Drew Hopkins, Jerris Johnson, and The Real Deal Landman Show returned to NAPE (North American Prospect Expo) with a stylish booth in the nether regions of the conference, but plenty of giveaways and goodies to bribe visitors into coming to see them. The conversations covered various topics in the energy industry, including personal experiences, stories, and memories, as well as the significance of the main event. Discussions emphasized the role of data modernization and AI, the impact of being a landman, insights on energy management and data centers, and challenges and opportunities in the energy industry.

Our thanks to NAPE for providing a space to set up a temporary shop and to the many fans (dare we say “fans”?) who made the trek out to the edge to say hello.

Featured Guests

• Kyle Reynolds, AAPL President
• Jeremy Bolder, Dakota Analytics
• Trace Sutherlin, OU Energy Management Student
• Wade Brawley, Land Legend
• Kyla Lawson, StackDX

On The Real Deal Landman Show, Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson are honored to host guests with their own podcasts and successful ventures. For the legendary industry leaders who share valuable insights and others' experiences, we like to give them a chance to tell their own stories.

The latest episode is with Brent Broussard of Dudley Land Company and The Land Department podcast.

Gems to be heard:
- Where did the Dudley name come from?
- What was the story of a ham buried in someone's backyard?
- Why is your reputation your most valuable asset, and how do you keep it strong?

Connect with Brent on LinkedIn.

Check out Dudley Land Company at https://www.dudley-land.com/

Listen to The Land Department podcast everywhere you access The Real Deal Landman Show.

Follow us on LinkedIn and take a look at our mediocre website at https://realdeallandman.com.

In this episode of the Real Deal Landman Show, Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson converse with Shad Frazier, a popular energy executive. Shad shares his journey from a non-oil family in Colorado to becoming a prominent figure in the oil and gas sector. He discusses the importance of community, mentorship, and building effective teams. The conversation explores the role of technology, particularly AI, in the industry, the future of mergers and acquisitions, and the entrepreneurial spirit that is emerging in the energy space. Shad emphasizes the importance of strong relationships and communication between landmen and engineers and offers valuable advice to young professionals entering the field.

Takeaways:

• Building relationships is crucial for career success.
• Mentorship plays a significant role in professional development.
• AI will revolutionize the land space in the energy sector.
• Effective communication between landmen and engineers is essential.
• The energy industry is in a state of transition and opportunity.
• Small teams can achieve great efficiency in operations.
• Face-to-face interactions foster meaningful connections.
• Entrepreneurship is key to the future of the energy industry.
• Understanding technology is vital for seasoned professionals.
• The value of landmen in assembling valuable assets cannot be overstated.

Keywords

energy industry, oil and gas, mentorship, leadership, technology, AI, entrepreneurship, communication, relationships, mergers and acquisitions

In this episode, Ben Heinzelmann, CEO of Energy Domain, joins Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson to discuss the impacts of winter weather in areas not accustomed to it.
Ben, a software expert in the oil and gas industry, shares his journey from field landman to technology executive. Additional talking points include the evolution of the oil and gas sector and the importance of embracing technology and AI. Ben discusses his experiences founding, building, and selling MineralWare, and then starting the process over again with Energy Domain.

Takeaways

• Embracing technology is crucial for working and operating in the energy space.
• Data is becoming the new commodity in the oil and gas sector.
• AI is transforming operational efficiency in the industry.
• Understanding technology can enhance career prospects in energy management.

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn and learn more about Energy Domain at https://www.energydomain.com/

It’s the first episode of 2026 on the Real Deal Landman Show with hosts Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson sitting down in person with Alex Wolfe and Dakota Lewis of Three Points Land. They share insights on transitioning from oil and gas to renewable energy, the challenges faced in the profession, and the role of AI in improving land services. 

Other takeaways:

• A psychology major and playing college football might be the perfect recipe for outshining your peers.
• Solid work ethic is essential for success in the landman profession.
• Job opportunities for landmen are expected to grow in the coming years.
• Developing relationships in the industry can lead to unexpected opportunities.
• Newcomers should say yes to every experience to gain knowledge and skills.

