Recorded in Duluth, Minnesota at the Better in Our Backyard Winter Dinner, this episode of Mining Minds brings you a raw, unfiltered conversation with Shari McGregor-Overbye—millwright, industry advocate, and host of the Iron Lady Podcast.

From growing up learning the trades beside her father to becoming an onsite mechanic, Shari's story challenges outdated perceptions and highlights the real opportunity within mining and skilled trades. She breaks down the myth that blue-collar careers are a "fallback," sharing how hands-on skills, work ethic, and determination can outperform traditional paths both financially and professionally.

This episode dives deep into the realities of working in mining—from shutdown chaos and plant operations to leadership, innovation, and the future of maintenance with AI. Shari also shares how she carved her own path through the industry, earning respect, leading teams, and ultimately stepping into a role where she now works with industry leaders to drive performance and change. Please help us welcome Shari McGregor-Overbye to the Face.

Check out the Iron Lady Podcast!

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training & Consulting

Walsh Reclimation Inc.

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Chapters:

02:49 Roots and House Moving

04:51 Dad's Influence Early

07:23 Advocating the Trades

12:03 Making Mining Authentic

16:26 Hands On Learning Style

20:37 Earning Respect on Site

26:04 AI in Maintenance

30:52 Plant Shutdown Chaos

35:36 Planner to Supervisor

39:11 Crusher Planning Lessons

42:50 Leading the Shops

44:01 Joining AMCAST Team

In this episode of Mining Minds, we go behind the scenes of the Elko Mining Expo — a 40-year legacy event that transforms a tight-knit mining community into a global hub of innovation, networking, and opportunity. Sitting down with the powerhouse team at the Elko Convention Center & Visitors Authority, this conversation uncovers the hardwork, coordination, and passion required to bring over 6,000+ attendees, hundreds of vendors, and massive equipment displays together—year after year.

From humble beginnings and small-town roots to managing one of the most anticipated mining events in the industry, Selina Morales and Kimberly Longley share their personal journeys, the evolution of the expo, and what it truly takes to execute an event of this magnitude with a team of just ten people.

But this episode goes deeper than logistics. It explores the heart of mining communities — the families, the kids, the traditions, and the future workforce. With new ideas like live podcasting, technical sessions, and even a first-ever Miner's Poetry Contest, this year's expo is pushing boundaries and redefining what connection and storytelling in mining looks like.

Join us at the 2026 Elko Mine Expo on June 4th at 10:00 AM for a compelling look at the past, present, and future of our industry. We'll be kicking off the event with a live opening session panel podcast featuring some of the most influential voices in mining.

And for the first time, Mining Minds will be hosting the Miner's Poetry Contest on June 5th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. From elementary-aged kids to teenagers, to miners and their spouses, we want to hear the voices that truly tell the story of who we are, the experiences we've lived, and what makes this industry so special.

Submit your entry by "brassing in" at MiningMindsLLC.com.

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training & Consulting

Motor Mission Machine & Radiator

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Chapters:

02:50 Selena Background

05:28 Planning the Expo

07:13 Kimberly Background

09:18 Convention Center Events

14:54 Expo Growth Upgrades

20:57 Layout and Expansion

26:52 Expo Week Breakdown

31:57 Networking and Engagement

33:15 Booths Networking Value

37:42 Miners Poetry Contest

52:59 40th Anniversary Plans

56:07 Live Podcast Announcement

What does it feel like to hit one of the highest-grade nickel drill holes on the planet… and not even be on the drill pad when it happens?

In this long overdue episode, we sit down with Brian Goldner, Chief Exploration and Operations Officer at Talon Metals, for a front-row look at modern-day exploration, discovery, and the relentless pursuit of what's hidden beneath the surface. Recorded in Duluth, Minnesota at the Better In Our Backyards Winter Dinner, this conversation dives deep into the science, the risk, and the reward of chasing critical minerals in today's world.

Brian takes us from a kid in Minneapolis obsessed with rocks to leading one of the most exciting nickel discoveries in North America. We unpack the realities of exploration — a career built on being wrong, challenging assumptions daily, and pushing forward until something clicks. From helicopter-supported fieldwork in remote areas to building an in-house drilling operation during COVID, Brian shares how innovation, teamwork, and timing all play a role in success.

At the center of it all is Talon's recent discovery — a drill hole so significant it ranks among the best globally across multiple metals. But this episode isn't just about the win. It's about the process, the failures that lead to breakthroughs, and the responsibility of developing resources the right way — for communities, for the environment, and for the future of domestic mining.

