Interviewed by the Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor at America's 250th on the National Mall.
Roger Wakefield is a licensed Master Plumber with 45 years in the trades and one of the most-watched trades educators in the world, with 1.7 million followers across his social platforms and 158M+ views on YouTube alone.
AS SEEN ON: TODAY · DR. PHIL · NEWSNATION · FREEDOM 250 — AMERICA’S 250TH, NATIONAL MALL
45 YRS in the skilled trades · 1.7M followers across platforms · 158M+ video views
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor put Roger on the Freedom Stage at America’s 250th celebration on the National Mall — interviewed live by Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling on the future of the American workforce.
“A licensed master plumber… and very impressively, 100 million views on YouTube. A real celebrity.”
— Keith Sonderling, Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor, introducing Roger on the Freedom Stage
When Washington wants to talk to the trades, they call Roger. When your audience needs to hear it straight, so should you.
Roger In Action
See why Roger stands out
Get a closer look at Roger’s experience, expertise, and speaking impact.
Signature Talks
The Trades Are Plan A (flagship)
For a generation, we told every kid that college was the only path, and the trades were the fallback. That lie built a 700,000-worker shortage, a trillion dollars in student debt, and a workforce crisis hiding in plain sight. Roger dismantles the myth with the numbers, the stories, and the paycheck math, including the states where a high-school graduate can walk into a $52,000 licensed career on Monday morning. Audiences leave with a new answer to “what should our kids do?”: the trades aren’t the backup plan. They’re Plan A. Best for: industry associations, workforce conferences, education summits, policy audiences.
AI-Proof: The Careers the Robots Can’t Take
AI is coming for the laptop class, the spreadsheets, the reports, the code. It is not coming for the person who can rough-in a bathroom, wire a panel, or keep a hospital’s water running. Roger makes the case that the safest, most future-proof careers in America are the ones we’ve spent 50 years telling kids to avoid, and shows what that means for parents, employers, and anyone rethinking their own career. Best for: technology conferences, corporate audiences, future-of-work events, SXSW-style big-idea stages.
From Pipe Wrench to 1.7 Million
At 54, Roger walked into a social media conference to learn Facebook, and walked out obsessed with YouTube. Eight years later he’s the most-watched tradesman on the planet, with 1.7 million followers and 158M+ YouTube views, and a media footprint that reaches the National Mall. This is the playbook: how a blue-collar business owner built a white-collar-sized brand, and how any expert, owner, or organization can do the same. Best for: corporate events, marketing conferences, entrepreneur audiences, franchise conventions.
Who is Roger Wakefield?
Roger Wakefield is a Licensed Master Plumber with 45 years in the trades who teaches tradespeople how to build a career and grow a business using YouTube and social media. He has 1.7M+ followers, 755K+ YouTube subscribers, and 158M+ views, and he has been featured on TODAY, Dr. Phil, and NewsNation.
What does Roger Wakefield speak about?
Roger delivers three signature keynotes for industry events, workforce conferences, and corporate stages.
- The Trades Are Plan A (flagship): dismantles the college-only narrative with real wage data and stories from 45 years in the field.
- AI-Proof: The Careers the Robots Can’t Take: why hands-on trades survive the AI wave that is coming for office work.
- From Pipe Wrench to 1.7 Million: the exact social media playbook that took a working plumber to 1.7M followers and 158M+ YouTube views.
How do I book Roger Wakefield to speak at my event?
Fill out the form on this page and you will hear back within two business days. Every request gets researched before the first call. Event planners get a speaker audiences already recognize from TODAY, Dr. Phil, NewsNation, and the Freedom 250 stage.
Does Roger offer training for trades people?
Yes. Roger’s programs teach trades people how to grow their skills, businesses, and brands.
- Introduction to Influence: building your voice in the trades.
- R.I.C.H. with Roger: growing a trades business.
- Kick-Start Your YouTube Channel: the playbook behind 755K+ subscribers and 158M+ views.
Details are on the Training page.
Where has Roger Wakefield been featured?
Roger has appeared on TODAY, Dr. Phil, and NewsNation, and was interviewed live by Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling at America’s 250th on the National Mall. Sonderling called him “a licensed master plumber, and very impressively, 100 million views on YouTube. A real celebrity.”
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What Event Planners Get
- A speaker your audience has already seen – on Today, Dr. Phil, NewsNation, and the National Mall
- 45 years of real field credibility. No theory. Roger has done the work he talks about.
- A built-in promotion machine: 1.7M followers hear about your event
- Professional, buttoned-up, zero-drama delivery – white collar business, blue collar values
Your audience has heard from the economists. Let them hear from the guy who built the building.
Roger takes a limited number of keynotes each year. Tell us about your event and we’ll come back within two business days.