Get in touch with Alex and Dakota at

[email protected]

[email protected] 

Learn more about Three Points Land at https://www.threepointsland.com/

Keywords

landman, networking, oil and gas, renewable energy, AI, work ethic, job opportunities, industry trends, energy management, title services

The Real Deal Landman Show is back with hosts Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson getting to know Vincent Caruso. Talk about a fascinating path! Vin grew up on Long Island, but now lives in Houston. Vin was a maritime lawyer, but is now a managing director at Percheron. 

He has worked on many facets of land in virtually every aspect of energy. He values relationships with landowners and wants to ensure landmen treat them fairly. 

This episode even highlights the value of scouting and earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

Reach out to Vin on LinkedIn and check out his blog at https://wanderuntethered.com/blog-running-with-the-mane/.

Learn more about Percheron at https://percheronllc.com/.

In this episode of the Real Deal Landman Show, hosts Jerris Johnson and Drew Hopkins welcome Paula Rauchfuss, a seasoned professional in land administration. The conversation covers Paula's extensive career journey, her experiences with software in the oil and gas industry, and the challenges of change management. They discuss the impact of AI and automation on land administration, the importance of staying relevant in one's career, and the value of relationships built throughout the years. Paula shares insights on overcoming reluctance to adopt new technologies and emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving energy sector.

Keywords

land administration, oil and gas, career journey, software evolution, AI in energy, change management, professional development, networking, automation, industry insights

Special note about this episode: This could have also been called “The Tale of Two Drews”. For those of us out there not named “Drew”, there is apparently a real deal discussion on what is a “True Drew” versus an “Andrew”, and there are also some very strong feelings on the matter! 

It’s the time of year again to get out the Christmas decorations, wait for the new season of the Landman TV show, and make sure the blue blazer still fits for NAPE. And who better to tell us about NAPE Summit 2026 than Drew Guntert and Caleb Rogers?

The North American Prospect Expo is coming up on February 18-20 in Houston, Texas. If you’re a dealmaker and a networker, this is where you want to be. You can attend, sponsor, and pick up some education credits. Listen closely to find out how you might even save some money on your registration. 

Find out more at https://napeexpo.com/ or get in touch with Drew or Caleb to learn how to make NAPE a truly worthwhile experience.
And don’t forget to find Drew Hopkins at NAPE and show him your slap bracelet! 

If you are a mineral or royalty owner, and you have ever had a question or issue that needed resolution, you probably talked to someone in an owner relations department. At the recent annual convention of the National Association of Royalty Owners, hosts Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson visited with Ardy Amin, the man who heads up owner relations for Ascent Resources.  

They discuss the evolution of owner relations, the importance of division orders, and the challenges faced during company acquisitions. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on owner relations and the significance of personal connections in the industry. With insights from industry experts, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future of interactions with mineral and royalty owners.

Our special thanks to PakEnergy (https://pakenergy.com/) for sponsoring this episode. In addition to serving over 2300 customers with services and software, PakEnergy also promotes thought leadership discussions. Learn strategies and insights at https://pakenergy.com/resources from top experts in the energy industry, and while you’re there, schedule a free demo to explore PakEnergy’s offerings. 

The title isn’t clickbait. This is a legit episode about wrestling. This conversation was recorded live for a webinar with the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Lease and Title Analysts. Host Jerris Johnson sits down in the OKC studio with his guests, local celebrity Colby Thelen and another guy we’ve seen before, Drew Hopkins. It goes against the norm of what this podcast usually discusses, but listen in for the lessons that have become familiar with this show. And a reminder that we’re never too old to start something new, especially if it will bring joy to us and others in our community. 

Our special thanks to PakEnergy (https://pakenergy.com/) for sponsoring this episode. In addition to serving over 2300 customers with services and software, PakEnergy also promotes thought leadership discussions. Learn strategies and insights at https://pakenergy.com/resources from top experts in the energy industry, and while you’re there, schedule a free demo to explore PakEnergy’s offerings.