Live @ Texas Gas Association for a Final Goodbye

Episode 192 • December 08, 2025 • 01:15:18
Live @ Texas Gas Association for a Final Goodbye
Coffee With Jim & James
Live @ Texas Gas Association for a Final Goodbye

Dec 08 2025 | 01:15:18

/

Hosted By

James Cross Jim Schauer

Show Notes

In a full-circle finale, Coffee with Jim and James wraps up its journey where it all began—Texas Gas Association (TGA). The episode is a heartfelt celebration of industry friendships, leadership transitions, and a few emotional mic drops.

Jim announces his recent move to GridHawk Holdings, reflecting on 25+ years in the industry and the relationships that shaped his journey. He emphasizes that while roles may change, the bonds in the utility sector remain strong. The episode features conversations with outgoing and incoming TGA chairs (Kyle Slaughter and Jeff Henderson), who share their vision for a growing, more inclusive association, including bringing associate members like Coleman Sterling (EWN) into leadership roles.

Coleman Sterling, Billy Kidd, Larry Alspaugh, Jeff Henderson, Kyle Slaughter, and other guests reflect on industry evolution, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and how much younger generations are changing the game—with more empathy, more tech, and a lot more humility.

The team gets nostalgic, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, unexpected highlights from traveling across North America, and what they’ve personally gained—from learning field operations firsthand to sparking conversations about mental health and sobriety.

Ashley Jesko, a behind-the-scenes powerhouse, is recognized for her pivotal role in expanding the show’s reach in its final year, injecting creativity and connecting with new voices.

In closing, Jim, James, and Ashley reflect on what the show gave them: visibility, humility, a broader platform to serve, and lasting friendships across the industry.

It’s not just a goodbye—it’s a thank you. And maybe, just maybe, a "we’ll be back

