Energy 101: We Ask The Dumb Questions So You Don't Have To

Seismic data is basically ultrasound for the Earth, and once you hear how it works, you can’t unsee it. Colton Dudley from richroc consultants breaks down how sound waves travel underground, bounce off rock layers, and come back with clues about what’s hiding below, oil, gas, faults, and everything in between. From thumper trucks and geophones to how geophysicists turn squiggly lines into real dec...

Lawyers are the behind-the-scenes operators who make energy projects actually happen, and Kerry McGrath broke down what that world really looks like. She’s spent more than 15 years helping companies get pipelines, wind farms, mines, nuclear plants, pretty much anything that produces or moves energy, through the maze of permits, regulations, and agency sign-offs. We talked about everything from neg...

Rare earths, battery tech, and global supply chains sound intimidating, but Dr. Robert Miles somehow makes all of it feel like story time, with the occasional plot twist involving AI, robotics, and why China basically owns the rare earths game. We got into the headaches of lithium-ion batteries, the promise of modular recycling, and what the future of critical minerals really looks like, all while...

Diana Elizabeth Lima Sagui’s story takes you across borders and industries, starting in Mexico, winding through Germany, and landing in North America with a perspective you don’t hear every day. She breaks down what it’s really like building a career in the chemical world, finding her footing in oil and gas, and navigating culture shock while proving herself in STEM. It’s a mix of grit, curiosity,...

LA has its own flavor when it comes to venture capital, and Andrew Chan breaks down exactly why it works. Instead of trying to copy SF or New York, LA mixes deep tech, robotics, space startups, and pure creative chaos into one ecosystem that actually makes sense once you see how it all connects. We got into the quirks of raising money there, why energy investing hits different in LA, and how the c...

What if the same CO₂ that’s warming the planet could actually become the stuff we use every day? Jacob and Julie sit down with Aaron Fitzgerald from Mars Materials to break down how their tech flips captured CO₂ into carbon-negative chemicals like acrylonitrile, the backbone of everything from carbon fiber to water treatment to, yes, diapers. Aaron walks us through how this process slashes emissio...

Public data in energy is basically the Wild West, a mix of outdated systems, inconsistent reporting standards, and layers of bureaucracy that make it nearly impossible to use efficiently. In this episode of *Energy 101*, Jacob and Julie chat with John Ferrell, the brains behind WellDatabase, to unpack how all this chaos came to be. From dusty microfiche records to confusing state databases that ca...

Ever wondered what really goes into keeping oilfield workers safe? We put an HSE specialist on the spot with all the “dumb” questions, like what happens if there’s H2S in the air, or whether bison herds are actually a thing on site. David Valerio from DNOW breaks down safety in plain English, mixing serious insight with plenty of laughs. From OSHA rules and environmental compliance to the realitie...

Refracs might sound like something out of an engineer’s fever dream, but Bob Barba makes it surprisingly simple and honestly, kind of fascinating. He breaks down how giving old wells a “second frack” can unlock massive untapped potential, boost production, and make better use of what’s already in the ground. Jacob and Julie throw their usual mix of curious (and occasionally dumb) questions his way...

AI and Bitcoin mining’s gotten a bad rap when it comes to power use, but what if it’s actually helping reshape the grid? We sat down with Haley Juarez from Pioneer Miner to unpack how mining, AI, and high-performance computing are shaking up energy demand and what that means for grids like ERCOT and MISO. From nuclear to hydrogen, vertical farming to smart thermostats, this conversation connects a...

Coring is one of those parts of energy that doesn’t get much spotlight but makes everything else possible. Courtney Rubin from Baker Hughes breaks it down in a way that’s easy to follow, showing how pulling rock samples tells us what’s really happening underground and why that matters for oil, gas, and even the future of energy. From wildcat wells to offshore rigs, she shares stories from the fiel...

Philip Reed, better known as the "OFS Finance Guy," isn’t afraid to tell it like it is when it comes to money in the oilfield. Between explaining invoice factoring in plain English, sharing war stories about sketchy collections, and breaking down why AR headaches can make or break a company, he had us laughing and learning the whole way through. His path from Michigan to Texas is full of detours,...

