Character Development with Mack Story (Episode 75)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
Release Date: 02/02/2024
Be Curious, Not Judgmental: The Neuroscience of Leading Construction Teams with Roxanne Evans (Episode 96)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
Be Curious, Not Judgmental: The Neuroscience of Leading Construction Teams with Roxanne Evans (Episode 96) In this episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, host Adam Hoots is joined by Mike Chiles and special guest Roxanne Evans, owner of Brain Balance in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. This conversation picks up where an earlier episode on neurodivergence left off — diving deeper into how the brain develops, how technology and modern lifestyles are widening developmental gaps, and what construction leaders can do about it. Roxanne brings a rare combination of perspectives: a former...
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Better, Faster, Together: Building Global Lean Community with Derek Sinnott (Episode 95)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this wide-ranging episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots connects with Derek Sinnott, a self-described pracademic from Wexford, Ireland. Derek is a civil engineer-turned-academic at SETU (South East Technological University), a Lean coach, and the Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School in Ireland. Adam and Derek first crossed paths in Japan, and the conversation that unfolded there clearly stuck — because Derek showed up in Ireland when Adam brought a team of Clemson students over for a construction competition, and that says everything you need to know...
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Lean at the Crossroads: Culture, Community, and Congress with Elizabeth Taylor (Episode 94)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
Lean at the Crossroads: Culture, Community, and Congress with Elizabeth Taylor (Episode 94) In this heartfelt and high-energy episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, sits down with , National Director of Lean at JE Dunn Construction and 2026 LCI Congress Co-Chair, to talk about leadership, culture, and what it really means to build community in construction. Elizabeth shares her journey from project management to Lean coaching, including her AMAZING Lean experience on the Williston Rec Center project in North Dakota, where living onsite and stumbling through The Last Planner...
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1 in 4 Builders are Neurodivergent. Lean Might Be Built for Them! – Hosted by the Chiles Bros (Episode 93)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
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The Chiles Bros: One Lean Geek. One Old Dawg. (Episode 92)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this absolutely, positively NO Bullshido kickoff episode, Adam Hoots sits down with Brian Chiles and Mike Chiles—two brothers with deep roots in relationships, leadership, and Lean thinking lived out in the real world. Brian came into construction from a teaching/coaching and project management background; Mike brings 20+ years in the industry, raising four kids while remaining relentless about respect for people and building teams that work together. This conversation is equal parts family, field, and flow. The Chiles Bros unpack why Lean is not a tool, why relationships are the real...
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Family, Flow, and Old Dawgs with Jeff Reilly (Episode 91)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this no-bullshido episode of Hoots on the Ground, Adam Hoots sits down with “Old Dog” Jeff Reilly—a devoted father, husband, and superintendent with Mill Creek Residential Trust whose leadership philosophy bridges family, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. From his Boston union roots to leading modern Lean projects, Jeff shares how lessons from his ancestors, parents, and mentors shaped his mindset on respect, environment, and the true meaning of Kaizen. Together, Adam and Jeff dig deep into what it means to balance family, work, and wisdom in today’s construction world....
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The Old Dawgs Live at LCI Congress (Episode 90)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
Recorded live inside the Lean Construction Institute’s Live Podcast Booth at LCI Congress 2025, the Old Dawgs got together for an unfiltered, field‑first discussion. This fast‑moving conversation captures what decades of hard‑won (700+ years) experience have taught these seasoned Lean builders about the superiority of modern Lean construction methods over traditional methods. Led by podcast host Adam Hoots, this is one “Hoots on the Ground” episode you DO NOT want to miss! (And if you usually go audio-only for our podcasts, this one is one to WATCH – 12 Old Dawgs crammed into...