View Full Transcript

Episode Transcript

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Well, Jimmy. [00:00:01] Speaker B: Oh, Jamesy. [00:00:04] Speaker A: I think it's fitting. And spoiler alert, this is the final. [00:00:09] Speaker C: Episode, the final countdown. [00:00:15] Speaker B: Jeez, you guys are too much. [00:00:17] Speaker A: It is. It's the last one. But I think it's very fitting that we're doing this at Texas gas station. [00:00:23] Speaker B: I do, too. I do, too. I think it's very fitting. [00:00:25] Speaker A: We've. [00:00:26] Speaker B: We have our roots here in Texas, and so much of it stems from our roots. And I think it's very appropriate that, ironically, that this is the last one. [00:00:35] Speaker D: So. [00:00:35] Speaker A: And we met here. [00:00:37] Speaker B: You and I met here. Coleman and I met here. [00:00:40] Speaker A: 2017. [00:00:41] Speaker E: Right? [00:00:41] Speaker C: A full circle moment. [00:00:42] Speaker A: It really is. [00:00:44] Speaker B: Summer always talks about those full circle moments, and I'm still learning about them. But yeah, yeah, it was. Coleman and I became friends in 2015. You and I. I remember coming here looking for you because they said we connected on LinkedIn. [00:00:57] Speaker A: I was like, he going to be there. This movie star was going to be there. This gym, Hollywood shower. [00:01:03] Speaker C: You have long hair then. [00:01:04] Speaker A: Oh, I didn't see it because this is a podcast, but I'm violently flapping the. I had long out of my ear. [00:01:10] Speaker B: I had a full head of long hair. I that, like, my top two or three buttons of my shirt were always undone. Boy, it was a different era. [00:01:19] Speaker C: A little bit more modest these days. [00:01:20] Speaker B: I am a little bit more. I'm a little bit different now. You know, we all. We all enhance and we all evolved. Grow up. I don't know if I'll ever grow up. I don't want to grow up. [00:01:31] Speaker A: Speaking of. [00:01:33] Speaker B: Yes. [00:01:33] Speaker A: Let's address the elephant in the room. [00:01:36] Speaker B: Okay. [00:01:37] Speaker A: That you're. You have left us. I am not saying you're leaving us. You are gone. [00:01:42] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. Yeah. [00:01:44] Speaker A: Now for over a month. Do you want to catch everybody up just real quick on where you. Where you went, all that? I'm sure they have LinkedIn, but. Sure, sure. [00:01:52] Speaker B: No, I absolutely honored to have accepted the role of president. Really focusing on strategic alliances, ancillary services at Grid Hawk Holdings. I don't know why. [00:02:07] Speaker C: Honored to leave us. [00:02:09] Speaker A: That was the first words out of your mouth. [00:02:11] Speaker B: Wait, did I say honor to leave us or honored to join Gridhawk? [00:02:15] Speaker C: You said honored to join, but, I mean, it's the same thing, right? [00:02:18] Speaker A: Well, no, no, no. [00:02:18] Speaker B: You have to hear me. I mean, geez, you guys make me feel bad. No. So you all know that I've been in this industry over 25 years and started with utility roots. And honestly, over the last year, a lot of soul searching as to what I want to do over the next 10 to 12 years. And Paul Bagger and myself, CEO of Gridhawk holdings, we became friends and started talking and it just led to a really great opportunity and I'm honored to join them. But you know, it's, it's interesting because, yeah, it's kind of goodbye, but we're still in the industry. We're still brothers and sisters, you know, I mean, we're still, you know, just like all these other folks here. We have 430 some people here at TGA and the same thing with those folks too, is that we're all trying to do things for the best of our industry and working together. So again, there's no walls up behind between us. And actually there's even more. Less walls between us because of all of our history. And again, good things are going to come all around for all of us because of this. So I feel. So that's my positive, optimistic attitude with everything. [00:03:30] Speaker A: So we did this to ourselves about trotting you out into the. You did to the highways this past year. [00:03:36] Speaker B: Oh, I was, I got, I got it in my blood again. I was like, really? I was like, this is where I love to be and I'm going to be a lot more. We have 2,000 people in 19 states, mostly doing line locating. We're doing leak survey, leak detection, meter services. I mean, we're talking damage prevention is our, you know, one of our core values. And we're going to be out there like I always am, you know, helping with the teams and leading them. And, you know, we're going to be doing some very much innovation items out there for our utility operator partners. And we're going to move very much forward in a very good and progressive smart way. Okay. Boy. [00:04:19] Speaker C: Is that your elevator? [00:04:20] Speaker B: I don't know. [00:04:21] Speaker A: That just came from 77th floor. [00:04:23] Speaker B: Well, you guys know me. I don't. I never like, it's like, okay, it's like even MC in the sink. [00:04:29] Speaker A: Calm down. [00:04:29] Speaker B: Bless Stephanie's heart and Micah. They gave me the script and they give me all. [00:04:33] Speaker A: Gave them an earpiece. [00:04:35] Speaker B: Oh my goodness. [00:04:35] Speaker A: He looked like he was a chick fil. A employee. [00:04:37] Speaker B: Would you like to supersize that? [00:04:38] Speaker A: My pleasure. [00:04:39] Speaker B: Would you like to. Super. Would you like nuggets with that sauce? No, wait, reverse that. Would you like sauce with those nuggets? Anyways. [00:04:47] Speaker A: Well, congratulations, I guess. Just kidding. We joke. We are. We're in an awesome industry. I'll bring up a great example I think that you mentioned, like, hey, we're all family once. Ew. And Family are. Think about Greg. About who? Let's go Back to Greg McReynolds, who was in our, our suite. Who was our family when we were there. Greg McReynolds. Like, yeah, he jumped right in. Like, I just mean, like, we're, we're in a very supportive industry. Obviously, we're gonna see each other, we're gonna cross paths, and maybe one day we'll do a show again. Maybe not. [00:05:22] Speaker B: We'll see. I mean, I, you know me, I never shut a door. [00:05:26] Speaker F: Never. [00:05:27] Speaker B: Because I like, you know, I like the positivity and the optimism about, you know, having great, great things from the past and looking at great things in the future. [00:05:37] Speaker A: Amen. Well, we are live at TGA this week. We're going to be bringing folks on. We've got confirmations that we're going to sit down with the current chair, Kyle Slaughter. We're also going to be sitting down with the incoming chair, Mr. Jeff Henderson. [00:05:52] Speaker B: Geez. Power Pack scoop. [00:05:55] Speaker A: We do possibly the next chair, and so you'll have to stick around for that one. Stick around. We'll be bringing people on just like we always do. It might be the last one, but, ah, we're pretty good at this by now. [00:06:08] Speaker B: We like it. We like what we do. [00:06:10] Speaker A: We're gonna do positive things on Jimmy. [00:06:14] Speaker C: Good luck with that piece to pay. Jim, when it's time for. [00:06:18] Speaker A: Can we get a. [00:06:19] Speaker B: Can we get Jimmy the podcast booth? [00:06:21] Speaker A: All right, stick around with us. We'll be right back. [00:06:23] Speaker E: Bye. [00:06:27] Speaker B: All right, I have. [00:06:28] Speaker G: I have this one now. Oh, apparently we're rolling. [00:06:31] Speaker B: Well, we're always rolling. We never. It's called a. What is James Holler? Like a soft opening. We just. He just hits the record button, walks away, and we just go on our own. I was here for 45 minutes one time, and I realized I had to delete the whole thing. But before we get started, get into it. Would you gentlemen please introduce yourselves for the folks that don't maybe know who you are and what you do at the TGA right now? [00:06:56] Speaker G: Absolutely. So my name is Jeff Henderson. So I'm our current director of Texas operations for SEA Energy, and my current role is vice chair for the Texas Gas Associate. I'll be rolling into the chair role tomorrow. [00:07:10] Speaker B: Kyle Slaughter. [00:07:12] Speaker E: I'm with Atmos Energy, Vice President of Operations, the current chair, Outgoing chair as of tomorrow. [00:07:18] Speaker B: Well, it's so appropriate that we have you both on outgoing and incoming at this point. And again, I have to be honest with you, I missed last year's TGA and I couldn't be happier to be back this year. This has been a lot of fun. You all asked me to emcee it, and I think we've been having a lot of fun right here. [00:07:35] Speaker G: It's been a great time. [00:07:36] Speaker B: I mean, it's been wonderful. We've had. What's our attendance? Who knows what our attendance numbers are? [00:07:41] Speaker G: I believe we're at 420 attendees this year. [00:07:44] Speaker E: Yeah. [00:07:45] Speaker G: Largest ever. [00:07:45] Speaker B: That's amazing. [00:07:47] Speaker E: 306 last year. [00:07:49] Speaker B: So, okay, we got a. We got a 33 increase over last year. Well, let me tell you, too, what I've been hearing, though, is that people, you know, a lot of times they're, you know, some people will say, when you're going to a conference, that sounds like a lot of fun. It is fun. We get to talk to a lot of people. So if you think talking to a lot of people is fun, but when you're talking to those people, there's so much knowledge sharing going on. And I know this morning I gave the challenge to, you know, meet two more people and try to get some information out to them as well as take it in. Any thoughts on the knowledge sharing that happens here at tga? [00:08:21] Speaker G: You know, it's been really good. We've had some good speakers. You know, we started this morning with a great keynote speaker and really brought a lot of knowledge, especially in the safety industry. Yep. Which is huge for. For especially See Energy, Atmos and the rest of the operators here. But overall, I mean, you know, you look behind us and I mean, with the vendor hall that we have in there, and it's our largest vendor hole we've ever had, the knowledge that those guys have been in this in their whole career has been just fantastic. And sitting there and learn from a lot of these guys has been huge. [00:08:51] Speaker E: Yeah. TGA is such a great organization. And Wiley kicked it off well this morning talking about safety. We know our focus on safety, and it's just. It's full of. The gas industry is full of good people. [00:09:02] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:03] Speaker B: Nope, it really is. And I would say that it's amazing. Even though I missed, let's just say I haven't been here in a couple years. We picked up, like, there was no beat being missed. I mean, I've been welcomed with open arms over the last 48 hours, and it's wonderful, humbling. And to come back and it's absolutely great being here and to hear all the things. Just like we talked about this morning, 25% of the natural gas in the United States comes from the state of Texas. That's a huge number. That's half the. Half the electricity in. In Texas is from natural gas. That's. [00:09:38] Speaker A: Oh. [00:09:38] Speaker G: And absolutely. You know, it's a. You know, as Kyle took over as chair last year, he started something that we're going to continue on, and it's basically like an executive retreat. We got our entire executive board together and talked about the transition of the tga, kind of where we're headed and what we want to do. And one of the challenges that I put out drives right back to the 25% you were just talking about. You know, we're the largest state in the union. We produce the most natural gas in the union. There's no reason why we can't be the largest association in the union. So that was a huge, huge charge to our executive board. And it's. [00:10:10] Speaker E: I mean, it's. [00:10:10] Speaker G: It's shown from what we have this year. And if we just keep going on this direction, I mean, it's. It's going to be crazy what the future can do for this. [00:10:17] Speaker E: Yeah. You look at Stephanie and Maka from ami. [00:10:21] Speaker D: Oh, yes. [00:10:21] Speaker