Adam Hutchinson switches things up on In the Mix with a Hot Ones-style conversation over lunch, bringing together Irene Li, Madison Murphy, Jake Sulya, and returning guest Ben Warfield for an honest discussion about the future of masonry and what it will take to keep the industry moving forward.

Over burgers and poke bowls, Adam leads the group through a wide-ranging conversation about education, mentorship, innovation, design, sustainability, and the growing need to make masonry more accessible to architects, engineers, contractors, and the next generation of tradespeople.

The group shares real-world experiences from the field, including how technical support can help contractors navigate unexpected project issues, why getting masonry into the design conversation earlier can change project outcomes, and how new products, education programs, and more creative approaches to CMU can help expand the market. They also look ahead to what masonry could—and should—look like 10 to 15 years from now.

In This Episode:

• What happens when a masonry industry conversation gets the Hot Ones treatment
• How collaboration between contractors, manufacturers, designers, and industry organizations can strengthen the masonry market
• Why education and technical support are critical for architects and engineers working with CMU
• How the Block Design Collective is helping bring masonry education and project assistance further upstream into the design process
• How innovation in CMU products, finishes, colors, and design can move masonry beyond the traditional “one over two” approach
• Why masonry can offer both aesthetic value and long-term performance for owners and developers
• How local materials and recycling contribute to the sustainability of masonry
• How panelization, prefabrication, and new construction methods could make masonry more efficient and competitive
• What the group wants to see from masonry in 2035 and where the biggest opportunities for growth are
• Why the future of masonry depends on continuing to learn, ask questions, collaborate, and push the industry forward

Connect with Irene:

Website: blockdesign.org

Connect with Madison:

Website: https://basalite.com/regions-loader/?redirect_to=https://basalite.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-murphy-276678307

Connect with Jake:

Website: https://www.warfieldmasonry.com/

Email: Jake@Warfieldmasonry.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-sulya-b36196216

Connect with Ben:

Website: warfieldmasonry.com

Email: Ben@warfieldmasonry.com

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 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