Podcasts about SDI

This week, we discuss AWS re:Invent announcements, Agentic Development, and OpenAI's Code Red. Plus, a Digital ID field test and more on silverware sorting. Watch the YouTube Live Recording of Episode (https://www.youtube.com/live/Xl7lVVTd4DM?si=APR633y2hmXPHHdb) 549 (https://www.youtube.com/live/Xl7lVVTd4DM?si=APR633y2hmXPHHdb) Runner-up Titles Did you order the Code Red? In the year 2000 Jane go swiftly Another day in the coal mine Goal Driven Development I want to believe Prove me wrong AI's going to dig this hole faster Tornado of Innovation Revenue times Story Rundown SiteAngel - bonus press quote from Brandon (https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2000/10/angel-watches-over-web-sites/243841/) AWS Amazon announces $50B investment to expand AI and supercomputing capabilities for US government (https://siliconangle.com/2025/11/24/amazon-announces-50b-investment-expand-ai-supercomputing-capabilities-us-government/) Top announcements of AWS re:Invent 2025 (https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/top-announcements-of-aws-reinvent-2025/) All the biggest news from AWS' big tech show re:Invent 2025 (https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/02/all-the-biggest-news-from-aws-big-tech-show-reinvent-2025/) AWS announces preview of AWS Interconnect - multicloud (https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2025/11/preview-aws-interconnect-multicloud/) The Future of AWS CodeCommit | Amazon Web Services (https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/devops/aws-codecommit-returns-to-general-availability/) Nova Act (https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/build-reliable-ai-agents-for-ui-workflow-automation-with-amazon-nova-act-now-generally-available/) Code Red OpenAI CEO declares “code red” as Gemini gains 20 0 million users in 3 months (https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/12/openai-ceo-declares-code-red-as-gemini-gains-200-million-users-in-3-months/) Anthropic reportedly preparing for one of the largest IPOs ever in race with OpenAI: FT (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/03/anthropic-claude-reportedly-preparing-ipo-race-openai-chatgpt-ft-wilson-sonsini-goodrich-rosati.html) Microsoft stock sinks on report AI product sales are missing growth goals (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/03/microsoft-stock-ai-foundry-sales.html) AI & Cloud Trends for November 2025 (https://www.thecloudcast.net/2025/12/ai-cloud-trends-for-november-2025.html) Relevant to your Interests Under My Roof Home Inventory + App - App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/under-my-roof-home-inventory/id1524335878) Thoma Bravo invests in Azul (https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/108009/thoma-bravo-invests-in-azul) Streamline Development with the Google Workspace Extension (https://allen.hutchison.org/2025/11/19/bringing-the-office-to-the-terminal/) As its voice dictation app takes off, Wispr secures $25M from Notable Capital | TechCrunch (https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/20/as-its-voice-dectation-app-takes-off-wispr-secures-25m-from-notable-capital/) Valve makes almost $50 million per employee (https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/valve-makes-almost-usd50-million-per-employee-raking-in-more-cash-per-person-than-google-amazon-or-microsoft-gaming-giants-350-employees-on-track-to-generate-usd17-billion-this-year) HelixGuar (https://helixguard.ai/blog/malicious-sha1hulud-2025-11-24)d (https://helixguard.ai/blog/malicious-sha1hulud-2025-11-24) What to know about a recent Mixpanel security incident (https://openai.com/index/mixpanel-incident/) ServiceNow to Expand Security Portfolio With Acquisition of Veza's Leading AI-native Identity Security Platform (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251201652471/en/ServiceNow-to-Expand-Security-[…]tion-of-Vezas-Leading-AI-native-Identity-Security-Platform) Vista-Backed LogicMonitor Buys Monitoring Startup Catchpoint (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-02/vista-backed-logicmonitor-buys-mon[…]ing-startup-catchpoint?srnd=phx-deals&embedded-checkout=true) Google releases Nano Banana Pro, its latest image generation model (https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/20/google-releases-nano-banana-pro-its-latest-image-generation-model/) Years of JSONFormatter and CodeBeautify Leaks Expose Thousands of Passwords and API Keys (https://thehackernews.com/2025/11/years-of-jsonformatter-and-codebeautify.html) Netflix kills casting from phones (https://www.theverge.com/news/834655/netflix-phone-casting-chromecast-support-killed) Nonsense Victorian Name Generator (https://codebeautify.org/victorian-name-generator) Conferences cfgmgmtcamp 2026 (https://cfgmgmtcamp.org/ghent2026/), February 2nd to 4th, Ghent, BE. Coté speaking and doing live SDI with John Willis. DevOpsDayLA at SCALE23x (https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x), March 6th, Pasadena, CA Use code: DEVOP for 50% off. CFP open until Dec. 1st. Devnexus 2026 (https://devnexus.com), March 4th to 6th, Atlanta, GA. SDT News & Community Join our Slack community (https://softwaredefinedtalk.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-1hn55iv5d-UTfN7mVX1D9D5ExRt3ZJYQ#/shared-invite/email) Email the show: questions@softwaredefinedtalk.com (mailto:questions@softwaredefinedtalk.com) Free stickers: Email your address to stickers@softwaredefinedtalk.com (mailto:stickers@softwaredefinedtalk.com) Follow us on social media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/softwaredeftalk), Threads (https://www.threads.net/@softwaredefinedtalk), Mastodon (https://hachyderm.io/@softwaredefinedtalk), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/software-defined-talk/), BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/softwaredefinedtalk.com) Watch us on: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/sdtpodcast), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi3OJPV6h9tp-hbsGBLGsDQ/featured), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/softwaredefinedtalk/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@softwaredefinedtalk) Book offer: Use code SDT for $20 off "Digital WTF" by Coté (https://leanpub.com/digitalwtf/c/sdt) Sponsor the show (https://www.softwaredefinedtalk.com/ads): ads@softwaredefinedtalk.com (mailto:ads@softwaredefinedtalk.com) Recommendations Brandon: Dampf Good BBQ (https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/north-carolina/cary_2986745/restaurant/dampf-good-bbq) Matt: UmamiPapi (https://umamipapi.com.au/) chilli oil Coté: Anta (https://anta-keelpastilles.nl/smaken/classic/), slightly more in English (https://www.dutchexpatshop.com/en/anta-flu-classic.html). Also XdgBaseDirs (https://cote.io/2025/12/02/an-xdg-library-for-java.html). Photo Credits Header (https://unsplash.com/photos/a-wooden-block-spelling-the-word-website-on-a-table-Vagh0KcwvwQ)

Part 4 of our SEMA coverage takes us through the New Products Showcase, where Holman shares his favorite new products from the show, including his Media Choice Award picks. Hear about new products from AMSOIL, Caliber, REDARC, SDI, QA1, Mickey Thompson, Intellitronix Gauges, Willwood, Dakota Digital, Ridetech, Fox Factory, Magnuson,Ididit, Cobb Tuning, BlackVue, BOLT, FLATED, ICON Vehicle Dynamics, Grand General, BuiltRight, UEM Pistons, Toyota TRD, RōMR/SteerSmarts, SynergyMFG, RealTruck, Curt MFG, Black River by Summit, Ford Performance, aFe, Steinjager, Sidio, Bestop, Pop & Lock, Titan Fuel Tanks, Vintage Air, Hi-Lift, and TransferFlow. The Truck Show Podcast is produced in partnership with AMSOIL, Kershaw Knives, and OVR Mag. Don't forget to check out truckshowpodcast.com for special offers from our friends and sponsors! AMSOIL Use promo code HOLMAN2025 until 12/31/25 to get a free AMSOIL UTV Blocks Kit with any purchase of $125 or more.   Kershaw Knives Use promo code 2TSP2025 for 40% off of MSRP and free shipping on great, high-quality knives.   OVR Magazine Use promo code @truckshowpodcast for a free annual digital subscription or a discount on a print subscription  

This week we're covering ways to reduce tax caused by the elimination of California's SDI wage base.

Matthew Devost is a cybersecurity, risk management, and national security expert with over 25 years of experience. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of OODA LLC and Devsec previously founded the Terrorism Research Center and cybersecurity consultancy FusionX, which was acquired by Accenture. At Accenture, he led the Global Cyber Defense practice. Matthew has held key leadership roles at iDefense, iSIGHT Partners, Total Intel, SDI, Tulco Holdings, and Technical Defense, making him a trusted voice in cyber threat intelligence and critical infrastructure protection. 00:00 Introduction02:03 The Evolution of Cybersecurity and National Security Risks06:16 Understanding Cyber Threats and Strategies for Defense11:19 The Role of Private Sector in Cybersecurity14:40 Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges and Failures of Imagination17:16 Overcoming Inertia in Cybersecurity Leadership20:42 The Importance of Red Teaming and Realistic Simulations24:44 The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity29:31 Future of Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies36:56 Overview of OODA and DevSec Ventures

#SecurityConfidential #DarkRhiinoSecurityMatthew Devost is a cybersecurity, risk management, and national security expert with over 25 years of experience. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of OODA LLC and Devsec previously founded the Terrorism Research Center and cybersecurity consultancy FusionX, which was acquired by Accenture. At Accenture, he led the Global Cyber Defense practice. Matthew has held key leadership roles at iDefense, iSIGHT Partners, Total Intel, SDI, Tulco Holdings, and Technical Defense, making him a trusted voice in cyber threat intelligence and critical infrastructure protection. 00:00 Introduction02:03 The Evolution of Cybersecurity and National Security Risks06:16 Understanding Cyber Threats and Strategies for Defense11:19 The Role of Private Sector in Cybersecurity14:40 Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges and Failures of Imagination17:16 Overcoming Inertia in Cybersecurity Leadership20:42 The Importance of Red Teaming and Realistic Simulations24:44 The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity29:31 Future of Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies36:56 Overview of OODA and DevSec Ventures----------------------------------------------------------------------To learn more about Matthew visit https://www.devost.net/To learn more about Dark Rhiino Security visit https://www.darkrhiinosecurity.com

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by ⁠Integrity4EducationYOUR guest is Jarred McNeely, Chief Academic Officer, Sonoran Desert InstituteYOUR cohost is Thomas Fetsch, CEO, Integrity4EducationYOUR host is ⁠Elvin Freytes⁠How does an online trade school put the lab in students' living rooms & deliver hands on gunsmithing & drone training to 3,000 students across the country without traditional campuses?What happens when faculty focus on video demonstrations instead of papers & why is watching students physically build & repair things more effective than AI detection software for combating academic integrity violations?How does a mid 30s veteran heavy student population learn to use AI as a responsible tool for customer communication & why does SDI teach open book testing to prepare students for industries that change faster than memorized knowledge?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠⁠​subscribe today​⁠⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

In this episode of Breakaway Wealth, Jim Oliver sits down with Dr. Erin Wilson, a powerhouse in leadership development and the creator of the "NAP Framework" for strategic rest. Together, they unpack relationship intelligence—the "million-dollar skill" that separates effective leaders from forgettable ones—and why rest is not a reward, but a strategy. Dr. Wilson shares how leaders can use relationship intelligence to connect, communicate, and collaborate at a higher level by understanding what truly motivates people. She also discusses her framework for strategic rest, how to use it to unlock creativity and performance, and why most of us get motivation wrong. What You'll Learn: Rest is a performance tool. The NAP Framework turns rest into a scheduled advantage that improves clarity, creativity, and leadership capacity. RI vs. EI: Emotional intelligence is internal awareness. Relationship intelligence operationalizes it so you actually get results with people. SDI in practice: People are primarily motivated by People, Process, or Performance (usually a blend). Speak to their driver and watch resistance drop. Common leadership mistakes: Assuming others are motivated like you. Confusing silence with agreement. Forcing everyone to play by your rulebook. Manager playbook: Hire experts → clear roadblocks → tailor comms → measure results. Action Steps Map motives: List your top 5 direct reports; tag their likely primary driver (People / Process / Performance). Schedule rest as strategy: Book two 30-minute regeneration blocks (think sauna, walk, prayer, meditation). Protect them. Adopt the NAP Framework: Nurture, Assess, Prioritize rest as a leadership advantage—not an afterthought. Dr. Erin's Powerful words: "Rest isn't what takes you out of the game—it's what makes you play smarter." — Dr. Erin Wilson Connect with Dr. Erin Wilson: Instagram: @dr.erinwilson Youtube: www.youtube.com/@PowerNAPLive  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drerinwilson/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrErinW  Design Ideal Consulting: www.designidealconsulting.com/  Copy Strategic Rest in Leadership: https://shorturl.at/EyxV7 Signed Copy of SR in Leadership: www.designidealconsulting.com/category/all-products (Amazon) Copy Strategic Rest in Leadership: https://a.co/d/gPoTVTP  Strategic Rest Summit: www.thestrategicrest.com/ 

STAR TREK IV – Episode 14: Nuclear Wessels, Plexiglas & ein Schlauch mit Sendungsbewusstsein In dieser Folge: • Echte Navy-CIC-Indizien vs. Studiotricks (PPI/AN/SPA-25-Look, Sound-Powered-Phone, Low-Light) • Scottys „Lass“: Herkunft, Bedeutung, TOS/TNG-Belege • Temporale Verschmutzung: Chekovs Phaser/Kommunikator, ENTERPRISEs temporaler Kalter Krieg („Carpenter Street“), *BTTF II*-Vergleich • 1985/86: Geneva-Summit-Stimmung, SDI, Nuclear-Freeze-Bewegung • Plexicorp-Heli: Filmgeografie vs. In-Universe-Logik • MPAA vs. FSK: Warum „son of a bitch“ PG-tauglich ist • Der Mann mit dem Schlauch: Wasser-Performance vor dem Aquarium Viel Humor, viele Fakten, keine Langeweile.

Are you wondering if your mood swings, sleepless nights, or sudden changes in your body might be more than just “life stress”? This week, I'm joined by Dr. Gill Shields, an experienced NHS GP and British Menopause Society specialist. Gill sheds light on what perimenopause really is, busting myths about hot sweats being the defining symptom and revealing that there are over 70 recognised symptoms - many of which are overlooked or misunderstood. We discuss why you don't need a blood test to validate how you're feeling, the misleading legacy of past HRT research, and the importance of individualised care. Gill also sheds light on what happens to our weight in perimenopause, and the lifestyle changes that can help support your body and your mind during this time of life.By the end of the episode you'll know when it's time to visit the doctor, how to advocate for yourself in healthcare settings, and why being well-informed is key to getting the support you deserve.Highlights include:2:01 Understanding perimenopause symptoms06:20 When to see your doctor10:17 Lifestyle changes and supplement efficacy17:16 Weight gain and body changes23:56 The truth about HRT30:56 Common misconceptions and final adviceThis week's guest:Dr Gill Shields completed her medical training at Imperial College London in 2006 and went onto work in several London hospitals before completing her GP training in 2011.Along with her MBBS/BSc/MRCGP she has Diplomas in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sexual and Reproductive health and has FSRH letters of competence in IUDs (coils) SDI (contraceptive implants). She holds the Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Health Advanced Menopause Certificate and is a British Menopause Society specialist.Dr Gill Shields is a GP partner within the NHS and PCN Women's Health Lead. She runs regular specialist menopause clinics, group menopause consultations and general women's health clinics. She enjoys listening to her patients and helping them make the best decisions around their health with support of the most up to date evidence based medicine.WebsiteInstagramTell us what you thought of this episode! -> JOIN OUR SUBSTACK NEED THERAPY? SOCIALS DISCLAIMER

In this episode of SDI Encounters, we're excited to introduce a powerful new course offering from SDI — an 8-part online series called Somatic Spiritual Companionship: Inner Awareness for Deeper Listening. You'll hear a bit here on this offering from course facilitator, Cynthia Winton-Henry. This course invites spiritual directors, companions, and wayfarers into a deeper exploration of the body-soul connection, offering a variety of practices that can enrich and expand your approach to spiritual direction and companionship. By engaging with somatic awareness — through movement, meditation, art, and embodied presence — we open new pathways to support others and ourselves with greater depth and authenticity. Facilitated by Cynthia Winton-Henry, cofounder of InterPlay and author of The Art of Ensoulment, the series features a diverse lineup of spiritual companions who will guide us in experiential practices and share stories from their own embodied journeys. Join us for eight live, 90-minute sessions starting Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and learn how to cultivate deeper listening, resilience, and presence — from the inside out. Learn more and register at: https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/somatic-spiritual-companionship/

Join us for a deep-dive conversation with Jarred from Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) on the State of the Second podcast! From the future of gunsmithing to the importance of hands-on training, Jarred shares what it takes to succeed in the firearms industry today. We talk shop about AR platforms, and why trade education is more vital than ever.   Whether you're curious about SDI, want to get into gunsmithing, or just love hearing real talk about firearms and freedom-this episode has something for you.   Register for GOALS 2025, August 9th & 10th: https://events.goa.org/goals/ ----------------------- Thanks to AAC Ammo & Palmetto State Armory for sponsoring our guest gear!   Special thanks to our sponsor for supporting this season! Patriot Mobile – Get 1 month free with code “GOA” at checkout on their website!