E: And they've gotten out on social media. They're promoting things. They're doing such a good job with that. And then you think about the conference, and one of our charges was to provide more value for participants in the conference. So we'll continue that. That's not. That doesn't stop today. [00:10:37] Speaker B: No, that's. And that's a great charge because it's almost what we do in the industry where we put the customer first and try to understand what that customer is going through. You all have been. And I'm going to say we. Because I feel like I'm part of the team. We're all doing that now of putting the attendees first. You know, how can we make their experience as great as possible? So when they leave, they go back with those items that can help them and hopefully they share that with others to help us be. As Wiley said today, safety isn't a priority. It's a value. How do we get to help share that? [00:11:10] Speaker G: Absolutely, yeah. [00:11:12] Speaker B: Any thoughts with what you would like to tell the audience as to why next year we are going to be eclipsing 500 attendees? I'm predicting right now. Is that. [00:11:21] Speaker E: Well, he's right here. [00:11:22] Speaker B: Is that. Is that the reason? [00:11:23] Speaker G: No, that's. This is the furthest part. You know, Jim, I just want to say, you know, I was a guest on this podcast a few years ago. [00:11:29] Speaker E: Right. [00:11:30] Speaker B: I think round zero, brother. [00:11:31] Speaker G: It was really early on 2020. And just the fact that y' all survived after that episode, it was touching. [00:11:38] Speaker B: Speaks more on you than it was. Well, it was. It was touch and go, I'm gonna say that. I mean, we were going, but yeah. And this is our last official podcast live. It's fitting that we're ending what we have known. Coffee, Jim and James here at the tga. Again, we were kind of born in Texas, and we went all over the North America, and it is fitting that we're kind of closing that chapter for now, and we'll always see what the future brings. But this is the official last one, you know, for. [00:12:09] Speaker G: I'll speak. You know, the question you asked a minute ago is, you know, where can the TGA go from here? [00:12:14] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:14] Speaker G: Unit starts with the executive board. And we've done a really good job of continuing to build the executive board with the ones that are rolling off, trying to bring on strategic partners from different operators, different vendors. We're actually going to have next year, for the first time, we're going to have an associate member actually become in the chair role or in the chair rotation. [00:12:34] Speaker B: Oh, wow, that's great. [00:12:36] Speaker G: Coleman Sterling will be the vice chair next year, and so then he will be. He will become the chair in two years, and he'll be the first associate member that's really ever chaired this association. And so it's all about keeping the operators involved, but keeping the associate members involved and the vendors and the contractors, the municipalities, and continuing to bring those up. And so it's the new committees we're forming with the municipality committee, the contractor committee, the young professional committee. You know, that one's huge. Simply because a lot of our infrastructure or a lot of our employment is aging, and they're aging out. And getting those young professionals not only into our companies, but into this association is going to be key for us to continue to continue to grow. [00:13:16] Speaker B: And I dare say. I'll let Kyle, you talk next. But I dare say, as much as we can teach them, we could also learn from that generation, too. I've learned a lot. I mean, again, it might be not a fact that I have a Motorola flip phone, but that's to be determined. Anyways. Kyle, please. [00:13:33] Speaker E: Well, I'm sad to hear that the podcast is going away, because I think that's a big part of learning. Y' all have done a wonderful job with that. I think the big. The big part of the success of this conference is because of you being mc. I think, you know, we tried. We're trying to make it A little more interesting, a little more fun. And I think you're doing a great job. You may have a full time job now, but I just think it's great. And y' all have done a great job with the podcast and excited to see what's next. [00:14:03] Speaker B: Well, yeah, maybe that chapter is closing. But if you know me, I never stop. And I always keep learning, I keep trying new things. And I tell you, my family at Gridhawk now has been very supportive of saying, Jimmy, what are you going to be coming up with next? And stay tuned, we got some things in the works. So anyways, gentlemen, thank you so much for all you do. [00:14:26] Speaker G: Absolutely. Appreciate it, man. [00:14:27] Speaker B: Absolutely. We'll be back. [00:14:29] Speaker G: Thanks, everybody. [00:14:30] Speaker E: Thanks. [00:14:32] Speaker A: Oh, that's a good shot. [00:14:33] Speaker B: Oh, it's. It's the best. [00:14:34] Speaker A: Our best line. [00:14:35] Speaker B: Wait, what do you guys think? What do you guys think about my collar? [00:14:38] Speaker D: I think it's popping. [00:14:39] Speaker A: I think you pop it all the way out the back, too. [00:14:41] Speaker B: Oh, and like. Like the seven. Like Travolta. [00:14:44] Speaker D: That's right. Take another bun down. [00:14:46] Speaker B: I can't do it. I can't do it. I can't see. [00:14:48] Speaker A: Jimmy switched jobs and look, everything's going great. He's really. [00:14:53] Speaker B: Yeah, I love it. We're Grid Hawk Holdings. We. I mean, it's going wick great. [00:14:56] Speaker A: However, there is one small con. [00:14:59] Speaker B: Just a little thing we haven't worked through yet. [00:15:01] Speaker A: And they don't have buttons on the corners. [00:15:06] Speaker D: It's still white, though. [00:15:07] Speaker A: You know how it's white. [00:15:08] Speaker B: That's. They know my uniform. Carrie Miller. [00:15:11] Speaker F: Shout out. [00:15:12] Speaker B: Sean Ailey. They were like, jimmy needs a white shirt. I might get it to me, baby. [00:15:16] Speaker A: Absolutely. So, Billy, do us a favor. There's a few people who don't know you. Introduce yourself. [00:15:22] Speaker D: Yeah, I'm Billy Kid. I am a vice president of learning and development, Training, safety, quality and compliance for Southeast Connections and Artero. [00:15:36] Speaker A: We need an abbreviation for that in our industry. [00:15:39] Speaker B: You put an acronym for that. I'm Billy Kidd, VP of. [00:15:44] Speaker A: We'll work on that. We're going to workshop there. Billy, we've. We've overlapped so many ways over the last couple of years and, and you've been a strong supporter of the show. It's cool to be here. When I heard you were going to be here at tga. Shout out. Tga. I was like, man, why? Because of the final episode. And Billy's gonna get to be here with us. And then now you're on, man. We manifested. [00:16:09] Speaker B: We're gonna shimmy tonight, too. So it's a It's a gamut. [00:16:12] Speaker D: We are gonna shimmy. That's the reason I'm here. But also full circle. It was probably three, four years ago. You guys had sent me some swag, coffee cup, shirt, hat, took it out on the back patio. I remember that makeup, put my war paint on, took a picture, you guys posted it, and that's when I finally knew I had made it. [00:16:38] Speaker A: What a low bar. That's all I knew. [00:16:42] Speaker B: If that's it, we got problems. [00:16:46] Speaker A: And then we got to, you know, of course we supported the lineman college over there. Yeah. Just in our backyard. That was a cool event. Now you're over to SEC doing all the good stuff. [00:16:55] Speaker D: Yeah, we're doing some great stuff. And you know, we just went through damage prevention. We've heard some keynote speaking. Wiley did great on that scene, killing it, just crushing the van. And that's what it's all about is sort of the future of the industry. And what I mean by that is, you know, a lot of knowledge is leaving, retiring, going off to do better things. And, and if we don't have continuous education with the people coming underneath of us, we're going to be in some deep trouble. So I'm excited to be a part of learning, development, building out foreman supervisor, leadership trainings, progression plans, and really just celebrating our people with new thing like challenge coins. Like the military. Yeah, yeah, we've done some of that. And then we also had a big. [00:17:46] Speaker A: Event, didn't you, where you trained a bunch of folks come in. [00:17:48] Speaker D: Yep, we did a big one on damage prevention and then we also just celebrated our second quarter of Masters of the Underground. So it's based on safety, culture and productivity. And that comes with tangible items like money and, and belt buckles. Because we all love belt buckles in the South. [00:18:09] Speaker B: Well, yes, we do. Where do I sign up? Because I want to take the class, but let me just footstep something. As much as we want to teach that next generation, we also want to learn from them. They're bringing some stuff to us. Just like James teaching me over the last years about tech and videos and all this such, you know, I mean, I'm still learning at my age and this next generation can really bring it in. Thoughts about that, Billy? [00:18:30] Speaker D: No, you guys are exactly right. We can learn as much from them as they are. So we may have the technical skills and the knowledge skills, but I can tell you the new generation is bringing a different behavior. And what I mean by that is, you know, back when I was in the field, starting out 25 years ago, we probably didn't talk to each other the right way. We may have made people go the hard path. Yeah, suck it up. [00:18:58] Speaker B: That's right. [00:18:59] Speaker D: You know, put a band aid on. [00:19:00] Speaker A: It and let's get to work. [00:19:01] Speaker D: But now, the human skills of it, I think the new generation is bringing a new concept. And I gotta tell you, I'm getting on that bus and riding it. [00:19:10] Speaker B: Good. Good deal. [00:19:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I like that. I get behind that all day, you know, my love. Language. [00:19:17] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, that is absolutely. [00:19:19] Speaker A: Well, Billy, appreciate you being on the show. I know, like I said, you've been a strong supporter. You got the audience in front of you. Anything you want to say, I would. [00:19:29] Speaker D: Just say, like you said, man, take care of each other. Honor the trade. Don't look down on anybody unless you're picking them up. Listen to guys like this. They're doing great things out there and they can't do it by themselves. Get involved. Right now is the time to get involved in this industry. There's no better time to be a tradesperson in the United States. So go get it. [00:19:52] Speaker B: Billy Kidd, 2028, right here. [00:19:55] Speaker A: He always brings the energy. Pun intended. [00:19:58] Speaker D: Thank you, guys. [00:19:59] Speaker A: Congratulations. [00:20:00] Speaker B: Thank you, brother. [00:20:01] Speaker A: Yeah. Hey, we'll be back. It's just me, jm. Me and you have been following each other around the country this year. [00:20:11] Speaker D: Yes? [00:20:11] Speaker B: Yes. [00:20:12] Speaker A: Where were we just, what, a month ago? Rio. Dosa. [00:20:17] Speaker F: Rio. Beautiful place. Fantastic place. [00:20:20] Speaker A: It really was. We had a good time. Wild horses. I mean, I'm not saying anything. Frisco. But you don't have wild horses. Yes. Golf courses with no wild horses. [00:20:30] Speaker B: Yeah, they got heat a lot. [00:20:33] Speaker A: We are live here from tga, Texas Gas association, right here in Frisco, Texas, at the annual conference. We were talking last night. I can't remember, have you been here before? [00:20:44] Speaker B: Yes. [00:20:44] Speaker A: Oh, you have been to this event. Okay, do us a favor before we get too far. Introduce yourselves and who you're with. [00:20:51] Speaker F: Yes, I'm Jan Hernandez. I work for brewing Bellamax sounds. And I have been in South Region, Canada and Latin America. Everything for the same low price. You know that. [00:21:08] Speaker A: All right. [00:21:08] Speaker H: My name is JP Hernandez and I'm with Grumner. I handle the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma territory. And I'm brand new to the industry. [00:21:20] Speaker A: So I have some insider information here. And that's that you guys are related, right? In some way, yeah. Is this your son? [00:21:27] Speaker F: So this. This guy. This guy over here is my son? [00:21:32] Speaker A: I thought it was the other way around. [00:21:36] Speaker F: I wish. No, it's fantastic. James, the I'm excited. Proud, as much as you can tell. Proud papa. [00:21:48] Speaker A: And you told me this on the golf course when we were in New Mexico. You told me as a proud papa. [00:21:54] Speaker H: I had just gotten hired. [00:21:56] Speaker A: He told me that. So we were talking about our families as we normally do with these things, and he mentioned that you had just started at Grubner. And I was like, what? So Grubner's a client of ours at EWN as well? Yeah, so I'm familiar, so. [00:22:11] Speaker F: And they are our distributor. So it's all family. Family business. [00:22:16] Speaker A: All good. It's all good now. So you've got to be proud. How does it feel to be on the other side? [00:22:21] Speaker H: Amazing. Amazing. Honestly, it's. It's all amazing industry. Everyone's been extremely welcome and I'm learning a lot. I'm learning a lot. [00:22:32] Speaker A: Nice. Done business with Grubner for a long time. I've known the folks. Had a ton of folks on the show from Grubner. