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Artwork for The Manufacturing Employer

The Manufacturing Employer

Jon Franko, Gorilla 76
Employee Engagement
Workplace Culture
Manufacturing
Manufacturing Industry
Company Culture
Recruitment
Professional Development
Workforce Development
Skilled Labor
Leadership
Gen Z
Financial Planning
Smart Technology
Communication
Staffing Shortages
Upskilling
Skillwork
Leadership Development
Labor
Sentry Equipment

The Manufacturing Employer is a podcast built for the hiring managers, HR pros and culture builders at industrial companies. It’s hosted by Gorilla 76 Co-Founder Jon Franko. You’ll hear from those designing great workplaces. Employee engagement, benefits, onboarding - we’ll be talking about the working experience from top to bottom.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes92Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementCareersBusiness

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Artwork for The Manufacturing Employer

Latest Episodes

Kevin Patrick, ERP leader and Certified Dream Manager, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share hard-won lessons from his career to date. Drawing on his journey from the shop floor to leading more than 120 ERP deployments, Kevin reveals why successf... more

Eric Gassaway, a globally recognized sustainability and ESG leader, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how sustainability drives workplace culture. With experience shaping strategies for Fortune 100 companies and building enterprise-level su... more

Steve Cadigan, renowned expert on the future of work and author of "Workquake," joins The Manufacturing Employer to tackle some of the biggest workforce challenges facing manufacturers. He shares insights from his experience at LinkedIn and across th... more

Host Jon Franko details six learnings and quotes from guests throughout 2026 that he's going to carry into the new year.

Key Facts

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Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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The Headlines
The HeadlinesThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Alice Warnier
First B2B marketing hire at Curri, a construction supply delivery service
Curri
Episode: Top-notch culture in a remote world, with Alice Warnier of Curri
Chris Chuang
Co-founder and CEO of Relay with extensive experience in technology and telecom industries.
Relay
Episode: Modernizing communication on the shop floor, with Chris Chuang of Relay
Ryan McMartin
Product marketing manager at Parsec Automation
Parsec Automation
Episode: Work smarter, not harder, with Ryan McMartin of Parsec Automation
Chad Hufford
Top-ranked financial planner and owner of a financial planning firm.
Veritas Wealth Management
Episode: Empowering your people to build brighter financial futures, with Chad Hufford of Veritas Wealth Management
Ellen Sauter
Senior Workforce Solution Specialist at Cara Collective
Cara Collective
Episode: Empowering second chances in manufacturing, Ellen Sauter and Cara Klyn of Cara Collective
Cara Klyn
Senior Corporate Account Specialist at Cara Collective
Cara Collective
Episode: Empowering second chances in manufacturing, Ellen Sauter and Cara Klyn of Cara Collective
Ben Talbert
Founder and CEO of Better Than Found, a professional and executive recruitment firm focusing on industrial sectors
Better Than Found
Episode: Success in recruitment through lives impacted, with Ben Talbert of Better Than Found
Mikaela Gitto
Director of HR at Sentry Equipment.
Sentry Equipment
Episode: HR done right, with Mikaela Gitto, SPHR, of Sentry Equipment
Nolan Beilstein
Associate Editor for Industrial Media, LLC and host of Gen Z in Manufacturing podcast series.
Industrial Media, LLC
Episode: Gen Z in the workforce, with Nolan Beilstein of "Gen Z in Manufacturing"

Host

Jon Franko
Co-founder of Gorilla 76 with expertise in enhancing workplace culture and employee engagement strategies in the manufacturing sector.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 43 ratings
  • Fantastic addition to the MakingChips Family

    This should be on everyone’s short list. Because finding great people is one of the biggest challenges in manufacturing, these episodes are a must listen to get better at this part of business.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Machineshopdude
    United States2 months ago
  • Great for business leaders!

    Jon has an incredible knack for asking great questions that elicit great answers. Every business leader should listen to this podcast if they want to get great ideas and be inspired to help lead their companies the right way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    smgates31
    United States3 months ago
  • Practical and Actionable!

