Adapt or Fall Behind: Why the Asphalt Industry Must Embrace Digital Branding Ep. #17
Release Date: 01/26/2026
The Perfect Fit: Strategies for Attracting Quality Asphalt Workers Ep. #18
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Larry Kokkelenberg, a clinical and industrial psychologist who has served on the White House Council and is a renowned expert in employee hiring and retention in the construction industry. Dr. Kokkelenberg shares invaluable insights about effective hiring practices, emphasizing the importance of finding the right candidates with the correct attitude and cultural fit. He discusses critical points on how to attract ideal talent, retain employees, and build a strong company culture. This conversation is a must-listen for business owners aiming to create a thriving...
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Adapt or Fall Behind: Why the Asphalt Industry Must Embrace Digital Branding Ep. #17
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
Marvin interviews Rachel Kennedy, a branding coach who specializes in helping construction firms and their leaders optimize their presence on LinkedIn. Kennedy shares her transition from construction recruitment to digital consulting, emphasizing that the platform should be used for professional networking and thought leadership rather than personal updates. She provides actionable advice on profile optimization, such as utilizing the header banner and headline to create a strong first impression for potential clients and talent. The discussion highlights the importance of human-centric...
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Lines, Lessons, and Late Nights with Hurley The Striper Ep. #16
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
In this episode, Marvin welcomes Hurley Johnson, known as 'Hurley the Striper' on TikTok, to discuss his journey in the asphalt maintenance industry. Recorded in Q4 from Nashville, Marvin talks with Hurley about his start in line striping in 2022, his challenges, and his strategies for building a successful business, Prime Mark Asphalt Maintenance and Striping Services. They delve into the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and networking. Hurley shares his future aspirations, including expanding into paving, and emphasizes family and customer satisfaction as his key motivations....
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Standout: The Ben Kjar Story & Movie Ep. #15
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
Today Marvin interviews Ben Kjar, a professional wrestler and speaker born with Crouzon Syndrome, a condition requiring extensive facial reconstructions. Kjar shares how his mother’s refusal to coddle him helped transform his physical differences into a source of extraordinary confidence. He details his "call your shot" philosophy, which utilizes accountability partners and strict deadlines to achieve elite success in sports and business. The discussion emphasizes the mental grit required to outwork competitors and the importance of parents modeling ambitious dreams for their children....
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Building Beast Mountain: The Mr. Beast Wolf Rescue Ep. #14
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
Today’s show features an interview with Chris Phillips, a business owner who transitioned from the high-end furniture industry in California to land clearing and driveway excavation in Texas. Phillips details his rapid rise in the "dirt world," largely driven by his strategic use of social media and viral content involving specialized grading equipment. The conversation highlights a major career milestone where Phillips was recruited to build "Beast Mountain" at Alveus Sanctuary, a project facilitated by Lowe's and YouTuber MrBeast to benefit endangered wolves. He explains the logistical...
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The Construction of Mental Wellness Ep. #13
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
Marvin has an impactful conversation with Nick Parish, CEO of Burns Dirt in Mississippi. They discuss his personal journey with stress, anxiety, and mental health. The conversation focuses heavily on the challenges of leadership and balancing work with personal well-being, particularly within the demanding construction and dirt world sectors. Parish shares his experiences with anxiety, therapy, and utilizing coping mechanisms like physical training (running a marathon and planning an Iron Man) and daily mindfulness practices (journaling and managing sleep hygiene) as tools for mental...
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How Sakai Prevents Roller Accidents with Guardman Technology Ep. #12
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
Marvin has a discussion with Daniel Margrave and David Crockett from Sakai. The conversation introduces Sakai's long history—starting with locomotive parts and pivoting to road rollers in 1929—and details their current line of compaction equipment, including a unique vibratory pneumatic tire roller. The central focus of the discussion is the Guardman safety technology, which uses radar or lidar to provide audio and visual alerts to roller operators, and automatically stops the machine if the operator fails to react to a potential collision with people or objects. Marvin’s guests explain...
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PaveX 2026: Not Your Average Asphalt Trade Show Ep. #11
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
New Orleans during Mardi Gras. An after-party at a mansion on the parade route. And somehow, this is still about asphalt. Jess Lombardo and Amy Schwandt from explain why they're doing everything differently with PaveX 2026 – from the timing to the education format to the competitions that'll give away actual equipment. Brad Lea's keynoting. There's a striping competition. And 115 exhibitors are bringing things you haven't seen before. This conversation reveals what happens when an industry event stops playing it safe. Whether you're trying to figure out if it's worth the...
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Paving Parallels: Blacktop Lessons for Real Life with Kevin Gray Ep. #10
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
Marvin’s guest today is Kevin Gray. They discuss Gray's journey in the asphalt industry and the challenges of balancing work life with personal life. Gray, the owner of Pave It Forward Asphalt, shares his experiences, including rebuilding a business after a successful first venture, and reflects on how his career has shaped him, particularly highlighting the difficulty of his divorce and the importance of discipline and routine in his daily life. The conversation also explores themes of fear and success, with both men discussing the desire to teach their children to live without fear and the...
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First Impression, Over Delivered! Key Lessons from Sports Executive Robert Miller Ep. #09
In The Mix with Marvin Joles
In this episode, Marvin interviews Robert Miller, Sales Director for FedEx St Jude Championship, The conversation highlights Miller's career transition into the PGA Tour, emphasizing the philanthropic nature of the tournament supporting St. Jude Hospital and its significant economic impact on the city of Memphis. The discussion also touches on the complex logistics of hosting a PGA Tour event and the importance of building strong relationships in the sports industry. Learn how over delivering on your promises can buy you a little bit of grace from your clients. Connect with Robert: Connect...
info_outlineMarvin interviews Rachel Kennedy, a branding coach who specializes in helping construction firms and their leaders optimize their presence on LinkedIn. Kennedy shares her transition from construction recruitment to digital consulting, emphasizing that the platform should be used for professional networking and thought leadership rather than personal updates. She provides actionable advice on profile optimization, such as utilizing the header banner and headline to create a strong first impression for potential clients and talent. The discussion highlights the importance of human-centric storytelling, noting that the LinkedIn algorithm favors authentic personal engagement over generic corporate marketing. Ultimately, Kennedy encourages leaders to use the platform to build trust and maintain long-term industry relationships that eventually translate into business revenue.
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The In The Mix podcast highlights the Asphalt Industry, the people who make it run, and the organizations that support it. We also dive into the Dirt World, Construction, Entrepreneurship, and the skilled trades—with insightful guests and real-world conversations.
Topics include:
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Asphalt Paving
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Sealcoating & Crack Sealing
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Asphalt Patching & Milling
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Hot-Mix Asphalt Design
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Line Striping (Residential & Commercial)
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Business ownership, motivation, and industry challenges
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