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So you guys being in the same industry now, you're at the same event. Has this happened before? Have you been at the same event before? [00:22:50] Speaker F: Yes, actually, last week. [00:22:52] Speaker A: Oh, really? [00:22:52] Speaker F: It's amazing because she's saying that he seemed be more now than before. [00:22:59] Speaker A: We. [00:23:00] Speaker H: We live 10 minutes. We live 10 minutes away. I see him more outside the house than in our house. [00:23:05] Speaker E: So. [00:23:05] Speaker F: Life of a salesman. Life of a salesman. No, but it's beautiful to see new generation coming up into this industry. You know that this industry is not as attractive as software, things like that. [00:23:20] Speaker D: But. [00:23:20] Speaker F: But now with this new generation, we. We have a future. [00:23:25] Speaker A: Oh, you mean me. I know. [00:23:28] Speaker D: I'm talking about the young, not the old ones. [00:23:32] Speaker A: Not the old ones. Where is time gone? Yeah, no, you're right. And we saw it today with, with scholarships at lunch. We're always giving back to our industry. We talk about the. Some of the best parts about these events is, yeah, you can sit at the booth as a salesman, salesperson, but being able to sit in on the sessions and learn from the people in our industry, being able to lead sessions, you know, wherever that is, what our industry is about. [00:24:01] Speaker E: About. [00:24:02] Speaker A: Right. And so the sooner you can get acclimated to that part, feel confident enough to, you know, start sharing knowledge and that it's right here. That's what we do. [00:24:13] Speaker F: Soon. Soon I will be sitting down hearing one of his sessions. [00:24:16] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what I mean. That's how our industry works. You know, we're so painful paying forward and then one day when you see somebody that needs it, like you did? What an opportunity to get fantastic. So I got a question for y'. All. It's good. This is great. I can't wait to hear the answer. Y' all were both at SGA last week? Yes, that's correct. So who got more leads? Just. Oh, no. See, it's hard to get leads when you've been around a long time. Maybe we already got all our leads. They're all in our book of business, so. Funny. Well, I. I'm excited for y'. All. I know Jimmy's missing out on this interview because, you know, he's got a daughter in the industry as well, working with him, and so that's exciting. I know he would. He would have a lot of things to say to you, too. So I hope y' all will catch up, but I hope that you'll be here as long as this guy. And he's not done either, so. [00:25:17] Speaker F: No, I'm not done yet. [00:25:20] Speaker A: Check this out. This is something cool. This is the last episode of Coffee with Jim. [00:25:25] Speaker F: Yes. [00:25:26] Speaker A: So your first episode is our last episode. Wow. It was. Mic drop. [00:25:31] Speaker H: Mic drop right there. [00:25:33] Speaker A: I appreciate you both. Appreciate y' all being here at TGA as well. [00:25:37] Speaker D: Thank you. [00:25:38] Speaker H: Thank you very much. [00:25:39] Speaker F: Thanks. See you, guys. [00:25:43] Speaker B: Did you say we have 120 years? Is he trying to insinuate that we may be seasoned? [00:25:49] Speaker A: I mean, like, heavily seasoned, Like Cajun? [00:25:52] Speaker B: Well, as a compliment, as Ronald Reagan once said, you know, we don't want to really exploit and show our friends lack of experience, but that's okay. We won't go there. [00:26:07] Speaker A: Haven't told you how happy I am he got a new job. [00:26:13] Speaker B: Where's the love? [00:26:14] Speaker I: I don't know. When are we recording? [00:26:17] Speaker A: We already have been. [00:26:19] Speaker I: So I can leave? [00:26:20] Speaker B: No, we haven't started yet. [00:26:23] Speaker E: Sorry. [00:26:25] Speaker B: Larry, Larry. [00:26:27] Speaker A: Larry. I thought about you the other day. [00:26:28] Speaker B: Did you? [00:26:29] Speaker A: I spoke, and you're actually in my speaking presentation on safety culture. And one of the last frames is an interview you did in Oklahoma where you talk about. About, you know, our budget tells the story of what's important to us. Right. And I use that in terms of training and whatnot. Like, we put our dollars. What's important. [00:26:53] Speaker I: Yes, sir. [00:26:54] Speaker A: And so you either do or you don't. And it tells the story right. And I use that to really paint that picture. [00:26:59] Speaker B: Well, thank you. [00:26:59] Speaker A: I don't know if you knew that. And I hope I don't have to pay royalties. [00:27:02] Speaker I: You do not have to pay royalties at all. [00:27:05] Speaker D: I'm. [00:27:05] Speaker I: I'm kind of short, I think. I'm kind Of. I'm not sure that I'm. [00:27:09] Speaker A: No, it's just that I have a long torso. Yeah. Watch. [00:27:11] Speaker I: Is it. [00:27:12] Speaker B: Look, if we stand up? [00:27:13] Speaker A: Stand up. I'm shorter than you. [00:27:18] Speaker B: All my height is in my legs now. [00:27:20] Speaker A: What? [00:27:22] Speaker B: See, now watch. [00:27:23] Speaker I: Interesting. [00:27:24] Speaker B: Now I sit down and I'm like. But it's just who I am. It's the way God made me just quit. So flying in airplanes is, for me, tough, because again, it's not the seat. It's like the leg room is where I need some leg room. You know, I put my feet on the. On the armrests and the chair in front of me, and usually that causes problems, if you can understand. [00:27:49] Speaker I: You know, this is kind of difficult for me. Why in this. Well, because James was basically saying, larry, I need you to behave. And that's really. I don't normally know how to do that, so. So silence might be the best. [00:28:06] Speaker A: Do you know I taught Larry the appropriate man hug, you know, with the. [00:28:10] Speaker D: You did? [00:28:10] Speaker B: We showed it. I saw it today. And Jay and. Well, no, and Jay. Jay and I did it naturally. And then Larry's like. He comes a little awkward. [00:28:19] Speaker A: He's like, okay, yeah, yeah. [00:28:21] Speaker B: I'm like, no, you don't. [00:28:22] Speaker A: Slaps you in the back of the head. Yeah, we're gonna get that, Larry. [00:28:25] Speaker B: We're gonna get it. [00:28:26] Speaker A: But I only like seven people. Just. Just real quick, and then you can jump right in. [00:28:30] Speaker B: Yes, sir. [00:28:31] Speaker A: Seven people out there who don't know who you are. Do us a favor. Introduce yourself and who you're with. [00:28:35] Speaker I: Oh, I am Larry Allsbaugh with RB Williamson Energy Advisors. I am fortunate to work with Dick Williamson, I've heard, and I have spent 47 years, close to maybe knocking on 48 in the energy industry. [00:28:57] Speaker A: Wow. [00:28:57] Speaker I: Started out in drilling, international drilling. Went to supply store business for about 10 years, and then went to TD Williamson and small little outfit out of Tulsa. [00:29:10] Speaker A: Yeah, you know that group. [00:29:12] Speaker I: And so now I'm working with Dick Williamson. [00:29:15] Speaker D: That's awesome. [00:29:15] Speaker I: Grandson of the founder. And so it's. You know what's been a real blessing is being able to work in the natural gas industry. [00:29:26] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:29:27] Speaker I: There are. I just am amazed I've had the opportunity to work in other industries, have enjoyed it. But the gas industry folks are so good. I mean, they take care of each other in so many ways. And it's. It's good. I just. I'm honored. I am honored. [00:29:46] Speaker A: That's awesome. Well, we're live at TGA Texas Gas association right here in Frisco. Texas this week. We're wonderful. Yep. And I know you had a session on Monday. [00:29:57] Speaker I: Yes. Hide and. Hide and seek. The games. One session. [00:30:02] Speaker A: Tuesday. [00:30:03] Speaker I: Tuesday. Tuesday. Yes. [00:30:05] Speaker B: Like, it's like a ping pong match with you two. [00:30:09] Speaker I: I need to. I need to speak to you as well. [00:30:13] Speaker B: No, no, speak to James. I'll. I'm not shy. I'll jump in with. [00:30:18] Speaker I: You're the one who left. I. Oh, no. [00:30:21] Speaker E: Woo. [00:30:21] Speaker I: That was harsh, wasn't it? [00:30:22] Speaker A: That's the last question. Let's. [00:30:24] Speaker D: Let's take it. [00:30:26] Speaker A: He's just excited because Larry put in an application. He wants to be co host. [00:30:33] Speaker B: Coffee with Larry and James. [00:30:35] Speaker A: There you go. Rolls off the top. [00:30:37] Speaker I: It just. [00:30:38] Speaker B: No, it doesn't. [00:30:39] Speaker I: I wished it did. But anyway, great industry. [00:30:45] Speaker A: The games. The pigs play games. [00:30:47] Speaker I: Oh, yes. Hide and seek. And it's. Pigging is. I think what's meaningful about that particular discussion, presentation, if you will, is just that we are having a lot of new people, which. It's wonderful. Come into the industry and it's great to talk to people about pigging. Not just being a check the box, but how it's a team effort. And I try to present it that way. [00:31:17] Speaker A: Nice, nice. [00:31:18] Speaker I: And that's true for so much of what we do, isn't it? [00:31:22] Speaker A: Yep. [00:31:24] Speaker B: As I say a lot, just to jump in real quick, we need to impart that knowledge on the next generation. [00:31:30] Speaker E: For sure. [00:31:31] Speaker B: Without a doubt. But it's also interesting what that next generation can also impart on us. [00:31:36] Speaker I: Absolutely. [00:31:37] Speaker B: Especially on the technology side. I mean, they could see a pigging operation say, you know, have we ever thought of this? And most of us would be like, well, okay, that sounds like a pie in the sky. Well, where we are today with technology, some of these things might not be a pie in the sky. [00:31:53] Speaker I: You're absolutely right. [00:31:54] Speaker B: And so you got to keep that full circle. [00:31:58] Speaker A: I love that you keep pointing to me like the young generation. I wanted y' all to know I'm excited. I heard. Sure. You heard TGA mention that there's a new 40 and under committee and they asked me to chair it. You're over 40 again? [00:32:13] Speaker I: I. [00:32:19] Speaker A: So I'm older than that. [00:32:20] Speaker I: Is that. [00:32:21] Speaker A: Oh, but that is a. [00:32:22] Speaker I: That's. Was that age or was that. It's age discrimination. [00:32:25] Speaker A: See, now we're not on the same hr, so we can age discriminate against each other. [00:32:31] Speaker B: Hey, I think I'm a protected class. [00:32:33] Speaker A: Oh, no. [00:32:34] Speaker B: You need to start being nice to me. [00:32:36] Speaker I: You mentioned. You mentioned that we were