Continuing our discussion on Lean Six Sigma and ESG, I brought back last episode’s guest, Erin Bauer (Product Development Manager at ASQE) and added a new guest, Beth Cudney. She is a Professor of Data Analytics and the Program Coordinator for Data Analytics at Maryville University. She received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Continu…

I had a great interview with Erin Bauer, who is the Product Development Manager at ASQE, which is a trade association created by ASQ to provide benchmarking assistance to corporations within ASQ. One of their key products is the Insights on Excellence® (IoE) Benchmarking Tool. The benchmarking survey results are available to members and nonmembers …

I had a great interview with Aleshia Jordan a few weeks ago, to discuss how she transitioned from finance to Lean and Six Sigma consulting, and how she is now taking her Master Black Belt skills and over 20 years of experience into her firm Virtualocity, LLC to help organizations, nonprofits and individuals in their Continue Reading…

Making a real difference in your organization can be a struggle, but there is a way to leverage powerful tools and strategies to drive positive change, while also boosting your own career development. In this episode, I introduce you to Sarah Tilkens, a former biologist turned operational excellence leader, who cracked the code on impactful Continu…

Sally worked many years in the hospitality industry applying Lean Six Sigma, and she shares her experiences to improve the guest experience. She also shares an example of a project that determined the optimal reward points to get customers to agree to reduced or no housekeeping, which was good for the environment, resulting in less Continue Reading…

Mike Oregano is a musical mastermind. What he does is something that should be appreciated by all, whether you're a musician or not. In this episode you'll hear about Mike's unbelievable life on the road, and his dedication to music. He breaks down the technical aspects of a one man band show, and we dive into how others in the industry view his un…

The Copper Creek band is unlike any band that I've had on the show! They play in unique venues, have a unique style, and their overall outlook on being musicians is extremely refreshing! Founding member Mike Gorman (guitar/vocals) opens my eyes to many things I had never considered in my days of being a musician. https://www.coppercreekband.live ht…

Derek Wayne Brown is a singer/songwriter, guitar player and drummer from California. MO. In this episode we discuss Derek's journey to becoming a musician, his mission to reignite the support for local original music, and much more! https://www.derekwaynebrown.com http://www.facebook.com/derekwaynebrown Check out our merch site at https://www.momus…

In this podcast, I share the presentation given by my peers who helped us create the Lean Portland group back in 2015. They gave this presentation at the Lean Global Connection on November 30, 2023. It is a free annual online event put on by the Lean Global Network (LGN). The event took place over Continue Reading…

In this podcast, I share the presentation I gave virtually at the Lean Global Connection on December 1, 2023. It is a free annual online event put on by the Lean Global Network (LGN). The event took place over a 24-hour period. All the presentations were recorded, and I encourage you to check out all Continue Reading…

Etched in Embers formed in 2020 and have already achieved great success. In this episode guitarist Tyler Kenyon and bassist Chance Rhodenizer offer incredible insight into a band's journey to get to the next level in the industry. We cover everything from networking, promotion to radio, marketing, presentation, recording, putting on a killer live s…

In this podcast, I share an interview I had with Reed Harrison, Executive Director of Mind Matters Portland, and Maria Grzanka, a process improvement expert and prolific volunteer in Portland, Oregon. Reed worked in Supply Chain management and Operations with major companies like Adidas and Columbia Sportswear, but ended up as Executive Director at…

In this podcast, I share a presentation that was Part 1 of a 2-part sustainability webinar series sponsored by Iowa Sustainable Business Forum and Iowa Lean Consortium (part of CIRAS). It was geared towards introducing those in sustainability roles to Lean methods, which have become some of the most popular improvement methods used in high-performi…

I'm thrilled to talk with Will and Bethany Gregory, veteran owners of Charlie Foxtrots in Osage Beach, MO. They are quickly becoming THE destination for live music at the Lake of the Ozarks! With an adult arcade, local wines, and all of your other favorite adult beverages, on top of the plethora of musical talent, Charlie's is a place you HAVE to v…

In this podcast, I share a “Lean and Green” case study I supported for a prefab home manufacturer in California in 2020-2021. I was asked to speak to the Industrial and Systems Engineers class by Professor Corey Kiassat at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. He contacted me after my presentation at the Lean Global Connection Continue Reading…

One of the founders of Shaman's Harvest, Josh has been at the heart of the band for going on 27 years! In this conversation he shares some AMAZING stories from the road, the stage, and he walks us through the history of one of the biggest bands to EVER come from the state of Missouri! Check out the latest album "Rebelator" from Shaman's Harvest! ht…

In this podcast, I interview Kerry Lewis Bass, who has many years of experience improving processes in the corporate world and within government agencies. He has recently launched his consulting business to assist leaders in an organization to “develop, and successfully implement, assess and improve operational strategy and initiatives.” We discuss…

