Hands-On

Welcome to Hands-On, the podcast of Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter, Maine. Hands-On aims to interview current and former students, instructors, local business owners, and others who can help represent the goals of Tri-County Technical Center and Career and Technical Education.
Welcome to Hands-On, the podcast of Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter, Maine. Hands-On aims to interview current and former students, instructors, local business owners, and others who can help represent the goals of Tri-County Technical Center and Career and Technical Education.
Episodes
Episodes



Feb 2, 2026
HVAC and Lincoln Tech
Feb 2, 2026
Feb 2, 2026
9 min
New Hands-On host Brandon Harper welcomes you to Season 4! Brandon starts with interviewing our new HVAC instructor Darin Spack and two of his students. Then Brandon talks with Mark Cater of Lincoln Tech (www.lincolntech.edu), who visited TCTC recently to talk with students.
Feb 2, 2026
9 min


Mar 25, 2025
Multimedia Production - Season 3 Episode 5
Mar 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025
17 min
Welcome back to Hands-On.
In this episode, host Kaleb Ranquist has a chat with Trevor Deschaine, a first-year student of the Multimedia Production program about the curriculum, his progression towards getting a drone license, and his post-secondary plans.
Afterward, a short intermission where Kaleb talks to Chase Farnsworth of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business program about his experience and perseverance through the Entrepreneurship competition at SkillsUSA, winning a silver medal, along with winning CTE Student of the Year at TCTC!
Finally, Kaleb talks with Austin Harris, a second-year student of the Multimedia Production program, about how being a second year student differs from being a first year, along with his projects including directing the documentary, Rural Dreams!
Mar 25, 2025
17 min


Mar 10, 2025
Cybersecurity - Season 3 Episode 4
Mar 10, 2025
Mar 10, 2025
20 min
Welcome back to Hands-On.
In this episode, host Kaleb Ranquist interviews the new instructor of the Cybersecurity program (formally the Computer Information and System Security program), Dan Smith about the work they do with computers, servers, and talk of experimental AI.
Afterward, Kaleb interviews Matthew Hall, a student of Cybersecurity, about his inspiration to take the class, activities he and other students work on, and his future endeavors in the field of computers.
Mar 10, 2025
20 min


Jan 17, 2025
Natural Resources - Season 3 Episode 3
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
21 min
Welcome back to Hands-On!
Tri-County Technical Center has gained a few new programs this year, including the Natural Resources program.
In this episode, host Kaleb Ranquist interviews the instructor of the Natural Resources program, Stephany Perkins, about the several outdoor activities, field trips, and training involved in her program including hiking, camping, snowshoeing, hunter safety, chainsaw safety, and so much more.
Afterward, a short intermission featuring Caroline Ridout, a Workforce Development Specialist from the Maine Tourism Association who recently visited TCTC, about the hundreds of jobs available in the tourism industry that are highly beneficial to CTE students.
Finally, Kaleb interviews Hiram Butler and Topher McGuinness, two students of the Natural Resources program, about their experience in the class, training, and future endeavors in the workforce.
Jan 17, 2025
21 min


Dec 20, 2024
Welding - Season 3 Episode 2
Dec 20, 2024
Dec 20, 2024
14 min
Welcome back to Hands-On!
Tri-County Technical Center has gained a few new programs this year, including the Welding program.
In this episode, Host Kaleb Ranquist interviews the instructor of the Welding program, Jason Scholten, about the importance of welding, and what students can expect to learn from the program.
Afterward, a short intermission where Clay Lane, an instructor of the Commercial Truck Driving program talks about the Thanksgiving meal run he and his students did before Thanksgiving, where they helped transport Thanksgiving meal ingredients to families in need!
Finally, Kaleb interviews Haylee Newman, a student of the Welding program, about what inspired her to take the program, and her future plans for the workforce.
Dec 20, 2024
14 min


Nov 8, 2024
Nov 8, 2024
19 min
Welcome to Hands-On Season 3!
TCTC has gained a few new programs this year, including the Entrepreneurship & Small Business program.
In this episode, host, Kaleb Ranquist interviews Instructor, Marcy King of the ESB program about what students do in her program, the curriculum, and how entrepreneurs create successful businesses.
Afterward, a short intermission featuring a few students from the Building Trades program talking about their ongoing house-building project!
Finally, Kaleb interviews Chase Farnsworth, a student of ESB, about his experience in the program, and how its helped him prepare for his future college and business endeavors!
Nov 8, 2024
19 min


Oct 21, 2024
Hands-On Season 3 Promo
Oct 21, 2024
Oct 21, 2024
1 min
Welcome to season 3 of Hands-On, the podcast of Tri-County Technical Center. In this show, host Kaleb Ranquist chats with current and former students and instructors of TCTC, as well as local college and business representatives about the benefits of Career Technical Education (CTE). Kaleb will also be providing news about ongoing events every episode.
Stay tuned for new episodes available on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, IHeartRadio, Samsung Podcasts, Boomplay, and the Tri-County Technical Center YouTube channel.
Oct 21, 2024
1 min


May 30, 2024
May 30, 2024
27 min
In this episode of Hands-On, host Shane Craig chats with Health Occupations co-instructor, Jennifer Bailey, as well as student Gavin Hart, about what they do in their class, and what students can expect to learn from the program.
Afterward, Shane then interviews current Firefighting student, Sarah Silva, about her experience in the class.
Host Kaleb Ranquist then talks to former Firefighting student, Dawson Dow about what he's up to now, and how TCTC has helped prepare him for his future career.
Finally, Kaleb had the honor of talking to former Tri-County Technical Center Directer, Dr. Patrick O'Neill, about his experience and job as a director, and what he currently does for TCTC, as well as discussing the importance of CTE Education.
May 30, 2024
27 min

CTE education at Tri-County Technical Center
Phone: (207) 924-7670
Website: http://tricounty.mainecte.org/
Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. In total, about 12 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE across the nation. CTE prepares these learners for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies, and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context. In fact, the high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators is about 90 percent – 15 percentage points higher than the national average.