    This podcast delivers practical insights and actionable strategies for employers navigating the challenges of today’s industrial workforce. With engaging interviews and real world examples, it’s a must listen for leaders in the manufacturing industry!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beli0053
    United States7 months ago
  • Must-Listen HR Playbook for Modern Manufacturers

    The Manufacturing Employer has become my go-to resource for building a stronger workforce in the industrial world. Host Jon Franko brings on real-world practitioners— from culture strategists to plant HR leaders— and draws out practical tactics you can apply the same week. Recent episodes on professional development paths, using curiosity to spark engagement, and bridging the Gen Z talent gap were packed with ideas I’m already testing in our own facility. The conversations are concise enough for... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KristenN123456789
    United States7 months ago
  • Powerfully practical

    This show is full of educational and actionable insight. Jon does a great job pulling wisdom from the conversations with his guest in an entertaining and encouraging way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Veritas Chad
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several mention the practical insights and real-world examples offered by guests, making the content applicable to their workplace scenarios.
Many describe the content as essential for anyone involved in manufacturing leadership, recognizing it as a necessary resource for staying competitive in workforce management.
Listeners appreciate the engaging interviews and actionable strategies provided, especially regarding employee engagement and culture building.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#24
Ukraine/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#213
Ukraine/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Culture examined, with Jason Woodard of the Geislinger Corporation
Q: What are some of those numbers and how did you get to them?
We currently have a turnover rate of 0.7 percent, which we've achieved by improving our hiring and recruiting process to prevent early turnover.
Lead like a pilot, with Craig Coyle of Operation Lead
Q: What else are you up to? Any fun projects on the radar for 2025?
Craig is working on a book and aims to spread his leadership impact further, specifically targeting new leaders and managers.
Lead like a pilot, with Craig Coyle of Operation Lead
Q: What is the Lead Like a Pilot workshop that you offer?
Craig explains the workshop's focus on creating a fertile organization for new leaders to thrive, emphasizing the impact of community and workplace culture.
Lead like a pilot, with Craig Coyle of Operation Lead
Q: What are some of the critical steps leaders should take to prepare themselves and their teams for success?
Craig highlights the importance of checklists and preparation in leadership, paralleling it with his experience as a pilot.
Lead like a pilot, with Craig Coyle of Operation Lead
Q: Why are you qualified to talk to us today?
Craig discusses his military experience and the struggles faced by new leaders, emphasizing the need for proper development and frameworks to succeed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Manufacturing Employer

What is The Manufacturing Employer about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content primarily revolves around employee engagement, workplace culture, and the adoption of technology in manufacturing settings. A diverse range of guests share insights on innovative strategies for enhancing workplace experiences, addressing challenges in recruiting and retention, and improving communication within teams. Noteworthy discussions focus on modernizing workplaces, financial education for employees, and fostering inclusivity within the workforce, often featuring real-world examples and actionable takeaways. This podcast is particularly valuable for HR professionals and hiring managers looking to build robust workplace cultures that balance employee satisfaction and productivity.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Manufacturing Employer?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Manufacturing Employer. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Manufacturing Employer and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Manufacturing Employer get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Manufacturing Employer, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Manufacturing Employer?

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How many subscribers and views does The Manufacturing Employer have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Manufacturing Employer has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Manufacturing Employer?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Manufacturing Employer:

1. The Headlines

How many episodes of The Manufacturing Employer are there?

The Manufacturing Employer launched 3 years ago and published 92 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Manufacturing Employer?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Manufacturing Employer?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Manufacturing Employer from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Manufacturing Employer?

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What guests have appeared on The Manufacturing Employer?

Recent guests on The Manufacturing Employer include:

1. Alice Warnier
2. Chris Chuang
3. Ryan McMartin
4. Chad Hufford
5. Ellen Sauter
6. Cara Klyn
7. Ben Talbert
8. Mikaela Gitto

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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