Before the citations. Before the regulations. Before the arguments—there's people.

In the first-ever Safe Word segment of Mining Minds, Grover sits down with longtime mentor, former MSHA inspector, and no-nonsense safety professional Jim Hoover to have the conversations most safety meetings never do. This episode strips away the myths, the fear, and the finger-pointing around mining safety and replaces them with something better: honesty, experience, and critical thinking.

They break down what MSHA actually does (and doesn't do), why citations aren't cash grabs, and how perception, personality, and human judgment shape every inspection. From the difference between being compliant and being truly safe, to why asking why matters more than memorizing the 30 CFR, this episode is about understanding safety—not weaponizing it.

You'll hear real stories from the pit and the inspector's side, hard lessons learned early in a career, and why building relationships—rather than hiding when inspectors show up—can make operations safer for everyone.

Brass in—join the conversation and be a part of The Safe Word.

Chapters:

01:50 Why This Safety Conversation Started 02:41 Opinion, Experience, and Inviting Disagreement 07:52 Mining Safety Myths: Do Inspectors Get Paid for Citations? 10:55 The Human Element of Inspections 13:26 Understanding the 30 CFR and Asking "Why" 17:48 Real-World Example 22:34 Regional Differences and Interpretation of Standards 29:05 Inspectors as a Resource, Not the Enemy 35:32 Recognizing Good Work and Building Safety Culture

Join Mining Minds from the 2025 Mine Safety & Health Conference as we sit down with Don Neff, Security Manager and longtime Nevadan. Don shares his journey from growing up in Elko County to serving in the Air Force's photo-recon field, working as a Nevada Highway Patrol officer, and ultimately finding his place in mining safety.

Drawing on decades of experience, Don talks about reading people, leading through influence, and navigating the impact of emerging technology, autonomy, and AI on mine safety. He breaks down the importance of true partnerships—especially in contractor management—and the need for meaningful engagement, strong systems, and asking the right "what if" questions. Please help us welcome Don Neff to the Face!

Thank you to the Mine Safety & Health Conference for providing us the opportunity to participate in this event.

Event Sponsor:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Liebherr Mining

Chapters:

00:45 Growing Up Nevada

01:40 High School, Sports, and Early Ambitions

02:30 Joining the Air Force & Seeing the World

05:45 Culture Shock Abroad

07:40 Returning Home & Working for Nevada Highway Patrol

09:00 Policing During Nevada's Mining Boom

12:30 From Law Enforcement to Mining Safety

14:45 Technology, Autonomy & Safety Skepticism

18:40 Regulation Gaps & Challenges with MSHA

25:00 Leading Indicators, Engagement & Safety Culture

31:00 Contractor Management & True Partnerships

35:45 Moving Into Security

39:30 Mentorship, Leadership & Final Thoughts

In this energized episode of Mining Minds, we sit down with Adrienne Clinton, a driving force behind the 2025 Mine Safety & Health Conference and a rising leader in mining safety. From her early days in law enforcement to her unexpected path into security, safety, and now industry leadership, Adrienne shares her story full of humor and passion for people.

This episode explores the real human challenges inside mining — mental health, generational differences, communication barriers, culture shifts, regulatory frustrations, and the everyday wins that shape safer operations. Adrienne opens up about bombing the interview that actually changed her life, stepping into safety with no prior background, building community partnerships, advocating for new miners, and helping grow a national conference. Please help us welcome Adrienne Clinton to the Face.

Thank you to the Mine Safety & Health Conference for giving us the opportunity to participate in this event.

