"Take a victory lap today and celebrate all the wonderful things you've done this year." – Trace Blackmore 

In this milestone 400th episode, host Trace Blackmore reflects on the podcast’s incredible journey and the achievements of 2024. From personal accomplishments to listener engagement and standout episodes, this celebration highlights the growth of the Scaling UP! Nation.

Scaling UP! H2O by the Numbers: What 2024 Taught Us  Trace shares how the podcast grew across countries like Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand while continuing to top charts on Apple and Spotify.

Personal Triumphs: From Scuba Diving to Off-Roading Adventures  This year wasn’t just about podcasting. Trace shares personal milestones, including certifying his 1,000th scuba diver, losing 20 pounds, and embracing off-roading adventures in his wife’s Jeep.

Behind the Mic: Guests, Stats, and Records  With 51 guests in 2024, 35% were women, and 65% were men. This diverse lineup included highlights like the Women of Water (Episode 380) and Legionella Awareness Month series. The podcast also broke a record with six guests in a single episode.

From Legionella to Boilers: Most Shared Episodes of 2024  Episodes like Are Legionella Cases Truly on the Rise? (Episode 376) and Steam Boiler Essentials (Episodes 353 & 354) delivered actionable insights that sparked industry discussions.

AWT Innovation Award: A Shared Honor This year, Scaling UP! H2O was honored with the 2024 AWT Innovation Award at the AWT Annual Conference. Recognizing the podcast’s impact on advancing the water treatment industry, this award is a testament to the dedication of the Scaling UP! Nation.

The Timeless Impact of Episode 179  Kathleen Edelman’s Temperaments episode remains the most downloaded in podcast history, offering lasting lessons on improving communication and relationships.

The Scaling UP! Nation Community: More Than a Podcast  More than a podcast, Scaling UP! H2O is a movement driven by its listeners. With 10,000 LinkedIn followers and a growing global presence, the Scaling UP! Nation continues to make waves in the water treatment industry.

A Look Ahead: What’s Next for 2025  Trace teases what’s to come, including new contributions from James MacDonald and an even greater focus on delivering high-quality content for water treatment professionals.

Powered by Our Partners: Sponsors Who Believe in the Mission  This podcast thrives thanks to sponsors who believe in its mission. Their support ensures the production of valuable, high-quality episodes.

Here’s to the Next Chapter, Together  Trace thanks everyone who made this milestone possible, celebrating 400 episodes as a shared achievement with the Scaling UP! Nation. Together, we’re shaping the future of water treatment. 

And as always, we’re scaling up knowledge, so we don’t scale up our systems.

Timestamps:   01:10 - Trace reflects on the podcast’s journey, shares gratitude for the Scaling UP! Nation, and highlights achievements while offering forward-looking insights. 04:25 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals  08:39 – Trace shares his personal milestones from 2024 09:22 – Drop by Drop with James McDonald 14:49 – Trace delivers the Podcast Highlights of 2024 43:44 - Gratitude for Sponsors, Guests, and Listeners 45:18 – A Look Ahead to 2025 46:21 – Episode Wrap-Up and New Year Wishes

Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O

Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses The Rising Tide Mastermind  World Vision Global 6k  001 A New Podcast for Water Treaters 179 Another One that Teaches Us to Communicate Better with Others  348 Credentials and Codes: Plumbing Strategies Against Legionella  350 Polymer Perspectives: Understanding Copolymer Innovations in Water Treatment  351 Maximizing Water’s Potential: Tech and Water Treaters in Perfect Harmony  353 Steam Boilers: Essential Checks, Part 1  354 Steam Boilers: Essential Checks, Part 2  355 Backflow Prevention: Safeguarding Water Quality  376 Are Legionella Cases Truly on the Rise? Insights on Legionella Trends and Prevention  380 The WOW Effect: Women Leading Transformation in the Water Industry  390 Multimeter Troubleshooting: Your Guide to Accurate Diagnostics, Part 1  391 Multimeter Troubleshooting: Your Guide to Accurate Diagnostics, Part 2 

Drop by Drop with James In today’s episode, I have a quote. The quote is, “The lines are painted wrong.” Who said that and what did this person mean?  That was my Dad. He used to tell us that as kids. You see, my Dad took pride in his driving abilities, and when he would not park the straightest in a parking space, we kids would take great delight in pointing it out to him. His reply was always, “The lines are painted wrong.” Oddly enough, we LOVED this answer! We would argue back, “No they aren’t! You parked crooked!” He would just shake his head, smile, and calmly insist, “The lines are painted wrong.” In my career as an industrial water treatment professional, this quote has always stuck with me. There are most certainly times when the lines are painted wrong. The control ranges may be wrong, too tight, or too broad. The lines are painted wrong. The expectations from a client or manager may be unrealistic. The lines are painted wrong. The finger often gets pointed at the water treatment professional first when things go wrong with water-related equipment, even when it’s not our fault. The lines are painted wrong. While it would not have been appropriate for my Dad to repaint the lines in a parking lot, it can be appropriate for us to repaint the lines at times in industrial water treatment. Control ranges can be appropriately adjusted. Expectations can be diplomatically realigned. Blame can be diffused or redirected with listening, discussion, facts, and patience. Sometimes, it takes a little thinking outside the box to realize when the lines are painted wrong. I have my Dad to thank for helping me see this at such a young age, and I can’t wait to tell him that now tens of thousands of people have just learned from him, too.  

Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.