Mining Minds

Just like prospectors before him, Chris Rodriguez takes his family and skills north to Alaska. Chris talks about moving from the mining focused work to the civil side of construction. He walks us through some of the decisions he and his family had to make when choosing to head north and discusses some of the opportunities that are ahead. Listen in as Mining Minds follows Chris through his next venture.

Good luck to you my man!

miningmindsllc.com

Open pit operator turned safety professional Annie McWilliams sits down to talk about her journey in mining and her new journey out of mining. Annie shares some stories about operating equipment, her passion for helping others, and her approach as a woman in the mining industry. As Annie steps away from the mining community to be closer to home, Mining Minds would like to wish her the best of luck in her new venture.

Underground miner and shotcrete professional Sean Gallian sits down at the face to talk to Mining Minds. Sean explains some of the medical challenges that affect his work-life balance. He discusses the impact of passing down knowledge, the importance of seeing the bigger picture, and shares where he would like to develop in the future. Join Mining Minds as we welcome in Sean Gallian to the Studio.

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Internationally Certified Life Coach Holly Gallian joins Mining Minds at the Face to talk about her mining journey and her mission to help others. She discusses peeling back that emotional onion and finding those "gold nuggets" that are inside us all. From managing projects to managing a mining schedule, Holly provides some coaching to Mining Minds and gets us to think about our why!

Contact Holly for more information about her coaching at https:/soulaucoaching.as.me/schedule.php

Back from action, 2nd Lieutenant, Jason James hits the studio to talk to us about his experiences in mining and his vision for Mining Minds. Jason is one of the knuckleheads behind the idea of Mining Minds and has been away serving his country. We took the opportunity to introduce Jason to the Mining Minds community and learn about the military man. Join us as we welcome Jason back to the face. Brass in at Miningmindsllc.com

Industrial Hygiene professional Melissa Anderson stops by to share her mining experiences and get some heat readings inside the studio. She talks about going from an engineer and into the industrial hygiene field, her mining journey in other countries and in other parts of the U.S. Tune in as we discuss different hazards miners face from an industrial hygiene standpoint and how Melissa helps miners long term.

From Nevada's desert mines to Alaska's frozen frontiers, miner Sam Delany has lived the grind, the laughs, and the life of underground mining. In this candid conversation, Sam shares how he broke into mining after years in welding and construction, the culture shock of moving north, and the realities of camp life on a 28/14 rotation. Packed with underground stories, raw safety lessons, and even a few hilarious shower stories, this episode goes beyond the paycheck to reveal the modern miner.

Tune in and Brass in at miningmindsllc.com

Chapters:

00:56 Dedication to Desmond Keller

03:27 From Welding to Construction to Mining

05:57 Breaking into Nevada Mining

11:06 First Underground Experiences

19:01 Transition to Alaska & Camp Life

23:52 Beards, Benefits, and Differences in Alaska Mining

37:11 Showers, Stories, and Underground Camaraderie

38:20 Hardest Jobs Underground & Mining Hazards

44:41 Future Goals Mining, Family, and Barbecue Dreams

46:53 Life on a 28/14 Schedule

50:35 Camp Food, Fitness, and Quality of Life

57:14 Stress, Safety, and Managing Risk

What does it take to go from controlling the skies to safeguarding the mines? In this powerful episode of Mining Minds, Jim Hoover shares his incredible journey from U.S. Navy air traffic controller to haul truck operator, safety leader, and federal MSHA inspector. Jim pulls no punches as he talks about shaping safety programs, challenging inspectors, and mentoring future leaders in the mining industry. With decades of hard-earned experience and a reputation for saying what others won't, Jim offers raw stories, valuable lessons, and a unique perspective on how safety and production truly go hand in hand. Please help us Welcome Jim Hoover to the Face!

Join the Conversation at miningmindsllc.com

Chapters:

2:30 From Air Traffic Control to Mining

4:17 Breaking into Safety

8:45 Building Safety Programs from the Ground Up

12:06 Part 46 vs. Part 48

21:05 Challenging Inspectors & Finding Confidence

42:19 Impact Inspections & Leaving MSHA

47:24 Major Projects & Safety Leadership

1:07:38 Consulting, Training & Final Reflections

The Nevada mining landscape has changed forever. In this episode of Mining Minds, we dive back into the "rumor mill" to discuss the merger that created Nevada Gold Mines, the world's largest gold producer. From uncertainty at the face to leadership reshuffles, PTO changes, housing market impacts, and community skepticism, the guys break down what this merger really means for miners, families, and the region. With raw opinions, candid DMs from listeners, and plenty of heat from the face, this is the unfiltered conversation you won't hear in a press release.

Brass in at miningmindsllc.com to tell us your thoughts!

Chapters:

01:16 Welcome back to the rumor mill with Dino, Chris, and friends

02:24 Revisiting the Barrick–Newmont joint venture and what's changed

04:02 Uncertainty, contracts, and vendor impacts across Nevada

05:11 How Barrick and Newmont came together to form Nevada Gold Mines

07:32 Community reactions, new management, and shifting cultures

09:46 Integrating Barrick's drive with Newmont's people focus

13:26 Workforce changes, reallocation of talent, and job security

14:17 Raising emergency response standards across mine sites

18:28 PTO resets, bonuses, and impacts on miners' families

24:55 Gold prices, global markets, and what it means for Nevada

33:26 Community voices, DMs, and skepticism about the merger

41:14 Communication gaps, swag, and belief in the company vision

47:02 Hope, hard work, and finding opportunity in the shake-up

From the military to mechanics, from Reno to mine sites across Nevada, Brent Adams has built a career—and a life—on hard work and integrity. In this episode of Mining Minds, Brent opens up about his early days repairing heavy equipment, the lessons learned in the military, and how raising his hand for every challenge eventually led him into project management at Komatsu Mining. Beyond mining, he shares his passion for fitness, softball, and family, along with candid stories of failures, lessons, and the relentless drive to get better. This is a raw and inspiring look at what it means to show up, work hard, and lead with honesty—both on the job and in life. Join Mining Minds as we Welcome Brent Adams to the Face!

Chapters:

1:19 Introducing Brant Adams and early connections

3:02 Brant's journey into mining & first trip to Twin Creeks

4:44 Military service, Fort Knox, and transition to civilian life

7:20 Early mechanic work in California and Reno

10:27 Growing up in Reno & family traditions

13:02 Building a career with Komatsu & transition into sales

18:10 Becoming a project manager & building partnerships

22:26 Leadership, mentoring technicians, and trust

42:21 Balancing career, fitness, and softball