Episodes

  • Episode 11 - A Review
    Jun 20 2025

    Join us for Episode 11 of The Invisible Industry as we review highlights from all 10 episodes of the podcast. We’ve covered many topics over the past nearly 4 years and hosted over a dozen guests and guest hosts!

    Tune in to this episode and you'll find out about the industry as a whole, its sustainability, where its products go, how the industry impacts its local communities, how to get into this industry, and much more!

    Whether you’re here for the first time or you’ve listened from the beginning, this episode may teach you something you never knew about rendering. To learn more please visit www.NARA.org.

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    37 mins
  • Episode 10 - My Why: Benefits of NARA Membership
    Feb 11 2025

    In this special episode of The Invisible Industry, we dive into the heart of why our members choose NARA and the impact the association has had on their businesses and careers. Join us as we sit down with four esteemed NARA members, the co-chairs of our newly formed Industry Advisory Committee, to hear about their personal experiences, the unexpected benefits of membership, and their favorite NARA memories.

    Whether you're a longtime member or just curious about what NARA has to offer, this episode is a must-listen!

    To learn more about rendering visit us at www.nara.org, and if you or someone you know is interested in membership simply email info@nara.org or reach out to our membership coordinator directly at 703-754-8740.

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    29 mins
  • Episode 9 - Aquaculture
    Sep 3 2024

    In this episode of The Invisible Industry, we delve into the world of aquaculture – a topic we discuss regularly at NARA and in the rendering industry, but until now have yet to cover in a podcast episode.

    Luckily, our guest today makes the wait worthwhile; Dr. George Chamberlain, President of the Center for Responsible Seafood, joins our host Marcus Wintzer to educate our audience on aquaculture. Our interview with Dr. Chamberlain starts off with the basics of the industry but dives deep into its many sustainability benefits, how it affects rendering (and vice versa), how vast the industry really is, and even how to carve out your own path to a career in aquaculture.

    For questions about aquaculture, please visit www.responsibleseafood.org, and to learn more about rendering visit us at www.NARA.org.

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    34 mins
  • Episode 8 - Careers in Rendering
    May 9 2024

    In this episode of The Invisible Industry, we take a fresh approach in discussing the many career options in the rendering industry – we let those with rendering careers tell you themselves!

    Alongside special guest (and co-host), NARA Chairman, Michael Glenn, host Marcus Wintzer covers a list of questions we asked those in the rendering industry, including our Chairman, to answer via videos they made and sent us.

    This episode is enlightening for everyone from those who have never heard of the rendering industry, to those who thought rendering careers ended at the plant – we aim to educate on just how many varied career paths there are in our sustainable and rewarding industry (many you wouldn’t expect)!

    If you are interested in learning more about a career in the rendering industry or to see the current job openings for all NARA’s member companies, visit nara.org/about-us/careers/.

    Learn more about rendering by visiting www.NARA.org.

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    31 mins
  • Episode 7 - Where Do Rendered Products Go? – Plasma
    Oct 20 2023

    This is the 2nd episode in our series entitled "Where Do Rendered Products Go?" In this ongoing series we explore exactly where rendered material goes and how it is used after it is processed. Episodes from this series feature our host Marcus Wintzer interviewing those who work in the many industries that use rendered products in a variety of applications - many that we come into contact with every day!

    For this entry we are exploring the plasma industry. Marcus is joined by Dr. Yanbin Shen, Global Technical Services Director and North America R&D Director at APC, Inc., as he discusses the important role rendered material plays in the production of plasma, as well as how and in what industries plasma is utilized. APC is a global manufacturer and supplier of porcine, bovine plasma and hemoglobin.

    Learn more about rendering at www.NARA.org.

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    31 mins
  • Episode 6 - National Rendering Day
    Jul 14 2023

    In this historic episode of The Invisible Industry we discuss National Rendering Day, a new National day that is now officially observed every 21st of April in recognition and appreciation of renderers and the highly sustainable nature of the rendering process.

    With the inaugural celebration of the first National Rendering Day having taken place this April of 2023, we celebrate the historic occasion by talking with two individuals who were instrumental in making National Rendering Day a reality: Kent Swisher, President, and CEO of the North American Renderers Association (NARA), and Michael Koewler, NARA member, and President of Sacramento Rendering.

    Marcus chats with our esteemed guests about how this important day got its start, what it means for renderers and the larger community, and how you can help spread awareness of rendering’s positive environmental and sustainability impacts by celebrating with us every April 21st.

    Learn more about rendering and National Rendering Day by visiting www.NARA.org.

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    20 mins
  • Episode 5 - Where Do Rendered Products Go? - Animal Feed
    Apr 6 2023

    This episode of The Invisible Industry is the first in an exciting new series entitled "Where Do Rendered Products Go?" In this ongoing series we will explore exactly where rendered material goes and how it is used after it is processed. Episodes from this series feature our host Marcus Wintzer interviewing those who work in the many industries that use rendered products in a variety of applications - many that we come into contact with every day!

    For this, our first entry in the "Where Do Rendered Products Go" series, we are exploring how rendered products are used in animal feed. Marcus is joined by Clark Miller, Senior Sourcing Manager for Purina Animal Nutrition/Land O’Lakes, as he discusses the important role rendered material plays in the production of safe and nutritious animal feed.

    Learn more about rendering at www.NARA.org.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 4 - Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF)
    Aug 1 2022

    On this very special episode of The Invisible Industry, we are discussing the rendering industry’s research arm, the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), and celebrating the 60 year anniversary of the foundation with a look back, and a look ahead. We will be talking about past successes, current research, future goals, and how you can help.

    Host Marcus Wintzer is joined by two esteemed co-hosts: FPRF's Chairman, Mike Carlson, of Sanimax Industries, Inc., and former FPRF Chairman, Dave Kaluzny, of Kaluzny Brothers, Inc. Joining them is this episode’s guest, NARA and FPRF's own Dr. David Meeker, who serves as NARA’s Senior Vice President of Scientific Services and Director of FPRF.

    Learn more about rendering at www.NARA.org, and the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation at www.fprf.org.

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    32 mins