PODCAST · science
Behind the Scenes with Bryan
by Bryan Ulrich
This is generally an engineering podcast that often pertains to the world of mining, and especially mining waste management, or whatever else captures my imagination. The episodes, thankfully, will be fairly brief.
Episodes
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Episode 215: a conversation with Tracie Jackson
Tracie is the Hydrology Manager at Barrick Gold Corporation. She has a unique professional track record and has recently helped spearhead the development of a new publicly available, Excel-based water balance tool for tailings facilities, known as TSFISM (Tailings-Storage Facility Iterative...
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Episode 214: a conversation with Michel Julien
Michel is a long-time friend and client and is the Vice President of Environment and Critical Infrastructure at Agnico Eagle. Michel and I discuss his amazing career. We didn't even talk about the amazing fact that in 2025, he was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) –…
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Episode 213: a conversation with Henk Van Alphen
Henk is the CEO of Wealth Minerals Ltd. Wealth Minerals has structured its Kuska Lithium Project partnership with the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollagüe to include a 5% free-carried interest and direct board participation for the community. The company has also emphasized Direct Lithium...
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Episode 212: a conversation with Jean Kugel
Jean is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer with BGC Consulting in Golden, Colorado. She has consulting experience working on geotechnical, mining, civil, solid waste, and construction projects. Experience includes engineering analyses, design, and project management for multi-disciplinary tailings…
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Episode 211: A conversation about GTMI
In this episode, I once again chat with Theo Gerritson from BGC in Brisbane. This time, we discuss The Global Management Institute (GTMI). As it says on their website, The Global Tailings Management Institute has been established to enhance the safety of mine tailings facilities, by promoting...
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Episode 210: a conversation with Josh Goveia
Josh is a mining engineer-turned-RTFE with First Quantum Minerals in Zambia. Josh is a people-person, an avid reader and a life-long learner. Josh and I discuss his career in mining and the things that make him passionate.
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Episode 209: a conversation with Bob Pyke (part 4 of 4)
Dr Pyke was born and raised in Australia and received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney. He then worked for the Commonwealth Department of Works in Canberra on various projects before attending graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. At...
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Episode 208: a conversation with Bob Pyke (part 3 of 4)
Dr Pyke was born and raised in Australia and received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney. He then worked for the Commonwealth Department of Works in Canberra on various projects before attending graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. At...
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Episode 207: a conversation with Fergal McGuinness
Fergal is the founder of Ryerson Networks AG. Ryerson partners with mining and other companies, translating engineering realities into quantifiable models that capital providers and financial leaders can act on. By creating a single, defensible view of risk, they align operational exposure with...
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Episode 206: a conversation with Bob Pyke (part 2 of 4)
Dr. Pyke was born and raised in Australia and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Sydney. He then worked for the Commonwealth Department of Works in Canberra on various projects before attending graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. At...
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Episode 205: a conversation with Bob Pyke (Part 1 of 4)
Dr. Pyke was born and raised in Australia and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Sydney. He then worked for the Commonwealth Department of Works in Canberra on various projects before attending graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. At...
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Episode 204: a conversation with Alex Franklin
Alex is the Managing Director of First Principles Consulting in Australia. First Principles Consulting specialises in investment outperformance in mid-tier and aspiring mining operations. Their mission is to empower investors and operators to cut through subjective narratives to reveal their…
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Episode 203: a conversation with Ian Hammond
Ian is the founder and CEO of Geotheta Consulting Engineers in South Africa. Ian and I discuss many things, including his successes as a tailings engineer in Africa.
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Episode 202: a conversation with Johan Boshoff
Johan has been involved in geotechnical engineering aspects of projects for the past 30 years. His expertise includes detailed design, monitoring and project management of tailings storage facilities, mine residue stockpiles and waste disposal facilities. He has also fulfilled the role of…
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Episode 201: a conversation with Kelly Cabal
According to Kelly, is the Director of Business Development at ConeTec, an advocate for women in engineering and a Cone Head/CPT Enthusiast. With over 20 years' experience in the geotechnical and environmental engineering industry, she discovered a passion for communicating, teaching, and sharing...
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Episode 200: a conversation with Michael James
Michael is a Geotechnical Engineer/Consultant and Engineer of Record at Agnico Eagle in Montreal. He practices geotechnical engineering for the life-cycle of mining (planning, design, operations, closure and posterity). Specializing in liquefaction and the seismic performance of dams and tailings...
