The Energy Tailgate Podcast

For episode 3 of The Energy Tailgate podcast, Tanner Foust and Ryder Booth visit the Permian Basin, an oil-rich region that spans West Texas. The two discuss new technology that’s driving success and helping Chevron meet the world’s growing demand for energy.  ​

What we cover:

Intro: Welcome to the Permian Basin (0:00)​

What happens here has an impact everywhere (0:37)

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Most of America’s energy comes from the Permian (1:35)​

Technology is making waves from West Texas to deep water (2:54​

The innovations we need to meet future demand (7:22)​

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Ryder Booth is the chief technology and engineering officer of Chevron Corporation, a position he has held since 2025. In this role, he is responsible for the development, scaling, project execution, and delivery of innovative technology solutions to support the current and future energy system. He also leads the company’s organizations in health, safety and environment, information technology, innovation, capital projects, facilities engineering, operations and turnarounds, asset retirement, reserves and storage, and supply chain management in support of Chevron’s global operations. Booth first joined Chevron and its subsidiaries in 1991 as a facility engineer in the Mid-Continent Business Unit. ​

In this episode of The Energy Tailgate podcast, Tanner Foust and Andy Walz talk about oil and gas' journey, from the ground to your tank. They break down parts of the process most people don’t see and discuss how refineries help turn oil into products we use every day.

What we cover:

Intro - 0:00

What does a refinery do? - 1:54

How oil gets turned into everyday products - 2:23

Why do gas prices vary state by state? - 3:06

Building the future of “fueling” - 5:03

AI and efficiency - 7:14

Andy Walz is president of Downstream, Midstream and Chemicals at Chevron Corporation, where he leads the company’s global manufacturing, marketing, lubricants, chemicals and additives businesses, along with shipping, pipeline and trading units. He joined Chevron in 1989 and has more than three decades of experience across downstream operations, including leadership roles in supply and trading, manufacturing, and fuels and lubricants. With a background in civil engineering, Andy is recognized for his operational leadership and focus on delivering safe, reliable energy while evolving the business to meet changing energy needs.

In the first episode of The Energy Tailgate podcast, Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth joins host Tanner Foust to break down how energy powers everyday life and what it takes to meet the world’s growing demand.

What we cover:

Introduction (00:00)

Why we need reliable energy (01:10)

How science and economics play a role (03:29)

What the future of energy might look like (08:02)

Mike Wirth is chairman and chief executive officer of Chevron Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. He has spent his entire career at Chevron, joining the company in 1982 as a design engineer and advancing through senior leadership roles across downstream, midstream and global supply and trading before becoming CEO in 2018. With a background in chemical engineering, Wirth is known for his focus on capital discipline, energy reliability and long‑term value creation while guiding Chevron through a period of significant change in the global energy landscape.