping away, rebuilding his life, getting closer to God, and why he still believes deeply in North American manufacturing. This show is about real shops, real metal, real people, and the future of the trades. Metal Fabrication Nation with Greg Sheldon. Real talk for welders, fabricators, shop owners, and the next generation of tradespeople. Built on the belief that AI won’t replace real tradespeople, and the trades aren’t a backup plan; they’re the backbone. Greg reminds welders, fabricators, foremen, shop owners, and tradespeople that they are not behind the times — they are building the future. Follow the show, share it with someone in the trade, and keep pushing the industry forward. Want to see what bad quoting may be costing your shop? Get the free calculator and Baseline Efficiency Report here: https://gregsheldon.github.io/metalfabexcel/calculator.html