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Episode 199: a conversation with Peter Jenner
Peter works at Hindustan Zinc (Vedanta) as Head of Tailings. He was previously Head of Tailings for Glencore Zinc, Group Tailings Principal at PanAust Minerals, and Head of Tailings Water and Waste at ArcelorMittal Mining. Peter is experienced in Corporate Governance for TSFs including auditing…
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Episode 198: A conversation with Andy Small
Andy is a dam safety specialist providing services to the mining and hydropower industries around the world. He is based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. For the mining sector, Andy has led dam designs and dam safety reviews for a number of mining clients. In addition, he provides services related…
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Episode 197: a conversation with Theo Gerritsen
Theo is a Principal Tailings engineer at BGC Engineering Inc. in Brisbane, Australia. He is a registered professional engineer with a focus on Mine Waste and Tailings. He has experience with projects in South America, North America, Asia Pacific, SE-Asia, Southern Africa, Central Asia and Europe.
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Episode 196: A Conversation with Will Conrad from Canary Systems
Will is a Monitoring Technology Solution Architect at Canary Systems, Inc. He and I discuss the many benefits of hosting monitoring data on the Canary Systems platform.
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Episode 195: A Conversation with Paul Weibel
Paul is the Chief Executive Officer at 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. 5E is focused on enabling decarbonization, helping the world’s food security crisis and re-shoring critical materials including Boron and Lithium at its 5E Boron Americas Complex at Fort Cady, California.
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Episode 194: A conversation with Michael Hartley of Interknowlogy
Michael is the Managing Director, Mining and Energy at Interknowlogy, a company who helps organizations unlock actionable insights and streamline operations through tools that deliver real-time, intuitive, and visually compelling outcomes. Michael and I discuss how his company has been helping…
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Episode 193: A conversation with Todd Wisdom
Todd is a Principal Consultant (Non-Conventional Tailings) at SRK in Denver, Colorado. Todd and I discuss many aspects regarding technology advancement in the tailings space, and blended tailings and waste rock in particular.
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Episode 192: A conversation with Ed Sage
Ed Sage is a Geospatial Solutions Specialist and InSAR Scientist - Satellite Mapping at Viridien, an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company. Ed and I speak of many things InSAR.
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Episode 191: A Conversation with Kathrine Dompierre
Katherine is the User Success Manager for Geotechnical Analysis at Seequent. She and I discuss their GeoStudio software.
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Episode 190: A conversation with Rick Friedel
Rick is a Principal with Klohn Crippen Berger in Vancouver. He is a geotechnical engineer who says he works with hi clients to find practical and sustainable solutions to their challenges in the mining industry. You can read the article that Rick and I discussed...
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Episode 189: A conversation with Lakshmin Bachu
Lakshmin is a senior director at NexWayv, Inc, a company that specializes in water management projects, especially dams of all sorts. Lakshmin and I discuss various aspects of ai.
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Episode 188: A Second Conversation with Mike O'Kane (Part2)
Mike is the Founder and Senior Technical Advisor of Okane Consultants. Okane helps mining companies return the land responsibly and safely at the end of a mine’s lifecycle. In this episode Mike and I discuss practical lessons learned from work in mine closure projects.
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Episode 187: A conversation with Ben Murphy
Ben has been involved in the mining industry for the majority of his working life and has experienced the industry from some very different perspectives. Firstly working in base metal concentrators around the world (Australia, Indonesia, Ireland and South Africa) in technical and managerial…
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Episode 186: A Conversation with Jeremy Boswell
Jeremy is a Senior Associate / Senior Tailing Engineer at Thurber Engineering Ltd. in Calgary. He obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, specializing in geotechnical engineering,...
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Episode 185: A second conversation with Juan Ayala
Juan is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer at KCB Australia Pty Ltd. in Perth, Australia. Juan and I once again get together to hear about what he's been up to with tailings and geotechnical engineering.
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Episode 184: A Conversation with Chelsea Burdon
Chelsea is the President of Elevate Civil Engineering, where she leads civil and geotechnical projects, such as tailings, dams, and mining infrastructure, with a focus on ethical practice and meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities. Her work supports sustainable, culturally aligned...
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Episode 183: A conversation with Chat GPT
In this episode I test Chat GPT on its knowledge of the current state of tailings management.
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Episode 182: Another conversation with Mike O'Kane (part 1)
Mike is the Founder and Senior Technical Advisor of Okane Consultants. Okane helps mining companies return the land responsibly and safely at the end of a mine’s lifecycle. In this episode Mike and I discuss practical lessons learned from work in mine closure projects.
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Episode 181: A conversation with Caius Priscu
Caius is a specialist civil geotechnical engineer with over 30 years of experience in dams, embankments and earthworks, from concept studies to detailed engineering to construction management, operation and surveillance, closure and rehabilitation. He is also an adjunct professor at the Norman B....
