The Hall Podcast: Apprentice welder Eric Lopez Murcia

Описание: 🔥 Apprentice welder Eric Lopez joins Ryan for a real talk episode on finding your trade, staying motivated, and leveling up from foundations to Level B and beyond. From a rainy “chance meeting” in the weld shop to a full-on deep dive into training, tickets, and career momentum, Eric lays out what it’s like to chase a craft you actually love.
Eric shares his path through different jobs, what finally made welding click, and why community, good instructors, and hands-on learning can change everything. If you’re thinking about welding, apprenticeships, or the skilled trades in general, this one’s for you.
🧰 Topics covered
How Eric found welding after trying multiple jobs
Trade school vs. “learning in the real world”
Welding Foundations + Level B training (quality, inspection, pressure work)
Hours required for progression (Level B + Red Seal pathway)
Why skilled instructors matter (real shop experience, real feedback)
Welding mindset: resilience, pride in the work, and lifelong learning
🏗️ Companies/Organizations mentioned
Milwaukee Tool (unofficial sponsor shoutout + giveaway hat & sticker)
PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) (where the first connection happened)
UA / Union Training & Apprenticeship pathway (union hall + training environment discussed throughout)
⏱️ Episode highlights
Eric talks about:
✅ Getting started with no experience
✅ Moving from Foundations into higher-quality “pressure ticket” training
✅ Why he stays excited to come back to the shop
✅ The pride of building things you can point to for years
📌 If you’re new here
Subscribe for more conversations with apprentices, instructors, and tradespeople, plus behind-the-scenes stories from the shop floor.
💬 Question for you: What got you interested in welding or the trades, and what’s your next step?




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