The 'Sader Digest —where health, wellness, and food collide with a whole lot of flavor! We’re here to dish out fresh ideas and fun conversations about how to eat well, live better, and make food choices that fuel your body and mind. From Holy Cross dining hacks to mastering the art of cooking on your own, we’re serving up everything you need to know to stay healthy and feel your best. Whether you’re curious about what’s on your plate, looking for simple tips to level up your meals, or just w ...
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Alex Weld Podcasts
Arc Junkies is a Welding Podcast that is on a mission to help, educate and inspire the next generation of welders. Each week I talk to a new guest about their journey as a welder. Throughout the episodes, we cover different techniques, processes, variables, technical information and life lessons.
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We interview small family business owners about their experience of working together in the family business, highlighting what they love about it and sharing challenges they have overcome that other family business owners could learn from. Small Family Businesses range from Mom and Pop's to a few hundred employees, from startups to multigenerational institutions. They are the heart and soul of commerce around the world. Here we celebrate their courage, their persistence, their resilience, an ...
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377. From Puppets to Pit Bikes: Alex Jordan’s Welding Journey
1:20:08
1:20:08
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1:20:08Alex Jordan may spend his nine-to-five building animatronics and puppets for places like Universal and Disney, but that’s just the beginning of his welding story. After hours, Alex runs his own job shop, dives into 3D printing as a fabrication tool, and shares his knowledge through YouTube and social media. In this episode, we talk about how 3D pri…
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Bonus: Weld Wednesday w/ AWS Dr. Josh Burgess Recorded at FabTech 2025
8:35
8:35
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8:35In this bonus episode of Weld Wednesday w/ AWS I'm chatting with incoming president Dr. Josh Burgess. Dr. Burgess started his career as a welder in High School and had an unquenchable thirst for more knowledge which has lead him down an incredible path as the incoming AWS President. For more information on how you can get involved click Here…
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Weld Wednesday w/ AWS FabTech 2025 w/ Matt Ruben
45:16
45:16
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45:16Fabtech 2025 is almost here! Jason sits down with Matt Rubin, Managing Director of Sales and Expositions for AWS, to break down everything you need to know about the biggest welding and fabrication show of the year. From conference sessions and networking events to the all-new AWS podcast booth, this episode will help you plan your Fabtech experien…
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376. Known Flaws, Real Lessons: Building Better Inspectors w/ Jeremy Ring
58:27
58:27
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58:27“Sonaspection has been keeping inspectors honest since 1980—by making flaws on purpose. This week, Jeremy Ring joins me to talk NDT, mentorship, and how controlled cracks build better inspectors.” This week on the Arc Junkies Podcast, I’m joined by Jeremy Ring, President of Sonaspection. If you’re not familiar with Sonaspection, they’ve been traini…
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Beyond the Label: Allergens, Celiac, and the Power of Safe Dining
18:33
18:33
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18:33Did you know your immune system can throw a full-blown temper tantrum over a peanut? Or that a crumb of gluten can trigger an autoimmune attack in someone with celiac disease? In this episode, Bradley Shannon—Director of Culinary Development and Nutrition at Holy Cross—dishes out the real scoop on food allergies, the science behind IgE and histamin…
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Weld Wednesdays w/ AWS Future-Proofing Welding Careers: Automation, AI, and Additive Manufacturing Feat. Teresa Melfi & Josh Sullivan
53:44
53:44
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53:44In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, I’m joined by Teresa Melfi and Josh Sullivan from Lincoln Electric to talk about the evolving role of automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence in the welding industry. Teresa shares insights from her 40+ year career—from being a certified welder to her work on waveform des…
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Seeds of Change: Breeding Flavor into the Future of Food (Part 2 of 2)
16:04
16:04
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16:04Forget bland broccoli and tasteless tomatoes—this episode is all about sparking a vegetable revolution from the ground up. Brad (FINALLY) shares the stories and insights fresh from the UMass Chefs Conference, where chef Dan Barber issued a delicious challenge: What if we bred crops for flavor, not just profits? From the tiny honeynut squash that fl…
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Seeds of Change: Luther Burbank, Flavor’s Forgotten Pioneer (Part 1 of 2)
13:50
13:50
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13:50Long before chefs were hoping to breed vegetables for flavor (Dan Barber we are looking at you!), one eccentric plant lover in California was reshaping the future of food—seed by seed. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Brad digs into the life and legacy of Luther Burbank, the 19th-century horticultural legend who brought us the Russet potato, Shas…
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Weld Wednesday w/ AWS "Community Impact: How Welding Competitions Are Shaping the Next Generation" w/ Mariana Ludmer
