Welcome to Manufacturing Happy Hour, the podcast where we get real about the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers. Hosted by industry veteran Chris Luecke, each week, we interview makers, founders, and other manufacturing leaders that are at the top of their game and give you the tools, tactics, and strategies you need to take your career and your business to the next level. We go beyond the buzzwords and dissect real-life applications and success stories so that you can tackle your biggest manufacturing challenges and turn them into profitable opportunities. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 47:28
RVs are homes that go 60 miles an hour. That changes everything about what goes inside them. Chris sits down with Sean Petterson, CEO of Supersede, a company combining recycling…
Sep 22, 2026 · 36:10
There's a lot more coming out of Iowa than corn. Chris heads to Des Moines for a live conversation with four guests who each know Iowa manufacturing a little differently.…
Sep 15, 2026 · 56:32
You can count on Philly to bring the energy! Recorded live in King of Prussia at the final stop of the Northeast leg of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, this episode…
Sep 11, 2026 · 25:30
Where's the party at? While there’s a lot to see on the show floor at IMTS 2026, some of the best conversations, connections, and memories happen after the show floor closes each…
Sep 8, 2026 · 1:02:58
"New York City is where dreams come to audition", and this goes for manufacturers too. Recorded live at New Lab in Brooklyn, this episode is split into three segments and…
Sep 1, 2026 · 1:10:38
300 episodes of Chris asking all the questions, this week he is finally in the hot seat - and it’s his high school buddies doing all the grilling! Recorded live at Urban Chestnut…
Aug 25, 2026 · 33:24
Some of the best manufacturing advice comes down to one simple idea - buy back your weekends. In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris is joined by Patrick…
Aug 18, 2026 · 46:37
We're not beating the drum this week… we're ringing Cici's bell. Filmed live at Trinity College's Innovation Hub - our first time in Connecticut, and our first ever 9:30am…
Aug 14, 2026 · 57:10
Selling the equipment is the easy part. The real revenue shows up after the sale. Sam Neva, Vice President of Sales for Service Lifecycle Management at PTC, joined the show to…
Aug 4, 2026 · 30:12
Digital, real, real, digital. It sounds simple, but it's rewriting how a warehouse gets designed. Joel Thomas has spent over a decade in the Intralogistics space and now leads…
Jul 28, 2026 · 50:26
Fine tuning manufacturing like a guitar - that's the kind of parallel you can expect from this episode. This week Chris sits down with Rush LaSelle, CEO at Fathom, recorded on…
Jul 21, 2026 · 29:18
Two worlds that have never previously spoken the same language are now building the same machine. This week Chris sits down with David Nichols, CEO, Co-Founder and Engineer at…
Jul 17, 2026 · 48:17
What does it take to build something well, on purpose, in a world that keeps pushing you to move faster? This week Chris sits down with Tyler Mincey, Co-Founder and General…
Jul 14, 2026 · 47:29
What happens when a former SpaceX engineer decides manufacturing software needs to be completely reimagined? In this special live episode of the podcast, recorded at Arts…
Jul 10, 2026 · 23:24
What if your AI strategy doesn't need more agents, just a better plan? This week Chris sits down with Joseph June, who leads AI strategy at PTC to talk about what companies are…
Jul 7, 2026 · 1:06:41
Andres Naranjo sailed a race around the world, wrote Japan's digital agenda, and spent his sabbatical teaching himself AI from scratch. This week Chris sits down with Andres, CEO…
Jun 23, 2026 · 36:03
Your frontline team can only perform as well as the processes they're handed. So why are so many leaders still blaming the wrong people instead of listening to the ones closest…
Jun 16, 2026 · 56:44
Growing your own machinists and orchestrating robots across four continents, is this what the future of manufacturing looks like? This live episode from Hapa's Brewing in the Bay…
Jun 12, 2026 · 1:00:03
What if the biggest efficiency problem in your factory isn't your machines, it's the dead time you waste before you even get to one. Workers queuing at ADP and ERP terminals…
Jun 5, 2026 · 43:45
What happens when manufacturers stop competing for talent and start working together to develop it? In this special LIVE episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris travels to…
Jun 2, 2026 · 48:32
Content becomes forgettable when the key message isn't wrapped in storytelling. People don’t retain information anywhere near as well as they remember stories they hear, and this…
May 26, 2026 · 56:01
20 years ago , automation was a pipe dream for industrial workers, 10 years ago it existed in research and development labs. Now it's fully operational in warehouses, production…
May 19, 2026 · 21:33