Join us for a deep-dive conversation with Jarred from Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) on the State of the Second podcast! From the future of gunsmithing to the importance of hands-on training, Jarred shares what it takes to succeed in the firearms industry today. We talk shop about AR platforms, and why trade education is more vital than ever.Whether you're curious about SDI, want to get into gunsmithing, or just love hearing real talk about firearms and freedom-this episode has something for you.Register for GOALS 2025, August 9th & 10th: https://events.goa.org/goals/-----------------------Thanks to AAC Ammo & Palmetto State Armory for sponsoring our guest gear!Special thanks to our sponsor for supporting this season!Patriot Mobile – Get 1 month free with code “GOA” at checkout on their website!

Send us a textMissile defense systems have become the frontline of modern warfare with Israel's Iron Dome standing as a testament to their life-saving potential. Since its 2011 deployment, this technological marvel has intercepted thousands of rockets with an astonishing 85-90% success rate, transforming Israel's security landscape and inspiring similar systems to be developed worldwide.The United States now aims to create its own continental shield—the Golden Dome—a sophisticated defense network designed to protect North America from ballistic and hypersonic missile threats. This ambitious project echoes Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) of the 1980s, nicknamed "Star Wars," which envisioned space-based laser platforms and advanced interceptors to render nuclear weapons "impotent and obsolete." Though never fully realized, SDI laid crucial groundwork for today's defense planning.What makes these systems so remarkable is their integration of cutting-edge technologies. The Iron Dome employs advanced radar to detect threats within seconds, battle management algorithms analyze trajectories, and interceptor missiles are launched o neutralize targets in mid-air. The Golden Dome would expand this concept across the entire continental U.S., incorporating artificial intelligence to make split-second decisions about which threats to engage and how to optimize interception.But these defense platforms raise profound questions beyond their technical specifications. Why do ancient Biblical stories like the Tower of Babel warn about humanity reaching too far into the heavens? Was Reagan's famous U.N. speech about humanity uniting against an extraterrestrial threat more than just rhetorical flourish? When military officials describe engaging "unknown objects" in our airspace, to what exactly are they referring?As we witness the emergence of undertakings like the Stargate Project in the UAE—a massive AI infrastructure development with partners like NVIDIA and OpenAI—we must consider whether these technologies are preparing us for threats beyond our traditional understanding. Are we building such sophisticated defense systems solely to protect against human adversaries, or is there something more our governments might know about threats from beyond Earth?"Space Journey" by Geoff HarveyCopyright © 2021 Melody Loops LPFull License Royalty-Free Music https://www.melodyloops.com Support the showVisit our website

Kiran Shankla's journey reveals the transformative power of persistence paired with strategic self-reflection. From a sports-loving teenager who initially resisted academic pressure to a multi-award-winning dentist specialising in minimally invasive techniques, her story demonstrates that success often comes through consistent effort rather than natural talent. Through setbacks in Australia, rigorous postgraduate training at the Eastman, and building expertise in ICON treatment, Kiran shows how embracing continuous learning and maintaining perspective can lead to both professional achievement and personal contentment. Her approach to balancing clinical excellence with work-life harmony offers valuable insights for dentists navigating their own career paths.In This Episode00:01:25 - Awards motivation and tactics 00:07:40 - Award application strategies 00:11:30 - Childhood ambition and sporting background 00:14:25 - Grammar school decisions and academic awakening00:16:35 - Career-defining phone call about dentistry 00:18:10 - University challenges and determination 00:21:45 - Foundation training in Slough 00:26:25 - Australia adventure and reality check 00:31:05 - Eastman Masters journey 00:38:10 - Patient communication and treatment planning 00:42:15 - Key opinion leader opportunities 00:50:40 - Continuing education philosophy 00:55:20 - ICON treatment expertise 01:07:00 - Blackbox thinking 01:16:35 - Fantasy dinner party 01:18:30 - Last days and legacyAbout Kiran ShanklaKiran Shankla is a multi-award-winning general dentist with a Masters in Restorative Dentistry from UCL Eastman. Based in Reading, she works across multiple practices focusing on minimally invasive restorative dentistry. She serves as a Key Opinion Leader for DMG and SDI, with a focus on ICON infiltration therapy and teaching dentists across the UK whilst maintaining a commitment to high-quality patient care.

The Return of SDI's Official Podcast. Mauser rifles, military stories, and what it really takes to teach gunsmithing online. We cover it all in the debut episode of The Gun Rack. Christian and Steve sit down with SDI's Chief Academic Officer, Jarred McNeely, for a wide-ranging conversation about firearms education, student success, and why learning online doesn't mean learning alone. Also in this episode: • What a century-old bolt gun can still teach us • How SDI trains hands-on students from across the country • Why communication and customer service are part of the gunsmithing skill set If you've ever wondered how SDI works or what makes it different, this is the episode to start with. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/7xErz61-3Ns?si=JVmUT6gFYu6p3ZIn  

In this episode of the Power Producers Shop Talk, David Carothers shares an insightful conversation with Ciara Gravier from The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management and Zach Matter from ZipBonds. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved with contractors, particularly those navigating the world of surety bonds. Ciara and Zach discuss how contractors can face challenges with messy financials and how these issues can impact their ability to qualify for larger projects. They dive into the importance of having tidy books, understanding bond requirements, and using bonds as a way to build strong client relationships. Zach also highlights the essential three C's for bond approval—character, capacity, and capital—and explains how producers can add value by properly presenting these factors to underwriters. This episode is packed with practical strategies for agents to help contractors and clients navigate the complexities of surety bonds while building stronger, more profitable relationships. Key Highlights: Understanding Bonds for Contractors Ciara explains how she used bonds as an educational tool to connect with contractors and help them understand the importance of having clean financials. She also shares how SEO and email marketing strategies can help agents engage contractors on bond topics. The Three C's of Bond Approval Zach breaks down the three key factors for bond approval: character, capacity, and capital, and how agents can provide valuable insights to help contractors qualify for bonds. Expanding the Bond Conversation Beyond Construction Zach emphasizes that bonds aren't just for construction. From liquor licenses to ERISA bonds for 401(k) plans, many industries require bonds, making it an essential conversation for all agents to have with their clients. Using Bonds as a Client Relationship Builder Ciara shares how she leveraged bonds to build relationships with CPAs, contractors, and even business attorneys, turning bonds into a valuable revenue stream and referral source. Subcontractor Default Insurance vs. Surety Bonds Zach talks about the growing use of subcontractor default insurance (SDI) and how it can impact the bond process. He explains the additional work involved when a subcontractor cannot qualify for SDI and how to handle it as a producer. Connect with: David Carothers LinkedIn Zach Matter LinkedIn Ciara Gravier LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp ZipBonds The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes

