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PODCAST
"What The Funk?" is an entertaining series featured on the Digital Wildcatters podcast network that highlights the unique personalities within the Oil and Gas Industry and their stories hosted by Jeremy Funk. "What the Funk?" picks up where "Tripping Over the Barrel" left off - as the least serious podcast in Oil & Gas and Tech.
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Watch some of our recent episodes below or visit the Digital Wildcatters site for even more great content.
Drew Hopkins from Novus on What the Funk?
From growing up in Oklahoma with two teachers for parents to making waves in the oil and gas world, Drew Hopkins has built a career on reputation, relationships, and a whole lot of hustle. He went from Chesapeake Energy to co-founding LIS and now leading business development at Novus, and along the way, he’s picked up some hard-earned wisdom about building a winning culture, driving responsible growth, and keeping your values in check while chasing big goals. This one’s packed with stories, lessons, and a few laughs as Drew shares what it really takes to make an impact in the energy industry.
Danny Falligant from Adaptive Edge on What the Funk?
From climbing the ranks at BP to betting on himself with Adaptive Edge, Danny Falligant has one hell of a story. He walked away from a cushy oil and gas career to shake things up in digital transformation, and now he’s redefining how land departments handle AI, document management, and data. Jeremy gets into the why and how of Danny’s big leap, the real challenges of running a tech startup while juggling family and travel, and why land groups deserve way more credit in the energy world. Plus, a look at where Adaptive Edge is headed, maybe even beyond oil and gas.
Darnell Franco from Detechtion Technologies on What the Funk?
Sales engineering isn’t just about numbers and tech, it’s about people, problem-solving, and, surprisingly, a little bit of soul. This episode of What the Funk? brings in Darnell Franco from Detechtion Technologies, a guy who knows his way around compressor fleets and the complexities of being human. From breaking down digital twins and edge computing in oil and gas to sharing why mental health and "soul compensation" matter just as much as a paycheck, Darnell keeps it real. If you've ever wondered how to juggle the technical grind with personal growth (without burning out), this one’s for you.
Jacob Stiller from Digital Wildcatters on What the Funk?
From cutting Halo montages to crafting high-impact content for the energy and tech world, Jacob Stiller’s story is one of passion, hustle, and a whole lot of creative grit. What started as DIY GoPro edits turned into a career that’s taken him around the world, co-founding Creator House Media and shaping Digital Wildcatters’ signature style. He opens up about the wild ride, from freelancing through the pandemic to turning storytelling into a powerful tool for industry innovation. Whether it's navigating the highs and lows of content creation or finding new ways to engage an audience, Jacob proves that a mix of adaptability, curiosity, and a camera can take you pretty much anywhere.
Hari Koduru from SigmaStream on What the Funk?
Real-time data is changing the game in oil and gas, and SigmaStream is leading the charge. Jeremy and Hari Koduru talk about how their high-frequency data tech is shaking up drilling operations, making things faster, smarter, and way more efficient. Hari shares his journey from India to engineering to founding SigmaStream, breaking down the wild ride of building a company that thrives on precision data. We get into why split-second analytics matter, how better data leads to better decisions, and where all of this is headed—including some surprising moves into geothermal. If you’re into the mix of tech, problem-solving, and energy, this one’s for you.
Army Sniper to Startup Leader with Asher Fink
From sniper scopes to startup hustle, this episode’s got it all. Asher Fink went from Camp Ramah to the U.S. Army, serving as a sniper in Iraq, before pivoting into the tech world and landing as Chief Commercial Officer at HT Vista. We talk about how military discipline shaped his leadership, why being a generalist is underrated in startups, and how he’s shaking things up in veterinary health. Plus, Asher shares what it was like moving his family to Israel and why he sees himself as a “business athlete” rather than just another exec. Buckle up—this one’s got range.
Jason Eleson from Sproule on What the Funk?
Collecting fossils in Nebraska as a kid kicked off a lifelong passion for geology that took Jason Eleson from exploring for oil and gas with Exxon to championing carbon capture, hydrogen storage, and geothermal projects in his current role at Sproule. With a knack for nonlinear thinking and over two decades of experience, he’s navigated the ups and downs of both massive corporations and nimble startups—always hungry to adapt and learn. His fascination with what’s hidden beneath the surface drives fresh approaches to CCS, helium exploration, and beyond, while bipartisan support could hold the key to shaping a more sustainable, forward-looking energy sector.
Zac Coplon from 4cast on What the Funk?
From Twitter hot takes to tech innovation, Zac Coplon’s journey to co-founding 4cast is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and good timing. With roots in Oklahoma and a background as a mineral buyer, Zac saw an opportunity to shake up the oil and gas industry with a fresh, user-friendly approach to forecasting. Along the way, he’s balanced building a brand on social media with navigating the personal and professional curveballs of starting a business during COVID—and doing it all while moving his family across the country. In this episode, Zac gets real about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of patience and authenticity, and his big vision for 4cast: becoming the go-to platform for simplifying oil and gas evaluations in a no-nonsense way.
Avenirre on What the Funk?
Tired of the same old clunky tools in oil and gas? Avenirre is flipping the script with software that makes managing production and cash flow actually simple. Built by industry pros Casey Patterson and Larry Brazile, this cloud-based platform gives small and midsize operators enterprise-level power—think daily analytics, emissions tracking, and real-time well profitability insights—all without the enterprise price tag. Inspired by their experience at places like XTO and EOG, these guys are solving inefficiencies with smarter tech, constant updates, and rock-solid security. Whether you’re about optimizing wells or tackling emissions, Avenirre is bringing big-league solutions to the rest of the field.