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Episode 180: a conversation with Scott Martens
Scott has 30 years of technical and leadership experience in geotechnical engineering, with a focus on mining and dam safety. Scott has led multi-disciplinary design teams for complex structures, and served as senior reviewer for high profile, high consequence designs. Scott has managed an...
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Episode 179: A conversation with Jason West
Jason is the Managing Director of Powerhouse Renewables in Perth, Australia. Powerhouse is seeing good results from some work they've completed with Rio Tinto. Powerhouse is unlike most renewables companies, they not only deliver renewable solutions but they also ensure that the energy transition...
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Episode 178: a conversation with Mike O'Kane
This is a lengthier episode, so buckle in for a long ride. Mike is the Founder and now a Senior Technical Advisor to O'Kane Consultants. Mike is a fellow geotechnical engineer. Okane helps mining companies return the land responsibly and safely at the end of a mine’s lifecycle. They believe in...
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Episode 177: a conversation with Debbie Struhsacker
Debbie is a hardrock mining policy expert with over 30 years of hands-on expertise with the environmental and public land laws and regulations pertaining to mineral exploration and mine development. She provides environmental permitting and government relations consulting services to mineral...
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Episode 176: A conversation with Satish Rao (2)
Satish is the Managing Director, Clareo, a think tank that is involved in many industrial sectors. As their website says, Clareo is a leading global strategy consulting firm focused on solving complex challenges for the mining, energy, and food sectors. With over 20 years of experience, Clareo...
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Episode 175: A conversation with Sina Javankhoshdel
Sina is a geomechanics product manager at Rocscience. He led the development and improvement of Slide2 and Slide3, two of the most advanced software tools for LEM slope stability analysis as well as probabilistic and reliability-based approaches to geotechnical design.
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Episode 174: A conversation with Chad LePoudre (Part 2)
Chad is an internationally recognized, experienced and competent geotechnical engineer, project and operations manager, executive and technical principal. His nearly 34 working years have benefited from a suite of various experiences and learnings, culminating in a career focused on...
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Episode 173: A conversation with Allison Coppel
Allison has had a pretty amazing career, and now specializes in ESG, Sustainability, Community Engagement, Social Impact, Holistic Investments in Natural Resources & Energy, and DEI. Amongst other things, Allison and I discuss DEI and how it can improve our workplace.
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Episode 172 A conversation with Alastair Bovim
Alastair leads Insight Terra, a company at the forefront of developing real-time monitoring solutions for tailings storage facilities. Based in South Africa, he brings a unique perspective on the evolution of tailings management, particularly in the African mining context. He is involved with…
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Episode 171: A conversation with Hannah Thomas
Hanna is Geohazard & Ground Engineer at Geovert, a world leader in natural hazard mitigation solutions. She is a self-proclaimed rock and dirt nerd working in the world of geohazards and ground improvement.
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Episode 170: A conversation with David Reid
David Reid is a Principal Tailings Engineer with Red Earth Engineering, A Geosyntec Company in Perth, Western Australia, but more importantly he runs their lab which offers many advanced testing methods.
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Episode 169: A conversation with Chad LePoudre
Chad is an internationally recognized, experienced and competent geotechnical engineer, project and operations manager, executive and technical principal. His nearly 34 working years have benefited from a suite of various experiences and learnings, culminating in a career focused on...
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Episode 168: A conversation with Ben Wickland
Ben is a Senior Principal Geotechnical Engineer with WSP in British Canada. Ben and I discuss the many merits and challenges associated with comingled tailings and waste rock.
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Episode 167: A conversation with Kim Morrison (Part 2)
Kim literally needs no introduction. She has worked for many years in the consulting world (both with large companies and on her own). She was also the head of tailings for Newmont, one of the largest mining companies in the world. Kim is now back to consulting on her own and in on the teaching...
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Episode 166: A conversation with Kim Morrison (Part 1)
Kim literally needs no introduction. She has worked for many years in the consulting world (both with large companies and on her own). She was also the head of tailings for Newmont, one of the largest mining companies in the world. Kim is now back to consulting on her own and in on the teaching...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Behind the Scenes with Bryan have?
Behind the Scenes with Bryan currently has 217 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Behind the Scenes with Bryan about?
This is generally an engineering podcast that often pertains to the world of mining, and especially mining waste management, or whatever else captures my imagination. The episodes, thankfully, will be fairly brief.
How often does Behind the Scenes with Bryan release new episodes?
Behind the Scenes with Bryan publishes regularly with 217 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Behind the Scenes with Bryan?
You can listen to Behind the Scenes with Bryan on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Behind the Scenes with Bryan?
Behind the Scenes with Bryan is created and hosted by Bryan Ulrich.
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