Shawn Tierney meets up with Jackie Stokes of Siemens to learn how to commission VFDs using StartDrive in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (Host): Everybody, thank you for tuning back in. In this episode, I actually meet back up with Jackie Stokes from Siemens to learn how to use a start drive to commission Siemens drive, specifically the g one twenty and the g two twenty. Although, I’m sure some of the other drives are very similar. And this actually came from a request from a viewer who’s who asked that we have somebody on the show us that. And because I’m not the expert, I reached out to Jackie and she agreed to come on. So I’m looking forward to that. Now we’re gonna cover the g one twenty. The g two twenty, we’re gonna cover how to change Siemens drives to be Ethernet IP instead of PROFINET. They have Ethernet IP built in, which is really cool. And then we’re gonna cover some free training they have coming up. I will include those links below as well as the links from Jackie below in the description. You should see that on all platforms. And I do wanna reach out to you and ask for a favor. I’m coming up on my ten year anniversary of doing this full time, and I was hoping that you guys could help me out to reach a 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Now I know a lot of you listen on Apple, a lot listen on Spotify, a lot of you consume the shows over at the automationblog.com, and I appreciate you all. But I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could hit a 100,000 subscribers over on YouTube by the end of the year? And maybe if we do, we could have a celebration. We could do a live stream, do some q and a. I’d love to hear what you guys thought over I actually started the channel twelve years ago. I was doing a part time to start, and I’d love to know what your favorite episodes were or what episodes what kind of episodes you like to see in the future. And so if you guys I know even if you’re on another platform, if you do have a YouTube account, if you could swing by, it’s at insights I a. That’s a lot shorter than insights in automation. So I shortened it up, I think it was a year ago or two years ago. So it’s at insights I a. Again, if you guys are up to it, I’d love to try to hit a 100,000 subscribers by the end of the year to celebrate my tenth year doing this full time. And with that, let’s go ahead and jump into how to use StarDrive to set up and commission Siemens VFDs like the g one twenty and g two twenty. Jackie, welcome back to the show. I’m so happy to have you back on and here to talk about using, Siemens VFDs inside of TIA portal. Now we’ve talked about your VFDs so many times on the show over the years, and but we’ve never actually, like, put one in TIA portal and tried it out. And I had actually had a a viewer ask about that. So thank you for agreeing to come back on. And just in case, some of the audience members didn’t watch the previous episodes where you were on, Could you quickly introduce yourself before jumping into our topic for today? Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Sure. And thanks for having me back on the show. So my name is Jackie Stokes. I am a marketing programs development manager at Siemens. I work in the motion control business unit. I’ve been in the business for, oh my goodness, I’m getting old, like, fourteen years now. So I but I’ve been with Siemens for about three and a half years. So, yeah, we’ve talked about, our drives family. I think most recently, we talked about the Synamix g two twenty drive with Ivan, one of our product managers. But, yeah, happy to be back and talking about how to integrate our VFDs into portal. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And I appreciate that. I mean, you don’t know what you don’t know. And so when we’re going to integrate our first, you know, drive into TIA Portal, it’s kinda like, well, what do we do? And so I wanted to have you on. I I could have fumbled through it myself, but I’m like, why not just talk to the experts? So let me turn it back to you, and, let’s go ahead and jump in. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yeah. Sure. So, I have just brief slides before we get hands on. I have a demo unit with me, but just wanna cover what we’re talking about. So we’re talking about our general purpose VFD. It is called SINAMICS g one twenty. So Sinamics is the name of our drive family, and g stands for general purpose. So that’s kind of the decoder ring for Sinamics g one twenty. It does come in a few different flavors. It comes in a modular version version, which we’re using today. It comes in a compact version, which is g one twenty c, And it also comes in a distributed or on machine version, which is, g one twenty d or a similar drive, g one fifteen d, and that d is for distributed. So the modular version of this drive, comes with a control unit, a power module, as well as an operator interface. So you can kind of see on the pictures to the right, what this looks like. So the control unit can be separated from the power, module, and then the operator interface can be separated from the components as well. So we’re using control unit two forty e Dash two p n dash f, and then we’re using a power module two forty dash two IP 20. The firmware version, I believe, is the latest. It’s firmware version 4.7 service pack 14 hotfix four. And the software, we are using start drive. StartDrive is our software for commissioning drives, and it’s in TIA Portal. So if you don’t, have a TIA Portal license, to program our PLCs, for instance, StartDrive is free. So you can download StartDrive and it will open essentially in TIA Portal. It’s just that if you’re using the free version of StartDrive and you don’t have a license for TIA Portal like programming the PLCs, you won’t be able to program a PLC in it, but you will be able to commission your drive. So that’s the little distinction between Start Drive and TIA Portal. There is also a Start Drive Advanced, for advanced features and programming in the drive that you do have to pay for, but, most of what you can do and what we’ll do today, you can do in the free version of StartDrive, and we’ll give you a link to that, how to download StartDrive. And, of course, this is just one way to commission a drive. You can also commission it with that industrial operator panel, the IOP dash two, which you can see on your screen. We also have a basic version of it, and then we do have a smart access module which generates, a Wi Fi hotspot, and then you can, you know, step away from the drive, connect on your phone. So three different ways to commission that drive. But if you’re a portal user and you’re using a Siemens PLC or maybe you just, you know, want to do this in software, it’s really easy to do as well. So I’m going to give you a brief overview of what we’re doing, so the procedure, and then I’ll jump into the software and show you what we’re doing. So basically, basic, we’re going to start off with opening TIA Portal, creating a new project, we’ll go online with the drive via accessible devices. This is where we have the opportunity to assign a name and IP address to the drive, and then we will add the drive to the project. So we are going to upload the device as a new station. So once it’s in the project, we’ll go online with the drive. We’re gonna use a commissioning wizard, which is gonna step us through all the parameters and settings that we need to commission the drive. We’ll do a motor ID and tuning and optimization. And then finally, we’ll just kind of take a look at the parameters and other features that we can see in portal. So with that, I am going to switch screens. So now we are in, my other computer, which we’re gonna use to program the drive. So what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna open TIA portal. I already have it open, but you can see the icon here. We are gonna use TIA Portal v 20, so this is the latest version of Portal. And this is what it looks like when you open Portal. What you wanna do is create a new project. So I’m just gonna hit create a new project. We’ll call this g column 20. Okay. So if you’ve never seen TIA Portal before, you have a lot of different options, and it can be slightly overwhelming. So I recommend we go to project view, and that’s a good way to just jump into what we need to see, for our commissioning. So the first thing we wanna do so this is what portal looks like. A lot of different windows, a lot of things going on. At the end, I’ll talk about some free training we have. If you’re unfamiliar with portal and you want to, just see what it looks like and understand all the windows and buttons and how to be efficient in the tool. But for today, I’m just gonna show you the commissioning. So under online access, I’m just gonna expand this on the left hand side. So this is our project tree. You can see we don’t have any devices here. You could add a new device if you wanted, but right now, we’ll just look at our online access. So these are all the things that we can access online, our communications. I’m gonna click up here, which is accessible devices. And up here, this is how we’re gonna find the drive. So on my computer, I am networked to the drive. So I’m connected to an Ethernet switch on the drive itself, and then my computer has two Ethernet ports, and the port I’m looking for is this, gigabit network connection. So this is the one that’s tied to the drive. You may have to adjust these settings on your own PC in order to see the drive. But, once you have these configured, you know, you can see different options here. You’re gonna hit start search, and as we’re waiting, one thing to keep in mind is you will need to configure your network adapter settings so that you’re on the same subnet mask as this drive. So, just make sure your PC is configured properly. Otherwise, it won’t be able to find the drive. So here we are. We see this G 120 Drive one. It has this IP address, one nine two point one six eight point zero point one, and you can see the device type here. So, earlier I mentioned that control unit, that CU two forty e, that is the drive we’re connected to. So we’re gonna hit show here. We’re gonna highlight it, and then we’ll hit show. Shawn Tierney (Host): Now just for the audience who is listening, there is an option there to flash the screen. So like I showed you with the PLCs in previous episodes, you can do that with the drive as well. It has a little checkbox here. So if you had three or four drives side by side, you could make sure you connect it to the right one by flashing the screen. So go ahead. I’ll turn it back to you, Jackie. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yeah. That’s a that’s a good point. So right. I I have just one demo unit in my room, so I know what I’m connected to, but that is that’s a very good point. You can flash that little LED. So now you can see we have under online access, under this, gigabit port network connection, we have this g one twenty drive, and this is where we can go to online and diagnostics, and we can make some changes here. So you’ll see, we know we’re online. So this is another key thing when you’re commissioning drives or any devices within or working with devices within TIA Portal is making sure you’re online with the the correct device and and that you are online. And so this turns to orange up here, and you can see, like, online access here. So that’s an indication that you are online with that device. So we’ll go to functions here, and this is where you can assign a name. So if you wanted, we could call this drive underscore one. And then what you do is just hit assign name. And then, like, let’s say we wanna change the IP address to dot three, and we’ll assign the IP address. So we changed the name, we changed this IP address. If you double click on update accessible devices, you can see that our drive one drive underscore one name changed and that, the IP address changed. So that’s what we that’s what we’re looking for. So we just made those changes to the drive. Now what we can do, and, actually, once you change the IP address, you might need to cycle power. So I’m gonna cycle power to the drive. One second. But what we can do in the meantime is we can upload this device as a new station. So what this is going to do is it’s going to put the drive into the project and it’s creating this drive underscore one. And it’s giving us a little bit of a warning, but that’s okay. We’re gonna upload from the device. Okay. So now we see drive underscore one in our project tree. I’m going to kind of minimize this online access, and we’re gonna look at the drive up here so we don’t get too confused. So here, we wanna make sure we want to go online with the drive so we can make sure you so, you know, once you if you’re following along, you wanna make sure you select this drive, especially if you have lots of other things in your project tree, because you can go online with a lot of different things. So if you have I remember when I was first learning, portal yeah. If you don’t have the right thing selected and you select go online and you’re going online with something else, that’s not quite right. So make sure you have it selected and then hit go online up here. It’s this little orange connector. And then you’ll see this green check mark. So that indicates that we are online and connected and the drive is happy. So now we’ll go to the commissioning wizard. So under here, we’ll double click commissioning, and we have a few options here. So you see the commissioning wizard. We see control panel, motor optimization, and this backup and restore. So we’ll start here with the commissioning wizard. And then, basically, it’s just gonna step us through how we wanna set up this drive. So we have some options here, the application class. So, there’s expert, which means that all the options are available in the wizard. There’s standard drive control, which again is the most common applications. And then we have dynamic drive control. So these are more advanced applications. So you can kinda read through this. And if you had questions about what I should be using, you can click this little green arrow here at the bottom for online help. So we’ll just click standard drive control, and we’ll hit next. And this is where you have the option. You need to tell it, are you connected to a PLC? If you are, where that ramp function is. Is it in the PLC, or are you gonna do it in the drive, or is it gonna be a standalone drive, no PLC? So I’ll walk through this scenario with, standard drive no PLC, and then I can also show you what it looks like if you go the PLC route and how that configures. But a lot of the things are are the same. So you have an IO configuration here. You have some options. I’m gonna choose 12. As you can see at the top here, they’re predefined interconnections of the inputs and outputs. However, you can change them later. So, choose the one that best fits your application, but, again, keep in mind, you can change it later if, you change your mind or need to change something. We’ll click next. We are using this motor. So I’m just gonna keep this here, this IEC, and then two twenty volt. We do not have a breaking resistor, and we do not have a filter. Again, this is where you have the option to select a filter if you are using one, and then it’ll give you a few more. I’ll just show you an example. So if we had a a sine wave filter third party, you would have to input these values. But for this application, we’ll choose no filter, and then we’re gonna enter the motor data. So this is where you’re going to need to read your motor nameplate data, and then we’ll input the motor nameplate data here. So right now we have point nine seven, point one eight and kilowatts, and then 350 RPM, and then we’ll hit next, and then we’ll hit next. This is where, I wouldn’t don’t touch the current limit. I’m not gonna touch the minimum speed or maximum speed. You have the option here to change your ramp up time or ramp down time if you want. So just, for example, we’ll change these values here, and we’ll click next. You have an option to change the application, so constant loads, speed to dependent load, and then the motor identification. So if you want, inhibited, identifying motor at standstill, or motor data identification. So I’ll click, this option two here, and then it says that the motor data identification will be performed at the next time that the drive is enabled. And then we’ll hit next. And then here, we’ll save the RAM to ROM, so it’ll be saved in the drive. And then we’ll hit and you can see the summary up here. So, you have the opportunity, like, if you’re reading through this and maybe you mistyped your motor current, you can go back and, change that setting right now if you wanted. So I would recommend that you read through this, make sure it’s all correct, and then hit finish. So now we are saving to the eprom. I’m going let’s see what’s so it says maintenance required in lower component. So we’re gonna look at diagnostics here. So you can see, sometimes you wanna you know, if this is unhappy, you kinda wanna see what’s going on. So we’ll go to this online and diagnostics here. Diagnostics, general. Okay. So you can see, you know, we have our name of our drive and the part number, but let’s look at active faults on alarms. Okay. And what it doesn’t like, the motor data identification activated. So it basically, it’s looking for that motor data, and that’s why it’s it’s giving us this little maintenance required. So what we can do is we’ll go back into commissioning. We’ll go into motor optimization here. And so once you click on it, it’s gonna give you a warning. This motor identification is performed once the drive is enabled. So we’ll click okay. And then what we can do so first, what you can we’ll hit, activate here. We’ll click accept, and then we’ll switch on. And then our motor ID is done. And you can see here, it has switched from that, kind of wrench icon to this green checkbox icon, which means that we did a good job. Shawn Tierney (Host): So it went through and, identified the motor. It applied power to the motor, and I couldn’t see what was happening with the motor. Did it turn the motor at all, or did it just supply power to it? Or Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So it just supplied power to it. So and you can see here the the following parameters are determined or changed when the motor with with the motor data identification. So this is what it’s looking at. And we did a stationary measurement, so it did not rotate during that measurement. Shawn Tierney (Host): Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): And then we can deactivate control. Yes. Okay. And then we can look at the control panel. So this is kinda cool. This allows you to test the drive in TIA Portal. You know, we didn’t write any PLC programming. We haven’t, you know, since I have this demo unit, it’s wired up for these particular, you know, little switches that I have on it. But Mhmm. Regardless and independent of that, we can actually, you know, kinda jog and turn on the drive and just test it out. So I’m gonna hit activate master control. And again, it’s gonna give us a warning because the drive can move. So just be aware of what you’re doing. It wants to make sure you’re you’re okay with this. So I’m gonna hit accept. We can give it a speed set point, so we’ll give it 200 RPM, and then we can give it a forward command. We can tell it to go backwards. We can increase the speed. And, you know, you can jog forward to this momentary push button here. And yeah. So it says a nice way to to kinda test it out right here. And then we can deactivate the control. And so and then once you’ve done this, you know, you can go to backup and restore. So this will save RAM to RAM. We can save it here. It’ll save RAM to RAM. One thing that I should have done when I was first starting out, and that is restore to factory settings. So I won’t do this now, but you can you know, if you get in a situation where you do need to restore to factory settings or, you gotta drive from somewhere else and you need to restore it, you can do that within TIA Portal. So we could do that now and then and then redo the commissioning. So occasionally at least in my experience with the demo units, sometimes they come in and you don’t know what someone has done with them. Sure. So you wanna start with this. But since I’ve been playing around with this demo, for the past few days, I kinda know what’s in it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And that would be important too if you took the if you’re repurposing it from one application to another, you definitely wouldn’t wanna wipe out everything, restore it to the factory defaults before you, before you use it on a new application. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. And that is something, that’s something you can do in, that online access area. So once you’re you know, so here, when you first saw that drive before you upload it as a new station, you have that ability. You know, again, it’s in that commissioning menu. It’s it’s mirrored up here too. Yeah. But you can go there and do that backup and restore. So that’s the best practice, again, if you’re repurposing a drive. But if it’s out of the box, you know, it’s already at factory default. So once your drive is in a good state, you’ve done your commissioning, you’ve saved RAM to ROM. What you want to do is you want to make sure your drive is selected, which it should be, but we’ll just go offline here. And then what you wanna do, just to be sure so your project should match what was in the drive, but, a good best practice here is to upload from the device. So that means your project will match whatever is in the drive right now. So this is just warning us, this Telegram configuration, but we’ll hit upload from device. And then we will save our project. So that is, how you make sure your project now matches the drive. And then if you wanted, you could, you know, have another drive that you’re connecting to, and you could then download to that device, but we know the project matches. So that was a good overview of commissioning basic commissioning for Synamix g one twenty. Our newer drives look a little different. The commissioning wizard is different. So we’re coming out with our next generation of Synamics drives, two drives to look out for. One is our motion drive. So it’s a servo motion. It is the Synamix s two ten, and then we have a new drive, the Synamix g two twenty, who Ivan, our product manager for that product, was on the show about a year ago and talked in-depth about it. But the whole product family sits a little bit higher than the g one twenty in terms of, capabilities and performance. So it’s not a successor to the g one twenty. It’s it’s a complement to the product portfolio. But I’ll just give you an overview of what that looks like. We can since I don’t have this demo myself, right now, I’m gonna add a new device. So, again, another idea if, let’s say, you wanted to get your project already so that once your drive arrives, you can just simply download to it. Another way to do this is to add a new device here in your project tree instead of scanning for it, you know, on the network, assuming you’re connected to a physical device. We can just add it here, do all the commissioning, set up all the parameters, and then once you get the physical drive, you can download to that drive. So, as you can see here, on the left hand side, we have controllers, HMI, PC systems, drives. So it’s gonna let you add whatever you want to your project. I have it selected on drives, and we’ll name this, g two twenty. And then here, you know, we’re just gonna filter down. So you see all of our g drives here. The g two twenty is at the bottom. We’ll do g two twenty PROFINET also means Ethernet IP, and make sure the version, article number, and we’ll hit okay. Ah, so if you listen to Ivan’s overview of the g two twenty, one of the new features is its security. And when we say security here in this context, we’re talking about user security. So user management and access control, also known as UMAQ or abbreviated UMAQ. So what you have the opportunity to do here is to configure your security settings. If you want, you can also continue with low security settings. But this is what this looks like. I’ll just kinda walk through what it looks like. So start a new configuration, what it is. So if you’re unfamiliar with user manage management and access control, this is what it tells you you can do with this tool. So you can enable UMac for the project and prompt users to log in in order to work with the project. You can enable UMac for the drive and prompt users to log in in order to work with the drive via the web server and start drive. So one of the new commissioning options that you have with our next generation of drives is a web server. And, again, I don’t have the drive with me now, so I won’t show you the web server. We’ll just show you TIA Portal, but that’s what it’s referring to when it says this web server. So just be aware if you check these boxes, and then these later steps will go through, you will have to know your username and password or you will not be able to access this drive. So, just remember to save save your passwords, if you do yes. If you do go down this route. Now, the scenario of I lost my password, I lost my username, I can’t access this drive. How do I get around that? Well, the only way to get around that is you’re going to have to get a u sorry, an SD card and insert that into the drive and it will have just reset. Txt on it, so a reset text file. Shawn Tierney (Host): Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So there is a way. It’s you’re not totally, you know, in trouble there, but, you will have to reset the whole drive. So there’s no there’s no, secret way of getting around it. So if you do enable that, that is how you would restore your drive or get access to it again, and then you can see here. So, data encryption, if you wanted, you could do this, Activate user controls incomplete. Ah, okay. So it said it was incomplete because we did not specify a password, so we have to specify a password here. And I think it has some requirements for your password, so you just wanna make sure you remember this one. We’ll hit okay and then next. It doesn’t like this. I have to click I have read the information above. Yes. Okay. Click next. Username. So you could allow a guest to enable access to the drive. It’s up to you. Uses the anonymous user, so we’ll hit yes. Allow data exchange via fieldbus. So is the anonymous user as they is used for fieldbus communication. So again, just want to make sure you understand these settings. The SDI standard panel access, so we’ll allow the drive to be changed via the standard panel without a username and password, web server access, so again going through all the different ways to access this drive and making sure you are okay with how you’re accessing it. Data encryption, next, and then we will hit finish. So it’s pretty in-depth. Again, you if you don’t want to, you can skip the security settings. You can also go back and reconfigure them too. So if you’re just working on this project, you know, you don’t you can configure it later. So here, similar to that, drive one, which is the g one twenty, we have all of our options here. We’re gonna go to device configuration or yes. So we’ll look at our device configuration. You can see here, we have our Synamix g two twenty. We have a motor here, which we actually don’t have a motor. So let’s see here. Properties. Yes. So we just added the drive. We didn’t add a motor. So we can add the motor here. This is where we’re gonna enter our motor data, for whatever motor we have. So I’m just gonna make up some values. This is what’s on my current demo unit, so point seven. Obviously, you wanna look at your motor nameplate and make sure it matches, and then we’ll go to our guided quick setup. So little different look and feel, compared to what we did with the g one twenty. It’s giving us a warning here, so the device is not specified. Specify the device first. We can click on this here. So it wants a little bit more information on what drive we’re using. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. The power. Right? Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So, again, since we’re, we cheated well, I wouldn’t say cheated. But with the g one twenty, when you have it, when you’re online with it, you can upload as new station, so it’s detecting what you have. Mhmm. But since we don’t have that, we’re making this up in the project. It needs to know, the information. So we’re just gonna pick this one here to satisfy the requirement, and now it’s now it’s happy again. So we’ll go back to quick guided startup. Yes. And our warning went away. I’ll just move this down. Alright. So connection to the PLC. Define connection. Actually, I’m gonna minimize this window here. Yes. Do you want to connect it? Will it connect to a PLC via Telegram? In this case, we’ll say yes. It won’t be standalone. It’ll be connected to a PLC. And then do we want the ramp function in the drive, or do we want in the PLC? We’ll say we want it with the drive. And then, you know, if you’re using safety integrated functions via Prophysafe, you can check that box. So we have made our selections here. Actually, let’s I wanna see green check boxes at the top. Okay. So we’ve made our selection and you can see the green box. So we we have done completed this step. So select the application, we’re gonna select speed control, we’ll go next. The operating mode, so similar to that g one twenty, it’s asking a standard drive control, dynamic, and you can see how this changes, or selecting other closed loop control modes. So we’ll go back with standard drive control and click next. Here are the limits. So again, that maximum and minimum speed, this ramp up time, we’ll change it to five seconds. Our limits has turned green. So again, we have an option here, this fieldbus with data switch over. You can delete all these connections if you want, but, this is just how your digital inputs are, digital inputs, digital outputs, analog inputs, and analog outputs are connected. So you have the option if you wanna get rid of them, or if you want to to keep them and modify them. So we’ll just keep them, and we’ll hit next. Shawn Tierney (Host): Graphical mapping there of each digital and each IO point to the actual value in the drive, where the previous drive, we had a bunch of items to choose from. We chose 12, which was the standard, you know, your standard inputs and outputs and analog values. But here, it’s very graphical. I like this. This looks really cool, and it looks like it almost looks like I can go in, like, the where it says no connection. D I four. Right? No connection. It looks like you could choose, like, a yeah. Look at that list. A whole list of parameters that you could choose to put in that spot. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. Exactly. You can get to this setting in the g one twenty. It’s just not part of the commissioning. Shawn Tierney (Host): So Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): So but that’s a that’s a good point. So in here, in the, you know, in this newest generation of drives, the commissioning, you have the option to set this up here. But, yeah, it you’re right. You can do it in the g one twenty, but it it doesn’t prompt you right from the get go. Shawn Tierney (Host): Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): I’m gonna go back to application setting because I just wanna make sure I you can show more data. Let’s see. Okay. Now that looks good. Next. Telegram. Here we go. So since we’re talking to a PLC, it wants to know which Telegram we’re gonna use. So the Telegram is basically that exchange of data between PLC and drive. It comes from, like, the PROFI drive, profile. So it’s kind of a a PROFINET thing term, I guess, I should say. So you want to know what I’m trying to say is you wanna know what each of these telegrams mean in terms of status and control words and the information being exchanged between PLC and drive. So we usually use well, I shouldn’t say usually, but we use, like, Siemens Telegram three fifty two, for basic, like, speed control. But you can choose any of these telegrams, and I would encourage you, if you’re not familiar with telegrams, to, you know, look at the table, see what what kind of data is being exchanged between the drive and PLC, so that you’re selecting the correct one. And you can change this later if you want. So so, you know, so if, if you make the wrong selection here, you can go back and change it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Now it looks like it wants us to update the, IO configuration now because we changed the Telegram, which would make sense. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Ah, yes. And, I’ll go back to that for a second. So if you go to this PZD interconnections and this and so this is, process data. That’s what the PZD kinda stands for. If we click on that, you can see here what, the Telegram configuration looks like. So you can see, you know, the alarm code, the fault code, current torque speed, and the control. And then that’s in the receive direction. So that’s just what it looks like here. K. And you’re right. So if we go IO configuration Yes. So you’re right. Since we are using Telegram three fifty two, we are not having these IO connections connected to parameters within the drive. Next. We’ll be prompted for this rotate and optimize. So again, we have this option, identify motor data, optimize PDs controller, identify motor data at standstill. So we’ll just keep that and hit next. And at the end here is our summary. So these are all the changes we made, similar to g one twenty. You can go through, make sure you set everything correctly, and then you would perform a download, except we, don’t have our drive yet. So you can’t quite do that right now. But what you can do, is you can save this. So you can save your project, and then once you get your drive, you can, go online with it and download to that drive. Shawn Tierney (Host): Excellent. I mean, it’s interesting to see the difference between the, the original one we looked at, the g one twenty, and then this model, the g two twenty, and to see how the the wizard changed over time. And it’s it’s just very interesting. This one seems to be more like like, it’s offering you more details upfront. And, but it’s good to know both because you may have a one twenty or a two twenty or some other drive, so understanding the different interfaces is very helpful. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So now what I wanna show so right now we have this drive configured, to run with a PLC. We’ve have it configured for Telegram three fifty two. And then what we can also do so, like, say we’re in a scenario. Right now it’s configured all the drives are configured, for PROFINET out of the box this G120 and this G220. But let’s say we have a scenario where we need to configure it for ethernet IP. So maybe we’re using a non Siemens controller. How would you do that? So it’s a little different in the g two twenty compared to the g one twenty. So I just want to make, you know, our viewers aware of these differences. So what we wanna do in the g two twenty is we wanna go to this drive here. We’re going to hit properties. So we’re gonna pull up this window, so that we can see it while close out that commissioning window. So now we’re in the properties of this. And what we want to do is go to protection and security here. Shawn Tierney (Host): Mhmm. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): And ports and protocols, and this is the fieldbus and related protocol configuration. So this is where we can switch to Ethernet IP or Modbus TCP. We’re gonna switch to Ethernet IP, and then we’ll hit okay. And that’s all we had to do. So again here, you could right click. I think you can yeah. Right click and hit properties here, and then that would is how you find it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Nice. That was easy. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. Now what’s different is in the g one twenty, so we’ll go up here. It’s actually just a parameter in the g one twenty. Oh. So this is a little different. So what I do usually is I go to parameter view, and then I go to display extended parameters. So this shows all the parameters. And I’m gonna hit control f, so I’m gonna find it. And it’s parameter twenty thirty for field bus. Let’s go find it. And you can see here, you know, since we made this a standalone drive, it has no protocol, and this is where you can change it from PROFINET or Ethernet IP. Shawn Tierney (Host): Nice. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): So the big difference here is, like the g one twenty, the s one twenty, these all have a parameter, parameter twenty thirty, and you just change one parameter and it switches between Ethernet and PROFINET. In the newer drives, you have to go into the device properties, ports and protocols, and make that change if you wanna make it. Shawn Tierney (Host): That’s good to know. It’s, I don’t think I woulda guessed that. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): It was something we learned when we got our new demos. So is there anything else? Shawn Tierney (Host): I think that’s enough to get anybody started. I mean, it’s always good. If you have to sit down with a new VFD, it’s always good to have somebody kinda walk through it first, and then that gives you the confidence to get in there. You know you could get something working. And I I don’t think you’ll ever get through one of these commissionings without having to crack the book. You’ll definitely wanna read any literature that comes with the VFD. There’s safety stuff in there you gotta know about, because you’re gonna follow NEC and all those other applicable, codes, but, and all, you know, safety safety codes as well. But, you know, I think, you know, just having somebody it’s one thing to read a book. It’s another thing to see actually somebody walk through it. And I know I feel a lot more confident, that I’m, you know, now going and trying something out than I would have before you came on and showed us how to do this. So I really appreciate you, Jackie, the time. And I don’t know. Was there anything else you want to show? Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. I do wanna show, some resources we have, to get you guys started and, you know, help you on your journey to commissioning cinematics drives in TIA Portal. So if you are new to, TIA Portal, Synamics drives, just integrating maybe a PLC into TIA Portal, integrating a drive into TIA Portal, we have a really cool tool. So, or I should say a really cool class. So it’s TIA University. So they’re free expert led workshops, and self study courses. So there are some basic video series. Again, most of this is for, you know, PLC, TIA Portal. However, they do incorporate how to integrate a Dynamics drive into this. So if you’ve never opened up TIA Portal or if it’s been a while, I recommend you do this TIA Test Drive class. So it happens every month. It’s a full day. It is virtual instructor led, so you’ll be able to remote into a TIA portal project and follow along with the instructor. So you will get to be hands on, but you can do it from your office, from home, from wherever. Again, it’s a day long class. You can download the syllabus here and take a look. So that’s the TIA test drive. Gives you a really nice overview of TIA Portal and all the things you can do with it. We also have another class called Merge Logics with TIA Portal. So if you’re a Rockwell user, familiar with Studio 5,000, Logix Designer, and you have a a TIA portal project or a Siemens project coming up and you’re like, oh, I’m not quite sure, how to do that. This gives you context of TIA or this presents TIA portal in the context of what you’re used to in Logix. So if you’re familiar with Logix, the instructor, kind of translates that into TIA Portal for you. So if you’re used to one thing, this is what it looks like in TIA Portal. So again, if you’re, you know, familiar with, Studio 5,000, this will give you a really nice overview. Similar to that TIA test drive class, it’s offered every month. It’s a day long class. It’s hands on but virtual. So, again, we use a hypervisor. You’ll be able to remote into a virtual machine and, get hands on with the software. So I encourage you guys to, join one of those classes or both. And then I also want to I’ll give you these links, or rather Shawn will in the video. So this just kind of covers, all things, Dynamics drives. I’ll link to our website, overview of our VFDs and our high performance and servo drives, distributor DC drives, digital drive train, and then our tools and resources. So we have our Siemens product configurator, sizer, TIA selection tool, SINAMICS selector mobile app, drive connections or drive applications. Here I’ve added this Ethernet IP connectivity. So if you are using SINAMICS drives on Ethernet IP, this will give you all the resources you need to set that up, one, in the drive and then, two, we have add on instructions, EDS files, things like that to make your life easier. And then of course TIA Portal, Dynamic Start Drive, this is what this looks like. So if you do not have Start Drive yet you can download the latest version here And again, that, start drive is within TIA Portal and it’s free, so feel free to download it. And with that, Shawn, it’s been so great to show you all about, TA portal and commissioning, so dynamics drives in it. So feel free to reach out to me again. Shawn Tierney (Host): Jackie, thank you so much for, taking time out of your busy schedule to do this for us. I know, you know, a, an audience member, you know, asked to, us to kinda cover that, and I’m like, you know, and I’m like, I’ll get Jackie back on the show. So thank you for coming on and showing us star drive and how you know, even though it’s integrated in the TI portal, that component allows us to commission our VFDs, you know, upload from download to them, change parameters, you know, identify the motor, and just everything you walked us through was very helpful. And I’m hoping the audience guys, let me know in the comments. Did you think that was helpful? And, do you have any follow-up questions? I think we covered so much territory. I don’t have any questions right now, but I would be, I would be interested in knowing what the audience thinks. And, again, Jackie, thank you so much for your time and for showing us how to use stock drive. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Thank you, Shawn. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that episode. I wanna thank Jackie for coming on and teaching us how to use stock drive. I’ve never used it before, so I really appreciate you’re coming on. And if there’s other things you guys wanna see, let me know. I’m have no problem reaching out to the vendors. Sometimes, like, great vendors like Siemens and Rockwell and Schneider and other great vendors, they come on and they’ll they’ll offer it. Sometimes I get crickets, but that’s okay. You don’t know until you try. So if there’s anything else you’d like to see, let me know. And if you do have a YouTube account, maybe you’re watching this on YouTube or you’re listening on Apple or Spotify or at the automationblog.com, please consider giving me a sub over on YouTube. I really would like to try to hit a 100,000 subscribers before the end of the year. It’s kind of a stretch goal, but, you know, this is my tenth year doing this full time, twelfth year since I’ve created the, created the blog and the YouTube site. And I’d really like to see if we couldn’t hit that. I don’t ask a lot. I you know, I’m not one of those people who like to ask for subs and likes and whatnot. I know you have to do it, but in any case, if you guys don’t mind, I’d love to try to hit that number. So if you can help, that would be awesome. In any case, with all that said, I wanna wish you good health and happiness. And until next time, my friends, peace. The Automation Podcast, Episode 240 Show Notes: Special thanks to Jackie for coming back on the show, and to Siemens for sponsoring this episode so we could release it Ad Free! Below you’ll find the timestamps Shawn mentioned in the intro, and helpful links  Jackie provided: Timestamps G120: 9:39, 14:59 G220: 28:09 Ethernet/IP: 43:41 Free Training: 47:59 Siemens VFD Links: SINAMICS StartDrive (within TIA Portal) for easy commissioning SINAMICS Low Voltage Drives website Resources for SINAMICS VFDs on EIP and integration with Allen-Bradley PLCs Resources for SINAMICS VFDs and High Performance drives Get started with TIA Portal. Free, one-day, virtual, instructor-led course Know Studio 5000 but not TIA Portal? Free, one-day, virtual, instructor-led course will guide you through TIA Portal, putting terms and practices into a familiar context Siemens documentation, technical support Until next time, Peace ✌️  If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text MessageWhat happens when a bold vision defies conventional wisdom? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative—promptly ridiculed as "Star Wars" by critics who declared it technologically impossible and strategically naive. Reagan asked a simple question that challenged decades of nuclear doctrine: "What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest upon the threat of instant US retaliation?"Four decades later, the answer arrives in spectacular fashion through Israel's revolutionary three-tiered missile defense system. This episode traces the remarkable journey from Reagan's controversial speech to Israel's cutting-edge Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow interceptors—technologies that have transformed from science fiction into life-saving realities.Our book of the day "The Weapon Wizards: How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower" by Yaakov Katz provides us with our roadmap to understand Israel's success.  What other "impossible" innovations might be dismissed today only to save lives tomorrow? Reagan's vindication through Israel's success offers a powerful reminder about the value of visionary thinking, especially when survival is at stake. Check out our show page at teammojoacademy.com for additional resources and join us in fighting the good fight by sharing this episode with someone who appreciates how today's dreams become tomorrow's shields.Key Points from the Episode:• Reagan's SDI proposal fundamentally questioned reliance on mutual assured destruction• Critics including The New York Times and Senator Ted Kennedy dismissed SDI as fantasy• Israel partnered with the US in 1986 to develop the Arrow Missile System• Iron Dome was developed in just 3 years (versus typical 7 years) after the 2006 Lebanon War• David's Sling completed Israel's three-tiered defense system in 2017• Israel's missile defense gives its leaders "diplomatic maneuverability" during attacks• Recent Iranian attacks show 95% of missiles were intercepted by Israel's defense systems• Israel spends 4.9% of GDP on R&D, among the world's highest• Israeli defense companies export $12 billion in technology annuallyKeep fighting the good fight and check out our show page at teammojoacademy.com for resources discussed in this episode.Other resources: Want to leave a review? Click here, and if we earned a five-star review from you **high five and knuckle bumps**, we appreciate it greatly, thank you so much!

