Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Nakesha Bryant, a public adjusting professional transitioning into sustainable project management and advocacy, to explore what rebuilding after devastating fires can, and should, look like.

With firsthand experience helping homeowners navigate the insurance and rebuild process, Nakesha offers a unique perspective on the challenges facing communities after disaster and why more resilient building materials need to be part of the conversation.

The conversation explores why masonry could play a critical role in creating more fire-resilient homes across California and the West, how insurance companies could incentivize homeowners to rebuild with non-combustible materials, and why stronger communication between insurers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers is essential. Nakesha also shares why she's transitioning out of insurance and toward advocacy and consulting—helping homeowners get the information and support they need to rebuild better and more sustainably.

In This Episode:

• Why rebuilding with more resilient, non-combustible materials is becoming increasingly important
• What decades-old brick homes can teach us about longevity and durability
• The opportunity for insurance companies to incentivize more resilient construction
• Why communication between insurers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers needs to improve
• The challenges homeowners face when insurance costs make rebuilding—and even staying insured—more difficult
• Why Nakesha is transitioning from insurance into sustainable project management, advocacy, and consulting
• How better information and guidance can help homeowners navigate the rebuilding process
• Why masonry could play a bigger role in creating safer, more sustainable communities

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:
https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Paul Daysh, second-generation leader at California Retaining Walls, to explore how innovation is reshaping the future of retaining wall construction.

Drawing on decades of field experience, Paul shares how his family's company developed the patented GS2 wall system—combining helical pile foundations with reinforced masonry to solve many of the cost, schedule, and performance challenges facing today's construction industry.

The conversation dives into why traditional retaining wall systems are becoming increasingly difficult to build economically under modern building codes, and how alternative foundation solutions can reduce excavation, eliminate concrete cure times, and accelerate project schedules. Paul also discusses the importance of collaboration between engineers, geotechnical professionals, contractors, and manufacturers to ensure masonry continues to be one of the most resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective building materials available.

In This Episode:

• How the patented GS2 retaining wall system combines helical piles with reinforced masonry
• Why eliminating traditional concrete footings can dramatically reduce project timelines
• How helical pile foundations perform in expansive soils, seismic regions, and challenging site conditions
• Why focusing on total project costs—not just material costs—creates better outcomes for owners and contractors
• The importance of collaboration between structural engineers and geotechnical engineers
• How innovation can help masonry remain competitive against alternative building materials
• Why preserving industry knowledge and attracting the next generation of skilled professionals is critical for masonry's future
• The biggest opportunities—and threats—facing the retaining wall and masonry industries today

Connect with Paul:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-daysh/

GS2 Wall Systems

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs2-wall-systems

Calwalls

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/calwalls

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:

https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Bob Wyckhuyse, Sales Manager at Angelus Block, to discuss how one of Southern California's largest block manufacturers is helping shape the future of resilient construction. From starting his career in an entry-level plant position to leading sales after more than two decades with the company, Bob shares a firsthand look at how masonry manufacturing has evolved—and why the industry's future is brighter than ever.

The conversation explores why concrete masonry continues to outperform expectations when it comes to fire resistance, energy efficiency, sustainability, and long-term durability. Bob also explains how better education, stronger industry collaboration, and modern marketing can help dispel outdated misconceptions about CMU while attracting the next generation of professionals. Whether you're an architect, contractor, engineer, or manufacturer, this episode offers practical insights into why masonry remains one of the smartest building materials available.

In This Episode:

• How Angelus Block has evolved through innovation, sustainability, and manufacturing advancements
• Why fire resilience, thermal mass, and durability continue to make CMU a standout building material
• The biggest misconceptions architects and developers still have about masonry
• How environmental product declarations (EPDs) and carbon sequestration are changing the sustainability conversation
• Why education, industry collaboration, and better marketing are critical to masonry's future
• The biggest opportunities—and threats—facing the masonry industry today
• Why masonry offers stable, rewarding careers with opportunities far beyond the job site

Connect with Bob:

Website: https://www.angelusblock.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-wyckhuyse-4a6010147

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:

https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix