TradingUp
TradingUp is new podcast series produced by Journey12 in proud partnership with Carl Sandburg College. More than just a podcast, TradingUp is a front-row seat to the lived experiences of men and women who’ve chosen a path that’s too often overlooked—the skilled trades.
In each episode, we’ll shine a light on real people, telling real stories of how they’ve charted careers rooted in technical skill, resilience, and hands-on problem solving. These are not narratives of overnight success or viral fame, but of purpose forged in welding bays, machining shops, dental hygiene labs, and behind the dashboards of diesel engines—where grit, craftsmanship, and passion come together to build something lasting.
Through these conversations, we’ll explore what it means to trade up—not just in job titles or earning potential, but in personal fulfillment, community contribution, and the dignity of meaningful work. We’ll meet individuals who have discovered their calling through Sandburg’s programs and partnerships, and who now keep our communities moving forward—quietly, reliably, and often without fanfare.
At a time when the world seems increasingly tilted toward screens and abstraction, these stories remind us of something vital: that there is extraordinary value in the tangible, in the applied, and in the deeply human act of working with one’s hands. This series honors that work—and the people who do it.
TradingUp is here to challenge assumptions, celebrate possibility, and inspire a deeper appreciation for the trades and the institutions, like Sandburg, that make these journeys possible.
TradingUp
FROM A CURIOUS NUDGE TO CNC CONFIDENCE
In this inaugural episode, host Craig Williams sits down with Madelyn Sell, a Galesburg native and Carl Sandburg College graduate who found her calling not in a boardroom, but in a machine shop.
Madelyn’s journey into the world of precision machining began not with a lifelong dream, but with a nudge from her father and an open mind. What started as a simple course in CNC at the Galesburg Area Vocational Center sparked something in her—a curiosity that became passion, and a passion that quickly turned into a career. With guidance from Sandburg’s expert faculty and the hands-on training that only a community-focused college can offer, Madelyn discovered that the trades were not only a good fit for her skills—they were a path to personal confidence, professional pride, and financial stability.
This conversation explores Madelyn’s experience as a student, her entry into the workforce, and what it means to be a young woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. She speaks candidly about the surprises she’s encountered along the way, from the joy of seeing a completed part she machined herself to the encouragement she’s received from mentors and coworkers.
But more than anything, this episode is about growth. It’s about what happens when a person finds their place in the world—not by following someone else’s plan, but by trading up for something authentic and self-made.
TradingUp is about more than career pathways; it’s about personal transformation. And as Madelyn Sell reminds us, there’s immense beauty—and real opportunity—in working with your hands, building something from nothing, and knowing that what you do matters.