at the tga. [00:32:39] Speaker B: Yes, sir. [00:32:40] Speaker I: And beans Coffee. I wanted to let everyone know that I have an official TGA mug. [00:32:47] Speaker A: Well, actually brought that. It is the original one. No emblem because that's a blue hat. [00:32:54] Speaker E: Yep. [00:32:55] Speaker A: And that one is here as a prop, so you're welcome to use it and fake drink out of it. [00:33:01] Speaker B: Oh, so I can go fake drink. [00:33:03] Speaker A: Larry, me and you met along the way in Oklahoma. We've done a lot of work over there. I know you've always been a champion of the show. You've talked to me numerous times about what it's done for the industry. We're wrapping it up, my friend. This is the last one, so I know that you won't be able to sleep, but I also wanted to give you a chance to talk a little bit about if the show meant anything to you. [00:33:32] Speaker I: Absolutely. And the thing that I really enjoyed about Coffee with Jim and James is the notion that you had people who loved the industry and told their story and everybody's story is a little bit different sometimes. And you almost get sentimental and I might even get. I'm an emotional guy. I might even get. I might. I might even get a little teary eyed because I just think I mentioned earlier, I love the people in the industry and you spoke. You spoke. Both of you spoke or spoken or spokes. [00:34:17] Speaker A: Spokes. [00:34:17] Speaker I: Yeah, Speaks, Speaks, speaks. Yeah. To the industry. You touch the spirit of what we're about and there's a lot of sacrifice by the different people who work in the industry and you help tell their story for them through conversation. [00:34:37] Speaker A: I remember that. [00:34:38] Speaker B: I'm touched. [00:34:40] Speaker I: I mean, this is. Yes, you guys. [00:34:42] Speaker A: Yeah, we brought up high points and low points and stuff. Yesterday. Ashley joined us and so we got to do the intros and outros for this show and we talked about some of those high points and you know, the, the amount of people that supported us. Larry, you being one of us, it was incredible. The amount of friends that we made. Oh, immeasurable. [00:35:05] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:35:07] Speaker E: Incredible. [00:35:07] Speaker A: We appreciate you, Larry. Thanks for being part of the journey. [00:35:10] Speaker I: Thank you so much. [00:35:11] Speaker A: Thank you, sir. [00:35:12] Speaker B: That. [00:35:12] Speaker I: No, thank you. [00:35:13] Speaker B: Oh, well, that. [00:35:14] Speaker I: No, it's. [00:35:15] Speaker B: We're all in it together. [00:35:16] Speaker I: We are. As I mentioned, the industry is a team and we work together. Thank you so much. [00:35:24] Speaker A: Hey, we'll be back. Well, Jimmy, I was about to say we got the big boss man, but elephant in the room is my big boss man. [00:35:35] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Not you now my compadre again, going back to old times. [00:35:40] Speaker J: Back to how we. [00:35:41] Speaker B: When we met. Yeah. AB. [00:35:43] Speaker A: TGA. [00:35:44] Speaker B: It was a TGA. [00:35:45] Speaker A: Yeah. We met at TGA as well. [00:35:47] Speaker B: We're going back 10 years, guys. We're going back. [00:35:50] Speaker A: No, I'm just kidding. [00:35:50] Speaker B: We're going back to 2015. For you and I. Yep. [00:35:54] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:35:54] Speaker B: I mean, that was round zero. And then you and I were. [00:35:58] Speaker A: For us, or close to. [00:35:59] Speaker B: As soon as you. [00:36:00] Speaker A: 16, as soon as you join. [00:36:01] Speaker B: That's when we met at. [00:36:04] Speaker A: In San Antonio at. Probably at the O. M. Yeah. Yeah. [00:36:08] Speaker B: It would have been that. Yeah. I think it was at the Embassy Suites on the Riverwalk. Yeah. [00:36:13] Speaker A: History lesson. [00:36:14] Speaker B: But you know what, though? It's a great thing because look at us here. [00:36:17] Speaker A: We're. [00:36:18] Speaker B: All of a sudden, we're back together. It's like, again, I mean, things change. We could talk about that whenever, but a lot of the positivities still continue on. And again, we're in the industry. And Cole and I were even talking today about just some kind of, like, synergies where we're here. Yeah, I mean, that's. [00:36:37] Speaker A: Right here. [00:36:38] Speaker B: It's wonderful. [00:36:39] Speaker J: So, I mean, that's what this entire show has been about, is industry connection, all the different companies, all the different people, all the different places. [00:36:50] Speaker A: Coleman, I. I know we take it for granted, but just real quick, before we get too. Too far down the road, do us a favor. Introduce yourself. [00:36:56] Speaker J: Sure. [00:36:56] Speaker A: Who you're with. [00:36:58] Speaker J: Coleman Sterling. I'm the CEO and owner of ewn, otherwise known as Energy World Net. [00:37:04] Speaker A: And one other thing. Can you just speak a little bit to your involvement here at tga? We're at Texas Gas association this week. [00:37:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:12] Speaker J: So Texas Gas association has been close to me for while. It's one of the first associations that I went to and started going to, you know, going all the board meetings, all the roundtables, and they've been very accepting of me, and they, you know, brought me in. I'm kind of part of the crew. So much so now I sit on the board, the executive board of tga, as a board member, also sit on the board of the scholarship fund for TGA, which we just gave away $60,000 today in scholarships. [00:37:43] Speaker A: Unreal. Unreal. [00:37:45] Speaker J: And next year. This year, actually, I'm kind of breaking new ground as the first associate to be set up to become chair of the TGA in 2027. [00:37:59] Speaker A: Hold on. Did we just get the scoop? [00:38:00] Speaker B: Yeah. Was this a scoop? This is breaking. [00:38:02] Speaker J: This is kind of a scoop. This is kind of a scoop. [00:38:04] Speaker B: Is this public yet? Can we even be talking about this? [00:38:07] Speaker J: You can talk about it tomorrow. [00:38:08] Speaker A: Okay. [00:38:09] Speaker B: Okay. So don't watch this until tomorrow. [00:38:13] Speaker A: Excellent. Yeah, that's a big deal. [00:38:14] Speaker B: That's a really huge deal. [00:38:16] Speaker A: I don't remember everyone. There's never been one. Correct. Is that what you. [00:38:19] Speaker J: Not that I know of. I mean, of course, we had Daryl and Linda, you know, that ran TGA wonderfully for a long time, and Daryl had been a vendor, but as far as being in the chair seat, I. I've never known one. [00:38:31] Speaker B: So from my tenure, it's always been operators. [00:38:34] Speaker J: It's always been operators, yeah. [00:38:36] Speaker B: At least for my memory. So, yeah, that's a huge deal. Congratulations on that. [00:38:40] Speaker A: I already knew, but I'll shake his hand anyway. And it kind of. You mentioned it as a new era of tga. I think it's a great way of putting it. You can feel the energy here. But seeing a regime change, seeing some change, and we got a rebrand. This is the annual conference. Right. You told me that there's some subtle things happening and not so subtle things. Having a vendor in that role. [00:39:08] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:39:09] Speaker A: Blowing my mind a little bit, because, I mean, we all know. I'm just gonna say it. Vendors. We get treated like vendors sometimes, and it is what it is, and we always show up, we always support, we do the work, and it is what it is. But to hear someone, to be in that role, not saying this is the year of the vendor, but it's the year of the vendor. [00:39:33] Speaker J: I thought about messing with some of the operators on my first speech. Maybe vendors are coming. No, it's. [00:39:39] Speaker B: It's really. [00:39:40] Speaker J: It really is an honor because they approached me to do it, and they look at. They looked at me, and they looked at EWN as a whole. And they have a couple of vendors on the executive board right now, myself and Phil Wickers from egw, and they talked to us both about it. And because of the dedication that EWN has shown over the years, my participation, they asked me to do it, and I was surprised. And I took a few days to think about it, you know, because, gosh, what does that mean to be a vendor, to show up as a chair of tga? And I think the knowledge and the connection that I bring from around the country and all. All the operators that we're in business with and seeing what. What are the best practices? How are things done differently, how are things done better, how are things done worse? Bringing all that. And so that's. That's what I'm excited about, getting into the position. So I'm going to be the vice chair this year to Jeff Henderson, who is going to be the chair coming in tomorrow from Sea Energy and I've known Jeff for years and years and so I'm beside a friend and I'm going to be, you know, hanging with him and watching. So I'm excited about it. [00:40:46] Speaker A: So cool. [00:40:47] Speaker B: You guys are going to be fun. [00:40:48] Speaker A: Jimmy. Jimmy got the interview, both Jeff and Kyle earlier. [00:40:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:40:52] Speaker A: So already been on. That's awesome. Well, I know since we last huddled up we've had some changes. We mentioned it and kind of joked about it earlier. [00:41:03] Speaker B: We did. [00:41:03] Speaker A: But you moved on over to Gridhawk and big supporter over here, obviously a client of ours and LineQuest and others than that or how's it going, man? [00:41:15] Speaker B: Drink it from the fire hose. But it's wonderful. No, it's absolutely wonderful. And you know, point blank the hardest calls I had to make were to you and to you, to tell you folks that I was moving on and you know, when you are part of the family, the Ewn family, it's, you know, yeah, I've moved on but I'm still that maybe that cousin that moved away from home but is still part of the family. [00:41:38] Speaker A: We're going to call you the crazy uncle. [00:41:39] Speaker B: Well, you know, and that's. That's. I'll take that. I'll take that. I am part of Gridhawk Holdings. Grid Hawk holdings is the parent company to both LineQuest and GridHawk. I have a president role. We're looking at really expanding a lot. What we're doing. We have over 2,000 people in 19 states, a lot of line locating but also ancillary services of leak detection, leak survey, meter services, GPS marking, blah, blah. I mean we do a lot. And it gets me at this stage of my career again. I loved everything that I did but it was getting to that point where I'm like wanting to get back to my utility routes because I'm a utility guy at heart and it was just an opportunity that was right and thought and prayed about it and. But the wonderful thing is, is this. I'm incredibly excited about Gridhawk holdings and all we're doing and it's full steam ahead. But again, just showing up here, the timing was kind of right where, you know, we're a little bit of time afterwards and the three of us get together just like it's, you know, 10 years ago when we're all kind of getting together and it's great. We're collaborating, we're talking about industry best practices and talking about operators and talking about the vendors, how the operators like to go in that vendor hall to learn, you know. And again, so when we're talking about all the things that we're here at the TGA about, and also what the three things that we like to do, you know, it's. Or the things that we like to do with the three of us. All feels right. So, again, thank you for the support and the love, and I look forward to the journey because we're gonna be doing some fun things together. So even though the podcast is coming to an end, I still predict that maybe down the road somewhere, you're gonna see these microphones come out again sometime. Somewhere. I don't know when, but, you know, who knows where? [00:43:26] Speaker J: So all the bands say we're not playing anymore. [00:43:29] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:43:30] Speaker J: Touring anymore. And then they also already have. They have another one. [00:43:33] Speaker A: We did make. We did have a conversation somewhere, and I don't even