2026 Is Shaping Up to Be a Big Year for Manufacturing Talk Radio

If you’ve been tuning in lately, you already know something exciting is happening at Manufacturing Talk Radio. The conversations are flowing again, the guest lineup is getting stronger by the week, and 2026 is already shaping up to be a year packed with insight, perspective, and real-world manufacturing stories.

In fact, we recently hit a couple of milestones we’re incredibly proud of:

• More than 10,000 subscribers
• Nearly 1,000,000 views across platforms

Those numbers matter not just because they’re exciting, but because they tell us the manufacturing community is hungry for real conversations, practical insight, and voices that understand the industry from the inside out.

Manufacturing Talk Radio has always been about more than headlines or buzzwords. It’s about sitting down with the people doing the work, leaders, innovators, problem-solvers, and talking honestly about what’s happening on the shop floor, in the boardroom, and across the supply chain.

A Look at the Shows We’ve Been Doing Recently

The recent episodes really set the tone for where the show is headed.

Over the last several shows, we’ve been diving into:

• AI and automation in manufacturing, separating what’s practical today from what’s still aspirational and why that distinction matters.
• Workforce challenges and opportunities, from skills gaps and training to leadership development and retention in a competitive labor market.
• Supply chain resilience, including reshoring conversations, supplier diversification, and how manufacturers are planning for long-term stability after years of disruption.
• Defense, aerospace, and industrial investment, where modernization, funding, and advanced manufacturing intersect.
• Digital transformation and data, with candid discussions about what’s working, what’s stalled, and what manufacturers wish technology providers understood better.

These weren’t surface-level interviews. They were honest and thoughtful conversations that reflected the real pressures manufacturers face and the creative ways many are responding.

What That Means for 2026

If the recent shows are any indication, 2026 is going to be a big year.

Manufacturers are entering the year with momentum, but also plenty of questions. How fast should AI adaptation really move? Where should capital investments go? How do companies build a workforce that’s ready for what’s next without burning people out today?

That’s exactly where Manufacturing Talk Radio fits in. The upcoming lineup will continue to bring together:

• Industry leaders sharing lessons learned, including what didn’t work
• Technology experts focused on practical applications, not hype
• Workforce and education voices tackling the skills gap head-on
• Manufacturing executives navigating growth, regulation, and transformation in real time

Every episode is designed to give listeners something tangible — an idea, a perspective, or a takeaway they can bring back to their teams.

Stay Connected and Join the Conversation

Whether you listen during your commute, on the shop floor, or between meetings, Manufacturing Talk Radio is built to meet you where you are. New episodes will continue rolling out across all major podcast platforms and at manufacturingtalkradio.com.

If you’re interested in being a guest, suggesting topics, or sponsoring future episodes, we’d love to hear from you. The best conversations happen when the manufacturing community is part of the discussion.

Here’s to a strong run of shows ahead and a 2026 filled with smart conversations about where manufacturing is headed next.