Live from the Hampton Inn in Adrian, Michigan, the AwesomeCast crew brings another jam-packed episode of tech talk and geeky goodness! Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar discuss their latest adventures covering the Formula SAE Electric Vehicle competition, highlighting the gear upgrades and behind-the-scenes prep for video production and livestreaming. Katie showcases her new favorite budget-friendly sunglasses from Knockaround, with cool licensed designs like Hello Kitty, Ninja Turtles, and Transformers. Dave dives deep into Adobe's Project Indigo, an experimental mobile camera app offering advanced AI photography features like noise reduction and reflection removal—perfect for iPhone shutterbugs. Plus, the team reacts to Honda's e-quad delivery vehicle that skirts regulation by legally qualifying as an e-bike, and shares a spooky tech conspiracy from the Denver International Airport.

Live from the Hampton Inn in Adrian, Michigan, the AwesomeCast crew brings another jam-packed episode of tech talk and geeky goodness! Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar discuss their latest adventures covering the Formula SAE Electric Vehicle competition, highlighting the gear upgrades and behind-the-scenes prep for video production and livestreaming. Katie showcases her new favorite budget-friendly sunglasses from Knockaround, with cool licensed designs like Hello Kitty, Ninja Turtles, and Transformers. Dave dives deep into Adobe's Project Indigo, an experimental mobile camera app offering advanced AI photography features like noise reduction and reflection removal—perfect for iPhone shutterbugs. Plus, the team reacts to Honda's e-quad delivery vehicle that skirts regulation by legally qualifying as an e-bike, and shares a spooky tech conspiracy from the Denver International Airport.