remember who was in on it, but we said Grid Hawk was the Yoko. [00:43:41] Speaker B: The Yoko. [00:43:43] Speaker A: No offense. You know. I love you guys. [00:43:45] Speaker J: That's funny. [00:43:46] Speaker A: So funny. Well, we are. Obviously, we talked about it, but we are. This is our final episode here. Fitting that you're on as well. [00:43:53] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:43:54] Speaker A: I remember sitting. I don't. The rebrand must have been the first time we had you on the rebrand. [00:43:59] Speaker J: Yeah, I think I was Episode four or five. [00:44:04] Speaker B: No, I think at ground zero, that first year we had you. [00:44:07] Speaker A: Oh, we did. [00:44:08] Speaker B: I believe we did on Zoom. [00:44:09] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:44:10] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:44:10] Speaker J: Because I was still sitting at home in Covid. [00:44:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:44:13] Speaker B: World. That's when we were begging people to go, come on. Do you remember that? Literally five years ago, we were like, can you come on? They're like, what was this last week? [00:44:24] Speaker A: Come on. No, we did that earlier. No, we begged Coleman to come on. It's been a journey. Right. But you've been a big supporter. Luckily. You've got to see it at some of its peaks. I remember the Grapevine event of aga, and remember they had the stage set up. We were going live with hot mics. They gave us hot mics and said, go, interviewed. [00:44:48] Speaker B: And, yeah. [00:44:48] Speaker A: Coleman was sitting in the back with his arms crossed like this, and I couldn't read whether he was impressed or not. Yeah. And I went back there and he goes, some guy came up to me and said, are you the CEO of this coffee stuff? Yes, I am. [00:45:02] Speaker B: Yes, I am. [00:45:04] Speaker J: We do podcasts and T shirts. [00:45:06] Speaker B: We do podcast. [00:45:07] Speaker A: You know, it's been a journey. I don't know. Coleman, you got anything? [00:45:12] Speaker J: I do. All right, so I'm gonna throw y' all a curveball here. [00:45:14] Speaker I: All right? [00:45:15] Speaker J: You guys have had a little bit over five years of asking people questions, getting in the talk about their experiences, what they see, what they do. [00:45:22] Speaker B: Yep. [00:45:23] Speaker J: All right, so over the five years, what peop. What people out here want to know over the last five years? [00:45:30] Speaker A: Oh, boy. Who are these people? [00:45:32] Speaker J: These random people? I want to hear what a highlight and a lowlight might have been of having a podcast. But then more specifically, over this past year, I want to talk about this last year that you guys Traveled everywhere. [00:45:44] Speaker B: Oh, 2024. [00:45:46] Speaker J: Exactly. [00:45:46] Speaker B: So we've talked crazy. A little bit crazy. [00:45:48] Speaker J: But what's the inside scoop on from Jim, from James, you know, and Ashley, of course. [00:45:54] Speaker I: That was. [00:45:54] Speaker J: That was with you guys the entire time. What did you get from that? [00:45:57] Speaker A: What's. [00:45:58] Speaker J: What's something that stands out that you want to talk about that, you know, normally people may not get to hear? [00:46:02] Speaker B: Yeah, James, go ahead. [00:46:04] Speaker A: Yeah, I'll throw something out because I'll need a little bit thing too. But I will just say that this past year, our goal was to do two things. We wanted to saturate the industry and serve everybody we could. But the second was we wanted to get out in the field and get on the right of way, which you pushed us to do as well. [00:46:22] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:46:22] Speaker A: And so a couple of clients and industry friends really stepped up to allow us to do that. And I can't pinpoint one interview or one person because it's a conglomerate of them. [00:46:35] Speaker J: Sure. [00:46:36] Speaker A: But there were so many people that here we talk to a lot of the same people. No offense, it's a good thing. But same types of people wear suits. We got our polos on. We're gonna go sit in the session, learn, bring stuff back. There's a place for that. But being able to go out into the field and ask people like, how did you get started? What was your first job in the industry? And them telling us those things while holding a shovel or directing a crew, that was invaluable to me. It allowed me to connect our work at ewn, not the podcast, the whole thing. Like, I've never been able to do it. I understand operations out there. Like, I've never been able to do it. And that's how I land. I'm a tactile. I need to be there. [00:47:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:26] Speaker A: Being on those sites this year, unreal to me. And then we got access. I mean, we were in Detroit, Indy, you know, Oakland, these places that we should not be allowed to be on no job sites. [00:47:40] Speaker B: Yeah, I would agree with the. Thank you for pushing us out in the field. The only problem, though, is that that's really where I got that tip. Taste for getting back on the right of way. [00:47:49] Speaker A: I think we did. [00:47:50] Speaker B: So, I mean, I'm not. I'm just saying. But. But you know what though, it has to. You have to do what your purpose and passions go after, you know, and I love all I contributed to ewn and I think I've given some great value to it. But, you know, you know, leaving on a high note, whether it's the podcast or me leaving at that time could be hard. But also, you have to look at where the growth is. Got to continue on that. And we also have to look at, like, how we. That's a micro example of the things that we've saw in the industry where we might have sparked somebody to think about something a little bit differently. They take it back and again, their growth is now going up this way. They're like, wow, we didn't think about that. Those are the things that really give me high points over the last years that all of a sudden that may be four months, six months later, we get somebody stopping by and say, you know, when we were talking or I saw you guys talk, talking about this, we tried it. It's really working. Thanks for, you know, enlightening me. That is where the, the heart goes kind of. Wow. It is making a difference and it's a positive difference for our industry. [00:48:51] Speaker A: Cool. [00:48:51] Speaker J: So any funny things stand out? [00:48:54] Speaker B: Oh, boy. [00:48:55] Speaker A: I was gonna say low points. Which fall in the same category. Yeah, I mean, I don't think anybody understands. Right. The, the stuff you see is. Is the post production thing. Right. So you don't see the hours of tech support that go in before the show starts, and that's all working. Ashley and James, you show up in Seattle and all your. All your mics are in a tote open. Oh, it's a luggage. [00:49:22] Speaker G: It's a luggage. [00:49:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:49:23] Speaker B: I mean, because it got dumped out. [00:49:24] Speaker A: Yeah. You've got to figure it out. [00:49:26] Speaker I: Right. [00:49:26] Speaker A: Because you're on. You're essentially, you've convinced the group to invite you out there and you provide what we provide. And so that was a nightmare. And it was always computers. Right. And like, Jim's not gonna help. [00:49:40] Speaker B: No, I'm a utility guy. [00:49:42] Speaker A: He's a utility guy. [00:49:43] Speaker B: I'm a utility guy. [00:49:45] Speaker A: There were a lot of those types of moments. And then post production, then you got to go home. And for the while, everybody else is like, wow, you're in Austin because it pops up on LinkedIn. No, I was in Austin six months ago. Yeah, I'm over here doing Post production and trying to get it out the door. No, but those things, they add up. It's gonna be nice to be able to put that work towards stuff. Right. I'm not kidding. [00:50:08] Speaker B: It's. [00:50:09] Speaker A: It takes a lot to put the show up. [00:50:11] Speaker B: Oh, it does. And, and again, kudos to you and Ashley for all that you all did behind the scenes. For a high and a low. For me, last year was a. I love to travel. So I went to some incredible places last year. Thank you, Crow. It was Hawaii we went to. [00:50:26] Speaker J: That's how I suckered y' all into us. Hawaii. [00:50:28] Speaker A: First. First. [00:50:29] Speaker G: Yep. [00:50:30] Speaker A: I mean, Hawaii and bam were back. [00:50:32] Speaker B: To back within two weeks of each other. Within two weeks of each other. [00:50:36] Speaker J: Randy doing a great job. [00:50:39] Speaker B: I love you guys. Thank you, man. I know you. [00:50:43] Speaker A: That was Randy Randall Rogers. You can tell when someone's from Oklahoma make an entry. There you go. [00:50:53] Speaker B: I just can't even speak. [00:50:57] Speaker A: Long time supporter. [00:50:59] Speaker B: So anyways, just amount of people we got to see and the diversity, again, seeing people that are operating systems in Hawaii and learning the nuances of how they get gas and using, you know, all the. I mean, it's incredible the things we learned. The low point was Hawaii when I left the hotel at Saturday at 2 in the afternoon. And I arrived in Florida on Monday at 4 in the afternoon. Slept on a park bench one night. I made a dollar 37 because they thought my cup was asking for change. [00:51:28] Speaker A: We've never heard that story. [00:51:30] Speaker B: Oh, you're gonna hear it a lot of times. I will not let that one go away. But it was an experience. But you know what though, honestly, it's a great experience. It was, it was fun. I mean, you know, at the end of the day, it's all part of it. And you gotta, you know, when people think, you know, all the travel's glamorous. It's not glamorous. You know, you're literally, you know, sleeping in airports or on an outside bench for two nights. But you make it home. And then all of a sudden, a week later you're off to Banff and you're in minus 30 degree temperature. You know, dog sledding. [00:52:03] Speaker A: It was great. It's been an awesome ride. I'll leave with one last thought on that. And I've also been very thankful to have like a space to talk about so much. Like the landscape in which we talked about was so broad. Like, it started so centered around what we were doing in that moment. But we talked about. We went through a 7 habits series. [00:52:30] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:52:31] Speaker A: Brought everybody along. We talked about mental health. We did episodes on everything and everywhere. And that I think is pretty awesome. [00:52:41] Speaker B: It really is awesome. And we touched a lot of lives. And again, I think you and I and a lot of people spoken to it where you get that. One person that said that really made a difference for me. They pull you aside and say, like, with me, with sobriety, somebody says, you know, hey, I'm a month sober right now. Thank you for being an inspiration. Talk about wanting to call again. I mean, that's the stuff that really makes me. I'm like, absolutely. I'll keep shouting it from the mountaintop. If it could help one person turn around and become sober, and if they need to become sober, I'm behind you. [00:53:11] Speaker J: So I got one last question, and then I got a couple things, but Ashley. Oh, I know in the beginning it was a little different, but then she came in. What would you like to say to Ashley? [00:53:24] Speaker A: Oh, man. So last year was built around having three people involved. It was the only way we could pull it off. It was a mixture the whole way we knew it. It was part of what we pitched to you. Right. Was let us go do this, but we can't do it alone. And it doesn't matter whose name's on the coffee cup right at the end of the day. And what was funny about that is that Ashley gets all the kudos for last year because again, it's about what happens after the event. [00:53:50] Speaker B: Events. [00:53:51] Speaker A: Right. So me and Jimmy might be on the road again, but she was back home pumping out episodes. But we literally couldn't have done it because there were shows and times where neither one of us were on the microphone last year. And how do you even have a show when you're not a. A host on it? Y