The Lumber Word

EP 114: FHA Exposé

Ashley, Matt, Gregg, Charles, and guest John Comiskey, a mortgage tech veteran and data sleuth, dive deep into the alarming rise of FHA loan delinquencies and their potential ripple effects on the housing and lumber markets. They expose how skyrocketing mortgage defaults—some borrowers making only a handful of payments over years—are straining government-backed mortgage programs and potentially gaming the system. The episode unpacks the data behind these trends, explores what tightening FHA rules in 2026 could mean for first-time homebuyers, and analyzes the downstream impact on construction demand and lumber pricing. Packed with sharp insights, industry analysis, and a touch of humor, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the lumber, real estate, or construction supply chain looking to navigate the challenges ahead.

EP 113: If You’re Not Listening to The Lumber Word, You Might as Well Be Getting Market Advice from a Used Car Lot

Matt, Gregg, Ashley, and Charles take a deep dive into the SYP spread against Canadian lumber—what does it signal for the market? With everyone suddenly having plenty of time to debate tariffs, is that a sign of a slowdown? The crew breaks it all down and highlights some other key market trends that traders should be watching.
Looking ahead, we tease next week's guest, who just might bring the next Big Short-level conversation to the lumber world. Plus, we play a round of "What We Want to Buy" vs. "What We’re Dumping" as we navigate the ever-shifting market landscape.
Big things are coming—over the next few months, we’re opening the lumber conversation to expand the audience and bring more voices into the mix. Don’t miss this episode of The Lumber Word, the #1 lumber podcast in the world!

EP 112: Kyle Little: Big Calls & Bold Takes on Lumber’s Future

Kyle Little, COO of Sherwood Lumber and frequent CNBC personality, joins The Lumber Word—and he does not disappoint! In this jam-packed episode, we break down the past week (and especially the last 48 hours) in the lumber industry, covering:
 Southern Pine, U.S. species, Euro, and Canadian lumber—what’s hot, what’s not, and where the market is headed. Big calls & bold forecasts—Matt, Gregg, Ashley, and Charles lay out what they think happens next in lumber, from now through year-end. New CME SYP Contract—what it means for traders and why it could shake things up.
This one’s a must-listen for lumber traders, mills, builders, distributors, framers, and component manufacturers. We’re here to make the industry better, sharper, and more profitable—every single week.

EP 111: The Tariff Talk We Never Want to Have Again

On this week’s episode of The Lumber Word, we give away a ton of valuable insights—because that’s what the #1 lumber podcast in North America does! We kick things off with a special announcement: Charles is officially in the introduction. Then, Ashley jumps right into the market talk before launching into an epic tariff rant about the chaos of cross-border trade (yes, he touches the third rail). Gregg sharpens the point of the conversation by tripling down that there will be no tariff.
Gregg pulls things back on track with a productive discussion on what builders and multi-family projects with sold jobs in Q2 and Q3 should be doing to cover their needs. Matt and Charles have some of the best insight to date on this.  We also break down what we like to own, what we want to sell, and where we see opportunities. One takeaway? We never want to talk about tariffs again—everyone knows they’re coming, but we’re exhausted by it.
Come listen, learn, and leave knowing more than when you hit play. And as always, it’s free!

EP 110: The Trading Campfire: Undervalued Items, Lumber Prognostication and Polished Knowledge

Pull up a chair at the mill’s fishing camp because this episode is packed with classic lumber trader BS, war stories, and some useful market insights. We kick things off with a SYP talk, asking Charles why published prices keep climbing when he insists, they’re flat. Did we spill too much on what we think values should be? Maybe. We also dig into how much tariff speculation is already baked into prices.
Matts had the best market pulse lately, and he breaks down what mills’ optimizers are up to. Gregg takes us through housing starts, and Charles lays out the numbers on 2x4 and 2x6 9'. This episode is loaded with free intel—things your lazy trading partner might be missing.
Come for the stories, stay for the knowledge. Listen in and get ahead!
 