57:44
57:44
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57:44In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, I sit down with Mariana Ludmer—Operations Manager at California Welding Institute and long-time AWS volunteer—to talk about how welding competitions are shaping the next generation of welders. We cover the impact of AWS-sponsored competitions on student confidence, career readiness, and community engageme…
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375. Hitting Pause Not Stop w/ Jason Becker
13:48
13:48
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13:48In this special solo episode, I’m taking a moment to talk directly to all of you—the listeners who’ve made Arc Junkies what it is today. I’ve been grinding hard for the past five years, juggling family, business, and content creation, and it’s time for a short reset. I’ll still be dropping Weld Wednesdays with AWS, but the weekly episodes and State…
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From Cowboy Trucker to Real Estate Wrangler
37:35
37:35
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37:35We had such a blast sitting down with the dynamic duo behind Real Estate Corral Investors Network - Clifford and Brandy Walker from Dallas, Texas! This episode is packed with genuine wisdom, humor, and real-world advice from a couple who transformed their lives from a truck driver and teacher into successful real estate investors and educators. Wha…
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Are seed oils trying to kill you… or just help you crisp your Brussels sprouts? In this solo episode, Brad dives deep into the bottle to unpack why seed oils have gone from heart-healthy hero to internet villain. Is it the omega-6s? The industrial hexane bath? The TikTok fearmongering? Probably all three. We’ll break down the science, the myths, an…
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374. Bird’s Eye View from Under the Hood w/ Dusty James
1:17:19
1:17:19
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1:17:19In this episode, I catch up with my friend and fellow educator Dusty James. We talk about life under the hood and behind the camera—raising kids while running a business, the challenges of creative burnout, and how teaching others has deepened our own understanding of welding. Dusty shares what keeps him inspired, how he builds community through Yo…
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State of the Arc #8 Welding in 2025: Tools, Trends, and Talent That Matter
14:47
14:47
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14:47In this episode of State of the Arc, Jason Becker breaks down four of the most important trends shaping the welding industry in 2025. We start with the rise of welding simulation software — how it's transforming training and reducing material waste. Then we explore the impact of 3D printing on metal fabrication, including examples from defense, aer…
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State of the Arc #7: Steel, Reactors, and Rod Ovens: Welding Trends You Need to Know
14:49
14:49
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14:49In this episode of State of the Arc, Jason Becker breaks down four major developments reshaping the welding industry right now. First, we look at the surge in government-funded nuclear projects and the increased demand for welders trained to ASME and NAVSEA standards. Then we shift to the revival of domestic steelmaking and how reshoring and infras…
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373. Take Pride in What You Do w/ Al Moore
1:20:41
1:20:41
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1:20:41In this episode, Jason Becker sits down with Albert Moore, Jr., a true industry veteran with over 50 years of experience in structural steel, welding inspection, and nondestructive testing. From his early days as an ironworker to co-founding NAVSEA Solutions and Marion Testing & Inspection, Al shares insights from a career that’s shaped industry st…
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Sweet Success with a Noble Purpose: Sugar and Spice Las Vegas
47:18
47:18
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47:18Welcome to another inspiring episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses! Today we're featuring Sugar and Spice in Las Vegas - a family business with a powerful mission that creates gourmet chocolate-coated peanut butter balls. We had the pleasure of chatting with the Long family: Sheri and John Long, along with their children Aston, Keilani, an…
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State of the Arc #6: Smart Factories, Heavy Equipment Welding, Infrastructure Jobs & Tax Policy Shifts
13:04
13:04
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13:04In this episode of State of the Arc, I cover four high-impact stories shaping the future of welding and manufacturing in America. First, we break down the trends transforming global manufacturing through 2028—from smart factories to sustainability pressures. Next, we explore new welding challenges and solutions in the heavy equipment sector. Then, …
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Weld Wednesdays Changes to the D1.1:2025 Structural Steel Code Book
1:28:29
1:28:29
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1:28:29Summary In this episode of Weld Wednesdays, Jason Becker and Daryl Peterson discuss the recent updates to the AWS D1.1 structural steel code, focusing on the changes from the 2020 to the 2025 edition. They explore various aspects of the code, including new definitions, clarifications, and the implications for welder certification and filler metal s…
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What Moves Holy Cross: Inside Campus Rec with Jamie Shannon
31:20
31:20