For women working in skilled trades, running into someone who knows what the work feels like doesn't happen every day, Sisterhood of Trades was founded to build that connection.…
May 12, 2026 · 49:25
Full automation and AI on the factory floor are great, but the line still doesn't run without people who can feel a part click into place wrong or hear a tool burn. That space…
May 5, 2026 · 48:51
American manufacturing’s next chapter is being written one region at a time, and Northeast Ohio is one of the places setting the standard. In a region like theirs, the…
May 1, 2026 · 45:56
General-purpose AI can answer almost anything, but that flexibility becomes a liability on the factory floor. In this bonus episode, Chris sits down with Angelo Stracquatanio,…
Apr 28, 2026 · 53:47
For years, reshoring was a fringe idea. Now, it’s one of the most talked-about topics in manufacturing. Even though the conversation is now in vogue, there’s still a challenge.…
Apr 24, 2026 · 33:38
How do you know when your current setup has stopped working, and what to do with it when it does? In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris sits down with Shane…
Apr 14, 2026 · 47:06
Kwadwo Som-Pimpong started making furniture in 2015 because he bought a house with no furniture and decided to build his own. A decade later, he runs Crafted Glory, a small-batch…
Apr 7, 2026 · 42:33
Running out of warehouse space doesn’t always mean you need more of it. For Sumitomo Drive Technologies, it meant rethinking the whole operation from the ground up. In this…
Mar 31, 2026 · 33:25
AI-powered predictive maintenance has been on the radar for years, but for most facilities, it still hasn’t fully landed. Chris sits down remotely with Colin Morris, Senior…
Mar 24, 2026 · 41:46
Most regions have pockets of manufacturing strength. Very few have a manufacturing ecosystem. Matt Bogoshian has spent 15 years trying to change that. In this episode of…
Mar 17, 2026 · 52:59
What happens when a multimedia entrepreneur and a concert venue owner sit down for a live podcast? A good conversation – with a couple beers – about creativity, grit, and what it…
Mar 10, 2026 · 52:15
Most of the time, applications from candidates with a felony record end up in the garbage can. The problem is, by overlooking people from what are seen as ‘problematic’ talent…
Mar 3, 2026 · 44:23
AI is reshaping what it means to be a modern manufacturing professional. When a 30-year veteran retires, decades of expertise used to leave as well. How they ran a machine, which…
Feb 24, 2026 · 1:09:33
Fear is expensive. In 2025, manufacturers delayed billions in capital projects because anxiety, not data, drove business decisions. But 2026 is different. Tax incentives expire…
Feb 17, 2026 · 53:07
There’s a commonly held belief in manufacturing: big ideas need big money, fast growth, and outside control to survive. But that playbook doesn’t work for every business or every…
Feb 10, 2026 · 36:57
What do smartphones, batteries, defense systems, and solar panels all have in common? They all depend on critical minerals like lithium, graphite, gallium, and polysilicon.…
Feb 3, 2026 · 29:56
Loud, dusty and far removed from innovation. We often think of mining as separate from modern manufacturing, but our visit to Imerys West Hub in this episode challenges that…
Jan 27, 2026 · 33:11
A lot of manufacturing companies can build insanely complex and intricate things, but far fewer are set up to handle what happens once customers start buying. So, what happens…
Jan 20, 2026 · 55:31
Chips are the new oil. And that's not just a catchy line, it's the lens through which national security, supply chain strategy, and trillion-dollar investments are being made…
Jan 13, 2026 · 45:53
In this episode, Chris sits down with Troy Ellison of Cloacina to talk about what it takes to build infrastructure that works in the real world, not just on paper. Troy explains…
Jan 6, 2026 · 53:22
Industrial robots on a factory floor can be difficult, to say the least. Industrial robots on a concert stage, in front of 20,000 people, on a two-minute setup clock are a whole…
Jan 2, 2026 · 32:40
In true Manufacturing Happy Hour style, we head back to Pittsburgh, PA to drink the region's most iconic beer - Iron City - in an iconic Pittsburgh manufacturing facility. We sit…
Dec 30, 2025 · 1:14:55
Reindustrialization isn’t going to be driven by a single mega factory or a headline-grabbing announcement on the coasts. It’s going to be built region by region, by places that…
Dec 23, 2025 · 53:05
Manufacturing leadership is more than just charts, tools, and process maps. It requires people who understand the routines, pressures and drivers within a factory, and how to…
Dec 16, 2025 · 34:28
A century ago, two cookware companies were born 12 miles apart in Wisconsin. One was bought right after World War II by a door-to-door salesman who converted it back to cookware…
Dec 13, 2025 · 34:49
1 more event in 2025. Dozens of events ahead in 2026. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Dec 9, 2025 · 55:19