EP 109: Retired for Now. Legendary Forever. The Mike Logelin Story

The Lumber Word welcomes a true legend of Lumber Trading—Mike Logelin—fresh off his retirement after 35 years of wheeling and dealing across the entire lumber and panel catalog. Hailing from the land of lakes and lumber, Mike sits down with Matt, Gregg, Ashley, and Charles to reflect on what made him one of the best in the business. He shares war stories from the trenches, key lessons for traders just starting, and insights into how the game has changed. But don’t think he’s just here for nostalgia—Mike jumps right into the current market action and what’s ahead for 2025. If you buy, sell, or move wood, this episode is a goldmine of tips to help you make smarter (and more profitable) decisions.

EP 108: Housing Market Deep Dive

The Lumber Word team welcomes back Chris Beard, Director of Building Products Research at John Burns Research & Consulting, for another deep dive into the housing market. The episode kicks off with a discussion on tariff talk—or the lack of impact so far—before shifting gears to market trends. Gregg sizes up his trade with Kip, giving him all the time he needs, while Chris shares insights on housing projections for 2025.
From young adults moving out of the basement faster to the continued growth of single-family rentals, Chris breaks down the data behind the next phase of housing demand. The JBREC team nailed their prediction last year that 2025 would be slightly down, and now they’re back with a fresh outlook on what’s next for builders and the construction market.
Matt, Ashley, Charles, and Gregg dig into the key takeaways, making this a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of housing, lumber, and economic trends. Don’t miss this episode packed with actionable insights and expert analysis!

EP 107: The Lumber Bet: Tariff or No Tariff?

In this episode of The Lumber Word, we bring on Canadian lumber supply expert and seasoned trader Kip Fotheringham to break down the hard numbers on North American lumber production. Turns out, what we thought we knew doesn’t quite match up with reality! Kip walks us through the latest production data across all species and regions, and the insights may surprise you.
Then, we dive headfirst into the tangled mess of cross-border duties and tariffs between the U.S. and Canada. With speculation running wild and everyone making their best guesses, Gregg and Kip decide to raise the stakes—literally—by placing a bet on whether tariffs are coming or not. Will the industry see a shake-up, or is all this just noise?
If you love a lively, fact-packed discussion with a side of high-stakes lumber wagering, this one's for you. Tune in and get wiser (and maybe even happier) about where the market is headed

EP 106: Housing, Tariffs, and Mill Strategies: Insights with Sig Thoma

Sig Thoma is back on The Lumber Word to share his decades of expertise in the lumber industry! We dive headfirst into the 2024 housing final numbers and their implications for the year ahead. With a new administration stirring up tariff chatter, we tackle how the industry is reacting and what might be on the horizon for lumber and housing markets. Plus, the SYP domination debate rages on, and we get inside the heads of mills to uncover their strategies for selling lumber products. Don’t miss this thought-provoking episode packed with insights and a few laughs along the way!

EP 105: Navigating Tariff Turmoil, Builders’ Mortgages, and Lumber Market Madness with Dustin Jalbert

Back by popular demand, Dustin Jalbert, Senior Economist of Wood Products at Fastmarkets, returns to The Lumber Word podcast for an insightful deep dive into the ever-evolving lumber market. In this episode, Dustin, Matt, Gregg, Ashley, and Charles tackle the complexities of the potential tariff situation and share strategies for cutting through the confusion.
The team explores housing trends, builder inventory levels, and the supply-demand dynamics shaping 2025, along with a lively discussion about the eye-popping builders' mortgages hitting the market. And for those wondering about Charles’ cattle—they make a surprise appearance in the conversation!
As always, the episode is packed with sharp market predictions, trading tips, and a few laughs as the crew debates where the lumber market is headed and how to navigate the road ahead. Tune in for actionable insights and a whole lot of fun!