Best XCEL Podcasts (2024)

1
Gopher Basketball Forward Parker Fox + Bit of the Week 1:46:45

7d ago1:46:45

1:46:45

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman and JJ are joined by Minnesota Gopher Basketball Forward, Parker Fox. We talk about his final year coming up at the U of M, what his plans are for after college, and do a blind ranking of his favorite Minnesota State Fair foods. We also go into our bits of the week including watching s…

1
175. 'Safeguarding Today's Grid from Modern Threats' with Brian Harrell 34:52

15d ago34:52

34:52

As cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure have more than doubled since the pandemic, ensuring that utility security teams stay multiple steps ahead of bad actors remains as important and also as difficult as ever. While the common customer of a power company may not see any changes from their daily experience, the cybersecurity control centers at…

1
174. "Future of Residential Energy Management" with Prasanna Venkatesan, Landis+Gyr, & Arch Rao,Span 41:08

28d ago41:08

41:08

Residential energy customers are being looked at differently by utilities these days. No longer are homes simply end points where energy is consumed, but more and more they are an asset in the dynamic and flexible grid. Recognizing the opportunity that such an evolution of thinking brings, today's guests on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Pod…

1
Vikings Linebacker Blake Cashman + Bit of the Week 1:27:04

1M ago1:27:04

1:27:04

On this episode of "It's a Bit": Bossman, Wags, Journalist Jake, and Tyrus are joined by the Minnesota Viking's newest Linebacker, Blake Cashman. We talk about Blake's upbringing in Minnesota, his time at the University of Minnesota, and how excited he is to be playing for his hometown team, the Minnesota Vikings this year. We also talk about our b…

1
173. "Boosting Energy Literacy at Community Schools" with Eric BenSalah, Energy Consultant for OPPD 27:39

2M ago27:39

27:39

Ensuring the future population is filled with community members who understand the world of energy and utilities starts with educating the children today, a topic that is too often overlooked in the utility sphere. That's not the case in the Omaha metro and surrounding areas, though, as today's guest on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast…

1
Ep.39 - We Energies & WPSC Rate Cases: What's Driving Big Increases 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

Corey and Tom kick off this year's discussion of the big rate hikes requested by We Energies and WPSC. Make sure to check out the show notes at https://cubwi.org/podcast.By Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin

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WE MADE OUR OWN BEER, Twins New Jerseys, JJ McCarthy's First Pitch, Bit of the Week + 15 Questions 1:40:03

2M ago1:40:03

1:40:03

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman, JJ, Wags, and Josie record a little summer check-in and catch up on everything we have been working on including our new beer, Captain's Patch! We also recap the Timberwolves playoff run, talk about the CHAMPION PWHL Minnesota, discuss JJ McCarthy's first pitch, and give our thoughts …

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172. "The Journey from Pilot to Utility-Scale Virtual Power Plants" with Vicken Kasarjian, MCE 40:40

2M ago40:40

40:40

As utilities strive to integrate more renewable energy and distributed generation into the grid, virtual power plants (VPPs) have emerged as a key innovation, redefining the traditional power plant model. The added flexibility, community tie in, and innovation are actively upending the traditional utility model, and it's the forward-looking leaders…

1
171. "Building Habits for a Healthy Safety Culture" with Claire Harris, Clean Energy Connections 26:30

3M ago26:30

26:30

Nuclear energy is definitely having a resurgent moment across the power sector and the world, as more and more regions are tapping into the carbon-free source of electricity to meet reliability requirements paired with emissions reduction goals. But one of the questions that often follows the discussion of nuclear energy is safety. In the latest ep…

1
Ep.38 - 2023 Rate Case Wrap-up Part 2: Policy and Customer Savings 23:19

3M ago23:19

23:19

Corey and Tom kick of a recap the Commission's official rate case decisions from 2023, talk about the various policy investigations the cases spawned, and talk about the savings CUB was able to achieve.By Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin

1
170. "Navigating the Complexities of Integrated Planning" with Steve Martz, Xcel Energy 41:30

