Get A Grip On Lighting Podcast

This is it. The final episode (side 1) of The Get a Grip on Lighting Podcast. Michael and Greg reflect on the past 8 years and 400+ episodes.     Sponsor: Keystone, www.keystonetech.com

Building the Boat While the Water is Rising with Scott Wachter [Pat: this is the new title changed from the live stream] In this second-to-final episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts Michael and Greg sit down with Scott Wachter — the mind behind the Lighting Industry News Brief and a key player in countless NAILD projects since 2019. ✨ Highlights: Scott reflects on his journey from theater kid...

In this episode, Michael and Greg sit down with Devin Wall , one of the inventive forces behind Louvers International, to unpack the infamous DLC report and the future of lighting standards.   🔥 Highlights: The history of industry pushback against DLC certifications (from mafia skits to cease-and-desist letters). Devin’s hands-on approach: walking the factory floor, designing real solutions, and...

In this, episode 3 of the finale series of Get a Grip on Lighting , Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich sit down with Mark Baker of the Soft Lights Foundation to trace the journey from the early days of Starving for Darkness to the evolution of Restoring Darkness .   They revisit how the pandemic sparked the industry’s first serious conversations about dark skies, Jane Slade’s passionate leadership,...

In this episode, hosts Michael and Greg welcome Webster Marsh and Ron Kuszmar from the Lighting Controls Podcast . They reflect on the journey from a chance conversation in late 2021 to building a thriving show with over 120 episodes . ✨ Key Highlights: How Webster and Ron went from guest and co-host to paid podcasters. The evolution of lighting controls as a serious industry conversation. Educat...

Michael and Greg sit down with Scott Griffin to reflect on the journey of creating and producing thousands of podcast episodes. Sponsor: Halco Lighting, halcolighting.com

Adam Chetakian, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Apprime Lighting, has over 30 years in the game. He, Michael and Greg address the dirty secret behind the LED retrofit world: fixtures that die young and end up in landfills. Adam’s here to flip the script with a patented, tool-less, replaceable light engine that saves time, money, and the planet 🌍. 💡 Topics covered: Why LED “efficiency” bet...

Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich declare a full-blown crisis in the lighting industry’s “right to repair.” From inaccessible drivers screwed into joists to obsolete Cat5 control systems and $300 can lights that can't be fixed, the guys expose the absurdity of modern lighting design. Real-world stories from schools, churches, and health clubs reveal how LED upgrades have turned into long-term liabi...

[Note: This episode contains important visuals. It is recommended to watch the video.]  In this explosive episode of Get a Grip on Lighting (previously streamed live), industry lawyer David Radulescu joins Michael and Greg to dissect the legal and ethical challenges facing the DesignLights Consortium (DLC). What started as a podcast turned crusade now confronts the rebate gatekeeper head-on. 💥 Wh...

 In this electrifying episode of Get a Grip on Lighting , we sit down with Tom Kieffer of Service Lighting (aka LightBulbs.com)—a 40-year veteran who's still pushing boundaries and saving clients up to 85% on lighting costs . But this isn't just about retrofits and wattage. It's about honor, innovation, and rebellion .   💡 What’s Inside Tom’s take on why most lighting design is broken—and how to...

Is the DLC a wolf in sheep's clothing? Michael and Greg lay it out. The live stream experienced some technical difficulties, so here it is in full.

🔥 Buckle up for a bold ride through the lighting industry! Mike & Greg give you a brief recap of the Nailed Convention, and challenge the DLC to display their transparency values by inviting them and D+R to speak up on the Get a Grip on Lighting Podcast this Friday.    Plus, you’ll get some classic Mike & Greg banter, including a wild donkey analogy that somehow makes perfect sense.   #Li...

Alan Karen of Satco is the OG, the original gangster of lighting. With his 30-year journey in lighting, Alan brings wisdom, grit, and heart to the mic.   🔥 What’s inside: The evolution of lighting distribution and Satco’s game-changing portal Why relationships still matter in a tech-driven world The story behind the Guiding Light Award and the H Foundation’s fight against cancer ( www.hfoundation...

