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Earlier this year we sat down with both Kevin O'Connor from This Old House and home improvement tv host and trades advocate Kayleen McCabe. These are two great discussions you dont want to miss!

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[00:00:05] Kevin O'Connor: the house. Yep. We just dropped a new 13 part series, 13 half hour episodes, uh, streaming free on the Roku channel called Team Rubicon follows, uh, and displays the exploits of a phenomenal volunteer organization. Uh, by the same name, Team Rubicon, veteran founded, veteran led, uh, although there are plenty of civilians and it's a hundred and seventy thousand person strong volunteer group here in the U.

[00:00:56] Kevin O'Connor: When it comes to remodeling and renovating your

[00:01:13] Kevin O'Connor: Thank you, Eric. Nice to be back with you.

[00:01:18] Eric Goranson: You've been, uh, As the longest running host now, right? For a lot of years, you got the most years in. It's amazing how time flies.

[00:01:37] Kevin O'Connor: Two new projects. One local, one out of state. Same crew, pretty much. Going at it. Um, no complaints.

[00:02:03] Eric Goranson: As the most honest show on television. It's, it's a really a test of the hard work you guys have put into that

[00:02:20] Kevin O'Connor: You know, their primary job is not television. I'm the only one who's in that business, you know, first and foremost, um, the primary jobs are, you know, the contractors that they are, uh, and. It lends a certain level of credibility. Uh, but also that honesty that you're talking about, these are, you know, men and women who know what they're talking about because they put food on their table, uh, from their contracting

[00:02:44] Eric Goranson: Yeah. And over the years, you know, you're starting to see kind of the new guard come on the show as well. Cause you know, you've had the same crew forever and I, you know, you guys are sliding in some new people, which is always tough because when you've got a show literally of home improvement legends.

[00:03:01] Kevin O'Connor: We've always been an ensemble cast, which has always, I think, helped us, you know, Norm Abram from the very first episode is often thought as sort of the leader, the grandfather, the first person out in this genre. But, you know, Norm worked shoulder to shoulder with Tommy for 20, 30 years.

[00:03:41] Kevin O'Connor: Um, so there are a lot of new faces, although people like Jen and Mark and Morrow and Heath and Ross and Nathan and such, they're not that new, you know, they've been with us for five, 10 years now.

[00:03:58] Eric Goranson: We call him the good

[00:04:20] Kevin O'Connor: Um, but you know, his brother Evan's in the business too. He just doesn't happen to want to be on TV. It's nice. It's nice to have the Trithui family behind us. He'll be the, Richard was the fourth generation Trithui, uh, plumber in his family. Ross will be the fifth generation. He's not a plumber necessarily, but is in that new expanded world that plumbing has given us, which is comfort, HVAC, safety.

[00:04:52] Kevin O'Connor: out. Yep. We just dropped a new 13 part series, 13 half hour episodes, uh, streaming free on the Roku channel called Team [00:05:00] Rubicon, follows, uh, and displays the exploits of a phenomenal volunteer organization, uh, by the same name, Team Rubicon.

[00:05:39] Kevin O'Connor: Rebuilds and get homeowners safe and secure back in their homes as quickly as possible. It's a, it's a, it's an unbelievable organization, which I can go on and on about for a long time. I won't, but the show exposes the audience to who they are, their good deeds. And we embed, I embed with them, become a gray shirt and we follow them [00:06:00] around and we watch how they respond to these natural disasters.

[00:06:20] Eric Goranson: I gotta ask you, you're not afraid to jump in and grab the tool belt and get your hands dirty.

[00:06:39] Kevin O'Connor: that we were in were, were tough.

[00:07:08] Kevin O'Connor: You bring your own stuff, your own sleeping bag. Um, you get out there and you spend 8 hours, 10 hours a day working and volunteering. Um, so, you know, by that definition, it's it's hard. Um. Emotionally, it's extremely uplifting. You wake up every morning tired and sore from the night before, but just surrounded by 20 or 30 other gray shirt volunteers who are jazzed.

[00:07:56] Kevin O'Connor: And their gratitude is just overwhelming. Um, sometimes [00:08:00] Team Rubicon and Grayshirt are the first people to show up, um, to help these folks out, uh, in a very dire situation. So you can imagine how grateful they are. The whole thing is emotional, um, but the whole thing is extremely, extremely uplifting.

[00:08:16] Eric Goranson: And, uh, and you know, those, those, you know, military veterans, they know what hard work is about because that's what got them through.

[00:08:41] Kevin O'Connor: They've learned the skills, they've got the attitude, they've proven themselves. And then upon leaving and they enter sort of the life that us civilians are used to. I, I. I never served, so I, you know, I'm a civilian, um, and it's a, it's a, probably in many cases, a big transition, you know, they, they've [00:09:00] been, uh, in a strong community, lots of camaraderie, lots of activity, highly competent.