Event Sponsor:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Liebherr Mining

Chapers:

01:45 The Conversation That Changed Everything

03:06 Mental Health, Suicide Prevention & Industry Family

04:15 Growing Up Nevada: Law Enforcement to Mining

05:44 Returning Home & an Interview Gone Wrong (But Right)

08:10 Getting the Job, Earning Trust & Building Opportunity

11:40 Florida Canyon Culture & Showing up to support safety

15:57 Challenges of Safety: New Miners, Old Mindsets

17:48 Bridging Generations

20:02 The "Goggles" Story & Earning Stripes in the Field

24:15 Why Mining Won Her Over: Impact, Growth & Community

49:42 Building a National Safety Conference & What's Next

In this episode of Mining Minds, Dino and Grover sit down with longtime miner, electrician, and leader Jason Bohl for an unfiltered conversation about life inside the industry — from early apprenticeships to leadership pressures, from underground lessons to personal turning points. Jason walks us through a career built on work ethic, motivation, and authenticity, sharing how he learned to "figure it out," how mentors shaped him, and how staying self-driven opened unexpected doors.

We also dive into the real side of mining: burnout, mental health, navigating fatherhood while working long hours, rebuilding after setbacks, and redefining success. Jason opens up about resilience, responsibility, supporting the next generation, and finding balance after years of nonstop grind. Please help us welcome Jason Bohl to the Face!

Event Sponsor:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Liebherr Mining

JSR Fleet Performance

Chapters:

01:18 Welcome to the Mine Safety & Health Conference

03:06 Montana Roots & Moving to a Mining Town

04:56 Football, Fitting In & Finding Community

07:11 Entering the Mining Industry & Early Electrical Training

11:41 First Days Underground & Learning by Doing

20:59 Wyoming Oil Sands: Building a Mine from Scratch

29:04 Returning to Nevada & Joining Cortez Underground

38:08 Leadership Lessons: VFL, Culture & Human Connection

54:13 Burnout, Balance & The Mental Side of Mining

1:06:10 New Beginnings: Family, Career Reset & The Future Miner

Join Mining Minds as we look back on years of conversations, growth, and lessons learned from the people who power the mining industry. This special anniversary episode dives deep into the heart of who we are — the stories that shaped us, the communities that supported us, and our evolution from a simple idea to a respected industry voice.

From traveling the country, launching new video platforms, and building workforce development content, to sharing emotional guest stories, advocating for mental health, and expanding our network of miners, leaders, innovators, and veterans — this episode highlights our past, our present, and the exciting future ahead.

You'll hear our behind-the-scenes reflections, favorite guest moments, and updates on new initiatives, including The Safe Word safety segment of the podcast, upcoming industry panel discussions, children's mining education projects, and our Military to Mining program. We also share how we plan to continue amplifying the industry in 2026 and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who has supported—and continues to support—our mission to be "The Voice Inside The Industry." Here's to the next 200!

Episode Mentions: Clorinda and Sean Cosper, Rodrigo Barbosa, Michael Hartley, Ida Rukavina, Kristen Vake, Matt Lucas, Julie Lucas, Talia Sandys, Alexia Carver, Liz Diaz, Don Dwyer, Nikita Grover, Linda Honey, Victor Ortiz, Trampus Cook, Jessica Scanlan, Jennie Davis, Jerry Rynearson, Joel Lerner, Nate Goerke, Conway Fraser, Vern Goglio, Alan Franklin, Holly Gallian, Sean Gallian, John Metzger, Richard Mallen, Sam Faga, Jason James, Josh Sumption, Torqn, Michael Zolotov, Leetha Reeves, Chuy Herrera, Hector Denogean, Jess Kindler, Kimberlee Longley, Amanda Hilton, Cory Rockwell, James Hoover, Ben Powell, Brent Adams, Matt Hillard

Episode Sponsors:

JSR Fleet Performance

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Liebherr Mining

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Kicking Off Episode 200

01:01 Looking Back on the Journey

03:08 Growth, Travel & Industry Support

05:03 Authentic Voices of Mining

07:12 Mental Health, Vulnerability & Real Stories

09:51 Lessons From 200 Conversations

13:22 Workplace Culture & Standout Guests

16:11 Ideas, Innovation & Industry Collaboration

20:47 Mining Solutions & Global Insights

23:36 Most Impactful Episodes & Emotional Moments

30:31 The Future: Presentations, Video, Events & New Segments

40:55 Military To Mining, Projects & What's Ahead

In this episode of Mining Minds, we sit down at the Mine Safety & Health Conference with returning guest Diane Watson — a respected safety professional, MSHA veteran, and industry leader dedicated to improving safety culture across mining.