3M ago41:30

41:30

In an ever-evolving energy landscape, strategic planning becomes paramount for utilities aiming to navigate the complexities of modernizing the grid while meeting environmental goals. In this episode of Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, we delve into the world of integrated resource planning (IRP) with Steve Martz, Vice President of Integr…

1
169. "Quantum-Safe Networks for Utilities, Part 2" with Nokia’s Mauricio Subieta, Hansen Chan 28:33

3M ago28:33

28:33

Note: this is a two part episode so we can fit in all of these experts’ tremendous insights. This marks part 2, so if you missed part 1 we invite you to check that out first at this link: https://soundcloud.com/energycentral/quantum-safe-networks-for-utilities-part-1-with-nokias-mauricio-subieta-hansen-chanThe importance of cybersecurity for the po…

1
168. “Quantum-Safe Networks for Utilities, Part 1" with Nokia’s Mauricio Subieta, Hansen Chan 26:22

3M ago26:22

26:22

Note: this is a two part episode so we can fit in all of these experts’ tremendous insights. This marks part 1, with part 2 published later this same week which can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/energycentral/quantum-safe-networks-for-utilities-part-1-with-nokias-mauricio-subieta-hansen-chan-1The importance of cybersecurity for the power gr…

1
167. "From CRM to Energy Relationship Management" with Kelly James, Salesforce 35:14

4M ago35:14

35:14

Technology is revolutionizing the utility sector in more ways than meets the eye. While the first place for new technology that people look to is the physical grid or the sources of generation, in this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast we dive into the role of technology in fostering transparency, efficiency, and trust within…

1
Episode #46: Q1 Ursus Contractor Council Meeting 27:34

4M ago27:34

27:34

We took notice that staffing, talent, and recruiting events are typically represented by suppliers, clients, technology, and managed service providers. Noticeably absent from these industry forums is YOU, the employee doing the work and making it all possible! The Ursus Contractor Care and creative recruiting leadership facilitate our quarterly Con…

1
166. 'Insights from a Decade of Public Service' with NYS Commissioner Diane Burman, Paul DeCotis 39:40

4M ago39:40

39:40

The world of the power regulator plays such an essential role in the everyday operation of the utility industry, but the true inner workings can sometimes remain less visible to those across the sector. But as the regulatory bodies get run by dedicated public servants, they keep the industry's and the public's best interest in mind and understandin…

1
The Good, the Mid and the Ugly: Minnesota Wild Players! 43:05

4M ago43:05

43:05

On this special episode of "It's a Bit", we will be bringing you a new drafting-style segment "The Good, the Mid and the Ugly" where JJ, Marlow and Josie will each pick a Good, Mid and Ugly Minnesota Wild player based on skill (or looks, we don't judge), and it can be a player from the past or present. How it Works:Each person will draft a Good, a …

1
165. 'Innovative Strategies for Efficiency Goals' with Paula Glover, Alliance to Save Energy 26:05

4M ago26:05

26:05

Energy efficiency programs have evolved to expand well past simple conservation measures and more efficient equipment, and instead they require customization, innovative thinking, and new strategies to help ensure supply and demand across the grid can stay aligned. In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Paula Glover, Pres…

1
164. 'Duke Energy's Strategy to Harness the IIJA Opportunity' with Cynthia Klein, Duke Energy 24:30

4M ago24:30

24:30

Since being passed into law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, affectionately dubbed "Biden Bucks," has held an ever-present hold on the U.S. energy landscape. From speeding up deployment of U.S. renewables to incentivizing domestic manufacturing of clean tech, to the investment into innovative R&D opportunities, the legislation has been …

1
163. 'Zero Carbon by 2030 - Leaving No Customer Behind' with Erik Krause, SMUD 26:42

5M ago26:42

26:42

Much of the impassioned and focused dialog in the utility space centers around new and expanding technologies, but diving into the human side of the power industry is just as, if not more, critical. To help us do so, the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast was joined by Erik Krause, Director of Customer Experience Delivery at SMUD, to focus o…

1
162. 'Grit for the Grid and Prioritizing Reliability' with Suzanne Ogle, Southern Gas Association 23:13

