Mining Minds

Mining Minds sits down in studio with than Jerry Rynearson, the Owner and President of JSR Fleet Performance . Jerry's journey in the mining industry began with a simple job search, but little did he know it would ignite a lifelong passion for equipment operation. He takes us back to his early days, where he learned the ropes by giving breaks to fellow operators and even had the privilege of train...

Seasoned underground face miner Ricky Montoya joins Mining Minds , at the Face, to talk about mining! Ricky talks about starting out as a lubber on the surface before finding his home in underground mining. He walks us through his early days, learning from "old school" miners, moving from a maintenance function to an operation function, because of a bonus, and working to change some old perception...

Family man, competitive archer, and seasoned welder Bryce Cracraft joins Mining Minds in studio to walk us through his mining journey. Hailing from the heart of small-town Nevada, Bryce followed his dreams of becoming an underwater welder, carving a unique path for his mining story. From painting handrails to finding mentorship in seasoned miners, he shares his journey with us, highlighting the pi...

On this episode of the podcast, Vern Goglio joins Mining Minds to dive into the world of Standards and more. The conversation unfolds as we explore the intricacies of team building, collaborating with like-minded individuals, and establishing clear expectations. The discussion goes beyond the workplace, delving into the importance of interpersonal skills in creating a robust organizational culture...

General Manager for Orla Mining Ltd , Don Dwyer sits down with Mining Minds to walk us through his mining journey. From his high school days in Missouri, he toured an underground mine that would shape his Mining destiny! Don took us through his college years, where he entered a mine rescue program, paving the way for a career dedicated to helping others. He talks about his multiple internships dur...

Aspiring comedian Herb Pierce joins Mining Minds in studio to talk about his mining journey and his next venture in comedy! Growing up in Chico California, Herb made his way to Northern Nevada where he tried his hand in the pharmaceutical field! He discusses starting his life when he met his wife, telling her every joke he knew the first night they hung out, to entering the mining industry as a te...

Join Mining Minds for an incredible chat with Katey Hull, the Human Resources Manager for Ram Enterprise Inc . From small-town Nevada to the mining industry, Katey's journey is nothing short of extraordinary! Growing up surrounded by amazing individuals and embracing the outdoors, Katey has a unique perspective shaped by her experiences. Harvesting incredible animals and creating special memories,...

Vice President for Barr Engineering , and author of Minescapes: Reclaiming Minnesota's Mined Land , Pete Kero joins Mining Minds to discuss reclamation . Pete shares his mining journey, growing up in the heart of the iron range and the upper peninsula of Michigan. From a fourth-generation miner's perspective, he unveils the importance of mining and its huge impact on our nation's success! Pete dis...

Equipment operator and CEO of the Dirt, Ryan Balles sits down with Mining Minds to talk about his journey! From a small town in Idaho and just days after high school graduation, Ryan found himself laying pipe in the trenches. Facing a challenging start with a supervisor aiming to test his work ethic, Ryan embraced the grit and determination that would become the hallmark of his mining journey. Und...

In this high-energy episode of Mining Minds , the team takes the podcast on the road to the picturesque White Pine County Municipal Golf Course during the Eastern Nevada SME tournament. Amidst the rolling greens and occasional questionable golf swings, Mining Minds sits down with a fantastic lineup of guests, including representatives from Calibre Mining, KGHM Robinson , Elko Wire Rope , and our g...

On this episode of the podcast Mining Minds welcomes Drew Polish in studio to talk about healthcare. Drew is the founder of Render Group and partner at Fenyx Heath . Drew walks us through his early mining journey as a drilling helper, and how his faith, family and good old fashioned hard work got him to where he is today. Drew provides insight on the many ways the mining industry can and does bene...

On this episode of the podcast Mining Minds took part in the 2023 Elko Mining Expo . Partnering with FAST2 Mine , we had the chance to catch up with good friend and master technician Cecil Cotton ( Episode #115 ) and discussed some of his recent experiences as a contactor. We also had the privilege to sit down with brothers Bob and Mike Delbridge as they talked about the role that mining has playe...

