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Ever wonder what it's like to boldly go beneath the waves in your own personal submarine?

Mike Sullivan reconnects with childhood friend and submersible pioneer Charles “Chuck” Kohnen, CEO of SEAmagine.

Together, they dive deep—literally and figuratively—into Chuck’s journey of building state-of-the-art personal and scientific submarines in California.

Along the way, Charles shares stories of exploring uncharted ocean depths, discovering unknown species, and witnessing the tangible effects of climate change underwater.

Listen For:

0:15 Reuniting After 42 Years: From high school to submarines

5:23 Star Trek Dreams and Choosing Engineering Over Art

17:28 Accidental Shark Discovery and Scientific Fame

26:15 Who Buys a Personal Submarine? The Rise of Billionaire Buyers

31:30 Climate Change Below: 30°C Water at 100m Depth

39:04 Whale Shark Encounters and Nature’s Raw Power

45:04 OceanGate, Regulation, and Building Safe Subs

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Safety outreach with a digital twist — what’s changing and why it matters?

Mike Sullivan sits down with Kassi Zaba, Manager of Stakeholder Relations, to uncover the evolution of utility safety outreach in Alberta.

Together, they reflect on their shared 14-year journey, from fax machines and phone calls to a fully digitized “click-before-you-dig” system and the upcoming launch of the Look Up and Live app to promote overhead powerline safety.

They also discuss the growing role of digital marketing, public awareness campaigns, and even touch on the philosophical challenge of balancing public education with infrastructure security.

Listen For:

1:30 Meet Kassi Zaba: From phones to stakeholder relations

4:05 From faxes to clicks: Alberta OneCall’s digital leap

9:07 Mandating the “click before you dig” revolution

13:35 Geofencing & targeting gamers for utility safety

17:32 The rise of the Ambassador Program

31:54 Look Up and Live: A new safety tool is coming

36:57 Navigating the public awareness paradox

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What if the next big thing in utility safety isn’t underground—but overhead?

Mike Sullivan sits down with Nathan Coutu from ATCO Electric to spotlight the groundbreaking "Lookup and Live" application, a collaborative initiative aimed at reducing overhead power line contacts.

Nathan shares how this Alberta-wide, GIS-based mobile and web app helps users visualize and safely navigate around energized overhead lines—especially crucial for agricultural, construction, and utility workers.

Drawing inspiration from similar successes in Australia and Saskatchewan, he reveals the collaborative journey of Alberta utilities working together for public safety, the staggering contact statistics that prompted action, and the powerful simplicity of a solution that could save lives.

If you’ve ever thought "I knew the power line was there—I just didn’t see it this time," this episode could be a game-changer.

Listen For:

3:48 The Birth of “Lookup and Live” in Alberta

5:16 From “Where’s the Line” to a Province-Wide Collaboration

7:22 The Overhead Threat You Keep Ignoring

16:51 50% Fewer Incidents: What Australia Taught Us

24:52 The Push for Simplicity and Adoption

27:20 Breaking Through Data Sharing Barriers

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Think locating underground utilities is as simple as spray paint and flags? Think again.

Mike Sullivan sits down with Jimmy Yip, Damage Prevention Manager at Fortis BC, to bust myths and unravel the often-misunderstood process of locating and marking utilities in British Columbia.

They dive into the historical roots of BC's unique paper-based locate model, how regulations shape responses, and why empowering excavators with responsibility has reduced damages over the decades.

From comparing provincial damage rates to exploring the Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) program in Alberta, this conversation highlights how thoughtful process design and solid data can drive down incidents while keeping public safety top of mind.

Listen For:

3:13 Alberta's Alternate Locate Provider (ALP): A Game Changer

9:00 Why Paper Locates Work in BC

18:44 Comparing Damage Stats: BC vs Alberta

20:19 Decades of Data: Damage Trends Over Time

24:56 Why 65% of Damages Are From Not Calling

36:38 Power Dashboards: Transparent Data Sharing

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What do jazz drumming, data analytics, and underground safety have in common?

Mike Sullivan catches up with longtime friend and damage prevention pioneer JD Maniscalco for a heartwarming, insightful, and often hilarious conversation.

JD—former President and CEO of Colorado 811 and co-creator of the DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool)—reflects on his career, the origins and evolution of DIRT, and the critical role data plays in improving safety across North America.

From late-night band gigs in Vegas to building revolutionary safety tools in his kitchen, JD shares his journey with wisdom and wit.

Along the way, Mike and JD swap music stories, talk tech, and dive into how predictive AI and local report cards could shape the future of damage prevention.

Listen For:

06:30 – The Birth of the Conference Band

13:13 – The Origin Story of DIRT

26:00 – Data Report Cards: Simplicity Meets Accountability

38:11 – Click vs Call: A Data-Driven Divide

51:17 – The Future of DIRT: AI and Predictive Safety

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Are you ready for the ultimate safety conference with a hockey twist?

Mike Sullivan takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming Utility Safety Partners Safety Conference in Edmonton, featuring a unique hockey-themed event.

Mike highlights exciting sessions, committee meetings, and a chance to win a one-of-a-kind goalie mask, designed by a renowned artist.

From engaging educational panels to the special recognition of industry leaders, this episode brings a fresh take on safety awareness while blending fun and valuable learning experiences.

Don’t miss out on the details about this incredible event and more!

Listen For:

01:15 - Details about the Safety Conference and Training Sessions

05:30 - The Goldie Mask Raffle: A Unique Conference Giveaway

11:17 - Committee Strength: Utility Safety Partners’ Growth and Achievements

19:33 - Balancing Online Mandates for Homeowners: A Look at Alberta’s Future

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Pipelines are more than steel in the ground—they’re built on passion, resilience, and community.

Mike Sullivan chats with David Hermanson, host of Support Pipelines, about the realities of working in an industry that’s often misunderstood.

From career journeys and mentorship to shifting regulations and public perception, they explore the challenges and rewards of pipeline life.

David also shares how his podcast became a platform for industry voices and why paying it forward is key to keeping the community strong.

Listen For:

04:33 – Smarter Project Planning

18:34 – Pipelines vs. Public Perception

30:10 – Safety Lessons from Tragedy

40:17 – How Support Pipelines Began

Guest David Hermanson

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Is Alberta really the Wild West of utility damages, or is there more to the story?

Mike sits down with Josef Rosenberg, a longtime expert in damage prevention and the contact center manager for Utility Safety Partners.

They dive into the Canadian Common Ground Alliance’s (CCGA) Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) report—what it is, how it's used, and why Alberta consistently reports some of the highest damage numbers in Canada.

Josef breaks down the challenges of voluntary reporting, the differences in data collection across provinces, and why a high number of submitters doesn’t necessarily mean more damage—it actually signals stronger engagement.

They also discuss trends in damage prevention, the push for online locate requests, and where legislation might come into play.

Listen For:

03:19 - Decoding the Acronyms: DIRT, DREC, and More

12:38 - Beyond the Numbers: Unpacking DIRT Data and Regional Differences

17:09 - From Calls to Clicks: Has DIRT Kept Pace with Innovation?

25:18 - DIRT Reporting Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Guest: Josef Rosenberg
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