Mining Minds

Face miner Frank Jenkins sits down with Mining Minds to talk about his mining journey. He walks us through his childhood experiences, coming to Nevada for the first time to mine and marrying an amazing woman who has supported him throughout. Frank discusses how he's made changes throughout his career, how he's had to "learn to learn" as a young miner, and how reflects to improve. Mining Minds would like to welcome Frank Jenkins to the Face!

Motor Mission and Radiator

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Working Athlete (10% discount by typing in miningminds20)

22UntilNone

Ill Zakiel

On this episode of the podcast Mining Minds had the opportunity to sit down with Dede Barker, an amazing lady who we could say is directly responsible for giving us our start in the mining industry. Dede walks us through her younger years and how see had to grow up fast. She tells us how she landed her husband by fishing off the company dock, her experiences first moving to Elko, and making people's Christmas every day! Dede discusses her passion and her profession with getting to know and understanding people, while knowing the industry and finding a good fit for the individual. If you would like a personal approach in your career, you need to contact Dede Barker. You can reach Dede at Pray and Company or by calling (775) 934-6054. Mining Minds would like to welcome Dede Barker to the Face!

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Working Athlete - Discount Code: miningminds20

Ill Zakiel

22UntilNone

Pray & Company

Face Miner and U.S Army Veteran, Benjamin Powell walks us through his early years from skipping school to go snowboarding to trying to join the U. S. Marine Corps at twelve years old. By the age of seventeen Ben joined the U.S. Army and served multiple tours in Afghanistan. He discusses his experiences in military, coming out of combat back into civilian life and how the mining environment helped him. Ben is now on a mission to bring awareness to veteran suicide and to helping our military men and women once they come back into civilian life. In an effort to end veteran suicide, Ben and Mining Minds are asking the listeners to go to Twenty Two Until None, donate, and spread the awareness to support the amazing military men and women who have served our country!

Twenty two Until None - Donate

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Working Athlete – 10% Discount Code: miningminds20

Ill Zakiel

From the small mining towns of West Virginia to the political scene, Bo Copley sits down with Mining Minds to talk about his journey. He discusses his career in mining, his faith in God, and his sit down with Hilary Clinton which ultimately led to him running for U.S. Senate in the state of West Virginia. Bo is the star in the documentary The Campaign of Miner Bo (produced by Todd Drezner-Episode 76). Go to minerbofilms.com to rent or buy the documentary, you won't be disappointed. Mining Minds would like to welcome Bo Copley to the Face!

The Campaign of Miner Bo (Discount Code - miningminds)

Motor Mission

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Working Athlete (Discount Code - miningminds20)

Ill Zakiel - Link to Official Video "Drive"

Tyler Hoelzen, with Working Athlete stops by the studio to talk to Mining Minds about alternatives to healthy living. Ty walks us through his background as a left-handed pitcher coming out of high school, working his way through some semi-professional baseball, to working on leach pads in this northern Nevada area. We discuss his passion for helping others become healthier and dive into Working Athlete, a healthier alternative to those high sugar sports drinks and energy drinks. For more information check out WorkingAthlete.com or click the links in the episode notes. Mining Minds would like to welcome Tyler Holzen to the Face.

Working Athlete - Discount Code: Miningminds20

Motor Missions Machine and Radiator

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Ill Zakiel

In this episode of Mining Minds, the crew sits down with Diane Watson — retired Supervisory Special Investigator with MSHA, firefighter, EMT, and lifelong safety advocate. From leaving home at 15 and living in a woodshed to becoming one of the most respected voices in mine safety, Diane's story is one of resilience, grit, and purpose.

She walks us through her incredible journey: from driving haul trucks at Homestake McLaughlin Mine to shaping safety culture as an MSHA investigator and now as the founder of Silverado Compliance Solutions. Diane opens up about her early struggles, the mentors who inspired her, the challenges of being a woman in mining, and the lessons she learned leading inspections, investigations, and mine rescue competitions across the U.S. Please help us welcome Diane Watson to the Face!

Episode Sponosors:

Rockwell Industrial and Mining

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Ill Zakiel

Diane Waston - Sliverado Complaince Solutions

Silverado Compliance Solutions

Instagram @firezin

Chapters:

02:08 Introducing Diane Watson: From Woodshed to the Face

04:09 Growing Up Tough and Leaving Home at 15

11:57 Landing Her First Mining Job at Homestake McLaughlin

13:00 Learning the Haul Truck and Building Confidence

15:49 Overcoming Stereotypes: Women in Mining in the '90s

17:22 Transitioning from Operator to Safety Professional

26:00 The MSHA Journey: Inspections, Challenges, and Ethics

35:14 Mine Rescue, Mentorship, and National Competitions

44:16 Leadership Lessons from the Face to the Federal Level

50:06 Investigations, Integrity, and Lessons from the FBI

57:01 Balancing Compliance with Common Sense

01:03:11 Founding Silverado Compliance Solutions

01:10:05 Retirement, Mentorship, and Giving Back to Mining

01:13:35 Full Circle: From the Cabin to Building a Legacy

Underground miner and leadman Jesus Mendoza joins Mining Minds to talk to walk through his mining journey. From humble beginnings to his sixteen years in the mining industry, Jesus has worked hard for his reputation. On this episode we discuss how the industry has changed since he first stepped into mining, what he has learned throughout his years and how he helps pass down some of that knowledge. Join Mining Minds as we welcome Jesus Mendoza to the face!

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Ill Zakiel

From Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and this northern Nevada Area Vern has seen and done a lot. A great episode were we walked through through the evolution of MSHA regulations, discussed Tommy Knockers, the positive side of making mistakes, glorifying the hard times in mining, and driving expectations. Ton of respect for Vern, his leadership and, as you'll hear in the podcast, his ability to set a standards. Join Mining Minds as we welcome Vern Goglio to the Face!

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Ill Zakiel

On this episode of the podcast, we welcome David J. Bice into the studio to talk about his journey. He brings us back to growing up in lake Havasu and picking up cash on the shoreline to his time as a Helicopter Mechanic for the Army National Guard. Dave talks about the difference between small mines versus big mines, getting slabbed tying in rounds, his path out of the mining industry and into launching balloons to provide internet to rural areas throughout the world. Join Mining Minds as we welcome Dave Bice to the Face!

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Ill Zakiel

Xylem's Business Development Manager, Jessy Parmar, joins Mining Minds to talk about their holistic approach to water management. Jessy walks us through a little bit of his journey, his love for hockey, how math led him to his engineering background, and how he has taken the opportunity to approach business differently because of COVID lockdowns. He educates us on the water scarcity throughout the world, discusses how correctly managing water helps save businesses money, and how Xylem Inc. as a global water technology provider can help provide solutions.

Brass in

Xylem Inc.

Motor Missions Machine and Radiator

Rockwell Industrial & Mining

Ill Zakiel