How Storytelling Can Solve Your Skilled Trades Recruiting Crisis
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Release Date: 05/06/2026
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How Storytelling Can Solve Your Skilled Trades Recruiting Crisis
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In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ryan Kiscaden, owner of Kiscaden Consulting and creator of the Next Up Trades children’s book series, to discuss how storytelling can reshape the future of recruiting in the trades. Ryan shares how a conversation with his plumber brother-in-law sparked the idea to create books that explain HVAC and plumbing to children in a way they can understand and connect with emotionally. Instead of focusing only on wages, debt, and job security, Ryan believes the industry needs to tell a better...
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info_outlineIn this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ryan Kiscaden, owner of Kiscaden Consulting and creator of the Next Up Trades children’s book series, to discuss how storytelling can reshape the future of recruiting in the trades.
Ryan shares how a conversation with his plumber brother-in-law sparked the idea to create books that explain HVAC and plumbing to children in a way they can understand and connect with emotionally.
Instead of focusing only on wages, debt, and job security, Ryan believes the industry needs to tell a better story about purpose, problem solving, and helping people.
They discuss:
Why the trades struggle with perception problems
How recruiting really starts in childhood
The emotional side of working in HVAC and plumbing
Why storytelling matters more than statistics
The disconnect between schools and skilled trades
How contractors can become community educators
Why ADHD and hands-on learning may actually be strengths in the trades
How AI and technology are changing the perception of blue-collar careers
If your company struggles to recruit young talent, this episode offers a completely different perspective on building the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
Timestamps
00:00 Promoting trades to young kids
04:15 Explaining skilled trades to kids
07:56 Changing perspectives in education
10:35 Changing perceptions around AI jobs
13:48 The gratification of helping others
17:36 Industry collaboration and collective effort
19:33 Interviewing teachers and donors
24:38 Creative uses by contractors
28:19 Challenges for kids with ADHD
32:22 Challenges with traditional schooling
33:34 Learning with technology and AI
36:32 Where to find more info
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Ryan Kiscaden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankiscaden/
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