Forget the hyperscalers replacing tens of thousands of jobs. For manufacturers with 20 or 50 employees, AI isn’t about cutting headcount, it’s about finding ways to get ahead…
Dec 2, 2025 · 52:01
Two podcast hosts walk into a recording studio and explore what it actually takes to get real stories out of robotics pioneers, why humanoids might not need to do everything to…
Nov 25, 2025 · 35:41
Robots are becoming more and more mainstream in manufacturing, but most organizations still think of them with sci-fi imagery rather than everyday tools. The gap isn't in the…
Nov 21, 2025 · 24:33
Many manufacturers are taking the wrong approach to artificial intelligence, picking the wrong implementation partners, and in general, not preparing their data effectively. In…
Nov 18, 2025 · 56:30
It’s rare to find someone whose career spans 18 years in automotive manufacturing and venture capital, but Charly Mwangi, Partner at Eclipse Ventures, has done exactly that. His…
Nov 11, 2025 · 52:52
Sustainability goals are everywhere in manufacturing; net-zero by 2030, carbon neutral by 2035. While many manufacturers have set ambitious targets, the gap between goals and…
Nov 7, 2025 · 42:06
What's better than a live podcast? I live podcast AND a factory tour. For today's episode, we dove into Fathom Digital Manufacturing's Hartland, WI facility before a discussion…
Nov 4, 2025 · 50:12
The automotive industry has come a long way from three-piece suits and mechanical production lines. Twenty-five years ago, manufacturers weren't thinking about EVs, tool…
Oct 28, 2025 · 36:18
Data centers are popping up all over the country, and for good reason. Capacity is doubling every three to four years, equipment is booked years out, and the race for AI…
Oct 21, 2025 · 1:04:37
Patti Nowak is a business leader in tech with stories so inspiring you’ll want to take notes. In this episode of the Manufacturing Happy Hour, we grab a beer with Patti, Owner of…
Oct 14, 2025 · 1:05:42
What does it really take to help manufacturers grow? It’s not just about cutting costs or chasing margins. It’s about understanding how capital really moves through your…
Oct 7, 2025 · 53:17
It's been five years since Wendy Covey, CEO and Co-Founder of TREW Marketing, and Joe Sullivan, Founder of Gorilla 76, first joined Manufacturing Happy Hour, back when everyone…
Oct 3, 2025 · 21:39
This episode is brought to you by RoboBusiness 2025, the preeminent show for learning about the business of robotics and catching up on the latest engineering advancements in the…
Sep 30, 2025 · 43:54
It’s been over a year since we’ve talked about cybersecurity on Manufacturing Happy Hour, and with AI changing the game completely, we’re overdue for a refresh. Around 80-85% of…
Sep 23, 2025 · 37:42
Before Silicon Valley, there was Pittsburgh in the early 1900s. Young entrepreneurs with serious capital flocked to the city, creating industries from the ground up. Plate glass.…
Sep 16, 2025 · 35:48
Manufacturers know that automation is table stakes in 2025, and yet it’s still a bit of an afterthought for some. You'd think something that can make or break a facility would be…
Sep 9, 2025 · 46:18
Manufacturers (not just the guys on the shop floor, but the C-suite behind them) are on a race to the finish line when it comes to automation. Most of us by now are pretty…
Sep 2, 2025 · 33:11
We just can’t stay away from Pittsburgh’s robotics scene! So we’re back, this time turning the spotlight on the business and startup angle with Premier Labs. Premier Labs is a…
Aug 26, 2025 · 51:15
As manufacturers are under pressure to do more with less and somehow fill roles in an increasingly smaller talent pool, unlocking your “hidden factory” could be the solution. To…
Aug 19, 2025 · 28:05
What happens when you put five podcasters in a room together at one of the biggest events of the year for innovative industrial tech? A super broad view of what’s happening in…
Aug 12, 2025 · 49:23
Pittsburgh’s success in the robotics space didn’t happen overnight. It’s been over 40 years in the making, with education, business, and new innovations all coming together to…
Aug 5, 2025 · 17:49
What will it take to get humanoid robots out of the experimental phase and into our daily lives? A lot of us always dreamed of having our own C-3PO at the ready, but how close…
Jul 29, 2025 · 55:14
The reindustrialization movement is fully underway, and cities like Detroit are leading the charge. But how do we accelerate the timescale it takes to get America back to the…
Jul 22, 2025 · 1:05:19
What if accepting failure was the key to entrepreneurial success? Mark DeSantis has built and sold multiple companies over the years and like any entrepreneurial journey, it’s…
Jul 15, 2025 · 1:24:30
You’ll want to grab yourself a pilsner for this episode. Manufacturing Happy Hour heads overseas to sample some fine German beer in the city of Munich…and we also headed to…
Jul 8, 2025 · 56:14
You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings…
Jul 4, 2025 · 42:09
“The hardest part of robotics isn't actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a real customer problem.” Melonee Wise’s quote from this episode is a good…
