In this special series of episodes of the FHB Podcast, Andrew Zoellner, executive director of Keep Craft Alive, shares his conversations with some of the most talented and dedicated people in the world of residential design and construction.

Ryan Shanahan didn’t set out to work with builders. Growing up outside of Boston, he discovered punk rock, went to college for music, and toured the country with his band. It was far from glamorous (or lucrative), but it was fun. At least until Shanahan realized he couldn’t afford to make music a career. Seeing the cost of gas quadruple overnight and needing four times as much money to fill the band van, he started thinking more critically about energy, fossil fuels, and all that big picture stuff.

Keep Craft Alive is an initiative powered by Fine Homebuilding to bring awareness to the skills gap in the building industry and the rich professional opportunities that exist in the trades.

The SkillsUSA #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship Fund provides tuition money to students pursuing a career in the trades. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the fund, or buy a #KeepCraftAlive T-shirt to both support the fund and show your support.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

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Affordable IR Camera

This camera is super useful for tracking down air leaks in buildings. The one-hand pistol grip arrangement frees your other hand for steadying yourself while maneuvering tricky job sites.

Buy at Amazon

Handy Heat Gun

This heat gun is great for drying joint compound, primer and paint when patching drywall and plaster walls. Plus it can soften adhesive, get a very cold small engine to start, and shrink heat-shrink tubing.

Buy at Amazon

8067 All-Weather Flashing Tape

Available in 2- to 12-in. widths, this is a good general-purpose flashing tape that sticks well to most things. It features a two-piece release paper, water-shedding layers, and good UV resistance.

Buy at Amazon