[00:09:31] Kevin O'Connor: Florida, helping clean up after Hurricane Ian. You would be surprised how much doing that work gives back to you as a volunteer. It's

[00:09:58] Eric Goranson: and [00:10:00] Satchel from Steel Panther. And you are listening to Around the House with Eric G. Yeah. We love Eric G and you should too. Welcome to the round the house show. This is where we help you get the most out of your home through information education. Thanks for joining me today. Well, let's get back to our conversation with Kevin O'Connor from this old house and the new team Rubicon television show.

[00:10:28] Kevin O'Connor: I think the organization is founded on somewhat of that premise, you know, Eric, which is a lot of. Highly trained, highly skilled, highly motivated people who, um, have been in military service. They've learned the skills, they've got the attitude, they've proven themselves. And then upon leaving and they enter sort of the life that us civilians are used to.

[00:11:17] Kevin O'Connor: Uh, attitude and the skills that they have, it channels them into a very worthy cause, which is helping out their fellow Americans, um, after these natural disasters. If, if you, you'd be surprised how much spending, you know, eight, 10 hours a day for five days in Florida, helping clean up after Hurricane Ian, you wouldn't be surprised how much.

[00:11:45] Eric Goranson: That is great. Yeah. I've heard some crazy stories. I've got a friend that does operation barbecue relief that was down in Florida and they were down serving first responders and, uh, you know, I I've never experienced the natural disasters at that level, but, uh, it's [00:12:00] pretty epic when you look at the video and stuff of, of what a tornado can do and, and what it does to the community.

[00:12:13] Kevin O'Connor: given, you know, what I do and have done for this old house, we've covered several rebuilds after natural disasters, um, after Katrina and Sandy, um, work in Houston after Harvey, so we're not unfamiliar with them.

[00:12:57] Kevin O'Connor: You know, they were in a dire situation. [00:13:00] Uh, and then when you see the results of tornadoes and hurricanes, um, it's an eyeopener, you don't get used to it.

[00:13:14] Eric Goranson: And that was one of your best series, I think, was that, uh, episodes you guys did a few years ago with the, with the wildfires in

[00:13:41] Kevin O'Connor: Tornadoes are a lot nastier. They're just nasty. Wildfire is apolectic. Apo, apa, apa, it's horrific. Horrific, there we go. Apocalyptic, sorry, apocalyptic. Apocalyptic, there we go. Cars, you know, that have been [00:14:00] melted and are oozing into the asphalt, complete ruined devastation. That was something. Uh, the Paradise Rebuild was something being up there, you know, a year after the Camp Fire

[00:14:11] Eric Goranson: Yeah, we live in the forests like that here and, uh, it's a, it's an annual event for us. Uh, you guys got to get a little bit of taste of that smoke here recently. And that's, we call that August now in the Pacific Northwest.

[00:14:27] Eric Goranson: So what's coming up on this old house, man? Uh, what's, uh, what's new with you guys on that?

[00:14:36] Kevin O'Connor: just, uh, if people are following along on PBS, they're seeing the. Final episodes of our last project, which was the oldest home we worked on, um, what they call a first period home, Ipswich, Massachusetts, which is up on the northeast coast of the state, um, built in the mid 1700s, um, that one we put to bed and we immediately [00:15:00] stood up two others.

[00:15:24] Kevin O'Connor: Uh, and sadly, uh, the youngest, um, has got a physical condition that's going to lead to him being in a wheelchair in the very near future and for the rest of his life. So they are renovating this house with an eye towards making it as accessible and as accommodating for that disability as possible. So it's a heartwarming story for the family, but, you know, being who we are, we're going to do a high quality renovation and we're going to use that story.

[00:16:07] Eric Goranson: that's what I got on my house. I love that look, you know, but, uh, boy, you guys bounced off the rails there because you're like.

[00:16:25] Kevin O'Connor: where, I mean, we're allowed to, you know, we've got licensed to sort of go anywhere with this stuff. And so we mix it up. Um, it's a nice change up, you know, from the oldest house ever to a nice mid century, modern, uh, and then while that's going on, we're, we're, we're back to the old Victorians.

[00:17:12] Kevin O'Connor: And for mom and dad to be comfortable, uh, and to sort of be in a situation where the daughter and the son in law can take care of them as they age. So we've got two of those that are keeping us busy. Like I said, just, we're just right back at it. You know, it's just doing what we do.

[00:17:33] Eric Goranson: Then you got asked this old house. And then of course you've got, uh, your, uh, team Rubicon going. You're a busy

[00:17:46] Eric Goranson: we're running out of time, Kevin, where do people find team Rubicon, your newest show?