Chris Crane of the Astro Katz is an encyclopedia of music knowledge and history. The Astro Katz are all about Rockabilly music. If you've never heard of it or don't know much about it, that will change after listening to this conversation! Chris shares some valuable insight for musicians about setting your rates, connecting with the audience, and s…

In this episode, I speak with David Saunders, who is a retired Quality consultant and has focused his next career on using improvement tools to reduce the impact of climate change. He is a Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) through the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), and volunteers with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network…

Dakota Livingston has quite the musical history, and a few talents other than music that may surprise you as well! Dakota and the Angry Suitcase on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakotaandtheangrysuitcase Dakota Livingston on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakota.livingston.3 You can help financially support our show! Become a Patron of the…

In this episode, I speak with my good friend Billy Ingram, who is the Director of Lean Product and Process Development at Interface. We discuss his process improvement background prior to Interface, then talk about his current work that is extending the environmental sustainability vision provided by founder Ray Anderson. He has helped developed mo…

A Three-Piece from the Lake of the Ozarks area, Phantom Sam's chemistry shines in this interview! Their improvisational approach to music, their influences and creativity result in a really diverse and captivating listen. Here are some random topics mentioned that may raise your eyebrows: Don and the Lizards Joe Dirt Hi Mom The Dirty Machine Little…

In this podcast, I share a webinar held with Dr. Luciana Bardi and Darcy DeGeorge from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). MassPort is a state authority responsible for three airports including Logan International Airport, four maritime facilities as well as real estate in Boston. They give an overview of Massport along with the lean engin…

Taz is a beloved local musician from the Lake of the Ozarks. He has multiple lifetimes of musical experiences, and he shares a lot of them here! We blaze through many topics and share a lot of laughs along the way! You artists out there need to pay particular attention to his advice on booking and getting gigs! You don't want to miss this one! Taz …

In this interview, I talk with Katie Anderson, a leadership coach who has extensive lean experience in healthcare, and author of the award-winning Lean management book, “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn.” She lived in Japan for many years, where she learned directly from John Shook‘s former manager, Isao Yoshino, and the book is a Continue Readin…

Aislynn Rose is a very unique musician that you MUST get to know! From traveling all over and competing in different competitions, being a part of the School of Rock, and being the MVP of the St. Louis open jam scene, she is having a remarkable start to her career! With her mom Shanna supporting her in this interview, we talk gear, celebrity encoun…

I’m very excited about episode 100, it’s a great milestone in any podcaster’s journey. Thank you for listening! It has taken many years to get to this, but it’s a sustainable pace that has worked for me, and why I feel that I can get to #200 someday. In this 100th podcast, I share a Continue ReadingBy Brion Hurley: Lean Six Sigma for Good

You will undoubtedly be impressed after listening to this conversation with multi-award-winning artist Ruby Leigh! At only 15 years old, she has hit the ground running and is playing shows all over the midwest. Ruby is primarily a country artist, but with over 200 cover songs committed to memory and a nice catalog of originals, you will not be disa…

Empire Adrift is a unique duo from the Springfield, MO area. They have a sound heavily influenced by punk and alternative rock music. Stick around until the end to hear one of their most successful songs, "Burn Your Bad Day Down!" Empire Adrift on Facebook Empire Adrift Website You can help financially support our show! Become a Patron of the Misso…

In this podcast, I share a video of a speech given by Andrew Parris, Process Excellence Manager at Medair. The presentation was given at the Berlin Science Week 2021 that was organised by ETH Zürich. Andrew discusses how continuous improvement and Lean can make nongovernmental organization (NGO) money go further. He also mentions there are Continue…

Our first episode of 2023 is a great one! It features our first female artist Brandy Lee! She is also our first country artist to be featured on the podcast! Enjoy her story of how she got to Missouri, and the steps she took to get her music career up and running...singlehandedly! Brandy has some amazing advice for musicians on booking, rates, and …

Anthony McKee of the band Whiskey Trio swung by the studio and sat down to talk with me about a plethora of things! Anthony has an insane background and musical resume. He is extremely knowledgeable, and he and I teach each other some things that we both may not have been aware of. Musicians and fans alike will enjoy this lengthy, yet informative c…

Missouri Music mainstay Baub Eis and I sat down and discussed many things, the following are some keywords and topics from our chat: The Homegrown Show "Extreme Midget Wrestling" Strip Bar Burnout Silly Shenanigans Dale Blue Entertainers Baub is a great storyteller and shares some really funny memories. He also has some valuable advice for fellow m…

In this podcast, I was interviewed by Mark Dejong on his The Lean Effect Podcast back in June 2021 (episode 34). We talked about my journey from statistician to Principal Lean consultant, and how Lean Six Sigma is beneficial for the environment, and applicable to our personal lives. We also discuss wastes we normally don’t Continue Reading…