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31:20In this energizing episode of The 'Sader Digest, Brad sits down with his better half—Jamie Shannon, Director of Campus Recreation at Holy Cross—to talk treadmills, team spirit, and why you don’t want to spill Gatorade on the gym floor. Jamie shares behind-the-scenes updates on an exciting equipment refresh at “The Jo,” including new Peloton bikes, …
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372. Living on the EDGE w/ Stacia and Eric Mueller
1:14:43
1:14:43
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1:14:43In this episode, Jason sits down with Eric and Stacia Mueller, owners of Edge Welding Cups, to discuss how they’ve built a family-run business that's disrupting the welding consumables industry. From humble beginnings in scientific glassblowing to producing high-performance TIG and MIG accessories used in critical industries, their journey is all a…
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State of the Arc #5 – Battery Welding in Rail, $44B Alaska Pipeline, Buyouts Over Builds, and Robots on the Jobsite
16:41
16:41
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16:41In this episode of State of the Arc, we’re covering four of the most talked-about developments shaping the welding and skilled trades world right now: Battery-powered flash-butt welding is here — and it’s already changing the rail industry. A proposed $44 billion LNG pipeline in Alaska could unlock thousands of welding jobs across 800 miles of rugg…
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“April Showers, Snowstorms & Plant-Powered Pencils”
19:28
19:28
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19:28This April might have served up some snowflakes instead of sunshine, but we’re bringing the heat with some fresh plant-forward vibes! Join Alex and Brad as they survive the last gasp of winter, nerd out over the perfect pencil (yes, really), and dive into Brad’s new plant-based nutrition class. Oh did we mention this episdoe was previously recorded…
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371. Why Laser Welding Isn’t Just a Gimmick w/ Rex Alexandre
1:22:11
1:22:11
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1:22:11What’s up Arc Junkies, welcome back to the show! Joining me this week is Rex from the Handheld Laser Institute. In this episode, we demystify the tech that’s been flooding your feed—handheld laser welding. Rex breaks down what makes it revolutionary, the real differences between arc and laser, and why the barrier to entry is higher than most realiz…
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State of the Arc #4 – Infrared Inspection, Laser-Hybrid Welding, Wage Growth & Gulf Coast Pipeline Expansion
12:21
12:21
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12:21In this episode of State of the Arc, I'm bringing you the top stories that matter: Infrared Welding Inspection: Exploring how thermal imaging is revolutionizing real-time weld quality control. Laser-Hybrid Welding: Combining laser precision with arc versatility for deeper, faster welds. Blue-Collar Wage Growth: Analyzing the 5–6% annual wage increa…
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Doubling Down on the Vagus Nerve: Now Serving Tranquility, One Ear at a Time
20:34
20:34
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20:34In this episode, Brad asks Alex about her new certification as a certified “acupunct” (not to be confused with full-blown acupuncturists—those folks train for years), to explore the magical, stress-melting world of auricular acupuncture. That’s right: it’s acupuncture, but just for your ears. Alex breaks down how this ear-only version of acupunctur…
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370. Training the Next Generation w/ Austin Ross & Leo Martinez
1:06:42
1:06:42
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1:06:42In this weeks episode I'm chatting in person w/ Austin Ross and Leo Martinez. Austin stopped by the shop and we decided to chat about their travels on the pipeline and the classes they're offering right now. In this episode we chat about training welders, welding on the pipeline, machine rebuilds, and access to information in today's day and age. C…
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State of the Arc #3: Exxon’s $8B Build, OSHA’s Crackdown, Welding School Pipelines & Ag Fab Jobs
13:12
13:12
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13:12In this week’s episode of State of the Arc, we dive into: ExxonMobil’s proposed $8.6B plastics plant in Texas and its potential impact on welding jobs. OSHA’s intensified enforcement on confined space violations and what it means for welders. The growing trend of welding schools partnering with industries to create direct job pipelines. The surge i…
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Menz-tioning Mindful Eating: Darlene is Back
17:56
17:56
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17:56Darlene Menz is back in the booth (because, let’s face it, she had way too much fun last time!) to chat about why we should stop rushing through our meals. Between Darlene’s love for savoring her food and Brad's habit of eating faster than you can say "dinner is served," we dive into the benefits of slowing down, appreciating your food, and enjoyin…
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369. Welding the Future: Automation, Innovation & Miller Electric
1:36:11
1:36:11
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1:36:11In this episode of Arc Junkies, I sit down with Sam Noland, Product Manager, and Kodi Welch, Market Segment Manager, from Miller Electric to talk all things innovation, welding automation, and the evolving demands of our trade. We cover Miller’s customer-back innovation strategy, how welding codes like AWS D1.1 and D1.2 are influencing machine deve…
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