the construction life
Red & True - A coast-to-coast journey into the heart of Canadian construction
the construction life
Red & True - A coast-to-coast journey into the heart of Canadian construction
About Red & True
TCL Mission
After 771+ episodes and nearly 50 continuous days’ worth of construction conversations, The Construction Life has reached a natural inflection point. What began as a microphone on the job site has grown into one of the most consistent, unfiltered records of what it truly means to work in construction. Now, it’s time to take those conversations out of the studio and onto the road.
Red & True exists to document, celebrate, and elevate the people who build Canada, not from a distance, but from inside the work itself. It’s a boots-on-the-ground journey across the country — into job sites, shops, manufacturing floors, trade schools, and union halls — capturing real stories as they’re lived, not polished for marketing decks. The mission is to preserve the reality of construction before it’s rewritten or forgotten, to inspire the next generation by showing them what the work actually looks like, and to connect industry, community, and culture through honest conversations and shared experiences. Red & True isn’t about slogans or surface-level storytelling — it’s about showing up, listening, and telling the truth about the people who keep this country standing.
TCL when it all began
TCL History
The Construction Life podcast was first published on March 17, 2018, after a few informal meet-ups between the original three — Manny, Carlito, and Mikey — where it became clear we all had a lot to say about construction, the industry, and the realities of life on the job. Those early conversations were honest, unfiltered, and grounded in real experience, and they revealed a major gap: there was no place where tradespeople could openly talk about the wins, the struggles, the business, and what construction does to a tradesperson. Out of that realization, The Construction Life was born, and nearly eight years later and over 770 shows, TCL has grown into a platform dedicated to telling real stories from the people who build and maintain the world around us.
Red & True Travel Path
The Canadian Loop
100+ Days 200+ New Shows
100+ Days 200+ New Shows
The Red & True journey begins and ends in Toronto, forming a full coast-to-coast loop that reflects the breadth of Canada’s construction landscape. From Toronto, we head south to Windsor, then turn back northeast through Quebec and the Maritimes, capturing stories from historic cities and coastal communities. From there, the route moves w
The Red & True journey begins and ends in Toronto, forming a full coast-to-coast loop that reflects the breadth of Canada’s construction landscape. From Toronto, we head south to Windsor, then turn back northeast through Quebec and the Maritimes, capturing stories from historic cities and coastal communities. From there, the route moves west along the northern corridor of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and into British Columbia, before traveling south along the BC coast, hopping the ferry to Vancouver Island. The return trip heads east along the southern side of the provinces, completing the circle back through Ontario and finishing where it all began — Toronto.
100+ Days 200+ New Shows
100+ Days 200+ New Shows
100+ Days 200+ New Shows
Along the route, Red & True will make 100+ purposeful stops, recording 200+ new podcast and video conversationsthat reflect the true depth of Canada’s construction industry. Each stop brings together a powerful cross-section of voices — skilled tradespeople on active job sites, students inside trade schools, union members and leaders, pol
Along the route, Red & True will make 100+ purposeful stops, recording 200+ new podcast and video conversationsthat reflect the true depth of Canada’s construction industry. Each stop brings together a powerful cross-section of voices — skilled tradespeople on active job sites, students inside trade schools, union members and leaders, policy makers shaping the future of infrastructure and labour, and industry leaders driving innovation across every province. These aren’t surface-level interviews; they’re real, on-the-ground conversations that capture the challenges, pride, skill, and culture of the people who build this country, creating an unprecedented national archive of construction stories told directly by those living it.
20,000+ Kms
100+ Days 200+ New Shows
20,000+ Kms
Over 20,000+ kilometres, two fully outfitted vans and a dedicated production crew will travel through small towns, remote regions, and major cities, turning the journey itself into part of the story. Every mile becomes an opportunity to capture the texture of Canadian construction — the back roads leading to job sites, the main streets sh
Over 20,000+ kilometres, two fully outfitted vans and a dedicated production crew will travel through small towns, remote regions, and major cities, turning the journey itself into part of the story. Every mile becomes an opportunity to capture the texture of Canadian construction — the back roads leading to job sites, the main streets shaped by generations of builders, and the skylines rising from today’s work. From historic projects to active builds and emerging technologies, the crew will document it all in real time, shining a positive, honest light on construction’s past, present, and future, while celebrating the people, pride, and progress that continue to shape Canada from the ground up.
What tradespeople are saying
The Weight Of Divorce
Always Willing to Collaborate
The Weight Of Divorce
Hey Manny, just watched your post on divorce. I appreciate you being vocal on this as I’m going through this right now, I’ve been battling my own demons for years and had zero support from my wife while always supporting her through everything she needed emotionally, financially, literally everything while I got nothing from her. But did I throw the towel in? Absolutely not and just like you said as soon as it got too hard for her, she leaves gets a lawyer and says we’re separating. So like so many of us men out there I will have to continue to support her while supporting myself and trying to keep my head above water. So yeah this really resonated with me thank you brother.
MCIAC
Always Willing to Collaborate
The Weight Of Divorce
First chapter is awesome! Instantly took me back to when I was a carpenter’s helper for this Austrian guy named Burnd. Dude had the thickest accent ever. We were plumbing columns on a vertical day and I’m trying to tell him, “Push it forward a c_nt hair.” In his German its and he had a thick accent came out “footair.” So I’m like, “Move a footair.” Bubble on the level doesn’t budge. “Move another footair.” Still nothing. “One more footair!” He finally snaps, “Ah come on, greenie, is this a grandmother footair??” Bro I fucking lost it, was howling all day. Still cracks me up, whole shift we’re just casually talking about cunts like it’s a unit of measurement everywhere
Always Willing to Collaborate
Always Willing to Collaborate
Always Willing to Collaborate
I’m a carpenter based in London, Ontario. I’m a big fan of your work and would love for you to join a video project I’m putting together to showcase people in the trades. Could you take a moment to record a short video (10 seconds or longer, whatever feels right) sharing why you build or why you’re passionate about your trade? The goal is to inspire younger generations to enter the trades with the right mindset and to challenge the negative stigma surrounding construction workers. If you could share this request with friends in the trades and encourage them to contribute, it would mean a lot. Thank you for your time and support!