In this episode, we welcome Andy Rydzewski. Andy is cinematographer of the brand-new A24 film, Friendship. In our chat, he shares about his early inspirations, filmmaking education, and about working on this comedy starring Paul Rudd. He also talks about all the cameras, lights, lenses and techniques employed on this feature — and offers advice for other filmmakers working to level-up their craft. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Introducing the all-new KUMO 6464-12GRedesigned for maximum reliability and performance, KUMO 6464-12G is a high-capacity 12G-SDI router featuring 64x 12G-SDI inputs and 64x 12G-SDI outputs that enables cost-effective signal routing for production and post. Ganged dual- and quad-port routing configurations let users combine multiple inputs and outputs for Dual Link video and key, 4K, UltraHD, and Quad Link 8K workflows. KUMO offers seamless routing of uncompressed, compressed, or camera raw signals. Learn more.High-Capacity Storage Meets Pro-Level DockingThe OWC Gemini delivers the best of both worlds—massive dual-drive storage and essential connectivity in one sleek Thunderbolt solution. Perfect for post-production pros, it offers RAID-ready backup, 2.5Gb Ethernet, an SD card reader, and ports for all your gear. Whether you're editing footage or offloading media, Gemini keeps your workflow fast, organized, and ready for anything. Explore it hereOne-Lens 360 Plates. Seamless by Design.IgelkottPlates.com offers the only plug-and-play driving and environment plates made specifically for virtual production. No stitching, no setup fuss—just clean, calibrated material designed to drop into any pipeline with zero surprises. Built for real-time workflows and in-camera results.Learn more hereNew Solutions from Videoguys:The Move 4K is the latest PTZ camera from PTZOptics, featuring auto-tracking for a more intelligent video production workflow. The Move 4K is available in 12x, 20x, or 30x zooms, and is capable of 4K at 60fps (1080p at 60fps over SDI), future-proofing your technology investment while still accommodating HD and Full HD video resolutions equipment. The Move 4K offers high performance in low-light scenarios, PoE+ capabilities, and a built-in tally light. The PTZOptics Move 4K is starting at $1,999.00 and is available at Videoguys.comExplore it hereCheck out the ZEISS Otus ML:Now on sale, the Otus ML 1.4/50mm photography lens from ZEISS is the new generation of high-quality optics for your photographic art. Find it at your favorite photo retailer! Learn more herePodcast Rewind:May 2025 - Ep. 82…“The Making Of” is created by Michael Valinsky.Promote your products or services to 180K filmmakers, broadcast production pros, and content creators reading this newsletter. Email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Amanda and Michael Drexton. Known as The Drextons, this filmmaking duo has their directorial debut, entitled Sour Party, releasing soon. Their film was the winner of the Andrews/Bernard Award, presented by Decentralized Pictures, Steven Soderbergh and Roman Coppola. In our chat, they share their backstories, pathways into filmmaking, and about the making of this project. They also talk about getting distribution — and offer practical advice for other creatives working their way up. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Introducing the all-new KUMO 6464-12GRedesigned for maximum reliability and performance, KUMO 6464-12G is a high-capacity 12G-SDI router featuring 64x 12G-SDI inputs and 64x 12G-SDI outputs that enables cost-effective signal routing for production and post. Ganged dual- and quad-port routing configurations let users combine multiple inputs and outputs for Dual Link video and key, 4K, UltraHD, and Quad Link 8K workflows. KUMO offers seamless routing of uncompressed, compressed, or camera raw signals. Learn more.High-Capacity Storage Meets Pro-Level DockingThe OWC Gemini delivers the best of both worlds—massive dual-drive storage and essential connectivity in one sleek Thunderbolt solution. Perfect for post-production pros, it offers RAID-ready backup, 2.5Gb Ethernet, an SD card reader, and ports for all your gear. Whether you're editing footage or offloading media, Gemini keeps your workflow fast, organized, and ready for anything. Explore it hereFeatured Event: DCS Pre-Cine Gear Kickoff PartyThursday, June 5 | 6PM - 9PM PDTJoin us as Canon hosts the Digital Cinema Society and fellow creatives from the HPA, CML, SMPTE, LACPUG, Filmmakers Alliance, PERG, and LAPPG.Enjoy great food, drinks, raffle prizes, & mingle with fellow creatives as we gear up for Cine Gear Expo 2025! Event is open to all, but confirmed RSVPs are mandatory. Free parking available…Free RSVP hereOne-Lens 360 Plates. Seamless by Design.IgelkottPlates.com offers the only plug-and-play driving and environment plates made specifically for virtual production. No stitching, no setup fuss—just clean, calibrated material designed to drop into any pipeline with zero surprises. Built for real-time workflows and in-camera results.Learn more hereNew Solutions from Videoguys:The Move 4K is the latest PTZ camera from PTZOptics, featuring auto-tracking for a more intelligent video production workflow. The Move 4K is available in 12x, 20x, or 30x zooms, and is capable of 4K at 60fps (1080p at 60fps over SDI), future-proofing your technology investment while still accommodating HD and Full HD video resolutions equipment. The Move 4K offers high performance in low-light scenarios, PoE+ capabilities, and a built-in tally light. The PTZOptics Move 4K is starting at $1,999.00 and is available at Videoguys.comExplore it hereCheck out the ZEISS Otus ML:Now on sale, the Otus ML 1.4/50mm photography lens from ZEISS is the new generation of high-quality optics for your photographic art. Find it at your favorite photo retailer!Learn more herePodcast Rewind:May 2025 - Ep. 81…“The Making Of” is created by Michael Valinsky.Promote your products or services to over 170K filmmakers, TV & broadcast production pros, and content creators reading this newsletter. Email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Harley Chamandy. Harley is an independent filmmaker who just released his debut feature, Allen Sunshine. His film was awarded the prestigious Werner Herzog Award, selected and presented by the legend himself. In our chat, Harley shares about his early days, his cinematic inspirations, the genesis of this award-winning project, and various tales on his filmmaking journey. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Introducing the all-new KUMO 6464-12GRedesigned for maximum reliability and performance, KUMO 6464-12G is a high-capacity 12G-SDI router featuring 64x 12G-SDI inputs and 64x 12G-SDI outputs that enables cost-effective signal routing for production and post. Ganged dual- and quad-port routing configurations let users combine multiple inputs and outputs for Dual Link video and key, 4K, UltraHD, and Quad Link 8K workflows. KUMO offers seamless routing of uncompressed, compressed, or camera raw signals. Learn more.Vimeo Toronto EventMay 20 | TIFF LightboxA night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary!7pm Doors7:30-9pm Films + commentary 9-11pm Reception - complimentary drinks + bites!Screening + reception are free to attend.RSVP hereHigh-Capacity Storage Meets Pro-Level DockingThe OWC Gemini delivers the best of both worlds—massive dual-drive storage and essential connectivity in one sleek Thunderbolt solution. Perfect for post-production pros, it offers RAID-ready backup, 2.5Gb Ethernet, an SD card reader, and ports for all your gear. Whether you're editing footage or offloading media, Gemini keeps your workflow fast, organized, and ready for anything. Explore it hereOne-Lens 360 Plates. Seamless by Design.IgelkottPlates.com offers the only plug-and-play driving and environment plates made specifically for virtual production. No stitching, no setup fuss—just clean, calibrated material designed to drop into any pipeline with zero surprises. Built for real-time workflows and in-camera results.Learn more hereAmberock Productions Re-Releases The Actor on New Distribution PlatformsAmberock Productions in association with Grateful Z today announced that The Actor, in celebration of the one-year anniversary of its initial release, has been picked up by distribution company Indie Rights and is now available on more streaming platforms. Now available in the U.S. on YouTube TV, Amazon, Fandango Home Movies, and Fawesome, The Actor has received extraordinary critical acclaim as an independent comedy/thriller/crime feature, including: “A fun ride filled with depth, nostalgia and rock n' roll” from Rolling Stone UK; “A gripping action-comedy” from USA Today; and a special nod to the film's soundtrack from Film Threat: “Collective Soul's rock sound is as comforting as a mac ‘n cheese jacuzzi, all warm, gooey, and familiar.”The Actor, Amberock's third feature film, was primarily shot in and around Fort Worth, TX, home of Amberock Productions during the Covid-19 pandemic when Hollywood was primarily closed for business. Read more hereZEISS Demos One-Click Virtual Lens Tech for VFX & CompositingExtension of CinCraft ecosystem aids clear DoP & Post Artist communicationZEISS announces that it is in development on a new virtual lens technology that will allow visual effects and compositing artists to apply an authentic lens look in one step. Demonstrated for the first time at FMX in Stuttgart, Germany on May 7, this new breakthrough replicates the visual characteristics and animated behavior of actual lenses on computer-generated content. The new ZEISS technology is part of the CinCraft ecosystem, dedicated to simplifying VFX workflows. Read more hereNew Solutions from Videoguys:The Move 4K is the latest PTZ camera from PTZOptics, featuring auto-tracking for a more intelligent video production workflow. The Move 4K is available in 12x, 20x, or 30x zooms, and is capable of 4K at 60fps (1080p at 60fps over SDI), future-proofing your technology investment while still accommodating HD and Full HD video resolutions equipment. The Move 4K offers high performance in low-light scenarios, PoE+ capabilities, and a built-in tally light. The PTZOptics Move 4K is starting at $1,999.00 and is available at Videoguys.comExplore it herePodcast Rewind:May 2025 - Ep. 80…“The Making Of” is created by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to 168K filmmakers, broadcast & live event production pros, and content creators reading this newsletter, email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Abe Abt. Abe is Senior Product Consultant at AJA Video Systems, where he helps guide product development and liaisons with various departments. In our chat, he shares his backstory and about all the latest AJA innovations for the broadcast, film and video industry. He also talks about workflow trends he's seeing — and offers advice for the next generation of content creators.“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Introducing the all-new KUMO 6464-12GRedesigned for maximum reliability and performance, KUMO 6464-12G is a high-capacity 12G-SDI router featuring 64x 12G-SDI inputs and 64x 12G-SDI outputs that enables cost-effective signal routing for production and post. Ganged dual- and quad-port routing configurations let users combine multiple inputs and outputs for Dual Link video and key, 4K, UltraHD, and Quad Link 8K workflows. KUMO offers seamless routing of uncompressed, compressed, or camera raw signals. Learn more.Vimeo Toronto EventMay 20 | TIFF LightboxA night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary!7pm Doors7:30-9pm Films + commentary 9-11pm Reception - complimentary drinks + bites!Screening + reception are free to attend.Free RSVP hereOWC Launches “My OWC” App to Further Streamline Setup, Support, and Ownership ExperienceOther World Computing (OWC®), a trusted leader in high-performance storage, memory, connectivity, software, and accessories that empower creative and business professionals to maximize performance, enhance reliability, and streamline workflows, today announced the launch of the My OWC app on iOS. From when the box is opened, the new intuitive mobile companion streamlines every stage of the customer experience, empowering users to effortlessly set up and manage their OWC products, access personalized support, and stay up to date with push notifications – all from the palm of their hand. Learn more hereThe Glass Dome Rises - Powered by Igelkott PlatesNetflix's The Glass Dome is climbing the charts in the U.S.Behind the scenes: Igelkott Driving Plates. Built from the ground up for In-Camera VFX, captured with One-Lens 360 technology.No stitching. No compromises. No problem. Want the same power behind your production?

In this episode, we welcome back Steve Bannerman. Steve is a film industry veteran with experiences working at Amazon MGM Studios, Apple, Local Hero Post, and Real By FAKE. In our chat, he shares about the state of the film industry, evolving workflows — and ideas about a studio of the future. He also offers recommendations for filmmakers working today about embracing change and new technologies. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Introducing the all-new KUMO 6464-12GRedesigned for maximum reliability and performance, KUMO 6464-12G is a high-capacity 12G-SDI router featuring 64x 12G-SDI inputs and 64x 12G-SDI outputs that enables cost-effective signal routing for production and post. Ganged dual- and quad-port routing configurations let users combine multiple inputs and outputs for Dual Link video and key, 4K, UltraHD, and Quad Link 8K workflows. KUMO offers seamless routing of uncompressed, compressed, or camera raw signals. Learn more.Vimeo Toronto EventMay 20 | TIFF LightboxA night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary!7pm Doors7:30-9pm Films + commentary 9-11pm Reception - complimentary drinks + bites!Screening + reception are free to attend.RSVP hereHigh-Capacity Storage Meets Pro-Level DockingThe OWC Gemini delivers the best of both worlds—massive dual-drive storage and essential connectivity in one sleek Thunderbolt solution. Perfect for post-production pros, it offers RAID-ready backup, 2.5Gb Ethernet, an SD card reader, and ports for all your gear. Whether you're editing footage or offloading media, Gemini keeps your workflow fast, organized, and ready for anything.Explore it hereZEISS Demos One-Click Virtual Lens Tech for VFX & CompositingExtension of CinCraft ecosystem aids clear DoP & Post Artist communicationZEISS announces that it is in development on a new virtual lens technology that will allow visual effects and compositing artists to apply an authentic lens look in one step. Demonstrated for the first time at FMX in Stuttgart, Germany on May 7, this new breakthrough replicates the visual characteristics and animated behavior of actual lenses on computer-generated content. The new ZEISS technology is part of the CinCraft ecosystem, which is dedicated to simplifying VFX workflows.Learn more hereNew Solutions from Videoguys:The Move 4K is the latest PTZ camera from PTZOptics, featuring auto-tracking for a more intelligent video production workflow. The Move 4K is available in 12x, 20x, or 30x zooms, and is capable of 4K at 60fps (1080p at 60fps over SDI), future-proofing your technology investment while still accommodating HD and Full HD video resolutions equipment. The Move 4K offers high performance in low-light scenarios, PoE+ capabilities, and a built-in tally light. The PTZOptics Move 4K is starting at $1,999.00 and is available at Videoguys.comRead more hereThe Glass Dome Rises - Powered by Igelkott PlatesNetflix's The Glass Dome is climbing the charts in the U.S.Behind the scenes: Igelkott Driving Plates. Built from the ground up for In-Camera VFX, captured with One-Lens 360 technology.No stitching. No compromises. No problem. Want the same power behind your production?