5M ago23:13

23:13

Grid reliability has always been top of mind for stakeholders across the grid, but the challenge of maintaining that reliable status has become even harder in recent years with massively growing demand and and evolving power sector landscape. Having recently published a white paper called "Grit for the Grid," President & CEO of the Southern Gas Ass…

1
161. 'Revving Up on Fleet Electrification' with Megan Truman, Burns & McDonnell 16:20

5M ago16:20

16:20

Much of the broad conversation on electrifying transportation tends to focus on individuals making the decision to purchase an EV, but the real scale for widespread electrification takes place on the fleet level. Both in terms of the challenges presented to the grid by electric transportation and the true opportunity for tools like V2G and demand f…

1
Episode #45: Angela Westhead, Procurement Manager, Contingent Workforce & BPO @ Zendesk 21:58

5M ago21:58

21:58

Angela Westhead joins the program to discuss, among other topics, remote work, BEI, (yes, B not D), AI, and her favorite podcasts! This is an episode you don't want to miss! You can have great talent that sits anywhere. They just have to be bought in on being present in a different way than someone who sits in an office. So what we've seen in the l…

1
Gophers Kicker Dragan Kesich Finally Meets Coach Hawk 1:20:13

5M ago1:20:13

1:20:13

On this episode of It's a Bit Bossman, Wags, and JJ were joined by Minnesota Gophers kicker, Dragan Kesich. He talks about his early days and how he got started, his time at the U of M, and even gets to meet one of his coaches face to face! Follow 10K Takes Everywhere: https://www.flowcode.com/page/10ktakes Merch: https://dspondemand.com/collection…

1
160. 'Decarbonizing Across Borders for the Climate Future' with Diego Ibarra, ENGIE Impact Americas 25:29

5M ago25:29

25:29

Climate change is one of the true global challenges of our lifetime, where localized efforts can only have so much impact without being globally connected in scale and adoption. That inherent global nature means that the energy industry's best efforts to decarbonize must not be insular but cast a wide net of global partners, strategies, and solutio…

1
Dana Beers Wants to Visit Minnesota! 1:25:36

5M ago1:25:36

1:25:36

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Producer Cam, JJ, and Bossman are joined by the legendary Dana Beers of Barstool Sports. He talks about his rise to fame, chugging beers with David Bahtiari at the Bucks game, and what he has planned for the future. On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Producer Cam, JJ, and …

1
Episode #44: Kobie Wagener, MSOS, SHRM - CP, Workforce Program Manager 26:55

5M ago26:55

26:55

Kobie Wagener joins this episode of Hiring U! to share his perspectives as a former leader of numerous talent teams and now as a job seeker himself! "Concerning back to office, I feel like post covid, many people can be a little intimidated by the face-to-face interaction. Like it's it's a tolerance that we need to build up for face-to-face interac…

1
159. 'Charging Ahead with New York's EV Revolution' with Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud, Con Edison 28:00

5M ago28:00

28:00

The EV revolution is upon us, and it no doubt requires buy-in from all across the landscape of stakeholders from auto manufacturers to drivers to EV charging companies and, critically, the utilities that will be newly providing the energy to fuel tomorrow's transportation sector. In particularly dense urban areas like New York City, the challenges …

1
Episode #43: Tami LaSance - Attorney | Human Resources & Contingent Workforce Advisor | Program & Project Manager 23:55

6M ago23:55

23:55

Tami LaSance, in-house legal counsel at HireArt joins Hiring University to share her insights on the importance of worker classification, advancements, and potential risks in AI among other topics. "I think more companies aren't as concerned with the risk of incorrect worker classification because there has not been a huge verdict or decision on th…

1
Episode #42: Casey Jacox- Keynote Speaker, Sales and Executive Coach, Podcaster and Author - "Win The Relationship, Not The Deal" 21:30

6M ago21:30

21:30

On this episode of Hiring University, get to know Casey Jacox, Keynote Speaker, Sales & Executive Leadership Coach, Podcaster & Author of "Win The Relationship, Not The Deal". A twenty-year staffing executive, Casey shares his thoughts on what has changed, what has remained the same, and more importantly the constants that drive success not only in…

