The Old Dawgs Live at LCI Congress (Episode 90)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
Release Date: 10/31/2025
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...
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Bridging the Mind, Hands & Heart in Construction with Dominic Desmarais (Episode 86)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
In this episode, host Adam Hoots connects with Dominic Desmarais, a Canadian mechanical engineer and Lean Construction enthusiast with more than two decades of experience. Recorded live from Kyoto, Japan, at The International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) 33, Dominic shares insights from his profound Lean journey, his passion for bridging the traditional divides between thinkers and doers, and the critical interplay of mind, hands, and heart in the workplace. Dominic examines the fundamental importance of human motivation and respect in the construction industry, drawing compelling...
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Stewarding Human Potential and Trust in Construction with John Toups (Episode 85)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
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Respect, Flow, and Transformation with Niklas Modig (Episode 84)
Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
info_outlineRecorded 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 a podcast studio – you can see and feel the passion!)
From the origins of Lean Construction to the latest experiments in production planning, the Old Dawgs trade war stories, share missteps, and reveal the practical moves that create flow, reliability, and above all respect for environments and people. You’ll hear how they’ve adapted The Last Planner System® practices for tough schedules, why Takt thinking clarifies handoffs, and how real trust is built when leaders keep promises and elevate the voices of craft professionals.
What the Old Dawgs get into during this podcast:
- The shift from “tools talk” to a people‑first culture that enables tools to work.
- How trust, psychological safety, and clear promises drive schedule reliability.
- Evolving Last Planner System behaviors (constraints removal, PPC as coaching, daily huddles that add value).
- Using Takt planning to simplify sequencing, stabilize labor, and reduce chaos at handoffs.
- Preconstruction to production: designing for flow, defining capacity, and right‑sizing batch sizes.
- Leadership on the deck: what foremen and supers need from project leaders to protect the crew’s time.
- Respect for People in action: craft voice in planning, mental health, and creating environments where capability grows.
- Rapid‑fire reflections: the one behavior each Dawg would start tomorrow to improve team performance.
Key takeaways include:
- Reliability is a relationship. When leaders make and keep clear promises, crews reciprocate—and schedules stabilize.
- Small, stable cadences beat heroics. Short planning horizons, visible commitments, and simple feedback loops win.
- Design for flow early. Define constraints and capacity in precon so production plans are realistic, not aspirational.
- Psych safety isn’t “soft.” It’s the precondition for surfacing constraints, learning from misses, and improving PPC.
- Respect for people is the strategy. Elevating craft expertise and well‑being accelerates learning and performance.
It’s a lively, candid celebration of the Old Dawg community that continues to push the industry forward—reminding us that Lean is less about perfection and more about continuous learning, with dignity for the people doing the work.
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 matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction.
RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- The Lean Builder — Blog, book, and field resources for Lean practitioners.
- Old Dawgs Lean Community — www.skool.com/olddawg
- LCI Congress — https://congress.leanconstruction.org/
GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Adam Hoots | LinkedIn — Host of Hoots on the Ground and Lean Construction Shepherd with ConstructionACHEsolutions.
12 Old Dawgs - too many to name, but we will...
- Boone White, ICM (Innovative Construction Management)
- Brian Chiles JE Dunn Construction
- Denver Watters, Pointcore Construction
- Emerson Dority, Turner Construction Company
- James Gable, Adolfson & Peterson Construction
- James Glass, Turner Construction Company
- Jeff Reilly, Mill Creek Residential
- Jordan Leytem, CoBuild Construction
- LR Weeden, Robins & Morton
- Manny Hoyo, Skanska
- Mike Chiles JE Dunn Construction
- Sam Sinclair, Henson Robinson Company
- Plus, Justin, Jason, and Joe snuck in at the end.