At NAB Show 2025, OBSBOT showcased the upgraded Tail 2 camera, featuring 5x optical and 12x total zoom, improved AI tracking, integrated I/O ports, and a rotating lens for full-resolution vertical video. It offers 4K60 video, six-hour battery life, and NDI support, making it a powerful all-in-one solution for mobile and studio streaming. Senior Partner and Customer Experience Manager Stefan Yang tells us all about it. Show Notes: Chapters:0:09 NAB Show 2025 Overview 01:41 Osbot TEL2 Features 04:09 Innovative AI Tracking 05:59 All-in-One Streaming Capabilities 06:37 Where to Learn More Links: OBSBOT Tail 2 PTZR NDI Camera 4K@60FPS Camera https://amzn.to/438MNf0 Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The 16:9 PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SCREENFEED – DIGITAL SIGNAGE CONTENT If you go to big outdoor sports events, concerts in parks or even political rallies, there's a reasonable chance that what's happening is going to be relayed on a portable LED display that was wheeled into place by   trailer. My local footy team uses one and it is old and looks terrible. But that's not the norm, and certainly not for a Des Moines, Iowa company that is very specifically in the business of making and selling great-looking and bulletproof on-the-go LED trailers. Insane Impact has been at it for eight years and now has almost 500 units operating, mostly but not only in the United States. The flagship product is 17 feet wide by 10 feet tall, using 4mm LED and pushing as much as 7,500 nits. It's been designed to roll into place and be up and running in 10 minutes or less - even if a doofus like me was told to get it lit up. I had a really good chat with Tod Puetz, who started the company after first being a user, when he was in the golf equipment business. In this podcast, we get into a lot of things - including how he had the foresight to get ahead of the tariffs turmoil and pre-ordered enough electronics and hardware to hopefully ride out these uncertain months. We also talk about use-cases and probably the most curious application to date - drive-in funerals when COVID was raging. Subscribe from wherever you pick up new podcasts. TRANSCRIPT Tod, thank you for joining me. Can you tell me what Insane Impact does, where you're based, those kinds of nuts and bolts questions?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, appreciate it Dave. Insane Impact, primarily focused on LED as a business, but we are an audio video integration company based out of Des Moines, Iowa.  Des Moines. So you're in flyover country? Tod Puetz: Absolutely.  It's actually very handy there because you're like two hours away from the East Coast and two hours away from the West coast, right?  Tod Puetz: It really is. Just in proximity here in the central part of the US, where our corporate office and warehouse location is about 65 seconds from the airport Des Moines International, so very easy to get in. All the major interstate throwaways between I-29 North and South and I-35 North and South, and then I-80 West. We're pretty much within minutes of getting anywhere we need to go east, west, north, or south.  Nice. How long has the company been around?  Tod Puetz: We started up in 2015, flipped the switch basically late December, 2015 and have been going rock and roll. So we're coming up on our 10 year anniversary here in December.  You are a founder?  Tod Puetz: I am, yeah. Founder and CEO.  So what compelled you to do this? What did you see in the marketplace that said, okay, this is what I should do?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, really the CliffNotes version, my former life was in the golf business. I was a manufacturer sales rep for TaylorMade Golf, and I was introduced to a gentleman here locally in Des Moines that had an older video truck and basically saw an opportunity to utilize that as a sales tool to help me sell more golf clubs.  So we took this video truck out on the driving range here locally in Des Moines, hooked it up to the launch monitor and, gosh, that was almost 18 years ago. Back then it was a big deal. Not a lot of people in your run of the mill average daily golfer really ever had an op opportunity to do that. They'd seen it on tour. But we brought the bigs out to the little team here in some of these country clubs, and again, larger than life. They were able to see their stats up on the screen and really fell in love with the technology back then, and were able to utilize that for a number of years after that initial introduction. What was it back then? What was the technology back then, early LED?  Tod Puetz: It was an SMD, It was an early 8x8 millimeter SMD back then. I refer to it as antiquated, but back then, it was pretty fresh and new. But yeah, just the idea of being able to drive this thing up to the driving range, the wings folded open on this thing and, within minutes we're plug and play and just really, fell in love with that concept. ,  Yeah. So did you buy the business from him or just get something going on your own? Tod Puetz: Did not. We utilized them. It was a kind of a one man show there. It was more of a hobby for individuals, and they used it for four or five years. But they weren't interested in scaling this thing. As my career with TaylorMade progressed more and more, I ended up working with other companies, just trying to understand the LED business. So I branched out and helped a few other smaller LED niche companies to try to generate some business in the sports space. We just had a lot of relationships with the golf business and yeah, really just took the concept and I knew there was a different mouse trap here with that type of opportunity to scale it, that's where we started things in late 2015. So the idea is just at its bare essentials, and I think most people understand this anyways, but just in case, is you've got a foldable all in one LED display that's on a trailer and your customers are rolling it out to different locations, whether they're entertainment events, sports events or something else, and finding power, plugging it in, open it, and driving a signal to it, and you've got a big display where it needs to be for three days or three weeks or whatever it is, right?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, absolutely. By no means, does Insane Impact claim to be the inventor of mobile LED. Obviously, that has been one man for a very long time. Our business, Insane Impact, started up on the rental side. We designed, fabricated and engineered a handful of units, just to service what we thought was gonna be a Midwest boutique rental business and very quickly became a national presence. And what we found was that the same people were renting products two, three and four times a year, and really, our thought process was, why don't we just own one of these things, and we can use it 365 days a year, if we want? And again, there were already customers out there, there were common trucks that were selling trailers, but it wasn't popular and we really started working back in 2016 to develop a plan where if you own the product, we can certainly start to feed your business as well, you can be part of our rental network and that's really what kind of, put the fuel on the fire. Each year, more and more units in the field, more and more customers from parks and municipalities, armed forces, college, university, all of the usual suspects out there that use these things on a regular basis, really became the traction for rapid growth in this endeavor.  So your company, it's an interesting kind of mashup of different competencies, so to speak, in that if you are manufacturing rolling stock with lots of heavy-duty metals and wheels and everything else, that's one thing. And then at the polar opposite, you've got fairly sensitive electronics. So you're doing both sides of that, right?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, absolutely. We take a fully engineered and manufactured trailer. These trailers weigh anywhere from 3,500 pounds on our smallest unit up to 18,000 pounds on a triple axle gooseneck. And they've got real high end LEDs permanently. We've approached it a little bit differently. We're putting a fixed product on it. So something that's used to and withstands the elements pretty much anywhere, including the road, and then obviously everything else on the unit is fully protected from shock, from absorption of weather. Everything's IP67 through the components side of things, and IP65 on the trailer, fully powder coated system.  So we've really built, tried, and tested a product that's gonna last and withstand the elements going up and down the road at 75 miles an hour in any extreme environment.  I'm guessing that you, in your early years, had some lessons, whether they were hard ones or whatever.  Tod Puetz: Yeah, absolutely. It wouldn't be any fun if we didn't. Our first major lesson that we learned, Dave and I think this is really what sets us apart is that we did the hang and bang modular cabinets on our product for the first, probably two and a half years and we learned the lesson real quick that those just aren't designed to withstand the long-lasting road and weather, wear and tear. At the time, that's what everybody was using it and that's kind of where we were at. It took a lot of headaches, blood and sweat, for those first two years to figure out what product really made sense. For the last four and a half years, we've really been rock and rolling on a specific product, chassis, and stuff that just really outperformed, in a big way. So that was a very painful lesson because you're a year into this thing, and you've got issues, and those are hard to come by as a startup, but we were able to weather the storm and find what really worked for us and I think that really separate us from most right now is we just, we're putting some of the best products out there on the market on these trailers. And you not only have to make it bulletproof, but I suspect you have to do it down like crazy, because this can not be something that takes 45 minutes and has a checklist, like launching a rocket or something. It's gotta roll into place and find power and open the hinges, lock them down, and get a signal in, right? Tod Puetz: Yeah, you nailed it. I think one of the things as we built this thing out, Dave, is that the single most important part was customer focus and customer friendly, and I will tell you that you yourself, or even my 18-year-old daughter, can get this thing up and running in less than 10 minutes. We pride ourselves on delivering a turnkey functional unit to our flagship product, which is our Max 1710. You can pull in, and it'll take you longer to unhook it than it will to turn it on and set it up in some respects. We offer a generator-powered option or a battery-powered option. We've got a fully self-sustained, lithium-ion pack that is performing at an incredible level right now, which we're really excited about.  So we worked with a major organization probably about 18 months ago, in the Armed Forces space, and we worked with them to design a fully self-sustainable battery pack solution and were really excited about that. We can talk about that a little bit more here, but at the end of the day, our electronics cabinet is an IP67 rated rack that basically opens it up, and as you know, with everything, we run Nova Star. So everything is just a straight playback video. So just hit the breakers, hit the power switch, and you're off and running. So we really did wanna make this thing turnkey. They come fully self-sustained with audio as well. We wanted to make sure that anybody and everybody could operate this thing very quickly.  Is there a media playout box in there, or do you use an external feed and then just plug it into an HDMI or whatever it may be? Tod Puetz: Plenty of different options. Most often our customers, like your Park and Rec municipality, the people that are using this thing to play movies and stuff, they're just streaming it off the laptop. But we got an IO box that they can drop in, SDI, fiber, anything else if you're running or whatever it might be. But yeah, anybody can bring us any signal within, within a minute, and we're up and running. So really trying to get in that turnkey facet of this thing to make sure that we're in a good spot.  Okay, so you're sourcing the trailer from a third-party manufacturer as opposed to bending metal and doing all that yourself and you're sourcing the electronics, and you're basically doing final assembly, right?  Tod Puetz: Correct. Yep.  Doing it the other way would be very complicated.  Tod Petz: We did that when we first started this little venture, we hired engineers, we bought the welders, we were buying cut parts and building them ourselves, and we realized very quickly that in a 4,000 square foot facility that when this thing takes up, it'd be impossible to keep up. So we were very fortunate to find a local vendor that was in the trailer business already but they took a liking to what we were doing, and it really has just been a wonderful partnership and relationship with them. They build a fantastic product, best-in-class warranty around it, and it's really the fit and the finish from premium laser cut, premium powder coat finishes, all the details that are there, and certainly, we work with some of the best engineers out there in the marketplace to create the best product so really exciting to have that partnership. On the LED side and the electronics side, we're taking the trailer and we're taking the electronics and we're putting the fit and finish on it and making it function and delivering a finished product.  I assume you have some sort of a contract manufacturer or a finished goods supplier in, whether it's China, Taiwan, or somewhere else you're sourcing from. Tod Puetz: On the electronic side, yeah, we do. So we actually just made an announcement here yesterday. We are partnered with DVS (Dynamic Visual Solutions). We've been working with them for almost six years now.  Obviously, Chinese based, but we got in touch with the owner and the CEO of the US business almost six years ago and kind of started to understand what it meant for us and what it meant for them to be a partner and really have our hands on the technology, help them with some of the design elements that we needed within the product to make sure that it was gonna pass the buck and make sure that it lasted and, almost six years later. But, yeah, we just had a nice press release announcing the partnership. We got a huge opportunity with them with the craziness that's going on out there in the space. But great company, wonderful products, best-in-class warranties, and we've had the ability to shape what that product needs to be on our trailers.  I suspect that was a bit of a journey too, finding the right supplier because we've all heard the stories about different companies who make a lot of promises, but what shows up isn't what you thought you were getting. Tod Puetz: Yeah, it was. So we had gone through probably three to five different manufacturers, three to four at least prior to getting with DVS and it's very painful on that side of it because you are dealing with somebody over in China, and sleepless nights and figuring stuff out and a startup and all of the fun things that happen around that. When we were able to locate, DVS was based out of Florida. They really just took a liking to what we were doing and threw all the chips on the table and said, we've got a great modular rental business going, but we're really intrigued about this mobile solution. How can we help? And we really started to dig cautiously optimistic out of the gate because there are thousands of people out there trying to get the business in some respects.  Could we go to one of the major five or six? Yeah, we certainly could have, but we felt like there was a little bit more of an intimate approach to this. We were a newer company. We took our time getting into what we really wanted, and we felt like we had a little more leverage working with a decent-sized company. And with somebody who's got an office in Florida as opposed to Shenzhen or Beijing. Tod Puetz: Correct.  I don't want to get too deep into what's going on right now, but how are you navigating the tariff situation right now?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, that's the million dollar question and in some cases, multi millions. When I started this company, Dave, I had two stances that I wanted to live by. One, I was gonna over-index on our employees and make sure that we had the right people in the right seats, and take very good care of them. The other one that came later on, probably after we had established and it was I'm never gonna run out of products. I just know that if we have products, we'll sell them.  So after those first three, four years, we put ourselves in a position where we've rubber stamped our products, we know who we're selling to, we know what our core markets are, and we've got the right people in the right seats and I just knew that if I would run out of product, then I just make sure that we are collectively chasing the business. That's a really hard thing to do. But fortunately, we've got the right vendors to do this with.  So back in November, after the current administration was elected or they won the nomination, knowing that this discussion of tariffs was on the horizon, we took a very calculated and risky approach, but we went out and bought a slew of equipment. So we bought basically upwards of almost a year of supply in LEDs out front. We went to our trailer manufacturer. They bought a year's worth of supply of our top three SKUs and hedged the bet with us. So we're in a little different position than most, again, there are a lot of people out there who probably did the same thing. I'm not the only one out there who took that risk, but we did take the risk, and it's certainly paying off. That kind of gets you an idea of where we're at and how we've run our business. We just don't wanna run out of products. So fast forward to today in reality, I think there's a blinking that's happening, there's a stance, and this isn't a political statement by any means. This is just our gut feeling on this is, I feel like it's gotta loosen up a little bit here. It can only go so hard and so fast. But we've been able to weather the tariff storm, internally at Insane, impacted by some of the stuff we did on the front end. We have not been significantly impacted by LEDs. If we're to place orders today on LEDs. Honestly, it's been fairly minimal in the impact. We're seeing some of the expensive shipping surcharges that are happening. But I think there's just buying power that's come with some of the things that we've done with our manufacturer to keep them rocking and rolling, that have helped us mitigate a little bit of this. But you're not like some of these companies where they're wringing their hands, okay, in order to get something out of a container in Long Beach, California, I need to write a check for an extra million dollars that I had not anticipated.  Tod Puetz: Yeah, we're not dealing with that. I think where this thing's really impacted, the hundreds of, I'm just gonna call them mom and pop manufacturers over there, whether they're manufacturers or just the days of them just shipping, 12x7s into the States by air is probably coming to an end or they're pricing themselves out of the market a little bit. Either that or they just don't care. But I think a lot of this is the consolidation in the short-term impact that we've seen in real life. The long-term impact, in my opinion, is gonna weed some of them out, and then obviously you've got all the Chinese entity companies, the larger players in the game that are having to come to market with distribution here in the US, where it impacts us the most. So they're adding additional layers of cost and it's really gonna open the door from what we're seeing, it's gonna open the door for us to other markets by virtue of that since we're already and established US distributor. When you first got in touch, I didn't know that much about you and thought, you're a rental company, but I was intrigued that, sure, you do rentals, but really, you're a manufacturer and you're selling to companies who are more regional rental companies. That's accurate, correct?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, it's interesting. So we've really got three business units, Dave. But we started off as a rental company with a primary focus on the mobile solution. We did have modular hanging bangs as well that we took care of some specific customers, but when we kinda uncovered the opportunity, evolved is a great word into the more offside of the business selling video trailers, that opened up a whole other segment of opportunity for us to then really start to take a look at the fixed install stuff.  Our three business units are really, primarily led by the mobile video solution on the trailers, and other new innovative products coming. Now, by the way, we do the marquees and the scoreboards and the highway signs, the airport conference room takeover stuff. We do all of that as well, and oh, by the way, customers that have video trailers, they become part of our cross-rental network. So this nucleus business unit feeds that we have, one feeds the other and that feeds another. It's really that we create a really cool situation here that allows us to have return business from our customers in all of those different facets. Because if you can't afford it, you can rent it. If you rent it too many times, then you can afford to buy it, and oh, by the way, we can replace your scoreboard or we can replace your, your, your classroom or your theater, modular wall, whatever it might be.  We do all three of them, and we do, we feel like we do them pretty well, and again, we're very lucky to have those three business units that fill the pipeline on a regular basis.  Is there a rule of thumb as to that point where, okay, we can rent this five times a year and that makes financial sense, but there's a certain break point where it makes more sense just to buy it? Tod Puetz: Yeah, that's a wonderful question because it really comes down to there's such a tremendous education process. Again, up until maybe, really when we started, at least here in the US, there was nobody else that was mass producing or really proactively selling to the end customer, and when we started doing that, we were very fortunate just to have some relationships where they actually saw the light. “Oh, this makes sense.”  Yeah, it's a high school or a college, and they're using it for their game day stuff. But what's been more fun for me in this company is to see just the evolution of the education that's had that's happened. Going to a city administrator and telling them, hey, it's not just the three movie nights a year, it's all of your chamber events. It's the community support events, it's the fundraiser stuff. So when they start to understand the use case of these items, these trailers, and that they can turn and burn and have these things up and running, whether it's just mass notification, you've got storms coming, or just any and all of those things.  Once they understand the full use case of applications that these products can offer, then the light comes on, and then it becomes a much easier conversation for them to take to the stakeholders and say, alright, we really need this. Here are all the reasons why. So our sales team is incredibly focused on the educational side of the business on how this can impact the community, campus, etc.  I realize you have a number of different sizes and everything else, but, for your primary selling unit, what would that cost?  And if I wanted to rent it for a weekend, if I'm in Ames, Iowa, what would that cost to rent it for a weekend?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, great question. So our flagship product is our Max 1710. So 17 wide, 10 foot tall, 3.9 millimeters on their turnkey generator operation, delivery, and tech. To rent that thing for a day, in this market, it does vary a little bit based on coast to coast. You get a three-day festival and you're spending $7,500 to 8,000 bucks for a screen that's operated that comes turnkey, that has power if needed. That's gonna turn the lights on and be reliable. So that's a pretty good snapshot of what we offer from a rate card on that specific product. If somebody wants to buy it, I'm gonna say turnkey trailer screen electronics, generator, audio. If you want the Mac Daddy package delivered to your doorstep, you're in that $150-160k range, which is gonna get you, 10-year parts, five-year labor on LED screen warranty, five-year parts, five-year labor on the trailer warranty, and then obviously an electronics warranty. So you're really protecting the investment there, Dave.  We're not the most expensive in the marketplace. We're definitely not the least. We feel like we're in a really good slot, and I think our adoption within the marketplace probably supports that. But that gives you a quick snapshot of where we're at from the pricing structure. So if you're a company that's on the rental side of it, you could see an ROI in a year if you're in a busy market.  Tod Puetz: Absolutely. Yeah. I think, 1710, and this doesn't factor in your cogs, your travel, your truck, your tech, etc. Sure. But if you get 20 to 25 really strong rental events within your market on a single day's use, you're right there certainly, being able to pay it back.  And it goes back to that education process. When we sell a customer a unit, we don't guarantee them any business, in terms of what we can bring to them from the cross-rental network. We're very forthright about that. But what does happen is if you're a proven, vetted, rental partner out there in the marketplace, you can bet, you're gonna get some help with monetizing this thing. That's the unique part about this business relationship with our customers on the trailer side is: we're gonna help you guys monetize the unit over time.  I have season tickets to the local Canadian Premier League soccer team that does very well here. They pull 6,500 people to games, but it's at a somewhat temporary stadium, and they have an LED display, it looks like maybe a 17x10 on a truck.  I severely doubt it's yours because it's a piece of crap. It's not very bright, it's not very crisp or anything, but it's something, so I gather that this can be all over the map in terms of what you rent. If you're an end user, you have to pay attention to the specs.  Tod Puetz: Absolutely. We prided ourselves on being the leader when it comes to what products are out there on mobile products, in and of itself. But it really comes down to the screen at the end of the day. I guess we will probably take it a step further. We do take a lot of pride in the physical trailer itself, the metal that this thing rides on, because that's as important to me as it's the LED.  But at the end of the day, having something that you can put up in direct sunlight and have the most quality, crisp image, is what we've over-indexed on that in a good way. So what we come to market with is a 7500 nit, 3.9 product, competitively in the marketplace. 3.9 from our core competitors are in that 4500-5500 nit and it just overpowers everything.  So again, if you're rolling up to the game for a little pre-game watch party, you're gonna get the best viewing experience possible, with some of the product. But we do pay a lot of attention to the spec, the physical components, the quality, and that's very close to our chest, so we don't take that for granted. So you're doing lots of sports and entertainment events, probably some corporate events. I'm curious, what's the most unusual one that you're aware of?  Tod Puetz: It was interesting. You look at Covid and the impact that it had on the industry, and all of these companies out there that have stages and rigging and modular and everything else, they took a little bit of a bath at the onset of Covid, and really, what allowed us to squeeze in and continue to, I would say, entertain, but take care of customers that had to continue to engage, whether it was employees or crowds or whatever.  So we did everything. But this leads up to your question, doing drive-in funerals was probably one of the most unique things that we've done. They couldn't get into the churches, so we were pulling up to large parking lots and they were streaming the funeral from inside the church out to the streets. It was really wild, but I bet we did anywhere from 50 to 60 funerals in late 2020 and in early 2021 until the restrictions relaxed a little bit. So we had funeral homes. We probably have three or four customers that actually own these, as a result of Covid, and they continue to use them for different settings in the church and funeral space. That would be the one that comes to mind, honestly, is that kind of the most bizarre one that you never really think about? Yeah.  How many units do you have out there, roughly?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, so we shipped the first unit in January of 2017 to a gasoline company in Texas. By the end of this month, the end of April, we delivered right around 495 units into the marketplace all around the US. We've got some army bases and navy bases over in Japan. We've got a handful of units over in Europe, a good chunk over in Hawaii, obviously I know that's US, but largely, 95 to 97% of what we've got is here in the lower 48. We do have a few up in your neck of the woods as well, but, yeah, we've been very to lead the charge there as it relates to the go to product in the marketplace. Super interesting. If people wanna know more, they just find you at insaneimpact.com?  Tod Puetz: Yeah, InsaneImpact.com. They can learn a little bit more about everything we do, but it's an exciting time for us. I know there's a little bit of uncertainty and doom and gloom, but we're just keeping our heads down. We've got customers that want the product. They may want it, but how do we get them to realize that they need the product to continue to advance their business, regardless of the sector, and I think if they get in touch with our folks, we're putting ourselves in a good spot to provide really good information and provide a great solid starting base for our conversation. I'm impressed with the advanced planning that you did. I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who were sitting around this week and saying, I didn't see that coming.  Tod Puetz: Head on a swivel constantly, there's no question.  Alright, Todd, thanks very much for taking the time.  Tod Puetz: Dave, I appreciate you. Take care now!