Like, that's what we built. And it didn't matter. We had people sit down and interview people on our show, and neither any of the three of us were there. Like, we created a space for people to share stories. [00:54:24] Speaker B: And it worked. It absolutely worked. Ashley, though, unto herself. Getting back to that, I thought it was very unique. A few times that I went out with Ashley when we recorded, the amount of people that really connected with her. She has that style where it's very. I don't know what it's called, but it's that style of woo. [00:54:42] Speaker A: It's one of her strengths. [00:54:43] Speaker B: Yeah. Funny enough from strength finders. And she did great. I get it. I thought it was interesting to sit back at some point and just watch them have a conversation. I'm like, this is really cool. [00:54:55] Speaker A: I really enjoyed when those two went out because they're a lot the same and their energy so high. Like, you know me, I'm an even. You know me, I'm excited. I'm not. It's all the same. But with them two together, you didn't know what they were going to come come out with right from that show. They might do a tick tock dance. They might. I mean, the Jimmy Shimmer that started. [00:55:17] Speaker B: With Ashley, that she said she saw me do it, she's like, what are you doing? I said, I've been doing it for years. When I go to a conference, I gotta videotape this. [00:55:25] Speaker A: You're welcome. You can have that in a divorce. You get the Jimmy Shimmy. Oh, deal? [00:55:31] Speaker B: Deal. All right. [00:55:33] Speaker J: That one. [00:55:33] Speaker H: All right. [00:55:34] Speaker J: So for those of you out there that are watching this, send Ashley some comments. She's been absolutely invaluable with Jim and James being the success that it has been. So I know that the two of you did not set out to do what you accomplished. [00:55:47] Speaker B: No. [00:55:48] Speaker J: But what you accomplished was absolutely incredible. So for ewn, it was, it was great. It was wonderful for us because it connected us in ways that we had never really had the opportunity to connect. But in the industry, it connected our industry in a way that's never been done before. And so for that I want to say congratulations, James. Thank you, sir. And Jim, good luck to you. [00:56:11] Speaker I: Absolutely. [00:56:11] Speaker J: Thank you so much for doing what you did. [00:56:13] Speaker E: Yep. [00:56:13] Speaker J: And to everybody out there that's watching, thank you for watching all the shows and really supporting these guys. Excuse me. And Ashley, thank you. And that's just what I wanted to say to you guys. It's been an incredible, fun ride to sit back in my seat and watch it all happen and enjoy it. And I was a fan. [00:56:35] Speaker I: Thank you. [00:56:36] Speaker B: I can't say mic drop. [00:56:40] Speaker E: Yeah. [00:56:41] Speaker A: We'll be back. [00:56:44] Speaker C: You did good at that one time. [00:56:45] Speaker A: I'm so proud of you. Have I told you that today you have not skills? [00:56:51] Speaker C: That's where you. [00:56:52] Speaker A: Thank you killed it today as mc and I mean that like, thank you. You do really well in that element. [00:56:58] Speaker B: But it's just me, I don't prep it. There wasn't like any, you know, me and that's a, that's a benefit and that's also a curse, is that I don't prep, I don't memorize, I don't do anything. I go by the seat of my pants and how I feel. [00:57:10] Speaker A: Let me clarify that for everyone because I think that's a really good point. [00:57:13] Speaker B: Jump in. [00:57:13] Speaker A: It's a disaster for people that like to be structured. [00:57:17] Speaker B: Oh, like for you, for us or. [00:57:20] Speaker A: Yeah, awful. Awful. That you should be wearing. [00:57:23] Speaker B: And I don't wear it. [00:57:24] Speaker A: You don't wear it? No. [00:57:27] Speaker B: No. [00:57:28] Speaker A: Aha. Right there. [00:57:30] Speaker B: It's pretty easy. [00:57:31] Speaker A: How old are you? [00:57:32] Speaker F: It's fine. [00:57:33] Speaker A: Yeah, it's fine. I don't have to answer that in. [00:57:37] Speaker D: Front of the people. [00:57:37] Speaker B: I. I am now eligible for an AARP card. I will say that you get a. [00:57:43] Speaker C: Discount when you go to the buffet. [00:57:45] Speaker B: When I go to the Sizzler, if I bring the golf cart and Florida I get a 5% discount if I'm there before 4:30. Honestly, seriously, I try to go to bed around 10pm Cuz I. What? [00:57:56] Speaker A: That was surprising. [00:57:57] Speaker B: No, and I, I cuz I get up around 5. [00:57:59] Speaker A: Do you sleep in your recliner for like 2 hours? [00:58:01] Speaker B: No, I don't sleep in the recliner for 2 hours before but I go to bed at 10 o' clock and then I usually get up about 4:30 to 5e. [00:58:10] Speaker A: Why? [00:58:10] Speaker B: Cuz you have just naturally. I mean it's just the way I'm. [00:58:13] Speaker A: It's east coast though. It's easier over there. [00:58:17] Speaker B: It's not any easier earlier, is it? You guys are all like. Though it's. [00:58:21] Speaker A: It's all early you be talking. [00:58:23] Speaker B: It's relative because. [00:58:25] Speaker C: Don't talk to me like that. [00:58:26] Speaker B: Are you swearing at me? No. [00:58:28] Speaker A: We don't have the same HR department anymore. [00:58:30] Speaker B: Yeah, that's right. I can, I can do whatever I want because I, I report HR wise Mimi as our vp. So. So Mimi, shout out to Mimi. [00:58:47] Speaker A: That's what I came here for. That's what I came here for. Look, this is what I'm going to miss probably the most. [00:58:54] Speaker B: Is that the banter, the real stuff, the jokes. [00:58:57] Speaker A: Because you know when we first started out we were robots. We joke about it being like scripted because it really was. And what I mean is we had flow sheets and we had a guide to take us down. But when we came live it changed. It changed. So we had to get comfortable with just being comfortable. And for us that's cracking jokes and being funny. Well, just being like ourselves. [00:59:17] Speaker B: Whether there's a mic and a camera on or not. It's the same way we're talking. Same way we talk to people when they come up here. [00:59:24] Speaker A: So you weren't in the. The interview earlier with Coleman. [00:59:27] Speaker C: You all got questions? [00:59:30] Speaker B: We were grilled by him. [00:59:32] Speaker A: He flipped it off and took us to town. [00:59:34] Speaker B: It was good. It was Good. [00:59:36] Speaker A: But the last question was about you. [00:59:39] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:59:39] Speaker A: And he said, so last year, like with Ashley involved, how. [00:59:46] Speaker C: That's mine. That's mine from home. [00:59:49] Speaker A: Not awesome. [00:59:49] Speaker B: That's cool. [00:59:50] Speaker A: He was like, so what about Ashley? How was it having Ashley last year on the team and how was last year and all that? We got the answer that question. What do you think? What do you think? [01:00:02] Speaker C: We said it made all the difference. [01:00:05] Speaker A: That's exactly what we said. [01:00:06] Speaker B: Yeah. We couldn't have done last year without. [01:00:09] Speaker A: You is what we said. Yeah. Collectively we set up last year because we knew all three of us could do it. And one of the things I brought up was some of the best moments. I wasn't there. [01:00:20] Speaker B: It was like you and I. I. [01:00:22] Speaker A: Mean, in my opinion, some of the best shows were you two together. [01:00:24] Speaker I: Together. [01:00:25] Speaker A: Because Yalls energy was so high and. And the short stuff, the tick tock stuff that y' all would do. I never knew what y' all would dream up and come home with, but I was always cool with it because I knew it would be high energy. Well, the Jimmy Shimmy. Oh, that's all those things. Like, that's y'. All. That's Ashley's creative mind shimmied in my life. [01:00:45] Speaker C: I know that I have. [01:00:46] Speaker B: I've been shimmying since I directed shimmies. New Orleans 2009. [01:00:53] Speaker C: Was it coined? [01:00:55] Speaker B: No, it was not coined the Shimmy then, but I still did it there. And it's ironic, it was just like my intro into conferences. I usually did it. And then you saw it. We were in Back in Louisiana at the Baton Rouge at the. [01:01:08] Speaker C: It was the first event of 2024. [01:01:11] Speaker B: Yeah. And I did the shimming. You're like, what are you doing? And I'm like, that's what I do. That's how I start my conferences. I get a little action going. You videotaped it through it on LinkedIn. All of a sudden it is like. [01:01:22] Speaker A: Jim says, fungal tins of people. Fungal. [01:01:25] Speaker B: Do I say that? [01:01:27] Speaker A: Yikes. New Orleans. Stop. Listen. But we couldn't have done. We couldn't have done last year without you. We couldn't have done it without you either. [01:01:40] Speaker F: Oh, yeah. [01:01:42] Speaker C: We could have. [01:01:42] Speaker A: We could have done with it. [01:01:47] Speaker B: With Ashley and James. [01:01:48] Speaker A: I'm good. [01:01:48] Speaker C: Croissants with Mr. Cross. [01:01:50] Speaker A: Yeah. So I know that. Yeah, there were a bunch of high points, probably low points too. A lot of laughs, a lot of jokes. So there had to be something out there that sticks out. We had five years of this thing. And I know you weren't necessarily There. But you were around the show for five years, no matter what. [01:02:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:02:07] Speaker A: What are some high points? And you don't have to have one. It could be a conglomerate. Anything that sticks out, that we're like, ah, that was our. That was a moment. [01:02:19] Speaker B: It's a good question. [01:02:20] Speaker A: And please don't answer all at once. [01:02:22] Speaker C: Yeah, the a. I. I have thought about this, cuz you asked me a few days ago just to be thinking about, like a memorable moment or a guest. And that the one thing that kept coming back to mind was Kevin Parker talking about the Folds of Honor, because I don't know I've ever cried on a podcast, and I wasn't even on that one. That was y'. [01:02:47] Speaker A: All. [01:02:47] Speaker C: But I was behind the scenes, taking pictures, trying to hold it together, because it's just a very cool moment to share on a podcast, you know, and hearing him talk about. And I think he even got a little choked up. [01:03:01] Speaker A: Oh, he does. Every time. [01:03:02] Speaker C: And how many times. Yeah, I was gonna say, how many times has he talked about it or shared it? [01:03:05] Speaker A: And from the comedy in that is that happened because of what me and you being at a reception at the last table with Kevin Parker. [01:03:14] Speaker B: At the last Hornsbys. [01:03:16] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:03:16] Speaker B: At the last. We should have been gone. [01:03:19] Speaker A: We should have been gone. [01:03:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:03:20] Speaker A: I don't think SGA people were even there. No. And we talked for an hour and we were talking to Kevin. Kevin told us that story, and no kidding, the whole table cracked. And we were like, wow. Yeah, please stop. Yeah, yeah, that's that. I remember it. Very big moment. [01:03:38] Speaker B: Yep. [01:03:40] Speaker A: For me, you got one. [01:03:41] Speaker B: I'm gonna say, you know, honestly, it was AGA Orlando. [01:03:46] Speaker C: Oh, man. You're taking it back. [01:03:47] Speaker A: I'm taking Miami Vice booth. [01:03:48] Speaker B: Miami Vice booth. That, to me, was the very first. [01:03:52] Speaker A: Show we ever took it out to. [01:03:54] Speaker B: Exactly. And it was a tipping point for us because when we first started this during COVID I literally thought we were going to be messing around with this for like, maybe two months or three months. And then Covid kept happening and happening and happening and, you know, we didn't. I mean, it was like, we're never going to get out of it. So that was one of the first conferences, one that we got back out. [01:04:14] Speaker G: I mean. [01:04:14] Speaker B: But you remember, though, we had to have vaccine cards, we had to do tests we had to wear. I mean, it was. [01:04:19] Speaker C: I'm