Well control is one of those topics that sounds super technical, but it’s basically about keeping a well safe and under control when you’re drilling. Dana Varisco and Ryan Hays from Well Control School explain it in a way that makes sense, even if you’re not living on a rig every day. We cover why blowout preventers are such a big deal, how teamwork makes all the difference when pressure spikes, a...

Sean Kelley knows that digital tools aren’t just shiny add-ons, they’re the backbone of how energy companies can work smarter and faster. In this conversation, Jacob and Julie dig into the real ways technology is cutting inefficiencies, like replacing clunky paper forms with sleek digital systems or using AI to help leaders make decisions with confidence. Sean doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges eith...

Turning air into water sounds like science fiction, but that’s exactly what SkyH2O is doing. We sat down with Terell Jones to unpack how atmospheric water generation works and why it’s a big deal for solving global water scarcity. From disaster relief efforts to keeping farms, factories, and even tech companies supplied with clean water, this breakthrough could change the game. Terell also shares...

Spreadsheets, SCADA systems, terabytes of old data, and a surprising amount of laughter, this one has it all. Jacob and Julie sat down with Bobby Neelon from Drill Down Analytics to finally ask the “dumb” questions most people are too shy to bring up about energy, oil and gas, and the mysterious world of data. Bobby breaks down how companies actually deal with messy files (yes, even those dusty pa...

Wireline isn’t your average day job, it’s long shifts, high stakes, and a whole lot of grit. Massiel Diez pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like running wireline operations, from handling heavy-duty equipment to surviving brutal weather and the pressure of big jobs like fishing and perforating. She shares stories from the field that are equal parts intense and hilarious, while also openin...

Fracking might sound complicated, but it’s basically a wild mix of science, engineering, and more than a few surprising stories. We sat down with Justin G. Hayes from FLOW Partners to talk through what fracking actually is, how sand and water make it work, and why it’s been such a game-changer for the energy industry. Along the way, we bust myths, wander into some hilarious tangents, and even get...

Large language models like ChatGPT are changing the game, and in this episode, we’re unpacking how they’re shaking up industries and everyday tasks. From predicting your next word to transforming how we search for information, these models are much more than just the next Google. We dive into how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are becoming essential in our daily lives, plus the energy...

Ever wondered about the Permian Basin or how oil really works? In this episode of Energy 101, Jacob and Julie ask the "dumb questions" so you don't have to! Joined by expert Shad Frazier, Senior VP of U.S. Onshore Operations at Apache, they explore everything from the history of the oil industry to the secrets of the Midland culture. Learn about the difference between conventional and unconvention...

In this episode of Energy 101, we welcome Lee Payne, Director of Sales and Marketing at Cold Bore Technology, for his first-ever podcast appearance, where he breaks down what “completions” really means in oil and gas, shares his unconventional path into the industry, and explores how data in completions has evolved from thumb drives and CDs to real-time, modern data platforms, along with why colla...

In this episode of Energy 101, we sit down with energy lawyers Lauren and Ashley to demystify energy law and trials, break down common misconceptions about lawsuits, and share practical advice on protecting yourself and your company, from smart communication habits and privilege concerns to how managers, employees, and leaders should navigate legal challenges in the energy industry. Join the conve...

In this episode of Energy 101, we sit down with Dr. Peter Duncan, geophysicist and founder of MicroSeismic, to explore his journey from an early geology job in Newfoundland to building a company that helped shape the Shale era, unpack what microseismic is and how it differs from conventional seismic, and discuss its expanding applications from fracking and CO₂ sequestration to geothermal energy, a...

In this episode of Energy 101, Sydney and Julie are joined by industry expert Marshall Long to break down what’s really happening with ERCOT and the Texas grid, explaining how the deregulated market works, why ancillary services are critical to grid stability, and how large flexible loads like Bitcoin miners help balance supply and demand, while also clearing up common misconceptions about where p...

This week on Energy 101, we sit down with veteran geologist Deborah Sacrey, who brings over 30 years of industry experience to a wide-ranging conversation on why seismic data is foundational to drilling, how the shift from 2D to 3D and soon 4D seismic is reshaping the industry, and the growing role machine learning plays in refining subsurface insights, while also touching on her consulting work,...