Episode Details

Tradie Dad Leigh Ryan on Apprentices, Fatherhood and Building a Following from Nothing

Landscaper turned social media favourite Leigh Ryan, aka Tradie Dad, joins Mitch on the Upscale Business Podcast to talk about what happens when a bloke on parental leave decides to press upload on Instagram, and it actually works.

Leigh shares how his page grew from a few rough videos filmed on site to nearly 17,000 followers, and the video that changed everything: calling out a carpenter for mistreating his apprentice. He gets honest about what it's really like being an apprentice in Australia right now, why he sees apprentices as an investment rather than cheap labour, and why so many young tradies are walking away from the trades for easier money elsewhere.

The conversation shifts into fatherhood, where Leigh talks candidly about the guilt of building a second job around raising his son, why dads get praised for doing the bare minimum, and what real partnership with your other half actually looks like. He also runs his Tools Down, Heads Up sessions for apprentices, covering mental health, money and the stuff nobody teaches you on site.

If you're a trade business owner trying to build a team, support your apprentices properly, or just juggle work and family without losing the plot, this one's worth your time.

Follow Tradie Dad on Instagram: @tradie.dad

Hosted by Mitch: @mitchvan_

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