Mining Minds

Hector Denogean , a third-generation miner, travels all the way from Arizona to join Mining Minds in studio to share his journey in the mining industry. Hector takes us back to his first job, fresh out of school, where he learned the ropes of working with people—managing personalities, building bonds, and understanding the importance of teamwork in the mine. He sought to earn the respect of his pe...

Get ready for a special episode of Mining Minds as we hit the greens at the White Pine County Golf Course for the Eastern Nevada SME's annual scholarship fundraiser! This event is all about bringing the community and region together to support the future of mining. We had the unique privilege of sitting down with some bright young minds to discuss how the mining industry can improve and what steps...

Mining Minds dives deep into the transformative power of AI in the mining industry, led by the visionary CTO and Co-founder of Razor Labs , Michael Zolotov . From his roots in Ukraine to his successful immigration to Israel, Michael shares his unique journey—growing up in a family of doctors, leveraging his military background, and ultimately pioneering cutting-edge AI technology in the mining sec...

Join us in the studio as we chat with John Simpson , Southwest Regional Manager for Arnold Machinery , who shares his incredible journey from a young boy greasing equipment in Colorado to a seasoned leader in the mining industry. Growing up working for his dad, John was introduced to hard work early on, but his passion for rodeo led him to meet world-class individuals and eventually become a rodeo...

In this episode, Mining Minds welcomes Amanda Christensen , Regional Manager for Komatsu in Elko and President of the Nevada Chapter Women in Mining . Amanda shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Montana, where she was heavily involved in sports, to becoming a second-generation miner. Starting as a driller helper, Amanda has worked in various roles, including environmental, maintenance,...

On this episode of the Mining Minds podcast, we sit down for a quick chat about the 2024 Elko Mining Expo , Breaking Rock with Mining Minds, and what we've been up to this summer. Tune in as we detail some studio highlights, talk about upcoming guests, and walk through some exciting new opportunities for the second half of 2024! Don't miss out on all the latest updates and insights from Mining Min...

On this episode of the Mining Minds podcast, we sit down with surveyor extraordinaire Leatha Reeves to explore her remarkable mining journey! Raised in small-town Nevada, Leatha chose to stay home instead of accepting a full-ride volleyball scholarship. Her journey began while waitressing at a local restaurant, where she was recruited to work at the mines as a surveyor, and she hasn't looked back...

Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible mothers out there! On this episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with a true matriarch, Grandma Sally Trujillo. Her warmth, wisdom, and boundless love have shaped us in ways we can never repay. As we sipped coffee in her living room, we soaked in her life's remarkable journey and cherished her unforgettable tales. Grandma Sally epitomizes seizing ev...

In the latest episode of our podcast, Mining Minds , had the honor of sitting down with the incredible Sam Faga , External Affairs Superintendent for Kinross Nevada . Sam's journey is nothing short of inspiring - from overcoming challenges as a young parent to navigating through tough economic times, her resilience shines through. Starting as a medical assistant, Sam discovered her passion for min...

Join us in welcoming Aaron Witt , the self-proclaimed "Chief Dirt Nerd" and CEO of BuildWitt , as he sits down with Mining Minds and Joseph Kemp , VP and GM of Kinross Gold Corporation - Nevada, for an industry chat you won't want to miss! Aaron's journey from a kid with no exposure to the dirt world to a passionate advocate for the mining industry is truly amazing. He's turning his childhood pass...

Join us for the premiere episode of Mining Minds , where Commercial Manager for Cyanco , Brandie McDaniel , steps into our brand-new studio! With a rich family history deeply rooted in mining, Brandie delves into her captivating 30-year journey within the industry. From her upbringing in and around Nevada brothels, to receiving invaluable support from mining companies for her education and diving...

In our last episode before Mining Minds make its big move to the new studio! We're thrilled to have Teryn Faiman , Director of Human Resources and President of Women in Mining for the Nevada chapter , joining us for an inspiring conversation. Teryn shares her journey from growing up around mining to becoming a leader in the industry. She discusses seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges, and...

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...