Dr. Jon explains why none of us naturally trust new mixes, new admixtures, or new materials — and why data is the only thing that moves people from “no” to “yes.” Data creates the narrative: what happened, why it happened, and what you should do next.
Dr. Jon explains how a simple normalization — dividing every 28-day strength by the control mix — can make concrete admixtures look way more effective than they really are. It’s the same trick Purdue Pharma used: change the frame, change the story.
Dr. Jon jokes that “men spend eight hours a day in the bathroom”… and proves how easy it is to make people believe anything once you put it on a chart. This is how bad data gets past smart people.
Dr. Jon explains one of Purdue Pharma’s biggest data tricks: they changed the timeframe so the absorption spikes disappeared. If you don’t look at the Y-axis, you miss everything.
In this episode, Seth and Dr. Jon talk about a growing problem in the concrete world: if you question Portland Limestone Cement, you get labeled “anti-earth.” Here’s the reality—asking technical questions isn’t political. It’s called doing your job. Watch Dr. Jon lay out why questioning data and assumptions should be…
Most people believe the chart on the screen — Dr. Jon explains why you shouldn’t. If you’ve ever sat in a conference session staring at a chart and wondering whether you’re seeing real data or a dressed-up story, this episode is for you. Dr. Jon Belkowitz breaks down how data…
Most people believe the chart on the screen — Dr. Jon explains why you shouldn’t. If you’ve ever sat in a conference session staring at a chart and wondering whether you’re seeing real data or a dressed-up story, this episode is for you. Dr. Jon Belkowitz breaks down how data…
Dan Baker breaks down one of the toughest parts of growing a company—hiring people you can’t technically afford. Sometimes the right person costs more than you pay yourself, but if they know more than you do, that’s exactly the point. Those early hires, paired with opportunities like ACI, shaped the…
Dan Baker explains why a real project review isn’t staring at a PFSR—it’s walking the job. On a high-rise, you start at the top and work your way down, reading morale, quality, schedule, material usage, and customer sentiment in real time. If the yards are off, something’s wrong. If the…
Dan Baker explains why embracing BIM, CRM, and real data isn’t optional if you want to scale. You have to know your costs, your overhead, your margins, and what the market will actually pay. For young contractors especially, understanding the numbers—and reverse-engineering the job—determines whether you grow or stay stuck.
Dan Baker explains why every contractor should run postmortems—not just when things go wrong, but when they go right. What worked? What didn’t? What would you change? He even recalls the early days when the “fix” might’ve been as basic as getting a truck that actually started. The goal is…
Dan Baker explains how the company started with almost nothing—no equity, no bank, no bond, just $500 and a group of young people willing to outwork everyone. The only way forward was to make things right, earn repeat business, and treat people the way you want to be treated. This…
Dan Baker lays out the hard truth: crossing from residential into commercial, industrial, or even nuclear work takes a total mindset change. Standards go up. Expectations go up. Safety goes up. And if you don’t evolve, you stay stuck as a fly-by-night contractor. Dan breaks down what it really takes…
Dan Baker shares the moment he told a top-notch carpenter his vision for the company—even when all he had to offer at the time were edge forms. This conversation set the tone for growing into larger, more complex work and eventually earning major projects with Turner at Ford.
Dan Baker breaks down why Baker moved from pump-place-finish to taking full control of the jobsite—schedule, quality, everything. This is how the “total package” model was born and why it changed the direction of the company forever.
Everyone in the concrete world knows the Baker name, but very few know the real story. This episode finally gets it on record. Dan Baker walks through how the company started with three brothers, $500, and a truck that needed a hill to start — and how it grew into…
Everyone in the concrete world knows the Baker name, but very few know the real story. This episode finally gets it on record. Dan Baker walks through how the company started with three brothers, $500, and a truck that needed a hill to start — and how it grew into…
Dr. Jon says Indiana stands out because its engineers actually care about what comes out of the chute—and it shows. Long before today’s debates, Indiana built one of the best concrete maintenance programs in the country.
Dr. Jon points out that before Type IL ever showed up, Indiana was already producing some of the best concrete in the country. You can literally see the difference driving across the state line.
Seth Tandett points out that in just four years, Type IL cement use jumped from 10% to over 60% of U.S. projects. A massive change in concrete chemistry for an industry that usually moves at a crawl.
In 2021–2022, the PCA (now ACA) told producers to switch to Portland Limestone Cement as the quickest way to claim a 10% CO₂ reduction. Within months, federal agencies made it the default for public projects.
Why? Dr. Jon and Seth question what really caused the massive spike in 2022. Cement consumption didn’t just rise—it skyrocketed to 60% in less than two years. What changed that fast?
Dr. Jon questions where the industry’s limestone is really coming from—and why some piles might have more grass than quality material. When cheap filler meets high expectations, the math doesn’t add up.
Dr. Jon explains why a concrete mix design isn’t that different from baking cookies. You’ve got to know your recipe—chemistry, timing, and feel—if you want consistent, high-performing concrete.