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Chapters:

01:00 Welcome to Better In Our Back Yards & Talon Metals

04:12 From Physics to Geology

08:45 Discovering Economic Geology

12:00 How Nickel Deposits Actually Form

18:05 Helicopters, Remote Exploration & Field Life

24:00 Mentorship & Learning Under a Legend

28:00 Prospecting, Core & First Discoveries

35:10 Building an In-House Drilling Operation During COVID

44:10 Critical Minerals, Nickel & Global Demand

52:30 The Vault Discovery: A Career-Defining Moment

01:07:30 The Future of Mining, Technology & Exploration

In this episode, we discuss what it takes to build something that actually lasts in the mining industry — not just in business, but in people, culture, and legacy. Join us in the studio with Matt Coffin, Vice President of Mining for N.A. Degerstrom, for a grounded, real-world conversation on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the long game of building in mining. From early career lessons and taking calculated risks to navigating growth, setbacks, and responsibility, Matt shares what it means to evolve alongside the industry rather than chase it.

This episode dives into the realities behind building and scaling, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, and why trust, accountability, and consistency matter more than quick wins. Matt opens up about lessons learned through experience — both the wins and the hard moments — and how those have shaped his approach to leadership and decision-making.

Please help us welcome Matt Coffin to The Face.

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Chapters:

00:00 Building Something That Lasts

08:45 Early Career Lessons & Getting Started

16:20 Taking Risks & Betting on Yourself

24:05 Learning Through Failure & Setbacks

32:10 Leadership Through Experience, Not Title

40:25 Building the Right Team Around You

48:40 Culture, Accountability & Trust

57:15 Scaling Challenges & Growing Pains

01:05:30 Workforce Realities in Mining Today

01:13:10 Balancing Business, Life & Responsibility

01:21:45 Staying Grounded While Pushing Forward

01:30:20 Long-Term Vision & Industry Impact

What if the biggest challenge in mining leadership isn't strategy, production, or policy — but the brain?

In this episode of Mining Minds, David Watson, founder of NeuroLead, joins us in the studio for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to lead — starting with yourself. From humble beginnings in Australia to the iron ore boom, David shares his journey from carpenter to supervisor to breaking point — and how a deep dive into the neuroscience of leadership transformed not only his career but his life.

This episode unpacks cognitive bias, burnout, trauma, identity, and the toxic validation cycle that many high performers quietly live in. David explains how the brain is wired to maximize rewards, minimize threats, and conserve energy — and how those shortcuts can either elevate or sabotage leaders.

We dive into why traditional leadership training often misses the mark, why credibility matters more than PowerPoint slides, and why self-awareness is the foundation of influence. David also shares how hitting "static mode," creating flow, and deliberately repairing mental health are not luxuries — they are leadership responsibilities.

Please welcome David Watson to The Face!

www.NeuroLead.net.au

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Episode Chapters:

05:30 Growing Up In Australia

10:42 First Leadership Breakthrough

16:23 Tall Poppy Syndrome Explained

21:19 From Carpentry To Mining Boom

28:33 Mining Town Reality Check

38:51 First Mine Job Trade Assistant

56:09 Leading Without Being Expert

01:11:06 Managing Up With Company Values

01:25:22 Find Your Static Mode

01:48:55 Neuroscience Study Shift

02:12:17 Launching Neuro Lead

02:23:59 Lead Yourself First

02:39:40 Life Changing Feedback

What happens when a Hopi tribal member steps into one of mining's most complex spaces — not to fight it blindly, not to defend it blindly — but to bridge it?

We sit down with LeRoy Shingoitewa of WestLand Resources at the AEMA Annual Meeting for one of the most powerful and perspective-shifting conversations we've had to date. Raised in Moenkopi, Arizona — where some villages still live without running water or electricity by choice — LeRoy shares what it means to carry ancestral responsibility into modern industry.

From hauling water at his grandmother's home to biology, to cultural resource consultant, LeRoy explains how traditional ecological knowledge and Western science can coexist — and why both are critical in today's mining landscape. We dive into tribal sovereignty, legacy uranium impacts, water rights, permitting reform, trust-building, consultation breakdowns, NGO pressure, and what real partnership between tribes and mining companies actually looks like.