Jul 1, 2025 · 41:44
Welcome to Part 1 of our two-part Automate 2025 recap series. In this episode, we dive into current trends in automation and robotics, including cobots, open operating systems,…
Jun 24, 2025 · 50:57
When we talk about building a more productive and competitive manufacturing industry, talk of AI, automation, and other new tech usually crops up. But let’s not forget the basics…
Jun 20, 2025 · 15:07
Get ready for a front-row seat to Europe’s biggest automation event! In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour , host Chris Luecke and Jake Hall – The Manufacturing…
Jun 17, 2025 · 36:06
We’re seeing a huge leap in potential when it comes to what AI can accomplish in industrial settings. Not only can it catch errors, it can provide intelligent insights to prevent…
Jun 10, 2025 · 24:04
Imagine having a tireless teammate watching your back 24/7, never missing a beat when it comes to keeping you safe. That’s exactly what AI agents in manufacturing are capable of…
Jun 3, 2025 · 50:14
Without customer buy-in, even the most innovative robotics automation products can fall flat. But the approach most manufacturers take with new products is to build them first,…
May 27, 2025 · 39:45
How does a startup scale? It all starts with a great product that solves a real problem. And sometimes that means taking the slow and steady road to startup success. Recorded at…
May 20, 2025 · 52:47
What role does higher ed play in making sure manufacturing thrives? Universities and other higher ed hubs are playing a leading role in shaping the future of this industry. And…
May 13, 2025 · 59:47
Sometimes indecision costs more than a wrong decision. Making decisions is a leader’s bread and butter, but during times of uncertainty or crisis, they often become more cautious…
May 9, 2025 · 30:02
What does it take to find the best talent in the manufacturing industry these days? When it comes to automation, you can use location (or lack of location) to your advantage. In…
May 6, 2025 · 28:56
It’s not every day that a former NFL player joins the podcast. And it’s not every day you see one make such a dramatic career pivot from pro football to craft brewing and small…
Apr 29, 2025 · 46:32
Manufacturing and engineering are full of talented, passionate people. Just listen to literally any of these episodes for proof of that. But what is it that keeps people in this…
Apr 22, 2025 · 53:27
An AI agent can create. It can predict. It can analyze data. But for it to really drive change and enhance operations, it needs to take action. That’s the next step of machine…
Apr 21, 2025 · 41:26
Today's bonus episode is all about MEPs, and actually a very urgent issue related to MEPs. For context, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a public-private…
Apr 15, 2025 · 1:05:13
What’s getting VCs to look beyond Silicon Valley in the tech startup scene? The Midwest is not just an up-and-coming place for investors to watch. It’s now a region that more…
Apr 8, 2025 · 46:00
Robotics is a cool field, no doubt about that. But what’s cooler than using it to change people’s lives? When he was seven years old, Aadeel Akhtar met a girl in Pakistan with a…
Apr 1, 2025 · 46:48
We’ve been on tour for the past couple of months, recording live episodes in some of the manufacturing hot spots around the country. Indiana is our current stop, where Guggman…
Mar 25, 2025 · 57:50
Manufacturers up and down the country are doing great work and naturally, you want the world to know about it – especially your potential customers. So we turn the spotlight on…
Mar 18, 2025 · 1:07:01
When you imagine a rural versus an urban manufacturing company, that picture might look a bit different. But some things are the same. Both types of manufacturers face…
Mar 4, 2025 · 47:13
When like-minded entrepreneurs sit down to swap stories, advice, and connections, it’s a major win for everyone. This is one of the great things about manufacturing because this…
Feb 25, 2025 · 44:27
What happens when a former engineering leader decides to open a brewery? In the true spirit of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk all about beer in this episode. Recorded live…
Feb 18, 2025 · 37:50
Manufacturing is a hotbed of activity, interest, and innovation right now and states like Nebraska are leading the way. As part of our Made Here series, we toured Nebraska’s…
Feb 11, 2025 · 1:12:21
Take your mind back to five years ago. Many of us were celebrating the start of what we thought would be an exciting decade for automation. And well… it’s certainly been…
Feb 4, 2025 · 1:00:52
Is venture capitalism and manufacturing the perfect match for America’s new industry boom? Or will the industry bootstrap its way to success on the slower path? The verdict’s…
Jan 28, 2025 · 23:37
We’re pulling up a chair in the up-and-coming downtown Norfolk area in Nebraska for this episode. Recorded at the Nucor Detailing Center, we chat with Mechanical Engineer Jayden…
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