Originally featured on Episode #93, Diane returns to share her passion for connecting people, fostering communication, and ensuring the next generation of miners understands the "why" behind safety. From her start as a haul truck operator to her time with MSHA and now as the founder of Silverado Compliance Solutions, Diane talks mentorship, accountability, leadership, and the challenges of evolving safety standards in a fast-changing industry.

Catch both of Diane's episodes on all major podcast platforms.

Event Sponsor:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Liebherr Minining

Chapters:

02:24 Reconnecting with Diane Watson: From Episode #93 to Now

06:04 Passing the Torch: Mentorship and Losing Industry Knowledge

08:43 Communication, Culture, and the Importance of "Why"

10:48 Compliance vs. Culture: Turning Rules into Conversations

13:20 From MSHA to Silverado Compliance Solutions

16:27 Teaching Supervisors: The Role of Responsibility and Accountability

19:30 Defining "Agents of the Company" and Ownership in Safety

23:11 Building Relationships with Inspectors and Regulators

34:19 Technology, AI, and the Future of Mine Safety Standards

37:10 The Human Element: Mental Health and Worker Connection

40:42 Big Companies, Bigger Culture — Keeping People First

50:06 Integrity in Consulting and Working with Purpose

53:18 Collaboration, Community, and What Keeps Diane Motivated

In this cutting-edge episode of Mining Minds, we sit down with Michael Hartley, Managing Director of InterKnowlogy, a North American AI and performance visualization company revolutionizing how the mining industry makes decisions. From his early years in Nova Scotia to his global career in oil, gas, and mining, Michael shares a fascinating journey that connects human performance, data-driven decision-making, and the future of AI in industrial operations.

With real-world lessons, Michael breaks down how human factors engineering and artificial intelligence can change safety, efficiency, and leadership across the mining world. Discover how InterKnowlogy's Command Center and Caddi technologies are transforming decision-making at every level — from operators to executives — by helping people make better, faster, and smarter choices. This episode dives into technology, leadership, and the human side of innovation — a must-listen for anyone passionate about mining's future, workforce development, and real-world applications of AI in heavy industry. Please help us Welcome Michael Hartley to the Face!

Episode Sponsors:

Liebherr Mining

JSR Fleet Performance

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Episode Chapters:

03:00 – From Nova Scotia Roots to a Global Perspective

06:15 – Human Factors Engineering: The Science Behind Better Decisions

09:40 – Turning Data into Smarter, Safer Mining

13:10 – Lessons from his early career

18:30 – Mining's Future: Transparency, Trust, and Transformation

23:45 – AI Meets Mining: The Birth of Caddi

31:20 – The Human Element of Artificial Intelligence

38:00 – Changing Culture Through Smarter Decision-Making

45:50 – The Power of Visualization and Real-Time Insight

53:25 – Workforce Development and the Next Generation of Miners

01:20:00 – Building the Future of Mining with InterKnowlogy

From a 16-year-old kid cleaning shops to the Director of Mine Skills Training at Great Basin College (GBC/NORCAT), Travis Macias embodies what it means to grind, grow, and give back. In this inspiring episode of Mining Minds, Travis shares his raw, real journey through life underground — from hard lessons on the jackleg to leading Nevada's next generation of miners. He opens up about fatherhood, faith, mentorship, and how tragedy and resilience guided his purpose. Whether you're a miner, mentor, or dreamer, this is an episode about humility, perseverance, and the power of giving a damn.

Travis reflects on the old-school lessons that forged his work ethic, the mentors who pushed him to be better, and the importance of accountability both at work and at home. He dives deep into how mining shaped his character — and how he's now shaping the future of the industry through education and innovation. Tune in for real talk, laughs, and life lessons from a man who's lived it, led it, and continues to pay it forward. Please help us Welcome Travis Macias to the Face!

