Episode 158: HVAC R&D Podcast – Ty Smith on Apprenticeships, Mentoring and Refrigeration

Join your host Rhydon Atzenhoffer and guest Ty Smith for an in-depth look at life on the racks, mastering commercial refrigeration, and shaping the next generation of techs.

What’s Inside:

• Life Catch-Up & Hobbies (0:00–17:00) • Balancing family time, fieldwork, and content creation • Highlights from his 2024 trade-year review video

• Career Path, Training & Trade Talk (17:00–46:00) • From day-one in HVAC/R to 15 years in commercial refrigeration • The unique challenges—and rewards—of the commercial sector • Mentorship moments, Skills Canada involvement, and bridging the classroom-to-field gap • Comparing Canadian vs. U.S. apprenticeship models and must-have “day one” skills

• Community, Collaboration & Giving Back (46:00–54:00) • How the online HVAC/R community has reshaped Ty’s perspective • Rewarding teaching moments and advice for getting involved • Simple ways every tech can start giving back—at home and across borders

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