#93- Diane Watson

In this episode of Mining Minds, the crew sits down with Diane Watson — retired Supervisory Special Investigator with MSHA, firefighter, EMT, and lifelong safety advocate. From leaving home at 15 and living in a woodshed to becoming one of the most respected voices in mine safety, Diane's story is one of resilience, grit, and purpose. She walks us through her incredible journey: from driving haul trucks at Homestake McLaughlin Mine to shaping safety culture as an MSHA investigator and now as the founder of Silverado Compliance Solutions. Diane opens up about her early struggles, the mentors who inspired her, the challenges of being a woman in mining, and the lessons she learned leading inspections, investigations, and mine rescue competitions across the U.S. Please help us welcome Diane Watson to the Face!    Episode Sponosors:  Rockwell Industrial and Mining Motor Mission Machine and Radiator Ill Zakiel Diane Waston - Sliverado Complaince Solutions Silverado Compliance Solutions Instagram @firezin Chapters:  02:08 Introducing Diane Watson: From Woodshed to the Face 04:09 Growing Up Tough and Leaving Home at 15 11:57 Landing Her First Mining Job at Homestake McLaughlin 13:00 Learning the Haul Truck and Building Confidence 15:49 Overcoming Stereotypes: Women in Mining in the '90s 17:22 Transitioning from Operator to Safety Professional 26:00 The MSHA Journey: Inspections, Challenges, and Ethics 35:14 Mine Rescue, Mentorship, and National Competitions 44:16 Leadership Lessons from the Face to the Federal Level 50:06 Investigations, Integrity, and Lessons from the FBI 57:01 Balancing Compliance with Common Sense 01:03:11 Founding Silverado Compliance Solutions 01:10:05 Retirement, Mentorship, and Giving Back to Mining 01:13:35 Full Circle: From the Cabin to Building a Legacy