Episodes

  • Tyler Thomason
    Aug 14 2025

    From Spring, Texas to the helm of his own startup, Tyler’s journey is all about turning big ideas into real change for oil and gas. He cut his teeth at LSU, sharpened his skills leading innovative projects at EOG Resources, and now with CT Evolution, he’s tackling downhole logistics in a way that’s shaking up how operators and service companies work together. We got into the grit of launching a business, the headaches and breakthroughs of bringing patented tools to market, and how those innovations are unlocking better reservoir and production diagnostics. It’s part startup grind, part industry insight, and part “how the hell did you even think of that?”, all with a good dose of humor along the way.

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    00:00 - Intro
    00:58 - Who is Tyler Thomason
    04:08 - Why Choose LSU for Petroleum Engineering
    11:05 - Decision to Pursue Petroleum Engineering
    13:03 - Securing Internships in Energy Sector
    15:47 - Experience Working in the Field
    20:22 - First Job in Petroleum Industry
    23:03 - What Makes EOG Resources Special
    27:17 - Transitioning from EOG to Entrepreneurship
    30:00 - Overview of CT Evolution
    32:18 - Operator vs. Vendor in Energy Sector
    33:41 - A Day in the Life of Tyler Thomason
    35:13 - Finding Business Opportunities in Energy
    37:40 - Importance of CT Evolution for Stakeholders
    39:59 - How to Connect with Tyler Thomason
    40:50 - Outro

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    42 mins
  • Sebastien Tamarelle
    Jul 31 2025

    What happens when a Chico kid with a dream and a serious work ethic decides to shake up the local bar scene? You get Sebastian Tamarelle, owner of The Banshee and B Street Public House and the kind of guy who didn’t set out to lead but ended up becoming a community pillar anyway. Jeremy sits down with his childhood buddy to swap stories, talk shop, and dig into everything from ditching the corporate grind to surviving post-COVID curveballs. You’ll hear what it’s really like to run two of the town’s most iconic spots, how a surprise visit from Guy Fieri changed everything, and why staying grounded might just be the secret sauce to Sebastian’s success.

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.


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    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
    Apply today at collide.io


    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    01:03 - Who is Sebastien Tamarelle
    03:56 - Growing Up in California
    08:55 - College Experience in Massachusetts
    11:00 - College Life and Lessons
    15:41 - Opening Your First Bar/Restaurant
    20:58 - Banshee's Triple D Experience
    25:45 - Business Owner Challenges
    29:16 - Work Ethic of Younger Generations
    32:40 - Tipping Practices in Service Industry
    35:36 - Making Cash in College
    36:13 - What's Next for Seb
    38:35 - Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
    42:40 - Favorite Menu Item
    45:30 - Travel Recommendations
    47:25 - Favorite Dog Breed
    48:09 - Fantasy Football Insights
    50:10 - Recommended Websites
    51:45 - Closing Time

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    53 mins
  • Mary Young on What the Funk?
    Jul 10 2025

    Relationships are at the heart of everything Mary does, from building out tech solutions in oil and gas to swapping baking tips and golf stories. We got into how she went from Baltimore to becoming the face of Welland, the consulting firm making data reporting way less painful with tools like Unidata and SQL (but don't worry, she keeps it human). Mary’s one of those people who makes remote work look effortless, balancing serious technical chops with genuine connection. Also, her dog’s name is Drago, which basically makes her cooler than all of us.

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    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
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    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    01:13 - Meeting Mike Mapes
    03:42 - Who is Mary Young
    05:44 - Mary’s Early Life in Dallas
    12:46 - New York City Experience
    17:40 - Exploring Houston
    19:07 - June 2025 Insights
    21:04 - The Day Your Dad Almost Died
    23:20 - The Surgeon’s Role
    27:38 - Writing Your Dad’s Eulogy
    32:25 - Mary’s Story Beyond New York
    36:55 - Tony’s Pizza Journey
    41:04 - What is Welland?
    46:25 - How to Reach Mary
    47:30 - Mary Welland - Outro

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    50 mins
  • Josh Politte on What the Funk?
    Jun 12 2025

    Running a company that’s shaking up oil and gas with AI is wild enough, but try doing that on zero sleep with a newborn in the house. That’s life for Josh Politte, who somehow manages to lead ACT Solutions & Consulting while changing diapers and dodging spit-up. He shares stories from a globe-spanning career (50+ countries!), the year Egypt cracked open his worldview, and how he went from petroleum engineer to Microsoft-powered problem solver. We get into why tech in this industry actually matters, how AI isn't just a buzzword, and why being a new dad might just be the ultimate crash course in leadership.

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    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
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    Click here to watch a video of this episode.
    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    01:40 - Who is Josh Pape
    11:02 - Josh’s Career Journey: College to Business
    16:23 - Technical Skills Development
    18:55 - Leading Digital Transformation at BHP
    23:35 - Experience as Interim CTO at Digital Wildcatters
    25:06 - Passion for the Microsoft Stack
    30:51 - Insights on AI Technology
    37:24 - Loving Your Work: A Personal Reflection
    38:00 - Future Vision: Company Goals in 3-5 Years
    41:39 - Hot Seat Questions: Rapid Fire Round
    45:10 - How to Connect with Josh

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    47 mins
  • Steve Cooper on What the Funk?
    Jun 5 2025

    Steve Cooper went from mining rocks in the UK to mining insights in the oil and gas world, building and eventually selling EnergyIQ, a company that tackled the chaos of industry data before COVID flipped the world upside down. He breaks down how a background in computer science and a bit of stubborn problem-solving turned into a business that stood out by actually giving a damn about data quality. Jeremy digs into the story behind the scenes, what it took to lead through downturns, why timing is everything, and what Steve’s up to now as he backs the next wave of clean energy and tech startups.

    Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.
    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
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    Click here to watch a video of this episode.
    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    03:08 - Who is Steve Cooper
    08:26 - Dual Citizenship Benefits
    10:55 - Relocating to Colorado
    12:35 - EnergyIQ Overview
    17:00 - Seven Lakes Insights
    21:15 - Competing in Data Management
    22:08 - Surviving the 2015 Downturn
    28:13 - Survivor Classification
    34:56 - Post-Acquisition Journey
    37:16 - Current Projects
    39:32 - Entrepreneurial Advice
    45:13 - Travel Favorites
    47:12 - Restaurant Recommendations
    48:56 - Connecting with Steve Cooper
    49:30 - Closing Thoughts

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    51 mins
  • Rivitt on What the Funk?
    May 29 2025

    What happens when two sharp minds from the oilfield and IT world team up to fix the clunky data problems plaguing oil and gas? You get Rivitt, an AI-powered game-changer that’s tackling inefficiencies, boosting safety, and making ops smoother than a fresh cup of frac fluid. Jeremy sits down with the brains behind it, Steven and Clay, to talk about scrappy beginnings, bold ideas, and how a little bit of stubbornness (and a whole lot of late nights) turned into a tech company that’s shaking up the industry.

    Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.
    Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
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    Click here to watch a video of this episode.
    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    01:09 - Steve Ko Introduction
    07:02 - Steve Ko's First Business
    09:42 - Returning to School and Second Business
    10:18 - Clay Bonin's Background
    17:06 - Steve Ko's Background
    24:50 - Steve Ko's Career Path
    26:39 - Understanding Worms
    28:53 - Knowledge of Paper Mills
    35:40 - Steve's Journey to Rice Energy
    41:47 - Innovation at Rice Energy
    47:08 - Early Days of Rivitt Energy
    47:35 - Meeting Clay Bonin
    49:12 - Problem Solving at Rivitt
    54:28 - Steve's Impact on Rivitt
    58:14 - Vision for Rivitt
    1:00:56 - Steve as a Visionary
    1:05:35 - Final Thoughts
    1:05:45 - More Information about Rivitt
    1:06:25 - Outro

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Ben Klepacki from Westgen Technologies on What the Funk?
    May 22 2025

    Turning a sketch on a napkin into a $20 million energy tech company? That’s exactly what happened and the story’s wild. From navigating the chaos of startup life to hitting pause after a major health scare, this convo pulls back the curtain on the real grit behind building Westgen Technologies. We’re talking leadership lessons, coaching that actually worked, and a whole lot of figuring things out the hard way. Oh, and if you’re into solving big problems like powering up remote wellsites without trashing the planet, you’ll want to hear how Ben’s doing just that.

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    Click here to watch a video of this episode.
    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    00:39 - Who is Ben Klepacki
    10:36 - Balancing Different Personality Types
    12:43 - Importance of Executive Coaching
    18:23 - The Westgen Technologies Story
    24:35 - Early Entrepreneurial Journey
    27:25 - Motivations Behind Starting a Company
    31:30 - Fundraising Challenges and Stress
    35:30 - Relocating to Houston
    40:45 - The Reality of 90-Hour Work Weeks
    46:00 - Mental Health Struggles in Business
    47:52 - Managing a Company During Personal Crisis
    50:17 - Future Vision: Life in 3-5 Years
    51:30 - Future Vision: Westgen in 3-5 Years
    54:10 - Wrapping Up the Discussion
    56:15 - Connecting with Ben & Westgen

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    1 hr
  • Alzheimer's Association on What the Funk?
    May 15 2025

    Alzheimer’s is tough, but this episode is all about the people fighting back in the most unexpected ways, like hopping on a bike and riding for something bigger. We sat down with Brian from the Alzheimer’s Association and Steve, a cyclist whose mom’s diagnosis lit a fire in him to make a difference. From emotional stories to groundbreaking updates (think blood tests and FDA-approved meds), we cover the science, the personal, and the power of pedaling with purpose. Whether you're in it for the community, the cause, or the ride itself, this one’s got heart, hope, and a whole lot of impact.

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    Apply today at collide.io

    Click here to watch a video of this episode.
    Click here to view the episode transcript.

    00:00 - Intro
    01:22 - Who are Steve Mullen and Brian Tatum
    05:32 - Brian Tatum's Involvement with Alzheimer's Association
    07:54 - Alzheimer's Research and Funding Updates
    11:04 - Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
    12:38 - Steve's Passion for Alzheimer's Advocacy
    15:55 - End ALZ Ride Overview
    20:09 - Experience of Riding in the End ALZ Ride
    26:06 - Competing for Donation Dollars in Alzheimer's Research
    29:25 - Progress with FDA Approved Alzheimer's Drugs
    29:55 - How to Donate to Alzheimer's Causes
    33:07 - End ALZ Ride Details: Date and Location
    35:08 - Future of Alzheimer's Research in 10 Years
    38:14 - Ride Distances in the End ALZ Event
    39:24 - How to Get Involved in Alzheimer's Advocacy
    39:50 - Closing Thoughts on Alzheimer's Awareness

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    42 mins