Church Front Show - NAB 2025 & Church Architecture Insights Episode Summary Jake Gosselin shares his experience at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show 2025, highlighting innovative broadcast technology for churches. He and Matt Woltjer also discuss church architecture trends and why thoughtful building design matters for worship spaces. Show Notes Timestamps 0:08 - Welcome and introduction 1:12 - Church Front hiring announcement 5:28 - NAB Show 2025 overview 6:43 - Hollyland cameras for vertical video 7:12 - Lyntec power sequencing systems 11:14 - Canon CR-N100 PTZ camera 12:33 - Church Front's studio camera setup (CR-N500 & CR-N300) 15:05 - Canon RC-IP1000 PTZ controller 17:40 - Canon C400 cinema camera 20:31 - Allen & Heath AHM matrix mixing system 24:18 - DiGiCo Quantum mixing console 25:39 - Blackmagic Design booth and new gear 27:47 - SMPTE 2110 IP video protocol benefits 32:16 - Blackmagic Pyxis 6K camera 33:55 - ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 switcher 36:01 - ATEM Constellation switchers 41:02 - PTZOptics Hive Studio for remote camera operation 42:07 - Meeting PTZOptics team 43:07 - Santa Barbara church architecture discussion 44:45 - Why modern churches favor utilitarian buildings 48:15 - Economic factors affecting church construction 52:49 - Revitalizing vs. building new facilities 54:16 - Church growth strategies and building acquisition Key Topics Church Front Job Opening AVL Technician position available at Church Front (Melbourne, FL) Apply at churchfront.com/avl-technician Responsibilities include equipment rack assembly and system deployment NAB Show Highlights Lyntec Power Sequencing Integrates power sequencing into electrical panels Offers motorized circuit breakers and remote control Provides flexibility for system automation in new church builds Canon Camera Technology CR-N100: More affordable alternative to the CR-N300 (no SDI, but keeps NDI capability) CR-N500: High-quality PTZ now used in Church Front studio C400: Cinema camera alternative to the RED Komodo with Canon's color science and autofocus Allen & Heath AHM Matrix mixing system for simpler audio control Perfect for events requiring basic microphone and playback functionality Can bypass the main console for volunteer-friendly operation Blackmagic Design Technology SMPTE 2110 IP protocol for video distribution over CAT6 cables Saves money compared to expensive 12G-SDI cabling ($2/foot) Studio cameras with 10Gb ethernet for single-cable connectivity Pyxis 6K camera at just $3,200 PTZOptics Hive Studio Remote camera operation via internet Allows volunteers to control cameras from home Part of growing remote production trend Church Architecture Discussion Critique of modern "black box" utilitarian church buildings Benefits of intentional, beautiful worship spaces Economic factors (inflation) making quality construction more difficult Strategies for church growth: Acquiring existing church buildings Building smaller (250-500 seats) beautiful spaces Multi-site approach vs. single large campus Community formation in different sized worship spaces Resources Mentioned Church Front Toolkit: churchfront.com/toolkit Church Front job board: churchfront.com/job-board/ Church Front Facebook Group (for discussions) Connect With Church Front Website: churchfront.com Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and other platforms Next Episode Stay tuned for more church tech insights and integration project updates.   Apply to Join Churchfront Premium Apply to Join Churchfront Pro Free Worship and Production Toolkit Shop Our Online Courses Join us at the Churchfront Conference Follow Churchfront on Instagram or TikTok: @churchfront Follow on Twitter: @realchurchfront Gear we use to make videos at Churchfront Musicbed SyncID: MB01VWQ69XRQNSN  

In this episode, we welcome Stephen Follows. Stephen is an expert industry analyst, as well as a writer, producer and educator. In our chat, he shares his backstory and his thoughts on the worlds of film financing, festivals, and distribution. He also speaks about how he decodes the industry through data — and provides a “Crystal Ball” view of where things might be heading in the coming years. Stephen also offers real-world advice for filmmakers on how best to position themselves for the evolving road ahead. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Explore AJA's New Solutions for Next-Gen Production and BroadcastAhead of NAB 2025, AJA debuted innovative solutions for production and broadcast professionals, including the BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 IP video bridge for remote workflows/streaming/backhaul, the DANTE-12GAM IP audio embedder/disembedder, and KUMO 6464-12G compact SDI router. Find out how your facility, pipeline, or project can benefit from the flexibility these new tools provide here.OWC Powers Indie Horror-Comedy ScreamboatFrom set to post, the Screamboat team trusted OWC to keep their horror-comedy production running smoothly. Atlas media cards captured the action, while Envoy Pro FX and ThunderBlade drives enabled fast offloads. In post, the ThunderBay Flex 8 anchored their workflow with high-capacity, high-performance storage. Explore how OWC powered this ambitious indie project every step of the way.Read more hereFeatured Book: Engage Filmmakers This new report offers a detailed look at what filmmakers read, share, and trust.Based on over 1.5 million articles and posts, Engage Filmmakers is designed for organisations that want to reach filmmaking audiences in a meaningful way. It shows what topics resonate, which formats perform best, and how to build lasting credibility.What's inside:• Audience segmentation by filmmaking role• The content formats that get attention• Platform strategies backed by real data• Practical guidance for building trust with filmmakersIf your team creates content or campaigns for the film industry, this is built to help you do it better.Explore here — 10% off for “The Making Of” readers!Check out the ZEISS Otus ML:Now on sale, the Otus ML 1.4/50mm photography lens from ZEISS is the new generation of high-quality optics for your photographic art. Find it at your favorite photo retailer!Learn more hereA New Solution from Videoguys:The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is built for adventure, fitting seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle while delivering blazing-fast NVMe performance with read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. Designed for content creators and on-the-go professionals, this high-capacity drive is tested and compatible with iPhone, making it easy to free up space on your smartphone. Its rugged design offers up to three-meter drop protection, IP65 water and dust resistance, and a durable silicone shell for extra security. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is now available in an impressive new 8TB capacity at Videoguys.com.Browse it hereUpcoming NYC Event: Gold Women's Health & Business ConferenceJoin us Thursday, May 8 in NYC for the Gold Women's Health & Business Conference—an empowering afternoon focused on elevating women in business and well-being. Learn SEO, Marketing Strategies, Funding resources, & Wellness insights for women. This powerful experience is designed for Founders, Creatives, & Professionals ready to thrive in 2025 and beyond. Visit us herePodcast Rewind:April 2025 - Ep. 75…“The Making Of” is created by Michael Valinsky.Promote your products or services to 155K filmmakers, content creators, TV, broadcast & live event production pros reading this newsletter… email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

SDI's World Famous NFL Mock Draft 2025 edition

[깊이 있는 경제뉴스] 1) 美 사모펀드서 발 빼는 차이나 머니.. 영향은? 2) 서울 오피스, 공실대란 났다.. 원인은 이중 침체 3) 현대차-포스코, MOU 체결.. ‘소재 동맹' 맺었다 4) 한화-삼성SDI, 전기 잠수함 곧 나올까.. 기대감 ↑ - 김치형 경제뉴스 큐레이터 - 정지서 연합인포맥스 기자 - 조미현 한국경제신문 기자

In this episode, we welcome Steven C. Miller. Steven is a veteran director with credits including Werewolves, Line of Duty, First Kill, Marauders, Silent Night, and Under the Bed. In our chat, he shares about his early days, education, and pathway into filmmaking. He also takes us behind-the-scenes of creating his recent horror film, Werewolves, starring Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, and Lou Diamond Phillips. In addition, Steven offers many insights for filmmakers getting in the game and working their way up. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Explore AJA's New Solutions for Next-Gen Production and BroadcastAhead of NAB 2025, AJA debuted innovative solutions for production and broadcast professionals, including the BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 IP video bridge for remote workflows/streaming/backhaul, the DANTE-12GAM IP audio embedder/disembedder, and KUMO 6464-12G compact SDI router. Find out how your facility, pipeline, or project can benefit from the flexibility these new tools provide here.OWC Powers Indie Horror-Comedy ScreamboatFrom set to post, the Screamboat team trusted OWC to keep their horror-comedy production running smoothly. Atlas media cards captured the action, while Envoy Pro FX and ThunderBlade drives enabled fast offloads. In post, the ThunderBay Flex 8 anchored their workflow with high-capacity, high-performance storage. Explore how OWC powered this ambitious indie project every step of the way. Read more hereFeatured Filmmaking Book: Kubrick: An OdysseyThe definitive biography of the creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, presenting the most in-depth portrait yet of the groundbreaking filmmaker.The enigmatic and elusive filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has not been treated to a full-length biography in over twenty years.Stanley Kubrick: An Odyssey fills that gap. This definitive book is based on access to the latest research, especially Kubrick's archive at the University of the Arts, London, as well as other private papers plus new interviews with family members and those who worked with him. It offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of Kubrick's personal, private, public, and working life. Stanley Kubrick: An Odyssey investigates not only the making of Kubrick's films, but also about those he wanted (but failed) to make like Burning Secret, Napoleon, Aryan Papers, and A.I. Read more hereZEISS Introduces the Otus ML:The ZEISS Otus ML lenses are crafted for photographers who live to tell stories. Inspired by the legendary ZEISS Otus family, the new lenses bring ZEISS' renowned optical excellence combined with precise mechanics to mirrorless system cameras. Thanks to the distinctive ZEISS Look of true color, outstanding sharpness and the iconic “3D-Pop” of micro-contrast, your story will come to life exactly like you envisioned. A wide f1.4 aperture provides outstanding depth of field directing attention to your focus area, providing a soft bokeh that elegantly separates subjects from the background. The aspherical design effectively minimizes distortion and chromatic aberrations. Coupled with ZEISS T* coating that reduce reflections within a lens, minimizing lens flare and enhancing image contrast, and color fidelity.Learn more hereA New Solution from Videoguys:The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is built for adventure, fitting seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle while delivering blazing-fast NVMe performance with read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. Designed for content creators and on-the-go professionals, this high-capacity drive is tested and compatible with iPhone, making it easy to free up space on your smartphone. Its rugged design offers up to three-meter drop protection, IP65 water and dust resistance, and a durable silicone shell for extra security. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is now available in an impressive new 8TB capacity at Videoguys.com. Check it out hereFeatured Event:Cine Gear Expo LA | Universal Studios LotJune 6-7, 2025A revered film and television production mecca, Universal Studios Lot is known for their legendary stages, beautifully appointed theatres, and outdoor city streets, parks & squares— seen in countless film and television spectacles. "We are excited to welcome the Cine Gear community to this iconic destination," announces Cine Gear Expo Co-Founder/CEO Juliane Grosso. “The Universal Lot offers an abundance of everything we look for to create a valuable and unforgettable experience."A crossroads of filmmakers and cutting-edge technology, Cine Gear Expo is known globally as the best place in filmmaking to discover groundbreaking innovations, connect with top-tier creatives, and discover the latest gear from mainstay brands and next-gen innovators at hundreds of industry booths. Attendees can hone their skills at hands-on equipment demos, pick up tips at filmmaker panels, and enjoy educational sessions, screenings, and guild & association presentations — topped off by world-class mingling with friends & colleagues. Beyond the expo, other offerings include Cine Gear's Film Series Screenings and a Master Class featuring renowned filmmaker instructors.Register here Podcast Rewind:April 2025 - Ep. 74…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Advertise your products or services to 152K filmmakers, video pros, TV, broadcast and live event production pros reading this newsletter, email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this travel-prep-focused episode of AwesomeCast, Michael Sorg, Dave Podnar, and Zach Rizza get geeky about all things tech and production as Sorg prepares for a massive livestream event at SAE Aero Design West in California. From wireless HDMI gadgets and Pelican cases to Nintendo's shocking Switch 2 reveal, the team dives into the logistics of pro-level field production and the nerd-worthy new gadgets catching their eye. Plus, exclusive commentary on Nintendo's new game announcements, including open-world Mario Kart and Kirby Riders!

