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Artwork for The Manufacturing Employer

The Manufacturing Employer

Jon Franko, Gorilla 76
Employee Engagement
Manufacturing
Workplace Culture
Leadership
Manufacturing Industry
Gorilla 76
Company Culture
Recruitment
Culture
Leadership Development
Professional Development
Employer Branding
Workforce Development
Human Resources
Communication
Financial Planning
Smart Technology
Gen Z
Skilled Labor
Employee Retention

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 monthlyEpisodes101Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessManagementCareers

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Artwork for The Manufacturing Employer

Latest Episodes

Shalin Jyotishi, founder of New America's Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss talent-pipeline challenges in manufacturing. He shares misconceptions about manufacturing careers, the urgent need... more

Susan Taah, occupational health consultant and founder of Work Factor, joins The Manufacturing Employer to examine how things like chronic illnesses, fatigue, mental health and heat stress are impacting today's industrial workforce. Susan shares why ... more

Ray Reader, strategist at Gorilla 76, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss why marketing and HR must collaborate to attract and retain talent. Ray explains how authentic employer branding and employee stories help manufacturers stand out. The ... more

Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, award-winning author and workplace fairness expert, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore what fairness really means in a modern manufacturing plant. Drawing on decades of business law and social psychology experience, Hann... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Susan Taah
Occupational Health Consultant and founder of Work Factor
Work Factor
Episode: Prioritizing worker health for retention and safety, with Susan Taah of Work Factor
Ray Reader
Marketing strategist at Gorilla, focused on employer branding and recruitment marketing
Gorilla 76
Episode: Bridging marketing and HR to build winning teams, with Ray Reader of Gorilla 76
Hanna Hasl-Kelchner
Author, business strategist, workplace fairness expert
Author of Seeking Fairness at Work
Episode: Cracking the code of workplace fairness, with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner of Business M.O.
Larry Salazar
President and Co-founder of NestSTEPS
NestSTEPS
Episode: What workers really want, with Larry Salazar of NestSTEPS
Jason Woodard
Author and manufacturing leader with 35+ years of frontline and executive experience
Geislinger Corporation
Episode: Manufacturing leadership that works, with Jason Woodard of Geislinger Corporation
Andrea D. Carter
Organizational scientist, workplace belonging expert, and founder/CEO of Andrea Carter Consulting
Andrea Carter Consulting
Episode: "Belonging" and the factory floor, with Andrea D. Carter of Andrea Carter Consulting
Chris Zdenek
Pioneer in ergonomic design and bionomics
Soma Ergonomics
Episode: Designing out injury with bionomics, with Chris Zdenek of Soma Ergonomics
Laura Hanley
Licensed therapist, co-founder of Big Picture Companies
Big Picture Companies
Episode: Bridging generational gaps through empathy and communication, with Laura Hanley of Big Picture Companies
Kevin Patrick
Director of Professional Services and Customer Success at AIM Solutions; host of the Dream Dividend podcast; Dream Manager advocate
AIM Solutions
Episode: The importance of putting people first, with ERP leader and Certified Dream Manager Kevin Patrick

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 45 ratings
  • A Thoughtful, High-Value Conversation

    Having been a guest on The Manufacturing Employer Podcast, I was impressed by how intentional and well-prepared Jon Franko is as a host. The conversation was focused, engaging, and grounded in real-world challenges facing manufacturing leaders today.

    Jon creates space for meaningful dialogue—not just surface-level talking points—which makes the podcast valuable for both guests and listeners. It’s clear he cares about delivering practical insights that people can actually use.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paul Sippil
    United States2 months ago
  • Simply Awesome

    Jon is nothing short of a pro when it comes to all things manufacturing and delivering his Podcast. I recently had the pleasure of being a guest and it was easy breezy. Great conversationalist. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ktpatrick
    United States4 months ago
  • 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 States6 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 States7 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 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
#160
Ukraine/Business/Management

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Build a better workplace culture, with Brett Hoogeveen of BetterCulture
Q: What first step can manufacturers take to start improving their culture today?
Start with a small, actionable shift by adopting the Culture Kickstarter Pack, selecting two of the 20 tenants to focus on, and running a two-week cycle of discussion, coaching, and recognition.
Build a better workplace culture, with Brett Hoogeveen of BetterCulture
Q: How can frontline employees play a role in shaping and owning company culture?
Leadership is an action, not a position, and every employee can impact the culture by showing up with a positive vibe, coachability, and collaborative behaviors that uplift the whole team.
Build a better workplace culture, with Brett Hoogeveen of BetterCulture
Q: Tell us more about what you've created there and why.
Brett describes the evolution to 20 Tenets, a bottom-up culture framework designed to help organizations operationalize culture from employees upward, not just from leadership, with a focus on behaviors and practical tools.
Prioritizing worker health for retention and safety, with Susan Taah of Work Factor
Q: How can safety, long-term health, and profitability be connected more effectively in a plant setting?
By placing health initiatives within operations, using data to track long-term outcomes like sleep, nutrition, and presenteeism, and ensuring frontline supervisors are empowered to support workers with individualized accommodations.
Prioritizing worker health for retention and safety, with Susan Taah of Work Factor
Q: What are you seeing when you think about the overall health of the manufacturing workforce right now?
A high prevalence of chronic disease, aging and shifting demographics, and material differences in how manufacturing workers experience health issues, which requires moving beyond generic wellness programs to integrated, floor-level solutions.

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?

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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. Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast

How many episodes of The Manufacturing Employer are there?

The Manufacturing Employer launched 3 years ago and published 101 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. Susan Taah
2. Ray Reader
3. Hanna Hasl-Kelchner
4. Larry Salazar
5. Jason Woodard
6. Andrea D. Carter
7. Chris Zdenek
8. Laura Hanley

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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