Episodes

  • Panama, Tariffs, and Power, with Andrew R. Thomas-EP 237

    Panama, Tariffs, and Power, with Andrew R. Thomas-EP 237
    Feb 18 2025
    When Trump was elected President for a second term, I expected there would be a lot of talk about tariffs, but I didn’t anticipate all the attention on the Panama Canal and Greenland. So, it seemed like the perfect time for Lloyd and I to talk to one of our favorite geopolitics experts, Dr. Andrew [...]
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    54 mins
  • My STAR CNC Swiss Guru, with Dave Polito—EP 169

    My STAR CNC Swiss Guru, with Dave Polito—EP 169
    Feb 11 2025
    Dave Polito is my Star CNC guru. He’s always been there when I’ve had questions, whether I was asking about a 1999 Star SA12, or a sweet SV38R located in Asia, or the ever flummoxing Siemens control on an ECAS-20. Dave is the owner of Quality Machine Tool Services, the Star distributor for Illinois and [...]
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    41 mins
  • Destined to make CNC Tool Holders in the US, with Anthony Davis-EP 236

    Destined to make CNC Tool Holders in the US, with Anthony Davis-EP 236
    Feb 4 2025
    My guest on today’s podcast, Anthony Davis, told me that since age 10 he and his brother knew they wanted to join their family business, Global CNC, a tooling manufacturer for CNC lathes and mills. Today at age 23, Anthony runs the company alongside his 25-year-old brother, Alexander, and their 84-year-old grandfather who founded the [...]
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    36 mins
  • Getting Customers to Buy an Unfamiliar Brand, With Salim Awad–EP 186

    Getting Customers to Buy an Unfamiliar Brand, With Salim Awad–EP 186
    Jan 27 2025
    Spinner is a German CNC machine tool brand that’s been around for 73 years. The company sold 1,200 CNC mills turning centers, and automation systems in Europe last year, yet in the United States, a large amount of people in the machining industry have never even heard of them. At the 2023 Precision Machining Technology [...]
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    51 mins
  • What it Takes to Start a Multi-Spindle Shop–EP 235

    What it Takes to Start a Multi-Spindle Shop–EP 235
    Jan 19 2025
    It takes tremendous balls to start a machining company from scratch. And, maybe a little extra chutzpa to start a shop that primarily runs cam screw machines making millions of parts for automotive. After 23 years working in job shops and running a small farm, Karl Drasgow cashed out his 401K to found Drasgow Inc., [...]
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    37 mins
  • Machining in Mexico, with Rogério Mezadri–EP 167

    Machining in Mexico, with Rogério Mezadri–EP 167
    Jan 14 2025
    Our guest on the podcast today is Rogério Mezadri, Director of SAMOT Mexico, a 200-employee automotive machining company in Guanajuato, Mexico. Rogério and I discussed the challenges running a machining company in Mexico. We talked about Mexican manufacturers upgrading technology. We also talked about the difficulty to find enough skilled manufacturing workers in Mexico. Yes, [...]
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    28 mins
  • What the Heck is Our Strategy for 2025?–EP 234

    What the Heck is Our Strategy for 2025?–EP 234
    Jan 7 2025
    Damn. It’s already 2025? I was just getting used to the idea that it was 2024. Today, Lloyd and I are reflecting on what worked and didn’t work in our used machinery business and our personal lives over the last year. We’re also discussing our intentions and predictions for the new year. Will we sell [...]
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    49 mins
  • How to Think Like an Entrepreneur—Not a Technician, with Steve Preda-EP 202

    How to Think Like an Entrepreneur—Not a Technician, with Steve Preda-EP 202
    Jan 1 2025
    Do you ever ask yourself why the majority of businesses out there are struggling to survive while an elite handful are crushing it? On today’s podcast we are discussing that question. Our guest is Steve Preda, founder of Steve Preda Business Growth. He is also an author of three books and the host of the [...]
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    1 hr and 7 mins