In this episode, we welcome Mitch Gross. Mitch is Global Director of Product Marketing at Aputure. In our conversation, he shares about his early days, career as a cinematographer in New York City, as well as his experiences working at top companies such as AbelCine, Panasonic, and Aputure. Mitch also offers tons of educational information about cameras, lights, and lenses — and other insights for filmmakers in the trenches. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Explore AJA's New Solutions for Next-Gen Production and BroadcastAhead of NAB 2025, AJA debuted innovative solutions for production and broadcast professionals, including the BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 IP video bridge for remote workflows/streaming/backhaul, the DANTE-12GAM IP audio embedder/disembedder, and KUMO 6464-12G compact SDI router. Find out how your facility, pipeline, or project can benefit from the flexibility these new tools provide here.Vimeo NAB Event:April 7th | The Beverly TheaterA night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks, creative community, and drinks!Meet fellow filmmakers, NAB community, and say hi to the Vimeo team!7pm Doors open8-9pm Film screening9-11pm Vimeo Party — beer, wine, + bites!RSVP required. Free tickets hereIgelkott Studios: Redefining Driving PlatesSay goodbye to the limitations of array rig plates. Igelkott's precision-crafted single-lens driving plates deliver perfect parallax, seamless stitching, and true-to-life depth—no mismatched angles or post headaches. The choice of top filmmakers for flawless in-camera realism. Experience the future of driving plates at www.igelkottplates.comOscars Night Puts OWC Jellyfish in the Middle of the ActionOWC Jellyfish was front and center on Oscars night, supporting the behind-the-scenes editing and post workflows that brought the evening to life. From pre-show prep to real-time content delivery, discover how OWC's high-performance shared storage powered the Academy's digital team. See how professionals rely on Jellyfish when the pressure's on—and the world is watching. Read the full story »A New Solution Available from Videoguys…The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is built for adventure, fitting seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle while delivering blazing-fast NVMe performance with read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. Designed for content creators and on-the-go professionals, this high-capacity drive is tested and compatible with iPhone, making it easy to free up space on your smartphone. Its rugged design offers up to three-meter drop protection, IP65 water and dust resistance, and a durable silicone shell for extra security. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is now available in an impressive new 8TB capacity at Videoguys.com. Check it out here ZEISS Cinema To Present New Solutions at NAB 2025ZEISS Cinema is proud to be presenting our Scenario camera tracking solution at 2025 NAB CineCentral in the North Hall. Join ZEISS on Monday, April 7th at 2:30pm in North Hall for a hands-on presentation of how this technology can save you time and cost of IVFX, and post-production workflow. For more info, visit hereCartoni Celebrates 90th Anniversary with New E-Series Launch at NAB ShowCartoni celebrates the company's 90th anniversary at NAB Las Vegas. Find them in the show's North Hall at booth #N2539. Cartoni will showcase their latest support systems, heads, pedestals, and Lifto PTZ elevation columns in a retrospective ranging from the company's earliest 1935 cinema tripod (complete with a 1936 Mitchell NC camera courtesy of the American Society of Cinematographers) to their recently announced E-Series of broadcast/cinema Encoded Heads. Visit here Podcast Rewind:March 2025 - Ep. 73…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.To advertise your products or services to 150K filmmakers, TV, broadcast and live event production pros reading this newsletter, email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

Rogers for America with Lt. Steve Rogers – The SDI aims to protect the U.S. from incoming missiles using a defense system in space. President Reagan's 1986 summit in Iceland with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, is when he, Reagan, revealed SDI to the Soviets. SDI was initially met with skepticism but ultimately led to the Soviet Union's economic strain and eventual collapse...

This week Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Susan Ann Davis. The two talk about resilience in the face of challenges, the importance of mentorship and community among women in business, and the strategic choices involved in scaling a company globally. In this episode, we discuss: How Susan's career path veered from law school ambitions to falling in love with Washington D.C.'s vibrant environment, leading her to strategic communications instead. Why mentorship is vital, rooted in Susan's experiences and efforts to create supportive networks like the International Women's Forum. Being unafraid to take risks and the power of listening more than talking to drive success. Handling difficult situations and failures. Overcoming challenges as a female business owner     Susan Ann Davis-President of SDI is a pioneering woman business owner who opened her agency when relatively few women were experiencing success in the business world, and fewer still owned their own business. Over decades, she has grown SDI into a global public affairs and strategic communications powerhouse, receiving accolades and recognition from industry peers and earning the respect of business and government leaders around the world. Internationally known for her expertise in strategic positioning, reputation management, government relations, and crisis communications, Davis has provided counsel to government and industry leaders on six continents and was a strategic U.S. advisor to the Irish Bishops Conference for the Vatican World Meeting of Families and the papal visit to Ireland. She is a co-founder of IPREX, a global agency network covering 100 markets worldwide. Davis has worked with more than a dozen countries on issues ranging from economic crisis to nation building and trade expansion. And for decades she has been a strategic communications and public affairs consultant on U.S. military and veterans' issues for the defense industry and to multiple Secretaries of Defense, DOD agencies, service branches and support organizations. Over her professional career, Davis has played a key strategic communications and government relations role in high-profile crises ranging from reputation management, product liability litigation to airline crashes, environmental threats, and foreign government economic crises, affording her deep insight into senior management policy, planning, execution, and decision making. And as a leader and business visionary, she is expert at developing engagement, media, and business opportunities for executives throughout the globe. She led the Global Irish Forum recommendation for Ireland to develop as a global hub for smart aging technologies, products, design and services, was a founder of Smart Ageing Living Labs of Ireland, and a former producer of a White House Conference on Aging and Silicon Valley Venture Boomer Summits. A lifelong advocate for social entrepreneurship, democracy building and leadership development for women, she is board chair emeritus of Vital Voices Global Partnership, the preeminent NGO that trains and empowers emerging women leaders in 115 countries. She was a founder and the first international president of the International Women's Forum, the global leadership organization now representing more than 7000 women of achievement. She serves on numerous philanthropy boards including the American Ireland Fund and the Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation, for which she is board chair. The Foundation continues to educate over 700 girls in rural Afghanistan. Davis chaired the landmark U.S. Ireland Business Summit, creating the groundbreaking US-Ireland R&D Partnership, and has been formally recognized for her leadership by the governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland. She's been named among the Top 100 Irish Americans, 75 Most Influential Irish American Women, and Top 100 Outstanding International Irish Business Leaders, and received the Flax Trust Award for Service to Northern Ireland. Along with then Prince Charles and former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Davis received the Global Empowerment Humanitarian Award in the United Kingdom, and she was awarded the Noble Humanitarian Prize in Glasgow, Scotland and the prestigious Order of Merit by the Knights Templar. Among her many professional awards are the Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Business, the Bronze Stevie for Woman of the Year, National Woman Business Owner of the Year, Woman Business Advocate of the United States, and the National Association of Women Business Owners Award for “Outstanding Achievement in National and International Public Affairs.” She was an inaugural honoree for the National Capital Public Relations Society Hall of Fame award and the Biz Bash Special Events Hall of Fame. Washingtonian Magazine called Davis one of “Washington's Most Powerful Women” and the Washington Business Journal has recognized her as one of the Washington D.C. region's most influential businesswomen. A University of Wisconsin–Madison graduate, she has been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award in the Field of Communications and the Distinguished Alumni Award. Website: https://www.susandavis.com/      

Today we're talking with Travis Davis about the realities of contracts, insurance, and risk in construction. From navigating tricky contract terms to understanding how GCs manage risk (and sometimes profit from it), we're breaking down what every subcontractor needs to know to stay protected and profitable.02:24 - The Biggest Contract PitfallsWhat clauses in your contract can lead to financial ruin? Discover the red flags every subcontractor should watch for.05:10 - Signing Your Own Death Warrant?Why taking on too much work—without considering contract terms—can destroy your cash flow and put your business at risk.10:35 - Payment Terms: The Silent KillerHow delayed payments (30, 60, 90+ days) impact contractors and why cash flow planning is critical for survival.12:01 - What is Subcontractor Default?A breakdown of what happens when a subcontractor fails to meet contract obligations—and how GCs and owners respond.13:12 - Bonds vs. Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI)What's the difference, and how does each impact subs? Learn why SDI is becoming a profit center for big GCs.22:08 - How GCs Make Money Off Your RiskSome GCs turn SDI into a revenue stream—here's how it works and what subs need to know.26:19 - How to Become a Pre-Qualified SubcontractorWant to land bigger, better jobs? Learn what it takes to pass pre-qualification and improve your contract standing.31:12 - The Contract Review You Can't Afford to SkipWhy hiring a construction-specific attorney is a game-changer—and how it can save you millions.38:14 - Working On Your Business: Financial & Risk ManagementHow strong financials and proper insurance coverage can set you apart from the competition.44:42 - How Insurance Underwriters Judge YouThe hidden factors that influence your premiums and how smart contractors slash insurance costs by 30% or more.52:05 - A $4 Million MistakeA real-world example of how ignoring contract insurance requirements led to a devastating financial loss.53:04 - A Message to ContractorsWhy understanding contracts, insurance, and risk management is the key to long-term success in construction.Go Build Something Awesome!CHECK OUT THE PARTNERS THAT MAKE OUR SHOW POSSIBLE: https://www.brospodcast.com/partnersFIND US ONLINE: -Our website: https://www.brospodcast.com -LinkedIn:   / constructionbrospodcast   -Instagram:   / constructionbrospodcast    -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@constructionbrothers?lang=en-Eddie on LinkedIn:   / eddie-c-057b3b11   -Tyler on LinkedIn:   / tylerscottcampbell  If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to For The Love of Guns! In this relaxed and nostalgic episode, host Jason Schaller sits down in-studio with returning guest Lonnie Robinson, a longtime friend, Marine Corps veteran, and firearms enthusiast. Together, they dive into the joys and challenges of getting back into competition shooting as they navigate their "older years," reflecting on past experiences, evolving passions, and the camaraderie that keeps them hooked on the sport. Key Segments Intro: Welcome Back Lonnie [00:00:04 - 00:01:42] Jason kicks off the show with a warm welcome to Lonnie, a rare in-studio guest who's back for more “abuse.” The duo shares how they met—Lonnie as a customer when Jason ran an FFL—and their enduring friendship despite Jason's playful jabs. Topic: Returning to Competition Shooting [00:01:43 - 00:11:53] Jason and Lonnie discuss their return to competition shooting, focusing on trap, sporting clays, and pistol matches. Lonnie reflects on his recent trap and five-stand sessions at a new club, reigniting his love for shotgunning—a passion rooted in his Marine Corps days and childhood hunting in Texas. Jason shares his own journey, from trap at age 10 with an 870 Wingmaster to pistol competitions in his 20s and sporting clays in his 30s. They explore the physical challenges of aging—shoulder surgeries, knee issues, and arthritis—and how it shifts their focus from winning to enjoying the sport and camaraderie. Highlight: Lonnie's shift to competing against himself rather than others: “I'm my main adversary now.” [00:06:13] Sponsor Break: EGIS Gun Care [00:11:53 - 00:12:35] Jason gives a shoutout to AEGIS Gun Care at https://trb.fyi/boomlube, praising their oils and teasing an upcoming content idea. Use code BoomLub at checkout for 10% off and to support the show! Long-Range Shooting: Military vs. Now [00:12:35 - 00:16:58] Lonnie contrasts his Marine Corps long-range shooting with today's recreational approach, emphasizing fun over necessity. A discussion on ethical hunting: Lonnie opts against building a long-range hunting rifle (7mm PRC) for a client due to insufficient skill and practice for shots beyond 400 yards. Highlight: “Unless you know your rifle, load, and wind conditions, you shouldn't take long-range shots.” [00:14:46] Gunsmithing: Experience Over Certificates [00:17:01 - 00:23:26] The pair dive into building custom rifles, with Lonnie sharing his work at Little Mountain Gun Works and Jason recounting his own builds (e.g., rebarreling Remington 700s). They critique gunsmithing schools like SDI and MGS, agreeing real-world experience trumps formal diplomas. Lonnie's “diploma from life and the Marine Corps” speaks for itself. Highlight: Lonnie on woodworking: “I don't need a class—I make really nice stocks.” [00:20:52] Competition Rifles and Shotguns [00:23:26 - 00:45:24] From chassis systems to classic over-and-unders, they explore how competition gear has evolved and their personal preferences (Lonnie's Beretta love shines through). Lonnie's shift to enjoying the process over scores: “My five-stand was atrocious compared to my old scores, but I had a blast.” [00:45:10] Speed Round [00:51:22 - 00:57:03] Jason surprises Lonnie with a quick-fire Q&A: Ear plugs or muffs? Plugs for shotguns. [00:52:16] 357 or 454 Casull? 357 for versatility. [00:53:55] Improved or modified choke? Modified for all-around use. [00:55:05] Single shot or lever action? Single shot (Ruger No. 1 fan). [00:56:23] Thinking Question: From the world's largest armory, Lonnie picks a Ma Deuce (.50 BMG), envisioning it in a Jeep for Rolling Thunder. [00:57:27] Wrap-Up: Little Mountain Gun Works [01:01:03 - 01:04:26] Lonnie introduces his retirement gig at Little Mountain Gun Works, crafting custom PRS and NRL rifles with his 07 FFL. Jason teases future collaborations—stay tuned for more! The episode ends with their signature banter,

Andrew discusses a variety of topics including: plans for the podcast moving forward, SDI's 2025 Summer Leagues, and the Michigan High School Hockey ReState Tournament.--------------------All episodes can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & YouTube.

Among President Donald Trump's many executive orders is one calling for a “next-generation missile defense shield.” The White House calls this the Iron Dome for America. The order says it should defend against all sorts of missile attacks and include “space-based interceptors” that could potentially act as both sensors and weapons. It reminded retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Latiff of a Ronald Reagan-era program he worked on: the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, known popularly, and especially to its critics, as “Star Wars.” Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Latiff about whether the U.S. has the technology, money and time to make this grand project work.

Among President Donald Trump's many executive orders is one calling for a “next-generation missile defense shield.” The White House calls this the Iron Dome for America. The order says it should defend against all sorts of missile attacks and include “space-based interceptors” that could potentially act as both sensors and weapons. It reminded retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Latiff of a Ronald Reagan-era program he worked on: the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, known popularly, and especially to its critics, as “Star Wars.” Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Latiff about whether the U.S. has the technology, money and time to make this grand project work.