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Butters—lighting educator, and Founder & Executive Director of The Lighting Agora—for a no-holds-barred conversation on the state of lighting education, the evolution of the industry, and what to expect at the Canada Light Expo, November 12-13 (canadalightexpo.com). From the value of in-person learning to the challenges of brand-driven training, Tom brings...

In this episode of Get a Grip on Lighting , we welcome back Al Uszynski—founder of Inside Lighting (inside.lighting) and one of the most respected voices in lighting journalism—for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of the lighting industry.   📰 From the launch of the new Lumy Awards to the controversy surrounding DLC, Al shares candid insights into the role of journalism, the need for indus...

This episode tackles the hidden pitfalls of LED lighting with two seasoned designers who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Rachel and Anne expose how the promise of long-lasting LEDs often falls short—especially in demanding environments like airports and hotels. 🔧 Key Points: LEDs Aren’t Forever : Despite marketing claims, many fixtures fail within 3–7 years. Repairability Crisis : Most...

In this fiery and insightful episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts Michael and Greg dive deep into the DLC's 501 (c) 3 charitable activities like product labelling in the lighting industry.  Pulling no punches as they challenge the status quo. Here's what you'll get:   Lighting Industry Real Talk Michael and Greg dissect the influence of the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) and how its evolving st...

🔥 Welcome to the ArchLight Experience 🔥   Get ready to plug into the pulse of the lighting design world at the ArchLIGHT Summit, September 16-17 at the Dallas Market Center. From color-changing corridors to line dancing at the Last Call party—this is lighting, learning, and networking at its best.   #ArcLightSummit #LightingDesign #GetAGripPodcast #WILD #DallasEvents #DesignInnovation #PodcastVi...

In this unforgettable episode, Matt Honson—President of NAILD and lighting industry veteran—shares his jaw-dropping journey from warehouse worker to industry leader. But it’s not just about lighting. Matt recounts surviving a near-fatal fall off a cliff in China, breaking his neck and back, and being rescued by farmers who carried him out on a donkey. His miraculous recovery and resilience are not...

In this spirited episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts dive deep into the highs and hiccups of the LSC training held in Dallas — a hands-on lighting controls certification course that left attendees saying, "It hurt good."    🔥 Highlights Include:  Insights from course creators Webster Marsh, Ron Kuszmar, and Chris O'Shea as they reflect on what worked and what evolved.  Emphasis on hands-on l...

In this episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, Michael Colligan, Greg Ehrich, and Scott Wachter dive deep into the latest efforts to address light pollution through education and innovation in the lighting industry. Scott reveals the launch of Lighting Specialist: Darkness Restoration Part One, a pioneering training program designed to equip professionals with practical knowledge to mitigate night pol...

In this illuminating episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, science journalist Lynne Peeples—author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythm—joins Greg and Michael for a deep dive into the fascinating world of biological timekeeping. 🌞🕰️    From her background in biostatistics and journalism to her personal struggles with sleep and seasonal affective disorder, Peeples shares why a...

In this illuminating episode, Karl Zartarian, Regional VP at Barron Lighting Group, joins the show to discuss innovation, strategy, and the evolving landscape of emergency and specialty lighting. From anti-ligature exit signs for institutional settings to RGBW panels with DMX controls, Karl shares practical insights and real-world applications that are shaping the future of lighting.   💡 Topics i...

In this vibrant episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts Greg and Mike welcome back Kathryn Toth, an award-winning architectural lighting designer renowned for her mastery in crafting artistic lighting solutions across commercial, residential, retail, and landscape spaces.   🌍✨ 🎙️ Highlights Include:  - Decorative Lamp Design Tips: Kathryn shares her preferences for medium and candelabra base la...

In this mind-bending episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, tech visionary Tony Lawrence dives deep into the future of light, AI, quantum computing—and even interdimensional data transfer. From mining Bitcoin with a lightbulb, to using quantum entropy to generate synthetic data, Tony explores how light itself is becoming both a medium for communication and a tool for cybersecurity, surveillance, and p...