[00:18:18] Eric Goranson: Perfect. And then everybody can just go to this old house. com to find all the, this old house information. Yep. Still

[00:18:31] Eric Goranson: nationwide. Perfect. Kevin, thanks for coming on today, man.

[00:18:36] Kevin O'Connor: appreciate it. Always going to be back with you. Around

[00:18:59] Eric Goranson: Hey, this is [00:19:00] Ron Keel, the metal cowboy from Keel, the Ron Keel band and Steeler, we are rocking Around the House with Eric T. You know, if you've ever tried hiring a contractor out there, even finding one, it can be a hard battle these days. And we've got some big reasons why. So I brought on my good friend, Kayleen McCabe.

[00:19:34] Kayleen McCabe: for having me, Eric. It's always awesome to get the chance to hang out with you and catch up.

[00:19:41] Eric Goranson: I miss those days of us hitting the trade shows so often. I, you know,

[00:20:02] Kayleen McCabe: And so traveling nowadays is a test in

[00:20:22] Eric Goranson: It's a really great deal for them, but the homeowners are now going, Hey, why are things so expensive? And it's because, well, there's a employment battle for people in the trades these days.

[00:20:41] Kayleen McCabe: That the only pathway to success was college. And as somebody who didn't go to college, but became quite successful because of the trades, I knew this was a lie. So, you know, we're a few years outside of really things turning around. There has been a lot of movement. A lot of funding has come into [00:21:00] career and technical education, which is great.

[00:21:20] Kayleen McCabe: Cause we have a career for you. What do you want to do? We got it all.

[00:21:38] Eric Goranson: You know, for good and, uh, keep the boat out going all year long instead of just a couple of days a year. Cause they're working as we got to get the people in there to replace those cats.

[00:21:58] Kayleen McCabe: And so I'm requesting a [00:22:00] few things. So for all of your viewers and your fans, um, if you know the trains, if you're thinking about retiring, consider teaching. Come into the school systems. Um, there's been a lot to make the transition easier coming off the job site into a classroom as far as credentialing and training and look, teenagers are always going to be teenagers, but in all fairness, teenagers are just like apprentices.

[00:22:46] Kayleen McCabe: It's impressive. And you know, we know from research studies like N-C-C-E-R had a really good one on restoring the dignity to work that on average you're not paying off that simple bachelor's degree that you [00:23:00] think you might have to have until you're 45. And so as a parent, how in good conscience can you encourage your child to have to go to college to become successful?

[00:23:33] Kayleen McCabe: Just please share a bit of your knowledge before you get on that boat and go fishing.

[00:23:51] Eric Goranson: You know, get yourself some insurance and stuff like that, that many contractors of that age just kind of went, ah, we'll be fine. And, and that's a big change in [00:24:00] the, in the trades as well. It's just the benefits package. Cause you know, I know an electrician right now here in the Portland metro area where this show is broadcast and he's had for a couple of years now, a 20, 000 signing bonus.

[00:24:13] Kayleen McCabe: Well, then you, you'd be pretty bright to take that, uh, but it's true. I mean, you know, we're looking at the supply and demand issue. We're looking at long term things. And so employers are really incentivized right now to have great long lasting employees and by being creative.

[00:24:58] Kayleen McCabe: They just all formed a [00:25:00] nonprofit called Building Talent Foundation. And 20 residential contractors in the U. S. And like number 20 had like 1. 2 billion worth of work. These So if you want to go into residential construction, you want to work for one of those top 20 because they are offering benefits and furthering education.

[00:25:36] Kayleen McCabe: And so. I don't know if I had to do it over again, holy cannoli. I would in a heartbeat sign up to be an industrial construction. Uh, I love residential forever and ever, but here's how it's going to go. Now I'm going to go into industrial construction. I'm going to make a bunch of money. I'm going to have benefits and then I might time off.

[00:26:12] Kayleen McCabe: I just like, yeah, things around me, but I had to do it over again. That's how I would have ensured that I would have been a millionaire earlier. Yeah,

[00:26:42] Kayleen McCabe: And here's the best part. You know, let's say one of your viewers right now is a parent and they're like, well, my child really likes playing video games and being inside. Uh, I have a hard hat that has a windows 10 computer on the back hollow lens that fold down, and now I can modify and work [00:27:00] with my. BIM, building information modular, whatever, like my new friend in real time.

[00:27:31] Kayleen McCabe: They're also making things ergonomic. I mean, I put on a suit not long ago where me with my stature, I could pick up a 300 pound person, you know, technology really evolving things and there's way to keep us cool. Some of the heavy. If I could do heavy highway, some of that machinery drives itself and you have air conditioning.

[00:28:12] Eric Goranson: Right?

[00:28:25] Kayleen McCabe: right[00:29:00]

[00:29:22] Eric Goranson: I mean, I just have to say, I'm so proud of her working with the kids and the trades and really helping. Get that career path for people that might not want to go to college that, um, want to make as much money or more doing stuff with their hands and their brands. Right. It's perfect. Instead of being in the office, it's like living in the movie office space.