Episode Sponsors:

JSR Fleet Performance

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Episode Chapters:

04:12 – Growing Up Carlin Tough

08:41 – When Home Becomes a Time, Not a Place

13:21 – Hard Lessons and Humility Underground

16:42 – Safety, Tragedy, and the Moment Everything Changed

27:26 – Tough Bosses, Tough Love, Real Growth

36:26 – Workforce Development: Then vs. Now

40:08 – Brotherhood, Bar Fights, and Bonds Built Underground

54:05 – Leaving the Mine: Building a Gym, Building Character

01:17:13 – Entering Training: Teaching the Next Generation

01:43:33 – Technology, VR, and Immersive Mining Education

01:53:07 – Raising Up Others, Not Holding Them Back

As we wrap up our tour to the Minnesota Iron Range, Mining Minds had the opportunity to sit down with Bob Sterns and Virginia Bennett of US Steel Minntac for a raw and insightful conversation about life, mining, and community in Minnesota's Iron Range. From Bob's deep-rooted family history in mining to Virginia's journey from military brat to analytical technician, they share their insight into the mining cycle of the Iron Range and their passion for preserving it through responsible mining.

We talk oil analysis, pellet production, the critical role of Iron Range mining in America's infrastructure, and the challenges—and opportunities—of technology like AI and autonomy in mining. With humor, honesty, and a few unexpected tangents, this episode delivers both laughter and lessons. Please help us welcome Bob & Virginia to the Face!

Special thanks to Kristen Vake (Iron Mining Association of MN), Julie Lucas and Talia Sandys (Mining Minnesota) for making this episode possible.

Although it didn't make it into much of the episode, much of our day was spent talking about Fishing With Vets — a nonprofit dedicated to giving veterans the chance to enjoy the outdoors, connect with others, and find peace on the water. Through guided fishing trips and community events, they honor and support both active duty and retired service members.

Episode Sponsors:

JSR Fleet Performance

Motor Mission Machine & Radiator

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Episode Chapters:

06:20 A third-generation mining legacy

09:54 Testing samples & catching failures early

13:14 Mining for sustainability vs. production pressure

15:22 Old technology, new challenges

17:06 AI, automation & the union perspective

21:57 Community impact of mine closures

27:02 Military roots to mining career

32:08 How Iron Range connects to global steel

36:23 Passion, pride & America's steel backbone

39:36 Permitting roadblocks & mining's future

43:18 Mining as a career path for the next generation

49:25 Respect for every role—from truck drivers to lab techs

What does pride, legacy, and the future of mining look like on Minnesota's Iron Range? In this episode, we sit down with Ida Rukavinia, Commissioner of the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, and Kristen Vake, Executive Director of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, to dig deep into the history, culture, and future of mining in northern Minnesota.

From immigrant roots and unions that shaped entire communities, to today's challenges of permitting, workforce development, and the global demand for critical minerals—Ida and Kristen share candid insights about what it means to grow up in a mining family, how mining tax dollars are reinvested back into schools and communities, and why educating the next generation is more important than ever.

Whether you're rooted in the Iron Range or just discovering its story, this episode will remind you why mining is more than an industry—it's a lifeline for communities, a driver of innovation, and a proud tradition carried forward by people like Ida and Kristen who refuse to quit.

Special thanks to Kristen Vake (Iron Mining Association of MN), Julie Lucas and Talia Sandys (MiningMinnesota) for making this episode possible.

Episode Sponsors:

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Gold West Fire and Safety Services

JSR Fleet Performances

Episode Chapters:

05:40 The Legacy of the Iron Range

13:05 From Past Struggles to Present Opportunities

17:30 Ida's Journey to Commissioner

26:10 Mining Tax Dollars and Community Reinvestment

41:00 Global Markets and the Critical Minerals Future

50:15 Building Public Trust & Industry Education

54:40 Collaboration Between Industry & Government

59:10 Looking Ahead: The Future of Minnesota Mining