How a Steam Engine Builder Revived American Manufacturing
6/17/202622 min
What does it take to turn a childhood dream into a Guinness World Record, multiple manufacturing companies, and a movement to rebuild America's skilled workforce?
In this episode of Living The Red Life, Kory and Ali Anderson share how a passion for engineering, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship evolved into a mission to preserve American manufacturing and inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals. From building the world's largest steam engine to acquiring foundries, launching Iron Warrior Academy, and creating educational programs that introduce young people to welding, fabrication, and engineering, they reveal the mindset, discipline, and vision required to build something that lasts. Along the way, they discuss AI, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and why the future belongs to those willing to create with their hands.
Key Takeaways
- Why skilled trades may become one of the biggest opportunities of the next decade
- How Kory turned a childhood dream into a Guinness World Record achievement
- The entrepreneurial strategy behind acquiring foundries and building manufacturing companies
- How AI and automation can strengthen, not replace, skilled trades careers
- Why discipline, craftsmanship, and mentorship are essential for long-term success
Notable Quotes
- "Technology has taken away the people aspect. It's taken away the teams."
- "It's a team. It's a community building something."
- "Everybody wants the corner office, but there's nobody to build the corner office."
- "There is no limit to what you can do."
- "We just want to be known as people who are fighting for American-made."
Connect with Rudy Mawer:
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsCorey Anderson· Guest0:00
technology is it's taken away the, the people aspect. It's taken away the teams. It's taken away collaboration and, and the personal connection. And that's what's so fun about the skilled trades. It's this, it's a team, it's a community building something, especially in our foundry where it's, it's hot, dirty, and dangerous, and it actually fosters a really cool brotherhood.
Allie Anderson· Guest0:20
I was just overwhelmed with how cool it was.
Speaker 30:23
Oh, hell yeah.
Allie Anderson· Guest0:23
I said, "If, you know, if we could just help educate what is a foundry, people will be really interested in working there." It is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. There is raw iron being poured, um, and like Cory mentioned, just this incredible brotherhood that hits you right when you walk in.
Speaker 30:38
Cory and Allie Anderson are driven, resilient, and visionary entrepreneurs, and the founders of Anderson Industries, known for building the world's largest steam engine to inspire others while creating projects that preserve history and help shape future generations.
Corey Anderson· Guest0:52
We just wanna be known as people who are fighting for American-made, people who are fighting to create opportunities for the skilled trades, and training and instilling discipline and the character qualities to make our young people the next, the next legacy makers of the skilled trade.
Rudy Mawer· Soundbite1:08
My name's Rudy Moore, host of Living the Red Life podcast, and I'm here to change the way you see your life, in your earpiece every single week. If you're ready to start living the red life, ditch the blue pill, take the red pill, join me in wonderland, and change your life.
Speaker 31:22
Welcome back to another episode of the Living Your Legacy podcast, the Red Life edition. Joining me today fresh off their episode