Major Account Manager at Liebherr Ben Kerr, sits down with Mining Minds to talk about his mining journey. Ben walks us through growing up in small town New South Wales Australia, his early career as a technician, and how that has provided him additional opportunities throughout his career. He talks about gaining knowledge from the older miners and their willingness to pass down information, the li...

Founders Brett Baker and Troy McDonald join Mining Minds to talk about their knowledge sharing network, Torqn . Brett and Troy discuss coming from the mining industry, growing up in the same small town, not knowing one another, and finally coming together to revolutionize the mining industry. Taking the best from all social media platforms, they are currently in 93 countries and growing. Through T...

On this episode of the podcast, Mining Minds sits down with our good friend Matt Hillard, on the eastern side of the United States, to discuss mining! We dive into data collection in today's environment, local operational shutdowns, and the importance of ethical mining operations. We discuss making the mining industry more visible to the world, the transformation of technology in the industry, and...

Director of Metals for Dyno Nobel , Xavier Naeger sits in studio to talk with Mining Minds about his mining journey. Growing up in an artsy family, Xavier discusses his first exposure to mining, the opportunity to dredge the Arkansas river while in college, and ultimately landing in Northern Nevada. He walks us through his work in underground projects, being on the contractor side of mining, trave...

Executive Director: for Workforce Development & Mining Center of Excellence at Great Basin College , Sam Spearing joins Mining Minds in studio to talk about his journey through the industry. Sam discusses growing up in Africa, getting his name from a cartoon, and opportunities afforded to him as a first-generation miner. He talks about what it was like to work in one of the largest mining district...

President and CEO of Barrick Gold Corporation sits down with Mining Minds , at Nevada Gold Mines headquarters, to talk about his mining journey. Mark walks us through his younger years playing sports, serving in the cold war, and starting his college career in agriculture. He discusses his background in geology and the path to creating Randgold Resources while during some interesting political and...

Chief Executive Officer for Gaize , Ken Fichtler, joins Mining Minds from Missoula Montana to talk about impairment. Ken discusses his early career as an entrepreneur, working with infrared optics technologies and his time as an Economic Development Director in Montana. We walk through Gaize and their innovative way to detect substance impairment through VR headsets and micro-movements of the eyes...

Manager of Geomatics & Counselor for Asset Assurance Monitoring , John Metzger , travels from Indiana to sit down with Mining Minds at the Face! John walks us through his early years as a photographer, his experiences educating in the Peace Corps, and starting a computer business in Senegal. He discusses his route into mining, utilizing new technology to add value, and the value of sharing informa...

Growth and marketing manager for FAST2 Mine , Jeremias Azambuja, travels in from Brazil to meet Mining Minds at the Face. Jeremias talks about growing up from humble beginnings, traveling to different locations around the globe while in university and eventually landing in Elko Nevada to become part of the community. We discuss the need to understand the problems and issues in mining, becoming an...

Supply Planning Specialist Toni Pierce joins Mining Minds , in studio, to talk about her journey in the mining industry. She walks us through her early role as a laborer, becoming a process operator, and working a rotating schedule while being a young mother. Toni discusses the support and balance her and her husband have, getting her drive from her mom, and rolling with the punches. Join Mining M...

Executive Director of Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority Sheldon Mudd sits in studio to talk with Mining Minds . Sheldon talks about being born and raised in Idaho but being made in Nevada. He discusses his military background, beginning his mining journey as an exploration database analyst, and getting into economic development. He walks us through his passion for ensuring the min...

Environmental Superintendent Chris Natoli joins Mining Minds in studio to share his mining journey. From growing up in Wyoming playing baseball to helping develop the environmental science degree at his college, Chris had many interesting experiences along the way. He discusses working with fish hatcheries, his time as a volunteer fire fighter, patrol deputy, and EMT and starting his mining career...

Executive Vice-President, Treasurer and Director of Gold Express Mines , Howard Crosby joins Mining Minds to share some of his knowledge about the mining industry and lessons he has learned throughout the years. Howard educated us on some of the great untouched potential here in the United States and the influence it will have on the country. We take a deep dive into the mining ventures of Gold Ex...