1
158. 'Nuclear Uprating, H2 Cogeneration' with INL's Svetlana Lawrence, Frederick Joseck, Levi Larsen 34:16

6M ago34:16

34:16

As the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its impacts continue to unfold, the impact in various aspects of the energy sector become even more apparent and tangible. One key aspect as been in the emerging world of nuclear power uprating with hydrogen cogeneration. The teams at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory has been leading…

1
Episode #41: Michael Beckwith- Category Manager, CCWP - Xcel Energy 26:25

6M ago26:25

26:25

On this episode of Hiring University, get to know Michael Beckwith, Category Manager at Xcel Energy who oversees all contingent and project-based labor across Xcel's U.S. footprint. "I'm super passionate about data. And I think all conversations around worker classification need to start with data. If we don't have visibility into where these worke…

1
157. 'Charting the Path to Utility Digitalization & Field Operations' with Danny Petrecca, Locusview 30:29

6M ago30:29

30:29

With Distributech 2024 on the horizon, the conversation in this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast is a timely one, exploring the pressing challenges facing electric utilities and the imperative for digitalization in field operations. Specifically, Locusview's Vice President of Business Development, Danny Petrecca, joins the s…

1
156. 'FERC, Transmission Tech, & Wiring Change for the Future' with Rob Gramlich, Grid Strategies 30:55

6M ago30:55

30:55

The suite of challenges the grid operators of today and associated regulators are facing is unprecedented in both scale and urgency, but planning for the future is the DNA for these modern professionals. As power demands grow and FERC continues its rise from an obscure federal government body to a spotlighted decisionmaker, the landscape of governm…

1
Ep.37 - 2023 Rate Case Wrap-up Part 1: Profits and Affordability 35:26

6M ago35:26

35:26

Corey and Tom kick of a recap the Commission's official rate case decisions and run down the overall increases customers of Wisconsin's big private utilities can expect in 2024 and 2025. They also discuss the Commission's final actions on utility profits and residential affordability programs for 2024.…

1
155. 'MachH2 & the Future of Hydrogen' with Todd Allen & Greg Keoleian, Co-Directors of MI Hydrogen 33:29

7M ago33:29

33:29

Recently, the fervor behind hydrogen energy in the United States reached fever pitch with the announcement of the hydrogen hubs that had been selected for federal support, meaning the future for this emerging energy source is brighter than ever. To truly understand the current hurdles but also the unmatched future potential of U.S. hydrogen, the En…

1
PROGRAMMING UPDATE 9:53

7M ago9:53

9:53

We're making a tweak to the release schedule of It's a Bit. Listen for the full story! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/its-a-bit/support

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154. 'Imagining the Next Generation Energy Grid' with Tony Sleva, Prescient Transmission Systems 28:37

7M ago28:37

28:37

As the imperative for modernizing the energy grid becomes more urgent, the evolving landscape requires utility leaders to innovate and adopt best practices for a resilient and sustainable electric future. But the right actions to take in this regard are not always agreed upon across the industry, with the need to balance costs, reliability, sustain…

1
Joe O'Donnell is Officially One of Us | Bit of the Week + Things to do When it is Below Freezing Draft 2:15:37

7M ago2:15:37

2:15:37

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Producer Cam, Wags, JJ, and Bossman are joined by Minnesota Wild radio play by play announcer Joe O'Donnell. We talk about a wide variety of topics including the current state of the Minnesota Wild and some funny stories from when Joe was announcing minor league hockey. As always we give our b…

1
153. 'The Evolving Utility Landscape with ESCOs as the Catalysts for Change' with Tim Unruh, NAESCO 34:25

7M ago34:25

34:25

A key part to the modern utility landscape includes Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and their transformative impact on the power industry landscape. As a part of this evolving corner of utilities, the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) is driving change within the industry, supporting ESCOs in optimizing energy efficiency, a…

