
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.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 104 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ManagementBusinessCareers | |||

Nicole Riehl, President and CEO of Executive Partnerships to Invest in Children (EPIC), joins The Manufacturing Employer to reframe childcare as a critical workforce infrastructure issue, not just an employee perk. She discusses the hidden costs of c... more
Paul Sippil, a forensic 401k consultant, joins The Manufacturing Employer to reveal the hidden costs and pitfalls lurking in many manufacturers’ retirement plans. Drawing on decades of auditing and advisory experience, Paul explains how excessive and... more
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #164 | |
Apple Podcasts | #179 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show targets HR, operations, and culture professionals in manufacturing, offering actionable strategies to improve employee engagement, onboarding, and retention. Across episodes, guests range from health and wellbeing experts to DEI leaders, ERP and leadership coaches, and practitioners focused on fairness, belonging, sustainability, and second-chance hiring. Notable throughlines include practical shop-floor implementations, data-driven people strategies, and leadership approaches that align culture with business outcomes. The show often features field-tested frameworks, real-world manufacturing case studies, and cross-functional collaboration between HR, marketing, and operations. A standout trait is its ability to connect people-focu... more
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The Manufacturing Employer launched 3 years ago and published 104 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on The Manufacturing Employer include:
1. Nicole Riehl
2. Paul Sippil
3. Shalin Jyotishi
4. Susan Taah
5. Ray Reader
6. Hanna Hasl-Kelchner
7. Larry Salazar
8. Jason Woodard
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