Our Next Guest
Honest Feedback
Always Willing to Collaborate
I love what you’re doing with the podcast! I’m a 28-year-old contractor specializing in home renovations, and I’ve been running a successful business for the past five years. I’d love to join as a guest to share insights on being a young contractor in the industry—navigating challenges, standing out, and building a strong reputation early on. Let me know if you’d be open to it! Appreciate your time Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
Say Hello
Honest Feedback
Honest Feedback
Hey guys big fan of the podcast! My brother and I run a construction/ general contractor company in southwestern ontario with jobs from Sarnia all the way to North Bay. Were second generation running the business and listen to you guys every chance. Just wanted to say Hi.
Honest Feedback
Honest Feedback
Honest Feedback
Homestars is the worst thing to happen to construction. A middle man who knows nothing , takes no responsibility, no accountability, won't show you how much your losing a bid by. They keep calling me to sign up and I tell them to give me a month for free to see if it's worth it and they always say no.
The New Tough / Being Real
Young Trade and What To Do Next
The New Tough / Being Real
I’m a Union residential finishing handywoman with multiple mental health diagnoses. I’m very open about my mental health challenges and make a point not to hide them from my coworkers and employers. I’ve found that being appropriately vulnerable (ya, that was a tough one to figure out) can build empathy and understanding. Sometimes, it opens a door for bullies, but I still think it’s worth it. I have seen a lot of positive change in workplace relations with this kind of openness.
You're a real person I would love to be invited and share with you some topics about family courts and the whole system is setting up men that are in a vulnerable situations and marginalize them because they need actual help and their doing everything to make their wife's and kids happy but they forget about themselves, while everyone is happy they are battling the devil in their mind and the system is broke. We have to give a voice to those mean that suffer in silence because their men and they don't wanna look weak.
Strength In Numbers
Young Trade and What To Do Next
The New Tough / Being Real
I watched BDR episode of the podcast. It got my wheels turning. I’ve met him a few times and did one of his classes. Good dude. I would like to start a preliminary conversation with some people of influence in the Canadian construction world about organizing a tradie tax strike of some sort. Personally, the more I sit idley by and do nothing, and the more bad news gets rammed down my throat everyday about things going on. The more upsetting it gets. I talk to a lot of different trades, on a lot of different sites. I’ve never talked to a single man or woman who is happy with the state we are in. BDR makes a good point, there is obvious strength in numbers. I would like to try to tap into that and see if we can’t make a difference to some degree. I’m on site everyday with my guys. I see men and woman sweat and bleed day in and day out to provide for their families, and yet we are still left in the dust. I cant take it anymore
Young Trade and What To Do Next
Young Trade and What To Do Next
Young Trade and What To Do Next
Hey Manny I wanted to reach out to get a second opinion on my current situation from someone who knows the construction industry very well. I’m 20 and have been working as a Roofer for the past year now and have been enjoying it for the most part. My question is that I wanted to know if you think I’m getting screwed over by my boss. Started off as a labourer obviously and have worked my way up to a shingler. We have another guy who’s working for us but he’s arguably the worst employee to ever exist when it comes to working on a roofing crew. He is Paying me $23 hr while he’s making $22 hr. He doesn’t even know what a fucking plumbing flange is… and we’re basically getting paid the same wage, hope that gives you an idea of how bad he is. Just wanted to know if you think my boss is screwing me over or do you think I’m getting paid accordingly. There’s also some other issues that I have but that’s to much to put into a dm.
Real Truths About Construction
Real Truths About Construction
Young Trade and What To Do Next
Get me on here. Want to talk about corruption... I had 183 try and scare me after complaining about bathrooms lol fuckin jokers. I'm on my own, went to George Brown for 3 years and did a 2 year high school construction course. 28 years old, work for LiUNA for 5 years before I got fed with with the absolute garbage work. And after they tired to scare me, too bad I'm not Italian or Portuguese...
Fan Of TCL / The Show Reaches
Real Truths About Construction
Fan Of TCL / The Show Reaches
I heard about your pod cast in the summer from Kaven Homes. I started listening from the beginning, and I'm on episode 177. What you are doing for our industry is amazing. And I've told all my trades to start listening.
Your pod reaches further than you think Manny. I'm a commercial Diver by trade and that's a very niche sector of construction. I have a few other divers I know in marine construction who listen as well.
TCL Shout Outs
Real Truths About Construction
Fan Of TCL / The Show Reaches
I’m with Toronto Flooring General. We handle epoxy flooring, concrete polishing, grind & seal, and floor prep for both commercial projects and higher-end residential work across Toronto. We focus on proper prep, clean execution, and keeping projects on schedule so builders and owners don’t have to juggle multiple trades. If you ever need a reliable flooring partner for upcoming projects, happy to connect.
The Construction Life
What is The Construction Life? The Construction Life is a daily routine of waking up at 5am, working out, showering, preparing lunch, sending off the family, driving to the construction site, organizing and preparing for the day's work, building, having fun on the job, wrapping up at the end of the day, returning home, spending time with the family, and preparing for the next day. It's a lifestyle that involves a constant commitment to hard work and a love for what you do, and it's never about settling for "good enough." The Construction Life is about striving for excellence every day.