[00:29:49] Kayleen McCabe: mean, obviously it is our, but I don't want to diss it. Cause I do need people who work in offices. I need project managers. I need architects. I need engineers. But place for everyone there [00:30:00] is, and really, I think the better architects and engineers are the ones who on their summer break came out and framed for a few summers and learned how really gravity works in real life outside of those CAD programs.

[00:30:26] Eric Goranson: All those little things that, uh, that, uh, maybe they didn't teach in design school, but you need to figure it out in the field because you're either going to figure it out there when you're doing it or making mistakes and ordering things twice. Yes, and

[00:30:40] Kayleen McCabe: If you're coming out doing a bad job and you don't really know how the job's done, you aren't going to be respected in the bigger term. And I really believe that there's a lot of value in any career path. Believe me, I've, I've had quite a few, you know, carpenter. Television host, I was a 9 1 1 dispatcher.

[00:31:19] Kayleen McCabe: As I was going about my tasks, I knew when I was talking and designing kitchens that like, yeah, all those things you talk about are so critically important because I'd experienced it in real life. So, bravo, and thank you for educating your employees because I guarantee they were, I guarantee they were more respected.

[00:31:57] Kayleen McCabe: And these are skills that we need in [00:32:00] society. I need these that are just humans. To be pleasant around. And so where can we learn this in school now? Is it an English class? Probably not. How about small engine repair? Totally. Because you're going to make that lawnmower either run or not, and you're going to fail and then you have to problem solve and you have to talk to other people and educate yourself.

[00:32:34] Eric Goranson: opportunities. Absolutely. And if we look out there, if we notice, you know, everybody's scared of AI. The AI is taking the white collar jobs.

[00:32:46] Kayleen McCabe: And I'm looking at it, compliment. First of all, check GPT, switching out your own toilet. Never going to happen. You weren't going to like, uh, AI, uh, your [00:33:00] leaky faucet that is going to require skilled, it's hands on in real life. Now, some of the components that I work with are technology based.

[00:33:27] Eric Goranson: cool is that? It's awesome.

[00:33:41] Kayleen McCabe: Yeah. We still need people on site. So that's how it works.

[00:34:02] Eric Goranson: And you maybe want to enhance that a little bit. What do you recommend?

[00:34:21] Kayleen McCabe: And then I connect you locally, like with business and industry. So you can find all that information out on my website and then yeah, feel free to email me. I will encourage. Uh, and harass strangers to get into the trades. Probably tell all my hair goes gray.

[00:34:40] Eric Goranson: And thank you for what you're doing out there. Cause you're making a huge difference out there.

[00:34:53] Eric Goranson: You too. We'll see each other this year. We'll make it happen.

[00:35:15] Eric Goranson: That is having trade programs in high schools or have a trade high school that people can go to. This, uh, one size fits all program that we tried to do to get every kid to go to college has been, uh, you know, quite the boom for college education out there. Who's been making in. Billions in dollars, but that's the that's the problem is that not everybody fits that mold and we've done a really poor job in many areas across the country, preparing kids for life.

[00:36:07] Eric Goranson: They have construction trades, automotive, all these different, you know, career paths. And the ones that are failing, the kids are the ones that have taken all those. You know, buildings and turn them into computer labs and things like that, but eliminated all the different things from wood shop to metal shop to automotive to, to all the building trades to all of those things.

[00:36:48] Eric Goranson: So I'm asking everybody out there as a parent. If you're a parent out there, or you're active in your school programs, make sure that every kid is getting a good education and we need lots of [00:37:00] people going into the construction trades out there and you can make a ton of money. So if you if you don't want to go to college, or if you want to go out and just.

[00:37:31] Eric Goranson: So, make sure that we've got those programs out there for people and, uh, it's really important. There's other ones around here in my metro area. Portland has some stuff with there, but they could sure do a lot more, uh, the Portland public schools, but we've got stuff here. Forest Grove. They have their Viking house where they're teaching kids how to do it.

[00:38:09] Eric Goranson: And that's the only way we're going to get this. You know, there are so many people out there that could be working great jobs that are going out and spending a hundred grand on a college education and then come to find out they didn't need it. For what they're doing, and I don't want to saddle 100 grand with a debt on somebody because I tell you what, as we've been seeing with the student loan stuff out there, there's a lot of kids that got sold that they could go get a crazy degree that wasn't going to get them a career.

[00:38:57] Eric Goranson: So. I think we need to add some common [00:39:00] sense into that whole system. All right, everybody. Well, thanks for tuning in. That's the end of our two. We'll see you next week. Catch us on the midweek special podcast. Thanks for tuning in to Around the