pretty sure that event is why, like, y' all going and recording there is the only reason I even believe went to that aga. Us moving booths to record in Other people's booth. Right. [01:04:30] Speaker A: Was that Orlando? [01:04:31] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [01:04:33] Speaker A: It's great fun. [01:04:34] Speaker C: No, you're right. [01:04:34] Speaker B: No, no, we did it Orlando first. [01:04:36] Speaker C: So that was 2021. [01:04:38] Speaker A: Hold up. Yeah, no, you're right. But we didn't travel to people's booths until Grapevine. Oh, was it? Yeah, because that was Hydro Max and others. [01:04:47] Speaker B: No, no, that was. That was Orlando. [01:04:49] Speaker E: I thought. [01:04:49] Speaker B: I thought Hydro Max was Orlando Lando. [01:04:52] Speaker A: We did. We didn't even know people. People wouldn't pay us to do that then, remember? [01:04:56] Speaker C: That's true, that's true. [01:04:57] Speaker A: We were. We were in that one spot the whole time with these mics. [01:05:01] Speaker B: I don't think John Smith was with Hydro Max. [01:05:04] Speaker C: Okay, we can go back and look. Yeah, we'll look at the receipts. [01:05:07] Speaker A: We're good. But. But anyways, that was for me, that. [01:05:11] Speaker B: Was a breakout event for us where we really determined that it was a tipping point and we wanted to do this live at the live events and get away from the zoom and the team calls and the. And the video stuff, which is, again, isn't a bad deal. But, you know, the, the energy and the interaction that we have. I'm going to say that. And then another point I'm going to say was you and I, when we went to AI World and. And we really leaned into you because you kind of set the stage with like getting away from the table and talking with people and walking with them. And then we lend to that. And I found out that people really wanted to talk a little bit more when they didn't think that they were really sitting behind a table and mics, you know, they're like, I can't talk here. But then you just walk down the thing still, maybe on a microphone, but they're just having much more casual conversations. That's where I think the future of a lot of this is going to be going too. Whether with other us individually or somehow. I think we need to continue that in the industry. Whoever is going to do it, whether again, it's us or anybody in the industry, we need to start capturing more and more of that and sharing it. We have to keep doing that. How I feel. [01:06:23] Speaker C: I will say some of my favorite moments were on the road, going to the clients, going to Detroit. [01:06:31] Speaker B: Oh, for the. On site, the right ways. [01:06:34] Speaker A: Yeah, those were the best, for sure. No, I mean, we just did so many conferences in comparison too, that truthfully, we had burned ourselves out on conferences. And so it was so refreshing. But then you get out there and I was like, wow. [01:06:49] Speaker C: Yeah, definitely Epic. [01:06:51] Speaker B: No, I agree. What about you? You give us style. So take his. [01:06:57] Speaker A: No, you're good. So I really liked SGA when we won the award. Like, I thought the whole. [01:07:03] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [01:07:04] Speaker A: Was, like, kind of neat. [01:07:05] Speaker B: Was that 21? Yeah, that was 21, wasn't it? [01:07:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:07:09] Speaker D: But it's all merging together. [01:07:11] Speaker A: My brain, grapevine, aga, because we knew what we had there. Right. We before then, we didn't really understand what we were doing. We were doing the best we could. We were kind of, you know, what we put out, whatever we made was what we made, like, but we went there. We were welcomed in by aga. They put us in a spot. Yep. We had the stage. We were part of the innovation stage. [01:07:38] Speaker F: Yeah. [01:07:38] Speaker E: Yeah. [01:07:39] Speaker A: We migrated around to different booths and, like, helped other vendors like we've never done. Plus, we did the thing. We sat down with Karen, you know, like, we were a part of. Of that show and that had never happened. Like, no one had that kind of buy in with us. And AGA showed that. And we walked away. Remember, we also got to be a part of the committee and board meetings, which had never been a thing. And we walked away with 76 interviews from that show. [01:08:09] Speaker B: Yeah. Yep, yep. [01:08:11] Speaker A: And we ran ragged while we were there because that place was so big to begin with. So for me, that was just. It stretched us as far as we could. We also understood that small content was everything for the first time when we came back from there. And to me, that changed who we were. [01:08:29] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a good point, too. That's a very good point. [01:08:32] Speaker A: When we went small on the content, it changed. [01:08:35] Speaker B: Yeah, it really. [01:08:36] Speaker D: Yeah. [01:08:37] Speaker B: No, I agree with you. Now we're getting along with the content again. [01:08:41] Speaker A: Here we are. [01:08:42] Speaker B: Here we are. Evan Flow. [01:08:44] Speaker A: Last one. [01:08:46] Speaker B: So final lap, the final countdown. [01:08:50] Speaker A: This may be the final question. So what did you get out of the show? [01:08:59] Speaker C: Go ahead. [01:08:59] Speaker A: Besides a job, Jimmy. [01:09:03] Speaker B: I got a lot of people looking at me, and I'm now with Grid Hawk holdings, leading some and working with some great team. No, what did I get out of the show? I. Honestly, I. I would say I. As weird as this sound, humility and being humbled by it. And, you know, we're on camera, we're on the. On the mics and such, and people are like, you know, Jimmy's always on stage. But really, it's at the end of the day where I'm like, wow, I. I hope that I help somebody to do something that day. It gave me a place to really interact with folks in a way where I Think and hope that I made a positive difference in their lives, especially in sobriety. I bring that up a lot, and it gave me a great platform at times to talk about my sobriety. And hopefully I can help people with their journey if they choose that they want to take a journey of sobriety. So I would. I would probably have been in an echo chamber had it not been for the show, for that one very important purpose. [01:10:12] Speaker C: How do you follow that? [01:10:14] Speaker A: Thanks a lot. You're welcome. Well, we won't be back. [01:10:17] Speaker C: We won't be back. [01:10:19] Speaker A: See what I did there? That was a joke. It's a callback. You. [01:10:26] Speaker C: I think for me, it provided a seat at the table and literally. But there's so many people in and out of conferences. I mean, you go to AGA and you can get lost in a sea of people. [01:10:40] Speaker B: Right. [01:10:40] Speaker C: And not to say that, like, my name is in, like, known, but, like, I think that there are people in the industry now that know that if they need somebody or if they need a friend at ewn. Yeah, I'm always willing to help and whatever they need, you know, so just having a place to serve, having a place to, you know, be a part of the industry more than I probably was prior. [01:11:04] Speaker B: That's cool. That's. And that's a great takeaway from it. You, Jamesy? [01:11:10] Speaker C: Did I take yours? [01:11:12] Speaker A: I mean, mine kind of goes with yours a little bit. [01:11:14] Speaker C: Sobriety. [01:11:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:11:16] Speaker B: Well, it's been, what, eight hours or what? [01:11:18] Speaker A: I haven't drank all day. [01:11:24] Speaker C: You snort again? [01:11:26] Speaker A: See, we're gonna miss this part. What's the question again? [01:11:31] Speaker C: You're gonna make Jim cry. Don't cry. [01:11:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:11:35] Speaker A: So are you about to cry? [01:11:38] Speaker C: Don't cry. [01:11:39] Speaker A: I guess just having a. A place. I mentioned it with Coleman, too. Having a place, a safe place to talk about things in our industry that I don't think that we have a lot. [01:11:55] Speaker J: And. [01:11:57] Speaker A: I don't know, that was really big for me along the journey. We did a series in the pandemic on mental health. Come out of that. Bring the show out, whatever. Like, so many people talk to me about that series. Talk to me about 7 habits. Talk to me about not just our industry stuff that we did all the time, it was the stuff that was a little off. Right. That didn't feel the same. But now, especially now, because I get to be on stage telling a lot of our stories, still talking about safety culture and talking about mental health. I've seen it. I've seen the same amount of people come up. It's come up to you about sobriety. [01:12:35] Speaker B: Yep. [01:12:37] Speaker A: That says keep having that conversation. And that. That's enough for me. [01:12:43] Speaker B: Well, I. Okay, let me just bring a part of this together. I think we all have our purpose and our passions that we just all mentioned. And then this platform, the podcast, allowed us to really be expanded in the industry, even more so than we ever were before. And even though I think that the podcast, again, look at some line locators outside, that is exciting to see. Well, anyways, I'll get back a moment. [01:13:13] Speaker A: ADD. [01:13:13] Speaker C: Moment. [01:13:14] Speaker J: I was very add. [01:13:15] Speaker B: If you know me. That's the way I go. Anyways. No, but I think the podcast has really given us that place to really expand in the marketplace, into the industry. We'll call it that. Where people get to know us now. The podcast might be going away, but we still have that presence where we can still touch lives. And there might be more on an individual basis yet going forward, but that's okay. And that's not a problem. You know, we're still doing some positive impact, so the passions can carry through. [01:13:43] Speaker A: I've never met so many people in my life. [01:13:46] Speaker B: Then from the podcast. Oh, yeah, absolutely. [01:13:49] Speaker A: We interviewed 360 people last year. [01:13:53] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:13:54] Speaker A: Like, I don't know what shows you're going to or what, but that's a show in itself. Like, you literally met every single person. We sat down with them and they told us what they did and why they were here, what they were doing. [01:14:06] Speaker B: Like, it was really that many just last year. [01:14:10] Speaker A: So we've interviewed thousands of people. Yeah. They've taken the time to sit down and share that with us. It's pretty awesome. [01:14:18] Speaker B: Wow, that's humbling right there. [01:14:21] Speaker D: So. [01:14:24] Speaker A: That'S it. [01:14:25] Speaker B: I'll put a fork in it. It's done. [01:14:27] Speaker A: Dunsky. Hey, Jimmy the mustard. [01:14:32] Speaker B: Mustard has come off the hot dog. [01:14:34] Speaker C: Officially say it. [01:14:35] Speaker B: I can officially say it now. But you know what, though? I think we're going out on top. And it's. You know, that's. We've actually, over the years have talked about that, wanting to go out on top. And I. [01:14:47] Speaker C: It served a good purpose. [01:14:49] Speaker B: Served a great purpose. [01:14:52] Speaker C: Are you really. Stop it. [01:14:55] Speaker B: Come on, brother. It's okay. I'm gonna close this out. This episode of Coffee and Jimmy James is brought to you by Ashley James and myself. We love you all. And we are. We're still here. Okay. [01:15:13] Speaker A: We'll be back. [01:15:15] Speaker C: Then we left.
Previous Episode

Other Episodes

Episode 0

February 04, 2021 • 00:32:31
Episode Cover

CWJJ Ep 37 - Jay Stephens

Jay Stephens joins the show to talk about gamification and how beneficial it can be for damage prevention and safety.

Listen

Episode 0

April 08, 2021 • 00:01:10
Episode Cover

CWJJ Ep 52 - Laura Morrow

"Do you love what you do?" Laura Morrow will tell you she does and it has everything to do with the people in this...

Listen

Episode 0

November 25, 2021 • 00:21:31
Episode Cover

CWJJ Ep 90 - November Freestyle

Happy Thanksgiving from Coffee with Jim and James. We are thankful for all of you that tune in every week. Now enjoy this special...

Listen