In this podcast, I talk to my friend, Joy Mason, CEO and founder of Optimist Business Solutions, and the founder of The Six Sigma Racial Equity Institute™ (SSREI), which is an innovative leadership program designed to upskill Black Women to be complex problem solvers. We discuss her background in continuous improvement, why she started Optimist Con…

Raz Wickham's love of music was the seed that eventually grew into a life devoted to his art and to entertainment. Get comfortable as Raz explains his beginnings in music, his love of cinema and the arts, and how it all grew to inspire him to create his own projects beyond that of music. Stick around until the end for a song from The Edge of Beyond…

In this episode I speak with Timmy and Evan from the Sedalia band Stalfos! I'm really impressed with how down-to-earth and community-minded these guys are. You'll want to listen to find out how they are helping young musicians in Missouri! Also, they were kind enough to submit one of their new songs "Shattered!" Stalfos | Facebook Stalfos - YouTube…

Former Senseless Tragedy guitar player Andy Wickham stops by and discusses the current state of local and mainstream music, his influences and favorites, and he reflects on his experiences during the creation of Senseless Tragedy! Listen until the end to get his answer when I ask if he would be a part of a reunion show! *In need of a great, budget-…

In this podcast, I extract the audio from a published video by IISE that recapped our last volunteer service project in Seattle in May 2022. We have been conducting these volunteer events prior to each annual conference since 2012, and this was the first one we’ve had since the pandemic. You can read about prior Continue Reading…

In this podcast, I interviewed Jenelle Zito, who is the Director Of Continuous Improvement at Racine Unified School District (RUSD). Prior to joining RUSD about 5 years ago, she implemented process improvement at Gateway Technical College as a Quality Champion, after earning her Lean Six Sigma Green and Black Belt certification. She shares examples…

For this milestone 10th episode, I have a fun conversation with Tony Yates from the Rolla band AlterKshon! You don't want to miss the story of their difficult first gig and how they got their name! We also cover some useful topics like how to promote yourself and get gigs, and the secret to the band's success and longevity! Near the end of our chat…

Hailing from Hannibal, MO, NOWAKE has been a consistent, driving force in the Missouri music scene for 15 years. In this phone interview from earlier this summer, I speak with singer Mark Kempker. We cover a lot of topics, but you definitely don't want to miss Mark's advice on how to become a successful original rock band! Outro Music: Alone by NOW…

Rob Wilson is a pillar of the local music scene in Mid Missouri. His talents have been witnessed well beyond the borders of this state. Rob's projects include being a solo artist (Acoustic Mayhem of Rob Wilson), an acoustic duo (R&R), a heavier full band (Weathered Soles), and a karaoke maestro. Rob is also a pioneer, being the creator and host of …

In this podcast, I interviewed Jorge Perez, who is the President & CEO of YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. Early in his career, he helped students into college and keep them from getting into drugs, gangs and dropping out of school. He realized that getting to the root cause of the issue (not having a support Continue Reading…

In today’s episode, I share a presentation from the IISE Seattle conference on May 23, 2022. Joshua Fowler from Romac Industries starts off the presentation by giving some background on the project that I was involved with as the lean consultant, and Michael Johnson from Lean Environment Inc. discusses the technical solutions applied to reduce Cont…

Artist and former drummer Darin Blank and I sat down and talked for the first time in over 13 years! We talked about his days drumming for Senseless Tragedy, his lifelong love of art, finding his passion of tattooing, and much more! Outro music: Young and Invincible by Senseless Tragedy *In need of a great, budget-friendly microphone? Check out thi…

From the unceremonial exit from No Call No Show, to Senseless Tragedy, to Three Inch Girth, to Weathered Soles - this is my story! In this unique episode i'm interviewed by a special host. This person caused me to reflect, question my decisions, and learn things about myself. You will not want to miss this one! The thunderstorm that night makes it'…

In this phone interview Grizz and i talk T-Pain's opinion of his music, his accomplishments, and opinions and experiences trying to "make it" in a complicating music landscape - where image is almost more important than the art itself. GRIZZ LEE on youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCpH4kS9NbW5AHa2POVInm8w GRIZZ LEE on facebook: https://www.fa…

The talented and hard working musician David Bond represents the St. James band Sabertooth in this phone interview. He discusses the intriguing way the band was formed and the surprising day jobs of it's members. David also discloses the huge variety of influences and musical experience throughout the band. At the end of the discussion we debut a c…

Tapeside is an extremely unique band out of Sedalia, MO. In this episode i have a chat over the phone with guitar player, songwriter, and vocalist Alex Contreras! Alex has an amazing understand of music genres. Learn about his many influences, the band's songwriting and recording process, and growth from album to album. I learned a lot during this …