1
The Entire Xcel Energy Center Decided Cam’s Haircut | Setting the Tone + Inventions to Survive Winter 1:30:36

7M ago1:30:36

1:30:36

On this episode of “It’s a Bit” presented by 10K Takes: Producer Cam tells the story of how the entire Xcel Energy Center decided what haircut Cam would get DURING the Wild game. We also talk about the Vikings terrible ending to a terrible season and what’s next at QB. We also preach not to worry about the Wolves and give up on the Wild. We end the…

1
152. 'Ukrainian Power Resilience Through the Eyes of a Utility Leader' with Steve Walsh, Traxys 30:09

7M ago30:09

30:09

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, eyes of the world have been on the resilience of the Ukrainian people in numerous ways. Among those key areas of resilience has come physically with regards to the grid. Reliability and consistency of power delivery is essential for continuing daily life as well as for military operations, so …

1
The Vikings Have Died | Bit of the Week + Boom and Bust 2:05:10

7M ago2:05:10

2:05:10

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman, JJ , Wags, and Producer Cam talk about how the Minnesota Vikings have officially died and have no chance to do anything special this season. We also talk about how electric the Wolves game was on Saturday. As always, we give our bits of the week including the "Overly Optimistic Fan Bi…

1
151. 'Decoding the Future with Energy Industry Forecasts' with Jeremy Bentham, World Energy Council 39:18

8M ago39:18

39:18

Forecasting the future of the energy sector, between supply, demand, and technological developments, is a cornerstone of the utility landscape, as such forward-looking exercises seek to inform investments, policies, and more. However, without a crystal ball to pull from, any such forecasts are subject to uncertainty and risks. In this compelling ep…

1
Is the Vikings Season Over? | We're Sick of Embiid, Wild Break .500, a Rainy Christmas in Minnesota + Buy or Sell 1:10:33

8M ago1:10:33

1:10:33

On this episode of It's a Bit presented by 10K Takes: Bossman and Wags voice their displeasure of Christmas being over as well as the Viking's playoff chances. We also talk about how we're sick of Joel Embiid crying after every foul and how the Timberwolves are forming a miniature rivalry with the 76ers. We also discuss how the Wild are over .500 a…

1
Drafting the Best Christmas Songs | Wolves are Getting Everyone Free Arby's + The Edmund Fitzgerald Bit 1:50:02

8M ago1:50:02

1:50:02

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman, JJ, and Guest Producer Josie Snake Draft their favorite Christmas songs. We also talk about numerous Minnesota Sports topics including Big Dick Nick's performance on Saturday and the Wolves ability to win everyone free Arby's. We end the show by giving our bits of the week including p…

1
150. 'Looking Back on 2023: The Best Moments from the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast' 21:26

8M ago21:26

21:26

To celebrate the end of another year on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, this special edition recognizes four years of insightful conversations that have shaped the future of the energy sector. In addition to the podcast being led, as usual, by host Jason Price and Community Manager and podcast producer, Matt Chester, this episode wel…

1
Barstool Chief Hates The Blackhawks | MN Rundown + Bit of the Week 2:39:11

8M ago2:39:11

2:39:11

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman, JJ, and Producer Cam are joined by our good friend Barstool Chief. We talk about a wide variety of topics including chief's time in Minnesota this past summer and the current state of his Chicago sports teams. We also recap the most exciting Vikings game in history. As always, we will…

1
Wild Radio's Kevin Falness | Bit of the Week + Cancelled 2:34:17

8M ago2:34:17

2:34:17

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman, Wags, JJ, and Producer Cam are joined by wild radio network personality Kevin Falness. We talk about a wide variety of topics including Kevin's obsession with posting pictures of his feet on Twitter and just being an internet troll in general. We also give our bits of the week includi…

1
Vikings On Air Personality Gabe Henderson | Bit of the Week + Buy or Sell 2:04:50

8M ago2:04:50

2:04:50

On this episode of "It's a Bit" presented by 10K Takes: Bossman, Producer Cam, and Wags are joined by Minnesota Vikings on-air personality Gabe Henderson. We talk about the current state of the Minnesota Vikings as well as play a fun game. We also give our bits of the week including the "Shorts at the Turn Bit." Lastly, we bring back "Buy or Sell" …

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