The Trade Gap: Why Skills Still Matter Most

Over the weekend, as we got back home from DC, our power was out for hours and into the night.

It reminded me how much we rely on skilled workers, the people who show up late at night to climb poles, fix lines, and literally bring the lights back on.

No AI, no app, no “knowledge work” replaces that.

And that brings me to my friend Zachary Hanson, author of The Trade Gap.

In our recent conversation, Zach shared why trades are not just “alternatives” to college, but a critical backbone of society.

His point was simple: we’ve been told success = degree.

But real resilience comes from learning a skill you can own, something AI can’t easily replicate.

Whether it’s construction, plumbing, coding, or even something creative like making clothes, the future will reward those who can build, repair, and create.

Listen to the full podcast here.