This isn't a surface-level conversation. It's about preservation, accountability, education, and long-term relationship building. It's about starting with respect instead of checking a box. And it's about one man choosing to stand in the middle — not for money, not for politics — but to make sure his people have a voice at the table. Please help us welcome LeRoy Shingoitewa to the Face.

Big thanks to the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA) for having Mining Minds out at the event. We truly appreciate the opportunity and the work you continue to do to support and elevate the voices across our mining industry.

Episode Sponsors:

Safety First Training and Consulting

Motor Mission Machine & Radiator

JSR Fleet Performance

PC-Reps

Chapters:

04:12 Growing Up Hopi: Tradition by Choice

14:48 Tribal Monitors & Entering Mining

20:03 Building Trust After Broken Promises

26:40 Why Early Consultation Matters

32:18 Economic Benefits vs. Cultural Preservation

38:12 Bloodlines, Identity & Sovereignty

45:03 Water, Coal & Hard Lessons

51:00 Western Degrees & Tribal Responsibility

57:42 NGOs, Money & Accountability

01:04:50 Mining 101 & Changing the Narrative

01:10:05 Preserving Culture While Engaging Industry

From working road construction in the Midwest to leading a nationally recognized advocacy organization, Ryan Sistad, Executive Director of Better In Our Backyards, has taken a path that is anything but typical. We explore how entrepreneurship, resilience, and an unwavering belief in responsible development transformed a small regional initiative into a multi-state platform amplifying the voice of mining and industrial projects across America.

Ryan shares how he bet on himself, left corporate security, and built a brand during COVID by teaching himself design, digital outreach, and advocacy. We dive deep into permitting reform, rural vs. urban perspectives, refining bottlenecks, national security, critical minerals, and the power of storytelling in shaping public perception. Ryan shares lessons on partnership, collaboration over competition, and why mining's future depends on unified messaging and bold advocacy. Please help us welcome Ryan Sistad to the Face.

A huge thank you to the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA) for welcoming Mining Minds to the event and for everything you do to support and amplify the voices across our mining industry.

Episode Sponsors:

American Exploration and Mining

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

PC Reps

Chapters:

04:02 Crop insurance, trucking, and union ties

12:17 The entrepreneur itch vs corporate grind

15:38 Minnesota NGOs vs mining: permitting and urban/rural divide

24:33 Checks, balances, and the cost of endless litigation (NEPA)

30:25 Reclamation stories that change minds + Minnesota mine examples

40:07 Mentors, career pivots, and the Tulsa data center money move

44:19 Early Better In Our Backyard: Young Pros, Branding, and Finding a Lane

47:15 From 5 Members to 50: Social Media Value-First Growth Strategy

52:20 Funding Reality Check: Sponsorships, Value, and Playing the Long Game

01:04:28 Partnering with Associations & Connecting Dots Across Projects

01:11:31 Favorite Projects + Boots-on-the-Ground Credibility

Recorded at the 2025 American Exploration and Mining Association Annual Meeting, this Mining Minds episode features Walsh Reclamation Operations Manager Troy Hawkins. Troy shares his background as a ninth-generation miner and reflects on how his father—a self-described "tramp miner"—was his hero and shaped his values around respect, hard work, and character over credentials. He discusses growing up in a small mining town, leaving school early, and entering the mining industry alongside his family.

Troy reflects on his 23-year career at one operation, where he began as a haul truck driver and advanced through multiple operational and leadership roles. Once a rebellious young operator, he evolved into a people-focused leader who prioritizes morale, respect, and personal connection—building high-performing crews through trust and genuine care. Please help us welcome Troy Hawkins to The Face.

We would like to thank the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA) for hosting Mining Minds at the event and for their ongoing dedication to advancing and amplifying voices throughout the mining industry.

Episode Sponsors:

American Exploration and Mining

Safety First Training and Consulting

JSR Fleet Performance

Motor Mission Machine and Radiator

Episode Chapters:

05:05 Feral Mining-Town Childhood & How Kids Are Different Now

12:18 School Struggles, Sports Dreams, and Learning Outside the Classroom

33:34 "Your long hair will never make you successful" — proving them wrong

39:14 When leadership gets personal

47:22 How he builds trust

55:40 Hiring without the script: real interviews, real people

01:01:27 Marriage & support system

01:12:04 First Date at Carver's

01:16:20 Stepping into Walsh

01:22:54 Scaling Up with Trust

01:24:18 Why People Take a Pay Cut to Work for Good Leaders

01:33:10 Pucker Factor Stories