In Episode 6 of Big Swing, Jeremy Funk and Corey Scott sit down with Kevin Anderson, CEO of XALTER, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, workforce development, and why virtual reality may become one of the most important tools in the future of energy.

Kevin shares his path from growing up in Southern California to building his life and career in Tulsa, along with the entrepreneurial ups and downs that shaped him along the way. From there, the conversation shifts into XALTER's mission: using VR and immersive technology to improve frontline performance in the energy industry through operational, maintenance, and safety training.

They dig into the real-world challenges facing oil and gas today, including the great crew change, tribal knowledge walking out the door, the limits of classroom training, and the need to prepare a new generation of workers faster, safer, and more effectively. Kevin explains why VR is not a replacement for hands-on learning, but a powerful new layer that can model behavior, accelerate readiness, and help reduce avoidable mistakes in high-risk environments.

The episode also explores the relationship between VR and AI, why Kevin sees head-mounted displays as the next major human-machine interface, and how companies that embrace this kind of technology may have a real advantage in both safety and recruiting.

This one is a founder story, a technology conversation, and a look at how energy companies may need to rethink training for the next era.

In Episode 5 of Big Swing, Jeremy Funk and Corey Scott welcome Ben Heinzelmann, co-founder of Energy Domain and former co-founder of MineralWare, for a conversation on startups, family, product discipline, and building in oil and gas.

Ben shares his path from Fort Worth to OU’s petroleum land management program, how he got his start in the Barnett, and why he took the leap into entrepreneurship early. The conversation explores the evolution from MineralWare to Energy Domain, what it takes to compete against much larger players, and why listening closely to customers is often the biggest advantage a startup can have.

They also get into balancing family and business, leading with culture, hiring the right people, and how AI is changing the way modern energy technology products are built and delivered.

This episode is a mix of founder perspective, practical business insight, and an honest look at what it takes to build something meaningful while staying grounded in what matters most.

In Episode 4 of Big Swing, Jeremy Funk and Corey Scott welcome Whit Blodgett, founder and CEO of Infersoft, for a conversation that spans AI, entrepreneurship, elite athletics, and what it takes to build in a rapidly changing market.

Whit shares his path from upstate New York to Princeton, from winning a Junior Olympic gold medal in rowing to working at IBM Watson and Landing AI, where he helped lead machine learning and product teams alongside some of the most respected names in the space. From there, the conversation turns to why he chose oil and gas, what he saw coming in AI before most people did, and why Infersoft is betting on a different future for decision-making in the field.

The episode explores how AI is reshaping knowledge work, what separates hype from real utility, and why smaller, faster-moving companies may be better positioned than legacy players to win in this next wave. Along the way, they also get into education, social skills, competitive mindset, and the role curiosity plays in staying relevant as technology moves faster than ever.

This episode blends founder grit, technical insight, and a bigger conversation about where work, learning, and oil and gas innovation are headed next.