Land Runner, Inc. on What the Funk?
What’s it like to juggle mineral rights, navigate messy title issues, and help families manage royalties—all while thriving in the oil and gas world without relying on the industry’s boozy networking culture? That’s the life of a veteran landman who’s turned nearly two decades of experience into a thriving business. From his small-town roots to leading Land Runner, he’s mastered the art of building genuine relationships, managing complex deals, and mentoring others in the energy sector—all with patience, grit, and a refreshing focus on principles over shortcuts. It’s a mix of career wisdom, fascinating land management stories, and proof that you don’t have to play by every unwritten rule to succeed.
The Beginning of the Endla
Riley O'Donnell is a 24 year old award winning CEO. His company, Endla, out of Brisbane, Australia was accepted into Y-Combinator and they are rocking and rolling. He helps some of the worlds largest operators, automating and optimizing their completions designs...and now, his greatest achievement: A guest appearance on Tripping Over the Barrel. Riley dives into his early career at Santos, being accepted into YC, and the COVID challenges that prevent him from travelling to North America. Super fun chopping it up with this rising star.
Aggie Engineering and Math with Dr. Jeff Spath
Our second "real doctor" joins our fake Doctor (Funkenstein) to provide us with an update from Aggieland on the state of Petroleum Engineering Education. Dr Jeff Spath, Texas A&M Petroleum Engineering Department Head, has had a full career - 30+ years at Schlumberger - is giving back by leading the department through the Energy Transition. The Professor schooled us on what it was like being an educator during COVID, recruiting students, and how to transition while the world is “transitioning.” Bonus: T-Lo geeks out on Aggie stuff, quite literally his favorite thing to do.
Body by Jake
A Marine. A Personal Trainer. A Nerd. A Wildcatter. A Problem Solver. A Winner. The College Station-raised, co-founder of Digital Wildcatters is many things, and we dig into a bunch of them in this 60 minute edition of #totb. As a contrast to the Oil & Gas Startups Podcast, Jake does the answering instead of asking. Go do some bicep curls to get pumped for the Jake Corley episode.
A Rockstar in the Woods
How does a Rock Star from Vancouver Island end up in Calgary doing Energy Tech and Finance? Well, Darren Woods, was “Almost Famous” and can tell you all about it. The Woodsman gets into why being a musician has made him better at math, growing the Canadian market with Darcy Partners, and the various professional hats he currently wears. Pour yourself two fingers of Canadian Club, and listen to Woody jam!
The Doctor of ESG: Karthi B
Getting coffee earlier today, a barista asked T-Lo: “Sir, are you a Rocket Scientist with an PHD from Stanford? No? Thought so. You should talk to Karthik Balakrishnan though. He is. And don't forget your mocha.” Smart Barista. Karthik aka Karthi B the Dr. of ESG is a certified expert in aerospace, emerging digital technologies, and of course, ESG. Karthik shares experiences throughout his career, with a focus on how companies have navigated ESG in other industries, while offering insights into how the Oil & Gas supply chain can take strides to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Incredibly educational and unique perspective from a an who has been in the ESG trenches. Enjoy!!
Catching Up with Big Perv
Should the industry stop using BOE and switch to BOV? Dwayne Purvis thinks so. Nerd alert: We dig deep into the science of Oil & Gas...but we also got into the man, Big Perv: Dwayne grew up the son of a preacher, with no interest in working in Oil & Gas...but fate and scholarship money led him to it. Also, Dwayne educates TLo and the Funkmeister on what life is like as a consultant in Oil & Gas, and a discussion about accents ensues. A great episode with another great personality.
Making Work Suck Less with Matt Harriman
Matt Harriman likes making work suck less. He even says it on his company, Pod2's, website. But he also specifically mentions that Al Pacino does not work at his company, so we never know with this wild card.
Anyhow, Matt walks us through his history, what he enjoys doing, his consulting company and technology ideas. Bonus: Dr. Funkenstein records this episode from the confines of another DW podcaster's home, a toddler shows up mid-podcast, and T-Lo talks about driving all over Texas - moving one daughter into College, the day after marrying another daughter within 21 hours. Fun one.
Anyhow, Matt walks us through his history, what he enjoys doing, his consulting company and technology ideas. Bonus: Dr. Funkenstein records this episode from the confines of another DW podcaster's home, a toddler shows up mid-podcast, and T-Lo talks about driving all over Texas - moving one daughter into College, the day after marrying another daughter within 21 hours. Fun one.
Real Talk with Collin Placke
From Rigs and Real Estate to #TOTB. Collin Placke, #gigem joins the fellas to talk about his methods behind creating financial freedom, "side hustling", and how he hedges against being "all in" with his oil career - and teaches others how to do the same. Collin takes us through working at companies big and small...the differences between working in Midland and Denver...and how to balance raising a family, a podcast, a full time job, and a side hustle. Had a blast with this young fella who has wisdom beyond his years.
Straight From the Source's Mouth with Josh Adler
Yale. MIT. Speechwriting for the Secretary of the US Treasury. New Hampshire vacations. Tripping Over the Barrel. Folks, when Josh Adler goes in...he goes ALL in. Only the best of the best for the CEO of one of the hottest Energy Tech startups, "Sourcewater". Josh joins the fellas to talk about growing up in DC, working at tech startups in the 90s, entrepreneurship, summer homes, technology evolution, and disrupting mature markets. One of the brightest guests to ever come on the pod, T-Lo and the Doc had a blast with the Source of Sourcewater.
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