Podcasts sparked business owner’s foray into metal design, fabrication

By JOHN BARTIMOLE

Special to Olean Times Herald | November 1, 2025

(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of eight articles spotlighting the businesses making up the 2025 Laine Business Accelerator cohort.)

You might say podcasts changed Josh Fuller’s life for the better.

Fuller, founder and CEO of Fuller’s Fabrication, a metal design, welding and fabrication business, credits the podcasts he listened to while working a previous seasonal job to his current success with his business. That, and his decision to not go to college.

“After high school, I was doing welding for a company, wearing headphones and listening to podcasts,” Fuller said. “It was a regular job with set hours, and while I was doing my work — which was welding — I listened to all these stories about people who had become successful on their own.

“I realized I wasn’t happy and wouldn’t be happy until I could find something I could do on my own.” Fuller saw how much his father enjoyed self-employment — he had helped him with his dad’s mowing and trimming business — and sought to replicate that in his own life. He also saw his father’s work ethic and pride, and sought to emulate that, too.

Welding was something Fuller had learned in high school, so he used that experience — and his father’s welder — to begin making hexagonal fire pits. “And I realized that I liked the creative side of designing metal.”

At that point, Fuller took a step that set the stage for his business.

“I took out a personal loan and bought a CNC plasma cutting table (an essential tool for use in designing and cutting metal),” he said. “I didn’t even know how to turn it on, but I started taking orders — really before it was even delivered. But I learned.”

In fact, he learned quite a bit, and quickly. One of his designs — a koozie dispenser — went viral on the Internet and became one of the underpinnings of his business. Spurred by his success, Fuller purchased a piece of property right down the road from his current home, built a building on the property, and moved his business out of his father’s shop.

Fuller is a New York Giants fan, and contacted Giants’ rookie running back Cam Skattebo, explained what he does for a living, and asked if he would like to see some of his work.

“I was surprised when he said he would, so I sent him some pieces,” Fuller said. “That just happened, so I haven’t heard back yet.”

Fuller speaks with conviction about his chosen occupation. “This is my career,” he said. “I can’t do a regular job. Yes, it is chaos and crazy sometimes, but, as my mom and dad taught me, there’s nothing like working for yourself.

“Now that I’m married and have a family, it’s gratifying to already know I’ll be there for every event in their lives,” he said. “I control my own hours and my own time. And when I come home at the end of the day, my child’s top priority is seeing Dad. It does not matter to her if I had a rough day or a great day. She’s just happy to see me. And, at that point, it doesn’t matter to me, either!”

Fuller got into the Laine Business Accelerator at the suggestion of The Rusty Rooster, a member of last year’s LBA cohort, and a customer of Fuller’s Fabrication. “They’ve been tremendously supportive,” he said.

“What’s great about the LBA is that it’s really nice to see other entrepreneurs who have the same mindset that I do,” he said. “We all have super unique stories, yet we can collaborate together. It’s so inspiring to be with people who think the same way.”

And to think that mindset began by listening to podcasts.