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Farm Boy Flow with a Bit of Grit with Boone White (Episode 89)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this no-bullshido episode, Adam Hoots chops it up with Mississippi’s own , a farm-raised boy, Christ‑follower, husband, dad of three, and unapologetic agitator for change. He is a General Superintendent with in Oxford, Mississippi. Boone traces his path from the old “yell‑and‑cuss” era to a worker-first approach powered by Last Planner, Takt, and disciplined make-ready planning. From Houston to Mississippi, he breaks down how humility and curiosity, not just grit, unlock flow, safety, and calmer, more predictable jobs. The duo tackles integrating CPM/Takt/Last Planner,...
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The Selfish Servant with Jesse “Chuy” Hernandez (Episode 88)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this no-bullshido episode of Hoots on the Ground, host reconnects with —the plumber’s son turned foreman, GC leader, consultant, author, and unapologetic “selfish servant.” Jesse shares his journey from apprentice to industry thought leader, tying sobriety, service, and Lean thinking together. He breaks down his three leadership lessons—zoom level, time horizon, and lingo—and shows how those same gaps cause project failures. Adam and Jesse also tackle problem-solving, the power of listening with eyes and ears, the myth of the “indispensable superintendent,” and why...
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Systems, Life & Pink Flags with Thomas LaMay (Episode 87)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this no-bullshido episode of Hoots on the Ground, Adam Hoots hangs out in Kyoto, Japan, with the one and only Thomas LaMay, a project leader at DPR Construction who’s got Lean systems and people-first thinking down to a science. What starts as a chat about bucket list experiences at the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) turns into a full-on masterclass on designing better production systems—and better lives for the people doing the work. Thomas dives into the importance of caring for the people on the job, from the simple things (like clean port-a-potties and shaded...
info_outlineDuring this episode, Mack Story dives into exactly who he is and where he came from! Hoots talks about all the amazing content that Mack puts out daily with his company, Blue Collar Leadership.
Mack talks about his wife, Ria, and mentions her story, which you can see in her TEDx Talk linked below. He discusses how he and Ria got started with their speaking and consulting careers. He talks about his love for her and how strong that is and where it came from. Mak also dives into how all his problems were caused by himself!
He tells about his son, Eric, who hated Mack from age 15 – 19. Mack then found this leadership information from a John Maxwell conference. Then by modeling what Maxwell teaches, he was able to repair and rebuild that relationship with his son. Further, he takes us down his journey of giving up alcohol and profanity back in 2012. Mack references Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and how it changed his entire life! Between stimulus and response, there is a choice.
Mack gets Hoots to open up on some of the problems that he is facing at home! Mack’s personal stories allow him to self-reflect and discover some of the next steps that he can take to work on his patience. Tune in to find out more about how to develop patience both at work and/or at home. Cheat code: Don’t forget to grab your pause button!
Mack claims that everything he talks about is Character Development. Character is the ability to meet the demands of reality! Mack is a wealth of knowledge and gives that knowledge out to others constantly. He enjoys talking with people and making a difference in blue-collar workers’ lives!
This is an absolute cannot-miss episode with Mack. His one-liners are fantastic, and you will be inspired to a better life after allowing this episode to settle in. As Mack says, “You can’t climb the mountain with base camp Character.”
Keep Climbing!
ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:
The Lean Builder’s absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join Host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that are relevant to those of us who “get it”: the men and women with the dirty boots, the ones who work in the field, doing the hands-on business of construction each day. Listen in as we keep it real while stories from the trenches are shared along with lessons learned and some laughter along the way.
RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
· www.theleanbuilder.com | Our main blog, book, resources, news & events website
· https://bluecollarleadership.com/ | Mack & Ria Story’s company
· https://youtu.be/7953w5yQ1uo?si=DCvyOV6Xg90OZjfF | Ria Story’s TEDx Talk “Bridges Out of the Past: A Survivor’s Lessons on Resilience”
· https://www.maxwellleadership.com/ | John Maxwell Leadership Training
· The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
· Adam Hoots | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-hoots-4645519/ | podcast host for “Hoots on the Ground” and Lean Construction Shepherd with ConstructionACHEsolutions
· Mack Story | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackstory/ | Developing the Blue-Collar Workforce and those who lead them.®│Author of 15 Books│Leadership Speaker│Trainer