We often talk about the tools and technology that help prevent cybersecurity attacks. These are important. However, attackers are often able to gain access by someone who is just going about their daily activities, answering email or phone calls. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with cybersecurity expert Frank Harrill about the importance of cultivating a culture of security where every employee understands their role in protecting company assets.

There are many things that go into creating a successful business. You need a good strategy, a strong team, and a great product or service to sell. But these alone don't ensure success. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with business leaders David Costello and Tony Lee about an essential ingredient that fortifies all the others and can take the recipe from good to great: culture.

Electric power grids are designed to withstand a wide variety of destructive forces. Whether lightning is striking or hurricane winds are blowing, people depend on the grid to continuously deliver electricity to their homes and businesses. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with Travis Mooney, an electronics design and testing expert, about high-altitude electromagnetic pulses and how the industry is working together to ensure the grid is resilient against the threat.

With every major automaker working to give Tesla a run for its money, and the government's push for half of all vehicles sold to have plugs by 2030—the age of the electric vehicle has arrived. And with it comes a number of interesting challenges and opportunities. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with Purdue's Dr. Steve Pekarek about advancements in EV charging, including continuous charging via electrified roadways.

The number of electric vehicles on U.S. roads and highways is projected to grow 36 percent annually, according to the IEA, reaching 245 million vehicles by 2030. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with University of Idaho's Dr. Brian Johnson about the additional infrastructure and generation needed to power these mobile loads.

When Dr. Ed Schweitzer introduced the first microprocessor-based protective relay in 1982, an invention that revolutionized power system protection, he built in several cybersecurity features, including layered passwords. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with the inventor about this early emphasis on cybersecurity and how he and the team at SEL are working to develop next-level solutions that are inherently secure.

Large generation facilities turning coal, gas, and water into electricity have been the mainstay of the electric power system for decades. They produced a steady flow of power—24/7. But as more, smaller intermittent generators, like wind turbines, and solar panels are added to the system, that predictability diminishes. In this episode, Purdue University Professor Dr. Steve Pekarek joins Dave Whitehead for a discussion about how this challenge is driving new methods of power system control.

At the current growth rate, global energy demand will double in 18 years. Meanwhile, governments are instituting mandates and offering subsidies to speed the move to an all renewable energy future. Nineteen U.S. states have released goals for achieving 100 percent renewable power in the next 20–50 years. While the promise of "clean energy" is appealing, will intermittent sources of energy be able to meet global needs? Join Dave Whitehead as he explores this important topic with author Robert Bryce.

Ransomware attacks, like the one that temporarily shut down the Colonial Pipeline on May 6, causing fuel shortages in the eastern part of the U.S., are becoming big business. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with cybersecurity expert Samantha Madrid about what energy providers, companies, hospitals and others can do to keep ahead of the bad guys.

While it's true that more women are going into STEM fields, their numbers are still lagging—especially in fields like electrical and mechanical engineering. In this episode, Dave Whitehead talks with Washington State University's Dr. Noel Schulz about the numbers, the reasons behind them, and things we can do to improve opportunities for woman—and other underrepresented groups—in technical fields.